eoccupy
some of the ground previously lost.

Two days later the Italians attempted to regain these positions. At
first they succeeded in entering the Austrian trenches on a larger
front than they had held originally, but when they manifested an
intention to continue the attack, the Austro-Hungarians, by
counterattacks drove them into their former positions and even ejected
them from these in bitter hand-to-hand fighting, thereby regaining all
their former positions.

During the balance of April, and up to May 15, 1916, military
operations on the entire Isonzo front were restricted to artillery
bombardments, which, however, at various times, became extremely
violent, especially so with respect to Goritz and the surrounding
positions.

In the next sector, the Doberdo Plateau, much the same condition was
prevalent. From the 1st of April, until the middle of May, 1916, there
was always more or less artillery activity. Occasionally infantry
engagements of varying importance and extent would occur. On April 7,
1916, the Italians were driven back from some advanced saps. South of
Mrzlivrh, Austro-Hungarian troops conquered Italian positions, taking
forty-three prisoners and one machine gun.

Again on the 9th, hand-to-hand fighting, preceded by bomb throwing,
was reported on the Mrzlivrh front. Another attack, launched early in
the morning of April 13, 1916, by the Austrians, lasted throughout
the day, with varying fortune, but finally resulted in a success for
the Italians. On April 14, 1916, the Austro-Hungarians captured an
Italian position at Mrzlivrh and repulsed several counterattacks. The
Italians suffered heavy losses. Artillery vigorously shelled the
Italian positions at Flitsch and Hontebra.

Other violent engagements took place on the Doberdo Plateau on April
27, May 9, 10, 12, and 13, without, however, having any influence on
the general situation.

In all the other sectors very much the same conditions prevailed.
Artillery fire was maintained on both sides almost constantly.
Infantry attacks were launched wherever and whenever the slightest
opportunity offered itself. Scarcely any of these, however, resulted
in any noticeable advantage to either side, especially in view of the
fact that whenever one side would register a slight gain, the other
side immediately would respond by counterattack and frequently nullify
all previous successes. Comparatively unimportant and restricted,
though, as most of this figh