ed an endless
stream of fresh Italian troops winding their way up from the valley."

CHAPTER XXXV

THE ITALIAN COUNTEROFFENSIVE IN THE TRENTINO

Hardly had the Austro-Hungarian offensive shown signs of weakening
when the Italians themselves began to attack the invaders. The first
indication of this change was gleaned from the wording of the official
statements, covering military operations on the Italian front for June
9, 1916. No longer is there any mention of Austro-Hungarian advances,
but on the contrary this term appears now in the reports concerning
the military operations of the Italian troops, who are also reported
as "making attacks." Of course, this turn in affairs developed slowly
in the beginning.

Thus, although on June 9, 1916, the Italian troops attacked at many
points along the entire front between the Adige and Brenta Rivers,
most of these attacks were repulsed by the Austro-Hungarians, who were
still able to claim the capture of some 1,600 prisoners. At the same
time Italian forces began to push back the invaders at some points and
were able to advance in the upper Arsa Valley in the Monte Novegno
region, between the Posina and Val d'Astico, as well as on the western
slopes of Monte Cengio. Artillery duels were maintained along the
entire balance of the front to the sea. Austrian aeroplanes dropped
bombs on various localities in the Venetian plain, while an Italian
squadron shelled Austro-Hungarian positions in the Arsa Valley and the
Val d'Astico.

Much the same was the result of the fighting on June 10 and 11, 1916.
On the former day the Austro-Hungarians concentrated their efforts
still more and restricted themselves to an attack against a small
portion of the Italian front southeast of Asiago. After an intense
bombardment strong forces numbering about one division repeatedly
attacked the Monte Lemerle positions. They were repulsed with very
heavy losses by counterattacks.

From the Adige to the Brenta the Italian offensive action was
increasing. Infantry, effectively supported by artillery, made fresh
progress along the Vallarsa height, south of the Posina, in the Astico
Valley, at the Frenzela Valley bridgehead, on the Asiago Plateau, and
to the left of the Maso torrent.

During the following day Austro-Hungarian artillery intensely
bombarded the Italian positions near Conizugna in the Lagarina Valley.
In the Arsa Valley, in the Pasubio sector, on the Posina, and on the
Astico lin