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.
The Pittsburgh Press (September 21, 1944)
AIR ARMY RESCUE REPORTED
New offensive hits Siegfried Line
Allied mobile forces race over Rhine after taking bridge intact
By Virgil Pinkley, United Press staff writer
*Cracking the Rhine Line, British 2nd Army tanks and U.S. airborne troops raced northward from Nijmegen for a reported rescue of an Allied airborne force trapped in the Arnhem area of Holland. Meanwhile, the 1st Canadian Army and Polish troops cleared virtually the entire south bank of the Scheldt estuary to open the captured port of Antwerp to Allied shipping. The U.S. 1st Army launched a new offensive against the Siegfried Line below Aachen. The U.S. 3rd Army drove against Metz and advanced from Nancy, while the Allied 6th Army Group continued its drive toward Belfort.
Bulletin
SHAEF, London, England –
**Counterattacking German troops were thrown back with heavy casualties by the U.S. 1st Army in an hours-long battle northwest of Trier today, while to the southeast Nazi tank losses mounted past the 100-mark on the third day of a great armored battle on the 3rd Army front.
SHAEF, London, England –
The U.S. 1st Army opened a new offensive against the Siegfried defenses southeast of Aachen today while to the northwest Allied mobile forces raced beyond the Rhine toward an imminent junction with airborne troops encircled in the Arnhem area of Holland.
Berlin in effect reported that sky troopers at Arnhem had been relieved by U.S. and British forces pouring over the Rhine on a Nijmegen road bridge captured in a battle through the streets of the strategic Dutch town which is a gateway to Northwest Germany.
The Allied campaign in Western Europe is “well over a month” ahead of schedule, a broadcaster reported from Paris on his arrival from Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s new command post in eastern France, adding that “so now it is forward to Berlin.”
The U.S. 8th Air Force sent about 500 of its Flying Fortresses and Liberators to the Rhineland to hammer the strongholds of Mainz, Coblenz and Ludwigshafen, directly in front of the U.S. 1st and 3rd Armies.
Despite bad weather other Allied air formations continued pouring strength into Holland, Allied headquarters disclosed that 11,500 sorties had been flown in the airborne operation which began Sunday, not including the gliders involved.
Headquarters advices disclosed that Lt. Gen. Courtney H. Hodges’ 1st Army had struck out through the dank, mine-strewn Hürtgen Forest southeast of Aachen in a new drive on German soil.
Details were few regarding the scale and progress of the new attack in the sector where a few days ago Gen. Hodges drove a wedge through the Siegfried Line.
The battle was reported going on in the area south and east of Stolberg, 642 miles east of Aachen, with the doughboys making progress against stiffening resistance.
The imminent linkup of the armored column speeding up from the Nijmegen area and the airborne force at Arnhem 10 miles to the north will clear the way for a further swing around the Siegfried Line, which ends at Kleve, 18 miles southeast of Arnhem.
The German DNB News Agency reported that the Germans had captured the staff headquarters of the 1st Airborne Division north of Eindhoven, but there was no confirmation in responsible quarters.
Of three bridges across the Rhine which were attacked by massed Allied tank forces, DNB said, the Germans blew up two and held a third.
However, dispatches from the Allied front told of the capture of the Nijmegen road bridge by the British 2nd Army with the aid of U.S. airborne units who crossed the river northeast of Nijmegen and advanced along the northern bank.
At Arnhem, the Allied position was unchanged, with the heaviest fighting going on around the town, United Press writer Ronald Clark reported. He said the British had strengthened the flanks of their north-south axis in Holland and “there now appears no chance that the enemy will be able to cut across the axis.”
The Nazis were throwing their zealously hoarded tanks into battle at a number of points. Armored clashes of mounting intensity were reported from both the 1st and 3rd Army fronts.
A German military spokesman quoted by the Berlin radio reported a “narrow passage of communications” between the Nijmegen and Arnhem groups, indicating that advanced elements had made a junction. He said the passage was under heavy gunfire and virtually useless as a supply route.
