As part of preparations for Operation PIKE, a British reconnaissance flight from a base in Iraq flew unchallenged for several hours over Soviet oilfields on the Absheron Peninsula. The Anglo-French Supreme War Council is still considering bombing the Soviet oil fields of Baku upon the outbreak of hostilities, though they have passed on French Prime Minister’s recommendation that it be done now. Its code name is Operation PIKE, and its aim is to collapse the Soviet oil industry. The plan as developing would be to bomb the oil fields in Baku, Batum, and Grozny from bases in Iran, Turkey and Syria under “Western Air Plan 106.”
The Soviets have some inkling about all this, perhaps from spies within one or both of the Allied governments. The Soviet authorities of the Soviet Transcaucasian Military District are conducting desk exercises on how to respond to such an attack. The plan is to start a counter-offensive toward Erzurum and Tebriz.
Plan PIKE, while somewhat far-fetched and lacking political backing, is not complete fantasy. Today, as a test, a British reconnaissance plane – painted in civilian colors – flies from Iraq to the Soviet oil fields on the Absheron Peninsula and takes photographs. It attracts no Soviet notice.
French Minister of Defense Édouard Daladier persuaded the French War Committee not to ratify British proposal to mine the Rhine River. Daladier is not in agreement with Operation ROYAL MARINE, Winston Churchill’s pet plan to mine the Rhine River. He persuades the French war cabinet to reject the operation. The British respond by threatening to suspend Operation Wilfred, the mining of Norwegian coastal waters.
British Shipping Minister Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet passes away at age 63.
First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill warns neutrals about the course of the war, which he expects to intensify.
The British Ministry of Agriculture reports that the effort to bring more land into cultivation has resulted in 1,370,000 extra acres of tillage had been plowed, versus the overall target of 2,000,000 acres.
For the first time in seven months, the French communiqué today refers to “violent gunfire” at the front.
French Premier Paul Reynaud conferred tonight with General Maxime Weygand, Commander in Chief of the Allied forces in the Near East. The arrival here of General Weygand from Syria had not been announced.
The Nazis are — as always — concerned with racial purity. There are 300,000 Polish workers in German factories. This causes concern about possible “mixing.” From now on, they are required to wear a “P” badge or face 6-weeks imprisonment. While not the same as the Yellow Star of David being forced upon Jews in Poland, it is an attempt to reinforce the Poles’ second-class status.
The alleged Polish diplomatic documents published in the German White Book are obviously fakes, Polish official circles in France said today.
A large part of Southern Norway, in cluding areas over fifty miles inland, was surveyed from the air today by planes believed to be Ger man, it was officially stated today.
A source close to the Italian government said to day that Italy “remains anti-Bolshevik” and Insisted a “Rome-Berlin Moscow triangle” was not a possibility in the near future. This was interpreted in foreign circles as indicating that if Fuehrer Hitler suggested a new friendship between Rome and Moscow in his meeting with Premier Mussolini in the Brenner Pass March 18, his proposal failed. Authoritative Italian sources likewise sought to dispel reports, current since the Brenner meeting, of a plan to share control of the Balkans among Germany, Italy, and Russia. Fascists attributed talks of a three-cornered arrangement in the Balkans to French propaganda.
Along the Swiss border, both Germany and France now have spotlights set up marking the Swiss border in order to avoid the accidental bombing of neutral Swiss towns. It is a rare example of wartime cooperation by opposing sides.
The Turkish government shuts down Turkische Post, a German newspaper, in Istanbul.
Turkey was represented in usually well-informed Balkan diplomatic quarters tonight as having agreed to permit passage of British and French warahips through the Dardanelles to choke off Germany’s supply line from Russia in the Black Sea.
The first flight is made of the I-22, prototype of the Soviet Lavochkin LaGG-1 fighter.
The McCormick line freighter Charles L. Wheeler Jr. limped back to port in Astoria, Oregon, today after losing her second mate in a 70-mile gale off Cascade Head, south of Tillamook. Captain Oscar Sala sent four seamen to a hospital with injuries suffered in buffeting by the mountainous wave which swept Second Mate Robert Fulton, 35, San Francisco, overboard.
Convoy HN.23A of one British, twelve Norwegian, seven Swedish, six Danish, eight Finnish, one Latvian, four Estonian ships departed Bergen escorted by destroyers HMS Gurkha, HMS Afridi, and HMS Sikh. Antiaircraft cruiser HMS Calcutta accompanied the convoy for anti-aircraft protection. Destroyer HMS Cossack departed Scapa Flow on the 31st at 0540 to join the convoy escort. En route, she stood by the disabled trawler Sophos (217grt) from 1130 to 1415 until another trawler arrived to take her in tow. At 0021/2 April, U.38 attacked the convoy, but was driven off by Cossack. Destroyers HMS Encounter and HMS Mohawk escorted 14 ships of the west coast section of the convoy. Encounter arrived at Scapa Flow at 0420 on 3 April and Mohawk was detached in the evening of 2 April for an anti-submarine hunt. The 26 ships of convoy arrived at Methil at 0900 on 3 April, escorted by Afridi, Sikh, Gurkha, and Cossack, after being divided in heavy weather.
