The Battle of Britain: Luftwaffe activity by day was again concentrated on attacks on shipping and convoys in the Channel, the major engagement taking place off Dover. A few raids penetrated inland and dropped bombs without inflicting any serious damage. [battleofbritain1940 web site]
Weather: Overnight rain periods expected to clear and give way to a fine day with only a thin layer of cloud. Still cool for the time of year but winds expected to be light. Heavier cloud was expected by evening with the possibility of rain periods.
The Luftwaffe, specifically General Kesselring’s Luftflotte 2, continues pressing its attacks on the Channel convoys on 25 July 1940. They are proving successful in their mission to both destroy ships and draw the RAF up to combat. The Luftwaffe has installed some radar on the French coast, and it is making shipping attacks and air interceptions more precise. The Germans also have a wireless intercept station at Wissant that is proving useful. The beauty of the strategy from the German point of view is that the RAF fighters, acting on the defensive, must climb to meet the attacking Luftwaffe fighters who already are at altitude, leaving the Spitfires and Hurricanes vulnerable.
German aircraft attacked shipping and naval bases at Dover, Portsmouth, Poole, and Portland in Britain; also on this day, aircraft and torpedo boats attacked convoy CW.8 in the Dover Strait, sinking 5 vessels and killing 9 men. By the end of the day, 21 German aircraft and 6 British fighters were lost. The British claimed that 25 German aircraft were shot down on this day, which was the highest daily claim yet.
Sixty Stukas (II,/StG1 and IV StG1), assisted by S-boats, use the radar information to sortie against a convoy at first light. Convoy CW 8 “Peewit” loses five small freighters (Corhaven, Polgrange, Leo, Portslade, and Henry Moon), while five other freighters are damaged and two destroyers – HMS Boreas and Brilliant – are as well. Spitfires of RAF Nos. 54 and 65 arrive late, and the Bf 109s are waiting for them. JG26, still smarting from recent losses, escorts the Stukas. Adolf Galland of III,/JG26 pounces, and the British lose three planes in a hurry. The Stukas are vulnerable after their dives, and the RAF planes shoot two down. The action continues all afternoon, with both sides sending swarms of planes. During the afternoon, Ju 88s attack. The raids continue until 19:30.
Adolph Galland of JG 26 gets his 16th victory.
The weather had improved enough during the early morning for German Stuka and E-boat attacks on a convoy working its way through the Dover Straits. It was a disaster for the convoy as they were pounded by heavy guns from the French mainland as well. Eleven merchant coal ships of convoy CW.8 out of twenty-one were sunk in the Straits as well as two Royal Navy destroyers. A new tactic was used by the Luftwaffe, the escorting Bf109’s came in at sea level to be met by the Spitfires of 65 Squadron (Hornchurch) while the Ju87 Stuka’s came out of the sky the dive bomb the convoy. 32 Squadron Biggin Hill (Hurricanes) and 615 Squadron Kenley (Hurricanes) came in to assist the sea level dogfight with fifty Bf109’s. 54 Squadron Rochford (Spitfires) answered the call for assistance from the escorting naval vessels and engaged Bf109’s that had arrived to assist the Ju87’s. Like the previous day, 54 Squadron was to suffer badly, but with one Spitfire to every five Bf109’s, they were lucky not to lose more than three aircraft.
At 1430 hours, The convoy was only just past Folkestone, and the Luftwaffe sent another forty Ju88’s with an escort of over fifty Bf109’s to make a final attack on the convoy. Although the British pilots pressed for more fighters in combat areas, their request was dismissed as command stated that “….if we try to meet them on a one to one basis, then Fighter Command would have no fighters left after a couple of weeks.” Only eight Spitfires of 64 Squadron (Kenley) were scrambled to meet the ninety German fighters and bombers, twelve Spitfires of 54 Squadron (Hornchurch) and a flight of Hurricanes from 111 Squadron (Croydon). The Hurricanes and Spitfires were vastly outnumbered by five to one, almost impossible odds, but the RAF pilots were equal to the task.
After this days fighting, 54 Squadron Hornchurch was north for a brief rest. They had been constantly in action for the past three weeks, had flown in excess of 800 flying hours, had 506 operational sorties to their credit, had lost five experienced pilots and had twelve of their aircraft destroyed. The tactic here was to meet the bombers head on at full throttle then as they dispersed they pulled upwards to meet the oncoming Bf109’s. The tactic worked, and both fighters and bombers withdrew. With 64 Squadron and 111 Squadron returning to refuel, the German formation, strengthened by another staffel circled and returned to the convoy. Here they sank a further five merchantmen and seriously damaged four others. (Only 2 out of 21 were to reach their destination of Portland.)
