Evening star., 1915-06-11
AUSTRIAN LOSSES SAID
TO BE MORE THAN 5000
Rome's Fighters Forced to Fail Back
Several Times Under Heavy
Attacks.
DOUBT AS TO MONFALCONE
Latins Claim City Has Been occu-
pied, But German Correspondent
Reports Check for
Invaders.

forces have captured Ploeken, ir
Austria, close to the frontier
says an Innsbruck dispatch sent
by courier to the Swiss frontier
The possession of this location is
important, as it endangers Aus.
trian communications. Ploeken is
fifteen miles south of the mair
highway between Lalbach and
Innsbruck.
The first really large battle oi
the Italian campaign is now I'M
der way.
Heavy fighting is going on
particularly near Gorilla, on the
east side of the Isonzo river
northwest of the city of Trieste
According to the Geneva ad-
vices, the battle has not been de-
cided. Austrian losses in the
Gorilla fight are placed at 5000
to 10000.
Italian forces today are advanc.
ing through Predil pass, on the
junction of the Laibach railway
at Jarvis. which lies about siz
miles on the Austrian side of the
Italian border. according to dis
patches from Udine. Trains oI
Italian wounded soldiers are ar
irving at Udine.
Fire Opens Great Gaps.
''rhe Italians began their march
against Gorilla on the morning OF
June g." says a Laibach dispatch to the
Geneva Tribune.
when the first detachments were
near the city Austrian artillery opened
fire and heavy masses of infantry
which were thrown forward forced the
Italians to fall back several times.
Italian artillery posted east of the
city opened great gaps in the Austrian
9th neither side had gained a decisive
advantage. The Austrians lost from
5000 to 10000 men. Gorilla is over
flowing with wounded. who are being
cared for at private houses because of
lack of hospital space"
Claims Check for Italians.
The correspondent of the Cologne,
Germany, Gazette, attached to the Aus
trian army headquarters in the south,
says that in the first considerable bat
tie of the war with Italy laurels SO far
rest with the Austrians.
The Italians attacked Gorilla, Gra-
disca and Monfalcone, 1t is declared,
their advance with artillery
fire from pieces of large and small
caliber. The Italian advance. the corre
spondent says, was checked by the
Austrian fire on their fanks.
Monfalcone Important.
Capture of Monfalcone by the
was announced officially from
Rome yesterday.
The occupation of Monfalcone is re-
garded by Italians as Of great importance
Less than a score of miles from Trieste,
it's possession gives the invaders control
Of the chief railway junction Of that
region, one of the chief goals Of the
Italians 1t prevents the Austrians from
transporting troops or ammunition be-
tween trieste ana IolmlnO ana GradtS-
ca. Monfalcone Is the center Of cleo
trical supply for Trieste, and has large
yards.
On taking possession of Monfalcone the
italians ran up their flag on the ruins Of
an ancient tower built by the Venetians
The capture Of the town is being cele-
brated today by the italian troops
Cathedrals Not Used.
ROME, June 11.-An official note, Just
issued today, categorically denounces a
statement attributed to the Berlin Vos-
sische Zeitung. stating that wireless
plants had been erected and anti-aero-
plane guns mounted on Milan Cathedral
and st. Mary's in Venice. The note
adds:
THE announcement seems to have
been made to prepare public opinion
For attacks similar to those at Rheims
and Louvain. but such attacks will be
absolutely unjustifiable and alike con-
trary to the laws of war concerning
and the most elemen-
tary principles of civilization"