German Chancellor Adolf Hitler met with Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini at the Brenner Pass in the Alps. Hitler made it clear that German troops were poised to launch an offensive in the west and that Mussolini would have to decide whether Italy would join in the attack or not. Since Italy was still not ready for war, Mussolini suggested that the offensive could be delayed a few more months, to which Hitler replied that Germany was not altering its plans to suit Italy. Hitler and Mussolini met each other at the little station on the Brenner Pass on the border of Italy and Austria. The private trains of both dictators were at the station and the meeting took place on Mussolini’s train. Hitler wanted to improve the relations with Italy before starting the invasion in the Western parts of Europe and Mussolini agreed that Italy would enter the war “at an opportune moment.”
Count Ciano confides to his diary that “The meeting is cordial, but a monologue. Hitler talks all the time, but is less agitated than usual.”
Along the Rhine today there were echoes of the meeting between Chancellor Hitler and Premier Mussolini on the Brenner. The occupants of several German casemates displayed placards stressing Italo-German cooperation. The French used them as targets for their machine guns. Other incidents included German occupation during the night of an artillery observation post in the Saar sector used by the French during the day only. The intruders were driven out with hand grenades and lost a prisoner. Near the Moselle a strong German patrol sought to make its way through outposts, only to withdraw under artillery fire.
Sumner Welles and Myron Charles Taylor met Pope Pius XII. Taylor asked the pope if there would be revolution in Italy should Mussolini bring the country into the war. The pope seemed surprised at the question and after careful consideration replied that Italian public opinion was overwhelmingly against joining the war, but that there would not be any rebellion for at least some time if Italy did enter.
U.S. Undersecretary for State Sumner Welles sailed for home to the U.S. from a fact finding mission, during which he met with one Pope, two Kings, one Führer, One Duce, and three Premiers.
The French newspapers sharply question Prime Minister Daladier’s failure to help Finland sufficiently before it capitulated.
A new organization is formed in London to liaise between British and French colonial authorities. Meanwhile, Walt Disney’s new film “Pinocchio” opens in London to a warm reception from the critics.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir John Simon reports that the recent offering of 3% war bonds had been oversubscribed.
Former Prime Minister David Lloyd George, who knows all the major players on both sides, takes a cynical attitude toward the current government: “Always too late. Too late for Czechoslovakia, for Poland, now for Finland. We never save them.”
Wartime austerity is wearing off, and women’s fashions become elaborate and showy to match the improving mood. In London, a woman is fined £75 for “hoarding” after buying 140 weeks’ ration of sugar. She drives away from court in a Rolls-Royce.
The Norwegian government lodges an official protest in Berlin regarding the recent German air attacks on Norwegian freighter Lysaker.
In a report to the Rumanian Senate today Foreign Minister Grigore Gafencu asserted emphatically that the government was working for the maintenance of Rumania’s independence and did not intend to allow the country’s natural resources to be used to “serve the war aims of any one.”
Fearing a general outbreak of war which might involve the U.S.S.R., the Soviet Union reportedly began construction of a chain of defenses along the newly-demarcated Soviet-Finnish frontier. The fortifications will be known as the Voroshilov Line in honor of Soviet War Commissar Klement E. Voroshilov.
A German plane crash-lands on the Danish Lolland Island. They are arrested after asking a farmer for food and interned.
HMS Edinburgh arrived at Tyne, England, United Kingdom for a refit.
The Dutch trawler Protinus was bombed and sunk in the North Sea off Ijmuiden, North Holland by Heinkel He-111 bombers from the Kampfgeschwader 26, Luftwaffe with the loss of four of her 11 crew. The survivors were rescued by the Royal Navy submarine HMS Unity six days later.
The Italian cargo ship Tina Primo struck a mine and was damaged in the North Sea off the east coast of Kent, United Kingdom. She was taken in tow by the British ship Kenia but struck two more mines and sank at 51°20′N 1°42′E with the loss of one of her 37 crew.
The British fishing trawler Soar foundered in a storm on rocks known as “The Black Waughs” ½ nautical mile (930 m) south of Gourdon, Aberdeenshire. Six fishermen lost their lives.
