the Sette Comuni Plateau continued
without cessation during the next few days without yielding any very
definite results. In that period there also developed extremely severe
fighting at the head of the Posina Valley. During the night of July
13, 1916, the Italians succeeded in carrying very strong Austrian
positions south of Corno del Coston and east of the Borcola Pass,
notwithstanding the strong resistance of the Austrians and the
difficulty presented by the roughness of the ground. During the night
the Austrians launched several violent but unsuccessful counterattacks
in which they lost heavily.

In spite of violent thunderstorms, seriously interfering with
artillery activity, fighting continued in this sector on July 14 and
15, 1916. Italian troops made some progress on the southern slopes of
Sogli Bianchi, south of Borcola and the Corno di Coston and in the
Boin Valley, where they occupied Vanzi on the northern slopes of Monte
Hellugio.

Austrian reenforcements arrived at this time, and as a result a
series of heavy attacks was delivered in the upper Posina area in an
attempt to stop the Italian advance between Monte Santo and Monte
Toraro. Italian counterattacks, however, were launched promptly and
enabled the Italian forces to maintain and extend their lines.
Throughout the balance of July, 1916, the Italian troops succeeded in
continuing their advance, although the Austro-Hungarian resistance
showed no noticeable abatement and frequently was strong enough to
permit not only very effective defensive work, but rather considerable
counterattacks. However, all in all, the Italians had decidedly the
better of it. Step by step they pushed their way back into the
territory from which the Austro-Hungarian offensive of a few weeks ago
had driven them.

On July 18, 1916, the Italians gained some new positions on the rocky
slopes of the Corno del Coston in the upper Posina Valley. Four days
later, July 22, 1916, they captured some trenches on Monte Zebio on
the Sette Comuni Plateau. The next day, July 23, 1916, between Cismon
and Aviso they completed the occupation of the upper Trevignolo and
St. Pellegrino Valleys, taking the summit of Monte Stradone and new
positions on the slopes of Cima di Bocche.

On the Posina-Astico line at daybreak of July 24, 1916, after a fierce
attack by night, they captured Monte Cimone, for the possession of
which violent fighting had been in progress for days.

Further north, Alpine t