General Maxime Weygand declared Paris, France an open city.
German spearheads are crossing the Seine over three bridgeheads. They are attacking towards Pacy-sur-Eure and Evreux. Meanwhile, another dozen German divisions are attacking toward Senlis and Betz. Panzer Group Kleist captures Saint-Dizier and Troyes. The 6th and 8th Panzer Divisions of German 12th Army break through the French 2nd Army line in the vicinity of Bar-le-Duc.
French forces are withdrawing all along the line past Paris, which is an open city, to the Loire. Oil tanks in the suburbs are burning. German troops of the 18th Army are in the suburbs and moving steadily toward the city center. French troops launch a pointless counter-attack at Persan-Beaumont 17 miles north of Paris. It advances 5 miles, but German troops are streaming in the other direction all around it. There are no troops between the Germans and the entire city of Paris, and they are advancing steadily.
The French forces west of Paris were retreating to the Loire. French armies from Luxembourg to the Channel coast are now withdrawing in disorder.
British Prime Minister Churchill flew to Tours, France for what would become the last meeting of the Supreme War Council. Both Britain and France now acknowledged that defeat would be imminent. Churchill encouraged the French to withdraw to North Africa to continue the fight; his French counterpart Reynaud, however, said that France would like to secure Britain’s permission to seek an armistice; Churchill refused the request. Churchill, Halifax, Beaverbrook and British delegation fly back to France.
The British decided to abandon attempts to rebuild a BEF in France and began to evacuate the British and Canadian troops from the country. They decide that enough is enough and that another BEF evacuation is necessary. This is the parting of the ways of the British and the current French national government, though everything remains amicable and civil. It is now a question of managing the dissolution of the military alliance. The future of France and its relations with the United Kingdom is extremely uncertain.
Premier Paul Reynaud made a “final” appeal tonight to President Roosevelt for “clouds” of aircraft and challenged Americans to “declare themselves against Nazi Germany.” “We know what a high place ideals hold in the life of the great American people,” he said in a broadcast to his country while the German invaders struck down on both sides of Paris. “Will they hesitate yet to declare themselves against Nazi Germany?” He spoke of the French as “losing this battle,” but declared that “despite our reverses the power of the democracies remains immense. We have a right to hope that the day coming when all that power will be placed in force.”
Paris is largely deserted. Jewish citizens, in particular, have been quick to leave, for obvious reasons. There are oddities of a suddenly abandoned major city: for instance, herds of cattle roam the streets, as the men operating the slaughterhouses have left.
Operation Cycle was completed.
The British Army captures 52 Italian soldiers during the night, many of whom have no idea that they are at war.
The British Government renews its evacuation plans for schoolchildren since so many returned home over the winter. Plans are to disperse 120,000 kids from London and other large cities in the south such as Dover. All children are required to carry gas masks at all times. Many of the masks have been brightly colored to make them more attractive to children, and they are carried in ubiquitous boxes. The vanguard of 120,000 London children, who are being moved westward in a six-day operation, started streaming out today away from danger zones now within a short reach of German bombers.
A new law specifies that church bells in Great Britain are to be rung only as a signal of a German invasion.
Members of Parliament ask to be issued sidearms since rumors are flying that they are on German assassination lists. The request is refused.
While the Allies have departed and the Norwegians have surrendered, many areas of the large country remain unoccupied by the Germans. Today, some of General Dietl’s 3rd Mountain Division troops quietly occupy Tromsø.
The Dutch government-in-exile announces the formation of a Netherlands Legion to be composed of all available domestic and overseas troops.
Generalissimo Francisco Franco changed Spain’s status from neutral to nonbelligerent, which of course tilts toward Germany. Spain is of vital strategic importance to both sides due to its ability to take Gibraltar and close off the Mediterranean.
The Vatican today indicated that since the Italian Government had objected to the printing of the Allied war communiques by the Osservatore Romano, all official bulletins, including the Italian and German, would be omitted for the duration of the war.
In Romania, Horia Sima is liberated and granted an audience with King Carol.
