effort. There was much blind bom-
bardment by the Austrian gunners in
their search for the new gun-emplace-
ments of the Italian positions. Quiet
villages and hospitals often suffered,
when the shells fell into the valleys in-
stead of finding their objectives.

*-pHE ATTEMPT TO REDUCE TRENT.

We have seen how the Trentino
salient was edged with smaller wedges
thrust out into northern Italy. Five
out of the six conspicuous points thus
formed had been occupied at once by
the Italian armies in their first forward
movement. Only the Lavarone plateau
had successfully resisted them.
Through the Giudicaria Valley, the
Lake of Garda, the Adige Valley and
the Val Sugana the first steps had been
taken on lines that converged upon
Trent. Then came a pause while the
new lines were fortified a pause, util-
ized by the Austrians in making strong-
er their defenses. Consequently, later
progress was by slow and small de-
grees. Artillery duels had to take the
place of infantry attacks, and the lines
showed little change from week to
week. By the end of the year, the Ital-
ian positions in the southern Trentino
stretched from near Condino on the
Giudicaria across to the Adige and
Vall'Arsa just south of Rovereto,
around the Lavarone plateau, and
north to Borgo in the Val Sugana.

On the northwestern border of the
Trentino, the Stelvio and Tonale Pass-
es were sufficiently fortified, but there
was no great activity in that region.
On the northeastern border, however,
a long, rigorous conflict was in progress
for the possession of Col di Lana, an
ordinary round-topped Alp set among
the sharp points of the Dolomites, west
of the Cortina Pass. It commanded an
extensive view down the valleys into
Italy. "The Italians had already shut
the doors of their house, but until Col di
Lana was taken there was a window still



HISTORY OF THE WORLD WAR



open for a prying eye. " It was needed,
too, to complete the crescent described
by the Italian fortified line. From
three sides Italian guns assailed the
mountain, and Alpini repeatedly under-
took to gain its slopes.

/^OL Dl LANA IS FINALLY TAKEN.

But Col di Lana was a fortress of ex-
traordinary strength, prepared by Aus-
trian engineers. A spiral system of
trenches, beginning at the base on the
eastern side, wound to the top. The
Italians, who had seized the western
slope in their first rush, were baffled in
many efforts to charge up the sides; for
avalanches of rock, dynamited from
the ledges above their heads, were
hurled upon them as they strove to take
higher positions, and machine-guns
rained down fire. A charge, under
Colonel Peppino Garibaldi, one of the
grandsons of the great Liberator, finally
got possession of the summit, in Novem-
ber. Since the crest itself was too ex-
posed to use, the Italians retired into





A STAIRWAY FOR THE INITIATED ONLY

By this rope ladder, the lofty cliff-side shelter was
reached. Only those of mountain training and experi-
ence might safely venture to ascend it.



HEADQUARTERS IN A MOUNTAIN
CLEFT

The Italian engineers were not daunted by the most
unpromising sites. Here in a cleft they built a shelter
as headquarters for an Alpine outpost.

positions on the side of the mountain
and there took up their work of defense
against the violent counter-attacks of
the weeks that followed. There they re-
mained masters of the situation.

Two mountain ridges in the Carnic
Alps comprised the only bit of Italian
soil which the Austrians had occupied
since the fighting began. Until the end
of August they were not shaken from
their hold. Then, two columns of Ital-
ian troops attacked them from east and
west, and drove them back upon their
own ground. At Pontebba, the princi-
pal gap in the Carnic Alps, long artil-
lery bombardments were exchanged, in
the course of which the Italian guns
battered the Malborghetto fortifica-
tions into ruins, although they did not
remove the Austrians from their po-
sitions.

''pHE ITALIANS GAIN INCH BY INCH.

The comparative quiet of the front
during the summer was balanced by
energetic production of munitions and

583



HISTORY OF THE WORLD WAR



active preparation for a new offensive.
In October the fresh outburst began
with general bombardment in the low-
er Isonzo region. Three centres of
action had been indicated. At Plava
the bridgehead was to be enlarged so as
to lead to an attack upon Monte Santo.
From Plava the river bends away to
the southeast for about five miles and
then makes another turn to the south-




NOVEL SHELTERS ON THE ISONZO FRONT

Officers' quarters are sometimes found in strange
and unexpected settings. These Italian officers have
taken up their abode in enormous hogsheads fitted
with substantial doors.

west. At the second bend, Monte Santo
occupies the east bank and Monte
Sabotino, the west. Less than five
miles farther down the river lies Gor-
izia, protected by the Podgora ridge
across the stream. The second objec-
tive of the autumn offensive was the
high land occupied by the Austrian
lines, from Monte Sabotino to below
Podgora. Lastly, invasion of the Carso
was to be urged with great vigor.

