Dr. Ahrens: Die schwarze Flut
Von Dr. Dietrich Ahrens
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Führer HQ (November 9, 1944)
Kommuniqué des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht
Die tapfere Besatzung des Brückenkopfes Moerdijk vereitelte auch gestern die fortgesetzten Versuche der gegnerischen Panzerverbände, sie zu durchstoßen und von der Maas abzuschneiden. An der gesamten Front in Holland setzte der Feind den ganzen Tag über starke Schlachtfliegerverbände ein.
Von den Abschnitten beiderseits Aachens wird zunehmendes feindliches Artilleriefeuer und lebhaftes Nebelschießen gemeldet. Wie schon am Vortage, scheiterte auch gestern ein Angriff auf Würselen. Unsere Panzer und Grenadiere setzten die Säuberung im Gebiet von Kommerscheidt fort. Gegenangriffe nordamerikanischer Bataillone wurden trotz starker Unterstützung aus der Luft verlustreich für den Gegner zurückgeschlagen und dabei erneut zahlreiche Gefangene eingebracht. Eine Anzahl deutscher Soldaten wurde aus der Gefangenschaft befreit.
Die Abwehrschlacht an der lothringischen Grenze tobt zwischen Pont-ä-Mousson und dem Rhein-Marne-Kanal auf einer Breite von über 50 Kilometer. Gegenüber dem entschlossenen Widerstand unserer Stellungstruppen konnten die nordamerikanischen Divisionen nur an einzelnen Abschnitten in unser Hauptkampffeld eindringen, in anderen, so vor allem nordöstlich Pont-ä-Mousson, wurden sie blutig abgewiesen, westlich Château-Salins durch Gegenangriffe wieder geworfen. Im Raum von Marsal sind besonders heftige Kämpfe im Gange.
Weitere Angriffe an der oberen Meurthe brachten dem Feind auch gestern nur geringe örtliche Gewinne.
Das durch „V2“ verstärkte Feuer auf London wurde fortgesetzt.
Im Ostteil des Etruskischen Apennin und im anschließenden adriatischen Frontabschnitt sind die Verbände der 8. englischen Armee nach gewaltiger Feuervorbereitung zu größeren Angriffen übergegangen. In den Bergen nördlich Rocca S. Casciano lief sich der Feind im Feuer unserer Stützpunkte fest. In der Ebene von Forli konnte er unter starker Zusammenfassung seiner Kräfte unsere Front zurückdrängen und den Roncoabschnitt überschreiten. Unsere Truppen zerschlugen im Gegenangriff den feindlichen Brückenkopf.
Die aus Einheiten der Kriegsmarine und des Heeres bestehende Besatzung der Insel Milos in der Ägäis warf nach tagelangen harten Kämpfen den mit Unterstützung eines britischen Flottenverbandes gelandeten Feind und vertrieb ihn wieder von der Insel.
Im Zuge unserer Bewegungen auf dem Balkan wurde das Strumicatal, wie vorgesehen, geräumt. Im’ Abschnitt von Apatin an der Donau konnten die Bolschewisten auf dem Westufer Fuß fassen. Die Kämpfe sind noch im Gange.
Am Donaubrückenkopf Dunaföldvár, südöstlich Budapest, und nördlich Szolnok scheiterten Angriffe sowjetischer Verbände. Deutsche und ungarische Flak und Kampfflieger griffen wirkungsvoll in die Kämpfe südöstlich der ungarischen Hauptstadt ein.
Durch die zügigen Gegenangriffe unserer Truppen nördlich der mittleren Theiß wurde der bis in den Raum Mezökövesd vorgedrungene Feind aufgefangen.
An der übrigen Front bis zum Rigaer Meerbusen herrschte nur geringe Kampftätigkeit.
Feindliche Terrorflieger führten Angriffe gegen die Wohngebiete von Mörs, Homberg, Rheine sowie gegen Orte in Mitteldeutschland. In der vergangenen Nacht warfen britische Flugzeuge Bomben auf Hannover. Jäger und Flakartillerie schossen 18 feindliche Flugzeuge ab.
Gruppenkommandeur Major Walter Nowotny, Inhaber der höchsten deutschen Tapferkeitsauszeichnung, fand im Luftkampf nach Abschuß seines Gegners den Heldentod. Mit ihm verliert die deutsche Luftwaffe einen ihrer erfolgreichsten Jagdflieger, der insgesamt 258 Luftsiege errungen hat.
Unteroffizier Becker in einer Panzerjägerabteilung hat am 3. November im Brückenkopf Meijel südöstlich Helmond von 20 angreifenden Panzern 6 Panzer abgeschossen und damit den Angriff zum Stehen gebracht.