Finland will make her semi-annual debt payment of $159,398 to the United States on Saturday, the due date, notwithstanding the heavy burden of reconstruction following the war with Russia, according to an announcement today by her Minister, Hjalmar J. Procope.
Soviet troops began amassing on the borders of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches aircraft to attack German troops and lines of communication during the day. The RAF raids German bridgeheads on the Seine all along the front to the Maginot Line.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches aircraft to attack various targets in Belgium overnight.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches aircraft to attack various targets in Germany overnight.
Only remnants of RAF fighter units remain in France.
The RAF raids Fort Capruzzo on the Libyan border with Egypt. It also raids Assab in Italian East Africa. South African aircraft chip in with a raid on Kismayo in Italian Somaliland.
Italy’s Regia Aeronautica raids the French naval base at Toulon. It also raids Aden but is driven off with losses, and Malta.
Italian aircraft attack British vehicles near the Libyan border in the Western Desert.
Italians attack airfields around Tunis with 33 S.79 bombers flying from Sicily.
U-25, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinz Beduhn, torpedoed armed merchant cruiser HMS Scotstoun (Captain S. K. Smyth Rtd) northwest of Ireland in 57 00N, 09 57W. At 0716 hours, HMS Scotstoun of the 10th Cruiser Squadron was hit in the stern by one torpedo from U-25 about 80 miles west of Barra Island, Outer Hebrides. At 1729 hours, a first coup de grâce missed, but a second hit just aft of the funnel and caused the ship to sink by the stern. Two officers and five ratings were lost. She had departed the Clyde for patrol on the 12th. Destroyers HMS Highlander, which was diverted from her voyage to Plymouth, HMS Delight and HMS Echo, which departed Greenock at 0900, tugs HMS Bandit and HMS Marauder were sent to assist, but Scotstoun sank prior to their arrival. Temporary Lt W. A. D. Van Oosterwyk-Bruyn RNVR, Temporary Lt (E) T. Martin RNR, and five ratings were missing, and the survivors taken aboard Highlander. Highlander, Delight and Echo proceeded to the Clyde, arriving on the 14th.
Minelayers HMS Teviotbank and HMS Plover departed the Humber escorted by destroyers HMS Gallant, HMS Intrepid, and HMS Walpole to lay minefield BS.14 in the North Sea, during the night of 13/14 June.
Destroyer HMS Faulknor departed the Humber at 2000 after refitting and proceeded to Methil where she arrived. She then proceeded to Rosyth, departing Rosyth on the 14th to escort tanker War Pindari (5559grt). That night, Faulknor drove off a submarine that had attempted to attack the tanker. Both ships arrived safely at Scapa Flow at 0830/15th.
French aircraft carrier Bearn was at Halifax. She had brought 250 tons of gold to Halifax in late May. Some of the 50 SBC-4 dive bombers and 93 A-17A attack bombers, ordered from the United States, had been embarked by this date.
French auxiliary minesweeper Marthe Roland (85grt) and auxiliary harbor defense vessel Reines Des Flots were scuttled at Le Havre.
Tanker British Inventor (7101grt) was badly damaged on a mine five miles 230° from St Albans Head. The entire crew was saved. Anti-submarine yacht HMS Conqueror (900grt), corvette HMS Gardenia, and ML.100 carried out an anti-submarine hunt. The tanker was beached and sank, and broke in two on the 30th. The after section was towed to Portland, arriving on 31 July.
Drifter HMS Ocean Sunlight (131grt, Chief Skipper R J Crane RNR) was sunk on a mine 4. 4 cables 129° from the W. Breakwater Light, Newhaven. Eight ratings were lost.
Dutch steamer Abel Tasman (314grt) was sunk on a mine in Swash Channel, Poole. There were no survivors. Among the men lost were Probationary Lt E T Mudie RN and Probationary Temporary S/Lt I R Grant RNR of HMS Excellent, both on passage.
