The Allied situation in Greece is deteriorating rapidly on 15 April 1941, and Yugoslavian resistance basically is over. The Germans are mushrooming out in all directions from the penetration across the Greek border. The Germans are heading west toward the coast in order to bottle up the Greek Epirus Army that has been fighting the Italians since October; the Germans also are heading south toward Athens, and in addition, the Germans are heading east toward Larissa in order to cut off the retreating British on the Aliakmon Line. Essentially, it is a race to see who can get to the main roads in these areas first and secure them. If the Germans do, the large Allied forces to the north are trapped.
The government of Yugoslavia moves to Athens. They join King Peter.
Bulgaria severs diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia. Reliable Bulgarian sources said today that Bulgarian troops have begun to march into Grecian Trace to occupy the region from Alexandropolis to the Struma river.
Sarajevo surrendered to the Germans. The Germans (16th Motorized Division) heading south from Austria for a linkup with the Italians take Sarajevo from the Yugoslav 2nd Army. Many Yugoslavian army units are simply “going to ground” in the mountainous western part of the country. Yugoslavian 2nd Army surrendered Sarajevo to the Germans, effectively ending the country’s official resistance; many fighters, however, fled into the mountains and would later fight as guerrillas.
Adolf Hitler sends Croatian strongman (Poglavnik) Ante Pavelić a congratulatory telegram upon his assumption of power in a new independent state of Croatia. Rome and Bratislava also immediately recognize the new government.
In Greece, German aircraft bombed the British RAF airfield at Larisa at dawn, destroying 10 Blenheim aircraft on the ground. Troops of Leibstandarte SS Regiment took the road to Greneva, isolating the Greek Epirus Army which was attempting to move from Albania back into Greece. This move also exposed the flank of the Allied Mount Olympus Line; in response, British General Wilson ordered the Mount Olympus Line abandoned at 1000 hours, with Australian and New Zealand troops acting as rear guards for several more days as the remaining Allies fell back to the Thermopylae Line. As the situation grew dire, British Admiral Cunningham begins began considering a general evacuation from Greece. Australian General Thomas Blamey is issued with the order to withdraw the ANZAC Corps to the Thermopylae/Corinth line. Blamey’s orders for the withdrawal provided that the 6th NZ Brigade would occupy a rearguard position astride the roads near Elasson through which the two forward New Zealand Brigades would withdraw; the 16th Australian Brigade would occupy a position west of Larisa through which the 17th Australian Brigade would withdraw and the 19th Australian Brigade would form a final rearguard at Domokos. Meanwhile German divisions were rushing south and west over muddy cratered roads. Blamey ordered Brigadier Allen’s 16th Brigade to the Pinios Gorge, to halt the German thrust towards the main road at Larisa, a bottleneck which was the only escape road for the ANZAC Corps.
Blamey, commander of the Australian and New Zealand troops in Greece (the ANZAC Corps), all along has assumed that he would have to evacuate his troops. He sets his units in motion to the south, preparing a series of rearguard positions to the Thermopylae/Corinth line. Blamey positions the 16th Australian Brigade at the Pinios Gorge in order to block a German breakout to Larissa — which, as a key crossroads near the east coast, would seal the fate of all Allied units to the north. The British already are putting men on transports at Volos (just south of Larissa) and other nearby ports.
The Wehrmacht has blasted south from western Yugoslavia and brushed aside Allied resistance in several key passes. The Greeks 12th and 20th Divisions are heading south over rough country, as the Germans now control the main roads. The Germans today attack Siatista Pass, and the Greek 12th Division is so worn down that it can only find 1000 men with which to defend itself.
The Italian 9th Army takes Koritsa (Korçë) from the retreating Greeks without a fight. The Axis forces now are sweeping up huge numbers of Greeks forced out of their secure positions in the mountains and attempting to walk south over the mountains.
The 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH, still brigade-size) attacks toward the Metsovon Pass at Grevena, which is on the main road to Ioannina. Already, the Germans have cut off any escape routes for the Greek forces in Albania, and each mile they advance tightens the noose. The Greek 13th and Cavalry Divisions there are encircled and surrender, opening the road west. Greek leader General Papagos frantically directs more troops in that direction to hold open his Western Macedonian Army’s escape route.
