America at war! (1941– ) (Part 1)

Japs kill bound prisoners with bayonets in Hong Kong

Confirmed atrocities include murder of women, internment of captives in lightless huts, Eden says

Japanese ‘soften up’ Port Moresby again

Vichy holds ‘aces’ in colonies

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The map shows the strategic prizes the Axis would gain by complete surrender of Vichy France’s colonies. Possession of the colonies would put Axis bases astride Allied aid routes. Britain has accused France of promising the use of Madagascar, off Southeast Africa, to the Japs “if necessary.”

French North Africa shipments ended

Washington, March 10 (UP) –
Acting Secretary of State Sumner Welles said today that American shipments to French North Africa had been suspended and would not be resumed until a satisfactory arrangement is made with the Vichy government.

Mr. Welles said he has no official information regarding reports from abroad that about 40 French warships, being built at the time of the fall of France in June 1940, had been turned over to Germany.

Old watch has time for its fourth war

Marysville, Ohio –
Ralph Lingrel, U.S. Army selectee, will carry into service with him a watch that has been through three wars and the present one will make its fourth.

The watch was given Mr. Lingrel by Eugene Drumm as a good luck charm, although it still keeps good time. Mr. Drumm carried the watch in the last war.

The watch became Mr. Drumm’s possession as a gift from Dr. F. W. Weller of Delaware, who carried it in the Spanish-American War. Dr. Weller’s father carried it with the Union Army in the Civil War.

CANDIDLY SPEAKING —
18-year-old bride has her ‘say’

By Maxine Garrison

At the time of 18-year-old Gloria Vanderbilt’s marriage to 32-year-old Pat DiCicco, she was asked by reported if she was excited.

The blushing bride said:

A first marriage is always exciting.

Really, now, isn’t that a bit thick?

Quaintly old-fashioned and set in my ways as I am, I nevertheless realize that the world does move. That manners change. That the younger generation invariably pulls a few new tricks to shock its elders. That the attitude toward marriage and divorce has radically altered. That sophistication comes young these days.

Still and all, isn’t it a trifle mad-hatterish, even today, for an 18-year-old bride to remark that a first marriage is always exciting?

Put that way, it strongly implies not only that second, third and later marriages will not be so exciting, but also that the first marriage is not likely to be the last.

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Admitted hazard

It has always been an admitted hazard of easy divorce that any couple about to be married can say:

Well, if it doesn’t work out, we can always get a divorce.

Such an attitude is likely to keep them from working hard enough at the job of getting along with each other.

Before divorce became a commonplace, a bickering husband and wife did their best to keep peace in the family, to allow room for each other’s faults. They had to stay together, so they either made allowances or consigned themselves to utter misery.

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Today’s husbands and wives aren’t a whit more faulty than their predecessors. But now they take their troubles to the divorce court, thinking to end them with finality, rather than learn the invaluable lesson of compromise.

The results of the new policy in such matters have been less happy than its perpetrators expected. They have found no perfect mates, yet still refuse to admit the need for compromise, still expect the next one to be perfect, and seem perfectly willing if need be to keep right on getting married until doomsday.

No illusions about it

Now we’ve reached the point of sophistication at which our sweet little teenage brides say coyly that a first marriage is always exciting.

Not for a minute do they have any illusions about marriage being important and lasting. They want a chic first marriage while they make plans for later ones, it seems. They’ve watched mama and papa go through a succession of marriages, so that it all probably seems quite natural. It isn’t very flattering to the first husband, of course, but then he’s probably not bowled over with the importance of marriage either.

There were many regrettable traits and woeful gaps in the training of girls 100 or even 50 years ago. But sometimes the thought of their genuine youngness, their faith and their dewy-eyed attitude toward life is mighty refreshing.

Backstabbers ignore Axis, put Allied unity in peril

Irresponsible criticism in Britain and America calculated to destroy national cohesion – Britons resent dead cats hurled by U.S., dominions
By William H. Stoneman

Fifth columnists among Burmese natives help Japanese in conquest of Rangoon

By Edward W. Beattie, United Press staff writer

U.S. War Department (March 11, 1942)

Army Communiqué No. 142

Philippine theater.
The situation in Bataan remains unchanged.

There was no air or ground activity during the past 24 hours. The positions occupied by both sides have apparently become temporarily stabilized.

There is nothing to report from other areas.

The Pittsburgh Press (March 11, 1942)

Pocket knives stab sharks –
Navy fliers drift 34 days on life raft, eat raw fish

Three are burned almost black by Pacific sun by time they reach tiny atoll, stagger ashore not knowing if Japs hold island

Declaration likely –
Brazil nears state of war

Ships ordered to port; Vargas empowered to act
By David J. Wilson, United Press staff writer

Bowler works for nothing –
Boondoggling controversy keeps Washington on edge

By Fred W. Perkins, Press Washington correspondent

Offshore blasts shake Jersey town

Mantoloking, NJ, March 11 (UP) –
Five heavy explosions from off the sea shook buildings and rattled windows throughout Mantoloking today.

The explosions, following in rapid succession, occurred about 10 a.m. Officer Weldon Polhemus of the Mantoloking police said the explosions “were heard as plain as day.”

He added:

They came from off the seas, but we don’t know what caused them.

Price ceiling ordered for used tires, tubes

Washington, March 11 (UP) –
“Price-gouging” by dealers in used tires and tubes has forced establishment of maximum prices, effective March 16, Price Administrator Leon Henderson announced today.

The new prices will be based on the amount of wear tires have undergone.

Wake up, America! It’s late!
Big production offensive demanded by output boss

Public backing for sales tax believed sure

Experience of New York with levy told to House group

Lend-Lease aid falls short of needs, Roosevelt says

Torpedo toll off East Coast boosted to 77

U-boat blows tanker in two then sails between floating halves
By the United Press

Army curtails time losses in streamlining

Decreased perfection degree noted, but supplies go through

Testimonial is arranged for Pearl Harbor hero