AVM Keith Park was all in favor of attacking the bombers “head on”. He maintained that they were very vulnerable from the front, very poorly armed, had very little armor protection and often flew in tight formations which meant that they had very little chance of maneuvering for fear of hitting another bomber. “Attack the ones in front” he urged, “If you shoot them down, the formation will break up in confusion, then you can take your pick.” But such tactics could be dangerous. It called for accurate shooting and one must pull away sharply to avoid collision. ACM Hugh Dowding would not approve such tactics, it was too dangerous for our young pilots to adopt, but many brave and skillful pilots responded to Keith Parks instruction.
By night several raids started from the Cherbourg district and crossed the coast of Dorset en-route for the Bristol Channel and South Wales but no bombing has been reported from this area. AA claim an enemy aircraft shot down in flames near Milford Haven.
RAF Statistics for the day: 171 patrols were flown involving 684 aircraft. Luftwaffe casualties: Fighters – 14 confirmed 11 unconfirmed; Bombers – 11 confirmed 3 unconfirmed. 1 unknown aircraft type also confirmed as shot down.
RAF Casualties: (July 25th)
1455hrs: Dover. Spitfire P9451. 64 Squadron Kenley. (Lost at sea)
F/O A.J.O. Jeffrey. Killed. (Was last seen crashing into the Channel) (Body washed up on Dutch coast)
1500hrs: Off Dover. Spitfire R6707. 54 Squadron Rochford. (Lost at sea)
F/Lt B.H. “Wonky” Way. Presumed drowned. (Shot down by Bf109 and crashed into Channel)
1540hrs: Hawkinge Airfield. Spitfire R6693. 610 Squadron Biggin Hill. (Aircraft destroyed)
S/L A.T. Smith. Killed. (Crashed and burnt out after stalling on landing. Previously in combat with Bf109)
1745hrs: Off Folkestone Kent. Spitfire L1035. 64 Squadron Kenley. (Lost at sea)
Sub/Lt F.D. Paul. Died of Injuries. (Shot down by Bf109, captured by Germans but died 30.7.40
1810hrs: Dover. Spitfire R6816. 54 Squadron Rochford. (Aircraft destroyed)
P/O A. Finnie. Killed. (Hit by gunfire from Bf109 and crashed at Kingsdown, nr Dover)
2345hrs: Porthtowan Cornwall. Spitfire P9493. 234 Squadron St Eval. (Aircraft destroyed)
P/O G.K. Gout. Killed. (Crashed just outside town. Circumstances not known)
RAF No. 54 Squadron has been mauled over since the start of the Battle of Britain, losing five pilots and twelve airplanes. It is pulled from the line and sent north to regroup. Hugh Dowding of Fighter Command admits that “If we try to fight the Germans on a 1-to-1 basis, we’d soon have no fighters left.”
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 5 Blenheims during daylight to attack French airfields, none bombed, 1 lost.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 166 aircraft of all types to 7 targets in the Ruhr and to airfields in Holland overnight. 7 aircraft, 3 Hampdens, 2 Blenheims, 2 Wellingtons, lost. 6 O.T.U. sorties.
The RAF announces that it has made over 1,000 raids into occupied Europe since the start of the war.
Italian bombers attack Haifa, Palestine.
Italian bombers attack Royal Navy base at Alexandria, Egypt, overnight.
Convoy HURRY, the plan to ferry a dozen Hurricane fighters to Malta, is now projected to reach the vicinity of the island on 31 July. Submarines HMS Pandora and Proteus will bring in supplies need by the planes.
On Malta, it is a quiet day with no air raids. Governor Dobbie appoints Lt Col Vella of King’s Own Malta Regiment to the position of Administrative Command of all Maltese infantry and volunteers. This new position is designed to integrate Maltese peoples into the armed forces.
Hitler accepts Mussolini’s offer to send Italian air and naval forces to cooperate in war against the U.K. Hitler agrees to allow Italian planes to participate in the Battle of Britain, which does not really seem necessary at this point as the battle is going reasonably well.
Hitler meets with the Rumanian Premier and Foreign Minister at Berchtesgaden.
