military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (07/27/90)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Thursday, 25 July, 1940 Stuka dive bombers makes a series of raids on convoy CW 8 in, sinking 8 coasters and damaging anothee five, plus 2 destroyers, the Boreas and Brilliant. President Roosevelt places a ban on the export of oil and scrap metal products without special license; only Britain is excluded from the act. Japan is particularly hard-hit by the announcement, and faces a dwindling fuel reserve; some 65% of her fuel, and 85% of her metal, are purchased from the USA. Meanwhile, orders placed by the US Navy create a tremendous backlog in steel production; Bethlehem Steel's back orders reach a record $500 million. Britain announces that her naval blockade will be extended to cover Spain and Portugal within the week. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "There are vast numbers, not only in this island but in every land, who will render faithful service in this war but whose names will never be known. This is a war of the unknown warriors." - Winston Churchill