The Battle of Dombås continues. Early in the morning on 17 April, the Germans withdrew from their positions, covered by three heavy machine guns captured from the Norwegians in the ambush on 15 April. The paratroopers formed a fighting column with hand grenade armed soldiers at the front followed by the wounded and the POWs on trucks with a rearguard at the end. At Landheim road bridge, a 25-strong Norwegian force blocked the way, but was quickly thrown back to Dovre Church by a night attack with hand grenades. The German force took up temporary positions at Einbugga road bridge, midway between the village of Toftemo to the north and Dovre to the south.
With daybreak, Schmidt’s men began to search out a new position which could provide good cover without the risk of being attacked from the rear. This they found at the North and South Lindse Farm, a farmstead high on a hillside and dominating both the railway line (250 m [270 yd] away) and the main road (700 m [770 yd] away). North Lindse — with its stone barn — became the strong point of the defence, with South Lindse being used to keep Norwegian prisoners; 15 military personnel and 40 civilians. The farm buildings were quickly fortified with sandbags and planking. Oberleutnant Schmidt was carried to Lindse on a door by Norwegian POWs.
On the morning of 17 April, fighting was renewed when first the Norwegian Major Alv Kjøs and then No. 1 Company ran into German ambushes by Lindse. Kjøs was captured, as was the vanguard of No. 1 Company. The main force of No. 1 Company fought its way out, pulling back to Dovre Church at 10:00. After the first encounter of the day, the main Norwegian forces failed to realise that the whole Fallschirmjäger force had moved to Lindse and spent the day reorganizing and receiving reinforcements. II/IR 11 was replaced by its sister battalion, I/IR 11, and a machine gun platoon from the Norwegian Army Air Service’s Jagevingen fighter unit (the unit having lost all its aircraft around Oslo on 9 April) arrived to reinforce the attacks on Schmidt’s paratroopers. For most of the day the abandoned German positions at Ulekleiv was bombarded by Norwegian mortars. Only in evening did the Norwegian commanders discover where the Germans had relocated. On the night of 17/18 April, fenrik (Second Lieutenant) L. K. Løkken of the Raufoss Anti-aircraft Command arrived with a 40 mm anti-aircraft gun.
The Wehrmacht is making deliberate moves to occupy Norway, but their hold remains precarious. The British War Cabinet is slowly formulating a strategy that centers on Trondheim. They authorize a direct landing after the naval bombardment of shore batteries in Operation Hammer. Operation Sickle is the land attack following the bombardment. The direct land attacks at Trondheim will be accompanied by attacks from the north (Namsos) and south (Andalsnes). General Hotblack is put in command, but in the evening suffers a stroke.
Reinforced by airlifted elements of 355th Infantry Regiment, German forces begin pushing south and east from Stavanger-Sola.
At Oslo, the Germans have broken out and captured the fort of Kongsvinger. This creates a route to Sweden in the east. The Norwegian defenders are under-armed and many are killed. The Germans now have advanced across the country East/West at both Oslo and at Trondheim.
The 3rd Mountain Division troops under General Dietl at Narvik are in increasing jeopardy, with the British landing troops both to the north and south. They receive an order: “hold out as long as possible.”
Advance elements of British 148th Infantry Brigade land at Åndalsnes south of Trondheim. Late in the day, British 148th Infantry Brigade troops land at Andalsnes. This is part of Operation Sickle, which is the land invasion of Trondheim after the naval bombardment. Trondheim is 130 miles away, a long trek in the Norwegian winter. They have no skis (assuming the men, largely from London, even know how to ski, which is doubtful) and few vehicles.
At Hegra fortress, the German bombardment begins at 07:00, both from howitzers sited at Avelsgaard and from Luftwaffe raids. At 09:00, an infantry assault goes in from the northeast. There are machine gun nests a mere 150 m (160 yards) from the fortress walls on the north. The Norwegians are in trenches behind barbed wire, and there the attack falters and falls back. Luftwaffe bombers resume their assault for the remainder of the day, knocking out power and the phone lines.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 12 aircraft to attack Stavanger-Sola airfield during the day.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 20 aircraft to attack airfields at Stavanger, Trondheim, Bergen, and Oslo overnight.
