Evening star., 1920-04-04
\ N September %. 1918. Capt.
I Nelson received the following
J communication from the COM
mander of the allied naval


forces at Brindisi Commodore w. A. H.
Kelly. r. NJ.
Can you hold twelve chasers ready
to leave Corfu tomorrow Sunday for
special service? They should have
stores for four days. If unavoidable.
barrage force may be reduced during
their absence. Request reply. Fur
ther definite orders will be sent Sun.
day afternoon"
To this Capt. Nelson sent an an
swer which was entirely character
istic: '
"Yes."
The captain we'll knew what the en-
terprise was to which this message
referred. The proposed undertaking
was one which was very close to his
heart and one which he had constant
ly urged. The Austrian port Of Du-
razzo. on the Adriatic. at that time
was playing an important part in the
general conflict. 1t was base by
which Germany and Austria had sent
supplies to their ally. Bulgaria; and in
September the entente had started
the campaign against Bulgaria which
finally ended in the complete humili-
alton OF that country.
X X X 4
The destruction of Durazzo as base
would greatly assist this operation.
Several ships lay in the harbor; there
were many buildings used for army
stores: the destruction of all these,
as we'll as the docks and military
works, would render the port useless.
The bombardment of Durazzo was
therefore the undertaking for which
the assistance of our subchasers had
been requested.
1t was estimated that about one
hours heavy shelling would render
this port valueless as an Austrian
base; and to accomplish this destruc-
tion the Italians had detailed three
battle cruisers, the San Georgia, the
Pisa, and the San Marco, and the
British three light scout cruisers, the
Lowestoft. the Dartmouth, and the
Weymouth According to the plan
agreed upon, the Italian ships would
arrive at Durazzo at about 10 o'clock
on Wednesday morning, October 2,
lombard the work for an hour and
then return to Brindisi; when they
had finished. it was proposed that the
British cruisers should take their
places, lombard for an hour and like
wise retire.
The duty which. had been assigned
to the subchasers in this operation
was an important one. The Austrians
had considerable force of subma-
rines at Durazzo; and 1t was to be
expected that they would send them
to attack the bombarding warships.
The chasers therefore, were to ac-
company the cruisers, in order to
fight any submarine which attempted
to interfere with the game.
Remember the life Of these battle
cruisers depends upon your vigilance
and activity" said Capt. Nelson in
the instructions issued to the officers
who commanded the little vessels.
At 9 o'clock that Sunday even
ing twelve chasers slipped through
the net at Corfu and started across
the Adriatic; they sailed In "col-
umn." or single file, Capt. Nelson
heading the procession in subchaser
IS, his second in command. Lieut.
Commander Bastedo, coming next in
chaser 215. The tiny fleet hardly sug-
gested to the observer anything in
the nature Of military operations;
they looked more like group of
motor launches out for summer
cruise. The next morning they ar
rived at Brindisi, the gathering place
Of all the allied vessels which were
to participate in the operation-that
same Brindisi or Brundisium) which
was one of the most famous ports
Of antiquity, the town from which
Augustus and Antony. in AZ b. c.,
started on the expedition which. at
the battle of Philipp, was to win
them the mastery of the ancient
world. Upon arriving, Capt. Nelson
went ashore for council with Com
modore Kelly, who commanded the
British cruisers, and other allied
officers. When he returned Capt. Nell
sons face was glowing with happi-
ness and expectation.
ITS going to be a real party,
boys" he informed his subordinate
officers.
Two days were spent at Brindisi,
completing preparations: on Tuesday
evening Capt. Nelson called all his off,
GERS for meeting on board the British
naI - oil oil a