The Hawaiian gazette., 1869-12-29

The battle Of LISA on the Adriatie, was a
brilliant and decisive naval engagement. 1t
was contest between the Anstrials, under
Admiral Tegefhof, and the Italians under
Admiral Persano. The latter threatened the
port of ST. George on the Island of LISA,
the former made fight to relieve the place.
The Austrian feet consisted of seven iron
clads, six wooden frigates, one double deck
er wooden ship Of ninety guns (the Kaiser.
and nine small gun boats; the italian, of
twelve iron-clads, and eight frigates, and
numerous small vessels. The engagement
occurred on the 10th of July, 1866, the Aus
TRANS having LEFT the harbor Of Pola on the
18th, and steamed one hundred and seventy
miles to seek the enemy. Notwithstanding
the superior number of the Italians, they
were defeated in tie fight, which lasted
about two and half hours, and they were
obliged to withdraw, having suffered such
losses, that their feet was not able again
during the war. to resume the offensive.
Our attention is drawn at this time to this
naval engagement, by the presence here
in the Dona1 of Contre Admiral Won
PETE, who as Commodore, commanded the
Kaiser. We learn also that Count Banko,
then midshipman, for his gallantry at the
critical moment, in carrying ont the order
of the Commodore, to run down the Re-di-
Portogallo, received promotion and gold
medal, as q recognition OF bis meritorous
conduct onthst occasion, s1+t@
The Kaiser, In the order of the advance,
sailed about two cables length behind the
Arehd,tke Nor, the flag ship of the Admiral.
She seemed TO become the especial object
of attack the Italians closing around her
with several iron-clads, in order to make
sure of her capture. But Commodore Won
PETE, nothing daunted by the fierceness of
the attack, succeeded not only in beating
them off, but in saving his ship. An account
of the fortunes of the Kaiser says: "The
Italians wished to make short work of the
two decker. and four of them attacked her
at once. Escaping from this shock, how
ever, and careless of the shot and shell
poured into her, she replied with concentrat-
ed broadsides, right and left, and at last see
ing no other way of escape, bore rightdown
on ram, which had charged her but missed.
The shock came, and it was fortunate for
the Kaiser, that she was no longer alone.
for she was not built for such heavy work,
and when her PROV struck the adyersary's
side. down came topmast and bowsprit in
one grand ruin. The mast fell on the funnel,
and volumes of smoke, gave good reason
to suppose the Kaiser was on fire. Many
men lost their lives in their courageous at
tempt to save the vessel. Her machinery
was damaged, her rigging gone, but she
managed to creep slowly out of the fight,
and lay off the harbor of LISA, ready to run
in, if necessary.
But she was not suffered to remain pas
sive, the A.fronddtore, to which Admiral
Persano had shifted his flag. before the battle,
saw her and followed to secure the wounded
prey. Twice did the Italian ship turn her
long sunken beak TO her quarry, and bear
down to strike, and twice did the wounded
ship drive back the ram, BY concentrated
broadsides; at length TO the delight of the
officers and men, the Afrondatore's head was
turned of, and the Kaiser was left to repair
her damages in peace.
The Kaiser lost in the engagement, twenty
two killed and eighty-three wounded, suffer-
ing in this respect more than any other
vessel, inasmuch as she also bore the heaviest
fight. She received eighty shot or shell,
one of which burst between decks, killing
and wounding Fifty men,"
The despatch with which, Notwithstanding
his severe damage, the Commodore repaired
and reported the Kaiser ready for actions,
was not the smallest Of his gallant action on
that day. In less than twenty-four hours
the Kaiser had repaired her machinery,
trained her guns, and SO disposed of her
wrecked spars, that she was ready for SER
vice, and did return with the feet to Pola, !
the day following the battle.