Millett: ‘Blessed event’ news has now reached the ultimate
Seems as though public knows about pending births before mothers
By Ruth Millett
…
Stokes: Cooperation
By Thomas L. Stokes
With Dewey’s party –
Republicans expect to make much capital out of a point stressed by Governor Thomas E. Dewey in his Portland speech about the troubles that President Roosevelt has with Congress.
It may be effective. The Republican presidential candidate put it very persuasively last night:
Every step we take in these critical years ahead must have the joint support of the Congress and the President. Can any such joint action and harmonious relationship be achieved under this administration?
And again:
We need an administration that wants to work with the elected representatives of the people and that knows how to do it. We can get such an administration only by getting a new Chief Executive.
Governor Dewey put his finger on a very vulnerable spot. He dramatized the wide rift in the Democratic Party between the New Dealers and left-wingers. on the one hand, and on the other, the conservative Southern Democrats who go traipsing off with Republicans on virtually every domestic issue to form an anti-administration coalition that makes it so hard for Mr. Roosevelt to do business with Congress on any liberal measure.
Both sides vulnerable
The President has let them alone lately. But it is a real dilemma that has spread gloom through the progressive political forces of the country.
They do not like to look ahead to such a situation in what Governor Dewey termed “these critical years ahead.” Nor do they get any encouragement from anticipating a Republican Congress if it is going to follow the general course of the Republican minority in recent years on both domestic and foreign policy.
Governor Dewey must prove, as in the case with his progressive labor program, that he can carry his party and Congress along with him. The record of his party in Congress is his highest hurdle, and is the vulnerable spot on his side.
He must convince progressives that it is going to be different with him. or they will take a chance with President Roosevelt and the possibility that, if he is elected, he will be able to carry a Democratic Congress in with him which for a time will go along with him,
Democratic split cited
The Republican candidate dramatized, likewise, a Democratic Party, once fairly closely knit, that is now beginning to shake loose at the joints. This was clearly demonstrated at the Chicago convention when the Southerners were emitting rebel yells of dissatisfaction over the new power in the party assumed by New Dealers and CIO labor.
Republicans have capitalized upon this. In Congress, Republicans are egging on the Southern conservatives, fraternizing with them sweetly, throwing their support to them at every opportunity, often accepting without question the leadership the Southerners exercise so effectively through their committee chairmanships and other posts of power and influence.
In the campaign the second-string performers, not Governor Dewey himself, are exploiting the CIO’s PAC at every opportunity to frighten off middle-class voters and tempt them into the Republican camp.
The whole tone of the Dewey presidential campaign has been to stress his ability to work with political leaders and his Legislature.
Since his nomination, Governor Dewey has worked hard at it, in the Governors’ Conference in St. Louis and on this trip. He has spent hours with local politicians on this trip, getting acquainted, listening to their troubles and making a fine impression, according to reports.
What will Johnny be like when he comes home –
Wecter: Soldiers don’t turn out to be criminals
Teaching a man to shoot enemy doesn’t mean he’ll come home and shoot neighbor
By Dixon Wecter
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Forrestal: Legion asked to support military training law
Convention endorses program calling for aid to veterans, payments to widows
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Allen: Maybe Sinatra could make the Germans swoon
By Gracie Allen
Hollywood, California –
First it was Bing Crosby… Now they’ve got Dinah Shore singing to the Germans in their native tongue to lull them into surrender. It begins to look like the tonsil is mightier than the sword.
And we haven’t even turned Sinatra loose on them yet!
Imagine what might happen if Frankie, like some modern Pied Piper, started to work on those Rhine maidens. I can just see Frau Goering sitting in front of the radio in bobby socks as Der Frankie croons: “Ich bin nicht much to look at – nein schön to see.”
She squeals and says, “Ach, Hermann, stop the shooting! I want to hear Frankie! Ich liebe dot boy!”
To which Hermann replies: “Stop the shooting? But what about Der Fuehrer?”
And she says: “All right – one more shot, but be sure you hit him.”
I don’t know, Gen. Eisenhower, it might be worth a thought.