Bei den Kämpfen um Goldap haben sich das brandenburgische Grenadierregiment 121 unter Führung des Obersten Neumann und das schlesisch-sudetendeutsche Panzerregiment 31 unter Führung des mit dem Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes ausgezeichneten Obersten Sander durch kühnen Angriffsgeist hervorragend bewährt und entscheidend zur Einschließung und Vernichtung des in Goldap kämpfenden Feindes beigetragen. Oberst Sander fand an der Spitze seines Regimentes den Heldentod.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (November 9, 1944)
FROM
(A) SHAEF FORWARD
ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section
DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
091100A November
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. 215
On Walcheren Island, allied forces have freed Vrouwenpolder, only a few pockets of resistance are holding out and mopping-up continues. There has been bitter fighting for the Moerdijk bridge approaches. We penetrated the concrete defenses and made some advances in the face of fierce opposition. The enemy has been driven out of the area east of the town. Gun positions at Dunkerque were attacked yesterday by rocket-firing fighters. Fighter-bombers continued the attacks on transportation targets in Holland, principally in the Utrecht area. Rail tracks were cut in numerous places and motor transport destroyed.
The railway station and factory at Weeze, south of Goch, and strong points north and south of the Reichswald Forest, were attacked by rocket-firing fighters. Fighter-bombers attacked the communications center of Geilenkirchen, where many fires were started, bridges near Düsseldorf and Köln, and a rail yard near Euskirchen. Locomotives and freight cars in the Rhineland were also attacked. Airfields at Wiesbaden and Sachsenheim were hit by fighter-bombers. In the Hütgen Forest sector, our forces are attacking against strong enemy pressure, and are gaining ground slowly in the area south of Vossenack. Gains have been made against very heavy resistance southwest of the town of Hürtgen. West of Schmidt enemy pockets are being mopped up.
In the Seille River Valley, our units made gains east and northeast of Nancy after an artillery preparation yesterday morning. The following towns northeast and east of Nancy have been freed: Aulnois-sur-Seille, Mailly-sur-Seille, Fresnes-en-Saulnois, Malaucourt, Jalaucourt, Moncourt and Bezange. Between Nancy and Metz, nine enemy command posts were bombed and fighter-bombers, supporting our ground forces in the area east of Pont-à-Mousson, bombed gun positions and troop concentrations]. North of Baccarat the enemy has been cleared from Migneville. Gains have been made in the wooded area west of Saint-Dié and we have taken the village of Les Baraques.
Several enemy counter-attacks were repulsed in the Vosges Mountains southwest of Gerardmer. Eight enemy aircraft were shot down and two destroyed on the ground in tactical air operations yesterday. Seven of our aircraft are missing. Yesterday morning, heavy bombers attacked the synthetic oil plant at Homburg in the Ruhr. Fighters escorted the bombers and flew supporting sweeps. From this operation one bomber and one fighter 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/The Pittsburgh Press (November 9, 1944)
Yanks storm forts at Metz; 1,800 planes blast defenses
Third Army broadens offensive in France to front of 87 miles
By J. Edward Murray, United Press staff writer
…
Philippine raids blast 43 planes
Jap freighter sunk; destroyer also hit
By William B. Dickinson, United Press staff writer
…
Gracie Allen Reporting
By Gracie Allen
Hollywood, California –
Well, today George and I leave on a trip to campaign for the Sixth War Loan Drive and I hope we sell a hundred million billion dollars’ worth of bonds. We are going to visit Boston, New York, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and a lot of other towns on our old vaudeville circuit.
Goodness, if audiences throw half as much money at George as they used to throw other things, the financial part of the war is won.
I have to hurry now and repack some of George’s luggage. He’s complaining because I put his long underwear on top. He says he would be embarrassed on the train if he had to lift out the longies to get his shaving things.
Well, so long for now, folks. I’ll let you know how we make out on the road. I’m a trouper again – this time for Uncle Sam.
Soldier vote will decide state races
Congressional posts are also at stake
By Kermit McFarland
Pennsylvania’s soldier vote will decide the outcome of Tuesday’s election in this state.
It will decide the size of President Roosevelt’s state plurality over Governor Thomas E. Dewey, the Republican candidate for President.
It will govern the final results for the State Supreme Court, the Superior Court, U.S. Senator, Auditor General and State Treasurer.
It will decide at least two and possibly more Congressional contests.
Close legislative races
It will determine several legislative contests, including one in Pittsburgh.
Until the soldier vote count is completed, probably around Dec. 1, there will be no certainty about the state’s Tuesday election – except that Mr. Roosevelt’s plurality of 60,239 on a virtually complete eye vote seemed more than safe.
With only three of the state’s 6,208 districts missing, the total Pennsylvania vote for President is:
| Roosevelt | 1,788,782 |
| Dewey | 1,728,543 |
More than 225,000 military ballots have already been returned to the 67 county election boards. It is estimated that at least 250,000 will be on hand before the deadline, 10:00 a.m. ET, Nov. 22, when the official military ballot computation begins.
In Allegheny County alone, 43,500 military ballots have been received.
An estimated 9,500 military ballots will be voted 1n the 29th Congressional district where only 1,104 ballots separate the results for the rival candidates, Howard E. Campbell, Republican, and John F. Lowers, Democrat. Mr. Campbell holds the edge on the civilian vole.
