New-York tribune., 1915-11-25
Invader Closes on IsOnzo Strong
hold from Three Sides
Vienna Asks Aid.
by Csbls % rhs Tribune.l J

Tar outnumDer tne defenders.
Unless the Austrians get aid they
must quit the Isonzo line. Reports
reached Paris to-day that they had ap-
pealed TO the Germans for assistance.
But Berlin has no men to spare fo~
the Italian campaign. The operations
in the Balkans and the possibility of an
Allied offensive on the Western front
occupy all the Kaiser's available forces.
Preparations to destroy Gorilla as 1t
is evacuated are now under way.
Fall Of Riva Near.
The fall of Riva. at the head OF
Lake Garda, in the Tyrol, is also near.
The Italian guns are raining shells OF
the city. Vienna, in it's official state
ment tonight. admits that the station
and a part of the town were bombarded
The shelling of the station is inter
preted here as meaning that Rovereto
has been evacuated by the Austrans.
Thus the road 70 Trent will soon be
forced.
The Italians continue the hard
earned advance on Gorilla Rome an
nounces that the Calvario height, west
of the city, has been occupied. De
spite the furious concentrated fire OF
the Austrians, the invaders reached
the crest of the ridge and consolidated
their positions. With this summit in
their possession and the greater part
of the Podgora height wrested from
the Austrians. another strong thrus'
from the west will carry the Italians
to the Gorilla bridgehead, which has
already been riddled by their fire.
On the Carso plateau, south Of Co
rita, the Italians also claim to have
made progress. A strong intrenchment
near the Church of San Martino del
Carso has been taken. Northwest of
the city the Austrians have suspended
counter attacks for the moment. and
the Italian guns are making ready the
way for new assaults.
Austrian Line Pierced.
Vienna admits that the Gorilla
bridgehead, dominated by Podgora, has
been kept under a heavy fire. On
Monte San Michele, on the Carso, the
Italians pierced the Austrian positions,
but the Austrians claim to have driven
them out again.
Thus, from three sides the Italians
are within striking distance of Gorilla.
The Isonzo stronghold seems doomed.
The only question now, according to re-
ports from the front, is one of time.
, When the Italians decide that they can
/ lAuncn their anu lHdl dlldIh
which will carry the city without the
loss of too many men, then the assault
will be begun and the city will be car
ried
The battle is as furious as ever.
While the guns pour forth terrific
fire, hand-to- hand struggles for the pos
session of the crests which guard the
city take place every hour. The fight
for Gorilla has been one of the most
sangunary of the war, and until the
stronghold falls many more troops will
be lost General Cadorna was ordered
to take the city, to prove that ltaly's
heralded offensive was not futile. And
Cadorna is sparing neither men nor
ammunition in the effort to win success.
Counter Thrusts Checked.
Vienna contents herself mostly with
the declaration of Italian losses. That
the Italians have pierced the Austrian
lines in several places and are making
steady, If slow, progress, the Teutons
no longer deny. The defenders are
counter attacking as often as the ter
rife Italian fire will allow. but Rome
claims to have hurled them back each
time.
"The violent and incessant resump-
ton of the offensive by the enemy" is
commented on by Rome. The Austrians
are making every effort to hold the
city, the key to Trieste and "ltalia ir-
redenta." But without aid from the
Germans their efforts, say reports from
the front, must fall. And Paris be-
lieves that the Germans cannot send
aid.
ITALIAN OFFICIAL.
The statement issued at Rome says:
Later news of the fighting of No
vember 20 and 81 for the conquest
of the heights northwest of Oslavia
brings out the Importance and ex-
ceptional violence thereof. A bri-
gade of grenadiers Wed with troops
of the Fourth Division in the dash
and bravery of their attacks and
stubborn resistance in alternate sue
cess and failure against the violent
and incessant resumption of the Of
fensive by the enemy.
On that part of the front yester-
day we had no fresh counter attacks
of any importance by the enemy.
The day passed in relative calm, and
the troops were able to strengthen
the positions they had conquered.
On the Calvario height, west OF
Gorilla, our attack continued The
crest was reached, and we maintained
ourselves on IL under the furious
and concentrated fire of the enemy's
artillery.
On the Csrso front, after having
repulsed feeble attacks by the en-
emy during the night, we resumed
action with vigor in the morning.
We took by assault strong en-
trenchment near the Church of San
Martino del Carso. We took 90 pris-
oners, seven of whom were officers.
during yesterdays operations.
AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL.
Vienna gave out this statement:
Yesterday the bridgehead of Co.
rizia again was kept under a heavy
fire by artillery and mines, but no
Italian infantry attacks took place.
There was very severe fighting on
both sides of Monte San Michele.
North OF the mountain strong enemy
forces penetrated our positions. but
during the afternoon our forces coun-
ter-attacked and completely repulsed
the enemy.
After fuctuating and severe hand
to-hand fighting, several attacks
against Monte San Michele itself
were repulsed with the heaviest of
Italian losses. Attempted attacks
against our positions on Monte del
sci Busi were suppressed by our FIRE.
Near lagora the enemy threw heavy
oonbs' which developed asphyxiating