Spitting Torpedoes.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 November 1915, Page 3

Spitting Torpedoes.

TALE OF'A SUBMAIUNL DULL. I Impressive details of the novei submai'iue duel off Venice, whidh ended! ;u tlio sinking of the Austrian Ul2, have been gleaned by the Ancona correspondent of the "titampa" from the blu> jackets who played an active part in that ibriLlant episode. While cruising the eoa in company witii an Italian torpedo vessel the sub-

marine descoveredi the big Ul2 making straight in the direction or the two vessels, i'retending blindness to its presence, tilie commander or the torpedo boat continued to cruise, and moved nearer to hi 6 own submersible, whicli had also (sighted tne danger. Skilfua manoeuvres "of the torpedo boat brought both submarines up against each other nose to .nose boueat'h the water. Then it was that the real excitemsnt began. The Austrian erai'tf let ny a torpedo which almost shaved the hank of its Italian opponent, ana for an hour and a half they kept darting a-Efout with spectacular fish-like dexterity that would cause a kinematographer r s nearc to leajj. into his -mouth". During thu time the Italian torpedo boat stood a

little away from the combatants, ready to shell the enemy should lie rise to tie surface. At length the grand lrnalo soundeu witili shocking suddenness. .Reversing her engines, the Italian submarine with a swift movement to the left leapt over lien* adversary s back. As she did so lier antagonist spit two torpedoes one after the otdlea* whiou missed her sides by a mere Jiair's breadth. This was the ene'niy's last gasp of life. All this time in their pent-up quarters the Italian crew had been agog for the commander's orders to let fly. .Now this was their chance to do or die. Jn the twinkling of an eye the very iirbt torpedo from t(he] iltalliau lion? tubes penetrated the enemy's ribs and pierced his heart. Big oily bubbles rose to the surface of tho sea and j moment later the burly Ul2 had plunged to tho bottom of the ocean with all its human freight. —i—a—