Submarine HMS Odin (Lt Cdr K Mac I Woods) attempted to attack Italian heavy cruisers Fiume and Gorizia in the Gulf of Taranto. In the counterattack, Odin was sunk by destroyers Strale and Baleno off Cape St Vito. At the time, she was presumed mined. Lt Cdr Woods, Lt I M Anderson, Lt R R Simpson, S/Lt P L C M. Lee, Warrant Engineer G H Cook, all fifty ratings, and the Chinese steward were lost.
French submarine Saphir laid thirty two mines off Cagliari during the night of 12/13 June. Italian steamer Alicantino (1642grt) was sunk on this minefield on the 28th. Sailing vessel San Caligero (57grt) claimed on this minefield was lost before the minefield was laid.
French submarine Turquoise laid mines off Trapani; fourteen off Sotille Point and sixteen off Marsala Point.
French submarine Perle laid thirty two mines off Bastia.
Italian submarines Finzi and Cappelini had departed Cagliari on 5/6 June. Finzi passed the Straits of Gibraltar for patrol in the Atlantic, and passed back through on 6 July on her return, to arrive at Spezia on 13 July. She was the first Italian submarine to operate in the Atlantic, and was soon followed in June by Calvi, Cappelini, Malaspina and Veniero. In all twenty seven Italian submarines operated in the Atlantic.
French steamer Gouveneur General Laferriere (3463grt), en route from Oran to Marseilles, arrived at Alicante after being followed by an Italian submarine. The crew and troops were interned.
Australian light cruiser HMAS Hobart and anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Carlisle at Aden were unsuccessfully attacked by Italian bombers. Carlisle shot down one aircraft.
Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney made a reconnaissance of the Ionian Islands.
Australian destroyer HMAS Stuart on anti-submarine patrol off Alexandria sighted gun flashes in the distance and reported a contact, which later proved to be Australian destroyer HMAS Voyager. Destroyers HMS Dainty and HMS Decoy and Australian destroyer HMAS Vampire were dispatched to assist. Stuart and Voyager made attacks on a submarine contact. Early on the 14th, Voyager, Stuart and Decoy attacked another submarine contact.
Convoy HG.34F departed Gibraltar with twenty four ships. Destroyer HMS Douglas escorted the convoy until joining convoy OG.33F later on the 13th. Destroyer HMS Sturdy and sloop HMS Scarborough escorted the convoy from 13 to 19 June. Sturdy then arrived at Plymouth. Destroyer HMS Highlander escorted the convoy from 17 to 19 June, on which date it arrived at Liverpool.
Dutch light cruiser HNLMS Sumatra departed Halifax for the Dutch East Indies, via Bermuda and Curacoa. She reached Curacoa on the 22nd, and after patrols from there, departed on 7 August for the Dutch East Indies via South Africa. Sumatra arrived at Surabaya on 15 October.
German armed merchant cruiser Widder captured British tanker British Petrol (6891grt) on the Trinidad-Azores track at 20 10N, 46 56W, 1000 miles from Trinidad. Two of the crew were lost, and the rest made prisoners of war. She sank British Petrol on the 14th in 18N, 54-30W.
At dawn, 0243 hours, 15 British Fleet Air Arm Skua aircraft from HMS Ark Royal dive bombed German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau at Trondheim, Norway. Scharnhorst was hit by a 500-pound bomb, but it failed to explode. 8 Skua aircraft were shot down; 6 airmen were killed and 10 were taken prisoner. The remaining 7 aircraft returned to Ark Royal at 0345 hours. Nearby, Ark Royal’s escorting destroyers HMS Antelope and HMS Electra collided in fog; both sustained damage that would take them out of action until Aug 1940. These last combat operations of HMS Ark Royal resulted in the virtual decimation of two of the best squadrons in the Fleet Air Arm.
Convoy OG.33 was formed from (1) convoys OA.166G, which departed Southend on the 11th escorted by corvette HMS Calendula from 11 to 12 June, and (2) OB.166G, which departed Liverpool on 11 June escorted by anti-submarine trawler HMS Huddersfield Town on 11 and 12 June and sloop HMS Enchantress on the 12th, a total of thirty two ships. Sloop Enchantress escorted the convoy from 13 to 18 June. Destroyer HMS Wrestler joined on the 18th. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on the 19th with Wrestler.