Convoy HN.20 departed Bergen with eight British, twenty one Norwegian, nine Swedish, two Danish, three Finnish ships escorted by destroyers HMS Encounter, HMS Escort, HMS Electra, HMS Escapade, HMS Kashmir, and HMS Kimberley. Despite the protection of anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Cairo, on the 20th, German bombers attacked convoys HN.20 and ON.21. When the convoy split into sections, destroyers Electra and Encounter left the convoy with the seven ships of the west coast section. The west coast section dispersed off Cape Wrath. On the 20th, anti-submarine trawlers HMS Scottish (558grt) and HMS Imperialist (520grt) departed Kirkwall with three steamers for the convoy. They were ordered that if the convoy was not encountered to proceed independently to Methil. Destroyers Electra and Encounter arrived at Scapa Flow at 1500/21st. Convoy HN.20 arrived at Methil the morning of 22 March escorted by destroyers Kashmir, Kimberley, Escort, and Escapade.
Convoy OA.112 departed Southend escorted by destroyer HMS Wolverine from 18 to 20 March and destroyer HMS Vansittart from 19 to 20 March. The convoy dispersed on the 21st.
Convoy OB.112 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers HMS Vimy and HMS Venetia from 18 to 20 March. The convoy dispersed on the 23rd.
Convoy FN.123 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers HMS Woolston and HMS Vivien and sloops HMS Vega and HMS Pelican.This convoy contained 14 ships of cancelled convoy FN.124. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 20th.
Convoy OG.22 was formed with forty nine ships from convoy OA.110G, which departed Southend on the 15th, escorted by destroyer HMS Windsor on 15 and 16 March, destroyer HMS Wild Swan joining on the 26th, destroyer HMS Broke joining on the 17th, OB.110G, which departed Liverpool on the 15th, escorted by destroyer HMS Vanquisher and sloop HMS Folkestone. The convoy was escorted by destroyers Broke and Wild Swan from 18 to 20 March.French destroyer Chacal and patrol vessel Capitaine Armande escorted the convoy from 18 to 24 March. Destroyer HMS WISHART joined on the 21st and destroyer HMS Wrestler on the 23rd and both continued to Gibraltar. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on the 24th.
Convoy MT.33 of twenty five ships departed Methil escorted by the 3rd Anti-submarine Group and supported by sloops HMS Lowestoft and HMS Hastings and destroyer HMS Valorous. On arrival off the Tyne, the sloops and the destroyer escorted convoy FS.124 from the Tyne.
Convoy TM.29 departed the Tyne escorted by the 1st Anti-submarine Group and destroyer HMS Jupiter. Destroyer HMS Brazen, which had departed Scapa Flow on the 17th for Rosyth, was ordered to relieve destroyer Jupiter which was required at Scapa Flow. After being relieved, en route to Scapa Flow, destroyer Jupiter was diverted to Rosyth to escort convoy ON.21.
Convoy HX.28 departed Halifax at 0800 escorted by Canadian destroyers HMCS Saguenay, HMCS Skeena, and HMCS Ottawa. Destroyer Ottawa returned to Halifax after dark. The destroyers turned over the convoy to ocean escort Battleship HMS Royal Sovereign at 1800/19th. The battleship was detached on the 27th. Destroyers HMS Antelope and HMS Warwick joined the convoy on the 27th, destroyers HMS Havock and HMS Vanessa on the 28th, destroyer HMS Vimy on the 29th. Destroyers Havock and Warwick were detached on the 28th, destroyer Vimy and Vanessa on the 28th, destroyer Antelope on 2 April, when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.
The War at Sea, Monday, 18 March 1940 (naval-history.net)
Light cruiser MANCHESTER departed Scapa Flow on Northern Patrol.
Destroyer HIGHLANDER (Cdr W. A. Dallmeyer) was completed. Following working up, destroyer HIGHLANDER was assigned to the 9th Destroyer Flotilla operating with the Home Fleet.
Destroyers IVANHOE and GRIFFIN departed Invergordon. Destroyer IVANHOE arrived at Scapa Flow later the same day. Destroyer GRIFFIN arrived at Aberdeen later the same day.
