Il ne passeront pas !

[EUBanana]

Its possible to have contested hexes, which can stay contested for some time if you rotate fresh troops in.

That isn't mentioned anywhere in the book to my knowledge, but surely thats a factor too regarding this "If the defender takes 50% more casualties" stuff.

ie, the book is not definitive, if the game does not follow the book, you should not be surprised.

[EUBanana]

oh and re. the Austrian fleet, they sure weren't scuttled when it said, but I did give them orders to rebase to Rostock in the next strategic phase.  Which they duly did attempt.