Convoy MT.40 departed Methil escorted by the 19th Anti-submarine Group and destroyer HMS Wolsey. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
Convoy FN.133 of twenty nine ships departed Southend escorted by sloop HMS Pelican and destroyer HMS Vivien. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on 1 April.
Convoy FS.133 departed the Tyne escorted by destroyers HMS Whitley and HMS Westminster. The convoy arrived at Southend on 1 April.
Convoy BC.32S of steamers Baron Kinnaird, David Livingstone, John Holt (Commodore), and Pizarro departed Bristol Channel escorted by destroyer HMS Vivacious. The convoy arrived at Loire on 1 April.
Convoy SL.26 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruisers HMS Dunvegan Castle and HMS Ranpura until 12 April. On 12 April, sloop HMS Leith joined the convoy and destroyer HMS Vansittart joined on 13 April. The convoy arrived on 15 April.
The War at Sea, Saturday, 30 March 1940 (naval-history.net)
Light cruiser NEWCASTLE, which arrived on the 26th, began a refit and repairs in the Tyne lasting until 29 May 1940. She left on 3 June to rejoin the Home Fleet.
Destroyers NUBIAN, FAME, and FORESIGHT departed Scapa Flow at 1745 for repairs – NUBIAN to repair her asdic gear in the Tyne, arriving on the 31st, FAME to repair her asdic gear at Grimsby, and FORESIGHT for refitting at Grimsby, her repairs continuing until 1 May.
Destroyers HOTSPUR, HERO, HYPERION, HUNTER, HOSTILE, HASTY, and JUPITER and submarine CLYDE were engaged in anti-submarine exercises from Scapa Flow.
Destroyer GRIFFIN departed Invergordon for Moray Firth Patrol.
Destroyer KELVIN departed the Clyde for Scapa Flow.
Destroyer BRAZEN arrived at Rosyth.
Submarine NARWHAL departed Rosyth for a dummy minelay and then proceeded to Blyth.
Submarine SPEARFISH departed Blyth, unescorted, for Scapa Flow.
Convoy HN.23 A of one British, twelve Norwegian, seven Swedish, six Danish, eight Finnish, one Latvian, four Estonian ships departed Bergen escorted by destroyers GURKHA, AFRIDI, and SIKH. Antiaircraft cruiser CALCUTTA accompanied the convoy for anti-aircraft protection. Destroyer COSSACK departed Scapa Flow on the 31st at 0540 to join the convoy escort. En route, she stood by the disabled trawler SOPHOS (217grt) from 1130 to 1415 until another trawler arrived to take her in tow. At 0021/2 April, U-38 attacked the convoy, but was driven off by COSSACK. Destroyers ENCOUNTER and MOHAWK escorted 14 ships of the west coast section of the convoy. ENCOUNTER arrived at Scapa Flow at 0420 on 3 April and MOHAWK was detached in the evening of 2 April for an anti-submarine hunt. The 26 ships of convoy arrived at Methil at 0900 on 3 April, escorted by AFRIDI, SIKH, GURKHA, and COSSACK, after being divided in heavy weather.
Convoy MT.40 departed Methil escorted by the 19th Anti-submarine Group and destroyer WOLSEY. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
Convoy FN.133 of twenty-nine ships departed Southend escorted by sloop PELICAN and destroyer VIVIEN. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on 1 April.
Convoy FS.133 departed the Tyne escorted by destroyers WHITLEY and WESTMINSTER. The convoy arrived at Southend on 1 April.
Sloop ROSEMARY on convoy escort attacked a submarine contact in 49-28.5N, 3-58W. The contact was later determined to be non-submarine and she rejoined the convoy.
Minesweeper SUTTON of the 4th Minesweeping Flotilla from Grimsby was mined and badly damaged off Cromer Knoll. She was able to return to Immingham, and was repaired at Grimsby, completing on 21 May.
Convoy BC.32S of steamers BARON KINNAIRD, DAVID LIVINGSTONE, JOHN HOLT (Commodore), and PIZARRO departed Bristol Channel escorted by destroyer VIVACIOUS. The convoy arrived at Loire on 1 April.
French destroyers LA PALME and FORBIN, having arrived that day on respective escort duties, departed Gibraltar westwards.
Convoy SL.26 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruisers DUNVEGAN CASTLE and RANPURA until 12 April. On 12 April, sloop LEITH joined the convoy and destroyer VANSITTART joined on 13 April. The convoy arrived on 15 April.
