Guderian’s forces captured Amiens, Abbeville and Noyelles-sur-Mer, reaching the northern French coast. General Heinz Guderian’s 19th Corps captured Amiens in the morning at 0900 hours, Abbeville at 1900 hours, and Noyelles-sur-Mer at 2000 hours in the evening. A reconnaissance unit from Rudolf Veiel’s 2nd Panzer Division reached Noyelles-sur-Mer, 100 kilometers (62 miles) to the west of their positions on the 17th. From there, they were able to see the Somme estuary and the English Channel. A huge pocket, containing the Allied 1st Army Group (the Belgian, British, and French 1st, 7th and 9th Armies), was created. The Germans had now driven a corridor at least 20 miles wide from the Ardennes to the English Channel trapping much of the French Army and the British Expeditionary Force in the northern pocket. The obvious need is for the British and French to cut through this corridor before its walls can be strengthened to cut off irrevocably the forces to the north. Before his dismissal Gamelin was planning such an attack, but it has been cancelled following his sacking only to be revived now by Weygand. The delay imposed by these changes of mind prevents it from retaining even a slim chance of success.
General Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division also takes off at 01:40. He advances from Cambrai to the outskirts of Arras in six hours. Rommel pauses there to allow the infantry to catch up, as there are BEF forces in the town. He occupies Valenciennes just to the east of Arras. Rommel is performing an invaluable service to the Wehrmacht of protecting Guderian’s northern flank.
The two divisions have advanced 240 miles in 11 days and now constitute a block against communications between France and the BEF and French/Belgian forces fighting in Belgium (French 1st Army, 7th Army, and 9th Army and British Expeditionary Force). They sweep aside the British 12th and 23rd (Territorial) divisions. Guderian has a corridor 20-miles wide. The infantry is lagging but on the way.
The Germans also capture Laon, which Brigadier General Charles de Gaulle has been using as a staging area for attacks by his 4th Armoured Division.
Maurice Gamelin had ordered the armies trapped in Belgium and northern France to fight their way south and link up with French forces that would be pushing northward from the Somme River. On the evening of 19 May, however, French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud had already dismissed Gamelin for his failure to contain the German offensive and replaced him with Maxime Weygand. Weygand had little sense of urgency. He claimed his first mission as Commander-in-Chief would be to get a good night’s sleep. Weygand was guilty of wasting valuable time, time that was needed to form a quick and powerful counter-attack. He cancelled Gamelin’s planned offensive, then wasted several days making courtesy visits to dignitaries in Paris. He then ordered a similar plan to Gamelin’s by proposing a counter-offensive from the north and south against the German “corridor” that entailed a combined thrust by the encircled armies in the pocket and French forces on the Somme front (the newly created French 3rd Army Group, under the command of General Antoine-Marie-Benoît Besson). The situation demanded an all-out offensive on the corridor.
At Dunkirk on the French coast, sea craft will soon begin gathering for a desperate Allied evacuation. The British Admiralty begins making preparations for possible evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force. Without telling the French, the British began planning for Operation DYNAMO, the evacuation of the B.E.F. DYNAMO took its name from the dynamo room that provided electricity in the naval headquarters below Dover Castle. It was in this room that British Vice Admiral Bertram Ramsay planned the operation and briefed Churchill as it was under way. Under the direction of Ramsay, ships began gathering at Dover for the evacuation. On 20 May, the B.E.F. sent Brigadier Gerald Whitfield to Dunkirk to start evacuating unnecessary personnel.
Substantial portions of the French Army remain largely inactive from Compiegne to the Swiss border.
The Abbeville massacre took place during the Battle of France in the French town of Abbeville on 20 May 1940. 21 political prisoners, mainly foreign nationals, were killed by the French soldiers who feared that they might become possible fifth columnists or collaborators with Nazi Germany. Although four of those killed were actively working for the Nazis, with another two having genuine Nazi affiliations, the victims also included a number of individuals hostile to Nazism. These included fascists hostile to Nazism such as Joris Van Severen, the cofounder of Verdinaso. Several Jews and Communists were also killed. Twenty-one prisoners were taken, placed against the wall, and shot without trial on the orders of the French Capitaine Marcel Dingeon, who was Abbeville’s deputy commander. A woman, Maria Geerolf-Ceuterick, was bayoneted to death. She had been mistakenly arrested instead of her son-in-law, the Dutch architect Ernst Warris, who lived in Bruges. The executions ended on orders of Lieutenant Jean Leclabart, who finally arrived and was able to stop the massacre. Among the 21 victims were citizens of six different countries besides Belgium, including Italy, Czechoslovakia (Léon Hirschfeld, a Jewish schizophreniac) and Hungary (Miguel Sonin-Garfunkel, an elderly Spanish Jew).
