America at war! (1941–) – Part 3

Marine tells of Jap attack on Pacific isle

Pittsburgh reporter writes on injury to Rachland Street private
By Tech. Sgt. Dan Campbell, USMC combat correspondent

Völkischer Beobachter (January 5, 1944)

Dichtung und Wahrheit in Anglo-Amerika –
Rauhe Wirklichkeit verdrängt amtlich gemachten Optimismus

Der Mann von der Straße soll die wahren Kriegsfolgen nicht erfahren

Bericht eines englischen Kriegskorrespondenten –
Süditalien kämpft um sein Leben

Namenloses Elend unter den chinesischen Volksmassen –
USA finanzieren Tschungking-Inflation

Eigener Bericht des „Völkischen Beobachters“

U.S. Navy Department (January 5, 1944)

Communiqué No. 495

The U.S. submarine POMPANO (SS-181) is overdue from patrol and must be presumed to be lost.

The next of kin of personnel in the POMPANO have been so informed.


CINCPAC Press Release No. 219

Army Liberators of the 7th Army Air Force bombed Jaluit on Janu­ary 4 (West Longitude Date). All of our planes returned.

Army medium bombers scored two hits on a cargo transport at Jaluit on January 3. Army dive bombers escorted by Airacobras raided Mille on January 3. One of our fighters was shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

Enemy planes dropped bombs at Tarawa, Makin and Apamama on the night of January 3 and at Tarawa on January 4 without damage to our installations.

U.S. State Department (January 5, 1944)

893.00/15257

The Second Secretary of Embassy in China to the Ambassador in China

Chengtu, January 5, 1944

Confidential
No. 12

Sir: I have the honor to report that on January 4, 1944 I called by appointment on General Chang Chun, Chairman of the Szechwan Provincial Government, who received me at his private residence south of the West China University campus.…

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

… I inquired whether the Chinese Government had any plans for sending Japanese-trained administrators to Japan to assist in restoring order. He assured me that this question had been fully discussed and settled at the Cairo Conference and that the Generalissimo had informed him recently that the conferees had agreed that as soon as Japan’s military power had been broken the Japanese in Japan proper would be permitted to work out their own destiny without outside direction.…

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Pittsburgh Press (January 5, 1944)

Yanks hammer Kiel again

‘Fortresses’ over Germany for second day; French targets lashed
By Phil Ault, United Press staff writer

Yanks storm 3 heights flanking road to Rome

Americans push forward mile toward Cassino; Allied bombers hit region near Sofia
By C. R. Cunningham, United Press staff writer

Marines repel drive by Japs

Enemy tries to recapture Cape Gloucester
By Don Caswell, United Press staff writer

Much blood to spill –
OWI foresees heavy battles

Only fraction of Axis land has been regained

What of the baby?
FBI to probe Chaplin case

Joan Barry’s arrest becomes a new issue

4,000 are idle as steel mill strikes grow

Plane production hard hit in new walkout at Youngwood plant


Roosevelt recalls special rail board

I DARE SAY —
God helps them that help themselves

By Florence Fisher Parry

Ration token fraud feared; probe sought

Congress to be asked to act on change to nuisance size

Poll: 75% still think boards handle draft cases fairly

Calling of fathers ahead of unmarried war workers is singled out for criticism
By George Gallup, Director, American Institute of Public Opinion

Worker draft bill hinted if strikes mount

House committee leader says legislation ‘to be ready’

Full disarmament of Reich held need


Twining takes over U.S. 15th Air Force

In Washington –
High court justices split on mode of making rulings

Frankfurter’s interpretations based only on his own conceptions of ‘ethics’ assailed by Black, Murphy


americavotes1944

New GOP leader?

Washington (UP) –
Prominent Republican Senators believe the time is ripe for formal election of an acting successor to Minority Leader Charles L. McNary (R-OR), recuperating in Florida from a serious operation undergone last November. Senator Wallace H. White Jr. (R-ME) has been acting leader under appointment from Senator McNary.

americavotes1944

Dewey asks surplus saved for post-war

Albany, New York (UP) –
Governor Thomas E. Dewey, prominently mentioned as possible Republican presidential candidate, told the New York Legislature today that it should “lock up” a $140-million State Treasury surplus for a post-war program to aid returning veterans.

