Seeing the unprecedented and vicious attack against her German ally, the Emperor Franz Joseph decides that Austria should stand by their allies in times of war. A formal declaration of war is issued against Italy, and hostilities are initiated. Given the historical Habsburg claims to the Lombardy region, an offensive is launched.
Italian positions across the Isonzo are subjected to artillery fire. After the trench garrison was significantly weakened (1/6), the Austrian II Cavarlry Corps charged the Italian trenches. The result was a resounding success (4/5), and the advances of the the II Corps were followed by the rest of the Austrian 2nd Army and their artillery, who are now occupying the trenches.
Receiving a wireless detailing the start of the war, the Admiral of the White Squadron, decided to attack the nearby Italian fleet. After locating the BB Sardegna, the protected cruisers SMS Tirol, SMS Steiermark, SMS Leopold von Daun and SMS Kaiser Franz Joseph I trapped the Sardegna off of Capo Rizzuto. Intense fire followed, with the Sardegna taking several direct hits. When all seemed lost for the Sardegna and her support ships, a direct hit was made on the magazine of the SMS Tirol, which exploded. While the other protected cruisers moved to rescue survivors from the Tirol, Sardegna made her break. Having lost its prey, the White Squadron radioed the nearby German squadron in hopes of finding the Sardegna. (BB Sardegna is bombarded by 3 PCs. SMS Tirol attacks it, and loses. (2/5)).
In an effort to prevent an Italian counterattack, the Blue Squadron of the Austrian Navy shells a railroad running along the coast north of Bologna. All indications are that the railway was completely destroyed, along with many nearby farms.
GPS to KH.
The steam transport in the first picture was somewhere in the Mediterranean when the second picture was taken.
