America at war! (1941–) – Part 4

1445

Memorandum by Prime Minister Churchill

Quebec, 16 September 1944
Top secret

Note by the Prime Minister and Minister of Defence

His Majesty’s Government are in full accord with the directive to Admiral Mountbatten which makes him responsible for executing the stages of Operation CAPITAL necessary to the security of the air route and the attainment of overland communications with China. Having regard however to the immense losses by sickness (288,000 in six months) which have attended the Burma campaign this year, they are most anxious to limit this class of operation, the burden of which falls almost wholly upon the Imperial armies, to the minimum necessary to achieve the aforesaid indispensable object. For this purpose, they are resolved to strain every nerve to bring on the Operation DRACULA by March 15, as by cutting the Japanese communications the enemy will be forced to divide their forces. Decisive results may be obtained in a battle north of Rangoon, and the pursuit by light forces from the north may be continued without serious cost.

It is essential to provide five or six divisions for DRACULA. The 6th Airborne Division from England and a British-Indian division from Italy will start at the earliest moment irrespective of the state of the European war. It will not however be possible to withdraw any further forces from Europe before the end of organized and coherent German resistance. Admiral Mountbatten hopes by certain adjustments of his reserve divisions to withdraw two or even three divisions from the forces now facing the Japanese on the Burma front, for use in DRACULA. It would be of very great assistance to His Majesty’s Government if the United States could place at their disposal for Operation DRACULA two United States light or ordinary divisions. Whether these divisions should come into action on the northern Burma front or whether they should go straight to the Operation DRACULA is a matter for study in time and logistics, observing that we have six months in hand before DRACULA D-day.

If such a provision were made, we should feel certain of being able to achieve DRACULA in time to limit the wastage to the British Imperial armies in the north and to clean up the Burma situation before the next monsoon. The destruction of the Japanese in Burma would liberate a considerable army, which could immediately attack Japanese objectives across the Bay of Bengal at whatever point or points may be considered to be most beneficial to the common cause and most likely to lead to the rapid wearing-down of Japanese troops and above all air forces.

If on the other hand we are not able to carry out Operation DRACULA, His Majesty’s Government would feel they had been exposed to unnecessary sacrifices through persisting in operations ravaged by disease, and also their whole further deployment from India and Burma against the Japanese in the Malay Peninsula, et cetera, will be set back until 1946. Thus, the averting of a double disaster depends upon the certainty that we can execute DRACULA by March 15 and, having regard to the very heavy losses we have sustained and are liable to sustain, we feel fully entitled to ask for a measure of United States assistance.

1446

Prime Minister Churchill to President Roosevelt

Quebec, September 16, 1944
Top secret

Mr. President. I return the Memorandum you gave me about Italian Colonies.

The Foreign Office would like to treat this as an official communication if you would allow us to keep a copy of it.

It seems that the usual broad and substantial measure of agreement exists between us, but we should like to look into the details more closely.

W S C
16.9.44

1447 
740.0011 EW/9-1644: Telegram

The Chargé near the Polish Government-in-Exile to the Secretary of State

London, September 16, 1944
Secret
US urgent

Poles 102. Premier Mikołajczyk has requested me to transmit the following appeal of the Council of National Unity in Warsaw addressed to the President, Mr. Churchill and Marshal Stalin, dated September 15th and received in London today:

On the forty-fifth day of the struggle of the people of Warsaw for the freedom of the capital and of Poland, witnessing the first signs of effective assistance in the form of air cover and dropping of arms and food, the Council of National Unity affirm that this has brought great relief to Warsaw.

The Council of National Unity stress the inflexible will of the people of Warsaw and of Poland to fight the Germans unto the end for the freedom and independence of Poland. To carry on this fight it is indispensable to supply the soldiers of the home army. The Council of National Unity therefore fervently appeal for continuous dropping of arms, ammunition and food, for permanent air cover to be organized and for the bombing of German concentrations and military objectives. The enemy is attacking the city with continuously reinforced formations. The lack of quick and effective succor may cause a catastrophe.

