The Greek high command announced today that the Italian invaders used strong force with light and heavy artillery yesterday in Epirus, the southwestern section of the border with Albania. In western Macedonia, the other end of the border, the situation “remains unchanged,” the command’s communique said, and Italian aviation activity throughout remained “very light.”
The Greek forces on the coastal sector complete their retreat to the Kalpaki line on 30 October 1940. The Italian troops are still pursuing them and there is little combat there during the day aside from artillery and air bombardments. The Kalpaki line on the coast is extremely blessed with natural defensive features.
In the vital central sector in the Pindus Mountains, the Greek General Katsimitros determines to defend his line ahead of the critical road junction of Metsovo. He detaches some forces to cover his right flank at the Aoös River. The Italians struggle forward through the freshly fallen snow and icy rain and approach Konitsa as the Greek Pindos Detachment withdraws. During the day, the Greeks end their retreat and stabilize their line, with the 1st Infantry Division under Major-General Vasileios Vrachnos taking over local tactical control.
Turkey is proving decisive in the Greek Army’s dispositions even though it technically is not involved in the war. Turkey threatens its neighbor to the north, Bulgaria, that it will join the Greek effort if the Bulgarians attack Greece, pursuant to the Balkan Pact of 1935. Knowing this, the Greeks are free to throw their entire army and any levees against the Italians on the Albanian front. This includes three divisions from the Bulgarian front and six reserve/cavalry divisions.
The Italians bomb Patras, the port of Athens, a handful of times.
The Soviet Union supports the Greeks and sends 134 fighter planes to their aid. The Greeks are particularly weak in modern aircraft, and the Soviet planes aren’t much better, but the additional planes are very welcome.
The British land troops at Suda Bay on Crete.
Adolf Hitler returns to Berlin in the evening. He orders General Ritter von Thoma, the head of a military mission to Rome/Libya, to report to him immediately on the status of the Italian position in North Africa. Based on this conversation, he cancels any plans to send Wehrmacht ground troops (“boots on the ground”) to North Africa for the time being because:
- The Italians were adamantly opposed to a German presence there;
- Marshal Graziani had been all but rude to von Thoma;
- It would be difficult to supply troops across the Mediterranean.
Hitler, despite this decision, still looks upon the Italian effort in North Africa as being distinctly lacking. He continues plans to send Luftwaffe units to the Mediterranean and also ground troops – when the time comes.
Pétain gave a radio address to the French people saying, “It is with honor and in order to maintain French unity, a unity which has lasted ten centuries, and in the framework of the constructive activity of the new European order that today I am embarking on the path of collaboration.”
This is a famous speech – an infamous speech – that is long remembered in France. In fact, it is remembered quite well at Petain’s post-war trial. It would have helped his case if he had said something in this speech about not declaring war on Great Britain as Hitler wished, but for the time being he is going along to get along.
German submarine U-32 was sunk northwest of Ireland by depth charges from the British destroyers Harvester and Highlander, just two days after it had torpedoed the Empress of Britain.
George Crosses gazetted today:
Lt Robert Selby Armitage (1910-82), RNVR, did very dangerous work in September and October, once tackling a mine in a tree with no chance of escape if the fuse was activated.
Sub-Lt William Horace Taylor (b. 1908), RNVR, showed great gallantry in mine disposal throughout. September and October, in particular regarding an operation at RAF Uxbridge in Middlesex
The German Luftwaffe launched two raids over southern England, United Kingdom at 1130 and 1540 hours; the Germans lost 8 Bf 109 fighters and 1 He 111 bomber, while the British lost 5 fighters with 4 pilots killed. London was bombed yet again overnight.
The weather continues its wayward path in 1940, with low-hanging clouds and drizzle. Above the clouds, though, it is bright and sunny, so the Luftwaffe resumes its attacks. However, they are much reduced from the previous days when the Germans lost a number of planes.
Things start late after the usual early-morning reconnaissance flights. German fighters escort fighter-bombers (Jabos) and some Junkers Ju 88s across the Thames Estuary around noontime. This leads to massive dogfights, but the German bombers get through to East Anglia, where they are met by more fighters.
A second wave crosses the Channel at around 15:30. This one crosses over at Dover and then heads down to the London area. Southeast London is lightly hit, while another group of bombers hits Harwich. Fighter Command is on the ball and turns away a lot of the raiders. Losses are light and fairly even in both of these waves, and the damage caused is light as well.
After dark, the London area bears the brunt of the bombing. RAF Duxford, Feltwell and Debden are attacked, but the poor weather hampers accuracy. Feltwell is the hardest hit, with one plane badly damaged, but overall the targets get off lightly. The Luftwaffe continues its nightly mining operations, this time off Harwich and, as usual, in the Thames Estuary.
