"dies of coronary thrombosis on board his flagship"

THU 7 DEC 1939
Rear Admiral George J. Meyers, Commander Base Force, dies of coronary thrombosis on board his flagship, auxiliary Argonne (AG-31), San Pedro, California (see 28 December).

U.S. freighters Effingham and Winston Salem, detained at Ramsgate, England, by British authorities since 27 and 28 November, respectively, are released; the latter proceeds to Rotterdam where her cargo of 2,782 bales of cotton is seized by British authorities.

U.S. freighter Exmoor is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities (see 15 December).

German armored ship Admiral Graf Spee stops and sinks British freighter Streonshalh at 25°01'S, 27°50'W.