Tigers claw way nearer to pennant
Newhouser wins 26th subduing Yanks while Browns, Red Sox lose
By the United Press
…
Beck: Labor 85% for Roosevelt
Washington (UP) –
Dave Beck, vice president and member of the Executive Board of the International Union of Teamsters (AFL), declared today that President Roosevelt was supported by “at least 85 percent of the nation’s workers,” and predicted the Chief Executive would be reelected in November.
Mr. Beck is here making arrangements for a meeting on Saturday of more than 800 state and local officials of the union before whom President Roosevelt will make his first outright political speech of the current campaign.
The address will be broadcast throughout the nation on time purchased by the Democratic National Committee.
Mr. Beck said:
There is no political significance in the meeting. It was not called to discuss politics. The President addressed our convention here in 1940 and we thought it only a matter of courtesy to invite him again. We are glad that he accepted.
Asked whether he thought that Mr. Roosevelt would use the occasion to announce an increase in the base level fixed by the Little Steel wage formula, Mr. Beck replied: “I don’t know, but it would be a damn good place to make the announcement.”
Negroes for Roosevelt, Congressman says
Washington (UP) –
Rep. William L. Dawson (D-IL), the only Negro member of Congress, predicted today that President Roosevelt will get 70 percent of the Negro vote in the nation – eight percent more than he polled in 1940.
Mr. Dawson, an official of the Democratic National Committee, declared that Negro voters in the critical border states “will throw their weight to Roosevelt.”
He said:
Surveys show the Negro vote can carry New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia, Missouri and Michigan.
Russians say isolationists still lead GOP
Moscow writer hits Hoover and London
Moscow, USSR (UP) –
Isolationism has declined in the United States under the pressure of public opinion, but it still lingers, particularly among reactionary Republicans, an article in the magazine War and the Working Class said today.
Nina Sergeyeva, the author, wrote:
The Republican Party always has been a citadel pf isolationism/ now this party is the rallying center of opponents of present American foreign policy. Through it, extreme reactionaries, pro-Fascist and Fascist elements, American defeatists and appeasers, and even Hitlerite agents, are seeking access to the political arena.
Hoover, Landon hit
A predominant influence in the Republican Party is exercised by a reactionary group headed by former President Hoover and Republican candidate Landon. This constitutes the “Old Guard” isolationism which dominates the machinery of the Republican Party.
It was precisely this group which last June promoted Dewey’s candidacy. This group gets certain support from the National Association of Manufacturers, long well-known for its pro-Fascist tendencies.
du Pont, Ford named
Owners of the powerful chemical concern of du Pont de Nemours; the noted industrialist, James Mooney, vice president of General Motors; the auto manufacturer, Henry Ford, and the Chicago banker, Robert Wood, are the people who finance the Republican Party.
It was characteristic, War and the Working Class said, that:
This reactionary, isolationist group, which seized control of its part convention, accepted an election platform establishing the principle of international collaboration, which clearly contradicts its oldline isolationism.
It continued:
In their recent utterances, Dewey and even Hoover attempted to shake off diehard isolationists and defeatists like Hamilton Fish and the Fascist leader Gerald Smith.
It is entirely clear that the Republicans cannot ignore public opinion, particularly before elections.
Articles names Senators
It said that the America First organization was closely connected with Senators Arthur H. Vandenberg, Robert A. Taft, Burton K. Wheeler, Gerald P. Nye, Robert Reynolds and Bennett Champ Clark, and Reps. Clare Hoffman, Fish and Martin Dies, and was financed by du Pont, Robert Wood, Ford and Mooney.
The author continued:
Among the isolationists and appeasers, there are several noted Democrats, like Senator Reynolds, Wheeler, Clark and Rep. Dies. But within the Democratic Party these men constitute an uninfluential group.
The article then listed and denounced the Hearst, Patterson and McCormick press and organizations such as America First and the various leagues against war, accusing them of sabotaging the war front by campaigns to discredit the Allies, England and the Soviet Union, and of advocating the appeasement of Germany by a compromising peace.
