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

Verfassungsbruch im Namen des Rechts –
Roosevelt bereitet seine Wiederwahl vor

Von unserer Stockholmer Schriftleitung

The Pittsburgh Press (August 20, 1943)

Italian rail city blasted; islands off Sicily seized

44 Axis planes shot down in one of heaviest air attacks from Africa
By Reynolds Packard, United Press staff writer

Québec hints –
Aerial blitz will precede invasion move

But it doesn’t mean Allies will not attack Europe soon

Québec City, Canada (UP) –
President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill – while aware of Russian demands for a second front – were believed today to have decided to give airpower its chance to crush Germany first and, in any event, to blast such a path of destruction that land armies may invade Europe with the fewest possible casualties.

Accompanying this first crushing phase will be reminders to the German people that they have the alternative of getting out of the war or seeing the Allies “bomb, burn and destroy” everything in their path.

Conference nears close

It was emphasized that this does not mean that the date of an Allied landing has not been fixed nor that it may not come sooner than ordinarily expected. It does mean, however, that the lessons of Pantelleria and Sicily have taught United Nations leaders the value of intensive air preparations in appreciably shortening any campaign.

The President and Prime Minister were drawing near the end of their historic sixth wartime meeting and late today were to be joined by Secretary of State Cordell Hull who, with British Foreign Minister Anthony Eden, will be given a review of decisions as they affect Anglo-American foreign policy.

The four will have dinner at the Citadel tonight.

Meanwhile, it was reported today that Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill have committed themselves to “bomb, burn and ruthlessly destroy the people responsible for creating the war” and have approved plans to invade Hitler’s Europe.

Japan to be levelled

As for Japan, that country will be “levelled” by the combined military might of Great Britain and the United States, once Hitler is finished.

The determination of the two leaders was made known here by British Information Minister Brendan Bracken, who indicated that the new pledges will be contained in a “Declaration of Québec,” expected to go far beyond the Casablanca “unconditional surrender” statement.

Meanwhile, it was understood here that plans for pounding into the European fortress had reached such an advanced stage that Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill have agreed on the general who will lead the assault on Western Europe.

Closest military secrecy naturally surrounded both military plans and the name of the military leader, but it became apparent that the welter of speculation produced by the conference is welcomed by the leaders as a convenient smokescreen.

The most touted choice for the Allied command was said to be Gen. Harold Alexander, chief of land operations under Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Mediterranean area. He is reputed to be Mr. Churchill’s choice. Though Gen. Eisenhower is considered a contender, his services probably would be needed in his present post in the event of a simultaneous smash from the south. A third speculation centered on some dark horse, such as Maj. Gen. Alexander Gatehouse, commander of the armored forces at El Alamein.

Warning to Germans

Also, it was understood today, a direct warning to the German people that they must get out of the war or suffer “utter destruction” is being drafted by Messrs. Roosevelt and Churchill and their military and foreign affairs experts.

The appeal will not be made until the Allies are poised for a leap onto the continent of Europe. Then the population of Germany will be told with bombs as well as words that the time has come when they are to be “ruthlessly attacked.”

The public was told by Mr. Bracken yesterday not to expect any “real” news from the conferences. Mr. Bracken meant that it would be foolish to expect the two leaders to give the enemy an accurate idea of what is coming next. Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill, however, were expected to do their part in the “war of nerves” by concluding their talks here with a press conference that will bristle with predictions of doom for the Axis leaders and their followers responsible for plunging the world into war.

‘Vital’ decisions

Mr. Bracken confirmed that the conferences are producing military decisions of “vital” import. He promised that after the fall of Germany, the British Empire will throw its “full might” against the Japs.

When Mr. Bracken said that while the war was going along “well indeed” for the Allies, the road ahead still remained “long and hard,” the correspondent of the official Russian news agency asked whether he made any distinction between Europe and the Far East.

The bushy-haired minister replied:

It is all one war. Great Britain will not lay down our arms until we have completely conquered and inflicted exemplary punishment on the Japanese.

Bitter against Japs

The plans being drawn were to “bomb and burn and ruthlessly destroy in every way available to us the people responsible for creating this war,” Mr. Bracken said.

Mr. Bracken talked to newsmen after he had conferred with Mr. Churchill.

Mr. Bracken was bitter in his discussion of the Japanese, describing them as seemingly “content to live on blood.”

He seemed particularly anxious to offset any idea that, once Germany is beaten, the British will “pull out” of the war and leave the Japanese to the Americans.

He repeated:

It is all one war.

Warning correspondents to expect no real, factual information from Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill, Mr. Bracken said:

The time will come when Hitler and Tōjō and their tribe of gangsters will get the news of Québec.

The news will come from the men in the Citadel through their generals, admirals and air marshals leading force fighting forces.

What of the Pacific?

Questions involving the Pacific loomed up with new importance after the Bracken press conference because of one off-trail remark of his. Talking about how Britain will fight to the finish of Japan, he said quietly:

We have very good sailors and bombers, and none of our Allies will be the slightest bit disappointed with our efforts.

Mr. Bracken’s casual remarks about Britain’s “good sailors” fitted in with reports that the naval situation in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean is easing to the point where Great Britain can transfer a large naval force from the Atlantic to the Pacific where, as the Allied timetable unfolds, the pressure on Japan will be increased.

Disposition of British naval strength may have been one of the big questions worked out here.

Pre-invasion bombings –
British hit Berlin 5th time in 8 days

Yanks bomb airfields in continuing drives which experts say have cleared way for Western Europe landings
By Walter Cronkite, United Press staff writer

Allies move up near Salamaua

Japs cleared from ridge near major base
By Brydon Taves, United Press staff writer

Army of idle feared –
Quick action urged on jobs for veterans

12 million may be without work if industry delays its post-war program

Soldier facing attack charge

Accused by Lina Basquette, former film actress

War prisoner packages now due by Aug. 27

I DARE SAY —
The normal way

By Florence Fisher Parry

Crew strips plane as one engine fails

Marauder limps into safe landing at airfield in Greenland
By Nat A. Barrows

3 die, 8 missing as blast razes Jersey factory

FBI and Army inspect ruins of plant used for war work

Farmers’ bloc may join fight on dad draft

Ban on induction would help aid labor problem, leader says

Québec Conference costs $8,000 a day

Québec, Canada (UP) –
It is costing the Canadian government $8,000 a day to play host to the Québec Conference, Dr. E. H. Coleman, Canadian Under Secretary of State, said today.

Dr. Coleman, in charge of arrangements, said this amount is being paid to the Canadian Pacific Railway, owners of the Château Frontenac Hotel, which had been taken over by the government for the conference. He said he considered the rate “most reasonable.”

All the Canadians are on one floor, the British and Americans are distributed in alternate floors.

At the Citadel, Prime Minister Churchill has the ground floor at one end of the building, and President Roosevelt has the upper floor, which opens out on to the terrace.

Non-union men hired; AFL unit calls walkout

Strike hinders flight training at West Point center

Utopian plan is worked out for Southeast

$7 billion for housing is only one item on NRPB blueprint

McQuaid: Jap planes concentrate on invasion escort fleet

Dive-bombers pay no attention to congestion on Vella Lavella beach as Yanks land
By B. J. McQuaid

Austrian Archduke rejected by Army

Wolfert: Japanese lag in developing battle areas

Failure to improve roads hampered attacks on Guadalcanal
By Ira Wolfert

Terrific artillery barrage massacres Japs on ridge

Infantry follows up to take care of those who escaped rain of shells in New Guinea
By Hal O’Flaherty

British arrive in U.S. to help map Jap drives

Special military-naval-air mission pledges cooperation