British Prime Minister Winston Churchill flies to Paris for a meeting of the Allied Supreme War Council with Reynaud, Daladier, and Gamelin. He immediately recognizes the gravity of the situation when he observes that the French government is already burning its archives and is preparing for an evacuation of the capital. In a meeting with the French commanders, Churchill asks General Maurice Gamelin, “Où est la masse de manoeuvre?” (“Where is the strategic reserve?”) This type of reserve had saved Paris in the First World War. “Aucune,” (“There is none,”) Gamelin replies, with a Gaulic shrug. Churchill is at once appalled and begins to understand that France is doomed, and that soon, Britain will stand alone.
Churchill also notes: “In the garden of the Quai d’Orsay I see venerable officials burning secret documents. Already evacuation of Paris is being prepared.” It is a common scene in European capitals recently.
On the same day, Churchill also sent his Italian counterpart Benito Mussolini a message, urging him to keep Italy out of the European War.
From its Meuse River bridgeheads, German Army Group A tanks broke through the French lines, capturing thousands of surrendering French troops.
Following the Battle of Sedan, the XIX Panzer Corps of Heinz Guderian headed west instead of driving south or southwest as the French had expected. The Battle of France entered a new phase, the dash to the English Channel. Guderian’s forces reached Marle and Dercy, an advance of 40 miles in a single day. By the end of the 16th of May, Guderian was 55 miles (88 kilometers) past Sedan and still moving. Guderian’s advance forces were approaching St. Quentin.
Units of Major General Herman Hoth’s 15th Panzer Corps, with Major General Erwin Rommel Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division in the lead, reached Avesnes-sur-Helpe, just east of Cambrai. As part of his move forward, Rommel’s panzers serendipitously cut through the French 5th Motorised Infantry Division which is conveniently bivouacked on both sides of the very road that Rommel is using. Rommel destroys the French unit, leaving it with just 3 tanks as it retreats in disarray.
The Wehrmacht is moving with lightning speed. The Blitzkrieg is at its height, with the Luftwaffe blazing a trail for fast mobile forces. The speed of the panzers is preventing a coherent Allies response. Nobody really knows where the front is from hour to hour, and this prevents effective counter-measures. French attempts to counter-attack are hampered by refugees clogging the roads, an inability to know precisely where the Germans are, and roads littered with the destruction already caused by the German panzers, artillery, and Luftwaffe.
Despite having a numerically superior armored force, the French failed to use it properly, or to deliver an effective attack on the vulnerable German bulge. The Germans combined their fighting vehicles in major, operational formations and used them at the point of main effort. The bulk of French armor was scattered along the front in tiny formations. Most of the French reserve divisions had by now been committed. The 1st DCR had been wiped out when it had run out of fuel and the 3rd DCR had failed to take its opportunity to destroy the German bridgeheads at Sedan. The only armored division still in reserve, 2nd DCR, was to attack on 16 May west of Saint-Quentin, Aisne. The division’s commander could locate only seven of its 12 companies, which were scattered along a 49 mi × 37 mi (79 km × 60 km) front. The formation was overrun by the 8th Panzer Division while still forming up and was effectively destroyed as a fighting unit.
A halt order was issued to the German tank forces, so that their supporting infantry could catch up. Many at the OKW (German army headquarters) cannot accept that the panzers could advance so far without exposing their flanks.
On Army Group A’s left flank, the battle on the Stonne Plateau continues. The village of Stonne changes hands repeatedly, but the French counterattack makes no lasting gains. To the Wehrmacht, this battle is meaningless, but it protects the flank of the panzer forces moving quickly westward. The further they go, however, the more vulnerable their flanks become to other attacks – if the French can find the troops to mount them. The Battle of Stonne Plateau also reveals that the French tanks are quite capable and a match for the best German tanks, the Panzer IV medium tanks. A French Char B1 Bis tank destroys 2 Panzer IVs and 11 Panzer IIs while shrugging off dozens of standard German anti-tank hits.
The strategic implication of the Rommel/Guderian advance is that the Wehrmacht could separate the BEF and some French forces from the heart of France. By advancing independently on parallel lines, they provide each other with flank protection. This part of the campaign is known as “The Dash to the Channel.” The dash is to Abbeville, which effectively would seal off Allied forces farther north.
The Germans are also waging a campaign against the Maginot Line. Around mid-day, the artillery of the 71st Infantry Division begins shelling the town of Villy and a fortress of the Line that overlooks it called La Ferté.
The German 6th Army broke through the Belgian K-W Line. The German 6th Army broke through the Dyle Line; British troops withdrew west of Brussels and the Belgian government evacuated to Ostend. British and French forces begin to retreat to their former positions behind the line of the Scheldt River. The Allies retreat from the Dyle Line to a new line on the Scheldt River, which was their jumping-off point before springing forward to the Dyle Line. This effectively abandons Belgium to the Wehrmacht.
