Simms: Ship losses of Japs called catastrophic
Enemy soon must gamble everything
By William Philip Simms, Scripps-Howard foreign editor
…
Barnes: Enchanting musical delights Broadway
Bloomer Girl in great tradition of Oklahoma and Show Boat
By Howard Barnes
…
Millett: Letdown in morale worries servicemen
Marriage-on-rocks stories cause of consternation
By Ruth Millett
…
Fortune gives Roosevelt 53.2% vote in Pennsylvania
Magazine calls margin precarious, with Dewey given chance to carry state
New York – (special)
Pennsylvania shows a 53.2 percent majority for President Roosevelt as of Oct. 1, but the majority is not a firm one, the Fortune Survey of Public Opinion reports today.
This finding is based on a special survey conducted during the last week of September for Fortune in Pennsylvania by the firm of Elmo Roper. Fortune asked the following question:
With which of these statements do you come closest to agreeing?
| Roosevelt has done an excellent job and it’s very important that he should be President during the next four years | 27.5% |
| While he has made some mistakes and has been in office a long time, it’s still better to elect Roosevelt, President again for the next four years | 22.6% |
| TOTAL FOR ROOSEVELT | 50.1% |
| Although Roosevelt has done some good things, he has been President long enough and the country would be better off to elect Dewey for the next four years | 28.3% |
| It would be a very bad thing for this country to reelect Roosevelt for another four years | 15.8% |
| TOTAL FOR DEWEY | 44.1% |
| DON’T KNOW | 5.8% |
When those with no opinion are left out and those with opinions are taken as 100 percent, the resulting figures are 53.2 percent for Roosevelt, 46.8 percent for Dewey.
Other facts were learned, Fortune reports, which show that the Roosevelt majority in the state is precarious.
The anthracite area around Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, which gave Mr. Roosevelt a majority in 1940, is now leaning heavily toward Governor Dewey.
Roosevelt strength in the state is limited to the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas.
Questioning also reveals that Governor Dewey has made a good enough impression so that if all those who now are considering voting for him, but are still mildly pro-Roosevelt or undecided, should cast their vote for Dewey, then Dewey might carry the state by a bare majority of 51.1 percent, even if the war news does not change materially in the meanwhile.
Fortune says:
But the war in Europe is still the key factor in the election in Pennsylvania as in the rest of the nation. If, before Election Day, it looks as if Germany actually were collapsing, a great many lukewarm Roosevelt supporters may shift over to the Republican side.
Roosevelt election reported in doubt
New York (UP) –
Newsweek Magazine reported today that its survey of election trends this week for the first time showed the reelection of President Roosevelt to be in doubt and indicated the vote in four states may decide the presidential race.
The survey, conducted among 118 political observers over the country, gave Mr. Roosevelt 25 states with an electoral vote of 230. Governor Thomas E. Dewey, Republican presidential candidate, was predicted to carry 19 states having 232 electoral votes.
The four deciding states, the survey indicated, will be Minnesota, Missouri, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, with a total of 69 electoral votes – all rated as “tossups.”
Völkischer Beobachter (October 20, 1944)
Zur Feindoffensive in Italien –
Die Kunst des hinhaltenden Widerstandes
…
Feindlandung auf den Philippinen
Tokio, 19. Oktober –
Wie die japanische Nachrichtenagentur Dōmei in einer Sondermeldung aus Manila bekanntgibt, haben feindliche Streitkräfte in den Morgenstunden des Dienstags im Gebiet der Zentralphilippinnen Landungsoperationen unternommen.
Führer HQ (October 20, 1944)
Kommuniqué des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht
In Holland wiesen unsere Truppen in dem verengten Brückenkopf Breskens sowie an der Landbrücke nach Südbeveland kanadische Angriffe blutig ab. Zusammengefasstes Feuer aller Waffen, hartnäckiger Widerstand und entschlossene Gegenangriffe vereitelten östlich Helmond den Versuch der Engländer, unseren Brückenkopf westlich der Maas einzudrücken. Eine Anzahl feindlicher Panzer wurde dabei vernichtet.
Die Materialschlacht um Aachen lobt weiter. Die tapfere Besatzung der Stadt fügte in erbitterten Straßenkämpfen den eingedrungenen Amerikanern schwere Verluste zu. Gegenangriffe vom Osten her brachten den Verteidigern Entlastung.
An den Taihängen im Raum von Bruyères brachen angreifende feindliche Bataillone in unserem Feuer zusammen oder wurden in Gegenangriffen geworfen. Auch im Quellgebiet der Moselotte scheiterten erneute Angriffe algerischer Schützen- und marokkanischer Gebirgstruppen nach geringem Geländegewinn. Eine am Vortag abgeschnittene feindliche Kräftegruppe wurde aufgerieben.
