France asked Britain to be released from the obligation not to make a separate peace with Germany. The British responded with an offer to establish a state of union between the two countries. The British proposal was rejected by the French.
There is an extremely acrimonious debate within the French cabinet about continuation of the war from North Africa. French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud on 16 June 1940 loses his argument that the French nation should continue to resist. The final straw is an offer contained in two telegrams from London that are presented by British Ambassador Sir Ronald Campbell (Churchill apparently feeling relations are now too touchy to risk a visit of his own). The telegrams demand the retreat of the French fleet to UK harbors and a Franco-British Union – which would make the two countries into one.
Reynaud wants to agree to both proposals, but the rest of the Cabinet wishes for an Armistice, many because they think that the UK is finished, too. Reynaud loses the vote on the proposals and resigns, asking President Lebrun to form a new government.
French Prime Minister Reynaud lost the support of his Cabinet and resigned. Marshal Philippe Pétain was chosen to replace him. Pétain is an odd choice unless you recognize that the government was tired of trying to resist the unstoppable Wehrmacht onslaught. Pétain is an 84-year-old defeatist, but he is a highly respected war hero and the perfect noble figure to get the public to accept an armistice. Basically, he is a figurehead.
Marshal Pétain offers Pierre Laval position as Minister of Justice, but Laval unsuccessfully insists on being named Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Philippe Pétain became Prime Minister of France after Paul Reynaud resigned. Only one hour after becoming the head of government, Pétain asked his Foreign Minister Paul Baudouin to pass a note to the Spanish ambassador asking Spain to request “the conditions Chancellor Hitler would require to put a halt to military operations and sign an armistice.”
Among those who wish to continue to resist is General Charles de Gaulle, who is not included in the new cabinet. He flies to London during the day and begins to plot his next move. De Gaulle, having returned from London, decides to leave France to lead forces in exile.
While certain people in various headquarters have a clear picture of the situation, for the vast majority of troops and civilians, the entire situation is completely unknown. About all that anyone knows is that the Germans are in Paris. Other than that, they basically could be in the next town over for all anyone knows. This results in panic throughout the country.
German 12th Army captures Besancon and pushes toward the Swiss border. Panzer Group Guderian reaches Besancon, near the Swiss border. He is in position to link up with troops advancing through the Maginot Line from the direction of Colmar and encircle the entire French fortress system. Guderian is astounded at the poor condition of the fleeing French forces, noting: “Exhausted French soldiers fall from their truck to be crushed by the next. The Middle Ages were more humane than this.”
Dijon was taken and German units reached the Saone.
German troops cross the Seine near Melun and Fontainebleau. Other troops occupy Auxerre in the direction of Clamecy and Avallon.
German 4th Army pushes toward Alencon and the Orne River.
German 18th Army reaches Orleans.
German 9th Army and 2nd Army are pushing spearheads to Nevers – Beaune – Dijon area.
German 16th Army, 1st Army, and 7th Army are attacking the French 3rd Army Group from northwest, north, and east.
The Maginot Line was breached near Colmar in Alsace.
General Erwin Rommel, fresh off his spectacular operation north of Le Havre, receives orders to head south and take the key embarkation port of Cherbourg. It is 150 miles to the south, but French resistance is collapsing.
The Curie Laboratory in France transferred 410 pounds of Norwegian heavy water to the British. British ship SS Broompark leaves the Gironde (western France). It carries 26 containers of “heavy water.” The heavy water was imported from the only source of that water, a plant in Norway that is now under German control, by atomic physicist Joliot-Curie.
François Darlan was named the Vichy French Minister of the Navy.
In an ambush on a column of Italian vehicles east of Bardia, a British force including the 7th Hussars under the command of Lt. Colonel G. Fielden captured the Italian Tenth Army’s Engineer-in-Chief, Lt. General Romolo Lastucci with “up to date plans for the Bardia defences.”
A tank battle takes place at Sollum in which the Italian light tanks come off worse.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 22 aircraft to attack targets in Genoa and Milan overnight.
RAF bombers attack Italian airfields in the Western Desert.
Italian aircraft attack Sollum and Sidi Barrani.
The RAF raids Tobruk, causing extensive damage.
Italian bombers flying from Sardinia attack Bizerte, Tunisia.
