The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1915-05-28
Germany's Reply to U. S. to
Be Of I,nporizing Nature

between flying machines and anti
alrcraft. An aeroplane, rising from
peh1nd the Austrian lines at $50
O'Clock this morning, darted over the
rocky ground in front of the. Italian
positions.
A field battery opened fire as It
came within range. The first shot
missed. The second struck fairly,
causing flames to burst from the
motor The aeroplane plunged down
ward and was splintered on the rocks.
Ihls was one of the incidents at
tending the opening of the Austro-
Italian campaign as witnessed by A
correspondent of the associated press
Along this part of the front, where
the Italians are advancing in the di-
rection of Triest, there were stirring
scenes, although as yet there has been
little heavy fighting.
The correspondent was permitted to
go close enough to the front to OBJ
tain panoramic view of this sec
ton of the fighting line. Visits to
Santandrat, Palmanova and other
towns near the border furnished a
good idea of the condition under
which the Italian invasion OF Austria
IS being carried on. At Palmanova,
1t was possible to obtain a birdseye
view OF the surrounding country,
The people OF the village were watch
ing the spectacle of cavalry charges
and artillery action over the nearby
front. 1t is a picturesque region az
green hills and quaint villages, among
which wind dusty, white roads.
When the order was given earlier
In the week for the advance across
the norder, the italian troops were in
readiness for the move. The com
mand came at 2:S0 o'clock in the
morning and half an hour later the
soldiers were on the march. The in !
tantry proceeded in long files. head
ed by sharp shooters. From converg-
ing. roads came artillery Carriages
motor trucks and detachments of
cavalry
The first shot of the war was fired
py frontier guard at Bellacuua who
having seen in the semi darkness a
shadoWy figure approaching shoc
dead an Austrian soldier who was at
tempting to fire a mine. With the SIM
rise artillery fire opened from the di :
rect1on. of Civildale. italian troops
everywhere sprang to the attack
tios9Ing the !dris, swarming across
Drioges and climbing the hills beyond.
FROM time to time, tremendous ex-
plosions were heard above the rear
OF artillery. They marked the fIrinp
OF mines, by means of which ths
Austrtans were blowing I'm tbeir
bridges as they fell back. The Ans
trlans made little attempt to halt IN.
Itallans' advance, although elaborate
preparations had been made along tha
border, Railway lines were obstruct-
ed by heavy beams, laid across the
track, and fastened down with chains,
The roads were blocked with trenches.
trees and wire entanglements
Brazane is the first village on Aus
trian soil in which the italian flag
was flown. 1t was run UP on the bell
Try or the village church
AT San Giovanni, Mazane, the cor
respondent saw the first of the Italian
wounded and also the first Austrian
prisoner captured, member Of fhe
iandsturm from Frinli. AS he was
brought into the Italian lines, he kepf
repeating Il am an Italian"
All along this section of the front
there We're signs of war, Roads were
Illied with long lines of transports and
RED cross automobiles. Everywhere
battalions of soldiers were to be seen
held back as yet from the fighrin,
line.
Picking their way through tl
crowded roads, were carts drawn b>
oxen, In which were women and chill
dren, with their household goods. Be
hind them walked the men, fleeing
from the battle-swept region.