military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (06/27/90)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Thursday, 27 June, 1940 Great Britain announces a total blockade of the European coast from the Bay of Biscay to Norway's North Cape. Plans are also laid to prevent the return of French naval units to their home ports on the mainland, and French vessels in British ports are seized. In the Mediterranean, British forces launch a major anti-submarine campaign, sinking 4 Italian subs in 3 days. President Roosevelt declares a national emergency, and claims the right to control the movement of all US and foreign shipping in US continental waters and near the Panama Canal, including the possibility of taking possession of such ships and replacing their crews. Five French ships are believed to be the immediate targets of the move. Turkey, alarmed by Soviet intentions on Bessarabia, sends a fleet into the Black Sea to defend the Bosporus. Germany sends assurances that Italy will not invade Syria, which borders Turkey to the south. General Charles DeGaulle speaks again from London, blaming Marshal Petain for the fall of France and again urging Frenchmen to follow his banner. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "You played the role of the loser and threw down your hand on the table. You emptied our pockets even though we still had some trumps to play." - General Charles DeGaulle, to Marshal Petain.