The German Reich Economic Minister outlined the New Order for Europe, citing use of forced labor from occupied nations. German Economics Minister Walther Funk gives a long speech entitled “The Economic Reorganization of Europe.” It revolves around the idea of a “Greater Europe” which he admits “does not yet actually exist.” He discusses a European currency union (led by Germany) free from any gold standard and notes that the “raw material situation of Greater Germany has improved immensely during the war.” The Reichsmark will be the dominant currency, with all other currencies tied to it by fixed exchange rates. In fact, Germany already is doing this with Vichy France on draconian exchange rate terms.
Many of Funk’s ideas sound quite similar to the later European Economic Community. It is an optimistic speech that looks forward to a seemingly early end to the war, which is the prerequisite for any of his ideas actually happening. The underpinning of the entire idea, however, is, as William Shirer points out, that the “Germans will abandon the gold standard and substitute their worthless Reichsmark, making U.S. gold reserve useless.”
Commander of the Swiss military General Henri Guisan vowed that Switzerland would defend against any German or Italian invasion. General Guisan’s speech to officers at Rütli Meadow insists on Swiss independence and neutrality. While the Swiss are tilting toward Germany, they still fear an invasion. Commander-in-chief General Henri Guisan delivers an impassioned address to the Swiss Officer Corps on the Rütli (Ruetti Meadow), a field of great military tradition. He exhorts the officers to be prepared to resist a German invasion and to fight to the last man in an Alpine redoubt sealed off by dynamiting mountain passes.
The United Kingdom evacuated women and children from Gibraltar.
Great Britain will extend her blockade to Spain and Portugal next week, thereby bringing’ all Continental Europe within the scope of her naval control, it was stated reliably tonight.
The British have given the Dublin government assurances that they will make no attempt to give Ireland military protection unless the Germans actually attack her.
The Foreign Office spokesman said tonight that Britain recognizes the “fundamental justice” of Bulgaria’s claim against Rumania for return of the wheat-growing section of Southern Dobruja.
A special Vichy Government tribunal will be set up to try former Premier Edouard Daladier and other former government leaders for responsibility for France’s entry into war and for her defeat, it was indicated today.
Italy will have a short wheat crop this year like the rest of Europe. The Minister of Agriculture in a letter to Premier Mussolini, published today, set the forthcoming crop at 268,000,000 bushels, compared with an average of 295,900,000 in the last three years.
The Rumanian Ministry of the Interior ordered today that all Jews who are refugees from Russian-occupied territory must leave Rumania within five days, under penalty of internment or expulsion from the country. For the last few days Russia has accepted only persons born in North Bukovina or Bessarabia. The Russians are also reported to be checking up on all Rumanians who remained in the occupied territories and sending into Rumania everybody who was not born in the two provinces.
Captain Leclerc — nom de guerre of Philippe de Hauteclocque — reports to de Gaulle in London and joins the Free French.
German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper departed Trondheim to sweep the Barents Sea between Tromso and Bear Island and west of Spitzbergen as a diversion for battlecruiser Gneisenau’s return to Germany. She took the Finnish steamer Ester Thorden (1940 BRT) as a prize and her floatplane searched the Finnish steamer Wappu (1540 BRT), which was then released. No other contact was made and Admiral Hipper arrived at Kiel on 9 August.
German battleship Gneisenau completed its torpedo damage repairs and departed Trondheim, Norway for Kiel, Germany for more thorough repairs. Gneisenau, light cruiser Nurnberg, with destroyers Galster, Lody, Jacobi, and Ihn departed Trondheim for Kiel. Off Utsire, they were joined by torpedo boats Luchs, Jaguar, Kondor, Iltis, and T.5. On the 26th, German torpedo boat Luchs was sunk by submarine HMS Thames in the North Sea in 58-30N, 4-30E (or on a floating mine off Karmoy.) The ships arrived at Kiel on the 28th.
Shortly after the attack on Luchs, submarine HMS Thames (Lt Cdr W. D. Dunkerley) was lost southwest of Stavanger, most likely mined on the night of 2/3 August in 56-45N, 03-26E. (Official sources indicate that Thames, which was not heard from after departing Dundee on the 21st for patrol, was mined on the 23rd in 57-20N, 03-10E. However, only two submarines were in the area of the Luchs sinking and submarine HMS Snapper reported no attack. Submarine HMS Swordfish, which is generally credited with the sinking was not in the immediate area.). Lt Cdr Dunkerley, Lt F. R. C. Talbot, Lt F. H. Morris, Lt D. E. T. Newell RNR, Lt Cdr (E) B. E. O’Brien, Acting S/Lt J. E. W. Worrall RNVR, and the fifty-six ratings of the crew were lost with Thames.
Anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Bonaventure arrived at Scapa Flow from working up in the West Indies.
Submarine HMS Porpoise departed Immingham for minelaying operation FD.23 off Lister.
Destroyers HMS Bedouin and HMS Punjabi, which were submarine hunting, were ordered to return to Scapa Flow at 1110.
Temporary S/Lt (A) F. Dawson-Paul RNVR, flying a Spitfire of RAF 64 Squadron from Kenley, was shot down off Folkestone. Dawson-Paul died of wounds as a prisoner of war on the 30th.
German forces launched air and motor torpedo boats attacks on Convoy CW.8, composed of 21 steamers in the Dover Strait. The first attacks, by Ju87s fof I/STG.1 and IV/LG.1 sank steamers Corhaven (991grt), Polgrange (804grt), and Leo (1140grt), all off Dover, Henry Moon (1091grt) two miles off Folkestone, and Portslade (1091grt) four to five miles NE of Dungeness, and damaged steamers Tamworth (1332grt), Newminster (967grt), Hodder (1016grt), Summity (554grt), and Gronland (1264grt) off Dover. The entire crew of Corhaven was rescued, two crewmen from Polgrange were missing. two crewmen killed and four missing from Leo, one crewman killed on Henry Moon, and the entire crew of Portslade rescued. MTB.69 and MTB.70 were involved through the day in the rescuing survivors. Late on the 25th and early into the 26th, German 1st S-Flotilla motor torpedo boats S.19, S.20, and S.27 attacked the convoy. S.27 sank steamer Lulonga (821grt) 15 miles south of Shoreham, S.20 sank Broadhurst (1013grt) 14 miles south by west of Shoreham, and S.19 sank London Trader (646grt) 13 miles south by west of Shoreham. One crewman was lost on Lulonga, four crewmen missing on Broadhurst, and one crewman killed on London Trader.
Destroyers HMS Boreas and HMS Brilliant of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla were sent out from Dover with MTB.69 and MTB.70 to repulse the German motor torpedo boats then attacking convoy CW.8. Pursuing the S-boats away from the convoy and towards Calais, the destroyers were attacked by German bombers. Ju87s from I/STG.1 and IV/LG.1 badly damaged Boreas with two hits on her bridge. S/Lt O. J. Pemberton RNVR and sixteen ratings were killed and another five died of wounds. Temporary Surgeon Lt J. F. Buchan RNVR, Midshipman R. B. Mann RNR, 22 ratings, and a NAAFI staff member were wounded. They also badly damaged Brilliant with two bomb hits in the stern, although neither bombs exploded until they had passed completely through the ship. The tiller flat was flooded and boiler room fan support cracked. There were no casualties. Norwegian motor torpedo boats MTB.5 and MTB.6 from Dover also assisted the destroyers. Both destroyers were towed into Dover by tugs, Boreas by HMS Lady Brassey. She was repaired at London completing on 23 January 1941. While in dock at London, she was damaged by a near miss on 19 January 1941. This damage required three days to repair. Brilliant was repaired at Chatham completing on 19 September.
Minelayers HMS Southern Prince (Flag Rear Admiral W. F. Wake-Walker), HMS Menestheus, HMS Port Napier, and HMS Port Quebec with survey ship HMS Scott departed Loch Alsh (Port ZA) at 1130/25th to lay a minefield, designated SN 31, on 26/27 July at the southern entrance of St George Channel between Anglesey and Dublin Bay. Destroyers HMS Inglefield, HMS Atherstone, HMS Fernie, HMS Hambledon, and HMS Garth escorted the minelayers and anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Coventry operated as anti-aircraft cover for the operation. Inglefield arrived in the Clyde at 1750/28th. The Hunt-class destroyers at Loch Alsh at 1830/28th, and then proceeded to Scapa Flow arriving at 0740/29th. Coventry arrived at Plymouth on the 27th.
Light cruiser HMS Despatch departed Bermuda for Trinidad.
Palestinian steamer Arnon (558grt) was damaged by Italian bombing at Alexandria.
Convoy FN.232 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers HMS Vimiera, HMS Winchester and patrol sloop HMS Sheldrake, and arrived in the Tyne on the 27th.
Convoy SL.41 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser HMS Bulolo to 8 August when the convoy merged with convoy SLF.41. The armed merchant cruiser proceeded to Greenock for fuel and water prior to returning to Freetown. The convoys arrived at Liverpool on 14 August.
