The British took Msus, Libya. Led by 4th Armoured Brigade under Brigadier ‘Blood’ Caunter, with the 11th Hussars in the front, 7th Armoured Division strikes out across the Cyrenaica desert to cut the coast road to Benghazi, 150 miles away. British armoured cars occupy Msus, and the forces then move toward Antelat. The mechanized forces of Britain’s imperial army have entered Cyrene, ancient city of western Libya, near the village of Shahhat, adding the fourth major Italian stronghold to their conquest of the North African colony and placing the Union Jack within 130 miles of Benghazi, their next big objective. Cyrene, some 60 miles west of Derna, formerly was the central headquarters of Marshal Rodolfo Graziani, whose retreating forces now are strung out along the road leading westward to Benghazi, under savage pounding of the royal air force. With the entry into this Biblical city, founded in the seventh century, B.C., the British in less than two months have advanced some 250 miles in their drive to throw Mussolini’s forces out of the North African desert colony. One of the choicest plums yet to fall into their hands was gained by the British at Cyrene. It is the center of the fertile table lands watered by fresh springs and is only 10 miles from the Mediterranean port of Appollonia.
Wavell telegrams to CIGS: “Information indicates that enemy is making hurried withdrawal westwards from Cyrene and possibly south from Benghazi. What remains of 7 Armed Div. is advancing on Msus and may reach there this evening. Tomorrow it will try to cut roads leading south from Benghazi. RAF is attacking retreating columns.”
The Italians began evacuating Benghazi, Libya. At dawn, British 7th Armoured Division departed from Mechili, Libya to move across the desert toward Jebel El Akhdar 150 miles away in an attempt to cut off the Italian retreat.
Five Greek columns today were driving on Valona, Albania, after advance forces reached the shore of Valona bay some 12 miles from the port which is vital to the debarkation of Italian supplies and reinforcements, according to reports from the Albanian frontier. Reports reaching the frontier town of Struga said the advance was resumed under the impetus of reinforcements which put new life In the drive.
The British forces begin to attack the 30,000 Italian troops in strong positions around Keren, in Eritrea. In the first phase of the battle, which lasts until 7 February, the 11th Indian Brigade manages to take Cameron Ridge but is thrown back from other positions by Italian counterattacks. The 11th Indian Infantry Brigade of the 4th Indian Division is on the outskirts of Keren, Eritrea. While an unprepossessing town, Keren is heavily fortified and offers excellent defensive advantages for the Italians and their colonial troops. Located on a plateau at high altitude, the Italians have positions on the mountains on either side which offer excellent fields of fire. In addition, the Italians have engaged in expert demolition work and mined the approaches. The British advance troops, though, are full of confidence from past Italian military ineptness. They spend the day reconnoitering the vicinity and prepare to attack on the 5th, without waiting for the rest of the division. Elsewhere, British troops continue forward in Abyssinia and Italian Somaliland.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill exhibits two of his prime wartime traits today: his tendency to delve into the minutiae of military matters, and his unceasing desire to censor the press.
He sends a memo to Secretary of State for War David Margesson protesting against a Times article detailing a supposed military requirement that all troops — including the most senior officers — are required to complete a 7-mile cross-country run. Churchill concludes that “In my experience, based on many years’ observation, officers with high athletic qualifications are not usually successful in the higher ranks.”
Churchill also sends a memo to Minister of Information Alfred Duff Cooper decrying that the newspapers publishing “facts about the war and our policy which should not be disclosed.” He urges that Duff Cooper file complaints with the newspaper in question when this happens. As a matter of fact, Hitler routinely receives copies of foreign newspapers every morning, and they inform many of his decisions — though it is unlikely that Churchill knows this.
The cost of the war for Britain is now soaring rapidly. Last July it was about GBP 7.5 million a day. Now it is above GBP 11 million. Sir Kingsley Wood, the Chancellor, gave this grim news today. Higher war output and other military preparations have far exceeded Treasury calculations. The current budget deficit is twice the size estimated eight months ago. MPs are now braced for drastic tax increases. Tax is meeting only one-quarter of all expenditure.
