agement lost only about 100 killed and
wounded, while the enemy's casualties were estimated at 2,000. The
loss stung the Austro-Hungarian Government deeply.

CHAPTER LXVII

ATTACKS IN GORIZIA

After the Italian success in June, 1915, certain readjustments were
manifest in the Austrian forces in the Italian theatre. Although there
was no declaration of war between Italy and Germany, it was reported
that German officers were sent to aid the Austrians, and that the
forces of Archduke Eugene were progressively strengthened from this
time on. German soldiers who joined the Austrian detachments were
supposed to have volunteered in an irregular individual manner. In
this manner Germany preserved the appearance of neutrality.

The latter part of June, 1915, found Austria occupied with the siege
of Lemberg, and the archduke, apparently, was content to hold his own
on the Italian front until a decision had been obtained in the more
important operations against the Russians. Satisfied with their
initial successes, General Cadorna on land and the Duke of Abruzzi at
sea settled down to a slow, patient chess play, not unlike that worked
out by General Joffre in France. Cadorna issued a statement to the
Italian people in which he warned them that the preliminary successes
which, he said, had made good the strategical defects of their
frontier, would be followed by a long stage of gradual approaches
against the enemy's second line.

The attrition of the Austro-Hungarian forces would be carried on by
long-range artillery and sappers and local trench warfare with hand
grenades. The Italian commander in chief resolutely refused to divert
any part of his forces to the Dardanelles. Possible danger to Italian
dominion in Tripoli, pointed out by the leaders of the Entente Powers,
did not change his purpose to maintain a single concentrated front and
not diffuse his efforts. The war with Austria, he believed, would be
won or lost on the Italian frontier. His theory as to the best way to
meet advances by the Teutonic allies in new fields was to increase
pressure on their home frontiers where their interests were most
vital. The Italian army in the field was increased to a million men,
and, after the fall of Lemberg, Austria gradually moved more and more
troops to the Alpine passes and the Isonzo, until by August she had
600,000 men facing the Italians, double the number arrayed on this
front when Italy declared war. Had the Russia