Von den Stützpunkten an der atlantischen Küste werden außer Artilleriefeuer und Stoßtrupptätigkeit keine besonderen Ereignisse gemeldet.
Das Störungsfeuer der „V1“ auf London dauert an.
In Mittelitalien vereitelten unsere Truppen auch gestern alle Versuche der Nordamerikaner und ihrer Hilfstruppen, unsere Bergstellungen südlich Bologna zu durchstoßen und damit den Austritt aus dem Gebirge zu erzwingen. Die Kämpfe dehnten sich auch auf den Abschnitt von Vergato aus. An der adriatischen Küste setzten die Briten ihre von zahlreichen Schlachtfliegern unterstützten Angriffe auf breiter Front erfolglos fort.
Auf dem Balkan stehen unsere Truppen in und südlich Belgrad in schweren Kämpfen gegen die von mehreren Seiten andringenden Bolschewisten.
In Südungarn Warfen deutsche Truppen zusammen mit ungarischen Verbänden den Gegner südöstlich Szolnok zurück und stießen bis Mezötúr vor. Im Raum von Debrecen brachte auch der gestrige Tag schwere Kämpfe. Die Stadt wurde nach hartnäckiger Gegenwehr unserer Truppen aufgegeben. Im bisherigen Verlauf der Schlacht wurden dort seit dem 8. Oktober 427 feindliche Panzer vernichtet.
In den Waldkarpaten herrschte gestern bei Schnee und Regen geringe Kampftätigkeit. Nur im Gebiet des Duklapasses führte der Gegner zahlreiche ergebnislose Angriffe.
Nördlich Warschau und in den Narewbrückenköpfen bei Seroc und Rozan nahmen die Bolschewisten ihre Angriffe wieder auf. Sie wurden unter Abschuß von 33 Panzern abgewiesen. Im ostpreußischen Grenzgebiet zwischen Sudauen und Schirwindt und besonders zwischen der Rominter Heide und Ebenrode halten die schweren Kämpfe an. Im Bereich einer Volksgrenadierdivision wurden 42 Panzer abgeschossen.
Südöstlich Libau und südlich der Rigaer Bucht wiesen Truppen des Heeres sowie Verbände germanischer und lettischer SS-Freiwilliger wiederholt feindliche Angriffe ab und vernichteten 29 Panzer.
An der Eismeerstraße angreifende sowjetische Bataillone wurden zerschlagen. Der feindliche Druck gegen unsere Stellungen westlich Petsamo hat sich verstärkt.
Nordamerikanische Terrorverbände griffen am Tage südwestdeutsches Gebiet an und warfen Bomben vor allem auf die Städte Mainz, Mannheim, Ludwigshafen, Karlsruhe und Wiesbaden. In der vergangenen Nacht führten die Briten Terrorangriffe gegen Stuttgart und Nürnberg. Flakartillerie der Luftwaffe und Nachtjäger schossen 27 anglo-amerikanische Flugzeuge, darunter 16 viermotorige Bomber, ab.
Am Czirokatalpaß hat sich das Füsilierbataillon 168 unter Führung von Oberleutnant Horn hervorragend geschlagen.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (October 20, 1944)
FROM
(A) SHAEF FORWARD
ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section
DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
201100A October
TO FOR ACTION
(1) AGWAR (Pass to WND)
TO (W) FOR INFORMATION (INFO)
(2) FIRST US ARMY GP
(3) ADV HQ 12 ARMY GP
(4) FWD ECH (MAIN) 12 ARMY GP
(5) AEAF
(6) ANCXF
(7) EXFOR MAIN
(8) EXFOR REAR
(9) DEFENSOR, OTTAWA
(10) CANADIAN C/S, OTTAWA
(11) WAR OFFICE
(12) ADMIRALTY
(13) AIR MINISTRY
(14) ETOUSA
(15) SACSEA
(16) CMHQ (Pass to RCAF & RCN)
(17) COM Z APO 871
(18) SHAEF MAIN
(REF NO.)
NONE
(CLASSIFICATION)
IN THE CLEAR
Communiqué No. 195
Good progress was made south of Breskens and our troops are now within two miles of Schoondijke and Oostburg. Other units, advancing from the original bridgehead over the Sint-Leenarts Canal, took the villages of Middelburg and Aardenburg. Patrols from the two forces made contact in the area south of Oostburg. Fighter-bombers and rocket-firing fighters, supporting our operations in the Breskens sector attacked communications and strongpoints and hit supply dumps at Fort Frederik Hendrik. In the area south of Venray, some progress was made against determined resistance west and southwest of Overbroek.
