Saturday, April 5, 1774. A growing rift.

Benjamin Franklin wrote an open letter to Lord North.

To Lord North.

Smyrna Coffee-House, April 5. [1774]My Lord,

All your small Politicians, who are very numerous in the English Nation, from the patriotic Barber to the patriotic Peer, when big with their Schemes for the Good of poor Old England, imagine they have a Right to give Advice to the Minister, and condemn Administration if they do not adopt their Plan. I, my Lord, who have no mean Opinion of my Abilities, which is justified by the Attention that is paid to me when I harangue at the Smyrna and Old Slaughter’s, am willing to contribute my Mite to the public Welfare; and have a Proposal to make to your Lordship, which I flatter myself will be approved of by the Ministry, and if carried into Execution, will quiet all the Disturbances in America, procure a decent Revenue from our Colonies, make our royal Master (at least there) a King de facto, as well as de jure; and finally, as it may be managed, procure a round Sum towards discharging the national Debt.

My Scheme is, without Delay to introduce into North America a Government absolutely and entirely Military. The Opposition which some People suspect would be made by the Colonies, is a mere Bugbear: The Sight of a few Regiments of bold Britons, appearing with Ensigns displayed, and in all the Pomp of War, a Specimen of which may be seen every Summer at the Grand Review on Wimbledon Common, with that great Commander G——l G——e at their Head, accompanied with a Detachment from the Artillery, and Half a Dozen short Sixes,2 would so intimidate the Americans, that the General might march through the whole Continent of North America, and would have little else to do but to accept of the Submission of the several Towns as he passed. But as the Honour would be too great for one Man to reduce to absolute Subjection so great an Extent of Territory, I would propose that a separate Command be given to L——d G—— G——e, who by his animated Speeches in the House, and coinciding so entirely with your Lordship’s Opinion on the proper Methods for humbling America, deserves a Share in the Fame of such a grand Exploit. Let him have one half of the Army under his Direction, and march from New York to South Carolina. No one can object to the Nomination, as his Military Prowess is upon Record.3 The Regiments that are in America, with those who are about to embark, will be amply sufficient, without being at the Expence of sending more Troops.4 Those who served in America the last War, know that the Colonists are a dastardly Set of Poltroons; and though they are descended from British Ancestors, they are degenerated to such a Degree, that one born in Britain is equal to twenty Americans. The Yankey Doodles have a Phrase when they are not in a Humour for fighting, which is become proverbial, I don’t feel bould To-day. When they make this Declaration, there is no prevailing on them to attack the Enemy or defend themselves. If contrary to Expectation they should attempt an Opposition, procure Intelligence when it happens not to be their fighting Day, attack them and they will fly like Sheep pursued by a Wolf. When all North America have thus bent their Neck to the Yoke designed for them, I would propose that the Method made use of by the Planters in the West Indies may be adopted, who appoint what they call a Negro Driver, who is chosen from among the Slaves. It is observed that the little Authority that is given him over his Fellow Slaves, attaches him to his Master’s Interest, and his Cruelty would be without Bounds were he not restrained; but the Master is certain, that the utmost Exertion of Strength will be exacted by this cruel Task-Master for the Proprietor’s Emolument. Let all the Colonists be enrolled in the Militia, subject of course to Martial Law. Appoint a certain Number of Officers from among the conquered People, with good Pay, and other Military Emoluments; they will secure their Obedience in the District where they command. Let no other Courts be allowed through the whole Continent but Courts Martial. An Inhabitant, who disobeys an Order, may by a Court Martial be sentenced to receive from One Hundred to a Thousand Lashes in a frosty Morning, according to the Nature of his Offence. Where Punishment is thus secure, this Advantage will accrue, that there will not be the same Necessity of hanging up so many poor Devils as in this free Country; by which Means the Service of many an able Man is lost to the Community. I humbly propose that the General and Commander in Chief be vested with the Power, and called by the Name of the King’s Viceroy of all North America. This will serve to impress the Americans with greater Respect for the first Magistrate, and have a Tendency to secure their Submission. All Orders issuing from this supreme Authority to have the Force of Laws. After this happy Change of Government, how easy to collect what Taxes you please in North America. When the Colonists are drained of their last Shilling, suppose they should be sold to the best Bidder. As they lie convenient for France or Spain, it may be reasonably expected one of those little Powers would be a Purchaser. I think Spain is to be preferred, as their Power hath more of the Ready5 than France. I will venture a Conjecture, that the Ministry might get at least Two Millions for the Soil, and the People upon it. With such a Sum what glorious Things might he not achieve! Suppose it should be applied towards the Payment of one hundredth Part of the National Debt, I [it?] would give him an Opportunity of drawing down upon him the Blessing of the Poor by making him to take off the Halfpenny Duty on Porter. Considering the probable Stability of the present Ministry, this Honour may be reserved for your Lordship.

My Lord, excuse the Crudity of these indigested Hints, which your Wisdom is so capable of improving; and believe me, with infinite Respect, Your Lordship’s Most obedient Humble Servant,

A Friend To Military Government.

On the same day, women gathered in Wilmington, North Carolina, and burned tea in protest.  The date isn't particularly clear, however, and could have occured as early as March 25.

Thomas Gage, who is best remembered for commanding English forces against Colonial rebels in the early part of the American Revolution, was commissioned as Vice Admiral of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay on this day.

