America at war! (1941–) – Part 3

7921

Editorial: Nazi air strength

Unleashing of Germany’s “secret weapon,” the rocket bomb, against England – a device which has demonstrated only nuisance value – has stirred discussion of Germany’s air strength.

In all the thousands of words describing progress of the fighting on the Normandy front to the most minute detail, there has been little mention of German resistance by air. Undoubtedly, Allied commanders have a general idea of the size of Hitler’s once-boasted Luftwaffe. It has become plain that the German Air Force can offer nothing more than token resistance to the thousands of Allied planes now roaming almost at will over Europe.

When it was disclosed the Allied invasion forces were assembled on the English coast for six days before start of the Channel crossing, Hitler’s failure to send at least a few bombers against them points to only one conclusion. Here was the prize target of all time. Thousands of ships, side by side for miles, fully loaded with men and equipment, were sitting like ducks on a pond. Bombs dropped in their midst would certainly have taken terrible toll. Invasion might have been delayed for days.

But no planes came over, not a single bomber, in spite of the fact Berlin said it knew what was in the air. Even if the Germans had viewed it as just another bit of practice, it would have been worth shooting at.

Either Hitler had no planes to spare or he blundered again, missing an opportunity as he did following Dunkerque, when he hesitated to invade England. The conclusion must be that German air strength is on the wane, if it is not already at the vanishing point.

7922

Editorial: Japan as an air target

By The New York Times

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7923

Essary: Keep eye open for spies

Tale of a British uniform and a strange, Nazi accent
By Helen Essary, Central Press columnist

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7924

School attacked in Bilbo address

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7925

Cherbourg Naval Base is important

Besieged port is third ranking French harbor
By the Associated Press

Cherbourg, the transatlantic port for thousands of American visitors to Europe in peacetime, is the third naval harbor of France, a gun-bristling fortified city at the tip of the Normandy Peninsula jutting into the English Channel.

The triangular bay forming its harbors is protected on the north by a long and thick breakwater surmounted by strong forts, which guard the city of 36,000 peacetime inhabitants.

Through the long and steady Allied air offensive, the docks and quays and ships sheltered at Cherbourg repeatedly drew down firebombs and explosives.

The capital of an arrondissement in the department of La Manche, Cherbourg lies at the mouth of the Divette River 230 miles from Paris.

The city is said to be on the site of the Roman station of Coriallum, but nothing is definitely known about its origin. William the Conqueror founded a hospital and church there. Cherbourg was pillaged by an English fleet in 1295, and in the 14th century suffering during the wars with the English. It was captured in 1413, remaining in British hands until 1450.

Louis XIV began the task of making it a military port. Harbor works were begun under Louis XVI and continued by Napoleon Bonaparte with the French pouring vast sums into the construction.

The naval harbor, half a mile from the commercial harbor, consists of three main basins cut out of rock, and has a minimum depth of 30 feet. There are drydocks and other installations, and a naval hospital. The commercial harbor and transatlantic port is at the mouth of the Divette.

The chief industries are fishing, saw-milling, tanning, shipbuilding and metal work.

7926

The Pittsburgh Press (June 21, 1944)

Ernie Pyle V Norman

Roving Reporter

By Ernie Pyle

Somewhere in France –
The war is constantly producing funny things as well as tragic things, so I might as well tell you some of our lighter incidents.

For example, the first night we spent in France one of the colonels who slept with us under an apple tree was an Army observer from Washington. Usually we don’t care for observers from Washington, but this colonel was a very nice guy and a good field soldier too, and everybody liked him.

While we were eating our K-rations next morning he said he had slept fine for the first hour, before we had moved in under our jeep for protection from the flak. He said that before we moved he had found a nice little mound of earth to put his head on for a pillow. He said that all his life he had had to have a pillow of some kind. After moving under the jeep he couldn’t find anything to put his head on.

With that he walked over a few feet to show us the nice mound of earth. When he looked down he started laughing. His excellent pillow of the night before had turned out in the light of day to be a pile of horse manure.

Another story concerns a masterful piece of wartime understatement by one of our truck drivers, Pvt. Carl Vonhorn of rural Cooperstown, New York. He had pulled into an apple orchard adjoining ours the night before, parked his truck in the darkness, spread his blankets on the ground in front of the truck, and gone to sleep.

When he woke up at daylight Vonhorn looked about him sleepily. And there on the ground right beside him, within arm’s reach, was a dead German soldier. And when he looked on the other side, there, equally close, were two potato-mashers. Pvt. Vonhorn got up very quickly.

Later he was telling his officers about his startling experience, and he ended his description with this philosophical remark: “It was very distasteful.”

Everybody thought that was so funny it spread around the camp like fire, and now the phrase “It’s very distasteful” has become practically a byword.

After breakfast that first morning we had to round up about fifty dead Germans and Americans in the series of orchards where we were camping, and carry them to a central spot in a pasture and bury them.

I helped carry one corpse across a couple of fields. I did it partly because the group needed an extra man, and partly because I was forcing myself to get used to it, for you can’t hide from death when you’re in a war.

This German was just a kid, surely not over fifteen. His face had already turned black, but you could sense his youth through the death-distorted features.

The boys spread a blanket on the ground beside him. Then we lifted him over onto it. One soldier and I each took hold of a foot, and two others took his arms. One of the two soldiers in front was hesitant about touching the corpse. Whereupon the other soldier said to him:

Go on, take hold of him, dammit. You might as well get used to it now, for you’ll be carrying plenty of dead ones from now on. Hell, you may even be carrying me one of these days.

