Völkischer Beobachter (February 17, 1943)
Selbst Amerikaner geben zu:
Roosevelt könnte Stalin nicht aufhalten
Nur Deutschlands Wehrmacht sichert Europa
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Selbst Amerikaner geben zu:
USA.-Umtriebe im Vorderen Orient –
Donovans falsche Zahnärzte
Eigener Bericht des „Völkischen Beobachters“
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U.S. Navy Department (February 17, 1943)
Communiqué No. 284
South Pacific.
On February 15:
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During the evening, three U.S. planes were dispatched to attack Japanese positions in the Shortland Island area. One of the planes dropped bombs on enemy positions on Ballale Island. One U.S. plans failed to return.
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During the evening, a Liberator heavy bomber (Consolidated), with escort, attacked the Japanese airfield at Kahili on the coast of Bougainville Island. One of the escorting planes return.
Communiqué No. 285
Pacific and Far East.
U.S. submarines have reported the following results of operations against the enemy in the waters of these areas:
- One medium-sized tanker sunk.
- One medium-sized transport sunk.
- Two medium-sized cargo ships sunk.
- One escort vessel sunk.
- One cruiser damaged and probably sunk.
- One medium-sized cargo ship damaged.
These actions have not been announced in any previous Navy Department communiqué.
Brooklyn Eagle (February 17, 1943)
Yanks fall back 35 miles
Stukas blast U.S. lines – foe strikes north from Gafsa
Allied HQ, North Africa (UP) –
A German tank column manned by battle-seasoned veterans of Marshal Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps has struck westward, from Faid Pass and advanced 35 miles against U.S. positions in central Tunisia, it was announced today.
The German column, which includes the crack 21st Armored Division, moved across the semi-arid plains west of Faid with Stuka dive bombers flying out ahead to blast the positions held by U.S. forces.
The Axis forces are engaging U.S. troops in the outskirts of Sbeitla with the U.S. units using Sherman and Grant tanks.
At the same time, German forces which occupied Gafsa struck northwest toward Feriana.
Further retreat looms
Unless the Axis offensive is halted soon, it was believed the Americans would be forced to withdraw to the high hills north of Feriana, which is 37 miles southwest of Sbeitla.
Meanwhile, the British 8th Army drove toward the Mareth Line for a decisive struggle to the south, a dispatch from London said.
The 8th Army was advancing well westward from captured Ben Gardane toward Medenine.
Planes operating from the British Mediterranean bastion of Malta raided railway target in southern Italy. Eleven trains were raked with cannon shells and bombs.
Counterattack fails
An American counterattack died off yesterday in the face of severe losses, it was said, and the Germans succeeded in overrunning some of the U.S. positions.
The heaviest fighting yesterday was in the area northwest of Sidi Bou Zid, which is 25 miles southeast of Sbeitla. The Axis forces thrust a pincer movement against the American positions and made them withdraw hastily to avoid encirclement. At the start of the fighting yesterday morning, the Americans held high ground on the road north of Sidi Bou Zid, but the weight of the German advance pushed them off before noon.
Advance on Mareth Line
London, England (UP) –
The Eighth Army was today driving straight toward Medenine, the "Verdun of the Mareth Line.”
The Middle Eastern Command, in announcing it advanced toward Medenine, heart of that desert defense system, served notice that it meant to crack the Mareth Line at its strongest point. The German radio, however, expressed fears that the British coincidentally intended to flank the line and swamp Axis positions.
Wings clipped in battle, a Yank and a Nazi meet
A furious dogfight was in progress “over there.” U.S. and German planes zoomed and dived to dodge the hail of bullets that always seemed to be on their tail, and many of them fell in flames.
A ship piloted by a young East Hampton lieutenant was in the thick of it, and when one of the wings of his plane was riddled with bullets and one hand shattered, he looked for a spot to land, and did.
Another plane, with the pilot in trouble, also picked the same locality to land in, but that plane carried the markings of the Hitler Air Force.