Admiral Erich Raeder confers with Hitler. The topic is Japan. While sometimes Raeder offers shrewd analysis (the invasion of Denmark and Norway was largely his idea), this is not one of those times. It is Raeder’s opinion that baiting the United States into the war could draw Japan into the war as well, helping the Axis cause overall. This cataclysmic misreading of the respective military potential of the two countries reflects both Germany’s overestimation of Japanese military power and the massive underestimation of potential US power.
Efforts to solve the 51-day-old crisis in French-German relations received a sharp setback Tuesday night, after Admiral Francois Darlan’s return from Paris, when Marshal Henry Philippe Petain balked at the “pretentious” demands of Pierre Laval and his Nazi supporters. Darlan’s efforts in Paris to overcome the deadlock, even at the price of restoring Laval to a post of great authority in the Vichy regime, were understood to have failed largely due to “military and strategic exigencies.” (This appeared to indicate that Adolf Hitler, in addition to demanding the restoration to power of Laval, who was ousted by Petain as vice-premier on Dec. 14, might have demanded use of the French fleet and perhaps Bizerte and other French naval bases.)
Starvation of large numbers of Belgians unless outside food supplies are made available immediately was indicated today in a report made public by former President Herbert Hoover. The report said the present food ration per person in Belgium was only one-half that of Great Britain or Germany. An investigation of food availability in Belgium by a three-man commission of the National Committee on Food for the Five Small Democracies was the basis for the report. Ben S. Allen, northern California chairman of the committee, said: “Mr. Hoover’s interpretation of this report is that no population could survive even if the theoretical ration per poison could be maintained and this ration is not available. One thing is plain. Major food supplies to maintain any Belgian ration will be non-existent in a month. This means literal starvation unless supplies are brought in from somewhere.”
Three Norwegians were sentenced to death today by a German military court at Bergen, Norway, on charges of sending information to the British by radio. The information was said to have aided the British in bombing raids.
The 8,000-ton cargo ship SS Politician bound from Liverpool to Jamaica grounds off Eriskay in the Hebrides. The locals loot the ship of its cargo of 250,000 bottles of whiskey, giving rise to Compton MacKenzie’s book, “Whiskey Galore”. Later the incident was made into the classic Ealing comedy.
Erich Raeder thought that the US entry into the war might be advantageous for the Germans as it would force Japan into belligerency.
The refrigerated cargo ship Empire Engineer was torpedoed and sunk in the North Atlantic by the German submarine U-123.
RAF Bomber Command raids Düsseldorf, killing 35. After dark, the RAF sends 38 bombers against Brest and Le Havre, 31 bombers against Bordeaux and Calais, and 37 bombers to bomb airfields and other targets in northwest France (including Vannes, Ostend, and Dunkirk). Coastal Command raids Cherbourg twice during the day.
The Luftwaffe continues its winter hibernation. There are small raids against London and the rest of England after dark. German bombers struck at England’s eastern coast last night in the most widespread attack in about two weeks but nowhere was the attack described as “really heavy.” They flew through bitter weather that blanketed part of France with snow and concentrated on an east coast port for several hours. One hotel was partly destroyed in a southeast coastal town, and among the bodies recovered from the debris was that of Jim McMurray, a former heavyweight boxing champion in the India army. Some fire bombs fell in London. Hostile craft were reported over East Anglia, the midlands, southwest England and Wales, and near Liverpool.
The AP reports that no air raids have been aimed at Berlin since December 21st. The RAF seems to be concentrating on Bremen and Wilhelmshaven. The Nazis have described these as “more serious than any other English raids.”
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 7 Blenheims during daylight; 1 bombed a gun position on Borkum airfield. No losses.
RAF Bomber Command: An increased effort was dispatched with the approach of the full moon period and, for the first time in night raids, the aircraft of each group were allocated their own separate target area
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 30 Hampdens overnight to Dusseldorf but heavy cloud over target. 1 aircraft lost.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 38 Wellingtons overnight to Brest and Le Havre; a direct hit was claimed on a cruiser at Brest. No losses.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 31 Whitleys overnight to Boudeaux Airfield and Calais; good bombing results claimed at Bordeaux but the freshmen crews found Calais covered by cloud. No losses.
