Already Australian and New Zealand troops are stationed in Palestine. "It has fallen to your lot to come to the United Kingdom itself," King George told the new arrivals in a message of welcome, "and as you take your place beside us, you find us in the forefront of the battle."

St. Peter Port, Guernsey: The first that Major John Sherwill, the Attorney-General of Guernsey, knew of German occupation was a telephone call telling him that a Junkers aircraft had landed at the small airport. A little while later there was a knock on his door. Two German officers were admiring his early roses. Sherwill invited them in.

"Please use the side door," he requested them. "The children are asleep in the hall." The Germans were happy to oblige.

It has been a most orderly surrender as white flags fly over British soil and German troops begin to land in numbers on the Channel Islands. No shots have been fired, and the only reported resistance has come from an Irish worker who punched a German soldier in a pub brawl.

The decision to demilitarise the Channel Islands - was taken by the Churchill government earlier this month when it became obvious that there was no way in which they could be defended without huge loss of civilian life. Panic ensued as British-born nationals crowded onto the few available boats and drained the local banks of funds. Thousands of dogs and cats were shot on the quayside before the last boat left five days ago. The widely predicted German move came in the form of orders dropped in canvas bags with red streamers attached. White crosses were to be painted on the airport runway, the main square and a car park. Every building was to fly a white flag. "If these signs of a peaceful surrender are not observed ... heavy bombardment will take place," threatened the Germans. A white sheet was being flown from every house as the Islanders awaited the German’s arrival. First reports suggest that German behaviour is "correct" and that the civil population is obeying instructions to offer no resistance.

A Guernsey shop is advertising cycles ("your best friend in months to come") and the Regal cinema in St. Peter Port is showing Tommy Trinder in "Laugh it off".

Across the water, the larger island of Jersey awaits its turn as German aircraft circle. Alderney has been completely evacuated; but the Germans have yet to meet the formidable Dame of Sark.

Guernsey: 17,000 out of 41,000

Jersey: 6,500 out of 50,000

Sark: 129 out of 600

Alderney: all but 18 of the 1,400 residents evacuated.

 (Denis Peck)

GERMANY: Hermann Göring orders an aerial blockade of Britain.

U.S.A.: On this date, the USN has 1,099 ships and district craft and 189,361 personnel consisting of 160,997 sailors and 28,364 Marines. There are also 13,766 members of the USCG.

The battleship USS NORTH CAROLINA (BB-55) is launched. She weighs 42,000 tons, has 9 x 16-inch guns with a 23-mile range, armour between 8-inches and 16-inches and can make 28 knots. (Marc James Small)

BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC:

Two more German raiders set sail. 'Thor' makes for the South Atlantic and returns to Germany after 11 months. 'Pinguin' leaves for the Indian Ocean around the Cape of Good Hope. Later she goes into the Antarctic and is finally lost in May 1941.

Meanwhile 'Orion' is laying mines off New Zealand that accounted for the gold-bullion carrying liner Niagara on June 19th. According to MAANZ (Maritime Archaeological Association of New Zealand) - Niagara-steel-screw steamship of 7582 tons built in 1913. She sank off Bream Head after striking an enemy mine. She was carrying a cargo of gold bars. All but five gold bars were recovered after the incident. Those five bars are still in the wreck.

http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Paradise/2951/niagra.html

The loss of Norway means that Britain's blockade line from the Orkneys to southern Norway is outflanked and a new one has to be established between the Shetlands and Iceland. The RN starts the massive task of laying a mine barrage along this line.

Within a matter of days the first U-boats are sailing from Bergen in Norway, while others are sent to patrol as far south as the Canary and Cape Verde Islands. Italian submarines join them in this area but without any early successes.

