Editorial: Without Stalin
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Wire merger plan awaits U.S. approval
Stockholders of Western Union, Postal favor consolidation
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Sloan urges –
Inflation curb at war’s end
No unemployment is seen for 5 years after peace
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Roving Reporter
By Ernie Pyle
Somewhere in Sicily, Italy – (by wireless)
Since Sicily was a new country for me, I figured I might as well get sick right away and get it over with. So, on my fifth day ashore, they threw me into an ambulance and off we went hunting for a hospital.
We were looking for a certain clearing station, and we couldn’t find it because it was moving forward while we were moving back, and we passed on different roads. The result was that the determined ambulance boys drove nearly halfway across Sicily before they finally gave up and started back.
We drove a total of 75 agonizing miles over dusty gravel roads, and then found the hospital all set up and ready for business within four miles of where we had started from in the first place.
The clearing station was a small tent hospital, a sort of flag stop for wounded on the way back from the lines. The first regular hospital was about 15 miles to the rear.
The average patient stays in the clearing station only a few hours at most. But once the doctors got a squint at me, they beamed, rubbed their rubber gloves, and cried:
Ah! Here is the medical freak we have been waiting for. We’ll just keep this guy and play with him awhile.
Everything but a hot dog!
So, they put me to bed on a cot, gave me paregoric and bismuth, aspirin and codeine, soup and tomato juice, and finally wound up with morphine and a handful of sulfaguanidine. The only thing I can say on behalf of my treatment is that I am well and hearty again.
My family physician in this case was Capt. Joe Doran, of Iowa City, Iowa. Capt. Doran is a young and enthusiastic doctor who is different from most frontline doctors in that his main interest lies in treating sick soldiers rather than wounded ones. Capt. Doran likes to get at the seat of a man’s ills. In furtherance of this, he has a nice little laboratory set up in one of the tents, complete with microscope and glass tubes. He is always taking specimens from his patients and then peering at them like Dr. Arrowsmith.
Capt. Doran’s germ quest upon me was somewhat agitated by the fact that upon the evening of my arrival, he received a letter saying he had become a father for the second time, about six weeks previously. He was so overjoyed he gave me an extra shot of morphine and I was asleep before I could say “Congratulations!”
They kept me in what is known as a semi-comatose condition for about 24 hours, and then began to get puzzled. At first, they thought I had dysentery, but the little laboratory showed no dysentery. Then they thought I had malaria, so they called in a couple of Italian malaria experts from down the highway. They chatted in English, punched my finger, took blood specimens, and reported back later that I had no malaria.
He had ‘battlefield fever’
By that time, I was getting better anyhow, so they decided that what I had was a nonconforming and just now fairly common illness which they call “battlefield fever.” With this you ache all over and have a very high temperature.
The doctors say it is caused by a combination of too much dust, bad eating, not enough sleep, exhaustion, and the unconscious nerve tension that comes to everybody in a frontline area. You don’t die of battlefield fever, but you think you’re going to.
They put me in a corner of a tent, and in this corner at various times there were three officers with similar fevers. Their illnesses were brief, like mine, and they all left before I did, so their families needn’t worry upon reading that they were ill.
One of my classmates was a redheaded and bespectacled lieutenant named Rahe Chamberlin, from Clarksville, Ohio. Since coming into the Army, Chamberlin has bought a half interest in a grocery store back home. Whenever they would bring us fruit juice in cans, he would take a good gander to see if it was a product his partner was selling.
Another fellow sufferer was Lt. Richard Van Syckle, of Sewaren, New Jersey. He used to be in the automobile business at Perth Amboy. He is married to Clare Raftery, a delicious former Powers model, and he carries magazine-cover pictures of her in his map case.
Major’s claim to fame
The third was Maj. Ellzey Brown of Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Maj. Brown used to be president and general sales manager of the Cleveland Tractor Company. He is a tough outdoor man, and he was so thoroughly disgusted at getting sick that it made him even sicker. He celebrated his 44th birthday just before entering the hospital.
Maj. Brown distinguished himself in our midst by paying a flat hundred dollars to the station’s chaplain for a $14 air mattress. His own gear was lost in the original Sicily landings and, as he says, money meant nothing over here anyhow, so why not pay a hundred dollars for something that will help a little?
