New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-23
Austrians Fling Foe
Into Own Territory
from TyrOl.
VENETIA MENACE
ROUSES ITALY
"Hour Is Gomez Cry at
Rome as TeutOn Hosts
Sweep On.

have crossed the frontier into Italy.
With the same sledge-hammer blows
that thus far have proved ineffective
for the Germans at Yerdun, their ad-
vance in the Tyrol continues.
An assault to-day gave the Aus.
trians full possession Of the Lavarone
plateau. Here, taken in conjunction
with their capture of the Col Santo,
and the advance down the Val
d'Astico, they are in a position to
seriously threaten the Italians at
Vicenzo. Further to the west the
Austrians have captured Fima, Man
driola and a peak of the Armentare
ridge.
Emerging from the obscurity OF the
past week the drama unfolding on the
Italian front is hardly secondary here
to the death grapple on the banks OF
the Meuse. The objectives of the Aus
trians, as their guns have continued TO
batter down the mountain bsstions,
stand out with increasing boldness.
All Italy, despite official assurances,
is alive to the grave menace TO Venetia.
II is realized that the Austrians, with
another Of those great massings OF
guns and men which have been the pre-
dominating Teuton strategy in the war;
aim at nothing less than cutting of the
main portion of the Italian army. For
a wear this has been concentrated along
the Isonzo attempting to capture Co
rizia and push on to liberate Trieste.
Verona and Nicenza Goals.
By striking down through the Val
d'Astico. the Val d Terragnolo and
along Lake Garda the Austrians are
seeking to cut the railway lines in the
upper peninsula leading to Udine, the
Italian base. Verona and Nicenza,
which lie from twenty to twenty-five
miles across the Tyrolean lines and are
rail bases for this entire 'front.' are
their immediate objectiyes.
When it is recalled that in little
more than a week the Austrians have
recaptured the Col Ssnto and positions
in the Astach Valley which it had cost
the Italians a year of painstaking effort
to win, the peril is apparent.
Even Rome, which took the war more
unconcernedly than any Allied capital
has suddenly awakened. "ltalys hour
has struck" is the theme of all the
press and public comment. As IN the
DAYS before Cavour, the cry the AUS
trians are invading Italy!" has reused
the old instructive anger and hatred as
nothing else has done.
Austrian Forces Doubled.
All the agitation Of the Garibaldisns
in the days preceding ltaly's declars-
ton of war and after were nothing
compared to the excitement aroused by
the present Austrian offensive. All the
reports from the lighting zone agree
that the number OF Austrian troops in
action has been more than doubled and
that the enemy's artillery, especially IN
heavy, long range guns. is daily in
creasine. Already the superiority over
the Italians is overwhelming.
The Austrian official statement to-
dav declared that the line reached by
tbs .roops was between Monte Tormino
an Monte Majo. As Monte MaJo IS
eighteen kilometers southeast OF Monte
Toruino this would carry the offensive
wi hin Italian territory.
Tho operations against Mandrlola
and the heights west of the Astach VAL
lev are also of great Importance. Man
driolo is about eighteen miles south
We. Of Trent. and its mention lndi-
Gates that another large Austrian force
is driving south in this quarter.
Layarone Plateau Captured.
The Austrian official statement says:
"The Italian defeat on the Southern
Tvrol front is certainly becoming
more serious. An attack of the Graz
Corps on Lavarone Plateau was at
tended with complete success. The
enemy was driven from his entire po-
sition. Our troops captured Flma,
Mandriolo and the heigh, Immediately
west OF the frontier from the summit
as far as the Astach Valley.
"Since the beginning OF the offensive
93.sS3 Italians, among whom are 49,
officers, have been captured by US. The
number of cannon taken has been in
creased 20 l72.
"The peak of Armentara ridge is in
our hands. On Lafrsun highlands We
entered a first line position Of the
enemy. which was defended tena-
ciously.
The troops under Archduke Charles
Francis Joseph the Austrian Crown
Prince. consisting Of Tyrolean I'm
perial chasseurs and the Linz infantry
division, extended their success, reach
ing the Monte Tormno-Monte Majo
line. Climax Imsohi and, TO the north
east Of this peak. Chimadin Esole, were
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