U.S. destroyers sink U-boat
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The New York Times (March 26, 1944)
Vesuvius eruption killed 26 Italians
Many deaths caused by collapse of ash-laden roofs
Naples, Italy – (March 25)
The toll in the worst eruption of Mount Vesuvius since 1872 rose to 26 today with the recapitulation of reports from outlying districts by Lt. Col. James Kincaid, AMG Commissioner for Naples Province.
Roof cave-ins caused by piled-up volcanic ash caused 12 deaths at Nocera and nine at Pagani, both in the Salerno region. Falling fragments killed three persons at Terzigno on Tuesday.
The eruption was apparently over today. From this city the volcano appeared sullen and ugly, with a vast trail of lava dust spreading heavily to the southeast and the Salerno region. Persons who rode through the area came in looking prematurely gray.
Col. Kincaid retained his field headquarters and kept a close watch on the resettlement of the evacuated towns. He also prepared to received further reports of a still greater toll.
People seek light on our foreign policy; book is banned
By Lawrence Dane
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Senator McKellar’s fight on TVA starts furor
By Virginius Dabney
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Support of fourth term is growing despite anti-New Deal feeling
By James E. Crown
New Orleans, Louisiana – (March 25)
Theodore “The Man” Bilbo (D-MS) pointed probably to the most authoritative political trend of the Deep South when, in addressing the joint session of the Mississippi Legislature, he urged the renomination of President Roosevelt for a fourth term.
For some months now, especially in Louisiana and Mississippi, there has been considerable agitation against renaming the President and against the New Deal. The Deep South is still against the New Deal, but opposition to the nomination of Mr. Roosevelt is waning. The tendency in the South now is to select, if possible, a conservative candidate to run as Vice President. In some quarters it is hoped that this man will come from the South. The names of Senator George (D-GA), Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn, and in some quarters, Governor of Louisiana Sam Jones, are being mentioned.
Not only the Deep South, but the entire Mississippi Valley is now trying to form a movement to have transportation facilities of the Mississippi River improved. Advocates of greater use of water transportation are organizing all up and down the great artery.
Last year, according to figures made public this week, more than 9,000,000 tons of freight were floated up and down ole man river.
The transportation problem is one that is being wisely studied in the South. It is believed that river transportation will do much toward development of the states bordering the Mississippi.
Willkie’s campaign arouses the voters; draft causes concern
By Roland M. Jones
Omaha, Nebraska – (March 25)
Interest in the Midwest is focused quite sharply on national politics, particularly on the Republican situation. This stems from the imminence of the Wisconsin and Nebraska primaries, the presence of Wendell Willkie, making his campaign tout, and the approach of conventions in Minnesota, Iowa and Kansas. The issue, as voters see it, tends to crystallize into a question of Willkie or anti-Willkie.
Opinion is common that those Midwestern states which turned thumbs down on the third term four years ago will protest even more emphatically against a fourth term this year, with the expectation that they will be joined by many others. But Republican feeling is not so much that the party can win with any candidate as that it matters more than ever who the candidate is.
Increasing concern is felt over the prospect of further service drafts on the labor supply, emphasized by repeated warnings of State Selective Service directors to local draft boards. It is presumed that agriculture will be less affected than small industrial plants having war contracts, but there is an indication that it will feel some of the pinch by the time the harvest season arrives. Operating farmers are well enough protected, but it seems inevitable that hired labor will be harder than ever to get.
Notwithstanding the attention which has been given the soldier vote issue, there is little to indicate any deep popular feeling about the matter, one way or another. Some state absentee voter laws have already been liberalized and others will be, but there still remains considerable question about how many of the absent sons will ever receive their local ballots.
Chicago Tribune stirs up the voters against Willkie
By Louther S. Horne
Chicago, Illinois – (March 25)
Citizens of the Central states became increasingly aware this week that Col. Robert R. McCormick and his Chicago Tribune, pre-war non-interventionists and harsh critics of the Roosevelt administration, are factors to be reckoned with both in the selection of a Republican presidential nominee here in June and in the fall campaign to determine the next White House occupant.
