The Battle of Gratangen began in Norway. The Norwegian 6th Division gathered forces to push the Germans out of Gratangen Municipality and back towards the town of Narvik. The first attack failed disastrously when the Germans counter-attacked unprepared Norwegian forces, routing a battalion and blunting the first Norwegian advance.
British 146th Brigade is withdrawing from Steinkjer area toward Namsos, north of Trondheim, Norway; the brigade had thus far suffered 19 dead, 42 wounded, and 96 missing.
The British 148th Brigade tried to make a stand at the strategic village of Tretten, but was too tired and underequipped to hold back the German onslaught. By the end of the day the brigade was in full retreat. At Tretten Gorge on the road north from Lillehammer, the German 196th Infantry Division continues attacking the British 148th Infantry Brigade, inflicting heavy casualties. German artillery is active all morning. The British are trying desperately to hold the river road, but the German panzers are decisive. Three of them break through the British line at 13:00. Mountain troops have scaled the 2165-foot cliff to bypass the British river road defenses. They circle around at at 18:00 begin attacking the British line from the rear.
The British can’t hold out and withdraw from Tretten Gorge at 19:00, bombed and strafed on the narrow river road in the Gudbrandsal. Casualties are immense: the British have lost 705 killed, wounded and captured. Only 309 remain fighting. At one point, they take refuge in a railway tunnel and a British officer comments: “700 of us and a bloody train – we’re almost suffocating. “We’ve been stuck here all day with Germans bombing us. One direct hit on the tunnel and we’re done for. The train has to keep up steam — choking.”
At Hegra Fortress, the Germans continue standing back and lobbing occasional mortar shells at the fort, with Luftwaffe attacks from the nearby airport. Today a few shells destroy one of the fortress’ two 7.5 cm positional guns, one of the fortress’ command towers and the waterline. The defenders are losing effective ways to strike back.
British 15th Infantry Brigade begins landing at Molde and Åndalsnes south of Trondheim. Its mission is to support the 148th Brigade, which is under heavy pressure to the south.
1,700 troops of the Norwegian 8th Infantry Regiment surrender east of Stavanger. The Germans are spreading out from Stavanger. At Ogna southeast of Stavanger, the Germans capture the vital bridge, trapping hundreds of troops. The Germans in the area accept the surrender of 1,700 Norwegian troops of the Norwegian 8th Infantry Regiment.
Polish Podhale Brigade (Chasseurs du Nord) begins moving to Norway via Scotland.
The Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo was visited by a German officer who expressed his intention to take over the building, but was told that it belonged to the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm and was therefore Swedish property. Nevertheless, the wartime situation made the Nobel Committee’s regular activities difficult to conduct and so there would be not be any Nobel Prizes awarded for 1940, 1941 or 1942, and no ceremony until 1944 when a special one was held in New York City.
Luftwaffe bombers attack Åndalsnes, Norway.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 26 aircraft on minelaying operations overnight.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches aircraft to attack Aalborg airfield in Denmark overnight.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches aircraft to attack targets in Norway overnight.
Near Oslo, British aircraft conducted a raid on German-controlled airfields.
The German navy (Kriegsmarine) minesweeper Schwaben (M-1302) struck a mine in the Kattegat and sank.
At 1830, submarine HMS Tetrarch fired two torpedoes at German steamer Wolfram (3648grt) escorted by three small escort ships in the Skagerrak in 58-21N, 11-02E. The submarine did not hit the merchant ship and was badly damaged in the counterattack by old torpedo boat T.155. At 2222, submarine Tetrarch fired two torpedoes at the 5th UJ Group. Auxiliary submarine chaser U-Jager-B (trawler Treff V: 330grt) was sunk with only three survivors in 58-21N, 10-24E. U-Jager-A (trawler Treff IV: 330grt) was also in the group. Submarine Tetrarch returned to Rosyth for repairs which were promptly carried out.
The British CAM ship/tanker Daghestan was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea east of the Orkney Islands by U-57 (Kriegsmarine with the loss of three crew.
The British cargo ship Lolworth struck a mine and sank in the North Sea east of Ramsgate, Kent (51°22’N 1°26’E) with the loss of two of her 24 crew.
The German cargo ship Sayn struck a mine and sank in the Wadden Sea off Borkum, Lower Saxony.
