Oct 24, 1940: US decides to boost fighter force in the Philippines Oct 25, 1940: Japanese aircraft drop bombs close to US embassy in China’s wartime capital of Chongqing, triggering American protests Oct 26, 1940: Horinouchi Kensuke, outgoing Japanese ambassador to Washington, predicts Franklin D. Roosevelt will be reelected in upcoming election, expects US-Japanese relations…
Oct 17, 1940: German-supported French Vichy regime vows to protect Indochinese borders from Thai incursions Oct 18, 1940: Burma Road, providing beleaguered Chinese government with vital supplies, reopens after three-month closure caused by Japanese pressure Oct 19, 1940: Fierce fighting reported between Chinese and Japanese forces near China’s border with Indochina Oct 20, 1940: US…
Oct 10, 1940: In National Day speech, Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek says that due to foreign support to China, Japan can no longer hope for a quick solution to the war Oct 11, 1940: Tensions high in Shanghai after Japanese-installed puppet mayor Fu Xiaoyan is assassinated Oct 12, 1940: US carrier Wasp undertakes experimental take-off…
Oct 3, 1940: Admiral Harry E. Yarnell, former commander of US Asiatic Fleet, calls for “the overthrow of the current rulers of Germany and Japan.” Image source: Naval History and Heritage Command Oct 4, 1940: Vichy France says Thai military forces systematically violate border with French Indochina to back up territorial demands Oct 5, 1940:…
Sep 26, 1940: Japanese forces make landing south of port city of Haiphong in French Indochina Sep 27, 1940: Fighting between Japanese and French forces in Indochina ends as Japan’s military occupies key positions in north of colony Sep 28, 1940: With Japan formally entering Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy, the pressure is growing…
Sep 19, 1940: German sea raider reportedly observed refueling in Japanese port of Kobe Sep 20, 1940: USS Haraden arrives at Halifax as part of US-British destroyer-for-bases agreement Sep 21, 1940: As Japanese troops amass along border of Indochina, French authorities engage in frantic negotiations to avoid invasion Sep 22, 1940: Japanese forces invade…
Sep 12, 1940: Japanese delegation headed by Kobayashi Seizo, governor general of Taiwan, arrives in Dutch East Indies for talks on economic cooperation Sep 13, 1940: About 300,000 partisans reported to take part in offensive against Japanese Army in northern China Sep 14, 1940: Thai Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram calls for return to his country…
Sep 5, 1940: Hong Kong garrison’s commander says city is able to withstand any siege Sep 6, 1940: United States and Britain protest growing Japanese pressure on French Indochina, stressing their own interests in the area Sep 7, 1940: US Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox arrives in Pearl Harbor to inspect naval maneuvers in…
Aug 29, 1940: Partisans continue wave of railroad sabotage actions in northern China, cutting off Japanese communication lines Aug 30, 1940: Vichy France permits Japan to transit troops through Indochina for the duration of its war with China Aug 31, 1940: US President Franklin D. Roosevelt calls up 60,000 members of National Guard for federal…
Aug 22, 1940: Former Wall Street financier James Forrestal becomes first US undersecretary of the navy Aug 23, 1940: Communist forces launch major offensive against Japanese Army in several provinces of northern China Aug 24, 1940: Japanese Army on heightened alert across north China as it is hit by a wave of guerrilla attacks Aug…
