19 July 1912: Raid in the Italo-Turkish war 1911-1912

19/07/15

after midnight the high-seas torpedo boats had moved to the Spica after the captain of the vessel Enrico Millo from Vettor Pisani made the maneuver independent and headed in a row to force the Strait of Dardanelles while the support units they remain to commute in front of the mouths beyond the reach of the cannons of the fortifications.

The torpedo boats with fast navigation under the light of the searchlights, between the fire of the coastal batteries and the minefields, penetrate up to the innermost bottleneck protected by retal obstructions beyond which the Turkish fleet is moored. During the rapid approach, when the units are already in sight of the target, the Spica, head unit, collides with a cable or other underwater obstacle causing damage to the propellers that make Commander Millo decide to cancel the operation. for the return to Stampalia.

Even if the torpedo boat raid did not achieve the intended operational result, it contributed to worsening the Turkish political situation: in Constantinople the government will be forced to resign with the formation of a new cabinet more favorable to peace led by Kiamil Pasha. In Italy the enterprise of the Dardanelles, rhymed in verse by Gabriele d'Annunzio in his Canzoni delle Gesta Oltremare, attracted much more than any other previous undertaking, attention, consensus and general admiration for the Navy.

Not only that, but also the European Chancelleries, far from being favorable to Italy, were induced by this action to a greater activism in the work of mediation to end the war. Commander Enrico Millo will earn you the gold medal for military value and rear admiral gallons.

Source: Military Navy