SUBMARINES AND SHIPPING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17323, 24 May 1918, Page 5

SUBMARINES AND SHIPPING

THE APRIL SINKINGS. A CHEERING COMPARISON. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association and Reuter. LONDON, May 22. Tho Admiralty announces that 220,709 tons of British and 84,393 tons of allied and neutral merchant shipping were lost in April owing to enemy attacks and marine risks, as compared with 555,056 tone of British and 338,821 tons of allied and neutral shipping for April of last year. The Ministry of Shi' 'i~ig announces that, excluding coastwise and cross-Chan-nel traffic, the tonnage ,of steamers of over 500 tons entering and clearing United was 70,040,309 tons THE RAID ON POLA. PELLEGRINI'S GALLANT EXPLOIT. n „ . . ROME, May 22. Official: A participator in the recent Italian naval raid on Pola Harbour relates that the operation was carried out in the early hours of the morning, the weather being windy. A torpedo boat, containing Lieutenant-commander Pellegrini and his gallant crew, fired two torpedoes 58 minutes after leaving the supporting convoy, which was composed of armed motor launches. When the enemy realised the presence of the torpedo boat a terrific burst of artillery fire broke out, during which Lieu-tenant-commander Pellegrini signalled: _ I have torpedoed a ship, and my ship is destroyed; all help is useless." A squadrou of Italian chasing seaplanes broke up an attempted enemy aerial attack against our convoy. The account states that a hostile vessel was indisputably struck and either sunk or so damaged that she will be out of action for a considerable time. All the members of the torpedoing party were taken prisoner.