Antwort an die Anglo-Amerikaner –
Reichstreues Protektorat
…
Bis in den Tod getreu –
Saipan – Zeugnis japanischen Heldentums
Lissabon, 23. Juli –
Der Außenpolitiker des Diario da Manha schreibt: „Saipan wird für immer ein einzigartiges Zeugnis der großartigen Tapferkeit des japanischen Soldaten bleiben, der es versteht, bis zu seinem eigenen Tode und bis zum Ende des Widerstandes zu kämpfen. Im Buch der japanischen Geschichte wird Saipan eine weitere Seite des urwüchsigen Heldentums und ein Titel unvergleichlichen Stolzes sein.“
Zum japanischen Kabinettswechsel schreibt die Zeitung weiter: „Man kann überzeugt sein, daß das Ziel sein wird, den Krieg mit verdoppelter Energie fortzuführen.“ Die erlittenen Schläge haben den Kampfeswillen und den Entschluss zur Erringung des Endsieges im japanischen Volk nicht beeinflussen können. Der Regierungswechsel bedeutet daher ein Zugeständnis an die öffentliche Meinung, welche dringend nach einer energischeren und strafferen Kriegführung verlangte.
Gegenangriffe auf Guam
*Tokio, 23. Juli –
Die japanischen Besatzungstruppen von Omiyayima (Guam) unternahmen am 21. Juli einen Nachtangriff auf die feindlichen Truppen, die in der Schowabucht gelandet waren. Die feindlichen Verluste beliefen sich auf mehr als 500 Mann. Auch am 22. Juli in der Abenddämmerung und unter dem Schutz japanischer Artillerie griffen japanische Einheiten die feindlichen Truppen in wütenden Gefechten an. Nach den eingelaufenen Feldberichten erlitt der Feind bei diesem Gefecht allein Verluste von mehr als 1.200 Mann. Unsere Besatzungstruppen greifen weiterhin pausenlos an.
Gespräch mit Koiso –
Unveränderte Kriegspolitik
In dem ersten Presseinterview nach seiner Ernennung zum Premierminister erklärte General Koiso, daß die grundlegende japanische Kriegspolitik unter dem neuen Kabinett keinerlei Änderungen erfahren würde. Unter Bezugnahme auf die Außenpolitik erklärte der Premierminister, daß Japan die bestehenden Bande mit Deutschland weiterhin stärken werde zur Erreichung der gemeinsamen Kriegsziele.
Auf eine Anfrage über die japanische Politik im Innern des Landes stellte Koiso fest, daß zwei Maßnahmen der Regierungspolitik als Grundnote dienen würden:
- die Stärkung des Kampfgeistes und
- die Erhöhung der industriellen Produktion.
Koiso unterstrich, daß in Zeiten nationaler Krisen eine starke und treue Einigkeit das traditionelle Verdienst des japanischen Volkes sei und erklärte, daß, wo immer eine starke Einigkeit bestehe, auch ein starker Kampfgeist erwachse.
Innsbrucker Nachrichten (July 24, 1944)
Tag und Nacht Vergeltungsfeuer auf London
Keine größeren Kampfhandlungen in der Normandie – Erbitterte Kämpfe in Italien – Feindangriffe blutig abgeschlagen
dnb. Aus dem Führerhauptquartier, 24. Juli –
Das Oberkommando der Wehrmacht gibt bekannt:
In der Normandie kam es gestern zu keinen größeren Kampfhandlungen. Der Feind führte nur südwestlich Caen mehrere Angriffe, bei denen er neunzehn Panzer verlor, ohne Erfolge zu erringen. Am Westflügel des Landekopfes wurde ein örtlicher Einbruch im Gegenstoß beseitigt. Der Feind verlor dabei 450 Tote und 300 Gefangene.
Im französischen Raum wurden durch Fallschirm abgesetzte englische Sabotagetrupps und 219 Terroristen im Kampf niedergemacht.
Das Vergeltungsfeuer auf London wurde bei Tag und Nacht fortgesetzt.