The Royal navy aircraft carriers HMS Ark Royal (Vice Admiral L. V. Wells) and HMS Glorious departed Scapa Flow at 1230 on Operation DX with heavy cruiser HMS Berwick, anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Curlew, destroyers HMS Fearless, HMS Fury, HMS Hasty, HMS Hereward, HMS Hyperion, and HMS Juno. Aircraft carrier Ark Royal carried nine Skuas and two Rocs of the 800 Squadron, nine Skuas and two Rocs of the 801 Squadron, twelve Swordfish of the 810 Squadron, nine Swordfish of the 820 Squadron. Aircraft carrier Glorious carried nine Gladiators of the 802 Squadron, eleven Skuas of the 803 Squadron, nine Gladiators of the 804 Squadron. Glorious also carried the RAF 263 Squadron. That evening, aircraft carrier Glorious flew eighteen Gladiator aircraft of the 263 Squadron to an airfield at Lake Lesjaskog. These planes were intended for the air defense of AÅndalsnes and Molde, but were destroyed by German bombing on the 25th. On 24 April, six Skuas of 800 and 801 Squadrons from Ark Royal and six Skuas of 803 Squadron from Glorious flew missions over Åndalsnes.
All aircraft returned safely to the aircraft carrier, but two Skuas crashed landed near the carrier, Lt C.P. Campbell-Horsdall and Petty Officer A.E. Suggitt and Midshipman C. Treen and Naval Airman A.E.T. Goble were rescued by destroyers. The British force positioned itself midway between Namsos and Trondheim. At 0300/25th, aircraft carrier Ark Royal launched six Swordfish of the 820 Squadron, eight Swordfish of the 810 Squadron, seven Skuas of the 801 Squadron, two Skuas of the 800 Squadron. Aircraft carrier Glorious launched eleven Skuas of the 803 Squadron. These aircraft were to attack the Vaernes airfield and other military targets at Trondheim. Aircraft carrier Glorious lost four Skuas of 803 Squadron in the raid, but all the aircrews (Lt G.R. Callingham and Naval Airman D.A. Prime; Lt A.B.F. Fraser-Harris and Leading Airman G.S. Russell; Lt H.E.R. Torin DSC, Midshipman T.A. McKee; and L/Lt I.H. Easton and Naval Airman A.J. Hayman) were rescued. The crews returned to England in a Sunderland aircraft. Aircraft carrier Ark Royal lost one Swordfish from the 820 Squadron and three Swordfish from the 810 Squadron, Lt A.A. Pardoe and Petty Officer L.M. Lloyd of the 810 Squadron were lost; Captain W.H.N. Martin RM, Lt J.A. Crawford, Leading Airman H.G. Edwards were picked up by destroyer MAORI; Lt N.R. Corbet-Milward and Petty Officer J. Black were picked up by a destroyer; Captain A.C. Newsom RM, Lt Cdr G.B. Hodgkinson, Leading Airman R.H. McColl were picked up by a destroyer.
At 0725/26th, the destroyer screen was sent to Sullom Voe for refuelling. These destroyers were relieved at 0700/26th by destroyers HMS Grenade, HMS Beagle, HMS Fortune, HMS Volunteer, HMS Encounter, and HMS Escort, which sailed from the Narvik area at 1630. The original screen arrived at Sullom Voe at 2130 at 26 April. They departed to rejoin at 0400/27th. On 26 April, a Skua of 803 Squadron was shot down, Lt C.H. Filmer was rescued, but Petty Officer K.G. Baldwin was killed. Lt Cdr H.P. Bramwell with Lt J.W. Collett in a Skua of 801 Squadron was shot down on the 26th. The plane force landed near a snow drift and both crew were unhurt. On 27 April, two Skuas from Ark Royal were shot down by German aircraft, Lt (A) W.C.A. Church and Acting S/Lt (A) D.G. Willis of the 803 Squadron were lost. The other aircrew was rescued. At 2100/27th, aircraft carrier Glorious was sent to Scapa Flow escorted by destroyers Grenade, Hasty, Fury, Escort, Encounter, and Fortune. They arrived at 1800/28th. The raid was repeated on the 28th when Ark Royal, escorted by heavy cruiser Berwick, light cruiser HMS Sheffield, destroyers Hyperion, Hereward, Fearless, and Juno, launched twelve Swordfish and seven Skuas to attack Trondheim area targets. One Skua of 800 Squadron was shot down.Midshipman (A) L.H. Gallagher and Naval Airman G.W. Halifax were rescued and returned to Hatston by air.
Severe snowstorms prevent any air operations from HMS Furious, which steams for Harstad and anchors in Bygden Fjord.
