America at war! (1941–) – Part 4

4109

Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (November 11, 1944)

FROM
(A) SHAEF FORWARD

ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section

DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
111100A 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. 217

Allied forces continued their advance in the Metz–Nancy sector against light to moderate resistance yesterday. Château-Salins has been freed and our units have pushed on to Amelécourt and Dampont. The Delme Ridge, six miles east of Nomeny, has been reached. We have also reached Vigny and Secourt east of Louvigny. Small gains have been made in the area of Maizières-lès-Metz. Fighter-bombers attacked enemy positions east of Metz.

In the Moselle River bridgehead northeast of Thionville, we have made gains south and east of Kœnigsmacker and have repulsed a minor counterattack east of the town. In the Hürtgen area, our units continued their attack against heavy resistance from dug-in enemy positions. Many mines are being encountered. A counterattack was repulsed in this sector. West of Schmidt, we have made progress and are clearing pillboxes. In the area north of Aachen and west of Köln, fighter-bombers went for freight yards, railway lines, roundhouses and trains. Among fighter-bomber targets were a freight yard at Ameln, a roundhouse three miles south of Jülich, two trains at Wegberg and a railway control station at Rheindahlen.

Other fighter-bombers targeted the rail and road in the center of Baal, starting a number of fires, and a warehouse near Erkelenz was also attacked. An enemy strongpoint north of the Reischwald Forest and a factory at Weeze were hit by rocket-firing fighters. Fighters and fighter-bombers supported ground operations and continued attacks on enemy communications in eastern Holland and across the frontier into Germany. Rocket-firing fighters attacked a railway junction south of Emmerich. In the Meurthe River Valley, slight gains were made northwest of Saint-Dié. The villages of Le Ménil and Biarville have been taken. A local counterattack was repulsed east of Bruyères, and in the Vosges, enemy attempts to infiltrate were frustrated.

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/
4110

U.S. Navy Department (November 11, 1944)

CINCPAC Communiqué No. 180

Carrier‑based Hellcat fighters, Avenger torpedo planes and Helldiver dive bombers of the Third Fleet attacked a 10‑ship enemy convoy just outside Ormoc Bay on November 10 (West Longitude Date), destroying or probably destroying nine ships. The convoy consisting of three large transports, one medium transport, five destroyers, and one destroyer escort, was apparently attempting to reinforce enemy positions on Leyte Island. The damage inflicted upon the enemy consisted of the following:

  • Transport seen to explode and sink.
  • The three other transports seen to sink.
  • Two destroyers seen to sink
  • One destroyer escort seen to sink
  • One destroyer left awash, thought to have sunk.
  • One destroyer with bow blown off, thought to have sunk
  • One destroyer damaged

These ships destroyed and damaged are in addition to the ones destroyed the previous day in the same general area by Gen. MacArthur’s land‑based aircraft and reported previously by him.

Approximately 20 aggressive enemy fighters furnished aerial cover for the convoy attacked by the carrier‑based planes. Of these 13 were shot down and five were probably destroyed. In addition, a two‑engined reconnaissance plane and a dive bomber were shot down near our carriers. Our losses were nine planes but it is believed that most of the pilots and aircrewmen were rescued.

Catalinas of Fleet Air Wing One on the night of November 8 bombed ground installations at Koror Island in the Northern Palau Islands. Hellcats of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing harassed the Arakabesan Area on Babelthuap in night sorties. Corsairs of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing bombed Yap Island, hitting the airstrip, hangars and small craft.

Liberators of the 7th Army Air Force on November 8 bombed anti-aircraft gun positions and harbor shipping at Hahajima in the Bonins. Other Liberators bombed Okimura Town on Hahajima, causing two large explosions near anti-aircraft gun positions. A Navy search Liberator bombed Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands while Army Liberators strafed Kita Iwo Jima. On November 9, 7th Army Air Force Liberators again bombed Iwo Jima, hitting the airfield. Our planes were intercepted by from three to five enemy fighters, of which one was shot down and two damaged.

Corsairs of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing strafed enemy targets on Rota Island on November 9.

A single Navy search plane on November 9 dropped bombs on the airfield and barracks at Nauru Island while Corsairs of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing continued to neutralize enemy‑held positions in the Marshall Islands.

4111

The Pittsburgh Press (November 11, 1944)

B-29S RAID JAPAN, 2 CHINA CITIES
Superfortresses rip warehouses in Nanking

Shanghai also target of bombers

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4112

10 ENEMY SHIPS SUNK OFF LEYTE
Yanks batter troop convoy in Philippines

Air patrols blast two other ships
By William B. Dickinson, United Press staff writer

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4113

Patton’s tanks in battle

Two 3rd Army columns advance to within 25 miles of Saarbrücken
By J. Edward Murray, United Press staff writer

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4114

Millions cheer Churchill in Paris armistice parade

Prime Minister and Eden fly to capital for conferences with de Gaulle, aides

Paris, France (UP) –
Prime Minister Winston Churchill, in Paris for the first time in five years, received one of the most tumultuous welcomes of his career today when at least one million persons cheered his participation in Armistice Day celebrations.

