Word: tarantos
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...calls it "Cunningham's Pond"). All around the eastern circuit went Sir Andrew, even loitering for a while off Pantelleria (between Sicily and Africa) to try to lure forth the Italian Fleet. When it did not come, Sir Andrew ordered full steam for the Gulf of Taranto, in the Italian instep between the Calabrian toe and the heel on which Brindisi is the spur. In that instep, in the great naval base of Taranto, lay the bulk of Italy's fleet...
...weak point in Italy's naval policy. That country went in for super-fast battleships with thin skins, to raid and run, never stand and fight. And now Sir Andrew caught these greyhounds in kennel. As he plowed with his whole force after dark into the Gulf of Taranto, his advance scouts in the Strait of Otranto caught a convoy going to Porto Edda,* Albania, with supplies. They sank one ship outright, fired and probably sank two others, damaged one of the two escorting destroyers, which...
...Andrew's main fleet took a stand off Taranto's double harbor (see map). To prick the Italians into an action, he stabbed into the harbors with Fleet Air Arm planes from his carriers Illustrious and Eagle. First through the darkness went some light bombers, to drop flares and incendiaries and light up the scene for the real workmen. These were pilots of Fairey Swordfish torpedo-carrying planes, ancient-looking single-engine contraptions with enough wire between their wings to rig a hen yard. But the Swordfish, like the U. S. Navy's Douglas TBD-1, pack...
...clearer form last week. It was clear that Britons had landed at Crete, and some other Greek islands. In London a ?5,000,000 loan to Greece was announced. The R. A. F. was really active. Gloster Gladiator fighters patrolled over Greek cities, and bombers hit at Naples, Brindisi, Taranto and Albanian bases. The first British casualty was announced: an R. A. F. gunner, wounded in the head by what was described as a "stray bullet" from an Italian plane. British naval vessels arrived in Athens from Alexandria, carrying a few troops. Very useful in surprising and checking the Italians...
...Taranto, Italy, 28-year-old Battista Rocca walked out to take the air on the town's main street. Promenader Rocca had a furled umbrella crooked over his arm, and not a stitch besides. To the horrified policemen who arrested him, he explained with dignity: "I'm Mr. Chamberlain...