Towards the end of the month, U-122 and U-102 are lost off the North Channel, possible on mines. It is in this area and throughout the North Western Approaches that such U-boat commanders as Endras, Kretschmer, Prien and Schepke enjoy their 'Happy Time' until early 1941. U-boat strength is no greater than at the beginning of the war, and there are never more than 15 boats on patrol out of the 25 operational; the rest are training or on trials. Yet from now until the end of December they account for most of the 315 ships of the 1,659,000 tons lost in the Atlantic. many of these are stragglers, independents or in unescorted convoys, but it is among the escorted convoys that U-boat tactics are particularly notable. Instead of attacking submerged where they can be detected by ASDIC, they are operating on the surface at night as 18kt torpedo boats, faster than most of the escorts - and in any case there are few enough of these as many are held on anti-invasion duties.

Losses:

53 ships of 297,000 tons and 3 armed merchant cruisers.

2 U-boats, dates and causes of loss uncertain.

MERCHANT SHIPPING WAR:

Europe, Losses: 77 ships of 209,000 tons

Mediterranean, Losses: 6 British, Allied and neutral ships of 45,000 tons.

London:

Churchill to Minister of Supply:

In the recent session on Sir Andrew Duncan's vote, questions were asked by Mr. Shinwell and others about how we stood in "heavy tanks." We have hitherto regarded A.ss as the heaviest we should make, though a great deal of work has been done, I think by Stern, on a still larger type. I believe that there is even a pilot model. Of course our problem is different from the Russian or great Continental Powers because of shipment, although that is no final bar.

However, it now appears, on the highest authority, that the Russians have produced a very large tank, said to be over 70 tons, against which the German A/T 6-pounder [Panzer IV] has proved useless. It seems to me that the question of a much heavier tank has now come sharply to the front. The whole position must be reviewed, and we must know where we are - and that soon.

Anti-Aircraft cruiser HMS Euryalus commissioned.

FRANCE: Vichy severs diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union.

U.S.S.R.: The German Second Panzer Group captures Bobryusk, Russia. Army Group South captures Luvov. In the north the Germans advance toward Kiev.

The fast moving German columns have pierced the Soviet defences wherever they attacked, leaving behind thousands of Russian soldiers to be dealt with by the infantry. General "Fast Heinz" Guderian is covering 25 miles a day with his panzer group, crossing rivers with tanks fitted with Schnorkel air tubes and extended exhausts. The German's estimate that they have taken 150,000 prisoners and destroyed 1,200 tanks and 600 guns.

The German plan is based on three army groups:

1. Field Marshal Wilhelm von Leeb, commanding Army Group North, is driving through the Baltic states towards Leningrad, which is also being threatened by the Finns.

2. Field Marshal Fedor von Bock's Army Group Centre has the strongest tank forces and has been ordered to encircle and destroy the Soviet forces in Byelorussia, thus opening the road to Moscow.

3. Army Group South, under Field Marshal Gerd von Runstedt, is preparing for a holding attack from Romaniainto Bessarabia, while a tank force thrusts deep into the Ukraine towards Kiev to cut off the defenders.

The Soviets are launching counter attacks against all three groups, but they have not succeeded in holding the Germans yet.

The western front commander, General Dmitri Pavlov, and his leading officers are executed for incompetence on Stalin's orders.

Hitler's hangmen are pouring into the USSR behind his tanks. As the Germans advance they festoon the landscape with multiple gallows, each with its full quota of Soviet officials and political commissars. The policy of terror is being carried out by front-line troops as well as by the special task forces of the Gestapo. Hitler has ordered that every officer has the right to shoot any person suspected of "criminal action".

Russians, like all Slavs, are regarded as Untermenschen, sub-humans, by the Germans and killed with casual brutality. No preparations have been made to deal with the thousands of prisoners that the Germans are taking, and they are being left to rot without food or medical attention. There is no doubt that the Nazis intend to follow the extermination policy which they inflicted on the Poles and wipe out all Russians capable of mounting any form of resistance. Rule by terror.

Himmler">Himmler has been designated to act independently of the army to carry out "special tasks". His SS "Einsatzgruppen", have moved into the war zone and begun to massacre the Jews.

Luftwaffe: JG 51 claims its 1,000th victim of the campaign.

