Jap bites like trapped rat when soldier offers succor
Gen. Blamey gives highest praise to Allied troops in campaign against ‘things’ defending Buna
By Frank Hewlett, United Press staff writer
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Marines lower Henderson flag to spoil target
Barney Ross revealed as leader in Christmas Carol sing
By Robert Miller, United Press staff writer
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Allied invasion points hinted by Roosevelt
President indicates major aims; Axis may have to alter strategy
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Axis radio ‘identifies’ Darlan’s assassin
London, England (UP) –
Axis broadcasts tonight identified the assassin of Adm. Jean François Darlan as Bonnier de La Chapelle, a 20-year-old student follower of Gen. Charles de Gaulle, leader of the Fighting French.
After Berlin had set the propaganda pace, the Paris and Vichy radios fell in line on the purported identification, giving the first name as Bonnier instead of Berlin’s Dornier.
The later broadcasts credited the information to reports from Tangier:
…emanating from quarters in contact with the British Secret Service.
Darlan, High Commissioner of French Africa, was shot to death in Algiers on Christmas Eve. His assassin, never identified in official reports, was executed two days later.
The name of Chapelle, among others, has been mentioned frequently in unofficial circles speculating on the identity of the assassin. Nazi broadcast of the name drew no comment from officials here.
There was no evidence to link the assassin with Bonnier de la Chapelle, a cousin by marriage of the French author, Drieu La Rochelle.
Editorial: The President’s message
A confident Commander-in-Chief reported on the State of the Union and of the war yesterday. His message, in content factual, held to the achievements and broad purposes that unite us as a people. A sober report, it was lightened by a justified hope of victory.
Americans share the pride with which the President recounted production gains. They understand that all depends upon that arsenal which has grown so rapidly during the last year through the cooperation of government-industry-labor. For our Army and Navy, and the forces of our Allied as well, can advance no faster and no farther than the supplies from that arsenal will take them.
The President’s figures were a promise of mounting output. The 48,000 planes produced last year – more than all the Axis nations together – has already risen to a rate of 66,000. Production increases for the year ranged from five to 12 times. Let Hitler and Tōjō explain to their dupes, if they can, how this “decadent, inefficient democracy” can so quickly outproduce them.
Yet there was nothing smug about this progress report. The emphasis was more on what remains to be done than on what we have done – as it should be. We are “not
In discussing the better world for which we are fighting, the President presented no tentative blueprints. Those are to come later. He simply stressed the general aim of international security and security for individuals:
The men in our Armed Forces want a lasting peace, and, equally, they want permanent employment for themselves, their families, and their neighbors when they are mustered out at the end of the war.
From the President’s survey of the military situation, all of us can get a better global perspective on present and future battlefronts. He put first the Russian offensives, which are still rolling.
Our occupation of Northwest Africa, and the British sweep across Libya, are preparing the way for Allied attack on “the underbelly of the Axis,” after much more fighting in Tunisia. We are going to strike in Europe – “and strike hard.” Where and when, of course, he could not say. But he did specify bombing “day in and day out,” thanks to Allied air superiority.
The battle of the convoy routes in the Atlantic was stressed, and the destruction of Jap shipping by our submarines – up to “the very mouth of the harbor of Yokohama.”
In the Pacific, our “most important” victory was not in the essentially defensive delaying actions of the Solomons and New Guinea but off Midway. We shall strike at the Japanese home islands, and bomb them constantly. Hence the importance of China:
In the attacks against Japan, we shall be joined with the heroic people of China… We shall overcome all the formidable obstacles, and get the battle equipment into China to shatter the power of our common enemy.
But the Commander-in-Chief indulged in no promise of easy battles, no pledge of victory in 1943. The Axis has passed its peak. The Allies are on the offensive. But there is long hard fighting ahead.
The most he would prophesy for 1943 was:
…a substantial advance along the roads that lead to Berlin and Rome and Tokyo.
And even that – let us not forget for a single day – depends on all-out effort and unity here on the home front.
Ferguson: Post-war jobs
By Mrs. Walter Ferguson
If women are really people, we can be sure that housewives who have been coaxed into industry will not give up their jobs gracefully after the war. All such talk is wishful thinking on everybody’s part.
Those who are studying the question of womanpower mobilization admit their worry over the problem, which is a tough one any way you look at it.
At the moment, of course, women say they’ll gladly duck back home when the soldiers return; they won’t mind giving up fat pay envelopes and getting at the dishes, to hear them tell it. You’d think they love actually having to wangle a few extra nickels out of the week’s grocery allowance for chewing gum.
But people who understand that the female is as human as the male already see the beginning of another horrible economic struggle between the sexes – unless we educate and plan to prevent it now.
Women always have lost these struggles. And, if we can’t build a social system which assures every adult a paying job, we’ll lose the coming one. For when wars are finished, it’s the women who make the greatest sacrifices and the greatest adjustments for peace.
Whereas the veteran gets his pension and the young soldier his position, the feminine worker, who may have answered her country’s call as gallantly as either, is left to look after herself.
These are plain facts without trimmings. Therefore, it is both shortsighted and cruel to leave young girls with the impression that they will be as welcome in the business world after the war as they are now.
There’s a lot of post-war planning to be done, in the domestic as well as the international field. Certainly, the creation of better understanding between men and women at home and in business should top the list.
Enemy broadcast –
128 U.S., British planes destroyed, Tokyo claims
Dispatches from enemy countries are based on broadcasts over controlled radio stations and frequently contain false information for propaganda purposes.