The general French attitude toward the operations in Norway is one of great confidence, accompanied by a great craving for news. Again, today, the only official information took the form of including the British communiqué in that issued from the French general headquarters. Reports emanating from foreign countries, including Britain, are much censored. Yet this absence of news is accepted with calm because of the realization that in Norway there has begun a fight to the death for a stake so high that every resource must be brought into action. It is realized also that the struggle may be long because of the distances to be covered and the nature of the country. The common belief is that defeat for Germany in Scandinavia may mark the beginning of the end.
Meanwhile, conditions remain unchanged on the French front. Last night there was “nothing to report.” Today there was “fairly brisk artillery activity on both sides between the Moselle and Blies Rivers. Enemy patrols were repulsed west of the Vosges. Rifle shots were exchanged along the banks of the Rhine.”
The Germans continued widespread aerial scouting flights over France today. One plane, flying low to escape anti-aircraft fire, came to the Paris area last night. Eight scouting raids were executed the night before over northern and central France.
In a battle at a great altitude today near the Luxembourg end of the Maginot Line between a large number of the latest German Messerschmitt cannon-firing planes and a smaller formation of British Hurricane fighters equipped with machine-guns, one Nazi machine was shot down and believed to have crashed inside the Luxembourg border and one British plane was set afire but the pilot escaped by parachute, landing behind the French lines. German planes were seen like a swarm of bees over the old fortress town of Thionville. A fierce but short air fight ensued. One Messerschmitt soon showed signs of distress, flames and smoke spurting first from one and then from both engines. The plane was last seen disappearing low over the Luxembourg border where it was believed to have been wrecked. One Royal Air Force pilot was forced to bail out when his machine burst in flames in mid-air. A breeze threatened to carry him into Luxembourg where he would have been interned if he landed but the flyer manipulated his parachute cord to “spill” the air, thus hastening his descent. He landed unhurt near Serck in French territory, only a few yards from the border.
Alfred Duff Cooper, former First Lord of the Admiralty, speaking at the St. George’s Day luncheon in London today, condemned the Nazis as “a little gang of blood-stained, money-making murderers” who must be defeated in battle. Nevertheless, he declared, the crimes that had made a horror of Europe for the last few years were not those of one man or a small band of criminals. They were the crimes of the “whole people,” he asserted. Mr. Duff Cooper was substituting for First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, who was in Paris for the Supreme War Council meeting.
The grim example of the honeycombing of Norway by German agents and cries of “spies among us” from most of the neutral countries in Europe, have prompted the British to start a purge of subversive elements in real earnest. Heavy fines are being imposed in London police courts on persons guilty of anti-Semitic or other provocative public speeches. The police are harrying suspected members of a “Fifth Column” while, simultaneously, a new Aliens’ Tribunal is sitting in secret in the ancient Bow Street court investigating 2,000 Austrian and German suspects who, thus far, have escaped Internment. Fascist women who, in a street speech, called Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain a “war monger who, at the dictation of his Jewish masters declared war,” were fined £5 in Old Street Court, with an additional £5 deposit to keep the peace for six months. One offender received the alternative of a fortnight’s jail term, but in most of these cases thus far the fines have been paid.
On Budget Day in the United Kingdom, Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir John Simon announced that the government was seeking an all-time record £1.234 billion in revenue to meet the cost of the war through March 1941. Taxes and duties were increased on income, alcohol, tobacco, telephone calls, telegrams of “ordinary priority” and postage. Budget Day in Britain saw the increase of tax on beer by 1 penny, whisky by 9 pence, and postage by 1 penny.
Members of the Parliament in Britain criticized that the earlier estimate of 1940 war expenditure of £2,000,000,000 was too low.
British 46th Infantry Division begins moving to France.
The Allied Supreme War Council meets again in Paris. They focus on capturing Trondheim, when British troops are retreating on two separate Norwegian fronts. The British are being cagey about Operation Hammer, the direct attack on Trondheim, which they know is a dead letter but the French still think has a chance to succeed.
Sir Stafford Cripps returns to London from India, China, and Soviet Union.
The Foreign Office in Berlin having acknowledged receipt of the Swedish protest on alleged trespasses by German war planes, “which will be duly considered by the proper authorities,” the German radio and press have launched a new campaign against Sweden.
There has been a notable easing of tension in Italy over the weekend, and the impression is now general that a decisive move by the country has been postponed.
Many persons were believed to have been killed late today when a violent earthquake destroyed scores of homes in the Erzincan district of Turkey, badly damaged by quakes and floods last year.
The Moscow radio in a broadcast summary of the Norwegian conflict said tonight that “Russia is not going to participate in this war… Whether or not France and England like it, Russia in the future will continue to pursue her own policy of neutrality and non-participation,” said the broadcast.