Only a few narrow canals between Nijmegen and Arnhem barred the way to the broad German plains sweeping 260 miles beyond the Dutch border to Berlin, and it appeared that the Germans had little left in the immediate area to halt the American and British thrust.
First word of the dramatic crossing came in a front dispatch from BBC correspondent Stewart McPherson, who reported that the Americans made an assault crossing near the main highway bridge late last night and cut in behind the Germans who were defending the span against a British frontal attack.
Under the front and rear attack, the Germans broke and fled, leaving the key bridge intact for a flood of British armor to stream northward to the rescue of the airborne troopers at Arnhem.
At the same time, headquarters revealed that the U.S. 1st Army to the south drove another spearhead into Germany at Scherpenseel, 11 miles north of Aachen, after a swift advance across the narrow neck of Dutch soil separating Belgium from the Reich.
Other 1st Army troops were locked in a violent battle for the German factory town of Stolberg, while Lt. Gen. George S. Patton’s 3rd Army closed to within six miles of Metz and ground slowly forward against fierce armored counterattacks northeast of Nancy.
The Germans, faced with the possible loss of 100,000 men pinned against the Dutch coast west of Nijmegen, as well as a direct invasion blow toward Berlin, were throwing every available man, gun and tank into the Netherlands battle.
Fight hard for bridge
Handpicked Nazi troops fought like wild men to hold the Nijmegen bridge and other German tank and infantry units, backed up by heavy artillery, struck repeatedly but vainly against the west wall of the thin Allied corridor stretching up from the Belgian frontier to Nijmegen.
Strong German forces still remained inside Nijmegen even after the breakthrough across the Rhine bridge. They were fighting from house to house and street to street with U.S. paratroopers who rode the turrets of British tanks rifles and machine-guns blazing.
The original U.S. airborne force landed in the Nijmegen area had been assigned to take the bridges and hold them open for the advancing British armor, but they were repulsed twice in the first 48 hours. Meanwhile, the Germans poured in heavy reinforcements from the west and simultaneously tried desperately to wipe out the airborne pocket around Arnhem – believed to be predominantly British paratroops.
Nazi planes attack
The Nazi Air Force sneaked into the battle under cover of a heavy ground mist that hampered but did not stop the flow of Allied airborne reinforcements to the front, but front reports said the enemy’s raids were on a hit-and-run scale and generally had little effect. In one savage raid on Eindhoven Tuesday night, about 20 German bombers inflicted heavy destruction on the Dutch city and killed 60 townspeople.
The main German ground attacks against the Allied corridor to the Rhine centered in the area east of Turnhout. near the base of the spearhead. particularly in the Groot Bosch area on the Belgian-Dutch border.
Expand base
Headquarters said. however, that, the base was being expanded steadily and that men and armor were moving up swiftly and in strength to join the assault across the Rhine.
The breakthrough at Nijmegen came at a critical point in the battle when the airborne troops at Arnhem had been under terrific pressure from all sides for more than 48 hours. Front correspondents with the surrounded paratroops said the sound of Allied guns in the south was drawing steadily closer and that hope for an early juncture with their main forces was rising.
Meanwhile, Gen. Hodges’ 1st Army troops battled across the neck of Holland above Aachen against heavy shellfire to the town of Scherpenseel, five miles inside the border.
Tighten noose on Aachen
Other 1st Army infantrymen to the south tightened their noose around Aachen, leaving only a narrow escape corridor open to the northeast. The noise of heavy demolitions from inside the city suggested the enemy garrison might be preparing io abandon it and withdraw toward the Rhine.
United Press writer Jack Frankish reported that the 1st Army was meeting its bitterest opposition since D-Day all along the front, encountering German flamethrowers for the first time on one sector. Ten Nazi tanks were knocked out at one point, while heavy casualties were inflicted on German troops fighting a house-to-house battle for Stolberg.
Drive toward Saar
Equally ferocious resistance faced Gen. Patton’s troops farther south as they slugged their way slowly eastward from the Moselle River toward the Saar Valley. One infantry force battered into the Sillegny area, about six miles south of Metz and about the same distance east of the Moselle. Two 3rd Army spearheads were also fighting their way northeast of Nancy against strong German armored forces.