5 April, 1774

George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland king defender of the Faith. To our beloved the honble Thomas Gage Esquire Lieutenant General of our Forces and our Captain General and Governor in Chief of our Province of Massachusetts Bay in America Greeting.

We confiding very much in your fidelity care and circumspection in this behalf do by these presents which are to continue during our pleasure only, ordain, constitute and depute you the said Thomas Gage Esquire our Captain General and Governor in Chief aforesaid, our Vice Admiral Commissary and Deputy in the office of Vice Admiralty in our Province of Massachusetts Bay in America aforesaid and Territories thereon depending in the room of Thomas Hutchinson Esqr and in the Maritime parts of the same and thereto adjoining whatsoever with power of taking and receiving all and every of the Fees, profits, advantages, emoluments Commodities and appurtenances whatsoever due and belonging to the said office of Vice Admiral, Commissary and Deputy in our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in America and Territories dependant thereon and maritime partsof the same and adjoining to them whatsoever according to the Ordinances and Statutes of our high Court of Admiralty of England and We do hereby commit and grant unto you the aforesaid Thomas Gage Esquire our power and authority in and throughout our Province of Massa Bay in America aforementioned and Territories thereof and maritime parts whatsoever adjacent thereto and also throughout all and every the Sea shores, public streams, Ports, fresh waters, Rivers, Creeks and Arms as well of the sea as of the Rivers and Coasts whatsoever of our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in America and Territories dependant thereon & maritime parts whatsoever of the same and thereto adjacent as well within liberties and franchises as without to take cognizance of and proceed in all causes Civil & Maritime and in Complaints, Contracts, offences or suspected offences, Crimes, pleas, debts, Exchanges, accounts, Charter parties, agreements, Suits, trespasses, injuries, extortions and demands and businesses Civil and Maritime whatsoever commenced or to be commenced between Merchants or between owners and proprietors of Ships and other Vessels and Merchants or others whomsoever with such owners and proprietors of Ships and all other Vessels whatsoever employed or used within the maritime Jurisdiction of our Vice Admiralty of our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in America aforementioned and Territories depending on the same or between any other persons whomsoever had, made began or contracted for any matter, thing, cause or business whatsoever done or to be done within our maritime Jurisdiction aforesaid, together with all and singular the incidents, emergencies, dependencies annexed and connexed causes whatsoever wheresoever or howsoever and such Causes, Complaints, Contracts and other the premises abovesaid or any of them which may happen to arise be contracted had or done to hear and determine according to the Rights Statutes, Laws Ordinances and Customs anciently observed and moreoverin all and singular complaints, contracts, agreements, causes and businesses civil and maritime to be performed beyond the Sea or contracted there howsoever arising happening and also in all and singular other Causes and matters which in any matter whatsoever touch or any way concern or anciently have & do or ought to belong unto the Maritime Jurisdiction of our aforesaid Vice Admiralty in our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in America and Territories thereon depending and Maritime parts thereof and to the same adjoining whatsoever and generally in all and singular other Causes, Suits, Crimes, offences, Excesses, injuries, complaints, misdemeanors or suspected misdemeanors Trespasses, regratings, forestallings and Maritime businesses whatsoever throughout the places aforesaid within the maritime Jurisdiction of our Vice Admiralty of our Province of Massachusetts Bay in America aforesaid and Territories thereon depending by Sea or water or the Banks or Shores of the same howsoever done, committed, perpetrated or happening And also to enquire by the Oath of honest and lawful Men of our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in America and Territories dependant thereon & maritime parts of the same and adjoining to them whatsoever dwelling hath within liberties and franchises and without as well of all and singular such matters and things which of right and by the Statutes Laws and Ordinances and customs anciently observed were wont and ought to be enquired after as of Wreck of the Sea and of all and singular the Goods and Chattels of whatsoever Traitors Pirates, manslayers and Felons howsoever offending within the Maritime Jurisdiction of our Vice Admiralty of our Province of Massachusetts Bay in America aforementioned and Territories thereunto belonging and of the Goods, Chattels and debts of all and singular their maintainers, accessaries, counsellors, abettors or assistants whomsoever And also of the Goods, debts and Chattels of whatsoever person or persons, felons of themselves by what meansor howsoever coming to their death within our aforesaid Maritime Jurisdiction wheresoever any such Goods, debts & Chattels or any parcel thereof by Sea, Water or Land in our said Province of Massa Bay in America and Territories thereon dependant and maritime parts of the same and thereto adjacent whatsoever as well within liberties and franchises as without have been or shall be found forfeited or to be forfeited or in being And moreover as well of the Goods, debts and Chattels of whatsoever other Traitors, felons & manslayers wheresoever offending and of the Goods, debts and Chattels of their maintainers, accessaries, Councellors abettors or assistants as of the Goods, debts and Chattels of all fugitives, persons convicted attainted, condemned, outlawed or howsoever put or to be put in exigent for Treason Felony, Manslaughter or Murder or any other offence or crime whatsoever And also concerning Goods waving flotson Jetson Lagon shares and treasure found or to be found deodands and of the Goods of all others whatsoever taken or to be taken as derelict or by chance found or to be found or howsoever done or to be done and of all other casualties as well in upon or by the Sea and Shores Creeks or Coasts of the Sea or Maritime parts as in upon or by all fresh waters, ports, public streams Rivers or Creeks or places overflown whatsoever within the ebbing and flowing of the Sea or high water or upon the shores or Banks of any of the same within our maritime Jurisdiction aforesaid howsoever whensoever or by what means soever arising happening or proceeding or wheresoever such Goods debts and Chattels or other the premises or any parcel thereof may or shall happen to be met with or found within our maritime Jurisdiction aforesaid And also concerning Anchorage, lastage and ballast of Ships and of Fishes Royal namely Sturgeons, Whales, porpusses, dolphins, Riggs and Crampusses & generally of all other Fishes whatsoever which are of a great or very large bulk or fatness anciently byright or custom or any way appertaining or belonging to us and to ask require levy take collect receive and obtain and to the use of us and the office of our high admiral of Great Britain aforesaid for the time being to keep and preserve the said Wreck of the Sea and the Goods, debts and chattels and all and singular other the premises together with all and all manner of fines, mulcts, issues, forfeitures, amerciaments, ransoms and recognizances whatsoever forfeited or to be forfeited and pecuniary punishments for Trespasses crimes injuries, extortions, contempts and other misdemeanors whatsoever howsoever imposed or inflicted or to be imposed or inflicted for any matter cause or thing whatsoever in our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in America and Territories thereunto belonging and maritime parts of the same and thereto adjoining in any Court of our Admiralty there held or to be held presented or to be presented assessed brought forfeited or adjudged and also all amerciaments, issues, fines, perquisites, mulcts and pecuniary punishments whatsoever and forfeitures of all manner of Recognizances before you or your Lieutenant, deputy or deputies in our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in America and Territories thereunto belonging and maritime parts of the same and thereto adjacent whatsoever happening or imposed or to be imposed or inflicted or by any means assessed presented, forfeited or adjudged or howsoever by reason of the premises due or to be due in that behalf to us or our Heirs and successors. And further to take all manner of Recognizances, cautions, obligations and stipulations as well to our use as at the instance