Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-03-24

many had been long preparing for this
war and the use of sumarines. recent dis
c%oycricS by French engineers on the l.
land Of Corfu. off the western coast Of
Epirus, Greece, furnish convincing proof
that ut least since 1907 the Kaiser has
planned for Mediterranean under sea
warfare.
In 1891 the then Empress Elizabeth of
Austria built AT Corfu the beautiful
Italian Renaissance villa Of Achi.lcion
al a cost Of -. 1000. 600.
Ii H. located on the southern end of
the long. hook shaped island. twenty
miles from the City of Corfu. II stands
upon al cmincncc from which the lonian
Sea and the waters Of the strait scparat-
ing Corfu from the mainland are equally
visible. The grounds are several hundred
acres ii extent and extend down to the
eastern shore. NJ the rear of the white
marble villa are 4 pcriStylc and Il series
of three terraces, ornamcnted by many
statues. In the main court yard is u very
ornate fountain. having a concrete bowl
10 feet in diameter.
Tn Empress Elizabeth is not known
10 have made more than one visit Ia her
charming sea shore palace. After her
death AT an aSsassin's hand, the place
1907 the world was aStonished Ia learn
that ii had been purchased by Kaiser
Wilhelm III. and hat large sums were 10
be- spent in further qualification
####
Visitors prior To it's acquisition by the
German Emperor who have seen il again
ia recent years. have not been able ~
find that i dollar was actually laid out
in further decoration; but under the pre-
text of searching for antiquarian relies,
pipes were laid from the large fountain
10 the shore. and as now known. 10 an
iron tank upon a Shoal two miles sea
ward. This was intended for holding pc
trolcum.
\ wharf was upon the villa grounds a.
which steamers direct from New York
came and landed vast quantities of saso
line. which were Immediately pumped up
the hill into a receptacle beneath the
base If the fountain.
There il ~a> kept until the war broke
out and the submarine campaign de
vcloprd in the Mediterranean. There the
explosive material was sent through the
pipe IL the iron tank. from which the sub
marines rca lily rcplendishcd their fuel
supplies.
These beats DESTROYED nine British and
French cruisers during the Gallipoh cam
paigu: Austrian submarines torpcdnch
several Italian war vessels and lately
caused the sinking of a large French
troop ship. with loss Of about 5000 lives.
4###
During 4 very dark night. six weeks
ago four French cruisers. pilotcd lay DIES
trovcr> and torpedo boats landed 40"
marines aud blueiacket> in the Gulf 81
ka>tradc>. south If the City Of Corfu,
and before the sleeping population was
aware of their presence had seized the
German and Austrian consul>. lo ked M
4 hundred spies and gained possession ~
the town AMI island.
Meanwhile. "A landing party had cap
turcd the Villa Achilleion. which lis own
cr had left in the hands of trustv care
takers. relying pa the neutrality 81
Greece Ia protect II from capture. There
the most astounding discoveries were made
On the testimony Of employees. statues
had been brought from ELSEWHERE, and.
after aging b, acids. buried where they
might he found by fake archaeologists.
This subterfuge was 10 account for the
extensive digging always going on ~
Villa .Achilleion. Thirty thousand gal
Ions Of oil and gasoline were found stored
on the premises \ recent supply had
uDpSSred into the great stone bow