That’s why Maquis forces fight like crazy men
By André Lebord (as told to Leland Stowe)
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Solution sought to distribution costs
By Edward A. Evans, Scripps-Howard staff writer
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Reading Eagle (August 30, 1944)
By Westbrook Pegler
New York –
Free speech for victory.
The thing we all love most about the glorious old United States of A.
Is that everybody, regardless of creed or color, is entitled to have their say.
It makes no difference whether you are a member of the wealthy group.
Or if you are so poor all you have for your humble fare is soup.
It is just the same whether you are of socialistic persuasion
Or vegetarian or any other peculiar denomination.
Everybody is entitled to express their opinion in this wonderful free land of ours.
From the rockbound coast of Maine to California’s tropical bowers.
But that does not mean that discordant elements have any right to abuse
The wonderful freedom of speech by telling any lowdown dirty pack of lies they choose
About our wonderful Commander-in-Chief with his firm hand
Or the great and gracious First Lady of the land.
So if it happens that your mother or your teachers forgot
To teach you true patriotism, we true Americans are ready to tell you what.
He came to rule over us when the poor were clamoring for bread.
And millions were so ill-clad they wished they could be dead.
And the first thing he done was he drove the money changers out of the temple.
And why didn’t Herbert Hoover do it, if you think that was so simple.
His heart is overflowing with sympathy for the common man,
Whereas all Thomas E. Dewey ever did was put underprivileged offenders in the can.
Yet, on every hand all we hear is lowdown, underhanded prevarications
About this and that, and all kinds of character assassinations.
When our great President for twelve long years has been striving with might and main
To sweep out the Aegean stables and set us on an even keel again.
So our little children, instead of being always hungry and weak and cold
Can be warmly garbed and do not have to toil before they are even ten years old,
And the bosses do not have power to push the working man around.
And grind you down until finally they put you under the ground.
So, if you are a patriotic American, please get wise
And do not go around repeating anti-fourth-term propaganda lies.
Freedom of speech does not mean the right to spread disunity
When we are all out for victory over the aggressors with impunity.
And meanwhile our President is protecting our beloved home fires
Only to be the target for anti-fourth-term, pro-Nazi liars.
If you didn’t know the true facts you might think he was a worm
Because he obeyed the people’s command to run for a fourth term.
Freedom of speech is our glorious heritage from Plymouth Rock
But those who don’t use it the right way will get a good sock.
So, everybody, all together, let us stop this discordant repining
And when the war is over, we will find the silver lining.
Any resemblance in the foregoing to current New Deal and Communist verse is purely intentional.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (August 30, 1944)
TO: COMBINED CHIEFS OF STAFF, WASHINGTON, D.C.
FROM: SHAEF SIGNED SCAEF
30 Aug 44
The following facts will be released here to the press at 1900 hours Double British Summer Time on August 31. They may be released in WASHINGTON and LONDON at that time and hour.
Enemy Losses: The equivalent of 5 Panzer Divisions have been destroyed and a further 6 severely mauled, including 1 Panzer Grenadier Division. The equivalent of 20 Infantry Divisions have been eliminated and a further 12 vary badly cut up and have suffered severe losses. Included in this total of Infantry Divisions are 3 of the enemy’s crack Parachute Divisions. In addition 1 Parachute Division and 2 Infantry Divisions have no hope of escape from the fortress ports of BRITTANY Peninsula in which they are marooned. One Infantry Division is isolated in the Channel Islands.
Enemy Casualties: Total enemy casualties amount to over 400,000 killed, wounded and prisoners of war. 135,000 of these prisoners have been captured since July 25. The total continues to mount. 1,300 enemy tanks and over 20,000 MT have been captured or destroyed. About 500 assault guns and 1,500 field and heavier artillery guns have been captured or destroyed. In addition, the enemy has suffered very heavy losses in coast artillery equipment.
The German Seventh Army and newly-formed Fifth Panzer Army have been decisively defeated and into this defeat have been drawn the bulk of the fighting strength of First and Fifteenth Armies. Three Field Marshals and one Army Commander have either been dismissed or incapacitated by wounds. One Army Commander, three Corps Commanders, 15 Divisional Commanders and one Fortress Commander have been either killed or captured.