[Ed: “You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.”]
Luftwaffe engagements with RAF and French Air Force continue.
The Luftwaffe sent a sweep of Bf 109s over Luxembourg which was met by Hurricanes. No losses on either side.
The Luftwaffe raided the British Home Fleet at Scapa Flow during the night, causing little damage.
Convoy BC.35 seven steamers, including steamers Baron Kinnaird and David Livingstone (Commodore) departed Bristol Channel escorted by destroyer HMS Montrose. The convoy arrived at Loire on the 24th.
Convoy SA.38 of one steamer arrived at St Malo from Southampton.
Convoy FN.153 departed Southend, escorted destroyer HMS Valorous and sloop HMS Weston. Destroyers HMS Whitley and HMS Winchester supported the convoy then joined FN.155. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 25th.
Convoy SL.29 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser HMS Pretoria Castle until 7 May.
The War at Sea, Tuesday, 23 April 1940 (naval-history.net)
French light cruiser MONTCALM and destroyers VAUTOUR and ALBATROS, which departed Brest on the 22nd, arrived at the Clyde to relieve damaged light cruiser EMILE BERTIN.
Destroyers KIMBERLEY and GRIFFIN departed Scapa Flow for Rosyth at 0740/22nd to escort steamer RUTLAND (1437grt) to Namsos. Danish steamer GUNVOR MAERSKE (1977grt), carrying the British 166th Anti-Aircraft Battery, escorted by destroyers KIMBERLEY, BRAZEN, and WOLVERINE departed Leith at 1945 for Namsos where they arrived on the 27th.
12th Anti-Submarine Group of trawlers STELLA CAPELLA, CAPE ARGONA, CAPE CHELUYSKIN, and BLACKFLY arrived at Namsos escorting petrol carrier RONAN (1489grt). The Anti-Submarine Group then proceeded to Skelfjord. On 26 April, the Group departed for Molde. Trawler BLACKFLY was damaged in a collision on the 26th in Skelfjord and remained behind. The group arrived on 27 May at Molde. The group remained at Molde until the 30 April/1 May evacuation.
At the insistence of Vice Admiral Sir Max Horton, destroyers JAVELIN (SO), TARTAR, ORP BŁYSKAWICA, and ORP GROM, supported by air cover at dawn, were to sweep for German anti-submarine trawlers during the night of 17/18 April in the Western Skagerrak. This operation was postponed for twenty-four hours at 0023/17th, then on 0034/18th cancelled due to the heavy threat of air attack. Finally, on the 23rd French large destroyers conducted this operation. French large destroyers INDOMPTABLE (Capitaine de Vaisseau E.G.M. Barthes), MALIN (Capitaine de Fregate E.J.H.L. De Prez) and TRIOMPHANT (Capitaine de Fregate M.M.P.L. Pothuau) of the 8th Large Destroyer Division, which had departed Cherbourg on the 19th for Rosyth, departed Rosyth on Operation RAKE. Cdr C.A.N. Chatwin was aboard INDOMPTABLE as a liaison officer. They operated in the Skagerrak to the longitude of Hamburg, 10 East.Returning on the 24th, the French destroyers engaged German auxiliary patrol boats Vp.702 (trawler MEMEL: 444grt) and Vp.709 (trawler GUIDO MOHRING: 289grt) of the 7th Patrol Boat Flotilla and motor torpedo boats S.10 and S.12.After an indecisive action, the engagement was broken off. This early morning engagement was the only surface contact of the operation. The French destroyers attacked U-26, which was able to escape and arrived in Germany on the 25th. U-56, returning to Germany, sighted the French ships south of Skudesnes at 1600/24th. The French ships were then bombed in the North Sea. TRIOMPHANT was near missed and sustained damage to her port propeller shaft bracket. All three French ships arrived back at Rosyth late on the 24th.
Destroyer VANOC departed Scapa Flow at 0025 with tanker WAR NIZAM for Sullom Voe. The destroyer was to wait and escort the tanker back to Scapa Flow after the oil was discharged.
After U-boat reports at 0635 and 0745 in 60 20N to 60-50N, 4W to 6W, destroyers HAVELOCK and HAVANT departed Scapa Flow at 1100 for anti-submarine patrol.
At 1830, submarine TETRARCH fired two torpedoes at German steamer WOLFRAM (3648grt) escorted by three small escort ships in the Skagerrak in 58-21N, 11-02E. The submarine did not hit the merchant ship and was badly damaged in the counterattack by old torpedo boat T.155. At 2222, submarine TETRARCH fired two torpedoes at the 5th UJ Group. Auxiliary submarine chaser U-Jager-B (trawler TREFF V: 330grt) was sunk with only three survivors in 58-21N, 10-24E. U-Jager-A (trawler TREFF IV: 330grt) was also in the group. Submarine TETRARCH returned to Rosyth for repairs which were promptly carried out.