RAF Bomber Command sends 37 Blenheims overnight to Dunkirk, Ostend, Quiberon and airfields; no losses. 6 Hampdens minelaying off St-Nazaire. 1 aircraft lost
Fliegerkorps X drops aerial mines in Tobruk Harbour. This forces the Royal Navy, which has no minesweepers immediately available, to turn back two troopships to Alexandria. Four corvettes are fitted with minesweeping gear at Alexandria to sweep Tobruk Harbour.
The Luftwaffe’s aerial mining of the Suez Canal pays more dividends today. Greek 3283 ton freighter Aghios Georgios hits a mine and sinks, temporarily blocking part of the channel. The ship later is hauled out to re-open the shipping lanes. There are three deaths.
At Malta, Fliegerkorps X attacks Hal Far and Luqa airfields with two formations of Junkers Ju 88 bombers at 17:50. It is a particularly effective raid, damaging all the hangars at Hal Far. RAF Gloster Gladiator Hope, one of the famous trio “Faith, Hope and Charity” that in legend saved Malta, is destroyed by a direct bomb hit. Another raid a little later sees bombs drop between Sans Souci and Marnisi.
German radio is quick to crow about the unusually effective raid on Malta. It states that the Wehrmacht will capture Malta “in a fortnight.”
The weather remains rough, and that causes some collisions and other difficulties. It also probably helps the German surface raiders avoid detection. The day’s sinkings also illustrate the special perils faced by convoy stragglers, as three are sent to the bottom.
At dawn, German battlecruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst emerge from the Denmark Strait (between Iceland and Greenland) and enter the Atlantic. They have not been spotted by the Allies, and plan to meet up with a German tanker, Schlettstadt, before heading into the convoy lanes.
U-52, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Salman, sank Norwegian steamer Ringhorn (1298grt) in 55-46N, 22-36W. At 0838 hours on 4 Feb 1941 the Ringhorn (Master Trygve Terkelsen), a straggler from convoy OB-280 since 2 February due to bad weather, was hit by one torpedo from U-52. The torpedo struck in the starboard bow, causing a list to port and destroying the starboard lifeboat. The port boat with about eleven men reached the water, but turned over when the ship capsized and was hit by the funnel. Four of the men managed to reach a raft in the heavy seas but were not able to help the others that cried for about one hour before they drowned or died of exhaustion in the cold water. The master and all officers were lost. The survivors later spotted another man sitting on the capsized boat and unsuccessfully tried to reach him. After six hours, the five survivors were found by HMS Harvester (H 19) (LtCdr M. Thornton, DSC, RN), which already had 113 survivors from HMS Crispin on board that had been sunk the day before by U-107 (Hessler). So the destroyer ordered HMS Camellia (K 31) (LtCdr A.E. Willmot, RNR) to pick them up. They were landed at Greenock on 9 February. The 1298-ton Ringhorn was carrying coal and was bound for St. John, New Brunswick.
U-93, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Claus Korth, sank British steamer Dione II (2660grt), which was straggling behind convoy SC.20, in 55-50N, 10-30W. Only one crewman was rescued. At 1721 hours on 3 February 1941 the unescorted Dione II (Master Robert Squirrell), a straggler from convoy SC-20 due to bad weather since 26 January, was bombed and slightly damaged by a German Fw200 Condor aircraft of I./KG 40 in 55°40N/14°23W. This attack was witnessed by U-93 which had spotted the steamer about five hours earlier and unsuccessfully attacked her with a G7e torpedo at 1410 hours. At 23.00 hours, the U-boat tried to attack with gunfire but heavy seas prevented the use of the deck gun and they had to break off the attack after they were sighted and attacked with a single round from the stern gun of the steamer, only firing the 20mm AA gun in the short gun duel. At 0440 hours on the 4th, U-93 attacked Dione II again after moonset, hitting the bridge with the first round from the deck gun and preventing the use of the stern gun with the AA gun. The ship stopped when a fire broke out amidships but the inexperienced gun crew still had difficulties to hit the vessel until the IWO personally manned the gun. At 06.00 hours, the ship sank by the bow after being hit at the waterline by 30 rounds northwest of Aran Island, Co. Galway. The U-boat had used 155 rounds for the deck gun and 60 rounds for the AA gun in this attack. The master, 28 crew members and one gunner were lost. Five crew members were picked up by the British steam merchant Flowergate and landed at Glasgow on 8 February. The 2,660-ton Dione II was carrying iron ore and was bound for Cardiff, Wales.