The Germans wish to get to Platamon on the east coast south of Thessaloniki. Doing this would cut off large Allied forces to the north, forcing them to fight their way out, evacuate from Thessaloniki, or surrender. The Germans try to gain control quickly of a ridge which dominates the mountain pass which leads to Platamon using motorcycle troops, but the New Zealand 21st Battalion (General Neil Macky) is in place and holds its ground. Later in the day, the Germans try again with a tank battalion, but the New Zealanders once again stand firm. The Germans accumulate forces for another attempt early on the 16th. There is a convenient railway tunnel that runs to the coast there which the New Zealanders desperately try to keep out of the German grasp.
Elements of the German 164th Infantry Division occupy the island of Thasos.
General Archibald P. Wavell sent to Lieutenant General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, the commander of “W” Force in Greece, the following message: “We must of course continue to fight in close cooperation with Greeks but from news here it looks as if early further withdrawal necessary.” Wavell meets with his deputies, and they resolve to begin evacuating from Greece rather than continue Operation Lustre — and there currently are ships loaded with troops and equipment still on their way to Greece. This is an indication of how quickly the situation has fallen apart.
From London, the American United Press News Agency reports: “London officials categorically deny the rumors circulating in Berlin that the British are thinking of withdrawing their troops from Greece.”
1,000 Italian troops attacked Tobruk, Libya at 1730 hours, overrunning Australian defensive lines, but they were driven back at 1815 hours the arrival of an Australian reserve company and heavy artillery. 250 Italians were killed and 113 were captured in this failed attack.
Visiting Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies notes in his diary:
“Tobruk is holding out and Sollum is recaptured pro tem, but the cutting of supplies to Tripoli is the only hope. The navy must take great risks to do this.”
In fact, the British have not recaptured Sollum. This is an indication of how muddy the view of the battle in Libya has become even for people privy to reports directly from the front.
The British attack Forward Detachment Knabe, located near Sollum, at 05:30 with a company supported by artillery. The British climb over a rocky hill without the Germans noticing. The Germans hold their position. This is another probing attack, like the failed German assault on the 14th. In essence, the two sides are settling down already to an extended siege, the First Siege of Tobruk.
The Germans observe steady ship traffic in and out of Tobruk Harbor. Somewhat hopefully, they assume this means that the British are evacuating. In fact, it is simply a normal supply and Royal Navy ship movement.
In Cairo, General Wavell’s Headquarters’ announced: “The Germans are carrying out an offensive in Cyrenaica using heavy and medium tanks supported by large numbers of mobile motorized batteries. The German troops bypassed Tobruk, and later Sollum, which was attacked from the east.”
In western Ethiopia, Italian colonial forces and Belgian Congolese troops clashed at Bortai Brook near Gambela.
Charles de Gaulle notes that Frenchmen serving in the RAF are violating French law. He gives them until 25 April to apply to serve in the Free French Air Force. It is a curious requirement and perhaps reflects a bit of empire-building by de Gaulle, whose reputation and prestige have suffered lately due to the disaster at Dakar and some other incidents.
De Gaulle presses Wavell to agree to a Free French plan for entering Syria from northern Palestine and asks for British assistance in the form of air cover, tanks and transport. Wavell refuses as he needs all his forces in other theaters. Wavell and other senior British Middle East commanders meet and decide that the evacuation of all forces from the Greek mainland is unavoidable.
President Roosevelt’s special envoy to Great Britain, W. Averell Harriman, tells Winston Churchill that England is not acting to create enough support in the United States. This is a very sensitive topic for Churchill that he has pondered before and rejected, feeling that it would be seen as presumptuous. He politely asks Harriman what he thinks the British government should do differently.
U.S. Ambassador Laurence Steinhardt warns Joseph Stalin that Germany is preparing to invade the USSR. Stalin does not place much credence in these types of warnings but is gradually firming up defenses in the western zone of the Soviet Union anyway. As the Stavka builds up forces in the west, however, they are placing them on the frontier and not further back in more defensible locations. The Soviet theory is that they will quickly counterpunch any German aggression and invade Poland.
A German reconnaissance plane makes an emergency landing at Rovno, in Soviet-held eastern Poland. It was on a mission in preparation for Operation Barbarossa, but the crew is allowed to return to Germany and the plane followed shortly. While waiting to return to Germany the crew is allowed free movement at the Soviet military airfield.