Losses for the day are about 8 for the Luftwaffe (one Heinkel He 111 bomber, the rest fighters) and a handful for the RAF. As usual, the Luftwaffe does better in relation to the RAF when it keeps operations light and fluid, as today, rather than overbearing and ponderous, as in recent days. The RAF loses four pilots killed in the Battle of Britain (but five more in the loss of two Blenheims on night patrol).
British Losses:
Blenheim L6721, No. 1 Squadron
Crashed at Orchard Way Road, South Berstead having suffered R/T failure in deteriorating weather conditions following routine night patrol.
F/O H.J. Woodward killed.
P/O A.A. Atkinson killed.
Sgt. H.T. Perry killed.
Spitfire P7375, No. 41 Squadron
Sgt. L.A. Garvey killed. Shot down in combat with Bf 109s over Ashford.
Beaufighter R2065, No. 219 Squadron
Hit trees trying to locate base in bad visibility. Crashed and exploded 150yds south of Balcombe Place.
P/O K.W. Worsdell killed.
Sgt. E.C. Gardiner killed.
Spitfire N3119, No. 222 Squadron
P/O A.E. Davies killed. Wing shot off during combat with Bf 109s.
Spitfire K9939, No. 222 Squadron
P/O H.P.M. Edridge died of injuries . Aircraft severely damaged in combat with Bf 109s. Crashed in flames attempting to land at Longwood Farm, Ewhurst.
Hurricane V7536, No. 249 Squadron
P/O W.H. Millington missing. Failed to return from sporadic action with enemy fighters over the Channel.
Several bomb disposal men receive the George Cross: Robert Selby Armitage, Herbert John Leslie Barefoot, Wilson Hodgson Charlton, and William Horace Taylor. Not to take anything away from any of these gentlemen, but it is becoming clear that the best ways to earn the George Cross are to work in a bomb disposal unit or be a Home Guardsman who evacuates people from burning buildings (and more likely than not succumbs themselves). This is somewhat at odds with the original purpose of the award, which ostensibly was to reward civilian heroism. Basically, the George Cross is simply becoming another military award for non-combat situations. And, yes, all of these recipients undoubtedly deserved every bit of their medals, as bomb disposal work is a deadly serious business.
To give a flavor of the situation at the time, Pilot Officer A.E. Davies of RAF No. 222 Squadron is shot down and killed over Sussex around noontime. His Spitfire, though, is not too badly damaged – Davies must have crash-landed it before he succumbed to his injuries – and someone else soon gets his plane to fly. Nothing terribly wrong with that, but it shows that the RAF treasures every plane and must use even a dead man’s plane in later operations. It is unclear how the next pilot of that plane would have felt about being assigned the “death ship,” and pilots can be a superstitious lot.
Adolf Galland of JG 26 gains his 50th victory, at this time second in the world to the 56 of Werner Molders.
Wing Commander J.R. O’Sullivan forms a fighter Squadron on Malta. It is to be based at Ta’ Qali, an airport that will be re-opened for the unit. Ta’ Qali is basically a junkyard now, used as a dumping ground for old vehicles such as buses and lorries. The airfield was left like this to obstruct an invasion attempt and will have to be cleared to become usable again.
James Lacey shot down a German Bf 109 fighter and damaged another over Britain.
RAF Bomber Command received orders to begin area bombing.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 6 Blenheims to France during the day. 3 aircraft bombed Cherbourg harbor. No losses.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 28 Blenheims and Wellingtons overnight to Duisburg, Emden, Antwerp and Flushing. No losses.
Coastal Command chips in with an attack on Ostend.
The Air Ministry authorizes area bombing, meaning unrestricted aerial warfare on civilian population centers. Heretofore, the attacks at least technically have targeted industrial or military installations. There is no question that this is amply justified by Luftwaffe attacks on British cities. However, this also undeniably represents yet another step lower into the savagery of unrestricted warfare. In practice, the bomber aim is so poor at this point that the bombers may as well have been engaging in area bombing all along, but now they can just target the centers of cities and not just airfields or power plants sited far from downtown.
U-32, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Hans Jenisch, attacked British steamer Balzac in a rain storm 100 miles northwest of Ireland at 1240, but the torpedo detonated prematurely, alarming Balzac’s crew, which called for support. British destroyers HMS Harvester and HMS Highlander raced from 45 miles away to attack U-32. U-32 dove, but was damaged by depth charges. At 1908 hours, U-32 surfaced in an attempt to flee, but HMS Highlander’s crew was able to detect U-32 despite a stormy night. Hit by gunfire, U-32’s crew scuttled the submarine in 55-37N, 12-20W west of Ireland. Destroyer HMS Harvester picked up twenty nine crewmen from the submarine and destroyer HMS Highlander picked up four crewmen for a total of four officers and twenty nine ratings. Nine crewmen were lost on the German submarine. During its career under two commanders the U-32 sank 20 merchant ships for a total of 116,836 tons, damaged merchant 4 ships for a total of 32,274 tons, and damaged 1 Allied warship. Back in Germany, a fake news account regarding U-32’s triumphant return was broadcast shortly after to hide the news of the loss.