The Belgian Army is withdrawing in the area Eeklo – Ghent.
Luftwaffe fighter pilot Max-Hellmuth Ostermann scores his first victory.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 47 aircraft to attack German positions around Arras.
The RAF bombs German bridges and other communications at Dinant, Givet, and Charleville.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 92 aircraft to attack targets in northern France overnight.
The RAF launches a night raid on the Rotterdam oil storage tanks.
Royal Navy minesweeping trawlers HMS Rifsness (431grt, Temporary Skipper C. G.Coombe RNR) and HMS Lord Inchcape (338grt) were minesweeping between Dunkirk and Ostend in the North Sea. Trawler Rifsness was sunk by German bombing. Trawler Lord Inchcape picked up her crew and returned to Dover. Lt L.L. Thornton RNR, one ratings were lost on Rifsness. One rating, reported lost, was taken as prisoner of war. Temporary Skipper C. G.Coombe and Probationary Temporary Lt E. G.Lock RNVR, were wounded in the Rifsness.
French tanker Niger (5,482grt) was sunk by German bombing off Gravelines, Nord, France. The French destroyer Cyclone rescued the survivors of the tanker.
French steamer Ophélie (6,477grt) was sunk by German bombing in Boulogne Roads.
British steamer Mavis (935grt) was badly damaged by German bombing off Number four Green Buoy, Calais Roads. Three of the ship’s crew and one gunner were lost on the British steamer. Steamer Mavis was abandoned one mile north by west, one quarter mile west of Number 1 Buoy, Calais.
French tug Hercules (216grt) was sunk on a mine at Calais.
Submarine HMS Spearfish, at position 55 00N, 03 30E, intercepted two Danish fishing trawlers. At 0333, submarine Spearfish stopped Danish fishing trawler S.130. At 0450, she stopped Danish fishing trawler S.175. After taking off the crews, Spearfish sank the trawlers with gunfire.
The Belgian cargo ship Antverpia was bombed and severely damaged in the English Channel off Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais, France in a Luftwaffe air raid. She was beached on 21 May, but bombed again on 23 May and set on fire.
At 1900, destroyer HMS Malcolm off the North Goodwins was attacked by German bombing and damaged by three near misses. Two ratings were killed and nineteen crewmen, including Lt Cdr E. P.F. Atkinson and Gunner D. E. Wright, were wounded on the destroyer. Warrant Engineer G.F. Walters died of wounds on the 24th. A rating also died of wounds. Destroyer Malcolm departed Dover on the 21st for Portsmouth. She was repaired in four days.
Anti-submarine trawlers HMS Lady Philomena (417grt) and HMS Kingston Olivine (378grt), while on anti-submarine patrol, were attacked by German bombing. On 21 May, it was determined near misses had made the trawlers unseaworthy and docking was required. Trawler Lady Philomena arrived at Dover on the 22nd with the crew of an aircraft that had crashed off Folkestone.
Kriegsmarine S-boats (motor torpedo boats) S.22, S.23, S.24, S.25 of the 1st S-boat Flotilla and S.13, S.30, S.31, S.32, S.34 of the 2nd S-boat Flotilla departed Borkum to operate off Nieuport along the Belgian coast.
At 0056, French submarine Antiope fired three torpedoes at French submarine Sybille while diving in 53-23N, 03-44E in the North Sea. One torpedo passed under the bow of submarine Sybille, but no damage was done. French submarines Antiope and Sybille and submarine Shark in adjacent patrol areas were ordered not to attack submarines.
The commander of the forces which have evacuated Mo i Rana, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Byrnand Trappes-Lomax, has been retreating too far for the taste of his commanders, General Auchinleck and Colonel Gubbins. Gubbins believes that his retrograde movement has been disorganized, leaving behind units that have become stragglers. Gubbins orders Trappes-Lomax to stop retreating and square up against the German 2d Mountain Division, which is advancing toward Bodø.
In Norway, the German 2nd Mountain Division pushes northward from Mo i Rana toward Bodø.
Luftwaffe seaplanes transport 16 mountain troops to the Narvik area in Norway.
