The Battle of Dunkirk began.
Adolf Hitler rescinded the order to halt the offensive near Dunkirk. Hitler ends the “stop order,” authorizing “armored groups and infantry divisions in direction Tournai-Dunkirk.”
In the morning Calais Nord and the Citadel were pounded by artillery and 200 German bombers. Still, the defenders resisted for several hours. About mid-afternoon, the Germans finally forced the bridges over the canal and advanced into Calais Nord. On the other side of the harbor, they captured the Gare Maritime causing the citadel to be surrounded.
At first light, fifteen small Royal Navy vessels arrive towing boats for an evacuation — though no evacuation has been ordered. In fact, one of the ships delivers a message to the commanding officer, Brigadier Nicholson, to continue fighting. Unlike 24 hours previously, Nicholson is worn out and sees clearly the direction in which the battle is heading. He reports that the Germans are in the north end of town and he has no more tanks or other basic necessities.
The German bombardment also begins at around the same time, 05:00. The completion of the capture of nearby Boulogne has freed additional artillery for Calais, doubling General Schaal’s firepower. There also are mass Stuka attacks, followed by armored attacks. The Allied line finally breaks around 13:30, when Bastion 11 manned by French volunteers out of ammunition, falls. That sets in motion the final Allied collapse, and the Germans are soon across the defensive canals and in the city streets. The commander of the British forces, Brigadier Claude Nicholson, surrenders to Brigadier General Ferdinand Schaal at 16:00. The Germans take 3500 prisoners, and only 200 wounded escape on the boats. With Calais having fallen, the panzers immediately turn and head toward Dunkirk.
The position of the Belgian army is becoming increasingly grave. It is clear that it is unable to stay in the fight for much longer. German Sixth Army continues pressing against the Belgian troops holding the northern side of the Allied line. The BEF has to send reinforcements to prevent a breakthrough. It is clear that the Belgian Army – an irreplaceable part of the defensive perimeter – is on its last legs. The Belgians and British reinforcements struggle to hold Izegem, Nevele, and Ronsele, while the elite Chasseurs Ardennais stand like a rock. The Belgian reserves go into battle, and auxiliary troops are formed in the rear. The Belgians flood the canals to serve as tank traps. The Belgians tell the French at noon that “the Army has nearly reached the limits of its endurance.”
Elsewhere, the French 1st Army was nearly encircled by the Germans, while the Belgians were pushed back to the Leie River.
General Maxime Weygand issues Ordre Général d’ Operation No. 1184 3/FT: “The battle on which the fate of the country depends will be fought without any idea of retreat, on the line which we hold today.”
The German 18th Army and 6th Army continue attacking the Belgian Army and British Expeditionary Force from Bruges to Ypres.
On this Sunday, The German Army (Heer) 225th Division again took civilian hostages both at the Meigem and Vinkt church, and at various farms in the neighbourhood. Some hostages were killed on the spot, but the most horrible event happened at Meigem church, where an explosion killed another 27 hostages. Initially the Germans reported that a Belgium artillery barrage was responsible, but survivors reported the German troops threw grenades into the church.
British forces are continuing to fall back on Dunkirk. The British fall back on Dunkirk without asking permission or even informing their allies. It is particularly noticeable around Lille, where it opens a gap in the line otherwise manned by the Belgians and French on either side. The Belgians are forced to fall further back themselves, while the French 1st Army essentially becomes encircled.
The British withdrawal and the Belgian weakness becomes a virtuous cycle – for the Wehrmacht. It becomes apparent by 18:00 that the British are pulling back on the Lille-Ypres sector. Meanwhile, Belgian morale plunges. King Leopold, informed of all of these movements, prepares to move his headquarters to Middelkerke. He is running out of territory to command.
The French recapture some of the German bridgeheads over the Somme — but not all of them.
Prince Wilhelm of Prussia, 33, son of Wilhelm, German Crown Prince, perishes of wounds sustained in France.