In the Fourth Legislative District State Legislator O. B. Hannon has a lead of only 579 civilian votes over former Mayor Wilham N. McNair, Democratic candidate for the Legislature. More than 2,000 military ballots are expected in this district.
236-vote difference
The Congressional race between Republican Congressman Louis E. Graham and Samuel G. Neff, Democratic candidate, in Butler, Lawrence and Beaver counties will be settled by the soldier vote. On civilian returns, Mr. Graham has a lead of 1,120.
If the soldier vote is pro-Roosevelt, as most politicians on both sides believe, the statewide contest most likely to be settled by the military ballots is the race between Federal Judge Charles Alvin Jones, Democrat, and Supreme Court Judge Howard W. Hughes, Republican nominee now serving by appointment.
The lead in this contest seesawed between the two candidates in late returns, but by today Judge Hughes held a lead over his Democratic opponent of 6,230. The vote, from 8,197 of 8,208 districts:
| Hughes | 1,712,859 |
| Jones | 1,706,629 |
This was the closest statewide race of the Tuesday election, although other contests were also “decisive” only by comparison.
In the race for the U.S. Senate, Congressman Francis J. Myers of Philadelphia, Democratic candidate, held a lead of only 6,354 over U.S. Senator James J. Davis, who was standing for his fourth senatorial election.
In 8,203 of the state’s 8,208 districts the vote was:
| Congressman Myers | 1,717,224 |
| Senator Davis | 1,710,870 |
Auditor General F. Clair Ross, Democratic candidate for the Superior Court, had a lead of 58,803 over his nearest Republican opponent, former Governor Arthur H. James, now serving on the Superior Court by appointment by Governor Edward Martin.
Rhodes ahead of James
His running mate, Judge Chester H. Rhodes, seeking a second term on the Superior bench, had a lead of only 10,081 over Judge James.
These returns were from 8,146 of the state’s 8,208 districts.
Running far behind was Judge J. Frank Graff of Kittanning, the other Republican nominee, who trailed Judge James by 17,310.
The total vote for Superior Court, in which two are to be elected, with 11 districts of 8,208 missing:
| Ross | 1,730,197 |
| Rhodes | 1,689,624 |
| James | 1,684,205 |
| Graff | 1,661,853 |
In other statewide contests, Democrat Ramsey S. Black held a lead of only 7,816 over his Republican opponent for State Treasurer, Edgar W. Baird Jr., but Democratic State Treasurer G. Harold Wagner led his Republican opponent for Auditor General, State Senator G. Harold Watkins, by 17,930. The totals for 8,193 districts.
STATE TREASURER:
| Black | 1,698,685 |
| Baird | 1,676,800 |
AUDITOR GENERAL:
| Wagner | 1,714,507 |
| Watkins | 1,696,577 |
Mr. Roosevelt won the state by piling up majorities of 78,000 in Allegheny County and 132,000 in Philadelphia, more than enough to overcome the losses he suffered in counties he had carried by big majorities in 1940.
The Roosevelt victory in the state, however, produced spotty results for the rest of the Democratic ticket.
In addition to losing the Supreme Court post – subject to possible change on the soldier vote – they lost two Congressmen in Allegheny County and another Congressional candidate is trailing on the civilian vote.
But they gained three Congressmen in Philadelphia and in Luzerne County.
Roosevelt faces war, peace tasks
Cabinet changes among problems
Hyde Park, New York (UP) –
Franklin D. Roosevelt, assured that he will be President for the next four years, today put aside election returns for returns from the battlefronts and turned to the tangled affairs of running a nation at war and preparing for a complicated peace.
The President knew he was in for another four years, and that knowledge brought up automatically a series of problems:
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Changes in his Cabinet.
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New strategy meetings with Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin and possibly the Chinese leader, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.
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Further efforts in construction of an international peace organization.
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Preparation of new domestic programs to be submitted to Congress.
The President will return to the White House tomorrow.
Thousands of the voteless citizens in Washington are expected to give Mr. Roosevelt a rousing welcome. If past homecoming celebrations after reelection are briefly in the Union State plaza and then ride down Pennsylvania Avenue, as numerous bands play. Heads of U.S. departments and agencies will be asked to give employees time off for the celebration and officials may delay the usual opening school time so that children can be present.
As the President neared the end of his Hyde Park election trip, there was speculation that he will shortly meet with Mr. Churchill and Marshal Stalin – this time to map the last phase of the war in the Pacific, or at least the invasion of Japan.
Shadowing the prospects of such a meeting was the openly-admitted difficult situation in China and this particular problem might well produce a meeting with Chiang as one of the participants.
To rest first
There was no confirmation here whatever of these conference rumors, but it was generally accepted that Mr. Roosevelt shortly would embark on a trip to rest after an arduous, fourth-term reelection campaign which took him for major appearances into New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Boston.
At any rate, the President will have an opportunity to clear up these questions tomorrow when he holds a news conference at the White House.
Yesterday the President took it rather easy, getting up in midmorning, taking another look at the successful election returns, lunching and then going for a drive around his estate.
