nce
of the wounded on the battle field. I fancy that the army is better in
the attack than in the defense, and I should trust most with an
Italian army to an attack pressed through to the end without halting."

The first indications of renewed activity, outside of artillery duels,
anywhere except in the Trentino, appeared during the last days of
June. On June 28, 1916, the Italians suddenly, after a comparative
quiet of several months, began what appeared to be a strong offensive
movement on the Isonzo front. They violently bombarded portions of the
front on the Doberdo Plateau (south of Goritz). In the evening heavy
batteries were brought to bear against Monte San Michele and the
region of San Martino. After the fire had been increased to great
intensity over the whole plateau, Italian infantry advanced to attack.
At Monte San Michele, near San Martino and east of Vermigliano,
violent fighting developed. At the Goritz bridgehead the Italians
attacked the southern portion of the Podgora position (on the right
bank of the Isonzo), and penetrated the first line trenches of the
Austrians, but were driven out.

The Italian offensive was continued the next day, June 29, 1916, and
resulted in the capture of Hills 70 and 104 in the Monfalcone
district. The Austrians undertook a counteroffensive at Monte San
Michele and Monte San Marino, on the Doberdo Plateau, attacking the
Italian lines under cover of gas. Fighting continued in the Monfalcone
sector of the Isonzo front for about a week, during which time the
Austrians vainly endeavored to regain the positions which they had
lost in the first onrush of the Italian offensive. After that it again
deteriorated into artillery activity which was fairly constantly
maintained throughout the balance of July, 1916, without producing any
noteworthy changes in the general situation.

Coincident with this short Italian offensive in the Monfalcone sector
of the Isonzo front, there also developed considerable fighting to the
east on the Carso Plateau, north of Trieste, which, however, was
equally barren of definite results.

Minor engagements between comparatively small infantry detachments
occurred in the adjoining sector--that of the Julian Alps--on July 1,
1916, especially in the valleys of the Fella, Gail and Seebach. These
were occasionally repeated, especially so on July 19, 1916, but
throughout most of the time only artillery duels took place.

In the Carnic Alps hardly anythin