Posted on 03/26/2011 6:39:51 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
Winston S. Churchill, The Grand Alliance
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1941/mar41/f26mar41.htm
HMS York crippled in Crete
Wednesday, March 26, 1941 www.onwar.com
In the Mediterranean... A night attack by explosive boats of a special Italian unit penetrates Suda Bay in Crete and sinks one tanker and cripples the British cruiser York. Following the claims by German aircraft to have sunk two of the British Mediterranean Fleet’s battleships and with the promise of German air support and reconnaissance, Admiral Iachino leads the Italian Fleet on a sortie into the Aegean to disrupt the British convoys to Greece. He has one battleship, six heavy cruisers, two light cruisers and 13 destroyers.
In East Africa... The British forces occupy Harar, Abyssinia. The Italian forces and their new local allies begin an attack on Wingate’s Gideon force around Burye (continuing to April 4th). They are beaten off despite their superior strength.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/26.htm
March 26th, 1941
UNITED KINGDOM: As a result of the call-up, there is a shortage of full-time firemen in the Auxiliary Fire Service, and of workers in the first-aid and rescue services. As a result of the National Service Bill introduced today, men called up will be able to state a preference to serve in Civil Defence instead of the armed forces. At present 90% of Civil Defence workers are volunteers.
Compulsory Civil Defence service will apply equally to those registered “conditionally” as Conscientious Objectors - those required to continue their present jobs or work on the land, in hospitals or with the ambulance service. They can now be directed into Civil Defence but not into the Police War Reserve, which sometimes carries arms.
Some have refused to take up the work imposed on them by the tribunals, Michael Tippett was sentenced to three months in jail for refusing to do full-time work for Civil Defence whereas Benjamin Britten, his fellow composer, was granted unconditional exemption from service. Since the call-up began, 31,000 men out of two million have registered as objectors.
London:
Churchill outlines the Import Programme for the next year, with an estimated 31 million tons of imports of which no less than 15 million tons shall be food.
The army plans to increase its number to 59.3 “equivalent divisions” with 12 armoured divisions and 9 Army tank brigades.
The Naval Programme retains the remaining King George V battleships, being completed at full speed, but with HMS Vanguard being the only ship that can be completed in 1943, and definitely in service by 1945.
London:
Churchill to Wavell:
We are naturally concerned at rapid German advances to Agheila. It is their habit to push on whenever they are not resisted. I presume you are only waiting for the tortoise to stick his head out far enough before chopping it off. It seems extremely important to give them an early taste of our quality. What is the state and location of 7th Armoured Division? Pray give me your appreciation.
GERMANY: The German war zone extended beyond Iceland.
Daily Keynote from the Reich Press Chief
Take care how you report world reaction to Yugoslavia joining the Tripartite Pact. Emphasize the opinions of the British and Americans who, on the one hand, do not hide their disappointment and on the other hand, are still desirous of stirring up trouble in Yugoslavia.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA:CRETE: Five Italian Navy M.T.M. (modified tourism motorboats) enter the harbor in Suda Bay to attack Royal Navy ships. These boats have an explosive charge in the bow and are crewed by one man who aims the boat at the target and then jumps overboard about 100 yards (91 meters) away before the boat hits the target. One of the M.T.M.s sinks a Norwegian freighter while a second severally damages the British heavy cruiser HMS York at 0516 hours. The damage causes both boiler rooms and the forward engine room to fit is hit by three bombs, including two 1102 pound (500 kilogram) bombs, causing her finally to be abandoned on 22 May 1941. The wreck was scrapped in 1952. (Jack McKillop)
Two Italian supply ships sink on mines laid by HMS Rorqual.
MEDITERRANEAN: The Battle of Cape Matapan. Following the claims by the Luftwaffe to have sunk two of the British Mediterranean Fleet’s battleships and with the promise of German air support and reconnaissance, Vice Admiral Angelo Iachino leads the Italian Fleet on a sortie into the Aegean Sea to disrupt the British convoys to Greece. He has the battleship Vittorio Veneto, the heavy cruisers Bolzano, Fiume, Pola, Trento, Trieste and Zara, the light cruiser Giuseppe Garibaldi and 17 destroyers. They were promised full aerial support by both the Regia Aeronautica and the Luftwaffe but neither Air Force provided these ships with air cover. (Jack McKillop)
ETHIOPIA: Italian troops at Harrar surrender to the British. The Italian forces and their local allies begin an attack on Major Orde Wingate’s Gideon force but they are beaten off despite their superior strength. (Jack McKillop)
U.S.A.: The New York Times reports on the racketeering during the construction of the new army camp at Fort George G. Meade in Maryland. (The figures in brackets are year 2000 US dollars provided by Jack McKillop)
“...the ‘take’ for two unions alone, carpenters and common laborers, was estimated at $400,000 ($4,705,882)... Meade is 91% completed. The original estimate of its cost totals $18,882,128 ($222,142,682). The final cost will be around $23 million ($270 million). Overtime to date totals $1,808,320 ($21,274,353).
