The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-25
GORITZ IN ITALIANS
HANDS, ROME HEARS
Officers From Front Report
Capture Of IsOnzo
Stronghold.
Is THE KEY TO TRIESTE
War Office Tells of Heavy
Fighting. but Fails to Men,
ton Fall of City.
Is THE KEY TO TRIESTE
Speoai cable Despatch to THr srS.

the entire campaign on the Isonzo. has
fallen before the combined artillery
and infantry attacks of the Italians.
according to news brought to Rome
to-day by stan officers who have Just
returned from field headquarters.
These officers further report that
the results Of the Italian offensive be-
gun several days ago on the entire
front from the Alps to the sea. de-
signed to relieve the Teutonic pressure
on Serbia. are much more important
than has been announced in the Off
cial reports from Gen. Cadorna, chief
of staff. which have been given out
by the War Office here.
Official informal! ;!oi. on the extent of
the Italian gains in Tyrol and on the
lsonZo are, they say. withheld until
the positions conquered by the Italian
troops are consolidated and their ad-
yances are made "A permanent victory.
According TO these officers Goritz fell
three days ago.
The official statement issued by the
Italian War Office tonight makes nU
mention of the fall OF Goritz. but speaks
Of heavy lighting in that vicinity In
which the Italians were victorious. The
Italians took Austrian intrenchments
on Monte Sabotino and Podgora Hill
in the Goritz zone and under tire of
the Austrian artillery captured posi-
lions on the Carso plateau which the
Italian ARTILLERY had bombarded. The
Aus;rians made counter attack and
the positions were taken and retaken
the Italians at nightfall retaining their
advantage on the left wing. east of
Peteino, and in the centre in the direc-
ton of Monte Marcottin. The Italians
claim the capture OF 1908 prisoners
in the days fighting ON the lsonzo.
Italian war once Report.
The official statement follows:
\ new and brilliant success has been
achieved by our offensive. In the
Ledro valley our troops on October
% penetrated tho Bezacc, basin and
occupied "A village and a height DOM
mating II on the edge OF the Concei
valley.
In the upper Cordcvole valley we
destroyed enemy works on the Col
di Lana and captured two forts and
twenty-five prisoners.
October 23 an enemy attack on our
positions at the mouth of the lower
Polena was repulsed.
In the Fella valley there were new
and favorable encounters at pont-
afcl and I.eopoldskirchen
In the Monte Nero zone ,uorth OF
TolmnoJ We completed the occupation
Of hill southwest of the Mrzli and
rcpuscd two violent attacks ON our
Nodil positions.
On Monte Sabotlno and lodgora
hill, in III. Goritz zone, we took in
trenchments
ON the Carso plateau yesterday
there was a violent combat. pur in
fantrv advanced under iiro OF the
enemys artillery and captured his
positions which already had been
oyerthrowu 10y our batteries. The
euemy then opened a violent .lr".
launching new columns in counter
attack. Thus important positions
were several times captured. lost and
retaken. our troops AZ nightfall
maintained firmly their progress ON
the lcct wing east of Peteano and in
the centre toward Monte Marcottini,
Prisoners To the number ~ 0o3.
including sixteen officers. also three
machine guns ana u quantity OF mu-
/ ritions, marked the days success
along tUe lSpi1Lb IIoiihs
For five months TIE Italian big guns
nave been ha ammering the strong fort
set on the steep hills around Gorit2
y hich. situated in a pocket formed by
h,vd in the lsonZo, its natural protection
on the west, and the mountains stretch
I ing in a semcircl" north. east and south
has been regarded by the Austrians an,
military experts of other countries ~
an impregnable fortress.
The Italian General STAFF has made NJ
/ secret OF it's belief that the fall of Goritt
means a dear road to Trieste, the grra
/ Austrian port at the head of the Adri
! attic which is the chief Italian OBJECTIVE
I IN the campaign. liilaire Belloc, th'
/ british military expert in diScussin.
! this phase of the Italian campaign three
| months ago said:
! Until Goritz is taken the Italian
| cannot advance upon Trieste. That 4
why the attempt to capture or mas
| GoritH Is for the moment the ma!'
, Italian operation"
Gorit2 is about twenty-five miles h!
rail from the Adrlatic port. From IN
stronghold run two railroads 10 Trieste
! one of these roads, following the lson2
! 10 Sagrado south Of Gradisca, an,
thence turning eastward and folioNin,
. lIf Nu'lfllC 'otSl 10 ll' .Nuflttlf pOl
II IN tho hands Of the Italians as far a
! Nonfalcone. twelve miles from Trieste
| The other runs southeastward from
/ Goritz across the Carso plateau.
! The seizure Of Goritz would max,
effective the advances Of the Italians o,
| this plateau. which have been very slov
/ on account Of the nature of the ground
/ Tho Carso ,lterally "rock'D is a vas
| tahleland OF chalky formation in whicl
! the rains. instead of forming streams
dug out natural trenches and "houche
de loup,t which have been occupied b,
Austrian infantry, while the heights "A
/ the edge of the plateau and in it's cen
| tire have been transformed into strongl,
fortified positions.
| 1t was impossible for the Italian
either to cross the plateau or to skir
| 1t on the road to Trieste while the gun
of Gorltz held the flank of the invaders
| Further up the lsonzo there is anothc
! fortress, TOlmno. about nine miles L
the north, and because OF the torrcnt!a
course of the Isonzo. dashing betwee
| cliffs several hundred feet high. militar
operations between the two fortresse
were almost impossible Hence tn
Italian decision to reduce them at an
cost
10 the west OF Goritz on the westcr
bank of the IsonZo Is the spur of Pod
CORA. beneath which the hlRhroad am
the railroad cross the river This wa
the main defence of the Austrian
against the Italian attacks. If il fe
the stronghold fell too 1t was there
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InnIi,,uca on gsus,,,J D,n,