In Italien führte der Feind gestern stärkere Angriffe gegen unsere Nachhuten nördlich Livorno, die im Verlaufe der Kämpfe auf das Nordufer des Arno zurückgenommen wurden. Besonders erbittert wurde im Raum nördlich Poggibonsi gekämpft, wo unsere Truppen alle feindlichen Angriffe blutig zerschlugen. Auch im adriatischen Küstenabschnitt blieben wiederholte Angriffe des Gegners erfolglos.
In Galizien und westlich des oberen Bug wurden zahlreiche von Panzern und Schlachtfliegern unterstützte Angriffe der Sowjets in erbitterten Kämpfen abgewehrt. Nur in einigen Abschnitten gewannen die feindlichen Angriffsspitzen weiter Boden. Im Stadtgebiet von Lemberg dauern die schweren Kämpfe an. Die Besatzung von Lublin behauptete sich gegen wiederholte feindliche Angriffe.
Zwischen Brest-Litowsk und Grodno sowie nordöstlich Kauen scheiterten Durchbruchsversuche des Feindes am zähen Widerstand unserer tapferen Divisionen. In einigen Abschnitten warfen sie die eingedrungenen Bolschewisten im Gegenangriff zurück. In diesen Kämpfen fanden der Kommandeur einer Kampfgruppe, Generalleutnant Scheller, und der Chef des Stabes einer Armee, Generalmajor von Tresckow, in vorderster Linie den Heldentod.
Zwischen Dünaburg und dem Peipussee wurden heftige Angriffe der Sowjets zerschlagen, örtliche Einbrüche in harten Kämpfen abgeriegelt.
Ein britischer Bomberverband führte in der vergangenen Nacht einen Terrorangriff gegen Kiel. Einzelne Flugzeuge griffen außerdem das Gebiet der Reichshauptstadt an.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (July 24, 1944)
Communiqué No. 97
Sharp local engagements took place south of the river SÈVES, in the area north of the ESQUAY and on the river ORNE south of MALTOT. Our forward positions remain substantially unchanged.
Enemy supply system and airfields northeast of PARIS were attacked by our air forces during yesterday. In addition, close support was given to the land forces in NORMANDY.
Medium bombers attacked a railway bridge north of the SEINE at MIRVILLE and a railway crossing at the RISLE southwest of ROUEN, and the CHARENTONNE at SERQUIGNY. Other targets were fuel dumps in the FORÊT DE CONCHES and a railway yard near MONTFORT.
Direct hits were registered by our fighter-bombers on two double span highway bridges crossing the SEINE River at COUTANCES.
Other fighter-bombers, patrolling southward below the valley of the LOIRE, severed rail lines in many places and damaged numerous railroad cars and locomotives.
Last night, heavy bombers attacked oil storage depots at DONGES, near SAINT-NAZAIRE.
Communiqué No. 98
Early today, Allied light bombers harried enemy troops and attacked rail movements in a broad belt behind the enemy line from east of the SEINE to the battle area. A supply dump in the FORÊT DE CINGLAIS was bombed. Two of our aircraft are missing.
Enemy coastal craft were intercepted and engaged off CAP D’ANTIFER by our naval patrols early yesterday. Three enemy R-boats were severely damaged and one was set on fire.
There is nothing to report from our ground forces.
U.S. Navy Department (July 24, 1944)
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 86
Assault troops of the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions established beachheads on Tinian Island on July 23 (West Longitude Date) supported by carrier and land‑based aircraft and by artillery and naval gunfire.
Amphibious operations against Tinian Island are being directed by RAdm. Harry W. Hill, USN, Commander Group Two Amphibious Forces Pacific Fleet.
Expeditionary troops are commanded by Maj. Gen. Harry Schmidt, USMC, Commanding General Fifth Amphibious Corps.
The landings are being continued against light ground opposition.
Press Release
For Immediate Release
July 24, 1944
Growth of the Navy
The United States Navy on August 18, 1944, will triple the number of combatant ships it had in the fleet on July 1, 1940, with the completion of the destroyer escort USS GRADY (DE-445).
When the Navy began its intensive building program in July 1940, it had in the fleet 383 combatant ships. Completion of the GRADY, barring any additional combat losses and failure to complete any of the ships listed for completion before August 18, will triple this total.
