Posted on 12/26/2010 6:08:07 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/dec40/f26dec40.htm
British target occupied France
Thursday, December 26, 1940 www.onwar.com
Over Occupied France... British RAF aircraft conduct daylight raids on airfields in Brittany and a nighttime raid on Bordeaux.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/26.htm
December 26th, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM:
Westminster: Prime Minister to Minister of Supply:
The discrepancy between weapons and ammunition is terrible in the case of the anti-tank rifles, 2-inch and 3-inch mortars. We have A.T. rifles to equip 23.5 divisions, but only enough ammunition at 32,000 rounds per month to equip 5.5 . We have enough 2-inch mortars at 108 per division to equip 33 divisions, but ammunition at 32,400 rounds per month suffices only for 4.5 divisions. The worst of all is the 3-inch mortar, where, oddly enough, we have at 18 per division enough to equip nearly 40 divisions, but at 14,000 rounds per month only enough ammunition for 1.5 divisions.
Prime Minister to First Sea Lord:
...greater effort should be made to interrupt the ore traffic through the Leads ...Now that we have not to give notice, and can lay secretly anywhere, conditions are more favourable for mining the Norwegian coast than last year.
The Prime Minister also discusses the pros and cons of warning the Germans that in the case that they use gas, Britain shall retaliate with ‘many thousands of tons of various types of deadly gas ... that we have in store..’
ALBANIA:
Greek troops launch a fresh offensive north of Pogradets, but start to find that Italian resistance is stronger.
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: Gerow recommends that Philippine garrison be increased, that the Philippine Scouts be doubled in size to 12,000 men, that 600 soldiers be added to the 31st Infantry Regiment, the only US combat unit in the islands, that additional artillery, both field and anti-aircraft, be sent, and that $1.25 million be committed to construction. (Marc Small)
CANADA: Patrol vessel HMCS Reindeer arrived Halifax from Sydney Force. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.: The motion picture “The Philadelphia Story” opens at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Directed by George Cukor, this romantic comedy based on a Philip Barry play stars Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart and Ruth Hussey. (Jack McKillop)
Light cruiser USS Denver laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: SS Waiotira damaged by U-95. (Dave Shirlaw)
http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/
Day 483 December 26, 1940
In the Mediterranean, Australian destroyer HMAS Waterhen sinks Italian schooner Tireremo Diritto, carrying supplies to Bardia from Tobruk, after taking off the crew.
500 miles West of Cape Finisterre, Spain, British cruiser HMS Bonaventure intercepts German steamer Baden which is returning from Teneriffe to Germany. The crew abandons ship and scuttles Baden, which is then finished off by a torpedo from HMS Bonaventure.
At 8.03 PM 300 miles South of Iceland, U-95 stops British MV Waiotira with 2 torpedoes. U-95 leaves due to 3 destroyers in the area. However, Waiotira is sunk by U-38 at 1.46 AM next day (1 passenger killed, 79 crew and 10 passengers picked up by destroyer HMS Mashona).
---
By The Associated Press
Shanghai Dec 23 -- Nine United States marines and three sailors from the United States gunboat Luzon were injured in a Christmas Eve fight with Italian Marines in a Shanghai Cafe, but left a hospital today in time to enjoy turkey dinners.
Swolen jaws and missing teeth gave evidence of a free-swininging battle but both sides refused details of the squabble, including the number of Italians injured.
As far as could be learned, the clash was the outcome of a dispute over a table.. It was understood that the incident had been settled amicalbly by the United States and Italian offcers after military police of both counties had stopped the fighting.
Meanwhile, American churches were couded for morning services. Sports occupied the afternoon for most Americans remaining here.
I just realized I posted a complete AP story. Sorry. :o)
Love to read the article about “Anti-war groups” and someone revealing “secret pacts” if there is not a “just peace”. Any chance of a blowup of that section of the Times front page article? Thanks!
I'll make a note to get the rest of the story (to coin a phrase). But it will have to wait until my next news harvesting trip to the library. Currently scheduled for Jan 9.
Who knew?
"CURRAN IS SLATED FOR SIMPSON POST"
Oh, that's Kenneth Simpson.
Sorry, it had me going for a while.
"ANTI-WAR GROUPS REDOUBLE EFFORTS TO SWAY PRESIDENT"
Senator Burton Wheeler from Montanna again.
He was a Progressive and a Democrat, an America Firster, highly suspicious of Jewish influence in Hollywood, and opposed US support for Britain right up until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Then he voted for the Declaration of War.
Senator Wheeler was defeated for renomination in 1946 because he was called insufficiently liberal.
The more liberal Democrat candidate was then defeated in the general election by Republican Zales Ecton.
Not sure, maybe a lesson in that... ;-)
Thanks! Interested in info that shows the anti-war movement (leftists) quickly changed their tune when their beloved Soviet Union was attacked.
"The President should make a determined effort to bring the warring nations of Europe together," Mr. Wheeler said. "He should insist that a just peace be worked out."
Dream on, Senator. Roosevelt may be politically astute be he's no Barak Obama.
Thanks!
"Second, there are those of us who want to see Great Britain win, but we believe that peace could be brought about at this time if a sincere effort is made."
First, note the most curious use of that word "exterminated" above.
Was that a common term in those days amongst Americans?
Which other Americans, and in what other contexts, talked about "exterminating" people?
Were exterminations really on the minds of Americans who were not Nazi sympathizers?
Second, also note how, at a time when Hitler's forces still seem unstoppable, much less ultimately defeatable, Wheeler says that some believe Hitler's government can be defeated and even exterminated. Pretty tall order, I'd say.
Third, as always with Democrats, what Wheeler really wants to do is declare victory over Hitler without ever actually fighting a war.
With Democrats, self-deception comes natural and easy.
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