Knox returns home
Washington – (Oct. 10)
Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox returned today from an 18-day trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which included a tour of the Navy’s Caribbean bases en route.
Army officer challenged on rubber talk
Brazilian production too little at any price, WPB indicates
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‘Stab-in-back’ speech brings two protests
Chile and Argentina assail Welles’ criticism of two countries
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Essential cars in line to get tires from OPA
Benefits will be denied to violators, Henderson warns
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The home front –
Marine Corps offers commissions to specially qualified men
Photography and journalism language, engineering fields are open
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Bryon: Send your serviceman’s present early!
And be sure you heed regulations for overseas shipments
By Betty Byron
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White House statement on Columbus Day
October 12, 1942
It is 450 years since Christopher Columbus first saw the new Western world off his bow. He and his followers found a great expanse where new beginnings could be made, where men could steer their courses free of the fetters of tyranny and the encompassment of outworn institutions. In the wake of his courageous and unprecedented voyage there came to the Americas the seeking people of many countries – people who sought liberty, democracy, religious tolerance, the fuller life.
This was the American experiment, a bold experiment and successful. Our immigrant ancestors, yours and mine, made it successful.
But now the free nations we created on two continents, the very liberties we made law, are endangered by destructive forces from without. We are in the midst of mankind’s greatest war, a war to determine whether the march of progress shall proceed or be halted by the totality of conquest.
Our cause is not only liberty for ourselves but liberation for others. An American victory will be a United Nations victory and a victory for oppressed and enslaved people everywhere. I like to remember on this significant anniversary the words of a contemporary poet:
Columbus found a world and had no chart, save one that faith deciphered in the skies.
We have faith; deeds will implement it.
The Pittsburgh Press (October 12, 1942)
Allied fliers strike hard in Middle East
Americans attack ships near Crete; Axis loses 18 planes
By Leon Kay, United Press staff writer
Cairo, Egypt –
American and British bombers and fighters, in one of their biggest days over the Mediterranean, blasted a convoy, damaged a schooner and shot down 18 Axis planes yesterday with only one Allied loss.
Heavy American bombers attacked an enemy convoy south of Crete and scored two direct hits on one of two large merchant vessels and shot down three Nazi planes, United States Army Headquarters announced.
The Royal Air Force announced that its fighters based on Malta repulsed five attacks by enemy air fleets. The Axis sent 69 bombers and more than 150 fighters against the tiny, frequently-bombed island. They lost 15 planes – seven bombers and eight fighters.
U.S. bomber damaged
RAF planes also left a two-masted schooner afire two miles northwest of Sidi Barrani and caused considerable damage to an eastbound motor convoy along the North African supply route.
In all these operations, the Americans and British lost only one plane. It was a Spitfire that fell in the defense of Malta, where, the RAF added, little damage was caused. One of the American Navy bombers in the convoy attacked was damaged but it reached its base.
The convoy compromised two large merchant vessels and three destroyers. Numerous near misses were observed around both of the merchant ships beside the two direct hits on one.
Blow up train and trucks
Reconnaissance planes early today reported that the bomb victim was still afloat but was ablaze and in a sinking condition.
One element of the bomber formation was attacked by three Messerschmitts. One of the enemy planes was shot down and another damaged. Several Messerschmitts also came in toward this formation but did not attack the sharpshooting Americans.
Another element of the bomber formation accounted for one Nazi bomber and one fighter destroyed out of a squadron of six that attacked it.
RAF Headquarters announced that Allied fighters and bombers had blown up a 500-ton enemy train and 20 trucks loaded with ammunition and guns en route to the El Alamein front in a successful raid Friday.