TIRPITZ'S NAVAL BASE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1915, Page 12

TIRPITZ'S NAVAL BASE.

or A ROCKY FORESHORE. DISCOVERY LV SOUTH SARDINIA. (Martin Donohoe, the chief war correspondent of the Daily Chronicle, writing from Italy recently, tells of the discovery of '-'von TirpiU's 'naval base'' in South Sardinia.)

It has transpired (recounted Mr. Donohoe, in May last) that Admiral von Tirpitz is reputed to be the owner of extensive, property at Oagliara (South Sardinia). The German High Admiral's estate runs down to the silent, deserted beach, where even the hardy Sardinian fisherfolk rarely venture. Caves, some of which are invisible from the sea, abound on the rocky foreshore. The Italians are now wondering why Tirpritz invested in the property, and it is noted that the barren, rocky soil can bring him no financial return. A gh'.ico at a map of this island is sufficient to reveal the strategic importune;; of the place. The authorities are now bus,)' exploring the German-owned estate, as well as the caves.

Pp till recently the propert/ of the Admiral lias 'been in the charge of an individual named Calvino, who posed as an Italian, ,but who is suspected to bo a German.

THE MYSTERIOUS COUXT. About a fortnight before the war a second German, reported to be an engineer, landed at Alghero, on the west coast of Sardinia, coming by steamer from Corsica. He went south 'to Cagliari, where lie and the mysterious Si<*nor Calvino were lishiiift boats, The cases, it was gnen out, contained furniture for the isolated dwelling-house on the 'l'ivpit/. cstile. It is not unreasonably suspected tli.it Cagl'mri lias been used as a supply base for (jornian submarines. Sot far from L'agliari. at Tortoli, on lie east coast, is an immense estate "vrcd by an Austrian Count named Desfours, who passed as a breeder of ostriches. The Count built a house on the estate resembling a fortress, which was guarded by two surly, (lormanspeaking domestics and half a dozen savage dogs. Since tho .declaration of war the Count has vanished. Xow his fortress, like tho dwelling-house, ia being explored by the police, who believe that he Is an Austrian spy, who used the pretext of ostrich farming at a cloak to oover more n§7arioui design*