While known details are sketchy, apparently on or about this date a German transport (either a Junkers Ju 52 previously ordered by the Soviets or a civil DC-2) lands in Moscow without detection by the Soviet air defense system. This breeds suspicion within the Politburo that the Red Air Force is engaging in a conspiracy against the state. This incident and a high accident rate within the air force eventually lead to a purge of air force officers in May/June 1941.
Starting at 2300 hours, a heavy German air raid by 200 Luftwaffe bombers attacked Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. The attack would last until 0500 hours on the next day. The heavy air raid kills 758 people and seriously injures 454. Another 15 people were killed in Londonderry and 5 in Bangor. Among the targets hit were the Harland and Wolff shipyard and York Road railway station. Parachute mines devastated working-class areas of north and west Belfast. The government is being criticized for leaving the city defenseless; there were only 16 heavy anti-aircraft guns in Belfast. The Ulster security minister has called Dublin and requested help. In a violation of neutrality laws, (Irish Prime Minister Eamon) de Valera ordered that all but one of the Dublin fire engines plus fire equipment from Dun Laoghaire, Drogheda and Dundalk be sent to Belfast to fight the fires.
William Joyce (known as “Lord Haw-Haw”) had announced in recent radio broadcasts that there would be “Easter eggs for Belfast.”
During the afternoon, spectators at a football match at Windsor Park notice a Luftwaffe reconnaissance plane flying over Belfast. It is unclear what this means until the air raid sirens go off at 22:45; the attacks begin around 23:00 and last for six hours. One issue is that the government has not provided nearly enough antiaircraft defenses for the city, with only 16 heavy guns to protect all of Belfast.
The Germans drop bombs on the docks and nearby terrace houses, a working-class district. It is estimated later that bombs destroyed half the houses in the city and left 100,000 people homeless. The Dublin Fire Brigade helps put out the fires, crossing the international boundary twice, but 500 people are killed and 400 badly injured (some estimates are much higher). This assistance by Eire, incidentally, is a violation of neutrality laws, but Irish Prime Minister Eamon de Valera orders all but one fire crew from Dublin and nearby towns (Dun Laoghaire, Drogheda, and Dundalk) be sent.
The Luftwaffe also attacks Liverpool with about 50 bombers and the Newcastle region with 38 bombers. An additional 11 bombers attack Hull, killing 55 and injuring 20. As occasionally happens, a bomb hits a shelter and kills everyone inside at Ellis Terrace, accounting for roughly half of the deaths.
Flying in a Bf 109 fighter en route to Theo Osterkamp’s birthday party, Adolf Galland took a detour toward Britain in search of targets. After shooting down one Spitfire fighter, he was shot down by another Spitfire. He was rescued from the water a few hours later.
Kommodore Major Mölders of JG 51 also downs a Hurricane over Boulogne in a brand new Bf 109F. This gives him 63 victories, the most in the world, and keeps him ahead a bit ahead of No. 2 Galland.
The Admiralty takes over control of RAF Coastal Command. This is very similar to the Kriegsmarine recently arguing for — and getting — control over some Luftwaffe air units. This would lead to an increase in its effectiveness in the battle against the U-boats.
RAF Bomber Command: Day of 15 April 1941
29 Blenheims on coastal operations from France to Norway. 4 ships were attacked and 2 of these were claimed as sunk. Borkum was also bombed. 1 aircraft lost.
RAF Bomber Command: Night of 15/16 April 1941
Kiel
96 aircraft — 49 Wellingtons, 21 Whitleys, 19 Hampdens, 5 Halifaxes, 2 Stirlings. 1 Wellington lost. Cloud hindered the bombing and Kiel reported only light damage compared to recent raids. 5 people were killed and 13 injured.
Boulogne
23 ‘freshmen’ crews attacked the docks. 1 Whitley lost.
5 Hampdens minelaying off Brest. No losses.
The Regia Aeronautica attacks the RAF base at Paramythia, near the Greek/Albanian border, through which Yugoslavian King Peter II passed just yesterday. They destroy or damage 17 Yugoslavian aircraft, including many Dornier Do17 and Italian SM-79 bombers purchased from the Axis during the reign of former regent Prince Paul.
The Luftwaffe (the II Staffeln, Lehrgeschwader 1) bombs Eleusis Bay at Piraeus. The Germans hit 7765-ton British transport Quiloa and 5314-ton freighter Goalpara. Everyone survives, and the ships are beached.
The Luftwaffe also bombs the RAF airfield at Larissa. They destroy 10 Blenheim bombers on the ground. Another attack on Niamata also destroys some Blenheims.
The RAF attacks the Italian base at Valona (Vlorë), Albania. Fairey Swordfish of No. 815 Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm torpedo and sink freighters Luciano and Stampalia. Some accounts place these sinkings on the 14th.
Today marks the final combat between Hellenic Royal Air Force aircraft and the Luftwaffe. Twelve Greek fighters (five Bloch MB 151s, five Gloster Gladiators and two PZL P24s) take off from Vassiliki to challenge Junkers Ju 87 Stukas heading for Trikala. The Bf 109Es escorting the Stukas shoot down five Greek planes, while the Greeks down a Stuka. Luftwaffe pilot Gustav Rödel claims three victories. After this, the Greek Air Force does not challenge the Luftwaffe again.
Operating in the Balkans, Luftwaffe ace Lieutenant Hans-Jacob Arnoldy of II./JG 77 is shot down by a Hurricane and succumbs to his injuries.
RAF Hurricanes attack the airfield at Bardia and destroy four Junkers Ju 52 transport planes. The airfield is deemed too vulnerable to make a base for operations. The RAF is active in attacking the Afrika Korps units surrounding Tobruk.
At Malta, there is a large Luftwaffe raid that targets Luqa and Ta Qali airfields and numerous other spots. There are many “duds” among the bombs, which cause their own problems because each has to be disarmed with great skill and care. Separately, Governor Dobbie opens up the labor pool to those over 60 years of age and those under 21 years due to labor shortages.
Italian submarine Enrico Tazzoli sank British steamer Aurillac (4733grt) in 37-09N, 18-42W. One crewman was lost on the steamer. Ocean boarding vessel HMS Camito located wreckage, but did not locate any survivors.
Light cruiser HMS Edinburgh, which had been on escort duties since 25 March, arrived at Scapa Flow after convoy SL.69 duties.
Destroyer HMS Achates departed Greenock at 0840 for Scapa Flow. En route at 1400, the destroyer was diverted to Loch Alsh where she arrived at 0015/16th. The destroyer departed Loch Alsh at 1245/16th and arrived at Scapa Flow at 2100.
Destroyer HMS Tartar departed Scapa Flow at 1945 for Rosyth, escorting depot ship HMS Greenwich. Both ships arrived at Methil at 1900/16th. The destroyer stood by to provide Anti-aircraft protection. Destroyer Tartar arrived back at Scapa Flow at 1600/17th.
Destroyer HMS Bath departed Sheerness at 1146 for Scapa Flow for working up. During the night, the destroyer was involved in a collision with an unknown merchant ship five miles north of No20 Buoy and was diverted to the Tyne for repairs, arriving at 0720/16th. Repairs were completed at Hebburn on 19 May.
Tug Aquila (59grt) sunk by German bombing in Alexandra Dock, Hull.
Light cruiser HMS Gloucester and destroyer HMS Hasty departed Alexandria. These ships bombarded Italian motor transport at Capuzzo and Bardia early on the 16th.
Destroyer HMS Decoy departed Alexandria for Tobruk to carry out a special raiding operation with gunboat HMS Ladybird during the night of 16/17 April.
Gunboat HMS Ladybird bombarded Gazala.
The destroyers HMS Jervis, HMS Janus, HMS Mohawk, and HMS Nubian departed Malta at 1800 for a shipping sweep off Kerkenah Bank.
Destroyer HMS Greyhound joined the Inshore Squadron. During the night of 15/16 April, the destroyer joined destroyer HMAS Vendetta for a sweep along the Cyrenaican coast.
British steamers Goalpara (5314grt) and Quiloa (7765grt) was sunk by German bombing in Eleusis Bay, Piraeus. The ships were beached and the crews from both ships were rescued.
Battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth departed Gibraltar for Freetown, escorted by destroyers HMS Velox, HMS Wrestler, and HMS Fury.
French submarines Acteon, Fresnel, and Henri Poincare, which departed Toulon on the 10th and Oran on the 14th, passed Gibraltar en route to Casablanca, where they arrived on the 16th, escorted by torpedo boat La Batailleuse.
