America at war! (1941–) – Part 4

Dewey on vacation at Sea Island, Georgia

Sea Island, Georgia (UP) –
Arriving in Georgia for a rest after his unsuccessful bid for the Presidency, Governor Thomas E. Dewey today said he felt “much more rested right now than I did a week ago, and I’m sure my trip to Georgia is going to help still more.”

Accompanying Mr. Dewey were his wife and two sons.

There was no official welcome and political discussions were banned, in accordance with Mr. Dewey’s wishes.


Pearl Harbour enlists in WAC

Los Angeles, California (UP) –
When a new group of WAC recruits left today for basic training, Pearl Harbour went along.

And that’s not all – she’s the seventh of her family to join the services since the Dec. 7 attack on Pearl Harbor.

Pearl’s son is in a rest camp after taking part in fighting on Saipan and her five brothers are in combat areas.

Editorial: Whether Hitler or Himmler

The “Hitler” manifesto read by Himmler yesterday does not dispose of the widespread belief that the dictator is dead or at least unable to speak for himself. The labored explanation in the manifesto itself indicates that Germans, no less than others, think he would not have remained silent willingly during the past four fateful months.

This does not sound convincing:

If in these days I speak to you, the German people, only little and rarely, it is due to the fact that I work, work for the fulfillment of those tasks which the times have imposed on me and which must be fulfilled in order to give fate another turn again.

Whether Hitler is living or dead, whether he is a prisoner of Himmler or violently insane, whether he was seriously injured by attempted assassins or is simply too busy to speak, as the manifesto states, is all very interesting. But these questions are less important than many people seem to think – at least they are not decisive.

The significant fact, as pointed out by Prime Minister Churchill and others, is that there is no reliable evidence of German revolt or internal collapse. Allied military superiority, and not Hitler’s death, is what counts.

Though there is no sign of Germany quitting now, this defiant Hitler-Himmler manifesto and the twin speech by Goebbels tend to confirm two allied assumptions. One is that Germany’s rulers know they are licked, and that they are continuing the fight because they personally cannot survive unconditional surrender.

The other is that they still have hopes, however faint, that by prolonging a costly conflict they can create enough war weariness among the Allies to force a compromise peace. That would mean Nazi victory despite military defeat.

The last-ditch note runs through the Hitler-Himmler manifesto, and Goebbels speaks of the “last round” and of preparations to “fight in every house and every street.” Goebbels repeats the lie – denied by Messrs. Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin, and the French Foreign Minister – that the Allies want to “wipe the Reich off the map.” Then he says Germany “will fight until our damned enemies will be prepared to conclude a decent peace.” This is in line with the recurring reports that Germany is offering a compromise.

Fortunately, there is now less danger than ever before that Germany will win the war by such diplomatic trickery. There was a time when it seemed she might split the United Nations, by playing Russia off against Britain and the United States, or the opposite. For the Allies by quarrels to throw away complete victory now, when it is within their grasp, is unthinkable.

Whether the job takes six months more as Mr. Churchill suggested yesterday in Paris, or less as some Allied commanders believe, or whether it takes much longer, the enemy’s unconditional surrender is the fixed goal.

Editorial: Hail, Caesar!

Edson: U.S. prepared well ahead for Dumbarton Oaks

By Peter Edson

Ferguson: Solid reading

By Mrs. Walter Ferguson

Background of news –
The Pearl Harbor probe

By Bertram Benedict

The Navy Department will make public within two weeks part, at least, of the report made Oct. 20 by a board of inquiry on the Pearl Harbor disaster.

Congress, after reconvening tomorrow, probably will not do anything about extending the time for Pearl Harbor courts-martial until hitherto secret findings of the Army and Navy on the disaster have been disclosed. Originally the period for such courts-martial would have expired on Dec. 7, 1943, under a two-year statute of limitations.

Last year, Congress extended the period to June 7, 1944. On June 7, 1944, Congress extended it to Dec. 7, 1944, one month after the 1944 elections. The Senate agreed to this date without a record vote. The House agreed by vote of 213–141, with all but one Democrat in the affirmative, and the Republicans in the negative by 139–42.

Congress probably has no power to order courts-martial, which are up to the executive branch of the government. If the reports now on file in the War and Navy Departments from their boards of inquiry on Pearl Harbor recommend against courts-martial of Adm. Kimmel and Gen. Short, the two men may never be tried. Or other Pearl Harbor officers may be court-martialed.