The Norwegian steamer Deneb (750grt), the British steamer Pembroke Coast (625grt), and the British steamer Balteako (1,328grt) were badly damaged by German Luftwaffe bombing at Harstad, Norway. Eleven of the crewmen on the Norwegian steamer were rescued; two were lost. The steamer was sunk by gunfire of a destroyer on the 21st. Destroyer HMS Delight was alongside Balteako when she was bombed. The destroyer assisted the steamer. Two crewmen were lost on the steamer Pembroke Coast. The steamer was towed to sea and sunk by gunfire from destroyers.
Word having arrived that the weather was improving over Narvik, at 0330 HMS Ark Royal, in position 70.24 N, 16.10 E, dispatched nine Swordfish of 810 and 820 Squadrons (armed with 4 x 20 lb. Cooper, 4 x 25 lb. incendiary, and either 2 x 500 lb. or 4 x 250 lb. bombs). This mission exhausted the last 250-lb. GP bombs on the ship. At the same time a fighter patrol left for Narvik. At 0400, a second fighter patrol departed with orders to cover the Swordfish in their attack on the Hundallen and Sildvik. Unfortunately, the weather deteriorated drastically and the entire force had to abandon their mission and return to the ship. At 0600 a further fighter patrol was dispatched. While it managed to get to the Narvik area, the weather was atrocious and the trio was lucky to find their way back to the ship. Further flying was suspended. However, at 2101 Flag Officer Narvik informed the Vice-Admiral commanding that Bardufoss landing ground now being operational, HMS Furious should dispatch the Gladiators of 263 Squadron to shore on the 21st.
Reynaud meets with U.S. Ambassador Bullitt and asks for immediate American aid.
French authorities today broadcast continued radio warnings to excited French peasants and villagers that all persons with foreign accents were not enemy parachutists, after a series of narrow escapes from execution by war correspondents, including P. J. Phillp, Paris correspondent of The New York Times. Returning to Paris from the Allied armies in Belgium, dressed in a correspondent’s uniform and carrying full credentials of the French General Headquarters, Mr. Philip was taken for a parachutist, despite the fact that he was traveling by train. Officials today congratulated him on his narrow escape and apologized for the excess zeal of the peasants and of an army captain, who personally threatened to fire twelve bullets into Mr. Philip and a thirteenth as a grace shot.
Wayne Chatfield Taylor, delegate of the American Red Cross Society to the International Red Cross, established headquarters in Paris today for French and Belgian refugee relief activities.
British Foreign Secretary Halifax contacted Swedish businessman Dahlerus, asking him to approach Hermann Göring for possible Anglo-German negotiations to end the war.
As a further precaution against enemy action inside Britain, the police gathered up all stocks of firearms in gunsmiths’ shops in certain areas of the country today, and at the same time the Ministry of Home Security issued an order prohibiting any alien from possessing firearms of any description. Guns were not only seized in London and other areas, but all available ammunition was also taken to Scotland Yard. The object of this action, it was explained, was simply to see that these stocks were placed in safe custody.
The Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano began to carry only war news published by the Italian government.
It is announced that Germany and Hungary signed a military agreement in Berlin on May 14 under which Hungary agrees to permit the passage of German troops through Hungary’s territory and Germany promises to restore Hungary’s former possessions in Czecho-Slovakia and Yugoslavia and to cooperate in the construction of a greater Hungary. This report reaches Tokyo from “reliable sources in Berlin,” believed to be the Japanese Military Attaché there.
King Carol informs the German ambassador that Rumania would like to work more closely with Germany.
British, French and Turkish military representatives hold conferences in Beirut. They discuss possible allied assistance to Turkey.
A report sent from Ceylon was intercepted by the Germans. The report was sent to the Admiralty by the master of the City of Exeter, warning shipping of a German commerce raider disguised as a Japanese ship in the southern Atlantic and Indian oceans. This caused Captain Rogge of the German Raider Atlantis which had been sailing as the Japanese passenger freighter Kasii Maru to switch disguises to the Dutch motor vessel Abbekerk.
On 19 May at 1200, destroyers HMS Zulu, HMS Witherington, HMS Escort, HMS Acasta, and HMS Ardent departed the Clyde to escort Canadian troop convoy TC.4. The convoy was met in 55 30N, 13 00W at 0530/20th. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 20th escorted by destroyers Zulu, Witherington, and Escort. At 0530/21st, battleship HMS Revenge and destroyers HMS Ardent and HMS Acasta anchored at Greenock. Destroyers Zulu, Escort, and Witherington arrived in the Clyde at 1700/21st after escorting the convoy.