So, we carried him across two fields, each of us holding a corner of the blanket. Our burden got pretty heavy, and we rested a couple of times. The boys made wisecracks along the way to cover up their distaste for the job.

When we got to the field, we weren’t sure just where the lieutenant wanted the cemetery started. So we put our man down on the ground and went back for instructions. And as we walked away the funny guy of the group turned and shook a finger at the dead German and said: “Now don’t you run away while we’re gone.”

The Germans leave snipers behind when they retreat, so all American bivouac areas are heavily guarded by sentries at night. And the sentries really mean business.

The other night a pretty important general whom I know was working late, as all our staff officers do these days. About midnight he left his tent to go to another general’s tent and talk something over.

He had gone only about twenty feet when a sentry challenged him. And just at that moment the general, groping around in the dark, fell headlong into a deep slit trench.

It was funny, even to the general, but there was nothing humorous about it to the sentry. He suspected monkey business. He rushed up to the trench, pointed his gun at the general, and in a tone that was a mixture of terror and intent to kill, he yelled: “Git out of there and git recognized, you!”

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7927

Völkischer Beobachter (June 22, 1944)

Trotz großen Kräfteverbrauchs:
Noch keine Bewegungsfreiheit für Montgomery

Berlin, 21. Juni –
An der Invasionsfront setzten die Briten ihre am Sonntagnachmittag beiderseits Tilly begonnenen Angriffe fort, ohne Fortschritte machen zu können. Wie zuvor in den Ruinen von Tilly verblutete nun die britische Infanterie vor Hottot-Fouteney.

Im Nordteil der Cotentin Halbinsel schoben sich die Anglo-Amerikaner entlang der von Barneville und Saint-Sauveur und Montebourg nach Norden führenden Straße näher an die Außenwerke der Festung Cherbourg heran. Unsere Sicherungen lieferten den vordringenden feindlichen Kräften eine Reihe von schweren für den Feind verlustreichen Kämpfen.

Um die Bewegungen unserer Truppen zu stören, setzten die Nordamerikaner wieder starke Bomberverbände ein und vernichteten dabei weit über militärische Notwendigkeiten hinaus zahlreiche Ortschaften abseits der großen Straßen, die nur noch Trümmerhaufen sind.

Östlich der Orne engten unsere Stoßtruppen den kleinen britischen Frontvorsprung noch weiter ein. Die Säuberung der Wälder von Bavent war durch das unübersichtliche, von zahlreichen Widerstandsinseln durchsetzte Gelände erschwert.

Aber auch unsere Soldaten nützten jeden Baum und jede Heeke aus, um an die gut getarnten Pak- und MG-Nester des Feindes heranzukommen. Überraschende, nur durch Schneid zu bewältigende Lagen waren hiebei nicht selten. Als zum Beispiel die Briten mit Panzern einen Gegenstoß führten, wurde ein deutscher Kampfwagen in Brand geschossen. Die Besatzung stieg aus. Nur ein Unteroffizier blieb im Panzer. Er jagte unbeirrt die gesamte Munition hinaus und erzielte dabei noch zahlreiche Treffer auf feindliche Panzer und die in ihrem Schutz vorgehende Infanterie. Erst nach Verschliss der gesamten Munition verließ der Unteroffizier den jetzt in hellen Flammen stehenden Panzer. Sein Kampf trug wesentlich dazu bei, daß auch an dieser Stelle der feindliche Gegenstoß missglückte.

vb. Berlin, 21. Juni –
Seitdem die Nordamerikaner und Briten in der Normandie Fuß gefasst haben, ist die Abschnürung der Nordecke der Halbinsel Cotentin der einzige Erfolg, den sie gewonnen haben. Auch dieses Ereignis aber hat ihnen nicht das gegeben, was ihr eigentliches Ziel seit der Landung ist: Operativer Bewegungsfreiheit.

Während die Truppen der amerikanischen ersten Armee bei ihrem Versuch, nach Norden Raum zu gewinnen, sich den außerordentlichen starken Werken der Festung Cherbourg gegenübersehen, ist die Gesamtmasse der Heeresgruppe Montgomery nach wie vor in einen Raum gepresst, der für sie viel zu klein ist.

Alle Versuche, sich den notwendigen Raum zum Aufmarschieren, zum Manövrieren und zum Ausweichen zu schaffen, müssen in die Tiefe, müssen nach Süden oder Südwesten gehen. Hier stoßen alle Angriffe General Montgomerys, so erbittert sie auch geführt werden, immer auf so kräftige deutsche Gegenstöße, daß in dieser Richtung den Amerikanern und Briten bisher kein Erfolg beschieden war.

Immer noch erstreckt sich das gewonnene Gelände nicht allzu weit über die Reichweite der schweren Schiffsartillerie hinaus. Diese Lage muß General Eisenhower und General Montgomery umso nachdenklicher stimmen, als sie schon seit vierzehn Tagen immer wieder frische Verbände in den Kampf geworfen haben, ohne daß diese nach Süden über eine im Einzelnen zwar flüssige, im ganzen aber festliegende Linie hinaus hätten Vordringen können.