RAF bombers attack a submarine in Bergen Fjord and a supply ship at Larvik.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 33 aircraft on minelaying operations off Danish coast overnight.
The British cruiser HMS Suffolk shelled a German held-airfield at Stavanger, but was attacked by aircraft in return, heavily damaged and put out of action for almost a year. From 0513 to 0602, the Royal Navy heavy cruiser HMS Suffolk bombarded Sola airfield, following which she was ordered north to check for German destroyers at sea, reported late on the 16th. Suffolk and her destroyers began a high speed northbound sortie that took them away from their rendezvous with air cover for their retirement, and she was soon taken under German air attack at 0825 and subjected to seven hours of bombing.
Suffolk received heavy damage; the most serious was a hit at the base of X turret at 1037 by a 500 kilogram bomb. X turret magazine had to be flooded to prevent its explosion. Suffolk was wrecked by numerous near misses. Probationary Temporary S/Lt (E) F. H. Collins RNVR, and twenty nine ratings were killed and two ratings died of wounds. Lt J.K. Gardiner RM, Acting Warrant Engineer A.L.C. Walters, Paymaster Cadet M. Hay, and thirty eight ratings were wounded. Destroyer HMS Kipling was damaged by two near misses. Eight Skuas of 803 Squadron finally arrived at 1415, followed by nine Skuas of 801 Squadron and Sea Gladiators of 804 Squadron, but they were unable to prevent four more German attacks. Battlecruisers HMS Renown and HMS Repulse proceeded through Fair Isle Channel to join Suffolk. Destroyers HMS Tartar, and HMS Javelin, and Polish destroyers Grom and Blyskawica, which departed Scapa Flow at 1345/17th, anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Calcutta and destroyer HMS Fury, and destroyer HMS Eclipse from escort duty, joined the battlecruisers. They were joined at sea by destroyers HMS Kimberley and HMS Forester.
Suffolk arrived at Scapa Flow at 0545/18th with her quarter deck awash and steering by propellers, under tow of tug HMS Buccaneer, which joined off Torness. Tugs HMS Imperious and HMS Hendon joined the cruiser off Switha. Renown and destroyers HMS Hyperion, which had joined from Sullom Voe, Kimberley, Forester, Fury, Kipling, HMS Janus, HMS Juno and HMS Hereward, arrived with Suffolk. She was grounded at Scapa Flow until 3 May for temporary repairs, departed on 5 May and taken to the Clyde. Repairs began on 24 May and lasted until 24 February 1941.
No incident even of minor importance was reported from the French front today. The communiqués mention merely “activity of first-line elements in the region west of the Vosges.” It was learned that the attack on a British sector, announced last night, did not exceed the proportions of an outpost engagement, although the German force was much stronger – perhaps 600 troops – than had been the rule hitherto. The enemy’s intentions between the Rhine and the Moselle are still a matter of conjecture. For the moment the Scandinavian venture dominates the situation, but many here consider that a move in the West is still to be expected
The Admiralty announces that it has laid a protective minefield across the Firth of Clyde. It sends 33 aircraft to lay mines off the Danish coast during the night.
A point declaration by the British, French and Polish Governments asserted tonight that reports from Poland show that Germany is “bent on destroying lives, property and the cultural and religious existence of the defenseless Polish population.”
The war now has entered a “decisive stage,” Dr. Joseph Goebbels, German Propaganda Minister, said in a speech at the Berlin Sportspalast tonight. Dr. Goebbels spoke at a gathering marking the conclusion of the Winter relief campaign.
The Luftwaffe lays mines along the British coast.
Hallett Johnson, American Consul General in Stockholm, issued today a notice to all American citizens here to make precautionary preparations for a possible evacuation of Stockholm in case of “certain contingencies.”