At the peak of the building operation, 30% of the money spent for labor ‘didn’t drive a nail’. That is, it was a premium payment for overtime.
...great numbers of ‘Sears Roebuck carpenters’ got jobs. (They were called that because they get a Sears Roebuck outfit of tools for five dollars [$58.82] and instantly become carpenters.) ...labor efficiency is estimated between 50% and 65%.” (38)
Marc Small adds: Camp Meade, as it was then, wasn’t actually “new” — it was a WW1 Camp; Brigadier General Douglas MacArthur was slated to raise a brigade of the 11th Division there in July 1918, though the vehement protests of Menoher kept him in France with the Rainbow Division. After the Armistice, it served as the US Army’s “home of armor” — Col. Patton had the First Tank Brigade there, with Lt-Col. Dwight Eisenhower as his XO, from 1919 to 1921.
CANADA: An accidental explosion and fire destroy the armed yacht HMCS Otter off Halifax, Nova Scotia. Two officers and 17 men are lost. (Jack McKillop)
http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/
Day 573 March 26, 1941
At 4.46 AM, 6 Italian motor assault boats (Motoscafo da Turismo Modificato or MTM) enter Suda Bay, Crete. The pilots line up selected targets and jump off. 2 MTMs hit British cruiser HMS York causing flooding (2 killed) and she is beached to prevent capsizing. Norwegian tanker Pericles is sunk. All 6 MTM pilots survive and are captured.
Following faulty reports indicating damage to 2 British battleships by German Heinkel He111 torpedo bombers, Italian battleship Vittorio Veneto, 5 cruisers and 10 destroyers leave Naples, Taranto and Brindisi to patrol the sea between Egypt and Greece. Germany urges the Italian Navy to attack British convoys to Greece and promises Luftwaffe air cover.
Anti-Nazi demonstrations continue in Yugoslavia.
North Africa. British CIC Middle East, General Wavell, believes German forces are not prepared for a major attack and will wait at El Agheila. Churchill appreciates the danger better and cables Wavell “We are naturally concerned at rapid German advance to El Agheila. It is their habit to push on wherever they are not resisted. I presume you are only waiting for the tortoise to stick his head out far enough before chopping it off”. Wavell, however, has no intention of counterattacking.
Battle of Keren, Eritrea. Italian defenders in the hills above the Dongolaas Gorge (distracted by ground assaults and RAF air strikes) are unaware of the road repairs by Allied sappers and miners. By midday, after only 30 hours, 100 yards of craters & large boulders have been repaired and the road through the Gorge is open. Overnight, Italians realize their position has been turned and start withdrawing artillery and troops to Keren.
Operation Canvas. Italian retreat in Ethiopia continues following defeats in the mountain passes. Nigerian Brigade occupies the town of Harar, 20 miles from Babile, without a fight. Indian troops from Berbera, British Somaliland, advance another 100 miles and link up with General Cunningham’s forces at Jijiga, Ethiopia, greatly easing supply problems for the push to the capital Addis Ababa.
Canadian armed yacht HMCS Otter catches fire and sinks off Halifax, Nova Scotia (19 dead).
I see that even in 1941 in the middle of a World War, the scum unions were still causing trouble. They should have all been shot plain and simple. The “Bolshevik” union leader has the gall to call the state police “Cossacks”. Unreal.
“I see that even in 1941 in the middle of a World War, the scum unions were still causing trouble. They should have all been shot plain and simple. The “Bolshevik” union leader has the gall to call the state police “Cossacks”. Unreal.”
We hadn’t yet been attacked, but EVERYONE knew what was around the corner. The UNIONS had to be DRAGGED kicking and screaming into World War 2 - why their leaders weren’t hanged for TREASON alludes me. These outfits need to be DESTROYED and NEVER permitted to organize again.
This was SICK and, without a doubt, cost thousands of American lives, and millions of lives around the world. These posting help me remember why I HATE unions so much.
The trend continues.
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