Tax exemptions for war plants hit as U.S. move to dictate state levies
By Daniel M. Kidney, Scripps-Howard staff writer
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U.S. War Department (March 6, 1942)
Communiqué No. 137
Philippine Theater.
Enemy activities during the past 24 hours were negligible. It is believed that Japanese plans for an immediate renewal of the offensive were dislocated by our successes in the Subic Bay air attack.
A copy of an order issued by the Japanese Army in the Philippines which has reached Gen. MacArthur’s headquarters directs the Filipinos in occupied areas to surrender guns and blade weapons of every description, including ornamental and utilitarian knives and trophies.
This order would operate to deprive the Filipino of his bolo, which, while sometimes used as a weapon, customarily serves as a tool. It is universally used as an industrial and agricultural implement. With his bolo, the Filipino farmer builds his house, fences his stock and harvests his crops. Hence, if he surrenders his bolo, he will find it difficult to earn a livelihood.
This order is interpreted by Gen. MacArthur as indicating that the invaders fear that the increasing resentment of the natives may develop into a popular uprising against the Japanese.
There is nothing to report from other areas.
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The Pittsburgh Press (March 6, 1942)
Fighter support lacking, bombers get out of Java
U.S. airmen who held off Japs for week retire to Australia as enemy pursuit planes gain superiority, make fields untenable
By Harold Guard, United Press staff writer
Melbourne, Australia –
U.S. heavy bomber squadrons were removed from the island of Java last weekend by American airmen because lack of fighter protection made it impossible to continue the punishing blows they had dealt the Japanese throughout the East Indies campaign.
The Japanese, smashing into Allied defenses as I left Java aboard a warplane, were apparently making every effort to speed up conquest of Dutch territory in order to concentrate their offensive strength in the south – toward Australia – before the Allies can complete mobilization of their fighting power here.
These are the outstanding impressions I carried from Java after weeks of reporting day-by-day advances of enemy forces down the Malay Peninsula and across the rich Dutch Indies.
The U.S. Air Force, based at secret airdromes cleverly hidden in the Java mountains, fought magnificently. American pilots checked the Japanese invasion for at least a week by battering attacks on the enemy at sea and on land.
But gradually, the enemy’s numerical superiority in fighter planes made itself felt. It was understood that a number of U.S. planes were destroyed on the ground late last week when they were sorely needed and that fighter plane reinforcements had not arrived as expected.
That was why it was necessary to remove some U.S. airplanes from the area to avoid being picked off on the ground by the machine guns of enemy fighter planes.
Men of the Air Force did not hide their anger over conditions which made it necessary for them to leave when they were badly needed, but even on the afternoon of our departure, the Japanese dropped calling cards [bombs] in the center of the field where a number of U.S. planes were momentarily expected to arrive.
Java’s trouble was the same as Malaya’s. There were numbers of RAF fliers as well as American pilots in Java when I left, but they had nothing to fly. They had hammered the enemy relentlessly but they could not go on indefinitely without reinforcements.
Anti-aircraft protection too weak to save planes
The cost of operating heavy bombers without adequate fighter protection had become obvious to anybody. Even the anti-aircraft protection in Java – sometimes less effective than it had been in Malaya – was not sufficient to prevent the eventual loss of the big ships if they were left on the island.
I left Djokja, in southwest Java, on Sunday in my second retirement before Japanese troops.
NOTE: Mr. Guard left Singapore last month on a ship that was heavily bombed from the air as the Japanese closed in on that city.
I visited Allied headquarters earlier but found that the High Command had been removed to India where “the war might be prosecuted” generally with greater effectiveness.
A U.S. consul, formerly at Singapore, was advising all Americans to leave at once. Most of the press corps decided to leave for the south coast, but some correspondents, including W. H. McDougall of the United Press, remained in Java.
We made the trip from Bandoeng in an ancient, protesting jalopy, with a Javanese driver named George, who seemed always to be lost in the pitch-black darkness.
We got to an airfield just in time to fling out bags aboard a departing heavy bomber. The American pilots all bewailed the conditions that made it necessary for them to leave. But as we waited at the field, more bombers arrived under orders to leave Java as soon as circumstances permitted.
Bombers take to air to avoid destruction on the ground
It was during the afternoon that Japanese bombers found our airdrome and dropped bombs in the center of the runway.
Late in the evening, the opportunity arrived to leave the sun-scorched red-sand desert that served as a runway. I talked with two bomber pilots who had been through much of the aerial fighting in the East Indies.
They told how bombers were taken into the air from Java bases merely to avoid destruction as Japanese warplanes approached. Some of them flew around until they found a Japanese ship or another target and bombed it.
One pilot told me that he bombed a Japanese armada that had so many transports it “stretched to the horizon.”
Upon arrival in Australia, I found airmen at desert posts who hadn’t seen a cigarette for weeks. Fortunately, I had some to give them.
