The swastika banners of Nazi Germany, unfurled by the Austrian vanguard which Adolf Hitler significantly sent as the first of his troops to occupy Paris, floated today from atop practically every prominent and historic structure in this German-captured capital of France.
The Swastika is raised over the Palace of Versailles, which saw the birth of the so-called Second Reich of Wilhelmine Germany.
Crowds, which were absent during the German victory parades, assemble to watch French POWs being transported through town.
Strasbourg and Verdun are taken by the German advance on the Maginot defenses. The French fortress at Verdun, which never surrendered in World War I, capitulates to the Germans.
The German 7th Army under General Friedrich Dollmann crossed the Rhine River near Neuf Brisach between Strasbourg and the Swiss border, taking Strasbourg from French 8th Army and approaching Colmar. They break out into the Alsace Plain and have little between them and Panzer Group Guderian advancing from the north.
Southern France is packed with refugees, and supplies of everything are tight. Twelve million people, both fleeing soldiers and terrified civilian refugees, are crowding roads out of every city in the north of France as Panzers race across the country and panic grips the nation. In Nancy, students working in bomb-proof cellars at the university are being snatched from their end of term exams by worried parents to join the chaotic stream heading west and south — in any direction away from the Germans. The town council has ordered the evacuation of the city, unaware that the enemy is relying on confusion and blocked roads to prevent the French Army from re-grouping.
Panzergruppe Guderian reaches the Saone River. From here they will turn east.
1st Panzer Division pushes toward Besancon, threatening to isolate entire French 2nd Army Group.
German 1st Army opens attack against French 3rd Army near Sarreguemines.
The French armies continue to withdraw in disarray.
French leaders acrimoniously debate possibility of surrender.
Darlan tells Reynaud he is ready to move 30,000 French troops to North Africa immediately, but it is impossible to transport 800,000 troops in ten days.
Construction began on the new Führer Headquarters Wolfschlucht II in France; it would be halted within days, however, as the German campaign in France would soon end.
In Berlin, Germany, Adolf Hitler gave the German Army the permission to demobilize some divisions once the French campaign drew closer to its end.
Commander of German XVIII Armeekorps Hermann Ritter von Speck perishes on the battlefield at Pont-sur-Yonne, France. His daughter later claims (in 2010) that he deliberately sought death on the battlefield, somewhat in the manner of General von Fritsch in Poland. This was due to an inner struggle between what he knew was right and his oath to the army and Hitler.
On the coast of the English Channel, the Allies launched Operation AERIAL to evacuate troops from Cherbourg and St Malo. Coastal evacuations of British and Canadian troops from Cherbourg began. General Brooke withdrew his headquarters to Vitre and began planning for the evacuation of all British troops from several ports in Brittany and Normandy, all the while being interfered with by his masters in London. The next day planning and embarkation continued. At midnight he received reports that just under 60,000 troops had left France.
The UK War Cabinet decides that the Channel Islands, British territory within sight of France, “are of no strategic importance and they won’t be defended.”
Mussolini orders Badoglio to commence attacks across the French border on 18 June, even if Italian forces aren’t ready.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches aircraft to attack German troops and lines of communication during the day.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 8 aircraft to attack Genoa overnight.
The RAF raids Bergen, destroying ammunition stored on the quays.
The RAF sends raids against Italian forces at Sidi Areiz, Assab and Jarabub.
Italian aircraft bomb targets in southern France. 38 Italian Fiat bombers bomb Luc-en-Province.
Italian aircraft bomb Propriano, Corsica.
Italian aircraft attack targets around Sollum.
French air force attacks Tripoli with six bombers.
A Roman man becomes the first civilian casualty of the war in that city when he is struck down by falling anti-aircraft shrapnel during an RAF leaflet drop.
Elements of German 3rd Mountain Division occupy Harstad.
Himmler names Oscar Dirlewanger as Obersturmfuhrer in the Waffen-SS, authorizing him to collect poachers from German prisons to serve as manhunters on Germany’s eastern border.
The Swedish Government accepts Berlin’s request for transit of non-military supplies to German troops in Norway.
