ITALIANS ADVANCING OVER A "LAND-SEA."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15964, 8 July 1915, Page 7

ITALIANS ADVANCING OVER A "LAND-SEA."

DESCRIPTION OF BATTLE-GROUND BEYOND THE ISONZO LAND OF WONDERFUL GROTTOS AND SUBTERRANEAN RIVERS (Received July 7. 9.15 p.m.) Rome, July 7. Terrific fighting is proceeding on the Carso Plateau, north of the Gulf of Trieste. The struggle is developing favourably to the Italians, who have advanced six miles from the margin of the tableland towards the Vipacco Valley, where the Austrians are in considerable force. They occupy three successive parallel positions along rows of high hills on a front of three miles. The debatable ground, however, extends backwards 20 miles. The whole region around abounds in wonderful grottos. Insidious tarns of spongy subsoil make the district a vast '; land-sea," in which the rocks and mountains are islands- The Italian advance is assisted by admirable airship and artillery work, which makes the infantry attacks invariably successful. The Italian left, in the presence of King Emanuel, reached Height Crosis, capturing a battery and taking 600 prisoners. The region of the Italian offensive described in the cable above lies between Monfalcono and Gorz, east of the Lower Isonzo. The Carso (Austrian Karst) consists of rugged platforms and mountain ranges, extending from Terglon to the Balkan Mountains, but in a limited •'Karst proper" indicates the ranges from the Isonzo River to the Quamero Gulf. They are about 50 miles in length, 15 miles in width, and have an average altitude of 1500 to 1600 ft. The Karst Mountains consist principally of liniestono rocks. The rain which falls immediately disappears in the ground, and there is a subterranean process of erosion, partly chemical and partly mechanical, by which innumerable caves and funnelshaped depressions or sinks (dolinas) are formed. Subterranean watercourses are frequent, and many rivers suddenly disappear under the ground, either reappearing after a while or coming no more to the surface- The valleys present a very peculiar appearance. Many of them have neither beginning nor end, but form circular cr longtitndinal grooves and hollows -between the mountain ranges. Earthquakes and landslips arc of frequent occurrence. The greater part of the Carso territory is desert, but in former times the mountains were covered with beautiful forests.