American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-09-08
THE NAVAL BATTLE OF LIssA
omcial Acoount--rron-C Clads In Action
A Drawn Battle.

8
! Lissa, which-whether we conside
the number of the vessels engaged
Q. the ferceness of the fight, the loss G
" life, or the issues lnvolyed-wa on
of the most important of moderl
times. An official report has beel
published by the Italian Government
which-as Admiral Persano and hi
II chief Of staff are about to be tried b,
court-martial- is drawn up from va
rlOus reports and memoranda of tn
subordinate officers engaged. A
might be expected, it is lengthy, con
fused and not very ineligible. The
report of the Austrian Admiral is
considerably clearer, but leaves some
features of the battle indistinct. 1t
was, in act, so "nixcd up" at one
time that a perfectly clear account is
perhaps impossible.
1t appears that the number of yes,
sells engaged on each side was exactly
equal. although the Austrian Admi.
ral-like some of our generals in the
early part of the. war-exaggerates
the force of his opponents. The
Italians had twenty-three vessels, of
which eleven were ironclads, and the
Austrians had twenty-three vessels,
iseven Of which were ironcladS. The
Italian fleet had been engaged in a
vigorous and nearly successful attack
Oh tie ISLAND of LisSa on the 18th
and 10th of July. In fact the landing
was i'll progress on the morning of the
Goth, when the Austrian fleet came
in sight. While the Italian wooden
vessels were re-embarking the men
and materials, the iron clads were
hastily formed in line of battle.
At the outset the Austrians had
the advantage of knowing just what
they meant to do, and had everything
IN readiness. The order of battle !
adopted was about the same in each
fleet. The ironcladS were in front,
and the wooden vessels in the rear,
but the Austrian rear line was nearer !
to, and in better supporting distance
Of, the front line than that of Italians. .
Neither did the Italians keep their
ironclads so we'll together as did their
opponents. There was a heavy sea,
and the Austrlans either displayed
better seamanship and management
or else had the better vessels. The
Italians began the fight, three Of
their ironclads dashing through the
line Of Austrian ironclads, and then
turning TO the left on their wooden
ships A second division ofironclads
the Re d'Italia among them-be- q
'ame engaged with all Of the Aus
.rian ironclads, four of which COM =
)ined to attack the Re d'Italia "a Il
marked compliment to her impor- ''
anCe
The Palestro strove to help her, :,
ut was herself attacked by two iron :
lads and a wooden frigate, from one =. -
f which hand-grenades and other
We're thrown on her "
18th such effect that she took fire. ::
he San Martino also went to the !,
ssjstance of the Re d'Italia, but the
adder of the latter was disabled by
le first shot which stuck her, and she
y at the mercy Of the iour Austrian
which, of course, had no ;.
lfiiculty III sinking her. The Pales- n
'o-.airly on fire was deserted by :,
le AuStriWs, who feared All explo- =,
on. TwoNof the Italian vessels, :,
Owever, hailed her, and rendered -,
leir aid; but the italian blood was :,
?, aud the captain aud crew only /,
'nsented to De towed back of the :,
ne, and refused to quit their ship. on
short time afterward the impetu- -
is heroes were blown up and all but r
neteen were lost. :,
Thus rid of the two best italian IN
the Austrians concentrated n,
cir erergies on the lie di Portugal fin
/, the Maria Pia and the Varese, the 70.
st of which had the main share in Ia.
slbling the Austrian line -of-battle m.
Up Kaiser, demolishing her prov. str
wsprit, foremast and funnel, and an.
mpelling her to run ashore for ba
fety. Although after this engaged tbs
several Austrian vessels, the Re mi
Portagallo cot safely out of the
ly situation in which she had be- s
ne involved. The conflict at this Nh
ne became general, but was so dose the
d fierce, and the smoke was 50 IA,
nse that the Austrian admiral de- In
rus his inability to describe the de- tla
Is. co;,
After about two hours of this dcs- the
rate fighting the feets got Olsen new