Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-16
AISTRIANS ABANDON
ADVANCED POSITIONS
ON ROVERETO FRONT
italians Expected to Begin
Heavy Offensive Up Adige
Valley Toward Trent
Stronghold
rwo MONTHS OF WAR

ROME, May 16
Austrian troops have abandoned their ed-
..nced positions before Rovereto In expec-
,stlon of a heavy Italian offensive in the
direction OF Trent.
" VI Al yIIIaRes in the Adige River Valley. up
.hIch the italian armies might be expected
:. move have been cleared of noncombat-
sn,s The Austrian authorities put the order
~ evacuation into effect Sunday, according
a. several italian citizens of Trentino VIII
iares who slipped by the Austrian lines
Three hundred thousand Austrian troops
. "a now concentrated on the Trentino-Tyrol
tront The Austrians are dragging guns
- the mountain sides, constructing rock
harrlers across the narrow mountain paths
and making every preparation to meet the
expected attack. -,
r,ove their positions in the region of Ro-
vereto. while artillery systematically wrecks
Austrian defenses as rapidly as they are
constructed.
ROME. May 16.-The Italian War Office
bsa adopted n system by which 1t issues a
dstailed statement of the results of the
snarations on the Austro-Italian front dur
Ing a specified period.
The latest statement. covering two
months reports the capture of 2100 pris-
oners. 2 field guns and II machine guns !;
the bringing down of 13 air machines and
the destruction of hydroplanes in air
raids on Trieste.
The statement is especially important in
asmuch as II gives the explanation for the
italian offensive. saying that it was
8 prompted by the German attack on Verdun,
tho purpose being to make 1t impossible for
tho Austrians to send guns and reserves to
Frhnce from the Italian front.
Premier Salandra, the War Minister, and
Baron Sonnino Foreign Minister, who were
expected to go to London in return for
Premier Asquiths visit some time this
month have postponed their trip until July,
as Premier Salandras presence in Rome Is
necessary before the opening of the Parlia-
ment early in June.
crest of the Tyrolean Alps west OF
yedrette Fargorida, and Lares, was cap
tured by Italian Alpini. according to the
official statement issued last night. The
Alpine troops also took a position near
\ Crozzon del Diavolo at an altitude of $500
feet In other sectors there were intense
artillery bombardments. 80
The official statement given out last night
On recent operations is as follows:
In the Adamello zone our Alpine
troops completed the occupation of a
crest west of Vedrette, Fargorida and
Lares,, establishing themselves between
Crozzon di Fargorida and Crozzon di
Lares. We also carried an outstand-
ing position near Crozzon del Diavolo,
st an altitude of $500 feet, taking 20
y prisoners.
In the Ledro Valley our advance con-
tinues toward MontesperoLe. After in
tense artillery fire against our positionsT
north of the valley the enemy attempted
an attack on Gina and Della Costa,
north of Lenzumo, which was promptly
repulsed. Along the Largarina Valley
bridgehead and the ASA Valley the
enemy artillery violently bombarded
cur positions yesterday They were
sfectively counter-attacked by our bat
teries Some heavy shells fell on Ash
ago, wounding a few civilians
An equally intense bombardment took
place along the Isonzo front from
Monte Nero to the sea. During the
night small enemy attacks in the PLAYA
zone and San MARITIME, in the Carso,
were promptly repulsed.
4 VIENNA, May 16.-Italian positions west
Of Saint Martino and east of Tolmino have
been penetrated by the Austrans, it was
announced by the War Office today in
the following brief statement as to opera
tlons in the southwest:
Westward from San Martino we drove
the enemy from advanced trenches and re-
pulsed counter-attacks. East of Tolmlno
we repeatedly penetrated Italian trenches"