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Between the Adige and the Brenta the Austrians on July 4, 1916, contested with great determination the Italian advance and attempted to counterattack at various points. After several attempts, Alpine troops reached the summit of Monte Corno, northwest of the Pasubio. In the upper Astico Basin they captured the crest of Monte Seluggio and advanced toward Rio Freddo.
Through the capture of the Spitz Tonezza and Monte Melignone the Austrians now held the entire line across the frontier as far as Forni on the Astico. They also pushed their advance toward the ridge north of the Val dei Laghi, and toward Monte Tormino and Monte Cremone, all three outlying defenses of Arsiero.
Artillery, too, in comparatively great quantity and of as heavy caliber as the country permitted, had been assembled. Suddenly on May 15, 1916, the Austrians along the Trentino front followed up an intense bombardment which had lasted throughout May 14, 1916, with an attack by large masses of infantry against the Italian positions between the Adige and the upper Astico.
Several attempts made by minor Italian detachments to advance on the Tyrol front were repulsed. Two attacks on Civaron failed. On the Trentino front Austrian artillery activity continued. Villages of the Astico Valley and the Italian positions on Cauriol in the Avisio Valley in particular were shelled.
During the following day Austro-Hungarian artillery intensely bombarded the Italian positions near Conizugna in the Lagarina Valley. In the Arsa Valley, in the Pasubio sector, on the Posina, and on the Astico line Italian infantry advance continued despite violent artillery fire and a snowstorm. Two Austrian counterattacks toward Forni Alti and Campigliazione were repulsed with very heavy losses.
The shelling of Zugna Torta was renewed on May 17, 1916, when five attacks against the Italian positions were repulsed with heavy losses. Meanwhile artillery fire continued against the Italian positions between Val Terragnolo and the upper Astico.
On the next day, September 10, 1916, between the Adige and Astico Valleys the Italians developed increased activity. Austrian hill positions in this sector were subjected to strong artillery and mine fire. On the Monte Spil-Monte Testo sector the advance of several Italian battalions was repulsed.
The troops of Archduke Charles Francis Joseph reached the Monte Tormino Majo line. Between the Astico and Brenta, in the Sugana Valley, the Austrian attacks likewise continued, supported by powerful artillery, against advanced lines in the west valleys of Terra Astico, Doss Maggio and Campelle.
Asiago was hardly known before the war to foreign tourists, but many Italians used to visit it, especially for winter sports. Across the Plateau from north to south ran the Val d'Assa, which near the southern edge, having become only a narrow gulley, turned away westwards, the Assa stream flowing finally into the river Astico.
Several Italian towns, including Vicenza and Verona, were attacked by Austrian aeroplanes, while Italian air squadrons in a raid on objects of military importance in the lower Astico Valley, dropped 100 bombs on various enemy camps and munition depots. The next day, June 3, 1916, the Austrian attack once more found fresh impetus.
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