U.S. freighter City of Flint, her odyssey almost at an end, is damaged in collision with British steamship Baron Blytheswood. Repairs to City of Flint will keep her at Narvik, Norway, for another six days.
U.S. freighter Exeter is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities.
Uruguayan government interns German freighter Tacoma at Montevideo as an auxiliary war vessel.
Charles Edison of New Jersey becomes Secretary of the Navy; he had been Acting Secretary since the death of Claude A. Swanson on 7 July 1939. Department of State releases statement to press telling of the delivery of "vigorous protest" (dated 27 December 1939) to the British Foreign Office concerning the British removing and censoring U.S. mail from British and U.S. and neutral ships.
U.S. passenger liner Manhattan is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities (see 7 January).
U.S. passenger liner Manhattan, detained at Gibraltar by British authorities the previous day, is released.
German freighter Konsul Horn escapes from Aruba and, disguised as a Soviet merchantman, manages to deceive U.S. Navy patrol planes from the Neutrality Patrol and British light cruiser HMS Enterprise (see 6 February).
Gunboat Charleston (PG-51) suffers damage when she runs aground at Colon, C.Z.
U.S. freighter Tripp is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities (see 13 January).
British Minister in Panama Charles Dodd transmits response of British government to note sent by the President of Panama on behalf of the 21 American Republics concerning the violation of American neutrality that occurred in the Battle of the River Plate. The British "reserve their full belligerent rights in order to fight the menace presented by German action and policy and to defend that conception of law and that way of life, which they believe to be as dear to the peoples and Governments of America as they are to the peoples and Governments of the British Commonwealth of Nations" (see 12 February and 8 March).
U.S. freighter Narbo detained at Gibraltar by British authorities the previous day, is released to continue her voyage to Italy, Yugoslavia, and Greece, but not before some items from her cargo are removed as contraband.
Japanese fishing schooner No. 1 Seiho Maru is stranded on reef off southeast coast of Guam, M.I. A detail of Guam Militia (12th Company) renders necessary assistance during salvage operations (see 21 January).
Minesweeper Penguin (AM-33) rescues the 24-man crew.
British Foreign Office replies to U.S. protest on treatment of mail, concluding that "His Majesty's Government find themselves unable to share the views of the United States government that their [the British] action in examining neutral mail in British or neutral shipping is contrary to their obligations under international law."
U.S. freighter Examelia is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities (see 31 January); passenger liner Washington, bound for Genoa, is detained only a few hours before being allowed to proceed.
Minesweeper Penguin (AM-33) transfers 24 survivors of Japanese fishing schooner No. 1 Seiho Maru, stranded off the southeast coast of Guam, M.I., on 15 January, to Japanese freighter Saipan Maru.
British light cruiser HMS Liverpool stops Japanese passenger liner Asama Maru 35 miles off Nozaki, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, and removes 21 Germans from the ship. All but nine are naval reservists, survivors of the scuttled passenger liner Columbus; the nine civilians are released. The incident further strains relations between Great Britain and Japan.
[The following information was submitted by Shirley Weiss, daughter of one of the German seamen stranded in America (mentioned below) -- HyperWar]:
"Unfortunately, there are a number of errors in the entry. I have documents from the German, English, and Japanese archives which dispute the information. The 21 Germans who were removed from the Asama Maru were all civilian seaman who shipped on oil tankers for the Panama Transit Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Standard Oil Company. None were in the military rather they were just of military age. None of the men onboard the Asama Maru were from the scuttled Columbus. The men were initially interned in Hong Kong at LaSalle College. On 2/29/1940 nine of the men were transported via the Australian Cruiser Canibula to Japan and released.In May of 1940 a telegram was sent to the Hague informing the Dutch that the remaining civilian seamen were to be transferred from internment in Hong Kong to Ceylon. These same men were subsequently interned in Singapore and Alberta, Canada. According to a daughter of one of the seaman removed from the Asama Maru, her father was not returned to Germany until 1946.
What was important about this event, was that hundreds of civilian seaman of Axis nations were stranded in American ports in 1939. The Asama Maru incident justified not repatriating any of the seaman. Basically, Standard Oil retained the men's passports starting in August of 1939 until they were interned in May of 1941 (7 months before Pearl Harbor). However by confiscating the passports the seamen could not leave the country anyway. The government could not intern them legally in 1939 since the US was a neutral nation. (Britain and it's protectorates & colonies, Canada, and Australia did intern the men that were caught in ports across the western hemisphere).
The men always wondered why they were allowed freedom until May of 1941 and then rounded up for internment. After reviewing the archival documents, my conclusion is that the presidential election made it politically inconvenient to intern the men until 1941. Only 3% of the public favored involvement in the European war in 1939. Although Roosevelt received much pressure from England to enter the war in 1939 he had to influence public opinion first. If he would have interned the men in 1939 it might have influenced his re-election bid. Almost immediately after the Asama Maru incident Standard Oil announced that they would scuttle all plans to repatriate the seaman. By stopping the Asama Maru and seizing the seaman the Allies removed all axis national seaman from oil tankers and stopped all repatriation on the basis that the "Atlantic was to dangerous to repatriate the Standard Oil seaman." Almost, all of the seaman stranded in US ports were sent to Ft. Lincoln, ND for internment.
