ROOSEVELT TRADES DESTROYERS FOR SEA BASES; TELLS CONGRESS HE ACTED ON OWN AUTHORITY (9/4/40)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 9/4/40 | Frank L. Kluckhohn, Raymond Daniell, James B. Reston, Brydon Taves

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Selections from West Point Atlas for the Second World War
German Fighter Range and British Radar Deployment
Marcks’ Plan, August 5, 1940
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941 – The Imperial Powers, 1 September 1939

Plus a special guest map from Michael Korda’s, “With Wings Like Eagles,” showing the air defenses of England and Wales, August 1940.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Gordon W. Prange, At Dawn We Slept

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Line of 4,500 Miles – 2-4
Roosevelt’s Message and the Diplomatic Exchanges – 5
British Jubilant – 6
The International Situation – 7
R.A.F. Repels Raids – 8-9
Writer on British Destroyer Sees U-Boats in Raids and One Sunk – 10
The Texts of the Day’s Communiques on the War – 11

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/sep40/f04sep40.htm

Antonescu in charge in Romania

Wednesday, September 4, 1940 www.onwar.com

In Romania... There are political upheavals following the recent losses of territory by the Vienna Award. King Carol gives General Antonescu full powers.

Over Britain... German effort is wasted on less vital aircraft factories. They attack a bomber factory at Weybridge.

From Washington... The United States warns the Japanese government against making aggressive moves in Indochina.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/04.htm

September 4th, 1940

UNITED KINGDOM:
RAF Bomber Command:
4 Group (Whitley).51 Sqn. 1 aircraft missing from Berlin, ditched off Holland. 1 crew drowned, rest PoW.
Bombing - power station at Berlin - oil tanks at Magdeburg - ‘Razzling’.
51 Sqn. Six aircraft to Berlin. Five bombed and ‘Razzled’, one FTR.
78 Sqn. Six aircraft to Magdeburg. Five bombed primary, one bombed Bremen.

Battle of Britain:
RAF Fighter Command: Airfields at Bradwell, Lympne and Eastchurch (twice) are bombed.

Medway towns and Shorts aircraft factory at Rochester and Vickers at Weybridge are bombed.

At night Liverpool, Bristol, south-east England are raided.

A small group of low-flying, bomb-carrying Bf110s of ZG 76 crossed the coast at Littlehampton, then made for Brooklands Hurricane factory. Hurricanes of 253 Squadron patrolling near Guildford and using Observer Corps information swooped upon the ‘110s, destroying six. Confusion overtook the remainder as they hurled 500-kg bombs at the Vickers Wellington factory, killing 88 and causing over 700 casualties as a result of heavy machinery, materials and glass being hurled around factory shops.

The intention was that Bf110s and ‘109s of Erpro 210 after attacking Poling CH (Chain Home radar) station, would provide withdrawal cover for ZG 76. Instead, RAF fighters also dealt effectively with the escort, picking off its Gruppenkommandeur and forcing ZG 76 to find its own way home.

Losses: Luftwaffe, 25; RAF, 17.

A Bristol Beaufighter Mk. IF assigned to the Fighter Interception Unit at Tangmere, Sussex, makes its debut in the night fighter role during the night of 4/5 September. (Jack McKillop)

Corvettes HMS Marigold and Tulip launched.
Corvette HMS Coltsfoot laid down.

Minelayer HMS Welshman launched. (Dave Shirlaw)

GERMANY: Berlin: “I have tried to spare the British ... they have replied by murdering German women and children,” says Hitler, threatening savage reprisals on British cities. “When they declare that they will attack our cities in great strength, then we will erase theirs.”

U-656 is laid down. U-142 is commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Fleet Air Arm Swordfish aircraft from Illustrious and Eagle mounted an air strike against airfields on the island of Rhodes. (Dave Shirlaw)

CANADA: Corvette HMCS Levis launched Lauzon, Province of Quebec. (Dave Shirlaw)

U.S.A.: The US government warns the Japanese government against making aggressive moves in Indochina.

