Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-04

that Napoleon advanced toward Vienna in
1897 and reached the summit of the Semmer-
ing Pass before Austria yielded and the
Treaty OF Campo Formio brought peace This
road is commanded by Fort Malborgetto and
other works
A few miles south of Pontebba the Isonzo
River begins to parallel the Austro-Italian
frontier, few miles to the east Down this
from Tolmino to Gorilla runs the Trieste
Trent Railroad, which is also one OF the two
lines connecting Trieste with Vienna. At
Gorilla this railroad meets the Venice
Trieste Railroad and swings east. Still fur
ther to the south and just before the Isonzo
enters the Adriatic. II is crossed by q second
railroad coming east from Italy and reach
ing Trieste along the seacoast by Nabresina-
Now from Tolmino to the sea the Austrians
have fortified the eastern shore of the Isonzo.
From Tolmino to Gorizia this river flows
through narrow gorge. At Gorilla, how
ever, the western bank, rising first to some
little elevation on the Podgora hill, sinks
to the level Of the plain. But on the east,
the Carso Plateau, stretching north from
Trieste meets the Isonzo, which flows to the
sea along it's base.
The Austrian position is in the main he
hind the Isonzo. protected at first by the
gorge. But near Gorizla It crosses the river
and holds the Podgora hill, which is the key
OF Gorilla. South of this point 1t follows the
crest of the Carso Plateau, touching the sea
north OF Nabresina, which is in sight OF
Trieste.
Italy's Task
Thus the Isonzo position rests upon three
fortified points, Malborgetto at the north
Tolmino In the centre and Gorizia and the
Carso Plateau at the south Close 10 this
line runs the Trent-Trieste railway. so near
as to be under fire Of the Italian artillery
and unserviceabe. Here, as about Cortina.
the military frontier does not coincide with
the political, and the Austrian frontier in
cluded several towns notably Monfaicone
and Gradisca. which were outside the first
line of defences.
Against the Trentine projection, the barb
from the Stelvio Pass on the Swiss from
ter to Cortina, at the Ampezzo, Italy was
bound to press an attack which had for
ts OBJECT FIRST the seizing of all possible
positions commanding the entrance into the
naiian plain BY occupying the first foot
mis- the lower ends of these passes, she
might nope to close the door to possible
Austro- German invasion later. This was a
whole Trentine salient were taken she wouIa
be no nearer any Austrian objective
Secondly. Italy was bound 10 follow the
Hrst advances by serious ana sustained
operation, directed at reducing the fort.
about Trent and thus abolishinR the don-
gerous enemy citadel within her natural
frontiers. BY bringing up her heavy art,I-
lery she could hope slowly but surely 70 ra.
peat the triumphs won SO easily nv the
Germans at Ltege and Antwerp. unless The
Austrians were able. initiating the French
at Verdun, to hold her OFF by trenches.
Thirdly, Italy was bound to endeavor %
push north over the AmpezEo and Monte
Croce passes into the Pusterthal ana
thence west against Franzenfeste In tha
endeavor TO isolate the Trentine salient ana
thus completely encircle II and inaura ,,s
ultimate surrender to famine and exhaua.
tion Of ammunition. This again was a AZ
fensive move, designed TO abolish an anav,,,
threat but without meaning offens,veIS
even when accomplished.
Fourthly, there was the Isonzo nroh,.,,,
Unlike Napoleon, cadorna had no imrn.-
diate ambition to take the road 10 v,snn.
Trieste was his objective. ana therefore ri
main thrust was to be made not at Nal
oorsetto. not even al Tolmino, but at Cor.
e' "'housh subsidiary operations against
tnose points would contribute TO the na,n
operation by aiding In isolating Il. But a.
win Trieste ne must push across ~
isonso take oorizia. sweep the crest OF the
carso Plateau, following the oorizia- rr,ss,s
railway until he arrived In the rear q, ,hs
latter city and cut the main Trieste v,snns
nns' when Trieste would fall automstically
What Has Been Accomplished
ot thls fourfold task. what has Italy ac-
compilshsdf First Of aI. In the opening
" .ns war there was sudden dash for
ward. All around the Trentlna harh ~.
the steIyio to the Ampezso Italian Ain,na
troops made rapid advances. Ala. at ,hs
point Of the hook, the nrst Austrian town
rhs taken cortina on the Italian SIDE ~
.ne Ampe1zo was occupied Midway he.
W. .~sen tneSe points force pushed up n.
VA susana and occupied Boreo. A,ens
'his whole sector the work q ssis,n- ~