Adolf Hitler continued to hold off his tanks from engaging on an offensive even though those armored division were merely 10 miles from Dunkerque, France. At Calais, France, Heinz Guderian obediently, albeit frustratingly, ordered his tanks to halt per Hitler’s orders, but the field commanders continued to push back the British and French troops. In the evening, British Expeditionary Force commanding General Lord Gort began to fall back to Dunkerque. On the same day, the French Army relieved 15 generals of their commands.
On the German side, the Hitler stop order remains in place for Panzer Group Kleist. However, that does not mean there is no fighting in that sector, not by a long shot. General Guderian leads from the front, and he addresses his men: “I asked you to go without sleep for 48 hours. You have gone for 17 days!”
At 5 p.m. General John Vereker Lord Gort canceled the preparations he had been making to join French Army commander General Maxime Weygand’s offensive. Later in the day Weygand in turn canceled the whole scheme, blaming Gort for this decision.
The BEF uses the day to reinforce the port defenses at Dunkirk.
The confusion of the German high command about halting operations with their decision of 24 May 1940 always becomes a point of discussion about the Battle of France and the evacuation of the BEF. This leads to the natural conclusion that “If only if” the Germans had been a little more clear-headed, they would have destroyed the BEF, invaded England, and we’d all be speaking/writing German.
However, these arguments always ignore concomitant massive confusion on the Allied side. If you are going to “smooth out” imperfection on one side, consider also the other side of the equation. French Commander-in-chief Weygand plans on 25 May 1940 a concentric attack on the panzer spearhead across northern France. However, to implement it, he requires British cooperation, and that is not forthcoming. BEF commander General John Vereker Lord Gort cancels his part of the pincer attack at 17:00, and this causes Weygand, in turn, to cancel the entire thing amidst recriminations.
In this instance, from a military perspective only, Lord Gort is absolutely correct: the plan has no hope of success with the forces available. However, in a larger sense, it shows the futility of divided command, lack of respect and cohesion between the allied forces, and complete mismanagement by all concerned of this desperate situation. Everybody has an opinion, everyone is sure they are right, and wars are lost when every opinion counts. You need assured command to win wars, not independent crusading barons.
Flowing from Lord Gort’s decision is another, larger decision: it is time to implement Operation DYNAMO, the evacuation of the BEF. This is a hugely cynical – but absolutely necessary – determination that the Belgian Army must be abandoned, along with what remains of Belgian territory, in order to protect England (and maybe what remains of France). War Minister Anthony Eden has assured Lord Gort that the resources will be available — but this is such a massive operation that it will strain even the Royal Navy’s abilities.
The Battle of Boulogne ended in German victory. The last pockets of resistance in Boulogne at the Citadel were eliminated. At dawn on 25 May, the Germans assaulted the walls again using ladders, grenades and flamethrowers, supported by 88 mm guns. At 8:30, French General Lanquetot surrendered to Colonel von Vaerts and was taken to meet General Guderian, who congratulated him on his defense. Meanwhile, Major J C Windsor Lewis, the officer commanding No 4 Company 2nd Welsh Guards, had taken charge of a large party of stragglers who were vainly awaiting rescue in the sheds at the quayside. Besides Guardsmen from both battalions, there were 120 French infantry, 200 AMPC, 120 Royal Engineers and 150 civilian refugees. Most of the Pioneers were unarmed. When the sheds came under heavy German fire, Windsor Lewis moved the group into the Gare Maritime (the harbor rail station) and made sandbag barricades. On the evening of 24 May, under direct fire from tanks and machine guns, they drove off a German assault party that had approached the quay in a boat. Without food, running low on ammunition and realizing that there would be no further evacuation, the force eventually surrendered at 13:00 on 25 May. The Germans captured a total of 5,000 Allied troops in Boulogne, the majority of who were French.
The German 10th Panzer Division continues attacking the British 30th Infantry Brigade at Calais. General Guderian has given it until 14:00 on 26 May to take the port, so fighting is intense. Vice-Admiral James Somerville makes the hazardous crossing to the port during the night and meets with the local commander, Brigadier Claude N. Nicholson. Nicholson is optimistic but says he needs continued supply. An assortment of Royal Navy warships continues giving offshore fire support. Royal Navy cruisers Arethusa and Galatea and six destroyers plus Polish destroyer Burza support British 30th Infantry Brigade at Calais.