In the evening the order was issued to begin Operation DYNAMO, the evacuation from Dunkirk. Vice Admiral Bertram Ramsay, who commanded the Royal Navy forces based at Dover, was appointed to command the operation. The scope of the operation was not made clear to the local French commanders at first and they felt that they were being abandoned. By this date, some 28,000 men had already departed by sea. Initial DYNAMO plans called for the recovery of some 45,000 men (less than a quarter of the B.E.F.) from the BEF within two days, at which time German troops were expected to block further evacuation. Only 25,000 men escaped during this period, including 7,669 on the first day.
The evacuation of Dunkirk starts. Spitfires as well as Hurricanes are used to cover the operation. 2,739 sorties are flown, 106 fighters are lost. Admiral Bertram Ramsey, in charge of Royal Navy forces at Dover, takes command of the operation.
Vice-Marshal Keith Park, commander of RAF No. 11 Group in southeast England, allocates 16 fighter squadrons to establish air supremacy over Dunkirk at one time, with others held in reserve.
German Admiral Otto Schniewind, Chief of Staff of the Seekriegsleitung (Maritime Warfare Command), reaches a conclusion: “Evacuation of (BEF) troops without equipment …. is conceivable by means of large numbers of smaller vessels …. even from the open coast.”
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 43 aircraft to attack German positions around Dunkirk during the day
Luftwaffe fighter pilot Max-Hellmuth Ostermann scores his second victory
Light cruiser HMS Galatea screened by destroyer HMS Grafton departed Sheerness at 0440 and bombarded German targets at Calais from 0700 to 1000. Destroyers HMS Wolsey and HMS Wolfhound bombarded Calais. Light cruiser HMS Arethusa departed Sheerness at 1537. Screened by destroyer Grafton, the light cruiser bombarded German targets later in the day until 2030 when poor visibility due to fog forced stopping the bombardment. A Swordfish spotting for light cruiser Galatea was attacked by German fighters. S/Lt J. B. Kiddle and Naval Airman 1st Class V. S. A. Moore were unhurt, but Lt G.N. Beaumont was thrown from the plane and lost during evasive maneuvers.
Minesweeping trawler HMS Maretta (350grt) was damaged by the near misses of German bombing at Calais. The minesweeper was towed by Dover by minesweeping trawler Kingston Galena.
Destroyer HMS Wild Swan on two trips to Dunkirk escorted British steamers Maid Of Orleans (2386grt) and Canterbury (2910grt) from Dover to Dunkirk. Destroyer Wild Swan departed Dunkirk early on the 27th escorting Maid Of Orleans, Canterbury, and Mona’s Queen (2756grt) to Dover and French steamer Rouen (1182grt) leaving for Cherbourg. Returning to Dover, destroyer Wild Swan was damaged by a bombing near miss which damaged her screws. She proceeded to Tilbury for repairs from 29 May to 4 June.
French auxiliary minesweeper Dijonnais (389grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.
French steamer Saint Camille (3274grt) was sunk by German bombing off Dunkirk.
French steamer Ceres (3073grt) was sunk by German bombing between Rouen and Dunkirk.
Belgian dredger Volkracht IV (300grt) was sunk by a mine in the Zeebrugge Canal.
British and Norwegian force withdrawing toward Bodø, Norway. Colonel Gubbins, knowing that further defense is pointless due to Operation Alphabet, withdraws his defensive line to the ferry port of Rognan. The Irish Guard makes a fighting withdrawal, leaving behind (destroying) supplies. At the port, they take ferries across the fjord — just barely leaving ahead of the Germans when the ferry breaks down. He receives air cover from a new RAF base at Bodø, which is the first RAF presence in the vicinity.
Luftwaffe transports drop 81 troops of 1st Fallschirmjaeger Regiment to reinforce German forces around Narvik.
Anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Curlew (Captain B. C. B. Brooke), en route to Skaanland, was badly damaged by German bombing on the 26th in Ofotfjord off Narvik, Nordland, Norway by Junkers Ju 88 aircraft and run aground a total loss. Paymaster Cdr William Yates, Paymaster S/Lt D. H.Jackson, Temporary Paymaster S/Lt A. M. L.Merry RNVR, Acting S/Lt H.N. Hinge RNVR, five ratings were killed on the cruiser. The survivors from Curlew were ferried to destroyer HMS Beagle which took them to Harstad.
Boom defense vessel HMS Loch Shin (255grt, Temporary Boom Skipper H.Sizer RNR) was badly damaged by German bombing at Harstad. She was beached to prevent sinking, but capsized and sank.
British tanker Oleander (7048grt) was badly damaged by German bombing at Harstad. The tanker’s crew of thirty eight, and one gunner, was rescued. She was run aground on the 27th to prevent sinking.
Aircraft carrier HMS Glorious flew Hurricanes of 46 Squadron ashore to Skaanland near Narvik for local defense duties. The runway is sod, but Hawker Hurricanes are sturdy planes. HMS Glorious remains off Narvik to offer some element of air cover for the Fleet.
Late on the 26th, light cruiser HMS Southampton, anti-aircraft cruisers HMS Coventry and HMS Cairo, and destroyers HMS Firedrake, HMS Fame, and HMS Beagle bombarded Narvik.
Light cruiser HMS Southampton was again splinter damaged by the near misses of German bombing at Harstad.
The Norwegian coaster Vansø struck a mine laid by the French submarine Rubis and sank off Svånes near Egersund, Norway.
In Britain, Empire Day was declared as a national day of prayer. A special service attended by King George VI was held in Westminster Abbey. Throughout the country, people prayed for the safety of the troops. The Archbishop of Canterbury led prayers “for our soldiers in dire peril in France”. Similar prayers were offered in synagogues and churches throughout the UK that day, confirming to the public their suspicion of the desperate plight of the troops.
In the United Kingdom, General Sir John Dill became Chief of the Imperial General Staff and Sir Edmund Ironside became Commander-in-Chief of Home Defense. While done politely, and with Ironside putting the best positive spin about it in his diary, there is an element of scapegoating for the disastrous course of the battle on the Continent. In addition, Ironside has proven undiplomatic with the French.
United Kingdom government declared the coastal regions from Folkestone to Great Yarmouth designated evacuation areas.
Belgian Prime Minister Pierlot and Foreign Minister Spaak meet with Churchill in London
Reynaud makes brief visit to London for consultations with Churchill and others
No. 11 Group RAF, responsible for the fighter defense of London and southeast England, under the command of Vice-Marshal Keith Park, assigned 16 squadrons to the protection of Dunkirk. A total of 32 squadrons would participate in the defense of the Dunkirk evacuation, although they were rotated to provide rest periods and preserve aircraft for the inevitable defense of Britain.
Sir John Greer Dill became Chief of the Imperial General Staff. His predecessor General Sir Edmund Ironside took over as Commander in Chief of Home Forces.
Benito Mussolini met with Army Chief of Staff Pietro Badoglio and Air Marshal Italo Balbo in Rome. Mussolini told them that Italy would have to enter the war soon if it wanted a place at the peace conference table when the spoils were divided up. Mussolini tells Badoglio and Balbo that he intends to enter the war on Germany’s side: “I need a few thousand dead so as to be able to attend the peace conference as a belligerent.” Badoglio tactfully tried to explain that Italy was still unprepared for war, pointing out that there were not even enough shirts for all the soldiers. Mussolini snapped back, “History cannot be reckoned by the number of shirts.” He set June 5 as the date for the Italian invasion of France.
