Berlin views Allies razing of abbey as Nazi ‘victory’
‘Wicked stories’ started to woo Catholics, but little effect is indicated
By Paul Ghali
…
Wounded flier saves six men from wild sea
Pilot pulls crew members from water, lashes them to raft
…
Holland-America to renew service
New York (UP) –
The Holland-America Line plans to resume its North Pacific Coast service as soon as practicable after the war, Peter van der Toorn, managing director of the line, revealed in a recent interview.
Mr. Van den Toorn declared that his line plans to reinstate a greatly improved West Coast-to-Europe fruit schedule after the war and pointed out that Holland-America had been a pioneer in this trade.
He said:
The California fruit trade with Britain and the continent was pioneered by our company nearly a quarter of a century ago. This fact may not be generally appreciated on this coast, but the Pacific Coast growers certainly remember that the first experimental shipment of fruit in refrigerators was made on the Holland-America freighter Eemdyk, which sailed from San Pedro Harbor on March 3, 1921.
Mr. Van den Toorn believes that the citrus growers of the West Coast will welcome an accelerated service no less than the hungry populations of Europe, and he said he felt confident that all obstacles will be overcome so that steamship companies of all the Allied nations, which maintained regular services before the war, will recover their proper share of the traffic.
PROCLAMATION 2606
Red Cross Month, 1944
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 19, 1944
WHEREAS the war has entered a decisive stage requiring the fullest measure of individual sacrifice;
WHEREAS the American National Red Cross is an auxiliary to the United States armed forces and, as such, is providing indispensable service to our troops throughout the world as well as to their families at home;
WHEREAS these wartime activities, including the collection of life-saving blood for the wounded, recreation work in military hospitals, provision of aid to families of servicemen, shipment of food parcels to prisoners of war, production of surgical dressings, operation of overseas clubs and recreation centers, and recruitment of Army and Navy nurses, all combine to save countless lives, restore hope, and provide comfort for our fighting men;
WHEREAS, through its vast network of local chapters, this agency of our people simultaneously conducts an extensive program of training and community service, while continuing with traditional efficiency to lessen the distress of those overwhelmed by disaster; and
WHEREAS this agency is wholly dependent upon individual support and personal participation and is issuing its 1944 appeal to the entire citizenship for a minimum War Fund of $200,000,000;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, President of the United States of America and President of the American National Red Cross, do hereby designate the month beginning March 1, 1944 as “Red Cross Month” and earnestly beseech my fellow Americans to observe it by opening their hearts to this humanitarian appeal in order that we may keep the Red Cross at the side of our fighting men and their dependents in their hour of greatest need.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed.
DONE at the city of Washington this nineteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and forty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and sixty-eighth.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
CORDELL HULL
Secretary of State
Völkischer Beobachter (February 20, 1944)
Ein Domei-Kommentar zu dem neuen Vorstoß –
Feindliche Operationen gegen Truk
dnb. Tokio, 19. Februar –
Das Kaiserliche Hauptquartier gab am Freitagnachmittag bekannt, daß Verbände von feindlichen Flugzeugen, die von Flugzeugträgern aus starteten und zu einem feindlichen Einsatzgeschwader gehörten, seit Donnerstagvormittag die japanischen Stellungen auf der Insel Truk angriffen. In der Mitteilung heißt es weiter, daß erbitterte Kämpfe im Gange sind. Die Insel Truk, auch Hogolu, gehört zur mittleren Karolinengruppe.
Domeis militärischer Kommentator befaßt sich in einer Betrachtung mit den feindlichen Operationen bei den Trukinseln. Er schreibt, der Gegner habe mit einem Sprung über die Marshallinseln diesmal seine Operationen in gewagter Weise bis zur strategischen Schlüsselstellung in der von den Japanern beherrschten inneren Südsee ausgedehnt.
