Possible Clues:

• Twerp wanting to have old rag hat
• Fit to bust, tart somehow gets revenge
• Tense appeal with regards to rag causing retaliation
• ... pork-pie maybe gives satisfaction
• Tense Italian stronghold -- a time for revenge
• Repayment for Cockney's hat?
• Wrong to defend extremely inept force engaged in retaliation
• Flier in favour of diplomacy, not cold revenge
• Bird struggled verbally against empty retaliation
• Revenge makes tart fit to burst