Italian steamers Luciana (3329grt) and Stampalia (1228grt) were sunk by British air bombing at Valona. Sub Lt (A) W. C. Sarra and A/Sub Lt (A) J. Bowker of 815 Squadron, operating from Paramythia, were shot down and made prisoners of war.
Convoy OG.59 departed Liverpool, escorted by destroyers HMS Beagle, HMS Columbia, and HMS St Francis, sloop HMS Sandwich, corvettes HMS Heather, HMS Hepatica, HMS Orchis, HMS Trillium, and HMS Windflower. Corvettes HMS Columbine and HMS Gardenia joined on the 17th. The destroyers and the earlier corvettes were detached on the 20th. On the 24th, Dutch submarine O.24 joined the convoy escort and on the 28th, Anti-submarine trawler HMS St Wistan. The corvettes were detached before the convoy arrived at Gibraltar and arrived the day after the convoy, and arrived at Gibraltar on the 28th, escorted by anti-submarine trawler St Wistan and Dutch submarine HNLMS O.24. Sloop Sandwich, which was separated in bad weather, arrived later.
Convoy HG.59 departed Gibraltar escorted by sloop HMS Enchantress, corvettes HMS Gentian, Geranium, and HMS Jonquil, and Dutch submarine HNLMS O.24. Included in this convoy was French ship PLM 13, which was captured on 18 February. On the 22nd, corvettes Gentian and Jonquil were detached, on the 23rd, corvette Geranium and submarine O.24. Destroyers HMS Keppel and HMS Sabre, corvette HMS Kingcup, and anti-submarine trawlers HMS Lady Elsa, HMS Northern Dawn, and HMS Wellard joined the convoy on the 27th, and arrived at Liverpool on 1 May.
Today in Wahington, President Roosevelt conferred with Secretaries Hull, Morgenthau, Stimson and Knox and Harry Hopkins on the defense and aid to Britain program; with Secretary Morgenthau, the Chinese Ambassador and Dr. T. V. Soong on aid to China; with Bernard M. Baruch, Admiral Harold R. Stark and Edward J. Flynn, chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
The Senate completed legislative action on the bill to increase the number of enlisted men in the Navy, heard Senator Tobey of New Hampshire urge action on his anti-convoy resolution; Senator Taft of Ohio denounce the new price control agency and Senator Vandenberg of Michigan warn of new and higher taxes. It adjourned at 2:02 PM until noon on Friday. The Special Committee investigating the Defense Program heard Colonel Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of War, and Robert P. Patterson, Under-Secretary.
The House voted to appropriate $50,000 for a defense program investigation by the Military and Naval Affairs Committees, and adjourned at 1:43 PM until noon tomorrow. The Naval Affairs Committee heard Colonel Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy, on the Vinson anti-strike bill and the Military Affairs Committee heard Donald M. Nelson and J. B. Matthews on the defense-labor situation.
Franklin Roosevelt approved the formation of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) of combat pilots in China. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an unpublished executive order allowing U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Army Air Corps individuals to resign from their branch of the service to sign contracts with the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company (CAMCO) in China for one year, after which time the men could rejoin their respective services with no loss in rank. This was the first step toward forming the American Volunteer Group (AVG), which would become known as the “Flying Tigers.” Over half of the pilots in the AVG would be from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. Roosevelt signs an executive order which provides for servicemen to fight the Japanese in Asia without declaring war. This is approved by the Chinese government. They cannot do this in an official capacity; the workaround is that they will sign contracts with a “private” company, the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company (CAMCO). After fulfilling a one-year contract fighting for CAMCO in Asia (many actually are based in Burma), the soldiers can automatically return to their military careers.
Harry Hopkins is appointed as President Roosevelt’s personal representative over the Lend Lease Program.
General Wladislas Sikorski, Premier of the Polish Government-in-Exile in London, returned to New York from Washington yesterday saying he was “very satisfied” with the result of calls on President Roosevelt, Secretary Hull, Secretary Stimson and Harry Hopkins, whom the President has placed in command of the lease-lend program for the democracies.
The U.S. Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program, aka the Truman Committee, holds its first meeting. Harry S. Truman, a senator from Missouri, heads an effort to investigate solutions to problems with U.S. war production. In practice, Truman will crackdown on war profiteering and waste in the procurement system. Personally driving his own Dodge car throughout the eastern half of the country, Truman will see first-hand how government contracts are enriching the few at the expense of the working people. He will work to open up the bidding process so that all regions of the country will benefit from military spending. Truman is not a Roosevelt backer and finds that many of Roosevelt’s own programs are wasteful. While not a very sexy topic, procurement reform is vitally important to the development of the war effort and will propel Truman into the national consciousness.