The War at Sea, Thursday, 25 July 1940 (naval-history.net)
German heavy cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER departed Trondheim to sweep the Barents Sea between Tromsø and Bear Island and west of Spitzbergen as a diversion for battlecruiser GNEISENAU’s return to Germany. She took the Finnish steamer ESTER THORDEN (1940 BRT) as a prize and her floatplane searched the Finnish steamer WAPPU (1540 BRT), which was then released. No other contact was made and ADMIRAL HIPPER arrived at Kiel on 9 August.
German GNEISENAU, light cruiser NURNBERG, with destroyers GALSTER, LODY, JACOBI, and IHN departed Trondheim for Kiel. Off Utsire, they were joined by torpedo boats LUCHS, JAGUAR, KONDOR, ILTIS, and T.5. On the 26th, German torpedo boat LUCHS was sunk by submarine THAMES in the North Sea in 58‑30N, 4‑30E (or on a floating mine off Karmoy.) The ships arrived at Kiel on the 28th.
Shortly after the attack on LUCHS, submarine THAMES (Lt Cdr W. D. Dunkerley) was lost southwest of Stavanger, most likely mined on the night of 2/3 August in 56‑45N, 03‑26E. (Official sources indicate that THAMES, which was not heard from after departing Dundee on the 21st for patrol, was mined on the 23rd in 57‑20N, 03‑10E. However, only two submarines were in the area of the LUCHS sinking and submarine SNAPPER reported no attack. Submarine SWORDFISH, which is generally credited with the sinking was not in the immediate area.). Lt Cdr Dunkerley, Lt F. R. C. Talbot, Lt F. H. Morris, Lt D. E. T. Newell RNR, Lt Cdr (E) B. E. O’Brien, Acting S/Lt J. E. W. Worrall RNVR, and the fifty-six ratings of the crew were lost with THAMES.
Anti-aircraft cruiser BONAVENTURE arrived at Scapa Flow from working up in the West Indies.
Submarine PORPOISE departed Immingham for minelaying operation FD.23 off Lister.
Destroyers BEDOUIN and PUNJABI, which were submarine hunting, were ordered to return to Scapa Flow at 1110.
Temporary S/Lt (A) F. Dawson-Paul RNVR, flying a Spitfire of RAF 64 Squadron from Kenley, was shot down off Folkestone. Dawson-Paul died of wounds as a prisoner of war on the 30th.
German forces launched air and motor torpedo boats attacks on Convoy CW.8, composed of 21 steamers in the Dover Strait.
The first attacks, by Ju87s of I/STG.1 and IV/LG.1 sank steamers CORHAVEN (991grt), POLGRANGE (804grt), LEO (1140grt), all off Dover, HENRY MOON (1091grt) two miles off Folkestone, and PORTSLADE (1091grt) four to five miles NE of Dungeness, and damaged steamers TAMWORTH (1332grt), NEWMINSTER (967grt), HODDER (1016grt), SUMMITY (554grt), and GRONLAND (1264grt) off Dover. The entire crew of CORHAVEN was rescued, two crew from POLGRANGE were missing. two crew killed and four missing from LEO, one crewman killed on HENRY MOON, and the entire crew of PORTSLADE rescued. MTB.69 and MTB.70 were involved through the day in the rescuing survivors.
Late on the 25th and early into the 26th, German 1st S-Flotilla motor torpedo boats S.19, S.20, and S.27 attacked the convoy. S.27 sank steamer LULONGA (821grt) 15 miles south of Shoreham, S.20 sank BROADHURST (1013grt) 14 miles south by west of Shoreham, and S.19 sank LONDON TRADER (646grt) 13 miles south by west of Shoreham. One crewman was lost on LULONGA, four crew missing on BROADHURST, and one crewman killed on LONDON TRADER.
Destroyers BOREAS and BRILLIANT of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla were sent out from Dover with MTB.69 and MTB.70 to repulse the German motor torpedo boats then attacking convoy CW.8. Pursuing the S-boats away from the convoy and towards Calais, the destroyers were attacked by German bombers. Ju87s from I/STG.1 and IV/LG.1 badly damaged BOREAS with two hits on her bridge. S/Lt O. J. Pemberton RNVR and sixteen ratings were killed and another five died of wounds. Temporary Surgeon Lt J. F. Buchan RNVR, Midshipman R. B. Mann RNR, 22 ratings, and a NAAFI staff member were wounded. They also badly damaged BRILLIANT with two bomb hits in the stern, although neither bomb exploded until they had passed completely through the ship. The tiller flat was flooded and boiler room fan support cracked. There were no casualties. Norwegian motor torpedo boats MTB.5 and MTB.6 from Dover also assisted the destroyers.