A dozen Breda Ba.88s of the Regia Aeronautica raided Corsica, but three were shot down by ground fire. Italian aircraft bomb Porto Vecchio and Bonifacio, Corsica.
French air force attacks airfield near Cagliari with six bombers.
The South African Air Force attacks Iavello and Mega, bases in Italian East Africa.
Franco’s personal envoy, General Vigon, chief of General Staff, meets with Hitler at Acoz Castle. They discuss possible Spanish entry into the war, which would be strategically devastating to the Allies due to Spain’s ability to close the Mediterranean.
In Great Britain, Local Defence Volunteers shift into high gear, as fears of a German invasion mount.
The people of Britain prayed today in churches of all denominations for France. King George and Queen Elizabeth attended morning service in the Royal Chapel in Great Windsor Park. King Haakon of Norway and Crown Prince Olaf were among the worshipers at the Norwegian Church at Rotherhithe, and Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands went to the Netherlands Reformed Church in London. The Archbishop of Canterbury, preaching to the congregation and members of the armed forces in Canterbury Cathedral, paid tribute to the heroic tenacity, determination, and courage of the French Armies in their efforts to halt the German drive through France. About two or three million people in France, he said, were wandering from the terror which lay behind them, but, he added, the bravery of the army and the spirit of the people were undefeated.
The Lieutenant-Governors of each of the British Channel Islands were instructed to make as many boats as possible available to help evacuate British soldiers from Saint-Malo. Guernsey was too far away to help on such short notice. The Bailiff of Jersey called on the Saint Helier Yacht Club for help. Four yachts set off immediately, and fourteen others were ready within 24 hours. The first yachts arrived in Saint-Malo the morning of 17 June and embarked troops from shore to waiting transport ships; the remaining yachts from Jersey arrived on 18 June and helped clear the last parties from land. Meanwhile, the islands are being demilitarized and some people are evacuating.
Prime minister of Lithuania Antanas Merkys removed Antanas Smetona from the post of president and, contrary to Lithuanian constitution, and assumed the presidency himself.
The Soviet Union gave an ultimatum to Estonia to form a new government and allow free access for Red Army.
The Soviet Union gave an ultimatum to Latvia to form a new government and allow free access for Red Army.
Soviet Russia tonight announced that Estonia and Latvia had agreed to free passage of Soviet troops and to formation of new governments which would “ensure honest implementation” of the Soviet’s mutual assistance pacts with those two countries. The announcement was made by Tass, official news agency, as the Red army and tanks and planes were reported in dispatches from abroad to be pouring into Lithuania, a third Baltic country. Lithuania agreed to permit the Soviet to send unlimited numbers of troops into her territory. According to reports, they were sent to garrison the German border. At the same time, Russia announced she had been informed by the German embassy that “Ex-President” Antanas Smetona of Lithuania and several other Lithuanian government officials had been interned in Germany when they stepped across the border.
First elements of Canadian Z Force arrive in Iceland to reinforce British occupation force.
German U-boat U-A, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Hans Cohausz, torpedoed the armed merchant cruiser HMS Andania (Captain D. K. Bain Rtd) northwest of Ireland at 62 36N, 15 09W. At 0029 hours on 16 June 1940, HMS Andania (Capt D.K. Bain (Rtd), RN) was hit aft by one of two torpedoes from UA about 230 miles west-northwest of the Faroe Islands. The ship sank slowly by the stern and the crew was taken off by the Icelandic trawler Skallagrímur, so only two men were injured. The trawler continued its course to Hull, but HMS Forester (H 74) (LtCdr E.B. Tancock, DSC, RN) took the men off about 36 hours after the rescue and took them to Scapa Flow on 17 June. UA had spotted HMS Andania the first time in heavy rain at 15.24 hours on 13 June 1940. The U-boat began to follow the ship, but lost her several times due to bad visibility, darkness and the fast zigzagging patrol course she was sailing. At 12.17 hours on 14 June, a spread of three torpedoes was fired which missed and was apparently not observed aboard the armed merchant cruiser, which was lost out of sight after the attack. After 24 hours, the ship was again sighted and successful attacked at 0029 hours on 16 June. UA fired a G7a coup de grâce after eight minutes, which was a dud. The torpedo track was probably seen because HMS Andania opened fire with all guns, but could not locate the attacker in the darkness. Cohausz gave up the attack after two coups de grâce fired at 0118 and 0150 hours missed probably due to the high seas.