of any parties for agreements or debts and other causes whatsoever and to put the same in execution and to cause and command them to be executed And also to Arrest and cause and command to be arrested according to the Civil and maritime Laws and ancient custom of our said Court all Ships, persons, things Goods Wares & Merchandizes for the premises and every ofthem and for other causes whatsoever concerning the same wheresoever they shall be met with or found throughout our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in America and Territories thereunto belonging and maritime parts thereof and thereto adjoining as well within the liberties and franchises as without and likewise for all other agreements, causes or debts howsoever contracted or arising so that the Goods or the persons of the Debtors may be found within our Jurisdiction aforesaid and to hear examine, discuss and finally determine the same with their emergencies dependances incidents annexed and connexed causes and businesses whatsoever together with all other causes civil and maritime and complaints contracts and all and every the respective premises whatsoever above expressed according to the Laws and customs aforesaid and by all other lawful ways means and methods according to the best of your skill and knowledge and to compel all manner of persons in that behalf as the case shall require to appear and to answer with power of using any temporal correction and of inflicting any other penalty or mulct according to the Laws and customs aforesaid and to do and minister Justice according to the right order and course of the Law summarily and plainly looking only into the truth of the fact And to fine correct punish chastize and reform & imprison and cause and command to be imprisoned in any Goals being within our Province of Massachusetts Bay in America aforesaid and Territories thereunto belonging the parties guilty and the contemners of the Law and Jurisdiction of our Admiralty aforesaid and violaters, usurpers, delinquents and contumacious absenters Masters of Ships, Mariners, Rowers, fishermen, Shipwrights and other workmen and artificers whatsoever exercising any kind of maritime affairs according to the rights, Statutes, Laws or Ordinances and customs anciently observed and to deliver and absolutely discharge and cause and command to be discharged whatsoever persons imprisoned in such caseswho are to be delivered And to preserve and cause to be preserved the public streams, Ports, Rivers, fresh waters and Creeks whatsoever within our maritime Jurisdiction aforesaid in what place soever they be in our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in America and Territories thereunto belonging and maritime parts of the same and thereto adjacent whatsoever as well for the preservation of our Navy Royal and of the Fleets and Vessels of our Kingdoms and dominions aforesaid as of whatsoever fishes increasing in the Rivers and places aforesaid. And also to keep and cause to be executed and kept in our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in America and Territories thereunto belonging and maritime parts thereof and thereto adjacent whatsoever the rights Statutes Laws Ordinances and customs anciently observed, and to exercise expedite and execute all and singular other things in the premises and every of them as they by right & according to the Laws and Statutes ordinances and customs aforesaid should be done. And moreover to reform Nets too close and other unlawful Engines or instruments whatsoever for the catching of Fishes wheresoever by Sea or public streams Ports, Rivers Fresh Waters or Creeks whatsoever throughout our Province of Massachusetts Bay in America aforesd and Territories dependant thereon and maritime parts of the same and thereto adjacent used or exercised by Water within our maritime Jurisdiction aforesaid wheresoever and to punish and correct the exercisers and occupiers thereof according to the Statutes Laws ordinances and customs aforesaid and to pronounce, promulge and interpose all manner of Sentences and Decrees and to put the same in execution with Cognizance and jurisdiction of whatsoever other causes civil and maritime which relate to the Sea or which any manner of ways respect or concern the Sea or passage over the same or Naval or Maritime voyages or our said maritime Jurisdiction or the places or limits of our said Admiralty and cognizance aforementioned and allother things done or to be done with power also to proceed in the same according to the Statutes Laws Ordinances and customs aforesaid anciently used as well of meer office mixt or promoted as at the instance of any party as the case shall require and seem convenient and likewise with cognizance and decision of Wreck of the Sea great or small and of the death drowning and view of Seas, bodies of all persons howsoever killed or murdered or which shall happen to be killed drowned or murdered or by any other means come to their death in the Sea or public streams Ports fresh waters or Creeks whatsoever within the flowing of the Sea and high water mark throughout our aforesaid Province of Massachusetts Bay in America and Territories thereunto belonging and maritime parts of the same and thereto adjacent or elsewhere within our Maritime Jurisdiction aforesaid together with the cognizance of Mayhem in the aforesaid places within our Maritime Jurisdiction aforesaid and flowing of the Sea and water there happening with power also of punishing all delinquents in that kind according to the exigencies of the Law and customs aforesaid And to do exercise, expedite and execute all and singular other things which in and about the premises only shall be necessary or thought meet according to the Rights Statutes Laws, Ordinances and customs aforesaid with power of deputing and surrogating in your place for the premises one or more deputy or deputies as often as you shall think fit and also with power from time to time of naming appointing ordaining assigning making and constituting whatsoever other necessary fit and convenient officers and Ministers under you for the said office and execution thereof in our said Province of Massachusetts Bay in America and Territories thereunto belonging and maritime parts of the same and thereto adjacent whatsoever (saving always the right of our high Court of Admiralty of England and also of the Judge and Registrar of the said Court from whom or either of them it is not our intentionin any thing to derogate by these presents and saving to every one who shall be wronged or aggrieved by any definitive Sence or interlocutory decree which shall be given in the high admiralty Court of our Province of Massachusetts Bay aforesaid and Territories thereunto belonging the right of appealing to our aforesaid high Court of Admiralty of England). Provided nevertheless and under this express condition that if you the aforesaid Thomas Gage Esquire our Captain General and Governor in Chief aforesaid shall not yearly (to wit) at the end of every year between the Feasts of Saint Michael the Archangel and all Saints duly certify and cause to be effectually certified (if you shall be thereunto required) to us and our Lieutenant official principal and Commissary General and special & Judge and President of the high Court of our Admiralty of England aforesaid all that which from time to time by virtue of these presents you shall do execute collect or receive in the premises or any of them together with your full & faithful account thereupon to be made in an authentic form and sealed with the Seal of our Office remaining in your custody that from thence and after default therein these our Letters Patent of the office of Vice Admiral aforesaid as above granted shall be null and void and of no force or effect. Further We do in our name command all and singular our Governors, Justices, Mayors Sheriffs Captains Marshals, Bailiffs keepers of all our Jails and Prisons Constables and all other our officers & faithful and liege Subjects whatsoever and every of them as well within liberties & franchises as without that in and about the execution of the premises and every of them they be aiding, favouring, assisting, submissive and yield obedience in all things as is fitting to you the aforesaid Thomas Gage Esqr our Captain General and Governor in chief of our Province of the Massachusetts Bay in America aforesaid and your deputy whomsoever and to all other officers (by you appointedor to be appointed of our said Vice Admiralty in our Province of Massa Bay in America aforesaid and Territories thereunto belonging and maritime parts of the same and thereto adjoining under pain of the Law and the peril which will fall thereon. Given at London in the high Court of our Admiralty of England aforesaid under the Great Seal thereof the fifth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy four and of our Reign the fourteenth.

