The Heer (German Army) has two combat battalions waiting at their boats ready to invade the Channel Islands despite British announcements that they are demilitarized and “open towns.” To test the waters, a Luftwaffe pilot, Hauptmann Liebe-Pieteritz of Luftflotte 3, lands at Guernsey aerodrome – outfitted with white flags as specified in leaflets dropped by the Luftwaffe — and finds it deserted. Based on his report, the Luftflotte quickly flies in a platoon of troops in a Junkers Ju 52 transport to the same place. They meet no resistance.
In a genteel moment of international diplomacy, Inspector Sculpher of the Guernsey police force drives down to greet the German soldiers at the aerodrome. He is carrying a letter in German:
“This Island has been declared an Open Island by His Majesty’s Government of the United Kingdom. There are no armed forces of any description. The bearer has been instructed to hand this communication to you. He does not understand the German language.”
Wehrmacht commanding officer Major Albrecht Lanz accepts the surrender and then proceeds to the best hotel, the Royal Hotel, where he and his successors will set up their headquarters. Lanz meets the top (remaining) officials on the island. Everyone agrees that the Germans now are in control and that nobody is going to resist. They then all go out for lobster dinner after Lanz radios the waiting invasion troops and tells them he has handled everything. One can be quite sure that Hermann Göring has quite a laugh out of one-upping the army like this. This is a British territory, now occupied by German troops, the first such instance in the war.
The first that Major John Sherwill, the Attorney-General of Guernsey, knew of German occupation was a telephone call telling him that a Junkers aircraft had landed at the small airport. A little while later there was a knock on his door. Two German officers were admiring his early roses. Sherwill invited them in. “Please use the side door,” he requested them. “The children are asleep in the hall.” The Germans were happy to oblige. A German reconnaissance aircraft landed on Guernsey unofficially received the surrender of the islanders. It has been a most orderly surrender as white flags fly over British soil and German troops begin to land in numbers on the Channel Islands. No shots have been fired, and the only reported resistance has come from an Irish worker who punched a German soldier in a pub brawl.
German General Alfred Jodl of the OKW noted in his diary that the United Kingdom was certain to fall in time, regardless of the fact whether an actual invasion was necessary. Jodl proposes two alternative modes of attack:
- A direct invasion of Great Britain;
- A peripheral strategy of isolating England by overcoming its forces in the Mediterranean and elsewhere.
He and everyone else is confident that, either way, Great Britain cannot hold out for long. No clear choice on a strategy is taken, but the emphasis, for the time being, is on the first alternative.
Himmler confers with Hitler about displacing the Polish population and moving in German settlers. Himmler suggests removing the entire existing Polish population — to where or how is not decided — and replacing it with German “settlers.”
Belgian refugees are now being repatriated by the German authorities who call for them at their center in the Rue de Berri with large trucks and trailers capable of transporting 350 persons and their baggage at once. With each caravan is a kitchen truck with a capacity for feeding all.
Two severe orders were issued this morning by the military authorities; one, signed by General Walther von Brauchitsch, Commander in chief of the German armies, demands that all radio sending apparatus, even that made by amateurs, be turned over to the nearest German military post. The price for noncompliance is death. The other order, from the Army High Command, requires the French to surrender all firearms. Again, those in violation will be summarily shot as “guerrillas.”
Listening to the BBC is strictly forbidden anywhere in Germany or occupied Europe. Today, five such “radio criminals” are sentenced to five years in concentration camps. However, the BBC is widely viewed as more factual than the German propaganda broadcasts, so almost everyone tunes in at least occasionally.
A Franco-German-Italian Armistice Commission meets at Wiesbaden. The French delegation is led by General Huntziger. Numerous captured Wehrmacht troops, including some (later) famous names. Oberst (Colonel) Josef Kammhuber of KG51 and Werner Mölders return from POW camps to their old units or new postings. Kammhuber becomes an Officer with Special Duties of the RLM and Commander-in-Chief Luftwaffe, which basically means that he helps to establish new Luftwaffe doctrines and strategies. General Huntziger and French delegation to the German armistice commission take up residence in Wiesbaden.
Maginot Line positions which have held out begin surrendering, with garrisons marched into captivity. As of 30 June 1940, there have been 220,000 French soldiers sealed in their Maginot Line fortresses since the Armistice of June 22. They have not posed a threat, but the Wehrmacht has not been able to enter their entire zone of occupation. Today, the French holdouts bow to the inevitable and finally surrender after a direct order from Commander-in-Chief Weygand.