Mr. Mikołajczyk indicated that he was conscious that the arrangements made for lending assistance to Warsaw through the American shuttle service and through British planes from Italy had been impeded by weather conditions recently but felt he must underline the continued urgency of assistance as reflected in the foregoing message.

1448

President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill to Marshal Stalin

Quebec, September 16, 1944
Top secret
Priority

Number 66, top secret and personal to Marshal Stalin from the United States Government and His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom.

In our Conference at Quebec just concluded we have arrived at the following decisions as to military operations.

Operations in North West Europe
It is our intention to press on with all speed to destroy the German armed forces and penetrate into the heart of Germany. The best opportunity to defeat the enemy in the west lies in striking at the Ruhr and Saar since it is there that the enemy will concentrate the remainder of his available forces in the defence of these essential areas. The northern line of approach clearly has advantages over the southern and it is essential that we should open up the northwest ports, particularly Antwerp and Rotterdam, before bad weather sets in. Our main effort will therefore be on the left.

Operations in Italy
As a result of our present operations in Italy
a) Either Kesselring’s forces will be routed, in which case it should be possible to undertake a rapid regrouping and a pursuit towards the Ljubljana gap; or

b) Kesselring’s army will succeed in effecting an orderly withdrawal, in which event we may have to be content with clearing the Lombardy Plains this year.

Our future action depends on the progress of the battle. Plans are being prepared for an amphibious operation on the Istrian Peninsula to be carried out if the situation so demands.

Operations in the Balkans
Operations of our air forces and Commando type operations will continue.

Operations against Japan
We have agreed on further operations to intensify the offensive against the Japanese in all theaters, with the ultimate objective of invading the Japanese homeland.

Plans for the prompt transfer of power to the Pacific theater after the collapse of Germany were agreed upon.

ROOSEVELT
CHURCHILL

1449

President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill to Generalissimo Chiang

Quebec, September 16, 1944
Top secret
Priority

Number 68, from Admiral Leahy, Chief of Staff to the President. Top secret and personal to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek from President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill.

We have just concluded our conference in Quebec during which we discussed ways and means to bring about the earliest possible defeat of Germany so that we can reorient the entire weight of our forces and resources against Japan. We hasten to inform you of plans for our mutual effort, particularly in Southeast Asia.

  • First: We are determined fully to employ all available resources toward the earliest practicable invasion of the Japanese homeland. To this end we have devised courses of action and are taking vigorous steps to expedite the redeployment of forces to the war against Japan following the defeat of Germany.

  • Second: To continue and extend present operations under Admiral Mountbatten in north Burma to provide additional security for intermediate air ferry bases in the Myitkyina area, and at the beginning of favorable weather to launch a determined campaign to open overland communications between India and China. These operations will require continued effective cooperation of the Chinese troops who have already so distinguished themselves in Burma, as well as of your armies that are now engaged west of the Salween. All these operations will be fully supported by our preponderant air strength, and by adequate air supply. Small-scale amphibious operations on the Arakan coast, and activities by long range penetration groups will contribute to our success. We feel that the vigorous prosecution of these operations should result in securing an area by next spring which will permit the extension of the Ledo Road with accompanying pipelines in order to support the heroic effort of your forces.

  • Third: Admiral Mountbatten has been further directed to prepare a large-scale amphibious operation in the Bay of Bengal to be undertaken as soon as developments in the European Theater will allow the necessary resources to be made available.

  • Fourth: We have agreed on further operations to intensify the offensive against the Japanese in the Pacific Theater, including the opening of a seaway into China.

ROOSEVELT
CHURCHILL

1450

President Roosevelt to Generalissimo Chiang

Quebec, 16 September 1944
Top secret
Priority

WH Number 64, from the President for Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.

