Battle of Britain: The Luftwaffe announces it can defeat the Royal Air Force within a month. [battleofbritain1940 web site]
Weather over Britain: The morning of the 11th, was typical of what one could expect on a English summers day. Southern England was covered in exceptionally low cloud, and thick fog in many areas would have made flying impossible. In contrast to the events of the previous day, the next few days were very much similar to those of the days leading up to the 10th, that was, spasmodic attacks on coastal shipping in the Channel, recon flights along the English coast, and only a few occasions where the fighters went up and generally engaged air combat on a one-to-one basis. The weather was generally clearer in the west during the morning, and this is where the Germans had decided to strike, and for many, it was the first time that they had seen the role played by the Ju87 Stuka dive bomber.
It all started when six Spitfires of 609 Squadron (Middle Wallop) were vectored into an area where radar had picked out a blimp in the region of Portland. What they found was a a formation of Ju87s. They were just ready to make the engagement when they were pounced on by three Staffels of Bf109s. 609 lost its Flight Commander, and another Spitfire was shot down. Another Stuka attack on Portland later incurred slight damage, but with the arrival of Hurricanes from 601 Squadron (Tangmere) the Stukas had to abort after two of them were shot down and two Bf110s also suffered the same fate.
Earlier, during the dawn period, radar picked up a signal off the east coast near Walton-on-Naze. 66 Squadron sent out a flight to intercept and found it to be lone recon Do17. Suffering from damage by the Spitfires, the German bomber lost height as it made its way out over the North Sea, but not before its gunfire hit one of the Spitfires off the coast south of Great Yarmouth. A Hurricane was also damaged by gunfire from a Do17 off the east coast and the pilot, S/L Peter Townsend was picked up by merchant boat after bailing out.
By afternoon, the weather had cleared in the east and six Spitfires intercepted a Heinkel 59 seaplane that displayed Red Cross markings and was escorted by 12 Bf109s of the coast of Deal in Kent. The He59 was shot down by the RAF and in the ensuing dogfight two Spitfires and two Bf109s were shot down.
Most of the day, spasmodic attacks were being made by Ju87s and He111 to various targets west of the Isle of Wight. Shipping came under fire in Portsmouth and in the Solent, while small convoys were attacked in the Channel off the coast of Weymouth and Portland. 10 Group had not been formed at this time, and squadrons based at Exeter and St Eval came under the control of 11 Group.
At 5:45 p.m. a raid of some fifty Luftwaffe aircraft attacked Portsmouth. Guided by accurate AA fire, two RAF intercepted the raid. Bombs fell on Portsmouth setting fire to the gas works and causing some casualties.
After 9 p.m. several Luftwaffe raids penetrated into the West Country and bombs were dropped in South Wales, Somerset, Bristol, Portland, Dorchester and Plymouth areas. A few raids also crossed the East coast and bombs were dropped in the Hull, Ipswich, Harrogate, Doncaster, Colchester and Harwich areas. No serious damage is reported.
RAF Statistics for the day: 119 patrols were flown involving 447 aircraft. Luftwaffe casualties: Fighters – 10 confirmed, 2 unconfirmed; Bombers – 13 confirmed, 12 unconfirmed. RAF casualties: 3 Hurricanes confirmed. 2 Spitfires confirmed.
RAF Casualties: (July 11th 1940)
0800hrs. Hurricane P2485. 501 Sqn Middle Wallop. (Aircraft lost at sea)
Sgt F.J.P Dixon. Drowned. (Hit by gunfire from Bf109 of 111/JG27 ten miles off Portland. Bailed out but search failed to find any trace of pilot)
0805hrs. Spitfire L1095. 609 Sqn Warmwell. (Aircraft lost at sea)
P/O G.T.M. Mitchell. Drowned. (Shot down in combat by Bf109 over Channel off Portland protecting convoy. Body later washed ashore at Newport I.O.W)
0810hrs. Spitfire L1069. 609 Sqn Warmwell. (Aircraft lost at sea)
F/L P.H. Barran. Died of burns. (Shot down in combat by Bf109 over convoy in Channel off coast at Portland. Bailed out. Pilot was rescued but died on rescue boat)
British Minister for Aircraft Production Lord Beaverbrook announced that there would be virtually no limit to expenditures on US aircraft, with costs working out to over £2 million per day on planes for the RAF.