Der Feind sei sich durchaus bewußt, daß in den von den Japanern beherrschten Südgebieten unbegrenzte Naturschätze vorhanden sind und daß, sobald diese für die Kriegführung Japans erst einmal zur Verfügung stehen, die Durchführung der Gegenoffensive gegen ein Japan mit einer derartigen Kampfkraft unmöglich wäre.
Es gebe zwei Gründe für die jetzige Gegenangriffstrategie von Nimitz. Erstens glaube Nimitz, daß es möglich sei, die Inselstützpunkte mit Hilfe von Überwassereinheiten der Flotte anzugreifen, falls sie von einer überlegenen Luftflotte geschützt werden. Zweitens meine er, daß die USA sich den Verlust einiger Kriegsschiffe leisten können. Diese beiden Gründe dienten als Stütze für die Invasionsstrategie des Gegners gegen die Gilbert- und die Marshallinseln.
Es sei indessen bedeutsam, daß die gegenwärtige Operation des Feindes gegen die Trukinseln noch einen Schritt weitergehe und die bisherige Strategie der Umwege verlasse. Der direkte Vorstoß gegen die Trukinseln bezwecke augenscheinlich die Vertreibung eines Keiles in die strategische Schlüsselstellung im Zentral-Pazifik. Der Gegner sei ungeduldig bemüht, seine sogenannte „Rückkehr nach Manila“ zu erzwingen, aber dieser Versuch gebe den japanischen Flottenstreitkräften nur weitere Gelegenheit, ihn zurückzuwerfen.
Von einem japanischen Stützpunkt im Südpazifik meldet Domei: Die japanischen Küstenbatterien beschädigten in der Nacht zum 14. Februar in den Gewässern südwestlich von Madang drei feindliche Torpedoboote schwer.
Die feindlichen Boote wollten offenbar die japanischen Streitkräfte angreifen, sie wurden jedoch durch das heftige Feuer der japanischen Batterien daran gehindert. Eines der Boote ergriff die Flucht und zog eine weiße Rauchfahne hinter sich, während das zweite nach Volltreffern abdrehte. Ein weiteres feindliches Torpedoboot, das bald darauf gesichtet wurde, ist von den japanischen Batterien, die zwei Volltreffer am Bug erzielten, ebenfalls rasch abgewiesen worden. Vermutlich sind alle drei Torpedoboote gesunken.
Weiterhin wird von einer Frontstellung im Südpazifik gemeldet, daß Einheiten der japanischen Marineluftwaffe am gleichen Tage einen erfolgreichen Angriff auf einen feindlichen Geleitzug nordwestlich Bougainville unternahmen. Bei diesem Angriff wurde ein Transporter versenkt, zwei mittelgroße Transporter wurden schwer beschädigt. Außerdem erlitten ein großer Kreuzer, ein Kreuzer und ein Zerstörer schwere Beschädigungen. Fünf japanische Flugzeuge gingen verloren.
Auch die Times gibt zu –
‚Versorgungslage weiterhin verzweifelt‘
vb. Wien, 19. Februar –
Nach langem Zögern geben jetzt endlich auch die britischen Blätter langsam zu, daß der Vorstoß auf den Mayu die britischen Truppen an der burmesischen Grenze in eine schwierige Situation gebracht hat. Der Korrespondent der Times in Tschungking teilt mit, daß der Zustand der von den Japanern abgeschnittenen Truppen der 14. britischen Armee – es handelt sich dabei, wie berichtet, um Teilkräfte einer Division – „verzweifelt sei.“ Es sei den Japanern gelungen, die einzige rückwärtige Verbindung dieser Truppen zu unterbinden, die sich dadurch in größten Verpflegungsschwierigkeiten befänden.
Die offiziellen Kriegsberichte Mountbattens vermeiden es immer noch, auf diese Vorgänge einzugehen, sie ergehen sich dafür in Mitteilungen über belanglose Scharmützel. Interessant aus den Verlautbarungen der letzten Tage war lediglich das Geständnis, daß England auch an dieser Front Kanonenfutter aus Afrika in den Kampf wirft. Einheiten aus den westafrikanischen Kolonien sind gerade recht, hier für die Briten zu bluten.
Mexikaner wie Neger in USA
In einem vom Londoner Daily Herald abgedruckten Artikel wendet sich der frühere Vizepräsident Welles gegen die feindliche Haltung, die man im Südwesten der USA gegen die eingewanderten Mexikaner jeden Standes einnehme. Die mexikanischen Kinder würden in den Volksschulen der USA nicht zugelassen. Die Mexikaner würden wie Neger behandelt und dürfen in einigen Gebieten nicht die für die Weißen reservierten Eisenbahnwagen benutzen. In vielen verwehre man ihnen den Besuch von Kinos und Hotels.
Kürzlich verweigerte sogar ein Restaurant in einer großen Stadt des Südwestens einem hohen mexikanischen Beamten den Eintritt in den Speisesaal. Die Eigentümer von Volksvergnügungsstätten wiesen mexikanische Besucher ab. Die Folge seien übelste Slumzustände in den Wohnvierteln der mexikanischen Arbeiter und scharfe Proteste der mexikanischen Regierung.
Da bekanntlich die US-Regierung den einzelnen Staaten keine Vorschriften machen könne, habe die mexikanische Regierung bereits damit gedroht, keine weiteren Arbeiter nach den USA zu schicken.
Stalins Dank für treue Dienste –
Sowjetorden für Eisenhower
dnb. Stockholm, 19. Februar –
Wie der Sender Moskau meldete, wurde mit einem von Kalinin Unterzeichneten Ukas des Präsidiums des Obersten Rates der Sowjetunion der Oberbefehlshaber der verbündeten Streitkräfte im Mittelmeer, General Eisenhower, mit dem Suworow-Orden erster Klasse ausgezeichnet. Diese Auszeichnung erhielt Eisenhower, wie die TASS, mitteilt, für „hervorragende Verdienste um die Führung der Kampfhandlungen der US-Truppen gegen die Deutschen.“
Der Orden ist der Dank des Kremls an Eisenhower, der sich als Schrittmacher des Bolschewismus fraglos große Verdienste erworben hat. Im Übrigen ist diese Auszeichnung ein neuer Beweis dafür, daß Plutokratie und Bolschewismus Arm in Arm Zusammengehen. Sie verstehen sich ausgezeichnet und lassen keine Gelegenheit vorübergehen, um durch kleine Geschenke und Höflichkeiten die Freundschaft zu vertiefen.
U.S. Navy Department (February 20, 1944)
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 37
The Pacific Fleet has returned at Truk the visit made by the Japanese Fleet at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and effected a partial settlement of the debt. Initial approach was undetected.
During attacks on February 16 and 17 (West Longitude Date), our carrier planes destroyed at least 201 enemy aircraft, 127 of which were shot down in combat. More than fifty additional enemy aircraft were damaged on the ground. There was no enemy air opposition on the second day of the attack.
Enemy surface ships sunk included two light cruisers, three destroyers, one ammunition ship, one seaplane tender, two oilers, two gunboats, and eight cargo ships. Additional enemy ships probably sunk included one cruiser or large destroyer, two oilers, and four cargo ships.
Shore facilities on the principal islands, including airdrome runways and installations, were thoroughly bombed and strafed.
Our losses were 17 planes. None of our ships was lost, but one sustained moderate damage.
Adm. R. A. Spruance, USN, was in overall command of the operation and RAdm. Marc A. Mitscher, USN, former commanding officer of the HORNET (CV-8), directed the carrier air attack.
CINCPAC Press Release No. 274
For Immediate Release
February 20, 1944
Aircraft of the 7th Army Air Force and Navy search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two continued bombing attacks on enemy positions in the Marshall and Caroline Islands during February 18 (West Longitude Date).
Army Liberators bombed docks and shipping at Kusaie, sinking a small ship.