Out of two damaged planes stepped two wounded pilots and for the moment there was no war. The American lieutenant could not understand German, the Nazi couldn’t speak English, but both spoke French. After a time, they separated, pledging each other to meet again in the air in combat.
Made way to settlement
The American was Lt. James H. Reutershan, 25, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Reutershan of Newtown Lane, East Hampton. His outfit had reported him missing until he showed up again one day after that meeting with the German. Early in February, the War Department reported him wounded.
After separating from the German pilot, Lt. Reutershan made his way to a settlement and was hospitalized. A transport took him to another port and another hospital. Before getting back to his own squadron, he was with Scottish troops and British Tommies.
He was born in East Hampton and attended Antioch College in Ohio, and the Traphagen Art School in Manhattan. He entered the service in 1941 and became a first lieutenant last October. A brother, Lt. Robert Reutershan, is in the Navy.
Rome says Gayda now talks peace
Stockholm, Sweden (UP) –
Rome dispatches said today that Virginio Gayda, Italy’s No. 1 propagandist, had referred for the first time to the possibility of a compromise peace with Britain and the United States.
Gayda was quoted as saying:
Italy must resist until the moment when England realizes that her debt to America is growing ever larger, her world markets are being destroyed, and communism becomes overwhelming if peace is not made rapidly.
We could then consider a compromise peace with Britain and America, but never with the Soviets.
The real danger for both belligerents is Soviet Russia. Axis capitulation would mean heavy territorial losses and impoverishment for their people.
The single way out is continued resistance, even if it appears completely hopeless, especially resistance on the Axis borders, which would in no case be crossed.
Shell and flame adorn bandannas of WOWs
Washington (UP) –
The WOWs don’t have uniforms like their sister WAACs, WAVES and SPARs but they are going to have a bandana.
Even Secretary of War Stimson took time out recently to approve the design which, according to an order by the Adjutant General, shall be:
The Ordnance Department insignia, of a shell and flame… scattered or “tossed about” in the WOW bandanna without following any regular arrangement.
WOW means “Women Ordnance Workers.”
Lana collapses at bedside of Steve Crane
Rushes to hospital as he takes overdose of sleeping tablets
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Lou E. Holland quits as deputy WPB chairman
Resignation expected since he left helm of Small War Plants Corporation
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Madame Chiang Kai-shek to address Congress
Washington (UP) –
Madame Chiang Kai-shek, wife of China’s generalissimo, will address both the Senate and House tomorrow.
She is scheduled to speak in the Senate at 12:15 p.m. and in the House 15 minutes later. All major radio networks will carry her addresses.
Editorial: Visit of Richelieu offers chance to show our friendship for France
Now that relaxation of censorship has allowed public announcement of the presence in our harbor of the Richelieu, is there not some way in which the citizens of New York can use the visit of the French battleship to express their friendship for the France that once fought with us and now is fighting with us again?
The tricolor flies over the Richelieu. Soon that flag will be flying beside the Stars and Stripes in the battle of the Atlantic, as the French flag already flies beside our banner in Tunisia. If the City of New York were to offer some sort of public tribute to the officers and sailors of the Richelieu, it would be a symbol of the affection which the United States bears for France, for the brave, fighting France the whole democratic world loves and honors.
It would be a gesture of goodwill to men who for nearly three years have suffered humiliation and forced inaction. It would be a sign of our feeling of kinship with a nation that has borne great sorrow.
We are not prepared to say just what form the demonstration should take – possibly a great reception in the form of a rally; possibly some sort of a gift to the ship, to be paid for by public subscription. But some way should be found to express to France, through the men of the Richelieu, our friendship for the France that is now coming back into the fight against the forces of darkness.
Has anyone any suggestions?
The Pittsburgh Press (February 17, 1943)
Roving Reporter
By Ernie Pyle
With U.S. forces in North Africa – (Feb. 16)
Four good soldiers, who have already done more than their share in the war have been down in these parts lately. They are Kay Francis, Martha Raye, Mitzi Mayfair and Carole Landis.