America’s war reporters –
One-fourth of 400 foreign correspondents have fallen as casualties in World War II
At least 12 have been killed, three are missing
By Gilbert Love
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Air Force lacks awards to equal gunner’s deeds
Fortress crew member downs seven Nazi aircraft, wins 4 decorations, is slated for 3 more
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Völkischer Beobachter (August 12, 1943)
USA.-Protektorat Marokko?
dnb. Vichy, 11. August –
Nach einer hier vorliegenden Meldung aus Tanger sollen die Amerikaner den Sultan von Marokko darüber befragt haben, welche Haltung er hinsichtlich einer Ausdehnung der Machtbefugnisse der USA. in Marokko einnehmen würde. Ferner sollen die amerikanischen Besatzungsbehörden Maßnahmen ergreifen, um sich endgültig in Marokko niederzulassen.
Nach einem Gerücht in Rabat soll Roosevelt den Sultan von Marokko eingeladen haben.
Die bisherigen Einfilzungsmethoden der Yankees in Marokko verrieten bereits, daß Roosevelt das Land zu einer Art Kolonie der USA. ausersehen hat. Das Besetzungsregime war eine Mischung von Peitsche und wenig Zuckerbrot, und die Franzosen wurden nur noch als Handlanger bewertet. Die Wall Street hat sich an Marokko weitgehend interessiert. Die Anfrage an den Sultan hätte also sehr reale Hintergründe, von denen man übrigens auch in den USA. schon sehr offen gesprochen hat.
21.000 BRT. vor Sizilien vernichtend getroffen –
348 Sowjetpanzer an einem Tag abgeschossen
dnb. Aus dem Führer-Hauptquartier, 11. August –
Das Oberkommando der Wehrmacht gibt bekannt:
Vom Kubanbrückenkopf und Miusabschnitt werden nur schwächere sowjetische Vorstöße gemeldet. Eine eigene Angriffsunternehmung erreichte das gesteckte Ziel. Im Raum von Bjelgorod halten die schweren wechselvollen Kämpfe an. Starke feindliche Infanterie- und Panzerdurchbruchsversuche wurden unter Abschuß einer hohen Zahl von Panzern zum Scheitern gebracht.
Im Abschnitt westlich Orel brachen ebenfalls zahlreiche feindliche Angriffe zusammen. Hier wurden allein im Bereich einer Panzerdivision 61 Sowjetpanzer abgeschossen.
Auch im Kampfraum südlich und südwestlich Wjasma setzte der Gegner seine Durchbruchsversuche in unverminderter Stärke fort. Abgesehen von einzelnen rein örtlichen Einbrüchen blieb die Front fest in deutscher Hand.
Südlich des Ladogasees führte der Feind örtliche Vorstöße, die ebenfalls abgewiesen worden sind.
An der Ostfront wurden gestern 348 Panzer abgeschossen.
Die Luftwaffe griff an allen Schwerpunkten mit starken Kampf- und Nahkampffliegerverbänden in die Schlacht ein und entlastete die schwer kämpfenden Truppen.
Im hohen Norden nahmen deutsche Gebirgsjäger im unwegsamen Urwaldgelände eine vom Feinde zäh verteidigte Höhenstellung und hielten sie gegen zahlreiche mit starker Artillerie- und Luftwaffenunterstützung geführte feindliche Gegenangriffe. Die Sowjets erlitten dabei schwere Verluste.
Auf Sizilien wehrten unsere Truppen im nördlichen Abschnitt feindliche Angriffe in beweglicher Kampfführung ab. Vom mittleren und südlichen Frontabschnitt wird nur Aufklärungs- und Stoßtrupptätigkeit des Feindes gemeldet.
Bei Nachtangriffen schwerer deutscher Kampfflugzeuge gegen die feindliche Transportflotte von Augusta und Syrakus wurden vier Frachter mit zusammen 21.000 BRT. vernichtend getroffen und sieben weitere große Schiffe, darunter ein Kriegsschiff, schwer beschädigt. Am Tage bekämpften deutsche Schlachtflugzeuge in überraschendem Vorstoß zur Nord- und Südostküste der Insel Ausladungen des Feindes in seinen Nachschubstützpunkten. Sie beschädigten durch Bombenwurf und Bordwaffenbeschuß einen Zerstörer, vier Transporter und eine größere Anzahl von Landungsbooten.
In der vergangenen Nacht warf der Feind Spreng- und Brandbomben auf das Stadtgebiet von Nürnberg. Es entstanden Brandschäden und Zerstörungen in Wohnblocks, an Kulturstätten und öffentlichen Gebäuden. Die Bevölkerung hatte nur geringe Verluste. Nachtjäger und Flakartillerie schossen nach bisherigen Feststellungen 14 der angreifenden Bomber ab.
Schnelle deutsche Kampfflugzeuge griffen in der Nacht zum 11. August ohne eigene Verluste militärische Ziele in Mittelengland mit sichtbarem Erfolg an.