Campaign in the U.K. to collect scrap aluminum for building aircraft begins.
RAF Bomber Command dispatched 40 Blenheims during the day to Germany, France and Holland but none reached their targets in Germany and only 10 bombed airfields in France and Holland. 1 aircraft lost.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 64 aircraft to various targets in Germany and the Netherlands overnight, but only 45 bombed. 3 aircraft, 1 Hampden, 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley, were lost. 1 further Wellington was sent to photograph the distant target of Stettin; it carried out this task and returned safely.
Douglas Bader shot down a German Do 17 aircraft off the coast of Norfolk, England, United Kingdom.
RAF attacks on hospital craft continue. Six Spitfires shoot down a Heinkel seaplane bearing appropriate Red Cross markings off the coast of Kent.
At Malta, churchgoers spot a “miraculous” result of a recent air raid. A famous statue that is known as “Behold the Man” has its head blown off, sending it to a spot peering out from a hole in the road. It is a rare day without any air raid alerts.
French President Lebrun is shunted aside and Marshal Pétain becomes head of state after an overwhelming vote of confidence in the Vichy Parliament. Marshal Philippe Pétain declared himself head of state of the French Republic. Using the extraordinary powers granted him the day before Marshal Philippe Pétain assumed the functions of the Chief of State and abrogated Article 2 of the 1875 Constitution which provided for the position of a President elected by the National Assembly.
As Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain tonight assumed the full powers of dictator of France, barely twenty-four hours after the Third Republic was voted out of existence, he made a plea by radio for support of his dictatorship. Under decrees announced tonight at Vichy, Marshal Pétain becomes both President and Premier, assuming full legislative powers in the place of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, which voted themselves out of existence yesterday.
The Chamber approved a totalitarian regime on the fascist model, pending the formation of a new “advisory” assembly under the new Constitution. Even then, the decrees provided, Marshal Pétain will continue to wield legislative power at his own discretion if there are threats of exterior danger or an internal crisis. The new Senate and Chamber of Deputies may meet, but only when summoned by the Chief of State, it was decreed. The new Constitution will specify the term of office and the increased authority of the Chief of State, but to all practical purposes it will set up a dictatorship, with the Chamber of Deputies and Senate reduced almost to the vanishing point and comparable to the German Reichstag.
Marshal Pétain announced the formation of a new, compact government of twelve Ministers. He also announced the appointment of Governors for the twelve large Provinces of France, replacing former Prefects. Although Marshal Pétain became dictator by the new decrees, the real “strong man” directing France’s sudden shift from democracy to dictatorship is Pierre Laval, Vice Premier and champion of collaboration with Germany.
Former President Lebrun is not formally dismissed, does not resign, and is simply discarded. President Lebrun, uncertain where all this will lead, flees to Vizille. Pierre Laval becomes the new Prime Minister. Pétain also formally abolishes the Republican Constitution of 1875, thereby eliminating the Third Republic, and dismisses the legislature sine die. He also appoints 12 ministers and 12 governors of French provinces.
Pétain begins his “reign” oddly, with a proclamation that begins “Nous, Philippe Pétain.” This sort of styling is reminiscent of Louis XIV. This is only the beginning of Pétain’s eccentric, autocratic regime. He retains deep affection with the populace, and in any event, they no longer have any say in their own government, as they are not Philippe Petain. One can speculate that in a time of great national distress, Pétain at least provides the appearance of rock of strength juxtaposed against the menacing Germans. In some respects, that is true, too, as Hitler wants to coerce and cajole the French leader into cooperate, not anger him into defiance and outright opposition.
With the National Assembly at Vichy engaged in shedding the forms to which a large part of the nation attributes France’s defeat, Leon Noel, the only diplomat on the armistice commission, has been appointed to go to, Paris as French delegate accredited to the German forces of occupation.
The Germans in France have issued a decree placing under German control all foreign exchange gold and securities in the parts of France occupied by the Germans. This statement was made by the British today.
Kriegsmarine Admiral Erich Raeder met with Adolf Hitler at Obersalzberg, München-Oberbayern, Germany to discuss the invasion of Britain and the establishment of navy bases in Norway. Raeder confers with Hitler at Berchtesgaden about Operation SEALION and Norwegian naval bases, such as the U-boat hub at Bergen. Raeder is of the opinion that the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine alone can defeat Great Britain, and Hitler views an invasion as only a “last resort.”