Five powers maneuvered warships under secret orders within striking distance of the Dardanelles tonight as southeastern Europe’s small neutrals reinforced defenses and moved to stamp out Nazi influences within their borders. The Turks hold the Dardanelles straits, focal point of naval activity spreading through the Aegean and Black seas. The neutrals fear this activity may foreshadow spread of war. Allied naval units off the Greek coast were reported to have taken “counter-measures” after the Italian fleet assembled in the Aegean for what Italy has called “customary spring maneuvers.” The nature of the counter-measures was not disclosed. Led by the battle cruiser Yavuz, a part of the Turkish fleet took up positions in the Sea of Marmora near Gallipoli, where, in the last war, the Turks broke a great British assault. Neutral shipping men reported the Russian navy already had laid hundreds of mines and was busy laying more in the Black sea off Odessa and Batum. Balkan newspapers headlined dispatches asserting “Italy’s hour for decision is near.” German quarters in Bucharest openly said Italy is prepared to enter the war on the side of Germany. Informed sources consider Rumania most endangered because of her great petroleum and agricultural resources.
A wave of pro-German sentiment swept the Italian press today, editorial and news columns alike belittling allied military power and playing up Nazi claims of northern war successes. Against this background, the official gazette tonight published a decree formally authorizing calling up of Italians of four classes, previously rejected or only partially trained. This action was foreshadowed more than a month ago. The number of men involved was not indicated. Investigations failed to confirm widespread rumors of demonstrations against Britain and France in various Italian cities.
Italy declares the port of Bari in the Adriatic closed to non-authorized personnel.
Today, as he did a year ago, the pope issued a world-wide appeal for a month of prayer to the Virgin Mary “for the restoration of peace among the nations.”
The USSR alleges 15 instances of Rumanian violation of its sovereignty.
With the bulk of the Home Fleet having returned to Scapa to refuel, HMS Furious, with inadequate facilities available, was slowly refueling. She also took the time to repair her tired and somewhat mangled air group, which now consisted of 12 Swordfish, five of 818 Squadron and seven of 816 Squadron. Fortunately, crew casualties to date have not been serious — two dead and three wounded.
The unescorted British steam merchant Swainby was torpedoed and sunk by the U-13, commanded by Max-Martin Schulte, 25 miles north of Muckle Flugga, Shetlands in the northern Atlantic Ocean (61°03’N 0°14’W) at 1733 hours. Of the ship’s complement, all 38 survived. The 4,935 ton Swainby was carrying ballast and was bound for Kirkwall, Scotland.
The British tanker Juanita was scuttled as a blockship at Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands.
Convoy OA.131 departed Southend escorted by destroyer HMS Vesper from the 17th to 19th, and HMS Venetia on the 17th.
Convoy OB.131 departed Liverpool escorted by sloop HMS Folkestone from the 18th to 20th, when she detached to convoy SL.27. The convoy dispersed on the 21st.
Convoy BC.33 with four steamers, including steamer Marslew (Commodore) departed the Loire escorted by destroyer HMS Montrose, and arrived in the Bristol Channel on the 18th.
Convoy FN.148 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers HMS Wallace and HMS Valorous. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 19th.
Convoy MT.53 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers HMS Wolsey and HMS Westminster. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
Convoy FS.148 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers HMS Wolsey and HMS Westminster. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 19th.
Convoy SLF.28 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser HMS Carnarvon Castle until 22 April. On 22 April, the convoy merged with convoy SL.28. On 29 April, destroyers HMS Vesper and HMS Walpole joined the convoys and escorted them to Liverpool arriving on 1 May.
The War at Sea, Wednesday, 17 April 1940 (naval-history.net)
German aircraft dropped mines in the Edinburgh Channel and off the Downs. On 20 April, steamer HAWNBY (5380grt) was sunk in 51 32N, 01 13E and steamer MERSEY (1037grt) near Midbrake Buoy in the Downs, in 51-17N, 1-28E. The entire crew of HAWNBY was rescued by MTB.4, while three crew were lost and eleven missing from MERSEY. Seven survivors were brought to Ramsgate.
