ITALY: Rome: The Italian High Command announced:

We have repeatedly attacked a strong enemy naval unit in the eastern Mediterranean. Despite vigorous enemy anti-aircraft fire, an Italian torpedo bomber scored a direct hit on a light cruiser. Aircraft of one German air corps damaged an aircraft carrier and shot down an enemy fighter plane. In East Africa, enemy pressure is continuing on the northern front east of Keren but is being impeded by our violent counterattacks. Our troops have evacuated Dire Dawa in the Harar area (Ethiopia) and moved into new positions without breaking ranks. Italian fighter planes destroyed several aircraft on the ground on the Jijiga airfield (Ethiopia). Two British Hurricanes were show down in aerial combat. Two Italian aircraft have not returned to their bases.

YUGOSLAVIA: Belgrade: The new Foreign Minister makes efforts to remain on good terms with Germany. He assures the German Minister that they would respect international treaties concluded by their predecessors, including accession to the Tripartite Pact. The Foreign Minister says that Minister President Simovic's less than friendly policy towards Germany may be a personal opinion and not on behalf of the government.

The Yugoslav Army takes up positions on the frontier anticipating a German invasion. 

 

EGYPT: Cairo: RAF HQ in the Middle East announced:

RAF operations in Eritrea continued on Friday south of Keren. Enemy motorised columns and troops near Asmara (capital of Eritrea) were bombed and fired on by our machine-guns.

WESTERN DESERT: Air Marshal Arthur Tedder crash-lands, but is not seriously injured.

LIBYA: The Afrika Korps led a reconnaissance raid against Agedabia. Correctly discerning that the British forces are weakly dispersed in positions which prevent mutual support, German and Italian forces begin a counter-offensive and advance east from El Agheila toward Mersa Brega. Only part of the British 2nd Armoured Division is ready to oppose them. The bulk of the Australian Division is near Benghazi and the remainder is back at Tobruk. The Germans captured British tanks and trucks and kept driving forward.

SOUTH AFRICA: Heavy cruiser USS Vincennes (CA-44) departs Simonstown for New York CIty, with a cargo of gold for deposit in the U.S. 
 

PACIFIC OCEAN: Detachment “A” of the U.S. Marines 1st defence Battalion with 5-inch (12.7 cm) artillery arrives at Palmyra Island in stores issuing ship USS Antares (AKS-3) to begin construction of defenses. Palmyra Island, one of the Line Islands, is 1 square mile (2.6 square kilometres) and located about 960 miles (1545 kilometres) south of Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii. 
     Detachment “B” of the U.S. Marines 1st defence Battalion with 5-inch (12.7 cm) artillery and a machine gun battery, arrives at Johnston Island in high speed minesweeper USS Boggs (DMS-3) to begin construction of defenses. Johnston Island is one of two small islets located 717 miles (1154 kilometres) west southwest of Honolulu; the island is 1,000 yards (914 meters) long and about 200 yards (183 meters) wide. 

TERRITORY OF ALASKA:: The air echelon of the USAAC’s 73d Bombardment Squadron (Medium) flies into Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, with eight Douglas B-18 Bolos. These are the first bombers based in the Territory. 

U.S.A.: New York: 27 Italian ships in various US ports were boarded today by the US coastguard service after reports that the crews of five of them were starting to sabotage their craft in Newark, New Jersey. The most valuable ship, the Brennaro, is loaded with diesel and aircraft fuel.