New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-21
ITALIANS SECURE
REAL FOOTHOLD
EAST OF ISONzO
Austrians Driven from
Last of the Heights
Near PLAYA.
BATTLE CALLED
BRILLIANT VICTORY
Notable Engagement Crowns
Four Weeks of Uninterrupted
SuccesseS-LOsses Heavy.
ny Gable to The TrIbune.l

London, June 2t-A Rome dispatch
ia "Thc Daily News" says: THE first
four weeks of the war nave been
marked by an uninterrupted series OF
successes from Trentino TO the Adri-
attic. They close with the bril-! liant
victory at PLAYA, just announced by
General Cadorna. Students OF the
Italian campaign will need no reminder
Of the value Of this new foothOld on
the left bank Of the Isonzo, permitting
as it does the development of con
centrations on Gorilla to the south
and Tolmino to the north.
This battle Is the more significant
because it occurred at point where
General Cadorna's forces enjoyed ell
bow room to develop their attack on
larger scale than had been iossible
previously. The Italians, it is clear,
owe this victory as much to the tacti-
cal superiority shown by the COM
manders as to the tenacity and valor
of the troops 80 highly praised by the
Commander-in-Chief
IF the losses were relatively grave
in this battle for the heights Of PLAYA
it is some satisfaction to know that
the good work done in the preceding
weeks was accomplished at a surpris-
lnRly low cost.
Rome (va Paris), June 19.-An off,
cial statement from main headquarters
Of the Italian army, most Of which Is
devoted to details of the two days
struggle for the heights on the left
bank of the Isonzo River, near PLAYA,
says that the Italians took the last of
these heights remaining in the hands
of the Austrians on June II, and that
while the Italian losses were heavy the
results attained were important. The
communication says that on the lsonzo,
which the Italians passed by main
force" the Austrian positions have
been taken one after another by as
sault. The statement follows:
Artillery duels and engagements be
tween small bodies occupied several
points on the front on June 10. In
Carnia the enemy made fresh attacks
on Freifofel and attempted to approach
the head of the Valonia Pass. They
were repulsed in each case.
New details now have been received
of the struggle which continued two
days and a night for the heights on
the left bank of the lsonzo River, com
manding PLAYA village, which is sit
uated at the bottom of defile Enclosed
by steep, wooded slope between which
the river runs, deep and rapid. The
bridge crossing the Isonzo at this point
had been destroyed by the enemy.
With patient efforts and boldness we
threw bridges across during the night
and at dawn on June 16 our troops
began an attack. The movement was
carried out all day slowly on account
- nd
ficulties of the ground, increased by
serious artificial obstacles and solid
entertainments protected by extensive
barbed wire entanglements strength
ened by iron T bars.
Numerous heavy guns, even 12-inch
guns, were concealed in commanding
positions which were difficult for our
artillery to reach. Nevertheless, sup
ported by the fire of our batteries, our
troops succeeded by repeated bayonet
charges in debouching on the enemy's
first line toward evening. During the
night the enemy tried several times
with sudden dashes to deprive us OF
the ground conquered, but always they
were thrown back.
"On the seventeenth our troops COM
pleted their success by carrying the
heights still in the hands of the enemy.
The l,tter then concentrated on. them
violent artillery and machine gun fire,
which was followed up by another
counter-attack by fresh troops. He was
decimated and definitely driven back at
the point of the bayonet.
ION the Isonzo, which VIC passed by
main force, the enemy's positions, natu-
rally commanding and further strength
ened by art, have been, one after an
other, taken by assault. Attempts to
assume the offensive by numerous sea-
soned troops have been constantly re-
pulsed On the heights of PLAYA our
infantry, we'll supported by artillery,
has given a fine example of tenacity