Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-05-28
DISREGARDED ALL DANGER
italians Perform Daring Naval Feat at
poIa

Tn" details OF the recent Italian
nasal exploit at Pola. writes CORE
SrOnd"nt of tho Associated rrcss. show
that i, WAS ON" OF the most audacious
icats OF the war. worthy TO rank with
the British at Zccbruggc and the Mer-
rimac al San Diego.
l'lans were long matured by Lieu
tenant Commander Pcllegrini. who
adopted unusual means OF secrecy to
Safeguard the project. To divert at
trntion he took service in the trenches
on the l'iavr. and when ready To start
gnv" out that h" WAS going TO visit
his friends. He was accompanied by
another officer. and two sailors. Tho
,EIrty. escorted lv drstroycrs. arrived
II WAS very dark. as the moon had
been down two hours. y light wind
blow of shore. which prevented the
sounds oi preparation going landward.
Th" entrance of the channel was 100
Yards across with n long neck leading
into the great harlor in which lay
Nustrias fleet of haitlcships, cruis-
.rs and ,"stroy"rS CncirCl"d by n
fTuwning terrace Of land batteries.
In the "hScurity the guard ship at
tn" rntIanr, WAS dimly visible swung
To one side. the guards apparently
asleep. There WAS complete lack of
watchiulncss.
Final preparation was made for n
dash in the darkness. Commander
I'"Ilcg,rini and his companions put
on rIll"r suits which could br inflated.
Thc plan was To discharge torpcdOcs
AT the hig ship, then blow up their
own craft. Jump overheard and await
capture or drowning. All realized
that there WAS practically no chance Of
returning alive.
"ln Lions Mouth"
Commander l'cilcSrIni WAS PERFECTLY
cool aS he hadc good bye. his superior
officer saying: "iou are putting your
head in tho lions mouth"
Now they encountered three sue
crS;ivr lines OF defense. First. guard
ship. then Il line Of wooden moys,
marking IL chain OF mines and then n
heavy steel net strung from bank TO
bank. How they were able to pcnc-
trate these Instructions must remain n
mystery.
The escort waited almost an hour
when the silence was suddenly broken
10y two distinct explosions Of torpc-
docs.
Soon after. two signals of parti-col-
orcd lights slowly rose from the CEN
ter Of the harh2r. showing that Com
mander Pcllcgrini had penetrated to
the very heart of the fleet and was
sending signals from the midst of 1t.
The first signal meant. "IIave torpc-
docd Il battlcship." and the second
said: Don't mind us: we have no
chance"
Took to Water.
This last signal was the agreed
emergency signal which was TO hc sent
up in case there was no opportunity to
give help. II is believed that they
blew up their craft and took to the
water in accordance with the pro-
grammr as explosive time bombs had
been set 10 20 off even if the craft was
under water. Meanwhile the Sky was
vivid with search lights and the land
batteries were pouring terrific fire
on the escort. They clung to their
work for Il time and then left. AS day
light broke Il fleet of enemy airplancs
swoup.d down hut was beaten off by
u smaller fleet OF Italian planes, three
enemy machines falling into the water
during the aerial battle.
No word has since been heard Of
Commander pcllrgrini and his party.
The signal WAS definite that n ship
had been hit and aerial photographs
arc expected soon TO confirm their
message. There is every reason TO be-
licvr that the four men are prisoners.
in any event, their associates ard the
country greet the fearless hand as he
rorS who have reflected lasting glory
on the skill and daring OF the Italian
navy.