The Chantiers de Jeunesse, a quasi-military youth organization somewhat reminiscent of the Hitler Youth, is formed by the new French Vichy regime.
The first convoy bringing in Australian and New Zealand troops for the defense of Britain has landed in England. The Anzac arrivals, who include a battalion of Maoris from New Zealand, were congratulated on their safe arrival by a Mr. Shakespeare, the Undersecretary for the Dominions, who spoke of “a thrill in every heart and every home in this country.” Already Australian and New Zealand troops are stationed in Palestine. “It has fallen to your lot to come to the United Kingdom itself,” King George told the new arrivals in a message of welcome, “and as you take your place beside us, you find us in the forefront of the battle.”
The SS Arandora Star departs from Great Britain for Canada carrying 1200 German and Italian POWs. Many of them are simply civilians being interned.
Two trainloads of wounded soldiers from Bessarabia and Bukovina, which arrived in Bucharest today, confirmed reports that have reached the capital that there had been clashes between the Russian and Rumanian troops in those provinces. It is said that many others have been killed but it is impossible to estimate the number.
A military-backed promise by Germany and Italy that Soviet Russian troops would not be allowed to make further advances in Rumania beyond the territories already ceded to Moscow was reported last night on high authority. Bucharest sources declared both Rome and Berlin had given King Carol of Rumania their assurances they would give him military and air aid against the red legions if the Russians do not halt the march that already has carried them into old Rumania some 15 miles beyond the agreed limits of their occupation. Quantities of sugar and wheat consigned to Germany were seized in Russian-annexed territories by Soviet committees and the populace, adding to the tension of the complicated situation.
According to reliable reports, Bulgaria has assured Yugoslavia that she will not attack Rumania no matter what happens. At the same time a source close to King Boris told this correspondent that even if Hungary attempts forcibly to seize Transylvania Bulgaria will not move.
CD Español defeated Madrid CF 3-2 in the Copa del Generalísimo Final.
General Rowecki takes command of Polish underground forces under authority of Polish government-in-exile in London.
Malta imposes a curfew of midnight on private cars.
Battle of Britain: Luftwaffe boss Hermann Göring prepares the Luftwaffe for the upcoming Battle of Britain, stating that the mission is:
“…to attack the enemy air force by day and night, in the air and on the ground, without consideration of other tasks.”
Göring assigns three Luftflotten to the task of overcoming the RAF: Luftflotte 2 will operate from France, Luftflotte 3 from the Low Countries, and Luftflotte 5 from Stavanger airfield in Norway.
The first daylight Luftwaffe raid on England occurs on East Hull when a single bomber sets a Saltend oil depot tank ablaze. The fires are put out quickly. The Heinkel 11 is later (17:00) shot down by RAF No. 616 Squadron and the crew rescued by a British destroyer.
The Luftwaffe attempts a raid for a second night in a row on the Bristol docks and nearby factories. For one reason or another, five of the six bombers abort the mission, but one Heinkel He 111 of III/KG55 makes it through to bomb the Bristol Aeroplane Company at Filton.
The Luftwaffe lays mines off Whitby. One of the Heinkel 111s has to ditch, and the crew is later rescued by the British after a full day adrift.
The fighters assigned to the Kriegsmarine aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin, Tragergruppe 186, are re-assigned to JG 77 in defense of Berlin.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 18 Blenheims, 12 to attack Merville airfield and 6 to Vignacourt depot during the day. 3 aircraft lost.
The RAF shoots down a Heinkel He 59 which is clearly marked with white-painted, Red Cross emblems. The aircraft is engaged in a search and rescue mission and is not a legitimate target. This incident causes the Luftwaffe to camouflage and arm their search and rescue planes.
The RAF Swordfish based at Malta bomb oil installations at Augusta, Sicily.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 88 aircraft overnight, 82 to bomb Darmstadt, Hamburg, Hamm and Hanau and 6 minelaying. No losses. Bomber Command’s Operations Record Book includes the expression `fire-raising attacks’ for this night. There is no explanation for this phrase but it is believed to refer to the carrying of quantities of small fire-raising devices, code-named Deckers and Ries, which were dropped on German forests and on the ripening German harvest after aircraft had carried out their normal bombing attack. The smaller devices, believed to be the Deckers, which were used in an attempt to burn the crops, were impregnated pieces of cloth with a delayed ignition process. When they fell near houses, people who collected them as souvenirs and carried them round in their pockets received a nasty surprise when the device suddenly burst into flames.
RAF bombers attack Tobruk, Libya.
Italian aircraft bomb outpost of 1st King’s African Rifles at Moyale, Kenya.
