America at war! (1941--) -- Part 2

Quintuplets stumble on national anthem

Callander, Ontario, Canada (UP) –
The Dionne quintuplets tried to memorize “The Star-Spangled Banner,” but finally five curly heads shook in unison and all agreed it was “beaucoup trop difficile” – much too difficult.

And so, their scheduled singing of the American national anthem in both English and French at Sunday’s quintuplet ship-launching at Superior, Wisconsin, has been deleted from the program. The quintuplets will sing shorter and simpler songs.

Nevertheless, this will be the most exciting week that the quintuplets have known in their almost nine years.

Last-minute preparations for the trip are being made today. The quintuplets and their party leave for Superior by train Thursday.

There will be 20 in the party, including several nurses and provincial police officers, Mr. and Mrs. Dionne and Daniel, Rose and Pauline, brother and sisters of the quintuplets.

East Prussia bombed again

Seven U.S. planes lost in sub base raid

London, England (UP) –
Britain’s big bombers were inactive last night, presumably because of bad weather.

Enemy bombers, presumably Russian, were over East Prussia last night, a German communiqué reported today. One was said to have been shot down.

Seven U.S. planes were lost in a Saturday attack on Saint-Nazaire through the worst kind of weather and against an intercepting German force of 30 to 50 fighters.

The weather forced the planes to scatter on their return to various airdromes, preventing a quick evaluation of results.

1st Lt. Fort Pipe of Alton, Illinois, pilot of the bomber Sad Sack, said they had a 30-minute fight with German fighters and that the weather was “pretty lousy all the way.” Saint-Nazaire is a major German submarine base on the French Atlantic coast.

Yesterday, RAF planes hit at industrial targets at IJmuiden, on the Dutch coast, destroying six enemy fighters. Four British planes were missing. Mosquito bombers attacked railway targets in Northeast France.

Völkischer Beobachter (May 4, 1943)

Die USA. in Französisch-Marokko –
Sie richten sich auf Dauer ein

U.S. Navy Department (May 4, 1943)

Communiqué No. 364

South Pacific.
U.S. forces are established on the Russell Islands, northwest of Guadalcanal Island. These islands were occupied without opposition in Feb­ruary sometime after enemy resistance had ceased on Guadalcanal.

On May 2, in the afternoon; Avenger (Grumman TBF) torpedo bombers, escorted by Wildcat (Grumman F4F) fighters, bombed Japanese installations at Munda, in the Central Solomons.

On May 3, a force of Avengers and Dauntless (Douglas SBD) dive bombers, escorted by Wildcat, Warhawk (Curtis P‑40) and Lightning (Lock­heed P‑38) fighters, bombed and strafed Japanese installations at Rekata Bay, on Santa Isabel Island. Defense positions were hit and a large fire was started. All U.S. planes returned.

North Pacific.
On May 2, formations of Army planes carried out eight attacks against Japanese positions at Kiska. Mitchell (North American B‑25) medium bomb­ers and Warhawk and Lightning fighters participated in these raids. Hits were scored on North and South Heads. At Gertrude Cove fires were started and one building was destroyed.

Communiqué No. 365

North Pacific.
Announcement may now be made of additional details of the surface engagements between a light U.S. patrol force and a Japanese force to the westward of Attu Island on March 20, 1943 (previously reported in Navy Department Communiqué No. 327).

The U.S. force, consisting of one heavy cruiser, one light cruiser and four destroyers, was patrolling in the area to the southeast of the Koman­dorski Islands when contact was made with the enemy shortly after dawn on the 26th. The Japanese force was composed of two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, six destroyers and two transports, and was headed eastward toward the Aleutians.

Firing was opened at long range and the engagement continued for three and one‑half hours. Hits were scored on both sides. At the start of the engagement the enemy force was to the eastward of the U.S. force, and, in the maneuvering to reverse positions, three of the U.S. destroyers launched a torpedo attack which caused the enemy to break off the engagement and withdraw.

Extent of the damage inflicted on the enemy vessels is not definitely known, but shell hits were scored on both of the Japanese heavy cruisers and on one of the light cruisers. At least one torpedo hit was scored on a heavy cruiser. Minor damage was sustained by U.S. vessels and casualties to per­sonnel were extremely light.

Communiqué No. 366

Pacific and Far East.
U.S. submarines have reported the following results of operations against the enemy in the waters of these areas:

  1. Two destroyers sunk.
  2. One medium‑sized tanker sunk.
  3. One medium‑sized cargo ship sunk.
  4. One medium‑sized supply ship sunk.
  5. One medium‑sized transport sunk.
  6. One large transport damaged and probably sunk.

These actions have not been announced in any previous Navy Depart­ment Communiqué.

The Pittsburgh Press (May 4, 1943)

ICKES DENIES MINE PAY DEAL
Wage parley is put back on old basis

6-day week ordered as means of insuring fuel supply

3 JAP CRUISERS DAMAGED IN BATTLE
Enemy fleet turned back off Aleutians

Outnumbered U.S. patrol force suffers few casualties

Yanks driving toward Tunis and Bizerte

Grim fighting still ahead Allies 15 miles from northern port
By Virgil Pinkley, United Press staff writer

Weather mars Darwin victory

Spitfires lost in driving Japs out to sea
By Don Caswell, United Press staff writer

Navy occupies more islands

Russell group captured west of Guadalcanal

Food prices out of hand, officials in OPA admit

There are violators from wholesalers on down, Brown’s agency declares

Ruml tax plan offered again

Vote expected late today on proposal


Plane output reaches peak

Ship deliveries also set record, Knox says

Bolivian President in U.S.

Miami, Florida –
President H. E. Enrique Peñaranda of Bolivia arrived here by plane last night en route to Washington where he will be guest of President and Mrs. Roosevelt.

I DARE SAY —
Onward Christian soldiers!

By Mrs. Florence Fisher Parry

Mysterious man ‘to sing’ at war contracts probe

Washington officials are kept busy jumping off Mt. Monroe’s social bandwagon
By Edward V. Roberts, United Press staff writer

Post-war group denies Willkie controls actions

But presence of 1940 candidate in Chicago at time of GOP meeting causes speculation

Only charge: job well done, Jeffers says

His program helps high octane gas output, he asserts


McNutt’s plan on job changes due this week

Transfers to be restricted by regional stabilization agreements

Ford workers face inquiry

Company, union to probe wildcat strike

Teeth added to strike bill by Connally

Penalties are proposed for provokers of work stoppage

Marine, wounded 14 times, bullets gone, bluffs Japs

Corporal stops flow of blood with one hand, trains empty gun on foe with other

Editorial: Not one issue decided