US NAVY
PACIFIC—Submarine Triton (SS-201) sinks Japanese
merchant cargo vessel Shokyu Maru in East China Sea, 60 miles south of Quelpart
Island, 32°10'N, 126°28'E.
ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. tanker J.N. Pew is torpedoed
and sunk by German submarine U-67 about 225 miles west of Aruba, D.W.I,
12°40'N, 74°00'W; two survivors reach the coast of Colombia, 35 miles east of
Riohacha (see 14 March).
Unarmed
U.S. tanker Republic is torpedoed by German submarine U-504 about
three miles east of Jupiter Inlet, Florida, 27°05'N, 80°15'W; three crewmen
perish in the initial explosion, while two drown in the abandonment. One
lifeboat reaches shore unaided (18 men on board) while U.S. tanker Cities
Service Missouri rescues six men from a second boat (see 23 February).
EUROPE—Admiral Leahy receives instruction to see Admiral
Darlan immediately about German submarine U-156's receiving assistance
at Martinique. Unless the Vichy French can assure the U.S. government that no
Axis ships or planes will be allowed to enter French ports or territory in the
Western Hemisphere, and that unless such assurances are rigidly maintained, the
United States "will take such action in the interest of security of the
Western Hemisphere as it may judge necessary and in accordance with existing
inter-American obligations." Leahy writes in his diary that everything
points to his early recall to Washington "for consultation" (see 16
April).
US ARMY AIR FORCE
FIFTH AF—General Brett, Dep CG ABDACOM, informs WD of his
decision to evacuate Fifth AF and other US troops from Java. Fifth AF bombers
at Java bases fly about 20 strikes, usually in 2-and 3-aircraft elements, against
shipping in Java Sea and against targets on Bali from this date through 1 Mar.
11 strikes are complete failures; the remainder, although causing some damage
to vessels and airfield facilities, fail to deter the invasion of Java.
US ARMY
LUZON—Lull
settles over entire front as both sides dig in and prepare for further action.
Japanese have completed withdrawal from I Corps area; diversionary forces
employed against II Corps are ordered back to Balanga area.
BURMA—Removed from jurisdiction of ABDA Command and placed
under command of CinC, India. 7th Armored Brigade arrives at Rangoon from Middle
East; is soon committed on Pegu front. Indian 17th Division continues toward
Sittang bridge near Mokpalin with Japanese in close pursuit.
US MARINE CORPS
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