On 20 May, French battleships Bretagne and Provence departed Alexandria to sweep towards Cape Bon. They were escorted by French large destroyers Lynx and Tigre and Australian destroyers HMAS Stuart, HMAS Vampire, HMAS Voyager, and HMAS Waterhen. On 22 May, French destroyers Bordelais and Trombe joined the sweep. The Australian destroyers were detached to Malta where they refuelled and arrived back at Alexandria on the 25th. The French battleships returned to Mer el Kebir, arriving on the 27th.
Destroyers HMS Wishart and HMS Douglas departed Gibraltar escorting British troopship Oronsay (20,043grt) to Malta.
Convoy OA.152 departed Southend escorted by corvette HMS Arabis. The corvette was later transferred to convoy HG.31.
Convoy OB.152 departs Liverpool.
Convoy HG.31F of twenty nine ships departed Gibraltar. The convoy was escorted by destroyer HMS Watchman from 20 to 23 May and was then transferred to convoy OG.30. French auxiliary patrol vessel Jutland escorted the convoy from 20 to 26 May. The patrol vessel arrived at Lorient on the 27th. Sloop HMS Bideford from convoy OG.30 escorted the convoy from 26 to 28 May. Destroyer HMS Worcester escorted the convoy from 26 to 29 May when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.
Convoy OG.30 was formed from convoys OA.150G, which departed Southend on the 18th escorted by corvette HMS Clarkia, OB.150G, which departed Liverpool on the 18th escorted by sloop HMS Rochester, with forty six ships. Corvette Clarkia escorted the convoy on the 20th. Sloop HMS Bideford escorted the convoy from 20 to 23 May and was then detached to convoy HG.31F. Destroyer HMS Watchman, from convoy HG.31F, escorted the convoy from 23 to 26 May when the convoy arrived at Gibraltar.
Convoy FN.176 departed Southend, escorted by sloop HMS Londonderry. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 22nd.
Convoy MT.70 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer HMS Wallace. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
Convoy FS.175 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer HMS Wallace. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 22nd.
Convoy HX.44 departed Halifax at 0900 escorted by Canadian destroyers HMCS Saguenay and HMCS Skeena, which were detached on the 21st.
Convoy BHX.44 departed Bermuda on the 19th escorted locally by sloop HMS Penzance and an ocean escort of armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.44 on the 25th and the armed merchant cruiser was detached. The Armed merchant cruiser HMS Ausonia assumed command of escort of the convoy from the destroyers at 1800/21st. The armed merchant cruiser was detached on the 30th. On the 30th, sloop HMS Rochester joined and on 1 June, sloop HMS Enchantress joined. They escorted the convoy until 3 June when it arrived at Liverpool.
The War at Sea, Monday, 20 May 1940 (naval-history.net)
Norwegian steamer DENEB (750grt), British steamer PEMBROKE COAST (625grt), and British steamer BALTEAKO (1328grt) were badly damaged by German bombing at Harstad.
The crew of eleven on the Norwegian steamer were rescued; two were lost. The steamer was sunk by gunfire of a destroyer on the 21st.
Destroyer DELIGHT was alongside BALTEAKO when she was bombed. The destroyer assisted the steamer.
Two crew were lost on the steamer PEMBROKE COAST. The steamer was towed to sea and sunk by gunfire from Destroyers.
At 1900, destroyer MALCOLM off the North Goodwins was attacked by German bombing and damaged by three near misses.
Two ratings were killed and nineteen crew, including Lt Cdr E. P.F. Atkinson and Gunner D. E. Wright, were wounded on the Destroyer. Warrant Engineer G.F. Walters died of wounds on the 24th. A rating also died of wounds.
Destroyer MALCOLM departed Dover on the 21st for Portsmouth. She was repaired in four days.
Minesweeper HARRIER completed boiler cleaning at Dover.
The minesweeper departed Dover at 1830 to join the 6th Mine Sweeping Flotilla.
Destroyers WESSEX and VENETIA arrived Humber.
Minesweeping trawlers RIFSNESS (431grt, Temporary Skipper C. G. Coombe RNR) and LORD INCHCAPE (338grt) were minesweeping between Dunkirk and Ostend.
Trawler RIFSNESS was sunk by German bombing. Trawler LORD INCHCAPE picked up her crew and returned to Dover. Lt L.L. Thornton RNR and one rating were lost on RIFSNESS. One rating, reported lost, was taken as prisoner of war. Temporary Skipper C. G. Coombe and Probationary Temporary Lt E. G. Lock RNVR, were wounded in the RIFSNESS.