U-13 sank steamer SWAINBY (4935grt) twenty-five miles northeast of Muckle Flugga in 61 03N, 00 14W, but the entire crew was rescued. Destroyers BASILISK, BEAGLE, BROKE, and ANTELOPE were ordered to the area to search.
Battlecruiser REPULSE with destroyers HAVELOCK (D.9), HAVANT, and FAME departed Scapa Flow at 0400 for Narvik.
French submarines CASABIANCA (Capitaine de Corvette R.L.B. Sacaze), SFAX (Lieutenant de Vaisseau M.J.M. Groix), ACHILLE (Lieutenant de Vaisseau E. Michaud) and PASTEUR (Lieutenant de Vaisseau P.E.A.E. Mertz) of the 2nd Submarine Division arrived at Harwich escorted by sloop ROSEMARY and trawler BERBERIS for duty as the 9th Submarine Flotilla in patrols off Norway. PASTEUR was damaged while maneuvering at Harwich and was unable to submerge, but the other three departed Harwich on the 18th for Dundee. CASABIANCA departed Dundee on patrol on the 21st for patrol off Karmsund in Selbjornfjord (Bergen area), SFAX on the 23rd for Flekkefjord and Egersund area, and ACHILLE on the 20th for Jaederens and the south entrance to Stavanger. On their next patrol, the submarines were deployed at the entrance of the Skagerrak on the longitude of Lindesnes.
Destroyer HIGHLANDER, conducting anti-submarine patrol in Lillesjona Fjord, ran aground damaging her rudder, propellers and all projecting underwater fittings at 0130. She was able to proceed under her own power at reduced speed from Lillesjona on the 17th for Hull where she arrived on the 19th for repairs completed on 20 May. HIGHLANDER arrived at Scapa Flow on 23 May for duty.
German steamers AFRIKA (6503grt), which had come from Narvik with a cargo of ore and captured by Norwegian forces on 9 April, and THESEUS (956grt), which had come from Trondheim, were at Hardangersfjord. On 17 April, AFRIKA (6503grt) was scuttled at Ulvik in Hardangersfjord by Norwegian torpedo boat STEGG.
Swedish steamer BALTICIA (1986grt) was arrested at sea by a German torpedo boat and taken to Haugesand. On 13 May, sher was renamed GOTHIA for German service.
Light cruisers GALATEA and ARETHUSA, anti-aircraft cruisers CARLISLE and CURACOA, and destroyers ARROW and ACHERON departed Rosyth with troops to be landed at Molde and Aandalsnes under operation SICKLE. GALATEA and CARLISLE landed troops of the 148th Brigade at Aandalsnes at 2000/18th, while ARETHUSA and CURACOA landed troops of the 148th Brigade at Molde, and the destroyers ferried them to Aandalsnes. There was no opposition to the landings.
Destroyer ESCORT departed Lerwick after safely delivering destroyer ECLIPSE at 1130 and proceeding towards Scapa Flow. A submarine contact was reported by aircraft at 1233 in 59 15N, 1 30W, ESCORT attacked a submarine contact and summoned destroyers TARTAR and JAVELIN from Scapa Flow to assist. Further investigation proved this was the wreck depth charged by destroyer CODRINGTON on 5 April. All three destroyers arrived at Scapa Flow on the 18th.
Submarine TAKU was stationed off Sulenfjord 20 miles from Aalesund to prevent German ships from entering the area. Uninformed of TAKU’s presence and patrolling in the same area was destroyer ASHANTI. At 0342, TAKU fired four torpedoes at ASHANTI, which all missed. TAKU was then taken under attack by ASHANTI which dropped one depth charge before TAKU was identified. She only sustained a strained fore hatch.
The sloops carrying the PRIMROSE detachment, arrived at Aandalsnes at 2200 17 April. By dawn on the 18th, disembarkation of the troops was completed. Sloop BLACK SWAN remained in the area to provide anti-aircraft support and the other sloops went off on other duties. BLACK SWAN remained on station until relieved on the 21st.