Food flows into the Reich from the occupied territories, easing years of privation.
German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop requested Spain to assist in the detaining of the Duke of Windsor, the former King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom. Ribbentrop asks Spanish leader Francisco Franco to detain the Duke of Windsor, who is heading for the Bahamas via Lisbon but may still be in Spanish territory. The Duke of Windsor is widely suspected of having fascist sympathies, and regardless would be a valuable hostage. It appears, though, that Ribbentrop is a day late and a reichsmark short.
British Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Rab Butler confirmed in the House of Commons that the exiled Ethiopian government of Haile Selassie was to be recognized as an ally of Britain and that Ethiopia’s independence would be restored after the war was won.
Lord Beaverbrook, Minister of Aircraft Production, announces that purchases of U.S. aircraft will be virtually unlimited, with costs coming to about £2 million per day.
The government continues imposing the pettiest economy measures, underlining the extremely dire nature of the U-boat blockade. Already it has banned women’s high heels and rationed tea; today, Lord Beaverbrook appeals for housewives to contribute aluminum pots and pans “to build spitfires.” These measures are not always absolutely necessary given the current economic situation, and certainly not for fighter production, but they gradually impose a sense of wartime discipline on the populace.
British guidebooks and maps are banned, and all in possession of the same must turn them into their local constabularies. This is for fear of spies and parachutists using them.
Lord Craigavon announces that Ireland has rejected British overtures for a joint defense arrangement.
Bernard Montgomery was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath.
Richard O’Connor was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath.
Any hopes that the Russian occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina may have instilled in Hungary for immediate settlement of her territorial claims against Rumania have not been realized. It became known today that, at Munich yesterday, Chancellor Hitler, Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and Count Ciano, the Italian Foreign Minister, informed Count Pál Teleki, the Hungarian Premier, and Count Stephen Csáky, his Foreign Minister, that peace in the Balkans must be maintained till the war against Britain had been settled. According to reports in diplomatic quarters, the Hungarians received promises that their “just demands” for revision of the Versailles frontiers would be satisfied in due time. At the present moment, they were informed, such redrawing of boundaries could not take place without imperiling the political stability of Southeastern Europe.
Rumania withdraws from the League of Nations.
Seventeen classes of cavalry between the ages of 22 and 38 will be called up Monday by the military authorities in the Istanbul area, it was announced today. All Turkish soldiers who had received sick leave will be recalled tomorrow.
According to information received in Stockholm today, fortifications on the Åland Islands, which Finland began constructing after the Russo-Finnish war, are being dismantled again. For the last four days the Finns have been blowing up concrete gun emplacements and other heavy fortifications with explosions that could be heard far out at sea. Demilitarization of the Åland Islands, which control the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia and therefore the route from the Swedish iron ore mines to Germany, is being carried out by the Finns at the demand of the Soviet, which originally had agreed to the fortification but has now reversed its stand.
Soviet General Golikov is named to the Head of the Intelligence Directorate of the Stavka (General Staff).
U-34, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Rollmann, sank Norwegian steamer Janna, which was a straggler from convoy HX.54, in 50-34N, 12-10W. There were twenty five survivors from the Norwegian steamer. At 0706 hours the unescorted and unarmed Janna (Master Thorbjørn Aleksander Bøttger) was hit on the port side underneath the bridge by one G7e torpedo from U-34 while steaming on a non-evasive course at 8.5 knots about 115 miles west-southwest of Cape Clear. The ship had originally left Halifax in convoy HX.53, but lost touch and returned to port on 27 June and departed again two days later to join the convoy HX.54 at sea, however failed to join it in very thick fog and proceeded independently. The explosion blew a part of the bridge away and the ship settled quickly by the bow with a list to port until sinking vertically at about 0800 hours. All crew members safely abandoned ship in three lifeboats despite a gale sea and a fresh breeze blowing at the time. The U-boat did not surface and left the area because shortly after the attack a Sunderland aircraft approached and circled the sinking ship, but the Germans later spotted two lifeboats from this ship when passing the area again during the afternoon. No distress signal had been sent as the survivors hoped that the aircraft would report them and they waited a while before setting course for Ireland after all men transferred into two boats and collecting supplies and equipment from the abandoned boats and rafts, initially using the motor boat to tow the other boat until setting sail to save petrol. They had plenty of food and water, but were unable to sleep due to the very rough weather. Unknown to them, the aircraft had reported their position to the nearby convoy HX.54 which detached the British tug Sabine to search for survivors. However, the tug only found large quantities of drifting wood in the area and rejoined the convoy after six hours. On the afternoon of 12 July, the Estonian steam merchant Kai passed close to the lifeboats and was hailed by the survivors who asked to be picked up. The ship stopped her engines, but for unknown reasons suddenly proceeded and left the occupied lifeboats behind while they rounded her stern to get to the lee side in the very bad weather. At 2100 hours on 13 July, the survivors were picked up by the British decoy ship HMS Beauly (X 63) (Cdr F.H. Ashton, RN), disguised as Looe, after attracting her by firing three or four red rockets about five miles from Mizen Head, Ireland. All survivors were in an exhausted condition and four of them required medical attention. They were accommodated forward in order not to disclose the true identity of the vessel. An attempt was made to tow the lifeboats in by the vessel, but the towing was abandoned during the night owing to bad weather. The survivors were landed at Milford Haven late in the evening of 14 July. The 2,197-ton Janna was carrying wood pulp and was headed for Falmouth, England.