A dispatch from United Press writer Robert C. Richards said at least 53 enemy tanks, including some 60-ton Tiger tanks, were smashed by the Americans in fighting that often raged almost “tread-to-tread.”
Battle with knives
The Germans were strongly dug in at Château-Salins, barring the eastward push to the Rhine, and Mr. Richards said the Americans at one point fought with knives and bare fists to beat off an infantry counterattack in that sector. Other U.S. forces were advancing in the Dreux and Moyenvic areas, east and southeast of Château-Sains.
Worse than Tarawa and Saipan –
Marines storm Japs in Peleliu caves
Leathernecks charge ‘Gibraltar’ across jagged coral at high cost
AFHQ, Southwest Pacific (UP) –
Marines fighting across sheer, jagged coral, today assaulted a chain of superbly-constructed Jap cave fortresses on the ridges of western Peleliu under battle conditions even worse than those at Tarawa, Guadalcanal and Saipan, front dispatches reported.
Richard W. Johnston, United Press writer, who went in at the beach at Tarawa and scaled Mt. Tapochau on Saipan, reported from Palau: “Peleliu Ridge surpasses them both.”
He disclosed that the 1st and 7th Marines had suffered considerable casualties.
Caves connected
From connecting caves equipped with steel doors, Japs were reported pouring a crossfire of small arms, mortar and artillery at leathernecks inching their way over the sharp coral. The surface was so rough that men injured themselves merely by falling down.
Maj. Gen. Roy S. Geiger said the terrain was “the worst I ever saw.”
From the standpoint of territory captured, the Marines appeared near the end of the Peleliu campaign because they hold two-thirds of the island.
Blast Davao
Farther west, land-based Liberator bombers, intensifying the two-way drive on the Philippines, battered the port of Davao without opposition Monday.
Mr. Johnston said the caves on Peleliu were five levels deep, making the entire chain of coral cliffs into a gigantic bombproof shelter.
“This is the first Jap base in the Pacific which literally is comparable to Gibraltar,” he wrote.
Tokyo radio indicated that the Japs feared an American landing in the Philippines was imminent. More than 50 Liberators of the Far Eastern Air Force carried out the attack on Davao, showering 120 tons of bombs on airdromes, supply and personnel installations.
Clear Angaur Island
The heavy raid, first large-scale operation since carrier planes from Adm. William F. Halsey’s Third Fleet hit Mindanao nearly two weeks ago, came as soldiers and Marines were cleaning up enemy forces on Morotai, 250 miles south of the Philippines.
A Jap Dōmei News Agency broadcast said that about 80 carrier-based planes raided “the main island of Palau,” presumably Babelthuap, in daylight Tuesday (Tokyo Time). The dispatch also reported that U.S. planes raided Truk in the Central Carolines the same day.
The Army’s 81st (Wildcat) Infantry Division already crushed Jap opposition on Angaur Island in the Palau group, after killing 600 enemy troops.
Adm. Chester W. Nimitz announced that the Marines killed a total of 7,045 Japs, approximately three-fourths of Peleliu’s garrison, in less than one week of bitter fighting on the strategic island, 560 miles east of the Philippines.
Japs hemmed in
The remaining Japs, including picked troops. Were hemmed into an area 1,000 yards wide and 5,000 yards long, Blue Network correspondent William Ewing reported from the flagship off the Palaus.
Adm. Nimitz also disclosed that Marines from Peleliu had occupied a tiny unnamed island, 100 yards off Ngabad. The island, the fourth taken since the invasion of the Palaus last week, was apparently occupied without opposition.
On the right flank on Peleliu, along the eastern shore, enemy resistance practically ended, with only a few stragglers to be mopped up.
Headquarters revealed that the Army troops which overwhelmed the Japs on Angaur in four days were seeing combat for the first time.
Attack Talaud Islands
Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s stepped-up aerial offensive against the Philippines also brought new attacks on the Talaud Islands, nearly midway to Morotai, Celebes, Ceram and Amboina.
