In the Month of March 1940

US NAVY

Friday, 1 March 1940

            U.S. freighter Exeter is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities (see 4 March).

Saturday, 2 March 1940

            U.S. passenger liner Manhattan is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities, but is released the same day. Some 80of 200 items of cargo, however, are detained subject to guarantees as to their destinations.

Monday, 4 March 1940

            U.S. freighter Exeter, detained at Gibraltar by British authorities since 1 March, is released, but not before 155 sacks of mail for Germany are removed, as are 95 sacks for Italy and 59 for Switzerland. Some 140 sacks previously removed from other neutral ships, however, are brought on board and the ship is permitted to sail.

Friday, 8 March 1940

            War again comes to the Americas: Canadian destroyer HMCS Assiniboine stops German freighter Hannover in Mona Passage, off the coast of the Dominican Republic, at which point the merchantman's crew sets fire to the ship and abandons her. Boarding party from British light cruiser HMS Dunedin, however, saves Hannover from destruction. Conflicting representations by British and German diplomats as to Hannover's exact position prompt the Dominican government to drop the question of violation of territorial waters (see 24 May). Hannover will ultimately be converted into the escort carrier HMS Audacity. The effort expended to capture Hannover, however, allows German freighters Mimi Horn and Seattle to escape the Caribbean and make a break for Germany.

            Mimi Horn is scuttled to avoid capture in Denmark Strait on 28 March; Seattle is lost during the early phases of the invasion of Norway on 8‑9 April.

Saturday, 9 March 1940

            U.S. freighter Exmoor is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities (see 11 March).

Sunday, 10 March 1940

            U.S. freighters Explorer, Exchester, and West Cohas are detained at Gibraltar by British authorities; all are released, however, after only several hours.

Monday, 11 March 1940

            U.S. freighter Exmoor, detained at Gibraltar by British authorities since 9 March, is released.

Tuesday, 12 March 1940

            Russo‑Finnish War ends. Finnish desire to win back territory lost to Soviet encroachment (city of Viborg and areas along Finland's eastern borders) will push them closer toward the Axis.

Wednesday, 13 March 1940

            Fleet Landing Exercise (FLEX) No. 6 concludes at Culebra, Puerto Rico. The Fleet Marine Force makes progress in developing techniques for rubber boat landings, getting heavy combat materiel ashore, and improving ship‑to‑shore supply.

Saturday, 16 March 1940

            President of Panama transmits protest to King of England over British violation of Pan‑American Neutrality Zone in the Wakama Incident that took place off the coast of Brazil on 12 February.

Thursday, 21 March 1940

            Auxiliary Bear (AG‑29) and Interior Department motorship North Star (U.S. Antarctic Service) depart Bay of Whales for the United States. Staying behind are the men who will spend the long winter night at East and West Bases.

Monday, 25 March 1940

            Heavy cruiser Augusta (CA‑31) is damaged when she strikes an uncharted pinnacle in Coron Bay, P.I.