The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-05-19
'FLIERS,U-BOATS
BATTLE AT SEA
WITH HWARSHIPS
German and Austrian Craft
Engage British. French
and Italian.
CRUISER REPORTED LOST
Vienna Says English Vessel,
20 Sweepers and 3 Trade
Ships Sank.
CRUISER REPORTED LOST

LONDON, May lS.-A raid by a squad
ron Of Austrian cruisers. assisted by
German submarines. brought on sea
battle in the Adriatic on Monday. in
which cruisers. destroyers. submarines
and airplanes OF Ave nations were en-.
gagged. British. French and Italian Graf,
drove on the Austrians. but not until
they had inflicted considerable losses on
the British mine sweeper fleet.
The fight took place in the Strait OF
Otranto between the "heel" Of Italy and
the coast of Albania. Oficial versions
differ as to the losses of the two squad.
rons. A German submarine tofpedoed a
British light cruiser, undoubtedly the
Dartmouth, but the Admiralty says she
reached port with only fifteen casualties
Italian airmen, who attacked the Austri.
ans as they withdrew to Cattaro harboi
say an Austrian cruiser was sinking
British Version Of Fight.
running fight took place as the
Austrians sought shelter in Cattaro In
which submarines and airmen took part
On nearing Cattaro Austrian battlesh ips
came out and the lighter allied forces
had to draw OF. The British officia
statement follows:
The Admiralty announces that from
reports received from the Rear Ad-
mlral commanding the Adriatic squad
ron, supplemented by the Italian Of
fclal communication, II appears that
cruisers. subsequently reinforced by
destroyers. raided the allied drifter
line and succeeded in sinking fourteen
British drifters. from which. accord
ing to the Austrian communcat tion.
seventy-two prisoners were taken.
His Majesty's ship Dartmouth, with
the Italian Rear Admiral aboard, and
II. NJ. s. Bristol Immediately chased
the enemy of. assisted by French and
Italian destroyers. The chase con-
tinued with the enemy upder heavy
and continuous fire until near Cattaro,
when some enemy battleships coming
in support OF their cruisers our vessels
drew Off.
Italian airmen after a battle in the
air. attacked the Austrian warships
outside Cattaro and confidently affirm
that one of the enemy's cruisers was
on fire and being taken in tow off
1dtldIO u sllihile OHc
other of the enemy's cruisers was re-
ported by the British Admiral as badly
damaged.
During her passage back the Dart
mouth was struck by torpedo from
an enemy submarine, but returned to
port with three men killed, one officer
and four men missing and believed to
be dead. and seven wounded. There
were no other casualties to our ships.
Austrian Report of Battle.
The Austrian official story OF the ish
| follows:
On Monday night detachment Of
ou- light sea forces undertook sue
cessful enterprise in the Otranto roads.
In which Italian destroyers, three mer-
chantmen and twenty armed guard
vessels became victims. Seventy-two
| Englishmen OF the crews OF the qua rd
| vessels were captured
While returning our units had sew
| eral fierce engagements with superior
enemy forces. in which the enemy,
! composed of English. French and
| Italian vessels, suffered considerable
| damage. On two enemy destroyers
| confagrations were observed
| Participation in the fight by enemy
submarines and armen was unsuc-
cessful, while on the other hand our
seaplanes participated splendidly in
the fighting They each obtained one
| hit on two enemy cruisers and effec-
| lively combated hostile submarines.
| Our units returned in full number with
small losses In men and damages.
In brilliant cooperation with our
naval forces German submarine
sank by torpedo hit an English
cruiser with four tunnels.
Italians Give Their Side.
The Italian official statement is as 70
lows:
An enemy squadron composed oi
cruisers and destroyere, favored by
darkness, attacked shortly before dawr
the 18th a small convoy crossing the
| Adriatic under escort. In the brief
unequal fight, one Of our escortins
torpedo boats, one steamer and a
motor fishing boat used as a patro
were sunk.
Italian and British warships and
two French torpedo boat destroyers
| cruising in the vicinity rushed to the
scene OF action, whereupon the enemy
fed northward, pursued by the allied
ships. which vigorously shelled them
Two enemy ships. close pressed b,
Italian light cruisers. succeeded n
gaining shelter near Durazzo under tn,
guns of coast batteries. On the other
hand. the British cruiser Dartmouth
on board which was the Italian Ad
miral commanding the scout division
and followed by another cruiser anC
destroyer. running at high speed
managed to maintain contact with thre,
enemy ships Of the Novara type fol-
more than two hours, firing about 60l
shots, until. arriving in the neIghbor
hood of the Cattaro defences, large
ships came out TO their support.
Meanwhile our seaplanes. after re
pulsing enemy machines. attacked hi
ships, infilcting serious damage will
bombs. The pilots Of two of our sea
planes were able to observe one of tn
J cruisers enveloped In smoke. 1t
stern had been demolished and II wa
in sinking condition when It reache,
Cattaro.
All Of our warships and seaplane
returned to their base.
Dr. Arson Seeks to Enlist.