[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. Also visit our general discussion thread

[Homer_J_Simpson]

William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

[texanyankee]

Let me thank you again for posting this material....I look forward to your morning posts.
News is definitely picking up in the Pacific.

[Tank-FL]

I second the big “Thank You” .. Hang in there Homer

[CougarGA7]

In other news:

A chemist at Berkley by the name of Glenn T. Seaborg makes an interesting discovery while examining some alpha-emitters in Np238 (Neptunium).

Just for a little background. On January 20th, Seaborg had identified this alpha-emitter after bombarding uranly nitrate hexahydrate transmutating some of it into the relatively new element Neptunium. Their suspicions were that this alpha-emitter my be a new element with the atomic number of 94.

Today, Arthur C. Wahl, a second year graduate student on Seaborg's team discovered he could precipitate this alpha-emitter from the Np238 in an acid solution using thorium as a carrier. This proved that this particle was definitely not element 93 (Neptunium), but he found that he could not separate the particle from the thorium he had used to precipitate it.

That evening using a new oxidation chemistry method, Wahl and Seaborg began to successfully separate the Th (thorium) from the alpha-emitter. By Tuesday evening (two nights from now) they will have finally separated all the Th and Seaborg will come the the conclusion: "With this final separation from Th, it has been demonstrated that our alpha activity can be separated from all known elements and thus it is now clear that our alpha activity is due to the new element with the atomic number 94."

Though the name for element 94 would not be established until 1942, Seaborg had already decided that he would name this new element Plutonium.

from Richard Rhodes' The Making of the Atomic Bomb

[Lancey Howard]

I found the story about the sinking of the Canadian Cruiser fascinating. The Germans announced the sinking of a British freighter in the Indian Ocean and claimed that the freighter was flying the American flag and had the American flag painted on its hull. In expectation of a diplomatic repercussion, the Germans claimed "unassailable proof of the vessel's identity". Following are excerpts from the statement issued by German high command:

"The Canadian line concerned did not use the North American flag without reason, although it must certainly have known that the United States has never tolerated the misuse of its colors."

"England is always thinking of new ways and means of involving the United States in this English war, either through propaganda or other tricks, but in any case through falsification and fraud."

"If the example of the Canadian Cruiser were to be repeated it would be the business of the United States to see to it that this misuse of the American flag by armed British merchantmen does not impair the security of peaceful American vessels."

"It is time for Washington to do something about this rude violation of the American flag. The American colors are being treated in a most disgraceful manner."

[PAR35]

4 US Carriers in the Pacific

Enterprise
Yorktown (until April, 1941)
Saratoga (undergoing refit in Bremerton until April 1941)
Lexington?

In any event, at most 3 effective at any one time, and frequently 2 (Lexington was Pacific based but shifted around as needed for fleet exercises).

Langley by this point had lost its designation as a CV.

[Revolting cat!]

Damn it, Homer, first Egypt, then Libya, Bahrain and now Bulgaria?