Evening star., 1916-08-11
ATTEMPT OFFENSIVE =
IN MONTE NERO REGION
Every Foot of Ground Around
Gorizia Sees Bitter
Fighting.
ALL ITALY IS REJOICING
Flood Of Congratulations Come From
All Parts of World, King Be-
ing Pleased by Those
From U. 8.

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ROME, August 1.-The inn
lportance. of the Italian successes
around Gorilla is i becoming
more evident hourly. The battle
is continuing behind the city over
front about twelve/miles long;
The Austrians have retreated
along the railroad in the direction
of Dornberg, eight miles south
east of Gorilla, and over the ma
tional highway to Schon pass, six
miles to the east, and are now at
tempting to reform their front on
a line extending from Vipacco to
Tarnova.
Meanwhile the Austrians are at
tempting to take the offensive at
Monte Nero and various other
points of the Italian front, but
thus far have been unable to
divert the Italians from their
operations behind Gorilla.
The number of prisoners taken
by the Italians since the fall OF
Gorilla now exceeds 5000, ac-
cording to the correspondent of
the Tribuna on the Isonzo
front. italian cavalry and cyclists
are clearing the valleys of the re-
treating Austrians and, accord
ing to the correspondent, the bat
tie continues in favor of the
Italians on both wings.
Fighting Has Been Severe.
The belief prevails that the victory ee
the Italions was not due to the demoralf.
zation Of the Austrians, as the fighting
was the severest seen on this front. The
Austrians contested every foot Of the
ground about Gorisia even after the loss
Of the strategic points of Monte Sabotino
and Monte San Michele.
While the success of the Italians un-
doubtedly was due largely to the new
heavy artillery which matched at last,
after a year Of waiting for their manu-
facture, the heavy 305- -millimeters Aus
trian gun, yet the hand-to-hand fighting
was appalling Elm ferceness. bayonets,
knives, bombs cavalry, swords. pistols
and arms of every description being used.
Personal deeds of heroism were plen-
tiful, especially in connection with the
Italian use of a new method for destroy
ing barbed wire entanglements, involving
the almost certain death OF the soldier
who plants the bomb for this purIjbse.
Austrians Prepared.
The victory of the Italians is con-
sidered all the, more creditable since
the Austrians on the lower 1sonzo front
had long prepared for an attack on a
large scale, having successfully resist
ed many previous ones on small sectors
The taking of Monte Sabstino, the keN
to Gorizia, and the vast section sur
rounding ii, is regarded the biggest
feat in all the fighting in the lower
Isonzo region. While the Italians pre-
viously took and lost Michele many
times they never before were able to
approach Sabotino.
Counter Attacks Hourly.
The Austrians fought for the pos
session of San Michele to the very last.
counter attacking hourly. The defense
and capture of the bridge over the
Isonzo connecting Podsora and Gorizia
was the outstanding feature Of the last
twenty-four hours OF fighting before
the king led the first cavalry and
cyclists into the city. The Austrians
were unable to hold the bridge against
the Italian artillery and blew up one
half to prevent the Italians crossing.
The cavalry and cyclists swan the
river at night under blaze of search
,iobts from the Austrian positions and
under fire from machine guns, that
piayed on the swimmers like garden
hose.
Enthusiasm at High Pitch.
popular enthusiasm is at high pitch
throughout Italy. Congratulations are
pouring in from all parts of the world
To King Victor Emmanuel and Gen.
cadorna. The king and eommander-in-
chief have been particularly pleased by
messages from Italians in New York
and other parts of the United States.
The third army. under command or the
Duke of Aosta. which is still bearing
the hrunt of the fighting. has won high
nraise as we'll as much sympathy on
account of its losses. The duke before
the battle began called on his army to
fight and win in the name of your
mothers, your wives. your sisters and
your country"
Latest oficial Statement.
The latest Official war office state
ment says:
I'm the Gorilla area our troops con.
tinued to cross the Isonzo on the newly
repaired bridge. Our cavalry and cy.
clists pressed forward easi - the sewp
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