Evening star., 1915-06-10
FOES BATTLING FlERCELY
ALONG THE ISONZO RIVER
Dykes Cut and Country Flooded to
Stay Advance of
Invaders.
FORT PossACCHIo FoRsAKEN
Austrian Troops Destroy Fortifica-
tions as King Victor Emmanuels
Men Press on Toward Ro-
vereto and Trent.

LONDON, June Io.-Capture
of the Austrian town of Mon
falcone is announced in an Off
cial communication from Rome.
Gen. Cadorna, Italian chief OF
staff. reports that the town was
occupied after stubborn fighting
along the Isonzo river.
At various points along the
lsonzo sharp fighting has oc-
CURED. and several successes for
the Italians are announced, but
it is conceded the Austrians still
hold dominating positions on the
right, or west, bank of the river.
Austrians Open Dikes.
The Austrians have attempted to
transform the lower region of the
Isonzo river into a flooded country.
duplicating the feat of the allies in
Belgium. for the purpose Of halting
the Italian advance. Dikes were
opened, the banks of the river were
broken down and several canals were
tapped. The results achieved were in
significant, however, as most of the
water was either absorbed by the
earth or carried off by bitches No
serious inconvenience for the invading
Italians was occasioned, it is declared
Italian forces are still moving
northWard over the Trent frontier. but
"a ftn a. rrrx
have been little more than skirmishes
Fort Is Abandoned.
Italian troops moving through tho
Arsa valley toward Rovereto. to the
south of Trent, discovered that the
Austrians had abandoned Fort Pos
sacchio. two miles north Of Matassons.
Fort Possacchio was rated as one Of
the strongest Austrian fortifications in
that region. 1t was equipped with
heavy guns said to have been brought
from Galicia. The Austrians DESTROYED
the fortifications before their evacua-
tion.
OF Strategic Importance.
Monfalcone. which. it is declared, has
been captured. lies three miles east OF
the river and about an equal distance
north of the Gulf of Trieste 1t six
vi
este. against which the Italian invasion
presumably is directed.
Possession of Monfalcone would be Of
strategic Importance to the Italians
particularly as that point is connected
by railroad with Trieste. The latest
trian dispatches was in last nights re-
port which said an Italian attack in
that vicinity had failed.
italian Advance Contostad
Efforts of Italian troops to force a
passage of the Isonzo river are being
contested by the Austrians.
but are meeting with success accord
ing to a statement signed by Gen.
Cadorna, chief of the general staff, is-
sued at the war office last night. The
communication follows:
With the object of repulsing the
enemy from dominating positions he
still holds on the right bank of the
1sonzo and establishing strong posi-
tions at the passages of the river. We
continued our operations June and 8.
The enemy offered a determined resist
ance. favored by the lay of the ground
and strong fortifications.
Our passage was made more dif7icult
by numerous obstacles placed on the
bridges and in the roads and also by
the flooded ground along the lower
course or the river everywhere our
troops fought with ardor and tenacity
and succeeded in taking important po-
which enabled us to occupy the
city Of Monfalcone The fire of our
batteries considerably damaged the
enemy's artillery at number Of
points.
Enemy Positions Occupied.
In the difficult region of Montenero
a successful attack OIL our part led TO
the occupation of positions from which
the Austrians retrea ted. leaving 100 bod
les, which we buried, and sixty wounded
Near Capsretto seventy Austrian SOL
iiers surrendered.
I'm other regions along the Isonzo We
made more than 400 prisoners. Our losses
we're unimportant Prisoners, say the
Austrian losses were considerable.
.'On the Tyrol-Trentino frontier our
forces continue in close corporation their
action against positions which must be
occupied in order to force the enemy to
disclose his defensive preparations and
permit the development of Interior opera
ions.
Near Falzarego Pass.
Notwithstanding the determined re-
Instance of the enemy our troops have
beyond the frontier close to
Talzarego pass at the foot Of the Sasso
Il Strfa-
"A victorious action was fought ten
xilometers (about seven miles) north
II Cortina D'Ampeszo. A piece of ar
illery remained in our hands.
I'm the neighborhood of None Croce
lighting had been going on for several
lays for the important position OF
Treikopel, which the Austrians defend-
ID desperately. Our Alpine troops def
nitely took it on the evening of the
th, making one hundred prisoners"
Austrian Artillery Suffers.
Tho Austrian artillery at Tolmino has
uttered heavy damage from the ItaI-
an bombardment, dispatches state. The
austrian losses are becoming serious