General O’Connor, commander of XIII Corps, is appointed General Officer Commanding-in-Chief the British Troops in Egypt. XIII Corps is being effectively disbanded since Middle East Commander General Archibald Wavell intends to send its troops to Greece. This is being done at the very time when the Germans are landing troops in Tripolitania to form the Afrika Korps.
The first skirmish between British and German troops in North Africa took place near Sirte, Libya.
French Colonel Philippe Leclerc has been consolidating his position in southwest Libya ever since the destruction of his attached Long Range Desert Group forces on 31 January. Leclerc leaves behind two armored cars (but keeps an artillery piece) and takes 350 men to capture Kufra (more men set out, but several trucks break down and they must be left behind). The Italians receive word that the French are approaching and form a blocking force, 70 men of the Saharan company. The stage is set for a major battle outside Kufra.
The Athens News Agency ‘Athinaiko Praktoreio’ reported: “The Greek general staff reports that the Greek troop offensive that began on Friday is continuing with undiminished violence. Yesterday Greek forces again won important victories in which prisoners and large amounts of war materiel of every kind fell into their hands. Greek assault troops succeeded in penetrating strongly fortified Italian positions at various points on the front, which has shifted along its whole length between Lake Ochrida [on Yugoslav-Albanian] border and the coast.” Fierce fighting continues on the Trebeshina massif, the gateway to the vital Italian port of Valona, on 16 February 1941. The Greeks, led by the 5th Cretan Division of III Corps, are making ground but taking huge numbers of casualties from the Italian 11th Army (which also is suffering). The Greeks have been trying to move past the Klisura Pass area for a solid month, but for the first time in the war, Italian troops are providing effective resistance.
A Greek government spokesman reported tonight a battle in which only 200 Italians soldiers of two battalions totaling 1,200 Blackshirts escaped, Greek forces, the spokesman said, stopped Italian attacks and then launched their own offensives at two points on the Albanian front. The exact sectors were not identified. “At the first point,” he said, “the Greeks dislodged the enemy from a fortified position which was stubbornly defended. However, the Italians could not check the dash of our men and retired, leaving in our hands 150 prisoners, two officers and material such as machine-guns and automatic rifles. The enemy withdrew to new positions which he immediately started fortifying. “At the second point our attack developed … on heights of over 1,500 meters (about 5,000 feet) and led to occupation of positions of great strategic importance.” In another Italian counterattack, with “a large number of men,” the spokesman said, the Italians “were repulsed with very heavy losses,” and 160 men, 10 officers and much material were captured. He said the fighting in which the two Italian battalions were described as almost wiped out also occurred in a battle for important heights.
The 1st South African Brigade begins an important battle to seize crossings over the lower reaches of the Juba River in Italian Somaliland. The South African Air Force (SAAF), using converted Junkers Ju 86 airliners, attacks Italian positions on the far (east) side of the Juba River in Italian Somaliland. The British 1st South African Brigade is trying to break out across the river to the coast and ultimately take Mogadishu.
The Royal Navy is able to bring troops to Eritrea in the Mersa Teclai inlet. The Free French Brigade d’Orient begins arriving there. In Abyssinia, the South African 5th Infantry Brigade attacks Mega.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill reveals (to history) the source of the information contained in his warning telegram to President Roosevelt on 15 February: decoded intercepts. He memos Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Sir Alexander Cadogan and confides about new information, “These conversations and the delayed telegram have the air of being true.” He certainly is referring to intercepted conversations decoded at Bletchley Park. Churchill feels that the situation in the Pacific has suddenly experienced “a decided easement, and the danger for the moment seems to have passed.”
Separately, the first courier to the Polish underground, bombardier Czeslaw Raczkowski, parachutes into Poland (the Reichsgau Wartheland) today. He is part of Team Zero in Operation Adolphus. This operation was originally planned for December 1940 but was postponed because the Whitley bombers had to be modified for the lengthy flight. The plane is slow, so the operation must be done during long winter nights. The flight takes off at 18:37 and the agent drops around 02:00 on the 16th. This mission does not achieve much, but it does boost the morale of the Free Polish Army in England. Since the nights are getting shorter, the mission really is a one-off for the time being. The Whitley spends 11 hours and 16 minutes in the air, flying over Berlin, which the crew sees is not subject to a war-time blackout.
The New York Times prints an editorial bemoaning the rise of inflation in Great Britain. It points out that prices there rose 64% in the first year of the war.
Another critical period in the French government of Chief of State Philippe Petain, which has gone through several crises since it replaced the Third Republic last summer, appeared a possibility of the near future last night, with hints that Marshal Petain himself would be involved. A drastically-censored dispatch from the Associated Press staff correspondent in Vichy said that it was believed there that Marshal Petain would step aside in the event a deal projected by political circles between Vice-Premier Admiral Jean Darlan and his predecessor, Pierre Laval, is consummated.
Several hundred Jews are rolling in a sealed train from German and Austria to Lisbon. They are in possession of US quota visas, issued by the American Consulate in Berlin. They are permitted a maximum of ten German marks. Tickets to the United States paid for by US relatives, await them in Lisbon. Jews in German (the Greater Reich, which includes some annexed territories such as Austria) and Holland are still able to exit the Continent if they have the appropriate documentation, e.g., visas and tickets. Italian Jews also are free to leave. Lisbon has become the primary portal for overseas escape, and arrivals and departures are carefully scrutinized by German (and British) agents.
Meanwhile, the German government in Austria (Arthur Seyss-Inquart) deports 10,000 (the number is approximate) more Jews to Poland.
Former King Alfonso XIII of Spain, in a manifesto to the Spanish people tonight, renounced all claims to the Spanish throne in favor of his 27-year-old son, Don Juan, Prince of the Asturias. Should Don Juan assume the throne he would reign as Juan III.
A violent hurricane that swept across Portugal from the Atlantic, killing and injuring hundreds and causing millions of dollars in damage, spent its fury today in Northern Spain, where more were killed and entire provinces were isolated. Santander continues to burn, the fires fed by high winds.
The new Headquarters of the Royal Navy’s Western Approaches command at Derby House, Liverpool opened. Its new C-in-C is to be Admiral Sir Percy Noble.
The British light cruiser HMS Neptune, in dock for repairs at Chatham, was damaged again by German bombing.
The Luftwaffe attacks Seaham Harbour with high explosive bombs, destroying four houses and causing other damage. The railway bridge across Lord Street is wrecked, blocking the road, and a subway shelter caves in. There are four deaths. The Germans also dropped some bombs on London and nearby areas by individual bombers during the day. They lose a bomber at Shoreham.
The Luftwaffe bombs Chatham, site of Royal Navy repair facilities. The Germans damage light cruiser HMS Neptune, already in the repair dock to address some earlier damage.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 9 Blenheims during daylight to Holland and France. Bomber Command makes daylight attacks on some of the invasion ports such as Zeebrugge, Middleburg and Den Helder. 5 aircraft bombed oil-storage tanks and shipping at various docks. No losses.
No. 15 Group RAF moves into the new Command area and a new No.19 Group takes over Plymouth and the watch on the Bay of Biscay.
The Luftwaffe sends eleven air raids against Malta in 24 hours. Many of the raids are to lay mines, and the raids are usually by single or duo bombers. One raid on Luqa airfield by Junkers Ju 87 Stukas of 7,/JG 26 results in escort fighters shooting down three RAF Hurricanes. Governor Dobbie sends a telegram to the War Office stating:
The proposed establishment of anti-aircraft batteries in Malta is utterly inadequate. Raids are now frequent throughout the 24 hours and personnel have been standing to for long hours continuously day and night. With normal sick wastage in other ranks there are no reliefs, and the officer establishment allows no reliefs even with none on sick leave. Unless an adequate establishment is allowed to Malta, it will be necessary to put 25 per cent of guns out of action for resting.
German heavy cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst remain stationary in the North Atlantic south of Greenland. They have been refueling from tankers Esso Hamburg and Schlettstadt. Admiral Lütjens in command of Operation Berlin is contemplating his next move while the Allied navies have no idea where his two ships are — or even whether they are at sea.
