Man rejected by Army kills self with razor
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National verdict is point rationing not bad after all
Interviews show farm families are scarcely using coupons, and city use is sparing
By Ruth Finney, Scripps-Howard staff writer
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Allies to war on U-boats in mid-Atlantic
Strategy of campaign in ocean ‘gap’ drafted; Nazis claim 32 ships
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Sub sinks City of Flint, ship once seized by Nazis
Norway freed freighter from German prize crew; all but 17 aboard escape
Washington (UP) – (March 20)
The Navy revealed today that the freighter City of Flint, which was seized in 1939 by a German raider and subsequently released by the Norwegian government, has been torpedoed and sunk in the mid-Atlantic.
The Navy had earlier announced the sinking, which occurred in January, but it did not disclose then that the victim was the famous American vessel.
Bound for Manchester and Liverpool with a cargo of apples, wax, asphalt, machinery, foodstuffs and lubricating oils, the City of Flint (a vessel of less than 5,000 tons) was seized on the high seas by a German surface raider, reportedly the Deutschland, on Oct. 9, 1939. It had sailed for New York six days earlier.
The Germans put a prize crew aboard the City of Flint and also crew members of a British vessel, an earlier victim of the raider.
On Oct. 21, the City of Flint arrived at Tromsø, and was subsequently was to Kola Bay, Murmansk, and to Bergen, Norway. At Haugesund, Norway, authorities interned the German prize crew.
On Nov. 5, the Norwegian government rejected Germany’s demand the prize crew be released and that the City of Flint be held pending German-Norwegian negotiations on her disposition.
The City of Flint was subsequently permitted to sail from Norway for the United States and arrived at Baltimore Jan. 27, 1940.
In releasing Capt. Joseph A. Gainard and his 40 officers and men, Norway did what Russia had refused to do, despite a strong demand by the United States that the ship and her crew be released after her temporary detention at Murmansk.
Russia, after holding the vessel for several days, turned her back to the German crew and permitted the Flint to sail.
A survivor of the Flint told in Philadelphia how all but 17 of a crew of 65 escaped as the ship, swept by fire, sunk within an hour after two attacks.
Forty-seven other survivors, including all the principal officers, were rescued, but have not yet reached the United States, the Navy announced.
Some of the survivors, the Navy said, saw the wake of a torpedo about 150 feet from the ship, before it was hit. The torpedo struck on the port side and fire swept quickly over the entire forward part of the vessel. The ship was abandoned within 10 minutes.
U.S. to share in mass raids upon Germany
Devastating bombings to be increased, Gen. Eaker says
By Walter Cronkite, United Press staff writer
A bomber base somewhere in England – (March 20)
The American bombing force in the European Theater, expanded many times its present size before the year’s end, will share equally with the Royal Air Force in mass bombings of German targets “wherever they may be located within our range,” Maj. Gen. Ira C. Eaker said today.
The round-the-clock devastation of the German war machine will increase in fury until ground occupation of the continent is accomplished, Gen. Eaker, commander of the U.S. 8th Air Force, said in an interview.
Gen. Eaker said:
The air phase of the destruction of the German war machine and its citadels now is underway. The vital preliminary air phase is increasing in proportion and intensity every day.
Gen. Eaker refused to state the present strength of the U.S. Army Air Forces in the European Theater in comparison with that of the Royal Air Force. However, it was obvious from the extent and frequency of the USAAF operations that an unprecedented expansion and concentration of American airpower is required to carry out the promised objectives.
Gen. Eaker said he “had been given to understand” that U.S. forces here had been promised immediate expansion for their offensive.
Nazi force being cut
Gen. Eaker was optimistic in his interview which revealed:
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That when full-scale daylight bombing is achieved, as many aircraft will be employed in such operations as in the present mass night raids.
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That the American offensive will not be confined to the French coastal areas with sporadic sorties into Germany, but will be pressed as far into the Reich as is feasible.
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That the Nazi Air Force is being whittled down decisively.
Mr. Eaker said:
I cannot answer for all critics, but I can say that I believe all reasonable men with sufficient military experience and background to properly evaluate the results must realize the importance of both day and night bombing – in short, the ability to strike at any time and at any place where the enemy is building his war machine or building munitions to equip it.
Losses to go down
There is no conflict between day bombing and night bombing, each being part of a completed pattern and each supplementing the other.
During the widespread raids of the winter, he said, there was no great disparity between losses on day and night missions. He added:
During our initial daylight bombing experiments, our losses have been less than we expected. They have been well within in the allowable economic limits.
We well know that as our force builds up, our percentage loss will go down. We will overpower and stretch the enemy’s defenses. The more bombers we send after German targets the smaller the percentage loss will be.
Enemy to lose more
But battles cannot be fought on land or sea or in the air without losses of men and material. Our air offensive will be no exception to this rule. We will lose planes. Our losses, however, will be much less than the enemy.
Gen. Eaker asserted that before the end of the year, the Americans would be carrying their full share of a shattering round-the-clock offensive.
Commenting on the present pattern of the offensive, mass night bombings of German war factories and pinpoint precision day raids on communications centers and shipyards, Gen. Eaker was optimistic. He said:
Whenever the German fighters choose to engage our heavy bombers, they suffer severe losses because of the great defensive armaments of our heavy planes.
Munitions supply hit
Our bombs now are raining on their factories, which, if left undisturbed, supply munitions to their armies and navies.
Asked for an exact definition of the part to be played by U.S. Air Forces in the new and greater offensive, Gen. Eaker replied:
As said many times before, German targets will feel the destructive force of our bombing loads wherever they may be located within our range and that includes most of their industry vital to their war machine.
Chum reveals bombardier’s final heroism
Fatally wounded by flak, he hurled bomb on Nazi target
By Walter Cronkite, United Press staff writer
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Nazis develop jitters over Allied offensive
Air superiority lost, Germans fall back on U-boats
By Harrison Salisbury, United Press staff writer
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Central Tunisian terrain worthless even for war
Present American battlefield enough to discourage mist ardent militarist
By William H. Stoneman
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Pepper claims Eden’s support of peace study
Legislative duty stressed in Floridian’s plan of cooperation
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Insurance inquiry reveals $5-million kickback
Six New York State officials are suspended; investigation to become statewide
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Overburdened transports skim New Guinea’s peaks
But Allies in Southwest Pacific have yet to try to capture enemy fields for frontline bases
By George Weller
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Oil from Indies helping Japan, admiral warns
Dutch naval leader says Pacific foe is growing more powerful
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Millett: Styles may soon change in factories
Women workers showing men clean way to do dirty job
By Ruth Millett
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4,000 chaplains needed to take care of Army
Washington (UP) – (March 20)
The Army needs about 4,056 more chaplains this year, Brig. Gen. William R. Arnold, Chief of Army Chaplains, said today.
He said this number is required to fill the gap between those now in the Army and those required as the Army expands. Still needed are about 3,028 Protestant chaplains, 959 Roman Catholics, and 69 Jewish. Two hundred thirty-five should be Negro chaplains, of whom 200 could be assigned to duty today.
Gen. Arnold declared:
The Army, in its policy concerning religion, exemplifies the spirit of freedom of conscience which is one of the ideals for which our troops are fighting. No soldier is compelled to worship god, but every man, no matter where he is, is given all possible assistance at practicing his religion.