New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-10
Invaders Hold Command
ing Spots and Repulse
Austrian Attacks.
HOIST ARTILLERY
TO ALPINE PEAK
Troops Scale 10,000.Foot Crag
in Surprise Attack on the
AustrianS.
Try Cahls 70 The Tribune J

Milan. Aug. s Especial to THE Chi
cago Daily News 1.-THE second gem
eral Italian offensive on the lower
lsonzo River has come and gone, and
Gorilla is still in Austrian hands. The
terrible defensive line formed by river,
hills and trenches is still strategically
intact, although in two places 1t is
worn exceedingly thin.
How much the hand of man has con-
tributed toward strengthening the posi-
ton appears from the simple fact that
when the Italians conquered Monte San
Michele they had to take, one after an
other, one hundred distinct trenches
arranged in twenty-four lines.
Moreover, the Austrians made use OF
great science and fought bravely, as
sisted by many Bavarians. Among other
expedients the Austrians charged with
electricity the barbed wire nettlngs
protecting the principal trenches. Spe-
cial battalions of Italians were, there
fore, chosen to destroy whatever re-
NAMED of the trenches after the pre-
liminary bombardment. Two glass
plaques were attached TO the heels of
each of these men to prevent his being
killed by electricity.
Advance Along Isonzo.
Yet during the attack the Italians
advanced along the lower lsonZo, IN
some places more than four miles, and
planted the Italian flag on several
spots. whose possession gives them
great advantage.
Genera, Cadorna's plan was simply
to reduce Gorilla, which is an IN
trenched camp and the key to trieste,
by piercing the defences above and be
low the town and forcing the Austrian
defenders either to evacuate or be I'M
prisoned within the attacking lines. For
this purpose he moved half the army
previously operating in the Irentlno TO
the lsonZo, increasing the forces there
to approximately 100000. The BULK OF
these were massed on the lower lsonzo
opposite the Carso plateau
From Gorilla south the Austrians es-
innate that the Italians are using l00,-
600 men, but the number is possibly
somewhat larger
The attack began on July IS. after
careful artillery preparation. The 18th
Italian Division advanced to assault the
positions southwest of Gorilla. The
battle was without result, sometimes
one side and sometimes the other be-
ing reinforced and obtaining the upper
hand.
Italy in Strong Position.
July 26 was a day of decisive action.
Fighting at Monte Nero and PLAYA TO
prevent the adversary from sending re-
Inducements 10 the critical point. the
Italians attacked and after four as
saults took the strong position OF
Monte San Michele, dominating the en-
tire plain before Gorilla, where the
Austrians were resting in false secur-
ity.
Bayonet charge followed bayonet
charge. and at the end of he day the
Austrians, reinforced, charged IN turn
and forced the assailants to retire un-
der the crest of the hill, where they
maintained their positions, advancing
at the same time on Sella di S-n Mar.
tino and completing the conquest or
Monte Sci Bust.
On the following day, notwithstand-
ing fierce resistance. the Austrians
were entirely elected from their posi-
tons on Monte San Michele. This was
the fighting which the Berlin "Lokal
Anzeigcr" declared to be more terce
than the Austro- Russian combats
around Tarnow in May. The Italians
used seven. en- divisions in their at
tack, and their success was oomplete.
BavaIians Lose Heavily.
On July % the Austrians counter-at-
tackled with 10000 men, among whom
were 10000 Bavarians, whose losses,
when they were finally repulsed at the
end of the day, were about 10000. nat
night the Austrians tried unsuccesS-
fully to fire the Bosco Del Pappuccio.
On the following day they appeared 20
be exhausted and remained on the de-
fensive.
The Italian positions at Monte San
Michele dominate the railroads from
Gorilla to Trieste and from Gorilla to
Laibach, and consequently the AuGtri-
ans could be reinforced only by troops
arriving on auto trucks or on foot. On
July 80 the Austrians asked for and
received FIVE divisions of reinforce
ments, which did not prevent their as
sailants from gaining foothold in the
second line defences on the Carso.
So far the month of August has
shown only series of constantly e.
pulsed Austrian counter-attacks.