This belief has long been prevalent throughout Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin, Tribune circulation territory. Here, large numbers of people either praise or denounce The Tribune’s editorial criticism of the war strategy, its tirades against the administration’s domestic and international policies, the Communists, “global planners” and bureaucrats.
Among this segment of public opinion, the Chicago publisher and his paper loomed larger than ever as political influences after Wendell Willkie, speaking in Wisconsin, “read” Col. McCormick out of the Republican Party, a step the colonel had taken against the party’s 1940 candidate some months ago.
Certain defeat and the re-election of President Roosevelt, Mr. Willkie predicted, face the Republicans if the “taint” of The Tribune’s editorial “preachments” of “narrow nationalism and economic Toryism” is imposed upon the party’s nominee and platform. The people, he said, do not want the leadership “of the Col. McCormick.”
This challenge to the colonel and The Tribune from “the barefoot boy from Wall Street,” as the paper terms Mr. Willkie met a quick retort. Asserting that “Willkie is not so stupid as to think he has a chance of getting the Republican nomination,” The Tribune asked, “What game is Willkie up to?”
Col. McCormick, who refused to have his name placed in the Illinois preferential primary by the Republican Nationalist Revival Committee, an isolationist group, favors Gen. MacArthur as the Republican nominee. If Governor Dewey is picked, The Tribune undoubtedly will support him in the election.
But if Willkie is the choice, what will The Tribune do? That is a question often asked.
American colleges preparing men and women to aid in post-war rehabilitation overseas
By Benjamin Fine
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Völkischer Beobachter (March 27, 1944)
Er soll Rachepläne vollstrecken –
Roosevelt als Lakai dar Juden
Drahtbericht unseres Lissaboner Berichterstatters
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U.S. Navy Department (March 27, 1944)
CINCPAC Press Release No. 327
For Immediate Release
March 27, 1944
Ponape Island was bombed on March 25 (West Longitude Date) by Mitchell bombers of the 5th Army Air Force accompanied by Corsair fighters of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. The attacking planes were intercepted by 15 Zeros. Four Zeros were shot down and one was probably shot down. Corsair fighters strafed the runways. Intense anti-aircraft fire was encountered. Ujelang Atoll was also strafed by these planes.
On the same day, Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, Mitchell bombers of the 7th Army Air Force, and Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing bombed four enemy‑held atolls in the Marshalls. Fires were started and heavy explosions observed.
All of our planes returned from all of these operations.
CINCPAC Press Release No. 328
For Immediate Release
March 27, 1944
Mitchell medium bombers of the 7th Army Air Force, accompanied by Corsair fighters of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, bombed Ponape on March 26 (West Longitude Date). Nine of 15 intercepting Zeros were shot down by our fighters, and three were probably shot down. The town of Ponape and military installations were bombed and strafed. Anti-aircraft fire was intense.
Coronado search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two strafed a small vessel near Ujelang, and bombed Kusaie Island and Pingelap Atoll.
On the same day, 7th Army Air Force Mitchell bombers, Fleet Air Wing Two Ventura search planes and 4th Marine Aircraft Wing Dauntless bombers and Corsair fighters raided three enemy positions in the Marshall Islands.
The Pittsburgh Press (March 27, 1944)
2,800-TON RAID RIPS KRUPP PLANT
Yank bombers blast bases of Nazi Air Force
RAF loses 9 planes in night assault
By Phil Ault, United Press staff writer
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Defeat at Cassino admitted
12-day Allied attack called ‘bloody failure’ by Army newspapers
By Reynolds Packard, United Press staff writer
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U.S. Ranger raid in Italy reported
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Japs gain in drive to sever Allied supply line in India
British Commandos hit enemy from rear
By Darrell Berrigan, United Press staff writer
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