At dawn, the German bombardment resumes, and there is smoke and fire everywhere. Panzer General Schaal, sends a surrender demand to the mayor, André Gerschell, apparently for transmission to the military authorities. Nicholson, once he hears of it, refuses, then refuses another ultimatum in the afternoon. The Germans attempt a determined attack in the east which the 1st Rifle Brigade repulses at first at the Marck and Calais canals. Nicholson attempts a counterattack, which fails in the sand, and then the line at the canals falls. The troops on the east withdraw under fire through the city streets to the docks. The Germans also make progress in the southeast.
The wounded are piling up, and the defense is undermined by collaborators. The day ends with the British in control of only portions of the city, with some units already attempting to break out toward Dunkirk. Air attacks over the city is intense, with effective air cover by 605 Squadron and bombing missions by both sides. RAF claims to shoot down dozens of aircraft, including Ju 87 Stukas performing ground support missions.
The French launch an attack on Amiens that leaves them with part of the town.
In eastern France, French engineers are blowing up locks on the Rhine-Rhône canal in order to flood surrounding territory to block the panzers.
A German staff car is captured with plans to attack between Menin and Ypres with two corps.
While the vast majority of France remains safe behind the deceptively secure Maginot Line, frustration within the government is reaching the boiling point. The French Army relieves 15 Generals of their commands.
Belgian forces were driven out of Menin by attacks of units from Army Group B.
The Belgians are not stupid: the immediately see which way things are going. The Belgian 5th and 17th regiments surrender their bridgehead at Meigem against orders. There is a report of an incident of “fragging,” where soldiers shoot their own officer ordering them to stop their retreat.
However, not all of the troops in Belgium have given up. The Chasseurs Ardennais deploy to Vinkt and fight off the German 56th Infantry Division like lions.
Things become desperate in Belgium as the men won’t fight and the German tanks can’t be stopped. The BEF troops are fighting for time, time to evacuate, and they will try anything. An improvised anti-tank line of wagons is set up along the rail line from Ypres to Roeselare.
German 18th Army is pushing the Belgian Army back toward Bruges.
The bridge over the Schipdonk Canal at Vinkt, Belgium, was being guarded by the 1st Belgian Division of Chasseurs ardennais (which in the Belgian army of the day meant one regiment of tanks out of five regiments in a division – the rest being motor riders and cyclists). Coincidentally, this division turned out to be one of the most motivated in the Belgian army. The Belgian command decided not to destroy but to guard the bridge, so as to help as many British stragglers as possible on their way west, and as many Belgian refugees as possible on their way south: more than one million Belgians (most of them on foot, as cars and horses had been requisitioned by the different armies) had become refugees. Arriving near the bridge on May 25, the German Army (Heer) 225th Division, consisting mostly of badly trained soldiers from Itzehoe in the North of the Hamburg area, found it impossible to cross. They then took 140 civilians hostage and used them as human shields. As the Chasseurs ardennais managed to continue to harass the German positions with great precision, and crossing remained impossible, a grenade exploded among the hostages, killing 27. News of what happened at Vinkt would cause an additional one million to flee south or even west. By the middle of June, according to Red Cross figures, 30% of the Belgian population had left the country.
Prime Minister Pierlot and Foreign Minister Spaak unsuccessfully attempt to persuade King Leopold to escape to France or UK, then they depart for London for consultations.
Belgian Prime Minister Pierlot and Foreign Minister Spaak arrive in London for consultations.
Luftwaffe bombing in support of ground assault at Calais is intercepted by RAF fighters based in England. The focus of operations by both sides is the Channel Ports, and there are savage air battles above Calais especially. The Luftwaffe sends in Stukas to pound the ground troops, and RAF fighters are there to defend. The RAF is operating exclusively from England now.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 42 aircraft to attack German positions during the day.
At 1032, destroyer HMS Greyhound was ordered to patrol between Dover and Calais and await orders. Greyhound and sister-ship HMS Grafton suffered damage to their directors from near misses of air bombs. Later, Greyhound bombarded the Calais suburb of St Pierre, but a German three inch battery east of Sangetti hit her once. Temporary Lt Sir M C H F J Blennerhassett Bt RNVR and one rating were killed, and three crew, including Lt Cdr H E F Tweedie, were wounded. Lt J P Pigot-Moodie died of wounds on 4 August. Both destroyers arrived back at Dover before midnight.