Escorting convoy SC.8, destroyer HMS Sturdy (Lt Cdr G. T. Cooper) of the 22nd Destroyer Flotilla was wrecked on Tiree Island off the west coast of Scotland. Five ratings were lost with Sturdy. Commissioned Engineer E. J. A. Gibson was injured on the destroyer.
Destroyer HMS Vimy departed Scapa Flow at 0145 to search for a Sunderland down ten miles west of Dunnet Head in Pentland Firth. The destroyer arrived back at 1120 after she had been informed the crew had been picked up by a trawler.
Destroyer HMS Bulldog departed the Firth of Forth at 0300 to rendezvous with Minelayer HMS Agamemnon and armed merchant cruiser HMS Comorin off the Tyne at 1100. The ships were escorted to the Pentland Firth and destroyer Bulldog continued with the minelayer to Loch Alsh and the Clyde. Destroyer Vimy departed Scapa Flow at 1115 on the 31st to escort the armed merchant cruiser to her Northern Patrol station until dark on 1 November.
Destroyer HMS Fearless was damaged in a collision at 0041 on the 30th with the British steamer Lanark (1904grt) anchored off Gourock. There was heavy damage to the destroyer’s bow. Destroyer FEARLESS departed Greenock at 1200 on 8 November for repairs at Troon which were completed at the end of The year.
Destroyer HMS Escapade departed Greenock to repair at Troon.
Submarine HMS Upright departed Portsmouth for Gibraltar, patrolling in Biscay en route. The submarine safely arrived on 9 November.
Minesweeper HMS Leda was damaged in a collision with a merchant ship. Minesweeper HMS Leda was repaired at Aberdeen, completing in November.
Motor launch ML 109 (Lt A. Kirk RNR) was sunk on a mine near Chequer Shoal Buoy off the Humber. Kirk and two ratings were lost in the motor launch.
Gate vessel Placidas Faroult(136grt) was stranded and foundered at Salcombe.
British tug Seagem (92grt) was lost.
Greek steamer Victoria (4202grt) was sunk by German bombing 54-47N, 13-32W. Twenty nine crewmen were rescued from the Greek steamer.
Convoy FN.323 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer HMS Woolston and sloop HMS Black Swan. The convoy arrived at Methil on 1 November.
Convoy FS.323 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers HMS Verdun and HMS Watchman. The convoy arrived at Southend on 2 November.
President Roosevelt, campaigning for his third term in Boston, promises:
“I have said this before, but I shall say it again and again and again: Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars.”
Again comparing President Roosevelt’s pledge in 1932 to support the sound money plank of the ’32 Democratic platform with his pledge to support the 1940 Democratic platform plank not to send the Army, Navy or Air Force outside of the Americas except in case of attack, Wendell L. Willkie declared tonight that the American people, if they re-elected Mr. Roosevelt, might expect war early next year.
An attack against the injection of fear into the Presidential campaign, which, he said, was the expedient adopted by his opponents, was waged today by President Roosevelt as he traveled by train and automobile through Connecticut and Massachusetts.
United States Senator Robert F. Wagner, in an address over the WEAF network of the National Broadcasting Company, defended last night the debt record of the Roosevelt Administration and challenged Wendell L. Willkie’s ability as a business man.
The historic peacetime draft lottery was two-thirds completed at 12:45 o’clock, Eastern Standard Time, this morning, after more than 12 hours of drawing blue capsules from the big gold fish bowl, and on intoning and recording the numbers they contained.
A legal test of the draft lottery, as a result of misplacement of six numbers out of 9,000 prepared for the drawing, was reported officially today to be under consideration in Detroit. Clarence A. Dykstra, selective service director, said he had been apprised that suit might be undertaken by a potential Detroit draftee who was unidentified to Dykstra except that he held serial No. 158 which the lottery turned into “order No. 1.”
The way has been cleared for American industry to produce 12,000 more war planes for Britain and to take large additional orders for other arms and munitions, President Roosevelt announced dramatically tonight in a speech at Boston Garden. The British order, he said, came in the form of a request already referred to the Priorities Board Approval with his suggestion for “most sympathetic consideration,” will raise to 26,000 the number of planes which the United States will undertake to supply to Britain. “The plant capacity of the United States,” Mr. Roosevelt said, “which has made it the greatest industrial country in the world, will not fail now. It will make us the strongest air power in the world. And that is not just a campaign promise.”