At Harstad, the unloading of the convoy NP.1 transports was completed on the 17th and by 18 April the quays were cleared of cargos. The convoy, troopships MONARCH OF BERMUDA, BATORY and REINA DEL PACIFICO, departed Vaagsfjord escorted by destroyers AMAZON, VOLUNTEER, and WITHERINGTON at 0300/17th. It arrived in the Clyde at 1045/20th, escorted by destroyers FEARLESS, FURY, and HYPERION.
During the night of 16/17 April, destroyers AFRIDI, MATABELE, MASHONA, and NUBIAN met Polish troopship CHROBRY at sea and led her up Namsenfjord to Namsos supported by anti-aircraft cruisers CAIRO and CURLEW. Light cruisers GLASGOW and SHEFFIELD with destroyer SIKH remained at sea on guard. MATABELE and MASHONA ferried troops ashore from CHROBRY while AFRIDI and NUBIAN patrolled in the Fjord. At 0400/17th, MATABELE and SIKH re-embarked GLASGOW and SHEFFIELD’s landing parties put ashore on the 14th. Destroyer SOMALI arrived at Scapa Flow at 2330/17th from Lillesjona. When CHROBRY left Namsenfjord early on the 18th, she was not completely unloaded and returned to Lillesjona. It was decided to send CHROBRY back to Namsos the night of 18/19 April to complete unloading as French convoy FP.1, en route to Namsos, was a day late and would not arrive until late on the 19th.
Destroyer MOHAWK had departed Scapa Flow at 1830/17th, and arrived at Namsos on the 18th with ammunition for the British ships. She then joined Captain Pegram’s force. MOHAWK was ordered to join destroyer ASHANTI to patrol the Trondheim Leads until the 22nd when they departed to refuel at Scapa Flow. GLASGOW and SHEFFIELD arrived at Scapa Flow for refueling on the 18th. After dark on the 18th, MATABELE was detached to refuel at Sullom Voe. CAIRO refueled at Skelfjord, but returned in time to rejoin CURLEW escorting CHROBRY. Unloading was completed the night of the 18th/19th. CHROBRY returned to Scapa Flow escorted by Pegram’s force which arrived at Scapa Flow on the 20th. AFRIDI arrived at Scapa Flow to refuel and embark ammunition at 1000/20th, while CHROBRY, escorted by SIKH and MASHONA, went on to the Clyde, arriving at 2250/21st. NUBIAN arrived at Namsos as an anti-aircraft guard ship on the 20th.
German U-boats off southern Norway were ordered to withdraw.
Submarines NARWHAL, UNITY, and SPEARFISH arrived back at Blyth after patrols.
The submarine base at Dundee was commissioned as HMS AMBROSE with Cdr J. G. Roper as S.9.
Destroyers BASILISK, BEAGLE, CAMPBELL, BROKE, WREN, VANSITTART, ANTELOPE, WOLVERINE, and WITCH departed Dover at 0600 for Scapa Flow. Destroyer VANSITTART has just arrived at Dover escorting a convoy. At 0900, they were diverted en route to search for a German submarine through positions 59 00N, 0 45E, 59 50N, 0 45E, 59 50N, 0 20W, 59 10N, 1 00W, and 58 30N, 1 00W. BASILISK, BEAGLE, BROKE, and ANTELOPE were ordered at 0900/18th to search for the submarine sinking steamer SWAINBY, while WREN, WOLVERINE, WITCH, CAMPBELL, and VANSITTART were sent to 59 12N, 0 15W to search for a German submarine reported by aircraft. They arrived at Scapa Flow at 0715/19th. Meanwhile, BASILISK, BEAGLE, BROKE, and ANTELOPE were sent at 2300/18th to search for the crew of a downed Whitley bomber. They rescued four crew and arrived at Scapa Flow at 1400/19th. Destroyers WILD SWAN, WHITSHED, and VERITY arrived at Dover on the 18th to replace them.
