14-year old Princess Elizabeth made her first public speech, a radio address to the children of the British Commonwealth. Her ten-year-old sister Princess Margaret joined in at the end. The speech, broadcast on the BBC’s Children’s Hour, was intended to comfort children separated from their families and sent away for safety. Princess Elizabeth and her younger sister, Princess Margaret, spoke to the children of the Commonwealth who had found homes in places like Canada and Australia.
The First Lord of the Admiralty issues a memorandum to the War Cabinet. It urges a concentrated effort against Italy:
I feel that what we must aim at is to knock Italy out of the Axis as soon as possible and at the same time avoid, if we can, the full entry of France into the Axis. If we are to achieve the first of these, it is vital that we should strengthen Malta, reinforce the Eastern Mediterranean Fleet and the forces under the command of the General Officer Commanding Middle East. The bulk of our efforts must be applied in this direction, until at any rate we have carried out our special operation for putting through reinforcements through the Mediterranean to Malta and the Middle East.
Vichy France abolished departmental councils.
Hitler and Ribbentrop, along with others in the German high command such as Admiral Raeder, have been trying to figure out a way to avoid a war with the Soviet Union. Their latest theory is that the world should be divided up into spheres of influence, with Germany taking Europe, the Soviet Union dominating central Asia down through India, and the Japanese taking the Asian coastal regions. Italy would have control over Africa.
In pursuit of this somewhat hopeful theory, Ribbentrop sends the German embassy in Moscow a long letter for Stalin which basically recites the course of the war to date with a rather defensive attitude. It then goes on to suggest some ideas of cooperation for the future. The letter makes numerous points, including:
Germany essentially had been forced to continue the war through British and French “games”;
Great Britain essentially is finished;
Germany has no military intentions regarding the Soviet Union;
He explains away recent events in Scandinavia as purely defensive;
Germany desired a long-term agreement with the USSR, Italy and Japan regarding respective spheres of influence “which would last for centuries”;
Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov should come to Berlin to discuss this further, with discussions to continue at Moscow.
The letter, like many of Ribbentrop’s literary efforts, is tedious, overly complicated and full of random excursions into completely extraneous issues. The is delighted to reach the first three words in the following paragraph, even though — yes — that is not the end of the lecture either:
“In summing up, I should like to state that, in the opinion of the Führer, also, it appears to be the historical mission of the Four Powers—the Soviet Union, Italy, Japan, and Germany—to adopt a long-range policy and to direct the future development of their peoples into the right channels by delimitation of their interests on a world-wide scale.”
In fairness to Ribbentrop, these types of eternally long essays are fairly common in diplomatic efforts of the day. The letter is sent today to the German embassy in Moscow for translation, which literally takes several days.
Agents of the Nazi Gestapo, following up the flow of German armed forces into Rumania, today were understood to have arrived in Bucharest to deal with alleged British sabotage which allegedly has ruined huge quantities of oil intended for the Reich.
Rumanian dictator Ion Antonescu is concerned about Allied air attacks (none of which have happened to Rumania yet). He requests some Luftwaffe assistance. Hitler accedes and sends the Luftwaffe’s night intruder force to the Mediterranean area.
Russia has mounted long range guns at the junction of the Prut and Danube rivers ot the Russian-Rumanian border, has concentrated a large fleet of fast naval craft along both rivers and is moving great masses of troops toward the frontier, well-informed quarters in Nazi-dominated Bucharest said tonight. These sources also said the Russians have sunk two Rumanian military patrol boats in hotly contested attacks in the vicinity of the mouth of the Danube river.
Royal Navy gunboat Ladybird assaults Italian positions at Sidi Barrani.
Italian destroyer Artigliere, in tow after heavy damage at the Battle of Cape Passero, is sunk by British cruiser HMS York using torpedoes. The British ships, which include cruiser HMS Ajax (the victor in the night action) and several destroyers, drop rafts for the survivors and allow the Italians to rescue them later.