Der Zwang, neben abgekämpften Verbänden neue in die Front hineinzuschieben oder die verbrauchten durch frische eilig zu ersetzen, erhält seine Bedeutung auch dadurch, daß naturgemäß nicht alle Divisionen Montgomerys Eliteverbände sind. Alle sind ausgezeichnet ausgerüstet, aber es gibt doch beträchtliche Unterschiede in der Ausbildung, der Führung und Gefechtserfahrung.

Neben den Teilnehmern des afrikanischen und italienischen Krieges stehen viele andere, die jetzt zum erstenmal in den Kampf gehen und die diesen Mangel in der Ausbildung noch nicht völlig haben ausgleichen können. Das bedeutet aber, in den kriegerischen Alltag übersetzt, daß diese Truppen besonders hohe, zum Teil ganz außerordentlich hohe Verluste erleiden. Der deutsche Soldat, der sich mit Recht schon den Eliteverbänden Montgomerys gegenüber überlegen fühlt, ist es gegenüber diesen anderen Divisionen erst recht. Darum auch bleiben alle Vorstöße des Gegners immer wieder in taktischen Einzelgefechten hängen und darum hat General Montgomery in dem entscheidenden Problem noch keine überzeugende operative Linie zu finden gewusst.

Es fragt sich, wie lange der Oberbefehlshaber der Invasionstruppen noch dieses Unternehmen weiterführen will, immer wieder neue Vorstöße zu befehlen und doch den genügenden Raum nicht zu gewinnen, aus dem er eigentlich erst antreten könnte zur Entscheidung suchenden Offensive. Man könnte sich vorstellen, daß er noch einmal die Kräfte des Brückenkopfes zu Gewaltvorstößen zusammenzuraffen versucht, man kann sich aber auch denken, daß er an der Möglichkeit verzweifelt, für seine Hauptstreitkräfte ein genügendes Aufmarschfeld in der Normandie zu finden, und daß er an einem anderen Teil der französischen Küste einen neuen Kampfplatz zu finden hofft.

Wir kennen die Gedanken des gegnerischen Oberbefehlshabers nicht, aber auf jeden Fall wird deutlich, daß er unter dem unveränderten Zwang steht, sich das Gebiet erst zu schaffen, in dem er seine Streitkräfte wirklich entfalten kann. Dies bedeutet aber auch die unveränderte Gültigkeit des Satzes, daß die Hauptkämpfe in der Invasionsschlacht erst bevorstehen.

7928

Telegrammwechsel zwischen dem Führer und dem Ministerpräsidenten Tojo

dnb. Berlin, 21. Juni –
Der japanische Ministerpräsident Tojo hat dem Führer in einem Telegramm aus Anlass der ersten erfolgreichen Schläge gegen die anglo-amerikanische Invasion in Europa erneut Japans Entschlossenheit zum Ausdruck gebracht, seinerseits alles daranzusetzen, um die gemeinsamen Feinde vernichtend zu schlagen und den Endsieg zu erringen.

Der Führer dankte dem japanischen Ministerpräsidenten Tojo in einem Telegramm, in dem er seiner Überzeugung von dem endgültigen Sieg und seine Genugtuung darüber ausdrückte, daß Japan im gleichen Geist entschlossen ist, die Feinde Deutschlands und Japans bis zur Vernichtung zu bekämpfen.

Ebenso fand zwischen Reichsaußenminister von Ribbentrop und dem japanischen Außenminister Schigemitsu ein in herzlichen Worten gehaltener Telegrammwechsel statt, in dem der unbeugsame Wille zum Ausdruck kam, den anglo-amerikanischen Angriff siegreich zurückzuschlagen.

7929

Ein 45.000-Tonnen-Schlachtschiff!

Einzelheiten zu den Erfolgen der Japaner bei den Marianeninseln

Tokio, 21. Juni –
Zu der vom japanischen Hauptquartier am Dienstag gemeldeten Versenkung eines amerikanischen Schlachtschiffes bei den Marianeninseln werden folgende Einzelheiten bekannt:

Es handelt sich um ein 45.000 Tonnen großes modernes Schlachtschiff, das zur Iowa-Klasse gehörte. Die Versenkung erfolgte bei der Insel Guam.

Bei einem der schwerbeschädigten Schlachtschiffe handelt es sich um eines vom Typ Nordcarolina, dass 35.000 Tonnen groß ist. Dieses Kriegsschiff erhielt schwerste Treffer in den Gewässern der Marianen. Zwei der vier Flugzeugträger, die entweder schwer beschädigt oder in Brand geworfen wurden oder schwere Schlagseite aufweisen, gehören zu der 24.000 Tonnen großen Essex-Klasse; bei einem dritten handelt es sich um einen umgebauten 10.000-Tonnen-Kreuzer der Independence-Klasse. Von den beiden versenkten Kreuzern gehört einer zu einer großen Type, während sich unter den vier beschädigten drei schweren Kreuzern befinden.

Wie der Bericht besonders unterstreicht, handelt es steh bei diesen Angaben um sorgfältig überprüfte und bestätigte Einzelheiten.

