After the Kabalo sinking, Todaro, already with five survivors on board, took the other in tow, anxious about its survival in heavy seas. Three times the tow broke, and on the 17th Todaro brought everyone into the Cappellini, stowing them in the sail. Proceeding of necessity on the surface, Cappellini made for the Azores, where she landed her passengers by rubber dinghy.
On 5th January 1941, Cappellini sank the British freighter, Shakespeare, and once again Todaro (shown bottom left in photograph) first towed the survivors’ lifeboat, then took the men on board, putting them safely ashore in the Cape Verde Islands.
Todaro’s chivalry in breaking patrol to assist survivors found little favour with his superiors, Doenitz for example called him "Sea Don Chisiotte".
Different opinion had the mather of one of the survivors of the Kabalo, that wrote this letter to the Italian consulate in Lisbon (widely published on time for propaganda purposes):
"To the Ministry of the Italian Navy, Rome.
Lisbon, November 1940.
I would like, if possible, that these lines were sent to the Italian commander who sunk the ship, “Kabalo”.
Lord, lucky the country that has sons like you!
Our newspapers publish the story
how did you act against a ship
that your duty was forced to torpedo.
There is a barbarian heroism and another in front of which the ‘soul gets on his knees’: this is yours. . .
Be blessed for your goodness,
that makes you a hero not only for Italy but for entire Humanity."
What a diffirence with the “affair Laconia”, when over 1300 Italian prisoners where left to die without pity…