List of the 21 men removed from the Asama Maru and their ages (the last 9 on the list ended up released on 2/29/40):
Bohnsack, Rudolf -- 29
Gnirs, Karl -- 31
Grimm, Fritz -- 31
Gottke, Walter -- 29
Heino, Xaverius -- 30
Jachowski, Walter -- 30
Kempfer, Kurt -- 26
Hartmann, Oswald -- 34
Oesterle, Karl -- 33
Schleyer, Karl -- 19
Schroder, Hermann -- 39
Wesselhofft, Johnny -- 36
Herman Groth -- 40
Arthur Kruger -- 36
Willy Plucas -- 29
Hans Hartwig -- 19
Rudolf Kaselau -- 30
Paul Rupprecht -- 18
Otto Wantke -- 59
Eduard Lege -- 34
Albert Dankowski -- 36For a fuller write-up, see: The Asama Maru Incident of January 21, 1940 by Chester G. Dunham
U.S. freighter Nishmaha is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities (see 22 January).
Light cruiser Helena (CL-50) arrives at Buenos Aires, Argentina, on her shakedown cruise (see 29 January).
Rear Admiral Adolphus E. Watson becomes Commandant Fourth Naval District and Commandant Philadelphia Navy Yard in the wake of the death of Rear Admiral Julius C. Townsend on 28 December 1939.
U.S. freighter Excellency is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities (see 23 January); freighter Nishmaha, detained there the previous day, is released.
Destroyer J. Fred Talbott (DD-247) arrives at Wreck Bay, Galapagos Islands, to assist U.S. tuna boat City of San Diego (see 24 January).
U.S. freighter Excambion, detained at Gibraltar by British authorities since 17 January, is released to proceed on her voyage to Genoa, Italy, but not before 470 sacks of mail (bound for Germany and Italy) are seized; freighter Excellency, detained at Gibraltar the previous day, is released.
Gunboat Erie (PG-50) joins destroyer J. Fred Talbott (DD-247) at Wreck Bay, Galapagos Islands, to assist U.S. tuna boat City of San Diego. The gunboat takes on board the craft's chief engineer (pneumonia) and sails the following day for Balboa, where the man will be transferred ashore for medical attention.
Minesweeper Quail (AM-15) arrives at Palmyra Island with first construction party to begin building a naval air station there.
Light cruiser Helena (CL-50) steams from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Montevideo, Uruguay, on her shakedown cruise (see 2 February).
U.S. freighter Exochorda is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities (see 1 February).
U.S. freighter Exminster is detained by British authorities at Gibraltar (see 9 February); freighters Exochorda (detained since 30 January) and Jomar (detained since 31 January) are released.
U.S. passenger liner Manhattan is stopped by French auxiliary patrol vessel Vaillant about 25 miles southeast of Cape St. Vincent, Portugal, and ordered to proceed to Gibraltar for examination (see 3-4 February).
U.S. passenger liner Manhattan is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities (see 4 February).
U.S. freighter Exford is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities (see 13 February).
U.S. freighter West Chatala is detained for several hours at Gibraltar by British authorities but is released to continue her voyage.
U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Jefferson Caffery reports to Secretary of State Hull on 20 March 1940 that the Brazilian government's protesting Dorsetshire's stopping Wakama had not pleased the British. The British maintained that they were protecting Brazilian commerce. "Indeed you are not," the Brazilian Minister for Foreign Affairs Oswaldo Aranha retorts, "you are definitely not protecting our commerce by maintaining your warships off our coast. It is apparent to me that your blockade of Germany is plainly ineffective. If it were effective, you could stop the German boats [sic] on the other side before they entered German ports."
Destroyer Goff (DD-247) collides with and sinks harbor tug Wicomico (YT-26) in Hampton Roads, off Naval Operating Base, Norfolk. Goff, her bow damaged in the mishap, rescues Wicomico's 11-man crew.
British destroyer HMS Cossack violates Norwegian territorial waters, boards German tanker Altmark in Jøssingfjord, and recovers 303 merchant seamen from ships destroyed by German armored ship Admiral Graf Spee during her commerce-raiding activities.
U.S. freighter Exochorda is detained for several hours at Gibraltar by British authorities, but is allowed to proceed.
U.S. passenger liner Washington is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities.
Mimi Horn is scuttled to avoid capture in Denmark Strait on 28 March; Seattle is lost during the early phases of the invasion of Norway on 8-9 April.
Destroyer Twiggs (DD-127), on neutrality patrol off the coast of Cuba, attempts to tow Norwegian freighter Spind off rocks six miles off Cape San Antonio, but is unsuccessful in two tries. Salvage tug Warbler, however, frees the merchantman from her predicament. Twiggs resumes her patrol. 8, Mon.
Norway protests British minelaying operations off the Norwegian coast. Amidst growing tensions in this region, U.S. freighter Charles R. McCormick arrives at Bergen, Norway, en route to her ultimate destination of Narvik. Freighter Flying Fish is also in Norwegian waters.
Joint Planning Committee of the Joint Board submits a new general estimate of the world situation in relation to American defense and preparations for war. This is part of the revision of existing plans, and for developing or completing new plans of the rainbow series. Formulators of the rainbow plans envision multiple, simultaneous enemies, instead of individual enemies each designated by a single color (ORANGE, for example, stands for Japan).
Submarine tender Bushnell (AS-2), operating as a survey ship under the auspices of the Hydrographic Office, arrives in Venezuelan waters to commence hydrographic surveys of the Cape San Roman-to-Bahia Vela de Coro region (see 15 June).
Destroyer Williams (DD-108) transports hydrographic survey party to Palmetto Island, British West Indies.
Great Britain issues mobilization order for men who turn 27 years of age during the months of April and May 1940.
Iceland declares its independence and asks the United States to recognize it as such.
U.S. freighters Flying Fish and Charles McCormick are reported safe at Norwegian ports; concern had been expressed over their safety in view of the German invasion of Norway. They had been shifted from Bergen to neighboring, safer places.
British troops occupy Iceland.
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigns; First Lord of the Admiralty Winston S. Churchill becomes prime minister.
