Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-26
ITALIANS PLUNGE
ONWARD TO DEATH
Terrible Battle on Carso Plateau
RACES With Relent-
less Fury.
TEUTONIC WALL UNBROKEN
Desperate Hand-to- Hand Strug-
giles Often Are Kept Up
for Hours.

AtSTRO- HrNCiA IIt.hDQCAH-
TIERS on THE ITALIAN FRONT, 80
vcmbcr 25.--The terrible. endless battle
on the carso Plateau IS raging with
undiminshcd fury. The awful struggle
hogan nearly eighteen months ago.
when King Victor Emmanucrs troors
crossed the lower ls"n.o. but still the
world knows comparatively little Of
the events and the situation in this
thcatcr OF war.
One OF the greatest dramas or the
world war mas been enacted on this
short front. In their attempts 10 open
the way TO Trieste the Italians. who arc
hShting with reckless bravery. hav"
lost nearly 100000 officers and mon.
but the steel wall OF the Austro-iiGn-
earians remains mistaken and the dual
monarchy successfully continues 10 de-
fcnd its coast district and It's linn
portant outlet to tho Adriatic Sea.
The nrhting on tue Carso Plateau
Is primarily "a war for positions TIL"
lines on both sides seem 10 be i'm
movable. and have not been materially
changed by the terrific efforts OF the
Italians, who sir-c their entrance into
the war have made six determined ef-
forts to break through.
In their well-prcparcd and well-.X
ecuted attacks. the Italians found no
weak points in the Austro Hungarian
line, hecausc there are none The front
is short and the lircs OF communica-
ton are so woll organized that large
reserves quickly can be thrown into
any sector In which they may he
needed.
As the HANKS OF tho hustro-iuu-
sar!ans are protected by fortified
mountains and the sea. enE"loring tao
lcS are out OF question. and the
italians are compelled % limit their
operations TO costly frontal attacks.
Rush ALWAYS HALTED
AND DEFENSE - tNnRU<EN
Standing on the lowlnnds and on the
slopes Of the Carso hills. they arc al,
4 disadvantage. despite their supe-
riority In artillery. Their storninr
attacks against the enormously we'll
fortified Austrian positions Oh Ih.
heights Invariably break down. some
times they push through sections or
trench lines here and there. but their
rush always Is halted, and the Auylro-
Hungarian defeusc remains uushakcn.
Their last big drive was prepared
by drum fire OF no less than 1900
guns OF all sizes. IN three days they
hurled half 1t million shells against
the Austrian trenches aud fortilcatiOns
but when their infantry began 10 adj
vance II was moved down in rows.
In this struggle for positions mining
operations play very importan, part.
The sappcrs on both sides are con-
tinualy digging tunnels under The
trenches Of the enemy. and often
whole sections OF mountain are blown
into tho air by terrific explosions The
Austrian soldiers not} only night with
vile and machine gun. but also TN
dulre In Hoincric word battles and
scolding duels.
The Italian artillery preparation for
the infantry attacks * always very
systematic and thorough with his
seemingly unlimited supply OF shells.
tho enemy continues his drum ire until
he becomes convinced that tho LAST
Austrian Qualifications are puIverized
md the nerves of the few defenders
still alive are shattered
INFANTRY ADVANCES
~ SOLID MASSES
Then the infantry advances in solid
masses. Generally eight storminr
waves surge forward one after an.
other. The hand-to-hand battles which
follow often last for hours When tn.
awful struggles end the bare rocks
arc covered with dead and dying. but
the general situation remains UNI
changed. Thousands Of lives once
more have been sacrificed in vain
The terrible character of the battle
on the Carso plateau is the result OF
the terrain conditions. 1t is impossible
for the soldiers to dig themselves in.
as they do in France. in Russia and
on other thcatcrs Of war, because the
rocks are not covered by even :, thin
layer OF earth. To obtain covering the
troops have to build huge stone walls
under tho hrc of tho enemy. or 10 blast
trenches into the granite OF the noun
tans.
This work often takes weeks. and,
under these conditions. il is no wonder
that every foot OF trench is defended
to the last breath. The most stupcn-
dous battles on other fronts pale before
this indcscribably bloody struggle on
the Isonzo and the Carso heights