98 anglo-amerikanische Terrorbomber vernichtet –
Vergebliche Feindangriffe am ukrainischen Bug
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Verlorene US-U-Boote
dnb. Stockholm, 19. März –
Das US-Marineministerium gibt den Verlust von zwei U-Booten bekannt, die wahrscheinlich im Pazifik versenkt worden seien. Es handelt sich um das 1.552 Tonnen große Boot Capolin und das 1.475 Tonnen große Boot Sculpin. Beide waren erst in den letzten Jahren vom Stapel gelaufen und hatten eine Besatzung von je etwa 75 Mann.
U.S. Navy Department (March 20, 1944)
Communiqué No. 511
Atlantic.
The USS LEOPOLD (DE-319), manned by Coast Guard officers and men, was sunk on March 10 as a result of an underwater explosion, while on escort duty in the Atlantic.
The next of kin of all casualties have been notified.
Press Release
For Immediate Release
March 20, 1944
USS MACAW (ASR-11) lost in Pacific
The USS MACAW (ASR-11), an auxiliary submarine rescue vessel, after having gone aground on a coral reef in the Pacific, slid off and sank on February 13, 1944.
Next of kin of all casualties have been notified.
LtCdr. Paul W. Burton, USN, was commanding officer of the MACAW. He is listed as missing. LtCdr. Burton was born in Berkeley, California, on September 29, 1911, the son of Col. Norman G. Burton, USMC, and Mrs. Burton. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1933. Next of kin is his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth W. Burton, 1320 Locust Drive, Asbury Park, New Jersey.
The MACAW was launched on July 12, 1942, at the Moore Dry Dock Company, Oakland, California, and was commissioned on July 12, 1943.
MEMORANDUM TO THE PRESS: Jane’s Fighting Ships lists standard displacement of the MACAW was 2,000 tons.
CINCPAC Press Release No. 319
For Immediate Release
March 20, 1944
Mille in the Eastern Marshalls was heavily shelled by battleships and bombed by carrier‑based aircraft on March 18 (West Longitude Date).
On the same day, Mitchell medium bombers of the 7th Army Air Force bombed Ponape, sinking a small cargo transport and starting large fires.
Five enemy‑held atolls in the Eastern Marshalls were bombed on March 18 by Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, and Liberator and Mitchell bombers of the 7th Army Air Force. In these attacks, gun emplacements, barracks, and magazines were hit. All of our planes returned.
The New York Times (March 20, 1944)
Vesuvius erupts in violent action
Emits four great streams of lava – endangers village damaged 38 years ago
By Milton Bracker
Boscotrecase, Italy – (March 19)
Mount Vesuvius put on the greatest “show” since 1906 last night, and today this village on the south slope of the angered giant was the subject of an official visit by Prof. Giuseppe Imbò, expert on volcanoes, and American Military Government authorities, with a view to possible evacuation of some of the families.
Prof. Imbò, who maintains an office in the Royal Vesuvian Observatory halfway to the crater, said unqualifiedly that the display, which reddened the sky and sent four streams of lava down the valleys, was the most impressive since the April eruption of 38 years ago that destroyed a part of Boscotrecase and threatened the important town of Torre Annunziata, 10 miles southeast of Naples.
But pending worse developments, it appeared that no large-scale evacuation of the population here was yet indicated. While the green-trousered and excitable little professor toured the area after having crawled in the darkness to the edge of the lava stream last night, it was possible to stand on the outskirts of this rather broken-down community and watch the hot vapors rising from the slowing but unhalted lava streams barely a mile above.
In the village proper, there was more interest in the funeral of an 84-year-old patriarch than in the threat; an ornate hearse rolled heavily through the main street while beyond the furthest rim of houses, Vesuvius quaked and sputtered. The sound was exactly like artillery fire.
The only damage known to have been done so far was to a 100-foot stretch of the famous cable railway that has carried countless tourists to the verge of the “Valle dell’Inferno” and that recently has become virtually a “G.I.” railway.
Staff Sgt. Frederick Drake of Elmira, New York, accompanied Prof. Imbò on his precarious tour last night, during which they saw lava overflow the trackage. Sgt. Drake said the breakthrough came about 8:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. Saturday ET) and that the fiery, molten stone seemed to be flowing from 25 to 30 miles an hour.