Secretary of State Hull reiterates that the United States will not stand for any country establishing a protectorate over the Netherlands East Indies. Japanese Foreign Minister indicates his country's desire to maintain the political and economic status quo in that region.
British and French troops occupy Curaçao and Aruba, Netherlands West Indies. President Roosevelt announces that these actions are not contrary to the Monroe Doctrine.
Dutch Royal Family and government flees to London, England.
Dutch Army capitulates to Germany.
U.S. Minister in Uruguay, Edwin C. Wilson, reports to Secretary of State Hull that there has been an increase in "Nazi activities" in Uruguay. He notes "indifference and apathy...and in certain cases something worse evidenced by the Uruguayan government. The situation, Wilson warns, "has serious possibilities" (see 20 May).
President Roosevelt responds noncommittally to Prime Minister Churchill's telegram of the previous day. Addressing the possible loan of destroyers, Churchill's first concern, the President informs the "Former Naval Person" that such a step cannot be taken without "specific authorization of the Congress" and that U.S. defense requirements assumed priority. He also informs Churchill that the U.S. Fleet would remain concentrated in Hawaiian waters, "at least for the time being."
President Roosevelt, in memorandum to Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles, expresses concern over the situation in Uruguay as reported by U.S. Minister Edwin C. Wilson, on 15 May. "Is there some way," Roosevelt asks Welles, "in which the Minister of Uruguay in Washington and Mr. Wilson in Montevideo can get word to the Uruguayan Government that the United States is concerned...?" Undersecretary Welles, in his response to the President that same day reports that the Uruguayan government has taken steps to investigate Nazi activities in Montevideo (see 26 May).
Allied Supreme Command decides to evacuate its forces from Norway.
Operation dynamo: evacuation of British, French, and Belgian troops from Dunkirk, France, begins, aided by poor flying weather that limits German aerial operations (see 4 June).
Belgium surrenders to Germany.
Ambassador to France William C. Bullitt (through a telegram to Secretary of State Hull) urgently asks President Roosevelt to send a cruiser to Bordeaux, France (1) to bring arms and ammunition urgently required by the French police to quell a feared "Communist uprising" as German forces near Paris and other industrial centers and (2) to take away the French and Belgian gold reserves. "If you cannot send a cruiser of the San Francisco [CA 38] class to Bordeaux," Bullitt implores, "please order the Trenton (CL-11) at Lisbon [Squadron 40-T flagship] to take on fuel and supplies at once for a trip to America and order her today to Bordeaux." Consequently, heavy cruiser Vincennes (CA-44) departs Hampton Roads in company with destroyers Truxtun (DD-229) and Simpson (DD-221), bound for the Azores on the first leg of the voyage undertaken in response to the ambassador's second concern (see 9 June).
Ambassador Bullitt also urges that the Atlantic Fleet be sent to the Mediterranean as "one of the surest ways" to obtain British and French cooperation in keeping German attacks away from the U.S. (see 30 May).
U.S. Minister in Uruguay Edwin C. Wilson reports "deteriorating" situation in Montevideo in telegram to Secretary of State Hull. Wilson describes the Uruguayan government as "well meaning but weak, undecided and confused," with things "drifting" and "people... climbing on the Nazi band wagon." Wilson also warns that an "armed movement is a possibility" (see 31 May).
In reply to U.S. Minister in Uruguay Wilson's telegram of the previous day, Secretary of State Hull informs the envoy in Montevideo that President Roosevelt has ordered heavy cruiser Quincy (CA-39) to proceed immediately to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and thence directly to Montevideo for "friendly visits of courtesy" (see 12 June).
Chief of the Division of the American Republics (Laurence Duggan) of the State Department suggests to Undersecretary of State Welles that President Roosevelt's decision "to detach two or three cruisers to go down the east coast [of South America]" be made public "in order to put a little iron in the veins of our friends in those countries."
Battleship Washington (BB-56) is launched at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. She is the first American battleship to go down the ways since West Virginia (BB-48), 19 November 1921.
Minor Landing and Base Defense Exercise at San Clemente Island, begun on 25 May, concludes; for the first time one of the newly organized USMC Defense Battalions carries out the mission of defending an advanced base against a landing force supported by aircraft and ships.
U.S. freighter Charles R. McCormick, the American flag displayed prominently, departs Bergen, Norway, for the United States.
U.S. steamship President Roosevelt departs Galway, Ireland, with 720 American citizens fleeing European war zone. Passenger liner Manhattan departs Genoa, Italy, the same day with 1,905 passengers.
Heavy cruiser Vincennes (CA-44) and destroyers Truxtun (DD-229) and Simpson (DD-221), reach Casablanca, French Morocco, having touched briefly at Ponta Delgada, Azores (4-6 June) en route. Vincennes's mission is to load the 200 tons of gold brought to Casablanca by French auxiliary cruiser Ville d'Oran. The precious metal cargo (Bank of France gold reserves) will be transported to New York for deposit in U.S. banks (see 10 and 20 June). This is not the first time a cruiser is dispatched on a mission of this kind. Light cruisers Nashville (CL-43) and Honolulu (CL-48) bring back $25 million in gold, stabilization funds lent to the Bank of England but brought back because of wartime fears in the late summer-early autumn of 1938. The money is delivered to the Federal Reserve Bank in New York on 11 October 1938.
Destroyer Dickerson (DD-157), from Squadron 40-T, departs Casablanca, French Morocco, with American nationals who desire passage on board U.S. passenger (liner Washington, which is slated to leave Lisbon the next day for Ireland and the United States. Washington departs Bordeaux for Lisbon with 813 U.S. citizens on board (see 10-11 and 15 June).
Norway capitulates to German forces.
Canada declares war on Italy.