The Italian-installed puppet government in Albania approves declaration of war on France and United Kingdom.
Bread and flour are rationed in Holland.
George Orwell suddenly realizes that his French publisher now can’t publish his next book, and notes “If so, I am £30 to the bad… The sensible thing to do now would be to borrow money right and left and buy solid goods.”
The Red Army marched into Lithuania today. There was no resistance as the Soviet troops crossed the frontier in great strength and President Smetona fled by plane from the capital with his family and other leading Lithuanians. 200 Soviet tanks led the occupation of Kaunas. Russian soldiers have taken up positions at all the public buildings. Planeloads of Soviet officials, including NKVD agents, are pouring into the airport. One of the first acts of the secret policemen was to arrest General Skucas, the Minister of the Interior, and Mr. Povilaitus, the chief of the state police. Martial law has been declared and there is a night long curfew. The Lithuanians, realizing that there is nothing they can do to resist the Russians, are resigned to the occupation of their country, but there is considerable excitement among the local German population, which besieged its legation today demanding to go home. The occupation is seen here as another move by Stalin to build a barrier of occupied countries between the Soviet Union and Germany. He has part of eastern Poland, he has forced Finland to give up strategic territory, and now he has Lithuania, and the other Baltic States tremble.
Soviet troops stormed and captured the Latvian border posts of Maslenkos and Smaili.
The Turkish government informed all foreign envoys tonight that Turkey’s foreign policy remains unchanged and that for the present she will continue her non-belligerent status. The notice was given after Soviet Russia, informed sources said, had made known to Ankara that Moscow would prefer that Turkey not enter the war on grounds extension of the war to the Balkans was “undesirable.” The Russian expression was accepted here as evidence of a definite understanding among Germany, Italy and Russia regarding the Balkans. Turkey has a pact with Britain and France to go to war at their side in the event of an act of aggression in the Mediterranean area, but it includes a provision excusing her from fighting Russia.
U-38, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Liebe, sank Norwegian motor tanker Italia (9973grt) and Danish steamer Erik Boye (2238grt), under British control, from convoy HX.48 in 50 37N, 08 44W, shortly after 0100 hours. At 01.01 and 01.05 hours on 15 June 1940, U-38 fired torpedoes at convoy HX.47 about 60 miles west of the Scilly Isles and sank the Italia and Erik Boye.
The Italia (Master Johan Karsten Hallén) was struck by a torpedo between hold #10 and the engine room, setting the afterpart on fire immediately, with the flames spreading forward and across the water at a tremendous speed and killing almost the entire engine crew. Eight men jumped overboard and another managed to get out through the porthole of his cabin. Boats were lowered and lifebelts thrown out from the bridge to those in the water. The officers amidships waited as long as they could in the hope that more people from the afterpart would be able to come forward, but had to abandon ship when the seas started to wash over the main afterdeck. The ship finally sank in 50°41N/08°52’30W in shallow waters with the bow visible over the water. In the afternoon the survivors were picked up by HMS Fowey (L 15) (Cdr H.B. Ellison, RN) and taken to Plymouth. Nineteen crewmen from the Norwegian tanker were lost. The 9,973-ton Italia was carrying aviation fuel and was headed for Manchester, England.
The Erik Boye (Master Martin Bantz) in station #67 was hit by a G7a torpedo and sank slowly by the bow. The master and 21 crew members abandoned ship in one lifeboat, were picked up by HMS Fowey (L 15) (Cdr H.B. Ellison, RN) and landed at Plymouth on 16 June. The 2,238-ton Erik Boye was carrying wheat and was headed for Sharpness, England.
Destroyer HMS Griffin arrived at Dover at 2145, the first arrival of the newly reconstituted 1st Destroyer Flotilla. The Flotilla was to be composed of HMS Codrington (Captain D 1), HMS Greyhound, HMS Gallant, HMS Griffin, HMS Bulldog, HMS Brilliant, HMS Boadicea, HMS Boreas, HMS Beagle, HMS Brazen, ORP Blyskawica, and ORP Burza. Most of these destroyers were under repair on this date.