A MISTAKE LOSES A SUCCESS.
\

Opposite Gorizia, attack and count-
er-attack went on for weeks, with some
small gains for the Italian contestants.

584



On November 20, the village of Osla-
via was taken. Monte Sabotino was
theirs for a short time, when with in-
tense effort a brigade had secured it.
But, through some mistake, reserves
failed to arrive. The exhausted victors
had to retreat; their heroic feat had
been in vain. Results in the Carso were
not much more satisfactory. A slight
advance on the northern slopes around
Monte San Michele and San Martino,
and some gain on the southwestern
ridge near Doberdo, carried the Ital-
ian lines a trifle nearer to Trieste.

On the Italian front the Austrians
had massed numbers of Hungarians,
Tyrolese, and Slavs, who fought fierce-
ly and doggedly, yielding nothing that
they could hold. Yet, when winter
closed dow r n upon the trenches, the
Italians had climbed to the water-shed
on the north, had made some impres-
sion on the Isonzo front and had gotten
a hold upon the Carso plateau. In addi-
tion they had gathered in some 30,000
prisoners and considerable material
of war.

TNCREDIBLE HARDSHIPS ON THE MOUN-
1 TAIN TOPS.

The coming of winter on a battle-
front so great a part of which was situ-
ated upon mountains brought peculiar
problems. For the Alpini, an altitude
of a mile or more and a temperature
that might fall to 22 degrees below zero
was rigorous enough but not unfamil-
iar. For troops from southern Italy
and Sicily such conditions would be
insupportable without very particular
preparation. By forethought, good or-
ganization, and co-operation, satisfac-
tory provision was made for the hun-
dreds of thousands who had to spend
the winter in barracks and trenches.

Front-line trenches had a flooring of
planks and were provided with cover-
ings of matting. For one army corps
alone 300,000 planks were needed. Of
these about 100,000 had to be carried
to their destinations on mule-back or
by men. Shelters were blasted out and
behind the lines huts and sheds were
built. Heavy winter coats and boots,
flannel shirts, chest-protectors, woolen
socks and blankets and sleeping bags
were distributed for the comfort and



HISTORY OF THE WORLD WAR



protection of the country's defenders.
A few figures will indicate in some de-
gree the efforts that had to be put
forth to meet these requirements. For
a single army corps there was need of
280,000 blankets, and as many woolen
shirts and socks; 80,000 fur coats;
60,000 fur chest-protectors; and 10,000
iur-lined sleeping bags. Add to these
demands the task of keeping the men



quired from the Austrian trenches.
Owing to the extreme difficulty of re-
moving patients from the front to hos-
pitals where they could be cared for,
there were many deaths; but by careful
quarantine and isolation, coupled with
strict surveillance of food, water,
houses, and barracks, the disease was
controlled in a few months.

Our review of Italv's warfare would




VENICE THE CITY OF "LIQUID STREETS"

Venice, a centre of many interests, was peculiarly exposed to attack by sea and air; therefore, especial precautions
were taken for the protection of the city and its treasures. This is a view of the Grand Canal and that part of the
city directly east of the familiar Piazza of St. Mark's. Out of the picture, just beyond the buildings shown on the
left, lie the prison, the Doge's Palace, and St. Mark's.

be incomplete without some considera-
tion of the air service, which was in
active operation over coast and plain
and mountain. Pioneer of nations in
the use of aeroplanes for war, Italy had
had recent helpful experience, during
the war for Tripoli, in testing and de-
veloping this branch of military art.
Her flyers are peculiarly adapted to
their occupation, as they are by nature
quick and skillful in the use of mechani-
cal devices.



supplied with hot and nourishing food,
wherever they might be, and it will be
clear that the country had to devote an
intensified industrial service to the sup-
port of its army during the winter
campaign. Furthermore, both winter
and summer, the mountain troops, for
their exploits among the snowy slopes
used skis and were clothed in white
garments. Protected by this imitative
coloring they could move with greater
freedom and assurance in positions un-
der the very eyes of the enemy.

OICKNESS INCREASES THE DIFFICULTIES.

Another problem of this first winter
arose from an epidemic of cholera ac-



'"pHE ITALIAN FLYERS CONTROL THE
J. SITUATION.

