The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-11-20
'Dreadnaughts' Measuring Is
To 30 Feet Long Expected
To Clash Soon
LAKE OCHRIDA TO BE
SCENE OF ENGAGEMENT
Promises To Be Bloody AZ
fair Despite Small Size
OF The Ships

KORITZA, ALBANIA, Nov. 19--(Staff
Correspondence Of The Associated
Press) - naval battle between
French and German warships IL inn
minent, which when It occurs, will not
be recorded in any official commun-
ique, though 1t will be in way, one
OF the most unique naval engagements
OF the war.
Lake Ochrida IL n large body of
fresh water lying a few miles north Of
here, at the point where Albania, Ser
bia and Macedonia touch. 1t is 40
miles long and 20 miles across, with
towering mountains running around
1t. The north end of the lake is held
by the Germans, and the eouth end
by the Entente Allies. 1t has been
the scene OF the latest hard fighting,
when the Entente troops made for
ward drive of thirty miles from Pag.
Kodak, at the south end, to Padahoia
ar up toward the north end.
With the Germans holding the north
end Of the lake, they did not conhne
their operations to the land. A min
iature flotilla soon made its appear
ance with oilburning launches about
Is feet long, each mounting one gun
forward. This mosquito fleet soon
hecame real menace, for 1t dnlted TO
ne south end of the lake, at night
md bombed the small villages along
the south shore, held by the French,
Russians and Serbs. The headquar.
ters of General Tarnahoff, Of the Rus.
sian division operating with General
Sarrail, was In one OF these villages
The French soon took steps TO coun-
teract this menace. A small steel
craft. thirty feet long, was brought
overland from the French fleet at Sa.
loniki. This mounted two guns, one
forward and one aft. With It came n
commander and crew of French sail.
ors. This was soon followed by Il
second 30foot boat mounting two
guns, with its equipment of officers
and crew.
ThuB two miniature fleets find them
selves face to face on Lake Ochrida,
with battle not far of The French
have the advantage of larger ships
carrying more guns, but the Germans
have the advantage in number of
craft Their flotilla consisting of six
or seven l5-foot boats mounting one
sun each.
II seemed strange as we went along
a mountain road today, to see the uni
forms OF French officers and sailors
at point 30 remote from the sea
They we're In camion on the way tt
their naval base at the south end o
the lake. The commander Lieutenant
Dutoit, stopped for moment an(
spoke enthusiastically OF his littl,
fleet
In bringing the boats from Saloni
h." he said, I'VE took out the engines
80 that the hulls weighed only thre,
tons. This made reasonably easy 20
Ing on the camions. There was NJ
mishap. the first boat is launched
with her engine in place and gum
mounted. and the second viii soon fol
low. And then" he added with {
laugh, "we'll see who win do the bonn
harding"
When operations will begin is no
certain, but plans are 30 far advanced
hat q fight is looked for almost an!
ire now. With such mosquito Graf
Z might be considered toy battl,
II II were not for the reality of tn,
warfare. with real naval boats name,
by real sailors OF the French and Cor
man nayies, flghting with as much de
termination an on the dock of 10000
ton droadnaughts.