del
Carso. After an intensive preparation by artillery fire the Austrians,
on March 16, 1916, launched at dawn a counterattack against the
positions conquered by the Italians the day before, but were at first
everywhere repulsed, suffering heavy losses.

The Austrian concentration of artillery fire, in which guns of all
caliber were employed, lasted uninterruptedly throughout the day,
forcing the Italians to evacuate the positions during the course of
the night.

The Fella sector of the Carinthian front and also the Col di Lana
sector in the Tyrol were shelled by Italian artillery. Italian airmen
dropped bombs on Trieste without doing any damage.

Again atmospheric conditions enforced a lull in military operations
during the next few days and brought to a sudden end what had seemed
to be an extensive offensive movement on the part of the Italian
forces on the Isonzo front.

On March 17, 1916, however, violent fighting again developed on the
Isonzo front in the region of the Tolmino bridgehead. It began with
greatly increased artillery activity along the entire sector between
Tolmino and Flitsch. Later that day the Austro-Hungarians launched an
attack against the Italian forces which netted them considerable
ground on the northern part of the bridgehead, as well as some 500
prisoners.

The battle in the Tolmino sector continued on March 18 and 19, 1916,
and to a slighter degree on March 20, 1916. On the first of these
three days the Austro-Hungarian troops succeeded in advancing beyond
the road between Celo and Ciginj and to the west of the St. Maria
Mountain. Italian counterattacks failed. South of the Mrzli, too, the
Italians lost a position and had to withdraw toward Gabrije, losing
some 300 prisoners. Increased artillery activity was noticeable on the
Carinthian front, particularly in the Fella sector; in the Dolomites,
especially in the Col di Lana sector; in the Sugana Valley and at some
points on the west Tyrol front. Goritz, too, was again subjected to
heavy Italian gunfire.

On the following day, March 19, 1916, fighting continued at the
Tolmino bridgehead as a result of Italian efforts to conquer positions
firmly in Austro-Hungarian hands. The number of Italians captured
reached 925 and the number of machine guns taken was increased to
seven. Several Italian attacks against Mrzli and Krn (Monte Nero)
broke down. On the Rombon the Austro-Hungarians captured a position
and took 145 Italians and two machi