U-26, commanded by Heinz Scheringer, sank Norwegian steamer Belmoira in 48 15N, 10 30W. The Belmoira (Master Morten Mortensen) was hit amidships on the starboard side by a torpedo from U-26, broke in two and sank very quickly about 250 miles southwest of Lands’ End in 48° 15’N, 10° 30’W. The entire crew of the Norwegian ship was rescued The survivors in the lifeboats were questioned by the Germans and then set sail heading northeast. They were soon offered help by the British steam merchant Sheridan, but as that ship was en route to Brazil they continued in the lifeboats. The Sheridan notified the Spanish trawlers Miguel Veiga and Weyler No2 nearby, which picked them up and on 2 July landed them at La Coruña, Spain. The 3,214-ton Belmoira was in ballast, bound for Southampton.
U-26 also sank the Estonian steamer Merkur (1291grt) in 48 26N, 10 58W. At 1930 hours the unescorted and unarmed Merkur (Master Verner Birk) was hit by one torpedo from U-26 and sank about 232 miles west of Ushant. Four crew members were lost. On 2 July, the survivors, eleven men and two women, were picked up from a lifeboat by HMS Gardenia (K 99) (LtCdr T.A.O. Ellis, RNR) in position 48°55N, 10°54W and landed at Greenock. Four of the Estonian crew were lost. The 1,291 ton Merkur was carrying pit props and was bound for Garston and Acton Grange.
U-43, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Ambrosius, badly damaged steamer Avelona Star (Commodore of convoy SL.36 which had departed Freetown on the 16th) in 46 46N, 12 17W and she sank the next day, 1 July 1940, in 46-59N, 11-39W. At 2227 hours the Avelona Star (Master George Hernest Hopper) was hit by one torpedo from U-43 and was abandoned 220 miles northwest of Cape Finisterre. The vessel foundered the next day in 46°59N/11°39W. One crew member was lost. The master and 83 crew members were picked up by the Beignon, which was herself sunk by U-30 (Lemp) on 1 July. Three survivors from the Avelona Star died. All survivors were picked up by HMS Vesper (D 55) (LtCdr W.E.F. Hussey, DSC, RN) and HMS Windsor (D 42) (LtCdr P.D.H.R. Pelly, RN) and landed at Plymouth. The 13,376-ton Avelona Star was carrying frozen meat and oranges and was headed for London, England.
U-47, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien, sank Greek steamer Georgios Kyriakides in 50 25N, 14 33W. At 1445 hours the unescorted Georgios Kyriakides was hit in the bow by one G7e torpedo from U-47 and sank about 200 miles west-southwest of Cape Clear. The crew abandoned ship in the lifeboats and made landfall at Valentia Island on 2 July. The 4,201-ton Georgios Kyriakides was carrying sugar and was headed for Liverpool, England.
U-65, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen damaged steamer Clan Oglivy of convoy SL.36 in 46 17N, 14 35W. At 1203 hours, U-65 (Stockhausen) attacked the convoy SL.36 in 46°17N/14°35W and reported hits on two ships. In fact, only the Clan Ogilvy was hit. She had been en route to from Tuticorin, India. There were no casualties. The damaged ship was assisted by HMS Vesper (D 55) (LtCdr W.E.F. Hussey, DSC, RN) and HMS Gladiolus (K 34) (LtCdr H.M.C. Sanders, RNR) and arrived at Falmouth on 4 July. The ship was repaired and returned to service in October 1940. The 5,802-ton Clan Ogilvy was carrying general cargo, including tea, groundnuts, chrome, and manganese ore and was bound for London, England.
The loss of Norway means that Britain’s blockade line from the Orkneys to southern Norway is outflanked and a new one has to be established between the Shetlands and Iceland. The RN starts the massive task of laying a mine barrage along this line. Within a matter of days the first U-boats are sailing from Bergen in Norway.
After temporary repairs at Rosyth, mine damaged light cruiser HMS Belfast, escorted by destroyers HMS Gallant and HMS Walpole, departed Rosyth on the 28th and arrived at Plymouth on the 30th for repairs.
Submarine HMS Snapper unsuccessfully attacked a German submarine 27 miles 207° from Lister.
Submarine HMS Severn unsuccessfully attacked a northbound German destroyer in 57-28N, 5-31E. The signal was not received until 0030 on 1 July and then it was too late to mount an air attack from Hatston.
Submarine HMS Narwhal arrived at Immingham and departed the same day for minelaying operation FD.21 southwest of Trondheim. The minefield was laid on 4 July, 35° from 63 14 52N, 07 33 47E.
