THE FIGHT FOR MONTE SAN GABRIELLE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3192, 17 September 1917, Page 5

THE FIGHT FOR MONTE SAN GABRIELLE

•DEADLY ATTACKS BY THE ITALIANS STIRRING COMBATS ON THE SUMMIT London, September 14. Mr. Perceval Gibbon states that for upwards of a fortnight a fierce battle lias pivoted on Monto San Gabrielle, whoso long saddle and high peak rise between the Gargaro Valley and the Gorizia Plain. "The Austrian communiques," he says, "suggest that the attackers were vanquished, but Generul Cadorna •is relieving his brigades with ever new drafts, and continues to pound the Austrian positions with terrific bombardments. The enemy trenches molt like snow under the unceasing shelling, and most terrible elaughtpv goes on. Tho Austrians at one time had fifteen battalions on thesumiriit of the San Gabrielle area. Eareiy has there been such lavish, intensive killing as the defenders of San Gabrielle have undergone. General Capello, commenting oh tfie big Austrian forces on the muontain, said: "They are still thero, but mostly dead.' The Bersaglieri, with their "mountain guns, are able to shell the Austrian trenches at two thousand var<ls. The Italians secured the summ it over and over again, only to be :met by the Austrian artillery, which directedi its chief fire on the infantry below the skyline, where thero was little shelter. Austrian infantry and machine-"!™ were entombed in vast catacombs until the moment -when tlicy were to sprout up in a froth of fire to attack or receive attacks. When such ft vault was captured, the Austrians were lulled to a man by tho Italians, who arc nil volunteers. These men show extraordinary devilry and resource in emergencies. r-Aus:-N.Z. Cable 'Assn. \ CAPTURE OF THE MOUNTAIN VIVID PICTURE OP THE DEADLY STRIFE. (Eec. September 16, 5.5 p.m.) „ , , ~ London, September la. The "Daily Telegraph's" Home correspondent states that the Italians captured Monto San Gabrielle on September i. Tho summit was abandoned during the night, but was recaptured next day. ~,,, m, . <. • „ "The Italian positions have now been strongly consolidated. The Austrians isent five brigades to retake the-peak, sacrificing entire detachments. One thousand Austrians were, captured in the caverns; with many machine-guns. I'ort Sanla ; Caterina is now cut off, and throe of the enemy s battalions are unable to MCa ?fT 'Julius Price writine from General Cadorna's headquarters, says: "The titanic'contest for Monto San Gabrielle has resolved itself into a question oi 'endurance. A wounded survivor from the summit says that tho mountain is absolutely soaked with blood. A vast heap of corpses is lying from end lo end of 'hi summit Many have been lying there for three weeks He. has never• seen anvtliin" to compare with the horrors, though he has had experience of '.he Dig ■battles in thrCarso. The Italians are losing heavily but tho Austrian losses are tomivTer owintto their reckless The Wry of the tahans s extraordinary. They are up xgainst the toughest nob they have ever tackled, but the'final rlsuAt is beyond doubt."-Ai.s.-N.Z. Cable-Assn.. ITALIAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Eec. September 16, 5.5 p.m.) • London, September 15. An Italian official report states: "We advanced froni our rectified line in the reMon of Log, in tho northern zone of the Bamsuza Plateau and took prisoner°s Our airneh' propped three tons of tombs on the enemy s lines of communication in the Carso."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter.