Music for the boys –
Bernie Armstrong show recorded for AEF
Discs go overseas to OWI stations
By Si Steinhauser
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Music for the boys –
The New York Times (March 24, 1944)
Eruption of Vesuvius appears to be ending
But Naples plans prayers as ash falls far from volcano
Torre del Greco, Italy – (March 23)
The worst of the most awesome show provided by Mount Vesuvius in 72 years seemed over tonight. This coastal town between Naples and Torre Annunziata bore the brunt of the last day of the eruption, which began Sunday.
Great clouds of lava dust rolled down the southern slopes of the volcano and virtually blotted out the community. Lights were required on automobiles traveling to Naples in the daylight hours and the faces of military policemen on traffic duty were lined with grime.
At the Allied Military Government office here, Maj. Jesse Cantor of Syracuse, New York, regional executive, said that today’s display probably was the volcano’s “last gasp” for the present, though he hastened to add that it would be foolish to make a flat prediction.
The possibility remained that huge chunks of the periphery of the crater might fall in the caldron, with disastrous results, but this was believed to be unlikely.
While ash and red mud were reported to have fallen as far away as Bari, Cardinal Alessio Ascalesi of Naples ordered three days of special prayers in the Naples Cathedral to invoke protection of the city’s patron saint against further eruption.
U.S. Navy Department (March 25, 1944)
CINCPAC Press Release No. 325
For Immediate Release
March 25, 1944
Seventh Army Air Force Liberators bombed Wake Island on March 23 West Longitude Date). Petroleum storage tanks and barracks were hit. Antiaircraft fire was intense.
In the Marshalls, four enemy‑held atolls were bombed by Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, Liberator and Mitchell bombers of the 7th Army Air Force, and Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.
In the Carolines, Mitchell bombers of the 7th Army Air Force bombed Ponape on March 22 and 23 (West Longitude Dates). Ant Island was bombed on March 23.
Approximately 115 tons of bombs were dropped in these operations. All of our planes returned.
Press Release
For Immediate Release
March 25, 1944
Two U.S. destroyers in Mediterranean sink German submarine
A German submarine was sunk, stern first, in the Mediterranean recently, after a ceaseless pounding by gunfire and depth charges from two U.S. destroyers. Several aircraft took part in the search for the U‑boat, with three U.S. destroyers, but the destruction was accomplished by two of the destroyers in the darkness of early night.
The New York Times (March 25, 1944)
CASSINO NO CLUE TO INVASION FATE
Town’s many caves, cellars tunnels more impregnable to bombs than a fortress
Other factors in battle; bombing, far under that planned, saturated target, but its rubble aided foe
By C. L. Sulzberger
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Vesuvius quits erupting
Dust and ash problem, however, continues to plague traffic
Naples, Italy – (March 24)
Mount Vesuvius continued to pose a serious dust and ash problem for all communities and transit facilities along its south and southeastern slopes today, but the lava flow appeared definitely to be over.
The volcano was still spectacular with its enormous, thick cloud of lava dust fixed in the sky over the crater just as if it had been painted there.
The Allied Control Commission is still closely overseeing the situation, and Lt. Col. James Kincaid, provincial executive, maintained his emergency headquarters at Cercola.
The Pittsburgh Press (March 25, 1944)
Flames sweep Berlin after heaviest raid
RAF drops over 2,800 tons; 73 planes lost; Kiel also hammered
By Phil Ault, United Press staff writer
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Tunnels enable Nazis to regain part of Cassino
Axis reinforcements use old passages
By Reynolds Packard, United Press staff writer
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Vesuvius eruption kills 30 persons
Allied HQ, Naples, Italy (UP) –
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius killed more than 30 persons and injured several scores, the Allied Military Government announced.
Many of the casualties were caused by falling stones or by roofs collapsing under the weight of volcanic ash while the occupants were asleep in their dwellings, AMG reported.
The volcano was still spouting cinders and ashes today, but the lava flow appeared to have subsided.
AMG reported 12 persons were killed in Nocera, province of Salerno, and nine in Pagani when roofs collapsed. Flying stones killed three in Terzigno, province of Naples.
Two children were believed killed in San Sebastiano when the molten lava flow caused a cistern to explode.
Allies cut path of Jap retreat
Yanks, Chinese take North Burma village
By Darrell Berrigan, United Press staff writer
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Spy ring handed lengthy terms
‘Countess,’ 4 aides admit their guilt
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15 men trapped in mine blast
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She weeps over ‘Dear Charlie’ –
Chaplin blocked in effort to reveal Joan’s travels
By Frederick C. Othman, United Press staff writer
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U.S. vessel sunk
Washington –
A medium-sized U.S. merchant vessel was sunk by an enemy submarine late in January in the Arabian Sea, the Navy announced today. All members of the crew were rescued and survivors landed at Boston.
Reds honor Marshall
London, England –
Radio Moscow announced today that the Supreme Council of the Soviet has awarded the Order of Suvorov to U.S. Chief of Staff Gen. George C. Marshall.
GOP attacks foreign policy
House ‘freshmen’ confer with Hull
Washington (UP) –
Republican freshmen of the House, unimpressed by Secretary of State Cordell Hull’s outline of U.S. foreign policy, today appeared ready to project into the 1944 political campaign what they described as the administration’s “do-nothing” attitude on international affairs.
They generally agreed that “more action” was necessary and that it would be well to press for a clearer definition of this nation’s relationships with other world powers.
Mr. Hull met with the 24 first-term GOP members yesterday, but later announced that he was not authorized to reveal what had been discussed.
Not convinced
The House members, however, emphasized they were not convinced that U.S. policy is all that it should be and few had comments favorable to Mr. Hull.
One Congressman described Mr. Hull as concerned about many phases of world affairs and relations among the Allies. He quoted the secretary as saying that Great Britain and Russia are no longer on speaking terms because of the Polish border dispute.
There was no confirmation of his observations at the State Department.
Policy called ‘silence’
Rep. Clare Boothe Luce (R-CT) observed that:
Silence is still the settled policy of our State Department.
The Congressman who gave his version of Mr. Hull’s talk said the Secretary told in detail how he had taken to Moscow a blueprint of a plan for post-war treatment of Germany even though he had been advised by the Soviet Ambassador here that the Moscow conference must be confined to ways of defeating the Germans.
He quoted Mr. Hull as saying that he did not try to bring up the plan at the formal discussions, but finally gave a mimeographed copy to British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden and Soviet Foreign Vice Commissar Maxim Litvinov with a request that they look it over.
On ‘right track’
Mr. Hull reportedly said that Eden and Litvinov, when asked four days later how they liked it, both thought it was on the “right track” but that neither has said another word about it since.
The same Congressional source said Mr. Hull told the conference that the Polish border dispute was holding up many important international negotiations. It was then that he allegedly said Britain and Russia are no longer on speaking terms.
Farm story told
Asked about the United States’ policy on the Polish border dispute, Mr. Hull was quoted as saying that Britain and Russia were like two farmers arguing over the dividing line between their respective farms, and that the U.S. would play the role of the clear-headed third farmer and keep out of the argument, although try to bring about a peaceful settlement.
The Congressman quoted Mr. Hull as describing the Polish border dispute as “microscopic” and that in truth border controversies would be settled after, not during, the war.