‘Democracy proved’
Mr. Roosevelt felt the election had again proved the benefits of the American democratic process of holding a free election even in wartime.
The President said:
For the first time in 80 years, we have held a national election in the midst of war. What is really important is that after all of the changes and vicissitudes of four score years, we have again demonstrated to the world that democracy is a living, vital force, that our faith in American institutions is unshaken, that conscience and not force is the source of power in the government of man.
In that faith, let us unite to win the war and to achieve a lasting peace.
Message from Hull
There were hundreds of messages pouring into the temporary White House here. There was none from Governor Thomas E. Dewey, the defeated Republican candidate, but there was word from ailing Secretary of State Cordell Hull, who messaged the President:
I extend my warmest felicitations on your reelection to the Presidency. Under your wise leadership our country will rededicate itself, united and strong, to the attainment of complete and speedy victory over our enemies, and to the establishment of a just and lasting peace.
Conservative bloc may test Roosevelt’s foreign policy
Senate isolationist minority may wreck Presidentt’s post-war foreign program
New York –
President Roosevelt’s fourth-term problem No. 1 today lies in Congress where despite Democratic gains, he must maneuver to overcome and to bypass the Senate isolationist minority which may wreck his post-war foreign plans.
He will return to Washington tomorrow from Hyde Park, but not so long.
Mr. Roosevelt doubtless soon will be on his way to Paris to accept the de Gaulle government’s invitation to visit the newly-liberated country and thence to the place where he, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Premier Joseph Stalin are to meet. Their pressing job is to pick up the tough questions which the Dumbarton Oaks conferees put aside.
The fourth-term mandate is expected to revive the New Deal at home – a phase of activity which was lapsing as the war developed – and to encourage Mr. Roosevelt to seek a way around the obstacle of the Senate’s treaty-making powers if it appeared that an isolationist minority could prevent the use of armed U.S. military power against aggressors without prior Congressional consent.
Mr. Roosevelt was reelected by a margin of 413 electoral votes to 118 for Governor Thomas E. Dewey. He is leading or has definitely won 35 states.
The latest popular vote:
| Roosevelt | 23,831,262 |
| Dewey | 20,896,766 |
On the home front, the New Deal social security program is apparently to be extended on a cradle-to-grave scope which would bring into its framework millions of agricultural, domestic and other workers not now covered.
The administration will drive to obtain the heretofore postponed scale-up of social security taxes.
Spending for jobs is here to stay – at least for another four years – along with high taxes, although a determined Congress may force some corporation relief.
The Tennessee Valley development is expected to become a pattern for other watersheds; a study of the Missouri River is already well advanced.
A new political star has arisen within the fourth term in Sidney Hillman, the CIO leader who conceived the explosively successful doorbell ringing campaign by which 100,000 volunteer workers got out the New Deal-Democratic vote.
Permanent PAC discussed
Mr. Hillman is talking of a permanent PAC organization, an idea which will give the opposition the shivers and cause all politicians to ponder.
As Mr. Hillman went up, President John L. Lewis of the United Mine Workers went down. He backed the wrong horse again this time and his miners seem to have repudiated his leadership if Roosevelt returns from the great coal-producing areas are any measure of what happened.
Linked with Mr. Hillman’s rise was the demonstration in New York that the Democrats and Mr. Roosevelt must play ball with the left wing, including the Communists, to maintain their ballot position in the nation’s most populous state.
Roll up votes
The American Labor Party, substantially infiltrated by Communists polled 457,000 votes for the President in New York. The Liberal Party, an offshoot of the ALP which was set up in protest against “Commie” domination of the older group, rolled up 312,000 Roosevelt votes.
Those two left-wing organizations are the balance of power in this state – a fact which may materially influence Mr. Roosevelt in the next four years, urgently pressing him to the left.
There is a whirlwind of Cabinet speculation, including reports – still unsubstantiated – that Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins will give way presumably to some CIO leader, and that Secretary of State Hull wants out on grounds of ill health.
Stettinius mentioned
Edward R. Stettinius Jr., now Under Secretary of State, has been mentioned as a possible successor to Mr. Hull. So has Henry A. Wallace, who walked the plank at last summer’s Democratic National Convention. Mr. Wallace is expected to get a good spot if he wants it but the ambassadorship to China or some such is considered more in his line. That job is open.
Mr. Wallace was dumped as Vice President because of conservative Democratic threats and pleadings, much of which came from the South, although National Committee Chairman Robert E. Hannegan and some of the big city bosses joined in.
The Southern rebellion was swamped like a peanut shell in a hurricane. If two or three Southern electors go through with their threats not to vote for Mr. Roosevelt, their ballots will not be missed.
No Dewey message
The future relationship between Mr. Roosevelt and Governor Dewey already invites interested speculation. Mr. Dewey told questioners yesterday he had “no illusions about 1948.”
On the other hand, no one bitten by the presidential bug ever has been known to recover. White House aides rather emphasized the fact that Mr. Dewey had sent no telegram of congratulations to the President.
