April 3, 1941: Heavy cruisers USS Portland and Chicago depart Fiji islands at head of flotilla after month-long Pacific tour showing the flag in large parts of the vast ocean. Image: Naval History and Heritage Command

April 4, 1941: Japanese Foreign Minister Matsuoka Yosuke, visiting Berlin, obtains German promise of assistance if Japan attacks the United States

April 5, 1941: Chinese career diplomat Wellington Koo is named ambassador to Britain

April 6, 1941: Chinese Army reports major victory near city of Nanchang

April 7, 1941: Chinese guerrillas report successful counterattacks against Japanese Army in southern Guangdong province

April 8, 1941: Japanese troops forced to pull out of Shanwei city north of Hong Kong, Chinese sources say

April 9, 1941: Battleship USS North Carolina is commissioned