French large destroyer Milan took French General De Gaulle from Brest to Plymouth.
Destroyers HMS Mackay and HMS Winchelsea were ordered from Plymouth to escort convoys from France to England, and departed at 0700/16th.
Steamers Empire Ability (7603grt) and City Of Florence (6862grt) departed Falmouth for Brest, while steamers Ettrick (11,279grt), Koningin Emma (4135grt), Royal Ulsterman (3244grt), Royal Scotsman (3244grt) departed Falmouth for La Pallice in the afternoon. Next day, the morning of the 16th, and also from Falmouth, troopship Ormonde (14,982grt) departed for Plymouth and then to Quiberon Bay, and troopship Oronsay (20,043grt) for Quiberon Bay. Troopships Arandora Star (15,501grt), Otranto (20,026grt), and Strathaird (22,281grt) were ordered to Brest from Cardiff.
Battleship HMS Rodney, battlecruiser HMS Renown, and destroyers HMS Tartar, HMS Fearless, HMS Ashanti, HMS Bedouin, HMS Mashona, and HMS Maori arrived at Scapa Flow at 1650.
Destroyers HMS Atherstone, HMS Acheron, HMS Walker, and HMS Viscount and anti-submarine trawlers HMS King Sol, HMS St Cathan, HMS St Elstan, and HMS Loch Monteith departed Scapa Flow at 0600 with a convoy for the Clyde. It was composed of steamers Blackheath (4637grt), Yewmount (859grt), Marina (5088grt), Harmattan (4558grt), Theseus (6527grt), Dallington Court (6889grt), Redcar (1475grt), Coxwold (1124grt), and the Danish Gunvor Maersk (1977grt).
Swedish destroyers Psilander, Puke, Romulus, and Remus with supply ship Patricia and tanker Castor had arrived at Cobh (Queenstown) on the 2nd to embark Swedish citizens to return to Sweden. They departed on the 15th, en route to Sweden from Italy.
German armed merchant cruiser Pinguin departed Gydnia and was escorted by Sperrbrecher IV to Bremen. Armed merchant cruiser Pinguin was joined by torpedo boats Jaguar and Falke on the 18 June in the Skagerrak for the passage to Bergen. On the 19th, Pinguin was joined by minesweepers M.17 and M.18 off Skudesnes.
French submarine Morse (LV J. G. C. Paris) of the 9th Submarine Division was sunk on a mine off Sfax with all officers and ratings aboard lost.
Submarine HMS Rorqual reported unsuccessfully attacking an Italian submarine in Otranto Strait.
Destroyer HMS Wrestler attacked a submarine contact seven miles 138° from Europa Point.
Italian submarine Macalle, which had departed Massawa at 1600/10th, was wrecked on a reef near Port Sudan at 19 00N, 38 00E. The entire crew was rescued by Italian submarine Guglielmotti on the 22nd.
Convoy OF.34F was formed from convoys OA.168GF and OB.168GF with nineteen ships. British steamer City Of Windsor (7218grt) was diverted to Cherbourg from convoy OA.168 GF. The convoy was escorted by sloop HMS Deptford from 15 to 22 June. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on the 24th.
Convoy BC.41 departed Bristol Channel escorted by anti-submarine trawlers HMS Agate and HMS Cambridgeshire for Loire. This was the last convoy of the BC series.
Convoy FN.196 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer HMS Vimiera and sloop HMS Londonderry. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 17th.
Convoy FN.197 did not sail.
Convoy FS.196 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloops HMS Weston and HMS Lowestoft. The convoy became separated in fog and anchored, one section with sloop Weston and the other with sloop Lowestoft. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 17th.
Convoy SL.36 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser HMS Dunvegan Castle. The convoy arrived at Liverpool 3 July.
The War at Sea, Saturday, 15 June 1940 (naval-history.net)
Destroyer GRIFFIN arrived at Dover at 2145, the first arrival of the newly reconstituted 1st Destroyer Flotilla. The Flotilla was to be composed of CODRINGTON (Captain D 1), GREYHOUND, GALLANT, GRIFFIN, BULLDOG, BRILLIANT, BOADICEA, BOREAS, BEAGLE, BRAZEN, ORP BŁYSKAWICA, and ORP BURZA. Most of these destroyers were under repair on this date.
