U. S. PREPARES FOR CRISIS IN ORIENT; BRITISH DEFY JAPAN, WILL AID CHINA (10/9/40)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 10/9/40 | Harold B. Hinton, Robert P. Post, Raymond Daniell, Hanson W. Baldwin

[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 Mediterranean Basin (Map 33)
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]

Winston S. Churchill, Their Finest Hour

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Washington Acts – 2
The International Situation – 3
Military Training for Children Upheld – 3
Men in Service Advised to Get Absentee Ballots – 3
London Chief Goal – 4
Churchill Bars Any Airing of Secret Session Talks – 4
Our Manganese and Tin Ample for 1 to 2 Years – 4
Churchill to Open China’s Vital Road – 6
Moves in the Balkans – 7
Texts of Day’s War Communiques – 8

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/oct40/f09oct40.htm

Churchill chosen to lead Conservatives

Wednesday, October 9, 1940 www.onwar.com

In Britain... Following Chamberlain’s resignation Churchill is chosen as the new leader of the Conservative Party. This is an impressive achievement because he was little liked by many in the party at the time of his selection as prime minister. He has succeeded in winning their loyalty despite the hard times he has presided over. His attention to party affairs illustrates his concern for the forms of parliamentary democracy.

[BushCountry]

Need a blow-up of the Willkie speech story on the front page.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/09.htm

October 9th, 1940

UNITED KINGDOM:
RAF Bomber Command: 108 aircraft raid the battleship Tirpitz in dry dock at Wilhelmshaven.

Battle of Britain: Airfields in the south-east form today’s main targets.

London: A bomb falls on St. Paul’s Cathedral in the early morning, exploding inside the roof and severely damaging the High Altar.

Maidstone is attacked by fighter-bombers is daylight, 87 buildings being damaged, and using cloud cover a single raider managed to damage English Electric’s Stafford factory.

Losses: Luftwaffe, 9; RAF, 3.

Westminster: Winston Churchill was this afternoon elected as Tory Party leader in succession to Neville Chamberlain who retired from the government last week for health reasons. The decision - taken at a private party meeting - was reported to have been unanimous.

Mr Chamberlain had continued as Tory leader after relinquishing the premiership. Mr Churchill had many enemies in the party before the out break of war, and there was an abortive attempt by party establishment figures this morning to appoint formally a deputy leader “to keep an eye on the boss”.

After his election Mr Churchill, who knew what had been going on, referred obliquely to his past differences with the party - sometimes while a member of it and sometimes not. “Varying opinions are entertained about my career,” he said with a grin. “But I think I can call myself a Tory.”

CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Ungava launched North Vancouver, British Columbia. (Dave Shirlaw)

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-103 sighted Convoy SC-6 and sank SS Delphin and SS Zannes Gounaris and damaged SS Graigwen in Convoy SC-6. After the successful attack at 2200 hrs the boat was depth charged by a convoy escort. (Dave Shirlaw)

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/

Day 405 October 9, 1940

Battle of Britain Day 92. Despite bad weather, with rain in northern France and the Straits of Dover and clouds over the Channel, Luftwaffe mounts several large raids (consisting mainly of bomb-carrying Messerschmitt fighters) in the Southeast of England and towards London. Bombs are dropped at London, Maidstone, Hastings, Falmouth and other towns. 3 German fighters and 1 Ju88 bomber are shot down. RAF loses 1 fighter (pilot is safe). Overnight, London, Liverpool and Manchester are bombed. St Paul’s Cathedral in London is hit, destroying choir stalls and the High Altar but the building is not structurally damaged. Fairey Albacore biplane torpedo bombers of 829 Squadron from HMS Peregrine (Royal Navy air station at Ford, Sussex) bomb Brest during the night, damaging German destroyers Eckholdt, Lody and Riedel by near misses. 1 Albacore is shot down and 3 aircrew are taken prisoners of war, including the squadron commander, Lt. Cdr. Stevinson.

At 10.11 PM, 20 miles Northwest of Ireland, U-103 attacks convoy SC-6 sinking Greek steamers SS Zannes Gounaris (1 killed) and SS Delphin (all hands rescued) and damaging British SS Graigwen (7 killed, 26 crew and 1 gunner picked up by HMS Enchantress and landed at Londonderry). U-103 is then depth charged by a convoy escort but not damaged.

British submarine HMS Regent torpedoes Italian merchant ship Antonietta Costa, 20 miles West of Durrës, Albania. Antonietta Costa does not sink but goes aground and is lost 10 miles off the coast near Durrës.

British minesweeping trawler HMS Sea King hits a mine and sinks 28 miles East of Grimsby, England (14 lives lost).