Bomben auf Palermo und Syrakus –
Verteidigungskämpfe auf Sizilien
dnb. Rom, 11. August –
Der italienische Wehrmachtbericht vom Mittwoch lautet:
Im mittleren und nördlichen Frontabschnitt in Sizilien lieferten italienisch-deutsche Truppen schwere Verteidigungskämpfe, um den Vormarsch des Feindes aufzuhalten. Messina wurde wiederholt von feindlichen Luftstreitkräften angegriffen. Italienische Flugzeuge griffen Geleitzüge in den Gewässern Siziliens an und trafen einen leichten Kreuzer und zwei Dampfer mittlerer Tonnage, während Nachtbomber die Häfen Palermo und Syrakus mit Erfolg angriffen.
Deutsche Kampfflugzeuge beschädigten auf der Reede von Augusta und an der Nordküste der Insel vier Transportschiffe von insgesamt 17.000 BRT., einen Torpedobootzerstörer und einige Landungsboote durch Bomben. Ein englisches Flugzeug wurde in der Nähe der Küste Sardiniens von einem unserer U-Boot-Jäger abgeschossen.
Sehr hohe Verluste der Amerikaner auf Sizilien –
Kein schneller Sieg in Aussicht
dnb. Lissabon, 11. August –
Zu den Kämpfen auf Sizilien schreibt die Lissaboner Zeitschrift Esfera, daß diese durchaus nicht zu dem schnellen Sieg führen, den die Anglo-Amerikaner erhofften. Im Gegenteil, die Engländer und Amerikaner hätten sehr hohe Verluste. Wenn aber für die Eroberung des Vorfeldes, von dem aus erst der eigentliche Angriff auf Europa beginnen solle, bereits ein so hoher Einsatz an Truppen und Material benötigt werde, so könne man sich eine Vorstellung davon machen, wie ungleich schwieriger die Lage für die Achsengegner würde, wenn sie gegen die Hauptverteidigungslinie Europas anstürmen müßten, und die Achsenmächte nicht nur ihre Vorhut, sondern das Gros zum Einsatz brächten.
Man müsse zu unterscheiden wissen: Die Achsengegner pflegten ihre militärischen Operationen und Absichten mit einer großen Reklametrommel zu begleiten, in Deutschland dagegen sei man der Ansicht, daß reden Silber, schweigen aber Gold ist; außerdem sei das letzte Wort über die derzeitigen Kämpfe noch nicht gesprochen.
In Sizilien wie in Nordafrika –
Jüdische Ausbeuter am Werk
dnb. Stockholm, 11. August –
Unter der Überschrift „Die Plünderer halten sich heran“ bringt Folkets Dagblad einen ausb Tanger datierten Bericht, demzufolge die Bank des nordamerikanischen Morgan-Konzerns Vertreter nach Französisch-Nordafrika entsandt hat, um dort größere Industrieunternehmen und sonstige Firmen zu erwerben. In erster Linie seien die marokkanischen Eisenbahnen Gegenstand ihrer wirtschaftlichen Spekulationen.
tc. Tanger, 11. August –
Die nordamerikanische Antiquitätengroßhandlung Cadoorie and Co. hat einen Auftrag zum Aufkauf sizilianischer Antiquitäten gegeben. Es handelt sich um das gleiche Unternehmen, das bei europäischen Emigranten große Aufkäufe tätigte und Versteigerungen von Gemälden, Möbeln, Porzellan und anderen Kunstgegenständen ansetzte. Die Firma war auch beim Vertrieb von Kunstschätzen tätig, die im spanischen Bürgerkrieg geraubt worden waren.
Hinter dem Namen Cadoorie verbirgt sich der Jude Pimpernell, der häufig seinen und den Namen seiner Firma nach der Branche, in der er gerade „arbeitet,“ zu wechseln pflegt. Der Vertreter in Algier, Sally Winestone, hat Beziehungen zu den Besatzungsmitgliedern der britisch-nordamerikanischen Lazarettschiffe angeknüpft, die sich nun bemühen, seine Aufträge auszuführen.
Zusammentreffen mit Roosevelt –
Churchill in Kanada
dnb. Berlin, 11. August –
Der britische Premierminister Churchill ist nach Meldungen des britischen Reuter-Büros in Begleitung von Familienangehörigen und einigen Beamten in Kanada angekommen, um mit dem USA.-Präsidenten Roosevelt zusammenzutreffen.
U.S. Navy Department (August 12, 1943)
Communiqué No. 456
North Pacific.
