Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-02-27
AUSTR|ANS SHOW
GREAT DARING IN
MT. L0vCEN FIGHT
Stonning of Monteneg In
Stronghold Proves TO Be
One of Most Dramatic Epi-
SodeS Of War

II Vienna. Feb. 5,--Dctnils which hav
now reached Vienna In elaboration 0
the official reports OF the taking o
Mt. Lovcen last month indicate tina
the Austro-H Hungarian troops displaye'
exceptional daring and perseverance II
atorming The Montcncgrin stronghold
Strategy played an initial part II
the action. While the troops pickc,
for the main operation were assem
bling near cattaro, and Austrian war
ships were concentrating along th'
Adriatic eonst at a favorable poin
for bombardment. extensive demon.
STATIONS were made hy the Austro.
HunEarians 10 give the Montenegrin'
the impression that the offensive was
looming from another direction.
On January s, however the Austro-
fiungarians began their artillery pre-
liminaries against the Lovoen from the
direction OF Cattaro and AT noon on
that day the flrst infantry units adj
vanccd against the MontcneErin
stronghold. Under the cover OF the
artillery fire from behind them, and
the cnflllade fire spread over the Low
cen IS the Austrian warships. the men
reached the foot Of the rock masse
which had beer held TO be impregn6-
BILE.
From the luwands OF Cattaro. the
Lovcen rises almost perpendlcularly 10
% height Of over 5000 feet. To its
summit leads a fairly good serpentine
road of twenty turns, and an old and
very dangerous burro trail. These
were the only means of approach for
the attacking army. About s o'clock
that night. the most advanced skir-
mishing lines had sccndcd TO about
1900 feet.
A terrible night was spent by the
troops During the day a cold rain
had fallen. About sunset this turned
into snow \ high wind blow from the
north. against which the bare rock
walls OF the Lovcen offered no shelter.
After such night the Austro- Hum
garian troops resumed the at
tack about . o'clock next morn
ing Again the artillery and ships
showercd avalnnchcs OF shells upon
the several Lovcen crcsts. but the
Snowfall made II impossible for the
artillery to support its infantry at
tacklng the Montenegrn trenches
without sending It's observers into the
lines. Under sheltcring rock
lodges, the general assault came TO a
halt until the artillery could resume
It's work.
On the tenth Of January, about II
a. m. the Austro- iiungar ian infantry
gained the lower summit Of the Low
zen. \ violent rifle fight ensued be-
Lween the attacking parties on the
edge OF the little plateau, and the
In their trenches. The |
Austro-Hungarian artillery and the
naval units had been obliged to cease
lire, owing to the close quarters at
which fighting was going on.
During the day, the Austro-Hunga-
inn infantry drove the Montcncgrins
rom higher ridge near the actual
rom the little plateau forming the
rest Of the rock masses known by
hut name. Another elevation. called
he Solar. was also taken. Night in
errupted the fight. The Austro- Hun
sarlans were once more obliged to
liyouac In the open. with snow stlll
allng and an icy wind sweeping over
he plateau.
Next morning embittered fighting
developed near the village Of Kuk.
PAIRING one Of the approaches OF the
.ovcen summit with several we'll
sustained PUSHES, the village WAS tax
N, however The weather clearing,
he Ausirians were able to resume
he bomhardment of the Montenegrin
rcnehes. \ very intense cannonade
developed. and under Il the Austro-
hungarian troops, in Il frontal attack
md an assault against the Montene-
rims left flank carried the summit
n preeipitate flight the Montenegrins
made off. leaving behind them their
At $ o'clock that evening
he l.oveen was In the undisputed pos
csslon of the Austrians The last as. ,
aalts We're made by Austrian troops I
rom Egerland and Mahommedans who /
ad volunteered for the work In all h
he Austro Hangarians lost 1873 men ,
cad. a very small number when the I
allure of the position and the charac- !
or Of fighting is considered. 9
With the fall of Lovcen the Monte b
egrins were obliged TO evacuate Get i
injc. which IN an airline is only about \
tx miles distant 4
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