Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-30
GREAT ITALIAN OFFENSIVE ON;
GUNS NOW DOMINATE GORIZIA
Artillery Dragged to Lofty Summits Commands Forts
Defending Austrian Stronghold on the Isonzo-May
Force Foes Back to Julian Alps
BY BERTo DI BRAHALLA
CAD0RNA READY TO STRIKE
SUPREME BLOW AT FOES

General Cadorna's armies are again on
the offensive. \ fcw days ago 1t still
appeared that they were kept Inactive
before the Austrian lines from the Stelvio
to Monfalcone. Those who are familiar
with the country where the lighting is
going on, and with the conditions pre-
vniling in that theatre of war knew that
the Italians were always on the offensive,
| although engaged In minor operations
These were apparently of no import
ance, but in reality they were the neces-
sary steps to reach a stage which would
allow OF the development Of the grand Of
fensivo. The Italians then could deliver
the attack which would eventually smash
the resistance OF the strongly fortified
Austrian line and compel the enemy to
retreat to line futher back, perhaps as
far back as the Julian Alps range. the
sava valley and the line of the Drava
This grand offensive has begun, Cen
eral Cadorna has thrown his full strength
against the Austrian front and a furious
battle, or rather chain of battles. is
being fought from the Dchcrdo plateau,
just east of the lower tsonzo. to plezzo
and Malborghetto II Is quite impossible
to pass judgment on these operations
now II is fairly we'll known whore the
Italians are hammering harder at the
Austrian line. but IL Is known also that
it is but the beginning of the battle
There are, however hints which will
Justify few considerations
A dispatch from Rome announced n
few days ago that the fortress of Gori-
2ia had fallen. The announcement was
not officially given, and up to now the
War Office at Rome has said nothing
about II. That Gorizia was .ong doomed
to fall was beyond any doubt even weeks
ago The Austrians had been compelled
TO abandon tho summit of the Podgora
spur, which defended Gorizia against at
tacks from the west and southwest and
although the Italians could not occupy
permanently the summit. as 1t was still
exposed to the fire from the San Marco
batteries and other defensive positions,
the Austrians were as well unable 70
regain this important height. because It
was within range of the Italian heavy
artillery and was actually covered by a
daily rain of shells,
From the PLAYA zone, only few miles
north of Gorizia and in the Isonzo VAL
ley, the Italians had started a series OF
small operations, which finally led to an
attack on the strong Austrian positions of
Monte Sabotino, which allowed them to
approach near the forts Of Monte Santo,
the northern defcnses of GorZia.
The northern slopes of the Sabotino
were recently occupied by italian troops
and the intrenchments on the summit
were subjected to heavy artillery fire from
Italian batteries on nearby heights. If
the Italians have been able to drag their
heavy guns UP on the Sabotino they can
easily check the fire from the Austrian
stronghold of Monte Santo just across
the river. Italian troops may have been
able to force passage of the lsonzo near
Salcamo and thence attack Gorilla directly
from the north and Monte Santo from the
south.
If staff officers home from the Isorzo
front have really stated that Gorilla has
fallen, that did not mean that the fort
ress had been actually occupied by the
Italians or that the Austrian line of de-
fense had been broken 1t meant rather
that the Italians had succeeded In drag
ging their heavy artillery on the sum-
NIT of the Podgora and could engage the
batteries of San Marco. thus having vir-
tually gained control Of the narrow plain
on which Gorilla lies. To occupy the city
1t is necessary that the batteries of Monte
Santo and San Marco be reduced and 81
lenCed.