Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-17
AUSTRIAN BATTLESHIP
TORPEDOED BY ITALIAN
NAVAL FORCE IN RAID
French Again WreSt Hill IA
From Germans and Keep
Possession of Important Po-
SitiOn Won Along Avre

LONDON. May I6.-The entire Ger
man Baltic fleet except a few light
cruisers, was recalled last week 10
kiel. where important naval forces now
are being concentrated, says a dispatch
from Hamburg received IN Geneva and
transmitted by the correspondent Of the
Daily Express.
ROME. May l6.-An Austrian battle
ship was JorpedOed by Italian naval
forces in Pola harbor early Tuesday
morning. il was oficially announced to-
day.
The battleship vas Of the viri6us
Unitis type C2O.OOO-ton vessell
The Italian force worked its way into
the Austrian naval base by lodging the
patrol boats and searchlights Of the
defenders.
While the naval operation was pro-
crossing, an Italian seaplane force en-
gagged Austrian battle planes above
POla Two OF the Austrians were
brought down and several others were
compelled TO descend out Of control.
The Italian machines all returned
safely.
The Official announcement reads:
italian naval units, avoiding patrol
boats and searchiights. succeeded in en-
tering FOla harbOr early on Tuesday
and in tcrpedoing an Austrian battle
ship OF the Viribus Units type.
simultaneously. Italian seapIane
squadrOns attacked Austrian battle
planes over Pola. brought down two
and forced several others down out of
control The Italian machines all re-
turned safely 20 their bases"
There are four Austrian battleships
OF the Niri5Es Units class. which com
posed the largest ana most modern
fighting vessels completed for the Aus
TRAN navy up 10 the time the European
war broke out The other ships of the
class are the TegetthOf. the Prinz Eu-
gen and the Scent Istvan. The name
ship was completed in October 1919
and others at intervals between then
and the. beginning OF the war. with the
exception OF the Scent Istvan. which
was not finished until 1915
Each battIeship OF the class displaces
10000 tons. is 525 feet long over all, So
feet beam and % feet draught Their
armament comprises twelve 12-inch
guns and twelve 3.S-inch guns in the
main battery. with eighteen 1I-pound-
ers and various smaller guns. and from
Two to six torpedo tubes. The compile
ment OF the battleships ranges from
9s1 70 ass men All are heavily arrnor-
ed and are classed as dreadnoughts
The Viribus Units developed a speed
OF eo-s knots in an hour on her trial
trip.
NEW YORK. May I6.-Csummary of
Eurpean Cables to the Associated
Press.)-FightinE has cfed down again
IN Flanders and Picardy and only the
guns are busy The artillery fire con-
ttnues strong all along these fronts.
as well as on the Arras front and is
most violent north Of Kennel and north
and south of the SOmme from Albert to
the Avre.
These sectors have been the scenes
OF all the recent fighting and they prob
ably will see the strongest enemy ef-
forts whenever the Germans believe
the time is Opportune 20 strike anew.
In Flanders the Germans have been
dtsa appointed in their attempts 10 gain
Hill -. as hte French nos only drove
them from the high ground. but also
penetrated the enemy positions.
In Picardy the Germans have not re-
newed their counter attacks ID drive
the French from the wooded terrain
captured near HaiIles. German and
French artillery fire continues heavy
north Of the Avre- The enemy bonn
bzrdment OF the French lines here has
been most intense for the past two
weeks. but the Germans have attempt
ed no ATTACKS except to redCs against
successful French local gains.
General Pershing has issued his first
official statement on American opera
tions since his troops took over sec
tors permanently simultaneously with
an announcement from Washington
that where American. British and
French troops are fighting together and
the Americans are in yne majority the
control will be in American hands. The
Germans put down a heavy barrage on
the American lines northwest Of Toul
Wednesday. but no infantry attack re-
suited
. In aerial fighting in this sector two
American aviators have accounted for
three German machines Increased ar
tiIIery activity is noted on the LOr.
raine sector.
AS on the western 'front.', the lull in
northern Italy remains unbrOken, but
with expectation that, as in France,
heavy fighting will break out soon. OBJ
servers in London believe the heralded
Austrian blow will be against The ltal-
ian lines from the SteiviO pass 20 Monte
Grappa- Just east OF the Brenta- in the
hope OF breaking through the italian
defense and reaching Brescis and Milan.
rome reports lively artillery and pa
t,-oI engagenents along the mountain
mont and the dispersal OF enemy troops
at two points by Italian batteries
An attempt by enemy aircraft 20 raid
Paris Wednesday night was frustrated
ny the aerial and artillery defenses OF
y
ned a number Of Of bombs on the more
distant suburbs OF the French capital
Aerial activity on the battle lines con-
tinues At high pitch With French ana
British airmen dropping many bombs
on railway stations and concentration
centers behind the German lines
-# Germany's ambition as regards Aus
trfa-Hungary's place In The MiCcieuropa
plan. German newspapers indicate,
we're realized in the convention agreed
Ilpon by the two emperOrs at their meet
ing The agreement. which Is not yet
signed. calls for an alliance for 25 years
With closer economic relations and more
severe military obligations Vienna Is
reported 20 look with apprehension on
the probability that the Austro- Hun
Rartan army will be Prussianized and
believes such a step more important
than a1y other feature OF tos ne" Al
Hxrca.