Anti-submarine trawlers LADY PHILOMENA (417grt) and KINGSTON OLIVINE (378grt), while on anti-submarine patrol, were attacked by German bombing.
On 21 May, it was determined near misses had made the trawlers unseaworthy and docking was required.
Trawler LADY PHILOMENA arrived at Dover on the 22nd with the crew of a Aircraft that had crashed off Folkestone.
French tanker NIGER (5482grt) was sunk by German bombing off Gravelines.
French destroyer CYCLONE rescued the survivors of the tanker.
French steamer ORPHELIA (6477grt) was sunk by German bombing in Boulogne Roads.
British steamer MAVIS (935grt) was badly damaged by German bombing off Number four Green Buoy, Calais Roads.
Three crew and one gunner were lost on the British steamer.
Steamer MAVIS was abandoned one mile north by west, one quarter mile west of Number 1 Buoy, Calais.
French tug HERCULES (216grt) was sunk on a mine at Calais.
On 19 May at 1200, destroyers ZULU, WITHERINGTON, ESCORT, ACASTA, and ARDENT departed the Clyde to escort Canadian troop convoy TC.4. The convoy was met in 55 30N, 13 00W at 0530/20th. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 20th escorted by destroyers ZULU, WITHERINGTON, ESCORT.
At 0530/21st, battleship REVENGE and destroyers ARDENT and ACASTA anchored at Greenock.
Destroyers ZULU, ESCORT, and WITHERINGTON arrived in the Clyde at 1700/21st after escorting the convoy.
At 0146, a report of one battleship and a large number of destroyers in 53 47N, 7 15E, steering 270° was received.
All destroyers at Scapa Flow raised steam to escort capital ships.
This order was later reduced to two and a half hours’ notice when the German capital ships entered the Ems and only four destroyers steering northeast remained at sea.
Destroyers ARROW and FORTUNE carried out a search of Scapa Flow until 0500 after a shore battery fired at an unknown craft at 0106 entering Scapa Flow through Water Sound.
Destroyers SIKH, FURY, FORESIGHT, and MASHONA were also searching. The unknown craft later was determined to be a float laid by survey ship FRANKLIN to gauge speed of the current.
Destroyer MAORI departed Liverpool at 2115 for the Clyde after repairs. She arrived at Greenock at 0700/21st.
Destroyer MAORI was fitted with the first lethal kite flying equipment.
Destroyer ASHANTI departed Dundee at 1430 for Rosyth after repairs.
Destroyer SIKH carried out firing trials of a modified pom-pom gun in the Flow.
French steamer MASSILIA departed Liverpool, escorted by destroyer WAKEFUL. Both ships arrived at Brest during the afternoon of 22 May.
German motor torpedo boats S.22, S.23, S.24, and S.25 of the 1st S.boat Flotilla and S.13, S.30, S.31, S.32, and S.34 of the 2nd S boat Flotilla departed Borkum to operate off Nieuport.
Submarine SPEARFISH in 55 00N, 03 30E intercepted two Danish fishing trawlers.
At 0333, submarine SPEARFISH stopped Danish fishing trawler S.130. At 0450, she stopped Danish fishing trawler S.175.
After taking off the crews, SPEARFISH sank the trawlers with gunfire.
At 0056, French submarine ANTIOPE fired three torpedoes at French submarine SYBILLE while diving in 53-23N, 03-44E in the North Sea.
One torpedo passed under the bow of submarine SYBILLE, but no damage was done.
French submarines ANTIOPE and SYBILLE and submarine SHARK in adjacent patrol areas were ordered not to attack submarines.
French submarine SYBILLE reported both periscope presses defective and a sick rating.
Submarine SYBILLE was ordered to Rosyth and was relieved on station by submarine L.23, which departed Harwich on the 21st.
French submarine ACHILLE arrived at Dundee.
Submarine ACHILLE was bombed in the restricted area by aircraft. Damage was sustained to the external fuel tanks, hydroplanes, echo sounding gear, both propellers.
French submarine AMAZONE arrived at Rosyth after patrol.
Submarine SALMON departed Harwich on patrol.
Submarine TRUANT departed Tromsø on patrol off North Cape.
On a minelaying sortie from North Coates, a Swordfish of 812 Squadron ditched at sea. Lt R. C. Dundas and S/Lt J. A. Allen were lost.
