military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (03/27/91)
Wednesday, 26 March, 1941 The Royal Italian Navy scores a victory when one-man explosive motorboats are launched from destroyers against the port of Suda Bay on Crete. A Norwegian tanker is sunk in the attack, and the cruiser HMS York is crippled, damaged too badly to be towed from the port to a safe harbor. As the German blockade grows in effectiveness, Britain reduces the meat ration to 6 ounces per person per week. Admiral Iachino, aboard the Vittorio Veneto, sails from Naples with six heavy and two light cruisers, and 13 destroyers. Luftwaffe reconnaissance aircraft meanwhile discover that the battleships HMS Barham and Warspite, and the carrier HMS Formidable, have returned to Alexandria, and warn the Italian naval command. French authorities declare martial law in several areas of Syria following anti-Vichy riots which resulted in 12 deaths. Reporter: Bob Beville (rbeville%tekig5.pen.tek.com@RELAY.CS.NET) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "Approve of them ? I place myself at the head of them !" - the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Missions, in response to questions about the nationwide demonstrations against Yugoslavia's signing of the Tripartite Pact