Icelandic trawler Skallagrimur (403grt) rescued the entire crew of 347 men before she sank. Destroyer HMS 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 was transferred on the 17th and Forester arrived at Scapa Flow at 2230/17th with the survivors, who were taken by minesweeper HMS Hazard to Scrabster. Destroyer HMS Amazon, escorting oiler Rosewood, came from Sullom Voe and destroyer HMS Kelvin departed Scapa Flow at 0200/16th to assist. Armed boarding vessel HMS Discovery II also arrived on the scene. Oiler Rosewood, now escorted by anti-submarine trawlers HMS Scottish and HMS 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 HMS Bedouin and HMS 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 HMS Cape Cormorin and HMS Ayrshire in Iceland were sent to the area. Heavy cruiser HMS Sussex, light cruiser HMS Newcastle, and armed merchant cruiser HMS Circassia patrolled in the area in case this attack was a forerunner of an attempt by an armed raider to enter the Atlantic.
U-101, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Fritz Frauenheim, sank British steamer Wellington Star (13,212grt) in 42 39N, 17 01W. At 1302 hours the unescorted Wellington Star (Master Trevor Williams) was hit in the bow by one G7a torpedo from U-101 about 300 miles west of Cape Finisterre. After the crew abandoned ship in four lifeboats, the U-boat fired three coups de grâce at 1423, 1440 and 1458 hours, but the first two were duds. The ship developed a list and settled but did not sink after the last coup de grâce had hit underneath the bridge. The U-boat surfaced, questioned the survivors and sank the ship with 31 rounds from the deck gun at 1645 hours. The master and 51 crew members were picked up after eight days by the French steam merchant Pierre L.D. and landed at Casablanca on 24 June. The same day, the remaining 17 crew members in a lifeboat made landfall at Figuera da Foz near Oporto. The 13,212-ton Wellington Star was carrying refrigerated and general cargo and was headed for Falmouth, England.
Operation AERIAL was the evacuation of allied troops from French Biscay ports. On the 16th, destroyers HMS Wolverine, HMS Vanoc, and HMS Whirlwind were detailed to escort loaded ships from France to the UK. From 15 to 18 June, 30,630 troops were evacuated from Cherbourg and taken to Portsmouth. On 16 and 17 June, 21,474 troops were lifted from St Malo and taken to Portsmouth. The demolition party for St Malo was XD.M (Cdr C. D. Howard-Johnston), delivered on destroyer HMS Wild Swan on 0050/17th, after calling at St Helier en route. On 16 and 17 June, 32,584 troops were evacuated from Brest and taken to Plymouth.
From 16 to 18 June, 57,235 troops were evacuated from St Nazaire and Nantes to Plymouth.
Destroyers HMS Vega, HMS Fernie, and HMS Sabre and sloops HMS Foxglove and HMS Rosemary were employed as escorts along the evacuation route. Destroyers HMS Havelock, HMS Wolverine, and HMS Beagle with troopships Georgic (27,759grt), Duchess Of York (20,021grt), Batory (14,287grt), and Sobieski (11,030grt) of convoy FF.1 were at Quiberon Bay on the 15th. These liners departed St Nazaire at 0119/17th, escorted by destroyers HMS Whirlwind and HMS Beagle. On the 16th, destroyers HMS Highlander and HMS Vanoc joined the force. British troopship Franconia (20,175grt) of convoy FF.2 was damaged by German bombing at Brest on the 16th. She was temporarily out of action due to main shaft and gearing out of line. On the 17th at 0700, she was able to proceed independently to Plymouth. British troopships Lancastria (16,243grt) and Oronsay (20,043grt) of convoy FF.2 were damaged by air bombing at Quiberon Bay on the 17th. British troopship Oronsay (20,043grt) departed St Nazaire on the 17th. On the 17th two hours after being damaged by bombing, British troopship Lancastria (16,243grt) was sunk by German bombing at St Nazaire with a heavy loss of life. On the 18th, British liners Franconia (20,175grt), Arandora Star (15,501grt), Ormonde (14,982grt) departed Brest. British steamers Bellerophon (9019grt), Euryades (5801grt), Lycaon (7350grt) Otranto (20,026grt), and Straithaird (22,281grt) arrived at Brest in the same convoy as Franconia and Ormonde and were sent to Quiberon Bay. Liner Straithaird (22,281grt) evacuated 32,584 troops from Brest.