After all, the two men were telling the public only a few days ago that the other was a liar and there were other hard words. It is believed that Mr. Dewey will not be drawn into the White House circle even to the extent the late Wendell L. Willkie was after 1940.
May continue attack
Instead, the well-entrenched Governor of New York is likely to undertake some big gun anti-administration cannonading.
But the two men have come closer together on foreign policy, and that may further strengthen Mr. Roosevelt’s position at the forthcoming meeting with Mr. Churchill and Marshal Stalin.
The President will be a big figure at that conference, bigger than at Tehran almost a year ago. He will represent the richest and most productive of the big three nations and he will be secure in office and power – not so secure as Marshal Stalin, perhaps, but more firmly seated than Mr. Churchill who will be up for reelection the moment the war in Germany is ended.
These three will cut the pattern of the post-war world and arrange for the imminent full dress United Nations conference which is expected to be held somewhere in the Western Hemisphere.
“The Champ” carried the House with him and the Democrats will remain in control of the Senate, the party’s majority there not having been actually at stake this year.
With 10 contests still undecided, 425 members of the House have been elected so far, according to United Press tabulations, and 242 were Democrats. This was 26 more than they have in the current Congress.
Minority still faced
Despite defeat of such isolationists as Senators Gerald P. Nye (R-ND) and John Danaher (R-CT), a sturdy minority Senate bloc remains. And it may be able under constitutional provisions, to prevent a two-thirds affirmative vote in support of the mainspring of Mr. Roosevelt’s peace-guarantee machinery.
That is the plan boldly outlined in the campaign and substantially endorsed by Mr. Dewey that the U.S. representative on the post-war league – or whatever shall have authority to commit certain U.S. forces to help smack down an aggressor – all this without specific prior consent by Congress to which the Constitution entrusted the war-making powers.
Mr. Roosevelt is expected to seek a way to bypass a Senate veto if he is convinced that his plan could not win two-thirds majority approval.
Churchill: U.S. vote results improve ‘Big three’ parley prospects
Prime Minister declares another meeting with Stalin, Roosevelt may stop destruction
London, England (UP) –
Prime Minister Winston Churchill said today it was “high time: the leaders of America, Britain and Russia met again, and added that the prospects for this conference have been “vastly improved” by the reelection of President Roosevelt.
Mr. Churchill said another meeting of Mr. Roosevelt, Premier Joseph Stalin and himself “might easily abridge the sufferings of mankind and stop the fearful process of destruction which is now ravaging the earth.”
He declared the Allied armies on the Western Front “will presently move into Germany for the final struggle.”
The Prime Minister, in a jovial and expansive mood, spoke at a Mansion House luncheon of the new Lord Mayor of London, Sir Frank Alexander.
Mr. Churchill said:
I feel free to express, on personal grounds, the very great joy it gives me to know that my wartime and intimate cooperation with President Roosevelt will be continued in the months that lie before us.
I am sure that everybody will be moved by the sportsmanlike manner in which Governor Dewey, in the moment of his defeat, offered his congratulations to his opponent and pledged his party to work wholeheartedly for the world cause.
He praised the way the U.S. election was conducted without disturbing Anglo-American friendship, and lauded both parties for holding the Allied interests “high above the dust of partisanship.”
He said:
America has given an example to the world of how democratic institutions can be worked with the utmost vigor and freedom without injury to the permanent interests of the state.
Mr. Churchill warned that “we must be very careful ourselves to avoid mixing ourselves up in American political affairs” and thanked the British Parliament, press and public leaders for “the care and restraint which have made all potential indiscretions die upon their lips.”
Hailed by big crowd
Mr. Churchill was hailed with shouts of “good luck” and V-for-Victory signs as he drove from Downing Street to Mansion House for the traditional ceremony. Big crowds lined his course.
Speaking about Britain’s own politics, Mr. Churchill said:
It seems almost certain that the country will have its first general election of the war in 1945, and I am sure that it will be conducted by all concerned with all the liveliness and robust vigor which will gratify the political emotions of our public without destroying that marvelous underlying unity and sense of brotherhood which has long existed in this country and has reached its highest degree among the perils from which we have been delivered.
Hopes for victory in 1945
Mr. Churchill spoke only briefly of the present and prospective status of the war in Europe. He dismissed the outlook for its end with the assertion that “no one can be blamed for hoping that victory may come to the Allies and peace may come to Europe in 1945.”
But an implicit suggestion of approaching offensives was contained in his observation that with the great port of Antwerp at the disposal of the Allies the armies on the northern flank “presently” will drive into Germany.
The Allied advance after the rush through France was inevitably halted by the stiffening German resistance, Mr. Churchill said, and the interval has been used to move up supplies and reinforcements for the “final struggle.”
Every scrap needed
Victory is assured, he said, but added that the full might of the three great powers, “every scrap of strength they can give,” will be required to crush the desperate resistance which can be expected from the Germans during the coming great operations.
Sketching the topics he discussed at the Lord Mayor’s luncheon a year ago, the Prime Minister said the events of 1944 have surpassed those of 1943 by far, with Rome, Athens, Paris and Brussels liberated and all of Adolf Hitler’s satellites turning against him.
