THE ITALIAN OFFENSIVE

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13489, 21 May 1917, Page 5

THE ITALIAN OFFENSIVE

KEY TO ENEMY'S DEFENCE CAPTURED. ALL POSITIONS EASTWARD OF GORIZIA MAINTAINED. (Australian and New Zealand and Reuter.) Received May 20, 5.5 p.m. > LONDON, May 19. Italian official: We captured Hill 652, on Monte Vodice, which is the key to the enemy's defence northward of Monte Santo. We maintained all our positions eastward of Gorizia against persistent attacks. AUBTRIANB ENDEAVOUR TO HOLD LAST STRONGHOLD AT GORIZIA. ITALIANS STEADILY PROGRESSING RY RRILLIANT DRIVES. (Renter's Telegrams.) Received May 20, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, May 19. Router's correspondent ou the Undine front states that the Austrians, on being reinforced, furiously counter-attacked along the crest of Monte Santo, which repeatedly changed hands, the enemy striving to preserve their last stronghold whence they threaten Gorizia and the Middle Isonzo. The Italians, by a series of brilliant drives, are steadily advancing. The British artillery had a great welcome on arriving at Milan. CAPTURED POSITIONS BEING FORTIFIED. (Australian and New Zealand and Reuter.) Received May 20, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, May 19. Italian official: We are fortifying the positions captured eastward of Gorizia, where repeated enemy attacks at various points were broken. Our prisoners now total 6432. AUSTRIANS ADMIT SUBSTANTIAL ITALIAN ADVANCE. (Australian and New Zealand and Reuter.) Received May 21, 12.15 a.m. LONDON, May 20. Austrian official: After declaring that the Italian mass attacks on the Vodice Heights on the 18th repulsed, the report admits that the Italians as the result of less than a week's fighting extended their bridgehead in the Plava by two kilometres.