Convoy OA.167 departed Southend escorted by corvette HMS Clarkia.
Convoy OB.167 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer HMS Volunteer from 13 to 16 June. Destroyer Volunteer was detached to convoy HX.48.
Convoy FS.194 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer HMS Valorous and armed patrol yacht HMS Breda. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 15th.
Convoy MT.88 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers HMS Wallace and HMS Wolfhound. The convoy arrived in the Tyne the next day.
Convoy HX.50 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyers HMCS Assiniboine and HMCS Ottawa. On the 14th, they turned the convoy over to the ocean escort, armed merchant cruiser HMS Voltaire, which was detached on the 24th. Convoy BHX.50 departed Bermuda on the 12th escorted by ocean escort armed merchant cruiser HMS Comorin. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.50/17th and the armed merchant cruiser was detached. On 25 June, destroyers HMS Volunteer and HMS Whirlwind and corvettes HMS Arabis and HMS Heartsease escorted the convoy until 27 June. The convoy reached Liverpool on the 30th.
Convoy FF.1 of British troopships Duchess Of York (20021grt), Sobieski (11030grt), Batory (14287grt), Georgic (27759grt) escorted by destroyers HMS Beagle, HMS Havelock (D.9), HMS Hambledon, and HMS Wren departed the Clyde for Brest. Hambledon was later detached and returned to the Clyde on escort duties. She arrived in the Clyde at 1800/14th.
The War at Sea, Thursday, 13 June 1940 (naval-history.net)
U-25 torpedoed armed merchant cruiser SCOTSTOUN (Captain S. K. Smyth Rtd) at 0600 northwest of Ireland in 57‑00N, 09‑57W. She had departed the Clyde for patrol on the 12th. Destroyers HIGHLANDER, which was diverted from her voyage to Plymouth, DELIGHT and ECHO, which departed Greenock at 0900, tugs BANDIT and MARAUDER were sent to assist, but SCOTSTOUN sank prior to their arrival. Temporary Lt W. A. D. Van Oosterwyk-Bruyn RNVR, Temporary Lt (E) T. Martin RNR, and five ratings were missing, and the survivors taken aboard HIGHLANDER. HIGHLANDER, DELIGHT, and ECHO proceeded to the Clyde, arriving on the 14th.
Destroyer ATHERSTONE departed Scapa Flow at 1345 for Aberdeen, met steamers LOCHNAGAR (1619grt) and MACCLESFIELD (1018grt) at Aberdeen and escorted them to Lerwick. ATHERSTONE arrived at Scapa Flow at 1740/14th after the escort duty.
Destroyers DIANA and ACHERON departed Scapa Flow at 1800 to search for a German submarine reported by aircraft at 1505 in 59-07N, 1-30W on a course of 315°. They also investigated a further report of another submarine in 59-54N, 00-10E at 1904, were then ordered at 1530/14th to return to Scapa Flow, and arrived at 0115/15th.
The British XD.L (Cdr J. A. Grindle) demolition party departed Chatham for Portsmouth, and then proceeded on to Cherbourg.
Minelayers TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER departed the Humber escorted by destroyers GALLANT, INTREPID, and WALPOLE to lay minefield BS.14 in the North Sea, during the night of 13/14 June.
Destroyer EXPRESS, on passage from Portsmouth to Immingham, was diverted into Dover for the night. She arrived at 2205/13th, then departed at 0347/14th to continue her voyage.
Destroyer FAULKNOR departed the Humber at 2000 after refitting and proceeded to Methil where she arrived. She then proceeded to Rosyth, departing Rosyth on the 14th to escort tanker WAR PINDARI (5559grt). That night, FAULKNOR drove off a submarine that had attempted to attack the tanker. Both ships arrived safely at Scapa Flow at 0830/15th.