Knox investigated first

Several days after the disaster at Pearl Harbor, the late Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox, flew to Hawaii to investigate. On Dec. 15, 1941, he stated that Army and Navy forces there had been “not on the alert against the surprise attack.” On Dec. 16, President Roosevelt announced that a special commission, headed by Associate Justice Roberts of the Supreme Court, would make an inquiry and report on whether there had been “derelictions of duty or errors of judgment” at Pearl Harbor.

The Roberts Commission reported on Jan. 24, 1942. It found that the commanding officers at Hawaii and their chief subordinates had considered the danger of an air attack “practically nil.” Although they had conferred frequently on other matters, particularly sabotage, they had not conferred on the messages sent them from Washington warning against a Japanese attack.

On Feb. 7, 1942, Adm. Kimmel and Gen. Short asked for retirement, and their requests were granted. On Feb. 28, 1942, Washington announced that they would be court-martialed; later, that the courts-martial would be postponed.

In its resolution of June 7, 1944, Congress directed the Secretaries of War and the Navy to investigate the circumstances at Pearl Harbor at once, and to initiate court-martial proceedings at their discretion. The Army and Navy boards of inquiry thus authorized were set up on July 14; they filed their reports on Oct. 20 last.

Previous cases recalled

In 1848, Gen. John C. Frémont was found guilty of mutiny and disobedience of orders; but public opinion was on his side, and he became the Republican Party’s first nominee for the Presidency, in 1856.

In the Civil War, Gen. Fitz John Porter was held responsible by court-martial for the Union defeat at the Second Battle of Manassas.

In 1898, Cdre. Winfield Scott Schley assumed command at the Battle of Santiago Bay when his superior officer, W. T. Sampson, was absent at a conference with Gen. Shafter. The Navy Department deplored Schley’s conduct before and during the battle, and President McKinley submitted to the Senate a list advancing Sampson eight points in rank, Schley six points; the Senate refused to approve the promotions.

In 1901, Schley finally asked for a court of inquiry. It delivered findings adverse to Schley, but public opinion was inclined to agree with Mr. Dooley that Schley was condemned for winning the battle the wrong way instead of losing it the right way.

Public opinion was also on the side of the late “Billy” Mitchell, trenchant advocate of airpower, who was found guilty by court-martial in 1925 of conduct “to the prejudice of good order and military discipline.”

Court denies ward plea for WLB review

Refuses to act in labor dispute

Monahan: Colorful tune film on view at Harris

Something For the Boys frolic concerning G.I. Joes and gals
By Kaspar Monahan

Perkins: AFL to seek expansion of social security

Drive part of plan to compete with PAC
By Fred W. Perkins, Pittsburgh Press staff writer

Superfortresses spotting targets in Japan, Tokyo declares

Reconnaissance flights may presage heavy raids; Volcano Islands shelled, enemy says

Vinson linked to Byrnes’ job


Sinclair Lewis’ son killed in France

Stokes: Dewey’s future

By Thomas L. Stokes

Our Fighting Generals –
Razzle-dazzle tactics mark U.S. leadership

By Thomas M. Johnson, special to the Pittsburgh Press

Gracie Allen Reporting

By Gracie Allen

Heading East on our bond tour, George and I are now passing through the Indian country. It’s amazing how these simple people cling to the quaint customs of the past. Why, some of them are still wearing Dewey-Bricker badges.

But in most ways our Red brothers are becoming thoroughly modernized. They’re working in defense plants and have plenty of money to spend. It’s certainly a strange sight to see the squaws crowding around the incoming trains and trying to buy Pullman blankets from the passengers.

And these young squaws are real bobby-blanketers – they’re mad about Frank Sinatra. In fact, they’ve made him an honorary chief – “Leaning Bull.”

Of course, they like Bing Crosby, too. They call him “The Great White Father.”

Millett: Conversation is pretty

‘Have a leave’ sounds best
By Ruth Millett

Shift of Army-Navy Game sought

Writer says Roosevelt may okay transfer to aid war bond sale

Terms sought on Lend-Lease machine tools

British want to buy U.S. equipment


New building seen half that of 1943 volume

Construction drops 40% in October

Red Cross women on hospital ship

Every home has its own little quiz show

Even baby wants to know ‘why?’
By Si Steinhauser

Hero tells of daring exploit –
American pilot downs six Nazi planes in single mission

Slick enemy trick does a boomerang
By Lt. John Wainwright