Army Warhawks and Navy Ventura and Liberator search planes attacked four Marshall atolls, scoring hits on ground installations, an airfield and a radio station.
None of our planes was lost.
The Pittsburgh Press (February 20, 1944)
RABAUL SHELLED FOR FIRST TIME; YANKS SEIZE MARSHALLS AIR BASE
Great offensive rips Jap islands over wide area
U.S. warships also bombard Kavieng, New Ireland; air, sea forces extend attack range in mid-Pacific
The United States’ first great offensive of the Pacific War raged in full fury Saturday night with hundreds of warships and thousands of troops and planes spreading death and ruin through Japan’s strongest ocean bases from the mid-Pacific Caroline and Marshall Islands to Rabaul and Kavieng in the Southwest Pacific.
Adm. Chester W. Nimitz’s Pacific Fleet headquarters announced that U.S. invasion forces had captured the Engebi air base and several other islets in the northern part of Eniwetok Atoll, westernmost of the Marshalls.
Gen. Douglas MacArthur reported that U.S. warships had carried out the first bombardment of the war on the once-great bastion at Rabaul and its companion bases at Kavieng, New Ireland.
Adm. Nimitz revealed that between Monday and Friday, U.S. surface forces repeatedly bombarded Japanese positions in the eastern Marshalls, while U.S. Army Liberators pounded Ponape, and Kusaie in the Carolines.
Spreading death and ruin on Jap bases over a wide area, the Pacific offensive against the Japs was highlighted by the first shelling (1) of Rabaul, New Britain, and Kavieng, New Ireland, and the Yank capture of the air base on Engebi (2) in the Eniwetok Atoll of the Marshalls. Extending their striking range hundreds of miles, Army planes bombed islands in the Eastern Carolines and U.S. warships bombarded a number of points in the Eastern Marshalls (3). The Navy was silent on the air attack on Truk (4), but there were indications it might be continuing.
Atoll invaders take islets
By William F. Tyree, United Press staff writer
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii – (Feb. 19)
U.S. troops have captured Engebi Air Base and several other islets in the northern part of Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshalls and powerful U.S. sea and air forces, roving over hundreds of miles of the Pacific, are neutralizing remaining Japanese strongholds in the Marshall and Caroline Islands, it was announced today.
A Pacific Fleet headquarters announcement said first reports indicated our casualties on Eniwetok have been light.
There was no specific word on the aerial assault started against the powerful Jap stronghold of Truk in the Carolines, but an earlier announcement from Adm. Chester W. Nimitz said aero-naval operations elsewhere in the Marshalls and Carolines were “supplementing the major attacks on Truk and Eniwetok.”
Truk attack decisive
This was a strong indication that the Truk attack, if not continuing, had resulted in a perhaps-decisive blow at Jap installations at the enemy’s South Pacific “Pearl Harbor.”
The fleet communiqué said that assaults on other portions of the shield-shaped Eniwetok Atoll at the western end of the Marshalls chain were proceeding according to a clockwork schedule that was fitting into the lightning conquest pattern of Kwajalein.
Engebi, the main air base on Eniwetok, is a triangular-shaped islet, 2,000 yards long by 1,500 yards wide, and has an excellent airstrip which had been virtually neutralized by the Allied aerial hammering of the last month.
Taken by first waves
Strategic islets in the vicinity include Bogon, Muzzinbaarkku and Kirinian, all small strands which presumably fell to the first waves of U.S. Marine and infantry troops.
Meanwhile, leaving no doubt that thousands of men and planes and hundreds of ships were at Adm. Nimitz’s command, detached forces – each powerful in its own right – were roving the length and breadth of the Carolines and Marshalls apparently unchallenged by Jap sea or air forces.
Between Monday and Friday, U.S. warships repeatedly shelled important enemy positions in the Eastern Marshalls and Army Liberators Thursday in a new long-range blow battered warehouses and docks at Ponape, in the Carolines, 372 miles east of Truk.