The raids, including the heavy strike on Davao, failed to bring a single Jap plane into the air, and only meager anti-aircraft fire.
Mitchell medium bombers and Lightning fighters joined in a heavy attack on Celebes Island airdromes, 200 miles south of Mindanao, for the 16th time in the last 17 days. Four enemy planes were destroyed on the ground.
In the ground operations on Morotai, a headquarters spokesman said U.S. troops have established a 12-mile perimeter on the island to protect construction work on the Pitu Airfield.
Combat casualties above 400,000
Army total 337,743 through Sept. 6
Washington (UP) –
U.S. combat casualties in this war, as officially announced here, passed 40,000 today to reach a total of 400,760 as compared with 389,125 a week ago.
Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson announced that Army casualties through Sept. 6 totaled 337,743. The Army total was 10,127 greater than that announced by Mr. Stimson a week ago.
Navy, Coast Guard and Marine casualties as announced today contributed 63,017 to the overall total. The Navy total was 1,508 larger than that of a week ago.
Mr. Stimson announced that of the Army wounded, 72,583 have returned to duty.
The official totals follow:
| Army | Navy* | |
|---|---|---|
| Killed | 64,468 | 25,152 |
| Wounded | 177,235 | 23,867 |
| Missing | 47,315 | 9,532 |
| Prisoners | 48,725 | 4,466 |
| — | — | — |
| TOTAL | 337,743 | 63,017 |
Law or no law!
Lewis orders miners to get set for strike
General walkout in April indicated
By Fred W. Perkins, Pittsburgh Press staff writer
…
Teenage youth accused of kidnapping twins’ mother
Woman is rescued by gas station attendant after writing message on ration coupons
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He speaks tonight –
San Francisco welcomes Dewey
‘How you’ve grown!’ says nominee’s uncle
Betting is 11 to 5 for Roosevelt
Chicago, Illinois (UP) –
Frank Stone, veteran Loop betting commissioner, said today that betting on the presidential election was getting more brisk with President Roosevelt established as an 11-to-5 favorite over Governor Thomas E. Dewey.Mr. Stone said he had already handled $50,000 in bets on the presidential race.
San Francisco, California (UP) –
Governor Thomas E. Dewey, Republican presidential nominee, today opened a two-day campaign for California’s 25 electoral votes.
The New York Governor and Mrs. Dewey arrived from Portland at the Oakland railroad station where they were greeted by California Governor Earl Warren and other state Republican leaders.
Governor Dewey will speak here tonight in a nationwide broadcast, and will speak tomorrow night in Los Angeles.
Mr. Dewey’s address tonight will be broadcast at 11:00 p.m. ET over KDKA.
One of the welcomers here was Governor Dewey’s uncle, Howard S. Reed, professor of plant physiology at the University of California.
“My, how you’ve grown!” the uncle, who hadn’t seen his nephew since Dewey was two years old, said.
At the Leamington Hotel, Governor Dewey met a large delegation of Republican Party workers and a group of mayors of cities on the east shore of San Francisco Bay. Crowds gathered on the mezzanine floor of the hotel while Governor Dewey shook scores of hands at a semi-official reception.
Governor Dewey reached California after a swing down the Pacific Coast from Washington in a fighting mood.
Housecleaning promised
He promised that if his bid for the White House is successful the nation will witness “the biggest, the finest and most complete housecleaning” of the national government in history.
He proposed “a whole new approach to the relationship between the government of the United States and its people.” That is to be the subject of his San Francisco speech tonight, and it was the measure he had for crowds which greeted his special train at Eugene and Klamath Falls, Oregon, en route southward from Portland.
Confidence urged
At Klamath Falls, Governor Dewey told a train-side audience of approximately 2,500 that “all you need is a government that will say to you ‘we believe in this country’ and you will go ahead to the greatest future in the history of the nation.”
He interpreted their nighttime reception as an indication that “you agree with me that the New Deal has not yet destroyed your confidence in the future” of the nation.
Throwing a bitter criticism of the centralization of power in the federal government during the last 12 years, Governor Dewey said he did not contemplate in such administrative posts appointees who would take such jobs “for the purpose of telling 130 million people that they know better how to run their lives than the people do themselves.”