There is an atmosphere of war everywhere in Australia. The people acutely realize they lost many good fighting men in Malaya, but recruiting is progressing rapidly and extensive defense measures are being taken.
Time after time, people have asked me about the Malaya and Java campaigns in great detail and wanted to know how long the Dutch could hold out in the Java mountains.
I could only reply that the Dutch are confident of their ability to hold out, but on the basis of Malaya, I believe the lack of air support will be a terrible handicap.
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Curb is urged on U.S. buying of new autos
House group would limit purchases to Army, Navy, President
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Typewriter sales frozen
Industry to be converted to war production
Washington (UP) –
The War Production Board today ordered all sales and deliveries of new and used typewriters halted, pending plans for rationing which will be announced soon.
No new typewriter may be delivered to any cosigner without permission of the WPB’s Director of Industry Operations, unless the typewriter is now in transit. The order went into effect last midnight.
Deliveries from one dealer or distributor to another are allowed, but not from a manufacturer to a dealer or distributor.
Used typewriters are subject to substantially the same restrictions. However, they may be delivered for repair or returned after they have been repaired. Leaded typewriters may be returned to the lessor.
The freezing order was issued in connection with conversion of the typewriter industry to war production.
In 1941, typewriter production included 736,000 standard machines and 53,000 portables.
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Vote is unanimous –
Boost in debt limit favored
House group backs hike to $125 billion
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Busy!
Mother of 17 finds time to aid in defense work
San Jose, California (UP) –
You haven’t enough time for civil defense work?
Mrs. Helen Peters, 42, mother of 17 children, of whom 12 live at home, cooks and handles the laundry for her family, makes 10 beds daily and serves as an air warden for her block.
She found she had some spare time and signed up today for an advanced Red Cross class.
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Tankers may hide out at night to fail subs
Washington (UP) –
A plan to operate tankers along the coasts only during daylight hours and anchor them in safe ports during the night was being considered today.
Most of the torpedoings along the Atlantic Coast have occurred at night. The daylight sailing plan is similar to one used in the last war.
To date, an unofficial compilation shows, 22 tankers have been attacked and all but one, the Malay, were sunk off the U.S. and Canadian Atlantic coasts or in the Caribbean area.
If a daylight sailing plan is augmented, refuge harbors will have to be made safe from submarine attack. Another factor militating against the plan is the loss of time resulting from the nightly layovers.
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U.S. ready to aid Greeks
Washington –
The United States will snip 2,300 tons of flour to relieve starvation in Greece if Axis powers provide guarantees not to interfere, the State Department announced today. The U.S. and British governments agreed to a request by the Greek War Relief Association for permission to charter the necessary vessel.
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Sizes of lighting bulbs may be curtailed soon
Washington (UP) –
The number of sizes and types of incandescent bulbs made for home and store lighting, flashlights, advertising signs and similar used may soon be cut from 2,500 to 1,000, the War Production Board disclosed today.
Such a cut was suggested during a meeting of the advisory committee for the incandescent and fluorescent lamp industry. It was also pointed out that a reduction in number of sizes of bulbs made would also serve to conserve critical war materials.
Electric bulbs contain such critical materials as copper, brass, nickel and tungsten.
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Divided we fall –
‘Make Americans destroy selves’ is Axis aim in psycho-blitz capitalizing on Allied reverses
By Edmond Taylor, author of The Strategy of Terror
Right now, Axis propaganda guns are loaded for a double-barreled blitz against the United States – one barrel designed to alienate us from our Allies, the other to divide us among ourselves. You can guard better against this by listening to Edmond Taylor, who, since publication of his best-selling The Strategy of Terror, has been regarded as our foremost authority on Axis propaganda methods. The article below is the second of two which he has written for the Pittsburgh Press.
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Nazi propagandist Viereck faces prison term, fine
Defense Attorney indicates appeal in coming; agent’s plea for farewell to wife granted by judge
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Japs good swimmers
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania –
Every Jap soldier can swim a quarter of a mile in his uniform, according to National Director of Physical Fitness John B. Kelly. He estimates 50% of the U.S. Armed Forces cannot swim at all.
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Fear uprisings –
Japs demand Filipino bolos
MacArthur’s spies give him copy of decree
By Everett R. Holles
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Vital air unity ignored in new setup of Army
Strategists repeat German error, fail to visualize plane potentialities
By Maj. Alexander P. Seversky, United Press aviation analyst
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Combine Army and Navy, general urges
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Liberty Magazine ups price from 5¢ to 10¢
New York (UP) –
Liberty Magazine announced yesterday that it would increase its price from 5¢ to 10¢, effective with the April 18 issue on sale April 8, due to the rising paper cost.
Army civil functions fund wins approval
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NYA Director halts non-war projects
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