French submarine Rubis arrived at Dundee after minelaying mission FD.20 and a patrol off Peterhead on 29/30 June.
Major German warships operational at this time were heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper, light cruisers Koln and Nurnberg, and destroyers Schoemann, Lody, Ihn, Galster.
Steamer Helder (979grt) was damaged by German motor torpedo boat S off St Catherine’s Point, IOW
Australian light cruiser HMAS Hobart departed Aden escorting armed boarding vessel HMS Chantala carrying 690 troops to Berbera where they arrived safely on 1 July.
Light cruisers HMS Caledon, HMS Capetown and destroyers HMS Garland, HMAS Vampire, HMS Nubian, and HMS Mohawk, arrived at Alexandria after covering a convoy from Cape Helles.
Destroyers HMS Faulknor and HMS Fearless departed Gibraltar to establish a patrol off Oran to report any French ships attempting to proceed to the west. They were ordered to return to Gibraltar on 1 July.
Italian submarine Corridoni departed Italy with supplies for the Tobruk airport.
At the end of June, the following destroyers were under repairs: HMS Amazon at Chatham repairing, HMS Antelope at Tyne repairing, HMS Boadicea at Portsmouth repairing, HMS Bulldog at Portsmouth repairing, HMS Delight at Portsmouth refitting, HMS Duncan at Grangemouth repairing, HMS Eclipse at Clyde refitting, HMS Electra at Greenock repairing, HMS Encounter at Chatham repairing, HMS Eskimo at Barrow repairing, HMS Hotspur at Chatham refitting, HMS Impulsive at London repairing, HMS Isis at Plymouth repairing, HMS Ivanhoe at Chatham repairing, HMS Jersey at Hull repairing, HMS Kelly at Tyne repairing, HMS Kipling at Southampton refitting, HMS Mackay at Plymouth boiler cleaning, HMS Matabele at Falmouth repairing, HMS Montrose at Woolwich repairing, HMS Sardonyx at London refitting, HMS Skate at Portsmouth refitting, HMS Somali at Liverpool repairing, HMS Sturdy at Portsmouth refitting, HMS Venetia at Plymouth repairing, HMS Westminster at Portsmouth repairing, HMS Worcester at London repairing, HMS Whitehall at Plymouth refitting, Polish ORP Blyskawica and ORP Burza, both at Portsmouth repairing. In all, 30 ships out of action, at a time when the Battle of the Atlantic is heating up and the Royal Navy can least afford it.
The American schooner Mary A. White foundered in Massachusetts Bay, United States.
Convoy FN.209 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer HMS Vimiera, sloop HMS Londonderry, and patrol sloop HMS Sheldrake. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on 2 July.
Convoy MT.99 departed Methil, escorted by sloops HMS Black Swan, HMS Hastings and patrol sloop HMS Guillemot, and arrived in the Tyne the next day.
The War at Sea, Sunday, 30 June 1940 (naval-history.net)
After temporary repairs at Rosyth, mine damaged light cruiser BELFAST, escorted by destroyers GALLANT and WALPOLE, departed Rosyth on the 28th and arrived at Plymouth on the 30th for repairs.
Destroyer WALKER arrived in the Clyde.
Submarine SNAPPER unsuccessfully attacked a German submarine 27 miles 207° from Lister.
Submarine SEVERN unsuccessfully attacked a northbound German destroyer in 57-28N, 5-31E. The signal was not received until 0030 on 1 July and then it was too late to mount an air attack from Hatston.
Submarine NARWHAL arrived at Immingham and departed the same day for minelaying operation FD.21 southwest of Trondheim. The minefield was laid on 4 July, 35° from 63‑14‑52N, 07‑33‑47E.
French submarine RUBIS arrived at Dundee after minelaying mission FD.20 and a patrol off Peterhead on 29/30 June.
Acting S/Lt (A) J M P Davies and S/Lt C. A. Conn in a Swordfish of 812 Squadron, based on PEREGRINE, were shot down over Holland on a minelaying mission and taken prisoner.
Convoy FN.209 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VIMIERA, sloop LONDONDERRY, and patrol sloop SHELDRAKE. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on 2 July.
Convoy MT.99 departed Methil, escorted by sloops BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS and patrol sloop GUILLEMOT, and arrived in the Tyne the next day.
Major German warships operational at this time were heavy cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER, light cruisers KOLN and NURNBERG, and destroyers SCHOEMANN, LODY, IHN, and GALSTER.