The signs of approaching intervention by Italy on the side of Germany were stronger than ever today. The circulation of all vehicles using gasoline, including private automobiles, motorcycles and motor boats, is to cease on June 1 except for those with special permits. Premier Mussolini held two highly significant conferences at the Palazzo Venezia. The first was with four generals — Camillo Grossi, Alfredo Guzzoni, Bergia and Angelo Rossi — as well as Lieutenant Colonel Renato Piacentini of the War Ministry’s mobilization department. The second was with the heads of the Odero, Terni and Ansaldo armament works, to whom the Premier “laid down a program of artillery construction.” Marshal Rodolfo Graziani, Chief of Staff of the Italian Army, and General Ubaldo Soddu, Under-Secretary of War, were present at both conferences.
The whole of Egypt will be blacked out at night in the future instead of only along the sea front. Both at Alexandria and at Cairo this move has naturally given rise to many rumors.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches aircraft to attack various targets overnight.
Armed merchant cruiser HMS Asturias, which had arrived at Gibraltar on the 22nd, was damaged when a fire broke out in the ship at 0200/26th at Gibraltar. The fire took thirty hours to control by local fire authorities and parties from destroyers HMS Velox and HMS Vidette.
With Italy threatening to enter the war at any time, Australian troop convoy US 3 was ordered to Capetown while still in the Indian Ocean, rather that risking a passage through the Red Sea. On 20 May, Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra of the US 3 escort was relieved by heavy cruiser HMS Shropshire. Australian heavy cruiser Canberra returned to Australia. On the 26th, the convoy and her escorts arrived at Capetown. On the 31st, convoy US 3, less troopship Empress Of Japan (26,032grt), departed Capetown with heavy cruisers Shropshire and HMS Cumberland for Freetown arriving on 7 June.
Another attempt to improve relations between Britain and Spain will begin this week with the arrival of Sir Samuel Hoare as British Ambassador and special envoy.
German U-boat U-13 departed Kiel, Germany.
German U-boat U-48 departed Kiel, Germany.
HMS Eagle arrived in the Mediterranean Sea.
Destroyer HMCS Fraser departed Bermuda for UK
At 1600, Vice-Admiral Wells’ Royal Navy carrier force arrives in the Clyde, docking at Greenock. HMS Ark Royal needs to replenish her sorely depleted ammunition and stores. HMS Furious, in need of further repairs; will play no further role in the Norwegian Campaign
Convoy OA.155G departs Southend.
Convoy OB.155 departs Liverpool.
Convoy FN.181 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer HMS Vivien. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 28th.
Convoy MT.74 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer HMS Vansittart. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
Convoy FS.180 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer HMS Vansittart. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 28th.
The War at Sea, Sunday, 26 May 1940 (naval-history.net)
Destroyer KELVIN departed Rosyth at 1800 escorting A. S. I. S. NGAKAO and ARBROATH to Scapa Flow.
Destroyer FORESIGHT departed Scapa Flow at 0400/27th to assist.
Destroyer FORESIGHT and the A. S. I. S. ships arrived at Scapa Flow at 0830/28th.
Destroyer KELVIN had lost touch in the fog and arrived off Scapa Flow after the visibility improved at 1200/28th.
Destroyer KELVIN was joined by destroyer ZULU at Hoxa Entrance to screen heavy cruiser SUSSEX for HA firings.
The destroyers returned to the harbour entrance at 1945/28th.
Anti-aircraft cruiser CURLEW (Captain B. C. B. Brooke), en route to Skaanland, was badly damaged by German bombing on the 26th in Ofotfjord and run aground a total loss.
Paymaster Cdr William Yates, Paymaster S/Lt D. H. Jackson, Temporary Paymaster S/Lt A. M. L.Merry RNVR, Acting S/Lt H.N. Hinge RNVR, five ratings were killed on the cruiser.
The survivors from CURLEW were ferried to destroyer BEAGLE which took them to Harstad.
Boom defense vessel LOCH SHIN (255grt, Temporary Boom Skipper H. Sizer RNR) was badly damaged by German bombing at Harstad. She was beached to prevent sinking, but capsized and sank.
British tanker OLEANDER (7048grt) was badly damaged by German bombing at Harstad.
The tanker’s crew of thirty-eight crew and one gunner were rescued.
She was run aground on the 27th to prevent sinking.
