military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (11/24/89)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Friday, 24 November, 1939 Germany warns neutral shipping to avoid the British coast, for risk of mines. Restrictions on U-boats have been lifted, allowing them to attack any ship not showing lights. To date, over 475,000 tons of shipping have been lost to German attacks, with British losses accounting for over 280,000 tons. In the last six days, 55,000 tons were lost to mines. The port of London is forced to close for several hours so that aerially- sown mines can be cleared. Nanning falls to Japanese forces, and rumors are that the Japanese will press on into Yunnan province, to cut off supplies from Burma. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com A pre-WWI anecdote reflects upon Netherland defenses; Kaiser Wilhelm was attempting to impress the young Queen Wilhemina with a unit of his Prussian Guard. "They are all eight feet tall, Your Majesty," he commented. "The streets of Amsterdam can be flooded nine feet deep, Your Majesty," she replied.