Submarine USS Grayling launched.
Destroyer USS Corry laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Destroyer HMCS St Laurnet and corvette HMS Godetia rescued survivors from merchant ship Titan (9,035 GRT). Titan was sunk by U-47, KKpt Günther Prien Knights Cross, Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, CO. She was in ballast at the time of her sinking. Six crewmembers were lost from her crew. Titan had been a member of the 27-ship Methil Roads (Thames Estuary) north bound to Liverpool convoy OA-207. The convoy departed on 31 Aug 40 and Titan was the only ship lost. (Dave Shirlaw)

U-46 sinks the SS Luimneach. (Dave Shirlaw)

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/

Day 370 September 4, 1940

Battle of Britain Day 57. More good weather for flying and Luftwaffe sends 2 raids up the Thames Estuary and across Kent to attack RAF airfields at Brooklands, Eastchurch, Lympne & Rochford as well as the aircraft works at Rochester (Short Brothers) and Brooklands (Vickers Armstrong, where 55 workers are killed and 250 injured). 20 German aircraft are shot down (6 Bf109s, 1 He111 and 13 Bf110s). RAF loses 9 Spitfires, 6 Hurricanes and 1 Defiant which crashes during night landing practice (11 pilots and 1 gunner killed). Overnight, there is bombing of South Wales and the Midlands. Hitler makes a speech condemning RAF bombing of Germany and threatens the destruction of British cities in retaliation. This is exactly the reaction Churchill is hoping for, to draw the Luftwaffe’s fire away from the RAF airfields. http://www.battleofbritain1940.net/0034.html

Following the humiliating acquisition of Romanian territory by USSR and Germany Romanian King Carol II hands over power to pro-German General Ion Antonescu. Antonescu will become Prime Minister and form the National Legionary State, an uneasy partnership with the was ultra-nationalist fascist Iron Guard.

German motor torpedo S-boats attack convoy FS.271 off Great Yarmouth. S-21 sinks steamers Corbrook & New Lambton and S-22 sinks Fulham IV (all crews are rescued). S-18 sinks British SS Joseph Swan (only 1 survivor) and the Dutch SS Nieuwland (8 crew killed). S-54 damages steamer Ewell.

At 8 PM, U-46 sinks neutral Irish SS Luimneach (carrying 1250 tons of pyrites from Huelva Spain, to Ireland) 200 miles West of Brest, France. 3 crew are taken prisoner and landed at Lorient on 6 September. The other 15 crew are picked up by a French fishing boat. At 1.28 AM, U-47 sinks British SS Titan (in ballast en route to Australia) in convoy OA-207 250 miles Northwest of Ireland (6 killed). 89 crew are picked up by escort destroyer HMCS St. Laurent (H 83) (Lt H.S. Rayner, RCN).
http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/513.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Submarine USS Grayling launched.

Wasn't Grayling to be the standard design for attack submarines in the USN for the next few years?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

This is the one-year anniversary of the sinking of the Athenia If anyone wants to revisit the story, here is the link.

NY Times, 9/4/39

Here is an amazing thread from yesterday with an interview of a survivor of the sinking.

Unsinkable spirit: Margaret Crow recalls fateful summer of '39, when she survived U-boat attack (9/3/10)

[PzLdr]

And for anybody who doubts FDR was trying to get us into the war, note not only the destroyer deal [with more to come later, like convoying British ships to Iceland, radioing U-boat positions to the Brits, etc]; bu the U.S warning Japan off Indochina, which belonged to Vichy France.

[Sherman Logan]

There is no doubt at all that FDR was behaving in a wildly unconstitutional way. Liberals, who got their panties in such a bunch over the Patriot Act, ignore this.

I don’t ignore it, but I do believe he behaved appropriately, even though unconstitutionally. As during our Civil War, unconstitutional measures are sometimes necessary to save the Constitution.

Had Britain been defeated, our eventual return to Europe would have been far more difficult, and if USSR had gone down, a distinct possibility with Germany having only one front to deal with, a US invasion of Europe would have been quite impossible without using the Bomb.

