New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-16
Smash CarSO Defences
Twelve Miles from
Seaport.
TOLMINO SUBURBS
REPORTED TAKEN
City Evacuated by Austri-
anS-Fleet Quits
Trieste.
Try Cable TO The Tribune ]

London, Aug. l5.-Hammering at the
Austrian front from Tolmino. eighteen
miles north of Gorilla, to the Adri-
attic, the Italians made advances to-day
at both ends of the line and at the
centre, east Of Gorilla.
Cadorna's troops have reached the
suburbs Of Tolmino, according to I'M
official reports to-day. The town is
reported in flames, and military critics
here consider its fall imminent. The
Austrians, it is said, already are evac-
uating it.
In their coastal advance the Italians
are now within twelve miles of Tri-
este. They broke through another
series of strong trenches on the Carso
plateau, south of Gorilla, to-day, and
have cleared the way for a thrust
along the railway that skirts the Gulf
of Trieste.
Austrian Fleet Quits Trieste.
In view of this menace, the Austrian
fleet is said to nave sailed from the
harbor of Trieste. It's destination
probably is Pola. fifty-fve miles away.
The fall of Tolmino would force the
Austrans TO abandon the salient
formed by the bend in the lsonzo
from that town to Gorilla. This
wedge is similar to that which the
Teutons held between Gorilla and
Monfalcone, on the Doberdo plateau
Like the bridgehead at Gorilla, the
Tolmino bridgehead has been one of
the bulwarks of the Isonzo defence. For
it in great force without being able to
force il.
With Tolmino lost, the Austrian po-
sitions at PLAYA and Canale would be
flanked both from the north and the
south. at Gorilla. Thus the way would
be cleared for an Italian advance along
the whole line from Tolmino to the
sea.
Salient Menaces Advance.
Until this Tolmino- Gorilla salient is
wiped out any advance east of Gorilla,
and even q movement eastward along
the Carso, carries with il an element
of danger. for the advancing forces
would lay themselves open to an at
tack on the left flank.
For the first time since Gorilla fell
the Italians succeeded to-day in ad-
vancing in the hilly country east Of
Gorilla. On these heights the Aus
tlians have been offering very stubborn
! assistance. Their bulwarks have been
Monte San Gabrielle and Monte Santo.
After heavy fighting the Italians sue
ceeded in piercing the Austrian IN
trenchments east of the fortress city.
This is the first breach in the Teuton
line in this sector and clears the way
for wider movement.
In the offensive on the Carso pla-
ttGu the Italians have captured 1,419
more prisoners. The Austrans claim
that the invader is losing many men.
This is highly probable, as the battle is
as fierce as ever.
Italian Report.
To-day's Italian statement says:
"On the Carso during the night OF
August IA the gallant troops of the
Eleventh Army Corps repulsed several
and attacked the
enemy's lines 70 the west OF Sainte
Grade and Monte Pecinka. Several
sections of the enemy's trenches we're
captured and 1.419 prisoners, includ-
ing thirty-one officers, were taken.
ain the hilly tract east of Gorizia,
after heavy fighting, we carried other
hostile intrenchments, taking go
prisoners. Of whom five were officers.
"On the remainder of the front the
enemy made the usual demonstrations
against our positions, at Monte Piazza,
in the Trienz Valley, on the Foramc
River. at Felizzon, Boite, Monte
Colombara, on the Asiago Plateaur. at
Monte Cimone and Monte Seluggio,
near Astico, in the Posina Basin and
on the Pasubio. He was unsuccessful
everywhere.
'Enemy aircraft dropped bombs on
Ronoi, Saint Canziano and
Pieris. No casualties or damage re-
suited"
Austrian Statement.
The Austrian announcement reads:
I'm the district between the sea and
the Vipacco Valley several Italian at
tempts to approach our strong positions
were frustrated by our fire. On the
heights east Of Gorilla our troops
again repulsed strong attack and took
prisoners 10 officers and lao men.
Monte San Gabrielle and Monte Santo
were violently shelled by hostile ar
tillery.
"On the Tyrolean front minor en-
terprise resulted in the bringing in of
eighty-nine prisoners, among whom
we're five officers, and one machine
gun"
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