The Liberators also blasted Kusaie, the easternmost island of the Caroline group.
The Japs identified one of the Eastern Marshalls’ targets as Maloelap, which has on Taroa Islet the most important enemy air base in that area. An enemy broadcast said Taroa was bombed and shelled Thursday.
Wednesday and Thursday, coinciding with the Eniwetok landings, the Central Pacific skies were filled with U.S. planes.
Liberators, Dauntless dive bombers and Warhawks of the 7th Army Air Force attacked four atolls in the Eastern Marshalls, the announcement said.
At one enemy base, Warhawks exploded a fuel dump and damaged a small cargo vessel as well as sinking three smaller craft.
Big patrol planes of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed ground installations at two other islands in the Marshalls Wednesday and Navy search planes hit two additional ones.
Repeated shellings
The announcement said:
Between Feb. 14-18, our warships repeatedly shelled important enemy positions in the Eastern Marshalls.
Results of the Truk attack were eagerly awaited here as it seemed no doubt the U.S. fleet had struck a stunning blow at the enemy stronghold in an operation proving U.S. ability to control the sea 3,000 miles from Pearl Harbor.
Jap broadcasts said the attack on Truk was apparently designed to drive a “wedge into the strategic key line” in the Central Pacific and that the war “has now entered the decisive stage with the enemy making a bold frontal attack against our vital key base.”
Just as at Kwajalein, RAdm. Turner’s forces did not go ashore on Eniwetok, 350 miles to the northwest, until planes, battleships and other warships had raked the atoll clean of all enemy installations above ground and many below.
Although Adm. Chester W. Nimitz’s announcement of the landings did not mention the extent of Jap resistance, it seems logical to assume that a few days, at most, would be able to crush it.
Blitzkrieg onslaught
The general plan of attack by Turner is to sweep across an islet in the blitz manner, then mop up any remaining pockets of Japs that may have been passed by.
Once Eniwetok falls and its airstrip is repaired, U.S. land bombers will be within easy range of Truk and can also shuttle-bomb that stronghold in the Carolines, using Bougainville in the Solomons for their other base terminal.
Destroyer hit 2 sea bases
By Don Caswell, United Press staff writer
Allied HQ, Southwest Pacific –
U.S. warships bombarded Rabaul, New Britain, and Kavieng, New Ireland, Friday in the first naval actions of the war against the two largest Japanese naval centers in the Southwest Pacific, Gen. Douglas MacArthur announced today.
Striking farther north than at any previous time in the Southwest Pacific, Adm. William F. Halsey’s destroyers dashed in close to both enemy bases in a smashing follow-up to devastating air raids carried out against both Kavieng and Rabaul this month.
Tanker sunk at Kavieng
The two destroyer forces suffered no damage in the maneuvers which plastered both harbors with shells and sank one tanker at Kavieng and scored hits on a number of small vessels in that harbor.
A 50-minute shelling of Kavieng just after dawn silenced coastal batteries and started many fires in the dock area, while the Rabaul attack was opened before dawn under cover of a smokescreen.
Solomons-based planes, which had dropped more than 1,200 tons of bombs on Rabaul’s protecting airdromes and installations during a 14-day air offensive, paved the way for Friday’s destroyer attack by striking at shipping in Rabaul’s Simpson Harbor Thursday night.
Jap destroyer routed
Only one Jap destroyer ventured out to oppose the U.S. warships off Rabaul. It was quickly routed, a spokesman for Gen. MacArthur said.
In the bombing attack, torpedo planes and dive bombers scored direct hits on 12 ships and some 20 barges at Rabaul, possibly sinking four medium-sized cargo ships and heavily damaging two destroyers and a patrol vessel.
The new toll of enemy shipping added to the great blow dealt the Jap supply system last week when Allied bombers wiped out a 15-ship supply convoy bound from Truk to the Bismarck Archipelago.