Aircraft carrier GLORIOUS flew Hurricanes of 46 Squadron ashore to the Harstad area for local defense duties.
Late on the 26th, light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON, anti-aircraft cruisers COVENTRY and CAIRO, and destroyers FIREDRAKE, FAME, and BEAGLE bombarded Narvik.
Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON was again splinter damaged by the near misses of German bombing at Harstad.
Destroyer ESCORT departed Greenock at 1000 for Plymouth.
Minesweepers HEBE and SHARPSHOOTER of the 1st Minesweeping Squadron departed Scapa Flow for Dover to replace damaged units in the 6th Minesweeping Squadron.
Light cruiser GALATEA screened by destroyer GRAFTON departed Sheerness at 0440 and bombarded German targets at Calais from 0700 to 1000.
Destroyers WOLSEY and WOLFHOUND bombarded Calais.
Light cruiser ARETHUSA departed Sheerness at 1537. Screened by destroyer GRAFTON, the light cruiser bombarded German targets later in the day until 2030 when poor visibility due to fog forced stopping the bombardment.
A Swordfish spotting for light cruiser GALATEA was attacked by German fighters. S/Lt J. B. Kiddle and Naval Airman 1st Class V. S. A. Moore were unhurt, but Lt G.N. Beaumont was thrown from the plane and lost during evasive maneuvers.
Destroyer IVANHOE was damaged alongside an oiler at the Humber. The damage did not prevent the destroyer from continuing her duties.
Minesweeping trawler MARETTA (350grt) was damaged by the near misses of German bombing at Calais.
The minesweeper was towed by Dover by minesweeping trawler KINGSTON GALENA.
Destroyer WILD SWAN on two trips to Dunkirk escorted British steamers MAID OF ORLEANS (2386grt) and CANTERBURY (2910grt) from Dover to Dunkirk.
Destroyer WILD SWAN departed Dunkirk early on the 27th escorting MAID OF ORLEANS, CANTERBURY, and MONA’S QUEEN (2756grt) to Dover and French steamer ROUEN (1182grt) leaving for Cherbourg.
Returning to Dover, destroyer WILD SWAN was damaged by a bombing near miss which damaged her screws. She proceeded to Tilbury for repairs from 29 May to 4 June.
Destroyer WOLSEY was sent to Dunkirk to act as a W/T link.
Submarine TETRARCH arrived at Rosyth after patrol.
Submarines SUNFISH and SEALION departed Harwich to patrol in the vicinity of Brown Ridge to protect British forces from interference by German naval vessels.
Submarine STURGEON left her patrol area to reinforce these submarines.
Submarine TAKU departed Rosyth on the 27th to take over submarine STURGEON’s billet.
Submarine SALMON searched for a downed air crew in her area in the North Sea, due to no surface vessels being available for the duty.
There was some reorganization of the Submarine Flotillas.
French submarines CASABIANCA, SFAX, and RUBIS were transferred to the 10th Submarine Flotilla.
Submarines SEVERN and CLYDE were transferred to the 3rd Submarine Flotilla.
Submarine PORPOISE was transferred to the 6th Submarine Flotilla.
The 9th Submarine Flotilla command lapsed at this time.
Minesweepers SKIPJACK and HALCYON arrived at Dover during the afternoon.
These were the only operational units of the 6th Mine Sweeping Flotilla. Minesweepers HUSSAR and HARRIER were bomb damaged and minesweeper SPEEDWELL was out of service due to defects.
French auxiliary minesweeper DIJONNAIS (389grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.
French steamer SAINT CAMILLE (3274grt) was sunk by German bombing off Dunkirk.
French steamer CERES (3073grt) was sunk by German bombing between Rouen and Dunkirk.
Convoy FN.181 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 28th.
Convoy MT.74 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer VANSITTART. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
Convoy FS.180 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VANSITTART. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 28th.
Belgian dredger VOLKRACHT IV (300grt) was sunk by a mine in the Zeebrugge Canal.