German troops enter its ally, Romania, to provide protection to the oilfields vital to the German war effort.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Need a blow-up of the Willkie speech story on the front page.

I'll make a note to get it on my next news-gathering mission.

[beebuster2000]

bump

[henkster]

Today’s news gives you a really good impression of Britain’s global obligations. She was really stretched way too thin and very vulnerable. That she managed to maintain as much of her Empire as she did during this time of isolation is a testament to the character and fortitude of the British people and their leaders (at that time...)

[CougarGA7]

Battle of Britain Campaign Diary

Date: 9th October 1940

• Weather: Cloudy in the Channel with rain in northern France and the Straits of Dover.
• Day: London and airfields bombed.
• Night: Heavy raid on London.

  Enemy action by day

  There were three main attacks, of which two penetrated to London and one crossed over Kent to the Thames Estuary and Cranbrook.

  During the morning, three small raids attacked coast towns in East Sussex and two raids were plotted on the South East Coast in the evening.

  It is believed that all the larger attacks were made by Me109s.

  Reconnaissances were made over South East England, East Anglia and the Midlands and one from Selsey Bill to Portsmouth during the morning. In the afternoon two convoys were reconnoitred.

  Some enemy patrols were active in the Straits of Dover.

  Reports so far received indicate that our fighters destroyed four enemy aircraft plus four probables and five damaged. We have lost one aircraft and no pilots.

  Main Attacks

  At 1108 hours, enemy aircraft crossed the coast at Folkestone, and 20+ penetrated to South East London thence flying out by North Foreland.

  At 1133 hours 30+ aircraft came in at Rye and flew to Gravesend, Hornchurch and Canewdon, and left by the Thames Estuary. At the same time, a raid of 12+ entering at Folkestone passed over Maidstone and went South. Two other raids, one of 12+ and one of 20+ flew inland from Lympne and another raid of 12+ passed over Dungeness on a North Easterly course to Dover. A raid of 30+ enemy aircraft entered the country at Eastbourne and turned south at Cranbrook.

  All these raids originated in the Calais area.

  At 1430 hours enemy aircraft were massing for an attack from the Boulogne/Gris Nez/Calais area and approximately 160 to 180 aircraft crossed the coast near Lympne at 1438 hours and attacked East London. They were active in an area bounded by Hornchurch, Biggin Hill, Dungeness, Dover and the Thames Estuary. No 11 Group despatched 9 Squadrons and No 12 Group 3 Squadrons to meet this attack.

  The enemy maintained patrols in the Straits of Dover throughout this period.

  Small attacks on the East Sussex Coast

  Between 0900 and 1100 hours, two small raids from Dieppe attacked Bexhill and another attacked Rye.

  At 1730 hours 2+ enemy aircraft crossed the coast at Dungeness and flew out via Rye, and at 1750 a raid of 12+ entered at Dungeness and went Northwards over the coast to Romney.

  Reconnaissances

  Between 0600 and 0700 hours one aircraft from Holland flew to Hatfield and one to Bedford. One aircraft crossed the coast at Harwich and was at Leighton Buzzard at 0821 leaving by Shoeburyness and at about the same time one aircraft flew from the Dutch Islands to Bury St Edmunds and out via Southwold.

  Reconnaissances between 0900 hours and 1100 hours were carried out on Debden leaving by Blackwater; from Dieppe via Hastings to Biggin Hill, Northolt and Kenley leaving by Dover.

  An unidentified aircraft (possibly a Ju88) flew from the Wash to Boston, Nottingham, Burton on Trent, Shrewsbury and Crewe where it was lost.

  At 1133 hours, one enemy aircraft from Gris Nez reconnoitred from Selsey Bill to Portsmouth and was successfully intercepted on its return flight.

  Of four small raids tracked out to sea between Start Point and Lands End from 1300 to 141 hours, two reconnoitred two convoys.

  Patrols

  Between 1300 and 1415 hours, there were twelve small raids in the Straits of Dover between Beachy Head and the North Foreland and from 1700 to 1830 hours, patrols of about 12+ aircraft were maintained in the Straits of Dover.

  Night Operations - 9th / 10th October 1940

  1900 Hours to 2100 Hours

  Night activity commenced at about 1850 hours, raids crossing the coast towards two main objectives. The first was the Liverpool/Manchester area, the enemy crossing near Swanage from the Cherbourg area. About 6 aircraft were involved in this attack and they returned on reciprocal tracks. About 90 aircraft crossed the coast from Baie De La Seine, Dieppe and Holland, between Selsey and Cromer toward the main objective of London. Minelaying was probable from the Wash to St Abb's Head and there was also slight activity over East Anglia.