Rear Admiral David M. LeBreton relieves Rear Admiral Charles E. Courtney as Commander Squadron 40-T on board light cruiser Trenton (CL-11) at Lisbon, Portugal.
Heavy cruiser Vincennes (CA-44), escorted by destroyers Truxtun (DD-229) and Simpson (DD-221), departs Casablanca, French Morocco, for New York (see 20 June).
U.S. passenger liner Washington arrives at Lisbon, Portugal, to embark American nationals desiring passage to the United States; destroyer Dickerson (DD-157) arrives the same day with her passengers who are to embark in the liner (see 11 and 15 June).
Destroyer O'Brien (DD-415) arrives at Bahia, Brazil, her shakedown cruise (see 14 June).
President Roosevelt declares Mediterranean area and mouth of Red Sea to be combat zones in accordance with Neutrality Act. -- British Prime Minister Churchill, in telegram to President Roosevelt sent via the British Embassy in Washington, again raises the need for destroyers with the Italian entry into the war and the possibility of having to deal with more submarines. "To this," Churchill declares, "the only counter is destroyers. Nothing is so important as for us to have 30 or 40 old destroyers you have already had reconditioned."
U.S. passenger liner Washington, en route from Lisbon, Portugal, to Galway, Ireland, with 1,020 U.S. passengers, to embark more American citizens returning to the United States, is stopped by German submarine U 101 at 42°12'N, 12°50'W. The submarine, mistakenly believing the ship to be a Greek vessel, orders Washington abandoned preparatory to being sunk. Blinker signals exchanged between the two ships soon result in the Germans' confirming Washington's neutral identity and allowing her to proceed without further hindrance (see 15 June).
Japan-Thailand Non-Aggression Pact is announced.
Heavy cruiser Quincy (CA-39) arrives at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for a port visit while she is en route to Montevideo, Uruguay (see 17 June).
German troops occupy Paris, France.
Destroyer O'Brien (DD-415) departs Bahia, Brazil, on her shakedown cruise, bound for Buenos Aires, Argentina (see 20 June).
President Roosevelt approves Act of Congress to increase naval aviation to a strength of not more than 10,000 aircraft, vice 4,500.
British Prime Minister Churchill, in telegram to President Roosevelt, again asks for destroyers, calling the matter one "of life and death." Britain will carry on the struggle "whatever the odds," the "Former Naval Person" declares to the President, "but it may well be beyond our resources unless we receive every reinforcement and particularly do we need this reinforcement on the sea."
Submarine tender Bushnell (AS-2) completes hydrographic surveys off the coast of Venezuela from Cape San Roman to Bahia Vela de Coro. Having begun on 9 April, she covered an area of 2,200 nautical square miles in the course of her work.
U.S. passenger liner Washington sails from Galway, Ireland, for the United States with an additional 852 American citizens, making a total of 1,872 passengers, embarked. She will arrive at New York unmolested.
France sues for an armistice with Germany. France's collapse prompts concern for the disposition of the French fleet. French Minister for Foreign Affairs Paul Baudouin privately informs Deputy U.S. Ambassador to France Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr., that the fleet "would never be surrendered to Germany." To guarantee that pledge, Boudouin informs Biddle that Admiral François Darlan has been appointed as Minister of Marine (see 18 June).
Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Harold R. Stark asks for $4 billion to construct the "Two-Ocean Navy."
Heavy cruiser Quincy (CA-39) departs Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for Montevideo, Uruguay (see 20 June 1940).
U.S. Minister in Uruguay Edwin C. Wilson reports that Uruguayan government has arrested eight Nazi leaders and that Uruguay's Chamber of Deputies, in secret session the day before, has begun considering a report on Nazi activities in their country.
Office of Undersecretary of the Navy is created for duration of emergency (see 22 August).
Heavy cruiser Vincennes (CA-44), escorted by destroyers Truxtun (DD-229) and Simpson (DD-221), arrives at New York Navy Yard and transfers the Bank of France gold reserves ashore for deposit in U.S. banks.
Destroyer Herbert (DD-160), attached to Squadron 40-T, departs Lisbon for French Morocco (see 21 June).
Heavy cruiser Quincy (CA-39) reaches Montevideo, Uruguay, as part of the American effort to counteract German propaganda in Latin America (see 21, 27 and 30 June).
Destroyer O'Brien (DD-415) reaches Buenos Aires, Argentina, as her shakedown cruise to Latin American ports continues (see 25 June).
Light cruiser Phoenix (CL-46) departs Lahaina, Maui, T.H., for the Panama Canal Zone, on the first leg of her goodwill cruise to the Pacific coast of South America (see 3 July).
Vichy France opens northern Indochina to Japanese military mission and supporting troops.
Destroyer Herbert (DD-160) arrives at Casablanca, French Morocco (see 23 June).
Destroyer Dickerson (DD-157), attached to Squadron 40-T, departs Lisbon for Bilbao, Spain (see 22 June).
Destroyer Dickerson (DD-157) arrives at Bilbao, Spain; she will remain there, safeguarding American interests, until 3 July.
Prince Konoye Fumimaro forms new Japanese cabinet with General Tojo Hideki as Minister of War and Matsuoka Yosuke as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Destroyer Herbert (DD-160) proceeds from Casablanca, French Morocco, to Lisbon with American refugees.
Japan requests that British close the Burma Road, thus severing the Allied supply line to China.
Rear Admiral Charles A. Blakely relieves Rear Admiral Joseph R. Defrees as Commandant, Eleventh Naval District and Commandant Naval Operating Base, San Diego, California.
Act of Congress abolishes Construction Corps of the Navy; constructors are given line officer status designated for Engineering Duty Only (EDO). In addition, the status of those line officers who had previously been designated for Aeronautical Engineering Duty Only (AEDO) were redesignated EDO.
