The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-10-31
BAIILE OF Is0Mzo.
WRITER IN ITALY SEES ARMIES
WORK.
Austrians and Germans Inauguratc
Heavy Offensive From North to Re-
deem Previous Losses.


an officer from headquarters, the COR
respondent was given an opportunity
today to see Gorizia under a rain OF
shells from nearby Austrian batteries.
and to look out from a castle dom,-
mating the city on the vast scene of
military operations OF which Gorilla
Ia the strategic center,
The visit was made at an opporture
moment. just as the Austrians and
Germans were inaugurating their
heavy offensive from the north i'm the
effort to redeem their recent heavy
losses. A heavy artillery lombard
ment had initiated the movement,
with the Italian batteries responding
along a front of 20 miles running
cross the Bainsizza plateau towards
: o.mino. AS the correspondent pass
ed along the road from headquarte. IS
shells were falling freely three miles
outside Gorilla and there was q steady
roar of guns of all calibres.
Such an offensive had been antici-
pated for several days. as information
reaching headquarters showed that
the enemy was preparing for the su-
preme move OF tie .'car. Austrian
forces in the North. whore they were
no longer required against the inac-
tive Russian armies. had been sent 10
this frcnt. At the same time the
Ge-ina, General staff had awakened
TO the possibilities of the Italian front
and for - first time Brandenburs
troops were identified along this
nearby front and shells from large
calibre German gums were falling To-
the first time from the enemy position
on Monte San Gabrielle and arou
Monte Rosso
This. with the fury OF the Germs, n
fire. made 1t evident that the enemy
would seek TO regain the vast Bain-
sizza plateau which tho Italians re-
Gently TOOK with $4,000 prisoners as
the Italian strip on the plateau open
ed the way for them to sweep over
the Carso range buck to Triest and
thus threaten the Austrian defense Of
Triest. II was therefore to protect
Triest and force back the Italians to
the old line OF the Isonzo river that
the enemy forces were tripled. Picked
Brandenburgers. SaxoLs, Bavarians
and others were added 10 the Austrian,
forces and the opening stages of the
offensive were developed today.
The city of Gorilla was entered over
a bridge which Italian engineers had
thrown across the IsOnzo. The mas
sive old stone bridge was out Of SER
vice, with one of it's stately archeG
blown to pieces. The iron railroad
bridge further along had been entire
~ destroyed by artillery fire. The big
paper mills along the river front
were mass OF ruins and lines of
Jagged walls. with gaping windows,
extended for miles along the river.
Entering Gorilla the CITY presented
an aspect Of ruin and desolation with
the crash of falling walls every now
and then adding to the area of de-
struction. Within five minutes the
correspondent counted five large
churches. including the imposing
cathedral which had been reduced 70
a mass Of ruins. The roof of TN
cathedral, which had been reduced to
succession of shell holes the high
altar could be seen above the tumbl-
ing side walls. The chief hotel of tn,
city has been blotted out of existence
by two large calibcr shells which
leveled the entire structure. What is
left OF one of the principal buildings
Ia now used for an emergency fire de =.
partment to prevent further destruc-
ton.
Going TO the top of the castle DOM
h'a'hhs the CITY, the correspondent
had splendid view Of the vast field
of the present operations. Immedi-
ately In front was Monte San Michel,
held by the Italians. and to the left
was Monte San Gabrielle. where the
Italians are on one side with the Aus
TRANS still clingng to the top on the
other side.
The dividing lines between the two
forces were clearly discernible from
the terrific crashing Of guns on both
fronts.
The artillery action could be seen
dimly. extending over the coveted
plateau OF Bainsizza and northward
To Monte Rosso. where 1t was later
learned heavy infantry actions fol-
lowed the artillery preparations
Observations from the top OF the