After reading the last reports on the situation in China my Chiefs of Staff and I are convinced that you are faced in the near future with the disaster I have feared. The men of your “Y” forces crossing the Salween have fought with great courage and rendered invaluable assistance to the campaign in North Burma. But we feel that unless they are reinforced and supported with your every capacity you cannot expect to reap any fruits from their sacrifices, which will be valueless unless they go on to assist in opening the Burma Road. Furthermore, any pause in your attack across the Salween or suggestion of withdrawal is exactly what the Jap has been striving to cause you to do by his operations in Eastern China. He knows that if you continue to attack, cooperating with Mountbatten’s coming offensive, the land line to China will be opened in early 1945 and the continued resistance of China and maintenance of your control will be assured. On the other hand, if you do not provide manpower for your Divisions in North Burma and, if you fail to send reinforcements to the Salween forces and withdraw these armies, we will lose all chance of opening land communications with China and immediately jeopardize the air route over the hump. For this you must yourself be prepared to accept the consequences and assume the personal responsibility.

I have urged time and again in recent months that you take drastic action to resist the disaster which has been moving closer to China and to you. Now, when you have not yet placed General Stilwell in command of all forces in China, we are faced with the loss of a critical area in East China with possible catastrophic consequences. The Japanese capture of Kweilin will place the Kunming air terminal under the menace of constant air attack, reducing the hump tonnage and possibly severing the air route.

Even though we are rolling the enemy back in defeat all over the world this will not help the situation in China for a considerable time. The advance of our forces across the Pacific is swift. But this advance will be too late for China unless you act now and vigorously. Only drastic and immediate action on your part alone can be in time to preserve the fruits of your long years of struggle and the efforts we have been able to make to support you. Otherwise, political and military considerations alike are going to be swallowed in military disaster.

The Prime Minister and I have just decided at Quebec to press vigorously the operations to open the land line to China on the assumption that you would continue an unremitting attack from the Salween side. I am certain that the only thing you can now do in an attempt to prevent the Jap from achieving his objectives in China is to reinforce jour Salween armies immediately and press their offensive, while at once placing General Stilwell in unrestricted command of all your forces. The action I am asking you to take will fortify us in our decision and in the continued efforts the United States proposes to take to maintain and increase our aid to you. This we are doing when we are fighting two other great campaigns in Europe and across the Pacific. I trust that your far-sighted vision, which has guided and inspired your people in this war, will realize the necessity for immediate action. In this message I have expressed my thoughts with complete frankness because it appears plainly evident to all of us here that all your and our efforts to save China are to be lost by further delays.

ROOSEVELT

1451

Tripartite luncheon meeting, 1:45 p.m.

Present
United States United Kingdom Canada
President Roosevelt The Earl of Athlone Prime Minister Mackenzie King
Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone
Prime Minister Churchill
Mrs. Churchill
Foreign Secretary Eden

Mackenzie King’s notes indicate that he had a conversation at lunch with Roosevelt, Churchill, and Eden, concerning the advisability of convening the proposed international conference on world organization on October 30, just a week before the presidential elections in the United States. Mackenzie King spoke of the opposition there would be from small countries, including Canada, to any appearance that the great powers were “seeking to control the world in the organization of its affairs.” Churchill referred to the disagreement with Stalin on the duties and powers of the Council of the proposed organization in settling disputes, especially with regard to a Soviet right to a veto even in disputes to which the Soviet Union was a party. Eden records that Churchill explained to Roosevelt at this meeting why Eden could not accept the President’s invitation to visit Hyde Park.

1452

The Pittsburgh Press (September 16, 1944)

JAP CIVILIANS FLEEING PHILIPPINES
Leathernecks advance toward key airdrome in invasion of Palaus

Army troops march almost unopposed through Morotai Island, south of Philippines
By Frank Tremaine, United Press staff writer

Bulletin

Tokyo radio reported today that civilians are being evacuated from Davao on Mindanao Island in the Philippines. The Tokyo broadcast said evacuation started in “good order” Sept. 9 after a U.S. carrier task group began a series of air attacks against Mindanao. Tokyo indicated the civilians were fleeing from the city into the northern part of the island.

