The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1918-08-30
RIzzo Describes How Two Motor
Boats Sank Two Austrian
Battleships.
MOST DARING FEAT OF war
Whole Thing Didn't Take More Than
Quarter Of an Hour-Motor Boats
Crew Go Mad With Joy Over
Their Success.
BY BEATRICE BASKERVILLE.


AncOna.-CO RiZZo, who
has performed the most daring naval
feat of the war, began his sea career
as officer in the Italian merchant serv-
ice. Not till Italy entered the war
was he acquainted with the royal
navy. He is under thirty, dark-eyed,
quiet, has largish features which look
as though they were cut out of steel,
a square jaw and slower manner of
speaking than most Italians.
When l first asked him, during
his short stay in Ancona port. for
particulars of his sinking q the st.
Stephen and the Prince Eugene, Aus
trials two largest ships, he modestly
replied that he was no talker, and
that for the rest he had to start of
for Genoa in very short while. But
when he learned that The World cor
respondent had travelled from Rome
to hear him talk and that it would
not take long, he yielded.
ain the Creeping Dawn"
1T was on the 10th of this month"
he said. Il was returning to port
after one of those humble and hard
missions which we sailors have had
to perform all the while these three
years. l had made up my mind to
leave the enemy's coast, when. in the
creeping dawn, l saw the smoke com
ing out of tunnels, about 1900 yards
off. l thought we were found out
and being chased by the enemy. 1t
was hopeless to try to run away. so l
turned my two motor boats, the sec
ond being commanded by Head Steers
man (now LieutenanD AonzO, and
made for the enemy.
"As the dawn grew l saw we were
in for large convoy of destroyers
escorting two floating cyclops, of the
Viribus Units type, which is the larg-
est dreadnaught type in the Austrian
navy. They had four at the begin
ming of the war; on the 9th of June
they had three. Now they have only
one left.
".Here we are at last l said to my
men. This is holiday!
1--WE had not much in the way OF
arms--two torpedoes on each boat
eight, small enough to be thrown by
hand between us, and two machine
guns. But this was chance we would
never get again if we waited thou
sand years. so l took it.
Three Clean Hits
mas 70 clin nrnitph RI thf
left and attack the Viribus Units
dreadnaught that made up the rear
and which we now know was th'
Prince Eugene. | was to make fol
the sister ship. which we now know
was the st. Stephen. ! slowed dowr
TO silence my motors, but as soon a:
was well within the line of conveys
went forward at full speed. Oul
men held their breath. My motoris
had quiet fit every time the engine
made little noise. Another moment
and the enemy saw us. Then began
a furious cannonade.
"Aonzo sent his first torpedo, but i
did not work. His second hit tn
lowed with my two biscuits. precise
obedient and sure. The first lande'
between the st. Stephens tunnels, ii
the boiler compartment; the secon'
under her tower"
"After That II Was He'll"
The commandment paused. evidentl.
reviewing events, then went on:
After that it was hell. There wa
a storm from their guns and mud
died crowd OF destroyers encircled III
two giants, which were beginning Il
sink. Some. chased my boat. saw
must either get out into the open lik'
a dart or perish. With violent jerl
we turned our boat on herself an
made for it, But destroyer balke'
our path. So ! jerked round to tn
left and rushed right under the prov
of the st. Stephen. now almost swal
lowed by the sea. Aonzo took tll
. chance he got by their attacking M