Submarine TRIAD arrived at Rosyth after patrol.
Aircraft carriers ARK ROYAL (Vice Admiral L. V. Wells) and GLORIOUS departed Scapa Flow at 1230 on Operation DX with heavy cruiser BERWICK, anti-aircraft cruiser CURLEW, destroyers FEARLESS, FURY, HASTY, HEREWARD, HYPERION, and JUNO. Aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL carried nine Skuas and two Rocs of the 800 Squadron, nine Skuas and two Rocs of the 801 Squadron, twelve Swordfish of the 810 Squadron, nine Swordfish of the 820 Squadron. Aircraft carrier GLORIOUS carried nine Gladiators of the 802 Squadron, eleven Skuas of the 803 Squadron, nine Gladiators of the 804 Squadron. GLORIOUS also carried the RAF 263 Squadron. That evening, aircraft carrier GLORIOUS flew eighteen Gladiator aircraft of the 263 Squadron to an airfield at Lake Lesjaskog. These planes were intended for the air defense of Aandalsnes and Molde, but were destroyed by German bombing on the 25th. On 24 April, six Skuas of 800 and 801 Squadrons from ARK ROYAL and six Skuas of 803 Squadron from GLORIOUS flew missions over Aandalsnes. All aircraft returned safely to the aircraft carrier, but two Skuas crashed landed near the carrier, Lt C.P. Campbell-Horsdall and Petty Officer A.E. Suggitt and Midshipman C. Treen and Naval Airman A.E.T. Goble were rescued by destroyers. The British force positioned itself midway between Namsos and Trondheim. At 0300/25th, aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL launched six Swordfish of the 820 Squadron, eight Swordfish of the 810 Squadron, seven Skuas of the 801 Squadron, two Skuas of the 800 Squadron. Aircraft carrier GLORIOUS launched eleven Skuas of the 803 Squadron. These aircraft were to attack the Vaernes airfield and other military targets at Trondheim. Aircraft carrier GLORIOUS lost four Skuas of 803 Squadron in the raid, but all the aircrews (Lt G.R. Callingham and Naval Airman D.A. Prime; Lt A.B.F. Fraser-Harris and Leading Airman G.S. Russell; Lt H.E.R. Torin DSC, Midshipman T.A. McKee; and L/Lt I.H. Easton and Naval Airman A.J. Hayman) were rescued. The crews returned to England in a Sunderland aircraft. Aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL lost one Swordfish from the 820 Squadron and three Swordfish from the 810 Squadron, Lt A.A. Pardoe and Petty Officer L.M. Lloyd of the 810 Squadron were lost; Captain W.H.N. Martin RM, Lt J.A. Crawford, Leading Airman H.G. Edwards were picked up by destroyer MAORI; Lt N.R. Corbet-Milward and Petty Officer J. Black were picked up by a destroyer; Captain A.C. Newsom RM, Lt Cdr G.B. Hodgkinson, Leading Airman R.H. McColl were picked up by a destroyer. At 0725/26th, the destroyer screen was sent to Sullom Voe for refueling. These destroyers were relieved at 0700/26th by destroyers GRENADE, BEAGLE, FORTUNE, VOLUNTEER, ENCOUNTER, and ESCORT, which sailed from the Narvik area at 1630. The original screen arrived at Sullom Voe at 2130 at 26 April. They departed to rejoin at 0400/27th. On 26 April, a Skua of 803 Squadron was shot down, Lt C.H. Filmer was rescued, but Petty Officer K.G. Baldwin was killed. Lt Cdr H.P. Bramwell with Lt J.W. Collett in a Skua of 801 Squadron was shot down on the 26th. The plane force landed near a snow drift and both crew were unhurt. On 27 April, two Skuas from ARK ROYAL were shot down by German aircraft, Lt (A) W.C.A. Church and Acting S/Lt (A) D.G. Willis of the 803 Squadron were lost. The other aircrew was rescued. At 2100/27th, aircraft carrier GLORIOUS was sent to Scapa Flow escorted by destroyers GRENADE, HASTY, FURY, ESCORT, ENCOUNTER, and FORTUNE. They arrived at 1800/28th. The raid was repeated on the 28th when ARK ROYAL, escorted by heavy cruiser BERWICK, light cruiser SHEFFIELD, destroyers HYPERION, HEREWARD, FEARLESS, and JUNO, launched twelve Swordfish and seven Skuas to attack Trondheim area targets. One Skua of 800 Squadron was shot down.Midshipman (A) L.H. Gallagher and Naval Airman G.W. Halifax were rescued and returned to Hatston by air.