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii –
U.S. Marines, supported by heavy fire from warships and planes, battled their way through strong Jap tank and artillery fire today to expand their Palau Island beachhead.

On the other end of the American offensive arc around the Philippines, Army infantrymen attacking the Halmaheras made an almost unopposed march through Morotai Island.

The Marines on Peleliu Island hammered out a beachhead of nearly 1½ miles and closed in on the principal Jap airdrome in the Palau group, 560 miles east of the Philippines.

Despite heavy fighting, in which the Japs brought up tanks, artillery and mortars and attempted several counterattacks, a communique by Adm. Chester W. Nimitz said U.S. casualties on Peleliu Island were “light.”

The Marines found the going tough on Peleliu, which is less than six miles long and two miles wide, but Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s infantrymen, who landed simultaneously in the Halmaheras, found no organized resistance on Morotai, 250 miles south of the Philippines.

300,000 Japs bypassed

Gen. MacArthur said his invasion forces had taken “all objectives” and engineers already had begun construction work at Pitu Airfield at the southwestern tip of the 700-square-mile island.

United Press writer Ralph C. Teatsorth, who went ashore with U.S. troops at Morotai, said the landing was made without opposition, on two beaches less than a mile apart. Pitu Airstrip, only 1,000 yards from the beachhead, fell quickly.

The twin invasions, only 500 miles apart, under the closely-coordinated leadership of Adm. Nimitz and Gen. MacArthur, were believed to have bypassed 300,000 Jap troops in the Central and Southwest Pacific.

Thirty to forty thousand of them were in the Palau Islands, and observers said Japan may attempt to move some of these onto Peleliu, although such an operation would involve the use of barges within range of warships.

Aims for airfield

Big ships’ guns and carrier planes maintained a steady bombardment of the enemy defenses, but Maj. Gen. William S. Rupertus, commander of the Marine forces, seemed to be getting field artillery ashore to speed up the operation.

Gen, Rupertus’ immediate objective was the Peleliu Airfield, which has two runways, each 4,200 feet long. It is only large enough for fighters and medium bombers but could be lengthened to accommodate heavy bombers.

The Japs were fighting desperately with mortars and artillery in an effort to hold off the Marines, members of the 1st Division, veterans of Guadalcanal.

Adm. Nimitz said the Japs made several counterattacks supported by tanks shortly after the landing but were thrown back. The Japs threw sporadic mortar and artillery fire onto the landing beaches in a futile attempt to stop the invasion.

Carrier-based aircraft from VAdm. Marc A. Mitcher’s fast task force supported the immediate landing by bombing, strafing and firing rockets into installations behind the beaches, and also hit gun positions at the northern end of the island. One plane and four flight personnel were lost.

Adm. William F. Halsey’s Third Fleet, of battleships, cruisers, destroyers and carriers, patrolled the waters off the Palaus to frustrate any attempt to bring. in reinforcements.

The missing Japanese Navy, however, was not expected to make an appearance because of the potent array of American fighting power.

Gen. MacArthur, whose planes have long been raiding the Palaus in conjunction with Central Pacific bombers, disclosed in his communiqué that Far Eastern Air Force patrols had again hit the island group. The time and the extent of the attack were not given.

Of the Morotai campaign, Gen. MacArthur said it “has progressed according to plan,” with land and carrier-based aircraft continuing to support the ground forces.

His statement that “all objectives” had been achieved, indicated a rapid extension of control over the coastal areas held by scattered Jap troops. Beside the unfinished Pitu Airstrip, the soldiers also seized Gila Peninsula, on the southwest corner of Morotai, and the communiqué added that no organized Jap ground reaction had developed so far.