U-123, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Karl-Heinz Moehle, sank British steamer Empire Engineer (5358grt), which was last seen 2 February straggling behind convoy SC.20, west of Ireland. At 1644 hours on 4 Feb 1941 the unescorted Empire Engineer (Master John Whiteley), a straggler from convoy SC-20, was hit forward by one G7e torpedo from U-123 and sank by the bow within 4 minutes about 375 miles west-southeast of Rockall. The Germans observed some survivors on rafts at the sinking position, but the master, 38 crew members and one gunner were lost. The 5,358-ton Empire Engineer was carrying steel ingots.
The 1st Minelaying Squadron with minelayers HMS Southern Prince, HMS Agamemnon, HMS Menestheus, and HMS Port Quebec departed Loch Alsh on the 4th to lay minefield SN.7A, escorted by destroyers HMS Brighton, HMS Lancaster, HMS St Albans, and HMS Charlestown. Light cruiser HMS Nigeria was the escort for the operation. Battleship HMS Rodney and destroyers HMS Inglefield, HMS Electra, HMS Echo, and HMS Brilliant departed at 2105 from Scapa Flow to cover. En route to the operation, minelayer Menestheus exploded a mine nearby damaging her engines. This mine was twenty miles off the western end of minefield SN.3. There was no hull damage and no casualties. Minelayer Menestheus was taken in tow by minelayer Agamemnon and arrived at Loch Alsh at 1115/7th. The mines were laid on the 6th. Battleship Rodney, light cruiser Nigeria, destroyers Inglefield, Echo, Electra, and Brilliant arrived at Scapa Flow at 1530/7th.
Minelayer HMS Teviotbank, escorted by destroyer HMS Meynell, departed Immingham on the 3rd. The minelayer laid minefield BS.50 off the East coast of England on the 4th. This operation had been cancelled several times prior due to weather. The operation was first attempted on 18 January, when the minelayer and destroyer HMS Impulsive departed Immingham. Bad weather forced cancellation and the minelayer arrived at Rosyth and the destroyer returned to Immingham. On 24 January, minelayer Teviotbank, escorted by destroyer HMS Witherington, departed, but again was forced to return. On 30 January, the minelayer, escorted by destroyer HMS Quorn, was forced to turn back from Spurn Point due to weather.
Polish destroyer ORP Piorun departed Scapa Flow for Greenock at 1100 to form part of the escort for convoy WS.6. The destroyer arrived at 2000/5th.
Naval drifter HMS Imbat (92grt) was sunk in a collision at Scapa Flow.
Minesweepers HMS Kellett and HMS Leda collided at Aberdeen. There was very minor damage to minesweeper Kellett. Minesweeper Leda was repaired at Leith from 4 February to 9 June.
British steamer Gwynwood (1177grt) was sunk by a parachute mine in the Humber anchorage. Nine crewmen and two gunners were lost.
Greek steamer Calatatis (4443grt) was sunk by German bombing in 56-27N, 13-40W. Eighteen crew members were missing from the steamer.
British troopship Ulster Prince (3791grt) and steamer Devis (6054grt) departed Alexandria at noon with troops from Tobruk. When news of aerial mining of Tobruk Harbor was received, the ships were recalled to Alexandria.
As there were no magnetic minesweepers available for Tobruk, Corvettes HMS Peony, HMS Gloxinia, HMS Salvia, and HMS Hyacinth were recalled to Alexandria from the Kithera Patrol for refitting for L. L. sweeping. Corvettes Salvia and Hyacinth arrived at Alexandria on the 5th. The other two corvettes arrived the next day.
Submarine HMS Truant attacked Italian steamer Calino (5186grt) was the steamer was departing Benghazi Harbor, escorted by torpedo boat La Farino. No damage was done.
Greek steamer Aghios Georgios (3283grt) was sunk on a mine in the Suez Canal. Two crewmen were killed and one was missing. The wreck was removed to clear the canal.
HMS Hermes set sail toward Kismayo, Somaliland, Italian East Africa.
Convoy FN.399 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers HMS Holderness and HMS Woolston. Corvette HMS Snapdragon joined on the 6th, and arrived at Methil on the 6th.
