PLUCKY SEA-RAID BY THE ITALIANS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2924, 9 November 1916, Page 5

PLUCKY SEA-RAID BY THE ITALIANS

REMARKABLE FEAT BY TORPEDO FLOTILLA NARROW ESCAPE OF SIX AUSTRIAN BATTLESHIPS (Aust.—N.Z. Cable Assn. and Beutcr.) Rome, November 7. An Italiau official communique reports the mutual sinking of an Italian torpedo-boat and an Anistrian submarine. Many of the torpedo-boat's crow were saved. Italian torpedo-boats entered the port of Pola and attempted to torpedo a large Austrian warship. They sank a big Austrian steamer at Durazzo. An Italian armoured train badly damaged an Austrian torpedo-boat which was bombarding Sant Elpidio, on the east coast of Italy.

A PLUCKY EXPLOIT. ;'(Deuter'fl Telegram.) (Rec. November S, 10.35 p.m.) Rome, November 7. The incursion to Pola Harbour, where the main forces of the AustroHimgarian Navy are "barraged," was a remarkable exploit. A plucky little torpedo flotilla on November 1 penetrated six miles down the Fasana Channel, which is formed by the string of.Brioni Islands. There are laud batteries throughout the channels, and a big fort at Fasana. Each island is well provided with hidden batteries, yet the Italians forced their way through the minefields and reached the southern extremity, where the channel narrows to two miles. The flotilla was within a few hundred yards of six Austrian warships when it discharged its torpedoes. ' Unfortunately these exploded against the torpedo netting. The Italians escaped, despite the searchlights of the shore batteries. Though the fiotilk was not fully rewarded, they had the satisfaction, three days later, of sinking an Austrian transport at Durazzo. ITALIAN. OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Au6t.—N.Z. Cablo Assn. and Renter.) (Rec. November 8, 3.30 p.m.) London, November 7. An Italian official communique stales: "We repulsed attacks at Sano, in tho Adige valley, and on the slopes of Oimabouche, in the Trainguolo valley. We dispersed the enemy's columns on the Julian front." ; AUSTRIAN'S BUYING UP CORPSES. (Rec. November S, 9.15 p.m.) London, November 7. An Italian semi-official message stales that with the object of concealing their losses the Austrians are offering money for tho corpses of their dead. It is estimated that our latest offensive cost tho enemy twenty-fivo thousand men. RUSSIAN PROGRESS ON THE CARPATHIANS (Roc. November 8, 0.5 p.m.) London, November 7. An official message from Petrograd states: "'We are successfully continuing our operations 6outh of Dorna Vatra."