  2100 Hours to 2300 Hours

  There was little activity except around 2300 hours. Minelaying, however, increased and extended from Montrose to the Estuary. There were also small raids by single aircraft in the West County and near Catterick.

  2300 Hours to 0100 Hours 10.10.40

  By 2330 hours activity had almost ceased and throughout the period only isolated enemy aircraft were operating towards London. 1 raid was reported near Derby.

  0100 Hours to 0300 Hours

  Very slight activity confined entirely to London except for one raid reached to Peterborough. Aircraft were plotted from the Dutch Islands and Dieppe.

  0300 Hours to 0600 Hours

  Increased activity was maintained constantly towards the London area and penetrated as far as Debden. Sorties continued to arrive both from the East and South.

  

  ________________________________________

  Statistics Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 9th October 1940

• Blenheim - 38
• Spitfire - 229
• Hurricane - 394
• Defiant - 17
• Gladiator - 8
• Total – 686

  Casualties:

  	Enemy Losses
  	By Fighters
  Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
  3 Me109	2 Me109	2 Me109
  1 Ju88	1 Ju88	2 Ju88
  	1 Do215
  		1 He111
  4	4	5

• Own:

• One aircraft with pilot safe.

  Patrols:

• Own

• During the night of 8th / 9th October - 33 patrol involving 33 aircraft.
• During the day of 9th October - 115 patrols involving 439 aircraft.

• Enemy

• It is estimated that about 220 enemy aircraft operated over or near our coasts during the night 8th / 9th October and 290 during the day of 9th October.

  Balloons:

• No report.

  Serviceability of Aerodromes:

• No report.

  Organisation:

• 8th October 1940

• No 312 (Czech) Squadron ½ Squadron is operational.
• No 1 (Canadian) Squadron from Northolt to Prestwick.
• No 615 Squadron from Prestwick to Northolt.

• 9th October 1940

• No 609 Squadron from Tangmere to Montrose.
• No 145 Squadron from Montrose to Tangmere.

• Corrigendum: With reference to summary for 7 October 1940, the changes to 56 and 87 Squadrons have not yet been effected.

  Home Security Reports

• General Summary

• Date: 9th October 1940

• During the day many ineffectual attacks were made upon the Capital, but on two occasions in the afternoon enemy aircraft penetrated the London area and dropped bombs, mostly in the Eastern and South-Eastern Districts. The East Ham Memorial Hospital was hit, involving some casualties, and some damage was done to communications and dock-side property.
• Towns in South and South-East England were also attacked during daylight, and some damage was done to property and casualties caused; an attack was also made on the English Electric Works at Stafford, causing only slight damage.
• A feature of the Enemy's daylight attacks was low level bombing and machine-gunning, particularly during the dusk period.
• Night operations against London commenced soon after dark, and most districts of the Capital were attacked during the night, particular attention being paid to railway communications which suffered some damage. A few fires were started, but were brought quickly under control.
• Elsewhere, the night raids were fairly widespread over the Southern half of England and South Wales, but no material damage appears to have been done, nor were the casualties heavy.

• Detailed Summary

• RAF Stations - 8th October 1940

• Lee on Solent Naval Air Station: At 1853 hours a low-level bombing and machine-gunning attack was made, six bombs being dropped. No damage to buildings or casualties were caused.
• Yeovilton Naval Air Station: At 1930 hours about 12 bombs were dropped on the Aerodrome, including two on the main runway. None of these exploded when dropped.

• RAF Stations - 9th October 1940

• Penrhos: About 20 bombs were dropped around the Station at 1810 hours, but only very slight damage was done to the roofs of buildings.
• St Eval: Two enemy aircraft attacked the Station between 1855 and 2035 hours, dropping 6 HE and 50 IB. An airmen's hut was demolished and two others damaged, but no casualties were caused.
• St Merryn Naval Air Station: Two low level attacks at 1900 hours and 2015 hours were made on Do215 with HE and incendiary bombs. One hangar and the Sick Bay were damaged, and one Proctor aircraft destroyed. One Swordfish was also damaged, and the aerodrome is unserviceable owing to unexploded bombs.

• Factories - 9th October 1940

• At 1010 hours bombs fell near Vickers Armstrong Works at Weybridge, but only one house was slightly damaged.
• At 1100 hours a single enemy aircraft dropped bombs on the English Electric Works at Stafford. Only slight damage was done, and there were twenty minor casualties.
• An unexploded bomb fell in the Milling Shop at Siemens, Woolwich, at 1514 hours.
• HE bombs fell at Marconi's W/T Co, Vauxhall Works, SE8 causing 8 casualties, at 2020 hours. No details of damage are available.

