New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-08
Repulsed on the DOberdo
Plateau, on Road
TO Trieste.
MORTARS HAMMER
AT GORIZIA GATES
Bridge Head of City Shelled-
Roth Sides Lose Heavily
In Mountain Fighting.

Berlin, July 7, via London July o.
The "Tageblatt's" correspondent at inc
Isonzo front tells of the heavy fighting
during the past few days IN that part
of the Austro-Italian border.
desperate Italian attacks agalrst tne
Doberdo Plateau he says, continues
all Tuesday and late into the nlgh|
the last fruitless ,.ssault being dell'-
cred after midnight. @,
"This plateau, with its peaks 81
Martin and ST. Michael, forms the key
to the southern extremity OF the aus
trian positions barring the way aiohs
tho coast 10 Trieste. A general attack
began early in the morning OF July l.
prepared by an artillery bombardment
almost unprecedented IN ihtehSity'
King Victor Emmanuel and the Italian
premier. Salandra, visited the front to
watch the expected victory:
"The Italians yesterday charged time
and time again up the western slopes
Of the plateau. One attack was headed
bv the Bersaglieri, without rifles, put
carving hand grenades and opening
the way for the infantry who followed.
All the attacks were repulsed with very
heavy losses.
Austrian Losses were Heavy.
"The Austria losses also were heavy,
chiefly because the outcropping rock
Aid not permit Of the construction Of
trenches in various parts OF the pla-
teau. But they were small in proper
tion to those Of the Italians and the
success gained. The bodies Of many
Italian killed were TO be seen on the
ground before the Austrian lines.
yesterday was also marked by vio-
lort attacks against the bridge-head at
Gorizia. The artillery preparation be-
can at 4 o'clock Monday afternoon. The
massed guns. including the Italian IL
inch mortars. delivered a prolonged
and intense bombardment. II seemed
as if nothing could be left of the Aus
trian positions and defenders. The in
fantry attacks, beginning at II o'cl ock
Yesterday morning, and repeated dur
ing the course Of the day, were re-
pulsed, however.
"The second great Isonzo offensive,
therefore, although successful IN fore
ing its way into the Au trian lines at
two points, one near Podgora a height
covering the bridge head at Gorlzia -
the other at Nermegliano, between Do
berdo and Monfalcone, did not possess
the necessary strength 10 COhHtit tHe
action into a decisive success, and the
Dalmatian troops were able TO expel
the Italians.
Italians Fired On Comrades.
Prisoners taken by the AustrIsns
complained of lack Of support by the
reserves and. said they had been re
peatedly shelled by their own artillery
The Austrian official statement says;
I'm the Italian theatre OF war lull
has set in. After the victory of July
5. our troops had still 10 repulse some
timid night attacks on the brdge-head
at Gorilla and positions on the plateau.
Yesterday the enemy resumed his vlo-
lent artillery fire, followed ~ night at
tacks by weak forces.
italian airmen dropped three bombs
on Trieste without doing much damage.
"In the Krn region the enemy again
attacked the rocky summit which was
the object Of previous attacks, but were
repulsed. The field in front of our po-
sitions was strewn with dead bodies.
an the Carinthina-Tyrolean border
districts local artillery duels continue"