MIDNIGHT RAID IN THE DANUBE
BRITISH BOAT ATTACKS FOTJII MONITORS. The . during enterprise of a ■ British picket bor.t which, single-handed, attacked a number of Austrian monitors on the Danube resulted in 0110 of the enemy bonto being destroyed. . The enemy had six monitors and seven 'patrol boats, while the Allies possessed only the picket boat, which the British decided siiould be sent by night to attack the monitors, She set out armed with two torpedoes, a Maxim gun, and hand' bombs, and managed to slip past the Zemlin defeuces without being observed. At 1.30 a.m. the four monitors were sighted. When the picket boat was about 100 yards away a sentry challenged her. The picket boat replied with a torpedo, while a brisk fire was opened by the enemy. ' The discharge oi the torpedo was followed by a heavy muffled explosion. and much shouting on board the monitor. Meanwhile the picket boat approached the next monitor in line, and discharged her second torpedo, which, unfortunately, however, exploded against the opposite bank. The picket boat then turned about and proceeded down-river ut full speed, with searchlights flashing over her and a heavy rifle and machine-gun fire directed against her. She was struck repeatedly, but neither officers nor men sustained hurt, and soon her speed took her clear of the enemy. Sho was now approaching Zemlin, where searchlights were flashing in all directions. Nevertheless, they failed to pick her up, and by 2.30 a.m. she had got back in safety. Next morning only three monitors lay at anchor where four hail been the previous night. In recommending the gallant conduct of the ofiicers and men to tho notice of thq authorities tho Senior Naval Officer writes: "It was a bold ami skilful enterprise to pass the Zemlin, defences in a picket boat, and through the intricate navigation of thq 'Danube, to attack four monitors three miles above."
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Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 50, 23 November 1918, Page 7
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315MIDNIGHT RAID IN THE DANUBE Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 50, 23 November 1918, Page 7
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