Heavy cruiser HMS Sussex and light cruiser HMS Newcastle departed Scapa Flow to patrol along 59N from 16 to 20W. They arrived on station at 0100/17th to search for a raider. After no contact, they were ordered at 0954/18th to return to Scapa Flow, arriving at 0455/19th.
The Australian – New Zealand troop convoy US.3 arrived in the Clyde. Heavy cruiser HMS Cumberland departed the Clyde on the 16th for Liverpool arriving on the 17th. Escorting destroyers HMS Broke and HMS Westcott then proceeded to Plymouth. Escorting destroyer HMS Warwick proceeded to Liverpool. Escorting destroyers HMS Wanderer, HMS Witch, HMCS St Laurent, HMCS Restigouche, HMCS Skeena, and HMCS Fraser departed the Clyde to join Canadian troop convoy TC.5.
At 0508, submarine HMS Tetrarch encountered a southbound German convoy. Submarine Tetrarch fired four torpedoes. German tanker Samland (5978grt) was sunk off Korsfjord, five miles west of Lister, in 58-18N, 05-40E.
Sloop HMS Black Swan and minesweeper HMS Sharpshooter arrived at Rosyth with part of convoy FN.195. Sloop HMS Hastings with rest of the convoy arrived later.
French aircraft carrier Bearn and light cruiser Jeanne D’Arc departed Halifax at 0600/16th to return to France, but arrived in the Antilles on the 27th.
French sloop La Curieuse depth charges Italian submarine Provano, forcing it to the surface 30 miles south of Cabo de Palos, Spain. The French ship rams the Italian submarine, sinking it.
German steamer Konigsberg (6466grt) was scuttled when intercepted by French auxiliary patrol boat President Houduce (1178grt) in 41 36N, 10 37W. Steamer Konigsberg had earlier refueled German armed merchant cruiser Widder.
Submarine HMS Grampus, (Lt Cdr C. A. Rowe), which had laid mines off Port Augusta on the 13th,was sunk by Italian torpedo boats Polluce, Calliope, Circe, Clio off Augusta. After the minelaying, the submarine had unsuccessfully attacked Italian submarine Bausan on the 13th and torpedo boat Polluce on the 13th. Destroyer HMS Diamond was sent on the 18th to search for the missing submarine. Submarine Grampus was declared lost on the 24th and presumed mined. Lt Cdr Rowe, Lt E. B. Bull, Lt K. J. Dorrell, S/Lt CC Wilson RNR, Warrant Engineer L.E. Buckler, the fifty three ratings of the crew, the Chinese steward were lost with Grampus.
Heavy cruiser HMS Dorsetshire arrived at Gibraltar after US.3 convoy duty until 14 June, then a patrol off the Canary Islands.
Italian submarine Durbo attacked a French destroyer in 36 06N, 11 33E, in the Gulf of Hammanet, northeast of Sousse.
Italian submarine Galilei sank Norwegian tanker James Stove (8215grt) south of Aden at 12 35N, 45 03E. The entire crew of the tanker was rescued.
Italian steamer Rastrello (1550grt) was sunk by an underwater explosion at Naples.
New Zealand Division light cruiser HMS Leander was searching for submarine Galilei from 16 to 18 June. British trawler HMS Moonstone captured this submarine on the 19th.
Convoy MT.89 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer HMS Woolston and sloop HMS Fleetwood. Destroyer HMS Encounter traveled in this convoy for passage to Chatham. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 17th.
Convoy HG.34 departed Gibraltar with fifteen ships, escorted by destroyers HMS Vidette and HMS Wrestler until 18 June. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 26th.
The War at Sea, Sunday, 16 June 1940 (naval-history.net)
Heavy cruiser SUSSEX and light cruiser NEWCASTLE departed Scapa Flow to patrol along 59N from 16 to 20W. They arrived on station at 0100/17th to search for a raider.
After no contact, they were ordered at 0954/18th to return to Scapa Flow, arriving at 0455/19th.
The Australian – New Zealand troop convoy US.3 arrived in the Clyde.