Moscow:

The Soviet Information Bureau announced:

Fighting is continuing against strong enemy motorised forces in the Lutsk area. Despite his fresh armoured reinforcements, all the enemy's attempt to break through our lines in the direction of Novograd Volynskiy [Ukraine] and Shepetovka have failed and been beaten back. Our armoured forces and the Soviet air force even succeeded in destroying a great part of the enemy armoured and motorised troops.

FINLAND: The first larger scale Finnish action in the Continuation War. Col. Blick's 2nd Division (II Corps) at central Karelia is given the task to capture the straits between lakes Pyhäjärvi and Tyrjänjärvi to get good starting positions for the coming large scale attack. After meeting surprisingly heavy opposition, the division finishes its task by 7 July.

SYRIA: After weeks of vigorous patrolling and incremental advances, 21 Aust Bde (Brig Stevens) has secured the whole of the ridge overlooking the Damour River, the main obstacle between 7 Aust Div and Beirut. Patrols begin to recce the approaches to the river and northern bank. At Nebek (north of Damascus), elements of French I/16 Tunisian Bn (supported by 14 R35 tanks and artillery) attack 2 Free French Bn (supported by British arty and A/T guns). The French are initially successful then driven off by Free French counter-attack. (Michael Alexander)

The Headquarters of General Wilson (Allied commander in Syria) announced:

The Allied offensive against Homs (Syria) is making substantial progress. An Australian squadron flying American-model aircraft, shot down a formation of 6 Vichy-French Glenn Martin bombers in aerial combat. The Australians came back without losses to themselves.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Insect class river gunboat HMS Cricket escorting a convoy from Mersa Matruh to Tobruk is damaged by a near miss bomb. She is taken in tow but found unfit for further sea duty. She is then employed as a floating AA platform until she is scuttled off the south coast of Cyprus where she lay undisturbed until her hull was discovered by RE divers during the 1980’s. (Alex Gordon)(108)

AUSTRALIA: Minesweeper HMAS Launceston launched.

On this date, the USN has 1,899 ships and district craft and 338,786 personnel consisting of 284,427 sailors and 54,359 Marines. There are also 19,235 members of the USCG.

By this date the US Army has accepted 85 SCR-268 radar sets into service for AAA defence. (Will O'Neil) (157,158,159,160,161 and 162)

Heavy cruiser USS Boston laid down.

Destroyers USS Hobby and Kalk laid down.

Submarine USS Grayback commissioned.

BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC:

Shipping losses in the MEDITERRANEAN SEA:

3 ships of 9,000 tons.

Shippping of losses in home waters:

34 ships of 86,000 tons.

Losses in the ATLANTIC OCEAN:

70 ships of 329.000 tons.

UNITED KINGDOM: London: The Daily Telegraph reports that the Nazis have killed over a million Jews in occupied Europe.

Britain: A campaign to save fuel in the home has been launched by the new ministry of fuel and power. It urges householders to turn off all unnecessary lights, use less water - five inches of bathwater is suggested as a maximum - and stop taps dripping. Coal supplies will be restricted, but not rationed. Housewives are urged to sift the ashes of fires for burnable lumps and share their fires with neighbours.

Britain: Lt. John Stuart Mould (1910-57), RANVR, was awarded the George Cross for his successful handling of dangerous bomb mine disposal problems from 14 November 1941 to this date.

U.S.S.R.: Black Sea Fleet and Azov Flotilla: Shipping loss: MS "TSch-405 "Vzrivatel"" - by field artillery, close to Eupatoria (later raised) (Sergey Anisimov)(69)

Evacuation of Sevastopol is ordered by the Russian High Command. The Soviet Black Sea fleet will attempt to comply with little success.

Some 100,000 partisans are now operating against the Germans.

EGYPT: Rommel reaches El Alamein.