At Gembloux, the day’s battle ends in a tactical stalemate, but a strategic victory for the Germans. The French line is never pierced and they batter the attacking Germans, but the deteriorating situation west of Sedan imperils the Allied lines of communication. At dusk, the French are ordered back to the French border to protect their own flanks. The failure to finish off the French today, though, has huge negative consequences in the coming weeks for the Germans.
French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud ordered Maxime Weygand to return from Syria to Paris, France. Following a disastrous meeting with British Prime Minister Churchill, French Prime Minister Reynaud replaces General Gamelin with General Weygand — who is unfamiliar with the condition of the campaign and must fly up from Syria.
The British 1st Army Group was ordered to retreat from the Dyle Line, to avoid being trapped by the German breakthrough against the Second and Ninth armies. The plan for the BEF withdrawal was that under cover of darkness, units would thin-out their front and make a phased and orderly withdrawal before the Germans realized what was happening. The objective for the night of 16/17 May was the Charleroi to Willebroek Canal (known to the BEF as the Line of the Senne), the following night to the River Dendre from Maubeuge to Termonde and the Escaut to Antwerp (the Dendre Line), and finally on 18/19 May, to the Escaut from Oudenarde to Maulde on the French border (the Escaut Line). The order to withdraw was greeted with astonishment and frustration by the British troops who felt that they had held their own, but they were unaware of the deteriorating situation elsewhere. Fortunately, the BEF’s training had included the complicated task of withdrawal while in contact with the enemy, a manoeuvre described by military historian Julian Thompson as “one of the most difficult phases of war to conduct successfully”.
Starting at 9 p.m. and under the cover of an intense bombardment by the British artillery, who expended their stockpiled ammunition, the withdrawal went mainly according to plan. On the far left of the British line, the situation was complicated by the early withdrawal of the neighbouring Belgians, allowing the Germans to pass around the flank of 1st Coldstream Guards and occupy the town of Herent which was on the withdrawal route; hard fighting including a bayonet charge was required to clear the road, at a cost of 120 Guards casualties. The last units to leave the line were the divisional cavalry regiments in their light tanks and carriers. A later communication breakdown caused a total loss of coordination with the Belgian Army to the north-west of II Corps and a dangerous gap opened up between the two; fortunately it was covered by British light armour before the Germans could discover and exploit it.
Göring’s special train is parked at a railroad siding near the French border. He will direct the air war against France from this location.
Dowding informs Air Ministry that no further RAF fighter squadrons can be spared for France, because they are required for defense of the UK.
The RAF moves its bases from near the Meuse closer to Paris, near Troyes at Anglure.
Twelve Bristol Blenheim light bombers attacked enemy tanks and troops near Gembloux, Belgium. Ten are shot down by fighters and one by ground fire.
The French destroyers Fougueux, Frondeur, Cyclone, and Siroco bombard German positions around South Beveland and Walcheren.
Destroyer HMS Verity departed Dover in the morning to relieve destroyer HMS Whitshed on North Goodwin Patrol. When relieved, destroyer Whitshed proceeded to Ostend, arriving at 1230. Destroyers HMS Whitshed and HMS Venomous with British steamer Mona’s Queen (2756grt) and Belgian steamer Prince Leopold (2938grt) arrived at Ostend at 1230 to evacuate troops. Both steamers ran aground. They were towed off by destroyer Whitshed which also ran aground and was able to get off herself. The steamers proceeded to Folkestone. The destroyers arrived at Dover at 2100.
Submarine HMS Porpoise laid minefield FD.11 off Hovden Island.
Luftwaffe transports drop 76 troops of 1st Fallschirmjaeger Regiment to reinforce German forces around Narvik.
At 1100 hours, Lieutenant-Commander C. L. G. Evans led nine Skuas of 806 Squadron, each armed with a single 250 lb. SAP and 4 x 20 lb. bombs, off from HMS Sparrowhawk (RNAS Hatston) to attack warships at Bergen. The planned three Blenheim escort from 254 Squadron, RAF failed to join up, but it had no detrimental effect on the mission. Failing to find any warships, the Skuas attacked several oil storage tanks. All returned safely.
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Furious sails for Norway with RAF Gladiator and Hurricane aircraft.
Battleship HMS Resolution, anchored at Tjeldsundet, was struck at 1130 by a German bomb that pierced the starboard side of the quarterdeck and dove three decks before exploding in the Marines’ messdeck. One rating was killed and a second rating died of wounds the next day. Twenty two Marines and four naval ratings were wounded. A further rating was wounded in destroyer HMS Vansittart in the bombing. A Swordfish of 700 Squadron from Resolution was also damaged on the 16th. The aircraft was shipped back to the UK in steamer Blackheath, which departed on 7 June. Battleship HMS Resolution, escorted by destroyers HMS Vansittart and HMS Wren departed Vestfjord on the 18th. Destroyer HMS Fortune departed Scapa Flow at 0745/20th and joined the British ships at sea. All four British ships arrived at Scapa Flow without incident at 1000/21st. Battleship Resolution was repaired by local repair facilities by 4 June when she sailed to the join the North Atlantic Command at Gibraltar. Destroyer Vansittart departed Scapa Flow at 1715/24th and went on to the Tyne. She arrived on the 26th for repairs completed on 22 June.
Sloop HMS Fleetwood was bombed in the same attack as battleship HMS Resolution near Narvik. Splinters from a near miss mortally wounded Lt Cdr H.T. R. Bonham, which died on 8 June. Tanker Broomdale also sustained some damage from bombing.
Swiss and German military authorities tonight closed the Swiss-German frontier on the Rhine River on both sides from Basle to Lake Constance.
The first deportations of German Gypsies begin. Chosen for the first roundup are some 2,800 men, women, and children living in and around cities in western and northwestern Germany. Their ultimate destination is Poland. No more deportations of Gypsies will occur until late 1941.
Hans Frank, the Nazi administrator of occupied Poland, ordered the arrest and execution of thousands of Polish leaders (politicians, state officials, professionals, intellectuals, and priests). The Nazis sought to terrorize the Polish population and prevent them from resisting Nazi policies, but resistance movements in Poland would burgeon.
De Valera requests shipments of weapons from London to arm the Irish Army.
President Roosevelt’s latest appeal to Premier Mussolini has made no apparent change in the situation or in Italian policies. Aside from admitting today that such a message was delivered by Ambassador William Phillips to Count Ciano, the Italian Foreign Minister, for the Premier, official circles refused to comment. Newspapers merely carried dispatches from Washington about the move with no details. Mr. Phillips has refused to talk about it, saying that any news must come from Washington. On general principles it is taken for granted here that any peace move, however restricted in its scope, is doomed to failure. According to all Italian opinion, the war as a whole can be settled only militarily; and, judging from everything that Italians have been saying, writing, and doing recently, they feel that their problems also must have a military solution.
All political news has been permanently banned from the Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, it was learned today. This evening’s issue contains only religious news with the exception of the official war communiqués of the belligerents.
Symptoms of extreme anxiety began to appear in Belgrade today for the first time, as anti-Yugoslav propaganda suddenly started to circulate from Germany and streams of foreigners evacuated the capital.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 21 aircraft to attack various targets overnight.
German raider Widder refuels from supply ship Nordmark.
German light cruiser Koln and escort ship Grille departed Wilhelmshaven for a minelaying mission in Fisher Bank escorted by destroyers Beitzen, Schoemann, and Heinemann and torpedo boats Kondor and Greif. The minefield was successfully laid and the ships returned to Wilhelmshaven on the 18th. The force laid a second minefield shortly after.
Convoy OA.149 departed Southend escorted by corvette HMS Gladiolus. British steamer Kingsbury (4898grt) in convoy OA.149 was machine gunned by German bombers eight miles 300° from Royal Sovereign Light Vessel. One crewman was killed and one crewman was wounded.
Convoy OB.149 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer HMS Mackay from 16 to 19 May. The destroyer was detached to convoy HX.41.
Convoy AXF.5, escorted by destroyer HMS Whitehall, departed Southampton for St Malo.
Convoy AXS.13 of one steamer arrived at St Malo from Southampton.
Convoy OG.30F was formed from convoys OA.148GF, which departed Southend on the 14th with sloop HMS Scarborough and corvette HMS Periwinkle, OB.148GF, which departed Liverpool with sloops HMS Leith and HMS Enchantress on the 14th, with forty four ships. Sloops Leith and Enchantress escorted the convoy from 16 to 18 May and were then detached to convoy HG.30F. Corvette Periwinkle was in the convoy escort on the 16th. Sloop Scarborough escorted the convoy from 16 to 21 May. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on the 22nd.
Convoy BC.38 of steamers Baltraffic, Baron Kinnaird, David Livingstone (Commodore), Eildon, Kerma, Ocean Coast departed Bristol Channel escorted by destroyer HMS Montrose and armed yacht HMS Zaza. The convoy arrived at Loire on the 18th.
Convoy FS.172 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers HMS Vimy and HMS Windsor and sloop HMS Weston. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 18th.
Convoy HX.43 departed Halifax at 0900 escorted by Canadian destroyers HMCS Restigouche and HMCS Skeena, which were detached on the 17th.
Convoy BHX.43 departed Bermuda on the 15th escorted locally by sloop HMS Penzance and an ocean escort of armed merchant cruiser HMS Comorin. The convoy joined convoy HX.43 on the 21st and the armed merchant cruiser was detached. Light cruiser HMS Emerald was the ocean escort for this convoy. The light cruiser was detached on the 27th. Sloop HMS Sandwich and corvette HMS Clarkia joined the convoy on the 27th. The sloop was detached on the 30th. The corvette escorted the convoy to 31 May, when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.
French convoy FR.1 of French troopships Koutoubia (8790grt), Explorateur Grandidier (10268grt), Compiegne (9986grt), and Chantilly (9986grt) departed the Clyde for Brest escorted by French destroyer Epervier and patrol vessels Jason and Gleaner. The patrol vessels were relieved west of the Skerries by Royal navy destroyers HMS Wakeful and HMS Vanquisher. On 17 May, troopship Explorateur Grandidier was in a collision with British steamer St Kearan (691grt), but was able to continue. Destroyer HMS Vanquisher was ordered to escort troopship Explorateur Grandidier to Brest. The convoy arrived safely at Brest, escorted by Epervier.
Troop convoy US 2 arrives in Egypt with the Australian 17th Infantry Brigade.
The War at Sea, Thursday, 16 May 1940 (naval-history.net)
Destroyer VERITY departed Dover in the morning to relieve destroyer WHITSHED on North Goodwin Patrol. When relieved destroyer WHITSHED proceeded to Ostend, arriving at 1230.
Destroyers WHITSHED and VENOMOUS with British steamer MONA’S QUEEN (2756grt) and Belgian steamer PRINCE LEOPOLD (2938grt) arrived at Ostend at 1230 to evacuate troops.
Both steamers ran aground. They were towed off by destroyer WHITSHED which also ran aground and was able to get off herself.
The steamers proceeded to Folkestone. The destroyers arrived at Dover at 2100.
Light cruisers ARETHUSA and GALATEA departed Sheerness for Portsmouth due to air threat of remaining at Sheerness.
British Captain G.H. Stevens-Guille assumed command of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla.
French destroyers CYCLONE and SIROCCO arrived at Dover at 1200 with the Dutch Naval Staff and his staff.
The French destroyers departed Dover that evening with Prince Bernhard on his way to join the Dutch army at Zeeland.
French destroyers FOUGUEUX and ADRIOT operating off Hook of Holland attacked a submarine contact.
Dutch minelayers NAUTILUS and JAN VAN BRAKEL, armed yacht DE MOK, armed tug AMSTERDAM, and seagoing torpedo boats Z.5, Z.8, G.13, G.15 passed Dover en route to Portsmouth.
Dutch seagoing torpedo boats Z.6 and Z.7 departed Dover for Ramsgate.
Battleship RESOLUTION, anchored at Tjeldsundet, was struck at 1130 by a German bomb that pierced the starboard side of the quarterdeck and dove three decks before exploding in the Marines’ messdeck.
One rating was killed and a second rating died of wounds the next day. Twenty-two Marines and four naval ratings were wounded. A further rating was wounded in destroyer VANSITTART in the bombing.
A Swordfish of 700 Squadron from RESOLUTION was also damaged on the 16th. The aircraft was shipped back to the UK in steamer BLACKHEATH, which departed on 7 June.
Battleship RESOLUTION, escorted by destroyers VANSITTART and WREN departed Vestfjord on the 18th.
Destroyer FORTUNE departed Scapa Flow at 0745/20th and joined the British ships at sea.
All four British ships arrived at Scapa Flow without incident at 1000/21st.
Battleship RESOLUTION was repaired by local repair facilities by 4 June when she sailed to the join the North Atlantic Command at Gibraltar.
Destroyer VANSITTART departed Scapa Flow at 1715/24th and went on to the Tyne. She arrived on the 26th for repairs completed on 22 June.
Sloop FLEETWOOD was bombed in the same attack as battleship RESOLUTION near Narvik. Splinters from a near miss mortally wounded Lt Cdr H.T. R. Bonham, which died on 8 June.
Tanker RFA BROOMDALE also sustained some damage from bombing.
Lt L.A. Harris RM, Lt J. H.R. Medlicott-Vereker in a Skua of the 803 Squadron were shot down in Rombaksfjord.
Both were picked up by destroyer MATABELE.
Destroyer MATABELE was ordered to relieve destroyer FAME at Narvik. Destroyer FAME to Hol until relieved by destroyer ECHO, then to Skaanland for fuel and provisions.
Destroyer VANSITTART relieved destroyer ECHO on “B” patrol. Destroyer ECHO proceeded to Hol on relief.
