Battle of Britain: The chief features of the day’s operations were attacks on shipping and one raid on Aberdeen. German He 111 and Do 17 bombers attacked Allied convoy code named Booty off of Essex and Suffolk, England, United Kingdom; 2 British Spitfire fighters and 1 British Hurricane fighter were lost in the battle, but they prevented sinkings. In southern England, German Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers attacked Portland and Exeter, losing two aircraft. At Aberdeen, Scotland, a He 111 bomber on a reconnaissance mission was intercepted and shot down, but was able to release one bomb on the city before crashing into the city’s ice rink. [battleofbritain1940 web site]
Weather over Britain: Heavy rain periods in the north with 8/10ths cloud but clearing as the day wears on. In the south-east there was low cloud, occasional showers with thunderstorms but clearing by the afternoon, while in the west the early morning cloud cleared to give way to sunny periods.
Most of the action took place off the Essex and Suffolk coastline. He111 and Do17 bombers were targeting some of the merchant shipping along one of Britain’s busy trade routes. The Hurricanes of 85 Squadron (Martlesham Heath) were up early after enemy aircraft had been spotted off the coast near Harwich possibly attacking the merchant convoy code named “Booty”. More Do17 and He111 bombers were detected and 151 Squadron (Hurricanes, North Weald) and 17 Squadron (Hurricanes, Debden) were scrambled.
Combat just off the East Anglia coast lasted until almost midday with the Hurricanes having accounted for two He111s, Sgt D.Fopp claiming one at 0900 hours and Sgt G.Griffiths claiming one at 0940 hours. A He111 was detected over the North Sea just off the coast near Aberdeen in Scotland where bombers dropped a number of bombs killing 29 people and injuring 100 and was shot down by Spitfires of 603 Squadron and in the late afternoon. Ju88 bombers attacked Exeter and St Eval airfields with one Ju88 being shot down.
During the night 7 Luftwaffe raids were made in South Wales and Bristol. Bombs were dropped at Newport and at Highbridge (Somerset). Off the East Coast several few raids approached Northumberland and Yorkshire and bombs were dropped at Billingham and Thornaby. Off the Scottish Coast bombs were dropped on Cupar, Dunfermline and Helensburgh. Weather prevented RAF fighter action.
RAF Statistics for the day: 207 patrols were flown involving 700 aircraft. Luftwaffe casualties: Fighters – 2 unconfirmed; Bombers – 10 confirmed, 2 unconfirmed. RAF casualties: 3 Hurricanes confirmed.
RAF Casualties: (July 12th 1940)
0850hrs. Off Felixstowe. Hurricane P2557. 85 Sqn Martlesham Heath. (Lost at sea)
Sgt L. Jowitt Missing believed drowned. (Hit by gunfire from He111 from 11/KG53 off Felixstowe. Crashed into sea)
0945hrs. Off Burnham (Essex). Hurricane P3275. 151 Sqn North Weald. (Lost at sea)
F/O J.H.L. Allen. Missing believed drowned. (Hit in engine by gunfire from Do17 off Orfordness. Crashed into sea)
1545hrs. Off Portland. Hurricane P3084. 501 Sqn Middle Wallop. (Lost at sea)
P/O D.A. Hewitt. Missing believed drowned. (Hit by gunfire while attacking Do17 off Portland. Crashed into sea)
Time N/A. Biggin Hill. Spitfire P9502. 610 Sqn Biggin Hill. (Aircraft destroyed)
Sgt S. Ireland. Killed. (Believed his aircraft went out of control during diving practice)
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 23 Whitleys overnight to attack Kiel and Emden. Only 14 bombed, one aircraft was lost.
Italian aircraft conduct fourteen raids against RN warships and shipping in Alexandria harbor with a total of 112 bombers but without success.
The Regia Aeronautica attacks Malta at 16:12 and drops a few bombs near Verdala. The Italians also resort to an odd tactic that they have used elsewhere and drop bags of candy, apparently to curry favor with the locals.
The Italians also attack British battleship HMS Warspite and cruiser HMS Liverpool at 08:50. The British lose one sailor, the Italians one plane.
Italian airplane losses are estimated to top 100 today. This is significant because the Regia Aeronautica neither has a large standing fleet nor factories which produce large quantities of planes quickly.
