The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-09
ITALIANS CAUGHT
AUSTRIANS MAPPING
Lull in Fighting, "Due to Rad
Weather." Used to Alter
Gun Positions.
DEADLY FIRE FOLLOWED
Special Correspondence 10 Tn, &C.,

O''N, "''h hioh ldS UhH "a
leave of absence.
Gen. Cadorna's daily war bu,,s,,,.
nave been more laconic than usuai -.
December. and frequently thew ,n.ro,r
that nothing important, So
occurred. Such periods ~ GONNA Ne.
inactivity on the part Of the I,aii,na.-
invariably motived by reasons n, 80
s!ty. both tactical and s,ra,cg,cal Whit,
so FAR the Italian General star Mo
ceeds In hiding from the enemy.
In order to confirm the impression .b..
the Italians were inactive no, sror
choice Gen. Cadorna Systematically n.
luded IN his bulletins to snowstorrne ana
avalanches In the Alpine region. "a
heavy rains and muddy roads on lev.,
ground and to thick mIats e,ervwb.,.
rendering artillery fire absolutely I'M.
possible. During the frs. few rnon,b,
OF the war n allusion about unf,vor,.
BILE weather conditions In the italian bul.
lc'ins was ridiculed by the Austrian,
who invariably reported that The vea,h.r
Was ideal and accused the Italians n,
blaming II for their failure 10 advsrc.
Now. however. tho Austriana thcmsc,y.,
are blaning the weather. and thov IA.
scr be the great difficulties tina, mus. M
overcome to hold their advance md.
tons.
As a matter or fact, winter has bAen
unprecedentedly severe on tho Ans. ana
nlne-tenths OF the entire italian ron.
lions are covered with snow, Sipco tina
beginning OF February snow has fallen
without any interruption SO heavily tina,
In a single day some Italian advanced
positions had eight feet Of SHOW ovs,
them. In other places. especially Al.
pine passes. the hnts whore the Italians
are sheltered are covered with cirN.es,
feet OF snow. all communications hsys
been cut on and the men nave n ~
their way out from their hu,s. which ara
literally buried in snow. Then avalanche
are falling daily. often overwhelming
hutments and compelling tho mon {, 'or.
get the war and start rescue work
All available troops are employed N
clearing the nov from the roads !.aa.
Ing 70 the advanced positions. Which
thus can he reached by rconrorrewer,s
In cases of enemy attacks AMI such -ca.
clearing has been done so systcm4'' aIv
that even on the most stormy dtys -,
regular movement ~ supply and IN.
munitior trains could he continued v-.-
the only difference that slclcos o. I
horses were used instead 90 y leelsd
traffic.
Conditions on lower and levnl r-or-i
are not much better than in the N'r'r.
E'Ei'US. MI tlt Ntll'NS arc -" omar
In thick mlsts that never lift To- wcols
All the rivers, including to l.o "A
throughout !ts course. are nondei ara
their waters coupled with torr"utl,' -iire
have reduced all tho surrounding 'arl
into a quagm!re. Roads are 49," deep
in mud and often obs.ructcd owing 70
landslidcs.
Under such circumstances N. Aer-
TRANS were justified in nat
any offensive action was impoSs D.. II
their assumption evidently was chinrai
into convection because the nf, lrsv
the troops holding the first line positions
where they only left a few ,nca ~ or.
post duty and relied on thor - vN-at
communication trenches for rushing -.
endorsements to the front In case o.
sudden Italian attack.
The Italians instead held tNn- ~
tons in force lest by withdrtwirs ,'s'r
men the Aus;rians would suspect 'tl'
preparations were going on hcH''l "A
lines. For two months aGd ror' 'e
.Aus,rians whenever weather ,-r3'n.s
we're favorable systcmatica''y $ o'ed
inhabited areas behind the creUy's ,'-oS.
preferably directing their fire as i'"s' 81
lagos and towns whore they s.sp. tot
the Italians were sheltered d.sr'. "a
fact that more or less thov wo-e p
ruins The Austrian fire. however. 'at
decreased in intensity Of late - 50 s. ~
extent that during the last POM, t'ey
never used their IL inch gas
Then the unexpected happ"' ed Te
ALA resumed the offcn~. N- and ~
Saturday morning, March ~, ~ 'A-
guns opened fire simultarcrI-'r TTa
Aus,rians. who pridcd themsslsrs 0r 'N'
OF their intelliGence department
were surprised not so much ''t' g
Y IL. -