LIBYA: Derna: Resting Afrika Korps soldiers watched with amazement today as two Italian aircraft landed on the airport here. One disgorged the immaculate, bemedalled Benito Mussolini">Mussolini, Il Duce himself. The other carried a white Arab charger upon which the Italian leader proposes to lead his victorious army through the streets of Cairo in the next few days. Such is the confidence of the Axis as Rommel's army nears the fleshpots of Egypt.

CHINA: A Japanese attempt to destroy Communist headquarters in south-eastern Shansi, is defeated.

TERRITORY OF HAWAII: Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief Pacific Fleet, and members of his staff board a Sikorsky XPBS-1 in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, for a flight to San Francisco, California. The aircraft crashes as it lands at Naval Air Station Alameda, California and Nimitz suffers scratches and abrasions.

CANADA: Tugs ordered for RCN: HMCS Haysville, Kingsville, Grenville and Lakeville.
 

UNITED KINGDOM: London: At the Guildhall ceremony giving him the Freedom of the City of London, Churchill says: "We bear the sword of justice, and we resolve to use that sword with the utmost severity ... to the end."

He was answering the critics of the "Unconditional Surrender" policy adopted at the Casablanca conference. To those who argue that the policy will stiffen the resistance of the enemy he said: "We must take all those far-sighted measures which are necessary to prevent the world from being again convulsed, wrecked and blackened by their calculated plots and ferocious aggressions." Churchill believes that if a set of peace terms were drawn up, as  the critics suggest, public opinion would demand conditions that would be more repulsive to the Germans than anything indicated by the general expression "Unconditional Surrender."
Attempts have, in fact, been made to draft a statements of conditions that could be put to Germany. Churchill says that they looked so terrible when written down that they were scrapped at once. He believes that the Allies must completely break the Nazi, Fascist and Japanese tyrannies, but without being moved by "mere lust for vengeance."

Britain: Signposts are to be re-erected in rural areas of Britain, now that the  danger of invasion has receded, it was announced today. Tank traps, anti-tank trenches and barbed wire entanglements will also be removed where they are no longer necessary. Lord Mottisone said that on a windy day at least ten young women had had their frocks ripped on barbed wire within 300 yards of the House of Lords. Anti-tank blockades in the streets were the cause of accidents.

Britain: War production in Britain is at its highest since hostilities began. There are now nearly five million men and women employed in the munitions industries, and output of weapons is at its peak. The biggest of all is the aircraft industry, expanded to 1,600,000 workers, 40% of them women, which is turning out 26,000 planes a year, including 7,000 bombers. Fighting vehicles are being produced at the rate of 7,400 tanks and 24,000 armoured cars this year.

Women now make up 57% of the work-force of the Royal Ordnance Factories and 40% of the engineering industry. It is calculated that 90% of single and 80% of married women of working age are in industry or the auxiliary forces. The remainder are mostly mothers with young children. Over one million people over 65 are working.

Average weekly wages reach £7/8/7 in aircraft factories and £6/18/3 for men (£3/9/10 for women) in engineering. But highly skilled piece-workers fitting aero engines can be earning up to £20 a week or more.

The employment of women has hastened improvements in industrial welfare. Mr. Bevin has recruited factory welfare officers and ordered 5,000 works' canteens to be set up. Tea-breaks, compulsory for women, have been extended to men, and day nurseries for women workers with young children are being opened by local authorities.

Hours worked have been reduced from the 70 or more a week in 1940, as accidents and fatigue lowered productivity. The maximum recommended is 55 hours a week for men, 50 for women, with one day off a week and one week's paid holiday a year. Committees have been set up to increase efficiency. Twice-weekly broadcasts of Music While You Work raise production by 15% for the next hour.

Frigate HMS Deane laid down.

Submarine HMS Sleuth laid down.

Frigate HMS Affleck launched.

Rescue tug HMS Flaunt launched.

Destroyer HMS Wakeful launched.

Destroyer HMS Ulster commissioned. (DS)

POLAND: The commander of the Polish Home Army, Gort-Rowecki is arrested by the Germans in Warsaw. Bor-Komorowski replaces him.