Pierre Laval was appointed Vice Premier of Vichy France and Marshal Pétain’s successor. This is no small matter given the Marshal’s advanced age. Laval has strong fascist tendencies and runs the day-to-day operations of the Vichy government.
Vichy government bans Jews from holding civil service positions.
Official German quarters continue to maintain discreet silence on political developments in France. German opinion of Marshal Henri Philippe Petain’s assumption of dictatorial powers must therefore be gleaned from the press.
Jean de Lattre de Tassigny was made a Grand Officier of the Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur.
Great Britain faced about again today on Ethiopia and little, black-bearded Haile Selassie once more is recognized as emperor of Ethiopia, lion of Judah, and his government is a full ally against Italy. The British will assure Ethiopian independence “when the war is won,” said R. A. Butler, undersecretary for foreign affairs, today in the house of commons.
Operation FISH: British ships arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada with US$1,750,000,000 worth of gold and securities from the Bank of England, destined for the Bank of Canada’s vault in Ottawa.
The war has cut down Europe’s food supplies to such an extent that at least 35,000,000 people will be on near-starvation rations by November, according to John Maloney, American Red Cross representative.
The incomplete Kriegsmarine aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin reaches Gotenhafen, Germany (now Gdynia, Poland) in tow.
United States Ambassador to France William C. Bullitt arrived in Madrid by airplane from Barcelona at 4:30 P.M. today to establish direct communication with the State Department in Washington and to receive new instructions.
The Turkish Prime Minister stated that Turkey intended to remain faithful to her friendships, but that any threat to her independence would be met by resort to arms. Prime Minister Refik Saydam today told the National Assembly that Turkey was determined to fight if attacked. At the same time he reaffirmed the bonds of friendship linking Turkey with other nations.
Moscow’s key Finnish lackey, Otto Wille Kuusinen, is appointed chairman of the presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Karelo-Finnish SSR. Kuusinen had been the head of the Finnish Democratic Republic aka Terijoki Government, the Soviet puppet government during the Winter War which was marginally effective as a propaganda tool and achieved nothing else. Kuusinen now governs over the extensive territory gained by the USSR during that war.
The Malta authorities put in place code words in case of an invasion. “Asia” means full war expected, “Europe” for attack unlikely. Lines of defense are established and a “last-ditch” citadel-type area around Valletta and the port facilities. The Maltese authorities chastise the populace for leaving air raid shelters before the “all clear” sounds. In particular, dog fights have become attractive bait for people to take risks to view them.
The Italians in Libya send two columns against Fort Capuzzo, which the British repulse.
U-56, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Otto Harms, attacked British steamer Dunera (11,162grt) off North Channel without damage being done. The torpedo did strike Dunera, but it glanced off without exploding. The commanding officer of U-56 did not realize that Dunera was carrying, among others, Italian and German prisoners of war bound for Australia.
U-99, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Kretschmer, sank Greek steamer Ia in 51N, 14W. Three crew were lost on the Greek steamer. At 0206 hours the unescorted and unarmed Ia was hit aft of amidships by one G7a torpedo from U-99 about 200 miles west-southwest of Cape Clear. The U-boat had spotted the Greek national markings and attacked without warning as the ship was in the blockade area around Britain. The vessel sank within 7 minutes after being hit by one G7e torpedo fired as coup de grâce at 0248 hours. One officer and two crewmen were lost. The master and 26 crew members had abandoned ship in two lifeboats after the first hit and were questioned by the Germans. The boats reached the Isles of Scilly after five days and were landed at Penzance on 17 July. The 4,860-ton Ia was carrying wheat and pollards and was headed for Cork, Ireland.
U-99 also took in prize Estonian steamer Merisaar (2136grt). At 2231 hours U-99 missed the unescorted Merisaar with a stern torpedo from a distance of 500 meters due to rough seas. The U-boat surfaced and stopped the ship by shots across her bow with the 20mm AA gun. After the crew abandoned ship and the master was questioned, a G7e torpedo was fired at 23.50 hours but it also missed. The bad weather prevented the use of the deck gun, so Kretschmer ordered the crew to reboard the ship and to set course directly for Bordeaux. The Merisaar was sunk on the 15th by German bombing south of Queenstown. The 2,136-ton Merisaar was carrying lumber and was bound for Clyde, United Kingdom.
