ADRIATIC SEA, OPERATIONS IN

Italy declared war on Austria May 23, 1915; each side strove to keep open Straits of Otranto, at same time denying their use to the enemy; geographical advantage lay with Italians. Minor objects of combatants, small raids on each other’s ports and territory, and attempts to prevent military communications along coasts or acro sea. Many bombing raids undertaken; arsenal at Venice suffered heavily, but little damage to city. Austrians had bases at Pola and Cattaro; Italians at Taranto, Brindisi, Ancona, and Venice. Brit. drifters established surface barrage in southern channel (1916), and in 1918 between Leuca and the N. of Corfu,{thus preventing ‘hostile submarines from entering Mediterranean. No big fleet action; all fighting by cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and light craft. In last eighteen months Italians scored heavily with fast motor boats. Austrians made many barrage raids, and attacked Ital. territory six times in 1915, thrice in 1916, once in 1917, and not at all in 1918.