The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-26
Austrian battery of big guns
captured by Italians after all
defenders had been killed.
Are Now Several Miles i'm the
Rear Of Stronghold Of
the IsOnZO.
ITALIANS CAPTURE MANY
Special Correspondence 10 TuE sr>

ROME, Sept. Since the beginning
OF the battle of the Isonz new from
the front is very scarce. The few Ital-
ian correspondents who managed to
pay flying visits to the general head
quarters. over twenty miles from the
fighting line. and collect second hand
information from indirect sources have
been sent away. Wounded soldiers have
been ordered not to talk and their let
ters home are censored. Other precau-
lions have been adopted to prevent de-
scriptibns Of the lighting from leaking
out.
Following the first sdvanc. OF the
Italians along the Isonzo line from
PLAYA to Monfalcone with Goritz as
the immediate objective the .Austrians
were forced to abandon their formidable
iutrenchments in the Carso region and
began "A retreating movement. Had the
Austrians any hope left OF retaking the
trenches they would have merely retired
to their second line defences and
awaited reenforcements, while their ar
tillery could have easily checked the
italian advance.
Instead. after an artillery duel which
lasted two weeks and ended with the
successful advance of the Italians, the
Austrians withdrew their guns several
miles behind Goritz, so that now they
are defending this city but not their
intrenchments in front Of II.
locate New Positions.
The Italians are enabled to locate
the present positions OF the Austrlans
from the rockets which are sent up
at night from the enemy's new lines.
These rockets. which at nrst lliunl-
mated the western slopes Of the hills
-. 49,. I,ul,n,,1 nrn ~ franrhAI are
now falling in a southwestern direction
and no longer illuminating the hills.
Moreover, the encmy's artillery hre has
decreased in intensity and the shells ran
short or explode high in the air.
The Italians order the immediate
evacuation OF all the Inhabitants from
every village and hamlet they occupy
in their advance. The Austrians lnvari-
ably direct their fire against every place
occupied by the Italians. so that the IN
habitants are exposed to great danger
IL allowed to remain in their houses.
There are, moreover, among the inhabi-
tants many spies and snipers VINO
cannot be identified at once. the spies
and snipers generally remain behind in
defiance OF the order and are easily
found and shot, The Austrian artil-
lery fires widely when no spies are
left to regulate the range
III seems IIA'llNdlls Ai' ;"
Austrians, while still holding Goritz
and resisting the Italian advance along
the Carso region. are gradually pre-
pairing for a general retreat by con-
ccntrating troops along the railroad be-
tween Goritz and Lalbach, winch the
Italians will threaten II perhaps cut
off as soon as they are in possession
of the Carso lakeland.
With the occupation Of San Michele al
an .lA,.t -nn fnAt high hnNnnn
the Isonzo, southwest of Goritz, and
Monte Sci Bust, further south. the ltal-
ians have gained possession of two domi-
Mating positions on the Carso plateau,
across which they are now advancing.
The Austrians here held positions con-
sisting OF several lines OF trenches
strengthened by trunks of trees held to-
gether with iron clamps covered with
armor plating and protected by entan-
elements. mines n other obstacles,
These trenches were taken ny the Ital-
iGns after a long artillery preparation,
during which patrols were sent out with
explosives in long steel tubes which
serve to blow up the entanglements and
open breaches for the attacking forces.
When the signal was given to advance
the infantry rushed forward with fixed
bayonets. shouting their war cry, "Sa-
vo.a, Savoia.' while the artillery ex-
tended Its range and hred behind the
trenches In order to prevent the Aus
TRANS from escaping. This explains why
when the infantry rushed the trenches
so many Austrians were taken prisoners.
When the Italians conquered a
Michele over 1000 prisoners were taken,
sideliGhts or Fighting.
Here are a couple of interesting side
lights on the war:
A company OF Alpine troops was in
trenched about fifty yards from the Aus
trians. Both the Italian and Austrian
renches We're so well protected that II
was useless for their occupants to shoot
at each other. So the days passed and
the Italians and Austrians remained
buried In the ground watching each
other and getting tired OF their forced
inactivity, The Italians were impatient
for IA fight and repeatedly asked their
officers to let them attack the enemy.
The orders were TO hold the position
ut any cost and the officers naturally
had to remain on the defensive. Al
ter n couple of days, one morning two
rian soldiers came out OF their
trench and shouted to tho Italians 10
surrender, In bad Italian they cx-
planned that they would he treated well.
Let US co. the italian soldiers asked