Convoy OA.152 departed Southend escorted by corvette ARABIS. The corvette was later transferred to convoy HG.31.
Convoy OG.30 was formed from convoys OA.150G, which departed Southend on the 18th escorted by corvette CLARKIA, OB.150G, which departed Liverpool on the 18th escorted by sloop ROCHESTER, with forty-six ships.
Corvette CLARKIA escorted the convoy on the 20th.
Sloop BIDEFORD escorted the convoy from 20 to 23 May and was then detached to convoy HG.31F.
Destroyer WATCHMAN, from convoy HG.31F, escorted the convoy from 23 to 26 May when the convoy arrived at Gibraltar.
Convoy FN.176 departed Southend, escorted by sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 22nd.
Convoy MT.70 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer WALLACE. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
Convoy FS.175 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WALLACE. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 22nd.
Convoy HX.44 departed Halifax at 0900 escorted by Canadian destroyers SAGUENAY and SKEENA, which were detached on the 21st.
Convoy BHX.44 departed Bermuda on the 19th escorted locally by sloop PENZANCE and an ocean escort of armed merchant cruiser JERVIS BAY. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.44 on the 25th and the armed merchant cruiser was detached.
The Armed merchant cruiser AUSONIA assumed command of escort of the convoy from the destroyers at 1800/21st. The armed merchant cruiser was detached on the 30th.
On the 30th, sloop ROCHESTER joined and on 1 June, sloop ENCHANTRESS joined. They escorted the convoy until 3 June when it arrived at Liverpool.
On 20 May, French battleships BRETAGNE and PROVENCE departed Alexandria to sweep towards Cape Bon. They were escorted by French large destroyers LYNX and TIGRE and Australian destroyers HMAS STUART, HMAS VAMPIRE, HMAS VOYAGER, and HMAS WATERHEN.
On 22 May, French destroyers BORDELAIS and TROMBE joined the sweep.
The Australian destroyers were detached to Malta where they refueled and arrived back at Alexandria on the 25th.
The French battleships returned to Mer el Kebir, arriving on the 27th.
Convoy HG.31F of twenty-nine ships departed Gibraltar. The convoy was escorted by destroyer WATCHMAN from 20 to 23 May and was then transferred to convoy OG.30.
French auxiliary patrol vessel JUTLAND escorted the convoy from 20 to 26 May. The patrol vessel arrived at Lorient on the 27th.
Sloop BIDEFORD from convoy OG.30 escorted the convoy from 26 to 28 May.
Destroyer WORCESTER escorted the convoy from 26 to 29 May when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.
Destroyers WISHART and DOUGLAS departed Gibraltar escorting British troopship ORONSAY (20,043grt) to Malta.
In Washington, President Roosevelt conferred with Congressional leaders on the legislative program, received from David Lasser a statement of the position of the Workers Alliance on the defense program and conferred with Lewis W. Douglas, former Director of the Budget.
The Senate completed Congressional action on the bill providing an additional United States District Court for Tennessee, considered the La Follette bill to ban oppressive labor practices, heard Senator Vandenberg urge publication of the War Resources Board report and recessed at 5:07 PM until noon tomorrow. The Appropriations Committee approved the $1,820,941,000 National Defense Bill.
The House considered bills on the consent calendar, heard discussion of financing the national defense program and adjourned at 5:04 PM until noon tomorrow. The Military Affairs Committee heard War Department officials on the bill to expand army aviation and the Naval Affairs Committee considered the Vinson bill to permit suspension of labor standards and profit limitations on shipbuilding contracts.
Winston Churchill sends a telegram to President Roosevelt regarding his request for U.S. destroyers. Churchill acknowledges FDR’s problems in providing them but states that; “If they were here in six weeks they would play an invaluable part.”
The first public criticisms in Congressional circles of President Roosevelt’s national defense program developed today. They ranged from reflections on the Administration’s past performance to opinions that the official plans were wholly insufficient under present world conditions. Without paying any immediate attention to these attacks the Administration went forward with steps intended to expedite the defense program. President Roosevelt requested an appropriation of $6,000,000 for operating an airplane engine research laboratory and $6,400,000 in authorization for contracts for the site and construction costs.
Secretary Wallace asked for authorization to increase the borrowing power of the Commodity Credit Corporation from $900,000,000 to $1,400,000,000 to enable it more fully to check the impact of war dislocations on domestic agricultural markets. Senator Bilbo introduced a bill authorizing an additional appropriation of $100,000,000 to the Surplus Commodity Corporation for the same purpose.
