If the push towards east in the sector of the Fourth Army did not practically gain any ground in view of the formation of the Austro-Hungarian troops, the advance in the north did not have any better luck. Although the Landsturm and the Standschutzen were very limited in number, the Italian troops delayed the occupation of the Mount Croce Comelico Pass and this allowed reserves as well as armaments to reach even this position of the front.
Throughout the whole of summer the troops of both sides faced each other to occupy the mountains in the region, and particularly the Seikofel and the Burgstall, which changed hands on several occasions. On 11th June the Austro-Hungarian troops succeeded in occupying Mount Peralba while the Italians sought to take advantage in the area around the road that led to Sesto. The small village of Val Pusteria, however, was well defended by the forts on the surrounding mountains and in the area of Landro. Long and cruel battles followed one another that did not give any territorial advantage to either side but merely resulted in heavy human loses.
Further south, between Mount Croce Comelico Pass and Cortina, the battles were concentrated around Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Mount Paterno (where Sepp Inneklofer died) and Mount Piana, a locality at an altitude of 2,300 metres and historically always a border between the two Countries. Since this was the last point of contact between the wide valley of Landro (in Alto Adige) and Cadore, both armies considered it as a primary objective.
Lacking any protection in May 1915, this area was occupied for the first time by Habsburg soldiers on 07th June 1915 and was immediately fortified despite continuous bombardments by the Italians. On 15th July the Marche Battalion attacked the Austro-Hungarian garrisons and after five days of fighting (that cost the lives of around one thousand men), occupied the southern fortifications but not the strongholds in the north.
Military action continued during August and September but the peak of Mount Piana could not be conquered. Continuous bombardments and infantry operations (including those on 02nd August and which in terms of numbers were the most important), did not change anything with the exception of the temporary occupation of the neighbouring Mount Rosso. The arrival of the first snow as early as the beginning of September slowed down this frenzied action even if on the surrounding peaks the skirmishes never stopped completely.
