Second Edition. Italy

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 40, 17 June 1915, Page 6

Second Edition. Italy

THE AUSTRIAN PLAN. DESPERATE DEFENCE ARRANGED [United Press Association.] (Received 1 p.m.) Rome, June 16. The Austrian plan is now clearer. They prepared a desperate defence of Gorizia to Lino, believing it would be impossible for the Italians to continue the march to Trieste while their left flank was threatened. The Austrians are everywhere on the defensive except in the Carina zone, where their best troOps are centred for a violent offensive, aiming at the' invasion ,of the valleys leading to Venice, which would thus force the Italians to retreat in order to defend their own territory. The Austrians are defending Gorizia'from the height of Podgora, which is west of the town, where four miles of front arc covered by invisible trenches.- These are protected by steel plates and arc connected with several changes of ' underground tunnels, whence tile,' tiopps fight under compietO cover, supported by heavy artillery, which is hidden in grottos excavated, in the hills. Fierce fighting is,, proceeding from Inferno Valley to Malboroghetto at a height of seven thousand feet. So far, the Austrian attacks have been repulsed.. A battle, which lias been raging for several days at the foot of the East Trentino- glaciers, ended in an Austrian rout. ' Though fierce and picturesque, these Alpine engagements do not possess great military importance.