The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1917-06-09
ROAD TO TRIESTE
HARD TO CONQUER
Expert Tells of Difficulties That
Must Be Overcome.
LATIN TROOPS NEAR DUNNO
Despite Fierce Fighting, He Doubts
General cadorna Will Take Trieste,
as Austrian Resistance Increases as
Battle Fury Grows-Advance on Front
of Twenty Miles.

odhllC y III OF EFOFL
of Twenty Miles.
1.-THE Italian offensive on the Julian
front has been a notable one. While
not as vigorous a movement as that
which finally resulted in the fall of
Gorilla last year, the Austrian official
statements have not hesitated to an
nounce that at some periods the fight
ing has been the fiercest they have had
to do on the Italian front"
This statement was made by a mil
itary expert who is following closely
tie fronts.
st is doubtful that General Cador-
ma will reach Trieste, one of the great
Italian detectives" he continued. The
Hermada ridge presents a most for
midable barrier, and the Austrian re-
sistance is certain to increase as the
Italians attempt to push farther along
the coast. At present the Italians are
less than a mile from Dunno, their i'm
mediate objective, on the gulf of
Trieste.
Must Fight Every Inch.
while the terrain between their
advanced lines and Dunno is not espe-
cially difficult, they will have to bat
tie for every inch of ground. The
most difficult fighting of all will come
after Dunno is passed, when the Ital-
ians will have somewhat more than
ten miles of difficult terrain between
them and their goal.
1.-THE Italian advance has been on a
front OF about twenty miles, or from
a point north of Gorilla to the Adri-
attic shore. 1t started eighteen days
ago and gradually grew In strength.
The principal attack at the outset was
north of Gorilla. The Austrian COM
mander apparently concluded this was
to be the principal line of attack.
while the battle was at its height
In this region a crossing of the Isonzo
was effected at a point much nearer
the coast, and a new Italian army
poured through the Austrian lines.
The latter were taken by surprise.
4IAo, hONCNCl, . III CACuSt, oD1Ct lue
Austrians have known at all times
that Trieste is one of the principal
detectives of Italy.
THE gain in territory has not been
great, but eve that Is considerable.
The fact that the Austrian lines have
been smashed and the armies of EN-
peror Charles forced back for miles
along the coast has served not only to
hearten the Italian forces, but the al
lies in general.
"The capture of nearly 24,000 Aus
TRAN troops in a little more than two
weeks is no small accomplishment and
must have had a chilling effect ON
Vienna. Austria's counter claim to
having captured 1900 unwounded
Italians serves to offset the Rome
claim, but the followers of King Vic
tor Emmanuel have every reason for
rejoicing.
Italian Progress Remarkable.
"The most spectacular captures of
the forward movement, Of course, were
the taking Of Monte Cucco and the ap-
proaches to Monte Santo, which re-
quired a long and terrible fight. 1t
became most intense on the Vodice and
on the hills approaching Monte Santo.
"When the natural difficulties the
Italians have to face ON this front are
taken into consideration their progress
appears remarkable. The ISonzo river
is broad and swift. In only one place
is it fordable. Here the mountains
fairly bristle with Austrian guns. Yet
the Italians crossed the river, protect
ed their advancing infantry, CONSOLE
dated their captured territory and in
trenched, all under a heavy c%oncentrat-
ed fire by the enemy. whose forces con-
Quoted a determined coun~terattack.
1.-THE line north /of Gorizia has not
advanced far, the principal advance
having been toward the south and
east along the coast. Heavy British
guns and British gunners played an
important part in the initial stages of
the drive, hammering the Austrian po-
sitions to pieces. Veterans of the Oar
danelles campaign arrived in the gulf
Of Trieste in small monitors and en-
dered valuable assistance to the land
forces by pounding the Austrian left
flank.
while the capture of Trieste would
have a greater moral effect than mill
tary value, since it would mark the
realization Of an Italian dream of fifty
years, from a military standpoint 1t
would be a real accomplishment. Italy
wants the entire eastern shore of the
Adriatic freed from Austrian control
and the Austrians driven over the
mountain ridge. With Trieste In Ital-
ian hands it is easily conceivable that
Austria would be forced to abandon
the entire Istrian peninsula, marking
an even greater victory for General
Cadorna.'