Some people may take lightly the contributions of Hollywood folks to the war effort, but I don’t. These gals work themselves to a frazzle. They travel dangerously. They live and work under mighty unpleasant conditions. They don’t get a dime. They are losing a lot and they have nothing to gain – nothing material, that is. But surely, they are going home with a warm inner satisfaction, knowing that they have performed far beyond the ordinary call of duty.
The quartet of stars has been away from America since October. They flew the Atlantic by Clipper, toured the camps in Northern Ireland and England, and came to Africa by Flying Fortress. They have heard bombs fall, and they know about Army stew. They’ve averaged four hours’ sleep a night. Each of them has had a bout with the flu. They have done all their own washing, because there’s no other way to get it done. Yet they could all be in California lying on the sand.
When they came out to our far desert airdrome, they put on their performance on the flat bed of a big wrecking truck out in the midafternoon sun, surrounded by soldiers sitting on the ground. They spoke the first English from a woman’s mouth these soldiers had heard in months. To say they were appreciated is putting it mildly.
Half the fun and half the good, I suppose, of such a performance is the opportunity it gives the soldiers in the audience to imagine themselves as great lovers, and the inspiration it provides for the soldiers’ own brand of humor.
Kay Francis starts it off by saying they’d rather be here than any place in the world. That brings a thunderous cascade of boos. Then she says:
The reason is there’s no place else we could be the only women among several thousand men.
That brings the laugh. Then she says:
And I know every one of you would protect me, wouldn’t you?
That brings the “Oh yeahs!” and yells and whistles of appreciation.
When Carole Landis comes out, something like a great sigh goes over the crowd. Carole, as you know, is rather voluptuous. As she finishes her song and holds out her arms, a pathetic, wracked voice comes from the far edge of the audience, a lonely guy screaming to the world his comical misery:
I can’t stand it!
Mitzi Mayfair wears a skimpy green spangly thing and does her famous dances. A couple of dozen soldiers are perched on the truck’s big steel boom above her, and every time Mitzi kicks, they pretend to swoon and fall off. Mitzi ends her act by calling for jitterbug volunteers. The boys are bashful, but finally a private is pulled down off the boom. He is no slouch as a jitterbug, but she almost dances him off his feet. She winds up by throwing the exhausted soldier over her shoulder and carrying him off the stage.
Sometimes Mitzi gets herself in a pickle with this stunt. One night in England she had to carry off a guy who weighed 225 pounds. Another time she sprained a shoulder. And in her second performance at this airdrome, she almost met her Waterloo.
This show was for flying officers, the ones who actually do the bombing and fighting, and there’s nothing bashful about them. When Mitzi called for volunteers, up rose Capt. Tex Dallas, a Fortress pilot who doesn’t give a damn about anything. Tex took off his coat, folded it neatly, and walked challengingly onto the stage. Mitzi whispered instructions to him, but Tex doesn’t follow instructions very well. Instead of pretending to be exhausted, he had Mitzi on the ropes within a minute. After chasing her around the stage he finally had her hiding behind the piano. The audience went wild.
Eventually, after poor Mitzi had given herself up for lost, Tex relented and let her carry him off the stage.
I’ve seen Mitzi dance in New York musical comedies, and now I’ve seen her dance in dust-covered slacks on the African desert. She has already given a strenuous year and a half of her life to the war and she’s in it for the duration, and all I can say is, she’s a honey.
Martha Raye is really the star of the troupe. The soldiers have gone for her crazy brand of slapstick. The program winds up practically in a riot when all four girls sing the French, British and American national anthems.
The girls are pretty sore about one thing. It seems one of the American broadcasters in Algiers broadcast back to America that they wouldn’t go to the Tunisian front because they were afraid. He asked why they were any better than anybody else.
Actually, the girls begged to go to Tunisia but were turned down. The generals wouldn’t let them go because it would be dangerous for troops to be concentrated to see the show. Those girls were not afraid. Carole Landis even wanted to go on a bombing mission.
Personally, I think they will deserve medals.
1 Like
The Free Lance-Star (February 17, 1943)
Executive admits Nazi sympathies
New York (AP) –
E. E. Conroy, special agent in charge of the New York FBI office, announced today that the $75,000-year-president of a New York City war plant which operates nearly 100% on contracts for the Armed Forces, was one of 11 aliens rounded up in spot searches last night.
Conroy said the alien admitted he favored victory fore the Axis. His wife, son and his daughter, a student in a fashionable girls’ school in New England., were also apprehended, Conroy said.
The 11 persons were removed to Ellis Island for questioning and possible internment. No names were announced.
Conroy said the plant president fought with the German Army from 1914 to 1918, received the Iron Cross and, until the outbreak of the present war, received a pension from the Nazi government. The FBI agent added that the man went to the German Consulate in New York City in September 1940 to volunteer his services with the German Army, but refused to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Slang gang troubled with name for lady Marines
By Kenneth L. Dixon
Washington (AP) –
The lady Marines have landed, but the situation is plumb out of hand.
Just “Marines” they call themselves, mind you – no nickname. It’s all very upsetting to the slang gang.
Ever since Maj. Ruth Cheney Streeter said the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve would be known simple as “Marines” because the name was “pretty distinctive in itself,” the barbershop boys have been so blue and befuddled they’re almost quit whistling.
Now take the WAACs, for instance (Don’t mind if I do, at that). It’s a cinch for the punny stuff. You know – I gotta wacky little WAAC, or my WAACs wacky over me.
And WAVE a cinch – a breeze, it was. No less. I gotta a wavey little wave, and the WAVES all waved goodbye.
SPARs? Even better, said the barbershop boys. Whooie! A very trim pair of SPARs going by there, Oscar – and who could take offense, not really knowing whether the remark referred to both SPARs, or only one of them? And during a tag dance, a tap of the shoulder of her dancing partner and – spar me, sailor!
But Marines, now what can you do with Marines, except tell it to them – which was never healthy, eh Tōjō?
Everybody was hoping for Marinettes, or at least MARs – Marine Auxiliary Reserves. But Marine Corps Women’s Reserve… just try pronouncing those initials. MCWR!
Sound like a tomcat with his tail caught in the clothes wringer.
Of course, when the boys recover from the initial shock, one of them is bound to come up with leatherneckers.
But his heart won’t be in it.
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Völkischer Beobachter (February 18, 1943)
Brasilianer meutern gegen die Verschickung nach Afrika
Sie wollen nicht Kanonenfutter für Roosevelt sein
vb. Wien, 17. Februar –
Wie über Lissabon gemeldet wird, kam es am Montag in den brasilianischen Atlantikhäfen zu schweren Meutereien, als brasilianische Truppen eingeschifft werden sollten, um nach Westafrika übergeführt zu werden. Die Unruhen nahmen ein derartiges Ausmaß an, daß die Einschiffung abgebrochen und vorläufig eingestellt werden mußte. Mehrere Regimenter wurden aus den Häfen zurückgezogen.
Die höhere Führung ließ zahlreiche Offiziere und Unteroffiziere verhaften, ein Regiment wurde der Strafe der Dezimierung unterworfen, das heißt, es erging Befehl, jeden zehnten Mann zu erschießen. In Rio de Janeiro und anderen Städten wurden gleichzeitig Flugzettel verteilt, in denen die selbst bewußten Teile der brasilianischen Bevölkerung gegen die Politik des Außenministers Aranha protestieren, der Brasilien zu einer Kolonie der USA. erniedrigt hat und auf dessen Betreiben es in erster Linie zurückzuführen ist, daß brasilianische Landeskinder im Dienste Roosevelts über See eingesetzt werden sollen.
Die „Bedrohung“ Amerikas
Daß Roosevelt sich nicht damit zufrieden gibt, Brasilien entgegen seinen wahren Interessen in den Krieg gegen die Mächte des Dreierpaktes hineingetrieben zu haben, sondern daß er darüber hinaus auch den aktiven Einsatz und den Blutzoll der Brasilianer für den Imperialismus der USA. fordert, wurde offenbar, als der Weltpräsident kürzlich auf der Rückreise von Casablanca in Rio de Janeiro einen Zwischenaufenthalt nahm. Die amtliche Verlautbarung, die nach seinem Besuch bei dem Präsidenten Vargas veröffentlicht wurde, enthielt folgende Sätze:
Zwischen Präsident Vargas und Präsident Roosevelt besteht volles Einvernehmen darüber, daß man in permanenter und klarer Form garantieren muß, daß die Küste Westafrikas und Dakar, ganz gleich unter welchen Umständen, niemals mehr zu einer Bedrohung der beiden Amerikas werden kann, sei es als Basis einer Invasion oder einer Blokkade.
Es hieß dann weiter, beide Präsidenten seien in der Meinung einig, daß an diesem Problem alle amerikanischen Republiken in gleicher Form interessiert seien.
Es gehörte keine besondere Kunst dazu, aus dieser diplomatischen Sprache die robusten Tatsachen herauszulesen: Roosevelt ist nicht nur entschlossen, die Besetzung Französisch-Westafrikas und vor allen Dingen des Hafens von Dakar, durch die Yankees zu verewigen, er verlangt auch, daß die südamerikanischen Staaten die Kosten seiner Eroberungspolitik mitbestreiten. Vorerst geht seine Forderung dahin, daß die Brasilianer ein ansehnliches Besatzungskontingent für Französisch-Westafrika stellen, damit die dort stationierten Yankees für einen Einsatz an anderer Stelle frei werden. Selbstverständlich ist das nur der erste Schritt; Stehen die Brasilianer erst einmal auf dem Schwarzen Erdteil, so wird man sie bald zwingen, dort ihre Haut zu Markte zu tragen, wo die Demokratien fremdes Kanonenfutter am dringendsten brauchen.
Auch den amerikanischen Müttern hat Roosevelt jahrelang versprochen, er werde sie davor schützen, daß ihre Söhne erneut auf die europäischen Schlachtfelder geschickt würden. Brasilien wußte daher, was es von dem Kommuniqué über den Rooseveltschen Besuch zu halten hatte, und es kam schon damals, in den. letzten Jännertagen, zu wütenden Demonstrationen gegen den beabsichtigten Verrat der von Roosevelt ausgehaltenen brasilianischen Regierung an ihrem eigenen Volk. Der Polizeipräsident von Rio de Janeiro suchte die allgemeine Erregung mit der Erklärung zu beschwichtigen, alle Behauptungen über die Anwesenheit brasilianischer Truppen in Afrika seien unwahr. Das war dem Buchstaben nach ohne Zweifel richtig, ging aber am Kern der Dinge vorbei. Die Anwesenheit brasilianischer Truppen in Afrika war zwar noch nicht Wirklichkeit, jedoch beschlossene Tatsache.
Roosevelt ist kaum vierzehn Tage aus Rio abgereist und schon beginnt Vargas Gehorsam mit der von ihm verlangten Anlieferung des brasilianischen Menschenmaterials.
Wenn nun die Sahne. Brasiliens sich gegen eine solche Vergewaltigung zur Wehr setzen und daraufhin von ihrer eigenen Regierung unter das von Washington diktierte Gesetz gebeugt werden, so kann man sich freilich keine prächtigere Illusion der famosen Atlantik-Charta und der Weltbeglückungsideen Roosevelts vorstellen. So ist es in der Wirklichkeit um die von ihm garantierte Selbständigkeit der Völker bestellt, um das Recht jeder einzelnen Nation, sich ihre eigenen Daseinsgesetze zu geben und selbst über ihr Schicksal zu bestimmen. Auch in dieser Hinsicht besteht keinerlei Wesensunterschied zwischen dem völkerverschlingenden Bolschewismus und dem herrschgierigen Polypen der jüdisch-amerikanischen Demokratie.