Our units made gains in the fighting inside Aachen. We continued to mop-up the area north of the city. The enemy reoccupied several pillboxes in the Haaren area, but was later driven out. A fairly strong counterattack with tanks and infantry north of Haaren was broken up by our artillery during the afternoon. In the Moselle River Valley, fighting continues in Maizières-lès-Metz. East of Luné, a concentration of enemy tanks was attacked by fighter-bombers. Other formations, striking across the German frontier to the east, went for rail targets at Kaiserslautern. In the Épinal sector, we made gains near Bruyères and occupied the high ground just north of the town.
Further progress was made in the Vosges foothills. Six enemy counterattacks were thrown back northeast of Le Thillot and more prisoners were taken. Heavy bombers in very great strength, with strong fighter escort, attacked in daylight military targets at Mainz and in the Ludwigshafen–Manheim area in southwestern Germany. Last night, heavy bombers, again in very great strength, struck at Stuttgart and Nürnberg. A lighter attack was made on Wiesbaden in the Rhineland. Nine of our aircraft are missing.
COORDINATED WITH: G-2, G-3 to C/S
THIS MESSAGE MAY BE SENT IN CLEAR BY ANY MEANS
/s/
Precedence
“OP” - AGWAR
“P” - Others
ORIGINATING DIVISION
PRD, Communique Section
NAME AND RANK TYPED. TEL. NO.
D. R. JORDAN, Lt Col FA Ext. 9
AUTHENTICATING SIGNATURE
/s/U.S. Navy Department (October 20, 1944)
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 161
Hellcat and Corsair fighters, Avenger torpedo planes and Helldiver bombers of the fast carrier task force, in support of the invasion of the Philippine Islands, attacked targets at Leyte, Cebu, and Negros Islands on October 19 (West Longitude Date). Ground installations were bombed and rocketed. The San Pablo and Dulag Airfields on Leyte were attacked, and direct hits were obtained on revetments and other installations. The town of Dagami was heavily pounded, and a bridge was knocked out. At Cebu Airfield, five enemy aircraft on the ground were strafed. An afternoon fighter sweep over airfields at Negros Island found little enemy activity. There was no airborne enemy opposition during these raids. One of our fighters was shot down by anti-aircraft fire. A single engine enemy torpedo plane was shot down in the vicinity of our surface ships.
Additional reports have been received regarding strikes by carrier aircraft which occurred on October 17 and 18 in the vicinity of Manila and in the northern part of Luzon. On October 17, a large cargo ship and a patrol vessel were sunk at Laoag Bay on Luzon’s northwest coast. A landing ship, a coastal cargo ship, and two luggers were probably sunk at Aparri. An escort vessel, two medium cargo ships, three small cargo ships, 16 coastal cargo ships, and 28 small craft found along the Luzon coasts were damaged by bombing, strafing, and rocket fire. Three enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground, and extensive damage was done to ground installations. At Laoag several barracks and fuel dumps were destroyed.
On the same day, in the vicinity of Manila, Clark, Tarlac and Mabalacat Airfields were attacked. Several intercepting fighters were shot down, 19 twin‑engine enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground at Mabalacat, 10 twin‑engine aircraft were destroyed on the ground at Tarlac, and one at Legaspi. Aviation installations at Clark and Mabalacat Fields were bombed and rocketed. We lost two fighters in this attack.
On October 18, our attacks in the Manila area continued, and Clark, Nielson, Pasig, and Nichols Airfields were further reduced. Seven enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground at Nielson Field, 10 at Clark Field, four at Pasig Field, and one at Angeles. An additional 26 enemy aircraft were damaged on the ground at the several fields. Only slight airborne enemy opposition was encountered in these attacks. During the day, a medium cargo ship found at San Fernando, a seaport on Lingayen Gulf, was attacked and damaged. Two barracks were destroyed at Clark Field, three hangars were blown up at Nielson Field, and two fuel dumps at Nielson Field were hit and destroyed. Extensive damage was done to dispersal areas and airport facilities in these strikes. Four of our aircraft were lost in these attacks, but the crew of one plane was rescued.
Corsairs of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing attacked Yap Island on October 17, and left two enemy planes on the ground afire. Gun positions south of Yap Town were bombed by a single Navy Ventura search plane the same day. Liberators of the 7th Army Air Force on the following day dropped bombs on bridges and in the town area of Yap.
On October 18, in a night attack, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing’s Hellcats shot up runways on Rota Island.
On October 19, Corsair fighters and Dauntless dive bombers of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing continued neutralization raids in the Marshall Islands.
