The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-01-08
DARING ITALIAN OFFICERS SINK
 AUSTRIAN SHIP

Rome, Jan, ---(CorresgondenCe of The Associated Press )---It was by swimming into Pola harhor and steer ing two small submarine motor bombs that two Italian naval officers de- stroyed tho Austrian dreadnaught Niry5u5 Unttis Just before the signing of the acnistIEc toetween Italy and Austria Inc swimmers were In the water nine hours and had to pene- trata four barriers across the harbor entrance, two of which were com posed of steel submarine nets. After they had attached their bomb to the side of the dreadnought, they were captured and taken on board the ves- sel and were there when the warship was blown up.
 They escaped without injury and have returned to Rome to tell of their exploit which is characterized as one of the most daring and successful in the history of naval warfare. Only the fact that the Viribus Unitis had been destroyed by Italian naval forces previously had been made known but
 
 by the Italian Admiralty.
 The officers who thus sent to the bottom @ 20O0O-ton ship, one of the most powerful in the Austrian navy, were Lieutenant Raffaele Paolucci and Major Rafaele Rohsetti. The at- tack was delivered on the morning of November l, 1918.
 To tow the bombs into PoIa harbor the two Italians invented small com pressed air motors to which were att tached bombs. For six months the two naval men practiced in long dis tance swimming. The Italian Admi- ralty gave them the use of a motor boat.
 Reaching the harbor entrance at ntghtfall, the two daring men started on their expedition swimming beside their little motors and steering them. To escape detection by sentries on B wooden pier across the harbor mouth T'aolucci and Rossetti had hats shaped like bottles, and the sentry saw nothing but Q couple of bottles being tossed about by the waves. When his back was turned they ad- vanaed and safely passed the first barrier
 After infinite labor they fought their way through the steel nets and the Austrian fleet lay before them. Reaching the side of the Viribus Uni tis, theG attached the bomb to her hull beneath the ladder which led to her deck and timed the bomb to ex- plode at 6:30 a. n
 By this time they were exhausted. having been in the water moro than nine hours. As they were leaving, they were discovered and taken on board the dreadnOught. At first they refused to answer the questions asked them by Admiral Voucovich. At SIS, however, they told the admiral what they had done and he gave the order to abandon ship. Paolucci asked the admiral if he and his friend might Lso try to save themselves and he shocks hands saying, You are brave men and deserve to live" They plunged into the water and swan away. but ten minutes later the ad miral began 10 suspect the bomb story and sent launch to bring them back. They were made to walk up the lad der under which they had set the bomb which was due to explode in two minutes. The ladder was crowd ed With sailors returning to their ship.
 Run. Run for your lives" shouted Paolucci, struggling 10 reach the deck before the explosion took place. IT.. and Rossetti had reached the deck and ran to the stern of the dread- nought when a terrific explosion rent the air and 6 column of water 300 feet high shot upward, Admiral Vou- coVlch again gave them permission to save themselves, and they had been swimming away from the ship five minutes when they heard an other explosion and saw the other bomb which had been left adrift had been carried by the current along side the large Austrian liner Wien and had there exploded,
 The Niribus Units was then jyjng on her side, but suddenly the huge ship turned bottom upward and Lieu tenant Paoiucci saw Admiral Vouco- v'sh scramble upward and stand with folded arms on the keel, ready to go down with his vessel.
 Major ROssetti and Lieutenant Pae- Iuccl were recaptured and taken on board another Austrian warsbip where they were kept prisoners until the armistice was signed and an Italian warshlp entered the harbor Then |, launch was sent for the two heroes and they were sent on d destroyer tc Venice where the people gave them Voclterous welcome.