A Notable Exploit
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.