Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-28
AUSTRIAN AEROPLANE
HIT BY ITALIAN GUNNERs
Flames Burst From Motor and Ma
chine Is Splintered When 1t
Falls on Rocks.
STIRRING SCENES ON BORDER
Troops Ready to Move Immediately
When Order to Advance Comes.
Many Signs of War All Along
Frontier.

AT THE ITALIAN FRONT, EAST.
ERN FR1CLl. Wednesday, May IS (via
Paris). May 27.-Italian gunners to-
day brought down an Austrian aero
plane In the first contest of the Italian
campaign between flying machines and
anti-air craft guns. An aeroplane ris
ing from behind the Austrian lines NJ
?:3o o'clock this morning, darted over
the rocky ground in the front of tho
Italian positions. 4 field battery fred
The first shot missed Tho second
struck fairly, causing flames to burst
from the motor. The aeroplane pluneed
downward, and was spIintered in tho
| rocks.
This was one of the incidents at
tending the opening of the Austro
Italian campaign. as witnessed nv a
correspondent of the Associated Press
| Along this part of the front, where tho
Italians are advancing in the direction
OF trieste there we're stirring scenes.
"''housh as yet there has been little
heavy fighting.
Al faimanova. H town near the Dor
oer' IL was possible TO obtain a birds
eye view OF the surrounding country,
which falls away from that point. Tho
| n
the spectacle Of cavalry charges and
artillery action over the nearby front
! II is picturesque region of green hills
and juaint villages. among which wind
J dusty, white roads
SOLDIERS on MARCH
| EARLY IN MORNING
! When the order was given earlier in
the week for the advance across the
! border. the Italian troops were ready
( Tor the move. The command came a,
20" o'clock in the morning and half
an hour later the soldiers were on the
march The infantry proceeded in long
MES headed by sharpshooters From
covering roads came artillery car
riascs, motor trucks and detachncnts
Of cavalry.
Tho first shot of the war was fred
oE frontier guard at BellacGua, who
having seen i'll the scmi-darkness =
shadowy figure approaching, shot dead
an Austrian soldier attempting to fire
a NINE. with the sunrise, artillery fire
/ opened and Italian troops everywhere
sprang TO tho attack, fording the Idria
swarminc across bridges and climbing
| tho hills beyond.
| From time TO time tremendous OK
I
artillery. They marked the firing of
mines as the Austrians blew ND their
| bridges. The Austrians made little at
Tempt to halt the Italians advance AL
though elaborate preparations had been
MADE along the border. Railway lines
were INSTRUCTED by heavy beams, laid
across tho track and fastened down
with chains. The roads were blocked
! with trenches, trees and wire entanpIo
mentS.
| Brazzano is the first village on Aus
! trian soil in which the Italian flag was
! hown. IL was run up on the belfry Of
the village church. At San Giovanni
Mazano, the correspondent saw the first
! of the Italian wounded. and also the
first Austrian prisoner captured. n
remher Of the Landsturm from Friuli
AZ he was brought into tho Italian
lines. he kept repeating Il am an
Italian"
All along this section Of the front
there were signs OF war Roads were
nlled with long lines Of TRANSPORTS and
Red Cross automobiles. EVERYWHERE
| hattalions Of soldiers were to be seen
held back as yet from the hgh,ing line
! Picking their way through the crowdAd
roads were carts. drawn by oxen. in
which were women and children, with
their household goods Behind ,rnm
walked the men, fleeing from the battle
swept region.