Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-07-28
The Italian Army.

The italian Army
by John H. Hearley, United Press
Staff Correspondent |
Rome, July 1.-(By mail.)-Italy to-
day is fully satisfied with the results of
the first year of the Austro-Italian war.
The once strongly fortified Austrian
mountain line from Giudicarie to Mon
falcone practically is all in her hands.
Only small section of italian territory
in the neighbrohood of Settle Communi
has been taken.
The history of Italy's war on land
reads like fiction. When tine European
strife began, the Italian kingdom was
unprepared The standing army of $780,
900 was disorganized and unequipped.
Big and petty politics were dangerously
mixed in it. The country's finances
were in bad way.
Italy's military house had to be put
in order. All eyes turned to Luigi "a
donna, chief of the general staff His
father before ham had led the Italians
into Rome in 1870. Like him, he is a
quiet man of few words and big deeds.
Cadorna in twelve months worked Won
ders. The army was increased to more
than /, 100000, trained ana equipped for
all kinds of warfare. The hum of mu-
milton and gun making machinery was
heard through the land.
The enemy, it was believed, would at
tempt to enter the country through the
Trentino in the west and the Isonzo in
the east. The Italian campaign was
planned to retake Trent and Trieste,
lock these two gates against invasion
and press on possibly to vienna. The
meeting of two Austrian armies on the
historic plains of Lombardy for possi-
BILE conquest of Italy had to be pre-
vented. The great battle Napoleon had
fought on Lombardian soil had taught
its lessons.
Cadorna' Good Work.
Cadorna and his intimate associate,
General Porro, laid their preliminary
plans well. Both knew the tricky noun;
famous frontier of Austria, with its
natural defenses and fortifications, per-
fectly. Disguised as beggars, they are
said to have studied every nook and
Granny of the hostile border.
-Four fronts with IL zones were estab-
lished, the Trentino, Dolmite, Carhia
and Isonzo. At the very beginning of
hostilities the right bank of the Isonzo,
excepting the bridgeheads of Gorilla
and Tolmine, fell before the Italian
arms followed by the capture of Monte
Nero and PLAYA. These things took less
than a month.
During July and August the invasion
of Austrian territory continued. Exten-
sive inroads on enemy soil were made,
especially in the Carso and Trentino.
By October the lsonzo front was blood
soaked. Tho fighting about Gorilla,
the key to Trieste, grew heavy early
this year. March and April crowned
the Italian offensive with the capture
of Col di Lana. The Austrians in May
delivered their first big offensive. A
fierce onslaught was made on Monfal-
cone which fell, but later was retaken.
Meanwhile on 50-mile front in the
Treptino 100000 Austrians and i'm
mense quantities of ammunition were
Concentrated. Then came the tremen-
dous attempt to open the way to Ve-
netia. Thousands of Italians were
moved down. For the first time in the
4 war the enemy set foot on Italian soil
and about 500 square kilometers of ter.
ritory was occupied. 1t was mountain.
1VuS couutig uOttcu Win AipiHt ndIufttSi
The Italians still held about 1000 square
kilometers of enemy soil, including the
fertile plains of Monfalcone and impor-
tant villages.
Pressure Relieved by Russia.
The Italians then began to push back
the enemy. slow uphill work. Mean
while General Brusati was openly
charged with responsibility for the
Austrian invasion and deprived of his
command for "neglect of duty" This
invasion cost the Italians 10000 in prs
, oners and almost as many in killed and
wounded. Austrian losses were heavy
too. The initiation of the Russian of
feusve in early June relieved the pres
, sure of the Italian front
, BY then, Italy's army had grown tC
almost 100000 men and plans for add
ing million more were made. The
. Italian campaign has taken u tremen
/ dous toll in dead and wounded because
, in the beginning Victors forces were
/ deposed in unfortified valley while thu
t Austrians were strongly entrenched ol
the overlooking mountains. Uphill
, fighting had to be waged for many
! months before it was equalized.
! The Alpinists have been the heroes o.
5 Italy's war. Their catlike agility II
!, marvellous. They have been forced of
1 itentimes to climb sheer walls of noun
/. tains. pulling up men and cannon be
hind them to begin the slow process o.
fortification. Trenches had to be tun
$ need in the rock or hcwn in solid ice
e Moving glaciers and ayalanehes adde,
. to the dangers as also did heavy snow
{ and hitter cold. Alpine warfare devel
s oped many Innovations in military sci
= ence. Like giants throwing huge snow
l. balls, one army hurled avalanches at tn
e Lother. Mountain hamlets and hundred
y on combatants and non -combatants wcr
e wiped out by this picturesque arm o
d war. Specially made smoked glasse
r had to be worn by the soldiers as pre-
n lection against blindness. Free2
S ing weather occasioned the inventio
n Of extremely warm but light clothin
It for the military.
Above Snow Line.
trHeat Balls" were invented. Thes
It were made by soaking rolls of Tight
J. drawn paper in prepared oil and greas,
r. When lighted, they retained their hea
C and flame for about Is minutes. Rope
d lifted baskets of them to Alpinists an
a u. .l. IL.