Edson: Truman probe look into Army truck purchases
By Peter Edson
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Background of news –
Split up Germany after the war?
By Bertram Benedict, editorial research reports
Some students of post-war problems are wondering if the Moscow Declaration in favor of an independent Austria after the war ought to be carried a step further, so that several other independent states would be cut off from the German Reich – not only to prevent Germany from beginning another war, but also to satisfy a demand in some sections of Germany for independence from Prussian domination.
The pre-Hitler German Reich dated only from 1871, and the large states within it had a much longer record of separate existence. They formed a single nation because of the economic advantages.
Between Napoleon and the Franco-German War of 1870-71, several large German federations were formed. If something like these were to be created now, care would have to be taken that the economic basis for separation was as firm as the political basis. After World War I, considerable sentiment arose in Austria for union with Germany simply because the new Austria was an unbalanced economic unit, aptly described as a head (Vienna) without a body.
When Napoleon burst upon the European scene, Germany, like Italy, was a mere geographical expression. Its map was a nightmare. What was called Germany lay within the Holy Roman Empire which was not properly an empire, no longer had any connection with Rome, and certainly wasn’t holy. The French dictator abolished it in 1806 and formed the Confederation of the Rhine, of which he was “protector.” Soon all the German states joined the Confederation except Prussia, Austria, Brunswick and Hesse.
After the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, the Congress of Vienna organized the German states into a confederation of 38 states, all sovereign, with a complicated constitution. Austria presided over and dominated the German Confederation, and Prussia determined to replace Austria as the dominant force.
Between 1828 and 1842, Prussia consummated a customs union (Zollverein) in all the important German states except Austria. During the revolutionary movements of 1848 and 1849, the Confederation was suspended, and an attempt was made at Frankfurt to form a new all-German political union. This movement collapsed in the face of Austrian opposition, and in 1851 the Confederation resumed.
Prussia was still successful in keeping Austria out of the customs union, although most of the South German states, largely Catholic, sided with Austria in resistance to Prussian influence.
In 1864, Prussia and Austria combined in war against Denmark, to redeem the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein from Danish rule. The Confederation supported the war. Two years later, Prussia provoked war with Austria, ostensibly because of a dispute over the two redeemed duchies. Most of the German states, including Bavaria, Hanover, and Saxony, sided with Austria; Prussia declared the Confederation at an end. Austria was defeated in seven weeks. Prussia thereupon formed a confederation, under Prussian hegemony, of the North German states.
The South German states were to form their own confederation. However, Prussia concluded military alliances with them against France, and also brought them into a customs union with the North German Confederation. The southern states joined the North German Confederation in 1870 in war against France, and in 1871, William I was proclaimed German Emperor at Versailles. The new Reich consisted of 25 states, reduced by 1933 to 17.
Congressmen flunk disputed history quiz
Washington (UP) –
Need help with your history?
Well, don’t write your Congressman. Not unless he happens to be Rep. Alvin E. O’Konski (R-WI) – and don’t lean too hard on him for information on what happened in 1781 or 1887.
These conclusions were reached from a historical date questionnaire submitted to 15 Congressmen by the United Press. It set forth 33 dates selected by the Committee on American History in schools of the American Historical Association as those high school students should memorize.
On an average, the Congressmen muffed 12 of 33. Mr. O’Konski missed only two, although he did not agree entirely with the committee as to what made certain years memorable. The committee listed “1876 – Centennial Exposition,” Mr. O’Konski remembered it as the year Wild Bill Hickok was shot.
A team of five Republicans that ganged up on one questionnaire tied Mr. O’Konski’s individual performance, and missed only 1817 (U.S. treaty with Canada) and 1844 (first successful telegraph).
To this questionnaire, a 34th date was added in the handwriting of Rep. Clare Boothe Luce (R-CT) – “1944 – Republican President elected.” Not being clairvoyant, the tabulators counted this neither right nor wrong.
Rep. O’Konski missed 1887 (Interstate Commerce Commission) and 1781 (surrender of Cornwallis). For the latter, he listed “Garfield shot,” an event that occurred in 1881 – so it appeared that Mr. O’Konski was thrown off by that ‘81.
Generally speaking, it was close between Republicans and Democrats. The Democrats didn’t approach the O’Konski mark, but their average was a little better than their GOP colleagues.
Members were frequently not in accord with the committee as to the most important event of certain years. One common point of difference was 1920. According to the committee, students should remember it for the adoption of the 19th Amendment. Most of the 15 listed “birth of the League of Nations.” One Democrat, perhaps sadly, listed it as the “beginning of the Republican era.”
Several preferred the “first transatlantic crossing by American steamboat” for 1819 over the committee’s choice – “acquisition of Florida.”
The year 1793 proved troublesome to many. One listed correctly – “first balloon ascension in America.” The committee listed “invention of the cotton gin.”
At the insistence of several Congressmen, the questionnaire was submitted to a newspaperman chosen at random in the House Press Gallery. He missed 12, including 1793, which he erroneously recalled as the year of the Whiskey Rebellion.
That happened in 1794, but the committee doesn’t list it.
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What?! A congressman not knowing history?! That can’t be lol
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Roving Reporter
By Ernie Pyle
At the frontlines in Italy – (by wireless)
The conversation in a gun pit during a lull in the firing line everywhere from the number of flies in a bottle of local vino clear up to what the war’s all about.
Although profanity is a normal part of their language, the boys in the artillery seem to be less profane than the infantry. The rougher a man lives the rougher he talks, and nothing can touch the infantry for rough and horrible living.
The impending arrival of galoshes forms a good part of the conversation in our howitzer crew. Galoshes have been promised for weeks, actually from day to day, but the rains are two months old and galoshes aren’t here yet.
