New Britain herald., 1917-12-07
AUSTRO.GERMANS
 GET 4,0OO MORE New Offensive Brings In a New
 Total to 15,00O Italians SOME AUS1RIANS CAUGHT
They Claim That the Russian Pris- Oners of War Have Been Released from Austria and Given Safe Pas sage to Their Country.

sage to Their Country.
 Berlin, Dec. 7, Via London.-Four thousand more Italians have been cap- tured in the new Austro-German of fensive on the Northern front, bring ing up the total to 15,00O, according to today's official communication. Vienna, Dec. 6, via London, Dec. z. British Admiralty, per Wireless Press)-The Austro- Hungarian gen. eral headquarters today issued the following official statement:
 '"The enemy, has suffered a heavy defeat. Early Tuesday after power full artillery preparation in which Ger man batteries co-operated with the troops under Field Marshal Conrad we launched attack against the mountain positions in the Meletta re- zion and having reached a high eleva- tio installed with defensive works, the stubbornly conducted defense was broken. The deep snow and severe cold rendered progress difficult but the careful preparation for the attack and the bravery of the attackers-na- tives from all parts of Austria Hun gary--were able to overcome every counter measure.
 Early Wednesday Monte Bade- necche and Monte Tondarecar fell. and at midday Kaiseriaeger regi- ment No. 3 stood on Monte Gifta. Toward evening the Italian resistance on the Meletta ridge broke down be- fore our encircling and storming at tacks. Enemy endorsements com ing up from Valstagna were taken on the flank by the fire of our batteries, situated east of the Brenta
 During the morning hours yester- day the enemy, after a bitter strua- gle, lost Monte Demo and the rear positions near Foza. At two in the afternoon the brave Italian defenders who had been completely cut off por twenty four hours on Monte Castel- gomberto laid down their arms. All the terrain north of Frenzela rav,1e is in our hands.
 "In addition to their important sanguinary losses the Italians in these two days have lost more than 11,00O prisoners and over sixty guns. Our losses, due to the clever conduct of the fighting opera tions, were small.
 Near Benson where we have oc- cupied the western bank of the Piave for weeks past Egerland in- fantry regiments successfully with stood storming attacks of several hours duration made by superior forces"
 Italian Headquarters Northern Italy, Dec. 6-(By the Associated Press.)- The big operation which the enemy is attempting in the north is virtually a repetition of the turning movement he executed six weeks ago in the great offensive above Gorizia.
 The Austro German attack on Me letta not only affects the lines in that region but if the enemy could pierce through and drive his way south ward onto the plains it might place him on the left flank of the Piave lines, much as the Duke of Aosta had his Third army at Gorizia with the enemy on his left flank. The line east of Asiago' probably is stronger to- day than before the retirement yes- terdav as it is now a straight line. Formerly it was like long inverted letter U with the Italian on the inside of the U and the enemy on the out side.
 It has been established that while Field Marshal Conrad von HoetZen- dorff is directing the movement, Gen. von Krobatin's forces also are CO., | operating.
 In addition to the superiority in 1 numbers the Austro-Germans are | taking advantage of the backward season and are striking before the 1 mountain snows impede operations.
 Austrian prisoners taken in the past 1 few days say the release of Russian
 prisoners held in Austria began ten ] days ago Austria took the initiative 1 in this without waiting for Russia to