Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-08-30
british and italian navies she
Floats Mounted With Huge
New Guns Are Bo1nbard-
ing>Trieste, While British
Monitors She'll Rear
Slopes of Mountain as the
Army Attacks in Front.

italian dispatch received in Washing
ton, from Rome, in addition to con-
tanning a vivid description Of a Joint
Italian and British naval. lombard
ment Of the Hermada, the mountain
mass barring the way to Trieste. and
a marvellous Italian infantry advance
UP fortified terraces Of this defensive
position tells. Of the. employment OF
an Italian device used for the first
time in this battle. It's results are
disclosed. but a description OF the de-
vice is withheld. It Is believed tosbe
a combination of enormous floats car
rying heavier guns than any used IN
naval warfare and reputed to be the
largest ever known. and a new type
OF she'll > ~
According to the oficial account this
new instrument Of warfare IS being
employed in dropping shells on the
port. IT'S fire Is sweeping the Her
mada in cooperation with the guns Of
British monitors. The dispatch tnd1-
Gates that, Trieste is the main s,objec-
tive Of the Italian offensive, which
appears to be or the point Of success.
Following is that portion Of the Of
ticial dispatch from Rome that is
made public: K
THE bombardment Of the Austrian
positions was accompanied in the
Gulfaof Trieste by two English mont
tors and three great Italian monitors,
which shelled and struck the most
vital points Of the Austrian defenses
with guns Of such large calibre and
long range as the Austrians 9 be-
fore experienced. The Italian navy
has surpassed in calibre and range
@ryNx~, ~ ,cy&~ Ia "a NS.l ~ y ~ Ntyattn~ m
special floats. whose construction n
detail are a profound secret, artillery
Of a power exceeding any armament
on any Austrian dreadnought. 81 ~
THE Italian navy has devised and
inaugurated a new system Of naval
warfare. This element Of surprise
was a part Of the new enterprise IN
the Gulf Of Trieste. While the artil-
lery fire was in progress over the car
escorted by torpedo boats, motor
boats, submarines, and airplanes,
proceeded to the Gulf Of Trieste,
crossing mine fields, and at 8 p. m.
the English monitors opened fre
against the Hernaada's slopes on the
side opposite the Italian. front, where
the Austrian reserves and artillery
had been concentrated. - Y"
1.-THE Italian so5's were mbakins
| IluuOIcO6 VI IdtCA6 4upoAi . ANS
and upon the high plateaux Of the
Hermada. while the italian monitors
maintained a still more terrific fire
against the Austrian military build
ings inc depots in the city of Trieste
A large number Of Italian, airplanes
were constantly in the airs over the
naval forces, expecting Austrian aeri-
alAcraft to~@eonaehout to drop bombs
upon the, ships, but the Austrian fly
49,. dJH MT ,x,anf,trot forth aThosJANS-
TRAN coastal batterieseopened fire, but
the English monitors were not hit
they r%efraining to answer the coastal
batteries bombardment, but, directing
all their fire against the Hermada,
stopping only when the italian tnfan-
try launched their attack against the
Hermada.
"At night, the English monitors re.
turned, without having been damag-
ed. The Italian monitors also stop
ped firing at night. During the born
bardment smoke was observed. nea!
Pola. it being learned that it. Issued
from the Austrian battleships, which
had steam up, but did not dare FISH
coming out.
ing that the top of the Hermada was
being dominated by he Italian artil-
lery due to the Intervention OF the
new italian. monitors, ordered the
Austrian aviators to destroy the ltal'
ian monitors during the night. The
neny aircraft came out. but were
compelled by the anti-aircraft guni
to. withdraw, after dropping a grea'
many bombs without result, n AUS
TRAN airplane, remaining longer thar
the others, being shot down n itt
occupants %perishing. t.Ss
Trieste is still under fire Of tn
italian naval g~unss~and the Italian
successes are causing the Austrian
command great unrest. h Austrian
have lost more than four lines. which
have been broken by the Italians; TN
10Th Austrian division was annihtlat
ed in a small one on the Cars
several Austrian regiments, notabl!
the 50th, one Of Austria's bravest
were completely wiped out of&,exist
ence; and while fronting an Italian
army corps the 23rd Austrian arm.
lost ABB soldiers prisoners with tW'
colonels, and several other superte'
officers among the 143 officers Their
captured. 81
drawing nearer and nearer. 9Th
Austrians have been Smelling The tal
ian lines with only the largest q
bred guns, which are of long rangs
all the smaller guns having been tax
en- to .the;rear to prevent<thetr. beini
captured by the Italians.
saTKE Herfnada Is a2mountain not q
very high altitude. but extended am
rocky.$sandsiis Isolated between tn
Carso and the sea-. It is the strong
est fortress barring the waysof tn
Italians to Trieste.sOn it's slopes ar