One soldier said:
I’d give my payroll for a pair of galoshes.
Another cannoneer said:
They’re supposed to be on a ship already in the harbor. And sure as hell the Jerries will sink it before they get them unloaded.
One soldier said:
My feet haven’t been dry for six weeks.
And another one spoke up:
If you take a shot of that lousy cognac they sell in Naples, it will dry your socks as soon as it hits bottom.
Peewee likes to talk
Little Cpl. John C. Graham from Dillon, South Carolina, sits on a water can before a bonfire scraping the mud off his shoes before putting on his leggings. He gets off onto the subject of overshoes, of course, and one of the other boys says:
Oh, for God’s sakes, stop talking about overshoes, that’s all I’ve heard for weeks and I’m sick of listening to it.
Cpl. Graham says:
Well, you got to talk about something and it might as well be overshoes. You just can’t sit around all day with your trap hanging open.
Cpl. Graham is nicknamed “Peewee.” He is short and chubby and round-faced, and his eyes squint with good humor and friendliness. He is only 20 now and has been in the Army since he was 17. He weighed 117 when he went in and now weighs 160.
Peewee lived on a farm before he enlisted. He is very conscientious and always on the job. He is called the gunner, which means second in command to the sergeant. When the sergeant is away, he runs the gun. The other boys like to kid Peewee about swearing mildly and smoking occasionally when he is so young.
Three boys in this crew are only 20. They’ve got nothing but fuzz on their faces and only shave once a week – and don’t need it then.
One of the crew is Pvt. Lloyd Lewman from Ottumwa, Iowa. He goes by the nickname of “Old Man.” That’s because he is 35, which to most of the crew is ancient.
Actually, he doesn’t look much older than the rest and it seems odd to hear him called Old Man. He used to be a farmer and then worked for a long time as a section hand on the railroad. He is quiet and pleasant and everybody likes him.
Gamble on anything
Like soldiers everywhere, the gun crews kill time by gambling. Our battery got paid for the first time in two months while I was with them, and immediately a poker game started in every crew.
Our crew even brought a shelter half and spread it on the floor of the gun pit and played right there while waiting for further firing orders. As Sgt. McCray said, the best way to bring on a firing mission is to start a hand of poker. And sure enough, they hadn’t played five minutes till the firing order came and everybody grabbed his cards and money and scrambled for the shells.
While they were playing one of the boys said:
I wonder if the Germans got paid today.
And another one said:
Do you suppose the Germans play poker too?
To which another answered, “Hell no, them guys ain’t got enough money to play poker,” which was probably a little misconception on his part, since most of the prisoners I’ve seen had money in their pockets.
The boys will bet on anything. I’ve heard of one bet on whether I would come back to this theater or go to the Pacific. They’ve got bets on when we’ll get to Rome, and when the war will be over, and a couple of them were betting on whether Schlitz beer was sometimes put in green bottles instead of brown. They came to me to settle this, but I didn’t know.
This is the regiment, incidentally, that had a payday just before leaving America more than a year ago. They left the States with around $52,000, and when they arrived in England and turned in their money for foreign exchange, they had $15,000 more than they started with. They had taken it away from other outfits on the ship at poker.
Dunno, these hillbillies.
Limit on restaurant food may mean more for homes
More stringent methods of determining quotas will become effective March 1
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The home front –
Disabled veterans of World War II may get $10-$20 monthly pensions
Post-discharge claim made to veterans’ office
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In Washington –
Speedy passage of education bill to be requested
Setup sought for vanguard of million returning servicemen expected to seek free schooling
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Völkischer Beobachter (December 21, 1943)
Roosevelt fördert die Bolschewisierung der USA –
Seemannsorganisation als Agitationszentrale
Eigener Bericht des „Völkischen Beobachters“
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U.S. Navy Department (December 21, 1943)
CINCPAC Press Release No. 204
For Immediate Release
December 21, 1943
Army heavy bombers of the 7th Army Air Force, which attacked enemy installations on Maloelap Atoll on December 19 (West Longitude Date), were intercepted by 25 Japanese fighters. Seven of the enemy fighters were probably destroyed and five others were damaged. Two of our planes were damaged. Three men were wounded.
CINCPAC Press Release No. 205
For Immediate Release
December 21, 1943
Heavy bombers of the 7th Army Air Force attacked Taroa on December 20 (West Longitude Date) with about 25 tons of bombs, causing many fires and explosions in hangar and storage areas. Our aircraft were attacked by 30 Zeros. Four enemy fighters were shot down; five others were probably destroyed. Three of our planes were shot down, others received minor damage from anti-aircraft fire and intercepting fighters.
U.S. State Department (December 21, 1943)
The President to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union
Washington, 21 December 1943
Secret
Priority
For Ambassador Harriman from the President. Repeated to Prime Minister
Referring to your message [Alusna Moscow 201719 December] it is my intention that Italian surrendered ships to a number of one-third of the total be allocated to the Soviet war effort as rapidly as they can be made available from their present employment in the Allied war effort commencing about February 1.
Title of ownership to be decided after the surrender of our common enemies.
I have requested combined Chiefs of Staff to issue necessary orders to General Eisenhower.
ROOSEVELT
The Pittsburgh Press (December 20, 1943)
1,000 PLANES BLAST REICH
Key Nazi war cities hit in mighty raids
42 British aircraft lost; Frankfurt, Mannheim and Bremen ripped
By Phil Ault, United Press staff writer
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GENERAL RAILROAD STRIKE CALL DUE
Million more ready to join train groups
Non-operation unions cite previous talks with Roosevelt
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On road to Rome –
Clark’s forces take mountain
Americans edge forward mile and a half
By C. R. Cunningham, United Press staff writer
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