Both destroyers were towed into Dover by tugs, BOREAS by LADY BRASSEY. She was repaired at London completing on 23 January 1941. While in dock at London, she was damaged by a near miss on 19 January 1941. This damage required three days to repair. BRILLIANT was repaired at Chatham completing on 19 September.
Minelayers SOUTHERN PRINCE (Flag Rear Admiral W. F. Wake-Walker), MENESTHEUS, PORT NAPIER, and PORT QUEBEC with survey ship SCOTT departed Loch Alsh (Port ZA) at 1130/25th to lay a minefield, designated SN 31, on 26/27 July at the southern entrance of St George Channel between Anglesey and Dublin Bay.
Destroyers INGLEFIELD, ATHERSTONE, FERNIE, HAMBLEDON, and GARTH escorted the minelayers and anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY operated as anti-aircraft cover for the operation.
INGLEFIELD arrived in the Clyde at 1750/28th. The Hunt-class destroyers at Loch Alsh at 1830/28th, and then proceeded to Scapa Flow arriving at 0740/29th. COVENTRY arrived at Plymouth on the 27th.
Convoy FN.232 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VIMIERA, WINCHESTER and patrol sloop SHELDRAKE, and arrived in the Tyne on the 27th.
American light cruiser USS TRENTON (CL-11), carrying the Luxembourg Royal Family, and destroyers USS DICKERSON (DD-157) and USS HERBERT (DD-158) arrived at Norfolk, Virginia. This ended the active service of Squadron 40-T.
Light cruiser DESPATCH departed Bermuda for Trinidad.
Palestinian steamer ARNON (558grt) was damaged by Italian bombing at Alexandria.
Convoy SL.41 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser BULOLO to 8 August when the convoy merged with convoy SLF.41.
The armed merchant cruiser proceeded to Greenock for fuel and water prior to returning to Freetown. The convoys arrived at Liverpool on 14 August.
In Washington today, President Roosevelt returned from Hyde Park, conferred with Secretary Wallace on campaign plans, issued an order extending the export licensing system to petroleum products, scrap iron and other scrap metal, discussed taxes with Secretary Morgenthau and Treasury officials and entertained at luncheon members of the royal family of Luxembourg. The White House announced the resignation of Louis Johnson as Assistant Secretary of War and the appointment of Judge Robert Porter Patterson of New York as his successor.
The Senate heard discussion of military conscription legislation, received the Lee bill to conscript property in wartime and adjourned at 1:56 PM until noon on Monday. The Military Affairs Committee continued drafting of the Military Conscription Bill.
The House considered routine matters and adjourned at 1:45 PM until noon on Monday. Hearings on the Burke-Wadsworth Conscription Bill were continued by the Military Affairs. Committee.
The United States banned the sale of scrap metal and petroleum to Japan. Informed sources said today that President Roosevelt’s action in adding scrap iron and petroleum to the list of those articles which will be embargoed for export to Japan “is certain to stimulate Japan’s southward expansion policy particularly towards the Netherlands East Indies.” The Netherlands East Indies, it was recalled, is the second greatest source, after the United States, for Japan’s supplies of crude oil and petroleum products. The empire also receives iron and other essential raw materials from the rich Dutch colonies.
The Burke-Wadsworth military service bill is scheduled to reach the floor of the Senate on Monday, Senator Sheppard, chairman of the Military Affairs Committee, announced today. An amendment which would force employers to reinstate draftees in their old civilian jobs after finishing their “hitch” in the army was approved today by the senate military committee, considering the compulsory military training bill. Under the amendment, an employer now subject to the Wagner labor relations act would be considered to have committed an “unfair labor practice” if he willfully refused to reinstate a demobilized conscript. The government could order him to employ the conscript with back pay and, if he still balked, could go into a circuit court of appeals seeking an enforcement order. If he disregarded such an order, he could be adjudged in contempt of court.
The British have decided, Secretary Morgenthau announced today, to pour “colossal” sums into the American airplane industry, building factories to expand the industry’s capacity “far beyond” 50,000 planes a year. On its part, the United States has pledged “every facility,” Morgenthau said, to enable the British to buy 3,000 planes a month here in addition to large orders already placed. Officials declined to estimate how soon such a production level might be reached, but said the British hoped it would be attained early in 1941. An aviation industry spokesman privately expressed confidence the industry could produce 3,000 planes a month, if the British furnished the money and assured the necessary supply of machine tools.
