VULNERABLE VENICE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4005, 11 August 1915, Page 3

VULNERABLE VENICE.

PEARL OF THE ADRIATIC IX PERIL. THE CITY'S DEFENCES. A few months ago, when Italy .seemed on the brink of war,- the Austrian Governor of Trieste was reported to have declared that if Italy attacked Austria-Hungary, Austria's first move would be to destroy Venice. This statement, which was given great prominence in the Italian Dress, was afterwards denied by tho gentleman in question, but it served to stimulate activity on the defences ol Venice and to frighten a large number of the foreign residents in that city. If Venice, with her priceless treasure of architecture, painting, and 'printing;, were brought to ruin by modern artillery she would retain little value for any conqueror. 'I he Pearl of the Adriatic lives by the attraction of her beauty and romance shorn of that beauty she would not

possess the value of oven a small port such as Pola or Fiumo on the opposite coast. It is a fact that Venice in the last iiftoen; years lias become an important seaport, with a volume ot business second only to Genoa and Naples, but that is due to her position as the only xuuiaiL outlet for the produce of the rich agricultural land of Venetm, the north-east province of Venetia. were in the bands of AustriaHungary, then Venice would be o’' great service as the nearest harbor capable of taking care of the exports and imports of that province. Trieste, however, had a more convenient anchorage. IvFA SSI V E SEA -W A ELS. Big bat ties!)ins aml merchant liners now have to anchor in the Adriatic, outside tho system of lagoons and islands which constitute Venice proper. On tho east a line of long, narrow, sandy islands, the Lidi,. separate tne watery spot called Venice trom the Adriatic Sen, and serve to protect her from storms and: the erosion caused o.V heavy ocean waves. The Adriatic side of these islands is strongly buttressed by means of massive stone sea-walls, terraced in places, and able to withstand tho severest storms. In the lagoons about Venice, therefore, there is "always comparative calm, even when gigantic rolling billows are thundering auainst the Lidi wafEOa the north and west the city is sheltered by the curve of the mainland which extends in a capo, called Chiog<ria, some miles south, of the city. ihc islands of Venice are connected with tho mainland, two and a-half miles away, by means of the railway bridge only—a narrow viaduct over which, nothing but the trams may run. Tn the old days these natural features were a perfectly efficient defence for the city. This is proved by too fact that," though often menaced, Venice was never conquered until nl'ter the bombardment by the Austrians .in 18-10. when heavy artillery was used. „ In spite of the threat of the Governor of Trieste, it is not likely that Venice would ho attacked by Austria before she had a secure foothold on the mainland. Then a bombardment by sea over the Lidi, combined: with a few shells thrown at her hack, would soon reduce tho Pearl of the Adriatic to the present condition or A pres. BATTERY OF BIG GUNS. Of course Venice would present s formidable resistance from her fort; on the Lidi and the big guns in her arsenal—the second largest shipbuilding yard in Italy. There are aisc modern big guns on tho Fort of ot, Andrea, an island Juices tho main entrance to Venice, a narrow opening in the Lidi through winch bg steamers from tho Adriatic enter tin lagoons. Half a mile behind St. Andrea u the arsenal, where battleships, cruisers, torpedo-boats, and • submarine! are built.* -This enclosure is hidden b; massive brick walls, 100 foot high which would withstand a fairly licav. bombardment even with the kites type of shell. ' Modern guns have recently beej placed at various points on the wel fortified Lidi, and it iff Sa’-d tha several of the campamli are annei with anti-aircraft guns. On the mainland to the north o Venice there is an aerodrome when several dirigibles arc kept, ana < large number of waterpJanes stationed near the city. Venice is well equipped and reap; for even the moyfc unexpected event J for, after Louvain, she uiKKTstand | qhe must be prepared, for. every P°j -act of Vanda lisjn.