VICTORIOUS ITALIANS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3994, 29 July 1915, Page 5

VICTORIOUS ITALIANS.

FALL OF fiORIZIA ANTICIPATED. ENEMY WITHDRAWING HIS F®HOES„ EVACUATION OF PODGORA 1 MATTER 0F HOURS. ITALIANS’ DEVELOPMENT OF BRILLIANT CAMPAIGN. BATTLE ON MOUNTAIN PEAK.

(I niteil Press Association. —Copyright.) ROME, July 27. The Italians are now masters of the Lower Isonzo, and hold all the dominating' points. They are able to shell the crossing. A brilliant engagement resulted in the capture of the 400 ft high peak Monte Desibusi. The Bersaglieri four times reached the top and four times were repulsed with heavy loss, hut kept up the attack all night. The battlefield was illuminated by shells charged with magnesium, which burst in the air, dropping lights like falling stars. The fifth assault,at dawn was successful, the Austrians being exhausted. The Italians captured 2000 Alpine troops, cutting off the ietreat of a whole Austrian regiment. A communique states: <! 'VVe occupied Monte 'Laranech, and established ourselves on the heights dominating the right slopes of Valdaona. The struggle continues at Monte Hero. Despite fog preventing the artillery co-operating the battle continued on the Corsa plateau yesterday. Our troops advanced on the w>.ole front with a very strong position at San Michele dominatii : a great part of the plateau. They were made targets of a vi lent cross-fire from many batteries of every calibre, and were forced to fall back a little beneath the crest, where thej?- maintain themselves. (Received July 2S, 5.5 p.m.) It is unofficially stated that the Austrians have been retreating from (iorizia since the 26th, suffering enormous losses, and that the evacuation of Podgora is only a question of hours, while the plateau of Corsa is practically in Italian hands, only a few trenches resisting. In the centre we have progressed towards the heights of San Marino, driving out the enemy in the covering trenches and redoubts at the bayonet point. On the right at nightfall we carried out a brilliant action with the object of straightening the line. We drove out the enemy from Monte Desibusi inch by inch and took prisoner 3200 and captured much ammunition, rifles and supplies after a day of bloodshed.