to accomplish, if he thinks first of his country and not of himself." September 20, 1940 (Friday) The cargo passenger ship Commissaire Ramel was torpedoed and sunk in the Indian Ocean by the German auxiliary cruiser Atlantis. The Universal Horror film The Mummy's Hand was released. Born: Tarō Asō, 59th Prime Minister of Japan, in Iizuka, Fukuoka, Japan September 21, 1940 (Saturday) In the Western Approaches, the German submarine U-47 spotted the lightly escorted Allied convoy HX 72. Other U-boats were radioed to the area and the wolfpack sank a total of 11 ships. The British government officially approved the use of the London Underground as an air-raid shelter, long after civilians had started using it as one anyway. Federal elections were held in Australia. The incumbent Coalition of the United Australia Party led by Prime Minister Robert Menzies and the Country Party led by Archie Cameron maintained power. The drama film City for Conquest starring James Cagney, Ann Sheridan and Arthur Kennedy was released. September 22, 1940 (Sunday) The Japanese invasion of French Indochina began. The RAF bombed Berlin. Four Egyptian cabinet ministers from the Saadist Party resigned in protest against the government's failure to declare war on Italy. Born: Anna Karina, French actress, director, and writer (d. 2019). September 23, 1940 (Monday) The Battle of Dakar began off the port of Dakar in French West Africa. Vichy France and Poland broke off diplomatic relations. King George VI gave a radio address from an underground air-raid shelter at Buckingham Palace. The King declared that Britain would be victorious with the aid of "our friends in the Americas." He also announced the creation of the George Cross and George Medal, new civilian awards for heroism. The results of a Gallup poll were published asking Americans, "Which of these two things do you think is the most important for the United States to try to do — to keep out of war ourselves or to help England win, even at the risk of getting into the war?" 52% said help England, 48% said keep out. Born: Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, classical singer and composer, in Mashhad, Iran (d. 2020) Died: Hale Holden, 71, American railroad executive September 24, 1940 (Tuesday) In retaliation for the events at Dakar, Vichy French air forces attacked Gibraltar but did little damage. Jimmie Foxx of the Boston Red Sox became the second member of the 500 home run