Omaha daily bee., 1917-09-08
(By Associated Press.)

Although tHe fuStrlaHS apparently
still retain a precarious hold upon
Monte San Gabrielle, their last re-
naming mountain stronghold north
east of Gorilla, the end is in sight for
them in this region, according to
Italian belief. 49,.
General Cadorna's report today
shows the Austrians still resisting des-
perately, but staggering under the
heavy losses which the incessant ltal-
ian pressure of the last few days has
inflicted upon them. This pressure
is being maintained and is becoming
decisive, the commander of the at
tacking forces announces.
Austrians Abandon Counter Attacks.
The Austrian plan now seems to be
to abandon counter attacks and re-
main on the defensive along the east
ern fidgeHof the, Bainsizza plateau,
where their positions, such as Ceroek,
Draga and ,Volnik, about 1000 feet
high, dominate those occupied by the
Italians by several hundred feet, at
the same time centering the efforts
Of their best troops on the Carso IN
the hope of checking the slow but
determined march of the Italians to-
ward Triest. 60.
The Brestovizza valley, north of the
Hermada, has been transformed into
an inferno, with thousands of guns
pouring shells from all directions into
it, while the Austrian infantry inces-
sanity is attacking. The Italians
have withstood no less than nine
rushes of the infantry from the op-
posite lines. Sometimes their forces
have had to withdraw slightly, but
Immediately have recovered the lost
ground.
From the Hermada south to the
, sea the Austrian infantry is attacking
with the same ferceness and the bat
tie is raging uninterruptedly. The
present effort is considered the max
imum one of which the Austrians are
capable. 4
Italians Confident.
The Italian reports are invariably
conservative and it has been noted
that General Cadorna has habit OF
Withholding an announcement until he
is sure of his ground. The confident
tone of today's communlque from
Rome, therefore, is considered sig
nihcant.
According to the strategical ex-
perts, General Cadorna has only to
obtain secure hold on Monte San
Gabrielle to give him complete domi-
nance of the Biansizza plateau and
the country far to the south, making
it possible to push his way into the
Chiapovano valley and drive wedge
between the two Australian armies
virtually isolating the southern army,
which directly bars his way to Triest
| Several times the San Gabrielle peak
has been in Italian hands, but the
Austrians have battled desperately
for this vital position and each time
surged back again. There has been
no let up in the Italian pressure,
however. and it now seems as if the
decisive phase of the battle had been
reached. B.
About 10000 prisoners have been
taken to date by the Italians in their
present offensive, while the total
losses of the Austrians are estimated
at 10000. f.
| The contiued retreat of the Russian
armies has not yet caused the Rus
sian authorities to fear seriously for
Petrograd, according to current ad-
vices, but apparently has had the ef-
feet of wakening most of the radical
elements in the capital to the neces-
sity of strengthening Russia's powers
of resistance. Their newspapers are
now urging the dropping of internal
political quarrels, enforcing discipline
and presenting united front to the
enemy.