AUSTRIAN SURPRISED IN MOUNTAIN STRONGHOLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15950, 22 June 1915, Page 7

AUSTRIAN SURPRISED IN MOUNTAIN STRONGHOLD.

ALPINE TROOPS SCALE ROCKS BY NIGHT. FURIOUS HAND-TO-HAND FIGHT IN TRENCHES. Eome, June 20. Details of the attack by the Italian Alpine troops on the northern Slopes of Monte Nero, where the Austrians are being constantly.reinforced show that the ground is so difficult that the Italian General Staff decided to advance at night in absolute silence. They hoped by chmbmg almost perpendicular rocks to attack the enemy from two The Alpine troops were armed with rifles and bombs, and some took off the boots and wrapped their feet in rags in order to climb up the crags qiuetly. By .dawn a column was operating against the' Viata counter-scarp and another north-west of Monte Pofoee-<T' Meanwhile the Alpini got within a few yards of the enemy before and 7Z Vt\r d leaped into the > trenches - A «** *-$& hand fight with butts and bayonets followed. -The Italians w o n' the trench and then took the second line. "..-•- *&%$l twolVf atta ? f ° lloWed ' bUt W3S repidsed - Simultaneously two Italian columns made a night attack on the Monte Kozli'ak front and got within 200 yds of the Austrian trenches, before being detec d The Alpm, without a moment's hesitation, dashed in and for d astonished Austrians to retreat. They pursued them ShSflVnf stones, and hand grenades, while a second column struck &S&£' rear and cut off the retreat, 600 : Austrians being taken nrLt! 300 left on the field wounded. The Italian. losses weSslP^