He said:
They who have been driven so far against their interests, against their honor, against in many cases their inclination, have had a chance to turn upon the slave driver, and may now reap the vengeance which is due them.
Hail of fury on foes
Observing that the Allies now stand on German soil both in the east and in the west, and that “from the air there rains down upon the guilty German land a hail of fire and explosion of ever-increasing fury,” Mr. Churchill added:
We have had our own experience and we know how severe the ordeal may be, but I can assure you that we have not suffered one-tenth of what is being meted out to those who first started and developed this cruel and merciless form of attack.
U.S. casualties rise to 509,195
Washington (UP) –
Combat casualties among American soldiers, sailors, Coast Guardsmen and Marines during World War II today passed the half-million mark.
Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson reported Army casualties through Oct. 28 totaling 437,356, while Navy casualty reports through Nov. 8 listed 71,839 dead, wounded, missing and prisoners of war, for a total casualty list of 509,195.
This was an increase of 21,503 over the total casualty figure of 487,692 reported a week ago.
The casualties were divided as follows with the Navy figures including the Marines and Coast.
| Army | Navy | |
|---|---|---|
| Killed | 84,811 | 28,599 |
| Wounded | 243,054 | 29,442 |
| Missing | 55,011 | 9,311 |
| Prisoners | 54,480 | 4,487 |
| TOTALS | 437,356 | 71,839 |
Of the 243,054 Army wounded, 112,814 have returned to duty.
The Navy casualties were divided among the Navy proper, Marines and Coast Guard as follows:
| Navy | Marines | Coast Guard | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Killed | 18,460 | 9,617 | 522 |
| Wounded | 8,784 | 20,464 | 194 |
| Missing | 8,253 | 917 | 141 |
| Prisoners | 2,542 | 1,945 | None |
| TOTALS | 38,038 | 32,943 | 857 |
Vote held endorsement –
Early adoption of peace plan termed goal
Senators Johnson, Ball optimistic
Washington (UP) –
Senator Joseph H. Ball (R-MN) and Edward C. Johnson (D-CO) agreed today that the election was an endorsement of administration foreign policy but differed on the degree of unanimity they expect in the Senate on U.S. participation in a world peace league.
Mr. Ball, an ardent internationalist who advocated President Roosevelt’s reelection because he feared Governor Thomas E. Dewey was too weak in international sentiment, said “there’ll still be a battle” over the league issue.
Mr. Johnson, a member of the Senate Military Affairs Committee, said he considered the election “a mandate for working out a permanent peace” and declared there was “a good basis for an almost unanimous agreement in the Senate on a realistic foreign policy.”
Mr. Ball said there was now “a much better chance for the Senate to go along with the President’s plan.”
Both Senator Ball and Johnson said they hoped the President and Congress would take positive action to insure a lasting peace.
Mr. Ball said he would like to see a conference between the United Nations soon to draft a charter from principles laid down by the Dumbarton Oaks meeting and to iron out differences not settled there.
Democrats widen House majority; several isolationists ‘purged’
Question remains to be answered whether majorities will be ‘Roosevelt majorities’
New York (UP) –
Democrats will have a bigger House majority in the 79th Congress. Results of Tuesday’s election showed today, and there will be fewer isolationists in the House and Senate of the stamp of Senator Gerald P. Nye (R-ND) and Rep. Hamilton Fish Jr. (R-NY).
Both Nye and Fish and several likeminded colleagues were defeated while a number of forthright non-isolationists won election.
Major problems faced
The new Congress will face problems of unprecedented nature and difficulty in connection with preparing for peace while war is still on. On the Senate will fall the responsibility for helping to shape the peace and to ratify this country’s participation in a world security organization.
Although the Republicans have an uncertain chance of picking up an additional Senate seat, they stand to lose 21 seats in the House, and in both chambers, Democrats will have comfortable majorities.
Whether they will turn out to be “Roosevelt majorities,” or whether Southern Democrats will team with Republicans against the administration as on many past occasions remains to be seen. In the Senate a two-thirds’ majority is necessary for treaty ratifications.
Democrats gain
With 10 House contests still undecided, the Democrats had gained 28 seats, giving them a prospective total of 242 if there are no further party shifts in the 10 unsettled races.
The Republicans’ net loss of 21 gave them an indicated total of 191. The incumbent Congress has 214 Democrats, 212 Republicans, four minor party members and five vacancies.
In the 425 contests with conclusive results, the Democrats won 238, the Republicans 185, the American Labor Party one and the Progressive Party one.
The outcome in two Kentucky districts was still undecided, and the result in five districts in Missouri, one in Pennsylvania, one in California and one in Maryland will not be determined until the soldier vote is counted.
New Senators
Among the new Senators will be Rep. J. William Fulbright (D-AR), author of the Fulbright Resolution favoring a world organization with power to enforce peace.
Also among the new Senators will be Wayne L. Morse (R-OR), former public member of the War Labor Board, and Glen H. Taylor (D-ID), a one-time minstrel.