British steamer Hornchurch (2162grt) was sunk by German bombing off Aldeburgh Light Vessel, in 52-11-15N, 1-52-30E. The entire crew was rescued by patrol sloop HMS Widgeon.
British trawler Volante (255grt) was sunk by German bombing ten miles east of Hvalbam, Faroe Islands. The Master of the British trawler was drowned. The master was Alfred George Coulam, whose body “was taken to a northern port” (with thanks to his niece Candice Baxter). Further research gives an alternative loss position 10 miles S of Whale Back Rock which is near the village of Hvalba in the Faroes.
British steamer Josewyn (1926grt) was damaged by German bombing eight miles west, northwest of St Catherine’s Point.
Light cruiser HMS Liverpool was near missed by Italian air bombs. One rating was killed and two wounded by a bomb that did not explode, but there was no material damage. A Sea Gladiator of 801 Squadron from aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, after shooting down an Italian bomber, forced landed alongside cruiser Liverpool which picked him up. Battleship HMS Warspite was attacked seventeen times between 0850 and 1150, but sustained no damage.
U.S. passenger liner Manhattan departed Lisbon, Portugal with about 800 American citizens and their families fleeing the European War.
Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra departed Capetown with transport Strathmore for Freetown. The heavy cruiser escorted the transport for the first thirty six hours and then returned to Simonstown, arriving on the 15th.
Convoys OB.181G, which departed Liverpool on the 10th escorted by destroyer HMS Vanoc and sloop HMS Scarborough became convoy OG.37 with sixteen ships. Convoy OA.181G did not sail from Methil. Destroyer Vanoc escorted the convoy on the 12th. Sloop Scarborough escorted the convoy from 12 to 17 July when the convoy arrived at Gibraltar. Anti-submarine trawler HMS Lord Hotham joined the convoy off Gibraltar.
Convoy OA.183 departed Methil by sloop HMS Fowey. The convoy passed Dunnet Head on the 13th, escorted by sloop Fowey and corvette HMS Camellia.
Convoy FN.220 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers HMS Vimiera and HMS Verdun and sloop HMS Londonderry. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 14th.
Convoy MT.109 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 13th.
Convoy FS.220 departed the Tyne. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 13th.
Convoy FS.221 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer HMS Woolston and sloop HMS Fleetwood. Destroyers HMS Jackal and HMS Jaguar and patrol sloop HMS Mallard joined on the 13th. The two J destroyers were detached later that day. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 14th.
The War at Sea, Friday, 12 July 1940 (naval-history.net)
Convoys OB.181G, which departed Liverpool on the 10th escorted by destroyer VANOC and sloop SCARBOROUGH became convoy OG.37 with sixteen ships. Convoy OA.181G did not sail from Methil.
Destroyer VANOC escorted the convoy on the 12th.
Sloop SCARBOROUGH escorted the convoy from 12 to 17 July when the convoy arrived at Gibraltar.
Anti-submarine trawler LORD HOTHAM joined the convoy off Gibraltar.
Convoy OA.183 departed Methil by sloop FOWEY. The convoy passed Dunnet Head on the 13th, escorted by sloop FOWEY and corvette CAMELLIA.
Convoy FN.220 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VIMIERA and VERDUN and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 14th.
Convoy MT.109 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 13th.
Convoy FS.220 departed the Tyne. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 13th.
Convoy FS.221 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON and sloop FLEETWOOD. Destroyers JACKAL and JAGUAR and patrol sloop MALLARD joined on the 13th. The two J destroyers were detached later that day. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 14th.
U-56 attacked British steamer DUNERA (11,162grt) off North Channel without damage being done. The torpedo did strike DUNERA, but it glanced off without exploding.
U-99 sank Greek steamer IA (4860grt) in 51N, 14W.
Three crew were lost on the Greek steamer.
U-99 took in prize Estonian steamer MERISAAR (2136grt). She was ordered to a French port, but was sunk on the 15th by German bombing south of Queenstown.
British steamer HORNCHURCH (2162grt) was sunk by German bombing off Aldeburgh Light Vessel, in 52-11-15N, 1-52-30E.