A British force under Captain L. H. K. Hamilton, commanding officer of AURORA, was formed at Harstad with light cruisers AURORA and ENTERPRISE and destroyers FAULKNOR, CODRINGTON, ARDENT, ELECTRA, ESCAPADE, ACASTA, ZULU, and BEDOUIN, one Polish destroyer assigned the duty of maintaining close British control of the waters around Narvik.
Destroyers FORTUNE and WALKER departed Scapa Flow at 1215 for Sullom Voe to escort flying boat depot ship MANELA to the Clyde.
After delivering the depot ship, destroyer WALKER continued on to Liverpool.
Destroyer JAVELIN escorting steamer ST MAGNUS (1312grt), which was carrying the survivors from sunken steamer CEDARBANK, arrived at Kirkwall from Aalesund at 2230/23rd. Destroyer JAVELIN went on to Scapa Flow arriving at 0315/24th.
Steamer ROMANSBY (4887grt), alongside the jetty at Narvik, was destroyed when the jetty was blown up. The steamer’s crew of thirty-eight were interned in Sweden.
Destroyer BRILLIANT completed boiler cleaning at Dover and proceeded to patrol stations OC 1 and OC 2 to relieve destroyer BOADICEA which had developed a defect. Destroyer BOADICEA’s defect was corrected in twenty-four hours and returned to service.
Destroyer VANESSA and minesweeper HUSSAR entered the submarine basin to boiler clean. Destroyer VANESSA completed boiler cleaning on the 26th.
Convoy BC.35 seven steamers, including steamers BARON KINNAIRD and DAVID LIVINGSTONE (Commodore) departed Bristol Channel escorted by destroyer MONTROSE. The convoy arrived at Loire on the 24th.
Convoy SA.38 of one steamer arrived at St Malo from Southampton.
Convoy FN.153 departed Southend, escorted destroyer VALOROUS and sloop WESTON. Destroyers WHITLEY and WINCHESTER supported the convoy then joined FN.155. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 25th.
Norwegian steamer SIGURD JARL (924grt) sank at Moldefjord after having been hit and set afire by German bombing on the 22nd.
German steamer SAYN (2321grt) was sunk on a mine in Hubert Bay near Borkum.
Light cruiser NEPTUNE and destroyers DECOY and DEFENDER arrived at Gibraltar for duty with the Mediterranean Fleet after having departed Freetown on the 18th.
Destroyer DECOY sailed for Malta, but was recalled to escort repair ship RESOURCE.
Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN, which was met at sea by destroyers KEPPEL and WATCHMAN, arrived at Gibraltar for duty in the Mediterranean Fleet.
Light cruiser DRAGON departed Malta.
French armed merchant cruiser KOUTOBIA departed Algiers escorting four liners to Brest.
Convoy SL.29 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser PRETORIA CASTLE until 7 May.
Light cruiser DANAE arrived at Penang.
President Roosevelt met with Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King in Warm Springs, Georgia. Scarcely had Prime Minister Mackenzie King of Canada arrived today to visit President Roosevelt, than the Chief Executive secluded his guest from White House reporters and a statement was issued saying that “It would not be good for the American position” if the distinguished visitor submitted to questions or issued a statement. Mr. King had been with the President less than an hour when reporters were cautioned in an authorized statement from the “Little White House” not to speculate on the nature of their conversations, and added that “the visit literally means nothing.” The Canadian Prime Minister reached the President’s house on Pine Mountain a few minutes before 10:30 this morning from Atlanta.
Reporters accompanying the President had suggested that the visitor be available for questioning on such questions as the applicability of the Monroe Doctrine to Canada, as the President had construed the Doctrine in a speech at Kingston, Ontario, in August, 1938. It was in his Kingston speech that the President assured Canadians the United States would not stand idly by in the face of an attempt to dominate Canadian soil by any non-British power beyond the seas.
President Roosevelt signed twenty-eight bills today, including two to permit arrangements for the next Presidential inauguration, on January 20, 1941. One bill authorizes a $25,000 appropriation for the protection of life and property at the inaugural ceremonies and parade. The other provides for the erection of stands and platforms for the thousands of spectators who are expected, and for decorations and first-aid facilities.
