Air Operations, Europe
The first attacks by RAF Bomber Command go in against German warships in the Heligoland Bight. The pocket battleship Admiral Scheer is hit 3 times but the bombs do not explode. Of the 29 attacking aircraft 7 are lost. The cruiser Emden is damaged by the wreckage of a Blenheim shot down by German anti-aircraft fire. There is no question at this stage of attacking targets in Germany. For the next few months only leaflets are dropped and when the question is raised in Parliament in October the government reply is that there can be no thought of bombing industry in the Ruhr because it is private property
]Allied Preparations
Traveling in destroyers advance units of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) land at Cherbourg.[
]German Propaganda
The Völkischer Beobachter declares that Churchill arranged the sinking of the SS Athenia to create an incident between Germany and the United States.[
]Japan
Japan declares her neutrality and will 'concentrate her efforts on a settlement of the China affair'. There have been Japanese troops fighting in China since 1931 and open war since 1937.[
]Poland
In the north the Polish Modlin Army under Gen Emil Krukowicz-Przedrzymirski begins to retreat after putting up a stubborn defense around Mlawa. In the south Gen von Reichenau's forces have already advanced more than 50 miles.
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