Posted on 03/07/2010 9:18:52 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
Ship Defies U-Boats – 2-3
House Group Votes Labor Act Change; New Dealers Balk – 3
The International Situation – 3
World’s Largest Liner Which Arrived at Gate of New York Last Night After Dramatic and Secret Maiden Voyage (Photographs) – 4-5
New Queen of Seas Departed Secretly – 5-6
Front Trial Put Over to April 3 by Judge – 6
British Deny Error in Clipper Seizure – 6
Danube Federation Backed by Archduke – 6
Finns Weigh Truce – 7-8
Pope’s Air Raid Shelter In Vatican Nearly Ready – 8
Finns Driving Back Reds’ Bay Thrusts – 9
Australia Raises 90,000 More Men – 10
2 Ambulances Leave for Finland Today – 10
Dr. Hoff Tells of Aid of U.S. to Finn Cause – 10
20 Britons Slain in Outpost Fight, Say Nazis; 16 Reported Seized; 2 Radio Greetings Home – 11
Commons Backs Palestine Curbs – 12
Paris Decrees Death for 2 Radio Traitors – 12
Control of Exports Extended in Canada – 13
Incidents in European Conflict – 14
3 Largest Ocean Liners Will Be Docked Here - 14
Although not designed or built with the QUEEN ELIZABETH or QUEEN MARY specifically in mind, BISMARCK and TIRPITZ were capable of catching them, and might have made life interesting when the two liners became troop transports. Not sure, but SCHARNHORST and GNIESENAU might have been able to as well [if the liners were unescorted].
In Ladoga Karelia, Detachment Alfthan cuts the supply lines of the Soviet troops in Lavajärvi village.
Photo: SA-KUVA
Attacking Russian force destroyed in Sintolanniemi
That story on the Queen Elizabeth is absolutely fascinating. I never would have though that this liner’s maiden voyage would consist of a dash across the Atlantic to avoid becoming fodder for the Kriegsmarine.
While true that the Tirpitz or Bismarck may have been able to catch one of these large liners the Germans just never had a navy of the scope to maintain a surface fight against the British. The Tirpitz alone spent a good deal of the war stuck in ports around Norway. It would have been interesting had they had the numbers of support ships and aerial cover to put up a real fight since the Tirpitz and Bismarck were both very powerful ships.
There is an excellent site about the Bismarck on the web — kbismarck dot com. I covers other battleships of the era, as well. I have it in my favorites, although there aren’t many updates. Great picture galleries, though.
That was one beautiful ship!
WOW. Women’s dresses selling on Fifth Ave. for $39.95.
Interesting site. I’ve bookmarked it. Thanks
Sorry for the double post.
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/mar40/f07mar40.htm
Anglo-Italian crisis over coal shipments
Thursday, March 7, 1940 www.onwar.com
In the English Channel... British warships detain 6 Italian coal ships with cargos of German coal. This action follows a warning that Britain will seize all German coal found at sea. The ships are brought to Kent where they are anchored of the coast while the government decides whether to unload the cargoes. Four more Italian colliers have set sail from Rotterdam and a further six are loading with Rhineland coal destined for Italy where coal rationing is in force. Many Italians believe that the seizure of their ships is a deliberate attempt to force them to buy British coal on British terms. This becomes known as the “Coal Ships Affair”.
In Paris... The prime minister, Edouard Daladier, meets the US envoy Sumner Welles.
The Winter War... Heavy fighting continues around Viipuri Bay.
Over Germany... RAF aircraft, operating from France, drop Polish language leaflets over German occupied Polish lands and German language leaflets over Leipzig and the Ruhr.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/07.htm
March 7th, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group. Leaflets and Reconnaissance - Poznan. 77 Sqn. Two aircraft. No opposition. Leaflets and Reconnaissance - NW Germany. 77 Sqn. Three aircraft. Moderate to severe opposition. One enemy aircraft sighted.