Tokyo, Japan (UP) – (Japanese broadcast recorded at San Francisco)
The Jap Air Force shot down or otherwise destroyed 128 U.S. and British planes over Burma, eastern India and Yunnan Province, China, during December, front dispatches said today.
President Roosevelt’s statement that United Nations air forces are destroying four planes for each one lost, applied to the Jap claim, means the Japs lost more than 500 planes in the same length of time. Jap claims, however, are consistently and grossly exaggerated.
RAF bombers continue attacks in Burma
New Delhi, India (UP) –
The British aerial offensive against Japanese defenses in western Burma struck again yesterday at enemy positions in the area of Rathedaung, 25 miles northwest of the port of Akyab, and harassed shipping along Arakan Province’s coast.
A communiqué said that RAF bombers hit buildings and inflicted casualties on enemy personnel at Rathedaung, and caused considerable damage to the nearby village of Tsunghlemaw. No planes were lost.
Murder victim’s wish will send candy to Britain
Sweets to go to children in billet of officer killed by soldier
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Young boys can now be told details of their dad’s heroic death
Young colonel killed leading men in Oran action
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Labor issue sent to WLB
Washington –
Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins has certified to the Wear Labor Board a dispute involving 14 pine lumber companies in California. About 6,500 AFL workers are affected. Issues include wages, vacations and equal pay for women.
U.S. envoy reaches India
London, England –
William C. Phillips, President Roosevelt’s special envoy to India with rank of ambassador, arrived at New Delhi today, the Exchange Telegraph Agency reported. He was welcomed by Brig. Gen. Clayton L. Bissell, commander of the U.S. Air Force in India.
Security plan data pledged by Roosevelt
Cradle-to-grave program details up to Congress, President says
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Southern Democrats try to curb Barkley’s power
Outburst of long-pent-up resentment against Senate leader fails to clip his wings, but singes them; threat to quit party post saves him
By Thomas L. Stokes, Scripps-Howard staff writer
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Starvation level seen for Germans by autumn of 1943
Embassy attaché says pre-war observations showed food rations inadequate; Nazis shot of doctors and medic al supplies
By Howard D. Fishburn, MD, written for Science Service
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Wagner’s body, guard of honor arrive tonight
Johnstown to observe minute of silence during burial service
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‘Humane’ war rules approve smoke and flame, if non-poisonous
Even burning white phosphorous can be used legally since it produces no toxic effect
By Peter Edson
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Roving Reporter
By Ernie Pyle
Oran, Algeria – (by wireless)
The Army’s Special Services Branch, whose job is to provide relaxation and entertainment for the soldiers, is having a tough time over here.
There are lots of reasons why it’s so tough. They haven’t any money and there isn’t much to buy here even if they had money. Lots of their athletic equipment never showed up, and they don’t know where it is. There are no stage or movie facilities at the camps, and you run onto all kinds of snags in dickering with the local business people for theaters, restaurants, and auditoriums.
But they have made some progress. They’ve picked up a local troupe of singers and dancers with the very un-French name of Robert Taylor Shows, who travel from camp to camp. They have also just hired a local circus, with wild animals and trapeze performers, to visit camps.
Since the Special Services Branch has no money, the soldiers have to pay admission, but they have plenty of money.
Movie people are headaches
There are no plans for bringing over Hollywood people, as has been done in England. They say the reason is that there’s no place at the camps for them to perform, and they are headaches to handle anyway, being temperamental.
But it seems to me that sincere entertainers could perform on the ground, out under the sky, and that thew Army could tolerate a few Hollywood headaches if the troops really benefited – and there is no question about the stars being extremely popular with our troops in England.
They say here that a soldier’s three first needs are: (1) good mail service; (2) movies, radios, and phonographs; (3) cigarettes and candy. Cigarettes are being issued free now, six packs a week, but the other items are very short in Africa.
Every radio in Oran has been bought up by the Army. Music stores are cleaned out. All the camps want more musical instruments; they are even advertising in the newspapers for second-hand ones.
Dancing is revived
Many camps rigged up their own forms of entertainment. Some had bands, and gave big dances which delighted the local people since dancing had been banned during more than two years of German rule.
Boxing is popular in the camps, and tournaments are being arranged. Boxing gloves are one thing that did show up in sizable amounts.
But it is simple athletic games in which lots of men can participate that the Special Services Branch is concentrating on in lieu of better things. Three such games – kick baseball, speedball, and touch football – have been inaugurated. In addition, I’ve seen lots of handball and even badminton being played at the more remote camps.
In town the Red Cross as usual has done a good job of setting up clubs and restaurants for troops on leave. The Army itself supervised the opening of two nightclubs for officers, and is negotiating for clubs for enlisted men, noncoms, and Negro troops.
Men need something to do
But with the shortage of sports equipment in the camps, and the towns so far away and no regular transportation, and with the different customs and different language, in a country stripped of almost everything a person would want to buy, life becomes far different from what it was in England. Some of the harder heads say:
Well, this is war and we’re at the front. The time for coddling troops is over.
But it happens that only a very tiny percentage of our troops in Africa are at the front. The rest are far behind the lines, doing the drab, hard work of supplying the Army or waiting impatiently to get into action. And as the war grows fiercer and troops come back from the front to rest, they will have to have something to do. So, if this is the spot we’ve picked to do our fighting in, I’m in favor of doing as much as possible to brighten dull and cheerless ones.