The Rhythm Club fire in Natchez, Mississippi killed 209 people. Sheriff Hyde R. Jenkins of Natchez, Mississippi, said at least 100 African Americans were burned to death in a dance hall fire here late last night. Others estimated the death toll at possibly as many as 150. R. E. Smith, managing editor of the Natchez Democrat, said the bodies were “piled up like cord-wood.” Smith said that shortly before 2 a.m. more than 100 bodies had been taken from the ruins and that the toll possibly might reach a maximum of 150. Almost all the African American population of Natchez gathered at the scene after midnight. Thirty or 40 people, burned or injured in the stampede to leave the flaming building, were taken to hospitals. Smith, who also is county coroner, said the building in which the dance was held was formerly a church and had an exit only at the front. The windows had been boarded up. The hall was decorated with Spanish moss, which is highly inflammable, and apparently caught fire near the front, trapping the occupants. Most of the bodies were found in a heap near the bandstand at the rear.
Senator Joseph F. Guffey, who campaigned on a record of “100 percent support of President Roosevelt and the New Deal,” appeared to be headed for renomination early this morning on the basis of returns from yesterday’s Pennsylvania primary.
District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey charged in an address tonight that the New Deal had shackled private enterprise with red tape and destructive taxation and had accomplished nothing in the way of national recovery during seven years of office. except the purchase of “economic gold bricks.”
In Washington today, the Senate was in recess. Its Naval Affairs Committee concluded hearings on the Naval Expansion Bill, the Labor Committee approved a bill proposing a $63,000,000 national hospitalization program and the Appropriations Committee approved the $998,054,670 Labor-Federal Security Appropriation Bill.
The House passed the bill revising the army promotion system, heard Representative Fish criticize Admiral Taussig for his remarks on the possibility of war with Japan and adjourned at 4:26 PM until 11:45 AM tomorrow. The Dies committee heard Timothy H. O’Shea describe Communist activities in the Transport Workers and other labor unions.
The Senate Committee on Naval Affairs ended its hearings today on the $655,000,000 Naval Expansion Bill but sought in the closing hours to clarify the aviation program of the government in so far as it involves the sale of American aircraft to foreign countries, chiefly Great Britain and France. The committee, which had previously questioned Rear Admiral John H. Towers, chief of the Naval Bureau of Aeronautics, as to the extent of the foreign sales, called Major General H. H. Arnold, chief of the Army Air Corps, today.
As he had told the House Committee on Military Affairs, General Arnold explained that the sales policy permits the release to foreign nations of new type American planes and where necessary, the postponement of American deliveries. The result was to increase American airplane production so that the army is able to obtain better airplanes of all types and save the government a great amount of money. The committee is working toward final action on the Naval Expansion Bill next week. The measure is expected to be reported to the Senate in substantially the form it was adopted by the House. Quick adoption by the Senate is considered most likely.
Among the final witnesses were Frederick J. Libby of the National Council for Prevention of War. He said that Admiral Stark, who was a witness before the committee, sought to frighten the nation into building a super-navy by conjuring up visions of a gigantic Japanese warship-building program. He charged that the statement made to the committee yesterday. by Rear Admiral Taussig, that war between the United States and Japan was inevitable, was of the kind which is more likely than anything else to bring about such a conflict. He also criticized, as another threat to peace, the proposal of Senator Pittman to impose an embargo on the shipment of war materials to Japan.
Benjamin Marsh, of the People’s Lobby, contended that the bill is “the New Deal’s swan song pork barrel to give a few jobs that are available after the profiteers in construction and material have gotten their New Deal swag.” Roland Watts of the Baltimore: Peace Congress and Robert Fleagle, a senior at Johns Hopkins University, said the bill is unnecessary and a waste of public funds.
Representative Fish, New York Republican, today denounced Rear Admiral Joseph K. Taussig’s prediction of “eventual war” with Japan and told his colleagues that congress should investigate “inflammatory speeches” and war propaganda of navy officers. The New Yorker referred to statements Taussig made yesterday before the senate naval committee. Navy officers, Fish said in the house, “think the only duty of our navy is to go to war with Japan.”
The House passed and sent to the Senate today a bill to provide for the promotion of army officers after specified years of service in grade. It was recommended by the War Department and the Bureau of the Budget to remove the “hump” or stagnation in the grades of captain and above, created by the influx of officers during the World War. The measure was enacted to provide for a “thoroughly efficient officers’ corps” through a promotion system that “will afford opportunities to exercise command, executive and staff functions appropriate to every grade at an age when the officer is in full possession of the mental and physical capacity required for such duties,” the Military Affairs Committee said in its report.