Convoy FN.400 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers HMS Vanity, HMS Vortigern, and HMS Worcester, and arrived at Methil on the 6th.
Today in Washington, President Roosevelt conferred at the White House with Secretaries Hull, Stimson and Knox, Admiral Stark and General Marshall, and later conferred separately with Secretary Knox at the executive offices.
The Senate was in recess. The Foreign Relations Committee heard Brigadier General Robert E. Wood, Dr. Charles E. Beard and Major George Fielding Elliot on the Lend-Lease Bill. The Appropriations Committee approved the bill appropriating $175,000,000 for clothing and equipment for the Army.
The House debated the Lend-Lease Bill and adjourned at 6:59 PM until noon tomorrow. Republican members of the Ways and Means Committee issued a minority report on the bill to increase the national debt limit to $65,000,000,000, urging $60,000,000,000 as the total.
In a renewal of one of the bitterest feuds in the capital’s history, Senator Wheeler, Montana Democrat, today accused the Roosevelt administration of denuding the nation’s aerial defenses to aid Britain, and President Roosevelt rapped back with a virtual charge that Wheeler was giving comfort to Adolph Hitler. On hearing of the president’s remarks, the Montana senator then issued a statement saying: “I’m perfectly willing to compare my patriotism with that of his closest advisers. I have no interest, financially or otherwise, in Germany or England.” The exchange came in the course of a day that saw Representative Wadsworth, New York Republican, swing his influential support behind the president’s lend-lease British-aid bill “or something like it.” Meanwhile, General Robert E. Wood, chairman of the board of Sears Roebuck, appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, opposed the legislation as “a war bill” which would place at Mr. Roosevelt’s disposal “the blood and resources of our entire nation.” The president and Wheeler have engaged for several weeks in a bristling exchange of statements. In the last of them, the president quoted the late William E. Dodd, former ambassador to Germany, as having said Wheeler once declared that Nazi domination of Europe was inevitable. The Montanan replied that this was a “slanderous” effort to discredit his opposition to the Lend-Lease bill.
Both houses of Congress continue their deliberations regarding the Lend-Lease Bill. Historian Charles A. Beard testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in opposition to the bill, stating:
“All provisions of law and the Constitution to the contrary, notwithstanding, an Act to place all the wealth and all the men and women in the United States at the free disposal of the President, to permit him to transfer or carry goods to any foreign government he may be pleased to designate, anywhere in the world, to authorize him to wage undeclared wars for anybody, anywhere in the world, until the affairs of the world are ordered to suit his policies, and for any other purpose he may have in mind now or at any time in the future, which may be remotely related to the contingencies contemplated in the title of this Act.”
A call for national unity behind President Roosevelt’s Lend-Lease bill to aid the democracies was sounded in the House today by Representative James W. Wadsworth, New York Republican, as he offered a formula which, he declared, would bring unity. His formula was a compromise. It would give the President the necessary authority to accomplish his “all out” program of aid to Great Britain, but fix limits on funds and authorizations and require a return of the delegated powers to Congress once the emergency had passed. Specifically, he proposed two amendments. One would limit the amount of equipment and other material the President would lend or lease. Mr. Wadsworth mentioned. two or three billions, but only tentatively, saying he had not studied the needs sufficiently to pass upon the amount at this time. The other amendment would limit commitments by the President which required execution beyond the two-year scope now proposed in the bill for the delegated powers.
The American newspaper Chicago Tribune featured an article on the US government’s secret plan for war, including details such as a 10,000,000-strong military, half of which were to be destined for the to-be-established American Expeditionary Force for fighting in Europe. An editorial in the Chicago Tribune reports the leaked contents of a report from the Secretary of War which states that “…the American army today has not even one combat airplane with the gun power, the self-sealing fuel tank, and the armor protection for the pilot which the fighting in Europe has shown to be necessary.”
The American United Press News Agency reports: “The U.S. Army tank arm has begun to carry out an enormous expansion program based on plans which have been developed, continuously improved and modernized since 1928. The army has always realized the striking power of rapid-moving tanks but, armored officers explain, considered it wiser to avoid spending billions of dollars for the production of tanks that would then have to be stored in giant depots until the day they were mobilized, and that might by then have become outdated. The army trusted in geographical position of the USA to give it time to assemble, whereas the European nations are compelled to keep their armies and arms always ready to deploy.”