Taylor, who won the Democratic nomination over incumbent Senator D. Worth Clark by only 202 votes in the primary, defeated Governor C. A. Bottolfsen, the Republican candidate, by nearly 4,000 votes in Tuesday’s election.
Made ‘four starts’
The man who rode into Idaho politics on a horse and who once entertained thousands in his own tent theater shows at crossroads throughout the west, reached the Senate after “four starts” at the “big time.”
In 1938, he ran fourth in a large field, getting what votes he could by trouping about on horseback.
Two years later, when he again ran for the Senate his ten-gallon hat, high heels and flowing tie marked him as an eccentric. Democrat Senator John Thomas defeated him at that time. He came back in 1942 but suffered a similar defeat.
This year, Taylor abandoned his “outlandish” apparel, appeared as a dapper businessman and managed to secure support from old-line Democrats who formerly opposed him.
Stephen Day loses
In the House, Rep. Stephen A. Day (R-IL), an isolationist, lost to Democrat Mrs. Emily Taft Douglas who campaigned on a promise to support cooperative world peace.
There will be more woman members of the House – NINE – than ever before when the 78th Congress convenes.
Six of the seven woman members of the current Congress were returned. The seventh – Rep. Winifred Stanley (R-NY) – did not seek reelection.
Two of the newcomers have several things in common. Both bear the same last name, have husbands in the Armed Forces, and are Democrats. They are screen star Helen Gahagan Douglas, wife of actor Melvin Douglas, and Emily Taft Douglas, wife of Prof. Paul Douglas of the University of Chicago.
Ex-teacher elected
The third newcomer is Mrs. Chase G. Woodhouse of New London, Connecticut – authoress, former Smith College instructor and one-time Connecticut Secretary of State.
One of the incumbent women, Rep. Margaret Chase Smith (R-ME) was reelected when Maine held its elections in September. The other women incumbents include: Mrs. Clare Boothe Luce (R-CT), Jessie Sumner (R-IL), Mary T. Norton (D-NJ), Edith Nourse Rogers (R-MA) and Frances P. Bolton (R-OH).
Glamor girl of Democrats wins California election
Actress Helen Gahagan now has chance to face Clare Boothe Luce in Washington
Hollywood, California (UP) –
Helen Gahagan Douglas, brown-haired representative of the Democratic Party who carried Southern California politics from smoky backrooms to the plush-lined drawing rooms of Hollywood, today became the second glamor girl in Congress and said she was prepared to battle it out with Clare Boothe Luce, fiery Republican charmer.
Mrs. Douglas won her post in Washington after a neck-and-neck race with Attorney William Campbell, Republican candidate for the 14th district post.
Wife of actor Melvyn Douglas, now in India as a major with the U.S. Army, the stage and screen musical star waged her campaign by making more than 300 political speeches, urging Americans to vote for a fourth term for President Roosevelt.
Fought for Wallace
At the Democratic Convention last July, she made one of the major addresses and fought to an unsuccessful finish for Henry Wallace’s renomination as Vice President.
During the presidential campaign she staged a battle of beauty and brains with Mrs. Luce on a Herald-Tribune Forum program when she blasted the Republican war preparedness program over a coast-to-coast network.
Mrs. Douglas, who says she is three years older than Mrs. Luce’s admitted 41, dreamed up her own way of getting votes. Instead of holding noisy political rallies she staged “house meetings” at neighborhood homes.
Campaigned in shacks
Her district included poverty-stricken homes in the Negro, Mexican and Italian sections of crowded Los Angeles. So, it was no unfamiliar sight to see her mink-coated figure sweep from a shiny black limousine and dart into an unpainted shack. Once she even turned up on “Skid Row” to talk to unshaven derelicts.
After each house meeting, she drank tea with the voters and compared notes with them on how to raise children. She has three herself.
Mrs. Douglas said she had no comment to make on her election. She did say, however, that she was glad she won.
Mrs. Gleason loses
Albert Dekker, Democrat and bewhiskered cowboy of screen thrillers, won the assembly race in the 57th District from Mrs. Alta Potter, Republican housewife.
The only Hollywood vote-getter to come out on the short end of the tally sheets was Democrat Lucille Gleason, actress wife of screen star James Gleason.
Mrs. Gleason, who stumped for the job of state legislator from the 59th district, battled through a seesaw race against Charles W. Lyon, veteran Republican Assemblyman and Speaker of the Lower House.
Today, she conceded the election and went back to her grease-paint.
Military drill may be asked by Roosevelt
He recognizes need of being prepared
By Daniel M. Kidney, Scripps-Howard staff writer
Hyde Park, New York –
Armed with his sweeping victory, President Roosevelt may go to Congress early next year with a request for permanent compulsory military draining as an instrument toward preparedness for peace.
Throughout his campaign, the President repeatedly stressed that he was a “big Navy” man and had used blanket appropriations to Congress to carry out a warship construction program.
He also pointed out that he had supported the draft law after gigantic appropriations had been made for rearmament in an already war-torn world.