He promised, instead, “a government of sound principles, which believes in our future, which wants to create jobs, and to go forward.”
Governor Warren, before leaving Sacramento to meet Governor Dewey in Oakland, said he would venture no prediction on whether the state’s 25 electoral votes will be in the Republican or Democratic column in November. He said he thought the campaign depended on “good hard work.”
If nominee dies, here’s routine
Washington (UP) –
The Democratic and Republican National Committees would name presidential or vice-presidential candidates if either post on the party tickets were vacated by death, resignation or for other reasons between the time of their nomination and the meeting of the Electoral College, officials said today.
Electoral votes are counted on Jan. 3 following each presidential election to choose the President-elect and the Vice President-elect.
If a vacancy should occur in the office of President-elect between the counting of the electoral votes and the date of inauguration, the Vice President-elect would become President.
Discussion of this situation was precipitated by Tuesday’s accident involving the train carrying Republican presidential nominee Thomas E. Dewey on a cross-country campaign tour.
‘Landon with mustache,’ Ickes says of Dewey
Washington (UP) –
Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes today described Republican presidential nominee Thomas E. Dewey as “a Landon with a mustache” and said he hoped the GOP nominee would keep up his speaking tour.
Mr. Ickes said that he intended to make several campaign speeches and would pick Mr. Dewey’s Cabinet for him in a Pittsburgh address Sunday.
Roosevelt works on political talk
Washington (UP) –
President Roosevelt has returned from his conference with Prime Minister Winston Churchill at Québec and has begun work on a political speech he will make here Saturday night, the White House disclosed today.
The speech will be broadcast by KDKA and WJAS at 9:30 p.m. ET.
White House Secretary Stephen T. Early said the President would devote most of the day to work on the speech, which will be addressed to members of the International Teamsters’ Union (AFL) at a meeting in a Washington Hotel. Mr. Roosevelt said some time ago that it would be his first political speech of the presidential campaign.
Chief of WLB defends board, cites work
‘Stalling’ charges by Dewey denied
Washington (UP) –
Chairman William H. Davis of the War Labor Board today replied to Republican charges of WLB “stalling” by stating that the board has already settled close to 300,000 wage cases and will clear its docket of pending voluntary cases in four weeks, and of dispute cases in 19 weeks.
Mr. Davis said in a formal statement:
Newspapermen have asked me to comment on certain statements regarding the work of the War Labor Board made by Thomas E. Dewey [the GOP presidential nominee] in his speech at Seattle on Monday night.
Since Jan. 12, 1942, the Board has settled 9,983 disputes involving eight million employees. Since Oct. 3, 1942, when wage stabilization went into effect, the Board has disposed of 275,000 voluntary applications involving more than 11 million workers.
4,262 a week
National and regional boards, he declared, are disposing of voluntary cases at the rate of 4,262 a week and dispute cases at the rate of 153 a week.
Mr. Davis’ reply to Governor Dewey was issued together with the report of a special WLB factfinding panel set up to hear the demands of the United Electrical Workers (CIO) for wage increases of 17 cents an hour in 81 plants of the General Electric and Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Companies.
The panel, noting that employees of the two concerns, had already been granted all raises allowable under the Little Steel wage formula, said any further increases would require “a revaluation and reformulation” of the national wage stabilization policy.
Public hearings scheduled
Therefore, the panel said, a final settlement should be held up until the WLB decides what action to take on the Basic Steel and American Federation of Labor panel reports on revising the wage policy.
Public hearings on those reports will begin next Tuesday.
On the cost-of-living increase, which forms the basis for the unions’ wage demands, the panel said it was “apparent” that living costs between Jan. 1, 1941, and Dec. 31, 1943, rose somewhere between 1.4 percent and 28.5 percent over and above the 15 percent in wage raises allowed by the Little Steel formula.
The panel held that no increases could be given the workers under the present wage stabilization policy, adding, however, that there was no action either of the President or Congress preventing the Board from recommending, and the President from modifying, the Little Steel formula in the light of living cost rises.