The first 10 percent of the expansion program of the United States Navy has increased the unfilled orders on the books of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation to nearly $500,000,000, according to figures made public by Eugene G. Grace, president, at the close of the quarterly meeting of directors yesterday. The amount is 70 percent above the highest backlog previously reported by the company.
Robert E. Gross, president of the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, declared today that the American aircraft industry can produce “40,000 to 60,000 planes a year.”
Secretary of Agriculture Wallace’s status as a Cabinet member concerned with the disbursement of large amounts of federal benefits coincident with his candidacy for the Vice Presidency as Mr. Roosevelt’s choice for running mate was settled temporarily at the White House today by the dictum that his activities will be “nonpolitical” for at least another month. As Secretary Wallace expressed it after a conference with the president, he and Mr. Roosevelt would not consider his activities as political until he was formally notified of his candidacy, an event scheduled for somewhere in Iowa about August 20. In other words, it was decided that the Wallace notification, obviously aimed at holding the votes of the agricultural States, should take place after Wendell L. Willkie’s formal notification of his nomination by the Republicans at Elwood, Indiana, on August 17, and in surroundings equally close to the heart of the Midwest.
Louis Johnson resigned as assistant secretary of war. Stephen Early, presidential press secretary, said Robert Porter Patterson, judge of the second United States circuit court of appeals, would succeed Johnson. Patterson is a Republican and, Early made clear, was chosen by Henry L. Stimson, new Republican secretary of war.
James W. Gerard, American ambassador to Germany prior to United States’ entry in World War I, predicted today this country would be at war again within six months. Gerard, vacationing in Montana, declined to say whether “it will be in the east, south or west.” But he added the most serious threat was from Nazi Germany.
The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Trenton (CL-11), carrying the Luxembourg Royal Family, and destroyers USS Dickerson (DD-157) and USS Herbert (DD-158) arrived at Norfolk, Virginia. This ended the active service of Squadron 40-T.
American John Sigmund begins swimming for 89 hours, 46 minutes from St. Louis to Caruthersville, Missouri in the Mississippi River; 292 miles, longest solo swim of all time.
Down 5–2 in the 4th inning to the Muskogee Reds (Western Association), St. Joseph player-manager Keith Frazier in left field tires of four non-paying hecklers sitting on a fence just outside the park. He exits through a gate and, followed by players from both teams, chases after the four, three of whom escape in a car. The fourth is caught and roughed up. Play is stopped for 20 minutes.
Major League Baseball:
At the Hive, the Bees lose, 8–4, to the Cubs. Following a 2–run eighth-inning pinch single by Dom Dallessandro, Cubs’ pitcher Bill Lee then bunts into a triple play. Lee still gets the win. Manuel Salvo takes the loss for Boston.
The Giants and Pirates confined their run-making almost to a minimum on a broiling day at the Polo Grounds. Pittsburgh triumphed, 2–1, with a marker in the ninth before a gathering of 3,265, smallest crowd of the local season. Truett Sewell and Hal Schumacher were the starting pitchers and, surprisingly, in view of the enervating heat, were the finishing pitchers, too. Schumacher allowed only six hits while his rival gave up nine. But Sewell hurled out of some rather deep holes to get the win. The New Yorkers had men in scoring position on five occasions without scoring.
The game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies is rained out.
The league-leading Tigers appeared to be carrying horseshoes with them on the base paths today when they defeated the Senators, 5–2. Errors helped Detroit to three runs. A wild pitch meant another tally. The last Detroit run came in the hitless eighth, when Barney McCosky walked, advanced on a grounder, stole third and scored on Hank Greenberg’s long fly.
Connie Mack’s Athletics snapped the Cleveland winning streak at five games today and the Indians dropped to a game and a half behind the league-leading Tigers. Buck Ross went the distance in 95-degree heat to post a 7–6 victory.
The Yankees snap a five-game losing streak by belting the Browns, 13–8, behind Red Ruffing. Joe Gordon has a pair of homers and Henrich has 3 doubles. Ruff holds the red-hit Howie Judnich to a triple and a single.
The White Sox continued their extra-base wallloping today and ran their string of victories to seven by defeating the Red Sox, 6–4. The White Soc collected 11 hits, including Joe Kuhel’s homer, and three triples. Jim Tabor hit two homers for Boston in the losing cause.
