August 26th, 1939 (SATURDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM:The touring West Indian cricket team leaves early from Glasgow. They leave officials at Surrey, where they were due to play 'huffing and puffing'.(72)
Dahlerus sees Halifax again, flies back to Berlin with a letter for Göring and returns to London later that afternoon.
Queen Elizabeth tells her lady-in-waiting 'If things turn out badly, I must be with the King,' She goes to London.
The Chiefs of Staff advise the cabinet that the earliest possible date for any ultimatum
to Germany is 1 September.
FRANCE:
Horses, cars and some property are requisitioned.
GERMANY:
Robert Coulondre (French Ambassador) sees Hitler and appeals to him as one soldier to
another. When Coulondre cites the probable fate of women and children in any war, Hitler
hesitates visibly, but Ribbentrop strengthens him again.
The government issues a declaration of neutrality for Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark and Switzerland.
U-43 commissioned.
ITALY:
Mussolini submits a list of Italian requirements to Ribbentrop.
VATICAN CITY:
The Pope issues a general appeal for peace.
U.S.S.R.:
Khalkin-Gol: The Japanese attempt to relieve their trapped forces. It is repulsed, mainly
by 6th Tank Brigade.
In the last two days Soviet planes have made 218 sorties and claimed 74 Japanese aircraft.
CANADA: Certain Army units are mobilized in anticipation of the declaration of war. These are mostly coast defence units however, many militia units also mobilize details to guard vulnerable points.
U.S.A.: The first major league baseball telecast is broadcast on the experimental NBC TV station W2XBS in New York City. The announcer for the doubleheader between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn is the "Old Redhead," Red Barber. The Dodgers and Reds split the doubleheader.