Destroyer O'Brien (DD-415) departs Buenos Aires, Argentina, for Rio Grande du Sol, Brazil (see 27 June).
President Roosevelt declares a national emergency and invokes Espionage Act of 1917 to exercise control over shipping movements in territorial waters and in vicinity of the Panama Canal.
President Roosevelt establishes National Defense Research Committee (Dr. Vannevar Bush, chairman) to correlate and support scientific research on the mechanisms and devices of war; among its members are officers of the Navy and War Departments.
Heavy cruiser Wichita (CA-45), with Commander Cruiser Division Seven (Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens) embarked, departs Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, en route to join heavy cruiser Quincy (CA-39) at Montevideo, Uruguay (see 30 June).
Destroyer O'Brien (DD-415) reaches Rio Grande du Sol, Brazil, as her shakedown cruise to Latin American ports continues (see 29 June).
Destroyer O'Brien (DD-415) departs Rio Grande du Sol, Brazil, bound for Santos, Brazil, as her shakedown cruise to Latin American ports continues (see 1 July).
Heavy cruiser Wichita (CA-45), with Commander Cruiser Division Seven (Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens) embarked, reaches Montevideo, Uruguay, joining heavy cruiser Quincy (CA-39) to begin a tour of Latin American ports "to furnish a reminder of the strength and the range of action of the armed forces of the United States" (see 3 July and following).
Presidential yacht Potomac (AG-25), accompanied by auxiliary Cuyahoga (AG-26), returns to Washington Navy Yard with President Roosevelt embarked, after a cruise down the Potomac River.
Headquarters Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force (Brigadier General Ross E. Rowell, USMC) is established at the Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California.
U.S. Ambassador to France William C. Bullitt has lengthy private interview with the President of the French Council of Ministers, Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain, in which the latter informs the envoy that orders had been given "to every captain of the French Fleet to sink his ship rather than permit [it] to fall into German hands." The same day, Bullitt also has interview with Admiral François Darlan, who informs him that if the Germans should demand the Fleet, it had orders to leave at once for Martinique and Guantanamo to place its ships in U.S. hands. He echoes Marshal Pétain's declaration that French ships had orders to scuttle if the Germans attempt to seize them.
Destroyer O'Brien (DD-415) reaches Santos, Brazil, as her shakedown cruise to Latin American ports continues (see 3 July).
Heavy cruisers Wichita (CA-45) (Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens) and Quincy (CA-39) depart Montevideo, Uruguay, for Brazilian waters.
Light cruiser Phoenix (CL-46) reaches Balboa, C.Z. (see 5 July).
Destroyer O'Brien (DD-415) departs Santos, Brazil, for Para, Brazil (see 9 July).
Destroyer Dickerson (DD-157), attached to Squadron 40-T, departs Bilbao, Spain, for Lisbon, Portugal (see 5 July).
President Roosevelt invokes Export Control Act against Japan by prohibiting exportation, without license, of strategic minerals and chemicals, aircraft engines, parts, and equipment.
Admiral James O. Richardson arrives in Washington for conferences with the President and Navy and State Department officials concerning the retention of the U.S. Fleet in Hawaiian waters. He will depart to return to the fleet on 17 July.
Light cruiser Omaha (CL-4) relieves light cruiser Trenton (CL-11) as flagship for Squadron 40-T (Rear Admiral David M. LeBreton) at Lisbon, Portugal.
Heavy cruisers Wichita (CA-45) (Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens) and Quincy (CA-39) reach Rio Grande du Sol, Brazil.
Light cruiser Phoenix (CL-46) departs Balboa, C.Z., for Valparaiso, Chile (see 12 July).
Coast Guard cutter Campbell arrives at Boston, Massachusetts, with U.S. Consul to Greenland James K. Penfield, Governor of North Greenland E. Brun, and a group of Danish officials to discuss commerce and trade of Greenland, due to the interruption of direct contact with Denmark, Greenland's mother country.
Heavy cruisers Wichita (CA-45) (Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens) and Quincy (CA-39) depart Rio Grande du Sol, Brazil, for Santos, Brazil.
Captain Laurence Wild relieves Captain Edward W. Hanson as Governor of American Samoa and Commandant of Naval Station, Tutuila, Samoa.
Destroyer O'Brien (DD-415) departs Pará, Brazil, for La Guaira, Venezuela (see 16 July).
Destroyers Walke (DD-416) and Wainwright (DD-420) reach Pará:, Brazil, en route to Rio de Janeiro. Both destroyers are transporting marines to join the detachments in heavy cruisers Wichita (CA-45) and Quincy (CA-39).
U.S. passenger liner Manhattan departs Lisbon, Portugal, with approximately 800 American citizens and their families.
Destroyers Walke (DD-416) and Wainwright (DD-420) depart Pará, Brazil, for Rio de Janeiro.
Light cruiser Phoenix (CL-46) departs Valparaiso, Chile, for Callao, Peru (see 22 July).
Presidential yacht Potomac (AG-25), with President Roosevelt embarked, departs Washington Navy Yard for cruise in Chesapeake Bay, accompanied by auxiliary Cuyahoga (AG-26) (see 21 July).
Heavy cruisers Wichita (CA-45) (Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens) and Quincy (CA-39) reach Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; destroyers Walke (DD-416) and Wainwright (DD-420) arrive the same day and transfer their marine passengers; Walke's to Wichita and Wainwright's to Quincy.
Light cruiser Trenton (CL-11) arrives at Annapolis, Maryland, and disembarks members of the royal family of the Duchy of Luxembourg.
Light cruiser Phoenix (CL-46) departs Callao, Peru, concluding her goodwill cruise to Chilean and Peruvian' waters. She reaches Balboa, C.Z., on 30 July, and returns to the fleet at San Pedro on 7 August.