Early on the 25th, destroyer HMS Wolfhound, after bombarding German targets off Calais, arrived at Calais to disembark ammunition for the British troops. Also aboard was Vice Admiral Somerville which had come to Calais to inform Brigadier Nicholson that there would be no evacuation from Calais.
Late on the 25th, destroyers HMS Verity and HMS Windsor escorted the six minesweepers, trawlers, yachts clearing the evacuation route to Calais. Captain Armed Patrol Boats was also in the area with six drifters. While at sea, the ships were advised that the evacuation was cancelled and the destroyers covered the minesweepers’ retirement. The ships returned to Dover and Harwich by dawn in the absence of orders.
Destroyer HMS Vega (Cdr C I Horton), patrol sloops HMS Mallard, HMS Widgeon, and HMS Sheldrake, and minesweepers HMS Fitzroy, HMS Sutton, and HMS Saltash departed Sheerness on the 24th with blockships Florentino (1822grt, Cdr G.A. Garnons-Williams in charge of the operation) and Transea (1499grt) for Zeebrugge in Operation EF, also known as Operation LYSTER. Patrol sloop Shearwater joined from convoy escort and relieved sloop Widgeon shortly after sailing. Motor torpedo boats MTB.15 and MTB.16 and minesweeping trawlers Clythness and Lord Grey also took part in this operation. Patrol sloop HMS Shearwater attacked a submarine contact at 51-21.5N, 2-46E. The attempt failed the night of 24/25 May when Florentino accidentally ran aground out of the channel and Transea, not seeing the error, scuttled herself nearby. MTB 15 and MTB.16 took off the crews of the blockships. Destroyer Vega, sloops Mallard, Shearwater, and Sheldrake, and MTB 14, and MTB.15, most of the original force, less the minesweepers, returned the night of 26/27 May with blockships Atlantic Guide (1943grt) and Borodino (2004grt) which were originally designated for Ostend, Operation DF. The blockships sank between 0642 and 0655/27th and Zeebrugge harbor was blocked, their crews rescued by MTB.14 and MTB.15. Destroyer Vega escorting Dutch submarine O 13 off Zeebrugge was unsuccessfully attacked by German motor torpedo boats which claimed sinking both ships. Destroyer Vega was also attacked by German bombers and damaged by near misses. She was taken to Dover and repaired completing on 3 June.
Minesweeper HMS Harrier, minesweeping off Zeebrugge, was attacked by German bombers. One hit and five near misses badly damaged the minesweeper. The hit entered through the upper deck and passed out through the port side. Minesweeper HMS Harrier arrived in the Thames on the 27th was repaired completing on 9 July.
Motor torpedo boat MTB.22 from Harwich joined motor torpedo boat MTB.25 off Dover, then both proceeded to Dunkirk. The boats brought back twenty to thirty members of the Belgian government. On arrival back at Dover, MTB.25 proceeded to Harwich.
Minesweeping trawler HMS Charles Boyes (290grt, Temporary Skipper G.Reynolds RNR) was sunk on a mine off the east coast of England. Reynolds, Temporary Skipper W. Gregson RNR, thirteen ratings were missing from the trawler.
British steamer Spinel (680grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk. Her crew of nine was rescued. On 4 July, she was salvaged by German forces and taken in prize.
French auxiliary minesweepers La Jeannine (49grt) and La Trombe II (tons) were sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.
Panamanian tanker Joseph Seep (7088grt) was sunk in a mining off Le Havre Roads. The entire crew in life rafts from the tanker was towed to safety by a lifeboat from Norwegian steamer Lystaad.
The French aircraft carrier Béarn made rendezvous with light cruisers Jeanne d’Arc and Émile Bertin in the Atlantic Ocean and transferred French central bank gold bullions to the light cruisers, which would carry them to Canada.
The French lightship Dyck sank off Calais, Pas-de-Calais. She was attacked by 3 German planes at 4 n. m. NE of her home port by bomb and machine gun. She sank without casualties. The crew was rescued by the patrol Joseph Marie
Allied HQ in Norway receives orders for evacuation. Colonel Gubbins is informed about Operation Alphabet, the plan to evacuate Norway. This means there is no longer a reason for fanatical resistance since he has to fall back to Bodø to be taken off anyway.