The Pittsburgh Press (October 20, 1944)
MACARTHUR IN PHILIPPINES
Army of 250,000 in invasion
Yanks within gunshot of key Leyte airfield; Jap resistance feeble
By Richard W. Johnston, United Press staff writer
…
AACHEN FALLS TO YANKS
Last Germans mopped-up in ruined city
10,000 prisoners taken since Oct. 2 attack
By J. Edward Murray, United Press staff writer
…
Bataan victors face Yanks again
MacArthur anxious to whip Japs on Leyte
By William B. Dickinson, United Press staff writer
…
U.S. losses light in new invasion
**MacArthur reports ‘splendid progress’
…
By God’s grace I return, MacArthur tells Congress
General broadcasts call for people of islands to rise and strike at the Japs
By the United Press
…
Speaks here at 9:00 p.m. –
Dewey: White collar men forgotten
Crowds greet nominee on arrival in city
By Kermit McFarland
Governor Thomas E. Dewey, the Republican presidential candidate, here to bid for Pennsylvania’s 35 “crucial” electoral votes, announced this afternoon that he would devote part of his speech tonight to the problems of white-collar workers.
Mr. Dewey said the white-collar worker has become the “forgotten man.”
The Republican candidate will speak in Hunt Armory, East Liberty at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Governor Dewey’s Hunt Armory speech will be broadcast locally by KDKA at 9:00 p.m.
Labor’s rights cited
Mr. Dewey said:
The white-collar worker in the United States has slowly become the forgotten man. He is caught between two fires.
I intend to discuss the manner in which the New Deal has left the white-collar workers in a defenseless position while it has made collective bargaining into political bargaining and undermined the rights of labor.
The Governor announced his plans for his speech at a press conference held in the Urban Room of the William Penn Hotel immediately after he arrived there.
To elaborate on point
Asked what “two fires” he believed had trapped white-collar workers, the Governor said he preferred to “let it stand that way,” for the moment, because he would be elaborating on that point in his Hunt Armory speech.
Arriving for the press conference a few minutes behind the scheduled time, Mr. Dewey gazed around the room and exclaimed, “My, we’re getting very fancy in the rooms where we have our press conferences.”
Hails Philippines invasion
Somebody told him about Gen. MacArthur’s invasion of the Philippines. “Has that been confirmed?” he asked. Told that it had, he said: “That’s magnificent news.”
Mr. Dewey, in answer to an inquiry as to whether he will deliver a campaign speech in Ohio, said no new plans for the campaign have been developed beyond those already announced.
“What’s the answer to the white-collar worker’s problems?” a reporter queried.
“Like most everything else, a change of administrations,” he replied.
GOP trend claimed
Commenting on President Roosevelt’s decision to take the stump in the closing days of the campaign an evident departure from his original statement that he would not campaign “in the usual sense,” Mr. Dewey said:
The natural inference from that is that Mr. Roosevelt is trying to reverse a trend which now has become so strong that it indicates a Republican victory in November.
Mr. Dewey’s special train was met at the Pennsylvania Station by Governor Edward Martin and a delegation of state officials, candidates and party leaders.
Mr. Dewey made an unscheduled appearance before the Women’s Republican Luncheon Club at which Louis Bromfield, the author, was the principal speaker. Mr. Dewey told the women that there has never been a political campaign in which the issues had been “so vital.” His brief talk summarized some of the policies he previously has been enunciating in his campaign speeches.
After the press conference, he retired to his suite on the eleventh floor of the hotel for lunch and a series of conferences. He said his speech still was unfinished and that part of the afternoon would be given over to this task.
Among the conferences scheduled for the afternoon were meetings with a delegation of Negro backers and with a committee of labor union officials who are supporting the Republican candidate.
Atherton on program
Republican Headquarters has announced that Waren Atherton, former national commander of the American Legion, will speak on the Dewey program at the Armory, Mr. Atherton has taken an assignment as director of veterans’ activities for the Republican National Committee.
Mr. Atherton’s speech will precede that of Governor Dewey.
Mr. Dewey’s special train left Albany last night for Pittsburgh after the Governor issued a statement promising that American public opinion will “fully support” the State Department’s warning to Germany that it will have to pay the full price for any last-ditch terrorist activities against subjugated peoples.
Delegations coming in
Pennsylvania Republicans have planned a tumultuous reception at tonight’s rally for their presidential candidate.
Delegations from 20 counties are expected to swell the crowd at the Armory, which seats around 8,000.
A motorcade made up of Republicans from the Carnegie section, including Collier and South Fayette Townships, will parade into the city with torchlights and noisemakers. Special interurban cars have been scheduled from Charleroi and Washington.
Mr. Dewey will not stage a formal parade to Hunt Armory. His route from the hotel to the auditorium will not be disclosed in advance. He will go directly from the Armory to his special train for the return trip to Albany.