Destroyers Walke (DD-416) and Wainwright (DD-420) depart Rio Grande du Sol, Brazil, for Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Presidential yacht Potomac (AG-25), accompanied by auxiliary Cuyahoga (AG-26), returns to Washington Navy Yard with President Roosevelt embarked.
Destroyers Walke (DD-416) and Wainwright (DD-420) reach Buenos Aires, Argentina.
British Prime Minister Churchill, in telegram sent from the U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James (Joseph P. Kennedy) to Secretary of State Hull, again asks President Roosevelt for the loan of destroyers. In the previous ten days, the Royal Navy has suffered the loss of four of its destroyers and damage to seven. "If we cannot get reinforcement," Churchill states, "the whole fate of the war may be decided by this minor and easily remediable factor.
Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt relieves Rear Admiral John W. Wilcox, Jr., as Commander Special Service Squadron on board gunboat Erie (PG-50).
Destroyers Walke (DD-416) and Wainwright (DD-420) depart Buenos Aires, Argentina, for Santos, Brazil.
Lord Lothian, British Ambassador to the U.S., provides President Roosevelt with a note concerning the facilities which the British were prepared to "extend to the United States Government..."
Rear Admiral John W. Greenslade and French Vice Admiral Georges A.M.J. Robert conclude agreement concerning status of Vichy French warships and aircraft in French West Indies. Ships in question are carrier Bearn, light cruiser Emile Bertin, training cruiser Jeanne d'Arc and auxiliary cruisers Esterelle, Quercy, and Barfleur; aircraft are 44 SBC-4s, 15 Hawk 75s (export version of USAAC P-36) and 6 Belgian Brewster fighters (export version of USN F2A) (see 2-3 November).
Heavy cruisers Wichita (CA-45) (Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens) and Quincy (CA-39) depart Bahia for Pernambuco, Brazil.
Destroyers Walke (DD-416) and Wainwright (DD-420) reach Santos, Brazil.
Gunboat Erie (PG-50) (Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, Commander Special Service Squadron, embarked) departs Panama Canal Zone for a goodwill visit to Ecuador (see 12 August).
Destroyers Walke (DD-416) and Wainwright (DD-420) depart Santos, Brazil, for Rio de Janeiro.
Destroyers Walke (DD-416) and Wainwright (DD-420) reach Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Japanese naval blockade of coast of China is extended to South China.
Gunboat Erie (PG-50) (Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, Commander Special Service Squadron, embarked) arrives at Guayaquil, Ecuador, for a goodwill visit.
Commander in Chief Asiatic Fleet (Admiral Thomas C. Hart) shifts flag from heavy cruiser Augusta (CA-31) to submarine Porpoise (SS-172), Tsingtao, China, and travels to Shanghai, arriving the next day and transferring to yacht Isabel (PY-10). It is the first time a CINCAF (a submariner himself) has taken passage in a submarine in this fashion.
Heavy cruisers Wichita (CA-45) (Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens) and Quincy (CA-39) depart Pernambuco, Brazil, for Montevideo, Uruguay.
Assistant Chief of Naval Operations Rear Admiral Robert L. Ghormley, Major General Delos C. Emmons (USAAC), and Brigadier General George V. Strong (USA) arrive in London for informal staff conversations with British officers.
Naval Air Station, Miami, Florida, is established, Commander Gerald F. Bogan in command.
Destroyers Walke (DD-416) and Wainwright (DD-420) reach Bahia, Brazil.
U.S. Army Transport American Legion departs Petsamo, Finland, for New York; on board is Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Martha of Norway and her three children, who have been invited to come to the United States by President Roosevelt. The last neutral ship permitted to leave Petsamo, American Legion also carries a crated twin-mount 40-millimeter Bofors gun "with standard sights...spare parts, and 3,000 rounds of ammunition. Shipment of the gun, an almost Herculean effort that involves trucking the weapon the entire length of Sweden, has required the cooperation of the British, Swedish, and Finnish governments.
Destroyers Walke (DD-416) and Wainwright (DD-420) depart Bahia, Brazil, for Pará, Brazil.
Destroyers Walke (DD-416) and Wainwright (DD-420) wind up their shakedown/goodwill cruise in Latin American waters, departing Pará for Guantanamo Bay.
Legislation is enacted authorizing the appointment of naval aviators of the Navy and Marine Corps reserve to the line of the regular Navy and Marine Corps, in order to augment the Naval Academy as a source of regular aviators.
President Roosevelt confers with Secretary of the Navy Knox, Secretary of War Stimson and Secretary of State Hull concerning a compromise to resolve the impasse that has arisen over the proposed destroyers-for-bases agreement. Subsequently, Roosevelt meets with Admiral Harold R. Stark, Chief of Naval Operations, Secretary of the Navy Knox and Secretary of State Hull, and British Ambassador Lord Lothian; these men review the proposal arrived at earlier that day. Admiral Stark certifies that the destroyers involved are no longer essential to the defense of the United States, thus clearing the way for their transfer.
Attorney General Robert H. Jackson delivers to President Roosevelt a ruling in which the legal framework for the transfer of destroyers to the British can be accomplished.
Heavy cruisers Wichita (CA-45) (Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens) and Quincy (CA-39) depart Montevideo, Uruguay, for Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Vichy France consents to Japanese military occupation of ports, airfields, and railroads in northern Indochina.
Light cruiser St. Louis (CL-49) sails from Norfolk, Virginia; embarked is the board, headed by Rear Admiral John F. Greenslade, which will evaluate base sites recently acquired from the British (see 5 September).
Light cruiser St. Louis (CL-49) arrives at Hamilton, Bermuda with Greenslade Board embarked (see 8 September).