Convoy OG.33 was formed from (1) convoys OA.166G, which departed Southend on the 11th escorted by corvette CALENDULA from 11 to 12 June, and (2) OB.166G, which departed Liverpool on 11 June escorted by anti-submarine trawler HUDDERSFIELD TOWN on 11 and 12 June and sloop ENCHANTRESS on the 12th, a total of thirty-two ships. Sloop ENCHANTRESS escorted the convoy from 13 to 18 June. Destroyer WRESTLER joined on the 18th. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on the 19th with WRESTLER.
Convoy OA.167 departed Southend escorted by corvette CLARKIA.
Convoy OB.167 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer VOLUNTEER from 13 to 16 June. Destroyer VOLUNTEER was detached to convoy HX.48.
Convoy FS.194 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VALOROUS and armed patrol yacht BREDA. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 15th.
Convoy MT.88 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and WOLFHOUND. The convoy arrived in the Tyne the next day.
Convoy HX.50 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyers HMCS ASSINIBOINE and HMCS OTTAWA. On the 14th, they turned the convoy over to the ocean escort, armed merchant cruiser VOLTAIRE, which was detached on the 24th. Convoy BHX.50 departed Bermuda on the 12th escorted by ocean escort armed merchant cruiser COMORIN. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.50/17th and the armed merchant cruiser was detached. On 25 June, destroyers VOLUNTEER and WHIRLWIND and corvettes ARABIS and HEARTSEASE escorted the convoy until 27 June. The convoy reached Liverpool on the 30th.
Convoy FF.1 of British troopships DUCHESS OF YORK (20021grt), SOBIESKI (11030grt), BATORY (14287grt), and GEORGIC (27759grt) escorted by destroyers BEAGLE, HAVELOCK (D.9), HAMBLEDON, and WREN departed the Clyde for Brest. HAMBLEDON was later detached and returned to the Clyde on escort duties. She arrived in the Clyde at 1800/14th.
French aircraft carrier BEARN was at Halifax. She had brought 250 tons of gold to Halifax in late May. Some of the 50 SBC-4 dive bombers and 93 A-17A attack bombers, ordered from the United States, had been embarked by this date.
French auxiliary minesweeper MARTHE ROLAND (85grt) and auxiliary harbour defence vessel REINES DES FLOTS were scuttled at Le Havre.
Tanker BRITISH INVENTOR (7101grt) was badly damaged on a mine five miles 230° from St Albans Head. The entire crew was saved. Anti-submarine yacht CONQUEROR (900grt), corvette GARDENIA, and ML.100 carried out an anti-submarine hunt. The tanker was beached and sank, and broke in two on the 30th. The after section was towed to Portland, arriving on 31 July.
Drifter OCEAN SUNLIGHT (131grt, Chief Skipper R J Crane RNR) was sunk on a mine 4. 4 cables 129° from the W. Breakwater Light, Newhaven. Eight ratings were lost.
Dutch steamer ABEL TASMAN (314grt) was sunk on a mine in Swash Channel, Poole. There were no survivors. Among the men lost were Probationary Lt E T Mudie RN and Probationary Temporary S/Lt I R Grant RNR of EXCELLENT, both on passage.
Submarine ODIN (Lt Cdr K Mac I Woods) attempted to attack Italian heavy cruisers FIUME and GORIZIA in the Gulf of Taranto. In the counterattack, ODIN was sunk by destroyers STRALE and BALENO off Cape St Vito. At the time, she was presumed mined. Lt Cdr Woods, Lt I M Anderson, Lt R R Simpson, S/Lt P L C M. Lee, Warrant Engineer G H Cook, all fifty rating, and the Chinese steward were lost.
French submarine SAPHIR laid thirty-two mines off Cagliari during the night of 12/13 June. Italian steamer ALICANTINO (1642grt) was sunk on this minefield on the 28th. Sailing vessel SAN CALIGERO (57grt) claimed on this minefield was lost before the minefield was laid.
French submarine TURQUOISE laid mines off Trapani; fourteen off Sotille Point and sixteen off Marsala Point.
French submarine PERLE laid thirty-two mines off Bastia.
