military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (06/19/91)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Thursday, 19 June, 1941 Eleven British and Australian destroyers and sloops begin a series of night-time supply and troop transport missions to Tobruk from Alexandria and Mersa Matruh. These ships soon become known as the "Tobruk Ferry." German troops begin moving into forward positions along the entire Russian border from Petsamo to the Black Sea. Both the German and Soviet press, however, claim that talk of tension between the two nations is ridiculous. At Mezze, near Damascus, Vichy forces cut off and destroy an Indian battalion. German and Italy both demand the removal of US consular staffs from their territories. The US State Department announces a new restriction: visas will not be granted to anyone with relatives in a German-controlled country. Fighting continues in Italian East Africa, as British and Empire forces apply heavy pressure at Debra Tabor and Gondar. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "We, too, born to freedom, and believing in freedom, are willing to fight to maintain freedom. We, and all others who believe as deeply as we do, would rather die on our feet than live on our knees." - message from President Roosevelt to the graduating class of Cambridge University and commemorating his acceptance of an honorary Doctorate of Civil Law from England's University of Oxford.