Two Skuas of 800 Squadron departed Hatston to attack German targets at Bergen. A Skua flown by Lt E.G. Finch-Noyes attacked German minelayer BREMSE without success. The other Skua flown by Captain R.T. Partridge RM, made no attack and on its return to Sumburgh crashed on the field and was a total loss.
Old Norwegian torpedo boats GRIP, JO and RAVN were scuttled at Lyngor in the Namsenfjord-Molde area.
Convoy OA.131 departed Southend escorted by destroyer VESPER from the 17th to 19th, and VENETIA on the 17th.
Convoy OB.131 departed Liverpool escorted by sloop FOLKESTONE from the 18th to 20th, when she detached to convoy SL.27. The convoy dispersed on the 21st.
Convoy BC.33 with four steamers, including steamer MARSLEW (Commodore) departed the Loire escorted by destroyer MONTROSE, and arrived in the Bristol Channel on the 18th.
Convoy FN.148 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and VALOROUS. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 19th.
Convoy MT.53 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers WOLSEY and WESTMINSTER. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
Convoy FS.148 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers WOLSEY and WESTMINSTER.
The convoy arrived at Southend on the 19th.
Convoy SLF.28 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser CARNARVON CASTLE until 22 April. On 22 April, the convoy merged with convoy SL.28. On 29 April, destroyers VESPER and WALPOLE joined the convoys and escorted them to Liverpool arriving on 1 May.
In Washington today, President Roosevelt conferred with Colonel F. C. Harrington, Work Projects Commissioner, and Representatives Taylor, Woodrum, Cannon, O’Neal, Ludlow, Snyder and Johnson, on relief appropriations; with Senator Wagner on housing, and transacted other business.
The Senate passed the $223,000,000 War Department Civil Functions Appropriation Bill and recessed at 4:35 PM, until noon tomorrow.
The House considered amendments to the Logan-Walter bill, heard Representative Edith Nourse Rogers advocate United States protection for Greenland and adjourned at 5 PM until 11 AM tomorrow.
Reliable sources reported tonight that President Roosevelt had decided to recommend Congress appropriate $985,000,000 for the W.P.A. next fiscal year but give him permission to spend the entire sum in eight months if necessary. These sources said Mr. Roosevelt had decided to stick by his previous tentative estimate of $985,000,000 but that he took the position, no one could say now whether this would be adequate. This year’s relief fund totals $1,477,000,000. If the entire $985,000,000 appropriation for the next year was spent in less than 12 months, it was pointed out, Congress could appropriate additional funds at its next session.
Chairman Walsh, Massachusetts Democrat, of the Senate Naval Affairs Committee said he was opposed to suggestions that Congress authorize a 25 percent increase in the U.S. Navy instead of the 11 percent provided in pending legislation.
The Senate passed a $223,000,000 appropriation bill for non-military functions of the war department after rejecting an effort to include $30,000,000 for flood control. The chamber approved $15,000,000 for starting a third set of Panama Canal locks. The Senate brushed aside economy arguments today to approve overwhelmingly an appropriation of $15,000,000 to begin new construction at the Panama Canal, designed to make the waterway more secure. Soon afterward it voted authorization of $99,000,000 additional for contract commitments on the work in the fiscal year beginning July 1.
The appropriation and the contractual authorization were incorporated in the War Department Civil Works Bill. The appropriation was requested by the Budget Bureau but refused by the House, which voted only $850,000 for a study of the projected “defense” operation. When the authorization was called up for vote a standing division found only Senators Adams, Vandenberg and Bulow in opposition. Approval of the twin amendments followed a charge by Senator Adams (D-Colorado) that the Congress was being “stampeded” into spending $300,000,000 for the virtual construction of another canal through the Isthmus of Panama because of “imaginary danger.”
[Ed: Senator Alva Adams would die of a heart attack, on December 1, 1941 — just six days before that danger became quite a bit less “imaginary.”]