British minefield BS.23 was laid by minelayer HMS Teviotbank and destroyers HMS Express and HMS Esk.
Anti-submarine yacht HMS Warrior II (1124grt, Captain A. E. Johnston Rtd) was sunk by German bombing off Portland. One rating was killed.
British steamer Mallard (352grt) was sunk by German motor torpedo boat S.26 between St Catherine’s Point and Beachy Head. Five crew and the naval gunner were lost. Three crew were picked up by the S-boat and made prisoners of war.
Belgian fishing vessel Providentia (139grt) was sunk by German bombing 49-55N, 09-12W.
British steamer Kylemount (704grt) was damaged by German bombing ten miles west of Dartmouth.
British steamers Peru (6961grt) and City Of Melbourne (6630grt) were damaged by German bombing in Portland Harbor.
British steamer Eleanor Brooke (1037grt) was damaged by German bombing off Portland.
Dutch steamer Mies (309grt) was damaged by German bombing seven miles south of Portland Bill.
Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney arrived at Alexandria.
Light cruisers HMS Caledon and HMS Capetown departed Alexandria to escort a convoy to Greece. The light cruisers arrived back at Alexandria on the 13th.
Italian submarine Tarantini sank Panamanian tanker Beme (3039grt) in 33-12N, 33-38E near Haifa. The entire crew from the Panamanian tanker was rescued.
The German commerce raider Atlantis, disguised as the Dutch freighter MV Tarifa, fired upon, stopped, and sank the 7,506 ton British freighter City of Bagdad in the Indian Ocean in 00-14N, 86-43E. The City of Bagdad was bound for Penang, Malaysia from the United Kingdom carrying steel, chemicals and machinery. The City of Bagdad’s complement of 81 was taken prisoner. The City of Bagdad was sunk with explosives. Papers were found on the City of Bagdad that described the Atlantis in minute detail. These papers cause Captain Rogge to alter the Atlantis’ profile by adding two masts.
Convoy OB.182 departed Liverpool escorted by sloop HMS Folkestone from 11 to 14 July. The sloop was detached to convoy HX.55.
Convoy FN.219 departed Southend, escorted by sloops HMS Black Swan and HMS Hastings. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 13th.
Convoy MT.108 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 12th.
Convoy FS.219 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers HMS Wallace and HMS Wolfhound.
Convoy HX.57 departed Halifax at 0730 escorted by Canadian destroyers HMCS Assiniboine and HMCS Saguenay, which were detached on the 12th. At 2115 that evening, the destroyers turned the convoy over to the ocean escort, armed merchant cruiser HMS Ascania, and returned to port. The armed merchant cruiser was detached on the 23rd. Convoy BHX.57 departed Bermuda on the 10th escorted locally by sloop HMS Penzance and an ocean escort of light cruiser HMS Emerald. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy HX.57 on the 15th and the light cruiser was detached. On the 23rd, destroyer HMS Wanderer, sloops HMS Deptford and HMS Sandwich, and corvette HMS Perwinkle joined the convoy and remained until the convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 26th.