The article further charged that firms such as DuPont, Ford and General Motors, have substantial commercial interests in Germany, Italy and Japan, and therefore were interested in their preservation.
U.S. State Department (September 20, 1944)
Lot 60–D 224, Box 55: DO/PR/27
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State to the Secretary of State
Washington, September 20, 1944
Subject: PROGRESS REPORT ON DUMBARTON OAKS CONVERSATIONS – TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY
Meeting of the Joint Steering Committee
The Joint Steering Committee met this afternoon to consider the revised draft of the proposals prepared by the joint formulation group and to take up matters on which agreement had not yet been reached. The Committee completed its consideration of the proposals, which were cabled tonight to Moscow and London. The principal changes agreed upon, other than matters of verbiage, were as follows:
a) Human rights and fundamental freedoms
The paragraph under Chapter II. Principles, relating to human rights and fundamental freedoms has been eliminated. We have requested the Soviet and British to send special messages to their Governments expressing our hope that this point can be included briefly somewhere in the document.
b) Initial members
Agreement was reached to confine the Chapter on Membership to the single statement that membership in the organization would be open to all peace-loving nations. Reference to initial members was eliminated since agreement could not be reached that the nations which are associated with the United Nations but are not actual belligerents should be among the initial members.
c) Non-permanent members of the Security Council
A provision which made the contribution of non-permanent members to peace and security a qualification for election to the Council was omitted upon our insistence.
d) Voting in the Council
All substantive points relative to voting in the Council were eliminated in view of the proposed agreement to continue consideration of this subject.
e) Matters within domestic jurisdiction
A bracketed provision excluding from the application of procedures for peaceful settlement matters within domestic jurisdiction was eliminated due to inability to reach agreement.
f) Sites for bases
Agreement was reached to eliminate the last remaining reference to the Russian proposal that smaller states should provide sites for bases.
g) Air force contingents
Our provision for the immediate availability of national air force contingents was accepted and the British alternative providing for future study of something akin to an international air force was eliminated.
h) Amendments
The chapter relating to amendments was eliminated due to inability to reach agreement.
Meeting of the American Group
The American group considered the changes in the draft proposals made by the Joint Steering Committee and the joint formulation group. Most of the group felt that it would be satisfactory to omit reference in the document to non-intervention, but the group as a whole urged that some reference to the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms be included in the draft proposals. Most members felt that the Russian proposal concerning Fascist or fascist-type states should not be included. Other changes were regarded as satisfactory.
The group agreed upon a memorandum to the President and the Secretary offering a suggested course of procedure as an alternative to continuing the conversations with the Soviet group in the hope of reaching early agreement on the question of voting.
Memorandum by the President
Washington, September 20, 1944
This is a very rough suggestion made by me – among others – for a subdivision of Germany after the peace.
F D R
USA im wahren Lichte –
Angst vor der Nachkriegszeit
hb. Lissabon, 20. September –
Roosevelt führte das Volk der Vereinigten Staaten in den Krieg, weil er innenpolitisch mit seinem New Deal scheiterte und nicht in der Lage war, die permanente Arbeitslosigkeit von etwa zehn Millionen voll Erwerbsfähiger durch soziale Reformen zu beseitigen. Heute liegt die Aussicht, daß zehn Millionen Soldaten nach den USA zurückkehren und ihre sozialen Forderungen an die Nation richten, wie ein Alpdruck auf der Rooseveltschen Politik und bestimmt entscheidend die Stellung der Vereinigten Staaten in diesem Kriege.
Wenn unmittelbar nach den letzten anglo-amerikanischen Besprechungen ein Schreiben des Präsidenten an den Direktor des Haushaltsabteilung im Washingtoner Finanzministerium, Harold Smith, veröffentlicht wurde, worin Roosevelt auf eine Beschleunigung der Arbeiten in dem Umstellungsplan der Industrie von der Kriegs- auf die Friedensproduktion drängt, so steht das in einem direkten Zusammenhang mit diesen Unterhaltungen. Roosevelt fürchtet heute die heimkehrenden Soldaten genau wie 1939 das Heer der Arbeitslosen. Indem er allen feierlichen Versprechungen zum Trotz die Jugend Amerikas auf die Schlachtfelder Europas führte, hat er die große soziale Auseinandersetzung zwischen den Repräsentanten des Hochkapitalismus in Amerika und der grauen Masse der Habenichtse zwar verzögert, aber keineswegs aus der Welt schaffen können.