German 2nd Mountain Division pushes northward from Mo i Rana toward Bodø, Norway. The 2nd Mountain Division closes up on the improvised British defenses as it advances through the Saltdal. They attack on the east side of the river. The line holds through the day, but the Germans shift their attack to the west side and make some progress.
Luftwaffe transports drop 99 mountain troops with minimal parachute training to reinforce German forces around Narvik.
Mobile Naval Base Ship HMS Mashobra (Temporary Lt Cdr P. Taylor RNR) was bombed and badly damaged in German bombing near Harstad, and run aground to prevent her from sinking. No men killed, but several, including Temporary Paymaster Lt W H Reed RNR were wounded.
Light cruiser HMS Southampton was near missed by German bombing at Harstad, but only sustained splinter damage.
Swedish steamers Dahlia (1078grt), Lygia (1480grt),and Brita (1345grt) were seized by German forces at Bergen. Dahlia was renamed Johannes Willi in German service, Lygia renamed Malmedy, and Brita renamed Desiderius Siedler.
The Norwegian cargo ship Tennessee (5,667 grt) was in collision with Baron Fairlie in the North Sea and was beached northwest of Copinsay, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom. Salvage attempt were abandoned and she was declared a total loss.
The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Glorious continues her approach to the Narvik area.
There are refugees in Paris not only from northern France but also from the eastern portions of the country. Lille is largely abandoned, with entire families carrying whatever they can of their possessions. There continue to be reports of the Luftwaffe strafing refugee columns, which is a war crime under any definition.
The BEF is expending massive amounts of ammunition, so British ammunition plants have around-the-clock shifts.
British trade union executives accepted Aneurin Bevan’s proposal for the Labour Supply Board and Production Council.
The first transport of prisoners arrived at the Mauthausen-Gusen Concentration Camp in occupied Austria region of southern Germany.
Irish Free State Premier Eamon de Valera announced tonight formation of a new volunteer force for “local security work” in Ireland (Eire). “We are within the war zone,” he said in an address to his Fianna Fail party followers at a meeting in Galway City. “We must prepare to defend the liberties we have won.”
After several Soviet soldiers had disappeared from Soviet garrisons in Lithuania, Soviet Foreign Commissar Vyacheslav Molotov accused the Lithuanians of provocations.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches aircraft to attack various targets overnight.
Aircraft carriers HMS Ark Royal (Vice Admiral Aircraft Carriers) and HMS Furious with destroyers HMS Antelope, HMS Campbell, HMS Amazon, HMS Encounter, and HMS Viscount departed Scapa Flow at 1545 for the Clyde. Shortly after sailing, destroyer HMS Volunteer departed Scapa Flow at 1615 and relieved HMS Encounter which proceeded to Rosyth for boiler cleaning and repairs. The Ark Royal group safely arrived in the Clyde at 1600/26th.
HMS Illustrious, having passed her acceptance trials, is officially commissioned into the Royal Navy. She will remain at Devonport for minor alterations until 2 June. Thoughts are given to committing her to the Norwegian Campaign, but cooler heads prevail, and she will instead embark on a shakedown cruise to the West Indies.
Captain Richard F. J. Onslow was named the commanding officer of HMS Hermes, relieving Captain F. E. P. Hutton.
Convoy OG.31F was made from convoys OA.153GF, which departed Southend on the 22nd escorted by destroyer HMS Mackay, OB.153GF, which departed Liverpool on the 22nd escorted by sloops HMS Enchantress and HMS Leith, of fifty five ships. Submarine H.31 accompanied convoy OA.153GF on passage to Portsmouth. Sloop Enchantress escorted the convoy on the 25th. Destroyer Mackay escorted the convoy from 25 to 27 May. Sloop Leith escorted the convoy from 25 to 28 May and then was detached to convoy HG.32F. Destroyer HMS Watchman joined on the 28th and escorted the convoy to Gibraltar, where it arrived on the 30th.
Convoy SA.42 arrived at St Malo from Southampton.
Convoy FN.180 departed Southend, escorted by sloop HMS Hastings. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 27th.
Convoy MT.73 departed Methil, escorted by sloop HMS Londonderry. The convoy arrived at the Tyne, later that day.
