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[Page 53]
[The following lines, to the words "in these parts" crossed through.]
the orders of the Italian C-in-C, and act in concert with his force and that of the French.
There was one branch of the Italian navy which, however, did put in some very fine aggressive work, but all the world knows now of the daring exploits of Commandantes Di Rizzi and Luigi in their hydroplanes or "motor-scapas" as they called them, and so there is no need to allude further to them, they deserve an article - nay several - to themselves.
Our work then for the next twelve months became strenuous and regular, and it wasn't very long before we justified our existence in these parts.
On the morning of November 16th 1917 the "Parramatta", which was on the patrol ground in company with the "Warrego" and "Huon", received an S.O.S. call some few miles to the North of their beat. All three ships hastened to the rescue, and in a short time came up to the Italian transport "Orione" full of troops from Valona and her stern completely blown off. The sea being only moderate at the time, the "Warrego" was ordered alongside to disembark the troops, while the "Parramatta" and "Huon" scouted round to ward off further attacks by Fritz.
[The following paragraph crossed through.]
The discipline on the "Orione" was shocking. The men appeared to be too cowed to act for themselves and it wasn't until they were threatened with revolvers that they would consent to jump down on to the "Warrego's" deck. When they did come they came in a rush with the result that many of them were crushed between the two ships, and were hauled on board in a badly maimed condition, many of them dying before port was reached.
On the "Orione" were some sixty cot cases in addition to a couple of hundred walking invalids, and it required the greatest care to get all the patients without a ducking on to the "Warrego" which, as the sea was beginning to rise, was now bumping the "Orione" pretty hard. Still, by good seamanships and much ingenuity on the part of the Officers and crew of the "Warrego", every soul to the number of about 700 was eventually transferred. The remainder, mainly consisting of the Officers and crew of the "Orione",