Evening star., 1915-05-26
CAPTURE OF HUNDREDS
OF AUSTRIANS CLAIMED
Sinking italian Destroyer Forced to
Surrender After Fight,
Vienna Declares.
COAST UNDER BoMBARDMENT
Germanic Warships Said 70 Have
inflicted Considerable Damage
on Land and Sea in
Naval Raid.

LONDON, May 26.-The Off
cial Italian announcement re-
viewing the first thirty-six hours
of war claims the capture of sew
eral Austrian towns Just across
the border and the occupancy Of
all frontier passes of strategic
importance in Cadore. together
with a continuation OF the sue
cessful advance on the Carniola
and the Friuli frontiers.
A Times dispatch from Campo
Cologne says that in an action
Monday in Tonale Pass. twenty
miles east of Tirano. the Italians
repulsed the Austrians, who ap-
pear to have crossed into Italian
territory. Several hundred Aus
trian Alpine troops were cap
tured.
Vienna counters with Italy
official claim that the Austrian
naval raid inflicted considerable
damage on the Italian coast and
on Italian war craft
Enthusiasm in Rome.
The bulletin issued by the italian war
office announcing that the Italians had
entered upon Austrian territory caused
great enthusiasm in Rome. The report
shows that the Italians were occupying
all the mountains between the Idria
and Isonzo rivers and that advancing.
they have taken Cormons. which COM
mands the road leading to Gorilla, an
important Austrian frontier station.
Passing from the north to the center
of eastern Frfuli. the report indicates
that the Italians also occupied the viii
lage of Versa. which is near the river
of the same name and on the road to
Gradisca. Austria. and that in addition
in southern Friuli. Cervignano. another
important Austrian frontier station
leading to Monfalcone and Triest. had
been taken.
The Giornale D'Italia of Rome, COM
menting on the bulletin. says:
of 100 kilometers (about 66 % milesl
and has as extreme points Catoretto.
on the north, to the Gulf OF Triest, on
the south The first contingents of the
Italians penetrated into Austrian ter
ritory distances ranging from two to
four miles"
Naval Vessels in Battle.
Austria, in her official statement
dwelling on the destruction wrought
along the italian coast by her naval
vessels, dwells particularly on a small
sea battle near Barletta.
The Austrian cruiser Helgoland and
three torpedo boat destroyers encoun-
tered two Italian torpedo boat destroy
ers near Barletta. one of which es-
caped, but the other of which was
struck by a shell and compelled to sur
render in a sinking condltlon, accord
ing to Vienna.
Austrian destroyers rescued thirty
Ave men of the crew of the Italian
boat. including it's commander, but
approach Of two Italian battleships,
which fired from a range of 5000 me-
ters (about $4,000 yards). In the en-
suing skirmish the destroyer Ssepel
was slightly damaged. but the Helgo-
land and the other destroyers returned
the enemy's fire with apparent success
and then retired out Of range.
Castle Mark for Shells.
The indignation Of the Italian people
was increased by the report from Bar
letta that an Austrian torpedo boat de-
strover. flying a British flag. fired
seven times upon the castle there, each
she'll finding it's mark.
a later dispatch received from Bar
letta said the belief prevailed there
hat the torpedo boat destroyer had
heen struck by shell from the pur-
suinr Italian squadron and seriously
According to advices received here
the Austrian Archduke Eugene has
asked Emperor Francis Joseph to place
him at the head of tho army operating
rainst Italy. The archduke has been
Commander OF the forces operating
against Serbia;
Prussia, son of Emperor William, will
have command of an Austrian naval
squadron.
rom Galicia are passing through Trop-
,au. Austrian Siiesia. bound for the
ryrol An Austrian army corps from
;ilesia, with thirty batteries, is also
IN its way to that region.
Prisoners Mixture Of Racea.
The first five prisoners taken by
+a,,an soldiers on Austrian territory
the mixture of races In the
ustrian army. The prisoners were
.Lan to Verona. On reaching Italian |
81, one of the soldiers seized the mill |
.rv cap Of an Italian private. exclaim-
M. II am from Trentino. Viva ItaIy."
Nc four other prisoners are Poles.
The German newspapers are specu-
,,in1 on what Italy will do. Some ofl
hem expect that she will send 10000
nen to the Dardanelles and reserve
er fleet for action against Austria.
Dthers think that italian troops may
,e sent to Montenegro to strengthen|
he Daimation front ands ssist in the
,apturs Of CsttsxA