The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-17
AUSTRIANS IN Big
FIGHT TO CHECK
ITALIAN INVASION
Elaborate Defence Works
Erected at GOritz stop
Advance Of Foe.
NAVAL BATTLE NEAR
IN THE ADRTATIC
>y,c,ai cabie Dcspatch TO Tnt srS.

>y,c,ai Cabie Dcspatc1 10 Tnt suS.
ROME. June l6.-The stand OF the
austri,us at Goritz is developing the
srs, general engagement OF the Italian
campaign. The Italian troops, having
established themselves on the eastern
hank of the lsonzo ut three important
,o,,,s have found that the Austrians
40 solid,y intrenched on Il long line of
Iuls stretching from Podgora, west OF
cori,z to Monte Fortine in the lsonzo
valley south cf the
According to an official report from
Cen cadofna, chief Of the Italian Gen.
.,,l stan, the Austrian defences are con-
cote ln,renchments often In several
rncs. protected by "A network OF mines
ami concealed batteries. Against these
no.itions the Italians have had to con-
,sn, themselves 50 far with artillery IN
st long ange. meanwhile at
,,mntirg TO outfiank the Austrians 10
tho north and attack from the . the
Mountains forming a natural defence for
co,i,z Gen. Cadorna that
tho artillery duel lis proceeding salts
fac,orily"
North OF Toimino. where the itaio
Austrian frontier bends TO the south In
the lprer reaches of the lsonZo. there
nav, been fierce infantry engagements
An official statement issued Tonight says
that In the Monte Nero region the Alpine
,,o,ps were victorious in a terrific noun
lain fight. taking 900 prisoners
Austrinns plan Invasion.
n, the Carnic front the activity OF
,Ne Austrians makes 1t seem that they
are concentrating larbe numbers oil
,,oops in the region of Monte Croce
with the intention OF attempting an IN
,as.on of Italy at that point TO offset
,he incursion of the Italians on the
Friuli front and compel the Italians To
tush reenforcements to the army hold-
,rr IN. Carnic passes and = diminish
The strength of the army attacking Co
RIA.
Beiveen the Val d'lnferno and Nal
tngghe,to. on a plateau 1000 feet above
the level of the sea. desperate hghtine
Is going on every day. The Austrians
are Offering an effective resistance to
the Italian advance here, the ltaliaI
objective being the railroad from tht
interior OF the empire to Franzenfeste
IN Tyrol.
IL has been learned in the course oi
artillery engagements to the east o,
Monfalcone that the Austrians have
fortified practically every step of the
road from Monfalcone to Trieste. Der
saglieri moving inward from Monfal'
cone were shelled from batteries con-
cealed on the mountain sides n tht
Italian gunners Immediately negan th'
feeling out" process to learn ths
strength of the enemy's d~efences.
I'll. fasa., A,nV from tho NhtRf n
STAFF Is as follows:
On the Tyrol-Trcntino-Cador front
We gradually are occupying dominat-
Ing points. Except for distsn artil-
lery nre and new but unsuccessful
stacks on June IS against the sum
nit Of Vellone. In the upper valley of
the Pave tCarnic Alps), III adver-
sary has not shown in this I, gion any
particular sign OF activity.
Intense attacks have been made by
the enemy on the Carnic frontier.
either near the defiles of Val SEES
sis, watch still t. strongly held by
us. or especially against the rear line
Of Mont Avosta mis-. to the defilc OF
Monte Croce. Here on the morning OF
June II the enemy made "A vigorous
attack, preceded by an intense artil-
lery IRE. which began in the night.
and became very violent ut daybreak'
The enemy was ~repulssd n pursued
o. the point OF the bayonct.
Long distance artillery actions &C.
Cured. also. in the zone OF Monte
Nero, on the Seleme-Mazli front and
on the Kodiak.
Along the Isonzo, on the line from
podgora TO Monte Fortire. and the in
tsrsection of the Monfalcone Canal.
"Reminiscences showed the precise
quality Of the defensive works pre-
pared by the enemy on the lsonzo
front. They include ln%trenchments,
sometimes in several lines and often
In masonry or in concrete, reinforced
by metallic sheeting and protected by
network of mines or batteries often
placed below the earth.
A very active night surveillance -
exercised by the enemy, aided by
searchlights and rockets, with tele-
graphic and telephone communica-
ton.
An examination of some Of u
wounded shows that the enemy is
usig explosive projectiles. An inspec-
ton Of the remnants of projectiles
where there has been fighting also
shows that the enemy has been en-
ployinc dcvx cs explicitly condemned
by international conventions.
Heavy rains yesterday afternoon
and last night have disturbed living
conditions in our camps. but have
tempered the heat of the last few
days. The health Of our troops con-
tlnues excellent and their spirits al
ways are high.
Fleet Puts to Sea.
The Italian fleet which has been con
esntrated since the opening of hostilitie
al laramie, near the entrance to III
Acrlalc, put to sea this morning unde