Heavy cruiser CUMBERLAND departed the Clyde on the 16th for Liverpool arriving on the 17th.
Escorting destroyers BROKE and WESTCOTT then proceeded to Plymouth.
Escorting destroyer WARWICK proceeded to Liverpool.
Escorting destroyers WANDERER, WITCH, HMCS ST LAURENT, HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, HMCS SKEENA, and HMCS FRASER departed the Clyde to join Canadian troop convoy TC.5.
Destroyer DELIGHT departed the Clyde with British steamers NAILSEA LASS (4289grt) and LOMBARDY (3379grt) for Plymouth.
Armed boarding vessel NORTHERN DUKE picked up a raft from Norwegian steamer KRISTIANIAFJORD (6759grt) in 62-04N, 7-46W.
At 0508, submarine TETRARCH encountered a southbound German convoy. Submarine TETRARCH fired four torpedoes.
German tanker SAMLAND (5978grt) was sunk off Korsfjord, five miles west of Lister, in 58-18N, 05-40E.
Submarine TRUANT and Polish submarine WILK departed Rosyth for exercises in the Firth of Forth.
After the exercises, submarine TRUANT set off on patrol and submarine WILK returned to Rosyth.
Submarine L.23 and submarine tender WHITE BEAR arrived at Scapa Flow.
Sloop BLACK SWAN and minesweeper SHARPSHOOTER arrived at Rosyth with part of convoy FN.195.
Sloop HASTINGS with rest of the convoy arrived later.
Minesweepers HALCYON and HEBE and destroyer ESK with cable vessel ARIEL were held for several hours at Dover while the Downs was cleared.
At 2000, destroyer GRIFFIN departed Dover to join light cruiser GALATEA and destroyer IMOGEN en route from the Nore to Spithead.
Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA departed Harwich for Portsmouth.
Operation AERIAL was the evacuation of allied troops from French Biscay ports.
On the 16th, destroyers WOLVERINE, VANOC, and WHIRLWIND were detailed to escort loaded ships from France to the UK.
From 15 to 18 June, 30,630 troops were evacuated from Cherbourg and taken to Portsmouth.
On 16 and 17 June, 21,474 troops were lifted from St Malo and taken to Portsmouth.
The demolition party for St Malo was XD.M (Cdr C. D. Howard-Johnston), delivered on destroyer WILD SWAN on 0050/17th, after calling at St Helier en route.
On 16 and 17 June, 32,584 troops were evacuated from Brest and taken to Plymouth.
From 16 to 18 June, 57,235 troops were evacuated from St Nazaire and Nantes to Plymouth.
Destroyers VEGA, FERNIE, SABRE and sloops FOXGLOVE and ROSEMARY were employed as escorts along the evacuation route.
Destroyers HAVELOCK, WOLVERINE, and BEAGLE with troopships GEORGIC (27,759grt), DUCHESS OF YORK (20,021grt), BATORY (14,287grt), and SOBIESKI (11,030grt) of convoy FF.1 were at Quiberon Bay on the 15th. These liners departed St Nazaire at 0119/17th, escorted by destroyers WHIRLWIND and BEAGLE.
On the 16th, destroyers HIGHLANDER and VANOC joined the force.
British troopship FRANCONIA (20,175grt) of convoy FF.2 was damaged by German bombing at Brest on the 16th. She was temporarily out of action due to mainshaft and gearing out of line. On the 17th at 0700, she was able to proceed independently to Plymouth.
British troopships LANCASTRIA (16,243grt) and ORONSAY (20,043grt) of convoy FF.2 were damaged by air bombing at Quiberon Bay on the 17th.
British troopship ORONSAY (20,043grt) departed St Nazaire on the 17th.
On the 17th two hours after being damaged by bombing, British troopship LANCASTRIA (16,243grt) was sunk by German bombing at St Nazaire with a heavy loss of life.
On the 18th, British liners FRANCONIA (20,175grt), ARANDORA STAR (15,501grt), and ORMONDE (14,982grt) departed Brest.
British steamers BELLEROPHON (9019grt), EURYADES (5801grt), LYCAON (7350grt) OTRANTO (20,026grt), and STRAITHAIRD (22,281grt) arrived at Brest in the same convoy as FRANCONIA and ORMONDE and were sent to Quiberon Bay.