Destroyer BRAZEN was on “E” patrol.
Destroyer HAVELOCK proceeded to Skaanland for ammunition, then proceeded to Baroy.
Destroyer WREN to Harstad to refuel and for oil and provisions.
Destroyer WARWICK remained at Harstad.
Destroyer VANSITTART was available to return to England when relieved by destroyer WHIRLWIND.
Destroyer ESKIMO had been towed to Skaanland from Skelfjord. Her temporary repairs were delayed until the arrival of further oxygen, acetylene, hydrogen.
Nine Skuas of 806 Squadron from Hatston, escorted three Blenheims of 254 Squadron, attacked Bergen. No aircraft were lost and damage to German targets was confined to fuel tanks at Kaarven, Florgasaaspynt, Strudshavn.
Destroyers HAVOCK and HEREWARD departed Harwich at 0600 for Plymouth for duty in the Mediterranean Fleet.
Destroyers to reinforce the Mediterranean Fleet departed Plymouth.
At 1630/16th, sloops AUCKLAND (Cdr J. G.Hewitt) and FLAMINGO (Cdr J. H.Huntley) departed Plymouth.
Sloop GRIMSBY (Cdr K. J. D’Arcy) was taken in hand on the 20th at Plymouth to repair defects, as a replacement for sloop EGRET which was in the earlier group, but was ordered to return to Rosyth. The sloop was able to proceed independently on the 20th for Gibraltar.
At 2000/16th, destroyers KINGSTON (Lt Cdr P. Somerville), KHARTOUM (Cdr D. T. Dowler), KANDAHAR (Cdr W. G.A. Robson), NUBIAN (Cdr R. W. Ravenhill), HYPERION (Cdr H.St L.Nicholson), HOSTILE (Cdr J. P. Wright), and HASTY (Lt Cdr R. K. Tyrwhitt) departed Plymouth. This group arrived at Gibraltar on the 18th.
At 0035/17th, anti-aircraft cruiser CARLISLE (Captain G.M. B. Langley, OBE), destroyers HERO (Cdr H.W. Biggs), HAVOCK (Lt Cdr R. E. Courage), HEREWARD (Lt Cdr C. W. Greening), JANUS (Captain P. J. Mack; Cdr J. A. W. Tothill), IMPERIAL (Lt Cdr C. A. De W. Kitcat), ILEX (Lt Cdr P. L.Saumarez), JUNO (Cdr W. E. Wilson), KIMBERLEY (Lt Cdr J. S. M. Richardson), and MOHAWK (Cdr J. W. M. Eaton) departed Plymouth.
Destroyers JANUS, JUNO, ILEX, KIMBERLEY, and MOHAWK and sloops AUCKLAND and FLAMINGO arrived at Gibraltar on the 19th.
Destroyer MOHAWK required docking at Gibraltar for several days to make good damage sustained by German bombing in the North Sea.
On 19 May, destroyers HYPERION, HOSTILE, HASTY, NUBIAN, KINGSTON, KANDAHAR, and KHARTOUM departed Gibraltar in company for Malta.
The two sloops departed Gibraltar for Malta on the 19th.
The two groups arrived at Malta on the 21st.
Destroyers JANUS, KIMBERLEY, JUNO, and ILEX departed Gibraltar for Malta on the 20th.
On 20 May, anti-aircraft cruiser CARLISLE and destroyers HEREWARD, HAVOCK, and IMPERIAL arrived at Gibraltar and departed that day for Malta.
Sloop GRIMSBY arrived at Gibraltar on the 24th and departed the same day for Malta.
Destroyers HYPERION, HASTY, and NUBIAN arrived at Alexandria on the 23rd. Cruiser CARLISLE, destroyers KHARTOUM, KANDAHAR, KIMBERLEY, and KINGSTON, the sloops arrived at Suez on the 24th, destroyers JANUS, JUNO, and IMPERIAL arrived at Alexandria on the 24th, as did HOSTILE on the 25th, HAVOCK on the 26th, HEREWARD and HERO arrived at Alexandria on the 27th, destroyer ILEX arrived on the 28th, MOHAWK on the 29th.
Destroyer SIKH arrived for boiler cleaning at Scapa Flow at 1400.
Polish destroyer ORP BŁYSKAWICA departed Scapa Flow at 1500 for Harwich for duty under Commander in Chief, Nore.
Destroyer ATHERSTONE made a anti-submarine attack at North Rona, but this was later determined to be non-submarine.
Submarine TRUANT departed Rosyth for Harstad where she operated with Norwegian submarines B.1 and B.3 under the Command of Vice Admiral Cruiser Squadron 1.
Submarine TRUANT on the 18th was ordered to proceed directly to Tromsø where she arrived on the 19th.