Convoy FS.179 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloop HMS Londonderry. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 27th.
The War at Sea, Saturday, 25 May 1940 (naval-history.net)
Aircraft carriers ARK ROYAL (Vice Admiral Aircraft Carriers) and FURIOUS with destroyers ANTELOPE, CAMPBELL, AMAZON, ENCOUNTER, and VISCOUNT departed Scapa Flow at 1545 for the Clyde. Shortly after sailing, destroyer VOLUNTEER departed Scapa Flow at 1615 and relieved ENCOUNTER which proceeded to Rosyth for boiler cleaning and repairs. The ARK ROYAL group safely arrived in the Clyde at 1600/26th.
Destroyer FURY and a second destroyer departed Scapa Flow at 1000 to investigate Italian steamers BARBANA C. (6161grt) and ANDREA (5152grt) anchored in Saviskaill Bay, Westray Firth, Orkneys. Anti-submarine trawler HUGH WALPOLE had been ordered to this location on the 24th, but was unable to make contact due to very thick fog. The Italian steamers were escorted by destroyer FURY to Kirkwall for inspection. FURY arrived back at Scapa Flow at 1915.
Destroyers BEDOUIN and FOXHOUND departed the Clyde at 1550 for Scapa Flow. En route, they conducted an anti-submarine sweep from North Channel to Lower Minch, then from North Minch to Pentland Firth, arriving at Scapa Flow at 1745/26th.
Destroyer KELVIN departed the Tyne at 1715 after refit and repairs, and called at Rosyth for tests on the DG range.
Destroyer WARWICK departed Greenock for Liverpool where she arrived at 0130/26th.
Polish submarine ORP ORZEŁ (Lt Cdr J. Grudzinski ORP), which had departed Rosyth on patrol on the 23rd, was lost in mining off the southwest coast of Norway.
French depot ship JULES VERNE and submarines SYBILLE, CALYPSO, and THETIS arrived at Dundee.
French submarine ACHILLE and minelayer POLLUX departed Rosyth for Cherbourg.
Submarine SEVERN departed Rosyth for patrol off Stadlandet, but had to return to Dundee to effect repairs to a leaking conning tower hatch. She was able to depart later that same day.
Mobile Naval Base Ship MASHOBRA (Temporary Lt Cdr P. Taylor RNR) was bombed and badly damaged in German bombing near Harstad, and run aground to prevent her from sinking. No men killed, but several, including Temporary Paymaster Lt W H Reed RNR were wounded.
Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON was near missed by German bombing at Harstad, but only sustained splinter damage.
Anti-submarine trawler CAPE WARWICK reported making a strong contact at position 7.5 miles 108° from Auskerry. After attacks on a stationary target, she proceeded to join her convoy and anti-submarine trawler SCALBY WYKE was sent from Kirkwall to remain over it until 1727/26th.
Anti-submarine trawlers JUNIPER, HAZEL, and WHITEHORN of the 19th Anti-Submarine Striking Force departed Scapa Flow with oilers COWRIE and SYLVAFIELD and collier KIRKWOOD for the Clyde. A second collier was to join them from Stornoway.
Minesweeping Group 14 of minesweeping trawlers EPINE, THEIR MERIT, CARDIFF CASTLE, and STAR OF ORKNEY departed Scapa Flow for Yarmouth.
Swedish steamers DAHLIA (1078grt), LYGIA (1480grt), and BRITA (1345grt) were seized by German forces at Bergen. DAHLIA was renamed JOHANNES WILLI in German service, LYGIA renamed MALMEDY, and BRITA renamed DESIDERIUS SIEDLER.
German operation BIENE was successfully completed by the 181st Infantry Division against a British communications centre on Alsten Island near Mosjoen.
At 1032, destroyer GREYHOUND was ordered to patrol between Dover and Calais and await orders. GREYHOUND and sister-ship GRAFTON suffered damage to their directors from near misses of air bombs. Later, GREYHOUND bombarded the Calais suburb of St Pierre, but a German three-inch battery east of Sangetti hit her once. Temporary Lt Sir M C H F J Blennerhassett Bt RNVR and one rating were killed, and three crew, including Lt Cdr H E F Tweedie, were wounded. Lt J P Pigot-Moodie died of wounds on 4 August. Both destroyers arrived back at Dover before midnight.