Enemy Air Losses: In the air, the LUFTWAFFE has taken a fearful beating. Since June 6, 2,387 German aircraft have been destroyed in the air and 1,167 on the ground. In addition, 270 aircraft were probably destroyed and 1,028 aircraft were damaged in the air.
Enemy Naval Losses: At sea the enemy has been unable, in spite of his former boasting, to interfere seriously with the invasion forces. Enemy attacks on convoys have been driven off on very many occasions and losses to Allied shipping have been small. Of the enemy’s naval forces, some 300 vessels of all classes have been sunk or heavily damaged by Allied action. In addition, a number of enemy merchant ships have been sunk and the Germans themselves have been forced to scuttle, in their harbors, large numbers of all types of shipping, both naval and mercantile.
A large proportion of the enemy’s effort has been devoted to attack by minelaying. The sustained work of minesweepers has resulted within three months, in a “mine-bag” off the FRENCH beaches which totals one-tenth of all mines swept in five years in all theaters of war.
Allied Teamwork: Allied teamwork, extending through all services, has again demonstrated its ability to overcome the most adverse kind of conditions in defeating the enemy. Allied units from other countries have fought effectively alongside American and British Forces and the FFI have done much valuable work.
The command system has functioned smoothly in spite of difficulties due to enforced separation of Commanders and of poor signal communications due to distances and rapidly changing situation.
Many factors are woven into the wrap and woof of this great victory. Among these a few are listed below, with no attempt to give their order of importance. One was meticulous care in planning and preparation, supported resolutely in all important aspects by the Combined Chiefs of Staff. Another was the fact that we achieved some degree of surprise involving place, timing and strength of the attack. The excellence and efficiency of amphibious equipment, with measures for dealing with beach defenses and obstacles, was also important. The brilliant preparatory work of the Air Forces, a belief in the effectiveness of which was the very cornerstone of the original invasion conception, began months ago and reached its highest intensity at the very moment of landing. It is my conviction that except for this aerial preparation, including as a specific mission a prolonged campaign against the transportation systems of Northwest EUROPE, the venture could not have logically been undertaken. The air support of ground forces has been most effective throughout the campaign. The supply and maintenance services have performed miracles. But the greatest factor of all has been the fighting qualities of the soldiers, sailors and airmen of the United Nations. Their valor, stamina and devotion to duty have been beyond praise. They will continue to be.
Telegram to Combined Chiefs of Staff on result of operations in Northern FRANCE
between June 6 (D-Day) and August 25.
Völkischer Beobachter (August 31, 1944)
Sorgen von den neuen Waffen und der Zeit
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Die Terrorwelle im ‚befreiten‘ Frankreich
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Führer HQ (August 31, 1944)
Nördlich Paris wurde der Feind, der unseren Absetzbewegungen scharf nachdrängt, zum Stehen gebracht. Gegen feindliche Angriffskolonnen, die aus dem Raum Beauvais nach Norden stoßen, sind Gegenangriffe angesetzt. Im Raum Laon–Reims stehen unsere Truppen in schwerem Kampf mit feindlichen Panzerkräften, die nach Nordosten und Norden weiteren Geländegewinn erzielen konnten.
Im Rhônetal verstärkte sich der feindliche Druck besonders gegen Valence. Alle feindlichen Angriffe wurden dort in harten Kämpfen zerschlagen.
Das Vergeltungsfeuer auf London wurde bei Tag und Nacht fortgesetzt.
In Italien trat der Feind an der adriatischen Küste erneut auf breiter Front zum Großangriff an. Unter starkem Einsatz von Schlachtfliegern, Artillerie und Panzern und mit Unterstützung durch Seestreitkräfte konnte er bei Urbino und bei Pesaro örtliche Einbrüche erzielen. Durch unsere Gegenangriffe wurden die eingedrungenen feindlichen Angriffsgruppen zerschlagen. Südwestlich Pesaro halten in zwei Einbruchstellen erbitterte Kämpfe an.
In Rumänien verstärkte sich der feindliche Druck in Richtung auf Ploeşti. An den Südostgrenzen Siebenbürgens wurden erneute heftige Angriffe der Bolschewisten zerschlagen.