He said:
It was a lot faster than you could ruin. It was flowing just like water.
Meanwhile, in the Naples sky over the brooding volcano was an awesome red – red in an evil, hideous sort of way. Yet the beauty and the fascination were there, too, as they always will be.
One stream put a golden edge on the inner slope of the higher of the two summits. Another forked down in front and made a huge glowing “L” against the darkness.
Tonight’s display indicated the lava streams were splitting up while the garish glow over the cone somewhat lessened.
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The Pittsburgh Press (March 20, 1944)
ALLIES TAKE CASSINO KEY POINT
Maoris attack paratroops on town’s fringe
Tanks knocked out in ruined hotel
By C. R. Cunningham, United Press staff writer
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Packard: Towns evacuated in volcano path
By Eleanor Packard, United Press staff writer
On the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, Italy –
Allied Military Government officials today started evacuating a number of towns on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, including San Sebastiano on the western slope, as an eruption which began Saturday, continued and the lava flow increased.
There was so much smoke and steam where I was standing that I could not see the crater.
Four streams of lava poured from the volcano when the eruption began. The main stream, estimated to be a quarter of a mile wide and seven feet deep, sizzled toward Torre del Greco and Torre Annunziata, both near Pompeii.
Forest and crops have already suffered considerable damage, but no serious damage to dwellings has been reported.
Italian experts regarded the eruption as the most serious since 1906 when the upper part of the crater’s ash cone collapsed and lava streams poured almost into Torre Annunziata and partly destroyed Boscotrecase.
Vesuvius is south of Naples in the area occupied for some time by Allied troops.
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Yank bombers again hammer South Germany
Other Allied planes hit North France
By Walter Cronkite, United Press staff writer
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Heinzen: Million Germans man forts against invasion of Europe
By Ralph E. Heinzen, United Press staff writer
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Crowded bus plunges through bridge into river
Five saved, four dead, other bodies sought in deep channel at Passaic, New Jersey
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Time’s come to up formula, Senator says
Thomas hints steel pay change
By Fred W. Perkins, Pittsburgh Press staff writer
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Music camp director asks U.S. to challenge musicians’ boss
Speakers may be barred from radio unless union gives approval, Senators told
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Willkie holds secret parley with leaders
Senators told of ‘stump’ plans
By Lyle C. Wilson, United Press staff writer
Washington –
Wendell L. Willkie was revealed today to have had last-minute conferences here with Republican Senators before beginning his three-week campaign for the Wisconsin and Nebraska presidential primaries.
In contrast to other visits to Washington, Mr. Willkie was unseen and unheard except by those with whom he had political conferences. He opened his Wisconsin campaign over the weekend with a farm policy speech in Richland Center.
His opposition
Full slates of Willkie delegates are entered in the April 4 Wisconsin primary and the April 11 Nebraska primary. Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York is represented by a partial slate in Wisconsin despite his request that his name not be used. Former Governor Harold E. Stassen of Minnesota, now a naval officer, and Gen. Douglas MacArthur will also be represented in Wisconsin.
Top heavy Willkie success in those states would serve somewhat to ease the shock of North Carolina’s bolt for Governor Dewey. North Carolina Republicans named their convention delegates last week ands thereupon adopted a resolution endorsing Governor Dewey for President.
Mr. Willkie has consistently recognized but minimized the fact that Congressional Republicans are cold to his candidacy. The fact that he came here last week to talk quietly with several of them suggests to some observers that Mr. Willkie hopes to improve his relations with Republicans in Congress.
Hosts for parley
Senator Sinclair Weeks (R-MA), a recently-arrived industrialist, who succeeded the resigned Henry Cabot Lodge, has long been a Willkie adherent. Both he and John W. Hanes, former member of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Under Secretary of the Treasury in the Roosevelt administration, are named as luncheon hosts at the principal meeting between Mr. Willkie and Republican Senators.
Last week’s appearance here was in marked contrast to that of Oct. 19, when Mr. Willkie spoke off the record before House Republicans as the guest of first-term GOP members. Mr. Willkie pleased a few of his hearers, surprised many of them and annoyed some by announcing without qualification that he could have the Republican presidential nomination if he wanted it.
Allies gamble civilization in invasion, British realize
Some experts fear what would happen if beaten army is hurled back on England
By Ira Wolfert, North American Newspaper Alliance
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