Henry Ford has told the War Department that he is ready not only to build parts and subassemblies for bombing planes but that he would like to construct the complete plane on a moving assembly line. Mr. Ford’s proposal, it was learned today, was made following announcement of the tentative agreement under which the Ford Motor Company would make parts and subassemblies for Douglas and Consolidated bombers. The automobile manufacturer has drafted plans for a special factory with a mile-long assembly line to be erected on property which Ford already owns and of sufficient area to provide a large airport adjacent to the plant.
The United Service Organizations, USO, was established to maintain the morale of American military personnel. The idea of coordinating civilian volunteer efforts on behalf of the rapidly growing armed forces was first proposed in 1940 by General George C. Marshall. At the recommendation of President Franklin Roosevelt, the task was put in the hands of existing public service organizations. The USO, Inc., was organized by representatives of five private social service organizations: the Salvation Army, the YMCA, the National Board of the YWCA, the National Jewish Welfare Board, and the National Catholic Community Service. A sixth organization, the Travelers Aid Association of America, joined in March 1941.
The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) forms at the behest of President Roosevelt. This organization is designed to work in conjunction with the War Department to provide entertainment and recreational services to members of the military, particularly while they are on leave. The USO is created by The Salvation Army, the YMCA and YWCA, National Catholic Community Services, National Travelers Aid Association, and National Jewish Welfare Board.
The USO is a unique endeavor; congressionally chartered, the government builds the infrastructure while private organizations handle fundraising and entertainment services. Thomas Dewey is the first national campaign chairman. The USO is remembered by World War II veterans for its famous USO shows, for things like free dances (as opposed to the 10-cents-a-dance dives), and for its centers in cities where traveling servicemen could grab a cup of java or a boiled egg. The USO continues to the present day. Several Hollywood legends devote extensive amounts of time to the USO, including Edward G. Robinson, Ann Miller, and Bob Hope.
The nation’s No. 2 draft chief Brigadier General Lewis B. Hershey told the house military affairs committee today he presently opposes revising the selective service age range to include youths from 18 to 21. It now applies to men from 21 through 35. He conceded that his opinion “might be different six months from now after we have had more experience with the system.”
Justice Department officials revealed tonight that James David Thompson, 24-year-old Philadelphia night club waiter, was arrested in Philadelphia today on charges of attempting to extort $8,500 from Betty Grable, the screen star. They said that Thompson, picked up by agents of the federal bureau of investigation, mailed a letter to Miss Grable in Hollywood January 24, threatening “bodily harm” unless the amount was paid. It was the second case brought before the F.B.I, involving an attempt to extort money from Miss Grable, the former wife of Jackie Coogan, one-time child star of the screen. About a month ago agents arrested James Willard Porter, 18, of Washington, Pennsylvania, who admitted having sent a letter to Miss Grable demanding $2,000 in which he threatened to “come out to Hollywood” and get the funds unless she sent them to him.
American dancer and actress Vera-Ellen (19) weds fellow American dancer Robert Hightower; divorce in 1946.
Fleet Landing Exercise (FLEX) No. 7 begins in Culebra-Vieques, Puerto Rico, area, with all available ships of the Atlantic Fleet and elements of the 1st Marine Division and the U.S. Army’s First Division, to train “Army and Navy Forces in the amphibious operations incident to a Joint Overseas Expedition.” Unlike FLEX No. 6 in 1940, bona fide transports are available for, and participate in, the maneuvers.
The search for the unidentified submarine off Oahu, begun yesterday, continues. After destroyers USS Dale (DD-353) and USS Hull (DD-350) return to Pearl Harbor, destroyers USS Flusser (DD-368) and USS Drayton (DD-366) join USS Lamson (DD-367) in the hunt. Ultimately, however, the search is called off.