Destroyers JERVIS, JAVELIN, and JANUS departed the Humber for Scapa Flow. En route, the destroyers were diverted to pick up convoy ON.21 off Rosyth and escort the convoy to Norway.
Destroyers COSSACK and GURKHA departed Rosyth at 1800 for Scapa Flow where they arrived at 0930/19th.
Destroyers ESKIMO and PUNJABI departed the Clyde at 1000 for Scapa Flow escorting Tender C (dummy aircraft carrier HERMES – special service vessel MAMARI). On the 19th, destroyers ESKIMO and PUNJABI joined the escort of damaged heavy cruiser NORFOLK. Destroyers IVANHOE and GALLANT were detached from cruiser NORFOLK and took Tender C to Scapa Flow, arriving on the 20th.
Destroyer BEDOUIN arrived at Scapa Flow during the morning after refitting at Newcastle.
Destroyer IMOGEN reported a defective anti-submarine transmitter.
Submarines TRITON and NARWHAL arrived at Rosyth after patrol. On the 19th, submarine NARWHAL was docked at Rosyth for repairs to the muffler valves.
Patrol sloops PINTAIL and SHEARWATER departed Harwich to establish an anti-submarine patrol between Kentish Knock and a position 15 miles 130° from Kentish Knock.
Convoy HN.20 departed Bergen with eight British, twenty-one Norwegian, nine Swedish, two Danish, three Finnish ships escorted by destroyers ENCOUNTER, ESCORT, ELECTRA, ESCAPADE, KASHMIR, and KIMBERLEY. Despite the protection of anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO, on the 20th, German bombers attacked convoys HN.20 and ON.21. When the convoy split into sections, destroyers ELECTRA and ENCOUNTER left the convoy with the seven ships of the west coast section. The west coast section dispersed off Cape Wrath. On the 20th, anti-submarine trawlers SCOTTISH (558grt) and IMPERIALIST (520grt) departed Kirkwall with three steamers for the convoy. They were ordered that if the convoy was not encountered to proceed independently to Methil. Destroyers ELECTRA and ENCOUNTER arrived at Scapa Flow at 1500/21st. Convoy HN.20 arrived at Methil the morning of 22 March escorted by destroyers KASHMIR (SO), KIMBERLEY, ESCORT, and ESCAPADE.
Convoy OA.112 departed Southend escorted by destroyer WOLVERINE from 18 to 20 March and destroyer VANSITTART from 19 to 20 March. The convoy dispersed on the 21st.
Convoy OB.112 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers VIMY and VENETIA from 18 to 20 March. The convoy dispersed on the 23rd.
Convoy FN.123 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers WOOLSTON and VIVIEN and sloops VEGA and PELICAN. This convoy contained 14 ships of cancelled convoy FN.124. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 20th.
Escort vessel VIMIERA was damaged in a collision with steamer CLERMISTON (1448grt) off Rosyth. There was only minor damage to both vessels. Escort vessel VIMIERA was repaired at Rosyth from 25 to 30 March.
Convoy OG.22 was formed with forty-nine ships from convoy OA.110G, which departed Southend on the 15th, escorted by destroyer WINDSOR on 15 and 16 March, destroyer WILD SWAN joining on the 26th, destroyer BROKE joining on the 17th, OB.110G, which departed Liverpool on the 15th, escorted by destroyer VANQUISHER and sloop FOLKESTONE. The convoy was escorted by destroyers BROKE and WILD SWAN from 18 to 20 March. French destroyer CHACAL and patrol vessel CAPITAINE ARMANDE escorted the convoy from 18 to 24 March. Destroyer WISHART joined on the 21st and destroyer WRESTLER on the 23rd and both continued to Gibraltar. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on the 24th.
Convoy MT.33 of twenty-five ships departed Methil escorted by the 3rd Anti-submarine Group and supported by sloops LOWESTOFT and HASTINGS and destroyer VALOROUS. On arrival off the Tyne, the sloops and the destroyer escorted convoy FS.124 from the Tyne.