U.S.S.R.: Ukraine: Preparations are being made in the Ukraine for a massive test of strength between the Red Army and the Wehrmacht. Hitler has planned Operation Citadel to break the stalemate on the eastern front by pinching out the huge Russian salient around Kursk. He has amassed a vast army with nearly a million men and 2,500 tanks under the command of General Model and General Hoth. But Stalin, alerted by the "Lucy" spy-ring, has built a deep web of defensive positions.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: US Flying Fortresses attack Palermo and nearby airfields, and bomb Cagliari in Sardinia.

ITALY: Worried that Italy might defect from the Axis after its defeats in North Africa, the Luftwaffe has moved two operational command stations from the Russian front to southern Italy. The move follows Allied air raids  on Messina, in Sicily, and Livorno, on the Italian mainland. In London, Winston Churchill talked in a broadcast of Italian speculation about where the coming invasion would land. "It is no part of our business to relieve their anxieties," he said.

NEW GUINEA: OPERATION CHRONICLE:

A force composed of Australians and Americans lands at Nassau Bay near Salamaua 60 miles south of Lae with its substantial Japanese garrison. It is known as the the McKechnie Force. The move is part of Operation Cartwheel, aimed at giving the Japanese no respite after their defeat at Guadalcanal. The Allies landed soon after midnight, guided ashore by beach lights set up by Australian army patrols. No contact was made with the enemy, sparking speculation that the elusive Japanese are hiding in the hinterland and preparing a counter-offensive.

However, there is a shoot-out involving 28 friendly fire deaths and about 20 wounded. The green book "Operation Cartwheel" says that they were heavily attacked by Japanese. AIF observers reckoned there were no Japanese in the area apart from a couple who may have fired shots from a distance. I.e. the casualties were due to different groups of friendlies shooting each other.

Forces push north and south toward the Bitoi River and Tabali Creek, respectively.
Troops make contact with enemy forces in the Cape Dinga area south of Nassau Bay, after the Japanese III/102 Battalion abandon Nassau Bay and head north without a fight. The Japanese don't stop until they reach Roosevelt Ridge. Australians open the assault on Bobdubi Ridge and maintain pressure on the enemy in the Mubo area.

B-25s pound Bobdubi Ridge in support of the assault and hit forces at Logui and Salamaua. B-25s also bomb the airfield at Cape Chater on Timor Island.

B-24s and B-17s bomb an airfield at Rabaul, New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago and one heavy bomber scores a hit on a cargo vessel off Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island. (Michael Alexander and Jack McKillop)

Trobriand Islands: At the same time as Operation CHRONICLE, USN's Task Force 76 lands the 112th Cavalry Regiment on Kiriwana island and the 158th Infantry Regiment on Woodlark Island in Nassau Bay, north-east of New Guinea. No Japanese were on either island. Smaller parties had landed on 23 June on both Woodlark and Kiriwana - where there is already an RAAF radar station - to prepare for the arrival of the main bodies of infantry and engineers. Australians were advised of the other's presence! Fortunately, good luck and common sense on both sides prevented any "blue on blue" incidents. 

1st Battalion, 162d Infantry Regiment lands in Nassau Bay. Air bases to support later stages of the advance to Rabaul are to be built on these islands by US Seabee engineers and construction starts soon after on Woodlark Island.

(Michael Mitchell adds): So far as I am aware, there was only one Australian with the landing force (Capt McBride AIF, a liaison officer from General Savige's HQ) and his landing craft did not actually make it until the following night, so the landing was actually an all-US affair. However, Australians were on-shore to guide the landing craft in.

I recall the landing craft were supplied by the 532nd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment, part of the US 2nd Engineer Special Brigade. Many were destroyed in the exceptionally high surf (fortunately with no loss of life). This influenced General Blamey's subsequent decision to discard Nassau Bay as a staging area for Operation Postern (the capture of Lae).

I/162nd Battalion was commanded by Lt-Col Harold Taylor. I believe the battalion earned a Presidential Unit Citation for its subsequent work in the liberation of Salamaua. It is now part of the Oregan National Guard.