Der ‚günstige Augenblick‘

Bern, 21. Juni –
Die Neue Zürcher Zeitung kann nicht umhin, festzustellen, daß das nationalsozialistische Deutschland die Welt wieder einmal mit einer kaum für möglich gehaltenen Überraschung in Erstaunen versetzt habe. Das Blatt schreibt wörtlich:

Hitler befolgte auch in diesem Fall seinen altbewährten Grundsatz, bis zum günstigsten Augenblick sein Vorhaben zu verbergen, aber es dann unter Aufbietung aller Kräfte rücksichtslos durchzuführen. Die neue Waffe war zweifellos schon seit längerer Zeit fertig und ihre Verwendung im letzten Winter hätte die Moral der leidenden Bevölkerung selbstverständlich in wünschenswerter Weise gehoben und die Aufgabe der Regierung erleichtert. Die Versuchung schon damals zu beginnen, war sehr groß. Aber der deutsche Führer besaß Nervenkraft genug, um den Tag abzuwarten, den er für den geeignetsten hielt.

7930

Nervöse Abwehrexperimente

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7931

23 US-Bomber in Schweden notgelandet

…und drei ins Meer gestürzt

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7932

Der Kampf um Saipan

Der Angriff auf Saipan begann am 11. Juni, als von Flugzeugträgern aufgestiegene Maschinen ein heftiges Bombardement der Insel vornahmen. Nachdem dieser Angriff vier Tage lang durchgeführt worden war, begann der Feind am 15. Juni mit Infanterie und Tanks zu landen. Trotz größter Verluste setzte der Feind dieses Unternehmen auch dann fort, als die beiden ersten Wellen seiner Landungseinheiten zurückgeschlagen worden waren. Unter Einsatz stärkster Menschen- und Materialkräfte gelang es dem Feind, auf einem Abschnitt der Insel Fuß zu fassen und weitere Verstärkungen zu landen. In erbitterten Gegenangriffen der japanischen Bodenbesatzung erleidet er dort weiterhin heftigste Verluste.

Wie entscheidend der Besitz von Saipan für den Feind wäre, geht daraus hervor, daß der Besitz eines Stützpunktes auf dieser Insel die Hauptstadt Tokio in einem Flugzeugradius von 2.200 Kilometer bringen würde, das heißt, daß moderne Bomber, die kürzlich auch gegen Nord-Kiuschiu eingesetzt wurden, die Strecke in 5½ Stunden zurücklegen könnten. Um dem Feind die Möglichkeit zu nehmen, seine Offensive bis in die Küstengewässer des japanischen Mutterlandes vorzutragen, kämpfen jetzt die tapferen japanischen Flieger und Bodenbesatzungen mit zäher Verbissenheit gegen die materielle Übermacht des Gegners, ehe dort die Verteidigung zu entscheidendem Gegenschlag ausholt.

7933

Innsbrucker Nachrichten (June 22, 1944)

London seit 160 Stunden unter Störungsfeuer

Feindliche Angriffe östlich der Orne zerschlagen – Feindangriffe in Italien gescheitert – 129 Flugzeuge abgeschossen

Aus dem Führer-Hauptquartier, 22. Juni –
Das Oberkommando der Wehrmacht gibt bekannt:

In der Normandie wurden verschiedene Angriffe des Feindes gegen unseren Einschließungsring östlich der Orne zerschlagen. Gegen die Landfront der Festung Cherbourg fühlte der Feind mit stärkeren Aufklärungskräften vor, die abgewiesen wurden. Bei den Kämpfen auf der Halbinsel Cherbourg hat sich der Kommandeur der 243. Infanteriedivision, Generalleutnant Hellmich, mit seiner Division besonders ausgezeichnet. Er fand am 17. Juni bei diesen Kämpfen den Heldentod.

Der Groß raum London liegt nunmehr seit 160 Stunden mit nur geringen Unterbrechungen unter unserem Störungsfeuer.

Die Luftwaffe griff mit Kampf- und Schlachtflugzeugen in die Erdkämpfe ein und erzielte in der vergangenen Nacht mit schweren Kampfflugzeugen Bombentreffer auf Schiffen vor dem Landekopf.

Infolge der hohen Verluste, die der Gegner gestern in Mittelitalien erlitten hatte und die ihn zu größeren Umgruppierungen zwangen, trat der Feind erst am Nachmittag mit Schwerpunkt beiderseits des Trasimenischen Sees mit starken Kräften zum Angriff an. Unsere Truppen zerschlugen erneut alle Angriffswellen und behaupteten ihre Stellungen. 23 feindliche Panzer wurden abgeschossen.

Im Seegebiet von Piombino schoss Marineflakartillerie acht feindliche Jagdbomber ab.

Im Osten scheiterten bei reger beiderseitiger Artillerietätigkeit örtliche Angriffe der Sowjets nordwestlich Tarnopol, im Raum beiderseits Kowel und südöstlich Witebsk.

Ein starker Verband schwerer deutscher Kampfflugzeuge führte in der vergangenen Nacht einen zusammengefassten Angriff gegen den bolschewistischen Flugplatz Poltawa. 30 feindliche Flugzeuge wurden am Boden zerstört. Es entstanden größere Flächenbrände in Flugplatzanlagen und Betriebsstofflagern.

Sicherungsfahrzeuge der Kriegsmarine die bei der Abwehr eines feindlichen Landungsunternehmens gegen die finnische Insel Piisaari eingesetzt waren, schossen sämtliche Landungsfahrzeuge des Feindes und einen Bewacher in Brand. Andere Sicherungsfahrzeuge nahmen in der Narwa-Bucht wiederholt feindliche Minenräumverbände unter Feuer und zwangen sie zum Abdrehen.