The British Secretary of State visits Malta today by RAAF Sunderland flying boat. It lands at Kalafrana in the dark in poor weather. After touring the island, he prepares to leave in the morning.
Italian submarines Zoea and Foca lay mines off Palestine. The Foca is lost off Haifa while doing so in some kind of mishap, while the Zoea completes the mission off Jaffa.
Four raids of 25 to 50 aircraft attacked southern England, United Kingdom between 1230 and 1600 hours, consisted mostly of fighters. The Germans and the British each lost 2 fighters. Overnight, London was bombed from 1900 hours until 0600 hours of the next day; Middlesborough, Hull, Huddersfield, Grantham, Liverpool, and Manchester were also attacked overnight.
The day begins with poor weather which clears as the afternoon progresses. Most of the action on 13 October 1940 thus occurs in the afternoon and evening.
The first significant intrusion is after lunchtime. At 13:00, the Luftwaffe sends over several dozen fighter-bombers (Jabos) escorted by III,/JG 3. They bomb Woolwich and the tracks at Hackney and Dalston. RAF Nos. 46, 66 and 92 Squadrons intercept from underneath — the Bf 109s are flying at 27,000 feet — and the Luftwaffe loses a fighter.
Another series of raids occur after 14:00. This includes some fast Junkers Ju 88s along with the Jabos and escorting fighters. The formation splits at the coast and heads for London and Hornchurch. Fighter Command sends up 14 squadrons to attack Bf 109s of JG 27 and 54. The Luftwaffe gets the best of this encounter, with the German pilots claiming half a dozen victories.
At 15:30, more Jabos cross at Dover. RAF No. 66 defends, but the Jabos reach their targets in London.
After dark, London, Liverpool, Hull, East Anglia, Huddersfield, Grantham and the Midlands are bombed. The raids cause extensive damage and, at London, continue until daylight. Losses for the day are about even at a handful apiece.
In war, there can be odd coincidences. Today, there are such coincidences in several different areas.
The first set of coincidences is separate friendly fire incidents, which are fairly rare during the Battle of Britain. One occurs at 18:20 when two Blenheims of RAF No. 29 Squadron, engaged in a standard patrol about 10 miles from North Weald, are attacked by Hurricanes of RAF No. 312 (Czech) Squadron. One Blenheim quickly fires off two Very lights and escapes significant damage, but the other is shot down into the water. There is one fatality.
Another friendly fire incident occurs over Chatham when P/O J.K.Ross of RAF No. 17 Squadron is shot down and wounded by anti-aircraft fire. He survives by bailing out of his Hurricane.
The other coincidences are even more deadly. Londoners have seen the underground subway system as a secure series of shelters during the Blitz. However… not necessarily. There are numerous incidents tonight of bombs blasting through the surface and causing deaths and other casualties in these supposedly secure settings.
Stanmore Underground Station takes damage, and 154 civilians perish in a shelter at Stoke Newington. Wembley Park Station also takes damage. At Bounds Green Piccadilly Station, a bomb destroys a house just above the eastbound line. This collapses the tunnel and injures/kills the people sheltering there. A 250 lb bomb hits an air raid shelter at Newcastle, killing 21. Other shelters also take damage and casualties: Marsh Road, Argyle Street, Farrer Street, Hardman Street, Benjamin Street, and Hatherley Street.
Bomber pilots seldom get much glory, though they are put at great hazard and suffer tremendous casualties. Today one of them, Lt. Hajo Herrmann of KG 30, receives the Ritterkreuz.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 6 Blenheims on uneventful daylight sea sweeps.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 125 Battles, Blenheims, Hampdens and Wellingtons overnight to the Ruhr, Wilhelmshaven, Kiel and the Channel Ports. The weather was bad and only 41 aircraft reported bombing primary targets. At Wilhelmshaven, to which 35 Hampdens were sent, the only report describes how an 80-year-old woman was killed in bed by a fragment of Flak shell. 1 Wellington lost.
