Lawyer freed on bond on murder charge in slaying of doctor friend of his wife
Well-known psychiatrist shot with woman in his case
…
Baruch plan simplified –
Surplus goods would be sold in open deals
Public would have access to all data; pressure groups ruled out
By Arthur F. Degreve, United Press staff writer
…
The people must know –
OWI speeds prompt, accurate reporting on battle activities
West Coast publisher cites coverage at Tarawa, in news and photos, as greatest of war
By Palmer Hoyt, North American Newspaper Alliance
…
Poll: Dewey holds big margin in New York’s test vote
Governor increases strength to 57% as Willkie drops to 20%
By George Gallup, Director, American Institute of Public Opinion
…
In Washington –
Five main issues involved in fight on tax bill veto
By Lyle C. Wilson, United Press staff writer
…
Deadlock on soldier vote
Washington (UP) –
Senate-House conferees, who have been trying for a week to resolve the soldier-vote bill dispute today, were right back where they started – deadlocked.
A comparative suggestion which state ballot plan advocates originally found acceptable was rejected by them without explanation during the fifth meeting of the conferees.
It appeared that the conference would end in complete disagreement, with members reporting to their respective chambers for further instructions.
Smaller raids can rip Japan, general says
Tenth of force used over Europe could do job, Chennault believes
By Albert V. Havenholt, United Press staff writer
…
Hero’s girlfriend to get bad news from his mother
Grieving Chicago woman to reveal son’s death to New Zealander she doesn’t know
…
Naval experts say –
Japs’ heavy cruiser loss bars showdown with U.S.
Lack of destroyers, 121 of which have been sunk, also keeps fleet at home
By Sandor S. Klein, United Press staff writer
…
Victory at Midway leads U.S. drive for China bases
Spruance is held in highest esteem by Nimitz
By Boyd Lewis, United Press staff writer
…
President aims to make enemy rebuild shrines
Roosevelt discusses way to restore buildings damaged in war
…
Washington hears –
Poles reject Allied offer
Anglo-U.S. plan reported acceptable to Russia
…
Norman Thomas bows to Maynard Krueger
Madison, Wisconsin (UP) –
Norman Thomas, four-time Socialist Party presidential candidate, said today that he preferred to sidestep the party’s nomination this year in favor of Prof. Maynard Kreuger of Chicago.
Dr. Krueger was the Socialist Party vice-presidential nominee in 1940. However, despite his “strong desire” not to run this year, Mr. Thomas declined to say positively that he would not be a candidate again.
Roving Reporter
By Ernie Pyle
In Italy – (by wireless)
Our company was alerted for its night march just before suppertime. We got the word about 4 in the afternoon, and we ate at 4:30. Word was passed around to collect 24 hours’ field rations at suppertime and a full supply of ammunition.
At chow time, the soldiers all held their tin hats crooked in their left arms while holding their mess kits in their right. At the end of the mess line, the soldiers out five “C” ration cans into each man’s hat and one bar of “D” ration.
After supper, the men rolled their one blanket inside their one shelter half while there was still light. It was chilly. A misty rain began to fall. The men just lay or sat in their foxholes under the doubtful shelter of the olive trees.
Darkness came over the olive grove, the artillery raged and flashed around half the horizon, and the concussion crashed and ran across the sky along the sounding board of the low clouds. We of our little company were swallowed in a great blackness.
We were connected to the war by one field telephone which ran to the battalion command post a quarter mile away. nobody knew when the marching order would come. We just had to sit there and wait.
There were only two places to get out of the rain. Both were pig sheds dug into the side of a bank by an Italian farmer and stacked over with straw.
Lt. Jack Sheehy, the company commander, and four enlisted men and I crawled into one and dragged the phone in after us. A few sergeants went into the other.
Huddle in pig shed
We lay down on the ground there in the pig shed. We had on our heavy coats but the chill came through. The lieutenant had an extra blanket which he carried unrolled when not actually in battle, so he spread it out and he and I both sat under it. We huddled against each other and became a little warmer.
The lieutenant said:
I used to read your column back home, and I never supposed we’d ever meet. Imagine us lying together here on the ground in Italy.
Then we talked a little while in low tones, but pretty soon somebody started to snore and before long all of us were asleep although it was still only 7 o’clock.
Every now and then, the lieutenant would phone battalion to see if any orders had come yet. Finally, he was told the line to regimental headquarters was out.
Linemen were out in the darkness feeling with their hands, tracing the entire length of the line trying to find the break. Around 9 o’clock, it was open again. Still no marching orders came.