Convoy SLF.39 departed Freetown escorted by sloop HMS Milford to 12 July. Armed merchant cruiser HMS Dunvegan Castle had been allocated, but was diverted to convoy SL.39 after the collision of armed merchant cruiser HMS Corfu with aircraft carrier HMS Hermes. On the 19th, the convoy merged with convoy SL.39. The convoys were joined on the 25th by destroyers HMCS Restigouche, HMS Hesperus, and HMS Walker and corvette HMS Mallow. Both convoys arrived at Liverpool on the 29th.
The War at Sea, Thursday, 11 July 1940 (naval-history.net)
British minefield BS.23 was laid by minelayer TEVIOTBANK and destroyers EXPRESS and ESK.
Convoy OB.182 departed Liverpool escorted by sloop FOLKESTONE from 11 to 14 July. The sloop was detached to convoy HX.55.
Convoy FN.219 departed Southend, escorted by sloops BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 13th.
Convoy MT.108 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 12th.
Convoy FS.219 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and WOLFOUND.
Anti-submarine yacht WARRIOR II (1124grt, Captain A. E. Johnston Rtd) was sunk by German bombing off Portland. One rating was killed.
British steamer MALLARD (352grt) was sunk by German motor torpedo boat S.26 between St Catherine’s Point and Beachy Head. Five crew and the naval gunner were lost. Three crew were picked up by the S-boat and made prisoners of war.
Belgian fishing vessel PROVIDENTIA (139grt) was sunk by German bombing 49‑55N, 09‑12W.
British steamer KYLEMOUNT (704grt) was damaged by German bombing ten miles west of Dartmouth.
British steamers PERU (6961grt) and CITY OF MELBOURNE (6630grt) were damaged by German bombing in Portland harbour.
British steamer ELEANOR BROOKE (1037grt) was damaged by German bombing off Portland.
Dutch steamer MIES (309grt) was damaged by German bombing seven miles south of Portland Bill.
U-34 sank Norwegian steamer JANNA (2197grt), which was a straggler from convoy HX.54, in 50‑34N, 12‑10W.
There were twenty-five survivors from the Norwegian steamer.
Convoy HX.57 departed Halifax at 0730 escorted by Canadian destroyers HMCS ASSINIBOINE and HMCS SAGUENAY, which were detached on the 12th.
At 2115 that evening, the destroyers turned the convoy over to the ocean escort, armed merchant cruiser ASCANIA, and returned to port. The armed merchant cruiser was detached on the 23rd.
Convoy BHX.57 departed Bermuda on the 10th escorted locally by sloop PENZANCE and an ocean escort of light cruiser EMERALD. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy HX.57 on the 15th and the light cruiser was detached.
On the 23rd, destroyer WANDERER, sloops DEPTFORD and SANDWICH, and corvette PERWINKLE joined the convoy and remained until the convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 26th.
Australian light cruiser HMAS SYDNEY arrived at Alexandria.
Light cruisers CALEDON and CAPETOWN departed Alexandria to escort a convoy to Greece.
The light cruisers arrived back at Alexandria on the 13th.
Italian submarine TARANTINI sank Panamanian tanker BEME (3039grt) in 33‑12N, 33‑38E near Haifa.
The entire crew from the Panamanian tanker were rescued.
Convoy SLF.39 departed Freetown escorted by sloop MILFORD to 12 July.
Armed merchant cruiser DUNVEGAN CASTLE had been allocated, but was diverted to convoy SL.39 after the collision of armed merchant cruiser CORFU with aircraft carrier HERMES.
On the 19th, the convoy merged with convoy SL.39. The convoys were joined on the 25th by destroyers HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, HESPERUS, and WALKER and corvette MALLOW.
Both convoys arrived at Liverpool on the 29th.
German armed merchant cruiser ATLANTIS sank British steamer CITY OF BAGHDAD (7506grt) in the Indian Ocean in 00‑14N, 86‑43E. Two crew were lost. Eighty crew and one gunner were made prisoners of war.
In Washington today, President Roosevelt witnessed the swearing in of Colonel Frank Knox as Secretary of the Navy, appointed Harllee Branch chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board, conferred with Admiral J. O. Richardson, chief of the United States Fleet, Mayor La Guardia of New York City and the National Defense Council, and presided at a Cabinet meeting.
The Senate completed Congressional action on the Hatch bill, passed a bill authorizing the President to transfer Naval and Marine Corps reserve aviators to the regular line, confirmed the nomination of Colonel Donald H. Connolly to be Administrator of Civil Aeronautics, heard tributes to Senator Norris on his seventy-ninth birthday and adjourned at 4:37 PM until noon Monday, July 22. The Military Affairs Committee continued hearings on the Burke-Wadsworth Compulsory Military Training Bill.