Two officers accused of a supposed seditious plot against Cuban President Fulgencio Batista, Colonel Jose Pedraza and Lieutenant Colonel Bernardo Garcia, were escorted to a Miami-bound plane late today, and it appeared that a brief Cuban political storm had blown itself out. Their alleged associate, Colonel Angela Gonzalez, the deposed head of the Cuban navy, remained in custody, and Batista went ahead energetically with the program which apparently had led to the trouble, a broad reorganization of the nation’s armed forces. Pedraza, who was head of the Cuban army until Batista ousted him last night, appeared unexpectedly at the airport this afternoon, riding in the automobile of his successor, Colonel Manuel Lopez Migoya, and with a military escort.
In the continuing Battle of Southern Honan, the Japanese 11th Army captures Nanyang. The Chinese 5th War Area tries to recover Hisinghokuan, but fails.
In connection with Japanese efforts to cut off any movement of supplies from Hong Kong into Free China, Japanese troops cooperating with naval units landed today on the shore of Bias Bay, southeast of Waichow. These troops are now driving inland but no details are available as to the size of the force employed or its final objective.
The Netherland Government’s refusal to have the Netherlands Indies incorporated in Japan’s “Greater East Asia” sphere is treated by the Japanese as an unimportant move by a government whose right to intervene Japan views as highly doubtful. In the press annoyance flares into violent scoldings and thinly veiled threats. “Such a rebuff from a foreign country cannot be passed over silently,” says Asahi. It declares that Foreign Minster Yosuke Matsuoka’s speeches were an expression of good-will that could not alarm the Netherlanders and that it is therefore clear that they have been instigated by others to repudiate Japan’s leadership in East Asia. “The Netherlanders have lost their territory and have not the strength to recover it,” says Asahi. “Their government is merely a British puppet and General [J. C.] Pabst [Netherland Minister to Tokyo] has hardly any right to represent the Netherlands Indies.”
Japanese Government spokesmen declared yesterday that Japan did not expect war with the United States, that a considerable improvement in Russo-Japanese relations had been brought about during the past six months and that a declaration of belligerent rights in the undeclared war with China was under consideration.
Australian troop convoy US.9 departed Sydney with troopships Aquitania (44,786grt), Mauretania (35,739grt), Nieuw Amsterdam (36,287grt), and Queen Mary (81,235grt). From 4 to 6 February, Australian light cruiser HMAS Hobart escorted the convoy from Sydney to Fremantle. On the 12th, the convoy departed Fremantle escorted by Australian heavy cruiser HMS Canberra. On the 16th, liner Queen Mary was detached to Singapore. Off Colombo on the 20th, heavy cruiser Canberra was relieved by New Zealand Division light cruiser HMS Leander.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 122.63 (-0.04)
Born:
John Steel, British rock drummer (The Animals — “House of the Rising Sun”), born in Gateshead, County Durham, England, Unite Kngdom.
Mike Deasy, American rock and jazz session guitarist (Beach Boys; Monkees; Randy Newman), born in Los Angeles, California
Edina Pop, singer and Dschinghis Khan member since 1979, in Munich, Germany.
Gabrielle Roth, dancer and musician, in San Francisco, California (d. 2012).
Naval Construction:
The U.S. Navy Accentor-class coastal minesweeper USS Brambling (AMc-39) is laid down by W.A. Robinson Inc. (Ipswich, Massachusetts, U.S.A.).
The Royal Navy Flower-class corvette HMS Stonecrop (K 142) is laid down by the Smiths Dock Co., Ltd. (South Bank-on-Tees, U.K.).
The Royal Canadian Navy Flower-class corvette HMCS New Westminster (K 228) is laid down by the Victoria Machinery Depot Co. Ltd. (Victoria. British Columbia, Canada).
The Royal Navy Hunt-class (Type III) escort destroyer HMS Glaisdale (L 44) is laid down by theCammell Laird Shipyard (Birkenhead, U.K.).
The U.S. Navy “O”-class submarine O-6 (SS-67) is recommissioned as a training boat. Her commanding officer on recommissioning is Lieutenant Arnold Henry Holtz, USN.
The Royal Navy Fairmile B-class motor launch HMS ML 189 is commissioned.
The U.S. Navy minesweeper USS Grackle (AM-73) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Lieutenant Commander George Washington Allen, USN.
The Royal Canadian Navy Flower-class corvette HMCS Alberni (K 103) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Lieutenant Gerald Ormsby Baugh, RCNR.
History Diaries 