Starke nordamerikanische Bomberverbände richteten gestern einen Terrorangriff gegen die Reichshauptstadt. In Wohnvierteln vor allem entstanden Gebäudeschäden und Personenverluste. Durch Luftverteidigungskräfte wurden 67 feindliche Flugzeuge, darunter 52 viermotorige Bomber, zum Absturz gebracht.

Ein britischer Bomberverband griff in der letzten Nacht Orte im rheinisch-westfälischen Gebiet an. Nachtjäger und Flakartillerie der Luftwaffe schossen 62 viermotorige Bomber ab und vernichteten damit über ein Drittel des eingeflogenen Verbandes. Einzelne britische Flugzeuge warfen außerdem Bomben auf das Stadtgebiet von Berlin. Bei der Abwehr der feindlichen Terrorbomber zeichnete sich in den letzten Tagen eine im Raum von Hamburg eingesetzte Flakdivision besonders aus.

7934

US-Flugzeugträger schwer beschädigt

Neuer japanischer Erfolg vor den Marianen

Tokio, 22. Juni (DNB) –
Die kaiserlichen Luftstreitkräfte haben ihre Angriffe gegen die feindliche Flotte in den Gewässern der Marianen-Inseln fortgesetzt. Nach soeben eingetroffenen Berichten wurde am Dienstag ein weiterer feindlicher Flugzeugträger schwer beschädigt und in Brand geworfen. Damit erhöht sich die Zahl der in den Gewässern der Marianen-Inseln beschädigten amerikanischen Flugzeugträger auf vier.

7935

Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (June 22, 1944)

Communiqué No. 33

The Allied drive on CHERBOURG has continued to make good progress with advances of two to three miles along the entire front.

On the right, Allied forces have reached the river SAIRE near the village of LE THEIL. On the left, they penetrated to within three miles of the sea in the vicinity of SAINTE-CROIX-HAGUE.

In the center, substantial gains have been made along the main road from VALOGNES to CHERBOURG.

In the TILLY sector, enemy artillery and mortar fire was unusually heavy.

Patrol activity continued in other areas.

Fighter-bombers operated successfully against the rail system leading west from PARIS, scoring hits on bridges at CHARTRES, COLTAINVILLE, CONCHES and CHERISY.

Slight enemy opposition was encountered in attacks on rail targets in the AUNAY and ÉVREUX areas. At least five enemy aircraft were destroyed without loss.

Flying-bomb bases across the Channel were attacked by forces of heavy and medium bombers. Fighter escorts later strafed railway yards and canal bridges at RIBÉCOURT, MONTDIDIER and CHAUNY. The bombing and strafing missions were without loss.

Six oil storage tanks at NIORT were in flames after a low-level attack.

Communiqué No. 34

The encirclement of the fortress of CHERBOURG is now almost complete.

We have crossed the road leading east from the port to SAINT-PIERRE-ÉGLISE and have liberated the town.

There is nothing to report from other sectors of the front.

In better weather hundreds of Allied fighter aircraft, many of them armed with rocket projectiles and bombs, swarmed over northwestern FRANCE from dawn to midday to harass enemy reinforcements moving westward from the PARIS area.

Strong points in CHERBOURG were included in bombing and strafing missions in close support of ground forces.

Heavy day bombers continued the assault on flying-bomb installations across the Channel. After escorting the bombers, fighters attacked locomotives, loaded freight and oil cars, barges and motor transport.

Except for heavy anti-aircraft fire in many areas, our aircraft encountered little opposition.

7936

U.S. Navy Department (June 22, 1944)

CINCPAC Communiqué No. 59

During the attack by enemy carrier‑type aircraft on our ships on June 18 (West Longitude Date), 353 enemy aircraft were shot down of which 335 were destroyed by our carrier aircraft and 18 by our own anti-aircraft fire. This is a revision of the estimate contained in Communiqué No. 56.

Two of our carriers and one of our battleships received superficial dam­age. We lost 21 aircraft in combat.

The following information is now available concerning the attack of our carrier aircraft upon units of the Japanese fleet in the late afternoon of June 19 (West Longitude Date).

The enemy forces attacked consisted of: Four or more battleships, five or six carriers, five fleet tankers, and attached cruisers and destroyers.

On the basis of information presently available, our planes inflicted the following damage:

  • One carrier, believed to be the ZUIKAKU, received three 1,000‑pound bomb hits.
  • One HAYATAKA-class carrier was sunk.
  • One HAYATAKA-class carrier was severely damaged and left burning furiously.
  • One light carrier of the ZUIHŌ or TAIHŌ class received at least one bomb hit.
  • One KONGŌ-class battleship was damaged.
  • One cruiser was damaged.
  • Three destroyers were damaged, one of which is believed to have sunk.
  • Three tankers were sunk.
  • Two tankers were severely damaged and left burning.
  • Fifteen to 20 defending aircraft were shot down.

Our losses were 49 aircraft, including many which landed in the water at night and from which an as yet undetermined number of pilots and aircrewmen have been rescued. Search for others is continuing.

The engagement was broken off by the Japanese fleet which fled during the night toward the channel between Formosa and Luzon.

The Pacific Fleet units in these two actions were commanded by Adm. R. A. Spruance. The carrier task force was under the immediate tactical command of VAdm. M. A. Mitscher.