The House completed Congressional action on the $5,000,000,000 Naval Expansion Bill, received a bill authorizing the expenditures outlined in the President’s request for $4,800,000,000 added defense appropriations, and recessed at 3:55 PM until noon Monday, July 22. The Military Affairs Committee heard additional testimony on the Burke-Wadsworth bill and a subcommittee recommended that the United States acquire and fortify naval and air bases in Nova Scotia and Bermuda. The appropriations committee reported a bill for new power facilities for the Tennessee Valley Authority.
President Roosevelt will consent to be drafted by the Democratic National Convention for renomination for a third term, according to information received here today by party leaders from New Deal supporters in Washington. There immediately developed a second “draft” movement, one to nominate Secretary Hull for Vice President. A ticket of Roosevelt and Hull, it was said, would indicate the willingness of the Democratic party to enter the campaign with the Roosevelt Administration’s foreign policy and adequate preparedness for defense of the Western Hemisphere as a leading issue in the campaign. President Roosevelt’s pledge to Congress, made yesterday in Washington, that no American troops would be sent to Europe, undoubtedly will be included in the foreign relations plank of the Democratic national platform, which also is expected to include expressions of approval of the President’s program for expansion of the Navy and provision for manufacturing facilities needed to provide thousands of airplanes and arms and equipment of 2,000,000 men if mobilization of such a number should become necessary. This plank will be intended to refute the Republican charge that the Democratic party is the “war party.”
A declaration that President Roosevelt “should accept renomination and continue his aggressive leadership,” was issued today by 64 Democratic members of the house, while the chief executive continued silent. Representative Smith, Washington Democrat, said in signing the statement the house members “expressed their earnest desire” that Mr. Roosevelt accept a third term nomination from the Democratic national convention which opens Monday at Chicago. Signatures of members from the midwest predominated on the statement.
Congress voted a recess for ten days today to allow Democratic members to attend the Democratic Convention but not before it took important action on defense measures. Revelations were made also of large progress in the plans for supplying planes for the Army and Navy. Legislative action was completed on the Two-Ocean Navy Bill, which went to the White House. The House accepted without debate the minor changes the Senate made in the original draft.
During the day it was made known by the National Advisory Defense Commission that plans had been completed and the money was virtually assured for the acquisition by the Army and Navy of 25,000 planes with the necessary engines and spare parts for delivery by July 1, 1942. These planes, of which about 8,000 would be for the Navy, are in addition to planes on hand and those ordered under the 1940 air expansion program. A hundred million dollars’ worth of the planes have been ordered under the new program, funds for which started to become available July 1, and the rest is being contracted for.
In other matters pertaining to national defense the Senate approved, without a record vote, a House bill authorizing the Maritime Commission to set up a government system of war risk marine insurance in case rates quoted by private companies become “unreasonable.” It likewise adopted, with a few changes, a House bill authorizing commissions for naval aviation cadets in the naval establishment after sufficient service.
Another naval defense measure approved by the Senate was a bill to authorize the Federal Government to pay half the estimated cost of $14,000,000 for a graving drydock in New York Harbor large enough to accommodate the largest naval vessels now building or contemplated. The huge drydock would be operated by the Port of New York Authority as a commercial venture, but the Navy Department would have priority rights to use it in case of need. The Navy is planning to build 45,000-ton battleships, and there are only three drydocks on the Atlantic coast which could accommodate them. They are at South Boston, where shop equipment is limited; at Philadelphia, where the channel is only thirty-six feet deep, and at Norfolk, where facilities are adequate.
Working toward a goal of 25,000 new warplanes in the next two years, the national defense commission announced today $100,000,000 worth of contracts had been awarded since July 1, when expansion program funds became available. Officials said removal of competitive bidding had assisted swift progress. The army and the navy merely drew specifications, and let contracts to manufacturers capable of handling their orders. First plane deliveries are expected by early fall. Dr. George J. Mead, committee aeronautical adviser, told a press conference that representatives of army and navy, aircraft manufacturing companies, national advisory committee for aeronautics and Reconstruction Finance corporation agreed Tuesday on an air defense cooperation program.
