Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-10
ITALIANS BATTLE ALONG
HIGHEST CARRIAGE ROAD
Stelvio Pass, 900 Feet Above the
Sea, Reached by Tortuous
Highway.
Roman Army Must Pass Over This
in Its Invasion Of
Austria.

Over one of the most difficult noun
tain passes in Europe, Stelvio pass, an
Italian column of invasion is reported
to be pushing its dangerous and pain
full advance. This rocky way Is de-
scribed in recent war primer OF the
National Geographic Society. and the
description will explain to Americans
why the progress of an invader over
this path must necessarily be slow and
made only at dreadful cost.
"Stelvio pass, where the highest wag-
on road in all Europe takes it's course
between Italy and Austria near the Dor
ders of Switzerland. begins Its climb
among q wild tangle of hills, plunges
through a savage ravine, and struggles
tortuously out again, over tossing
sea of rocks, writhing like monster
serpent in agony, now going forward,
now doubling back upon itself. 1t is
filled throughout its course with sharp
hairpin turns. as it lifts itself ever
higher up the mountain ledge, until 1t
reaches a point $500 feet above the sea.
Highest Carriage Point.
Tho summit Of this pass is the
highest point In tho world accessible
to carriages; II reaches $50 feet higher
than tho estimated line Of perpetual
snow in the latitude Of Stelvio. There
IL an indescribable grandeur about the
scenery at the summit. and. also. an in
describable bleak savagery in Its man.
ner, which. as war theater, must
mako the effect appalling: The mag
way, with Its massive brother orags.
Tho smash and echo of mountain ar
tillery among these awful rocks 10 al
most unthinkable-
'Robed in eternal snow, the forbid
ding Ortler-Spitz sends enormous gla-
ciers into the valley below the road
Great rock masses, themselves the size
of mountains. stream in rugged, brok-
en-, black-scarred patterns around the
way. BY the side OF the deep ravine
into which tho glaciers sink, the road
way, often fascinating in its ragged
sheerness, 10 carried up within o stones
throw Of tho glaciers, and 10 bordered
with pinnacled rocks Formerly this
was the most dangerous Of the pass
ages Of the Alps. swept by unexpected
ayalanches. secured by bitter winds,
and often overlaid with treacherous ice
and fallen debris. Avalanche galleries.
cut through the solid rock or con-
structed Of masonry; have ,s MADE ~ II more
from overhead destruction and from
the precipices that fall by tho road
side.
Romans forced their way through
this nerve-trytng passage. and through
this high mountain niche Austria
poured her legions to suppress revolts
in italy. In 1859 the Italians ana the
French drove the Austrian soldiers
back over this road; but all these
strue4les happened before the days Of
Improved mountain artillery. The pres
emit road was constructed by the Aus
TRANS in 1920, to servo them as q way
Of military communication with their
possessions in Italy. It was improved
In 1870, as a means of civil communica-
tion. and 1t has become one Of the
most admired Of tourist obJectives.
.At the summit Of Stelvio, $500 feet
above the sea, q stone pillar marks the
highest point In the pass. and here
three frontiers meet among the cloudA
A hotel guards tho heights. and nearby
rises the Drsisprachsnspitse. tho peak
Of three languases.' who're German.
italian ana Komanish clash on COM
mon ground Like the ascent from
italy, the descent follows an equally
tortuoua, difncult course. The whole
way forms one Of the least accommo-
dating war theaters that well might be
Imagined"