The warm generosity with which the U.S. meets the British request for ships contrasts markedly with the cold response to the Uruguayan government's request to purchase three destroyers. U.S. Minister to Uruguay Edwin C. Wilson recounts (2 October) an interview with "a leading Uruguayan" who complains: "Having been exhorted to cooperate in continental defense, we want to build up our pitifully non-existent Navy, and we ask you to let us have two or three old destroyers that have been lying useless in your ports since the last war. You handed over fifty of these destroyers to Great Britain, and we see pictures reproduced in the papers of quantities of these ships tied up in your ports, looking like so many toy vessels in a shop window. Yet, you tell us that you find it impossible to let us have even a single one of these." Secretary of State Hull confidentially informs Minister Wilson (13 September) that the Navy Department believes "that the strategic situation in the North Atlantic does not permit the disposal of any destroyers to Uruguay at the present time, the more so as this would inevitably lead to similar requests from other American republics for [the] purchase of destroyers."
Secretary of the Navy Knox and Commander Aircraft, Scouting Force arrive at Pearl Harbor, T.H., in XPB2Y-2. The Secretary is visiting the fleet as it carries out operations in Hawaiian waters (see 9 September).
First eight destroyers are transferred to Britain under destroyers-for-bases agreement at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Aaron Ward (DD-132) becomes HMS Castleton, Buchanan (DD-131) becomes HMS Campbeltown, Crowninshield (DD-134) becomes HMS Chelsea, Hale (DD-133) becomes HMS Caldwell, Abel P. Upshur (DD-193) becomes HMS Clare, Welborn C. Wood (DD-195) becomes HMS Chesterfield, Herndon (DD-198) becomes HMS Churchill, Welles (DD-257) becomes HMS Cameron.
Navy awards contracts for 210 new construction ships including 12 aircraft carriers and 7 battleships.
Aircraft carrier Yorktown (CV-5) and submarine Shark (SS-174) are damaged in collision, Hawaiian Operating Area.
Secretary of the Navy Knox breaks his flag in carrier Enterprise (CV-6) to observe operations; Enterprise is being used as fleet flagship for a trial period by Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (Admiral J.O. Richardson). Knox will fly in to Pearl Harbor in the Enterprise Air Group Commander's SBC to emphasize the rapid pace of modern naval operations.
Light cruiser St. Louis (CL-49), with Greenslade Board embarked, arrives at St. John's, Newfoundland (see 18 September).
Light cruiser St. Louis (CL-49), with Greenslade Board embarked, shifts from St. John's, Newfoundland, to Argentia (see 21 September).
Light cruiser St. Louis (CL-49), with Greenslade Board embarked, departs Argentia for Boston (see 23 September).
Light cruiser St. Louis (CL-49), with Greenslade Board embarked, arrives at Boston, but sails for Norfolk the same day (see 25 September).
Third group of ships involved in the destroyers-for-bases agreement are turned over to the Royal Canadian Navy at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Mackenzie (DD-175) becomes HMCS Annapolis, Haraden (DD-183) becomes HMCS Columbia, Williams (DD-108) becomes HMCS St. Clair, Thatcher (DD-162) becomes HMCS Niagara, McCook (DD-252) becomes HMCS St. Croix and Bancroft (DD-256) becomes HMCS St. Francis.
Operation menace, the British-Free French attempt to take Dakar, commences this day (see 25 September).
Light cruiser St. Louis (CL-49), with Greenslade Board embarked, arrives at Norfolk (see 29 September 1940).
Operation menace, the British-Free French attempt to take Dakar, is abandoned as Vichy French resistance proves surprisingly vigorous.
French port of Nouméa, New Caledonia, sides with Free France.
Light cruiser St. Louis (CL-49), with Greenslade Board embarked, departs Norfolk for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (see 2 October).
Fourth group of ships involved in the destroyers-for-bases agreement--Branch (DD-197), Hunt (DD-194), Mason (DD-191), Satterlee (DD-190), Laub (DD-263), Aulick (DD-258), Edwards (DD-265) and McLanahan (DD-264)--arrive at Halifax, Nova Scotia (see 6 October).
Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA-28) arrives at Recife, Brazil, as she begins her goodwill cruise to Latin American ports.
United States advises American citizens to leave the Far East (see 14 October).
Japan protests U.S. embargo on aviation gasoline and scrap metal.
Carrier Wasp (CV-7), off the Virginia capes, launches 24 USAAC P-40s and 9 O-47s to gather data on comparative take-off runs of naval and army aircraft. For the first time Army planes are flown off a Navy carrier.
Department of State announces that the U.S. passenger liners Monterey, Mariposa, and Washington are being sent to the Far East to repatriate American citizens from that region in view of prevailing "abnormal conditions" there. This move is made because of the shortage of accommodations on the ships already engaged in the Far East trade. Monterey is to go to Yokohama, Japan, and Shanghai, China; Mariposa will proceed to Shanghai and Chinwangtao, China, and Kobe, Japan.
Fifth group of ships involved in the destroyers-for- bases agreement--Twiggs (DD-127), Philip (DD-76), Evans (DD-78), Wickes (DD-75), McCalla (DD-253), Rodgers (DD-170), Conner (DD-72), Conway (DD-70), Stockton (DD-73) and Yarnall (DD-143)--arrive at Halifax, Nova Scotia (see 23 October).
Light cruiser St. Louis (CL-49), with Greenslade Board embarked, arrives at San Juan, Puerto Rico (see 21 October).