At the very outset of the Austro-
Italian war, the air machines of both
nations became active around the north-

585



HISTORY OF THE WORLD WAR



ern end of the Adriatic. The Italians
made bombing attacks upon Trieste
and its dockyards; upon Fiume, where
there was a torpedo and submarine fac-
tory ; and upon the harbors of Pola and
Monfalcone. A steady "patrol of the
skies" was maintained by aerial ob-
servers, on the lookout for the enemy.
Indeed, the reconnaissance and pho-
tographic work of the Flying Corps
was of the utmost importance. Along
the coast seaplanes kept up a vigilant
search for warships and submarines.

Throughout the war, the air forces
acted as efficient auxiliaries to the land
forces; and the terrain which offered
such extraordinary obstacles to the
latter, produced almost as great diffi-
culty for the flyers. They could not
have accomplished their rapid and
successful flights across the irregular
mountain areas through fog and storm,
without an intimate knowledge of the
topography as well as ability to make
quick and exact calculations in regu-
lating their altitude and avoiding peaks.

'-pHE ART OF VENICE UNDER COVER.

While all the towns of northern Lom-
bardy and Venetia, menaced by Aus-
trian aircraft, established warning sig-
nals and extinguished or shaded their
lights at night, Venice, because of her
exposed situation, required especial
precaution against damage. A squad-
ron of French seaplanes guarded her
shore; and hardly a glimmer of light
could be detected after daylight was
gone. The famous historic monuments
and art treasures of the old city by the
sea were protected or hidden away.
Between the columns of the Doge's
Palace supporting walls of brick were
built in. Paris of the facade of St.
Mark's Cathedral, where the mosaic
decorations were most precious, were
banked up with sand bags. Then the
whole western facade was sheathed
with planks covered with asbestos.
Mounds of sand-bags grew up around
altars and statues in the interior of the
church, and thick padding rendered trie
columns shapeless masses.

The much-traveled and world-famed
bronze horses over the portals had en-
joyed a century of rest since their re-

586



turn in 1815 from Paris, where Napole-
on's ambition had given them a brief
visit. Now they were lifted down again,
to be concealed in the arcade of the
Palace. Later in the war, when the
Austrian menace grew darker, they
were carried off to Rome and shut up
in Hadrian's Tomb beside the Tiber.
At that time, too, the great equestrian
statue of Colleone, by Verrochio, which
had been a familiar figure in Venice be-
fore Columbus turned his prows west-
ward on the unknown sea, was trans-
ported to Rome for security. The first
step for safe-guarding the horseman
and his steed, in the earlier phase of the
war, was the erection of a shelter over
their heads where they stood, "a titanic
armored sentry-box" covered with
sand-bags.



D



ESTRUCTION OF ARTISTIC OBJECTS.



But not all the treasures could be
saved. During a bombardment of
Venice late in October, 1915, a ceiling
decoration by Tiepolo, counted as his
finest work, was destroyed by the explo-
sion of a bomb in the church of the
Scalzi, on the Grand Canal. Raids, in
November, upon Venice, Ancona, Bres-
cia, and Verona, worked further havoc.
And in February, 1916, Ravenna suf-
fered from an attack that badly in-
jured the mosaics in the cathedral of
St. Apollinare rich masterpieces of
early Christian art. As on other parts
of the Allied front, churches and hospi-
tals seemed particular marks for the
enemy's bombardments, and many
women and children were innocent
victims.

When Italy's fleet had been joined
by English and French squadrons in the
Mediterranean, the Adriatic operations
passed over into its control. In addition
to protecting the Italian coast- towns,
especially Brindisi, Ancona, and Ven-
ice, which were a temptation to enemy
raiders, there were other duties. The
blockade of the Straits of Otranto con-
tinued, now under Italian vigilance; the
patrol of the Sea by submarine de-
stroyers was constant; the principal
Austro-Hungarian fleet, safely enclosed
in the strong naval base at Pola, was
held impotent. Other fleets of the ene-



HISTORY OF THE WORLD WAR



my, at Fiume and Cattaro, sent out
frequent raids into the sea and toward
the opposite coast. Danger from mines
required the frequent services of mine
sweepers. There were encounters with
submarines, in which some of the older
Italian vessels were sunk or damaged,
and there were other encounters when
the submarine raiders were themselves
sent to the bottom. In the northern end
of the Sea, wherever it was possible,



ernment at Rome made announcement
that Valona had been occupied, for use
as a military and naval base to forward
the work of transportation. Valona, in
Albania, faces the heel of Italy, across
the narrowest part of the Adriatic.
With Otranto on the west and Valona
on the east, the Italians had command
of the gateway between the Mediter-
ranean and the Adriatic.