An der übrigen Ostfront kam es gestern nur nordöstlich Warschau zu größeren Kampfhandlungen, wo der von den Sowjets erstreble Durchbruch auf die Stadt nach Abschuß von 24 Panzern abermals vereitelt wurde.
Nordamerikanische Bomber führten unter Ausnutzung des für die Abwehr ungünstigen Wetters Terrorangriffe gegen Bremen und Kiel.
Weitere Angriffe feindlicher Bomber richteten sich gegen einige Orte in Ungarn.
In der vergangenen Nacht warfen einzelne britische Flugzeuge Bomben im Rhein-Main-Gebiet.
Im Kanal und im Indischen Ozean versenkten Unterseeboote in harten Kämpfen sechs feindliche Schiffe mit zusammen 36.000 BRT, einen Zerstörer sowie einen Bewacher und schossen ein feindliches Flugzeug ab.
Im Südabschnitt der Ostfront hat sich das XXX Armeekorps unter Führung des Generalleutnants Postel mit der 306. Infanteriedivision, 15. Infanteriedivision und 13. Panzerdivision in aufopfernden Kämpfen gegen überlegene feindliche Kräfte heldenmütig geschlagen.
Die schwere Heeres-Panzerjägerabteilung 661 unter Führung des Hauptmanns Mergen schoss im Laufe eines Tages 52 Panzer ab und trug dadurch entscheidend zu einem Abwehrerfolg bei.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (August 31, 1944)
Allied armor yesterday drove swiftly northward from the bridgeheads over the Lower SEINE. Bypassing scattered areas of enemy resistance, our forces captured GOURNAY-EN-BRAY, BEAUVAIS and MARSEILLE-EN-BEAUVAISIS and leading troops are now within 20 miles of AMIENS.
Further west, we have reached a point eight miles northeast of ROUEN, and FLEURY-SUR-ANDELLE is in our hands. Opposite DUCLAIR, our troops cleared the enemy from the south bank of the SEINE.
Troops from the MANTES-GASSICOURT bridgehead are advancing northward along the EPTE River and have reached a point less than two miles south of CHAUMONT-EN-VEXIN.
Other advances were made beyond the northern suburbs of PARIS.
In the drive to the east of the capital, Allied forces have reached REIMS. Armored units, moving towards the AISNE River, are ten miles north of REIMS, and elements which crossed the VESLE River are now several miles southeast of the city.
Our reconnaissance elements have penetrated to points two and a half miles north and northwest of LAON and to MONTAIGU, ten miles southeast. The bridgehead across the AISNE near SOISSONS has been extended east and north.
In the MARNE valley, our troops have crossed the river and are opposite ÉPERNAY, with some elements one mile south of the town. Upriver, forces which made another crossing have reached LES GRANDES-LOGES, eight miles northwest of CHÂLONS-SUR-MARNE on the CHARLONS–REIMS road.
Allied air activity was sharply curtailed yesterday by thick clouds over northeast FRANCE. Light and medium bombers attacked by instruments the enemy forces still occupying the small but strongly fortified island of CÉZEMBRE off the entrance to SAINT-MALO harbor. Others bombed a large enemy oil storage center in the FORÊT D’ARQUES near DIEPPE.
Several enemy aircraft were shot up on the ground near COPENHAGEN by fighter bombers which also operated over the SKAGERRAK. Other small forces harassed enemy movements in the ROUEN–ABBEVILLE–GOURNAY area as weather permitted.
U.S. Navy Department (August 31, 1944)
For Immediate Release
August 31, 1944
Liberators of the 11th Army Air Force and Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four attacked installations at Paramushiru Island in the Kurils on the night of August 27 (West Longitude Date). Anti-aircraft fire was meager and all of our aircraft returned.
Yap and Woleai Islands in the Western Carolines were bombed by a single 7th Army Air Force Liberator on August 28 and 29. On both days anti-aircraft fire was meager.
During the night of August 28‑29, 7th Army Air Force Liberators bombed Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands.
Pagan Island in the Marianas was bombed on the night of August 28‑29 and on August 29. Gun positions and storage facilities were hit and several fires started.
Mitchells of the 7th Army Air Force bombed the airfield at Nauru Island on August 29. During the preceding night, Nauru was attacked by a Catalina search plane of Group One, Fleet Air Wing Two.