Liner STRAITHAIRD (22,281grt) evacuated 32,584 troops from Brest.
Light cruiser ARETHUSA arrived at Le Verdon from Gibraltar.
Convoy MT.89 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON and sloop FLEETWOOD. Destroyer ENCOUNTER traveled in this convoy for passage to Chatham. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 17th.
U-101 sank British steamer WELLINGTON STAR (13,212grt) in 42 39N, 17 01W.
The entire crew were picked up by French steamer PIERRE L D (5795grt).
French aircraft carrier BEARN and light cruiser JEANNE D’ARC departed Halifax at 0600/16th to return to France, but arrived in the Antilles on the 27th.
French General De Gaulle ordered new French liner PASTEUR (30,447grt), en route from Halifax to Bordeaux, to put into a British port.
Liner PASTEUR on the first half of the voyage, her maiden passage, carried 400 tons of gold to Halifax.
Convoy HG.34 departed Gibraltar with fifteen ships, escorted by destroyers VIDETTE and WRESTLER until 18 June. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 26th.
German steamer KONIGSBERG (6466grt) was scuttled when intercepted by French auxiliary patrol boat PRESIDENT HOUDUCE (1178grt) in 41 36N, 10 37W.
Steamer KONIGSBERG had earlier refueled German armed merchant cruiser WIDDER.
At 1400, destroyers departed Alexandria on an anti-submarine sweep.
Force M: destroyers NUBIAN, MOHAWK, JANUS, and JUNO.
Force H: destroyers HYPERION, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, and HASTY.
Force S: destroyers HMAS STUART, HMAS VAMPIRE, DAINTY, and HMAS VOYAGER.
Destroyers ILEX and IMPERIAL were already at sea to cover tanker movements between Port Said, Alexandria, Haifa.
On the 17th, light cruiser GLOUCESTER departed Alexandria to join the sweep.
Submarine GRAMPUS, (Lt Cdr C. A. Rowe), which had laid mines off Port Augusta on the 13th, was sunk by Italian torpedo boats POLLUCE, CALLIOPE, CIRCE, and CLIO off Augusta.
After the minelay, the submarine had unsuccessfully attacked Italian submarine BAUSAN on the 13th and torpedo boat POLLUCE on the 13th.
Destroyer DIAMOND was sent on the 18th to search for the missing submarine.
Submarine GRAMPUS was declared lost on the 24th and presumed mined.
Lt Cdr Rowe, Lt E. B. Bull, Lt K. J. Dorrell, S/Lt CC Wilson RNR, Warrant Engineer L.E. Buckler, the fifty-three ratings of the crew, the Chinese steward were lost with GRAMPUS.
Heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE arrived at Gibraltar after US.3 convoy duty until 14 June, then a patrol off the Canary Islands.
Italian submarine DURBO attacked a French destroyer in 36 06N, 11 33E, in the Gulf of Hammanet, northeast of Sousse.
Italian submarine GALILEI sank Norwegian tanker JAMES STOVE (8215grt) south of Aden at 12 35N, 45 03E.
The entire crew of the tanker were rescued.
Italian steamer RASTRELLO (1550grt) was sunk by an underwater explosion at Naples.
New Zealand light cruiser HMNZS LEANDER was searching for submarine GALILEI from 16 to 18 June. British trawler MOONSTONE captured this submarine on the 19th.
U.S. Pittman Act: The U.S. Congress authorized the sale of munitions to any American republic. The Roosevelt administration sought to bolster the defenses of the Western Hemisphere.
With leaders of Congress confident of enacting all “must” legislation by Saturday night, the question whether to adjourn sine die or arrange to stay in session through a series of recesses during the crisis in Europe is likely to provoke a sharp conflict. Democratic leaders of both branches continue to insist upon adjournment, but the House Republicans are almost solidly against this and a considerable number of Democrats are opposed to quitting the capital now.
A majority of the Senate appeared to favor adjournment, and if the two branches disagree over an adjournment resolution the President will have the power to prorogue Congress. Mr. Roosevelt has indicated that he regards the matter of adjourning as immaterial, but he has said that he saw no reason why Congress should remain in session after its main work was completed. Senator Barkley, majority leader, indicated today that he believed some of the members had put too much credence in letters and messages they were receiving from their States urging them to stay on. Representative Rayburn, the House majority leader, added nothing to what he had said previously, which was that there was nothing to require Congress to continue sitting after Saturday night.
