The Washington herald., 1915-08-22
OF
ITALYREC0UNIED
Embassy Statement Tells of
Military Operations Up
to August l8.
FRONTIER CROSSED OVER
Austrian Army Declared to Be on De-
fensive-Reports as to Losses
Denied.
FRONTIER CROSSED OVER

y
operations up to August IS:
"As opposed to misleading reports cir
culated by yAustro-Hungarian sources, the
royal italian government wishes to make
known the following facts:
"Austro-Hungarian military action on
the whole Italian front Is on the defen-
siye. The few isolated offensive move
ments undertaken have been of a merely
local character, and we're nothing more
than vain attempts to reconquer lost
positions.
THE frontier. which was considered
practically impossible owing to the most
up-to-date fortincations Austro-Hungary
had profused along the whole length of
1t and in the building of which she had
taken full advantage Of natural defenses
and almost impregnable mountains and
valleys, has been crossed over by the
Italian armies. Immediately upon the
declaration Of war the Italian troops oc-
cupied many important positions in the
Trentino and Cadore, with a view to coun-
terbalance the enormous advantages
which the frontier drawn in 1866 placed
entirely in the hands of Austro-Hungary.
In some places the Italian army has re-
Trained from invading, as it could have
done, Austrian territory. in order to take
better advantage Of local conditions, but
nowhere has the enemy dared to invade
Italian territory.
Fortincations Under Fire.
"As a result. all the fortihcations of
the Austrian first line Of defense are
now under heavy fire from Italian
seige guns and considerable extension
OF land has been wrenched from the
lNy al A,x
Italian army.
"Austro- Hungary had to evacuate
in Eastern Friuli positions specially
suited for stubborn defense and re-
treated to the even more strongly for
titled line of the Isonzo, with the Job
5ect Of placing between her own and
the enemy's armies q river well known
for its unfordable course and frequent
on the mountainous banks
OF which she had erected a whole
system Of modern fortifcations Justly
described by the Archduke Eugene IN
his proclamation to the Austro-Hun
garian troops as formidable The
Italian troops have, however, passed
the Isonzo and captured important po-
sitions. such as Caporetto- and PLAYA,
and all the lower course Of the river
from Gradisca to the sea. 1t was
their well-known dash that enabled
INC AeoAoh tAooPS " oSSOfhpliSH tHc
feat of crossing the river under the
heavy fire from the enemy's artillery.
Time after time the bridges thrown
across the river gave way under the
shelling and the pressure Of the swol- |
len waters. but they were Instantly re- |
built by the brave Italian soldiers.
BatterinE At Tolmino.
'On the upper Isonzo the greater part |
Of the Montenero was captured and oc-
cupied. Toimino has been closely at
tackled and its Notifications are battered
daily by the italian artillery. Further
south, between Tolnnino and Gorilla, our
troops succeeded in establishing strong
bridgehead at PLAYA, where. having ad-
with daring that surprised their
enemy. they are now able to cover our
and repel the daily counterattacks
launched against them.
I'm front of Gorilla the strong network
Of fortif1cations the enemy still holds on
the right Of the river Is being approach
ed at some points to within few PAGES
and the Austrian press has admitted that
our rifle fire reaches the houses in the |
town. But Italian advance was even |
more successful on the Carso plateau. |
which constitutes the main stronghold in |
the Gorizia defenses. There. in a few
" cchs, Jul tfOops hoNC AoaSco thSh "oy |
on to the outer edge Of the heights run
ming from Gradisca to Montefnlcone and
then pierced the enemy's strong line of
defense on the plateau itself from the
Sella Idi San MARITIME to Monte Sci Busi
and the heights and forts Of Montefal- |
cohe Therefrom they have begun and
are carrying on with slow but steady |
progress their attack on the next lice Of
Austrian defense.
Loss Reports Exaggerated.
These results. which Austro-H Hungary |
herself has been unable to deny in her |
official war reports. have naturally not
been attained without contrast. Our
osses. however, do not amount even to
sixth Of the 10000 casualties attrib-
tied to US by our enemies. We have
aiken 1900 prisoners. although We had to |
make frontal attacks. while the enemy
,as taken only a few hundrd-so few
hat he does not mention them in his ON
.ial reports. Austrian losses have been
to be extraordinarily heavy.
Ind all Austro-Hungarian officers taken
prisoners by US have admitted II.
The Italian offensive continues, and
he enemyNs unable to check II. notwith-
the flow Of re-enforcements
brought up against US. Violent counter
attacks attempted at times In strong num-
,ers have everywhere been repulsed. Our
,fYensive II steadily developing. although
I has to face and overcome defenses
which are Of the strongest ever pro-
luced."