"Mackechnie Force" initially referred to the balance of 162nd Regiment (II and III battalions plus attached AAA units and arty). Taylor's I battalion was detached as part of 17 Bde AIF (u/c Brigadier Moten) but was later restored to Mackechnie Force. Mackechnie Force was briefly referred to as "Coane Force" when commanded by Brigadier Ralph Coane but reverted to its former name on Col Mackechnie's return on 13 August 1943.

CANADA: Frigate HMCS St Pierre laid down Lauzon Province of Quebec.

Martinique: Admiral Georges Robert, the Vichy high commissioner, for the French West Indies, asks for US military help to avoid bloodshed and organize the colony's transfer to the Fighting French. (Glenn Steinberg)

FRANCE: Since D-Day the Allies have landed 630,000 men, 600,000 tons of supplies and 177,000 vehicles in Normandy. Allied KIA and WIA total 62,000.

Normandy: Operation Epsom, an attempt by the British VIII Corps to break through German lines west of Caen, has been aborted. Lt-Gen Dempsey today withdrew the British 11th Armoured Division from Hill 112, overlooking the road to Caen. The ever-reliable "Ultra" intelligence reports showed that the Germans were about to launch a major attack on Hill 112 by two formations just arrived from the Soviet front: the 9th and 10th SS Panzer Divisions.

In the area as a whole Dempsey had 60,000 men and 600 tanks, supported by 700 guns; but he knew that he was still outranked by the Panzers. The offensive was abandoned; Caen will have to wait.

Since the 6 June landings, the Allies have lost 7,704 dead - 4,868 Americans, 2,443 Britons and 393 Canadians. Battle fatigue has also claimed 10,000 men in American units since D-Day - one fifth of all casualties.

GERMANY: The Allies will shortly face the German Me262 jet fighter for the first time. A  test unit, Erprobungskommando [Trials Detachment]` 262, has been in existence since April but now a new unit, I/KG51 (First Wing of No. 51 Kampfgeschwader [Bomber Group]) has been formed. At Hitler's insistence the Me262 will serve as a fighter-bomber, although he has permitted development of the fighter version to continue. This has meant much modification to give the aircraft the structural strength to carry bombs. It is planned to deploy the new unit to France once it is fully operational.

ITALY: The Allied advance in Italy begins to encounter a new German line of defence south of Siena and Arezzo. The advance bogs down.
Bad weather causes 450+ bombers and 150+ fighters of the Fifteenth Air Force to abort missions. 188 B-17s and B-24s, escorted by 138 fighters, hit an airfield at Zagreb, Yugoslavia and targets of opportunity in Hungary and Yugoslavia, including marshalling yards at Kaposvar, Osztopan and Split, a highway bridge at Brac Island, airfield at Banjaluka, and the city of Budapest, Hungary.

DENMARK: A general strike begins in Copenhagen.

FINLAND: 

Battle of Tali-Ihantala

Lt. Col. Reino Inkinen's IR 6 is manning the holding-line north of the Portinhoikka crossroads, while the Jäger Brigade, IR 50 and IR 30 withdraw north. The Armored Division is withdrawn from battle, but the other units regroup to a new holding-line, to give time for Maj. Gen. Einar Wihma's reinforced 6th Division to man the new defence-line west from Lake Ihantalajärvi. In morning the Group Wihma (the 6th Division reinforced with the remains of the IR 48) has established itself on the new line, and the IR 6 withdraws from the battle.

The enemy follows the withdrawing forces and in afternoon manages to break into IR 48's positions at Tähtelä, but is beaten back by Col. S. Laaksonen's IR 35 (of the 6th Division) by midnight.

Col. Y. Hanste's reinforced IR 12 is manning a holding-line south of Ihantala, and is subjected to a strong enemy attack in early morning. After running out of at-weapons, IR 12 withdraws to the new defence-line at 7 am. However, the bridge south of the village of Ihantala is left intact after the engineers assigned with blowing it are killed. IR 12 settles into defence while subjected to a heavy artillery fire.

