New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-26
Underestimate Strength
of Original Austrian
Blows.
REPULSE FRESH
TYROL ATTACKS
Foe Used White Uniforms in
Advance Over Noun
tain SHOWS.


Milan. Nav 25.-The Trentino battle
is now raging at its height and is
about TO enter the decisive stage. Al
though the first phase Of the struggle
seems slightly in favor of the Austri-
ans, the next few days will probably
turn the tables in favor Of the Italians,
whose intrepid defence Of their ad-
vanced and exposed positions must
elicit the worlds admiration as much
as does the heroic French defence of
Verdun.
The territory so far sacrificed by
the Italians consists of some advanced
mountain spurs between the Adige
and Vallarsa, including, Foppiano,
Zugna Torta, the greater part Of the
Terragnolo Valley as far as Posina, and
straight line from Monte Maggie to
Monte Verens. In parts the territory
thus evacuated under superior orders
is from five TO seven kilometres deep,
but with the exception Of Zugna Torta,
Campomolo and Verena, no really i'm
portant strategcal position has been
sacrificed
Austrian boasts Of having captured
some thousands of prisoners are more
than compensated for by the fact that
more than 10000 Austrian dead now lie
unburicd in the contested valleys and
more than 10000 Austrian wounded
have been sent back in the direction
Of Innsbruck and Salzburg. There is
IN absolute conviction and certainty OF
victory on the part of the Italian COM
flanders and army.
Italian newspaper correspondents
who have been given special facilities
now supply full accounts Of the battle
and the most graphic descriptions gwen
by Rino Alossi in the "Secolo,' who has
been on the plateau Of Aslago and wit
messed the heroic scenes from the sum-
mits around Arsiero.
"The first impression one has in these
villages at the front" he says. within
only a few miles of Austrian guns
which have been booming unlnter-
ruptedly with a thousand mouths Oh
he'll. as Dante might have said, is one
of supreme confidence. The sight OF
reserve troops who hurry from one point
to another of the internal gulf opened
by the hostile artillery between the
Adige and Brenta. is magnificent ana
stirring. Vans and motor trucks are
festooned with leaves and flowers ana
the soldiers carry bouquets stuck IN
their rifles With full confidence or
victory they come into contact with the
enemy no longer in the gray-green
uniform. but entirely in white, covered
with the dust of the roads. They throw
themselves into the midst of the fray
with all the valor and intrepldlty OF the
Latin race, whose great lighting qua
tiles have been newly awakened
Austrian pressure continues strong
against the plateau of Ahlago. But the
Italians have some good positions ooth
here and i'm the Val Sugana, and II is
believed that they will succeed IN
checking or at least delaying the enc
mys advance. ,..
Of the Austrian offensive, the magnl-
tude of which was unfortunately UNDER
estimated, may now have suggested
new plan Of defence TO the Italian com
mand Such hypothesis would explain
the abandonment by the Italian troops
Of certain positions which were not
even menaced by the enemy.
The official communication from
general headquarters issued to-day
reads
From Stelvio 10 Garda there was
an exchange Of artillery and rife fire
of the greatest intensity in the zone
of Cividale and Tonale. Ina Lagarine
Valley. after an intense night bonn
bardmeut against our positions at
Conf Zucna. the enemy made two at
tacks in the direction Of Serravalle
and Col di Buole, which were vigor-
ously repulsed.
"On the following morning the at
tack was renewed with fresh troops
on Col d Buole, but was again re-
pulsed with heavy enemy losses This
repulse was followed up by our troops,
who reoccupied the height Of Darme-
san. southeast Of Col di Buole.
Between Val Arsa and Posina the
enemy. after having kept our positions
A. Pasubio under violent bombardment,
launched a night attack with strong
columns Of infantry These were
moved down by our fire and thrown
back in disorder.
Between Posiaa and the Astico the
enemy unmasked his heavy artillery
along the Monte Maggio-Toraro line,
but our guns replied effectively The
sector Of Asago and the Sugana Val
ley is Unchanged