The next step was in the direction of




DURAZZO, ON THE ALBANIAN COAST OF THE ADRIATIC




the fleet co-operated with the land
forces in the struggle toward Trieste on
the Carso, as when the bombardment
from the ships in the gulf helped to
reduce Monfalcone.

/COMMUNICATIONS ACROSS THE
^ ADRIATIC.

Not least among the tasks assumed
by Italy was that of keeping open com-
munication w r ith the distressed coun-
tries, Montenegro and Serbia. Succor,
in the form of food and ammunition,
passed across into Albania in defiance
of hostile seaplanes, cruisers, and
mines. In December, 1915, the Gov-



Durazzo, half way between Valona and
Cattaro. By the end of January, this
port, too, was secured. Meanwhile,
over 200,000 men, many animals and
great quantities of materials and sup-
plies had been landed upon the Alba-
nian coast. However, the occupation
of Durazzo was but temporary, in order
to provide a place for the embarkation
of the Serbian, Montenegrin, and Alba-
nian troops in Albania, whom the Al-
lied Powers had concluded to withdraw
into Corfu, in order the more readily to
revictual and supply them. The trans-
port of the 160,000 men, with their

587



HISTORY OF THE WORLD WAR



beasts, stores, and baggage, was accom-
plished without loss. Then, after cov-
ering their embarkation and bombard-
ing the roads around Durazzo, the Ital-
ian fleet withdrew. Not an Italian gun,
nor an undamaged Turkish gun, was
left for the enemy, who re-entered the
town on February 27.




A POSITION REQUIRING POISE

The terrain of the Austro-Italian frontier furnished full play for the
skill and daring of mountain troops. In the picture, Austrian in-
fantry on a surface approaching the vertical, are making use of rope
secured to the rock to reach a desired position on the mountain,



M



INING OPERATIONS ON COL Di LANA.



Renewed operations of the Italians
on the Isonzo, in March, 1916, were
somewhat interrupted by the usual
spring floods. On the high mountains of
the north and west, however, winter
conditions still continued. Among deep
snows and Arctic cold the mountain
troops pursued their almost incredible
achievements. On the Col di Lana,
where the Italians were still in posses-
sion of the southern and western slopes,
the enemy held strong positions on the
northern side. A great mining enter-

588



prise, under the direction of Don Gela-
sio Caetani, was begun in January, to be
triumphantly completed in April. It
was a tunnel driven through the moun-
tain in the direction of the Austrian
works. When its existence became sus-
pected, a countermine was begun by the
enemy, but in a wrong direction. / 1
last, on April 17, the Italian
mine was exploded, tearing out
a huge crater, 150 feet wide
and 50 feet deep. The Italian
infantry followed close upon
the explosion and so succeeded
in routing the Austrians that
were left.

At the same time, on the
Adamello ridge, south of the
Tonale Pass and northwest of
Lake Garda, the Alpini on skis
and in their white uniforms,
were performing feats of ex-
treme boldness. On a glacier,
10,000 feet above the sea, in a
wild swirl of wind and snow, a
small company of these intrepid
mountaineers made an assault
upon the Austrians holding the
mountain crest. This was on
April 1 1. On the twenty-ninth
of the month, a larger body of
Alpini followed up the exploit
by attacking again, with the
support of a battery of 6-inch
guns that had been drawn up to
the edge of the glacier. The
result was that the Italians
controlled the whole summit
and had taken a new point
commanding part of the Aus-
trian lines in the Val Giudi-
caria. Colonel Giordano, who had been
in command of the detachment, was
promoted to major-general and trans-
ferred to the eastern side of the Tren-
tino. Not long afterward he met his
death there.

A USTRIANS ATTACK IN THE TRENTINO.

It is probable that the Austrian offen-
sive of May and June in the Trentino
was intended to forestall an Italian at-
tack which was anticipated in the Ison-
zo region. By pushing down into the
Venetian plains, where lay the lateral
railways that furnished communication




A MOUNTAIN BATTERY OF THE AUSTRIANS USED ON THE ISONZO

On the steep, winding, broken ways of the mountain battle-fronts, artillery adjustments of many sorts were
necessary. In this mountain battery the sure-footed horses and mules not only furnished the motive power but
served as limbers and gun-carriages too. Once in position, the guns had to be "unlimbered" and fitted together.




