In early August 1915 the Italians began attacking the Austrian positions in the heights. Between 9 and 11 August Alpini units, strongly opposed by artillery and machine gun fire, began the assault on Forame and managed to take it on the night of 13th. Another column took the high peak of Cristallo, forcing the Austrians back to Cresta del Costabella and Rauchkofel. After bringing artillery up onto the peak the Italians began to bombard these positions on 26 August. This was followed by another attack in from 11-26 September, but hampered by fog, snow and freezing temperatures, the Italians could not force the Austrians off the mountain once and for all, and little ground changed hands. Another costly Italian attack between 20 and 26 October saw a group of volunteers try to outmanoeuvre the Austrians by climbing over the glacier in camouflage, but they were detected and repulsed after several days of determined fighting.