The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-25
German Army With Big Guns
and Air Fleet Prepares to
Batter Alpine Passes
VENICE FIRST OBJECT
OF BOMB DROPPERS
Firing Began at 4 O'clock Yes
terday Morning. But Invaders
Are Driven OFF Long Coast
Line Object of Attack

Rome, May 24.--Hostilities be-
tween Austria and Italy were
opened at dawn today by coma
bined aerial and naval attack ora
several Italian ports on the
Adriatic coast. from Venice as FAR
south as Barietta, north of Bari,
"A total distance of about $50
miles. The Italians. on their part,
made an attack on Porto Buso,
small island at the head of the
Adriafic, where the Austrians lost
two killed and forty-seven prison.
ers. The guns of an Italian
torpedoboat wrecked the town on
the island, and sank all the craft
i'm the harbor.
The Italian government issued the
following statement regarding the at.
tack on Porto Ruso and the aerial
raid on Venice:
AT O'Clock. this morning an Italian
destroyer entered the harbor OF
Porto Buso a small island close 70
the Austrian frontier. The destroyer
bombarded the port. destroying the
quay landing stage and military bar
racks. The destroyer sank A fiotilla
of motor boats in the harbor. She
suffered no damage and there were
no casualties among the crew.
The enemy lost two men killed
and forty-seven prisoners. The prisons
ers include one officer and fifteen nom
commissioned officers. They were
taken to Venice.
Little Damage BY Bombs.
I'm the air raid on Venice two
aeropianes threw eleven bombs. but
no serious damage was caused. The
defense of the city was prompt ana
efficacious. and forced the hostile air.
men to put to sea. n
The slight damage caused by hos
tile aeroplanes and ships at Ancona
early this morning has already been
repaired
Our fire sank one German ship at
Ancona"
Austrian aeropianes. flying from
Pola. the naval base. during the night
appeared over Venice shortly after
O'Clock this morning, and attempted
to hurl bombs on the arsenal. Anti
aircraft guns at the forts guarding
Venice blazed away at the invaders.
while Italian irmen and dirigibles fly
ing over the Adriatic camc to the
rescue. The Austrians were driven
off.
At about the same time other Aus
trian aircraft attacked the ports Of
Porto Corsini, sixty miles south Ok
Venice, Ancona, eighty miles farther
south. and Gesi. fourteen miles below
Ancena- Austrian torpedonoats and
a sElali scout steamer made an at
tack on Barletta. about thirty-three
miles north of Bari. and slight naval
engagement followed the Italian yes
sells forcing the Austrians to fee tc
the northward.
Several Frontier Clashes.
Several frontier clashes between
Italian and Austrian troops are re-
ported from the Trentino border. a
dispatch from Milan says news has
been received there that the Aus
trians are everywhere falling back
from the frontier, and assuming the
defensive. Dozens of bridges In the
border districts have been dynamited.
Italian refugees from Trieste. to the
number of 1000. who made their way
on foot across the eastern frontier.
report that all the railroads into AUS
tria have been cut The refugees
further assert that German troops
have arrived at Trieste to reinforce
the Austrian garrison. and that the
Austrian commander has determined
to raze the city to prevent Its occupA-
ton by the italian troops
Arresting All Italians.
The Austrian authorities in this
crownIands are arresting all Italians
and permitting only women and chill
fren to leave. The latter have no
food and in many cases not enough
clothing This news, and the fact
that thirty thousand Italiansss have
been stopped at the frontier, has
caused widespread Indignation and
there is talk in official circles of re-
prisals.
Mobilization is proceeding through-
out Italy like c1ockwork. There -
absolutely no confusion. The organ
ization OF the reservists has been ads
inirahlx done and the men are poJrs
ing into the depots from early daw
Most of them are accompanied by w0-
men and girls Of their families vino
say farewell dry-eyed and urging their
.isin. d, ~f.redcbrss their brethren tssadeE Il
the yoke OF Austria and mete out fuu
punishment Oh the oppressax Ia
caimness and determination arc ufi-
precendented. The war is regarded nx
all. Italians as scored duty.
An official manifesto posted up&in
every town ana hamlet OF Italy thi8
morning reads as Follows "a u
Every Citizen y DefendcF.
ssviye Italia. NJ
From today every citizen forms
part OF the national defense. All mint
have implicit faith In the government
and the courage to obey ordere With
out discussion AL citizenH nslAs4 AA4N
4 readiness TO make every sAcrtltce 10f
Italy. Let there be no hesitAt{pn ~
grumbling. let everyoae cot AaN1
ON prtvRfG expenditures, Grtd 60Fl1R
orr Aghting forces. III ~ E1S4 49,
for our soldiers 1tld their &4N3 #5${
Kinx Victor Ex&I r. + (SI
Green tx{ &x 6ztNN