French large destroyer MILAN took French General De Gaulle from Brest to Plymouth.
Destroyers MACKAY and WINCHELSEA were ordered from Plymouth to escort convoys from France to England, and departed at 0700/16th.
Steamers EMPIRE ABILITY (7603grt) and CITY OF FLORENCE (6862grt) departed Falmouth for Brest, while steamers ETTRICK (11,279grt), KONINGIN EMMA (4135grt), ROYAL ULSTERMAN (3244grt), and ROYAL SCOTSMAN (3244grt) departed Falmouth for La Pallice in the afternoon. Next day, the morning of the 16th, and also from Falmouth, troopship ORMONDE (14,982grt) departed for Plymouth and then to Quiberon Bay, and troopship ORONSAY (20,043grt) for Quiberon Bay. Troopships ARANDORA STAR (15,501grt), OTRANTO (20,026grt), and STRATHAIRD (22,281grt) were ordered to Brest from Cardiff.
Destroyer ESK escorted cable ship ARIEL from St Peter’s Point, Guernsey to Southend.
Light cruiser NEWCASTLE and destroyers AMAZON and KELVIN departed Scapa Flow at 0945 for firing practices in Pentland Firth.
Battleship RODNEY, battlecruiser RENOWN, destroyers TARTAR, FEARLESS, ASHANTI, BEDOUIN, MASHONA, and MAORI arrived at Scapa Flow at 1650.
Destroyer AMAZON departed Scapa Flow at 2100 for Sullom Voe with oiler ROSEWOOD (5989grt) and anti-submarine trawlers SCOTTISH (558grt) and LOCH OSKAIG (534grt).
Destroyers ATHERSTONE, ACHERON, WALKER, and VISCOUNT and anti-submarine trawlers KING SOL, ST CATHAN, ST ELSTAN, and LOCH MONTEITH departed Scapa Flow at 0600 with a convoy for the Clyde. It was composed of steamers BLACKHEATH (4637grt), YEWMOUNT (859grt), MARINA (5088grt), HARMATTAN (4558grt), THESEUS (6527grt), DALLINGTON COURT (6889grt), REDCAR (1475grt), COXWOLD (1124grt), and the Danish GUNVOR MAERSK (1977grt).
U-A torpedoed armed merchant cruiser ANDANIA (Captain D. K. Bain Rtd) northwest of Ireland in 62 36N, 15 09W at 2330/15th. Icelandic trawler SKALLAGRIMUR (403grt) rescued the entire crew of 347 men before she sank. Destroyer FORESTER departed Thorshaven to assist. A transfer of the crew was attempted on the 16th when FORESTER met the trawler, but the weather was too rough. The crew were transferred on the 17th and FORESTER arrived at Scapa Flow at 2230/17th with the survivors, who were taken by minesweeper HAZARD to Scrabster.
Destroyer AMAZON, escorting oiler ROSEWOOD, came from Sullom Voe and destroyer KELVIN departed Scapa Flow at 0200/16th to assist. Armed boarding vessel DISCOVERY II also arrived on the scene.
Oiler ROSEWOOD, now escorted by anti-submarine trawlers SCOTTISH and LOCH OKAIG, arrived at Sullom Voe later that day.
Destroyer AMAZON reported later on the 16th that her starboard turbine bearing had run and she was returning to Scapa Flow, arriving at 1112/17th.
Destroyers BEDOUIN and ASHANTI had departed Scapa Flow at 0240 for Reykavik and attempted to locate trawler SKALLAGRIMUR en route. However, they were unable to locate the trawler due to low visibility.
Anti-submarine trawlers CAPE CORMORIN and AYRSHIRE in Iceland were sent to the area.
Heavy cruiser SUSSEX, light cruiser NEWCASTLE, armed merchant cruiser CIRCASSIA patrolled in the area in case this attack was a forerunner of an attempt by an armed raider to enter the Atlantic.
Anti-submarine trawler ARAB (531grt) attacked a submarine contact in 52-26N, 1-57E.