GODF: LEE FARRANT Registrar

Apparently the concept of short paragraphs was largely unknown in 1774.

Tuesday, March 25, 1524. Exploration of the Carolina Coast.

An expedition under Giovanni da Verrazzano anchored off the coast of North Carolina.  It was the first European exploration of the Carolina coast and was done on behalf of King Francis I of France.

On a later expedition, he'd be killed and eaten by Carib's.

Some Gave All: Ft. Bragg renamed Ft. Liberty

Some Gave All: Ft. Bragg renamed Ft. Liberty:   

Ft. Bragg renamed Ft. Liberty

 

This one leaves me wondering. Surely somebody could have been found to honor in place of Confederate General Braxton Bragg for this North Carolina post?

The post was renamed yesterday.

Bragg was a West Point graduate from North Carolina who had a career in the U.S. Army as an artilleryman, a branch that generally went to those graduating in the upper ends of their class.  His career was mixed as a Confederate general, many would say poor, and he was ultimately relegated to advisory positions after the middle of the war.  He died in 1876 at age 59, walking down a sidewalk in Galveston, Texas.  His famously argumentative personality meant that after the war he occupied a string of occupations from which he resigned.

He'd been an opponent of succession personally.

Saturday, September 30, 1922. Camp Bragg becomes a Fort.

Greek Orthodox priests in the city of Kydoniae (Ayvalik) were taken into custody by the Turks while waiting, following the recommendation of their bishop, for evacuation The Turks would murder then three days later.

On the same day, Sotiros Krokidas became the interim Greek Prime Minister.

The Yankees took the American League Pennant, defeating the Boston Red Sox.

Camp Bragg, North Carolina, was redesignated as Fort Bragg, thereby indicating its permanent status.

April 9, 1941. Things Atlantic and Mediterranean.

The USS North Carolina was launched on this day in 1941. She was the first battleship commissioned in the U.S. Navy since World War One.

She served throughout World War Two and was decommissioned in 1947.  It is a museum ship in Wilmington today.