In evening the enemy attacks the IR 12 at Ihantala after a furious artillery preparation. They manage to break in the positions, but the infantry is destroyed by artillery and mortars, and the tanks with Panzerfausts and -schrecks. In all, the Finnish ground forces destroy today 24 enemy tanks around Ihantala.

This day is considered to be the last of the Tali-phase of the battle. Lt. Gen. Taavetti Laatikainen's IV Corps has succesfully straightened its right flank and manned the new line west from Ihantala. For once, the terrain is favourable to the defender, and the Finnish infantry is receiving large numbers of German infantry at-weapons. The Finnish artillery is reaching the top of its powers. Finnish Army has more than 20 artillery battalions concentrated near the battlefield, and the advanced fire-control system is showing what it can achieve. In the air the Finnish Air Force, reinforced by Obstlt. Kuhlmey's Stukas and Fw 190's, provides air-cover and ground-support. This is a true combined-arms battle.

The Soviet forces, OTOH, while still receiving reinforcements, are suffering losses at an even higher rate. The troops are tired and operating at the end of a long supply-line.

MARIANAS ISLANDS, SAIPAN: US forces on Saipan advance north of Mount Tipo Pales and Mount Tapotchau. Death Valley and the Purple Heart Ridge are also cleared. The island is about 50% captured.

In the Mariana Islands, Japanese aircraft from Truk Atoll and Iwo Jima continue light air strikes but hit no targets.

U.S.A.: US breaks diplomatic relations with Finland.

On this date, the USN has 46,032 ships and craft and 3,623,205 personnel consisting of 2,981,365 sailors; 472,582 Marines; and 169,258 Coastguardsmen.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 67, Our troops on Saipan Island have made new gains both in the center and on the right flank of our lines, pushing ahead through difficult terrain and intensified enemy resistance.

High ground occupied near the town of Charan Danshii places our forces in a commanding position over the area held by the enemy Strong points in the Tanapag area are being subjected to aircraft bombing and shelling by Naval surface vessels. Air attacks and Naval gunfire continue against enemy defenses on Tinian Island.

Our casualties in the ground fighting on Saipan Island through June 28 (West Longitude Date) are as follows: Killed in action: Marines, 1,289, Army, 185, total 1,474. Wounded in action: Marines, 6,377, Army 1,023, total 7,400. Missing in action: Marines, 827, Army, 51, total 878.

No accurate estimate of enemy casualties is possible. A great many Japanese dead and wounded have been carried back by the retreating enemy troops. However, our troops have buried 4,951 enemy dead.

Rota Island was attacked by carrier aircraft on June 28 (West Longitude Date). Fires were started, and revetments and runways were bombed and strafed. No enemy aircraft attempted to intercept our forces.

Army, Navy, and Marine aircraft continued neutralization raids against enemy objectives in the Marshall and Caroline Islands on June 28. (Denis Peck)

Escort carrier USS Attu commissioned.

Destroyer escorts USS Bright and Maurice J Manuel commissioned.

Minesweeper USS Skirmish commissioned.

Submarine USS Spikefish commissioned. (DS)

CANADA: HMC ML 124 commissioned.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-478 (Type VIIC) is sunk northeast of the Faroes, at position 63.27N, 00.50W, by depth charges from Canadian Canso (RCAF-Sqdn. 162/A, piloted by Flight Lieutenant David Hornell VC) and British Liberator aircraft (Sqdn. 86/E). The submarine was first sighted by the Canso, which was unable to release its depth charges during its attack. The Canadian aircraft vectored in the Liberator, which dropped a six-charge pattern that lifted the boat’s bows out of the water. Although survivors were sighted in two dinghies, none of U-478's 52 crewmembers were rescued. 52 dead (all crew lost). (Alex Gordon and Dave Shirlaw)

Frigate HMCS Longueuil arrived Bermuda for workups.