The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1915-05-27
AUSTRIANS RAID
ITALIAN COAST.
Attacking Fleet Forced to Re-.
tire After a Livetyfight
IN the AdriatiC.
BRITISH SHIPS C0-OpERATED
Attackers Lost Five Small Vessels
Land Battles Begin Along Austro.
italian Border.

italian Border.
Rome, May 25.-The Italian feet
commanded by. the Duke OF Abruzzi
engaged the Austrian fleet that bonn
barded Ancona today.
Three small Austrian boats wer,
sunk, according to unofficial reports
reaching here tonight, and two cap
tured.
Two British warships co-operatet
with the Italian fleet in the naval bat
tie,
The remainder of the Austrian feet
ned northward, the Anglo-Italian feet
pursuing the enemy warships until
they got under the guns of the fortress
Of the naval base of Pola.
Planned Attack Sunday.
The Italian fleet. cruising northward
in the Adriatic, encountered the Aus.
trian feet yesterday before the for
NAL declaration OF war had been made
by Italy. The Italian fleet had re-
ceived word that the Austrian war.
ships had steamed out from Pola to
lombard the Italian coast as soon as
war was declared, and hurried north
ward to intercept the enemy ships.
The two battle squadrons met in
the middle of the Adriatic. The Aus
TRAN flagship saluted Abruzzi's flag
ship and the salute was returned. For
several hours the Italian fleet follow-
ed the Austrian vessels, steaming
slowly northward along the Italian
coast.
Slipped Away in the Night.
In the night the Austrian fleet slip
ped away in the darkness. Before
daybreak this morning two British
warships Joined Abruzzi's fleet and
took up the search for the Austrians.
Shortly after word was flashed to
Abruzzis flagship that Austrian war.
ships had bombarded Ancona the An
glo-Italian squadron encountered the
.Austrians and gave battle. The Aus
TRANS fed eastward, and in a running
battle which lasted several hours
three small Austrian vessels were
sunk and two captured, according to
dispatches from Adriatic coast towns.
Battles on the Frontier.
The Austrian war Office announced
today that fighting had begun along
the Italian border, where a number of
small battles are under way. Italian
cavalry has appeared on the coast
near the frontier
Four thousand Austrian soldiers
near the border have deserted, SUR
rendering to the Italian troops, accord
ing to- an Ancona dispatch to the Mes
sagero this afternoon.
Italy Formally Declares War.
London, May 24.-The italian am.
bassador at Vienna on Sunday after
noon presented formal declaration of
war to Baron Burian Won. Rajecz, the
Austro- Hungarian foreign minister.
This announcement is made in Wen
ma dispatch to Reuters Telegram
Company sent by way of Amsterdam.
Germany Speaks.
, A Berlin official dispatch received
by Reuters Telegram Company sent
by way of Amsterdam. and dated May
%, says:
1.-THE Italian government today
caused to be declared through the am
-bassatur to the Austro- Hungarian gep-
eminent. the Duke OF Avarna. that
Italy considers herself in state of
war with Austria Hungary.
''The Italian government by this In
excusable attack on the dual monarchy
has also broken without right or with
ont ground her alliance with Germany.
THE loyal relationship existing con.
formally with the treaty between Aus
tria-Hungary and the German empire
and still more firmly welded by the
comradeship Of arms has remained un-
impaired by the detection Of the third
ally and his desertion to the enemies
camp. The German ambassador there.
fore has received. instructions to leave
Rome conformity with the Austr0-Hun-
sArian ambassador"
Resdy to Strike Hard.
Rome,- May 2z.-Although drastic
action has been looked for momentar.
ny, Italians Of ell classes have been
electrified by the swiftly moving
events. Early this morning great
crowds gathered around the Quirinal
10 await the ministers Who called on
the king for the purpoee Of discussing
the situation and signing decrses.
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