Two Italian Naval Officers Destroy an Austrian Dreadnought in a Novel
Way
Lieut. Col. R. Rossetti of the Italian Naval Construction Corps and
his friend, Dr. Paolucci, also of the Navy, on the night of October
31-Nov. 1, 1918, destroyed an Austrian dreadnought in circumstances as
thrilling as they were exceptional. They struck an entirely new note in
marine warfare.
The Austrian warship _Viribus Unitis_, having a displacement of 20,010
tons, and an armament of twelve 12-inch guns, and representing a cost
of $13,000,000, was moored in the harbor of Pola, about as secure a
place as she could possibly have been at rest in. The entrance of the
harbor was formidably fortified; it was a most important naval base
and was guarded accordingly. Obstacles and obstructions, however, did
not dismay Col. Rossetti, who was of a mind to blow up the greatest
and newest of Austrian dreadnoughts of the super variety. He was of an
inventive faculty, this daring Genoese, and he devised an apparatus, a
curious motor, the especial purpose of which was to enable a swimmer to
get a mine safely over the obstructions that closed Pola harbor.
With this device supporting the necessary mine, Col. Rossetti and
Dr. Paolucci swam into the harbor in the night. They had approached
as near as was expedient in the chaser _M. A. S. 95_ which towed the
apparatus. They left the chaser with the parting whisper “_Vive il
Re!_” and steered their course between two lighthouses until they came
to the obstruction at the extreme end of the jetty. The obstruction
consisted of long beams bound together at the ends by wire rope. Buoys
at intervals kept the obstruction in position. The apparatus was put in
a line with the beams and dragged slowly forward for about a quarter of
an hour. At a certain point the beams were submerged and the men could
no longer guide themselves by them, so the motor was put into action
to reach the inner edge of the obstruction. In his official report
Col. Rossetti gave in detail by hours the incidents and events that
followed. The report is quoted:
“On our left (that is, toward the open sea) I have noticed a submarine
with one tower. She is on the surface, and passes, darkened and
noiseless, between the harbor obstruction and the chaser which had
brought us. I can see her like a shadow against the sky, and point her
out to Dr. Paolucci.
“About 11.15 p.m.—We can distinctly see a red light shining at
intervals and moving up and down along the jetty. Probably it is on a
patrol boat stationed between the jetty and the outside obstructions.
This will not affect us, however, for here we shall be keeping to the
outer side of the obstructions.