Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-04

first positions, the outside door. as It were,
to the Italian plain, was accomplished with
alacrity.
But the approach to the permanent for
tifcations was less successful Patiently
the Austrians had digested the lessons of
Verdun, for not yet have the Italian siege
guns been able to drop shells in Trent No
where in this region have the Italians made
an appreciable progress against the first line
of Austrian trenches, far outside the line of
the permanent forts. Nor have they been
any more successful in their drive toward
the Pusterthal. In the opening hours of the
war they took Cortina, and advanced UP the
Ampezzo and Monte Croce Pass, but eight
miles from Toblach and the Trieste Villach-
Trente railroad they have been halted, have
been stationary or nearly so for three
months
AS to the fourth task, that of forcing the
Isonzo line the situation is only different in
a degree. Fort Malborgetto still holds out,
although 1t has frequently been demolished
in Milan reports. The Pontebba road to
Villach, which Napoleon forced remains
closed. To the south early progress about
Tolmino has not been sufficiently great to
threaten the Gorilla position. The storming
Of Monte Nero, near Tolmino has been de-
bulletins. The Trieste villach railroad seems
TO have been cut here, but Enthusiastically thu
Austrians are maintaining their position, and
the Italians have been unable to make any
real advance beyond that OF the opening
dash.
The length OF the Gorilla battle front may
be estimated at about 25 miles 1t extends
roughly speaking, from Plava where the
Isonzo approaches the Italian plain, to the
Carso Plateau, just north of the Adriatic
and little east of Monfalcone. Gorilla is
about in the centre. Except at the hill of
Podgora, the Austrian line is On the east
side of the Isonzo, but this HILL commanding
the bridge heads and the town itself which
lies in the plain, is the key to the whole
position and is west Of the river.
Back to Trench Work
South Of Gorilla the Isonzo makes wide
bend to the west and then to the east, enter
ing the Adriatic near Monfalcone. But here
the Austrian line crosses the Carso Plateau.
making the string to the bow which is the
curve OF the river. The main Austrian posi-
tion Is near the town OF poberdo. which has
figured frequently in the bulletins of Vienna
and Rome
In the opening days OF the war the Ital-
ians rushed forward from their territory. n
few miles west of the Isonzo, TO the river
towns OF Gradisca and Monfalcone, captured
both and crossed the river. They also forced
a crossing OF the river to the north about
PLAYA. But here and to the south thew
quickly encountered the Austrians in pre-
pared positions, and the familiar trench war
resulted.
Early In August both Vienna and Rome
agreed that the Italians made a series OF at
taeks. preceded by artillery. These attacks
were desperate efforts to force the lines still
held by relatively small Austrian forces he
fore German or Austrian reinforceuepts
could be sent from the east. Rome reports
substantial gains; Vienna, total defeat. Tn
ary event Gorilla did not fall. The attacks
presently ceased. in consequence OF appalling
losses the Austrians claim. The Italian aT-
PLANTATION tends to confirm that OF their
enemy. They allege that they have balted
TO rest consolidate positions gained ana
bring up artillery.
but there is little reason to doubt the Au.-
Iian assertion that the EFFORT 10 foroa ~.
uorizia position has been heavily checkeS
ana italy has gone back 10 trench wor,,
An odd detail OF this campaign liz tha ,sa.
that much Of the Austrian position A. oDs,,
TO naval bombardment. but so effect,va -.
tne threat OF the Austrian submarine hss,
that no naval help has been sent ,o ,,,-
corner OF the Adriatic '"'s