The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-25
GOR|Tz SUCCUMBS
UNDER HEAVY FIRE
Of COMBINED ARMS
Artillery and Infantry Attacks
Wear Away Barrier to Clear
Road to Trieste
ITALIANS GAIN FROM
THE ALPS TO THE SEA

3 . OAS~S AA
Russia Take Illuxt. Fort
Blocking Advance on Dwinsk
Serbs Lose Uskub
Rome. Oct. 24.--Goritz. the kew 20
the entire situation on the Isonzo,
mas fallen before the combined ar
ullery and infantry attacks Of the
Italians, according to a report brought
70 Rome today by staff officers from
field headquarters.
These officers further report that
the results Of the Italian offensive
began several days ago on the entire
front from the Alps to the sea, are
much more important than has been
announced in the official reports from
General Cardona. chief of stan. which
have been given out by the war Of
flee here.
Official confirmation on the extsnt
OF the Italian gains in TyroI and ON
the 1sonzo are. they say. withheld un-
til positions conquered by the Italian
troops are consolidated and their ID
vance Is made a permanent victory.
Austrian stronghold on the Isonxo. tell
three days ago.
Not Omctally Stated.
Rome. Oct. 24.-The oficfal sk.En4
ment issued by the italian war o.
fic1 tonight makes no mention Of the
fall OF 0oritz. but speaks OF hegyy
fighting In this vicinity In which the
Italians were victorious The Italissua
took enemy entrsnchmants on MONTE
Sabcntino and Podgora Fiji, In tha
Gorttx 5one, and under fire 81 TIE
Austrian artillery. captured by tnfau-
try attacks positions on the CAIRO
plateau. which the italian artillery
had bombarded. The AuEtriaps unade
counter-attack and tbs positions
were taken and retalno. Hlse Italians
at nightfall retaining xhe,d advan-
taee on the left wing aane az Peteanxo.
and In the center. in the direction OF
Partcottni The Italians claim the
capture OF ,003 prisoners IN the days'
fighting on the Isohzo
Clears Road to Trieste.
For five months the Italian hig
guns have been hammering the strong
forts set on the steep hills around
Goritz, which is situated in a pocket
formed by a bend in the Isonzo. TT
natural protection on the west. ana
the mountains stretching in a sennf-
circle north. east and south. has been
regarded as an impregnable fortress.
The Italian general staY has made
no secret OF It's belief that the fall Of
Goritz means clear road to Trieste.
the great Austrian port at the head OF
the Adriatic. which is the chief
Italian objective In the campaign.
Hilarfre Beiloc, the British military
expert. In discussing this phase Of the
italian campaign three months arc
said
A.
cannot advance upon Trieste. That -
why the attempt to capture or mask
Goritz Is for the moment the main
Italian operation"
Goritz Is about twenty-five miles ~
rail from the Adriatic port From the
stronghold run two railroads II
Trieste. One OF these roads. followfne
the 1sonzo to Sagrado. south OF
Ora disca and thence turning eastward &
and following the Adriatic coast 70
tho Adriatic port, Is in the hands u
the Italians as far ~ Monfalcone.
twelve miles from Trieste. The othep
runs southeastward from Goritn
across the Carso plateau.
Tho Victory Important
The seixure Of Gor1tx makes -
fective the advances made by the
Italians on this plateau, which have
oeen very slow on account Of tho ma
ture OF the ground. The Carso (litsr-
ally) rock. is cast land Of chaIHy
formation in which the rains. instead
OF forming streams, has dug out nat
ural trenches and pouches de ioup,.
which have been occupied by Austrian
infantry. while the heights At the
edge of the plateau and Its center
have been transformed into strongly Il
fortified positions. NsEE
II was impossible for the Italians
either TO cross the plateau or ~ B
skirt it on the road to Trieste. while
the guns Of Goritz held the flank
of tn einvaders. Further up the Is0n-
70 there Is another fortress. Tolminc.;
about nine miels to the north and
because Of the torrential course of the {
Isonzo dashing between cliffs several
hundred feet high. military opera-
almost impossible. Hence the Italian
decision to reduce them at any cost.
Driven or Many Times.
To the west of Goritz on the west
crn bank of the Isonzo Is ths spur pf
Podgera, beneath which the high r0a64xs
and the railroad cross the river. This
was the main defense Of the Ang-s
trian against the Italian attacks I'M
II fell the stroughold fol-. too.
was. therefore. against this spur sh
the Italian biz guns directed m u
almost Ia tho hends ~ the tnvn1l
but they ware driven o. !sI SSs. sR
The Austrian ofcenAl2e plan NNG "
drive the Italians 1eokn fhe AxnSa 4
the Carso plateeu ana eet1e oncS
the bank OF tbs i0Ner 1son10,
rtAi efforts to tn A4eat Wef4 81
by the AustriAns dur1ne the r
menthS and Nith0a91
vfEs nnabls = E! / !. ~ Il