The trawler was joined by patrol sloop PINTAIL.
Swedish destroyers PSILANDER, PUKE, ROMULUS, and REMUS with supply ship PATRICIA and tanker CASTOR had arrived at Cobh (Queenstown) on the 2nd to embark Swedish citizens to return to Sweden. They departed on the 15th, en route to Sweden from Italy.
Convoy OF.34F was formed from convoys OA.168GF and OB.168GF with nineteen ships.
British steamer CITY OF WINDSOR (7218grt) was diverted to Cherbourg from convoy OA.168 GF. The convoy was escorted by sloop DEPTFORD from 15 to 22 June. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on the 24th.
Convoy BC.41 departed Bristol Channel escorted by anti-submarine trawlers AGATE and CAMBRIDGESHIRE for Loire.
The was the last convoy of the BC series.
Convoy FN.196 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VIMIERA and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 17th.
Convoy FN.197 did not sail.
Convoy FS.196 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloops WESTON and LOWESTOFT. The convoy became separated in fog and anchored, one section with sloop WESTON and the other with sloop LOWESTOFT. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 17th.
U-38 sank Norwegian motor tanker ITALIA (9973grt) and Danish steamer ERIK BOYE (2238grt), under British control, from convoy HX.48 in 50 37N, 08 44W.
Nineteen crew from the Norwegian tanker were lost. The survivors were rescued by sloop FOWEY.
The entire crew of the Danish steamer were rescued by sloop FOWEY.
German armed merchant cruiser PINGUIN departed Gydnia and was escorted by Sperrbrecher IV to Bremen.
Armed merchant cruiser PINGUIN was joined by torpedo boats JAGUAR and FALKE on the 18 June in the Skagerrak for the passage to Bergen.
On the 19th, PINGUIN was joined by minesweepers M.17 and M.18 off Skudesnes.
French destroyers FORBIN, FORTUNE, and BASQUE departed Alexandria for Beirut.
French submarine MORSE (LV J. G. C. Paris) of the 9th Submarine Division was sunk on a mine off Sfax with all officers and ratings aboard lost.
Submarine RORQUAL reported unsuccessfully attacking an Italian submarine in Otranto Strait.
Destroyer WRESTLER attacked a submarine contact seven miles 138° from Europa Point.
Italian submarine MACALLE, which had departed Massawa at 1600/10th, was wrecked on a reef near Port Sudan at 19 00N, 38 00E. The entire crew were rescued by Italian submarine GUGLIELMOTTI on the 22nd.
Convoy SL.36 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser DUNVEGAN CASTLE. The convoy arrived at Liverpool 3 July.
British Prime Minister Churchill, in telegram to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, again asked for destroyers, calling the matter one “of life and death.” Great Britain would carry on the struggle “whatever the odds,” the “Former Naval Person” declared to Roosevelt, “but it may well be beyond our resources unless we receive every reinforcement and particularly do we need this reinforcement on the sea.”
President Roosevelt, replying to the “last appeal” of Premier Reynaud for further aid for France, pledged redoubled efforts today to supply munitions, but told him only congress could make military commitments. The United States will not recognize infringement by force of the “independence and territorial integrity of France.” The United States will redouble efforts to supply the Allies. with planes, artillery and munitions as long as they fight. President Roosevelt pledged this course today in a cabled message answering the “final” appeal of Premier Paul Reynaud of France for “clouds” of airplanes and support of every kind. “I know that you will understand that these statements carry with them no implication of military commitments,” the President said. “Only the Congress can make such commitments.”
This statement apparently was intended to answer the question in Premier Reynaud’s appeal as to whether the American people “will hestitate still to declare themselves. against Nazi Germany.” It was noted that the President did not express an opinion as to whether he favored military commitments or not. The President definitely and emphatically, however, pledged in his cable message all the material and moral aid which this country can give the Allies. No secret was made. of the fact that the President’s cable was transmitted in an attempt to strengthen French morale at a critical moment and to provide hope for that stricken country.