On August 12, at about 8:11 a.m. east longitude time, a formation of nine Army Liberator (Consolidated B‑24) heavy bombers attacked Japanese installations in the Kuril Islands. Numerous hits were scored in the designated target areas. About 40 enemy fighters intercepted of which five were shot dawn and others probably destroyed or damaged. Two of the U.S. bombers are missing.
The Pittsburgh Press (August 12, 1943)
YANKS FLANK NAZIS BY SEA
Germans reported evacuating Sicily
Landing ruse pinches off Germans
The Germans are outflanked again as units of Gen. George S. Patton’s 7th Army stage a second landing behind German lines in Sicily, and today the troops were reported locked in bitter battles with the Nazis. Protected by naval guns, the troops landed near the mouth of the Naso River (see map above), west of Capo d’Orlando, and established a beachhead only some 40 miles from Messina. Meanwhile, the main body of Americans was just west of Capo d’Orlando, putting the Nazi forces between two fires. The strategic mountain town of Randazzo was also feeling the force of the Americans’ might, the Yanks being reported within three miles of the town, with its fall imminent. On the right wing, British 8th Army forces moved slowly but steadily up the coastal corridor of the slopes of Mt. Etna. Advance elements were at least 15 miles north of Catania.
U.S. II Corps HQ, Sicily, Italy (UP) –
A U.S. battalion that landed eight and a half miles behind the German lines on the north coast of Sicily joined the main body of U.S. infantry today after beating off savage enemy counterattacks from front and rear.
The landing force pinched off a sizeable number of German and Italian prisoners as they fought their way through to Lt. Gen. George S. Patton’s 7th Army infantry swarming eastward along the coastal road to Messina, now on more than 40 miles away.
It was not known immediately in what strength the junction was effected.
A British correspondent with the 8th Army reported that a German evacuation of Sicily “now is in full swing,” with all types of craft shuttling across the Strait of Messina under cover of a terrific anti-aircraft barrage, but added that the withdrawal had not reached the scope of a mass evacuation.
Military sources in London said the Germans appeared to be evacuating about 1,000 troops a day from Sicily. The Germans were reported using ferries and all types of craft, under cover of a terrific anti-aircraft barrage from 300 guns which limited accuracy of Allied air attacks.
It was the identical force which hit the Axis flank at dawn Sunday east of Sant’Agata that crashed in to establish a new beachhead in the early hours of Wednesday.
Hit beaches on the run
This force hit the beaches on the run, cut the main road, took “considerable” prisoners, then headed into the mountains where the Germans clung tenaciously to dominant bluffs overlooking the sea.
When first radio contact between the troops and the main attacking forces had been established, it was learned the landing force had surprised the enemy, taken prisoners and established the beachhead.
Meanwhile, part of the main attacking army from the west pushed along the coastal road, while a column on the right flank of the main road cut through the mountains, jumped astride the northside road (apparently the highway from Naso to Randazzo) and then worked northeastward toward the landing party.
A big jump
This second landing represented a jump of about three more miles than the first six-mile flanking maneuver Sunday, so that the distance separating the two U.S. forces would be wide enough to permit heavy sea and aerial pounding of the enemy.
The Navy sent ashore a fire-control party to accompany the landing forces. Army auxiliary men praised the accuracy of the naval gunners.
The German High Command admitted today that U.S. troops had made a second landing on the northeastern coast of Sicily, west of Capo d’Orlando, but said the largest part of the force had been prevented from landing and the rest was “annihilated” on the beaches.
Southward, at the middle of the yielding Axis defenses across the tip of Sicily, the 7th Army’s right wing pushed within light artillery range of Randazzo, key junction commanding the pass between Mt. Etna and the Caronian Mountains. The Americans were reported meeting nothing stronger than light artillery fire.
NBC said the Americans were within three miles of Randazzo, and the fall of the strategic mountain town was imminent.
On the Allied right wing, the British 8th Army plugged slowly but steadily up the coastal corridor on the slopes of Mt. Etna. Advanced elements reached a point at least 15 miles north of Catania, taking the neighboring villages of Praiola and Zafferana, 41 miles south of Messina.
A German communiqué said Axis forces in Sicily had carried out “according to plan” certain “disengaging movements toward a shortened bridgehead” – an acknowledgement of a large-scale withdrawal.
U.S. Flying Fortresses, again carrying the war to the Italian mainland, plastered the Terni railroad and highway hub 40 miles north of Rome with explosives which wrecked factories, arms plants and transport facilities.
Second bold stroke
The second bold strike behind the German lines along the north coast of Sicily was carried out in the early hours of Wednesday. Supporting it was fire from U.S. naval units, including cruisers and destroyers, and bombers of the North African Air Forces.