The entire crew was rescued by patrol sloop WIDGEON.
British trawler VOLANTE (255grt) was sunk by German bombing ten miles east of Hvalbam, Faroe Islands. The Master of the British trawler was drowned.
The master was Alfred George Coulam, whose body “was taken to a northern port” (with thanks to his niece Candice Baxter). Further research gives an alternative loss position 10 miles S of Whale Back Rock which is near the village of Hvalba in the Faroes.
British steamer JOSEWYN (1926grt) was damaged by German bombing eight miles west, northwest of St Catherine’s Point.
Light cruiser LIVERPOOL was near missed by Italian air bombs. One rating was killed and two wounded by a bomb that did not explode, but there was no material damage.
A Sea Gladiator of 801 Squadron from aircraft carrier EAGLE, after shooting down an Italian bomber, forced landed alongside cruiser LIVERPOOL which picked him up.
Battleship WARSPITE was attacked seventeen times between 0850 and 1150, but sustained no damage.
Australian heavy cruiser HMAS CANBERRA departed Capetown with transport STRATHMORE for Freetown.
The heavy cruiser escorted the transport for the first thirty-six hours and then returned to Simonstown, arriving on the 15th.
A decision to call about 50,000 national guardsmen to camps as soon as possible for perhaps a year’s intensive training was reached today by President Roosevelt and his new secretary of war, Henry L. Stimson. The decision is contingent upon congress approval. Authority will be asked when congress reconvenes after the Democratic national convention. Stephen Early, presidential secretary, announced the decision and said four divisions, seven anti-aircraft regiments, and an undetermined number of harbor defense regiments would be called. One division, he said, would come from New York and New Jersey, a second from Tennessee and the Carolinas, a third from New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Colorado, and the fourth from Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Idaho. Training will be designed to familiarize the guardsmen with modern weapons and military practices and is expected also to fit them for training thousands of conscripts called to service if congress enacts a compulsory military training law. Both army and navy high commands have endorsed conscription.
Testifying before the senate military committee, General George C. Marshall, army chief of staff, said today it was essential to the national defense. The divisions mentioned by Early are the 44th, 30th, 45th, and 41st. A war department spokesman said, however, their selection for training was entirely tentative. If congress approves the plan, he said, the question of which units to call will be reexamined in the light of facilities available at that time. For instance, he explained, the 30th Division normally would train at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, but the regular army’s training might not permit use of that post. In that event, he said, a different division might be selected.
The financial aspect of the national defense program, on both the outgo and income sides, will be studied during the recess of Congress for the Democratic convention, according to House leaders today. There appeared to be every disposition to push both appropriations and taxes toward presentation to the members within two or three weeks. Chairman Doughton of the Ways and Means Committee consulted Secretary Morgenthau and Congressional experts before leaving for Chicago today on detailed studies of excess profits tax plans which have been under way for some time. He said the studies would be at such a stage that a subcommittee could begin their consideration July 22, as soon as Congress meets again.
More than at any time in history the Navy is the nation’s first line of defense, said Secretary Knox today. He added that the task of the Navy Department was to build the greatest fleet in the world.
President Roosevelt said today that he would not attend the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, but refused to state whether he would accept the party nomination for a third term or contemplated speaking to the convention from the White House. As he talked with reporters at his last press conference before the convention the President apparently sought to leave the impression that whatever happened at Chicago would not be of his doing. He dismissed as too difficult a question whether he planned to take any part in the convention and said that he had not the faintest idea whether it would be “an unbossed” convention. To a question whether his plan to go to Hyde Park for the weekend after next might be changed in consequence of action taken at the Chicago convention, Mr. Roosevelt said that he did not see how that could make any difference, since he would still be President of the United States. Thus the President refused repeatedly to throw any light on the current political riddle.
The movement to renominate President Roosevelt for a third term took definite shape today with the arrival of Senator Byrnes of South Carolina and Harry L. Hopkins, Secretary of Commerce, dispelling any remnant of doubt that the President would run again. Senator Byrnes, it became known, is the Roosevelt floor leader and will have the final say on tactics. Secretary Hopkins is liaison officer with Washington.