The bill provides specifically for promotion to first lieutenant after three years of service and to captain after ten (the same as the present law); to major after seventeen; to lieutenant colonel after twenty-three, contingent upon six years’ service as major, and to colonel after twenty-eight, contingent on serving five years as a lieutenant colonel. The number of colonels is limited to the present number, 703, since appropriate peacetime assignments cannot be found for more.
M. L. Annenberg, of Philadelphia, who dominated a nationwide system of racing news services and publications, stepped out of a large group of co-defendants today before Judge James H. Wilkerson in Federal District Court and pleaded guilty to a count in an indictment charging him with evading payment of $1,217,296 in income taxes for 1936.
Benefits exceeding $1,892,000 were awarded today to an estimated 35,000 workers in ten Chrysler Corporation plants for idleness during the fifty-fourday strike of last Fall.
Major League Baseball:
A flood at Crosley Field washes out a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, the first time a flood has caused the postponement of a National League game. The teams will later decide to replay the game on May 13th when both teams will be heading east from St. Louis, but they neglect to inform the National League office.
Mickey Harris, youthful New York City southpaw up to Boston from Scranton of the Eastern League, bowed into the majors today by defeating the Senators, 7-2, as his Red Sox mates pounded three home runs. Harris walked only one man and struck out eight while giving up seven hits, three of them doubles.
The New York Yankees dedicate a plaque to Jacob Rupert.
Washington Senators 2, Boston Red Sox 7
Boston Bees 3, Brooklyn Dodgers 8
Philadelphia Athletics 3, New York Yankees 0
New York Giants 1, Philadelphia Phillies 0
Chicago Cubs 2, Pittsburgh Pirates 3
United States Ambassador Joseph C. Grew today made further representations to the Japanese Foreign Office against the great inconveniences that American residents of Tientsin are obliged to endure because of the Japanese
Under restraining official influence, the Japanese press has almost completely abstained from commenting on Rear Admiral Taussig’s statements. His views were prominently published but violent attacks in newspapers here on the United States have been so common lately that readers are scarcely stimulated when some American retorts in kind. The only Tokyo newspaper commenting on Rear Admiral Taussig’s assertion is Kokumin. It alleges that the United States preaches a shallow humanism and superficial internationalism and tried to force these on Japan. Rear Admiral Taussig’s words and Rear Admiral Stork’s account of Japan’s naval plans show, says Kokumin, how American trends against Japan are concretely developing but the Tokyo Foreign Office believes that such statements against Japan should be ignored.
“If the United States continues its anti-Japanese attitude and thinks it can check Japan’s policy by threats like Taussig’s, it is considered possible that an untoward situation might finally develop between Japan and America,” concludes Kokumin,in what must be one of the tamest articles it has ever printed against America. The explanation seems to observers to lie between two causes: first, the Foreign Office desires to avoid a controversy in which American personalities would be attacked; second, so much heated language is habitually used in the Japanese press that blunt rejoinders from the other side do not surprise the public.
Coal miners in Australia have been on strike since early March, and Prime Minister Menzies reminds them that there’s a war on. He states that he may resort to force to reopen the mines.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 148.93 (+0.92)
Born:
Jaime Bateman Cayón, guerrilla leader (19th of April guerrilla movement), in Santa Marta, Colombia (d. 1983).
Michael Copps, Commissioner of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC, 2001-2011), in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Richard Monaco, American sci-fi author (“Grail War”, “Final Quest”), in New York, New York.
Sammie Taylor, NFL wide receiver (San Diego Chargers), in Houston, Texas.
Naval Construction:
The Royal Navy Dance-class ASW trawler HMS Foxtrot (T 109) is launched by Cochrane & Sons shipbuilders Ltd. (Selby, U.K.); completed by Amos & Smith.
The Royal Navy auxiliary minelayer HMS Port Napier (M 32) is launched by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd. (Wallsend-on-Tyne, U.K.).
The Royal Navy minelayer-cruiser HMS Abdiel (M 39), name ship of her class of 6, is launched by J.S. White & Co. (Cowes, U.K.).
The Royal Navy Flower-class corvette HMS Geranium (K 16) is launched by William Simons & Co. Ltd. (Renfrew, Scotland).
The Royal Navy Flower-class corvette HMS Coreopsis (K 32) is launched by A & J Inglis Ltd. (Glasgow, Scotland); completed by Kincaid.
The Royal Navy Tree-class minesweeping trawler HMS Mangrove (T 112) is commissioned. Her first commander is T/Skipper A. E. Johnson, RNR.
History Diaries 