Italian submarines FINZI and CAPPELINI had departed Cagliari on 5/6 June. FINZI passed the Straits of Gibraltar for patrol in the Atlantic, and passed back through on 6 July on her return, to arrive at Spezia on 13 July. She was the first Italian submarine to operate in the Atlantic, and was soon followed in June by CALVI, CAPPELINI, MALASPINA, and VENIERO. In all twenty-seven Italian submarines operated in the Atlantic.
French steamer GOUVENEUR GENERAL LAFERRIERE (3463grt), en route from Oran to Marseilles, arrived at Alicante after being followed by an Italian submarine. The crew and troops were interned.
Australian light cruiser HMAS HOBART and anti-aircraft cruiser CARLISLE at Aden were unsuccessfully attacked by Italian bombers. CARLISLE shot down one aircraft.
Australian light cruiser HMAS SYDNEY made a reconnaissance of the Ionian Islands.
Australian destroyer HMAS STUART on anti-submarine patrol off Alexandria sighted gun flashes in the distance and reported a contact, which later proved to be Australian destroyer HMAS VOYAGER. Destroyers DAINTY and DECOY and Australian destroyer VAMPIRE were dispatched to assist. STUART and VOYAGER made attacks on a submarine contact. Early on the 14th, VOYAGER, STUART and DECOY attacked on another submarine contact.
Convoy HG.34F departed Gibraltar with twenty-four ships. Destroyer DOUGLAS escorted the convoy until joining convoy OG.33F later on the 13th. Destroyer STURDY and sloop SCARBOROUGH escorted the convoy from 13 to 19 June. STURDY then arrived at Plymouth. Destroyer HIGHLANDER escorted the convoy from 17 to 19 June, on which date it arrived at Liverpool.
German armed merchant cruiser ORION laid mines in Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, New Zealand as New Zealand light cruiser HMNZS ACHILLES was entering harbour. On the 18th, steamer NIAGARA (13,415grt) was lost on this minefield. After her loss, light cruisers ACHILLES and HMAS PERTH and armed merchant cruiser HECTOR searched for ORION without success. Later, on 14 May 1941, New Zealand minesweeper HMNZS PURIRI was lost on this minefield.
Dutch light cruiser HNMS SUMATRA departed Halifax for the Dutch East Indies, via Bermuda and Curacoa. She reached Curacoa on the 22nd, and after patrols from there, departed on 7 August for the Dutch East Indies via South Africa. SUMATRA arrived at Surabaya on 15 October.
German armed merchant cruiser WIDDER captured British tanker BRITISH PETROL (6891grt) on the Trinidad-Azores track at 20‑10N, 46‑56W, 1000 miles from Trinidad. Two of the crew were lost, and the rest made prisoners of war. She sank BRITISH PETROL on the 14th in 18N, 54-30W.
In Washington today, President Roosevelt discussed the national defense program with the full membership of the Advisory Defense Commission and conferred on foreign affairs with Secretary Hull and Under-Secretary Sumner Welles.
The Senate considered the Relief Bill, approving an amendment adding $50,000,000 for European relief, completed Congressional action on the $23,671,220 Legislative Appropriation Bill and recessed at 6:08 PM until noon tomorrow. Conferees reached an agreement on the Sheppard-Hay bill to strengthen national defense and permit indirect transfer of surplus military supplies to the Allies.
The House approved the conference report on the Legislative Appropriation Bill, passed the bill providing for the deportation of Harry Bridges and adjourned at 5:40 PM until noon tomorrow. The Rules Committee approved House consideration of the resolution stating United States disapproval of transfer of Western Hemisphere territory among non-American powers.
The drive to adjourn Congress by June 22 was abandoned today by the Democratic leadership as growing apprehension over the fast-spreading war in Europe increased the demands that the legislative branch remain at the capital to meet new emergencies that might arise. A proposal to recess during political conventions, possibly from June 22 to August 1, was being considered favorably by the leaders, but a final decision will be dictated largely by influences originating overseas. Collapse of adjournment plans featured a series of Washington developments in foreign affairs and national defense, chief among them being:
- Publication by the White House of an appeal from Premier Reynaud of France to President Roosevelt, asking all possible American aid to the Allies short of an expeditionary force, and pledging France to continue its fight against Germany even if it had to do so eventually from its American possessions.