Noting that airplanes, artillery and munitions of many kinds have been provided for the Allies in the weeks just past, and making hist pledge that this country will redouble its efforts in this direction, the President declared: “I believe it is possible to say that every week that goes by will see additional material on its way to the Allied nations.” In accord with the nation’s policy of not recognizing the results of military conquest, he said: “The Government of the United States will not consider as valid any attempts to infringe by force the independence and territorial integrity of France.”
Mr. Roosevelt himself read the message, already transmitted, to the French and British Ambassadors when they conferred with him at the White House for about an hour at noon. Stephen Early, Presidential secretary, explained that the French Premier’s appeal to the President was identical with his radio address Thursday from Tours. thus indicating that no specific request for a declaration of war by. the United States had been made, as was rumored. The Marquess of Lothian, the British Ambassador, remarked when he left the White House, the conversation “cleared up something in our minds.”
“No decisions were reached,” he added. Count Rene de Saint-Quentin, the French Ambassador, appeared preoccupied and refused to comment. It was reported that the President was urged to remove some of the labor and other curbs on production of armaments, but this could not be officially confirmed.
The U.S. also refuses to recognize the Soviet annexation of Lithuania, nor the annexation of Estonia and Latvia which the Soviets soon occupy on 17 June.
Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh asserted tonight the defense of the United States should be constructed with “cooperation of all American countries,” but “wo must insist upon military bases being placed wherever they are needed for our own safety, regardless of who owns the territory involved.” He embraced this idea of western hemisphere defense in an address broadcast over N.B.C. network in which he also asserted “we must stop this trend” toward involvement in the European war and cease “these gestures with an empty gun.” Tonight’s address by Lindbergh was the second of the same nature within a month. On the last occasion he condemned “meddling with affairs abroad” and denounced “hysterical chatter of calamity and invasion.”
The War Department is preparing to order 4,000 to 5,000 additional reserve officers to active duty on short notice, as a part of the Army’s rapid expansion.
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved an Act of Congress to increase naval aviation to a strength of not more than 10,000 aircraft, overriding the 4,500 in the act signed the previous day.
A relief bill, loaded with provisions for national defense and a varied assortment of other matters, slid through the senate today on a voice vote after five days debate. The measure was returned to the house to consider numerous senate changes and additions that boosted its total to $1,224,791,357 in appropriations.
The U.S. Senate late today accepted by a voice vote, legislation designed to prevent any “fifth column” in the army, navy and coast guard and providing for fingerprinting and registration of aliens. The measure was passed after the senate accepted an amendment by Senator Richard B. Russell, Georgia
Dr. Vannevar Bush, president of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, was appointed the head of the National Defense Research Committee. Bush met with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and proposed the creation of the National Defense Research Committee on Junee 12, 1940. Roosevelt agreed with Bush’s proposal. The NDRC would officially be created as part of the Council of National Defense, which had been created during 1916 to coordinate industry and resources for national security purposes, by an order of Roosevelt on June 27, 1940.
The University of California’s Dr. Ernest O. Lawrence begins supervising the construction of a giant cyclotron.
The University of California began building a giant cyclotron under the direction of American physicist and Nobel Laureate Dr. Ernest O. Lawrence. It was at this facility that American physicist Dr. Edwin McMillan would bombard uranium with neutrons and produce the first “transuranic” element, neptunium (Atomic Number 93). This led to the eventual development of plutonium (Atomic Number 94).
The U.S. passenger liner Washington sailed from Galway, Ireland, for the United States with an additional 852 American citizens, making a total of 1,872 passengers, embarked. The Washington would arrive at New York unmolested.
Major League Baseball:
Putting on a blistering assault in the first, third and seventh innings, Leo Durocher’s league-leading Dodgers yesterday conquered the champion Reds for the second straight time, winning by 11–6 and moving two full games ahead of Cincinnati. The Dodgers knock out Reds’ ace pitcher Bucky Walters in the third with the score 6–1.