U-26 sank Greek steamer FRANGOULA GOULANDRIS (6701grt) in 49‑59N, 11‑24W, and six crew drowned.
U-43 badly damaged steamer AVELONA STAR (Commodore of convoy SL.36 which had departed Freetown on the 16th, 13,376grt) in 46‑46N, 12‑17W and she sank next day, the 1 July, in 46-59N, 11-39W. One crewman was killed and two missing. Survivors were rescued by steamer BEIGNON (5218grt), with two being picked up by escorting armed merchant cruiser DUNVEGAN CASTLE. When BEIGNON was sunk on 1 July, three survivors from AVELONA STAR were missing.
U-65 damaged steamer CLAN OGLIVY (5802grt) of convoy SL.36 in 46‑17N, 14‑35W. Sher was escorted by destroyer VESPER and corvette GLADIOLUS.
U-47 sank Greek steamer GEORGIOS KYRIAKIDES (4201grt) in 50‑25N, 14‑33W. The entire crew were rescued.
U-102 sank Norwegian steamer BELMOIRA (3214grt) in 48‑15N, 10‑30W and Estonian steamer MERKUR (1291grt) in 48‑26N, 10‑58W. The entire crew of the Norwegian ship were rescued, but four of the Estonian crews were lost.
Steamer HELDER (979grt) was damaged by German motor torpedo boat S off St Catherine’s Point, IOW
Australian light cruiser HMAS HOBART departed Aden escorting armed boarding vessel CHANTALA carrying 690 troops to Berbera where they arrived safely on 1 July.
Light cruisers CALEDON and CAPETOWN and destroyers ORP GARLAND, HMAS VAMPIRE, NUBIAN, and MOHAWK, arrived at Alexandria after covering a convoy from Cape Helles.
Destroyers FAULKNOR and FEARLESS departed Gibraltar to establish a patrol off Oran to report any French ships attempting to proceed to the west. They were ordered to return to Gibraltar on 1 July.
Italian submarine CORRIDONI departed Italy with supplies for the Tobruk airport.
Light cruiser DANAE arrived at Singapore.
Greek destroyer HYDRA from Melos was bombed this month by Italian aircraft while investigating an attack on a Greek merchant ship near Crete.
At the end of June, the following destroyers were under repairs – AMAZON at Chatham repairing, ANTELOPE at Tyne repairing, BOADICEA at Portsmouth repairing, BULLDOG at Portsmouth repairing, DELIGHT at Portsmouth refitting, DUNCAN at Grangemouth repairing, ECLIPSE at Clyde refitting, ELECTRA at Greenock repairing, ENCOUNTER at Chatham repairing, ESKIMO at Barrow repairing, HOTSPUR at Chatham refitting, IMPULSIVE at London repairing, ISIS at Plymouth repairing, IVANHOE at Chatham repairing, JERSEY at Hull repairing, KELLY at Tyne repairing, KIPLING at Southampton refitting, MACKAY at Plymouth boiler cleaning, MATABELE at Falmouth repairing, MONTROSE at Woolwich repairing, SARDONYX at London refitting, SKATE at Portsmouth refitting, SOMALI at Liverpool repairing, STURDY at Portsmouth refitting, VENETIA at Plymouth repairing, WESTMINSTER at Portsmouth repairing, WORCESTER at London repairing, WHITEHALL at Plymouth refitting, Polish ORP BŁYSKAWICA and ORP BURZA, both at Portsmouth repairing.
Congress goes back to work tomorrow, after a recess over the Republican National Convention, with three important national defense measures up for consideration either before the two branches or their committees. It was learned tonight that Secretary Morgenthau had asked for a conference tomorrow with Chairman Doughton of the House Ways and Means Committee, Chairman Harrison of the Senate Finance Committee and members and experts of the Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation, looking to impose an excess profits tax. The second “must” item on the program is Senate consideration of the House-approved bill expanding the Navy by 70 percent, to afford a “two-ocean” Navy. The third, pending before the Senate and House Military Affairs Committee, is a bill to put into effect a selective compulsory military training program designed to give this nation trained personnel in any emergency.
Universal compulsory military training in the United States was advocated by Senator Burke, Nebraska Democrat, tonight as essential to a “thoroughgoing” defense program. The Nebraska, senator, who has introduced a bill for universal training, discussed the issue on a radio forum with Senator Capper, Kansas Republican, who contended “conscription for military service” in peacetime struck “at the heart of personal liberty and personal freedom.” Capper added, however, “in the face of realities” he was ready to consider “the pros and cons of conscription for military purposes’ but would have to be shown it was necessary.