Plans have been made by the War Department to ask Congress in the near future for approximately $2,000,000,000 to pay for the construction of 20,000 bombing planes, in addition to the 18,000 military airplanes of all types included in the existing program, a large proportion of which necessarily will be training or auxiliary planes. Although the War Department was silent on the project for the additional bombers, technical experts of the Army Air Corps from Wright Field, Dayton, are now or recently have been in Detroit surveying production possibilities. No information could be obtained as to how many of the 20,000 bombers would be assigned to the Army Air Corps and how many might possibly be sent to England. But, in view of the fact that the Administration is committed to the utmost help for Great Britain, short of war, and since all the 20,000 planes are to be bombers, and since the expansion and reorganization program of the Army Air Corps calls for only 12,800 airplanes of all types, it is a reasonable assumption that a large proportion of the new bombers would go to Britain.
Acquisition of twelve new high-speed oil tankers to extend the fleet’s effective radius as far as the Philippines was announced today by the Navy.
Elderly U.S. Navy submarine USS R-5 was assigned to U.S. Navy Submarine Division 42 at New London, Connecticut, United States.
“One Night in the Tropics,” the first film for Abbott and Costello, premieres in Paterson, New Jersey.
The Cole Porter musical “Panama Hattie,” starring Ethel Merman, Arthur Treacher and Betty Hutton had its Broadway premiere at the 46th Street Theatre. It becomes his longest-running hit to date, running for 501 performances. Oddly enough, it doesn’t feature any classic Porter songs. This musical begins a string of Broadway hits for Porter which he personally thinks are mediocre, but the audiences of the time love – and which now are largely forgotten because he was right, they were mediocre.
In the continuing Battle of South Kwangsi, the Chinese 35 Army Group occupies Nanning from the retreating Japanese.
The Chinese Central News Agency today reported from Nanning, Kwangsi Province, that Chinese forces had “recaptured” the Lungehow Pass, southwest of Nanning, near the Indo-China border, and two other strategic points farther south — Shanyu and Sichang. “Our troops now are fighting the Japanese at Pinghsiang, twenty miles southwest of Lungchow,” the report said.
Hundreds of Americans plan to remain in Japan indefinitely despite the State Department’s request that all those in position to do so return home, a survey showed today. Many said Japanese-American relations had improved and that they saw no immediate danger of war.
During the night of 30/31 October, German auxiliary minelayer Passat laid another forty mines in the eastern entrance to Bass Strait.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 132.98 (+0.79)
Born:
Charles Fox, film and television composer, in New York, New York.
Died:
Arthur Heming, 70, Canadian painter and novelist.
Naval Construction:
The Вое́нно-морско́й флот СССР (ВМФ) (Soviet Navy) “M” (Malyutka)-class (3rd group, Type XII) submarine M-105, M-106, M-107, and M-108 are launched by Krasnoye Sormovo (Gorkiy, U.S.S.R) / Yard 112.
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boats U-591 and U-592 are laid down by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 567 and 568).
The U.S. Navy LCT (Mk 5) class landing craft, tank USS LCT-66 is launched by the Kansas City Structural Steel Co. (Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.A.).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IXC U-boat U-67 is launched by AG Weser, Bremen (werk 986).
The Royal Navy Hunt-class (Type II) escort destroyer HMS Heythrop (L 85) is launched by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd. (Wallsend-on-Tyne, U.K.); completed by Wallsend.
The Royal Navy Hunt-class (Type II) escort destroyer HMS Oakley (L 72) is launched by Vickers Armstrong (Newcastle-on-Tyne, U.K.); completed by Parsons. She will be transferred to Poland in June 1942, and become the ORP Kujawaiak.
The Royal Navy “M”-class destroyer HMS Marne (G 35) is launched by Vickers Armstrong (Newcastle-on-Tyne, U.K.); completed by Parsons.
The Royal Navy “N”-class destroyer HMS Norman (G 49) is launched by Thornycroft (Southampton, U.K.). She will be transferred to the Royal Australian Navy before completion and commission as the HMAS Norman (G 49).
The Royal Australian Navy Tribal-class destroyer HMAS Arunta (I 30) is launched by the Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Co. Ltd. (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia).
The U.S. Navy oiler USS Santee (AO-29, former merchant tanker Seakay) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Commander William G. B. Hatch. In 1942 she will be converted to an escort aircraft carrier (AGV-29, then ACV-29, finally CVE-29).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IID U-boat U-146 is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Kapitänleutnant Eberhard Hoffmann.
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