The decision to evacuate has been made and cruisers and destroyers prepare to lift off the troops. As they approach, HMS Ajax and destroyer HMS Imperial are damaged to the southeast.

EGYPT: Cairo: Wavell to CIGS:

All available armoured strength, which will be deciding factor, is being put into "Battleaxe." Various difficulties are delaying reconstitution 7th Armoured Division. Earliest date for beginning of forward move from Matruh will be June 7, and may be later.

2. I think it right to inform you that the measure of success which will attend this operation is in my opinion doubtful. I hope that it will succeed in driving enemy west of Tobruk and re-establishing land communications with Tobruk. If possible we will exploit success further. But recent operations have disclosed some disquieting features. Our armoured cars are too lightly armoured to resist the fire of enemy fighter aircraft and, having no gun, are powerless against the German eight-wheeled armoured cars, which have guns and are faster. This make reconnaissance difficult.

SYRIA: The Vichy French won their first air victory when Lt. Vuillemin of 7 Squadron. 1st Fighter Group (GCI/7), shot down an RAF Blenheim reconnaissance plane, while he was flying a Morane 406.

Reinforcements also arrive for the French in the form of Dewoitine D.520s, France's most modern fighter. 6 Squadron, 3rd Fighter Group (GCIII/6) lands at Rayak after a journey from Algeria which began on May 24 and skirted the northern coast of the Mediterranean; 2 of the planes were lost over Turkey.

IRAQ: The Allies, 20th Indian Brigade capture Ur.

CANADA:

U.S.A.: Washington: Roosevelt makes a speech warning of Hitler attempting world domination and directly threatening the United States: "... the Azores and the Cape Verde Islands, if occupied or controlled by Germany, would directly endanger the freedom of the Atlantic and our own physical safety. Under German domination they would become bases for submarines, warships and airplanes raiding the waters which lie immediately off our own coasts and attacking the shipping in the South Atlantic. They would provide a springboard for actual attack against the integrity and independence of Brazil and her neighbouring republics."

Hamilton Fish in the House of Representatives naval affairs committee says that the British have thus far filed 132 requests with the US government for permission to put warcraft into American ports in order to repair damages incurred in naval engagements.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The many warships deployed from all parts of the North Atlantic to hunt the BISMARK, return to other duties. As they do, heavy attacks by German He 111 aircraft sink destroyer HMS Mashona off the west coast of Ireland when a bomb is dropped that penetrates No. 1 boiler room. However the forward bulkhead is riddled with shell splinter holes and as such she takes in water, eventually rolling on her side and is abandoned 100 miles west of Ireland at 52 58N 11 36W.  There are 46 casualties. The survivors are picked up by HMS Tartar which attempts to sink the hull with a torpedo, but when this failed, it was sent to the bottom by gunfire from HMCS St Croix and Sherwood. (Alex Gordon)(108)

At 1452, the unescorted Papalemos was hit on the port side in the stern by one torpedo from U-107. The explosion destroyed large parts of the superstructure and a lifeboat. After the crew had abandoned ship in two lifeboats the sinking was accelerated with shots from the Anti-Aircraft guns into the waterline at 1600. The U-boat went to the lifeboats for questioning, took care of three wounded survivors and provided them cigarettes, chocolate and provisions before leaving the area on a deception course.