On the same day in 1941 the United States entered an accord with occupied Denmark's ambassador in the US to occupy and protect Greenland, a move that was immediately renounced by the occupied Dutch government.  The agreement allowed for the US to construct bases on Greenland as well.

More on these events can be read about here:

Today in World War II History—April 9, 1941

The Germans flanked the Mextaxas Line in Greece, the beginning of the end of the Allied defense in that country.  In the process they took Salonika.  In Libya, they took Bardia.

On the same day, Winston Churchill gave a speech that looked forward in the war:

We are now able, and indeed required, to take a more general view of the war than when this resolution of thanks was first conceived.

The loss of Bengazi and the withdrawal imposed upon us by the German incursion into Cyrenaica are injurious chiefly on account of the valuable airfields around Bengazi which have now passed into enemy hands.

Apart from this important aspect we should have been content, in view of the danger which was growing in the Balkans, to have halted our original advance at Tobruk.

The rout of the Italians, however, made it possible to gain a good deal of ground easily and cheaply and it was thought worthwhile to do this, although in consequence of other obligations, already beginning to descend upon us, only comparatively light forces could be employed to hold what we had won.

The movement of German air forces and armored troops from Italy and Sicily to Tripoli had begun even before we took Bengazi and our submarines and aircraft have taken a steady toll of the transports carrying the German troops and vehicles.

But that has not prevented, and could not prevent, their building up a strong armored force on the African shore. With this force they have made a rapid attack in greater strength than our commanders expected at so early a date and we have fallen back upon stronger positions and more defensible country.

I cannot attempt to forecast what the course of the fighting in Cyrenaica will be. It is clear, however, that military considerations alone must guide our generals, and that these must not in any way be complicated by what are called prestige values or considerations for public opinion.

Now that the Germans are using their armored strength in Cyrenaica we must expect hard and severe fighting, not only for the defense of Cyrenaica but for the defense of Egypt.

It is fortunate that the Italian collapse in Eritrea, Ethiopia and British and Italian Somaliland is liberating progressively very substantial forces and masses of transport to reinforce the Army of the Nile.

This sudden darkening of the scene in Cyrenaica in no way detracts from the merits of the brilliant campaigns which have destroyed the Italian Empire in North and East Africa. Nor does it diminish our gratitude to the troops or our confidence in the commanders who led them. On the contrary, we shall show that our hearts go out to our armies even more warmly when they are in hard action than when they are sailing forward in the flowing tide of success.

A fortnight ago I warned the public that an unbroken continuance of success could not be hoped for; that reverses as well as victories must be expected; that we must be ready, indeed we always are ready, to take the rough with the smooth.

Since I used this language other notable episodes have been added to those that had gone before. Cheren was stormed after hard fighting which cost us about 4,000 casualties.

The main resistance of the Italian army in Eritrea was overcome. Foremost in all this fighting in Eritrea were our Indian troops, who at all points and on all occasions sustained the martial reputation of the sons of Hindustan.

After the fall of Cheren the army advanced. Asmara has surrendered, the port of Massawa is in our hands. The Red Sea has been virtually cleared of enemy warships, which is a matter of considerable and even far reaching convenience. Harar has fallen and our troops have entered and taken charge of Addis Ababa.

The Duke of Aosta's army has retreated into the mountains where it is being attended upon by the patriot forces of Ethiopia. The complete destruction or capture of all Italian forces in Abyssinia [Ethiopia] with corresponding immediate relief to our operations elsewhere, may be reasonably expected.

Besides these land operations the Royal Navy under Admiral Cunningham, splendidly aided by the fleet air arm and the R.A.F. have gained the important sea battle of Cape Matapan-decisively breaking Italian naval power in the Mediterranean.

When we look back upon the forlorn position in which we were left in the Middle East by the French collapse, and when we remember that not only were our forces in the Nile Valley out-numbered by four or five to one by the Italian armies, that we could not contemplate without anxiety the defense of Nairobi, of Khartum, of Cairo, Alexandria, Jerusalem and the Suez Canal, and that this situation has been marvelously transformed; that we have taken more Italian prisoners than we had troops in the country, that the British Empire has fought alone and conquered alone except for the aid of the gallant Free French and Belgian forces who, although few in number, have borne their part-when all this is recalled amid the unrelenting pressure of events, I feel confident that I can commit this resolution to the House, and that it will be most heartily and enthusiastically acclaimed.

I now turn from Cyrenaica and Abyssinia to the formidable struggle which has followed the German invasion of the Balkan Peninsula.

We have watched with growing concern the German absorption of Hungary, the occupation of Rumania and the seduction and occupation of Bulgaria.

Step by step we have seen this movement of German military power to the east and southeast of Europe. A remorseless accumulation of German armored and motorized divisions and of aircraft has been in progress in all these countries for months.

And at length we find that the Greeks and the Yugoslavs, nations and States which never wished to take part in the war, neither of which was capable of doing the slightest injury to Germany, must now fight to the death for their freedom and for the lands of their fathers.

Until Greece was suddenly and treacherously invaded at the behest of the base Italian dictator, she had observed meticulous neutrality. It may be that the sentiments of her people were on our side, but nothing could have been more correct than the behavior of her government.