Dieses politische Moment schob sich in den letzten Wochen stark in den Vordergrund. Soweit es ein rein amerikanisches Problem ist, wird es natürlich von den sozialen Erwartungen bestimmt, die die amerikanischen Soldaten an das Kriegsende knüpfen. Dafür scheint uns ein Brief symptomatisch zu sein, den ein amerikanischer Unteroffizier an die Zeitschrift New Republic richtete.
Es heißt darin:
Ich fürchte, daß die Wahrheit über die Meinung der Soldaten viele Leute zu Hause erschrecken wird. Nur wenige, vielleicht 10 Prozent meiner Kameraden, haben eine klare Vorstellung von dem, was sie wollen. Davon bekämpfen mindestens 7 Prozent die jüdische Vorherrschaft, die Gewerkschaften und den Einfluß der Neger in unserem Lande. Die anderen 3 Prozent drücken ihre Ansichten nicht so klar aus, und die restlichen 90 Prozent haben überhaupt keine Überzeugung, kein Interesse an der Politik und auch keinerlei Kenntnis über das politische Geschehen. Sie kämpfen als Soldaten gut, weil schwer arbeiten und viel Sport treiben ein national-amerikanischer Zug sind, wenn es so etwas bei uns überhaupt gibt.
Es wäre aber unehrlich und unklug, anzunehmen, daß diese Leute nach Hause zurückkommen, um sich wieder in die alte ruhige Routine eines Lebens für das Kino, für Liebschaften und elektrische Eisschränke einschalten zu lassen. Was früher eine passive und vielleicht unschädliche Unwissenheit war, wird jetzt zu einem aktiven Haß, der sich aber nicht gegen Hitler richtet. Worte wie Toleranz, Brüderlichkeit und Nächstenliebe haben für diese Leute einen völlig überholten Klang. Wir müssen uns stets die Tatsache vor Augen halten, daß unsere Soldaten, sozial gesehen, unreif sind, und daß diese Situation eine der mächtigsten und gefährlichsten Kräfte in der Gesellschaftsordnung nach diesem Kriege darstellt.
Dieses Bekenntnis eines Soldaten gründet sich natürlich auf die sozialen Missstände im Roosevelt-Paradies, über die ein Bericht des Senatsausschusses für Volksgesundheit und Erziehung Aufschlüsse gibt. Danach mußten von 16 Millionen Wehrdienstpflichtigen 4,1 Millionen wegen körperlicher oder geistiger Untauglichkeit zurückgewiesen werden. Weiter heißt es in diesem Bericht, daß 95 Prozent sämtlicher Untersuchten eine Zahnbehandlung nötig hatten, davon 30 Prozent sehr dringend.
In der Rüstungsindustrie der Vereinigten Staaten wurden im Jahre 1943 infolge unzulänglicher sozialer Sicherungseinrichtungen 2,4 Millionen Menschen zu Vollinvaliden, die bei dem Fehlen einer staatlichen Invalidenversicherung der öffentlichen Wohlfahrt zur Last fallen.
Der medizinische Direktor der amerikanischen Armee, Oberst Leonard Rowntree, stellte vor dem Untersuchungsausschuss des Heeres unumwunden fest: „Die amerikanische Jugend ist verweichlicht. Unser Land ist krank.“ In einem Kommentar zu diesem Tatbestand sagt die amerikanische Zeitschrift Newsweek die vom Senatsausschuss veröffentlichte Statistik sei auf das tiefste beschämend für eine Nation, die sich stets ihres Lebensstandards, ihrer Ernährung, ihrer Wohnungen, ihrer Schulen, Krankenhäuser, medizinischen Einrichtungen und Volksgesundheit gerühmt habe.
