Cap Mandrake
Posts: 23184
Joined: 11/15/2002 From: Southern California Status: offline
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***********Bridge, HMIS Baroda, off Port Moresby, 09:15, July 6, 1942***************** The Admiral had asked that a small breakfast be brought to the bridge. It was to be a busy day and the weather was clearing a bit. If the Japs could fly in the terrible weather yesterday, they could fly today, he thought. Baroda was the last combatant vessel left in his command. Still, the Australian First Corps was to launch its attack today. Perhaps they would succeed despite the losses to his Task Force. He had already ordered many damaged vessels back to Cairns or Townsville. Mercifully, the invasion had achieved both tactical and strategic surprise and there had yet to appear any Jap surface vessels or submarines. The pace of Allied gunfire ashore had already increased. They were using the ordinance his men had struggled for, and in many cases, given their lives to deliver. He reviewed a damage report from nightime gunfire from one annoying enemy shore battery that was firing intermittently. From the deck below, the ship's Mess Officer, Ensign Chowdhurry, began to climb the steps to the bridge. He carried a breakfast tray bearing a special treat for the Admiral. When the order had come, he knew immediately what he would serve. He had learned about what he liked to call "meat salad" from his conterpart from USS Pope, which had made port call in Brisbane. The young American had been only too happy to give him several cases of the delectable product. He remembered thinking at the time that America must be a wonderful country to have such plenty. The remarkable cooking mold he had found at a second hand store in Townsville. The shape was remarkable in itself ut the date it bore was even more remarkable, August, 1942. He hadn't believed it at first, his purchase having been made in February, but everyone who had seen it agreed. It really did read "August, 1942". It looked for all the world like a manufacturing date. Similarly, there was no dispute about the delightful dish it helped produce. (to be continued..I have to go to work.. )
< Message edited by Cap Mandrake -- 5/19/2007 6:08:47 PM >
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