Evening star., 1915-07-25
Unverified Reports Declare
That Fortress Has Been
Captured.
INVADERS ARE HOLDING
ADVANTAGE ON ISONz0
Austrians Still Clinging Desperately
to Carso Plateau-Gradually
Relinquish Positions.

region the Italians are continuing their
assaults on Gorilla Reports have reached
Milan that they have captured the city.
but these have not been verified.
Unofficial dispatches report that the
Italians have occupied all the strategic
positions around Gorilla and are pouring
in heavy fire upon concrete works sur
rounding the city.
North of Gorizia. in the region east OF
PLAYA, an Italian force Is attacking the
Austrian right flank and threatening to
squeeze the enemy forces back upon the
Isonzo. A heavy artillery engagement
continues at the Isonzo bddgehead.
Fearful Struggle Ragged.
Private advices received in Vienna
from the Italian front declare that the
present fearful struggle along the
Isonzo river is comparable only with
the Russian efforts to pierce the Aus
trian wall at Dukla pass in the Car
pathian mountains.
For five days wave after wave of
fresh Italian troops has rolled continuous
ly against the Austrian lines. If an as
sault Is repulsed a fresh regiment
presses forward, according to the
Vienna advices. trying to exhaust the
heroic defenders. Occasionally. 1t Is
declared, attacking forces succeed In
reaching the trenches, where hand-to-
hand fights ensue. terrible scenes be-
ing enacted especially during night at
tacks in the illumination OF glarins
searchlights. gun butts: bayonets.
knives and daggers being brought INTO
play until the invading Italians are
thrown back, their losses exceeding
anything heard of before.
Battle Practically Won.
The battle on the Isonzo has practically
been won. say Rome reports. Despite the
Bavarian reinforcements the Austrians
have been driven back with exceedingly
heavy losses. They difficulty hold
Gorizia and Tolmino, which are al
ready dominated by the italian artillery.
The occupation Of both strongholds
is so certain that King Victor EN-
manuel has made arrangements 70
requiem mass on the anniversary of
his fathers assassination. Following
the battle of the Isonzo the Italian
advance on Vienna will be pushed and
operations will be initiated elsewhere
against the Austrians.
Count Cadorna Directs Battle.
For the first time since the Italians
began operations against Gorizia,
Lieut.. Gen. Count Cadorna, chief Of
stan Of the italian army. has been
personally directing the battle in the
presence of King Victor Emmanuel and
the Duke of Tosta, cousin of the ruler.
The operations against this important
Austrian town have been pushed with
extreme intensity of late. The italian
engineers have constructed new bridges
roads and erected temporary fortifica-
tions and gun platforms. Meanwhile
the scouting service. the cavalry ana
airships have been cooperating. while
Austrian front with a concentrated
fire.
General Operations.
Correspondents at the front report
that the only remaining portion Of the
road on the right bank of tho Isonzo
in Austrian hands is between San Mau-
70 and Piava. The eastern suburb Of
Gorilla Is in ruins. Austrian resist
ance on Monte San Michele and Monte
Sabatina mas been greatly weakened.
The Italians scaling Monte San Michele
are nearing the crest. Eleven-inch
guns are bombarding tho Castagna-
vizza heights on the Carso plateau. At
poberto the Austrian batteries are bad
ly damaged.
The latest onicial report from Gen.
Cadorna says the Alpine troops that
captured Monte Nero are advancing
against the crest of Luznica and have
occupied advanced positions of the
Austrians.
Cling to Carso Plateau.
The end Of the hrst week Of the gen.
eral battle on the Isonzo finds the Aus
trians clinging desperately to the Car
SO plateau. but gradually relinauish-
ing their positions. In the fighting Of
July %. covered by the official report,
the Italians captured 1900 prisoners,
including seventy-six officers.