Neues Wiener Tagblatt (September 21, 1944)
Washingtons Weltimperialismus
eh. Stockholm, 20. September –
Der Weltherrschaftsanspruch Washingtons ist erneut von maßgebenden Persönlichkeiten der Vereinigten Staaten vertreten worden, und zwar in einer Weise, die an Deutlichkeit nichts zu wünschen übrig läßt.
Es waren die führenden amerikanischen Militärs, wie Admiral Nimitz, General Arnold und General Marshall, die am Montagabend über den Rundfunk sprachen und sich wohl unter Verwertung der Ergebnisse von Quebec über Aufgaben der künftigen Kämpfe gegen Japan äußerten. Admiral Nimitz teilte mit, daß MacArthur die Invasion der Philippinen leiten werde, die jetzt durch die Operationen auf Halmahera und Palau vorbereitet würde. Er warnte dabei aber vor einem „übertriebenen Optimismus,“ da man bisher mit dem Kern der japanischen Armee noch nicht in Kontakt gekommen sei. Die interessanteste Erklärung gab der Chef der amerikanischen Luftwaffe General Arnold ab:
Die Überlegenheit in der Luft ist der Schlüssel zu Nordamerikas Zukunft im Frieden und im Krieg. Wenn wir unsre Politik stets nach dem Grundsatz ausrichten, daß Amerika immer die erste Stelle in der Luft innehaben muß, dann haben wir diesen Krieg nicht vergebens gekämpft; die Vereinigten Staaten müssen dazu dann auch Flugstützpunkte weit außerhalb ihrer eigenen Küsten haben.
Daß die Politik Roosevelts das hier gekennzeichnete Ziel hat, ist bekannt. Daß es aber einmal so krass ausgesprochen wird, das kann nur begrüßt werden. In London freilich wird man General Arnold wohl wenig Dank wissen, so sehr man es freilich dort mit Jubel begrüßt hat, daß die amerikanischen Bomber mit ihren Terrorangriffen deutsche Städte in Schutt und Asche legten.
Auch in China verlangen die Amerikaner den Oberbefehl. Der Washingtoner Korrespondent der Associated Press veröffentlicht einen Artikel über die fieberhaften Bemühungen Amerikas und Englands, einen Zusammenbruch Tschungking-chinas zu verhindern. Die Lage in China werde in Washington mit Sorge verfolgt, und die Vereinigten Staaten ließen kein Mittel unversucht, um Tschungkings Kriegsanstrengungen zu reorganisieren, damit die alliierte Flanke in Asien nicht einstürze. In Washingtoner Kreisen hofft man, daß dem Befehlshaber der amerikanischen Truppen in China General Stilwell der Oberbefehl über alle alliierten Truppen im chinesischen Gebiet zusammen mit den nötigen Vollmachten zur Modernisierung der Tschungking-Armee gegeben werden.
Führer HQ (September 21, 1944)
Kommuniqué des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht
In Mittelholland wurde der aus der Luft gelandete Feind im Raum Arnheim durch konzentrische Angriffe weiter eingeengt. Gut unterstützt durch eigene Jagdverbände, fügten unsre Truppen dem Gegner schwere Verluste an Menschen und Material zu. Bisher wurden über 1700 Gefangene eingebracht.
Aus dem Raum Eindhoven stieß der Feind mit Panzern nach Nordosten vor. Eigene Truppen traten auch hier zum Gegenangriff an.
Nordwestlich Aachen konnte der Gegner unter starkem Panzereinsatz seinen Einbruch erweitern. Südwestlich der Stadt wurden alle feindlichen Angriffe zum Teil unter hohen Verlusten für den Gegner abgewiesen. Der eigene Gegenangriff gewinnt langsam Boden.
Im Raum Nancy–Lunéville halten die schweren und unübersichtlichen Kämpfe an. Nancy ging verloren. In Lunéville wird erbittert gekämpft.
An den übrigen Frontabschnitten nur örtliche Kampfhandlungen.
Die fortgesetzten Angriffe des Feindes auf die Festungen Calais, Saint-Nazaire und Boulogne wurden abgewiesen. Nach der Beendigung des Kampfes im völlig zerstörten Stadt- und Hafenbereich der Festung Brest hielten gestern noch einzelne Kampfgruppen in erbittertem Kampf die letzten Stützpunkte auf der Halbinsel Le Crozon.