Convoy TM.29 departed the Tyne escorted by the 1st Anti-submarine Group and destroyer JUPITER. Destroyer BRAZEN, which had departed Scapa Flow on the 17th for Rosyth, was ordered to relieve destroyer JUPITER which was required at Scapa Flow. After being relieved, en route to Scapa Flow, destroyer JUPITER was diverted to Rosyth to escort convoy ON.21.
Sloop BIDEFORD, escorting convoy OG.22F, attacked a submarine contact south of Cape St Vincent in 35-58N, 8-55W. Sloop FOWEY was in company escorting this convoy.
Dutch trawler PROTINUS (202grt) was sunk by German bombers of KG26 off Ijmuiden near Middle Rough Bank. Four crew were lost and submarine UNITY (Lt J F B Brown) rescued seven crew members on the 25th.
Convoy HX.28 departed Halifax at 0800 escorted by Canadian destroyers HMCS SAGUENAY, HMCS SKEENA, and HMCS OTTAWA. Destroyer OTTAWA returned to Halifax after dark. The destroyers turned over the convoy to ocean escort Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN at 1800/19th. The battleship was detached on the 27th. Destroyers ANTELOPE and WARWICK joined the convoy on the 27th, destroyers HAVOCK and VANESSA on the 28th, destroyer VIMY on the 29th. Destroyers HAVOCK and WARWICK were detached on the 28th, destroyer VIMY and VANESSA on the 28th, destroyer ANTELOPE on 2 April, when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.
Light cruiser DAUNTLESS reported main condenser problems.
Light cruisers CERES and COLOMBO arrived at Port Said.
The Senate approached a final vote today on the Hatch “clean politics” amendments with indications increasing that the measure will be sidetracked when it reaches the House. A Senate vote late today on the measure which would extend the Hatch act restrictions to State employees paid from Federal funds was certain under a unanimous consent agreement of the Senators. Speaker William B. Bankhead made it obvious today that the measure is due for heavy sledding when it reaches the lower chamber. ‘I am not personally in favor of the Hatch Act amendments,” said Bankhead. “I don’t mind saying so. I think, we have gone far enough in the original Hatch Act in restricting government employees. I’m certainly not going to urge action on it.” Representative Bankhead was believed to be speaking the sentiment of a large section of the House, where feeling for the bill never has been considered to be more than lukewarm, but any prediction as to House action was impossible. The bill will go to the House Judiciary Committee for study. Speaker Bankhead said he had not spoken to any committee members about it
The Senate overwhelmingly adopted today the Hatch bill to control political activities among state jobholders paid in whole or in part with federal funds. This was after amending it to a restrictive form far more severe than contemplated by the bill’s sponsors when it became a center of controversy two weeks ago. The final vote was 58 to 28. The large majority was due greatly to the steadfast support of Senator Barkley, the majority leader, by an unbroken front of twenty-two Republicans, who joined with thirty-four Democrats, one Progressive and one Independent in putting over the measure. Voting in opposition were twenty-seven Democrats and one Farmer-Laborite, marshaled by Senator Minton, the assistant majority leader. As a result of the Senate’s action, the House now faces a decision on approving the original bill to establish a program for “clean politics,” as well as a series of Senate amendments which would greatly alter current practice under the Federal laws.
The Senate adopted last week an amendment limiting all individual contributions to political parties in any one year to $5,000. The amendment, which was sponsored by Senator Bankhead, received support from opponents of the bill, who looked upon it as such an unpalatable measure that it would assist in the defeat of the bill. Today the Senate accepted with unanimous approval an amendment by Senator Byrd forbidding any political contribution by any individual interested in a government contract. The stipulated penalty for violating either of these provisions is a $5,000 fine or five years’ imprisonment. The number of state employees concerned has not been estimated, except for guesses of 200,000. Soon before the Senate passed the Hatch bill, in the presence of spectators who packed all available gallery space, Speaker Bankhead expressed, in his office at the House end of the Capitol, firm opposition to the Senate amendments, including that which was sponsored by his brother, the Senator.
Proponents of a $212,000,000 appropriation for farm-parity payments told the Senate today that the sum could be voted without levying new taxes and without increasing the statutory debt limit.
Admiral Ross T. McIntire, White House physician, today ordered President Roosevelt to take two or three more days of rest and relaxation to overcome a severe head cold and slight fever. Mr. Roosevelt canceled all engagements except one today and remained in the residential section of the White House. He planned to spend most of the day in bed.