During the night, many British aircraft were launched to attack battleship Tirpitz in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, but in poor weather only 4 Hampden aircraft were able to locate the port. Not hits were scored on Tirpitz. If one calculates the sum total of British attempts to sink the Tirpitz and balances that against the effort to build her, the scale likely would tilt decisively in the German battleship’s favor.
Royal Navy aircraft carriers HMS Eagle and Illustrious launch raids against Italian-held Leros island as they continue their withdrawal from their escort duties of the recent (successful) Malta convoy.
The South African Air Force makes its fifth raid against Neghelli in southern Abyssinia. The British send a patrol across the Abyssinia border and cause some casualties on Italians southeast of Kassala.
U-37, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Victor Oehrn, sank British steamer Stangrant (5804grt) from convoy HX.77 in 58-27N, 12-36W. At 1957 hours on 13 Oct 1940 the unescorted Stangrant (Master Evan David Rowlands), a straggler from convoy HX-77, was hit aft by one torpedo from U-37 and sank on even keel northeast of Rockall. Eight crew members were lost. The survivors in one of the lifeboats were questioned by the Germans. The master, 28 crew members and one gunner were rescued by a Sunderland flying boat (10 Sqdn RAAF) and landed at Oban. The 5,804-ton Stangrant was carrying steel and scrap and was bound for Belfast, Ireland.
U-103, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Viktor Schütze, sank Estonian steamer Nora (1186grt) in 57-02N, 13-11W. At 0846 hours on 13 Oct 1940 the unescorted Nora was hit amidships by one torpedo from U-103 after being missed by one torpedo each at 0446 and 0712 hours. The explosion threw parts of the deck cargo into the air, some hitting the water near the periscope. Schütze decided not to fire at the ship with the deck gun, because he saw that the lifeboats had been destroyed and the crew waved for help, so he sent a distress message with position for the steamer and left the area. On 18 October, the survivors were picked up by HMS Leith (L 36) (Cdr R.C. Allen, RN), which was escorting convoy SC-7. The 1,186-ton Nora was carrying timber and was bound for Belfast, Ireland.
U-138 damaged Norwegian steamer Dagrun (4562grt) off North Channel.
Anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Curacoa departed Scapa Flow at 0830 and met convoy WN.22 in Pentland Firth to provide anti-aircraft protection for the convoy to the Firth of Firth.
In Operation D.N, destroyers HMS Cossack (Captain P- L. Vian, D.4), HMS Ashanti, HMS Maori and HMS Sikh departed the Firth of Forth the evening of 13 October to strike at German shipping off Egero Light. During the night of 13/14 October, the destroyers attacked a convoy of three ships and two small escorts four miles off the Light.
While the British ships claimed sinking at least two merchant ships, only German netlayer Genua (1949grt) was sunk and she was later salved. The only British casualty was a single shell hit in the stern of HMS Cossack with a stoker wounded. The British force safely returned to Rosyth arriving on the 14th. Cossack’s rudder was repaired at Rosyth completing on the 25th.
Scapa Flow, except for a small area northeast of the Barrell of Butter, was declared free of mines and anti-submarine exercises were permitted.
Drifter Summer Rose (96grt, Temporary Skipper W. G. R. Howes RNR) was sunk on a mine off Sunderland, 4.9 cables 032° from Roker Pier. Two ratings were lost.
Tug Danube III (234grt, Lt R. Sullivan Rtd) was sunk on a mine off Sheerness, 2.5 cables 305° from Outer Bar Buoy. Ten ratings and one Marine gunner were lost.
Hopper barge Cargo Fleet No. 2 (1130grt) was damaged on a mine one cable west of Datum Buoy, off Tees. There were no casualties on the barge, which was taken in tow, but went ashore at Tees entrance, a total loss.
Light cruiser HMS Ajax and destroyers HMS Jervis and HMS Juno met convoy AS 4 of four steamers from Piraeus, which had sailed that morning. At sea, they rendezvoused with anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Coventry. Convoy AS 4 joined convoy ME 4 east of Gavdo Island.
