Right to live decently stressed
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Executives sentenced as result of fire remain tightlipped, seek to carry on
By Karl A. Bickel, Scripps-Howard staff writer
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By Ernie Pyle
IN THE MARIANAS ISLANDS (delayed) – Before starting out on my long tours with the Navy, I’ve decided to visit the famous B-29 Superfortress boys who are bombing Japan from here.
This came about largely because I have “kinfolk” flying on the B-29s, and I thought I’d kill two birds by visiting and writing at the same time.
So here I am, sitting on a screened porch in my underwear, comfortable as a cat, with the surf beating on the shore and a lot of bomber pilots swimming out front.
The B-29 boys, from commandant clear down to lowest enlisted men, live well out here. They are all appreciative of their good fortune, and I’ve not heard a dissenting voice. Of course, they would all rather be home, but who wouldn’t?
The man I came to visit is Lt. Jack Bales, another farm boy from down the road near Dana, Indiana. Jack is a sort of nephew of mine. He isn’t exactly a nephew, but it’s too complicated to explain. I used to hold him on my knee and all that sort of thing. Now he’s 26, and starting to get bald like his “uncle.”
Ready for career
Jack’s folks still live just a mile down the road from our farm. But Jack left the farm and went to the University of Illinois and got educated real good, and was just ready to become a famous lawyer when the war came along and he enlisted.
He spent a year as a private and then got a commission and now he’s a first lieutenant and flew over with the B-29s from Nebraska last October.
When I telephoned Jack and said I’d be out in about an hour to stay a few days, he said he would put up an extra cot in his hut for me.
When I got there the cot was up, with blankets and mattress covers laid out on it. Jack had told the other boys he was having a visitor, and on the assumption it was a woman, Jack had six eager volunteers helping him put up the cot. When I showed up, skinny and bald, it was an awful letdown, but they’ve all been decent about it,
Record for missions
Jack lives in a steel Quonset hut with 19 other fliers. Most of them are pilots, but Jack is a radio man. He and another fellow have charge of all his squadron’s radio. He doesn’t have to go on missions except now and then to check up.
But upon arriving I learned, both to my astonishment and pride, that he had been on more missions than anybody in his squadron. In fact, he’s been on so many that his squadron commander has forbidden him to go for a while.
He doesn’t go on so many because he enjoys it. Nobody but a freak likes to go on combat missions. He goes because he has things to learn, and because he can contribute things by going.
Another mission or two and he will have had his quota authorizing him to go back to rest camp for a while. But he seems to show no strain from the ordeal. He’s pretty phlegmatic, and he says that sitting around camp gets so monotonous he sort of welcomes a mission just for a change.
Little chance to peek
During flight Jack sits in a little compartment in the rear of the plane, and can’t see out. In all his missions over Japan he’s seen only one Jap fighter. Not that they didn’t have plenty around, but he’s so busy he seldom gets to a window for a peek. The one time he did, a Jap came slamming under the plane so close it almost took the skin off.
Like all combat crewmen, Jack spends all night and at least half of each day lying on his cot. He holds the record in his hut for “sack time,” which means just lying on your cot doing nothing. He has his work so organized that it doesn’t take much of his time between missions, and since there’s nothing else to do, you just lie around.
Eight out of 10 married
The B-29 fliers sleep on folding canvas cots, with rough white sheets. Sleeping is wonderful here, and along toward morning you usually pull a blanket over you.
Each flier has a dresser of wooden shelves he’s made for himself, and several homemade tables scattered around. The walls are plastered with maps, snapshots and pinup girls – but I noticed that real pinup girls (wives and mothers) dominated over the movie beauties. In fact, eight of the 10 men in the hut are married.
Although the food is good here, most of the boys get packages from home. One kid wrote and told his folks to slow up a little, that he was snowed under with packages.
Jack has had two jars of Indiana fried chicken from my Aunt Mary. She cans it and seals it in mason jars, and it’s wonderful. She sent me some in France, but I’d gone before it got there.
Jack took some of his fried chicken in his lunch over Tokyo one day. We Hoosiers sure do get around, even the chickens.
By Gracie Allen
My husband, George, who reads the political news, tells me that a Congressman named Gallagher has made quite a startling statement. This Congressman says that if the Republicans aren’t careful, they might not have any party in four years.
My goodness! I think this would be a terrible country without Republicans.
Who would make up all the Roosevelt jokes? Who would keep track of Eleanor’s travels? Elections wouldn’t be any fun at all without Republicans. Why, Roosevelt would just become president automatically.
Wait a minute – what am I so concerned about? – he’s been doing that for sixteen years. Anyway, I got interested in this fellow, Gallagher, so I checked up on him. And what do you know! He’s a Democrat.