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt expressed the opinion today that most women won’t mind telling the census enumerators their age, income and whether they have been divorced.
An under-cover fight over economy in government expenditures between New Deal advisers to President Roosevelt and a strong Democratic conservative Congressional bloc was authoritatively disclosed today.
Rescue crews in Ohio give up hope for the miners trapped in yesterday’s Coal Mine explosion in Bellaire.
Representative Howard W. Smith of Virginia, chairman of the Committee to Investigate the National Labor Relations Board, declared today that the law against government officials lobbying for or against Congressional appropriations was “clear and explicit,” and he called upon Attorney General Robert H. Jackson to proceed against members and officials of the Labor Board.
A spokesman for former Chinese Premier Wang Ching-wei, who will head the new Japanese-sponsored “national” government of China to be proclaimed soon in Nanking, accused the United States tonight of a concerted effort to discredit the new regime and organize world opinion against it.
The Japanese Army, setting the stage for creation of its much-discussed Chinese puppet regime, today promised to return confiscated Chinese property to all who vow allegiance to the Japanese-supported Wang Ching-wei government.
An official announcement will shortly be forthcoming from Tokyo to the effect that following the reopening of the Yangtze River to third-power vessels and traders, the river will, at an early date, be reopened from Nanking to Wuhu.
A thoroughgoing reorganization of the Chinese Foreign Office has resulted in the creation of an independent department of American affairs within the Ministry, it was announced here today. The new department will be headed by Tuan Mu-lan, noted Chinese linguist and scholar, who formerly studied in the United States. Because of “changed conditions” a new department of West Asiatic affairs of equal status was also created. It will deal mainly with Chinese-Russian problems.
The Chinese press reports Chinese forces today successfully outflanked a three-pronged Japanese attack at Lingshan in Western Kwangtung Province. Informed Chinese circles view this thrust as a possible attempt to control Lingshan Pass, the first breach in the Kwangtung Mountains opening on the strategic West River. Seizure of this pass might presage a new determined effort to link up the Nanning and Canton fronts.
Meanwhile, the Japanese today reported the capture of the walled city of Lingshan, seventy miles southeast of Nanning, which they described as “the most important Chinese stronghold” east of the Nanning-Yamchow Railroad. Chinese reports said hostilities in Northern Hunan remained at a standstill because of heavy rains and floods.
More than 100 Japanese were killed and several hundred wounded, the Central News Agency [Chinese] said, when a Japanese train struck a mine on the Peiping-Hankow Railway last Tuesday.
Japan and Argentina have agreed to fix their mutual trade at 30,000,000 yen each annually, an increase of 33 per cent over last year’s business, but 35 per cent under the pre-China war figures. [The yen is quoted at 23.43 cents.]
Tanizo Koyama, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, told the budget committee of the lower house of Parliament today that he favored a “strong course” toward the United States because of Washington’s support of the Chiang Kaishek government. If United States opposition to Japan’s program in East Asia continues, Mr. Koyama said, this country must “take steps.” He refused to elaborate this remark other than to say that “I, personally, am in favor of a strong course.”
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 145.59 (-0.17)
Born:
Mark Medoff, American playwright, director, actor and professor (“Children of a Lesser God”), in Mount Carmel, Illinois (d. 2019)
Tony Martínez [Gabriel Antonio Martínez Díaz], Cuban MLB shortstop and second baseman (Cleveland Indians), in Perico, Cuba (d. 1991).
Naval Construction:
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boat U-202 is laid down by F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 631).
The U.S. Navy Gleaves-class destroyers USS Edison (DD-439) and USS Ericsson (DD-440) are laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. (Kearny, New Jersey, U.S.A.).
The Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy) O 21-class submarine HrMs (HNMS) O 24 is launched by Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij, (Rotterdam , Holland).
The Royal Navy Havant-class destroyer HMS Highlander (H 44), originally laid down as the Marinha do Brasil (Brazilian Navy) destroyer Jaguaribe, is commissioned. Her first commander is Commander William Alexander Dallmeyer, RN.
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