[CougarGA7]

Battle of Britain Campaign Diary

Date: 4th September 1940

• Weather: Fine and warm with haze in the Channel and Straits. Occasional rain and strong winds in the north.
• Day: Two major attacks on airfields. Serious damage to the Vickers Works at Brooklands.
• Night: Further raid on Liverpool.

  Enemy action by day

  The enemy's main effort consisted of two attacks in East Kent and Thames Estuary areas. There was also a considerable amount of high flying reconnaissances of convoys, especially round the North and East Coasts and Wales. Our fighters destroyed 52 enemy aircraft (plus 19 probable and 22 damaged). Our casualties amounted to 17 aircraft and six pilots killed or missing.

  North

  At 1140 hours one Ju88 was identified in the Dunbar area although no track was plotted. At 1610 hours and 1809 hours two high altitude reconnaissance flights approached Montrose and Aberdeen. The second of these reported the position of a convoy. Fighters went up but did not intercept.

  East

  Some high altitude reconnaissances were flown by enemy aircraft off the Coast of Norfolk.

  South East

  Between 0600 and 0700 hours one aircraft at 17,000 feet was over a convoy off North Foreland. It was engaged by fighters but the result was inconclusive.

  At 0915 hours activity developed into an attack by about 150 aircraft. One group of 80 flew into the Estuary and on towards Eastchurch, Hornchurch, North Weald and Debden, and the other of 70 crossed near Lympne and flew towards Biggin Hill. Most of the aircraft soon turned and by 0945 hours were recrossing the coast. During their withdrawal a force of 30 aircraft patrolled off North Foreland in addition to the usual hostile patrols in the Straits. Casualties were inflicted on the enemy.

  At 1235 hours 5 hostile bombers were over Dover and at 1258 hours an attack developed. By 1305 hours some 200 aircraft crossed the coast on a wide front between Dover and Littlehampton at 20,000 feet. The bulk flew over Kent and Sussex but had commenced to disperse by 1400 hours. Some however flew over the Thames Estuary and near Gravesend but drew off at 1340 hours. A third section of about 50 aircraft flew along the Coast to West of Shoreham as if making for Kenley but quickly turned back. Damage was done at Weybridge. Fighters inflicted considerable casualties on the enemy. During the period of these raids about 80 enemy aircraft remained on patrol in the Straits.

  At 1635 hours one enemy aircraft at 5,000 feet flew towards Dover. One section of fighters did not make interception. Between 1730 and 1750 hours small raids and two of six aircraft and one of 12 approached Dungeness but did not cross the coast.

  South

  Between 0700 and 0800 hours four hostile raids were in the Channel off the Isle of Wight, Portland and Beachy Head. At 1615 hours 2+ aircraft flew over the Isle of Wight. A section sent up did not made interception.

  West

  At 1132 hours a hostile reconnaissance was made over a convoy at Milford Haven.

  By night

  Enemy activity commenced earlier at 2000 hours and later concentrated on South Wales and the Midlands including Manchester and Liverpool whence some raids crossed to Newcastle. The number of enemy aircraft involved on the route Cherbourg-Poole-Midlands up to 2345 hours is estimated at 100.

  In addition there were widespread isolated raids involving at least a further 100 aircraft over the Eastern half of the country including the London area, and at various points round the Coast indicating probable mine-laying. These raids continued to come in up to approximately 0300 hours by which time the majority of raids inland had begun to move away in a South Easterly direction.

  

  ________________________________________

  Statistics

  Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 4th September 1940

• Blenheim - 50
• Spitfire - 218
• Hurricane - 407
• Defiant - 21
• Gladiator - 8
• Total – 704

  Casualties:

  	Enemy Losses
  	By Fighters
  Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
  8 Me109	7 Me109	2 Me109
  31 Me110	9 Me110	16 Me110
  6 Me110 (Jaguars)
  4 Do17	3 Do17	2 Do17
  3 Ju88		1 Ju88
  		1 He111
  52	19	22

  
  * Since the above was written 1 He111 and 1 Do17 have been claimed as destroyed at 0200 hours near Braintree, and 1 enemy aircraft (? type) was damaged at 0041 hours near Helmsley (Yorks).