The Truman Committee, of the U.S. Senate, holds their first hearing on the subject of “The General Picture of Our Preparation for War.” Appearances include Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson and General George Marshall. While discussing the problem of seniority in the Army, Marshall insists on the need for selective promotion. “You give a good leader very little and he will succeed, you give a mediocrity a great deal and he will fail.” This marks the beginning of a long relationship between Harry Truman and George Marshall. An optimistic picture of the material equipment of the Army and the progress of the drive to re-equip it with the most modern weapons was offered at the opening hearings today of a special Senate defense investigating committee by Stimson.
The House Military Committee was told by a Dies committee official today that Communist leadership was evident in five major defense strikes. J. B. Matthews, research director for the Committee on Un-American Activities, testified that the Communist Influence was “very strong” in the recent Ford Motor Co. strike and that the labor stoppage at the International Harvester Co. was “100 per cent a Communist strike.” He also said Communists played a part in strikes at the Vultee airplane factory and the Harvill Die-casting Co., both in California, and at the Allis-Chalmers factory in Milwaukee. Representative Clason, Massachusetts Republican, asked Matthews whether these five strikes would have occurred had it not been for “people connected with the Communist movement.” “I would not be prepared to say,” Matthews replied. “All I can say is that I know the Communist tactic is to press for a strike.”
President Roosevelt indicated today that American merchant ships carrying war supplies through the newly-opened Red Sea route to Egypt would have armed protection. He was asked at a press conference whether it was the policy of this government to protect its ships wherever they go, so long as they stay out of the combat zones defined in the neutrality act. He replied that was the law. He did not say to what law he referred, but other officials expressed belief he meant international law which, they said, provided for the freedom of the seas.
President Roosevelt told reporters today that War Department and congressional committees had under study the advisability of changing the draft ages later in the year. Any change would be predicated on a showing that the present range of 21 through 35 has provided sufficient manpower and adequate technicians. The president said no decision had been reached and senate and house committees might take up the matter in early June, so there would be plenty of time for legislation if any is deemed needed. These observations came in reply to a question whether the minimum age would be lowered to 18. The president said both ends of the age limits might be changed.
The German measles have caused President Roosevelt to postpone temporarily the visit he had planned to make this week to Warm Springs, Georgia. The president said that he felt that in times like these it simply would not do for the president of the United States to come down with the German measles. There has been a somewhat violent outbreak of the disease in the Warm Springs foundation, he said.
The Senate passed and sent to the White House today a House bill to start the process of building up the enlisted strength of the Navy to 532,000, which will be required in 1946 to man the two-ocean fleet which, according to present plans, will then be in existence.
Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy, told the House Naval Affairs Committee today that “we are now in the midst of the decisive period of this present World War,” and that “should disaster come to those now actively engaged, I see the United States surrounded by nations that have made no difficulty about our understanding of how they feel about us and our institutions and ideals.”
Miners from the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) attempt to post a picket line at Fork Ridge mine in Middlesboro, Tennessee. However, when 50 men try to cross the state line from Kentucky to set the lineup, 15-18 armed company guards open fire on them. There is one death of a union worker, and the miners — also armed — take cover and return fire. Over a thousand shots are fired during the day and more men go to the hospital. The president of a coal company, the vice-president of the same firm, a miner and a former Tennessee highway patrolman were slain in a gun battle in the Kentucky coal fields, bringing to nine the number of violent deaths in that area during the current work stoppage in the soft coal mines. Details were lacking, but Patrolman Guy Harrell, of Middlesboro, Kentucky, said the fighting took place near Middlesboro, close to the Tennessee line. Bullets sprayed a road leading to the Fork Ridge Coal Co. mine. The mine has remained in operation during the negotiations for a new contract between the C.I.O. United Mine Workers and the bituminous operators of the eight-state Appalachian region.