Eight planes destroyed
Fifty Jap planes attempted to ward off the Allied raiders, but eight were destroyed and two others probably shot down against a loss of four Allied planes.
A 1,000-ton enemy cargo ship was sunk off Wewak, New Guinea, by fighters, while other Allied bombers and attack planes over New Britain hit the Cape Hoskins Airdrome area with 26 tons of bombs.
Gen. MacArthur’s daily communiqué revealed that 340 more Jap dead had been found along the northern New Guinea coast near Saidor in mopping-up operations by U.S. and Australian forces.
The sinking of 15 ships in the Jap convoy, which was attacked in a three-day running battle, may have dealt a fatal blow to the enemy garrisons on New Britain and New Ireland.
The 12 enemy supply ships and transports, which together with three light warships were sunk, carried millions of gallons of gasoline and thousands of tons of food. Jap personnel losses were heavy, but the loss of these vital supplies was counted a still-heavier blow to Rabaul and Kavieng.
The enemy convoy was spotted Tuesday off Mussau Island, north of New Ireland, by a lone Liberator bomber piloted by Lt. Duward F. Sumner of Dallas, Texas. By radio, he sent in news of his find then swept down to the attack.
For three days and nights, Allied heavy and medium bombers battered the enemy ships from masthead height, protected by fighter escorts. But the fighters were not needed as Allied bombing of enemy airstrips on New Ireland had knocked out Jap protective air cover for the convoy.
The battle became a slaughter of Japs with our attacking planes unopposed except by relatively weak anti-aircraft fire from the writhing convoy itself. When the shooting was over, we had sunk two tankers of 7,500 and 8,000 tons, five cargo ships of 2,000 tons each, a 6,000-ton transport, three 1,500-ton cargo ships, a 500-ton freighter, one destroyer and two corvettes – a total of 36,500 tons of enemy shipping. Gen. MacArthur’s communiqué said this “comprised practically the entire convoy.”
Aerial photographs taken at the height of the battle showed enemy ships burning, listing and sinking and with the waters about them filled with tiny black dots – Jap sailors and soldiers. It was not possible to estimate how many Japs were killed but they probably numbered several thousand. Most of these drowned.
5th Army breaks German drive on Rome beachhead
Tanks crack offensive, but Gen. Clark says Allies below Rome are outnumbered and face new heavy attacks
By Robert Vermillion, United Press staff writer
…
Solution to impasse?
Russian sources suggest that U.S. occupy Finland
American circles in Stockholm refer to speculative proposal as ‘not impractical’
Stockholm, Sweden (UP) – (Feb. 19)
Unofficial Russian quarters suggested tonight that a solution to the apparent Finnish-Soviet impasse would be American occupation of Finland under the terms of an armistice, and well-informed American circles here commented that “the idea is not impractical.”
Although the Russian sources were vague as to what Moscow’s exact reaction to such a plan might be, they hinted the Soviet Union would approve it.
Except for the fact that these unofficial Soviet sources had advanced the interesting solution to the problem of getting Finland out of the war, there was nothing to indicate it was more than speculative.
The Finns, they said, unquestionably would welcome such action, since it would dispose of Helsinki’s obvious fears that any Russian occupation of Finnish territory in the event of an armistice might become permanent.
The Russians noted that it was also likely that Sweden heartily would approve of an American occupation.
There was still nothing definite here on the persistent rumors that Finnish emissaries were plying between Stockholm and Helsinki to negotiate peace between Russia and Finland.
A United Press dispatch from Moscow said there has not yet been any mention in Roman newspapers of reports that negotiations were underway in the Swedish capital. Radio Berlin, heard by CBS, said that rumors that Col. Gen. Eduard Dietl, Nazi commander on the Murmansk Front, has received orders to prepare for an eventual retreat of German troops from Finland “lack any foundation whatsoever.”
Labor’s appeal meets rebuff
President views AFL-CIO report as one-sided
…
Union defies law, refuses dues report
Alabama plans showdown Monday on new state order
…