Light cruisers GALATEA and ARETHUSA arrived at Sheerness.
Early on the 25th, destroyer WOLFHOUND, after bombarding German targets off Calais, arrived at Calais to disembark ammunition for the British troops. Also aboard was Vice Admiral Somerville which had come to Calais to inform Brigadier Nicholson that there would be no evacuation from Calais.
Late on the 25th, destroyers VERITY and WINDSOR escorted the six minesweepers, trawlers, yachts clearing the evacuation route to Calais. Captain Armed Patrol Boats was also in the area with six drifters. While at sea, the ships were advised that the evacuation was cancelled and the destroyers covered the minesweepers’ retirement. The ships returned to Dover and Harwich by dawn in the absence of orders.
Destroyer JACKAL at 0215 attacked a submarine contact in 52-15N, 2-00E, and destroyers GALLANT, JAGUAR, and JAVELIN joined in the search for U-9, but without success. The submarine escaped.
Destroyer VEGA (Cdr C I Horton), patrol sloops MALLARD, WIDGEON, and SHELDRAKE, and minesweepers FITZROY, SUTTON, and SALTASH departed Sheerness on the 24th with blockships FLORENTINO (1822grt, Cdr G.A. Garnons-Williams in charge of the operation) and TRANSEA (1499grt) for Zeebrugge in Operation EF, also known as Operation LYSTER. Patrol sloop SHEARWATER joined from convoy escort and relieved sloop WIDGEON shortly after sailing. Motor torpedo boats MTB.15 and MTB.16 and minesweeping trawlers CLYTHNESS and LORD GREY also took part in this operation.
Patrol sloop SHEARWATER attacked a submarine contact in 51-21. 5N, 2-46E.
The attempt failed the night of 24/25 May when FLORENTINO accidentally ran aground out of the channel and TRANSEA, not seeing the error, scuttled herself nearby. MTB 15 and MTB.16 took off the crews of the blockships.
Destroyer VEGA, sloops MALLARD, SHEARWATER, and SHELDRAKE, and MTB 14, MTB.15, most of the original force, less the minesweepers, returned the night of 26/27 May with blockships ATLANTIC GUIDE (1943grt) and BORODINO (2004grt) which were originally designated for Ostend, Operation DF.
The blockships sank between 0642 and 0655/27th and Zeebrugge harbour was blocked, their crews rescued by MTB.14 and MTB.15.
Destroyer VEGA escorting Dutch submarine O 13 off Zeebrugge was unsuccessfully attacked by German motor torpedo boats which claimed sinking both ships.
Destroyer VEGA was also attacked by German bombers and damaged by near misses. She was taken to Dover and repaired completing on 3 June.
Minesweeping HARRIER, minesweeping off Zeebrugge, was attacked by German bombers.
One hit and five near misses badly damaged the minesweeper. The hit entered through the upper deck and passed out through the port side.
Minesweeper HARRIER arrived in the Thames on the 27th was repaired completing on 9 July.
Motor torpedo boat MTB.22 from Harwich joined motor torpedo boat MTB.25 off Dover, then both proceeded to Dunkirk.
The boats brought back twenty to thirty members of the Belgian government.
On arrival back at Dover, MTB.25 proceeded to Harwich.
Minesweeping trawler CHARLES BOYES (290grt, Temporary Skipper G.Reynolds RNR) was sunk on a mine off the east coast of England.
Reynolds, Temporary Skipper W. Gregson RNR, thirteen ratings were missing from the trawler.
British steamer SPINEL (680grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.
Her crew of nine was rescued.
On 4 July, she was salved by German forces and taken in prize.
French auxiliary minesweepers LA JEANNINE (49grt) and LA TROMBE II (tons) were sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.
Panamanian tanker JOSEPH SEEP (7088grt) was sunk in a mining off Le Havre Roads.
The entire crew in liferafts from the tanker were towed to safety by a lifeboat from Norwegian steamer LYSTAAD.
Convoy OG.31F was made from convoys OA.153GF, which departed Southend on the 22nd escorted by destroyer MACKAY, and OB.153GF, which departed Liverpool on the 22nd escorted by sloops ENCHANTRESS and LEITH, of fifty-five ships.
Submarine H.31 accompanied convoy OA.153GF on passage to Portsmouth.
Sloop ENCHANTRESS escorted the convoy on the 25th.
