military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (01/12/91)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Sunday, 12 January, 1941 A troop convoy of 21 ships departs from Britain, bound for Egypt. The small air force of Malta carries out a raid on the Axis airfield at Catania, Sicily, in an effort to forestall Axis attacks on the carrier Illustrious, now undergoing emergency repairs in Malta harbor. Wendell Willkie announces his support for the Lend-Lease Bill, with certain reservations. This action materially increases the possibility that the bill will be passed by Congress. Premier Philoff of Bulgaria announces that his country will attempt to remain neutral, rather than joining the Tripartite Pact. References: C.Argyle, _Chronology of World War II_ R.Dupuy and T.Dupuy, _The Encyclopedia of Military History_ R.Goralski, _World War II Almanac, 1931-1945_ J.Keegan, ed., _The Times Atlas of the Second World War_ C.Messenger, _Atlas of World War Two_ J.Piekalkiewicz, _Tank War 1939-1940_ C.Salmaggi and A.Pallavisini, _2194 Days of War_ Brig. P.Young, _The World Almanac of World War II_ The New York Times, daily editions Time magazine Newsweek -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "People should bear in mind that we are today witnessing one of the greatest cataclysms that history has ever known. It is a war that, according to the recent declarations of the President of the United States, is threatening to spread into a world conflict." - Premier Bogdan Philoff of Bulgaria