Aiding are Frank C. Walker, who may succeed Postmaster General Farley as national chairman, and Edward J. Flynn, national committeeman from New York, but Senator Byrnes and Secretary Hopkins are regarded as the leaders of the movement to renominate the President. They are believed to constitute the channel by which Mr. Roosevelt will make known his wishes, both on the nomination of a candidate for Vice President and on the platform.
These leaders profess to be acting without direct authority from the President, but with complete belief that he will accept renomination on the ground that his Administration should be continued in a time of national emergency. They continue to insist that the movement for the President’s renomination is genuinely a draft movement. Tentative plans to put the movement into effect at the convention are reported to have been worked out at a conference in Washington earlier in the week.
Democratic Party Chairman James A. Farley, long a third term movement foe, made it plain today if next week’s national convention renominates President Roosevelt, he will go along with the party choice. In the course of a press conference mostly devoted to quips and laughter, Farley dropped suddenly into a mood of intense seriousness when asked whether, if the chief executive runs again he would emulate the 1936 example of Alfred E. Smith and “take a walk.” “Everybody who knows anything about me, he slowly answered, “knows that Jim Farley is a Democrat.” This harmony move was reinforced, too, by a statement from Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Montana, himself a candidate upon whom much third party discussion has centered, he would support the convention’s nominee, These developments occurred during a day which saw every incoming train loaded with delegates and convention goers, most convinced that Mr. Roosevelt will accept the nomination.
Insistent demands that the Democratic party pledge itself to a policy of non-intervention in the European war and center its energies on national defense and re-employment were heard by a group of party leaders who sat themselves down today to draft a platform for the national convention.
Wendell L. Willkie told a cheering crowd today that “to rehabilitate our economic life is as necessary as an adequate national defense.” Willkie, talking under a blazing sun from the steps of the state capitol in Denver, Colorado, said “we must make our economy vital and vibrant to survive the most aggressive and destructive attack in all history on the democratic way of life.” The Republican nominee added: “It is with a very deep sense of humility an overpowering sense of humility that I accept the leadership of a cause to bring unity to America, to rehabilitate our economic life and to build such a national defense that no Hitler or any other totalitarian dictator may ever strike at this great, free democratic life that we have here in America.”
From 70 to 100 P-40 pursuit planes destined for Great Britain are in storage at the Curtiss Aircraft Company plant in Buffalo because there are no engines for them, it was learned today. The aircraft engine bottleneck, only a potential one some months ago, has now become an actual bottleneck which may not only interfere with the delivery of planes to Britain but may also hamper our own defense program. The planes held up at Buffalo were originally ordered for France, it was understood, but have been taken over by Britain. They are to be powered with Allison 950 horsepower liquid-cooled engines, a newly developed type, which are being turned out at the rate of about thirty a month by a new plant at Indianapolis, a subsidiary of General Motors.
The directors of the Packard Motor Car Company have approved a “general arrangement” under which the company will produce 3,000 Rolls Royce airplane motors for the United States Government and 6,000 for Great Britain. William S. Knudsen, member of the National Defense Advisory Commission in charge of production, announced today that contracts for the undertaking were now being prepared. The agreement is the culmination of several weeks of effort by the commission following refusal of the Ford Motor Company to take the order and later hesitancy of the Packard Company.
“Stagecoach War,” released on July 12, 1940, sees Hopalong Cassidy help capture a gang of singing stagecoach bandits led by a happy fellow called Smiley.
Major League Baseball:
Verne Olsen (5–5), rookie Chicago southpaw, set down the Bees with five hits today to give the Cubs a 2–0 victory before a ladies’ day crowd of 16,508. He struck out seven and walked seven, and stranded twelve runners on base. Bill Posedel lost a tough one, giving up only six hits himself.
Art Mahan’s looping single to right with the bases filled in the fifth inning, one of his four hits, was the blow that gave the Phillies a 6–3 victory over the Pirates tonight before 9,042 fans.
A single by Dick Siebert in the 8th inning deprives Bob Feller of a no hitter, but the Indians ace blanks the A’s, 1–0, striking out 13 in a night game. It is Feller’s 4th one-hitter. Johnny Babich allows just six hits but the Indians push a run across in the third on doubles by Ben Chapman and Lou Boudreau, and Feller makes it hold up.