Some Democrats inferentially threatened to force Congress to sit through next week as a means to bring a sine die adjournment. This obviously was directed at the House Republicans, who thus would be unable to attend their national convention at Philadelphia, which will convene on June 24. Two propositions probably will be made to Congress during the week. The first is to adjourn sine die, and the second is to recess until about August 1, with the presiding officers of the two branches empowered to call Congress back into session in the meanwhile if affairs abroad warrant it. There is no precedent for giving this power to the presiding officers, but its legality is not questioned. Such a resolution was offered in 1866, but was defeated.
A seven-man Defense Resources Committee was named by Secretary Ickes today to cut through “red tape” in matters concerning the Department of Interior which deal with the preparedness program. Mr. Ickes called attention, in a letter to the committee, to the resources, such as hydroelectric power, oil, strategic minerals and coal, in custody of his department. Defense activities touching the department will be handled by the committee as a clearing house. Three important matters face the Senate during the week. The first is the $1,007,000,000 defense tax bill carrying a rise of $4,000,000,000 in the national debt limit. The second is the 1941 relief bill, which carries defense items. The third is the $1,277,000,000 supplemental defense appropriation bill. All have been passed by the House.
Senator Key Pittman, Nevada Democrat, called on Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh tonight to “throw aside all of his false political advisors and volunteer in the United States government as an expert in aviation.” “Let Colonel Lindbergh cease efforts to create unfounded war fear and lack of confidence in our government,” Pittman said in an N.B.C. radio reply to Lindbergh’s speech of last night. “Let Colonel Lindbergh and his advisers know that when one fools with politics in a national emergency, he is fooling with disaster.”
Secretary Ickes named seven of the staff of the Interior Department today as a defense resources committee, to cut out routine procedural difficulties in the department and expedite the national defense program.
Nearly 20,000 persons gathered on Boston Common today and acclaimed the appeals of speakers for the immediate shipment to the Allies of everything short of an American expeditionary force.
Managers of District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey’s campaign have come to believe that Wendell L. Willkie is the man whom Mr. Dewey will have to beat for the Republican Presidential nomination.
Because Mayor La Guardia condemned Italy’s entrance into the war when he spoke last week at a conference of mayors in Ottawa., Canada, he has drawn the fire of II Grido Della Stirpe, a pro-Fascist weekly published in New York.
Major League Baseball:
The Reds manage just two hits off Whit Wyatt but beat the Dodgers, 1–0, at Ebbets Field in game one of their doubleheader. Lonny Frey’s unusual home run in the 9th settles the game: Frey’s hit strikes the top of the right field wall, bounces straight up, and settles on a ledge on top of the wall next to the scoreboard. The Reds make it a sweep by taking the nitecap, 5–2.
The Cubs earned an even break in their four game series with the Bees by splitting a double-header today, dropping the opener, 5–4, in eleven innings but taking the second game, 9–1, behind Claude Passeau’s five-hitter.
The Pirates sweep a pair from the Giants, 5–0 and 5–3. Max Butcher hurls a shutout two-hitter in the opener to beat Carl Hubbell. The Yankees rattle off 12 hits in the nitecap, but leave ten men on base.
The Cardinals made it four in a row over the Phillies today, capturing both ends of a doubleheader by scores of 9–3 and 3–1. A crowd of 9,847 saw the Cards pound Kirby Higbe for thirteen hits in the first game. Bill McGee and Jack Russell limited the Phils to eight hits. A home run by Bobby Bragan tied the score at 3–3 in the fifth, but the Cards broke the tie in the sixth and put the game on ice with five runs in the eighth. Home runs by Johnny Mize and Terry Moore, coupled with steady pitching by Lon Warneke, gave St. Louis its victory in the second game. It was Mize’s eighteenth homer of the season and the third for Terry.
Cleveland fans cheer manager Oscar Vitt and boo the “crybabys,” Hal Trosky and Bob Feller. Feller answers with a 3–hit win over the A’s, striking out 12 in the 4–2 game. Lou Boudreau homers and doubles. Al Milnar takes the nitecap, 4–3, as the Indians get all their runs in the 4th. Ray Mack’s triple knocks in two and he later scores himself.