Total vessels of all types in the Navy have increased much more rapidly due principally to the addition of numerous amphibious vessels. On June 30, 1944, the Navy had more than ten times the number of craft of all classes, exclusive of small landing craft and small yard and district craft, than it had in commission on July 1, 1940. During the fiscal year which closed June 30, 1944, the number of naval craft of all types approximately doubled.
The number of Navy planes on hand at the close of the last fiscal year was almost 20 times the number on hand on July 1, 1940. The number of planes on hand more than doubled during the 1943‑44 fiscal year.
The Navy had no advance base program actively underway on July 1, 1940. From a modest beginning late in 1940, the advance base program has now grown to one of the Navy’s major activities. The value of work in place at Navy advance bases more than doubled during the fiscal year just closed.
While the ship, plane and advance base programs doubled during the 1943‑44 fiscal year, the enlisted personnel of the Navy increased by only 73 percent. Allowing for the increase in personnel which the President has authorized and which was announced July 23, the enlisted strength of the Navy as of June 30, 1943, will not double until June 30, 1945 ‑- almost a year hence.
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 87
Enemy forces on Orote Peninsula, on Guam Island, have been completely cut off by troops of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, and the 77th Infantry Division which advanced during July 23 (West Longitude Date) across the base of the peninsula. In the northern sector, the 3rd Marine Division has made additional gains against strong enemy opposition which continues despite heavy casualties inflicted by our ground troops and intense air and naval bombardment.
In the North, our lines as of 6:00 p.m., July 23, extend northeast from the mouth of the Sasa River to Adelup Point and extend inland approximately 2,900 yards at the point of deepest penetration. In the south our lines extend from the inner reaches of Apra Harbor to a point opposite Anae Island. The greatest depth of advance is approximately 5,000 yards.
Rota Island was attacked by carrier aircraft on July 23. Runways and adjacent installations were principal targets. Ponape in the Caroline Islands was bombed on July 22, by 7th Army Air Force Mitchells. Gun positions were bombed and harbor installations strafed.
Shumushu Island in the northern Kurils was attacked on July 22, by Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four. A large fire was started near the airfield. Moderate anti-aircraft fire was encountered. Eight enemy fighters intercepted our force and caused some damage to a Ventura.
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 88
A firm beachhead had been secured on the northwest shore of Tinian Island by troops of the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions. Our forces control approximately two and a half miles of coastline, extending from a point 2,500 yards south of Ushi Point to a point 1,200 yards north of Faibus San Hilo Point. During July 23 (West Longitude Date), enemy resistance was confined largely to machine gun and rifle fire. Our casualties through July 23 were light. The situation is considered well in band.
The Pittsburgh Press (July 24, 1944)
Lull in Normandy; Allies mass men
Yanks pushed back by counterattack
By Virgil Pinkley, United Press staff writer
SHAEF, London, England –
Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery was massing and shifting his Allied armies today for a new attack on the Normandy front, which was in a state of almost dead calm as activity fell off to its lowest point since D-Day.
How soon Gen. Montgomery’s new offensive will come and what part of the battle line will erupt cannot even be hinted at. German broadcasts, agreeing with Allied headquarters reports of preparations for another Allied blow, said the attack might be launched at any time.
Supplies built up
The Navy reported that good weather in recent days had made it possible to increase the pace at which manpower and supplies are being built up in Normandy. The weather turned bad again today, however, after a favorable start, cutting air activity to scattered sorties.
Earlier headquarters reports revealed that a German counterattack wiped out an American bridgehead across the Sèves River before Périers, and that Gen. Sepp Dietrich, old-line Nazi, who took part in the Munich Beer Hall Putsch, had taken over command of the SS Panzer Corps in Normandy.
Small gains near Caen
The British 1st Army hammered out small gains below Caen, capturing a forest a few hundred yards south of Etavaux, in the only gains reported by Allied headquarters as clearing weather promised a break in the three-day stalemate caused by a drenching downpour.
The appointment of Dietrich was seen at headquarters as another indication that the German Army command in France was being converted into a Nazi clique directly under Hitler and Gestapo chief Heinrich Himmler as more and more SS Elite Guards and officers poured in and the showdown battle on the road to Paris shaped up.
