Page 164 - The Secret War in the Italian front in WWI (1915-1918)

THE SECRET WAR ON THE ITALIAN FRONT IN WWI (1915 – 1918)

8.4 The telegram transmitted from the Radiotelegraph station of Medea on 25 July 1915

radiotelegraphic stations that had been taken from a cavalry unit, which no longer needed it as the
war had become static and trench-based.
As proved by the correspondence enclosing the radiogram of picture 8.4, General Cadorna had
reached the lookout on 25 July, in the morning, when the Second battle of the Isonzo was raging,
not on 5 July during the First Battle, as reported by Austrian sources.
In accordance with the order given before the battle, the 2 Army had to support the 3 Army’s
nd
rd
attack by creating diversions. Therefore Cadorna, with the purpose of communicating his concerns
about the battle development, decided to transmit the dispatch in question from the radio station
located near the lookout to the Medea hill. Of course, if the enemy had interpreted the intercepted
telegram in a short time, valuable information would have been disclosed. However, the opportunity
to give an operational order by radio is not the point here.
The point is rather focussing on the radio and cryptologic aspects of the matter, which results
to be complex due to discrepant records. While Ronge reports the wrong date and writes that

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