ONE DREADFUL HOUR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3996, 31 July 1915, Page 5

ONE DREADFUL HOUR.

THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN. ENEMY’S COLUMNS CAUGHT UNDER GROSS FIRE. MEN MOWED DOWN IN DOZENS. AN APPALLING AND BLOODCURDLING SCENE. SURVIVORS SIGNAL THEIR SURRENDER. (Received July 30, 9.20 p.m.) ROtuE, July 30. During the second phase of the supreme Austrian counter-offensive against the bridgehead at Sacrado on July 22 the enemy’s columns suddenly found themselves under a terrific cross-fire from the Italian field batteries. Men could be plainly seen being mowed down in dozens. For one tremendous hour the Austrians were unable to go either forward or backwards and . stood living and motionless targets for the Italian gunners. I ho blood-curling scene only ended when a thousand survivors signalled their surrender. An official communique reports marked progress in the Oordesolc VafI o.v. The enemy’s advanced force in the Padora Valley were repulsed. Our artillery wrecked another cupola- at Fort Hansel. The enemy deployed great forces to Carso, supported by a violent artillery lire, and attempted to advance, but were driven back, suffering great losses. Prisoners state that defeated troops bad just ariivod on the scene and otic regiment of Alpinists was almost annihilated. Our advance, continues slowly, ffo look I ISo prisoners at Carso on Tuesday ami Wednesday.

WINNING THE V.C. GALLANT ACTION UNDER .MURDEROUS EIRE. LIEUTENANT SMYTH’S HEROISM lIE ROIC 'SIKHS” SACRIFICE. LONDON. July 29. An officer at the headquarters of flu 1 Indian Army Corps describes the exploit of Lieut. Srnytli, of the loth Ludhiana Sikhs, who was awarded the Victoria Cross.;>t Kuheboiirg oil .May is for carrying boml s within 20 yards of the enemy, after two parties had failed. fi was necessary to send a bombing party, consisting of Lieut. Smyth and ten men, from a reserve trench to file front- line with two boxes of bombs. They had to cross 250 yards of absolutely open ground. The only possible shelter from the frightful fire was a. broken-down trench, which af the bj»-t of times was hardly knee deep, and was now in some places filled almost to the top with dead. The party wriggled through, the mud, pulling the boxes till they reached an old trench. They then attached puggarees to the fronts of the boxes and pulled them through the {lead bodies. All the parly were lying flat, and tin* whole ground was a hissing deluge of riite and machine gun fire. Four of the Sepoys were wounded in the first 80 yards. leaving seven, who crawled till just before the end of the trench only Lieut. Smyth and Sepoy Lai. Singh were left, two of the others being killed and ihrce wounded:' The two men were compelled to abandon the second box. Bulling and hauling in the open they met an increased blast of fire, amt were soon confronted, with a small stream too deep to wadi 1 . They crawled in full view of the enemy tilt they came to a fordable point, where t-hev struggled across with their burden', and in a few yards reached our trench. Both were untouched, though their 'lothqs were perforated with 'bullets. Shortly after, Lai Singh was killed in the trench.

RECRUITING 3 M CANADA. ! “STILL GOING STRONG.” OTTAWA, July 29. Eighteen of thirty millions voted for war purposes lias already boon expended. The attention of the military- authorities has been called to inflammatory articles published in Mr Bonrassa’s paper, “La Devoir.” Mr Bourassa takes strong exception to the attitude of firms to simulate the movement inaugurated by the Stock Exchange, encouraging unmarried employees to enlist. lie contends that- it. is akin to intimidation and _it tolerated conscription would virtually be in force. . In the city recruits are oflering as fast as they can be enrolled. A nurnber of Austrians endeavored to pass as naturalised Russians, and when the imposture was discovered stampeded. THE SEA WOLVES. SUBMARINES’ RECORD FOR WEEK. LONDON, July 29Enemy sub marines, in a week, sank three British merchant vessels, totalliu'<" 5049 tons, and 10 lisliing boats. (Received July 30, 9.15 p.m.) Copenhagen reports that an inquiry into the sinking of the No, gill shows that the submarine, alter examination, allowed the vessel to proceed, but later seven large German torpodoeis stopped the Nogill and, alter two hours’ ernloro.n(*(*, t.lio ofliutTs clociciocl to blow her up because her cargo was relative to contraband. The Swedish brig Eortuna was submarined and llie crew sent into Cuxliaven. HOiEOFTHE SEA WOLVES more raids on.zeebrugge. s (Received Julv 31, 1.20 a.m.) ROTTERDAM, July 30. Allied airmen raided Zeebrugge and Knocko on Thursday, and considerably damaged the mole and bridge over the canal at Zeobmggo. AUSTRALIAN STEMS.

MELBA AND THE WAR FUNDS

(Received July 30, 8.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE; July 30. Melba’s farewell concert netted £3OOO, making £30,000 the diva has raised for the various Australian war funds. Various firips’ statements m the press deny the alleged overcharging for. nurses’ uniforms and invite the strictest investigation.