Senator Taft, Ohio Republican, pondered today whether to put his presidential candidacy to the test of a vote-getting battle with Thomas E. Dewey in Maryland. Several friends were reported advising against it. By contrast, Dewey’s supporters expressed eagerness for such a contest. They had entered their man in the Maryland preferential primary of May 6, and virtually dared Taft to enter, too. The Dewey strategy was simple. In addition to Dewey, himself, there are two so-called “leading candidates” for the Republican nomination, Taft and Senator Vandenberg, Michigan Republican. Dewey beat Vandenberg by 2 to 1 in Wisconsin and by a somewhat narrower margin in Nebraska. If he could defeat Taft In the east, his managers felt he would be in a highly favorable position.
Great Britain and France will place initial orders for 4,500 to 5,000 of the latest-type United States war planes, it was learned today as reports reached Washington that a real showdown between the British Navy and the Nazi air force is developing more swiftly in the struggle over Norway.
Major League Baseball:
New York Yankees 4, Philadelphia Athletics 1
Asserting that Japan would have undertaken the seizure of Indo-China, Burma, the Malay States, Netherland India, Australia and New Zealand if China had surrendered without a struggle, Mme. Chiang Kai-shek, in a broadcast last night from Chungking, the Chinese capital, said American members of Congress “should stop expressing horror at aggression or they should stop encouraging aggression by permitting gasoline, oil and other war materials to be sent to Japan.”
Responding to a statement made by Japanese Foreign Minister Arita Hachiro on April 15, 1941, U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull said that “Any change in the status of the Netherlands Indies would directly affect the interests of many countries. The Netherlands Indies are very important in the international relationships of the whole Pacific Ocean. They produce considerable portions of the world’s supplies of important essential commodities such as rubber, tin, quinine, copra, et cetera. Many countries, including the United States, depend substantially upon them for some of these commodities. Intervention in the domestic affairs of the Netherlands Indies or any alteration of their status quo by other than peaceful processes would be prejudicial to the cause of stability, peace, and security not only in the region of the Netherlands Indies but in the entire Pacific area.”
The Japanese intention and hope in Shanghai of revising the International Settlement franchise qualifications in such a manner as to give them a national voting preponderance was reluctantly revealed this afternoon at the press conference of the Japanese Embassy spokesman.
The British liner RMS Queen Mary arrives at Sydney, Australia, for refitting as a troopship, after her secret voyage from New York.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 148.35 (+0.17)
Born:
Billy Fury [Ronald Wycherley], British rock singer (“When Will You Say I Love You”; “Halfway To Paradise”) and actor (“That’ll Be The Day”), in Liverpool, England, United Kingdom (d. 1983).
Anja Silja, German soprano, in Berlin, Germany.
Tommy Williams, NHL and WHA right wing and centre (WHA Champions-Whalers, 1973; Boston Bruins, Minnesota North Stars, California Golden Seals, New England Whalers [WHA], Washington Capitals), in Duluth, Minnesota (d. 1992).
Bill Miller, AFL split end and flanker (AFL Champions-Texans, 1962, and Raiders, 1967; Dallas Texans, Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders), in McKeesport, Pennsylvania (d. 2024).
Claire Bretécher, French cartoonist (Les Frustrés), in Nantes, France (d. 2020).
Died:
Maria Kaupas, 60, American Catholic Religious Sister and founder of the Sisters of Saint Casimir.
Naval Construction:
The U.S. Navy 70-foot Elco patrol motor torpedo boat USS PT-13 is laid down by the Electric Launch Company Ltd. (Elco), (Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.A.).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boats U-79 and U-80 are laid down by Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack (werk 7 and 8).
The Royal Navy Flower-class corvette HMS Bittersweet (K 182) is laid down by Marine Industries Ltd. (Sorel, Quebec, Canada). Transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy before completion.
The Royal Navy Tree-class minesweeping trawler HMS Birch (T 93) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Lieutenant Commander Frederick G. Tidswell, RNZNVR.
History Diaries 