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 97th communiqué said:
Sharp local engagements took place south of the river Sèves in the area north of Esquay and on the river Orne south of Maltot. Our forward positions remain substantially unchanged.
A day after reporting that Lt. Gen. Omar N. Bradley’s troops had cross the Sèves River, capturing the village of the same name, in a push within two miles of Périers, headquarters disclosed that the Germans had retaken the pocket and the village.
The British gains were scored west of Maltot, five miles below Caen, and west of the Orne River. There was no word from the breakthrough area southeast of Caen along the road to Paris.
50,549 prisoners taken
Dispatches to Gen. Bradley’s headquarters said the Americans had taken 50,549 prisoners so fat in the Normandy campaign, and had buried 8,094 German dead.
Allied planes battering the communication network behind the German front yesterday, cut rail lines in at least 40 places and damaged 135 freight cars and locomotives. They also hit German airfields northeast of Paris.
Observers speculated on the possibility that the influx of German SS units and the shift of the SS panzer command to Dietrich tied in with the German crisis and perhaps reflected efforts to put in key positions officers and men faithful to the Nazi Party since its early days.
Charged with atrocities
Gen. Dietrich is listed by the Russians as one of the generals responsible for wholesale atrocities on the Eastern Front, where he once held a command in addition to other posts in Poland, the Balkans and France.
Dietrich organized the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler – the Nazi chieftain’s bodyguard, which expanded until finally it became the SS Panzer Corps. In the last war, he was a sergeant major of infantry. As Germany rearmed, he spent some time working with panzer units, but his chief concern was with building up the ruthless SS units. Later, they were welded into an army which has now achieved considerable size and power.
Americans land on Tinian Island
Yanks also gain in invasion of Guam
By Frank Tremaine, United Press staff writer
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Yanks smash into Pisa; British close on Florence
Germans blow up Arno River bridges in delaying action on Italian front
By Eleanor Packard, United Press staff writer
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Pope studies plan for early end of war
Pontiff confers with Archbishop Spellman
By Reynolds Packard, United Press staff writer
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Roving Reporter
By Ernie Pyle
Somewhere in Normandy, France – (by wireless)
The cook of LST 392, on which I came to France, was a beefy, good-natured fellow named Edward Strucker of Barberton, Ohio, which is near Akron.
Cooking on these transport ships is a terrible job, for you suddenly have to turn out twice as much food as normally. But Eddie is not the worrying type, and he takes it all in his stride.
Eddie has a brother named Charles in the Army Engineers, and in the past year has been lucky enough to run into him four times – once in Africa, once in Sicily, and twice in Italy.
One of those small-world experiences happened to me, too, while on that ship. We lay at anchor in a certain harbor a couple of days before sailing for France. On the second day I was in the washroom shaving when a sailor came in and said there was a Cdr. Greene who wanted to see me in the captain’s cabin.
The only Greene I could think of who might be a commander in the Navy was Lt. Terry Greene, whom I had known in my Greenwich Village days. You didn’t know I ever had any Greenwich Village days? Well, don’t get excited, because they weren’t very lurid anyhow.
The same Terry Greene
At any rate I went to the captain’s cabin, and sure enough it was the same Terry Greene all right. By some strange coincidence, we had both got 17 years older in the meantime.
Greene held a very important position in the convoy. He was tickled to death with his assignment, for he had been in the States almost the whole war and was about to go nuts for some action.
I haven’t seen him on this side of the Channel to discuss it, but I’m afraid our trip over wasn’t as exciting as he would have liked. But you can’t please everybody, and it was just tame enough to suit me fine.
In your travels around the world, if you ever happen to be sailing on LST 392, you might climb a ladder to a high platform astern which holds a big gun, and look at the breech of the gun.
There, written on each side of the barrel, you’ll find my name. the boys in the gun crew asked if I would come up and write my name as big as I could on the gun, and then they would trace it over in red paint. Which they did. I’ll be very much embarrassed now if the gun blows up on them. To say nothing of how they’ll feel.