Destroyer MACKAY escorted the convoy from 25 to 27 May.
Sloop LEITH escorted the convoy from 25 to 28 May and then was detached to convoy HG.32F.
Destroyer WATCHMAN joined on the 28th and escorted the convoy to Gibraltar, where it arrived on the 30th.
Convoy SA.42 arrived at St Malo from Southampton.
Convoy FN.180 departed Southend, escorted by sloop HASTINGS. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 27th.
Convoy MT.73 departed Methil, escorted by sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at the Tyne, later that day.
Convoy FS.179 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 27th.
President Roosevelt will form a special emergency body of government officials and private individuals representing the various segments of national life to coordinate the national defense program, the White House announced today. It is the President’s present intention to call experts in transportation, communication, industrial, production, finance, labor and consumers “so that all groups that go to make up the pattern of American life will be represented,” Stephen Early, secretary to the President, said.
The President has decided to keep “flexible” the plan for coordinating preparedness efforts so that it can be modified in the light of changing conditions. He has not yet decided upon details, offices, or names, Mr. Early said. He added that people outside as well as inside the government were making suggestions regarding the coordination body and its personnel. The projected organization was referred to by the President’s secretary as a “national defense emergency coordination group.”
It was made clear that the President did not regard the White House announcement today as marking a change of defense plans to meet criticism of his refusal to appoint a war industries board to direct industrial mobilization. On the contrary, Mr. Early said the outside experts invited to Washington “will not supersede any one in the government but will work with them.”
“The President is very anxious to avoid any upsetting of American life and, as far as possible, to prevent the highs and lows that prevailed during the World War,” Mr. Early stated. In other words, he wants to keep prices from soaring, to give the producers a reasonable profit and to prevent the consumers from having to pay unreasonably high prices — that applies to foodstuffs, housing problems and the necessities of life. Through these gentlemen whom the President expects to invite to come in and take their part with. the government will come about the coordination of government and American life both as a whole and as it divides itself through the representatives whom he will select. The President is working personally on the plan and various persons are providing memoranda for him. The plan itself has to be very carefully coordinated. People outside the government are giving the President advice and he is receiving many suggestions through telegrams and the mails.”
Mr. Roosevelt canceled all engagements today and isolated himself in the oval White House study to work on his “fireside chat” on national defense to be delivered to the nation over major broadcasting networks at 10:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time tomorrow.
Against the somber background of the battle in Flanders, President Roosevelt’s radio talk tomorrow night on the state of the Union and its preparedness to defend itself in a war takes on deep significance. Irrespective of Franco-British or German fortunes swaying uncertainly in the balance from hour to hour, the unfolding story of that battle gives Mr. Roosevelt an opportunity to point its defense moral for American ears. And that moral is this: In Poland, in Norway, in Holland, in Belgium, in France and even at sea around England, a terrible price in blood and treasure has been and is being paid for inadequate readiness for defense.
The American public is overwhelmingly (86%) in support of President Roosevelt’s billion-dollar emergency defense program, according to the results so far of a nation-wide survey being conducted by the American Institute of Public Opinion, Dr. George Gallup, director of the institute, reports.
A subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee recommended this action today:
That all aliens in the United States be required to register at post offices and be fingerprinted within four months, with automatic deportation as the penalty for failure to register. The number of aliens is estimated at 4,000,000.
The compulsory deportation of aliens who have knowingly encouraged other aliens to enter the United States illegally, or who have been convicted of carrying or possessing arms, and certain other crimes and misdemeanors, or who advocate the overthrow of the United States Government by violence. The term “alien” would attach to every foreigner who has not actually completed his naturalization.
That the publication or distribution of books, pamphlets or other literature advising the nation’s armed forces to disobey their superiors or advocating the violent overthrow of government be made unlawful. The penalty would be ten years in prison, or $10,000 fine or both.
That all aliens seeking entry into the United States be fingerprinted.
Senator Byrnes, South Carolina Democrat, an administration supporter, declared today that Alf M. Landon had “misrepresented” the Republican Party when he called on President Roosevelt to renounce any third term intention to strengthen the president’s position for national defense. Strong: support for Landon’s stand came, however, from Senator Vandenberg, Michigan Republican, a presidential aspirant. “I happen to agree,” Vandenberg told reporters shortly after Byrnes had made his statement, “that a Presidential denial of a third term drive would be the greatest invitation to unity which the country might enjoy.”
