The daily progressive-miner., 1915-12-30
REVIEW OF ITALY'S
 PROGRESS THUS FAR
LITTLE WAS AFFECTED To-
 WARDS PRIEST OR TRENT

S
 has accomplished thus far in her campaign against Austria. He says that what Italy has accomplished in the war is best understood by taking a map of Italy showing the northern frontier. The Alps sweep in a great semi-circle from the French frontier on the Mediterran can to the Austrian frontier on the Adriatic. This sweep of the Alps from west to east is sort of natural bulwark of boundary Of Italy, separating it from the na- tions and races to the north now, as it did in the days of ancient Rome.
 But in two places this regular sweep southward, first in the Trent region in the west. and then in the Trieste region of the upper Ardi- atic.
 At these two vital points Aus tria has stretched down and firmly established her political control, her control of Trent dating from the time of Napoleon, and of the Trieste region from the war of 1866.
 The first object therefore of Italy's campaign is to get back the two provinces which dent the reg ular frontier of the Alps, thus re- gaining former Italian territory and re-estabhshing the great noun tain range as the strategic defense. This main objective has necessitat ed dividing the campaign into two parts. one on the west with Trent as the center. and the other in the east with Trieste as the chief ob- ject. Between 100000 and 5O00oo men are engaged in the western operations directed against Trieste.
 These two objectives are separ- ate campaigns. Both, however, are under the direction Of Gen. Cad orna, commander in chief.
 The main Italian drive has been in the eastern section toward Trieste. the great Austrian port of +ho Adriatic. lying just across from Venice. This rich prize is hardly more than ten days march from the Italian frontier. And yet, the war has been going on for six
 -hs-since May 23-and the Italian army is nowhere near Trieste. The military leaders say this Austrian stronghold could have been taken any time in fifteen days but it could not be held, as the Carso mountains sweep around back of Trieste. with Austrian bat teries posted at every crest. The Italian commanders. therefore, de- cided that it was 9 military nces- sity to control all the approaches and mountain defenses before oc- cupying the city. That has been the task of the campaign going on during the last six months
 Most Of the fighting in this re zion has been along the Isonzo river, with the Austrian town of Gorizia as the main point of at tack. Here the Italians began the slow and tedious process Of first gaining control Of all the elevated positions which could serve the Austrians before pressing forward on Gorizia and Trieste
 The Italian commanders express ed satisfaction with the progress made in the last six months. All the fighting has been on Austrian soil, and no Austrian troops have at any time entered Italy. Two Austrian coast ports, Porto Buso and Grado, leading toward Trieste, have been taken by the Italians. and from Grado the lights of Trieste can be seen at night. across the gulf named after that city.
 Further north, in the mountain country, the Plava pass has been won, though at the cost Of whole regiments cut to pieces, and chain of mountain tops, villages and sta- tions has been established encircl- ing Gorizia. But Gorizia itself still holds out through it's natural noun tain defenses and it's railway lines pouring in constant supplies of fresh troops and ammunition.
 Quite distinct from the campaign around Gorizia is that in Trentino, further west. This has all beeD mountain fighting and little pro- gress has been made. The great Alpine ranges sweep around further north, but down through Trentino run innumerable spurs of the Trentino Alps, making it vast stretch of gorges and peaks. It Is called the Tyrolean country. but the real Tyrol is further north, around Innsbruck, and the population there speaks German.
 But here the people are all Ital- ian, in language, habits and senti- ment, and although in name Aus trians, most of the men have gone to join the Italian army.
 The objective in this western fighting sto take Trent, in the eon+ox T,Aon+.uo aho,4+ fif4v YoiIoc