n guns making only a desultory reply. The
bombardment was continued until after sunset, when the Austrian
infantry began to move forward from the direction of Fort Strino, on
the Noce River, northeast of the Tonale Pass, guided by searchlights
and star shells.

The seasoned Austrian troops encountered an extremely heavy
machine-gun and rifle fire as they climbed the slope, using their
bayonets to give them support on the slippery ground, but continued
the advance, and near the summit engaged the Italian defenders in a
hand-to-hand combat, and after an hour of bayonet fighting drove the
Italians from their positions. Both sides engaging in the encounter
lost heavily, according to the dispatch.

According to Rome dispatches the Austrian troops were under the
command of the Austrian heir-apparent, Archduke Charles Francis
Joseph, as well as Field Marshal Count von Hoetbendorff, chief of the
Austrian General Staff. General Cadorna, the Italian commander in
chief, was also said to have established his headquarters on the
Trentino front to take personal command of the defense.

The special correspondent of the London "Times" describes the fighting
in the Trentino at this period as follows:

"It is the fifth day of the Austrian offensive. 'We have an action in
progress,' says the colonel. The night is clear and mild. A moon, full
red, is rising on the horizon. Headquarters are located in an ancient
Austrian feudal castle, which crowns a hilltop. At our feet the valley
spreads out, and the mountain-chains to the right and left seem to
meet at an angle in the west. Here a blackened mountain mass dominates
the valley. It is the Panarotta, the stronghold of the enemy.

"'The eye of the Austrians,' a young officer exclaims, as from the
crest a beam of light breaks forth, flaring with great intensity on
the Italian positions lower down. Immediately an Italian light
endeavors to shine directly in the path of the Austrian light and
blind its rays. Another Austrian light darts forth from across the
valley. Promptly an Italian searchlight gives battle. Thus for more
than an hour the opposing searchlights endeavor to intercept one
another. To-night the Austrians are on the offensive. Their lights
sweep the hill crests, pursued by Italian rays.

"The moon is now high in the heavens, the snow-clad peaks, the shadowy
ravines, the villages within Italian lines, as well as those beyond
the invisible ring of steel, are bathed in a silve