military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (11/06/90)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Tuesday, 5 November, 1940 The U.S. election day returns secure Franklin Delano Roosevelt's third term by a margin of 27 million votes to 22 million for Wendell Willkie. Roosevelt carries 39 states in the victory. The Democratic Party also increases its control of House of Representatives, while losing 4 seats in the Senate; nonetheless, it retains the majority in both houses. Convoy HX-84, 37 ships from Halifax, is attacked by the German armoured cruiser Admiral Scheer. The refrigerator ship Mopan is quickly sunk, but the auxiliary cruiser HMS Jervis Bay interposes herself between the raider and the convoy. Though quickly destroyed, the Jervis Bay's sacrifice allows the convoy to scatter, and her captain is posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. In all, 12 ships are attacked, and 5 sunk. The tanker San Demetrio is set afire and abandoned by her crew, but is later reboarded and brought under control. Reporter: Adrian Hurt <adrian@cs.heriot-watt.ac.uk> Source: "Pocket Battleship", by Theodor Krancke and H.J. Brennecke. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "We are facing difficult days in this country, but I think you will find me in the future just the same Franklin Roosevelt you have known a great many years." - President Franklin Roosevelt