A request that President Roosevelt make available to the Congress a heretofore unpublished report by the War Resources Board was made today by Senator Vandenberg in a speech on the Senate floor.
The radio address by Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh last night, suggesting that a defense policy must be developed before any arms program can be effectively developed by this country and denying that the United States was in danger of invasion, received mixed reaction here today among public figures. Secretary Hull declined to comment upon it directly at his regular press conference, but then voluntarily discussed the same topic as he saw it. Mrs. Roosevelt said she thought “the first part of it excellent,” but added that “the last three paragraphs seemed to me unfortunate.” This section referred to “powerful elements in America” which seek this country’s entrance in the war. The White House refused comment; Congressional sentiment divided pretty generally, with isolationists applauding the talk and the opposite group criticizing it.
The U.S. Supreme Court decided Cantwell v. Connecticut. The decision established that the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause applies the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause to state governments, prohibiting them from infringing on religious freedom. Newton Cantwell and his sons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, were proselytizing a predominantly Catholic neighborhood in Connecticut. They were travelling door-to-door and approaching people on the street. Two pedestrians reacted angrily to an anti-Catholic message. Cantwell and his sons were arrested and charged with: (1) violation of a Connecticut statute requiring solicitors to obtain a certificate before soliciting funds from the public, and (2) inciting a common-law breach of the peace.
In a unanimous decision, the Court held the Cantwells’ actions were protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Writing for the Court, Justice Owen Roberts reasoned that while general regulations on solicitation were legitimate, restrictions based on religious grounds were not. Because the statute allowed local officials to determine which causes were religious and which ones were not, it violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments. The Court also held that while the maintenance of public order was a valid state interest, it could not be used to justify the suppression of “free communication of views.” The Cantwells’ message, while offensive to many, did not threaten “bodily harm” and was protected religious speech.
The Chicago Tribune reported today that Alf M. Landon, en route to a white house luncheon with President Roosevelt, had received a message rescinding the invitation. The paper said the message received last night from Colonel Edwin M. Watson, aide-de-camp to the president, through a third person was that “in view of developments it was thought just as well not to have the conference.” Landon was quoted as follows: “I started for Washington, as I always do, at the invitation of my president. I am going home at his invitation. I am ready to go to Washington at any time at the invitation of my president.” Landon, titular head of the Republican Party, said in an interview at Topeka, Kansas, Sunday that he was opposed to any suggestion that the party “lend itself to any coalition which would tend to decrease party responsibility.”
Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio brought his campaign for the Republican Presidential nomination to St. Louis tonight with one of the strongest appeals he has yet made for strict American neutrality, financial as well as military, in the war in Europe.
Wendell L. Willkle, utilities executive, charged here today that the New Deal had created “chaos in government and industry” and lacked both the ability and the confidence of the country to carry out the important task of coordinating national resources in the drive to strengthen national defenses. Taking the position that no true program of national preparedness could be attained until a solution had been reached on the country’s domestic problems, Mr. Willkie opposed any coalition by the Republicans with the President and called upon that party to wage a “fight to the end” in the coming Presidential elections against the continuance of the present national administration.
Warning that European dictators have “definite designs” on the Western Hemisphere, Secretary of Agriculture Henry A. Wallace pleaded for Pan-American unity to guard against “both the desperate and the ruthless.”
Inventor Igor Sikorsky demonstrated his helicopter invention to the public at the Vought-Sikorsky field in Stratford, Connecticut.
Major League Baseball:
Behind 7–1, the Phils score 7 runs in the 9th inning to edge the Pirates, 8–7. Morrie Arnovich, with a single his first time up in the 9th, walks with the bases loaded to push across the winning run. Wally Berger’s two run single had tied the contest at 7–7.
Harry Danning hits a homer and a triple, and Mel Ott adds another home run, to lead the Giants to a 6–0 romp over the Cardinals. Cliff Melton allowed just six hits and struck out six in shutting out St. Louis.
The Cubs amassed 13 hits and aided further by a Brooklyn error, beat the Dodgers, 6–4. Catcher Al Todd had a run-scoring single and a homer for the Cubbies.
The Boston Bees cavorted in two big innings today — a five-run third and a six-run fourth — as they coasted to a 13-4 victory over the Reds. Al Lopez and Carvell Rowell each contributed two-run homers to the Bee cause.