Germany will win the battle of Britain, an American peace leader said today, and the United States must find a way of living peacefully with a Hitler-dominated Europe. “American aid to Great Britain is a year and a half too late,” asserted Frederick J. Libby, executive secretary of the National Council for the Prevention of War. “If we now maintain an attitude of implacable hatred toward Germany, this country will progressively lose,” Libby said, addressing a meeting sponsored by the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. Libby contended that entrance of the United States into the war would prolong the struggle at least five years. “It would end,” he said, “with Russia the only strong nation remaining in the world.”
John F. Arena, editor of an Italian newspaper who six weeks ago published a series of articles purporting to expose “fifth column activities” in Chicago, was shot and killed tonight by two assailants who escaped.
Brigadier General Edwin “Pa” Watson writes to MacArthur that Roosevelt wishes him to remain in “a military capacity” in the Philippines.
Viscount Halifax, the British Ambassador to the United States, addressed the English Speaking Union in New York on the subject of “Tremendous Issues Are Being Decided, None of Us Need Fear for the Triumph of Our Cause.”
U.S. special envoy to Europe W. Averell Harriman wrote to Winston Churchill arguing that Britain was not adequately molding American public opinion. Churchill replied in a handwritten note inviting Harriman to draft a solution.
Igor I. Sikorsky’s VS-300A helicopter became the first helicopter to make an officially recorded flight in the Western Hemisphere. The flight lasted one hour, five minutes and 145 seconds at the Vought-Sikorsky aircraft plant at Stratford, Connecticut. While the Allies are far behind Germany in helicopter development, Igor Sikorsky is determined to catch up and take the lead. While this is not yet an army project, the helicopter definitely is seen as having military applications once it is developed.
It is opening day for most teams in the major league baseball season.
Major League Baseball:
The Red Sox downed the Washington Senators, 7–6, at Fenway in Boston, scoring three runs in the ninth to win it. Joe Cronin and Bobby Doerr homered for the Sox.
The Giants defeated the Dodgers, 6–4, before 31,604 spectators at Ebbets Field. Rookie Ace Adams gets the win in relief, pitching three shutout innings, as the Giants come back from a 6–4 deficit. Joe Orengo doubled home the tying and go-ahead runs in a four-run eighth.
Cubs shortstop Lou “second” Stringer makes 4 errors in his debut, a National League record for a player in his first game. Stringer does better on offense adding 2 hits and 2 RBIs and Chicago beats the Pittsburgh Pirates, 7–4, behind Claude Passeau and a clutch home run by Bill Nicholson. The win is the first for Jimmie Wilson, making his managerial debut. Arky Vaughan matches Bubbles Hargrave as the only major leaguer to collect 2 triples in an Opener. Tommy Henrich will do it in 1950.
The Cardinals top the defending champion Reds 7–3, benefiting from homers by Ernie Koy, Enos Slaughter, and John Mize off starting ace Paul Derringer and reliver Joe Beggs. Frank McCormick hit two home runs for the losing Reds.
Bob Feller walks 7 White Sox batters, hits 2, and allows 5 hits as Chicago edges Cleveland, 4–3. One of Feller’s walks forces in the winning run. A crowd of 46,064 breaks the Municipal Stadium record for an opener. Bill Dietrich won it for the Indians, allowing seven hits.
40,128 saw the Yankees lose to the Philadelphia Athletics, 3–1, at Yankee Stadium in the opening contest of New York’s major league season. Chubby Dean of the A’s outpitched Red Ruffing for the win. Sam Chapman’s two-run homer provided the winning margin.
The Phillies vanquished the Boston Bees, 6–5, in Philadelphia. Cy Blanton spun a four-hitter for the Phils, and Joe Marty and Nick Etten homered for Philadelphia.
Washington Senators 6, Boston Red Sox 7
New York Giants 6, Brooklyn Dodgers 4
Pittsburgh Pirates 4, Chicago Cubs 7
St. Louis Cardinals 7, Cincinnati Reds 3
Chicago White Sox 4, Cleveland Indians 3
Philadelphia Athletics 3, New York Yankees 1
Boston Bees 5, Philadelphia Phillies 6
The Colima earthquake occurred in the State of Michoacán, Mexico. 90 people were reported dead. Mexican President Avila Camacho’s office was informed tonight that probably half the 15,000 residents of the city of Colima were left homeless, injured or dead in an earthquake this afternoon, and that the Colima volcano nearby erupted and set fire to the forests.
The Navy is accumulating at Balboa in the Canal Zone the equipment and supplies needed for the seaplane bases in Central and South America which are expected to round out the sea defenses of the Pacific side of the Canal Zone, Admiral F.H Sadler, commanding the Fifteenth Naval District, said today.