Steamer Volo of ME 4 was sent ahead of the convoy to Alexandria with anti-aircraft ship HMS Wryneck. Anti-aircraft ship HMS Calcutta remained with the convoy.
On 15 October, destroyer HMS Mohawk was detached from the Main Fleet to relieve HMS Jervis. Convoy AS 4 arrived at Port Said on the 16th.
Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney arrived at Alexandria.
Convoy OL.7 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers HMS Highlander, HMS Hurricane, HMS Keppel, and HMS Havelock. The convoy was dispersed on the 16th.
Convoy OB.228 departed Liverpool escorted by sloops HMS Folkestone and HMS Leith, corvette HMS Heartsease, anti-submarine trawler HMS Sphene. The escort, less Folkestone, detached on the 16th and she departed on the 17th.
Convoy FN.307 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers HMS Vanity and HMS Wolfhound. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 16th.
Convoy FS.308 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers HMS Vega, HMS Vimieria, and HMS Wallace. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 17th.
President Roosevelt urged the country tonight to give freely to private charity to maintain national morale in the face of the crisis abroad. In a radio address opening the annual Mobilization for Human Needs the President said that “in this critical moment of our history we must be more than ever conscious of the true meaning of the ‘community spirit’” which the drive expresses. He said that private charity was essential “to personalize, to humanize the task of relieving suffering.” “This year as never before there is need for an intensification of our efforts,” he said. “Events abroad have warned us not only of the need of planes and tanks, of ships and guns; they have also warned us of the need of grit and sacrifice, of daring and devotion, and all those intangible things which go to make up a nation’s morale.”
When he reached the White House today after his speech at Dayton last night President Roosevelt found awaiting him thousands of messages approving the defiance of dictators expressed in his address in the Ohio city.
Congressional leaders will try again tomorrow to obtain a compromise agreement for a recess, but a lack of a quorum in one branch or the other might cause a failure.
Democratic National Chairman Edward J. Flynn yesterday apologized for and completely disowned the circular put out by the Colored Division of the Democratic National Committee, attacking Wendell L. Willkie because of his German ancestry.
After a quiet day on his special train parked on a little-used spur of the West Shore Railroad here about twelve miles southwest of Albany, Wendell L. Willkie announced tonight his itinerary up to October 28, a week before election. His campaign efforts will concentrate on four large states: New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois.
Treasury Secretary Morgenthau issued a statement tonight denying Wendell L. Willkie’s assertion on Saturday that the Treasury Department had delayed the defense program through refusal to make tax concessions. The Secretary deplored “the effect of statements that serve to substitute political controversy for unity of action.”
Holding that the “tried and fearless” leadership of President Roosevelt was necessary to guide this nation through coming days of crisis, James P. Warburg, banker, announced yesterday his support of the third-term nomination of the President.
The U.S. Wage Hour Administration revised its rules today for the exemption of “white collar” workers from hourly restrictions of the labor standards law, establishing a $200 monthly salary as one yardstick for determining who is an exempt administrative or professional employee. The new rules go into effect October 21 when 40 hours becomes the standard work week for all workers covered by the act.
A walkout at the Allied Clothing Co. by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers (C.I.O.), whose head is Sidney Hillman, national defense commissioner, has tied up production of 7,500 overcoats for the United States army under a $25,774 war department contract, Jerome Hilton, plant manager, said today that his company had a contract with the United Garment Workers (A.F.L.) for the past 20 years and that the walkout last Tuesday of 120 of the 250 employees was the result of a “jurisdictional strike” by the C.I.O. union.
A strike at the New York Shipbuilding Corp. yards, where work is in progress on U. S. navy vessels costing approximately $500,000,000, was averted at least temporarily today when employees voted instead to accept a national defense commission proposal to continue contract negotiations. Members of local 1, Industrial Union of Marino & Shipbuilding Workers of America (C.I.O.) left the way open for a walkout, however, by empowering their negotiating committee to call a strike at its discretion if the corporation refuses to accept the proposal by 6 p.m. tomorrow. The union’s chief demand is for a 10 per cent wage increase.
