THE ITALIAN OFFENSIVE

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13580, 7 September 1917, Page 5

THE ITALIAN OFFENSIVE

AUSTRIAN FLEET FORCED TO ABANDON POLA.

(Reuter's Telegrams.) Received September 6, 8.45 p.m. LONDON, September 6

According to Austrian papers Pola is no longer the principal naval centre owing to the destruction by air raids, and the main Austrian lleet has been transferred to Fiume.

VIOLENT FIGHTING RENEWED ON THE JULIAN FRONT.

ITALIANS CAPTURE IMPORTANT POSITION AND TAKE 1688 PRISONERS

ENEMY SECURE AN INITIAL SUCCESS, BUT ITALIANS LATER

RESTORE THEIR LINE

POLA EFFECTIVELY BOMBED BY ITALIAN AVIATORS

(Australian and New Zealand and Reuter.) Received September 6, 8.45 p.m.

LONDON, September 6

Italian official: The battle on the Julian front was renewed violently. We captured an important position south-westward of Ohrogb. A battle is raging north-east of Gorizia. Yesterday we took 1688 prisoners, belonging to 10 regiments. The enemy violently attacked between Castagnavizza and the sea, but our counter-attack re-established our line. A total of 261 aeroplanes participated in the battle. Our air fleet last night effectively bombarded Pola, and returned safely.

VIOLENT FIGHTING RESUMED NORTH-EAST OF GORIZIA.

GREAT AUSTRIAN SACRIFICES TO BREAK THE WALL OF STEEL

HOMERIC STRUGGLE DEVELOPS INTO CONTINUOUS HAND-TO-HAND

FIGHTING

TP (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received September 6, 9.40 p.m.

LONDON, September 6

On the Italian front cn Wednesday the fighting north-east of Gorizia restarted with violence, sufficiently proving that the Austrians have been lying low for the post few days. It has been found that definite deductions cannot be drawn from the comparative quiesence of the enemy's artillery. If less active than the Italian it does not necessarily signify a shortage of ammunition. Tuesday's heavy bombardment of the Italian communications in and around Gorizia shows that the Austrians are alive to the importance of the present positions. The Austrians are continually bringing up reserves and enormous numbers of machine-guns, sacrificing regiment after regiment in the hope of weakening the Italian attacks. Their old formidable trenches have now been wiped out, and a Homeric struggle has developed into continuous hand-to-hand fighting. Meanwhile the Italians are pitilessly shelling the Austrian caves and dug-outs. The latest prisoners state that thousands of wounded have been lying there for days, it being impossible to succour them. The Austrian offensive on the Carso no doubt aims at breaking the circle of steel which is gradually closing round Hermada.