Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-08-11
Troops of Francis Joseph
Hard Pushed in Re-
cent Battles
HAVE LOST $4,000 MEN
Italians Occupy Boschim After Hot
Fighting on Carso Plateau-king
Enters Gorilla

Rome, Aug. 1.-THE Austrian:
lost more than $4,000 in killed, wound
ed and prisoners in the two Gays O
fighting that preceded the fall o.
Gorilla according to dispatches re
ceived here today. This number wa;
equally divided between prisoners ant
casualties on the field.
East of Gorilla Italian cavalry con
tinues to press the pursuit Of the re
treating ,AustriaDs, and is row re
ported to have reached the Lubans
plains.
The italian force that turned south
from Gorizia to drive the enemy ou'
of the bend of the IsonZo has encoun
tered most stubborn resistance on the
Carso plateau, where severe fighting
is going on.
The main body of Italians thai
crossed the Isonzo apparently has not
yet joined in the pursuit. Nil dis
ratchcs l:om the Gorilla front declare
that only part Of General Cadorna'S 5
troops OF mat sector are now engaged
with the retreating Austrians.
Austrian prisoners report that the
italian blow at Goriia came as a ccm-
plete surprise. Their commanders be-
Iieved that the Italian Isonzo front
had been stripped Of both men and
munitiou supplies to repcI the Aus
;rans in the Trentino, and anticipated
no attack against Gorilla for II least
two months.
Reserves were rushed mp to the
Gorizia positions Sunday night after
the Italian attack began. They found
the advanced Austrian positions blown
to pieces and the Italians pouring
through numerous breaches in the
Austrian line
Rome. Aug. l1-'rhe Italians have
pierced the strong Austrian mtrencfi-
mcnts northeast of Monte San Mich
ele. on the IsonZo front, and near
the village of San Martino, the War
Office announces. They have occupi-
ed Boschini. The statement says more
than 10000 Austrians have been cap
tured thus far in the offensive. The
figures given are 26S officers and L.
D72 men.
Notwithstanding the desperate
fighting around Gorilla, the city it.
self was not burned By the Austrians
or destroyed by the Italian artillery
fire; nor were the inhabitants injured
these to the number Of 10000 having
previously evacuated the city. 1t was
the desire Of the Italian commander
General Cadorna to save Gorilla from
destruction by the retreating Aus
trians. and to that end he employed
strategy.
After taking the mountain tops OF
San Michele and Sabotino, he at
tackled Gorilla not only from the from
across the Isonzo. but also from th'
sides and rear. When the Duke o
Aosta commander of the thiry army
who was present during the thre
days of fighting, entered the city af
ter forcing the bridge across the
river at the head Of cavalry anC
cyclc corps. Gorilla was found to b
deserted save by great numbers o
wounded and dying Austrians on tn
outskirts. The Duke was accompanl
ed by his cousin, the King. The onl,
damage done by the Austrians wa
that occasioned by their attempts t
destroy military buildings filed wit
large quantities of supplies.
Vienna. Aug. 1.-The official state
ment issued from General Hcadquar
"Owing to the situation brough
ters yesterday reads:
| about by our evacuation of the &c
rizia bridgehead. the town has bee
given up after a sanguinary repuls
fresh Italian attacks on the Doberd
! plateau. The necessary stralghtenin
Of our line was carried out Unhindere
by the enemy.
'sWe have captured 4,10O Italia
prisoners in the past few days"