Until that time, he had opposed compulsory training in Civilian Conservation Corps camps. But recently he pointed up the “conservation of natural resources” which such camp life could give to young Americans spending a year in them.
Throughout his speaking campaign, he stressed the necessity of always being prepared in a military sense.
So, knowing he has won a great endorsement from the American people, and that the House and Senate will be Democratic, he is considering the possibility of compulsory Service in his peace plans.
Dewey turns his attention to full-time Governor job
Beaten candidate feels campaign unified nation on war, peace issues
Albany, New York (UP) –
Thomas Edmund Dewey, defeated in his bid for the Presidency, turned his attention again today to the full-time job of being Governor of New York.
Mr. Dewey returned to the Executive Mansion here last night from New York City, where he had received the election returns which swept President Roosevelt into a fourth term.
He said he expected to spend a full day catching up on state affairs which had been deferred during the intensive two-month campaign.
Appears glad it’s over
He hopes soon to get away for a test, possibly at Sea Island, Georgia. He hopes he can take along his two sons, Thomas Jr., 12, and John, 6, who remained in school during the campaign.
As he returned to Albany, he appeared to be in good spirits and glad the ordeal of campaigning was ended.
He was gratified particularly at the heavy popular vote his party rolled up in Tuesday’s election, feeling it indicated the most unity shown in the Republican Party in 14 years and demonstrated a sense of purpose and devotion to the country and a willingness to work in harmony.
Good from campaign
He also believed the campaign would be of tremendous good to the nation, particularly in unifying the country on the question of international cooperation to prevent future wars.
He was represented as feeling the campaign demonstrated that the Republican and Democratic parties are close together on the ultimate goal but differ on where they place the emphasis on the issue.
Did everything possible
This feeling was based on the theory that the present administration has placed emphasis on a dominant position for the United States, Great Britain and Russia, whereas Governor Dewey emphasized that peace machinery must have the active participation of all nations, great and small, if it is to succeed.
Governor Dewey feels the campaign as a whole was conducted about as well as possible under the difficult wartime conditions. Sources close to the Governor feel he did everything humanly possible to present a forthright program of loyal opposition with a net effect, regardless of the election outcome, of unifying the nation in its determination to speed victory and prevent future wars.
Perkins: Party record hurt Dewey, Labor says
Brotherhoods’ paper cites Congress’ acts
By Fred W. Perkins, Pittsburgh Press staff writer
Washington –
“Governor Dewey made an impressive showing, but he was frightfully handicapped by his party’s record on economic issues.”
This analysis of the election results will be published this week by Labor official organ of the Railway Workers’ Brotherhoods, in an article indicating that most railroad men voted for the winner in what was described as FDR’s “fourth landslide” in electoral votes.
The Labor statement and another by William Green, AFL president, indicate the CIO’s claim to the largest credit for producing the Roosevelt victory will be contested by the other union organizations. Spokesmen for the AFL and the railway brotherhoods emitted scathing statements prior to the election about the CIO Political Action Committee – but that’s all washed up now by the way balloting came out.
Alliance criticized
The complaint of Labor against Mr. Dewey’s party is directed at Republicans in Congress who, the paper will say, “formed an alliance with the ‘sweatshop’ Democrats from the South to put over such legislation as the Smith-Connally Bill and to defeat such measures as the Kilgore Bill, belying their party’s ancient boast that it was the advocate of good wages and the full dinner pail. Such a course could only end in disaster.”
Labor will point out it was the cities that put over the Roosevelt-Truman ticket, and that in the biggest city of all, New York, the straight Democratic votes were reinforced by 388,000 from the American Labor Party and 303,000 from the Liberal Party.
CIO victory not complete
The paper will say:
The American Labor Party is now controlled by the Communists through a combination with Sidney Hillman’s forces, and the Liberal Party is directed by old-time Socialists like David Dubinsky, of the Ladies Garment Workers’ Union, who object to associating with the “Reds.”
Despite the presidential victory, it was apparent the CIO and cooperating labor organizations had not made anything like a complete score in retiring Congressmen who had been adjudged unfriendly to the unions. Many who voted for the Connally-Smith Act, a yardstick for the determination of Congressmen’s labor attitudes, were reelected.
A smashing victory was won by Rep. Howard W. Smith (D-VA), main sponsor of the controversial law. Others in CIO disfavor who regained their seats are Reps. Clare Boothe Luce (R-CT) and Clare E. Hoffman (R-MI).
Meany speech Friday
An aftermath of the election will be a radio speech Friday night by George Meany, AFL secretary-treasurer and a member of the War Labor Board. He has criticized vigorously the WLB delay in making a decision on the pleas for an upward revision of the “Little Steel” formula of wartime wage control. That will be his Friday topic.
The wage formula issue was hot until two weeks before the election, when CIO leaders suddenly cooled in their efforts to place the question on the President’s desk in time for him to make a decision before Nov. 7.
The WLB is now proceeding unhurriedly toward action that will place a factfinding report before Mr. Roosevelt. Indications point to WLB action before Nov. 20, when both the CIO and AFL open their annual conventions.