CINCPAC Communiqué No. 60

Our troops on Saipan Island have made further advances of more than a mile along the shoreline of Magicienne Bay to the town of Laulau and have advanced about a mile up Mount Tapochau. The pocket of enemy resistance at Nafutan Point has been reduced by one half, and our forces have gained the heights of Mount Nafutan on the east coast. Heavy pressure is being maintained night and day against enemy troop concentrations and defense works by our aircraft, Army and Marine artillery, and naval gunfire.

At night on June 20 (West Longitude Date), several enemy aircraft dropped bombs near our transports and along shore but did no damage. Sporadic fire has been directed against our ships by shore batteries but the enemy emplacements have been quickly knocked out.

Statement by Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal

For Immediate Release
June 22, 1944

Under the circumstances our Fleet did a magnificent job, but the Navy is not going to be satisfied until the Japanese Fleet is wiped out.

The Japanese were extremely cautious and never came very far to the eastward so that the bulk of our forces could engage them. As a result, we were able to send home but one air attack at very long range from our carriers just before dark.

Some of the Japanese vessels which were damaged may be able to make port and eventually return to the fight. This is especially true of the war­ships, only one of which is reported as definitely sunk.

7937

White House Statement on Signing the G.I. Bill
June 22, 1944

This bill, which I have signed today, substantially carries out most of the recommendations made by me in a speech on July 28, 1943, and more specifically in messages to the Congress dated October 27, 1943, and November 23, 1943:

  • It gives servicemen and women the opportunity of resuming their education or technical training after discharge, or of taking a refresher or retrainer course, not only without tuition charge up to $500 per school year, but with the right to receive a monthly living allowance while pursuing their studies.

  • It makes provision for the guarantee by the federal government of not to exceed 50 percent of certain loans made to veterans for the purchase or construction of homes, farms, and business properties.

  • It provides for reasonable unemployment allowances payable each week up to a maximum period of one year, to those veterans who are unable to find a job.

  • It establishes improved machinery for effective job counseling for veterans and for finding jobs for returning soldiers and sailors.

  • It authorizes the construction of all necessary additional hospital facilities.

  • It strengthens the authority of the Veterans Administration to enable it to discharge its existing and added responsibilities with promptness and efficiency.

With the signing of this bill, a well-rounded program of special veterans’ benefits is nearly completed. It gives emphatic notice to the men and women in our Armed Forces that the American people do not intend to let them down.

By prior legislation, the federal government has already provided for the Armed Forces of this war: adequate dependency allowances; mustering-out pay; generous hospitalization, medical care, and vocational rehabilitation and training; liberal pensions in case of death or disability in military service; substantial war risk life insurance, and guaranty of premiums on commercial policies during service; protection of civil rights and suspension of enforcement of certain civil liabilities during service; emergency maternal care for wives of enlisted men; and reemployment rights for returning veterans.

This bill therefore and the former legislation provide the special benefits which are due to the members of our Armed Forces – for they “have been compelled to make greater economic sacrifice and every other kind of sacrifice than the rest of us, and are entitled to definite action to help take care of their special problems.” While further study and experience may suggest some changes and improvements, the Congress is to be congratulated on the prompt action it has taken.

There still remains one recommendation which I made on November 23, 1943, which I trust that the Congress will soon adopt – the extension of social security credits under the Federal Old-Age and Survivors’ Insurance Law to all servicemen and women for the period of their service.

I trust that the Congress will also soon provide similar opportunities for post-war education and unemployment insurance to the members of the Merchant Marine, who have risked their lives time and again during this war for the welfare of their country.

But apart from these special benefits which fulfill the special needs of veterans, there is still much to be done.

As I stated in my message to the Congress of November 23, 1943:

What our servicemen and women want, more than anything else, is the assurance of satisfactory employment upon their return to civil life. The first task after the war is to provide employment for them and for our demobilized workers… The goal after the war should be the maximum utilization of our human and material resources.

As a related problem the Congress has had under consideration the serious problem of economic reconversion and readjustment after the war, so that private industry will be able to provide jobs for the largest possible number. This time we have wisely begun to make plans in advance of the day of peace, in full confidence that our war workers will remain at their essential war jobs as long as necessary until the fighting is over.

The executive branch of the government has taken, and is taking, whatever steps it can, until legislation is enacted. I am glad to learn that the Congress has agreed on a bill to facilitate the prompt settlement of terminated contracts. I hope that the Congress will also take prompt action, when it reconvenes, on necessary legislation which is now pending to facilitate the development of unified programs for the demobilization of civilian war workers, for their reemployment in peacetime pursuits, and for provision, in cooperation with the states, of appropriate unemployment benefits during the transition from war to peace. I hope also that the Congress, upon its return, will take prompt action on the pending legislation to facilitate the orderly disposition of surplus property.

A sound post-war economy is a major present responsibility.

7938

The Free Lance-Star (June 22, 1944)

JAP FLEET ESCAPES IN DARKNESS
Four ships sunk, 10 damaged in battle near Philippines

20 planes also downed in brief engagement – U.S. loses 49 planes but no ships; enemy aircraft carrier among vessels sent down
By Charles H. McMurtry

USPACFLT HQ, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (AP) –
Carrier planes of the U.S. Fifth Fleet inflicted smashing defeat on a formidable Japanese naval force trapped Monday off the Philippines, sinking four ships and damaging at least ten before the enemy escaped under cover of night.

The victory, the third great blow since Pearl Harbor against the Japanese Navy, stemmed from Sunday’s great air battle off Saipan Island, in which U.S. carrier planes and warship guns shot down 353 enemy aircraft.