A House Military Affairs subcommittee recommended today that the United States acquire and fortify fleet and air bases in Nova Scotia and Bermuda to strengthen the Atlantic coast defenses, which members described as deplorably weak.
The War Department went on record as favoring compulsory military training today, when General George C. Marshall, army chief of staff, expressed the view the armed forces could not be built up to “essential” strength by voluntary enlistments.
William Franklin [Frank] Knox of Illinois, publisher of the Chicago Daily News, took office as Secretary of the Navy. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s choice of Knox, who had been the Republican Party’s vice presidential nominee in the 1936 election, reflected the Roosevelt’s desire for bipartisan support of his policies.
The Senate accepted today the House amendments to the Hatch bill to extend the “Clean Politics” Act to State employes paid wholly or partially from federal funds and sent the legislation to the White House.
The Department of Justice tonight announced that it would file suit in Philadelphia tomorrow charging the Pullman company, three affiliates, and 31 individuals with violating the anti-trust laws by forcing restrictive contracts on the railroads. Officials said the action will allege that the defendants have prevented the railroads from using modern, lightweight, streamlined cars manufactured by . competing companies, in order to maintain in service their own “obsolete equipment.”
Fire swept a building housing 30 patients and employes of St. Francis hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, early today and police reported one person was killed and an undetermined number injured in evacuation. Sgt. R. E. Hoffenbach said firemen carried occupants of the building down ladders from second and third floor windows. Only patients not bedridden were quartered in the fire-swept structure. Firemen believed the blaze started in a basement laundry.
The U.S. Army approached 135 American automotive manufacturers to submit designs to replace its existing, aging light motor vehicles. They were told that they must submit their first prototypes within 49 days and have 70 test vehicles prepared in 75 days. This effort will eventually result in the ubiquitous U.S. Army jeep.
Major League Baseball:
After being dropped from lead-off man to seventh place in the batting order, Bobby Doerr gave the Red Sox a 3–2 victory over the White Sox today by blasting his sixth homer of the season as first man up in the thirteenth inning. The Red Sox used three pitchers against Johnny Rigney, who limited them to seven hits.
Ken Keltner’s homer with two on in the seventh inning gave the Indians an 8–5 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics before a ladies’ day crowd of 13,206 at Shibe Park today. The triumph put Cleveland into first place in the American League, as Detroit lost to Washington. The Indians pounded fifteen hits off Chubby Dean and Ed Heusser. including homers by Keltner, Ben Chapman and Lou Boudreau, but had their hands full. Three double plays stopped the A’s at critical times. The last twin killing came in the sixth when the Athletics had the bases full, one out and Cleveland ahead, 5–4. Boudreau made a spectacular stop of Al Brancato’s sharp grounder to start the double play.
The submarine ball offerings of Elden Auker were sunk without a trace yesterday as the Yankees exploded for ten hits, including two triples and a double by Red Rolfe, to beat the St. Louis Browns, 6–4, at Yankee Stadium in opening their critical home stand against the West. Marius Russo got the win with ninth-inning relief help from Bump Hadley.
The Tigers dropped out of the American League lead today by losing a 7–3 decision to the Senators. Sid Hudson, right-handed rookie, scattered nine hits to beat Detroit. The Senators pounced on Harold Newhouser and Freddie Hutchinson for eleven, including five doubles.
The Reds took the first game of an important series with the Dodgers, 6–5, before a near-capacity crowd of 28,465 and increased their advantage over the second-place Dodgers to a game and a half in the National League. It was a seesaw contest, not too well pitched by either Bucky Walters or Whit Wyatt, with the count deadlocked twice. A pass to Eddie Joost by Tot Pressnell, a sacrifice by Walters and, with two out, a line single to right by Ival Goodman off Vito Tamulis clinched the game in the eighth. It gave Walters his twelfth 1940 triumph. Pressnell was charged with his third setback.
The Giants edged the Cardinals, 8–6, in eleven innings. The Giants had ten hits, including five doubles and a triple by Tony Cuccinello. Two errors by Joe Orengo and a pair of singles by Harry Danning and Mel Ott sent two runs across in the eleventh to vanquish Ira Hutchinson and give Relief Pitcher Jeff Lynn the victory.
