Poem ~ Mountain Wars - Sunday, 12 September 1915

Impression sketch of a priest saying mass to Italian troops on the Italo-Austrian front in the Tyrolean Mountains, 1915 - by Jamie. See original at: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/258253359857777002/

In part of the frontline where

Winter had apparently arrived -

For the situation on the Alps

Prompted Italian preparations,

For impending winter months.

Officials conferred in Rome,

Over 10 September 1915, in

Systemizations over townships,

Then under military forces -

Numbering hundred and three.

Additionally was question

Over Italy taking a greater

Part in the war front - as well

As considerations in their

Munitions productions.

The Italian cabinet meeting

Headed by minister of war,

To reaffirm their armies met

All needs, in winter equipment,

For fights on Carso and Alps.

For some time already,

Winter preparations had

Been made - with trenches,

Huts all supplied and well

Equipped with stoves.

Despite wintery conditions,

Advances were seen to be

Continuing - as in Trentino

Communes taken, as Austrian

Forts became ineffective.

Austrian retaliation had

Turned, to attempt reduction

Of their lost communes down

Into rubble, forcing refugees

To seek shelter in Italy.

Questioning of prisoners

Suggested Austrian reserves

Had been used - sent over

To Galicia to remain static on

Isonzo-Carso, Trentino lines.

The suggestion was the fight

In Galicia, led to losses

Of 50,000 Austrian soldiers -

Under Russian forces,

To recall Roumanian corps.

The belief was thought that

Little more than four army

Austrian corps remained - 

On Serbo-Roumanian front;

Their presence spread out.

While a German presence

Relatively small, Austrian

Corps had two in Transylvania,

One in Banat and remainder

In Danube, Drina and Save.

 by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Italy's Preparations - Ready For Winter - Austria's Heavy Losses. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 11 September. P.8. Col.3. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11823040/Daily-Telegraph-September-11-1915.html [Accessed: 12 September 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 12 September 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11823040/Daily-Telegraph-September-11-1915.html

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