Das „V1“-Störungsfeuer auf London dauert an.
In Italien erreichten im Raum an der Adria die schweren Abwehrschlachten ihren Höhepunkt. Es gelang hier auch gestern den heldenhaft kämpfenden eigenen Truppen, zum Teil in neuen Stellungen, den feindlichen Durchbruch zu verhindern. Nördlich und nordöstlich Florenz wurden feindliche Angriffe abgewiesen, örtliche Einbrüche im Gegenstoß bereinigt.
In Südsiebenbürgen und im Szekler Zipfel scheiterten Angriffe der Bolschewisten. Ebenso wiesen unsre Truppen im Abschnitt Sanok-Krosno heftige Angriffe der Sowjets zurück, riegelten einzelne Einbrüche ab und vernichteten 27 Panzer.
Bei Warschau versuchte der Feind, im Schutz künstlichen Nebels die Weichsel an mehreren Stellen zu überschreiten. Die Übersetzversuche wurden vereitelt, einzelne auf das Westufer vorgedrungene Kampfgruppen abgeschnitten. Auch nordöstlich der Stadt blieben wiederholte Angriffe der Bolschewisten in unserm Feuer liegen.
Angriffe südwestlich Mitau brachten nach Abwehr feindlicher Gegenangriffe Stellungsverbesserungen. In Lettland und Estland wurden die von zahlreichen Panzern und Schlachtfliegern unterstützten Angriffe der Bolschewisten abgewiesen oder aufgefangen und zahlreiche Panzer vernichtet.
In dreitägigen Waldkämpfen zerschlugen unsre Grenadiere im Kandalakscha-Abschnitt in schwungvollen Gegenangriffen zwei feindliche Brückenköpfe.
In den gestrigen Mittagsstunden führten nordamerikanische Bomber Angriffe gegen mehrere Orte in Nord- und Nordwestdeutschland. Im Stadtgebiet von Koblenz entstanden Gebäudeschäden und Personenverluste. In der vergangenen Nacht richteten sich feindliche Terrorangriffe gegen München-Gladbach und Budapest. Luftverteidigungskräfte schossen 37 feindliche Flugzeuge ab.
Im Kanal und im Indischen Ozean versenkten Unterseeboote vier Schiffe mit 26,000 BRT und zwei Fregatten. Drei weitere Schiffe wurden durch Torpedotreffer schwer beschädigt.
In den Ostkarpaten zeichnete sich das schwäbisch-bayerische 1. Bataillon des Gebirgsjägerregiments 13 unter Führung von Hauptmann Ploder und das schwäbisch-bayerische Feldersatzbataillon 94 unter Führung von Hauptmann Kresse durch hervorragende Tapferkeit aus. In den schweren Abwehrkämpfen in Lettland haben sich die schwäbische 105. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant von Mellenthin, die bayerisch-pfälzische 132. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant Wagner und die sächsische 24. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Oberst Schultz durch Angriffsschwung und Standfestigkeit hervorragend bewährt. Leutnant Sauer in einer Sturmgeschützbrigade schoss mit seinem Sturmgeschütz in zwei Tagen 14 Panzer ab.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (September 21, 1944)
Communiqué No. 166
There has been heavy fighting in the area of NIJMEGEN where Allied land and airborne forces have linked up. The base of the Allied salient has been widened and airborne landing have been further reinforced.
Fighters and fighter-bombers provided escort and support for these airborne operations and also provided support for the ground forces.
Allied troops in BELGIUM advanced to the line of the LEOPOLD CANAL and made substantial gains to the SCHELDT west of ANTWERP.
Mopping-up continues in the area of BOULOGNE south of the LAINE River.
The German garrison and fortified positions at CALAIS were subjected to a strong and concentrated attack yesterday afternoon and evening by heavy bombers, one of which is missing.