Pinky Higgins clouts three successive homers and drives in seven runs to lead Detroit to a 10–7 victory over the leading Red Sox. Pinky’s first two clouts come off Lefty Grove, and the last off Jack Wilson, who is charged with the loss. Jimmie Foxx hits his 10th homer of the year, a 5th inning grand slam, and Lefty Grove homers in the 2nd.
The Yankees slip back into last place, losing to the Indians, 10–2. Al Smith allows just 3 New York hits. While Spud Chandler, Bump Hadley and Atley Donald were being hammered, the Yanks were bewildered by the left-handed Smith, a Giant castoff. They faced a shutout until the ninth, a double by Buster Mills with two gone in the second being their only hit up to that time.
Four home runs in as many innings, plus a four-run outburst in the fifth without benefit of homers, gave the Athletics an 8–4 victory over the Browns today. The A’s made only three hits in the first four innings, but each was a home run. Bob Johnson clouted his seventh of the season in the second, Wally Moses got his fourth in the third and Frank Hayes hit his fourth in the fourth. In the eighth Hayes got No. 5.
The White Sox won a home game for the first time this season by hanging on for a 5–4 victory over the Senators today in the second contest of their series. Johnny Rigney pitched two-hit ball for seven innings, then was blasted from the mound by Washington’s four-run splurge. Clint Brown came in, retired the side and closed out the game. The Senators had the bases loaded with two outs in the ninth, but Brown got the third out.
Chicago Cubs 6, Brooklyn Dodgers 4
Cincinnati Reds 4, Boston Bees 13
Washington Senators 4, Chicago White Sox 5
New York Yankees 2, Cleveland Indians 10
Boston Red Sox 7, Detroit Tigers 10
St. Louis Cardinals 0, New York Giants 6
Pittsburgh Pirates 7, Philadelphia Phillies 8
Philadelphia Athletics 8, St. Louis Browns 4
Prefacing his long-awaited declaration of accomplishment and future plans in Canada’s war effort with the statement that “the crisis of the hour demands action, not words, speed, not argument,” Prime Minister W. L. Mackenzie King laid before the House of Commons tonight a factual narrative of accomplishment, of action and preparation. For a full hour Mr. King cited fact upon fact, action upon action, and the reasons therefore to members silent and tense with interest. M. J. Coldwell, leader of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation, rose immediately to promise for his party that full cooperation would be forthcoming.
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in a memorandum to Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles, expressed concern over the situation in Uruguay as reported by U.S. Minister Edwin C. Wilson, on May 15. “Is there some way,” Roosevelt asked Welles, “in which the Minister of Uruguay in Washington and Mr. Wilson in Montevideo can get word to the Uruguayan Government that the United States is concerned…?” Undersecretary Welles, in his response to the President that same day reported that the Uruguayan government had taken steps to investigate Nazi activities in Montevideo.
Twenty-four Japanese bombers, en route for Chungking, China, were intercepted by eight I-16 fighters of Chinese 24th Pursuit Squadron; the Chinese claimed three bombers and one reconnaissance aircraft shot down.
The Japanese request raw materials from the Netherlands East Indies.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 122.43 (+0)
Born:
Stan Mikita, Slovak-Canadian NHL centre and right wing (Hockey Hall of Fame, inducted 2018; NHL Champions, Stanley Cup-Black Hawks, 1961; Hart Memorial Trophy [MVP] 1967, 1968; NHL All-Star, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971-1975; Chicago Black Hawks), in Sokolče, Slovakia (d. 2018).
Sadaharu Oh [Wang Chen-chih], Japanese baseball player (Tokyo Yomiuri Giants; 11× Japan Series champion (1961, 1963, 1965–1973); 9× Central League MVP (1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977) and holder of the all-time professional home run record (868)), in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan.
(Frederick) “Shorty” Long, American soul singer, and pianist (“Devil with the Blue Dress On”; “Here Comes The Judge”), born in Birmingham, Alabama (d. 1969).
Died:
Verner von Heidenstam, 80, Swedish poet, novelist and Nobel laureate (“Charles Men”, Nobel, 1916).
Naval Construction:
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boat U-403 is laid down by Danziger Werft AG, Danzig (werk 104).
The Royal Navy “O”-class destroyer HMS Orwell (G 98) is laid down by Thornycroft (Southampton, U.K.).
The Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) aviso (sloop) Diana is launched by the Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (Fiume, Italy).
The Royal Navy Tree-class minesweeping trawler HMS Olive (T 126) is commissioned. Her first commander is T/Skipper George Cecil Cranwell Mileham, RNR.
History Diaries 