Because of this stunning aerial loss, the Japanese fleet, caught between the Marianas and the Philippines, could send up only a handful of interceptors from its five or six carriers. Of these 15 to 20 were shot down. The American loss was 49 planes.

The enemy lose an aircraft carrier and three tankers sunk, possibly a destroyer sunk, and nine or ten ships (including a battleship and cruiser) seriously damaged. Adm. Raymond A. Spruance’s Fifth Fleet suffered no surface vessel losses.

The Japanese fleet, which for nearly a week dodged contact with the U.S. force protecting the Saipan invasion, turned and fled with all speed toward the China Sea. Nightfall saved it from further battering and there was no indication from Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, who announced the victory today, that the battle had been resumed.

In the Sunday air battle preceding the bigger struggle, U.S. plane losses were 21 against Japan’s 353. The Sunday attack represented an arms-length enemy attempt to break up the U.S. invasion of Saipan, principal island of the Marianas and only 1,500 miles from Tokyo and the Philippines.

Japs flee at nightfall

The Monday action ended at nightfall with the Japanese fleeing and there was no indication that the battle had been resumed.

Adm. Nimitz also announced that 353 enemy planes were shot down in the Japanese futile attempt Sunday on Adm. Mitscher’s force. This added 53 enemy craft to the previous estimate of 300 destroyed.

Two U.S. carriers and one battleship suffered “superficial damage” and 21 aircraft were lost in combat. A Fleet spokesman said superficial damage means the ship’s capacity for battle was not impaired, indicating these three probably participated in Monday’s action.

The attack of the Fifth Fleet under command of Adm. Raymond A. Spruance was such a complete surprise that the Japanese apparently made no counterattack against any of our surface units.

Adm. Nimitz, who stayed at his headquarters past midnight receiving battle reports and still appeared bright eyed despite his 60 years, said the Japanese force consisted of four or more battleships, five or six carriers, five fleet tankers and an unspecified number of cruisers and destroyers.

Damage tabulated

He listed these casualties inflicted on the enemy:

  • One carrier, believed to be the ZUIKAKU, received three 1,000‑pound bomb hits.
  • One HAYATAKA-class carrier was sunk.
  • One HAYATAKA-class carrier was severely damaged and left burning furiously.
  • One light carrier of the ZUIHŌ or TAIHŌ class received at least one bomb hit.
  • One KONGŌ-class battleship was damaged.
  • One cruiser was damaged.
  • Three destroyers were damaged, one of which is believed to have sunk.
  • Three tankers were sunk.
  • Two tankers were severely damaged and left burning.
  • Fifteen to 20 defending aircraft were shot down.

Greatest since Midway

This destruction or damaging of 14 ships was the third greatest single blow dealt the Japanese fleet of the war.

The greatest was the Battle of Midway in June 1942, when another carrier force under Adm. Spruance sank four enemy carriers and near a score of other ships.

The second biggest defeat was Nov. 13-15, 1942, in the battle off Guadalcanal when the enemy lost more than 30 ships sunk and damaged.

The battle summary for Sunday’s and Monday’s action shows conclusively why Adm. Nimitz in a Monday press conference stated he hoped the enemy would close with the U.S. Fleet for a decisive naval action.

On Sunday, Japanese planes attacked Adm. Spruance’s Fifth Fleet. They achieved no surprise. They lost 353 planes – 335 to our fighters and 18 to our ship’s anti-aircraft. They inflicted superficial damage on only three of our ships.

Pursued by carriers

Adm. Mitscher’s carrier force pursued the Japanese. On Monday afternoon, it located the Japanese and attacked. There was time for just one assault before nightfall. But in just those two or three hours of daylight, his bombers and torpedo planes sank or damaged 14 enemy ships.

They destroyed 15 to 20 Japanese planes which rose in weak defense of the enemy’s great force. Adm. Mitscher’s force achieved such surprise that the enemy was unable to counterattack. Adm. Mitscher had one advantage Monday. He caught the Japanese with their planes down – down in the ocean.

This enemy fleet which Adm. Mitscher riddled Monday now has been fairly well established as the one which attacked our force Sunday. The loss of 353 planes from its five or six carriers virtually wiped out its planes so that it had to rely largely on anti-aircraft for defense – a defense which proved pretty futile.

Few planes lost

The fact that only 20 Japanese planes were downed Monday further indicates the enemy had very few aircraft to offer resistance.

Our loss of 49 aircraft does not necessarily mean anywhere near that total was lost to enemy action.

Because the battle was closed so late in the day and at nearly extreme range in order to catch the Jap fleet, all of our planes were unable to return to their carriers. Many of these 49 landed in the water and the crews took to rubber life rafts.

Some of these have already been picked up and others were undoubtedly rescued after dawn Tuesday although reports are incomplete.

The Hyataka carrier sunk in the Philippine Sea was at least the eighth Japanese flattop sent to the bottom. In addition to four at Midway, the Japanese lost two in the Battle of the Coral Sea and one to a submarine.

7939

CONCERTED ATTACK MADE ON CHERBOURG
Port city rocked by violent land and air blows

Hard fighting goes on in city streets

SHAEF, England (AP) –
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s forces unlimbered this afternoon their greatest assault since the storming of the beaches of Normandy – a combined land and air attack intended to crack the last defenses of the fortified city of Cherbourg.