Armed merchant cruiser ASTURIAS, which had arrived at Gibraltar on the 22nd, was damaged when a fire broke out in the ship at 0200/26th at Gibraltar.
The fire took thirty hours to control by local fire authorities and parties from destroyers VELOX and VIDETTE.
Armed merchant cruiser CHESHIRE departed Gibraltar, escorted by destroyer KEPPEL. The cruiser was proceeding to patrol off Vigo.
With Italy entering the war at any time, Australian troop convoy US 3 was ordered to Capetown while still in the Indian Ocean, rather that risking a passage through the Red Sea.
On 20 May, Australian heavy cruiser HMAS CANBERRA of the US 3 escort was relieved by heavy cruiser SHROPSHIRE.
Australian heavy cruiser CANBERRA returned to Australia.
On the 26th, the convoy and her escorts arrived at Capetown.
On the 31st, convoy US 3, less troopship EMPRESS OF JAPAN (26,032grt), departed Capetown with Heavy cruisers SHROPSHIRE and CUMBERLAND for Freetown arriving on 7 June.
U.S. President Roosevelt gave a fireside chat titled “On National Defense”. The president reviewed the grave international situation and then recited many facts and figures to show that America was much better prepared for war than it was at the time he took office in 1933, while assuring the American people that “There is nothing in our present emergency to justify a retreat from any of our social objectives.”
President Roosevelt indicated tonight that the power of Germany’s aerial attack had not shaken his conviction that surface ships as well as airplanes were still an essential part of an adequate naval defense. “Ship construction costs millions of dollars more in the United States than anywhere else In the world,” he said in his radio report to the nation; “but it is a fact that we cannot have adequate naval defense for all American waters without ships: ships that sail the surface of the ocean, ships that move under the surface and ships that move through the air.”
President Roosevelt was reported in informed circles today to be studying the advisability of asking congress for a $5,000,000,000 increase in the public debt limit to assure uninterrupted financing of the nation’s extraordinary defense program. Congressional leaders, emphasizing that there appeared to be little disposition to press for enactment of additional taxes at this time, disclosed there had been discussions at the white house regarding possibility of an immediate increase in the treasury’s $15,000,000,000 statutory borrowing power.
Problems of national defense will continue to dominate the deliberations of Congress this week, with other legislative projects giving right of way to any measure which is presented as a move in the direction of the strengthening of the nation’s armed forces. This situation seems likely to prevail until Congress adjourns next month in time for the national conventions of the major political parties.
National defense, as reflected in legislative circles, has already divided itself into two fields — defense against external attack, regarded as a problem of strengthening and modernizing the army and navy, especially in their air forces, and defense against internal attack, which is taking the form of projects to build up counter-espionage and to prevent sabotage during the preparatory period as well as during any actual war.
Congress will concern itself this week with both phases of activity. Legislative action probably will be completed on the appropriation bills for the War and Navy Departments which are supposed to provide the funds necessary to put into effect not only the regular defense projects previously planned for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 1941, but to include the supplemental recommendations made by President Roosevelt in his defense message personally delivered before the joint session of Congress ten days ago.
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, who many times has defended the American Youth Congress against attack, told its newly organized affiliate, the New York Youth Congress, at Mecca Temple last night, that it was making a tragic mistake in opposing present American defense measures. The advice. of the youth group, if followed, might needlessly sacrifice many American lives, she declared. “You don’t want to go to war,” she told the 1,100 delegates and visitors in the closing session of the three-day congress. “I don’t want to go to war. But war may come to us.”
And when and if it comes, she said, courage would not be enough, mere men would not be enough, as had been proved in Europe. Defense of this country would take the most modern machines of war and that is what the defense appropriations now sought are intended to provide, she said. In adopting resolutions on such subjects, she declared, youth was talking about something it could not hope to understand even if it studied the question every day for years as Army and Navy experts had studied it.