- Introduction in the House by Representative Celler of New York of a bill repealing the Neutrality Act.
- Granting of a special order by the Rules Committee for early consideration in the House of the Pittman-Bloom resolution putting the world on notice that this country will never recognize the change of sovereignty among European powers of territory in the Western Hemisphere.
- Passage by the House of a bill Instructing the Attorney General to deport Harry Bridges, a native of Australia and West Coast CIO leader, “whose presence in this country the Congress deems hurtful.”
- Announcement by Finland, through its Minister, that she would pay the June 15 installment on her old Allied war debt, as usual.
- Acceleration of activity in the process of coordinating the elements involved in the new national defense program, under the guidance of the National Defense Advisory Commission.
- Announcement by Paul V. McNutt, Federal Security Administrator, that no general labor shortage exists at present, but that efforts will be necessary to meet temporary gaps in specialized skills needed in defense preparations.
- Unanimous approval by the Senate of the $50,000,000 war relief fund requested by President Roosevelt.
Unanimously and unquestionably, the senate approved a $50,000,000 appropriation for Red Cross relief work among homeless civilians in allied lands today, but a bloc of senators was reported organizing to prevent any direct transfer of military equipment from this government to Great Britain or France.
President Roosevelt signs an 11% “Naval Expansion Act,” increasing the carrier, cruiser, and submarine tonnage of the Navy by 167,000 tons, and auxiliary shipping by 75,000 tons.
Roosevelt subverts the U.S. Neutrality Laws by having shipments of artillery and arms “sold” to a steel company and then “resold” to the British government. The first shipment leaves the U.S. on the armed merchant ship S.S. Eastern Prince.
The Italian Consulate General in New York, working under orders from Mussolini, according to documents disclosed yesterday, is seeking to promote fascism in this country by ideological propaganda in schools, newspapers, magazines and through radio.
The American Export Line has ordered the liner Exeter to return to New York from sea and she is expected to reach here on Monday. The ship left New York Saturday for Mediterranean ports, carrying cargo and fifty passengers.
U.S. Navy Rear Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., relieved Vice Admiral Charles A. Blakely as Commander Aircraft, Battle Force, on board the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV 5) at Lahaina Roads, Maui, Territory of Hawaii. Halsey received the temporary rank of Vice Admiral.
Mud boiled from the bottom of Wallabout Basin yesterday; tugboat captains in the East River in New York held down their whistles and 50,000 persons cheered as the battleship USS North Carolina (BB-55) slid down greased ways at the navy yard in Brooklyn to her first taste of the salt. The 35,000-ton ship — newest and greatest of the world’s ships of the battle line — was only about 75 percent completed as to hull, less than that as to machinery, at her launching, and it will require more than a year to complete her. But there was grace in her long lines, and a tremendous impression of strength in the huge bulk of her, and, as Governor Clyde R. Hoey of North Carolina said, she “speaks a language that even a dictator can understand.”
The motion picture “Our Town” is released in the U.S. Based on Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, this drama, directed by Sam Wood, stars William Holden, Martha Scott (her film debut), Fay Bainter, Beulah Bondi, Thomas Mitchell, Guy Kibbee and Stu Erwin. The plot involves various family in a New Hampshire town in the early 20th Century. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actress (Scott).
Major League Baseball:
At Cooperstown, the Red Sox’ Ted Williams hits 2 homers against the Cubs, but Chicago counters with 4 round-trippers to win the 7–inning exhibition, 10–9.
The Cleveland players petition owner Alva Bradley to remove Oscar Vitt as manager. “Sometimes it seems he’ll drive us all nuts,” says Bob Feller. “Maybe it’s just his nervousness.” Bradley declines, stating that the club is just 2 games behind Boston. The Indians tip the Tigers, 3–2, in 11 innings, winning on Charlie Gehringer’s throwing error. Al Smith gives up 13 hits in going the full eleven innings, but the Tigers leave a dozen men on base. Cleveland has their best month of the year, settling into first place, which they will hold until the final 2 weeks of the season.