A dark form appeared fairly silhouetted in the open end of the shed and asked if Lt. Sheehy was there. The lieutenant answered yes.
The form asked:
Can the men unroll their blankets? They’re wet and cold.
The lieutenant thought a moment and then he said, “No, better not. We should get the word to go any minute now, certainly within half an hour. They better keep them rolled.” The form said, “Yes, sir,” and merged back into the darkness.
Grove is deathly still
By 10, everybody in the shed had awakened from their nap. Our grove was deathly still, as though no one existed in it, for the night was full of distant warfare.
Now and then, we’d get clear under the blanket and light a cigarette and hide it under the blanker when we puffed it. Over on the far hillside where the Germans were, we could see a distant light. We finally decided it was probably a lamp in some unwitting Italian farmhouse.
For a little while, there was a sudden splurge of flares in the distance. The first was orange and then came some in green, and then a white and then some more orange ones. Our soldiers couldn’t tell whether they were German or ours.
Between flashes of artillery, we could hear quite loud blasts of machine guns. Even I can distinguish between a German machine gun and ours for theirs is much faster.
Machine guns are rarely fired except in flashes, so the barrel won’t get too hot, but once some jerry just held the trigger down and let her roll for about 15 seconds. A soldier said:
Boy, he’ll have to put on a new barrel after that one.
The time dragged on and we grew colder and stiffer. At last, nearly at midnight, the phone rang in the stillness of our pig shed. It was the order to go.
One of the boys said:
It’s going to be a hell of a thing to move. The ground is slick and you can’t see your hand in front of you.
One sergeant went out to start the word for the company to assemble. Another disconnected the field telephone and carried it under his arm. Everybody wrestled into the harness of his heavy packs.
The lieutenant told the first sergeant:
Assemble down by the kitchen tent. Platoons will form in this order – headquarters, third, first, second, and heavy weapons. Let’s go.
The first sergeant moved off. I moved after him. The first two steps were fine. On the third step, I went down into a ditch and said a bad word. That’s the way it was with everybody all the rest of the night.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 9426
Authorizing the Secretary of War to Take Possession of and Operate the Plants, Facilities, Installations and Other Properties in California and Nevada of the Department of Water and Power of the City of Los Angeles, California
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 23, 1944
WHEREAS after investigation I find that as the result of labor disturbances there is an interruption of the operation of the power plants, water work9 and distribution system of the Department of Water and Power of the City of Los Angeles, California, and that the war effort is being and will be unduly impeded or delayed by this interruption.
NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, including the War Labor Disputes Act of June 25, 1943, (Public Law 89, 78th Cong.) as President of the United States and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, It is hereby ordered as follows:
-
The Secretary of War is hereby authorized to take possession of the water works, water production and water distribution facilities, power generating stations, distribution, transmission and communications systems, and other plants, facilities, installations and properties in the States of California and Nevada, of the said Department of Water and Power of the City of Los Angeles, California, in which strikes or labor disturbances have occurred or are threatened, together with any real or personal property, tangible or intangible, franchises, rights and other assets used in connection with the operation thereof; and to operate or arrange for the operation of such plants, facilities, installations and properties in such manner as he deems necessary for the successful prosecution of the war, and to do all things necessary for or incidental to the operation thereof.
-
In carrying out this order, the Secretary of War may act through or with the aid of such public or private instrumentalities or persons as he may designate. All federal agencies, including but not limited to the War Manpower Commission, the National Selective Service System, and the Department of Justice, are directed to cooperate with the Secretary of War to the fullest extent possible in carrying out the purposes of this order.
3 The Secretary of War shall permit the managements of the said plants, facilities, installations and properties taken under the provisions of this order to continue with their managerial functions to the maximum degree possible consistent with the aims of this order.
-
The Secretary of War shall operate the plants, facilities, installations and properties under the terms and conditions of employment which are in effect at the time possession thereof is taken. subject to the applicable provisions of any existing law.
-
The Secretary of War is authorized to take such action, if any, as he may deem necessary or desirable to provide protection for the said plants, facilities, installations and properties, and for all persons employed or seeking employment therein, and their families and homes.
-
Possession, control and operation of any plants, facilities, installations and properties, or parts thereof, taken under this order, shall be terminated by the Secretary of War within sixty days after he determines that the efficiency of the plants, facilities, installations and properties has been restored to the level prevailing prior to the interruption referred to in the recital of this order.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 23, 1944