We had no contacts or engagements of a military character with the Greek Government. Although there were islands like Crete of the highest naval consequence to us, and although we had given Greece our guarantee against aggression, we abstained from the slightest intrusion upon her. It was only when she appealed to us for aid against the Italians that we gave whatever support in the air and in supplies was possible.

All this time the Germans continued to give friendly assistance to Greece and to toy with the idea of a new commercial treaty. German high officials, both in Athens and Berlin, expressed disapproval of the Italian invasion.

From the beginning of December the movements of German forces through Hungary and through Rumania toward Bulgaria became apparent to all.

More than two months ago, by the traitorous connivance of the Bulgarian King and government, advance parties of the German air force in plain clothes gradually took possession of Bulgarian air fields.

Many thousands of German airmen, soldiers and political police were ensconced in key positions before the actual announcement of the accession of Bulgaria to the Axis was made.

German troops then began to pour into Bulgaria in very large numbers. One of their objectives was plainly Salonika, which I may mention they entered at 4 o'clock this morning.

It has never been our policy nor our interest to see the war carried into the Balkan Peninsula. At the end of February we sent Foreign Secretary Eden and General Sir John G. Dill to the Middle East to see if anything could be done to form a united defensive front in the Balkans. They went to Athens, and to Ankara and would have gone to Belgrade but they were refused permission by Prince Paul's government.

If these three threatened States had stood together they could have had at their disposal sixty or seventy divisions, which with a combined plan and prompt united action taken, might have confronted the Germans with a resistance which might well have deterred them altogether and must in any case have delayed them a long time, having regard to the mountainous and broken character of the country and limits of communications.

Although we were anxious to promote such a defensive front, by which alone the peace of the Balkans could be maintained, we were determined not to urge upon the Greeks, already at grips with the Italians, any course contrary to their desires.

The support which we can give to the peoples fighting for freedom in the Balkans and in Turkey, or ready to fight, is necessarily limited at present and we did not wish to take the responsibility of pressing the Greeks to engage in a conflict.

With the new and terrible foe gathering upon their borders, however, on the first occasion Eden and Dill met the Greek King and the Greek Prime Minister. The latter declared spontaneously on behalf of his government that Greece was resolved at all costs to defend her freedom and native soil against any aggressor, and that even if left wholly unsupported by Great Britain or by Turkey and Yugoslavia, they would remain faithful to their alliance with Great Britain, which came into play at the opening of the Italian invasion, and would fight to the death against both Italy and Germany.

This being so, our duty was clear. We were bound in honor to give them all the aid in our power. If they were resolved to face the might and fury of the Huns, we had no doubts but that we should share their ordeal, and that the soldiers of the British Empire must stand in the line with them.

We were apprised by our generals on the spot, Dill and Sir Archibald Wavell, and Greek Commander in Chief Alexander Papagos-both victorious commanders in chief-that a sound military plan, giving good prospects of success, could be made.

Of course in all these matters there is hazard. In this case as any one can see, without particularizing unduly, there was for us a double hazard.

It remains to be seen how well these opposing risks and duties have been judged. But of this I am sure, that there is no less likely way of winning a war than to adhere pedantically to the maxim of "safety first."

Therefore, early in March we made a military agreement with the Greeks, and the considerable movement of British and Imperial troops and supplies began. I cannot enter into details or, while this widespread battle is going on, attempt to discuss either the situation or the prospects.

I therefore turn to the story of Yugoslavia. This valiant steadfast people, whose history for centuries has been a struggle for life and who owe their survival to their mountains and to their fighting qualities, made every endeavor to placate the Nazi monster.

If they had made common cause with the Greeks when the Greeks hurled back the Italian invaders, the complete destruction of the Italian armies in Albania could have been certainly and swiftly achieved long before the German forces could have reached the theatre of war.

Even in January or February this extraordinary military opportunity was still open. But Prince Paul's government, undeterred by the fate of so many small countries, not only observed the strictest neutrality and refused even to enter into effective staff conversations with Greece or with Turkey or with us, but hugged the delusion that they could preserve their independence by patching up some sort of pact with Hitler.

Once again we see the odious German poison technique employed. In this case, however, it was to the government rather than to the nation that the dose and inoculations were administered. The process was not hurried. Why should it be? All the time the German armies and air force were entering and massing in Bulgaria. From a few handfuls of tourists admiring the beauties of the Bulgarian landscape in the wintry weather, the German forces grew to seven, twelve, twenty and finally to twenty-five divisions. Presently the weak and unfortunate Prince and afterward his Ministers were summoned, like others before them, to Hitler's footstool and a pact was signed which would have given Germany complete control not over the body but over the soul of the Yugoslav nation.

Then at last the people of Yugoslavia saw their peril, and with a universal spasm of revolt swept from power those who were leading them into a shameful tutelage, and resolved at the eleventh hour to guard their freedom and their honor with their lives.

A boa constrictor who had already covered his prey with his foul saliva and then had it suddenly wrested from his coils, would be in an amiable mood compared with Hitler, Goering, Ribbentrop and the rest of the Nazi gang.

A frightful vengeance was vowed against the Southern Slavs. Rapid, perhaps hurried, redispositions were made of German forces and German diplomacy. Hungary was offered large territorial gains to become the accomplice in the assault upon a friendly neighbor with whom she had just signed a solemn pact of friendship and non-aggression. Count Teleki, Hungarian Premier, preferred to take his own life rather than join in such a deed of shame.

