DUEL BY SUBMARINES.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1915, Page 11

DUEL BY SUBMARINES.

STRUGGLE IN ADBIASHC.

London, Sept. '. A rather Latin-looking story appears. m the Stampa concerning- one of those' submarine duels which have only occurred apparently in the Adriatic, An Italian torpedo-boat, cruising some distance from tin; Italian submarine, observed an enemy submarine approaching at high speed. Tho commander decided not to give chase, hut manoeuvred in order to approach the Italian sub-' marine, while pretending not to.have noticed the enemy. When the two submarines were face to face the enemy fird a torpedo, which missed. Then took place an epic struggle. The two submarines fought for an hour and a half, living to torpedo each other, occasionally finding themselves almost in collision. Each submarine adopted tactics to avoid getting broadside on to tho other's torpedo-tubes, for it was a question of life or death. In the. meantime the Italian torpedo-boat hovered near, ready to lire on and sink the Austrian submarine should she appear on tho • surface. Finally, after a rapid manoeuvic, magm.icc.itly executed, the Italian submarine secured tile coveted position. The Austrian vessel discharged two more torpedoes blindly in a last despairing effort. They passed harmlessly by, ami the next moment art Italian torpedo struck the enemy full amidships, and she sank so rapidly thai it was impossible to save a single'man.*