• Own:

• 17 aircraft with 6 pilots killed or missing.

  Patrols:

• Own

• During the night of 3rd/4th September - 27 patrols involving 34 sorties.
• During the day of 4th September - 123 patrols involving 677 sorties.

• Enemy

• It is estimated that about 100 -120 enemy aircraft operated over Great Britain during the night 3rd/4th September and 650 during the day of 4th September.

  Balloons:

• No reports.

  Aerodromes:

• Abbotsinch and Hartlepool unserviceable by night.

  Attacks on Aerodromes

• Brooklands, Eastchurch, Lympne, Rochford and Rochester.

  Organisation:

• Nil.

  Home Security Reports

• Date: 4th September 1940

• General Summary

• During the day, two raids were made by enemy aircraft, during which bombs were dropped - the first being between 0950 and 1015 hours, when attacks were made on Eastchurch, Lympne and Bradwell-on-Sea Aerodromes and in other places in Essex and Kent. No reports have been received of serious damage or casualties resulting from these raids. In the second raid, between 1300 and 1400 hours, more serious consequences resulted. Bombs were dropped on the Vickers Armstrong Works at Weybridge and Pobjoys Factory at Rochester. At the former, considerable damage was done to the erecting shop and plant and very serious casualties occurred. The figure quoted is 55 killed and approximately 250 injured.
• During the night of the 4th/5th September, attacks were carried out in Dorsetshire, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Lancashire, London, Monmouthshire, Norfolk, Northumberland, Pembrokeshire, Shropshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Sussex, Worcestershire and East Lothian.

• Detailed Summary

• Weybridge: The attack on Vickers Armstong Works was carried out by an unspecified number of aircraft but from reports received it appears that five or six direct hits on buildings were made and other heavy calibre bombs dropped outside hangars causing some damage but it is considered that casualties would have been greater but for the fact that the attack was made during the lunch hour. It appears that bombs dropped before the red warning was received. The full extent of the effect on production is not yet ascertained, but it is gathered that considerable delay will occur.
• Rochester: Full reports are not yet to hand of the effect of the bombing of the Works and Aerodrome of Short Bros.
• Lympne: The Aerodrome which was attacked at 0934 hours on the 4th September, does not appear to suffered any damage of importance.
• Tilbury: A serious fire resulted from a bombing attack when the Orient Line Offices were set alight but it was reported at a later hour that the fire was under control.
• Bristol: Damage was caused to a section of the main line at Temple Meads Station.
• Bournemouth: Some serious damage was caused to houses, a railway line and a road.
• Eastchurch: Eastchurch was subjected to two attacks during the day of the 4th and Dunkirk (RAF Station) to one attack but no major damage has been reported.

• Casualties on the Ground by Enemy Action:

• To RAF Personnel - Nil killed, Nil injured.
• To others - 67 killed, 330 injured approximately.

  Battle of Britain

[CougarGA7]

The Grayling was a Gar Class submarine. The Gar Class was pretty much indestinquishable from the Tambor class (remember the Tautog commissioned last July). These were the workhorses for the U.S. submarine fleet and were the standard until the introduction of the Gato Class in 1942.

Here's a picture of the Grayling on launch day.

[BroJoeK]

"There is no doubt at all that FDR was behaving in a wildly unconstitutional way. Liberals, who got their panties in such a bunch over the Patriot Act, ignore this."

Least we so soon forget -- most liberals supported the Patriot Act at the time.
Only political perfidy drove some against it while President Bush was in office.
With their own Obama in charge now... silence from the Left.

I don't agree that FDR's actions were necessarily "unconstitutional."
He certainly had enough support in Congress that it made no efforts to stop him.
Had there been a serious clash between Congress and Executive, then we might argue which was more constitutionally correct...

However, FDR's actions were anything but "neutral."
They were provocations and acts of war against Germany in every way but the official declaration.

Americans never felt truly "neutral."
They-we supported the western allies from the beginning.
The only issue ever was: how far were we willing to go to help our friends?

All the way to declared war?
No, not yet -- after all we've not ever been directly attacked...