One of the gun crew is Seaman John Lepperd of Hershey, Pennsylvania. He is about the oldest man in the crew. He is 34, and has three daughters – 17, 15 and 13 – and yet he got drafted last November and here he is sailing across the English Channel and helping shoot down German planes. It still seems a little odd to him. It is quite a contrast to the building game, which he had been in.
Ernie meets a hometowner
Also on this ship I ran into one of my hometowners from Albuquerque, Electrician’s Mate Harold Lampton. His home is actually in Farmington, New Mexico, but he worked for the telephone company at Albuquerque, installing new phones. Now he is the electrician for this ship. He has been in the Navy for two years and overseas for more than a year.
He is a tall, dark, quiet fellow who knows a great deal more about the Southwest than I do. he said he has driven past our house many times, and we had long nostalgic talks about the desert and Indian jewelry and sunsets. We are both tired of being where we are and we wish we were back on the Rio Grande.
Every LST in our convoy carried two or three barrage balloons. With each balloon was a soldier.
Among the soldiers I talked to on the LST were Cpl. Loyce Gilbert of Spring Hill, Louisiana; Pvt. Oscar Davis of Troy, North Carolina, and Pvt. Floyd Woodville of Baltimore. They didn’t seem especially apprehensive going to war. I talked to them quite a while but never got much out of them except yes and no. Which was all right with me. I feel that way myself sometimes. Especially right now.
I DARE SAY —
Give us our conventions straight
By Florence Fisher Parry
Am I alone in thinking the radio announcers appropriated entirely too much time reporting the Democratic Convention proceedings?
What the public wanted to hear was the actual goings-on themselves, and not the commentaries of the broadcasters.
There is nothing that provides so much honest interest to the American public as a typical party convention. It provides the biggest circus in our land. All its corn, all its bombast, all its noise and confusion make beautiful music to the ears of us Americans who recognize in this process the very essence of the American system of government.
We love it; we eat it up; we are cheered and comforted by its corn and clutter. We want to hear every pound of the gavel. We want to hear the unlimited roar of the delegates. We want, full blast, the whole din and dither!
We do not need and we do not want interference in our getting all this first-hand, however well-intentioned. We do not need interpretations. We prefer to make our own. We do not want cultivated commentators’ voices bursting in upon our circus, muting its roar so that they may be heard.
After it’s over, yes; or even at discreet and very occasional intervals, yes – let the commentators then be heard. But spare us in future conventions, please, their incessant, persistent, unstoppable, chatter!
Take it away!
Friday night the Democratic Convention put on a wonderful show. No hoss race was as exciting as the neck-and-neck race between Truman and Wallace as they swung around into the home stretch. The roar from the galleries, the bedlam from the floor; the anvil pounding of the gavel; the horse, spent yet still mighty, voices of the delegates’ spokesmen – composed an orchestra of such noise and thunder that its millions of listeners all over the land closed in around their radios gleefully for the kill.
And what happened. Some gabby commentator cut the whole thing down in order that his one inconsequential voice be heard! He couldn’t be shut up. He went on and on, and ruined for millions one of the biggest circuses America has been treated to for a long time!
Every once in a while, this incessant voice would say, “Take it away!” and for a split instant we would cherish the fond expectancy that we would be allowed to hear the whole works again.
But, no! “Take it away” meant that only some other commentator, even more garrulous, would pick up the mike, and the mighty roar of the delegates and the galleries would mute down again, and once more we would be cheated of the chance to share in the Convention Hall excitement.
Now I am not blaming the radio commentators themselves – theirs was a job they were assigned to and they can’t be blamed if they played it to the hilt. Besides that’s a part of their training. Radio abhors a vacuum. The dread nightmare of all broadcasters is a dead spot on the air. This accounts for the awful, incessant chitter-chatter that takes place on all too many radio programs.
But there ought to be a way to save our big national events from this plague, and especially our Republican and Democratic National Conventions!
We were humbly grateful that we were allowed to listen finally to the states’ balloting. It was music to our ears to hear the cracked, hoarse, exhausted, still mighty voices of the various states’ spokesmen rise to the occasion of their brief prominence.
