Sinking of the Wien.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 5 January 1918, Page 3

Sinking of the Wien.

A GALLANT LIEUTENANT.

LONDON, Dee. 16. Mr PeiTivial (/ibbon, telegraphing to fhe "Daily Clftoniclc," describes the rceent sinking;' 0 f Austrian war vessels Tr'C.»U\ ffe says the hero of the ti':r i,iout. Eizzo, a Sicilian, •"1.1 .?>(•, vVi'l'i. t!u- strong masculine good .= of hla -aou. Ho commanded two

rr'-iies, J.Le s etciiid of which was entrusted to a touuh .lire-eater of 62 years. It was past and the air was misty as the harbour was approaches!. The hfirbour consists of three piers, making two channels, one of either side of the central pier. Both were closed by booms and nets, with mines all linked piers by steel hawsers. The boats glided alongside the pier, and Rizzo climbcd on the concrete side and reconnoitred. Nobody was on that pier, but there was a guard-room in the middle of the pier, whence came a confusion of voices and tKe barking of a dog.

In the railway statioh ashore an engine screamed vociferously, and between whiles'he heard thw.ilap-slap of the feet of a uentry pal rolling the middle pier. Rizzo crawMd back and gave an order, and came his men, ascending the concrete on their hands | and knees, and passing the big cutting tools front to hai:d. Some began to cut the cables; two scouted inshore lost somu sentry should arrive. The instruments worked well. Thr, cutters bit their way tnrovgh strand after strand of twisted steel wire. The cables above water were or.y -ov 'rod, ( Then five below v.-.- rr Irri: i to the surface and as turn, f, >u!ly the weight of net ru;.l ■) ;t-,v ntii'. !.'* fore tho last stee! slr-"'''U :ismidor. " wL'.le K"' "LX'-.Q.bwoJ; of; nn.'ti'l arid '•x|ii'.-,i> t's saiii-' J :v y open. ««.• ! is uii'ii re-lnteri'i thf boar:!, li:"i proceeded into Mugf.in, n hfiv tho Wien p.nd her sister ship Monarch were nosing the buoys. The Monarch slumbered 200 yards beyond the Wien. Tiizzo halted when he had the enemy at 150 yards, and the second boat shifted out and got a line, which Cleared the Wien's bow and commanded the Monarch's steel flank. Rizzo raised his arm, and in the gloom saw the old petty officer answering his gesture. The word was given, and within a second four long steel devils were sliding through the water for the enemy. A roar, a blast of flame, a waterspout, and a second ro'ir as the Monarch, too, got her dose.