The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-12
U. S. SHIPS THERE
For First Time in History, Bat
tie in Adriatic.
American Ships Were in Attack
ON Naval Base.

An Italian Sea Base in the Lower
Adriatic, Oct. 12.-For the first time
in the history of the world American
ships have fought in the Adriatic. par
ticipating in the attack upon and de-
struction of one OF the greatest Aus
TRAN naval bases, Durazzo. founded
by the inhabitants of the island of
Corfu over 1000 yeaIs before the dis
covery Of America. The whole Italian
fleet took part in the attack, aided by
American submarine chasers and
French and British destroyers.
The expedition 7 started from an
Adriatic port at o'clock in the morn
ing and divided into two groups. The
larger units sailed northward to take
up positions between .Cattaro, where
the bulk of the Austrian fleet lay, and
Dumzzo. for the purpose of prevent
ing any attempt at interference. The
remainder of the fleet headed straight
for Durazzo. The American chasers
and allied destroyers went ahead in
fan-sha.ped formation on the lookout
for submarines, while the airplanes
which accompanied the expedition
kept a watch from the air.
At IL o'clock the Albanian Hills
were sighted and shortly afterward
the white hbuses at Durazzo hove in
was on the edge of the Austrian mine
field. A highly dangerous task was
now entrusted to the American sub
marine chasers. namely, to steam
ahead and explore and mark safe
passages for the larger craft with
flags fixed on small floats. The work
was rendered all the more perilous by
the heavy sea running.
Picked Way Thru Mines.
Turnout the whole operation, fear
lessly picking their way between
sunken mines, the small American YES
sells kept steadily on their way until
they had crossed the whole of the dam
ger zone. Then the remainder of the
fleet entered the mine field.
At this point the coast batteries
opened fire. The projectiles kept
creeping nearer and nearer the Amer
lean craft, which were unable to
maneuver owing to the mines. The
men stood the test splendidly and
aroused great admiration by their
calm and cheerful bearing as they
stood at their guns awaiting the order
to fire. The order was given to in
crease speed and the fleet emerged
from the mine field unscathed. 1t
Immediately fell into battle formation
and began to lombard the land de-
lenses.
! The American chasers and allied de-
stroyers were ordered to proceed
straight into Durazzo harbor and at
tack two large and three smaller
steamers, two destroyers, one torpedo
boat, number of submarines and a
number of smaller craft. One of the
large steamers Immediately made off
to the north but as it was recognized
as hospital ship it was allowed to
proceed. The other steamers were
quickly sunk. The torpedo boat. hit
early in the action, was run ashore,
set II fr, cit IL
OF hugging the coast line. The Ameri-
can submarine chasers and British de-
stroyers headed them off and sent
both to the bottom after a short but
lively action.
Two Subs Appear.
The fiIe of the Austrian batteries
already was slackening when two
surface and fired two torpedoes one
of which hit British destroyer with
out sinking her. This was just what
the Americans had been awaiting and
before they could do any more mis-
chief swooped down on the submarines
and sank them both with superb gun
merry.
By 1880 all the shore batteries had
been reduced to silence and the whole
town was one immense blaze. Signals
were sent to the fleet which had vain
~ waited two hours for the Austrians
TO come out OF Cattaro, that the action
was over. Threading their way again
thru the narrow passage in the mine
field marked by the American subma-
rine chasers. the whole fleet steamed
majesticaliy homeward.
Behind the great Austrian sea base
was nothing but a heap of smoking
ruins, its port a cemetery of sunken
ships.
Catcher Glenn Dies.
St. Paul, Mimi, Oct 12.-Harry
Glenn, former catcher for the St