Especially did we revel in the rounded rhetorical periods of the Gentlemen of the South, those magnificent disciples of oratory, who, whatever the crisis, never fail to deliver the rhetorical flourish!
Greatest of all hoss races
We did not begrudge these chivalrous gentlemen of the old school their moment of “grand-eloquence.” The Solid South may not have been quite as solid politically as in other Democratic Conventions, but it was united at least on one score, and that was when it was called upon to answer the roll call.
It rose to a man as to a majestic platform and delivered itself of its statements with a pomp and ceremony that did its chivalrous heritage full justice, and somehow managed to distinguish the assembly in which it stood, by its patent relish of the English language in which it couched its count.
It was wonderful, Friday night, to receive again assurance that the American way still functions in all its faultiness. Health and exuberance abounded in this convention as in all others. And Republicans and Democrats and New Dealers alike sat glued to their radios, drinking in every moment and enjoying the Fracas as the American people will always enjoy any sport that has in it the elements of a good hoss race.
In Washington –
Congress due to end holiday next Tuesday
Extension hinges on German situation
Washington (UP) –
Congress headed today into the final week of its summer recess with prospects that it may take still another extended holiday unless there are unmistakable signs of an early German collapse.
With both the Republican and Democratic Conventions over, the lawmakers are slated to return Tuesday of next week to begin an August schedule that calls for only two days of work a week. Many members plan to remain at their homes until after Labor Day.
Demobilization important
Two principal items of unfinished business left on the docket when members recessed June 23 for the political conventions were bills on demobilization and reconversion – measurers Congress hopes to have on the books and ready for operation by the time the war in Europe ends.
Also in the offing is an amendment to the Soldier Voting Act which Senator Robert A. Taft (R-OH) has announced he will introduce in August in an attempt to relax the Army’s censorship of political matter sent to troops.
Another soldier vote amendment by Senator Theodore F. Green (D-RI) is pending in the Privileges and Elections Committee, would permit any serviceman who does not receive his state absentee voter’s ballot by Oct. 1 to vote the so-called “federal ballot” – the same provision which caused a bitter four-month wrangle in Congress earlier in the year.
May wait until election
Congressional sources said the recent upheavals within Germany, which many likened to the strife that preceded Germany’s collapse in the last war, made it imperative that early action be taken on the reconversion and demobilization measures.
However, they added, if Hitler managers to reestablish his grip on Germany, the urgent demand for immediate action on the measures will be lessened and Congress then may feel free to take another recess from Labor Day until after the November presidential election.
Allied fliers sink Jap ship 70 miles from Philippines
45,000 starving diseased enemy troops pounded from air, ground in New Guinea
…
Churchill hints at early end to Nazi war
Prime Minister sees troops in France
…
Prisoners’ views on revolt vary
Young Nazis, plain soldiers differ
By B. J. McQuaid
With U.S. forces in Normandy, France –
Reactions among captured Germans to reports on the attempt on Hitler’s life and of revolutionary developments inside Germany fall into three main classifications:
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Dyed-in-the-wool young Nazis of the SS {Elite Guard) stamp. They discredit and minimize the reports much the same as official German propagandists.
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Plain soldiers of the Wehrmacht. They have a philosophy of war in some prospects not unlike that of the average American G.I.’s, namely, to “get this thing over and let’s all go home.” They are noncommittal, often falling back on the familiar theme that as “the little men” of Germany they never had a voice in shaping their country’s politics, and hence accept no responsibility for what happens from now on nor for what has happened.
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Large numbers of impressed foreigners in Germany’s ragtag, bobtail Normandy armies, as well as Austrians and Germans from sections like Bavaria which have never been more than superficially loyal to Hitler. In most cases they go further than the most optimistic speculations outside Germany concerning the extent of the seriousness of the revolt and declare that the whole Nazi applecart is about to tip over.
It is reassuring to find little disposition on the part of our military leaders in France to put any great faith in the reports, from the point of view of easing their own task. There was a brief wave of high optimism among troops in some sectors, but this quickly gave way to renewal of that cold determination to beat the hedgerows and that realism which accepts the great probability that in addition to whatever turmoil threatens within, Germany will require more stout blows from without before the war can be considered “in the bag.”