A LARGE ITALIAN GUN ON THE ISONZO FRONT

In soite of insufficient equipment upon entering the war and serious lack of coal and iron, Italy rose to the demands
of the moment The great P Ansaldo works-a ship-building and armament plant near Genoa-rapidly increased
its output, making gins in advance of the Government's orders. Late in 1916 ^e monthly product on of cannon
is said to have been equal to the usual yearly output. Photo from Kadel and Herbert

589



HISTORY OF THE WORLD WAR



with the troops on the eastern front, it
might be possible to interrupt General
Cadorna's plans by cutting off the
means of reinforcement and supply.
Through the winter months concentra-
tion of the enemy's men and guns in the
Trentino had been going forward. At
least 2,000 guns were ready to open fire
along a line of about thirty miles. Of
the two armies under the Archduke
Charles in the Trentino, there were be-
tween 350,000 and 400,000 men fifteen
picked first line divisions prepared to
strike in the section between Val Laga-
rina and Val Sugana. The heir to the
Imperial throne in addressing his troops
characterized the proposed attack as a
" straf -expedition," and a propaganda
of hate was in circulation among them.
The Italian First Army occupied the
lines that had already been won on the
edges of the Trentino. Since General
Roberto Brusati, who held command
there, had neglected to take adequate
measures for securing his position, Gen-
eral Cadorna moved his own head-
quarters to the First. Army, in April.
As a result of his investigations, Gener-
al Brusati was removed and General
Pecori-Giraldi entrusted with the diffi-
cult task of rapid and thorough reor-
ganization. The work of repairing de-
ficiencies could not be completed in the
few days before the offensive began and
the Italians were taken at a disadvan-
tage, with far too little artillery to re-
sist the storm that burst upon them.

qpHE ROADS INTO THE ITALIAN PLAIN.

In the threatened area three roads,
following three river valleys, gave ac-
cess from the heights then occupied by
the Austrian armies, to the plains of
Italy. Three elevations command
them. Once they had passed these
three heights, the enemy would have
gained the plains. At these points they
must be stopped, if their advance could
not be halted earlier. General Cadorna
placed his forces so that the strongest
resistance might be made on the flanks,
near the Adige and the Brenta. The
heaviest drive, however, fell upon the
Italian centre, where least preparation
had been made. Consequently, the
centre fell back, day by day, making

590



the enemy pay heavily for his advance,
but unable to stand against him or push
him back, unable even to dig them-
selves in.

From the fourteenth of May, when
the great Austrian bombardment be-
gan, until the last days of the month,
when the next movement would be
down-hill, the Italian retirement was
not checked. The left centre had
reached Pasubio, and the valley of the
Posina, the centre proper was drawing
back across the Sette Communi. There
"the word was still, 'Go back.' The
time had not yet come for the men to
die where they stood on the uplands of
the Sette Communi." (See the map
on page 359.)

'Y'HREE WEEKS OF HARD FIGHTING.

But on the extreme left the time had
already come for that last desperate
stand. There, against greatly superior
guns and several times their own num-
ber of men, the 37th Division of the
Italian Army, assisted by some other
troops, was exerting all its strength to
hold Zugna and Pasubio. On May 30,
at the Pass of Buole, the struggle
reached its height. Austrian infantry
charges were flung in vain against the
defenders of the Pass. Seven thou-
sand Austrians fell on that day alone.
Having failed at Buole, the enemy
turned toward Pasubio in a persistent
attack; but after three weeks more of
fighting there, the effort gradually
died away.

In the Austrian Army Order of June
i, announcement was made that only
one mountain remained between the
Austrian troops and the coveted plain.
At that moment, fortunately, General
Cadorna was able to bring up his new
5th Army, of little less than 500,000
men, which had been rapidly gathered
together from various posts and assem-
bled in the vicinity of Vicenza. Re-
markable feats of transport and organ-
ization had been achieved in collecting
and equipping, within a few days, this
reserve army, with its staff, artillery,
and medical units, ready for action.
Railways, motors, . and engineers
worked together in a supreme effort
accomplishing the result with only



HISTORY OF THE WORLD WAR



slight interruption of normal traffic.
On June 3, General Cadorna de-
clared the offensive to have been
stopped along the whole line. By June
4, increased pressure fell upon the
Austrian Army, when General Brusi-
lov launched an offensive in Bukovina
and Galicia.

qpHE AUSTRIANS ARE FORCED TO RETREAT.

The Austrians in the Trentino wedge
found themselves at a disadvantage,
with their large numbers crowded into
too narrow a space on a front where
they had not adequate facilities for
transport from their bases in the rear.
The Italian commander, recognizing
their situation, increased the pressure