Mille Atoll in the Marshalls was attacked on August 29 by Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.
For Immediate Release
August 31, 1944
Lt. Gen. Millard F. Harmon, USA, has assumed command of all Army Air Force units operating in the Pacific Ocean Areas.
His jurisdiction extends throughout the theater commanded by Adm. C. W. Nimitz, CINCPACPOA.
U.S. State Department (August 31, 1944)
Lot 60–D 224, Box 55: DO/PR/8
Washington, August 31, 1944
Subject: PROGRESS REPORT ON DUMBARTON OAKS CONVERSATIONS – NINTH DAY
Meeting of Joint Steering Committee
The Joint Steering Committee met at noon today for the first time in two days to consider drafts relating to the Assembly which had been prepared for it during those two days by the formulation groups. There was striking unanimity of views on these drafts.
a. Points agreed upon
COMPOSITION: To be composed of all state members of the Organization.
FUNCTIONS AND POWERS: Assembly to have the right to consider questions relating to the maintenance of peace and security, but not on its own initiative to deal with any such matter which is being dealt with by the Council; to approve the annual budgets; to have the power of suspending members against which action has been taken by the Council; and to elect non-continuing members of the Council and the Director-General (upon recommendation of the Council) and judges of the Court in accordance with the Court’s statute.
VOTING: Important decisions to be by a two-thirds majority.
b. Expulsion; Economic and Social Council
The Soviet group continued to urge that the Assembly also be given the power to expel members and they continued to reserve their position with respect to the substance of our proposal for an Economic and Social Council. However, on both these matters agreement was reached as to form of language.
c. Amendment of the basic instrument
Our position was that amendments should be proposed by a majority vote of the Assembly and should come into effect when approved by two-thirds of the member states including all those having permanent seats on the Council. The Soviet and British groups are drafting their own respective formulae on this point.
Meeting of the Legal Subcommittee
We reached tentative agreement with both the Soviet and British representatives that: (1) an international court should be the principal judicial organ of the Organization, its statute to be part of the basic instrument; (2) the Statute of the Present Permanent Court should be revised or used, subject to modifications, as the basis of the new statute; (3) all members of the Organization should ipso facto be parties to the statute; and (4) the conditions under which states not members of the Organization may become parties to the statute should be determined in each case by the Assembly on recommendation of the Council.
Meeting of the Security Subcommittee
We reached tentative agreement with the Soviet and British representatives on the following questions, all of which were then referred to the formulation group for more detailed consideration:
a. Determination of threats to or breaches of peace
The Council should determine in each case when a threat to or breach of peace exists.
b. Council’s right to obtain facilities
Member states should be obligated by a general agreement to furnish facilities. Supplementary agreements might be made by the Council in emergencies.
c. Responsibility of the Council for enforcing surrender terms for Germany and Japan
There should be continuing supervision of the enemy states.
Lot 60–D 224, Box 56: DO/ConvA/JSC Mins. 1–12
Washington, August 31, 1944, 12:15 p.m.
[Extract]
| Present: | Sir Alexander Cadogan and Mr. Jebb of the British group; |
| Ambassador Gromyko, Mr. Sobolev, and Mr. Berezhkov of the Soviet group; | |
| Mr. Stettinius, Mr. Dunn, and Mr. Pasvolsky of the American group. | |
| Mr. Hiss also present, as secretary. |
At the beginning of the meeting Mr. Pasvolsky distributed copies of a memorandum entitled “List of Nations which Participated in Hot Springs, UNRRA and Bretton Woods Conferences,” as he had agreed to do at the last meeting of the Committee.
It was explained again that the distinction which has been made between United Nations and nations or authorities associated with the United Nations has been that the former is composed of nations which have actually declared war on the Axis and that the latter consists, first, of authorities (French Committee of National Liberation) and, second, of states which have actively assisted in the prosecution of the war but have not formally declared war. It was also brought out that a mere breaking of relations with the Axis does not, ipso facto, bring a state within the category of “associated nations.”