Detroit Tigers 2, Cleveland Indians 3
The Chinese claimed today in Chungking that the ultimate fate of Ichang, the Yangtze port in Hupeh, hinged on one of the heaviest battles of the year in China, which is still going on on a front twenty to forty miles northeast of the city. On this front the Chinese said the main Japanese force of 80,000 men attacking Ichang was being checked by numerically superior Chinese forces, which were counter-attacking fiercely in the vicinity of Tongyang, Yachin, Oling, and Kingmen. Some positions near Tongyang were said to have changed hands six times. The Chinese troops were reportedly aided by crack divisions that had crossed the Han River from the Tsaoyang sector.
Bad weather brought a respite to Chungking from Japanese air raids. The Chinese used this to rush repairs in the capital. It is believed here that Wednesday’s twenty-three-minute attack by 154 bombers was the heaviest concentrated bombing of a civilian center in history. Except for telephones, the Chinese have restored use of electricity, water, and other municipal services.
Although Chungking continues to claim Ichang has not surrendered to Japan, the Japanese Army High Command said today that, in a twelve-day campaign that on Tuesday resulted in the capture of Ichang, the Chinese left more than 18,000 dead on the fields of battle, and that the Japanese troops had taken more than 3,500 prisoners.
The repeated bombing in recent days of Chungking, the temporary Chinese capital, by Japanese airplanes was “wholeheartedly” condemned by Secretary of State Cordell Hull today in a formal statement.
A formal statement was issued by Wang Ching-wei’s regime at Nanking last evening, demanding in the name of the “National Government of China” the withdrawal from China of troops and warships belonging to Britain, France and Italy. This statement is of most serious importance. since it must have had Japanese approval and probably Japanese instigation. If the demand were complied with, Shanghai’s French Concession would be left undefended and the International Settlement would be left with only 1,200 United States marines. Withdrawal would mean abandonment of the British, French, and Italian Concessions at Tientsin and would leave 250 United States marines the only guardians of Peiping’s legation quarter, except, of course, for the Japanese guard. Also involved would be abandonment of Kulangsu, the international settlement off Amoy, and the island of Shameen.
The Netherlands Indies Government today authorized a statement that “the rumor about a secret landing of 2,000 British troops is completely false.” The report was printed in a Tokyo newspaper.
German armed merchant cruiser Orion laid mines in Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, New Zealand as New Zealand Division light cruiser HMS Achilles was entering harbor. On the 18th, steamer Niagara (13,415grt) was lost on this minefield. After her loss, light cruisers HMS Achilles and HMAS Perth and armed merchant cruiser HMS Hector searched for Orion without success. Much later, on 14 May 1941, New Zealand minesweeper HMNZS Puriri was lost on this minefield.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 119.91 (-1.55)
Born:
Bobby Freeman, American rock, soul and R&B singer (“Do You Want to Dance”), in Northern California (d. 2017).
Bobbie Clarke, rock drummer, in Coventry, England, United Kingdom (d. 2014).
Dallas Long, American athlete (Olympic gold medal, shotput, 1964; 6 world records), in Pine Bluff, Arkansas (d. 2024).
M. M. Rahmat Ullah, bureaucrat and politician, in Rajshahi, British India (present-day Bangladesh) (d. 2014).
Died:
George Fitzmaurice, 55, French-born film director and producer.
Naval Construction:
The Royal Navy Flower-class corvette HMS Burdock (K 126) is laid down by John Crown & Sons Ltd. (Sunderland, U.K); completed by N.E. Marine.
The U.S. Navy battleship USS North Carolina (BB-55), name ship of her class of 2, is launched by the New York Navy Yard (New York, New York, U.S.A.). Although launched after her sister ship, USS Washington (BB-56), she will be commissioned first, on 9 April 1941.
History Diaries 