The Yankees’ promised four straight clean-up of the supposedly docile Browns suffered a compound fracture today when, to the delight of 9,308 onlookers, the St. Louisans sent the Bronx Bombers sprawling in both ends of a doubleheader. The Browns won, 12–6, and 6–5. Joe DiMaggio and Frank Crosetti of the Yankees homer in game one, and repeat the homers in the nitecap — but it is not enough for New York.
A barrage of home runs gave the pace-setting Red Sox a double victory over the White Sox today, 4–3 and 14–5, before 26,210 spectators. After Boston scores 2 runs in the 9th to tie, Ted Williams struck a twelfth-inning home run to give the American League leaders the first game. Five homers in the first six innings, the first a three-run blow by Jimmie Foxx, virtually settled the nightcap. Winning pitcher Jack Wilson clubs a pair of homers (he last hit one in 1935 and will total 3 for his career). The two victories gave Boston a clean sweep of the four-game series with Chicago.
The Tigers made a sweep of their four-game series with the Senators today, winning, 8–7, as Barney McCoskey delivered a timely single in the eighth that sent two runners across the plate.
Cincinnati Reds 1, Brooklyn Dodgers 0
Cincinnati Reds 5, Brooklyn Dodgers 2
Chicago Cubs 4, Boston Bees 5
Chicago Cubs 9, Boston Bees 1
Boston Red Sox 4, Chicago White Sox 3
Boston Red Sox 14, Chicago White Sox 5
Philadelphia Athletics 2, Cleveland Indians 4
Philadelphia Athletics 3, Cleveland Indians 4
Washington Senators 7, Detroit Tigers 8
Pittsburgh Pirates 5, New York Giants 0
Pittsburgh Pirates 5, New York Giants 3
St. Louis Cardinals 9, Philadelphia Phillies 3
St. Louis Cardinals 3, Philadelphia Phillies 1
New York Yankees 6, St. Louis Browns 12
New York Yankees 5, St. Louis Browns 6
Canadians are hoping that as a result of negotiations now going on with the United States the recently promulgated regulation of the State Department requiring passports and visas from Canadians crossing the border will not be necessary. The new regulation is scheduled to go into effect on July 1. Certain modifications are understood to have been agreed upon already, but it is hoped in Ottawa that a closer watch of the border will meet the case and that there will be no trouble about passports.
Many Argentine Nationalists and Fascist and Nazi leaders are expected to be involved in the investigation of the explosion of two bombs aboard the British steamer Gascony at Buenos Aires, Argentina, last week.
Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang: Chinese 5th War Area opens offensive against Japanese 11th Army around Ichang.
114 Japanese aircraft attacked Chungking, China after sundown; four I-16 fighters of Chinese 24th Pursuit Squadron rose to intercept, shooting down one bomber near Fuling County near the city, with one fighter shot down by the Japanese. One bomb lands 300 feet from the U.S. Navy gunboat USS Tutuila, and rains shrapnel on her. No one is injured on the ship. Initial estimates in Chungking were that there were 100 casualties and 10,000 people had been left homeless.
Prime Minister Robert Gordon Menzies, in a national broadcast today, announced sweeping measures designed to enable the government to regiment Australia’s manpower completely for the prosecution of the war.
Born:
Carole Ann Ford, English actress (‘Susan Foreman’ – “Doctor Who”), in Ilford, Essex, England, United Kingdom.
Neil Goldschmidt, businessman and 33rd Governor of Oregon (1987-1991), in Eugene, Oregon (d. 2024).
Taylor Wang, Chinese-born Taiwanese-American astronaut (STS-51-B, Challenger, 1985), in Shanghai, China.
Norm Beal, NFL safety (St. Louis Cardinals), in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 2015).
Died:
DuBose Heyward, 54, American writer (“Porgy”; “Star Spangled Virgin”), of a heart attack.
Naval Construction:
The U.S. Navy Kaweah-class fleet oiler USS Mattole (AO‑17), laid up since acquisition in 1922, is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Commander Julian DuBois Wilson, USN.
The Royal Navy anti-aircraft ship HMS Alynbank (F 84) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Captain (retired) Philip Hordern, RN.
History Diaries 