United States opposition to Japan’s projected “New Order” in Asia was voiced today by Secretary of State Cordell Hull in a strong statement making clear this government’s refusal to recognize the Japanese supported “All-China” regime of Wang Ching-wei, formally inaugurated today in Nanking. Reiterating this country’s opposition to “armed force as an instrument of national policy,” Secretary Hull again stressed the intention of the United States to maintain the Open Door in China. He said unequivocally that the “military and diplomatic” conditions under which the Wang regime was established did not seem consistent with Japanese promises that the right of the United States to trade with China would be maintained. The establishment of a new regime at Nanking “has the appearance of a further step in a program of one country by armed force to impose its will upon a neighboring country,” the Secretary of State declared. He added that the Government of the United States had ample reason for believing that the National Government of China, now at Chungking, “has had, and still has, the allegiance and support of the great majority of the Chinese people.” “The Government of the United States of course continues to recognize that government as the Government of China,” Mr. Hull stated.
A majority of the Smith committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, reporting its labor board investigation, told the house today amendment of the Wagner Act at this congress session was “imperative to correct “wrongs that are being perpetrated daily upon industry, labor and the general public.” At outset of its report, however, the majority said: “In suggesting these amendments, the committee reaffirms its belief in the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing and in the obligation of the government to protect that right.”
American officials are preparing a complete report on German propaganda as it refers to the United States. They have been carefully gathering data since the European war began in September.
Ten members of the Ku Klux Klan were under arrest late today as members of a night-riding band of flogging terrorists. The ten were indicted by the Fulton County (Atlanta, Georgia) grand jury late last night on charges involving two kidnappings and twenty-three whippings. Herb Edison and Ed Burdette, two deputy sheriffs, were among those accused. Edison and Burdette appeared voluntarily at police headquarters and posted $5,000 bonds each. Edison was indicted on two counts of assault with intent to murder, one count of kidnapping and one of assault and battery, and Burdette was charged with two counts of assault with intent to murder.
Torrential rains cause widespread flooding in coastal California. At least one death is recorded when a San Jose woman is swept away by a flooding creek on her ranch. The region suffered through floods that caused over $15 Million in damages just two months earlier.
Despite the threat of contempt proceedings, Dr. Albert E. Blumberg, secretary of the Communist party in Maryland and the District of Columbia, asserted today he would continue to refuse to answer certain questions asked by the Dies committee. Dr. Blumberg told reporters that, as long as those questions dealt with the identity of party members in this area or the seizure of records from headquarters here, he would remain as mum as he did on the witness stand in Washington yesterday.
On grounds Bertrand Russell “has taught in his books immoral and salacious doctrines” whose practice would violate New York State’s penal laws, a state Supreme Court justice today revoked appointment of the British earl-philosopher to a City college professorship. The appointment, declared Justice John E. McGeehan in a 4,000-word decision which he himself termed “dynamite,” was “an insult to the people of the city of New York” and, in effect, an attempt by the city board of higher education to establish a “chair of indecency” at the co-educational institution of 8,600 students.
Two cans of a chemical which, exposed to air, creates one of the most deadly gases known to man, rolled off a truck in San Pedro, California today. The entire harbor police force searched fruitlessly until nightfall for the poison, known as Zyklon-B concentrate, used for fumigation purposes aboard ships. Dr. P. J. Gorman, in charge of the public health service here, said if one of the cans were opened enough gas would be released to “wipe out an entire battalion.” There is a poison label on the cans but authorities fear a child may find the chemical, open the can and die. Zyklon-B will come to greater attention in the coming years, as one of the main instruments of the Shoah (Holocaust) in Europe.
Senator Johnson, Democrat, of Colorado, declared tonight that President Roosevelt, while keeping silent on the third-term issue, had “harpooned and torpedoed” other potential Presidential candidates until the Democratic party was “floundering in confusion.”
Thomas E. Dewey finished his appeal to the Republican voters of Wisconsin today with a swing through the Dell country, Wisconsin’s Summer vacationland, and a rally on the south steps of the Capitol.
Henry Epstein, Solicitor General of New York State, yesterday denounced the Federal prosecution of labor unions for conspiracy in restraint of trade as a “perversion” of the Sherman Anti-trust Law.
One hundred and thirty ships of the United States Fleet will have a part, starting tomorrow, in one of the most extensive series of tactical and strategical exercises ever held, the Navy’s “Fleet Problem XXI.”
Broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite weds Mary Elizabeth Maxwell at the Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
“When You Wish Upon a Star” by Ray Eberle & Glenn Miller, featured in the current Walt Disney animated film “Pinocchio,” has the top spot in “Your Hit Parade.” The film itself is lauded by critics but is encountering resistance at the box office.