Boston Bees 0, Chicago Cubs 2
Cleveland Indians 1, Philadelphia Athletics 0
Philadelphia Phillies 6, Pittsburgh Pirates 3
The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Phoenix (CL-46) reached Valparaiso, Chile, for a six-day visit “to cultivate friendly relations.”
The U.S. Navy destroyers USS Walke (DD-416) and USS Wainwright (DD-420) reached Pará, Brazil, en route to Rio de Janeiro. Both destroyers were transporting marines to join the detachments in the heavy cruisers USS Wichita (CA-45) and USS Quincy (CA-39). 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.”
U.S. Navy destroyer USS O’Brien departed Pará, Brazil for La Guaira, Venezuela.
The Mexican Revolutionary party, administration political organization, announced tonight that complete returns from Sunday’s presidential election gave its candidate, General Manuel Avila Camacho, a majority of 2,136,625 votes. The party said Avila Camacho had received 2,265,199 votes, while the leading independent candidate, General Juan Andreu Almazan, a conservative, had received only 128,574. Gen. Rafael Sanchez Tapia, leader of the center, was credited with 14,046 votes. Counting of the ballots was completed yesterday by tabulating commissions, but official announcement of the outcome was not expected until September when the returns are presented to congress for approval.
Federal secret police attached to the Attorney General’s office tonight raided the private offices of General Juan Andreu Almazan, Independent Presidential candidate, and seized most of the General’s personal and business papers.
General Tiburcio Carias, President of Honduras, called today for Pan-American “solidarity and comprehension” to prevent European aggression in the Western hemisphere.
Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, addressing the closing session of the Kuomintang (Nationalist party) Congress tonight, criticized last Saturday’s statement by White House Secretary Stephen Early suggesting a program of “Asia for Asiatics.”
Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong ordered his troops to move against Nationalist positions in Jiangsu Province, China.
Leaders of Japan’s armed forces are following the German drive on Britain with the closest attention and are prepared to begin operations against foreign holdings in East Asia the moment the expected “crack-up” of the British Empire begins, Japanese informants who usually are reliable said last night.
The Japanese raid Chungking again, continuing their fierce aerial campaign against the city.
The British and Japanese reach an agreement closing the Burma Road over the Himalayas. The British use the Burma Road to supply Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist forces. The Japanese essentially are holding Hong Kong hostage, threatening to invade the defenseless territory if the British refuse to cave. Chiang is outraged at the British decision. The British have offered to close the Burma Road to China to certain categories of goods for the next two or three months. It was learned in London today that this offer had been made and presumably had been accepted. Apparently that is the explanation of the Japanese announcement in Tokyo that the negotiations over the matter were nearly finished.
The British have not, it is argued in London, made a surrender, which the agreement seems to be on the surface. The categories of goods that will be stopped are distinctly limited, and more important, it is said here, is the fact that this is the rainy season and the Burma Road would be closed or virtually closed for the next two months by floods. It is a precarious route at its best. The British hope that at the end of two months the entire situation will be changed. This means there are three possibilities that may develop before the British and Japanese take up this question again.
First, there is the possibility that the war in Europe may develop to a point where the British will be able to definitely know whether they will be able to deal with a Japanese threat. Second, the British hope that at the end of two months the Sino-Japanese war can be ended on a basis that would end the Japanese menace to British interests, temporarily at least. Third, there is the possibility that the United States at the end of the two months may feel able to give Britain some real support in the Far East, at least by identifying its own interests with those of Britain.
Indicative of the mounting apprehension of Japan’s expansionist leanings, Assemblyman Miguel Tolentino has offered a bill providing virtual compulsory military training of all Filipinos aged 15 to 60.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 121.63 (+0.05)
Born:
Jack Warner, MLB pitcher (Chicago Cubs), in Brandywine, West Virginia.
Mike Page, MLB pinch hitter and outfielder (Atlanta Braves), in Woodruff, South Carolina (d. 2021).
Naval Construction:
The Royal Canadian Navy corvettes HMCS Rimouski (K 121) and HMCS Pictou (K 146) are laid down by Davie Shipbuilding and Repairing Co. Ltd. (Lauzon, Quebec, Canada).
History Diaries 