ITALIAN OFFENSIVE.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7922, 23 August 1917, Page 3

ITALIAN OFFENSIVE.

RAGING WITH UNPRECEDENTED VIOLENCE. THRILLING EPISODES. ITALIANS SHOW GREAT GALLANTRY. United Service. (Received This Day, 9 a.m.) LONDON, August 22. The “Daily Mail’s” correspondent says:— The Isonzo battle rages with unprecedented violence and is expected to last longer than any preceding battle. There have been many thrilling and spectacular feats. A notable episode was the passage of the Isonzo near Anhova. Here the river is unfordable and runs between precipitous banks two thousand feet high, resembling a moat and gigantic fortress. The Italians crossed the river in pontoons and then threw barges across and occupied the east bank. They immediately scaled the opposite mountain, all the while under a terrific artillery fire. There was another terrible struggle for important positions at SeloBrestivizza, which is now firmly held and may prove the key to Hermada. NAVAL ACTIVITY. TRIESTE DOCKYARDS BOMBARDED. Reuter Message. (Received This Day, 9 a.m.) ROME, August 22. British and Italian monitors, cooperating with the army, effectively bombarded enemy positions on the Lower Isonzo. Simultaneously Italian monitors bombed the dockyards at Trieste. They were subsequently unsuccessfully attacked by hostile aircraft, one of which was brought down. TRIESTE IN DANGER. ENEMY PREPARES TO EVACUATE. ARCHIVES REMOVED. Australian & N.Z. Cable Association. (Received This Day 11 a.m.) MILAN, August 22. The “Corriere Della Sera” says the Austrians are preparing to evacuate Trieste. All the archives and valuables in the museums, churches and libraries have gone to Vienna. The residences of the rich inhabitants were searched for pictures and sculptures, which were taken without receipt. SUCCESSFUL ON THE CARSO. THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS. Australian & N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, August 21. An Italian official message states: — Well organised enemy defences between Korite and Selo, near the fortress of Starilokva, four miles north of the coastal railway to Trieste, have been captured, and over 10,000 prisoners have been counted. The Italian offensive is on a wider front than any western offensive, approximately 43 miles. Rome reports that numerous British guns are assisting in the bombardments. Although the Italian gunfire is never comparable to that on the Franco-British fronts, the stony ground doubles its effects. Yienna reports that the Italians are specially concentrating on Hermada, which dominates the coastal road tow'ards Trieste. It is estimated that a million men are under fire, and a million more in reserve. The whole battleground is a series of rocky, desolate hills.