Malga Fossetta and Monte Magari, inflicting
heavy losses on the Austrians and taking 203 prisoners, a battery of 6
guns, 4 machine guns, and much material.

During the next few days the most fierce fighting occurred on the
plateau of Sette Comuni. All Austrian attempts to resume the offensive
and continue their advance failed. The Italian advance was scarcely
more successful; fighting had to be done in the most difficult
territory; strong Austrian resistance developed everywhere.
Thunderstorms frequently added to the difficulties already existent.
Yet slowly the Italian forces pushed back the invader.

On June 18, 1916, Alpine troops carried with the bayonet Cima di
Sidoro, north of the Frenzela Valley. Fighting developed in the Boite
sector, where the Italians had made some slight gains during the
previous days, which the Austrians tried to dispute. Heavy Italian
artillery bombarded the railway station at Toblach and the Landro
road in the Rienz Valley. Artillery and aeroplane activity was
extremely lively during this period. Not a day passed without
artillery duels at many scattered points along the entire front from
the Swiss border down to the Adriatic. Aeroplane squadrons of
considerable force paid continuously visits to the opposing lines,
dropping bombs on lines of communication and railway stations.

Alpine troops captured a strong position for the Italians on June 20,
1916, at the head of the Posina Valley, southwest of Monte Purche. On
the 22d the Italians pushed their advance beyond Romini in the Arsa
Valley, east of the Mezzana Peak, and on the Lora Spur, west of Monte
Pasubio.

On the same day the Austrians counterattacked with extreme violence at
Malga Fossetta and Castel Gomberto, but were repulsed with heavy
losses. On the 21st a further Austrian attack at Cucco di Mandrielle
resulted in a rout. On the 22d the Italians, while holding all the
Austrian first-line approaches under heavy fire to prevent the
bringing up of reserves, attacked on the entire front, but still
encountered a strong resistance. During the night of the 24th the
remaining peak of Malga Fossetta, held by the Austrians, Fontana
Mosciar, and the extremely important Mandrielle were taken by storm,
while the Alpini on the right made themselves masters of the Cima
Zucadini by the 22d.

Henceforth retreat was inevitable, and during the night of the 25th
the Italians on Monte Fior, seeing that the Austrian resistance had
greatly dimin