The United States Fleet returned to Hawaiian waters today and anchored in Lahaina Roads.Rear Admiral J. O. Richardson, the commander, in a statement explaining the Fleet’s absence, said: “Regarding the departure last Monday of a major portion of the United States fleet, this merely was a routine training exercise simulating a wartime sailing without previous notification. “Such exercises have taken place in the past and are an essential and valuable part of training. They may be expected to recur at irregular intervals. The nature of the exercise precluded the use of radio; otherwise I would have corrected the highly speculative impression created by the maneuver.”
When the fleet left its Hawaiian base six days ago rumors were rife as to its destination and purpose. There were reports that it was on the way to take up defense of the Panama Canal. The speculation also linked its movements with the situation in the Far East and Japan’s attitude toward the status of foreign possessions in Eastern Asia and the South Seas. Another rumor was that American naval strength was to be concentrated in the Atlantic because of developments in Europe.
Wendell L. Willkie, Republican Presidential nominee, will return to his office tomorrow morning for a press conference and to wind up his affairs as president of the Commonwealth and Southern Corporation, after having obtained a weekend of rest aboard Roy W. Howard’s yacht.
Senator Burton K. Wheeler declared tonight that a “new and great anti-war party” would be formed unless the Democratic party pledged not to send American soldiers “to a foreign shore.”
Nineteen of the 25 highest U.S. corporation salaries paid in 1938 went to movie stars and executives, the U.S. Treasury disclosed today. A $688,360 paycheck to Louis B. Mayer, head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer pictures, topped them all. The rankings appeared in a treasury list, supplementing an earlier list issued in January, of all corporation salaries in excess of $75,000. The two lists for 1938 totaled 650 persons. The information is gathered from corporation income tax returns and made public as required by law. Actress Claudette Colbert topped four of the six businessmen and Shirley Temple shaded William S. Knudsen, who in 1938 was president of General Motors, but now is working without salary for the national defense commission.
Mr. and Mrs. American Consumer will get their first taste of the new defense taxes tomorrow. With the midnight arrival of July 1, higher levies go into effect on future manufactures of a score of products, and “floor taxes,” expected to affect the retail price, are effective on cigarettes, beer and liquor. The floor taxes, applied to stocks already on hand, are ½ cent a package on cigarettes, 75 cents a gallon on liquor and $1 a barrel on beer. Up to 100 gallons of liquor and all beer in the hands of a retailer are exempt from the floor tax, but the half-cent must be paid on every package of cigarettes. While the beer floor tax is not imposed on stocks of a retailer, it must be paid by wholesalers and brewers on all their stocks. Wholesale liquor dealers do not receive the 100-gallon exemption.
Violent floodwaters born of weekend cloudbursts along the watersheds of the Colorado and Lavaca rivers swept through the southwest Texas area today, pouring into business districts of isolated towns and trapping many residents who took refuge in trees and on housetops. The town of Smithville was buried under a 20.4-inch rain, the heaviest reported, and at Lagrange the river had rushed to a 35-foot height and was rising a foot an hour. Flood stage there was 42 feet. At Columbus, where the flood stage was 39 feet, the Colorado stood at 30 feet and was rising two feet an hour.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service forms.
The comic strip “Brenda Starr, Reporter,” by Dale [Dalia] Messick, first appeared as a comic-book supplement to Chicago’s Sunday Tribune.
The heavy cruiser USS Wichita (CA 45), with Commander Cruiser Division Seven (Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens) embarked, reached Montevideo, Uruguay, joining the heavy cruiser USS Quincy (CA 39) to begin a tour of Latin American ports “to furnish a reminder of the strength and the range of action of the armed forces of the United States” as part of the American effort to counteract German propaganda in Latin America.
Presidential yacht USS Potomac (AG-25), accompanied by auxiliary USS Cuyahoga (AG-26), returns to Washington Navy Yard with President Roosevelt embarked, after a cruise down the Potomac River.
Headquarters, Marine Corps Air Wing, is established in San Diego, California.
U.S. Naval vessels on hand (all types): 1,099. Personnel: Navy 160,997; Marine Corps 28,364; Coast Guard 13,766. Total personnel 203,127.
Major League Baseball:
The league-leading Indians and the White Sox split a double-header today before a crowd of 20,054, the Tribe taking the first game, 7–5, and losing the second, 3–1. Cleveland won the opener on the strength of 14 hits off Ted Lyons and three errors, two by Eric McNair. Al Smith gained his ninth victory as against one loss, despite the fact he was knocked out in the ninth inning during a three-hit, one-run rally. Johnny Allen did the rescue act. Edgar Smith limited the Indians to five hits while Chicago was making seven off Al Milnar in the nightcap. The Sox made all their runs in the sixth. Skeeter Webb led off with a triple and Mike Kreevich drove his fifth homer.