Ambassador Gromyko said that he understood that the Committee would regard this list as supplementary information but that there would be no attempt at this stage of the conversations to determine upon an actual list of the initial members of the proposed organization. He said further that it was his understanding that the joint recommendations to be prepared as a result of the present conversations will not contain an actual list of proposed initial members but will contain a general formula governing initial membership.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[Annex]
United Nations
| Australia | Cuba |
| Belgium | Czechoslovakia |
| Bolivia | Dominican Republic |
| Brazil | El Salvador |
| Canada | Ethiopia |
| China | Greece |
| Colombia | Guatemala |
| Costa Rica | Haiti |
| Honduras | Norway |
| India | Panama |
| Iran | Philippine Commonwealth |
| Iraq | Poland |
| Liberia | Union of South Africa |
| Luxembourg | USSR |
| Mexico | UK |
| Netherlands | USA |
| New Zealand | Yugoslavia |
| Nicaragua |
States or authorities associated with the United Nations in the war
| Chile | Iceland |
| Ecuador | Paraguay |
| Egypt | Peru |
| French Committee of National Liberation | Uruguay |
| Venezuela |
Observers
Danish Minister at Washington, attending in a personal capacity
Lot 60–D 224, Box 59: Stettinius Diary
Ninth Day, Thursday, August 31, 1944
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5:00 p.m. Meeting with the President.
I called at 5 o’clock on the President at the White House and presented to him the memorandum outlining the day’s developments.
The President seemed very much pleased with the Chinese plan and said he wished to study it carefully over the weekend at Hyde Park.
He inquired why Gromyko did not like the sentence he had added to the joint press release. I said I could not tell but apparently the Soviets wished the release to be as brief as possible and probably wished that it say as little as possible. I then presented to the President the proposed wire for him to send to Marshal Stalin on the “X” matter. The President seemed very pleased with the message and signed it while I was there. He added one sentence:
This would not prejudice later discussion of the question after the organization has been formed and the Assembly would have full authority to deal with the question at that time.
I handed the President the memorandum on Brazil, which had been prepared by Pasvolsky and Dunn. The President read this very carefully and I had quite a struggle with him on the matter. At first he was not impressed but finally swung around and said it would be satisfactory for us to go ahead along those lines. (The memorandum recommended that we not press at this time for a permanent seat for Brazil.) I told the President that the Secretary had a great personal interest in this matter and might wish to review it with him further next week. The President said this was very important as some day he might wish to propose a seat for a Moslem country on a permanent basis. Finally he said the Brazilian matter was a card up his sleeve.
I then presented to him the memorandum on France, recommending in effect that a seat be reserved for France which she could take on a permanent basis at the appropriate time. He immediately approved this procedure but stated that he wanted it to be thoroughly understood that any one of the Big Four would have a veto power in the matter, and that France could not take this seat at the Council unless and until the United States approved. I stated that was my understanding of the proposed procedure.
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Telephone Conversation with Mr. Hull.
I then went into the old cabinet room to receive a phone call from Mr. Hull, and had a long talk with him. I apologized for not being able to review with him the memorandum on France and Brazil before I went to the White House. I reviewed both with him on the phone and he did not seem to understand thoroughly the memorandum on Brazil. After he has had an opportunity to study the memorandum I must ask him whether or not he is satisfied to leave the matter on that basis.
He seemed very satisfied with the memorandum on France.
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Lot 60–D 224, Box 56: DO/ConvA/JSC Mins. 1–12
Washington, August 31, 1944
55
Personal for Marshal Stalin. I am much concerned at the reference made by your delegation at Dumbarton Oaks that the Soviet Government might desire to have the sixteen constituent republics considered for individual membership in the new international organization. Although it was made clear by your delegation that this subject would not be raised again during this present stage of the conversations, I feel I must tell you that to raise this question at any stage before the final establishment and entry into its functions of the international organization would very definitely imperil the whole project, certainly as far as the United States is concerned and undoubtedly other important countries as well. I hope you will find it possible to reassure me on this point.
This would not prejudice later discussion of the question after the organization has been formed, and the Assembly would have full authority to deal with the question at that time.
500.CC/8–3144
Washington, August 31, 1944
The Soviet Ambassador called at my request. I discussed and earnestly urged the retention of the proposal that no nation could vote in a case in which it was interested and, secondly, I strongly emphasized the great importance of an elaborate discussion of economic problems. The other question which I discussed is not to be made of record. I complimented the Ambassador very highly on his excellent showing as head of his delegation. This was in all sincerity.
CH