1933: COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: Major General Stanley D Embick, then commander of Manila Harbor Defences, described the provision to despatch a fleet to relieve Manila as "literally an act of madness" and assessed that the US should either massively increase its Philippine defences or completely withdraw to the Eastern Pacific. (Embick was later to serve as Chief of War Plans and, during World War II, to be one of Marshall's closest advisors.) (Marc Small)
April 19th, 1939 (WEDNESDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: HMS Bonaventure, an anti-aircraft cruiser is launched at Greenock in Scotland.
Britain will guarantee the independence of Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland.