Bombs stuck, 2 motors out, 2 wounded, Fortress lands
The ‘stormy weather’ makes it home after being shot full of holes over Reich
By Walter Cronkite, United Press staff writer
…
Bill proposes 48-hour week as wage basis
Labor official raps plan to curb absenteeism as too drastic
…
News conference off
Washington –
The White House yesterday announced cancellation of President Roosevelt’s regular news conference today. No reason was given.
Slaughterers must obtain U.S. licenses
Wickard establishes meat permit system in fight on black markets
…
‘Furloughs’ for workers urged by naval official
Reward faithful and penalize others, Bard asks; absenteeism costs 14 destroyers in month
By Ralph A. Bard, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (written for the United Press)
…
Only survivor of lost bomber turns up safe
Tail gunner gone 67 days in Solomons after plane breaks in two
…
Measure to defer farmers passed by Senate group
Outlook for 1943 food crop as big as last year’s is ‘almost hopeless,’ reports Military Affairs Committee
…
War Cabinet called best way to halt federal muddling
Assuming of complete authority by Roosevelt termed only means to end delay caused by lack of coordination
By E. A. Evans, Scripps-Howard staff writer
…
Transport survivors land –
3.5 hours in icy Atlantic like full month to mate
Crew stumbles around deck in dark; big ship sinks quickly; Brownsville man rescued
…
Roving Reporter
By Ernie Pyle
The following dispatch was written before the turn of the tide in Africa. U.S. troops have since recaptured the territory lost around Sbeitla.
The Tunisian front – (March 4, by wireless, delayed)
The withdrawal of our American forces from the vast Sbeitla Valley, back through Kasserine Pass, was a majestic thing in a way. It started before dawn one morning, and continued without a break for 24 hours. It had no earmarks whatever of a retreat, it was carried out so calmly and methodically. It differed in no way, except size, from the normal daily convoys of troops and supplies.
I left Sbeitla in the middle of it. Vehicles were so well-spaced that it was not difficult to pass them on the wide gravel road. And, since I was not required to keep line, I could go forward and back to get a good view of the entire movement.
Our planes were in the air almost constantly that day.
So far as I have heard, the Germans did not do a single road-strafing job on our withdrawing columns. They missed a magnificent opportunity. Why they didn’t try is still a mystery to me.
If you had been an Arab, standing beside the road, our great brown vehicles would have rumbled past you – one about every 30 seconds — for 24 hours. First, before daylight, came the kitchen trucks and engineers to prepare things ahead. Then came rolling guns, and some infantry to set up protection along the roads. Then the great vast bulk of long supply trains, field hospitals, command posts, ammunition wagons, infantry, artillery, and finally – when night came again – the tanks started and moved on until the next dawn.
Retreat completely motorized
The whole thing was completely motorized. Nobody was walking.
It was hard to realize, when you were part of it, that this was a retreat – that American forces in large numbers were retreating in foreign battle, one of the few times in our history. We couldn’t help feeling a slight sense of humiliation. Yet, while it was happening, that humiliation was somewhat overcome by our pride in the orderliness of the accomplishment.
It simply could not have been done better. Military police patrolled the road with jeeps and motorcycles to see that there was no passing, no traffic jamming, no loitering. Not many of our American trucks broke down; and those that did were immediately taken in tow. There were almost no accidents.
The withdrawal from Fériana and Thelepte Airdrome was separate, and smaller than ours. They were evacuated in the dawn hours. Ammunition dumps were set off, and all gasoline that could not be moved was set ablaze. Planes that took off that morning on dawn missions did not return to the field but landed elsewhere. All planes that could not get off the ground, because of minor damage or needed repair, were burned.
There never was anything built above ground at Thelepte, because the field had to take too much bombing. Everything was underground – offices, sleeping quarters, and the rest Nothing showed above ground, except the planes themselves and the little knee-high mounds that were dugout roofs.
One officer, just as he left, tacked on his dugout door a big newspaper map of the latest Russian line, so the Germans could see it when they came.
French troops slow traffic
There were French civilian refugees on our road, but not enough to hinder traffic. Most of them walked, carrying brown suitcases and bundles. I noticed they did not carry much, so they apparently had faith in our coming back. There were few Arabs among them. The Arabs are permanent. They get along, whoever comes to take charge of their country.
French artillery and infantry also were withdrawing. They did hinder traffic, after we were safely back at Kasserine Pass and the road grew narrow and poor. Across the soft sand French horses and horse-drawn ammunition carts by thousands lined the roads. We well knew the French were among the best fighters in the world. Bu this delaying stream of high-wheeled carts, toiling along so century-like, seemed symbolic of France’s whole disaster. The big fine French hospital just outside Kasserine was evacuated too, and the French supervisor gave away everything he had to American soldiers.
I chatted with one soldier – Sgt. Donald Schiavone, 666 4th Ave., Brooklyn – who had just been given an alarm clock, a silver letter opener, a basket of eggs, three dozen olives, and a bottle of peach brandy. A truckful of soldiers passed as we were talking. Seeing the bottle, they began yelling at Schiavone, who apparently had no hoarder’s blood in his veins. He ran after the truck and gave his bottle to the other soldiers.
That little everyday episode is an example of how unflustered, how unretreat-like our retreat was.