ITALIANS IN COMMAND OF THE PREDIL PASS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16034, 28 September 1915, Page 8

ITALIANS IN COMMAND OF THE PREDIL PASS.

FORTIFICATIONS CRUMBLE UNDER ARTILLERY ATTACK

WONDERFUL FEATS OF ALPINI AND ENGINEERS.

. c". ' * : London, September 26. ■\ The correspondent of the London Times on the Carnic Alps front says that the Italian troops are now dominating the great high road through Plezzo to Tarvis, by way of Predil Pass. Piezzo has been gripped fast since Italy occupied Moncombon. The Predil Pass fortifications crumpled under the big Italian guns, once more proving that fortresses are helpless against modern heavy, guns. The Austrians seem to have abandoned their fortresses. They have shown great skill in disposing of their guns among the mountains, but have been slowly pushed back under relentless pressure. The eyes of the Austrian artillery have been plucked out by the Alpini, to whom nothing is inaccessible. They climb precipitous peaks and drop from rocks with bayonet and knife, taking trenches without firing & shot. What cannot troops do who treat mountains like wild goats The Italian engineers are wonderful. They have driven roads up, round and t through mountains, zig-zagged along the face of cliffs, and blasted through great masses of rocks.

Plezzo (or Flitsch) is 29 miles north-west of Gorz. Predil Pass runs up the Isonzo Valley, over the Julier Alps, and gives munication between the Drove basin and Trieste.