In southern HOLLAND, our ground forces have crossed the GERMAN border to SCHARPENSEEL, five miles northeast of HEERLEN, under heavy German artillery fire. Stubborn fighting is in progress at other points along the front, particularly at STOLBERG, east of AACHEN and on the outskirts of BIESDORF, east of the LUXEMBOURG town of SIEKIRCH, where, earlier, a strong enemy counterattack was repulsed and 17 German tanks knocked out.
In the MOSELLE Valley, heavy enemy resistance is being encountered south of METZ, with fighting centering around SILLEGNY. Our forces also are engaged in the vicinity of CHÂTEAU-SALINS, 18 miles northeast of NANCY. Our troops advancing northeast of CHARMES have reached the towns of MOYEN and MAGNIERES.
Gains have been made along the entire sector northwest of BELFORT. Opposition has been slight and the enemy is relying principally on lightly-defended road blocks to stay our advances. Several small towns have been occupied.
The enemy south of BELFORT has confined his activity to patrolling with moderate support from artillery and mortars.
A force of 19,312 enemy troops under Gen. Elster has been taken prisoner after a mass surrender south of the LOIRE River.
U.S. Navy Department (September 21, 1944)
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 126
The 1st Marine Division made minor gains in a northerly direction along the western ridge of Peleliu Island on September 24 (West Longitude Date) facing stiff opposition from the enemy troops well entrenched in precipitous terrain. Our attack was preceded by gunfire from cruisers and destroyers and by bombing.
Meantime, our forces occupied the entire east coast of Peleliu, including the island of Ngabad.
More enemy equipment has been captured consisting of six trench mortars and 31 machine guns. An additional 10 enemy aircraft have been found destroyed on the airfield.
The 81st Division is continuing mopping‑up operations on Angaur.
Enemy troops killed on Peleliu number 8,792. Enemy troops killed on Angaur number 850.
The airfield and installations on Babelthuap and the seaplane base at Arakabesan were bombed on September 20.
Seventh Army Air Force Thunderbolts strafed and bombed gun emplacements on Pagan in the Marianas on September 19.
Aircraft of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing bombed storage areas at Rota Island on September 18 and attacked it again on September 19, causing several explosions and starting fires.
A single plane bombed Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands on September 18. There was no anti-aircraft fire.
Truk Atoll was the target of 7th Army Air Force Liberators on September 18. Sixty‑nine tons of bombs were dropped on the airfield at Moen. Four enemy aircraft attempted interception. Anti-aircraft fire was meager. Three Liberators were slightly damaged but all returned.
Venturas of Fleet Air Wing Four bombed Paramushiru in the Kurils on September 19. Direct hits were scored on communication facilities. Later the same day, a single 11th Army Air Force Mitchell bomber attacked Paramushiru, encountering meager anti-aircraft fire. All planes returned safely.
Corsairs and Dauntless dive bombers of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing attacked Wotje, in the Marshalls, on September 19. Bivouac areas, storage areas, and communication facilities were bombed. Meager anti-aircraft fire was encountered.
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 127
Carrier aircraft of the Pacific Fleet swept the island of Luzon in the heart of the Philippines on September 20 (West Longitude Date) striking in great force at shipping in Manila Bay and in Subic Bay, at enemy installations at Clark Field and Nichols Field near Manila, and at the Cavite Naval Base.
One hundred and ten enemy aircraft were shot down in the air and 95 were destroyed on the ground. The following additional damage was inflicted on the enemy:
ENEMY SHIPS DAMAGED:
- One large destroyer leader
including those probably sunk:
- Four large oil tankers
- One destroyer
- One small oil tanker
- Two large oil tankers
- Two large cargo ships
- One large transport
- One medium cargo ship
- Ten large cargo ships
- Two small cargo ships
- Twelve medium cargo ships
- One floating dry dock
- Two barges
In addition to the heavy shipping and aircraft losses inflicted upon the enemy, much damage was done to military objectives on and adjacent to Clark Field and Nichols Field, and to the fields themselves. Our losses in this superlatively successful attack which apparently caught the enemy completely by surprise, were 15 aircraft from which several of the flight personnel were recovered. There was no damage to our surface ships.