The sun., 1916-12-31
Special COtresoondence TO TnE SCI.

ROME. Dec. l5.--Threc Italian torpedo
boats have succeeded IN breaking the
boom nj rola, the best defined and most
fortified naval harbor in the world. They
rpent two hours exploring the harbor a
rev hundreds Of yards from the forts
ana came out safely after they had ac-
conlplished their most difficult and deli
cate mission. when numerous powerful
scarchlishts vainiy iium,nated ky and
sea and the batteries fired wildly and
inefilciently.'
The most difficult and delicate mission
consisted In ~torpedoing "A man-o'-war.
In fact. when the torpedo boats reached
the customary anchorage OF part Of the
Austrian feet" possibly the good road
stead In the channel OF Fasana, the
entrance Of which they had successfully
forced, t~orpedoes were fired against a
large enemy war vessel. but II was ascer-
tanned that both remained entangled In
the nets protecting tho ship and as they
failed TO strike "A hard substance their
charges were not ignited ard the torpe-
does did not explode.
Had the torpcdoes exploded the Italian
warships would not have been able to
come o u OF Pola and probably would
have been lost. In fact. they owed their
safety to tho non-explosion OF the tor
pedocs.
Principal Naval uarbor.
Pola Is the principal naval harbor and
arsenal Of the Austro-flungsrian Empire.
II Is situated near tho southern extrem-
lily of the peninsula Of %1stria. at the
head Of a hay OF the same name. and is
almost completely l~andlockcd. An en-
tens!ve system of fo%rtiications on tho
surrounding hills enclosing the harbor
defends It's entrance and protects the
good roadstead in the large channel OF
Fasana. This channel separates the
mainland from the Brionian Islands
which dominate the entrance TO the bay.
TIE harbor has IN area OF over three
square miles and Is divided into two
basins by "a chain of three small islands
Three Italian torpedo boat left port
on tho evening OF November /. and
toward midnight they were Oft Tola. The
distance between Pola ard Venice is
about eighty miles. and as presumably
they started from Venice they must have
steamed at hal! speed. with lights out.
as silently as possible.
Tho sea was very calm and the night
dark. Pola ~ surrounded with extensive
mine hclds. which the three torpedo boats
successfully crossed. Evidently the *
petition had been carefully planned and
the exact location of the extensive min,
fields asccrtaincd beforehand.
shortly after midnight the warsAips
were near The entrance OF the Fasana
channel. closed by means Of iron chains,
steel cables. enormous beams aud nets
extending across the mouth. OF the chan
mel as q protection against submarines,
The barrier il formidable. and It's re.
niovsI seems impossible. A patrea boat
Is mOored alongside the boom. The mel
on board are supposed 70 be on watch
instead, they arc asleep.
Lowered the Boom.
Two out Of the three torpedo boats
silently approached the Barrier and their
crews got to work. In Less than twenty
minutes the boom was lowered suflici'
entity 20 allow their passage. How the
boom l. lowered Is naturally Il secret
II = known. however. that a special me-
chanicai contrivancc was used with sue
cess. The mali. passage opened across
the barrier where the boom wa
broken or lowered l.. however. invis''
bic. and consequently II is indispensable
TO have It marked. as II were, In order