Harry Danning hits for the cycle, as the Giants beat visiting Pittsburgh. Danning’s home run is an inside-the-park hit that lands 460 feet on the fly in front of the Giants’ clubhouse. It lodges behind the Eddie Grant memorial, and centerfielder Vince DiMaggio cannot extricate the ball in time. Danning is the last player this century to include an inside-the-park home run in his cycle. The Giants total 17 hits; Hal Schumacher holds the Pirates to five. The Giants win, 12–1, their 8th straight win.
Hammering four hurlers for thirteen hits, the Cubs routed the Bees, 11–5, today for the eighth time in nine games this season and gave Pitcher Larry French his eighth victory of the season.
Morton Cooper held the Phillies to four singles today, while his Cardinal team-mates pounded three enemy hurlers for nineteen safeties and an easy 14–1 victory. The Cardinals never trailed, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning.
The Tigers crushed the Senators in a double-header today, 11–1 and 8–0, with the veteran Buck Newsom and Rookie Johnny Gorsica holding Washington to a total of seven hits, and thereby jumped into second place in the American League race.
The Athletics defeated the Indians, 7–4, today, with Al Brancato batting in four runs and Wally Moses two more. Bucky Ross got the win; Mel Harder took the loss for Cleveland.
Joe DiMaggio’s double keys a ninth-inning Yankee rally that carries them over the St. Louis Browns, 7–6. Charlie Keller hit his tenth homer of the season in the eighth.
Rookie Herb Hash held the White Sox to four hits today to give the Red Sox a 5–2 victory, their second straight in the series. Jimmy Foxx and Ted Williams hit home runs for the Red Sox.
The Reds send recently acquired Johnny Rizzo to the Phillies for outfielder Morrie Arnovich.
Cincinnati Reds 6, Brooklyn Dodgers 11
Chicago Cubs 11, Boston Bees 5
Boston Red Sox 5, Chicago White Sox 2
Philadelphia Athletics 7, Cleveland Indians 4
Washington Senators 1, Detroit Tigers 11
Washington Senators 0, Detroit Tigers 8
Pittsburgh Pirates 1, New York Giants 12
St. Louis Cardinals 14, Philadelphia Phillies 1
New York Yankees 7, St. Louis Browns 6
Submarine tender USS Bushnell (AS-2) completes hydrographic surveys off the coast of Venezuela from Cape San Roman to Bahia Vela de Coro. Having begun on 9 April, she covered an area of 2,200 nautical square miles in the course of her work.
Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang: Chinese 2nd Army Group and 31st Army group arrive to reinforce Ichang sector.
Reports that Japanese planes on Friday heavily bombed the Kunming-Indo-China railway have caused speculation here over the possibility of an attack on Haiphong, terminus of the railway in French Indo-China. It is thought that the motive for a Japanese bombardment of the railway at this time, when France is in a desperate position at home, may be the desire to bottle accumulated supplies for China at Haiphong pending the launching of an assault at or near the port from the district of Nanning, where the Japanese have been reinforcing. Haiphong has for two years been an important channel of entry for imports into China and its capture by the Japanese would ostensibly be aimed at stopping this traffic, to which Japan has repeatedly objected.
Information regarding the bombing of the French-owned railway was brought here yesterday by persons arriving by plane from Kunming, Chinese terminus of the railway. They said that the extent of the damage to the railway was unknown, but they reported that Kunming had been in a state of continuous alarm for twenty-three hours. Meanwhile, ideal weather failed to bring the Japanese raiders back to Chungking yesterday. The authorities used the lull to make an attempt further to reduce the civilian population and to repair some of the damage to public services done by former raids.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 123.36 (+1.09)
Born:
John Powers, NFL tight end (Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings), in Harvard, Illinois (d. 1978, from leukemia).
Willem Frederik Bon, Dutch composer and pedagogue (“Les Prédictions”), in Amersfoort, Utrecht, the Netherlands (d. 1983).
Died:
Hermann Ritter von Speck, 51, German general (killed in action).
Ernst Weiss, 57, Austrian writer of Jewish descent (suicide).
Naval Construction:
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boats U-572 and U-574 are laid down by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 548).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IXB U-boat U-105 is launched by AG Weser, Bremen (werk 968).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IID U-boat U-137 is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Oberleutnant zur See Herbert Wohlfahrt.
History Diaries 