The weekly Alaska citizen., 1919-02-03
NEEDED
 TO ACCOMPLISH DEED OF DARING

ROME.-(Correspondence of The Associated Press.)-It was by swim. ming into Pola harbor and steering two small submarine motors towing bombs that two Italian naval officers destroyed the Austrian dreadnough Viribus Unitis just before the sign ing of the armistice between Italy and Austria. The swimmers were in the water nine hours and had t. penetrate four barriers across the harbor entrance. two of which were composed of steel submarine nets. After they had attached their bomb to the side of the dreadnought. they were captured and taken on board the vessel and were there when the war 5hip was blown up.
 They escaped without injury ana have returned to Rome to tell of theif exploit which is characterized as one of the most daring in the his tory of naval warfare. Only the fact hat the Viribus Units had been des. troyed by Italian naval forces pre-. .iously had been made known but now the details have been given out oy the Italian admiralty.
 The officers who thus sent to the bottom a 20,000-ton ship, one of the -aost powerful in the Austrian navy. were Lieutenant Raffaele Paolucci Ind Major Raffaele Rossetti. Tie ,ittack was delivered on the morning h November l, 1918.
 To tow tie bombs into Pola harbor, -he two Italians invented small com. pressed air motors to which were attached bombs For six months thu two naval men p.'act.ccd long dis ,ance swimn!.a. ihc ita.ian ad- miralty gave lhrln ,ha ui. uf mo- tor boat.
 Reaching the .-!D.g entrance at nightfall, the two daring ilen started on their expedition swimming beside tLeir little motors and steering them. 10 escape detection by sentries on wooden pier across the harbor mouth, Paolucci and Rossetti lad hats shaped like bottles, and the sentry saw nothing but a couple of bottles being tossed about by the waves. When his back was turned they advanced and safely passed the first barrier.
 After infinite labor they fought their way thru the steel nets and the Austrian fleet lay before them. Reach ing the side of the Viribus Uultis, they attached the bomb to her hull beneath the ladder which led to her deck and timed the bomb to explode at 6:30 q. m.
 By this time they were exhausted, having been in the water more than nine hours. AS they were leaving. they were discovered and taken vu board the dreadnought: At first they refused to answer the questions ask ed them by Admiral Voucovich. At 6:15. however, they told the admiral Wat they had done and he gave the order to abandon ship. Paolucci asked the admiral If he and his friend Light also try to save themselves. and he shook hands saying, You are brave men and deserve to live" They p.unged into the water and swan away. but ten minutes later the ad- ini.al began to suspect the bomb story and sent lauLch to bring them back. They were made to walk up the ladder under which they had set the bomb which was due to ex. plode in two minutes T.le ladder ! Was crowded with sailors returning 70 their ship.
 Kun. kun for your lives.' shouted Paolucci, struggling to reach ti.e deck before the explosion took place. He md I,os. etti had reached the deck
 ..u ..n 70 the stern of the dread nouSht whel a terrific explosion rent the air and column of water 300 i.tt igh shot upward. Admiral 1 Voucovich again gaze them permis- sion to save t. elyle r5. cad they had been swimA.inG away irJa he ship five minutes wA,c they Hya5d d another explosion and gayF ta@, he other bomb which haa been left adrift had been carried b. tie current alongside the large Austrian liner Wien and had there exploded.
 The Viribus Units was t1en lying on her side, but suddenly the huge ship turned bottom upward and Lieu. tenant Paolucci saw Admiral Vouco.