ap, and a great battle raged on the edge of the highlands east of
the river. The Austrians had the advantage of position, for their
forces could be massed in the woodland out of sight of the Italian
aviators. But, on the other hand, the Italian batteries on Mount
Korada were able to pour a plunging fire into the lower tableland; and
due mainly to the aid of their artillery the Italian troops drove back
the enemy and maintained the ground won by the first dash.

General Cadorna was now in a position to begin a direct attack upon
Gorizia. He assailed the Hill of Podgora, forming the barbican of the
city's system of defenses and advanced a reconnoitering force toward
Mount Fortin. Meanwhile he massed 500 pieces of artillery on the
heights commanding the city. But the defenses of Gorizia had been well
planned, and they proved their completeness by a long resistance
covering a period that brought successive reports that the fortress
had fallen. All these reports proved false. South of the city the
Austrian intrenchments covered a front of more than ten miles, from
the Mount of San Gabriele below Plava to Mount San Michele on the
Carso tableland. The trenches were built in the most modern style, of
concrete more than a yard thick covered with steel armor, against
which ordinary shrapnel had no more effect than so much hail, and even
high-explosive shells of medium power did little damage. The Italian
weapons of attack were hand grenades and short knives, in the use of
which the infantry were expert. Four army corps operating under the
Duke of Aosta between Gorizia and the sea were beaten back by the
Austrians with heavy losses. This victory so encouraged the archduke
and chief lieutenant, General Boroevics, that they decided upon a
counteroffensive in force. Therefore, as soon as the Italian attack
slackened, the main Austrian army advanced across the Carso Plateau.

The series of battles that now followed were the first engagements of
any size between the Italians and the Austro-Hungarians in the open
field. They began June 22, 1915, and lasted until the close of July,
with a short let-up at the end of the first week in July. The theatre
included the whole Carso front, the Vipacco Valley, and the southern
part of the Ternovane Forest. After his first repulse General
Boroevics brought up fresh corps and renewed the attack, but in the
end he was driven back to his main line with shattered forces.

In the Carso tableland the