Coastal Command Western Approaches completes its move from Plymouth north to Derby House, Liverpool. It is under the command of Admiral Sir Percy Noble. It is supported by RAF No. 15 Group, while a new group, No. 19, takes over the Plymouth command.
Battlecruiser HMS Repulse, escorted by destroyers HMS Inglefield, HMS Maori, and HMS Zulu, departed Scapa Flow at 2145 for Rosyth for her first refit in twenty three months. The destroyers arrived back at Scapa Flow at 2315/17th.
The Luftwaffe bombs and damages 3000-ton British transport Coryton northeast of the Farne Islands. The ship is holed, but the Captain (Josiah Evans) manages with great skill to beach the ship in Budle Bay. At first, the crew refuses to abandon the ship, but the weather turns bad. Captain Evans orders the 39 crew ashore but remains aboard (if the ship is abandoned, it becomes prey for salvagers). During the night, the storm wrecks the ship and kills Captain Evans, who washes ashore.
Destroyers HMAS Napier and HMS Nizam arrived at Scapa Flow at 0800 from Londonderry on completion of escort duties in the Western Approaches.
Destroyer HMS Escapade departed Scapa Flow at 2000 for Rosyth to clean boilers and repair a damaged propeller shaft. The destroyer arrived at 1000/17th.
Australian auxiliary minesweeper HMAS Southsea (825grt, T/A/Lt Cdr C C M. Pawley RNR) was badly damaged on a mine 5.9 cables 240° from North Tyne Pier Light. She was run aground and declared a total loss. T/Lt (E) G M Barnes RNR, P/T/Sub Lt P Pawsey RNVR and five ratings were lost.
Minesweeping trawler HMS Ormonde (250grt, Skipper W T Coull RNR) was sunk by German bombing off Peterhead, seven miles 90° from Crudsen Scauer. Coull, T/Lt P F G Hamilton RNVR and seventeen ratings were lost.
British tanker Empire Otter (4670grt) was sunk on a British mine 25 miles SW of Hartland Point. The crew were all rescued.
British trawler Thomas Deas (276grt) was sunk on a mine four miles 273° from Spurn Point. All crew were lost.
British trawler Naniwa (340grt) was sunk by German bombing in 52-15N, 12-30W. Five crewmen were lost.
Italian steamer Juventus (4957grt) was sunk by a Swordfish of 830 Squadron from Malta, three miles NE of Kuriat Island in 35-36N, 11-18E.
British troopship Ulster Prince (3791grt) departed Alexandria, escorted by destroyers HMS Ilex and HMS Hasty, for Suda Bay and Piraeus.
Armed boarding vessel HMS Fiona departed Tobruk with 417 prisoners for Alexandria.
Convoy OB.287 departed Liverpool, escorted by destroyers HMS Vanoc, HMS Ramsey, and HMS Wanderer, and corvettes HMS Nasturtium and HMS Periwinkle. Destroyers HMS Vanoc and HMS Wanderer and corvette HMS Nasturtium was detached later that day. Destroyer HMS Witch joined the convoy on the 17th and was detached later that day. Destroyer Ramsey and corvette Periwinkle were detached on the 19th. Destroyer HMS Montgomery joined on the 20th and was detached on the 21st when the convoy dispersed.
With U.S. Senate debate opening tomorrow on the British aid bill, administration leaders hinted today that approval of the measure would be followed by an immediate request from President Roosevelt for $1,000,000,000 in appropriations and contract authority to build planes, ships, tanks, guns and munitions. The first speakers in the senate debate, all championing the bill, will be Chairman George, Georgia Democrat, of the foreign relations committee, Democratic Leader Barkley of Kentucky and assistant Republican Leader Austin of Vermont. Senator Clark, Missouri Democrat, a leading opponent, is scheduled to speak Tuesday. Senate passage of the house-approved measure within 10 days or two weeks was predicted by its supporters, although some conceded the opposition might succeed in writing in some amendments.
Harry L. Hopkins returned from London tonight and hastened to President Roosevelt with the findings of his four-week survey of British war-making a survey which led him to conclude that the British were “desperately in need of help.” The highly confidential information brought back by Hopkins from long conferences with Prime Minister Churchill, sessions with the British cabinet and tours of the warring isles will form the basis for specific measures in Britain’s behalf already being pondered by the president in anticipation of the lease-lend bill’s passage. Hopkins expressed conviction that Britain would win the war with this country’s assistance, but the documentation for the general statements he made to reporters, presumably contained in a bulging black briefcase, was reserved for the president alone.