Submarine SEALION arrived at Harwich after patrol.
French submarines ANTIOPE, SYBILLE, CIRCE, and THETIS departed Harwich on patrol in the North Sea.
Submarines ANTIOPE and SYBILLE relieved Submarine SEAWOLF and French submarine AMAZONE on patrol on stations.
French convoy FR.1 of French troopships KOUTOUBIA (8790grt), EXPLORATEUR GRANDIDIER (10268grt), COMPIEGNE (9986grt), and CHANTILLY (9986grt) departed the Clyde for Brest escorted by French destroyer EPERVIER and patrol vessels JASON and GLEANER. The patrol vessels were relieved west of the Skerries by destroyers WAKEFUL and VANQUISHER.
On 17 May, troopship EXPLORATEUR GRANDIDIER was in a collision with British steamer ST KEARAN (691grt), but was able to continue.
Destroyer VANQUISHER was ordered toescort troopship EXPLORATEUR GRANDIDIER to Brest. The convoy arrived safely at Brest, escorted by EPERVIER.
Submarine PORPOISE laid minefield FD.11 off Hovden Island.
Convoy OA.149 departed Southend escorted by corvette GLADIOLUS.
Convoy OB.149 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer MACKAY from 16 to 19 May. The destroyer was detached to convoy HX.41.
Convoy AXF.5, escorted by destroyer WHITEHALL, departed Southampton for St Malo.
Convoy AXS.13 of one steamer arrived at St Malo from Southampton.
Convoy OG.30F was formed from convoys OA.148GF, which departed Southend on the 14th with sloop SCARBOROUGH and corvette PERIWINKLE, OB.148GF, which departed Liverpool with sloops LIETH and ENCHANTRESS on the 14th, with forty-four ships.
Sloops LEITH and ENCHANTRESS escorted the convoy from 16 to 18 May and were then detached to convoy HG.30F.
Corvette PERIWINKLE was in the convoy escort on the 16th.
Sloop SCARBOROUGH escorted the convoy from 16 to 21 May. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on the 22nd.
Convoy BC.38 of steamers BALTRAFFIC, BARON KINNAIRD, DAVID LIVINGSTONE (Commodore), EILDON, KERMA, and OCEAN COAST departed Bristol Channel escorted by destroyer MONTROSE and armed yacht ZAZA. The convoy arrived at Loire on the 18th.
Convoy FS.172 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VIMY and WINDSOR and sloop WESTON. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 18th.
British steamer KINGSBURY (4898grt) in convoy OA.149 was machine gunned by German bombers eight miles 300° from Royal Sovereign Light Vessel. One crewman was killed and one crewman was wounded.
German light cruiser KOLN and escort ship GRILLE departed Wilhelmshaven for a minelaying mission in Fisher Bank escorted by destroyers BEITZEN, SCHOEMANN, and HEINEMANN and torpedo boats KONDOR and GREIF.
The minefield was successfully laid and the ships returned to Wilhelmshaven on the 18th.
The force laid a second minefield shortly after.
French light cruiser MONTCALM and destroyers BRESTOIS and BOULONNAIS departed Brest at 1500/16th for the Mediterranean. The cruiser passed Gibraltar on the 19th and arrived at Oran later that day. The destroyers arrived at Gibraltar on that date and departed the next day and arrived at Oran later on the 20th.
French large destroyers TARTU and CHEVALIER PAUL, which departed Brest on the 14th, passed Gibraltar en route to Toulon, arriving on the 17th.
French light cruiser DUGUAY TROUIN, escorted by large destroyer GERFAUT, departed Brest. The cruiser was escorted to Gibraltar by the destroyer which then returned to Brest for other escort duties. Cruiser DUGUAY TROUIN passed Gibraltar on the 19th and arrived at Toulon on the 21st.
Destroyers WISHART and DOUGLAS departed Gibraltar for Marseilles to act as escort for troopships.
The destroyers were recalled to escort troopship ORONSAY to Malta.
The three ships departed on the 17th.
Polish destroyer ORP GARLAND departed Malta for Alexandria for operations with the Mediterranean Fleet.
In exercises from Aircraft carrier HERMES near Freetown at 8-31N, 13-37W, Lt E. A. Liversidge and Leading Airman S. G. Bax of 814 Squadron were killed when their Swordfish crashed into the sea. A second Swordfish of the 814 Squadron was lost that day crashing on shore.
Convoy HX.43 departed Halifax at 0900 escorted by Canadian destroyers HMCS RESTIGOUCHE and HMCS SKEENA, which were detached on the 17th.
Convoy BHX.43 departed Bermuda on the 15th escorted locally by sloop PENZANCE and an ocean escort of armed merchant cruiser COMORIN. The convoy joined convoy HX.43 on the 21st and the armed merchant cruiser was detached.