Mr. Churchill and Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden flew to Paris yesterday, but rigid security regulations held up the announcement of their arrival until today.

The British Prime Minister stood with Gen. Charles de Gaulle this morning during the Armistice Day wreathing of the French Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Then they walked slowly down half a mile of the thronged, beflagged Champs-Élysées to the saluting stand for the big parade.

‘Vive Churchill’

Despite the best efforts of Allied military and civilian police, part of the crowd broke away out of control. A solid mass of humanity surged around Mr. Churchull and Gen. de Gaulle, cheering wildly and shouting “Vive Churchill” and Vive de Gaulle.

Beaming and flourishing his cigar, Mr. Churchill repeatedly waved the cap of the RAF air commodore’s uniform he wore. Gen. de Gaulle’s usually stern face relaxed and he too saluted the crowd with clockwork regularity.

Mr. Eden joined Mr. Churchill and Gen. de Gaulle at the reviewing stand. Together they stood for more than an hour, surrounded by cabinet members and foreign diplomats and taking the salute during a parade of some 8,000 U.S., British and French troops.

First since liberation

It was the first Allied military parade in Paris since the liberation, and it had all the atmosphere of a victory celebration.

Parisians were packed 10 deep along the Champs-Élysées and hanging from every window, balcony and rooftop. They roared a tremendous ovation to a detachment of U.S. infantry, military police and sailors headed by an American Army band.

Like cheers greeted units of British Guards regiments, the Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy and the Canadian Army. Every bid unit of the French Army was represented in the parade, some wearing American and British uniforms.

Put wreaths on tomb

Shortly before 11:00 a.m., Mr. Churchill and Gen. de Gaulle arrived at the Arc de Triomphe. Stepping out of autos, they walked slowly to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and placed wreaths on it.

On the stroke of 11, a single cannon shot sounded over the city, signalizing the time for a minute of silence. Then the big parade began.

The armistice celebration was more or less incidental to the visit of Messrs. Churchill and Eden, who flew here in a Dakota transport plane for conferences with Gen. de Gaulle and other French officials.

Shake hands

When the big transport plane came down at a field outside Paris, Mr. Churchill stepped out, hastened forward to greet Gen. de Gaulle, seized his hand impetuously and cried in French: “My dear General, this is indeed a pleasure.”

The party included Mrs. Churchill, Mary Churchill (the Prime Minister’s daughter), Sir Alexander Cadogan (Permanent Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs), and Nicholas Langford (Mr. Eden’s private secretary).

Mrs. Eden was already in Paris. She came on ahead to assist the welcoming committee.

France gets seat on Allied council

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4115

Doris Duke denies infidelity charge

She’s ‘not surprised’ by Cromwell’s claim

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Cooper’s loyal fiancée says they’ll be wed soon

Film actress tells of marriage plans

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4116

parry3

I DARE SAY —
A time to remember

By Florence Fisher Parry

Today is a day to remember November 11.

I remember it. The whistles blew in our town, bells rang, people ran into the streets calling and laughing and embracing one another, the tears streaming down their cheeks.

Not all, though. Some sat back in the shadows of their rooms, their bodies bent forward in an odd hurt attitude and swaying slowly from the waist, the way great agony of heart takes hold of the body…

Even then, in their sudden awful pain, they did not know what had befallen them. it was too fresh, a strange merciful unrealness still pervaded their grief. Afterwards, long afterwards, the loss began to sink in. sometimes I think that death – the terrible COST of death – can never be computed until a generation passes – then the loss stands out clear.

That is why, when I pass the windows today and see the gold stars in the little flags, I “think such a pity of,” (as they say up home) the mothers, fathers, wives… It will not be for years that they will really realize what has befallen them. It is so hard to estimate the compound interest of one lost life in one single family! It keeps on growing, growing… IF he had not been killed… if… if… IF… it follows the whole long history of a family clan.

Stopped

Let us face it today – this is a proper day to face it. Germany has won a victory this year. She has stopped us. One-mile-a-day advance into her fortress – that has been the average progress. At this rate, how long, say? MAYBE it will be over in the spring, that canny prophet Churchill is saying to us now.

The spring! When spring comes ‘round, how many more gold stars? …

WHAT’S WRONG WITH US? WHAT IS THIS SOFTNESS IN US, that we will put up with this probability? Rise in the morning, go about our snug safe home front OWN affairs? Eat, spend, enjoy ourselves, relax, deny ourselves really nothing – Nothing! While there along the borders of Germany, winter seals up the fate of millions of OUR boys, OUR sons, OURS, OURS!

I talked to a woman who was on her way to the Red Cross Blood Bank. She’d lost her only son. How, they had not heard yet; he was dead, that’s all they knew. She was in a hurry, there was much to do down there, trying to substitute with walk-ins, volunteers off the street, those dozens of cancellations which every day defeat them in their desperate necessity of finding blood, more blood, to send our dying boys!