The Chinese Government today continued to await a Soviet clarification of the meaning of the Russo-Japanese neutrality pact. Queries were made by China to Moscow upon the revelation of the terms of the pact in Chungking yesterday. China especially is seeking an exact Soviet interpretation of Article II, under which Russia and Japan pledge themselves to maintain neutrality in case one or the other is militarily attacked by a third power. Chungking wishes to know whether this is to be applied to Chinese military action against Japan and also the meaning of the word “neutrality” as used in the pact. One high government official said today that China was sanguine about the continuance of Russia’s aid in view of repeated Soviet assurances to this effect in recent months. Other officials, however, thought that further aid after the Soviet fulfillment of the obligations of the current barter agreement with China was problematical. Chinese resentment over the pact is reflected in the flood of critical press comment carried in this morning’s papers.
The Russo-Japanese neutrality treaty was approved by the Cabinet at its regular session today, following a detailed explanation by Premier Prince Fumimaro Konoye of the circumstances leading to the conclusion of the pact and its significance. The pact now goes to the Privy Council for final approval and ratification by the Emperor. Because of the pact’s importance the Privy Council has decided to depart from the customary procedure of subjecting the pact to examination by committee and will consider it at a plenary session as the committee of the whole council. The Privy Council refuses to be rushed. It has canceled its scheduled plenary session for tomorrow and is expected to delay its final action until Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka returns to Tokyo to explain all the pact’s implications. Mr. Matsuoka is scheduled to arrive by air on April 22.
Meanwhile the press has begun what might be termed a new “war of nerves” against Britain, the United States and Chungking. It tells them, in effect, that the pact has created a new world situation in which Russia has joined Japan, Germany and Italy in dividing the world into new spheres of influence. Therefore, it is suggested that all further resistance to Japan’s program of a “Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere” is hopeless and that the only alternative for Britain and the United States is to reconsider their policies so as to let Japan have her way, and for China to lay down her arms.
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Born:
Howard Berman, American attorney and politician (Rep.-D-California, 1983-2013), in Los Angeles, California.
Baby Lloyd Stallworth, member of The Famous Flames soul and R&B vocal group, in Tampa, Florida (d. 2002).
Dave Francis, NFL fullback (Washington Redskins), in Columbus, Ohio.
Naval Construction:
The Royal Navy Bar-class boom defense vessel HMS Barcross (Z 185) is laid down by the Blyth Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Cowpen Quay, Blyth, England, UK.
The Royal Navy Isles-class minesweeping trawler HMS Foula (T 203) is laid down by Cochrane & Sons Shipbuilders Ltd. (Selby, U.K.); completed by Amos & Smith.
The U.S. Navy Accentor-class coastal minesweeper USS Aggressor (AMc-64) is laid down as Alliance by the Greenport Basin and Construction Co. (Greenport, Long Island, New York, U.S.A.).
The U.S. Navy Accentor-class coastal minesweeper USS Bulwark (AMc-68) is laid down as Combat by Hodgdon Brothers, Goudy and Stevens (East Boothbay, Maine, U.S.A.).
The U.S. Navy minesweeper USS Auk (AM-57), lead ship of her class of 95, is laid down by the Norfolk Navy Yard (Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.A.).
The merchant ship Mormacmail (3rd) is laid down under a Maritime Commission contract (hull number 160) for the Moore-McCormack Lines by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, Mississippi. She will be purchased before completion by the U.S. Navy for conversion to an escort carrier and renamed USS Altamaha (AVG-6, then ACV-6). Before completion she is then transferred to the Royal Navy under Lend-Lease, and is commissioned in 1942 as the escort carrier HMS Battler (D 18).
The Royal Canadian Navy Flower-class corvette HMCS Battleford (K 165) is launched by the Collingwood Shipyards Ltd. (Collingwood, Ontario, Canada).
The Royal Navy Fairmile B-class motor launch HMS ML 228 is commissioned.
The Royal Australian Navy Bathurst-class minesweeper-corvette HMAS Burnie (J 198) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is T/Lieutenant George Edward Gough, RANR(S).
The Royal Navy minelayer HMS Abdiel (M 39), lead ship of her class of 6, is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Captain Edward Pleydell-Bouverie.
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