Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Jan 30 – Feb 5, 1941

Jan 30, 1941: Proposed anti-espionage law in Japan demands death penalty for illegal collection of sensitive information

Jan 31, 1941: Japan brokers peace in border war between Thailand and French Indochina

Feb 1, 1941: 1st US Marine Division is activated

Feb 2, 1941: Japanese troops reportedly in fierce battles in central Chinese province of Henan

Feb 3, 1941: Admiral Husband E. Kimmel is appointed Commander-in-Chief US Pacific Fleet.

Feb 4, 1941: The United Service Organizations, a nonprofit corporation, is set up to provide entertainment for America’s armed forces.

Feb 5, 1941: US Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox warns in internal letter that ‘if war eventuates with Japan, it is believed easily possible that hostilities would be initiated by a surprise attack upon the fleet or the Naval Base at Pearl Harbor.’

Categories: War

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