military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (12/11/90)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Wednesday, 11 December, 1940 The Luftwaffe stages a 270-plane night raid on Birmingham, which inflicts heavy damage, especially in residential areas. Six churches and eleven schools are also hit. British warships bombard Sollum, adding further chaos to the Italian retreat. Despite brave Italian resistance at Sidi Omar and Fort Capuzzo, a rout is near at hand. A further 14,000 prisoners are taken by the British. The Marquess of Lothian, Britain's Ambassador to the United States, speaks frankly on the threat posed by German U-boats. While admitting that Britain's escorts were stretched dangerously thin, he predicted that with increased US aid Britain would win the war by 1942. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "Almost alone among the nations you still have the chance of making your country immune from the devastation of war..." - the Marquess of Lothian