The Red Sox snapped out of a two-game slump today to sweep both ends of a double-header by one-run margins, defeating the Senators, 6–5 and 5–4, to gain a split in the four-game series. Venerable Lefty Grove chalked up his fourth triumph in the opener, although he gave way to Fireman Joe Heving in the ninth, when the Senators whittled two away from Boston’s three-run margin. Charlie Wagner got credit for the second triumph, relieving the starter, Herb Hash, in the sixth and giving way to a pinch-hitter when the Sox collected three runs in the eighth to salt the game away.
The Yankees and Athletics split a twinbill. New York won the opener, 4–3, Charlie Keller slamming two runs across in the ninth inning with a single. That extended the Yankees’ winning streak to four in a row and gave Marvin Breuer his sixth mound triumph of the campaign. But in the nightcap the Yankees, held to five hits by Johnny Babich, lost in ten innings, 3–2.
In St. Louis, the Browns and Tigers split two as the Browns take the opener, 7–6, in 11 innings. Roy Cullenbine hits his 2nd grand slam of the month for St. Louis in the 4th inning. Detroit wins the nightcap, 10–1, in 7 innings, as Hank Greenberg hits his fifteenth homer of the season. The split leaves the Tigers 2 games in back of Chicago.
The early part of yesterday afternoon at Ebbets Field was highly enjoyable for 28,909 Flatbush fans because they saw the Dodgers beat the Bees, 9–2, and give Freddy Fitzsimmons his seventh triumph of the season and the 199th of his major league career. But by the time twilight was encroaching on the scene the Brooklyn boosters were disgruntled to the point of throwing paper and even bottles on the field, for the Dodgers lost the nightcap by 7–2. The split, coupled with the Reds’ double victory over the Cubs, dropped the Dodgers to a game and a half behind the league leaders.
The Cardinals and Pirates swap shutouts in Pittsburgh, with St. Louis taking the opener, 1–0, behind Mort Cooper. Bob Klinger takes the tough loss. Max Butcher chops up the Birds in game 2, winning 2–0.
In Philadelphia, the Phillies and Giants divide a pair, with the Quakers taking the opener, 7–4. Heinie Mueller hits a grand slam in the 5-run 5th. Cy Blanton scattered eight hits for the Philadelphia win. New York wins the second game, 7–3, to stay in 3rd place. Burgess Whitehead’s triple opens a six-run rally in the eighth inning to salvage the split for New York.
The first-place Reds sweep the visiting Cubs in an exciting doubleheader, winning 7–4 and 7–6. Chicago’s Jim Gleeson hits a 4th inning grand slam to tie the first game, but the Reds score 3 times in the 7th to win it, 7–4. Eddie Joost’s bases-loaded hit in 9th of game 2 gives the Reds a 7–6 win. The Reds amassed 28 hits in the twinbill.
Washington Senators 5, Boston Red Sox 6
Washington Senators 4, Boston Red Sox 5
Boston Bees 2, Brooklyn Dodgers 9
Boston Bees 7, Brooklyn Dodgers 2
Cleveland Indians 7, Chicago White Sox 5
Cleveland Indians 1, Chicago White Sox 3
Chicago Cubs 4, Cincinnati Reds 7
Chicago Cubs 6, Cincinnati Reds 7
Philadelphia Athletics 3, New York Yankees 4
Philadelphia Athletics 3, New York Yankees 2
New York Giants 4, Philadelphia Phillies 7
New York Giants 7, Philadelphia Phillies 3
St. Louis Cardinals 1, Pittsburgh Pirates 0
St. Louis Cardinals 0, Pittsburgh Pirates 2
Detroit Tigers 6, St. Louis Browns 7
Detroit Tigers 10, St. Louis Browns 1
Beginning tomorrow C.D. Howe, Minister of Munitions and Supply in Canada, and Arthur B. Purvis, purchasing agent in the United States, will take over complete control of British war purchases on this continent.
The U.S. Navy continues its “show the flag” operation in Latin America. Heavy cruiser USS Wichita arrives at Montevideo, Uruguay, joining cruiser USS Quincy. The intention is to combat growing pro-German sentiment in certain circles there.