• Docks

• At 2035 hours a fire was caused by bombs at the Cunard Transit shed, Surrey Commercial docks. This was extinguished by 2120 hours.
• At 1505 hours railway trucks were damaged in a siding at the Royal Albert Dock, by HE bombs.

• Railways

• At 1125 hours HE bombs fell at the junction of the LMS and Electric Railway at Stevenage Road. Both railways were blocked.
• At 1930 hours the main Shrewsbury - Crewe line was hit and completely blocked near Shrewsbury Station.
• The SR Main Line was hit by HE bombs at 2030 hours near Kingston Road bridge, Malden. Serious damage was caused and all tracks were out of commission.
• HE bombs fell at 2058 hours close to the District Line at Bow, and Bow Road Station is unserviceable.

• Other damage

• At 1155 hours damage was done by HE bombs to 87 buildings, including garages, at Maidstone.
• Hastings was attacked at 1045 hours, 1205 hours, and again at 1445 hours. In the second attack five houses were wrecked and many damaged.
• Falmouth was attacked at 1912 hours, 8 HE bombs being dropped in the centre of the town. Damage was done to utility mains and casualties amounted to 6 killed and 14 injured.
• Newport (Mon) received damage to mains and property by 5 HE bombs at 1950 hours. An hotel was wrecked, and slight fires were started in the RAF Unit Depot.
• Terminus Telephone Exchange, St Pancras, was put out of service by flooding, caused by a broken water main, at about 2000 hours; and at 2120 hours the Battlebridge Road Gasometers were reported hit and on fire. There is no confirmation of this, but a serious fire took place.

• Late report

• St Paul's Cathedral has been hit by bombs, and the Choir Stalls and Altar badly damaged.

  Battle of Britain

[BroJoeK]

henkster: "That she managed to maintain as much of her Empire as she did during this time of isolation is a testament to the character and fortitude of the British people and their leaders (at that time...)"

My understanding is that Churchill's deal with Roosevelt was essentially the following: Roosevelt would do everything possible to save Britain and defeat Nazism, but in exchange, Britain would lose its empire.

Unfortunately, I can't cite off the top of my head where I read this, but if there's major disagreement, I could make the effort to look it up again.

[CougarGA7]

That’s a real general description, but I guess in a way that would be correct. It wasn’t necessarily Roosevelt’s intention to dismantle British colonialism as much as it was his intent to not use American resources to protect it. At this time America had turned very much anti-imperialistic and Roosevelt was especially so. The intention to cut loose the Philippines in 1946 as an example of the American shift.

A real interesting book that I just finished that spends quite a bit of time on the relationship between FDR and Churchill is “Winston’s War” by Max Hastings. I’m going to be writing a book review on it here in the next week or so and I do recommend it for those who want a better understanding of Churchill and some of the relationships he had with the other Allied players.

[henkster]

I don’t think there was any such deal made. FDR made clear to Churchill that he was NOT going to war to save the British Empire, but rather to defeat Nazi and Imperial Japanese aggression. FDR did not favor the British Empire, and so was not inclined to do anything to save it, but he wasn’t going to deliberately direct its dissolution, either. I think he knew it’s dissolution was an inherent consequence of the outcome of the war and an inevitability.

The British Empire was not liquidated in 1945, but rather occurred incrementally over the next two decades.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Need a blow-up of the Willkie speech story on the front page.

It blowed up real good.

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[BushCountry]

Thank you. I was curious too see the isolationist’s argument at the time and if Willkie would mention his opposition to a New Deal program or in general. On a side note, it was funny to read about the booing at the speech stops. Evidently, planting people to disrupt a speech has been going on for a long time.

[BroJoeK]

"Jersey City 'Shocked' at Willkie Comment;
Conditions There Laid to 'Hoover Slump' "

More Amazing!

Eight years later, the Dems are still blaming "Hoover's Slump" for Roosevelt's Great Depression.

Can it be any wonder that today Obama still blames Bush for whatever's wrong?

After all, by FDR's standards, he's still got six years of blaming Bush to go... if he lasts that long... ;-)

[1010RD]

I am currently enjoying Paul Johnson’s Churchill very much. I’d always admired Churchill, but getting to know him better makes him all the more likeable to me.

[CougarGA7]

I like Churchill a lot though I realize that he had his failings. I recommend reading Hastings’ “Winston’ War” since it really does look at both sides of Churchill. I also would recommend reading “Partners in Command” by Perry if you want to get some insight in the interactions between Churchill, Marshall, and Eisenhower. You can really see that Churchill’s powers of personality which worked so well on Roosevelt had very little effect on Ike and Marshall.