The President’s wife said she was in favor of a defense program that would include, in addition to armaments, more and better housing, expansion of the health program and continuance of work relief until everyone had a job. The delegates, who had been warned before her arrival that any discourtesies to any speaker would be summarily dealt with, gave Mrs. Roosevelt a warm welcome and made no outward display of disagreement with what she had to say. No action was taken, however, to reconsider a resolution on peace adopted some hours before that unequivocally condemned the armament program of the National Government. Efforts to amend the resolution from the floor failed, a substitute that declared for adequate defense receiving only twelve votes.
The temper of the delegates was further revealed when Vito Marcantonio, Representative from the Harlem district of Manhattan, who cast the only vote in Congress against the first defense appropriation, received an ovation exceeding considerably in volume and length that extended to Mrs. Roosevelt. The delegates jumped to their feet, cheered, whistled and stamped when he declared that the appropriations asked were for the purpose of waging an aggressive war in defense of the American dollar and the British pound.” Any one. who said otherwise either was naive. or dishonest, he said.
Mrs. Roosevelt told the Congress. that “at no time in these last few days, and not today, would Congress even consider sending an army abroad.” After saying that “the war may come to us,” she added: “I don’t like to hear you say, “The Yanks aren’t coming. I knew some very fine young people who once said, “The Yanks are coming,” and they went overseas thinking that they were doing for the world what you think you are doing for it. To me it seems to be slurring what was a very fine thing in that day.”
The United States must face the possibility, she said, that either the war will produce a Nazi-dominated Europe or that it will end with exhaustion of all nations involved, France and England worst of all. Whatever the outcome, the United States will be affected seriously, she continued, adding: “You have to face the situation. We tried to prevent this situation from arising, but now that it is here, we must admit it and do what is best.”
Military and civilian aviation leaders tonight pledged their best efforts to expedite President Roosevelt’s long-range program of 50,000 Army and Navy planes and his plans for training 50,000 civilian pilots.
Secretary Ickes urged a vigorous campaign against “fifth column” activities in this country tonight but warned, at the same time, that civil liberties must be preserved.
District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey, candidate for the Republican Presidential nomination, declared today that President Roosevelt was “directly responsible” for the present inadequateness of the national defenses.
America is strong, “but it must grow stronger to cope with the problems of a new world,” Postmaster General James A. Farley said tonight in a baccalaureate addreee at Oglethorpe University.
Major League Baseball:
The Reds receive their 1939 World Series rings from Commissioner Landis and then beat the Cardinals 1–0 on Paul Derringer’s one-hitter. Stuart Martin’s 1st inning single is the only hit. The big hurler, who won twenty-five games for Cincinnati last year, struck out seven men. In the stands are 21 fans who saw the 1869 champion Reds in action.
A tenth-inning home run by Peewee Reese broke a 1–1 deadlock to give the Dodgers a 2–1 triumph over the Phillies today and insure the Durocher boys’ undisputed hold on the league lead that they attained yesterday while sitting in their hotel lobby.
The Giants’ chances were looking darker than the weather at the Polo Grounds yesterday. The Bees in less than three innings had run up a lead of 5-0. But then Burgess Whitehead hit a homer. Babe Young hit another, and Albie Glossop hit still one more. Presently Harry Danning, chief gunner of all the Giants, whipped two into the stands, his first one coming with two aboard and capping a six-run drive in the fifth. That sufficed to sink the Bees, 10–8, and give the Giants a clean sweep of the series.
A walk for Frankie Gustino, the Pirates’ 20-year-old second baseman, and errors by Pitcher Bill Lee and First Baseman Rip Russell of the Cubs cost Lee a masterfully pitched ball game today. Lee threw wild to Russell as Gustine started a steal in the seventh. Then Russell threw high to second and Gustine scampered all the way home to give the Pirates a 3–2 victory, their eighth of the season.
At Griffith Stadium, Johnny Welaj legs out an inside-the-park homer in the 10th to give the Senators a 4–3 win over the Athletics.
