The closest Puglia came to engaging a hostile vessel came on 27 January 1915 , when while patrolling off Durazzo , she encountered the Austro - Hungarian scout cruiser Novara .
The Austro - Hungarian ship retreated without either vessel firing a shot .
The closest Puglia came to engaging a hostile vessel came on 27 January 1915 , when while patrolling off Durazzo , she encountered the Austro - Hungarian scout cruiser Novara , but the Austro - Hungarian ship retreated without either vessel firing a shot .