The Boston Bees went ten innings to win the second game of a double-header today, 2–1, after the Cubs had taken the opener, 8–2, before 7,347 spectators. Larry French and Dick Errickson engaged in a scoreless duel for eight innings of the nightcap, which was played in 60-degree weather. Each gave up one run in the ninth. Sibby Sisti, who had singled and scored Boston’s ninth-inning run, drove a long fly in the tenth to send Eddie Miller across with the winning run. Miller had doubled and gone to third on Errickson’s scratch single.
Chicago White Sox 2, Boston Red Sox 3
Boston Bees 2, Chicago Cubs 8
Boston Bees 2, Chicago Cubs 1
Brooklyn Dodgers 5, Cincinnati Reds 6
St. Louis Browns 4, New York Yankees 6
Cleveland Indians 8, Philadelphia Athletics 5
New York Giants 8, St. Louis Cardinals 6
Detroit Tigers 3, Washington Senators 7
Secretary Hull warned Germany today to keep hands off the conference of Pan-American governments which will convene at Havana July 20.
German diplomatic agents and commercial representatives throughout South America have combined to bring heavy diplomatic and commercial pressure on the South American countries on the eve of the Havana conference.
Field Marshal Hermann Göring’s newspaper, the Essener National Zeitung, warned South American nations tonight against allowing the United States to impose a monopoly over their exports and thereby jeopardise their post-war trade.
The U.S. Navy heavy cruisers USS Wichita (CA-45), under command of Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens, and USS Quincy (CA 39) departed Rio Grande du Sol, Brazil, for Santos, Brazil. These ships were visiting South America “to furnish a reminder of the strength and the range of action of the armed forces of the United States.”
Indications of an impending political change are widespread. The newspaper Asahi says that although the curtain is still down the stage is set and developments will be rapid after Prince Fumimaro Konoe’s return from the country on Sunday. According to the press, the “propelling influence” is the army, and the object sought, in the newspaper Nichi Nichi’s words, is “reorientation of diplomacy to strengthen the Axis through abandonment of Japan’s non-involvement policy.” Japanese competent to judge regard this as an extreme statement unlikely to be completely fulfilled, but none has any doubt that a change will lead Japanese policy in that direction.
Prince Konoe, leader of a movement for a new “single party” for Japan, is temperamentally cautious. He says Japan must now change her foreign policy to meet the new world situation and hasten disposal of the “China incident.” Britain’s reluctance to give a clear-cut undertaking regarding the Burma Road, supply route for the Chinese Government, has accelerated the movement for a Cabinet with a stronger foreign policy. All Japanese political forces are agreed that termination of the war in China is the foremost object of Japanese policy, but there is a patient and an impatient school.
Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek’s continued resistance is explained to the Japanese people as being due to foreign supplies. The French route, through Indo-China, is now closed and the Russian route is beyond Japan’s reach, and that aspect, moreover, is hiddenly involved in Japan’s relations with Germany. There remains the Burma Road, and what the advocates of a change in policy want is strong pressure on Britain. The only overt events that can be recorded are certain visits paid to General Shunroku Hata, the War Minister, by the senior Generals Juichi Terauchi and Gen Sugiyama; General Hata’s subsequent visit to the Premier, Admiral Mitsumasa Yonai, and a sudden rush of politicians to get out from under the old parties and proclaim their support for Prince Konoye.
Prince Konoe’s ideas for a new political structure are still sketchy. He talks about uniting the Cabinet, the High Command. Parliament and the people in some manner that will reorganize the nation. He is waiting for a concrete draft of plans and acknowledges that it will take months to put them in shape. But it does not seem that the present crisis will wait till those amorphous ideas are developed practically.
Captain Laurence Wild relieved Captain Edward W. Hanson as Governor of American Samoa and Commandant of Naval Station, Tutuila, Samoa.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 121.58 (+0.09)
Born:
Ronnie Mack, American songwriter, singer and talent manager (wrote “He’s So Fine” for The Chiffons), in Harlem, New York, New York (d. 1963, from Hodgkin’s lymphoma).
Yvon Charbonneau, French Canadian union leader and politician, in Mont-Laurier, Québec, Canada (d. 2016).
Naval Construction:
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IXC U-boat U-506 is laid down by Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 296).
The Royal Navy Vosper 70-foot-class motor torpedo boat HMS MTB 30 is commissioned. Her first commander is P McG Corsar, RNVR.
The Royal Navy Dance-class ASW trawler HMS Fandango (T 107) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is T/Lieutenant Frank Clifford Hopkins, RNR.
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