ITALY'S WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12176, 27 November 1917, Page 2

ITALY'S WAR.

THE PI AVE BATTLE. REACHING ITS CLIMAX. BOTH SIDES HURRYING REINFORCEMENTS. "The Times" Service. .LONDON. November 25. Mr Ward Pr.ce, writing on November 24, says:—The invasion is reaching its climax towards Monte Tomba, but the battle seems to be in favour of the Italians. Terrible fighting is certain for the next few days. After the severest fighting the Austrians have gained a position on the knife-liko eastern Monte Tomba ridge, where they cling precariously. Roth sides are hurrying reinforcements into line for «. decisive trial of strength. SITUATION IMPROVING. ENEMY HELD FOR TWELVE DAYS. ROME, November 25. The situation is improving. After twelve days' fighting in the mountains between the Pii'ave and tho Drenta the enemy ha* made no advance and has lost 60,000 to 80,000 men. Tho pressure is diminishing, but enemy reinforcements are arriving. ITALIANS OUTNUMBERED. ©HELLED BY THEIR OWN LOST GUNS. "The Times" Service. LONDON, November 25Mr M'Clure, "The Times" correspondent on the Italian front, writes: — Pressure upon the Italians continues. As fast as one enemy division is exhausted another is brought up. The Italians are outnumbered badly, and are short of guns. Their own shells from their lost guns are raining thick in then- own lines. ANGLO-FRENCH TROOPS NOT YET USED. LONDON, November 25. Mr Ward Price says that the crucial point of the fighting in Italy is the ttfelve-jnile gap between the Brenta and the Piave. Fierce attacks rage about Monte Tomba. The Germans cannot descend to the plain until they capture Monte Tomba and Monte Grappa. The AngloFrench troops have not yet participated in the battle. Mr Ward Price adds that he met several motor-cars containing British officers reconnoitring the 'battleground.

HEAVY CASUALTIES

FIERCE FIGHTING AT MONTE

TOMBA

" The Times " Service.

LONDON, November 25. Mr Jeffries, writing on November 23, says:—Attacks at Monte Tomba and Monte Monfenera are unprecedentedly violent. Brandenburgers, speciatMy trained for mountain figfoting,/assaulted incessantly for twentyfour hours. The Italians are still holding on. The Calabrian divisions lost heavily, and the enemy's casualties are tremendous.

ITALIAN SUCCESSES

A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter

LONDON, November 25. An Italian official message states:— We again repulsed furious attacks and successfully counter-attacked at Meletta. We captured two sections and machine-guns.