The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-05-29
CADORNA ENDS
FIRST PHASE0F
TRIESTE DRIVE
Crossing Of the Timavo
Brings Italians Very
Close to DuinO.
HERMADA VITAL PEAK
Position Must Be Won Be-
fore Final Advance
Is Possible.
BIG GUNS BROUGHT UP
Strong Austrian Lines Are
Now Being Consolidated by
the Italians.
BIG GUNS BROUGHT UP
sssctsi cabie Despasch 10 Tus srs from tAs
London Times.

sptcfai cabie Despofch 10 Tas sus from fAs
London Times.
IoNpoS, May. es.-Gen. Cadorna struck
ytstsrdAy what will be probably the last
blow Of the first phase OF his offensive
toward Trieste. On the Adriatic coast
the italian infantry pressed forward to
within a mile Of Duino, crossing the
River fimavo. taking San Giovanni VII
laee and capturing nine six inch guns.
The correspondent Of the Times at
Italian army headquarters telegraphs
that Monte Hermada, which towers to
height Of thousand feet north Of Duino
and dominates the whole country nearly
to Trieste itself. is now threatened. The
Times correspondent thus explains the
situation:
Preparing for Assault.
Our allies are on the slopes Of Monte
HerInada. Beyond Medeazsa and be-
tore reaching the Anal rampant OF Her
nsda there is dip in the ground tha,
separates the lower ridges from the fnal
ascent On the right centre the Italian
line faces that Dip The line where the
Italians are now firmly established was
obviously chosen because II is the best
Jumping of place for the finaI assault.
How soon this assault will come
cannot he foretold. An advance Of over
TWO miles all along the line be-
tween the Carso and the sea obviously
implies a pause. Many Of the Italian
guns which hitherto have supported the
infantry splendidly are now too far back
Tor enective fire upon the new positions
Of the Austrians. But prepara tions. are
already well begun. Yesterday lixht
Italian batteries were speaking from
positions where four days ago there
we're Austrian guns.
The Austrian prisoners taken In the
last few days have been less happy
about the ultimate result OF the war
man some who were captured In the
first days Of the Offensive. They were
ouoyed by the hope OF a separate peace
with Ruesia, but the men taken yester-
day had heard that Russian move was
expected, and they no Longer boasted
that Austrfa's entire strength could be
concentrated against Italy.
Il saw yesterday what must be n
rare sight in this slow horror of
trenches bombs and giant how!tzers
| saw field guns going into action under
the enemy's direct fire. For a moment
it seemed impossible. and when the
truth dawned on me 1t was hard not to
cheer. Out came the guns, one by one,
at discreet intervals from a wood, first
at walk, then at a trot. then at q
sallop. down the road where ;roglodyte
men had faced one another at thirty
ysrus distance for many weary months.
Guns Pas. over Trenches.
Chatter. clatter: bump. bump, The
hrst gun was over the main Italian
trench. Another bump! Tho first line
Austrian trench was passed. and the
hrst gun got safely into Ms new position
before the Austrians fairly awoke to
what was happening. The gun team
came gallopins back. Then the valley
was filled with high explosive shells
varied with occasional shrspnel
AT that moment nearly all the Aus.
trian field guns were In full retreat on
that sector. and those left were fully oc-
cupied with their own front. The Aus
trian heavy shells never reached tho
road, exploding harnlessly In old
trenches and open fields, but as the last
gun was preparing to start six inch
shell came straight for the little wood
When the smoke and dust cleared Iway
The gun team was still standing quiet
Two minutes later the gun was humping
of to Join its fellows.
The greater part OF the day the ell
emy was hsmmering the valley with big
shells. He even dropped four ~ cent?.
meter shells In spots where he fondly
hoped Italian troops were concentrated,
None OF these big fellows caused single
Casualty"