In water-logged Fenway Park, drenched by a drizzle in which the game started and which fell uninterruptedly throughout, the Yankees beat the Red Sox, 7–2. Thus the Yankees vacated the American League cellar, in which the Athletics promptly took up residence as a result of their defeat by the Senators.
St. Louis and Clevlenad split a doubleheader. The Browns used a left-handed rookie pitcher, Emil Bildilli, and scored five runs in one inning to take the opener, 5–3. Cleveland came back with a southpaw, Al Milnar, scored five runs in the first frame and ran away with the nightcap, 13–1.
New York Yankees 7, Boston Red Sox 2
St. Louis Cardinals 0, Cincinnati Reds 4
Boston Bees 8, New York Giants 10
Brooklyn Dodgers 2, Philadelphia Phillies 1
Chicago Cubs 2, Pittsburgh Pirates 3
Cleveland Indians 3, St. Louis Browns 5
Cleveland Indians 13, St. Louis Browns 1
Philadelphia Athletics 3, Washington Senators 4
U.S. Minister in Uruguay Edwin C. Wilson, in a telegram to U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull, reported tension between the Uruguayan and German governments over the former’s searching homes and businesses of Germans and charges by the latter that the Uruguayan police were employing “rough methods” in their investigations.
The heaviest casualties since the big Japanese raids on Chungking in May of last year were caused when an estimated ninety-three Japanese planes bombed the suburbs of this capital yesterday noon. Approximately 200 persons were killed and 300 injured. Almost all were civilians. With the largest number of bombers ever to attack Chungking in one day, the raiders came in three squadrons, two of which unloaded explosives along the Kialing River on the outskirts of the city, while a third attacked an objective twenty miles from the metropolis. Some targets in the suburbs were apparently the bombing objectives, but in addition, bombs hit the Fuhtan Middle School, demolishing three buildings. Other civilian establishments were also hit. There was heavy, but unsuccessful, anti-aircraft fire.
The Japanese bombed widely in Free China during last week. Objects of attack were many places in Szechwan, Sian, Sanchung, Tienshui and Kweilin. At Sian, 200 casualties resulted from the bombing of the city proper. At Hanchung, fifty students of the medical college were killed when the school was attacked. On the northern Hupeh land front a strong Japanese force continues to be active in the Tsaoyang vicinity. It is now under an enveloping Chinese counter-attack, but this force has caused heavy losses to the Chinese, including high Chinese officers.
The Japanese Kwangtung offensive, recently forecast, began Wednesday and is now reaching its maximum effort in the Tsungfa sector with a drive from Liangkow, sixty miles north of Canton. A Japanese column of 6,000 men captured Liangkow Thursday, but now is meeting entrenched Chinese forces to the north, and Chinese reports declare a determined stand is most likely.
Meanwhile 5,000 Japanese along the Canton-Hankow Railway are thrusting from Sunkai toward Pakong and 7,000 Japanese in Tsengshing, north of the East River, are driving north to support the Liangkow offensive. Nearly 5,000 Japanese in Sheklung on the Canton-Kowloon Railway are reported to be preparing to advance on Waichow along the East River. It is believed these attacks at several points are intended to split up and confuse the defense, but the Chinese were forewarned and have troops at all threatened points, it is said. The Chinese claim to have inflicted 3,000 Japanese casualties and assert that Japanese aerial bombing has been ineffective.
Born:
Levon Helm, American drummer and singer (The Band – “Up On Cripple Creek”; “The Weight”), and actor (“Coal Miner’s Daughter”; “The Right Stuff”), in Elaine, Arkansas (d. 2012).
Monique Gagnon-Tremblay, French Canadian politician and Deputy Prime Minister (2003-2005), in Plessisville, Quebec, Canada.
Died:
Richard Porritt, 29, first British Member of Parliament to be killed in World War II (killed in action in Seclin).
Prince Wilhelm of Prussia, 33, son of Wilhelm, German Crown Prince (died in a field hospital from wounds sustained in action in France).
History Diaries 