The sun., 1916-12-31
ITALIAN
FOOLED THE AUSTRLANS
Got Into Mine Defended Pola Harbor, Secured
Valuable Information, Fired Torpedoes
and Escaped Unscathed.

that the torpedo boats, once they crossed
II and entered the harbor. Mould lind the
way out.
A sailor in u small boat lowered from
n OF the torpedo boats was accordingly
left to mark the passage after the others
had gone inside. This man knew that he
was risking his life. since In case OF al
alarm he had absolutely no chance OF
escaping. but when The expedition to
Pola was planned and the officer In CONF
niand of the fiotilla said he needed one
man for this Job all the crew volunteered
and added that they were all Wiling 10
sacrifice their lives II necessary.
One OF the torpedo boats entered the
harbor Of Pola n came out after two
hours. There was absolutely no eign OF
life inside the port and few lights were
to be seen on shore. The -Austrtans re-
lied no much on their minc fields. bar
riers and batteries that they were quite
convinced an attack was impossible
either by day or by night, n they slept
soundly without watching.
ResuIts Not nOwn
The results Of the torpedo boats cx-
ploration inside Pola are OF course not
known. Undoubtedly they must have
been very valuable. judging by the fact
that no attempt was made to torpedo
any OF tie enemy ships before two hours,
and It IL to be presumed that all this
time WAS not lost. Besides. had not
dawn been 80 near the torpedo boat
would have surely prolonged her eN-
pioration inside rola. II was o .
O'Clock In the morning when the two
torpedocs were fired against the Austrian
Sattleship In the Fasana channel. almost
simultaneously and at a very close range.
They both got ontangled in the nets pro-
tecting the ship. Evidently three nets
protected the ship. because two were
cut. but the third prevented tho torpedoes
from striking the hull. and their pro-
pellers kept going outside the water with
q loud noise resembling that made by
the propellers OF an aeroplane.
In fact, the Austr'ans on board .hs
battleship as well as those on board
other ships and on shore mistook the
noise and took II for granted that Fols
had been attacked Icy hostll. air craft,
The alarm was raised a; once with the
rapidly OF lightning. Searchligh;s
were put OH and illuminated the sky,
while all the guns of the aerial defenc.
on the hills and on the islands. as vel
as all those on the ships n Of tn.
shore batteries. opened fire simultaneous
ly, wildly and inetflciently.
Picked - sailor.
rae Italian torpedo boat icadst
straight for the s,na boat with tn
sailor lcf. to mark the place whore III,
boon. had hccn lowered. She slowot
down until the man wa picked aboard
and the Austrlans In the patro, boa
watching; the entrance OF the channc
who were not quite awake assumed tina
| she was ono OF their torpedo boats go!ns
out to sea In search OF the Italian aero
pla ncs tina. we're raidiny pola.
While the torpedo II steamed ou
the Austriaus shouted en~coursgingl'
Gut 10 tic crew and the Itnlian'
shouted back "Gu,!' 80 the Austrian,
cheercd and the Italians cneered. too. n
they Joined the two other torpedo boat
waiting outside. and the three OF the;I
started full. speed ahead toward thei
base.
Meanwhile rola's "searchlights Nainl,
illuminated sky and sea aud the batt-rie
fired wildly and iacific!sntly." and II wa
only when the tire. torpedo boats we.'
we'll out NJ sea and safely out OF rang
that their nationality wac discovered
Until dawn the Austrian fire continued
mainly directed skyward.