The landing near the mouth of the Naso River east of Capo d’Orlando was made in the face of stiff German resistance. Put on the alert by the Sunday morning foray, which crumpled the north end of their defense line, the Nazis were ready and waiting.
The second leapfrog move toward the complete conquest of Sicily was aimed at the mouth of the Naso River because it offered a natural mooring for the troops going ashore in small barges and landing craft.
After the landing, U.S. ships offshore laid down a paralyzing bombardment of German positions slightly inland.
Drive on Randazzo
U.S. units pushing along the Randazzo road from Cesarò were within light artillery range of the vital junction town by 4 p.m. yesterday.
The concerted British 8th Army push from Bronte was meeting stiff resistance midway between Bronte and Randazzo.
All along the line, the Axis forces were beginning to show signs of fatigue and shortage of food and water. Tactical air forces had made virtually useless all the roads leading to Randazzo, where the Axis plight was especially taken.
Québec talks arranged for Allied chiefs
Roosevelt, Churchill will confer; Premier visits Niagara Falls
By John A. Reichmann, United Press staff writer
Québec, historic Canadian city on the St. Lawrence and port of call for oceangoing vessels, is the scene of initial conferences between Britain’s Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Canada’s Prime Minister Mackenzie King. Map shows location of Québec in relation to Ottawa, capital of Canada, and Washington, DC.
Québec, Canada –
Military staffs of the United States, Great Britain and Canada today prepared the groundwork for the sixth meeting of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill which will be held in Québec’s ancient and historic Citadel at an undisclosed time in the immediate future.
Mr. Churchill, accompanied by his daughter Mary, left Québec late yesterday by special train and arrived today at Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Visits U.S. soil
Their train passed through Montréal last night and was in the station there for 10 minutes. During that stop, Mr. Churchill and his daughter left the train and strolled on the platform.
It was understood that Mr. Churchill went to Niagara Falls to rest and to show the falls to Miss Churchill who is making her first visit to the New World. The length of his visit was not known.
Mr. Churchill and Mary crossed into the United States during their sightseeing tour. Traveling by auto from Niagara Falls, Ontario, the party crossed the Rapids Bridge to Niagara Falls, New York, and immediately went to the Suspension Bridge railroad station where his train was waiting.
Paris with cigars
As the train was pulling out, Eddie Brady, Negro baggage handler, ran after it shouting:
Mr. Churchill, please, one of your cigars.
Mr. Churchill took the cigar he was smoking from his mouth, looked at it regretfully and then, apparently changing his mind, reached in his pocket and threw his cigar case to the baggage hauler.
Mr. Churchill’s destination after he left the American side of the falls was not revealed.
Staffs at work
The official announcement issued yesterday afternoon that Mr. Roosevelt would go to Québec, did not indicate when he would arrive.
Huge military staffs, headed by the chiefs of staff of the United States, Great Britain and Canada, were at work in the Château Frontenac, which is at the base of the 332-foot hill surrounded by the Citadel.
The military leaders were known, but lesser-known military men whose special abilities serve the most important purposes were there and they will remain anonymous because their presence might tip off the enemy to the “how” of future military operations.
As far as could be learned, Russian and Chinese military and naval experts are not among those at work in the Château.
War Cabinet meets
Mr. Churchill with Sir John Anderson attended a three-hour meeting of the Canadian War Cabinet yesterday. The announcement of this meeting, which was termed a joint meeting of the Canadian and British War Cabinets, said another would be held. It was believed to have dealt with the future uses of Canadian troops.
It will be Mr. Roosevelt’s second trip to Canada recently. It was revealed Monday that he had spent a few days fishing and resting in Ontario.
An historic city
Québec’s Citadel, chosen as site for the sixth conference of the Allied war leaders, is one of the most historic places on the North American continent. Built on high cliffs overlooking the St. Lawrence River, its first walls were erected by the French against the menace of Indians in the 16th century. Nearby are the Plains of Abraham, scene of the decisive battle between the British and French which resulted in Canada becoming British. It is now the summer home of the Canadian Governor General.
Premier Marshal Joseph Stalin received the U.S. and British Ambassadors to Russia at the Kremlin yesterday, Radio Moscow reported today.
Soviet Foreign Commissar Vyacheslav Molotov was present and it was presumed that the Québec conference of Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill was discussed.
‘FORTS’ RIP 3 RHINE CITIES
Bonn, Wesseling, Gelsenkirchen hit; 25 bombers lost
Record-shattering blows dealt arms district by U.S. 8th Air Force; raid follows attack by RAF
By Walter Cronkite, United Press staff writer
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