Eine Rechnung ohne Deutschland –
Schon die Atlantik-Charta diente Moskau
vb. Wien, 17. Februar –
Wie planmäßig England den europäischen Kontinent dem Bolschewismus ausliefert, geht aus der englischen Wochenzeitschrift Spectator vom 5. Februar hervor, die den Einfluß der Sowjetunion auf ein Nachkriegseuropa unter der Voraussetzung eines englisch-amerikanisch-bolschewistischen Sieges einmal aus dem zwanzigjährigen Bündnisvertrag zwischen Großbritannien und der Sowjetunion und zum zweiten aus den geheimen Abmachungen über die Ungültigmachung der Atlantikerklärung für alle Ansprüche Moskaus ableitet. Die Unterstellung unseres Kontinents unter eine bolschewistische Herrschaft ist demnach für die Briten nicht eine Möglichkeit der Kriegsentwicklung, sondern ihr Ziel, ein Beschluß, der schon vor Jahren auf weite Sicht gefaßt worden ist. Daß die Sicherheit Europas also ihren letzten Schutz nur in den deutschen Waffen findet, ohne deren Wall es der Überschwemmung aus der östlichen Steppe hilflos ausgeliefert wäre, beweist auf dem Hintergrund solcher englischen Äußerungen die Entwicklung der Ereignisse in ernsterer Form täglich.
Die Stellungnahme der englischen Zeitschrift spricht in ihrer rücksichtslosen Offenheit eine allgemeinverständliche Sprache. Es heißt in ihr: Wer könne daran zweifeln, daß die Sowjetunion auf das Nachkriegseuropa einen gewaltigen Einfluß ausübt? Denn die russische Armee wird dann die größte Landmacht auf dem europäischen Festland darstellen. Gestützt wird sie durch riesige Rüstungswerke im Rücken, die zusammen mit den Streitkräften ein furchtbares Machtinstrument in den Händen ihrer Führer bilden.
Unter diesen Umständen ist es wichtig, daß England eine dauerhafte Verständigung mit der Sowjetunion pflegt. Die Grundlage zu einer solchen ist bereits in dem zwanzigjährigen Bündnisvertrag vorhanden. Deshalb ist es zweckmäßig, schon jetzt zwischen Großbritannien und der Sowjetunion eine enge Interessengemeinschaft aufzubauen.
Die kleineren Nachbarn der Sowjetunion fürchteten, daß ihre Länder nach Kriegsende vom Kreml als ein militärisches Vorfeld angesehen und die inneren Angelegenheiten deshalb ständig von Moskau aus kontrolliert werden. Ein solcher Zustand verstoße zweifellos gegen die Grundsätze der Atlantikerklärung. Gleichzeitig muß man aber in Rechnung stellen, daß die Sowjetunion angesichts des hohen Preises, den sie dann für den Endsieg bezahlt hat, sich entsprechend der Geheimklauseln dieses Abkommens wenig um die Atlantik-Charta stört und über ihre staatliche Sicherheit selbständig urteilt.
Außer dem Verrat der europäischen Interessen am Bolschewismus, verdient festgehalten zu werden, daß
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schon beim Schluß des Bündnisvertrages mit der Sowjetunion die Verständigung zwischen Moskau und London die Grundlage für den sowjetischen Vorherrschaftsanspruch abzugeben bestimmt war, und daß
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die Atlantikerklärung als reines Blendwerk für eine Zeit gedacht war, in der die imperialistischen Ansprüche der Bündnispartner von London, Washington und Moskau noch nicht zur Verwirklichung reif waren, während von vornherein feststand und heute als selbstverständlich betrachtet und hingestellt wird, daß diese seinerzeit als allgemeinverbindlich erklärte Atlantik-Charta vor allem den Bolschewisten freie Hand in Europa einräumt.
Um es auch dem Spectator entgegenzuhalten, sei noch einmal der feste deutsche Entschluß betont, die heimtückischen Absichten des britisch-sowjetrussischen Bündnisvertrages und der Atlantikerklärung von Churchill und Roosevelt durch den Widerstand der deutschen Waffen zunichte zu machen, an dem der bolschewistische Ansturm zerschellen muß, wenn nicht Europa sein Ende finden soll.