An authoritative source said tonight that transfer of some of the army’s famed “flying fortress” bombers to Great Britain is “on the fire” and awaits only President Roosevelt’s approval. The source said that a British purchasing mission request for some of the long-range bombers has received favorable consideration from high administration officials who have indicated they were prepared to recommend the transfer to the president. Such a recommendation, it was said, may be in Mr. Roosevelt’s hand now.
Herman Max Schwinn, Nazi bundsman, told a gathering of 500 German-Americans in Los Angeles that “there will be a new order in the world whether Mr. Churchill and Mr. Roosevelt like it or not, “It will be a new world order guaranteed by Germany, Italy and Japan,” he declared.
U.S. Navy surveying ship Bowditch (AG-30) arrives at Placentia Harbor, Newfoundland, to make hydrographic surveys, having transported army engineers who will make a shore requirements survey.
It has been reported from an unimpeachable diplomatic source in Buenos Aires tonight that Brazil and Chile have agreed to lease naval and air bases to the United States.
Two representative members of the All-India Congress party have been selected to invite arrest in the first tests of Mohandas K. Gandhi’s plan for limited individual passive resistance to the law banning the preaching of pacifism in India.
A high Chinese field commander claimed tonight that heavy guns manned by his troops had shelled Ichang airfield in Hupeh Province, destroying fourteen of the twenty-nine Japanese bombers grounded there at the time. The remaining fifteen planes escaped by hastily taking off for Hankow, the Chinese Central News Agency said in describing the action as one of the most successful of the whole war. Japanese bombers from other bases meanwhile raided Western Szechwan again, causing undetermined damage.
The Japanese have been bombing the Nationalist capital of Chungking steadily for months, and the Chinese fighters have been unable to stop them. Recently, the appearance of the new Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters has made that task even more difficult. However, there are many ways to skin a cat, and today the Nationalists show how crafty they can be. In great secrecy, they have smuggled artillery pieces through Japanese lines to within range of Ichang airfield, the forward staging base close to Chinese lines which they captured on 12 June. Ichang is of great importance because it is within 400 miles of Chungking and thus a fairly easy trip for bombers.
Elsewhere, the Chinese attack Japanese positions at Lungchin during the continuing Battle of South Kwangsi.
Recapture from the Japanese of Matang, Yangtze River port in Northern Kiangsi Province, was claimed today by the Chinese Central News Agency.
As a significant development in the Far Eastern situation, it is learned today that American oil companies operating in the Far East have begun moving their large surplus stocks of oil and gasoline from Shanghai and Hong Kong to Singapore.
Japan has allied herself with Germany and Italy because she shares a common ideal with those powers regarding the future organization of the world into great spheres of economic, political and military influence. which will make for peace and stability, Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka told a mass meeting of more than 50,000 persons today. Speaking in Hibiya Park, opposite the Imperial Hotel and near the United States Embassy, the Foreign Minister vigorously denied any suggestion that this country had entered the three-power alliance merely to share in post-war loot. The new world order envisaged by the three powers, he said, is one in which economic barriers will be broken down and the natural geographic divisions of the earth established in complementary fashion which will make for the prosperity of all peoples.
The way is open for the United States to enter into this new order, the Foreign Minister said, indicating that the three powers consider the Americas as a natural sphere for one of the great world divisions. “We hope to make the whole world into one great family,” Mr. Matsuoka said. “We three nations, Japan, Germany and Italy, will be very glad to welcome other powers into our alliance, whether it be the United States or any other nation, should they desire to join in the spirit of the new order. “However, we are firmly determined to eliminate any nation that will obstruct our order.”
Born:
Jimmy Burson, NFL cornerback (St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons), in La Grange, Georgia (d. 2022).
Pharoah Sanders, jazz saxophonist (John Coltrane groups; “Karma”), in Little Rock, Arkansas (d. 2022).
Chris Farlowe [John Henry Deighton], British rock singer (“Out of Time”), in London, England, United Kingdom.
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