Presentation to Commander Of Conte Verde In connection with a n appearing some time ago in the "North-China Daily News," further information has been extracted from "L'Osservatore Romano," "Il Piccolo di Trieste," and other Italian newspapers regarding the presentation of the Medal of Nautical Merit for Valour at Sea to Captain Cav. A. Valcini, Commander of the Conte Verde. This decoration has recently been created by the Italian Government as a distinction ior skill, quick determination and valour at sea, and this is the first time it has been presented.
Captain Cav. Valcini gave proof that he worthy of this distinction in the rescue of à steward who fell overboard in bad weather and a rough sea on the homeward voyage of the Conte Verde, between Manila and Singapore, on April 10, 1939. As soon as he heard of the accident, Captain Valeini turned his ship back on the ame route in search of the lost man. It was only after four hours of extensive and intel arching that the steward, who had by then almost given up hope of being rescued, was found. It was some time after the accident occurred that it was noticed that a man was missing. Neither the time or location of the accident could b" determined accurately, and high seas rendered problematical the success of the search.
In the presence of Admiral Luigi Riggio, Conte di Grade, President of the Lloyd Triestino, the General Managers of the Company, and representatives of other navigation companies, the medal was officially con ferred on Captain Valcini at Trieste, by the chief harbour master of that port, on December 8, 1039. Together with the medal there was presented to Captain Valcini a document reading as follows:
To the Commander of the steamer Conte Verde, who at sea, between Manila and Singapore, succeeded in finding, at the very place he had passed hours azo, a member of the crew who had fallen overboard on account of the heavy rolling of ihe ship. The fact that through his timely intervention Captain Valeini was able to rescue and save the man gives proof of his nautical skill and valour.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.