Fifth group of ships involved in the destroyers-for-bases agreement are turned over to Royal Navy crews at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Twiggs (DD-127) becomes HMS Leamington, Philip (DD-76) becomes HMS Lancaster, Evans (DD-78) becomes HMS Mansfield, Wickes (DD-75) becomes HMS Montgomery, McCalla (DD-253) becomes HMS Stanley, Rodgers (DD-170) becomes HMS Sherwood, Conner (DD-72) becomes HMS Leeds, Conway (DD-70) becomes HMS Lewes, Stockton (DD-73) becomes HMS Ludlow, and Yarnall (DD-143) becomes HMS Lincoln.
Light cruiser St. Louis (CL-49), with Greenslade Board embarked, arrives at Hamilton, Bermuda (see 25 October).
German freighter Helgoland sails from Puerto Colombia, Colombia; despite the efforts of destroyers Bainbridge (DD-246), Overton (DD-239), and Sturtevant (DD-240) to pursue her over the ensuing days, Helgoland will make good her attempt to escape the confines of the Caribbean (see 3 November and 30 November).
Light cruiser St. Louis (CL-49), with Greenslade Board embarked, departs Hamilton, Bermuda, for Norfolk (see 27 October).
Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA-28) arrives at Montevideo, Uruguay, as she continues to "show the flag" in Latin American waters.
German auxiliary minelayer Passat begins laying mines in Bass Strait, the body of water between Australia and Tasmania (see 1, 7, and 8 November).
German freighter Rio Grande sails from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; she eludes the Neutrality Patrol and ultimately reaches Bordeaux, France, six weeks later.
Submarine Force, Scouting Force, ceases to exist; in its stead are two type commands: Submarines Scouting Force, Pacific Fleet, and Submarines, Atlantic Fleet. Rear Admiral Wilhelm L. Friedell becomes Commander Submarines, Scouting Force.
Naval Air Station, Alameda, California, is established, Captain Frank R. McCrary in command.
German auxiliary minelayer Passat completes laying mine barrage off Australian coast in Bass Strait (see 7-8 November).
Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA-28) departs Montevideo, Uruguay, for Buenos Aires, Argentina, as she continues to "show the flag" in Latin American waters.
Rear Admiral John W. Greenslade departs Fort-de-France, Martinique, after concluding talks with Vice Admiral Georges A.M.J. Robert. Among Admiral Greenslade's recommendations: that every effort be made to alleviate the distress of the inhabitants by easing restrictions on frozen assets to allow for purchase of food, medical supplies and gasoline for automobiles and trucks; that the naval observer and U.S. vice consul maintain careful and complete liaison with Vice Admiral Robert; that a patrol plane make daily visits to Fort-de-France to improve communications and survey the situation from the air; and that the patrols off Martinique and Guadaloupe be continued.
German freighter Helgoland, which had departed Colombian waters on 24 October, skirts the Antilles near St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, in her bid for freedom (see 30 November).
U.S. freighter City of Rayville is sunk by mine (laid by German auxiliary minelayer Passat on 31 October-1 November) east of Cape Otway, Bass Strait, Australia; City of Rayville is first U.S. merchant ship sunk in World War II. Third Engineer Mack B. Bryan, who drowns during the abandonment, is the first merchant marine casualty of World War II. The other 37 crewmen (one of whom is injured) reach safety at Apollo Bay.
Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA-28) departs Buenos Aires, Argentina, for Santos, Brazil, as she continues her goodwill cruise in Latin American waters.
In accordance with Acting Secretary of State Sumner Welles's request of 13 November, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim H. Freeman Matthews meets with Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain concerning the possible move of French battleships Richelieu and Jean Bart. Pétain assures the U.S. envoy that the two capital ships would be used to defend French territory and would never be used against the British. "Under present circumstances," Pétain informs Matthews, "I have neither the right nor the possibility of selling them" (see 18 and 22 November). 17, Sun. --
PBYs (VP 54) inaugurate flight operations from Bermuda; seaplane tender (destroyer) George E. Badger (AVD-3) provides support.
Chargé d'Affaires ad interim H. Freeman Matthews meets with Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain concerning the French battleships Richelieu and Jean Bart; the French admiral responds immediately: "Then why not leave those vessels at Dakar and Casablanca where they now are? I shall keep them there and if there should be any change in this plan I will give you previous notice." This information, received in Washington on the morning of 22 November, is communicated through channels by the President to the "Former Naval Person" (Prime Minister Churchill) on the 23rd.
Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet (Admiral Thomas C. Hart) shifts his flag from heavy cruiser Augusta (CA-31) to sistership Houston (CA-30) at Manila, P.I. Augusta departs this day to proceed to the United States via waters north of the Hawaiian chain to investigate reports of Japanese tankers operating in the region.
Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA-28) arrives Rio Grande du Sol, Brazil, as she continues her goodwill cruise in Latin American waters.
German freighter Helgoland, which has eluded the Neutrality Patrol, reaches St. Nazaire, France.
Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA-28) departs Rio Grande du Sol, Brazil, to pay a return call at Rio de Janeiro, as her goodwill cruise continues in Latin American waters.
Seaplane tender (destroyer) George E. Badger (AVD-3) runs aground in high winds off Hamilton, Bermuda, but is refloated without damage.
Admiral Smeallie's worsening condition results in his being ordered to Naval Hospital, Mare Island, California, for further treatment, and ultimately to the naval hospital in Washington, D.C.
Lord Lothian, British Ambassador to the United States, dies in Washington, D.C. President Roosevelt, at sea in heavy cruiser Tuscaloosa (CA-37), sends telegram to King George VI of England expressing his regrets at Lord Lothian's passing. "I am very certain," Roosevelt informs the King, "that if he had been allowed by Providence to leave us a last message he would have told us that the greatest of all efforts to retain democracy in the world must and will succeed.
Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA-28) departs Rio de Janeiro, for Bahia, Brazil, as she continues her goodwill cruise in Latin American waters.
Naval Air Station, Key West, Florida, is established.
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