US forces also open their quartermasters' stores to Manila citizens, who haul home vast quantities of frozen food and beef, which should have gone to Bataan. In North Africa, the 2nd South African Division under Maj. Gen. Klopper attacks the Italian fortified port of Bardia. In Malaya, British and Indian troops battle to stop the Japanese advance, but fail. Japan now holds most of a vast land that includes 38 percent of the world's rubber and 58 percent of the world's tin.
Allied economists start scrambling to find replacements.
On the battleship USS Washington , Lt. Cdr. Ray Hunter has the watch. Washington is steaming off Key West with USS North Carolina and USS Hornet, two of the most powerful and newest ships in the Navy, escorted by a covey of ancient four-stack destroyers. Shifted steering control to the bridge. Average steam 594.