Light cruiser EMERALD was the ocean escort for this convoy. The light cruiser was detached on the 27th.
Sloop SANDWICH and corvette CLARKIA joined the convoy on the 27th. The sloop was detached on the 30th. The corvette escorted the convoy to 31 May, when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a message back to Churchill explaining that a loan of destroyers would require an act of Congress, but generally agreeing on the other matters. Roosevelt responded noncommittally to Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s telegram of the previous day. Addressing the possible loan of old destroyers, Churchill’s first concern, the President informed the “Former Naval Person” that such a step could not be taken without “specific authorization of the Congress” and that U.S. defense requirements assumed priority. He also informed Churchill that the U.S. Fleet would remain concentrated in Hawaiian waters, “at least for the time being.”
Roosevelt made a speech before Congress requesting an immediate appropriation of $896 million for national defense. “Surely, the developments of the past few weeks have made it clear to all of our citizens that the possibility of attack on vital American zones ought to make it essential that we have the physical, the ready ability to meet those attacks and to prevent them from reaching their objectives,” the president explained. He establishes a target of 50,000 military aircraft a year. This appears from all experience to be an unreachable goal.
President Roosevelt solemnly warned a joint session of congress today unprepared nations find “themselves overrun by the enemy” and proposed a $1,182,000,000 program to make “our defenses invulnerable, our security absolute.” The center of his defense appeal was a call for planes, and more planes for expansion of America’s capacity to produce aircraft until 50,000 can be turned out annually, and until an actual armada of 50,000 fighting planes is ready to “meet any lightning offensive against our American interest.” The sum he proposed will push next fiscal year’s defense spending and contract authorizations above $3,200,000,000 – by far the largest in peacetime history. A congress tense with realization of the sweep of events abroad heard the president, cheered him as he seldom has been cheered at the capitol, and prepared to carry out his recommendations with utmost speed.
Almost immediately, Chairman May, Kentucky Democrat, of the House Military Committee introduced a $726,000,000 army expansion bill, to authorize acquisition of antiaircraft equipment and ammunition, expedite manufacture of munitions, modernize combat planes, train 15,000 new troops, and improve Panama canal defenses. The senate, seeking to speed action on the president’s program, adopted unanimously a resolution calling for return from a joint conference committee of the $963,797,000 navy appropriation bill so additional navy funds might be written into that measure. Such procedure would make it unnecessary to introduce new appropriations legislation.
“Surely,” said the president, measuring his words and delivering them with marked deliberation, “the developments of the past few weeks have made it clear to all of our citizens that the possibility of attack on vital American zones ought to make it essential that we have the physical, the ready ability to meet those attacks and to prevent them from reaching their objective. This means military implements, not on paper, which are ready and available to meet any lightning offensive against our American interest. It means also that facilities for production must be ready to turn out munitions and equipment at top speed. We have had the lesson before us over and over again nations that were not ready and were unable to get ready found themselves overrun by the enemy. So-called impregnable fortifications no longer exist. A defense which allows an enemy to consolidate his approach without hindrance will lose. An effective defense by its very nature requires the equipment to attack an aggressor on his route before he can establish strong bases within the territory of American vital interests.”
Both houses moved swiftly today to enact President Roosevelt’s new defense program. Predictions were made that the completed legislation might be in the President’s hands by the end of next week. The Senate adopted unanimously a resolution recalling from conference the $963,000,000 Navy Department Appropriation Bill so that the $250,000,000 of additional funds asked by Mr. Roosevelt might be added. The resolution requires House concurrence. The Senate Appropriations Committee agreed to add funds to the War Department Appropriation Bill under consideration. Senate approval would require House concurrence in the amendment. On the House side Chairman May of the Military Affairs Committee introduced a bill authorizing appropriations totaling $726,000,000 for the War Department and allocating the funds to a dozen uses. The committee will consider the measure tomorrow. Mr. May said that he expected a vote on Saturday to report the bill.
A confident “we can do it” was the answer today of Douglas Aircraft, largest plane manufacturer in the United States, to President Roosevelt’s demand before congress for 50,000 warplanes for defense. Donald W. Douglas, president of the company, said he believed all aircraft builders together could meet the needs of the government. “No task is too great and no accomplishment impossible for a free people united in loyalty and love of its country,” Douglas said. “I am confident that the airplane industry of the United States can and will keep pace with needs and desires of the government.” Every facility of our plants and every resource of our organization are at the service and call of our national defense, first, last, and always. “I know the American aircraft manufacturers, functioning under a free democratic system in the American way, and unhampered by politics and partisanship, can and will help the president and congress meet the challenge to everything this nation holds dear,” he concluded. The Douglas plant has a backlog of orders estimated at more than $100,000,000, has been turning out about $6,000,000 worth a month and has started construction of a new assembly building on a 10-acre site. Four other major Southern California companies Lockheed, North American, Vultee, and Consolidated have similar expansion programs.
The first Republic Aviation (formerly Seversky) P-43 Lancer fighter delivery was made to the United States Army. The P-43 will be only a stopgap design. Further work at Republic will eventually result in the P-47 Thunderbolt, one of the great aircraft of the war.
A Michigan Republican convention endorsed Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg today for the presidential nomination while an Idaho Democratic delegation convention backed President Roosevelt for a third term. The Michigan Republicans, in resolutions, gave unqualified support to Vandenberg but made no mention of the other native son seeking the nomination, Thomas E. Dewey, now New York district attorney. Michigan has 38 national convention votes. Dewey supporters took the viewpoint while Michigan was obligated to throw support to Vandenberg at the outset Dewey would gam such support at the convention. Vandenberg told the convention, “I could not do less than to place myself and my experience at the disposal of my party in respect to any labor which might fall to my lot.” The Idaho Democratic convention instructed the eight delegates to continue support of Mr. Roosevelt.
The European war and American defense programs tinged political speechmaking and statements elsewhere in the country. Christian A. Herter, Republican speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, proposed both major parties adopt identical statements of foreign policy for the coming presidential campaign, thus eliminating foreign affairs as an issue. Senator Bridges, New Hampshire Republican, criticized “new deal extravagance” and said with the United States facing a huge bill for national defense it was essential “every unnecessary expense” be cut. Frank E. Gannett, New York state publisher and a candidate for the Republican nomination, told reporters at Atlanta that Mr. Roosevelt’s national defense message today “dramatizes the failure of the New Deal to meet and solve the basic problems facing the country.”
Major League Baseball:
Outhitting the opposition was unavailing to the Boston Bees today as they dropped their sixth consecutive game. The Chicago Cubs beat them, 5–4, in the series’ wind-up. The Bees connected against the veteran Bill Lee for nine hits, including three doubles and Al Lopez’s two-run homer, as the visitors bunched their six hits, all against Lefty Joe Sullivan, who was relieved in the eighth by Al Piechota.
The league-leading Boston Red Sox lambasted three St. Louis pitchers for fourteen hits, six of them for extra bases, to win, 7–5, today and boost their margin over the idle second-place Cleveland Indians to three games.
Chicago Cubs 5, Boston Bees 4
Boston Red Sox 7, St. Louis Browns 5
The Japanese press declared today any curtailment of vital exports to Japan from the Dutch East Indies or any shift of their resources to British capital would be considered by Tokyo as a change in the status quo of the rich Netherlands island empire. “Japan could not ignore any prohibition or substantial restriction on the export of vital materials to Japan on the protest of shortages owing to the need of supplies for the allies,” said the newspaper Kukomin. Tokyo asks Netherlands East Indies to open talks on trade agreement.
Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang: Chinese 5th War Area recaptures Tsaoyang.
Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang: General Chang Tze-chung, commanding 33rd Army Group of Chinese 5th War Area, is killed in action near Nankuatien. Chang, commander of the eight divisions that constituted the Chinese 33rd Army Group, was killed at approximately 4:00 PM on May 16, 1940, in fighting at Shilichangshan (‘Ten li mountain’) near Nanguadian in Northern Hubei. The battle was one engagement of the Tsaoyang-Ichang (Zaoyang-Yichang) campaign that rumbled through late spring of that year. Surrounded by the Japanese, his forces had refused either to retreat or to surrender. In the ensuing hand-to-hand combat, General Chang had been wounded seven times in all, by grenade, bullet, and finally by bayonet. The victorious Japanese realized Chang’s identity only when a major discovered, in the left breast pocket of his blood-soaked yellow uniform, a fine gold pen engraved with his name. The major quickly summoned senior officers; they ordered a stretcher brought and the body was carried away from the battlefield.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 130.43 (+1.35)
Died:
Chang Tze-chung (Zhang Zizhong), 48, general of the Chinese National Revolutionary Army (killed in action at Mount Chang near Yichang, Hubei).
Naval Construction:
The Royal Navy Bangor-class (Reciprocating engined) minesweeper HMS Cromer (J 128) is launched by Lobnitz & Co. Ltd. (Renfrew, Scotland).
The U.S. Navy Benson-class destroyer USS Charles F. Hughes (DD-428) is launched by the Puget Sound Navy Yard (Bremerton, Washington, U.S.A.).
The U.S. Navy Gleaves-class destroyer USS Monssen (DD-436) is launched by the Puget Sound Navy Yard (Bremerton, Washington, U.S.A.).
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