Foreign Minister Oswaldo Aranha of Brazil said in Rio de Janeiro recently that Brazil desired continuance of her long friendship with the United States but that “common inter-American action to keep us free from outside domination of any kind” was immediately essential.
Battle of South Kwangsi: Japanese 22nd Army pushing toward Lungchin against minimal opposition.
The British evacuate their women and children from Hong Kong. The systematic evacuation to Manila of families of British Army men began today. Six hundred and forty-six wives and children from Hong Kong and 327 from the Kowloon Leased Territory were rounded up for embarkation at 5 PM. The British families were taken to the exclusive Hong Kong Club, the evacuation center, in fleets of commandeered taxis. Their baggage had been collected previously. The registration routine required an average of twenty minutes for each family. Children were labeled. and all underwent medical inspection. Seating accommodations were arranged. The children received refreshments in a former bowling alley of the club where they will await transfer to ship. The liner President Coolidge was available for Americans who wished to leave.
Meanwhile, it was reported authoritatively that Sir Percy Noble, commanding the British China Squadron, had left Hong Kong Thursday for the big British naval base at Singapore. He was accompanied by his staff. The British were reported to be concentrating all their warships in this part of the world at Singapore and apparently were determined to hold that strategic base as long as possible in event the Japanese should attempt armed operations to back up their demand that shipments from British Burma and Hong Kong to Nationalist China be ceased.
If hostilities break out at Hong Kong, the two battalions of British troops at Shanghai, the Seaforth Highlanders and the East Surreys, would be unable to fight off the Japanese Army there and would be compelled to disarm. The French troops in the French Concession would have no choice except to disarm or evacuate to Indo-China, while the armed handful of Italians ashore at Shanghai would certainly cooperate with the Japanese. This would leave only the 1,200 men of the Fourth United States Marines to protect the International Settlement. Americans in Shanghai and elsewhere in China are watching with particular interest whether T. V. Soong, at present in Washington, will induce further direct American assistance to General Chiang Kai-shek and the Government of China. If such aid is granted it will be a direct challenge to Japan, in view of Foreign Minister Hachiro Arita’s statement on Saturday to the effect that Japan has already asked the powers assisting Chungking to reconsider their policies.
Japanese Army headquarters in Canton, which has been in the habit of giving the British twenty-four hours notice of any impending military action, announces today that such notice cannot be given in the future. The reason alleged is that the British have been disclosing this information to the Chinese. This action reveals not only a more dangerous position for the British, but also a suddenly more aggressive attitude on the part of the Japanese Army.
German raider Orion (Kapitan zur See Kurt Weyher) is operating off Auckland, New Zealand. It sends captured Norwegian ship Tropic Sea to France loaded with prisoners. Captain Weyher renames the Norwegian ship the “Kurmark,” which is Orion’s name from before it joined the Kriegsmarine.
The American cargo ship Admiral Wiley ran aground on Kitava, Papua New Guinea and was wrecked.
Born:
Mark Spoelstra, American folk singer and songwriter, in Kansas City, Missouri (d. 2007).
Naval Construction:
The Royal Navy Fairmile A class motor launch HMS ML 107 is commissioned.
The Вое́нно-морско́й флот СССР (ВМФ) (Soviet Navy) “S” (Stalinec)-class (2nd group, Type IX-modified) submarine S-7 is commissioned.
The Вое́нно-морско́й флот СССР (ВМФ) (Soviet Navy) “S” (Stalinec)-class (2nd group, Type IX-modified) submarine S-8 is commissioned.
The Nihon Kaigun (Imperial Japanese Navy) kaibōkan (escort vessel; “ocean defence ship”) HIJMS Shimushu (占守), lead ship of her class of 4, is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Commander Shoji Kiichiro.
For the month of June 1940, German U-boats sank 62 Allied ships (335,319 tons) and damaged 4 ships (28,110 tons). The “Happy Time” is beginning for the German U-Boats. U-boat commanders as Endras, Kretschmer, Prien and Schepke enjoy their “Happy Time” until early 1941. U-boat strength is no greater than at the beginning of the war, and there are never more than 15 boats on patrol out of the 25 operational, the rest are training or on trials. Yet from now until the end of December they account for most of the 315 ships of the 1,659,000 tons lost in the Atlantic. Many of these are stragglers, independents or in unescorted convoys, but it is among the escorted convoys that U-boat tactics are particularly notable. Instead of attacking submerged where they can be detected by ASDIC, they are operating on the surface at night as 18kt torpedo boats, faster than most of the escorts – and in any case there are few enough of these as many are held on anti-invasion duties.
History Diaries 