Wendell L. Willkie is considering making a trip to survey embattled China, it was learned authoritatively tonight. Associates of the 1940 Republican presidential nominee said that he wished to follow up his flying survey of conditions in Great Britain with a trip to the sections of China which are not occupied by the Japanese.
An editorial in the New York Times reports the fear of inflation in Britain, “… not even the thunder of falling bombs and the ever-present apprehension of invasion can submerge that old fear. Lord Balfour … pointed out that …prices had increased 64% between August, 1939 and last September and that the cost of materials had increased by 48%.”
A special defense tax of 10 per cent on all income paid to individuals, so as to put the defense program on “substantially a cash basis,” was advocated today by the National Economy League. The tax would be in addition to existing forms of taxation, inasmuch as defense outlays are additional to regular government expenditures, the league said, and existing taxes then would be applied to the remaining 90 per cent of income paid to individuals. The organization held that experience in the last three or four years in collecting from employers social security taxes on employee compensation provided an administrative technique for such a levy. This procedure, one which had operated with “good results,” the league stated, provided a simple method of collecting taxes at the source and in installments, as wages and salaries are paid. The same procedure, it was held, could be applied to taxation of dividend and interest payments. However, it was admitted that to collect the tax from self-employed persons, such as professional men and farmers, would require the filing of special returns by such persons.
President Roosevelt was asked today to make it possible for the United States to feed as well as arm the nations fighting the Axis powers.
A new working arrangement for the operation of the priorities system under which the Army and Navy Munitions Board will determine priority ratings for a “critical list” of military items such as guns, tanks, airplanes and ammunition and the Priorities Division will administer the general field of civilian and commercial needs, was announced today by E.R. Stettinius Jr., Director of Priorities for the Office of Production Management.
The Army lifted the cloak of secrecy today and permitted thousands of workers from Buffalo’s warplane plants to inspect the finished product of their handiwork — the latest model P-40 fighters.
In the Indian Ocean, German raider Komet heads south into the Antarctic, searching for whaling vessels.
Paul V. McNutt, Federal Security Administrator and former United States High Commissioner in the Philippines, tonight urged the United States to adopt a “strong policy” in the Far East and increase its economic aid to China in the war against Japan.
Troop carrier Queen Mary splits off from Convoy US.9 and heads for Singapore.
The Royal Navy mined the waters around Singapore. Apparently suspicious of a Japanese thrust in the far east, Britain announced today she had mined the sea approaches to Singapore, her great oriental naval bastion. A brief government notice to mariners gave no explanation for the mine field at the tip of the Malayan peninsula and officials also were silent.
While reassuring the Japanese public regarding the immediate outlook, the government under the lead of the fighting services is steadily clearing the decks for action in an emergency. Legislation placing the nation in readiness for war is being rushed through the Legislature. Both houses are preparing to terminate the session about Saturday, six weeks earlier than the statutory date. In the past Japan’s annual session lasted ten or twelve weeks. Legislators once complained the sessions were too short for an adequate examination of all government bills and petitioned the Emperor for extensions. This year extremely far-reaching controversial measures are being voted unanimously after perfunctory debate. When the House once appeared inclined to be recalcitrant, representatives of the army and navy urged greater speed, and their representations were heeded. Measures are being rushed through to give the Executive extremely wide authority. The bill for revision of the National Mobilization Law, now in the hands of a committee, provides legal foundation for government control of the entire economic structure.
Born:
Kim Jong-il, leader of North Korea, in Vyatskoye, Khabarovsk Krai, USSR (d. 2011) (year and place of birth are according to Soviet records; official North Korean biographies give year of birth as 1942).
Bill Tobin, American NFL executive (GM Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts) and AFL halfback (Houston Oilers), in Burlington Junction, Missouri (d. 2024).
Naval Construction:
The Royal Navy Fairmile B-class motor launch HMS ML 179 is commissioned.
History Diaries 