A unit of the newly formed US Marine Corps Defense Battalions began the Minor Landing and Base Defense Exercise at San Clemente Island, California, United States.
MLB outfielder Stan Musial (19) weds his high school sweetheart Lillian Labash in Daytona Beach.
Major League Baseball:
A single, double, and home run in machine-gun style before a man was out in the first inning enabled the Cardinals to break the Reds’ hold on them today. The hits — by Eddie Lake, Stu Martin and Enos Slaughter successively — gave the Cards enough runs for their first victory of the year over the Reds in the nightcap of a doubleheader after they had dropped the opener to Bucky Walters, the Reds’ and National League’s most valuable player. The first game score was 7–2, and the second, 5–1. By dividing the double-header, the Reds dropped out of a deadlock for the National League lead with the Dodgers and fell into second place.
The Pirates celebrated their homecoming from a disastrous road trip today by pouncing on four Cub pitchers to win, 12–7, and end a five-game losing streak. It was their seventh victory in twenty-five games. The Pirates went ahead in the first inning on Arky Vaughan’s three-run homer off Larry French, who was charged with the loss, and salted away the game in the five-run sixth.
The White Sox’s winning streak was snapped after five games today by the heavy-hitting Tigers, who won, 10–4, to even the series at one each. Detroit pounded Jack Knott, Pete Appleton and Clint Brown for a total of 17 hits. The Sox produced 10 hits. Dizzy Trout, who was credited with the victory, was hammered from the box in the sixth, but the Sox could do nothing much with the offerings of Al Benton.
Dutch Leonard gained his fifth victory of the season today as the Senators downed the Athletics, 4–2. The Washington knuckleballer allowed only seven hits, walked none and struck out three. His mound opponent, Chubby Dean, hurled creditably, but the Senators bunched their hits on him and his teammates committed two errors.
Detroit Tigers 10, Chicago White Sox 4
St. Louis Cardinals 2, Cincinnati Reds 7
St. Louis Cardinals 5, Cincinnati Reds 1
Chicago Cubs 7, Pittsburgh Pirates 12
Philadelphia Athletics 2, Washington Senators 4
Mexico City Police Lieutenant Jesus Rodriguez Casas and five of his men have been arrested in connection with yesterday’s attempt to slay the exiled Communist leader, Leon Trotsky, it was learned tonight.
Crown Prince Yi Un was made the commanding officer of the Japanese 4th Division.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 114.75 (+0.81)
Born:
Clifton McNeil, NFL flanker and wide receiver (NFL Champions-Browns, 1964; Pro Bowl, 1968; Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Houston Oilers), in Mobile, Alabama.
Charley Mitchell, AFL halfback and cornerback (Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills), in McNary, Arizona.
Deanna Dunagan, American actress (“the Visit”), in Monahans, Texas.
Died:
Joe De Grasse, 67, Canadian film director.
Naval Construction:
The Royal Navy Shakespeare-class minesweeping trawler HMS Celia (T 134) is laid down by Cochrane & Sons Shipbuilders Ltd. (Selby, U.K.); completed by Amos & Smith.
The Вое́нно-морско́й флот СССР (ВМФ) (Soviet Navy) “M” (Malyutka)-class (4th group, Type XV) submarine M-202 is laid down by Sudomekh (Leningrad, U.S.S.R.) / Yard 196.
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IID U-boats U-149 and U-150, are laid down by Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel (werk 278 and 279).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boat U-452 is laid down by Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel (werk 283).
The Royal Navy Hunt-class (Type I) escort destroyer HMS Bedale is laid down by Hawthorn Leslie & Co. (Hebburn-on-Tyne, U.K.). In 1942 she will be transferred to the Polish navy and become the ORP Slazak.
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IXB U-boat U-104 is launched by AG Weser, Bremen (werk 967).
The Royal Navy Flower-class corvette HMS Asphodel (K 56) is launched by George Brown & Co. (Greenock, Scotland); completed by Kincaid.
The U.S. Navy Gleaves-class destroyer USS Gwin (DD-433) is launched by the Boston Navy Yard (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.).
The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (87), lead ship of her class of 3, is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Captain Denis William Boyd, DSC, RN.
History Diaries 