A heavy forward movement of the German armies, already gathered in Austria, was set in motion through Hungary to the northern frontier of Yugoslavia. A ferocious howl of hatred from the supreme miscreant was the signal for the actual invasion. The open city of Belgrade was laid in ashes and a tremendous drive by the German armored forces in Bulgaria was launched westward into Southern Serbia.

When it was no longer deemed worth while to keep up the farce of love for Greece, other powerful forces rolled forward into Greece, where they were at once unflinchingly encountered and have already sustained more than one bloody repulse at the hands of the heroic Greek Army. The British and Imperial troops have not up to the present been engaged. Further than this, I cannot attempt to carry the tale.

I therefore turn for a few moments to the larger aspects of the war. I must first speak of France and of the French people, to whom in their sorrows we are united not only by memories but by living ties.

I welcomed cordially the declaration of Marshal Petain that France would never act against her former allies or go to war with her former allies. Such a course, so insensate, so unnatural and on lower grounds so improvident, might well-though it is not for me to speak for any government but our own-such a course might alienate from France for long years the sympathy and support of the American democracy. I am sure that the French nation would, with whatever means of expression are still open to them, repudiate such a shameful course.

We must, however, realize that the government of Vichy is in a great measure dependent and, in a great many matters, though happily not in all, in Hitler's hands, acting daily through the Armistice Commission at Wiesbaden. Two million Frenchmen are in German hands. A great part of the food supply in France has been seized by Germany. Both prisoners and food can be doled out in return for hostile propaganda or unfriendly action against Britain. Or again, the cost of the German occupation of France, for which a cruel and exorbitant toll is exacted, may be raised still further as a punishment for any manifestation of sympathy with us.

Admiral Darlan tells us that the Germans have been generous in the treatment of France. All the information which we have, both from occupied and unoccupied France, makes me very doubtful whether the mass of the French people would endorse that strange and sinister tribute.

But I must make it clear that we must maintain our blockade against Germany and rights of contraband control at sea, which have never been disputed or denied to any belligerent and which a year ago France was exercising with us.

Some time ago we were ready to open economic negotiations with the French to mitigate the hardships of their conditions, but any chance of fruitful negotiations was nipped in the bud by "the generous Germans" and imperative orders were given from Wiesbaden to Vichy to break off all contact with us.

We have allowed very considerable quantities of food to go into France out of a sincere desire to spare the French people every hardship in our power. When, however, it comes to thousands of tons of rubber and other vital war material which pass, as we know, directly to the German armies, we are bound, even at the risk of collisions with French warships at sea, to enforce our rights as recognized by international law.

There is another action into which Vichy might be led by the dictation of Germany: namely, sending powerful war vessels which are unfinished or even damaged from the French African parts to ports in metropolitan France now under German control or which may at very short notice fall under their control.

Such movements of French war vessels from Africa to France would alter the balance of naval power and would thus prejudice the interests of the United States as well as our own. I trust that such incidents will be avoided, or if they are not avoided, that the consequences which will follow from them will be understood and fairly judged by the French nation for whose cause we are contending no less than for our own.

I am glad to be able to report a continued and marked improvement in the relative strength of the R.A.F. compared with that of Germany. Also, I draw attention to the remarkable increase in its actual strength and in its bombing capacity and also a marked augmentation in the power and size of the bombs which we shall be using in even greater number.

The sorties which we are now accustomed to make upon German harbors and cities are increasing both in the number of aircraft employed and in the weight of the discharge with every month that passes.

In some cases we have already in our raids exceeded in severity anything which a single town has in a single night experienced over here. At the same time, there is a sensible improvement in our means of dealing with German raids upon this island.

A very great measure of security has been given to this country in daylight and we are glad that the days are lengthening; but now the R.A.F. looks forward to the moonlight periods as opportunities for inflicting severe losses upon raiders as well as for striking hard at the enemy in his own territory. The fact that technical advisers welcome daylight, moonlight and starlight and that we do not rely for our protection on darkness, clouds and mist, as would have been the case some time ago, is pregnant with hope and with meaning. But, of course, all these tendencies are only in their early stages.

But, after all, everything turns upon the Battle of the Atlantic which is proceeding with growing intensity on both sides. Our losses in ships and tonnage are very heavy and, vast as are the shipping resources we control, these losses could not continue indefinitely without seriously affecting our war effort and our means of subsistence.

It is no answer to say that we have inflicted upon the Germans and Italians a far higher proportion of losses, compared with the size of their merchant fleet, and that our world-wide traffic is maintained. We have in fact sunk, captured or seen scuttled over 2,300,000 tons of German and Italian shipping. We have lost nearly 4,000,000 tons of British tonnage. Against that we have brought under the British flag over 3,000,000 tons of foreign or newly constructed tonnage, not counting considerable Allied tonnage under our control. Therefore, at the moment our enormous fleets sail the seas without any serious or obvious diminution so far as numbers of ships is concerned.

But what is to happen in the future if losses continue at the present rate? Where are we to find another 3,000,000 or 4,000,000 tons to fill the gaps which are being created and to carry us on through 1942?

We are building merchant ships upon a very considerable scale and to the utmost of our ability. We are also making a most strenuous effort to repair the large number of vessels damaged by the enemy and the still larger number damaged by Winter gales. We are doing our utmost to accelerate the turnaround of our ships, remembering that even ten days' saving on turnaround of our immense fleet is equal to a reinforcement of 5,000,000 tons of imports in a single year.