The attack began when waves of British and U.S. planes swept in with a terrific aerial barrage lasting 80 minutes, a field dispatch from Associated Press war correspondent Don Whitehead reported.

Rocked back on their heels by the weight of this assault in which light and medium bombers dropped down almost to cannon-mouth level to drop their explosive charges, the Germans were immediately beset by a thunderous artillery pounding which left smoke and flame sweeping the German forts.

U.S. doughboys of Lt. Gen. Omar N. Bradley, drawn up in position tensely waiting the effect of these blows, then swept forward. They were last reported hammering at Fort du Roule, only about 1,500 yards south of the military port, and at Fort Octeville, only slightly farther away to the southwest.

The latest headquarters announcements showed that the concentric attack had virtually split the German garrison into three segments.

Take road junction

Bradley’s troops captured Saint-Pierre-Église, eight and a half miles east of the port and the last road junction leading to Cherbourg from Cap Barfleur, isolating the Germans in the northeastern tip of the peninsula. Other troops coming up from the south had entered Quettehou, a large town near Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue on the east coast and 13 miles southeast of Cherbourg.

On the west, another spearhead had practically split the Germans in Cherbourg from those in the northwestern tip of the peninsula by advancing to within half a mile of Beaumont-Hague on the road to Cap de la Hague. Beaumont-Hague is eight and a half miles west of Cherbourg.

Supreme Headquarters said it lacked any knowledge of a reported American ultimatum by field radio to the Cherbourg garrison demanding surrender by 7:00 a.m. GMT today (3:00 a.m. EWT). The London Daily Sketch said last night it had recorded such a broadcast.

It was assumed that if the ultimatum was made, it was rejected and that Lt. Gen. Omar N. Bradley had ordered a final attack. Supreme Headquarters said it was possible the field commander might have made the demand on his own authority.

Find rocket bases

Allied experts flew into the Cherbourg Peninsula to investigate the flying bomb bases captured intact by U.S. troops, but the Supreme Command said there were no indications the Germans had been using them against England. It appeared, a spokesman said, that the American drive over the peninsula left the enemy insufficient time to get the launching sites ready for operation.

Except for the swift encircling drive on Cherbourg, there was little activity on the beachhead. The communiqué reported only patrol activity elsewhere, although enemy artillery and mortar fire in the British-Canadian sector at Tilly was said to be unusually heavy.

The Vichy radio this morning said warships offshore were supporting the Americans, but Supreme Headquarters said it had no knowledge of such a bombardment.

Destroying port

The Germans were still rushing to destroy everything in the port and city which could be of use to the Allies.

Reports here said that Cherbourg’s airfield appeared to be within the Allied grasp, if not already taken. This would be the first sizeable field captured in the beachhead drive and, when repaired, would permit the use of medium bombers.

Bad weather yesterday hampered air operations and also delayed unloading of war materials. A strong wind from the northeast whipped up a heavy surf on the beaches.

A dispatch last night from Associated Press war correspondent Don Whitehead quoted French civilians struggling through the lines as saying the Germans in Cherbourg had prepared for a street-by-street defense by knocking holes in the corner of buildings and setting up machine guns and anti-tank guns to cover the approaches.

7940

Bombers support Cherbourg drive

Daylight raids follow night of heavy attacks

SHAEF, England (AP) –
Fleets of light and medium bombers carried out a crushing offensive in support of U.S. troops hammering Cherbourg today, while big forces of U.S. heavy bombers plowing through flak barrages attacked Pas-de-Calais rocket-bomb installations.

Marauders, Havocs and Thunderbolts swooped down to within 100 feet of German cannon to drive home the closest support yet given Lt. Gen. Omar N. Bradley’s doughboys.

Fortresses and Liberators gave the rocket launching grounds their fourth pounding in less than 24 hours.

The daylight blow followed a night of far-flung aerial attacks extending from France to Germany’s industrial Ruhr and Berlin – dwarfing the Germans’ cross-Channel barrage of rocket bombs, which they asserted today are now coming over with incendiary loads.

The Germans also said, without Allied confirmation, that U.S. planes which bombed Berlin yesterday and flew on to Russia used an air base at Poltava in the Ukraine, 1,500 miles from London. The Allies announced that some fighter planes escorting the Berlin bombers also flew to Russia.

Berlin hit again

Last night, Berlin was attacked by speedy Mosquitos while British Lancasters hit Ruhr and Rhineland objectives.

Keeping the assault going on the Germans’ still-active rocket-bomb launching bases in the Pas-de-Calais area of France, RAF Lancasters and Halifaxes followed U.S. Liberators and medium bombers over that region yesterday evening and delivered as a “devastating” blow at the German installations there.

Forty-six bombers were missing from the widespread British operations, which included minelaying in enemy waters.

The German radio warned today that Allied planes were over Syria – perhaps indicating that U.S. bombers from Italy were out.

The daylight raid against Berlin by a fleet of more than 1,000 U.S. Flying Fortresses and Liberators and 1,200 escorting fighters was the greatest of the war against the Reich capital. It was disclosed that some of the fighters as well as some of the heavy bombers made the shuttle flight between Britain and the Soviet Union.

While German flying bombs continued droning through English skies overnight, the mounting weight of bombs dropped on the Pas-de-Calais area indicated the Allies were making progress in their campaign against the launching mechanisms for these projectiles.