Chicago Cubs 8, Boston Bees 4
Boston Red Sox 4, Chicago White Sox 6
Philadelphia Athletics 7, Cleveland Indians 6
Washington Senators 2, Detroit Tigers 5
Pittsburgh Pirates 2, New York Giants 1
New York Yankees 13, St. Louis Browns 8
For the first time in its history the Canadian Parliament passed a bill today specifically authorizing infliction of the death penalty for treachery.
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 de Janeiro, Brazil, for Bahia, 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.”
More than 100 persons were feared today to have been killed by landslides which followed rare rainstorms along Chile’s nitrate coast yesterday. Reports by radio from the northern nitrate port of Tocopilla said almost 100 were killed in that region alone. Sides of sandy hills tumbled down upon towns in Antofagasta province burying many persons and rendering hundreds homeless. Numerous mines were flooded in the nitrate and copper producing desert between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, where rainstorms are unusual.
Important reservations to the United States’ plan for collective trusteeship over European possessions in the Western Hemisphere in event of their threatened transfer of sovereignty were filed today by the Argentine delegation.
Armed gunmen kidnapped Y. S. Fong, wealthy Chinese industrialist, today as he was leaving his home in the International Settlement. One of his two bodyguards was shot in the head and injured severely when he sought to intervene. The motive for the abduction was not known, but it was considered in some quarters to be another “warning” to Norwood F. Allman, president of the United Chemical Industries, of which Mr. Fong is vice-president. Mr. Allman, a lawyer and member of the Shanghai Municipal Council, also is a director of the pro-Chungking Chinese daily, Shunpao, whose offices were bombed on July 16 with injury to ten persons, all Chinese. The bombings followed an order from the Japanese-dominated Nanking Government for the arrest and deportation of Mr. Allman and five American newspaper men.
Shanghai’s foreign consular body, meeting at the request of the Municipal Council to consider “the present terrible wave of political crime,” adjourned until August 1 after a secret session of more than three hours. So far as was known, no definite decisions were made. Seventeen consuls general and consuls attended.
The Japanese Consul General, Yoshiaki Miura, pressed the Municipal Council to get rid of all Chungking influences and work in harmony with the Nanking regime. Mr. Miura asserted terrorism in Shanghai resulted from participation of the Chungking organizations or agents in an alleged plot against the French concession.
Japanese columns based on Nanning, Kwangsi Province, South China, began new operations along the borders of French Indo-China yesterday, Japanese correspondents reported today from the front. Japanese units were fanning out around Mingkiang, in Southwest Kwangsi, the Domel News Agency reported, and were “suppressing” scattered Chinese units. The Hochi’s Nanning correspondent understood the operations were designed to cut communication lines used by “smugglers” who were bringing in supplies from Indo-China in violation of the French-Japanese agreement which provides that no shipments of a military nature may enter Chinese Nationalist areas from French-controlled territory.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 121.93 (+0.29)
Born:
John Pennel, American athlete (pole vault world records 5.13m, 5.20m 1963; 5.34m 1966; 5.44m 1969), in Memphis, Tennessee (d. 1993).
Bud Olsen, NBA and ABA power forward (Cincinnati Royals, San Francisco Warriors, Seattle SuperSonics, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, ABA: Kentucky Colonels), in Hobart, Indiana (d. 2018).
Died:
Julia Gulliver, 83, American philosopher, educator and college president.
Naval Construction:
The U.S. Navy Woban-class district harbor tug USS Hoga (YT-146) is laid down by the Consolidated Shipbuilding Corporation (Morris Heights, New York). Hoga was moored with other yard service craft near the drydocks at 1010 Dock when Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japanese forces on the morning of 7 December 1941.
The Royal Navy Isles-class minesweeping trawler HMS Arran (T 06) is laid down by Cook, Welton & Gemmill (Beverley, U.K.); completed by Holmes.
The Royal Navy Bangor-class (Turbine-engined) minesweeper HMS Poole (J 147) is laid down by A. Stephen & Sons Ltd. (Glasgow, Scotland).
The Royal Navy “S”-class (Third Group) submarine HMS Sceptre (P 215) is laid down by the Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. (Greenock, Scotland).
The Royal Navy British Power Boat 70-foot-class motor anti-submarine boat HMS MA/SB 52 is commissioned.
The Royal Canadian Navy armed yacht HMCS Reindeer (S 08, later Z 08) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Lieutenant Commander Edgar George Skinner, RCNR.
The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Benson (DD-421), lead ship of her class of 30, is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Lieutenant Commander Clifford Ashton Fines, USN.
History Diaries 