All the energy and contrivance of which we are capable have been and will be devoted to these purposes and we are already conscious of substantial results.

But when all is said and done, the only way in which we can get through the year 1942 without a very sensible contraction of our war efforts is by another gigantic building of merchant ships in the United States similar to that prodigy of output accomplished by the Americans in 1918.

All this has been in train in the United States for many months past. There has now been a very large extension of the program and we have assurance that several millions of tons of American newly-built shipping will be available for the common struggle during the course of the next year.

Here, then, is the assurance upon which we may count for the staying power without which it will not be possible to save the world from the criminals who assail its future.

But the Battle of the Atlantic must be won not only in the factories and shipyards but upon the blue water. I am confident that we shall succeed in coping with the air attacks which are made upon the shipping in our western and northwestern approaches.

I hope eventually the inhabitants of the sister isle [Ireland] may realize that it is as much in their interests as it is in ours that their ports and airfields should be available for naval and air forces which must operate ever further into the Atlantic.

But while I am hopeful we shall gain mastery over the air attacks upon our shipping, the U-boats and the surface raiders range ever farther to the westward, ever nearer to the shores of the United States, and constitute a menace which must be overcome if the life of Britain is not to be endangered and if the purposes to which the Government and peoples of the United States have devoted themselves are not to be frustrated. We shall, of course, make every effort in our power.

The defeat of the U-boats and of surface raiders has been proved to be entirely a question of adequate escorts for our convoys.

It will indeed be disastrous if the great masses of weapons, munitions and instruments of war of all kinds made with the toil and skill of American hands at the cost of the United States and loans to us under the Aid to Britain Bill were to sink into the depths of the ocean and never reach the hard-pressed fighting line.

That would be lamentable to us and I cannot believe it would be found acceptable to the proud and resolute people of the United States.

Indeed, I am authorized to say that ten United States Revenue cutters, fast vessels of about 2,000 tons displacement with a fine armament and a wide range of endurance, have already been placed at our disposal by the American Government and will soon be in action. These vessels, originally designed to enforce prohibition, will now serve an even higher purpose.

It is, of course, very hazardous to try to forecast in what direction or directions Hitler will employ his military machine in the present year. He may at any time attempt the invasion of this island. That is an ordeal from which we shall not shrink.

At the present moment he is driving fast through the Balkans and at any moment he may turn upon Turkey. But there are many signs which point to an attempt to secure the granary of the Ukraine [both in Russia] and the oil-fields of the Caucasus as a German means of gaining the resources wherewith to wear down the English-speaking world.

All this is speculation, but I will say one thing more: Once we have gained the Battle of the Atlantic and are sure of the constant flow of American supplies which are being prepared for us, then, however far Hitler may go or whatever new millions and scores of millions he may lap in misery, we who are armed with the sword of retributive justice shall be on his track.

April 5, 1941. Herringbone tweed and Camp Lejeune.

On this day in 1941 the U.S. Army adopted the herringbone tweed cotton fatigue uniform, which I know only because I read that here:

Today in World War II History—April 5, 1941

This history of the uniform, which was adopted in order to replace the Army's blue denim fatigue uniform, can be found here;  

The WWII Army HBT Uniforms

It was widely used by the Army in combat in warmer climates, such as in the Pacific, the China Burma Indian theater, and Italy.

Brigadier General Frank Merrill of Merrill's Marauders with two of his Japanese American interpreters.  The interpreters are wearing HBT uniforms.

The Marine Corps would follow and also adopt a HBT pattern uniform, which is the one that Marines are nearly universally depicted wearing in combat during the war.

Navy corpsman and Marine on Guam.

A camouflage variant would go on to be developed for the Army, but because it tended to confuse American troops who associated camouflage with the SS, it was withdrawn from service and issued instead to the Marine Corps, which then went on to adopt its own widely used variant.

On this day also, Congress authorized the construction of the Marine Corps facility, Camp Lejeune.

Marine Corps corporal training at Camp Lejeune.  He's firing the M1941 Johnson Machine Gun which saw limited use with the Marine Corps until adequate numbers of the Browning Automatic Rifle could be produced.

Charlotte, N.C., looking north, showing Camp Greene in the background on the left. February 25, 1918.

41st Division at Camp Greene, North Carolina, October 12, 1917.

Old Picture of the Day: Farm Scene

Old Picture of the Day: Farm Scene: Today's picture shows a farm scene from 1936. The picture was taken in North Carolina. The thing that strikes me about this pictur...

Tuesday, April 13, 1909. The Aadna Massacre.

The Adna Massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, which would kill over 20,000 people, commenced.  Ottoman troops would participate in it.

Armenian orphans from the massacre.

On the same day, a rebellion broke out in the Ottoman Empire after newspaper editor Hassan Fehmi Effendi was assassinated. The rebels forced the resignation of democratically elected Prime Minister, Grand Vizier Hüseyin Hilmi Pasha, and killed the Minister of Justice. Tewfik Pasha.

The revolution was backed by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, who sought to regain the absolute power.  It wouldn't go well for him.

What would become the University of North Carolina was photographed.

State Normal School, #1, Greensboro, N.C., April 13, 1909.

State Normal School, #2, Greensboro, N.C., April 13, 1909.

Last prior edition:

Monday, April 12, 1909. Doc Powers falls ill.

1900s, 1909, baseball, Health, Medicine, Personalities