RAF Fighter Command: German aircraft attack shipping in the North Sea. One enemy aircraft is destroyed. There are casualties in the trawlers; an Italian vessel is fired and a Dutch vessel damaged.
Minesweeping trawler HMS Acania launched.
Corvette HMS Clarkia launched. (Dave Shirlaw)
ENGLISH CHANNEL: British warships detain six Italian coal ships with cargos of German coal. This action follows a warning that Britain will seize all German coal found at sea. The ships are brought to Kent where they are anchored off the coast while the government decides whether to unload the cargoes. Four more Italian colliers have set sail from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and a further six are loading with Rhineland coal destined for Italy where coal rationing is in force. Many Italians believe that the seizure of their ships is a deliberate attempt to force them to buy British coal on British terms. This becomes known as the “Coal Ships Affair.” (Jack McKillop)
FRANCE: Paris: The Prime Minister, Edouard Daladier, meets the US envoy Sumner Welles.
U.S.S.R.: The Finish Peace Delegation reaches Moscow.
U.S.A.: New York: The Cunard Line’s newest ship, the ‘Queen Elizabeth’, was given a heroine’s welcome when she docked here at 5pm today. The 83,673 ton liner, the biggest in the world, dashed across the Atlantic at an average speed of 24.5 knots, relying on her speed to evade the U-boats and dropping her destroyer escort one day out. The voyage was kept a firm secret until the liner shrouded in wartime grey, appeared over the horizon moving towards Nantucket. Aircraft carrying newspaper reporters, photographers and broadcasters flew out in the small hours. One radio reporter gave his listeners an eye-witness report from above the liner at 7.45 this morning.
“It is unique to leave without trials and find yourself in New York,” said Captain Townley. His Chief Engineer was now confident that the Queen Elizabeth would prove the fastest as well as the biggest liner afloat. Today she passed her sister ship, Queen Mary, already docked here and the two dipped ensigns to each other. All the other ships in port sounded their sirens in greeting. On the quayside a crowd of 10,000 had been waiting for most of the afternoon, and in the city office workers showered the streets with ticker tape in welcome.
Strict security is being maintained, with no visitors allowed on board. The ship is fitted with a new magnetic mine protector device. How much of the final fitting out work has been done is not yet clear, but what is certain is that she will be prepared for war work, not luxury passengers.
Boston: Work begins at East Boston Airport on installing a prototype centimetric air-interception radar in a B-18 Bolo. (Cris Wetton)
Hollywood: The motion picture “Too Many Husbands” is released in the U.S. This comedy, based on W. Somerset Maugham’s play “Home and Beauty,” is directed by Wesley Ruggles and stars Jean Arthur, Fred MacMurray and Melvyn Douglas. The plot involves a woman who believes her first husband is dead and then marries again; the fun starts when husband number 1 turns up alive. The film was nominated for one Academy Award. (Jack McKillop)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: The unescorted, unarmed and neutrally marked SS Vecht was hit by a torpedo from U-14 at 0430, which sank her in 20 minutes at 51.45N, 03.05E. (Dave Shirlaw)
http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/
Day 189 March 7, 1940
Finland. Fighting continues around Viipuri. Red Army breaks through the last defensive line in several places, threatening Finland’s second city. Juho Kusti Paasikivi returns to Moscow in defeat (having led the failed Dec 1939 territorial negotiations with Molotov & Stalin). Finnish Prime Minister Ryti, Paasikivi, Rudolf Walden & Väinö Voionmaa arrive in Moscow in the evening (via Stockholm) to discuss peace terms with the Soviets.
Britain detains 9 Italian ships carrying German coal through the English Channel from Rotterdam. They are held at The Downs, off Deal, Kent, while the British government decides what to do next. Four more colliers on their way from Rotterdam will also be impounded. Coal-starved Italy believes this is a crude attempt to force a ‘coal for arms’ deal with the British who are in need of weaponry.
Hitler allocates 8 divisions to the invasion of Norway and Denmark.
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