The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-06-13
TWO SMALL CRAFT
DEFY WHOLE FLEET
TORPEDO TWO BATTLE SHIPS
AND RETURN IN SAFETY. .
GREAT VICTORY IN ADRIATIC
When Rest of Austrian Fleet Took
' After the Plucky Italians, Another
One of Their Ships Was Hit
and Damaged.

Rome, June 1.-TWO small Italian
torpedo boats defied an entire Aus
trian battle fleet and sank two of the
largest dreadnaughts in the Austrian
navy Monday morning. Later they re
turned in safety to their own base il
was officially announced today.
The daring exploit took place of
the Dalmatio Island just off the Aus.
trian side of the Adriatic coast.
Another Enemy Ship Damaged.
In the pursuit which followed one
of the Austrian destroyers was badly
damaged.
Two torpedoes were fired at the first
ships in line and one at the ship i'm
mediately following.
Three Dreadnaughts In All.
Italian light naval forces have now
disposed of three of the largest of the
Austrian naval ships within the past
few weeks.
A short time ago mysterious Ital-
ian liner which was later discovered
to be a DESTROYER. ngopelled- by. cleo
tricity, penetrated the defense of the
Pola harbor and sank an Austrian
dreadnaught of the Vribus class. This
class originally consisted of four YES
sells of twenty thousand tons each car
rying twelve twelve inch guns and
twelve five inch guns with a Compli-
ment of from nine hundred and sixty
two men to nine hundred and sixty
eight.
Preparing For Sea Fight.
Washington, D. c., June 12.-Furth-
err evidence that Germany, in it's eff
orts to end the war this summer, is
planning to support its land offensive
by sending its high seas forces against
the combined British and American
grand fleet is given in an official dis
patch today from Switzerland
"A telegram of an official nature
says the dispatch, sis being spread
broadcast in Germany, which says
that the German admiralty is con-
sidering big naval offensive.
Orders are supposed to have been
given to keep the whole fleet in
readiness and a certain number of
naval officers of high rank have been
huriedly recalled from Switzerland
and other neutral counties where they
have been spending their leave.
Terptiz Hints Of Action.
"The Keller Zeitung speaks of ex-
traordinary activity in the ports and
the Hamburger Post publishes an in:
terview with Won Tirpitz, who was
was asked if Germany was in posi-
ton to measure herself with the En-
glish fleet /.
THE admiral naturally replied in
the affirmative, saying that after their
land forces have pushed the French
and English back on the other side
of Paris, it would be the turn of the
kaiser's boats to drive the English
off the high seas"
Attack Long Expected.
Both in Washington and the allied
capitals a German sea offensive on a
grand scale long has been regarded
as possibility and the appearance OF
the Teutonic fleet in the North sea at
any time would not be unexpected.
Steamer Ausonia Lost.
New York, June 1.-THE British
transport Ausonia owned by the Gun
ard Steamship company has been tor
pedoed and sunk by German sub
marine several hundred miles from
the British coast while on her way
westwardp according to private cable
messages received here.
Ninety members of her crew were
picked up by another steamship east
ward bound and landed on the Eng
lish coast, the message said. Search
is being made for forty more Of he
crew who are reported missing.
The Ausonia was last reported a
sailing from British port on May 81
She was steel four-masted steam
ship of s.15S gross tonnage. She wa
$50 feet long. 81 feet beam.