NATAL OPERATIONS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15312, 28 July 1915, Page 8

NATAL OPERATIONS.

PELAGOSA OCCUPIED. IMPORTANT STRATEGIC POSITION. (Received' July 27th. 9.30 p.m.) ROME. July 271 .An official statement says:—"Our naval forces occupied the island of Pelagosa, an important strategic position in the Adriatic." A further official statement says: — " I'ehigosa was frequently bombarded, but tho Austrians maintained communication with the mainland by means of •signals, rendering the occupation of the island necessary. This operation was difficult, as tlio island abounds in crevasses and ravines, but it was a complete success."

FRENCH DESTROYER CO-OPERATES. SUPPLY DEPOT DESTROYED. ■'..- PARIS. July 26. t Th-- dc-stioyer. Bisson destroyed an I .Au-itriaii supply depot for submarines I jmd aeroplanes at Pelagosa Island, in i • tin* Adriatic, and cut the cables. Several Austrians and one Frenchman were .'." *M_d. ,

:'■'..• i A Navy Order records the energy and ■ coolness of the officers of tho Bisson in finishing the task and embarking the - party under a violent fire. t Pelagosa is a small desert island in t the Adriatic, midway between the ' promontory of Gargano in Southern ■ Italy, and the coast of Dalmatia. It is - about sixty miles from the nearest [ point on the coast of Italy, and is about forty miles due south of the ! island of Lissa, an important Austrian 5 naval base in tbe Dalmatian Archi- ) pelago. Its position renders Pelagosa I a point of considerable strategic importf ance in the Adriatic. BRITISH ADMIRATION. LETTER FROM PROMINENT ENGLISHMEN. (Received July 28th 12.40 a.m.) LONDON. July 27. A number of influential Englishmen, including Lord Bryce, Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Lord Reay, Lord Cromer, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, and many literary men, have sent a letter j to Italy expressing admiration' for her conduct in this supreme world crisis. "We wish that heroic Italy should know that we foci towards her as our fathers \ did towards the Italy of the Risorginenio."