Washington (SS) –
A strong earthquake shock, with its epicenter near the western end of Unalaska Island in the Aleutians, was recorded by many seismographs in this country at 6:18 p.m. (EWT) Wednesday.
It probably did not disturb the Japs on Kiska, for Unalaska is approximately 1,400 miles from that battered mass of rock. Americans and Aleut natives on nearer shore and mainland stations probably felt it.
Capt. Renault, prefect of police, an enigma in dramatic events previous to U.S. invasion of Morocco
By Gilbert Love
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U.S. Navy Department (December 12, 1942)
South Pacific.
On December 9:
Eleven Army “Flying Fortresses” (Boeing B-17) and 8 “Lightning” fighters (Lockheed P-38) attacked enemy surface vessels in Faisi Harbor near Shortland Island. Three bomb hits were scored on an enemy tanker and 2 bomb straddles were observed on a second tanker. The Army “Lightnings” shot down 5 intercepting “Zeros” and the 9 “Fortresses” destroyed another. All Army planes returned undamaged.
Army “Flying Fortresses” bombed the Japanese flying field at Munda on New Georgia Island.
Ground activity on Guadalcanal Island was limited to patrol contacts with small enemy groups. A Japanese artillery position containing mortars and machine guns was silenced.
The former liner SS PRESIDENT COOLIDGE, owned by the American President Lines, San Francisco, California, chartered and operated by the War Shipping Administration for the U.S. Army, was lost in recent weeks in the South Pacific.
The vessel, operating as a transport, was fully loaded with troops and equipment when it struck a mine and sank.
Through prompt and efficient rescue efforts casualties were limited to four men.
Henry Nelon, 3714 Irving St., San Francisco, California, who is a survivor, was master of the SS PRESIDENT COOLIDGE.
The S.S PRESIDENT COOLIDGE (of 21,936 gross tons) was completed in 1931 at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, Virginia. It was 615 feet 6 inches in length, had a beam of 81 feet 3 inches, and a draft of 28 feet 2 inches.
The Pittsburgh Press (December 12, 1942)
Navy withholds exact date and position of sinking
Washington (UP) –
The 22,000-ton U.S. liner President Coolidge, transporting 4,000 Army troops, struck a mine in the South Pacific and sank with a loss of only four men, the Navy announced today.
The vessel, owned by the American President Lines of San Francisco, was chartered and operated by the War Shipping Administration for the Army.
The vessel was fully loaded with troops and equipment at the time, the Navy said.
Tenth transport sunk
The Coolidge was the tenth American transport sunk in this war.
Her skipper was Henry Nelson of San Francisco. He was saved.
The Navy’s announcement said:
Through prompt and efficient rescue efforts casualties were limited to four men.
A naval officer said these men were lost.
The sinking occurred in recent weeks, but the Navy did not disclose the exact date or the part of the South Pacific in which it occurred.
This was the sixth large transport whose sinking has been announced by the Navy in recent weeks. The loss of five – the Tasker H. Bliss, Hugh L. Scott, Edward Rutledge, Joseph Hewes and Leedstown – was announced recently. They were sunk off North Africa.
Probably enemy mine
Four transports – Little, Gregory, Colhoun and George F. Elliott (formerly City of Los Angeles) – were sunk in the Solomons.
The Navy did not say whether the mine which caused the sinking was of American laying, or the enemy. Presumably, it was the latter.
The President Coolidge was a ship of 21,936 gross tons and was completed in 1931 at the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company, Newport News, Virginia.
She was 615 feet long, with a beam of 81 feet and a draft of 28 feet.
British hit northern Italy third time in week; U.S. blasts port
By Sidney J. Williams, United Press staff writer
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Allies smash attempts to break from pocket
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Special showing here will help augment fund for old newsboys Christmas charity
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Attempt to put old cannon on junk pile arouses Missouri Governor
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