2nd NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: Indiana beats Kansas, 60-42; Hoosiers’ forward Marvin Huffman is named tournament Most Outstanding Player.
The Canadian Paterson Steamship Company merchantman Thordoc (2,158 GRT) ran aground off Winging Point, 20 nautical miles (37 km) south of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia and was wrecked. The ship was declared a constructive total loss. Her crewmen were rescued.
Newspapers printed news about Lahore Resolution, demanding the division of India between Hindu- and Muslim-dominated nations.
Wang Jingwei became the head of a new collaborationist government in China that would be known as the Reorganized National Government of the Republic of China. Wang Jingwei became the President of the Executive Yuan and Chairman of the National Government. Wang effectively became the head of state of the Japanese puppet Central China government based in Nanjing.
The Japanese establish their puppet Chinese government in Nanking. Ching-wei, a former colleague and rival of Chiang Kai-shek with a long history in Nationalist politics, leads the government as President of the Executive Yuan and Chairman of the National Government. Such governments rarely have any power at all and generally, are ignored by foreign governments. They are used as propaganda devices until they are no longer needed, then discarded. The government’s official name is Reorganized National Government of the Republic of China. The Japanese have been under severe military pressure since the opening of the Chinese Winter Offensive in late December, and feel this might help stabilize their reign.
The guiding principles of the new government are the Three Principles of pan-Asianism, anti-Communism, and opposition to Chiang Kai-shek. Ching-wei is in contact with the German and Italian governments and is interesting in joining the Tripartite Pact between Japan, Germany, and Italy, also known as the Axis.
Wang Ching-wei and his cohorts in the Japanese-sponsored Central China regime, this morning pretended to effect the “return” of the Chinese Government to Nanking, the capital city from which it was driven by the Japanese Army in the Winter of 1937.
Branding members of Wang Ching-wei’s new government as “a gang of slaves of utter moral depravity,” the Chinese Foreign Office today presented to foreign embassies and legations here a note timed to coincide with the inauguration ceremonies in Nanking. The note warned that recognition of the Wang government would be “considered as an act most unfriendly to the Chinese nation, for the consequences of which the recognizing party would have to bear. full responsibility.” “The Chinese Government and people,” the note concludes, “are as determined as ever to continue their resistance until the Japanese militarists have been completely driven out of Chinese territory and until right triumphs over might.”
The Foreign Office spokesman said the inauguration of the Wang government did not present a new problem because it had been under consideration for more than a year. The new government is a “mockery,” he said, because the commanders of the Chinese mercenaries in the Japanese Army were hostile to the new regime, while the total force consists of 1,000 military cadets at Shanghai. He said the chief value of Mr. Wang to Japan was to be a propaganda tool to confuse the Western nations. He said the new regime could not recruit more than a handful of new supporters from the business groups in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Chungking began tonight a series of broadcasts in which high officials, including Sun Fo, son of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, and Finance Minister H. H. Kung, will discuss the Wang government.
Second Battle of Wuyuan: Chinese 8th War Area attacking around Patzepu, Hsishantzu, Hsichiao, and Mankosu and Japanese force begins withdrawing from Wuyuan. The Japanese at Wuyuan begin to retreat under pressure. The city does not yet switch hands. The Chinese claim they have killed 3,400 Imperial Japanese Army troops, but the Japanese respond that they actually have lost only 13 troops while killing 1500 Chinese.
Japanese aircraft begin offensive against Chinn, Yushan, Shangjao, and Yingtanchen.
In a sign of the sacrifices being made by the Japanese people due to the China invasion, Japanese Prime Minister Mitsumasa Yonai visits children whose fathers have perished in China.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 147.95 (+0.41)
Born:
Jerry Lucas, Team USA and NBA power forward and center (Hall of Fame, inducted 1980; Olympic gold 1960, NBA Champions-Knicks, 1973; NBA All-Star, 1964-1969, 1971; Cincinnati Royals, San Francisco Warriors, New York Knicks) and memory education expert, in Middletown, Ohio.
Bob Humphreys, AFL kicker (Denver Broncos), in Los Angeles, California.
Bobby Fowler, AFL fullback (New York Titans), in Kenton, Tennessee.
Died:
Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet, 63, Scottish politician and Minister of Shipping.
Naval Construction:
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IID U-boat U-146 is laid down by Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel (werk 275).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boat U-353 is laid down by Flensburger Schiffsbau-Ges, Flensburg (werk 472).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boats U-563, U-564, U-565, and U-566 are laid down by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 539-542).
The Nihon Kaigun (Imperial Japanese Navy) Type C cruiser submarine (C1 sub-class) I-16 is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Commander Kobayashi Hitoshi.
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IXB U-boat U-122 is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Korvettenkapitän Hans-Günther Looff.
History Diaries 