; a new post (Isonzo 11º offensive)..........................................The fight for Monte S. Gabriele (Škabrijel).
On 29 August 1917 the Italian Supreme Command ordered the suspension of operations on the Bainsizza Plateau and arranged a new effort for the 2nd Army troops, this time against the formidable positions constituted in the heights to the northeast of Gorizia. The battle of Bainsizza, which had developed continuously since August 18, had led Italian troops east of the plateau, almost penetrating into the Chiapovano Valley, without providing the results that had been expected. When Monte Santo fell, however, two powerful bastions remained in the hands of the enemy: Monte San Gabriele and Monte San Daniele, which closed the way to Valle Frigida (Vipacco), through which the whole Austro-Hungarian defense system could be dropped from Gorizia to the sea.
Monte San Gabriele, although lower than Monte Santo, is separated from the latter by a depression in the mountain chain constituting a strong position. Through their advance in the Plateau de Bainsizza, the Italians could attack it from both the north and the west. On the other hand the Austro-Hungarians were perfectly aware of what the fall of this stronghold meant to them, so that while the Italians had reached the slopes they could not seize the summit.
For such operations in a few kilometers of the front were concentrated about 700 pieces of artillery of various calibers. The action was in charge of the troops of the Sixth Army Corps. The attacks followed one another, while powerful bombardments made the earth tremble. Everything was useless: the enemy resistance was unshakable. The Austro-Hungarians knew that new Italian advances would bring disaster for them. General Conrad von Hotzendorf was sent to take charge of the front of Isonzo.
The attempts were unsuccessful, the commander of the army wants to take Monte San Gabriele with a fence of fire that enveloped the whole mountain with a continuous rain of projectiles so that it is impossible for the Austro-Hungarians to bring supplies and fresh troops. About 15,000 rounds a day were fired for three consecutive days. At the end of it was launched another attack that was bloody rejected.
Thus on August 29, whole brigades were demolished and pulverized against this formidable bastion. A real catastrophe in vain! The valor of the troops, the tenacity of the leaders, could not prevail over the defense and the enemy resistance. However, it was necessary to win, to destroy the Austro-Hungarian defense system: S. Gabriele - S. Caterina - San Marco to bring about the collapse of the whole line.
The High Command had given very strict orders: San Gabriele must be taken at all costs! However, annulling all orders, is the strong Austro-Hungarian defense: each new assault against the rocks of the mountains, form huge piles of corpses. Even the attempt by a battalion of Bersaglieri cyclists, has ended in a new massacre.
The formidable and profound enemy defensive system on Monte San Gabriele rested on two pillars: the fort of Dol, in Point 367, built on the rock and that of S. Caterina, a fort built of stone in Point 307. The fort of Dol had dominion over the road knot of the same name, while that of S. Catarina controlled and dominated the roads coming from Salcano-Grazigna and was the spearhead behind the fortress of San Daniele prepared for the defense. The trenches of the fort of Dol were to join with those of Veliki Hrib, which, through subterranean corridors, were in communication with the center of the fortress: the San Gabriele (Point 646), and these, in turn, with deep and Masked walkways, with the cornerstone of Santa Catarina.
Sources: Salvatore Farina. Gli arditi sul San Gabriele, 4 settembre 1917.
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Cheers. Raúl M
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