Adm. Nimitz, meanwhile, announced that Army and Navy bombers from the Aleutians raided Shumushu and Paramushiru in the Kuril Islands Tuesday and Wednesday night. while Army Liberators hit Iwo Jima, in the Volcanos, with 52 tons of bombs Wednesday.

Japs reinforce Philippines

By the United Press

The Japs acknowledged for the first time today that U.S. forces had made successful landings on Peleliu and on Morotai Islands.

An Imperial Headquarters communiqué, broadcast by Tokyo radio, said “fierce fighting” was taking place on both islands.

Another Tokyo broadcast indicated that the Japs were rushing preparations against an invasion of the Philippines. The dispatch said the city of Davao, on southeastern Mindanao less than 300 miles from Morotai, had been elaborately fortified.

Tokyo radio said Prime Minister Gen. Kuniaki Koiso had announced that Japan will launch a great offensive in the “near future” and Adm. Naokuni Nomura, former Navy Minister, had been installed in a “certain important post.”

Koiso’s announcement did not say where or how the offensive would be made, although he claimed it would show Japan’s determination “to crush Britain and America.”

In connection with Nomura’s new job, Tokyo radio announced that VAdm. Nichitara Tezuka had been named Chief of the Navy Aviation Headquarters.

1453

Yanks pour through gap blasted in Siegfried Line

500-mile Allied front surges eastward from Holland to Switzerland
By Virgil Pinkley, United Press staff writer

…

1454

Siegfried forts captured almost without struggle

Defenses overrun in combined assault by infantrymen and dynamiting engineers
By Henry T. Gorrell, United Press staff writer

…

1455

British advance on Adriatic Front

Battle for airfield near Rimini, Italy

…

1456

Hurricane deaths reach 27; damage exceeds $40 million

Crops hit hardest but thousands of buildings are destroyed along coast

…

1457

americavotes1944

Democrats told ‘we could lose’

Hannegan warns against complacency

Baltimore, Maryland (UP) –
Democratic National Chairman Robert E. Hannegan admitted last night that complacency on the part of party members might result in the defeat of President Roosevelt at the polls in November.

Mr. Hannegan told the Democratic Clubs of Maryland that “in spite of all the help our cause is getting from the public utterances” of the Republican candidates, “I am still ready to point out to you candidly that we could lose in November.”

Asserting that the name of President Roosevelt “already ranks with the names of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Wilson.” Mr. Hannegan blasted Republican presidential candidate Thomas E. Dewey as the GOP’s “high man in the making of accusations that blow up in his face.”

A ‘natural’ procedure

Mr. Hannegan said:

In view of the Republican presidential candidate’s past training and experience, this is to be expected. It is quite natural that he should follow the principle: When in doubt, prosecute.

The Democratic chairman charged that the Republican platform was “a museum piece straight out of the collection of Herbert Hoover” and that Mr. Dewey’s plan for dealing with national problems, especially that of unemployment, was “the way of Herbert Hoover.”

Answer Dewey’s charge

Mr. Hannegan asserted that Mr. Dewey’s charge that the Roosevelt administration planned to hold men in the Army after the war to prevent another depression “could scarcely have been calculated to add to the morale of the men now in uniform and fighting their country’s battles.”

He said:

The purpose of that [the administration’s] plan is not only to get all the unneeded fighting men out of the Army at the earliest possible time, but to do something that Mr. Dewey may not have thought of – that is, to go about it in the fairest and most democratic way. To decide on the order of this mustering out, the Army consulted the men themselves.

1458

Labor and industry muster forces for wage shutdown

Battle lines drawn on reconversion issue; WLB arranges hearings

…

1459

In Washington –
Three-man board to supervise war surplus

House and Senate group reaches truce

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1460

Pope may visit U.S. after war

…

1461

Editorial: The vet and his old job

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1462

Editorial: Thanks for the kind words

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1463

Editorial: Another great achievement

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1464

Editorial: Sad example

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