Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-06-02
FIVE ITALIAN PORTS
ARE BOMBARDED
EmmanuePs Troops RepuIse
Land, Sea and Air Attacks.
8 SHIPS ARE DESTROYED
Duke D'AbrJzzrs Fleet Wins First
5attIe-vsh'ce Arsenal Shelled
Armies Clash on the
Border.
8 SHIPS ARE DESTROYED

Vienna (via Berlin ana Amsterdam).
May 26.-Italy has struck her first
blow against Austria by throwing
force of cavalry across the border near
Strass, in the Austrian Tyrol. accord
ing to an official statement made pub
lac The war Office also announces
that minor engagements took place in
the TyroI and on the Adriatic coast Of
Italy.
Rome, May 26-Fighting on land.
on the sea and from the air between
Italy and Austria was begun at four
O'Clock Monday morning before half
the world knew that Italy had de-
clared war.
In each case the doubtful advantage
OF having assumed the offensive rested
with Austria-doubtful because in
each case the attack was defeated by
the troops. warships and aerOplanes OF
Italy. according to an official state
ment. the first Of the war. given out
on Monday by the war Office.
II is reported that the Italian feet,
commanded by the duke of Abruzzi.
engaged the Austrian leet that bonn
barded Ancona. $40 miles south OF
Venice, earlier in the day and that
three small Austrian ships were sunk
and two captured The war Office
statement makes no mention Of this
engagement. The statement says:
II was foreseen that on the declar-
alton of war offensive actions would
occur against our Adriatie coast with
the purpose Of seeking moral effect
rather than attaining military pur-
pose. But we were able to prepare for
these and render their duration short.
Small naval units OF the enemy.
especially destroyers and torpedo
boats. fred their guns upon our Adri-
attic coast between four and six o'clock
Il the IN -uing. At the same time aero
planes attempted to attack the arsenal
at Venice.
The enemy's ships. after a short
cannonade, were forced by our torpedo
boats to withdraw. The enemy's aero
planes were fired upon by our antiair-
craft artillery and attacked by our
aeroplanes and a dirigible flying
over tine Adriatic
The aeroplanes attacked Porto Cor
. sini, which replied Immediately and
quickly Obliged the enemy to retire.
At Ancona, where the attack was d.
reeted against the railway line. in the
intention Of interrupting communica-
ton. slight damage was inflicted.
which can be repaired easily
At Barletta an attack was made by
scout steamer and destroyers. which
were put to fight by one Of our ships.
which was escorted by torpedo boats.
Finally at Cesi the enemy's aeroplanes
attempted to throw bombs upon the
hangers but without reaching the
mark"
The official statement shows that
the Austrian aeTSplanes swept prac-
tically the entire Adriatic coast OF
Italy From Venice at the head OF the
Adriatic, they sailed $50 miles south
to Barletta. dropping bombs en- route
Barletta is 1876 miles north Of the
southern entrance to the Adristic.
Porto Corsini Is the seaport of Raven
ma, IS miles south OF Venice.
As a result OF these activities a re-
port Is current that the court Is to be
moved from Rome and installed in the
Pitt palace in Florence.
The explosion Of bombs in Venice
caused great excitement, and it was at
first reported that the Austrian fleet
had arrived to lombard the city.
The bombardment lasted two hours.
The warships then steamed south.
hurting shells at other coast towns.
The first real land battle of the war
took place in a mountain pass be-
tween Pont Ponte di Legno and Pejo,
where the Italian Alpine ehasseurs
drove the Austrian invaders back
throuE. the pass
An Austrian aeroplane. which flew
across the Alpine ranges. attacked
varenna, on the east bank OF Lake
Como, but was driven OF by high
angle guns and an Italian dirigible.
The German and the Austro-Hun
garian representatives at the Vatican
are leaving Rome. having intrusted
the interests of their countries &c
the Spanish ambassador In Rome
Lieut. Gen. Count Luigi Cadorna
chief of stan of the Italian army. has
left for the front. He was accom-
panied by Duke d'Aosta. cousin oil
King Victor Emmanuel
Great headquarters will be estab
lished at Bologna. The court viii be
moved to Florence.
ENnlonion Kills Five Persnns