She said:

We can’t get donors anymore. We’re way below what we must have! There seems no way to re-arouse the people! At first, they gave; they came in droves; the Blood Bank did a thriving work, the mobile units came back loaded with blood donations. But lately we cannot seem to stir the people into believing that the greatest need is NOW, TODAY, TOMORROW!

Shame!

What is it, this awful national malady of apathy? Are we growing used to having our boys die? return maimed, useless, dependent, bitter in the growing knowledge that we DID let them down? The base hospitals and field hospitals and the perilous, packed first aid stations right at the battle line are packed, packed with American wounded who need blood. Sometimes it takes 16 units (that is, the equivalent of 16 pints of blood) for just the FIRST transfusion, and that one only the first of as many as 20 or 30 more transfusions! THAT’S JUST ONE of our wounded. It might take a pint of blood from each of 300 persons to save one life!

It’s Armistice Day. How dare we “celebrate” it; bow our heads before the lowered flag; pray; count ourselves one of the Home Front Army, and know that we have not made this one vital contribution, a pint of blood three, four, five times!

It’s Armistice Day. November. Winter. Our THIRD winter of war. It’s well on its way. Our boys are cold, homesick. They thought they’d be home for Thanksgiving – well, then, Christmas.

They’ll be wanting to know why the whole thing’s starting to bog down. And when they DO finally come, they’ll find the answers, they’ll see to that, all right.

4117

Chicago interurban strike deadlocked in pay dispute

Two railroads carrying 75,000 commuters affected; union aide says seizure is only hope

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4118

Roosevelt honors Unknown Soldier

Wreath placed by military aide

Washington (UP) –
President Roosevelt stood today before the Tomb of America’s Unknown Soldier of the last war to give silent expression to the nation’s Armistice Day remembrance of its fallen dead.

A brisk wind snapped the Stars and Stripes as the President, standing at the side of this car, watched Maj. Gen. Edwin M. Watson, his military aide, lay a wreath of chrysanthemums on the tomb.

It was the nation’s 26th observance of the end of the first war in Europe.

In the brief ceremony, the Commander-in-Chief took the lead in observing the third wartime Armistice Day as an array of military and naval honor guards stood at attention.

A military band played the National Anthem and the gathering, including several hundred spectators watching from the Arlington National Ceremony amphitheater and grounds nearby, joined in the minute of silence at 11:00 a.m. which recalled the end of the last war at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson and Secretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal rode with Mr. Roosevelt in his open phaeton from the White House. The President dispensed with his usual waves of recognition to bystanders en route to the solemn ceremony.

4119

americavotes1944

Court may get voting mix-up in Michigan

Action would involve tallies in 4 precincts

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4120

California kills ‘$60-at-60’ plan

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Station KQV sold for $575,000

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4121

Peace security alliance urged

London Times favors European coalition

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4122

americavotes1944

Wartime curb to affect inauguration program

Mrs. Roosevelt says frills will be missing at White House receptions Jan. 20

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4123

Byrnes urges U.S. to boost war output

‘Take no chances,’ mobilizer pleads

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4124

Ex-fight manager admits wife fake

Army court-martial nearing its end

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4125

Servant problem to force Manville to sell ‘Bon Repos’

30-room fortress-like mansion to go under auctioneer’s hammer next month

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Delegates study world business

Problems of cartels among those faced

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4126

After slaying –
Reno is warned to ‘clean up’

Army man killed, another wounded

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4127

americavotes1944

Liberal support credited by Guffey

‘Worked 11 months on election,’ he says

Washington (UP) –
President Roosevelt can attribute his reelection to wholehearted liberal support which worked 11 months for him and his party, Senator Joseph F. Guffey (D-PA), staunch adherent of Mr. Roosevelt, declared today.

Mr. Guffey declared:

In this election, we had all the liberals on the same side of the street, keeping in step and walking in the same direction.

We worked 11 months on this election. That’s why we won.

‘Magnificent’ support

He said “magnificent” support from labor plus a large turnout at the polls due to good organizing was responsible for Democratic gains in Congress as well as in the reelection of the President.

Mr. Guffey said Rep. Francis J. Myers (D-PA), who is leading the veteran Senator James J. Davis (R-PA), is “a very fine, able young man who will be a creditable addition to the Senate; he is well educated and has the necessary application to make a very successful Senator.”

Final determination of the Myers-Davis race awaits count of Pennsylvania’s soldier ballots starting Nov. 22.

‘Cannot be bossed’

The election, he said, proved to him that Pennsylvania voters “cannot be bossed by big money.” He estimated the Republicans through their state organization raised $426,000 in Allegheny Cunty alone up to Oct. 20, and gave as his “conservative” estimate a total GOP expenditure of over $4 million in the state.

Mr. Guffey said he was not surprised at the large electoral vote for Mr. Roosevelt.

He declared:

I have been saying for some time it would be a landslide for the President, and it was.

4128

Attitude expert says V-2 bomb is inaccurate

Believes high speed of rocket possible

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