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

EXECUTIVE ORDER 9294

Further defining of the functions and duties of the Office of Defense Transportation

By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes of the United States, as President of the United States and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, it is hereby ordered:

I

  1. The term ‘local passenger transportation equipment’ whenever used in this Order shall include buses, street railway cars, trolley coaches, trucks converted for passenger transportation, ferryboats, and other vehicles and vessels used or capable of being used to carry nine or more passengers (including the operator) in public or private carrier service.

  2. In addition to the functions, duties, and powers conferred upon it by Executive Order No. 8989, approved December 18, 1941, Executive Order No. 9156, approved May 2, 1942, and Executive Order No. 9214, approved August 5, 1942, the Office of Defense Transportation shall:

a. Advise and assist Federal departments and agencies, State and local governments, and private organizations in surveying the need for and planning the provision of transportation service for the movement of personnel to and from was plants and establishments, and where necessary, initiate and develop such surveys and plans. Due consideration should be given in making such surveys and plans to all transportation needs of each area, including those related to production in the war effort, agricultural as well as industrial, to military and naval establishments, and to essential civilian services.

b. Review and approve such contracts, agreements, or arrangements hereafter made by Federal departments and agencies, or by private firms (except common carriers) holding contracts from such departments and agencies, for the purchase, lease, requisition, or use of new or used local passenger transportation equipment, as the Director considers necessary to ensure the proper provision of passenger transportation services to war plants and establishments; in the discretion of the Director, review, approve, or direct the re-negotiation of such contracts, agreements, or arrangements now in effect, except those on which final payment has been made prior to the date of this Order.

c. Advise the War Production Board on the allocation of new local passenger transportation equipment; and, as necessity arises, recommend to the War Production Board programs and procedures for controlling the transfer and placement of used local passenger transportation equipment.

  1. No Federal department or agency or private firm (except common carriers) holding a contract from such department or agency shall hereafter complete arrangements for the purchase, lease, requisition, or use of local passenger transportation equipment without giving prior notice thereof to the Office of Defense Transportation, and, if the Director considers it necessary, without submitting the contract, agreement, or arrangement to the Office of Defense Transportation for review and approval. The Office of Defense Transportation shall establish appropriate procedures for carrying out the purpose of this Order and each affected department or agency shall designate an official representative to advise with the Office of Defense Transportation on such matters.

  2. Nothing herein shall be deemed in any way to limit the functions and authority of the Chairman of the War Production Board under paragraph 4 of Executive Order No. 8989 of December 18, 1941, and paragraph 1(a) of Executive Order No. 9040 of January 24, 1942, of the War Shipping Administrator, or of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

  3. The provisions of this Order respecting the use of local passenger transportation equipment shall not apply to movements of military and naval personnel when on maneuvers, on trips made under orders, or on other special operations necessary for the prosecution of the war.

II

  1. The Office of Defense Transportation shall include within the scope of its authority as defined in this and all other Orders defining its functions all domestic transportation within the territories and possessions of the United States.

  2. The Director of the Office of Defense Transportation is hereby designated as the head of any agency which may initiate action for the requisitioning of property under the terms of and in accordance with the procedures established by Executive Order No. 8942, approved November 19, 1941.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
The White House
January 4, 1943

U.S. Navy Department (January 5, 1943)

Communiqué No. 240

South Pacific.
On January 4, “Catalinas” (Consolidated PBY) and “Flying Fortresses” (Boeing B- 17) executed a series of air attacks on the Munda area in the New Georgia group. The same evening dive bombers, escorted by fighters, bombed antiaircraft positions, taxiways and runways in the same area. Results of the raids were not reported. All of our planes returned.

Our troops on Guadalcanal attacked and gained high ground positions in the vicinity of Mount Austen, capturing an enemy field piece. Six enemy counterattacks were repulsed with 150 Japanese killed. Patrols in other sectors killed 20 additional Japanese and captured howitzer mortars and light machine guns.

The Pittsburgh Press (January 5, 1943)

JAPS THROWN BACK ON GUADALCANAL
Six attacks fail to win lost ground

U.S. forces take artillery position – warships held off, Knox says

17 women saved –
U.S. sub rescues 29 on Jap island

Missionaries, facing mistreatment or death, spirited from Solomons ion daring night operation as capture by enemy troops appears imminent
By H. E. L. Priday, United Press staff writer

Action in Tunisia –
Allies destroy 12 Axis tanks

Third of force attacking French knocked out
By Phil Ault, United Press staff writer

15,000 workers idle –
Strike spreads at Ford plant

Army officer alarmed by unauthorized walkout

Canned food ration increased by U.S.

Washington (UP) –
The Agriculture Department said today that between 35.4 and 40.3 pounds of commercially canned foods will be available for rationing to civilian consumers this year.

The figure was originally set at 33 pounds a person.

The Department said the earlier announcement erroneously included frozen and dried fruits but failed to cover canned soups, baked beans and canned baby foods.

Estimated per capita civilian supplies, exclusive of home canned goods, are:

Canned fruits 10-12 pounds per person
Canned vegetables 18.2-19.4 pounds
Baked beans 1.5-2 pounds
Canned soups 4.4-5.4 pounds
Canned baby foods 1.3-1.5 pounds

Democrats retain Rayburn

Washington –
House Democrats in caucus today renominated Sam Rayburn of Texas for Speaker and re-elected John McCormack of Massachusetts as Majority Leader.

George urges pay-as-you-go setup on tax

Finance Committee leader asks plan be enacted by March 15

Questions, answer help to explain victory levy

I DARE SAY —
Brief calendar

By Florence Fisher Parry

War bonds finance sixth of current bill for battle

Sales pass $10 billion in year; other borrowing and taxes pay for major part of spending

Allies prepare to end grabs of properties

United Nations want to restore holdings in occupied countries

French ambulance man decorated by Eisenhower

Allied HQ, North Africa (UP) –
A French ambulance driver killed by Nazi aerial machine-gun fire while trying to rescue a wounded German prisoner from his ambulance, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously today by Lt. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Gen. Eisenhower praised Pvt. Dominique Bartolini for his “attitude of compassion” in a letter to Gen. Henri Honoré Giraud, French High Commissioner.

First Lady’s word betters 40 letters

Air Force ‘lab’ 5 years ahead of flying need

Wright Field research big factor helping America win war
By Peter Edson

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U.S. jury indicts 33 on sedition charges

U.S. Army buys eight hotels and rents 475

6 of purchased structures to be converted into hospitals

Davis may get foreign post

Senator reported slated for committee seat

U.S. leaders quoted as Hershey defers moral rearmament man

Pre-war decision includes citation from Roosevelt; case later reopened

South climbs to key spot in new Congress

Commanding position will have impact on New Deal’s plans
By Thomas L. Stokes, Scripps-Howard staff writer