New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-26
Peak Towering 2,245 Feet
in Air Carried by
Cadorna
Attacking Forces
Now Control Valley
Austrian Defence Line on
lsonzo Shattered,
Rome Reports

SONbON, aug. Z0.-Gencral Ca
dorns's second Italian army ha,
stormed Monte Santo, a mountain peak
seven miles northeast of Gorilla, and a
position Of strategic Importance COM
parable only to the almost impregnable
Mount Hermada which bars the way
to Trieste on the southern Carso.
Rome announces that "the Italian
troops on this front are marching to
complete victory" The Austrian line
has been pierced at several points,
and the forces of Emperor Charles
all along the Isonzo front are retreat.
ing, defending themselves stubbornly
against a vigorous pursuit.
Reports from Rome say that the
final success of the Italians in win
ning their greatest battle in this war
is thrilling the country as never be
fore. Both the army and the civilians
now see the result or two years suf-
ferlng and economic hardship.
The victory came Unexpectedly. not
withstanding the encouraging bulle-
tins Of the last fortnight. 1t is Gen
eral Cadorna's rule never 10 announce
an event until certain that his troops
are able to hold new positions.
A dispatch from Rome to-day SAYS:
AT Udine, Salvatore Barzilai. civil
governor Of the Austrian territory oc-
cupied by the Italian army, when in
formed OF the complete victory of the
Italians. exclaimed: AT last our sol
diers have achieved this magnificent
thing-they have freed our soil from
the ancient enemy"
When General Cadorna, in 1916
after throwing back the Austrian in.
vasion through the Trentino, suddenly
turned and overwhelmed the CITY o.
Gorilla, he found his victory almost
barren of military results, except Of a
defensive nature, because the enemy
still clung to Monte Santo and could
not be budged.
Gorilla is only 2SO feet above sea
level, while Monte Ssnto, a pilgrimage
resort before the war but a Gibraltar
the moment hostilities opened, towers
2,24o feet precipitously in the face of
the italian advance. In the Italian Of
fensive early this summer Cadorna's
troops worked their way up the heights
and established themselves upon the
Vodice, the plateau TO the west OF the
mountain, but Monte Santo still deied
all their best efforts.
Control Of Valley Won
Now the control OF the valley to the
east of Gorilla has been transferred to
the Italians, and they should be able
to thrust forward great wedge be-
tween Monte Santo and the Carso
Plateau, hairpin-shaped table land
which juts up between the Wippach
River and the coast. The strategic re-
suits may be far reaching. Military
critics have always maintained that II
tains and were able to throw her over
whelming reserves into the fight, the
war, in so far as it concerns the Italian
theatre, would be lost to the Dual
Monarchy. A decisive Italian victory
at this time might have political re-
suits of the greatest Importance.
On the Carso Plateau, where the bat
tie is almost equally desperate, the
Austrians are still counter attacking
the positions recently won by the Ital-
ians a mile and a half beyond Selo, TO
the north Of Mount Hermada. The cor
respodent of the Cologne "Zeitung" de-
clares that the Italians have placed
naval guns at the mouth of the lsonzo
River which have carried far beyond
Duino, on the coast, clear past Mira
mar, the imperial resort, less than two
miles west Of Trieste. Though there
has been no official word from Vienna
for several days, all the Teuton war
correspondents az the front remark
upon the power OF the Italian bat
teries, concentration Of 5000 heavy
guns having been made on a front Of
fifty miles.
There is distinct difference be-
tween this Italian offensive and the
last In the previous drive the ltal-
ian munitions gave out, and after the
infantry advanced the artillery had to
husband its shell supply TO meet ard
check the Austrian counter thrust.
During this week. however. continu-
Gus and unprecedented bombardment
has been maintained without let-up.
and any victory Cadorna may win may
be directly attributed to- his batteries.
Italian fiers have also been in the
thick Of the lighting. and contributed
materially to the success upon Monte
Santo. The CSproni planes bombed
close packed enemy troops IN the
Chiapovano Valley and then swept down
near the earth, attacking with their
machine guns OF 233 airplanes en-
gagged in the fighting yesterday, only
one failed 20 return.
The Idea Nazionale." announcing
that the Austrian casualties on the
Italian front up 20 Thursday morning
were $4,000, says that numerous rein
forcements are being hurried up from