In an address to a joint meeting of the Senate and Assembly, Governor Dewey waved aside demands for immediate reduction of state taxes as “unsound and irresponsible” and asked that the money be earmarked to provide financial relief for war veterans and defense workers thrown out of jobs when peace comes.

He said the surplus was the result of economies in operation and increases in the amount of revenue from current taxes.

Governor Dewey also suggested revising the present system of succession to the governorship. Some observers interpreted the plan as a move to assure continuation of Republican control of New York in the event Governor Dewey is nominated and elected President this year.

americavotes1944

Stimson, Knox hit vote bill for soldiers

Recommendations to set up uniform state laws are outlined
By Thomas L. Stokes, Scripps-Howard staff writer

Washington –
Secretaries Stimson and Knox have dealt a heavy blow to the soldier-voting legislation recently passed by the Senate, and now pending in the House, which would turn the problem over to the states with their complicated absentee-voting laws.

A joint statement by the two Cabinet officers to the Council of State Governments said:

The services are unable effectively to administer diverse procedures of 48 states as to 11 million servicemen all over the world in primary, special and general elections.

While the statement emphasized that “the War and Navy Departments do not advocate or oppose any particular voting legislation,” it is expected to give impetus to compromise measures to be considered when Congress resumes next week.

Compromises outlined

The compromises, sponsored by Senator Lucas (D-IL) and Rep. Worley (D-TX) would set up a federal commission to supervise distribution and collection by the Army and Navy of a simple ballot for President, Vice President and members of Congress. The ballots would be turned over to the states for counting under their laws.

Secretaries Stimson and Knox submitted their statement in reply to an inquiry by Frank Bane, executive director of the Council of State Governments.

The statement explained that it is Army and Navy policy “to assist and encourage servicemen to vote, so far as practicable and compatible with military operations.” It said that service voting is subject to factors beyond control – weather, war and plane space – and that no assurance could be given that enactment or elimination of any legislative provision “will result in the casting of more votes by servicemen.”

Recommendation made

It ruled out, as impracticable of administration by the services, numerous requirements of state laws as to furnishing names and addresses of servicemen, a specific day or period for voting, and the like.

For uniform legislation, the Cabinet officers recommended that state secretaries of state be authorized to transmit to appropriate election officials the form prepared and distributed by the War and Navy Departments as an application for a state absence ballot and for wartime registration as a voter – when executed by the absentee serviceman – and that election officials be authorized to receive these at any time before election.

They recommended that, for servicemen within the United States, at least 30 days be permitted before election in which to send out absentee ballots and, for those outside the United States, at least 45 days and perhaps longer.

They also specified a limit of eight-tenths of an ounce for total weight of covering envelope, enclosed outer envelope, inner envelope, ballot and voting instructions, and outer dimensions of the covering envelope at 4⅛ by 9½ inches, No. 10 size. The outer envelope would be clearly marked “official ballot.”


Right to vote is preferred to Varga girl

Algiers, Algeria (UP) – (Jan. 4)
A poll of servicemen and women by the Army newspaper, Stars and Stripes, showed today that in a choice between the thinly-clad Varga girls which brought the wrath of the Post Office Department down on Esquire Magazine and the right to vote, the boys and girls in uniform prefer the latter.

The poll was taken following a recent observation by Rep. Ranulf Compton (R-CT), that servicemen were more concerned over the fate of the Varga girls than their right to vote. Mr. Compton’s lone supporter, reported the Stars and Stripes, was Seaman Moses Ellen Detroit, who said:

I’d rather have a Varga girl than a vote.

WAC Pvt. Marguerite Burney of Salem, Oregon, said that all the WACs with whom she had discussed Postmaster General Frank C. Walker’s ban on Esquire were against it:

…because the Varga girl is not really vulgar in this day and age, and it seems like an infringement of the freedom of the press.

Pvt. Burney said:

But we over here, the men who are fighting and the women who are helping, should have the right to choose our leaders. This Congressman made no sensible comparison at all.