Paris styles fit New York mode
By Judy Barden, North American Newspaper Alliance
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By Ruth Millett
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Organization is fashion keynote
By Betty Byron
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Treasury head backs Bretton Woods plan
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Economic, industrial commitments studied
By Allen Haden
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UMC efforts to force workers into tire fabric plants resisted strongly
By Roger W. Stuart, Scripps-Howard staff writer
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Berlin, 26. Februar – Zu dem Zerstückelungsprozess, den die drei Kriegsverbrecher nach dem Gelingen ihrer Pläne an Deutschland durchzuführen beabsichtigen, liefert die britische Zeitung Observer einen neuen Beitrag. Danach werde Deutschland nach dem Kriege die zwei großen Industriegebiete Oberschlesien und Rheinland nicht behalten. Dieser Beschluss sei auf der Krimkonferenz gefasst worden. Die Abtrennung des Rheinlandes werde wahrscheinlich radikal sein, und besondere Maßnahmen würden verhindern, dass die wirtschaftlichen Bindungen wieder angeknüpft werden könnten.
Das deutsche Volk soll so von allen industriellen Rohstoffen abgeschnitten und in ein Sklavendasein der Arbeitslosigkeit und Verelendung gestoßen werden. Das diese Vernichtungsparolen der Kriegsverbrecher nicht nur auf dem Papier stehen, sondern bereits in die Tat umgesetzt werden, dafür liefert die Feindpresse ständig neue Beweise.
So berichtet Daily Mail mit sadistischer Befriedigung, wie die in der Umgebung von Cleve zurückgebliebenen deutschen Zivilisten von den Briten behandelt weiden. Etwa 6.000 deutsche Zivilisten seien in einem größeren Irrenhaus untergebracht, dessen Kommandant der britische Major Percy Sharp sei. Wörtlich erklärte dieser:
Wir geben den deutschen Zivilisten gerade genug zu essen, um sie am Leben zu erhalten, ihre Tagesration besteht aus einem Stück Brot, etwa fünfmal so groß wie eine Streichholzschachtel, und annähernd ¾ Liter Suppe. Dabei sind, wie der Berichterstatter feststellt, in unmittelbarer Nähe des Lagers große deutsche Lebensmittelvorräte vorhanden.
Die Anglo-Amerikaner demonstrieren hier wieder, dass sie sich in der Frage der Ausrottung des deutschen Volkes in keiner Weise von ihren bolschewistischen Verbündeten unterscheiden. Es bereitet ihnen Freude, die deutsche Zivilbevölkerung zu quälen und dem Hungertode auszuliefern. Aber wie unsere Soldaten im Westen jetzt den neuen Ansturm der plutokratischen Helfershelfer des Bolschewismus entschlossen aufhalten, so haben auch die Bolschewisten inzwischen erfahren müssen, dass der deutsche Widerstand unüberwindlich ist. In einem Moskauer Bericht der Chicago Daily News wird festgestellt, dass der Widerstand in Breslau härter sei als die bolschewistischen Truppen ihn je verspürt hätten. Mit dem gleichen Fanatismus schließt sich die deutsche Heimat immer enger zum unbeugsamen Widerstand zusammen. Niemals wird es dem Feind gelingen, Deutschland in die Knie zu zwingen.
Führer HQ (February 27, 1945)
In Ungarn beschränkten sich die Bolschewisten auf erfolglose Aufklärungsvorstöße an der Ostspitze des Plattensees. Die blutigen Verluste des Feindes bei der Zertrümmerung seines Gran-Brückenkopfes belaufen sich nach abschließenden Feststellungen auf über 20.000 Mann.
An der slowakischen Gebirgsfront hielten unsere Grenadiere die Taleingänge südlich und östlich Altsohl gegen zahlreiche von starker Artillerie unter flitzte feindliche Angriffe. Zwischen der Hohen Tatra und dem Saum südlich Breslau brachte der Tag bei geringer Kampftätigkeit keine Veränderung des Frontverlaufes. Wiederholte Versuche des Feindes, mit Infanterie- und Panzerkräften in den Abschnitten von Zobten, Goldberg und Lauban Raum zu gewinnen, scheiterten.
Vor unseren Brückenköpfen an der Lausitzer Neiße brachen auch gestern zahlreiche Angriffe der Bolschewisten unter hohen Verlusten zusammen. Gegenstöße warfen den an einzelnen Stellen auf das Westufer vorgedrungenen Feind zurück.
Zwischen der unteren Oder und dem Raum von Pyritz lebte die Gefechtstätigkeit auf. In Mittelpommern stehen herangeführte eigene Verbände an den Ortsrändern von Bublitz und Rummelsburg in schweren Abwehrkämpfen gegen die nach Nordwesten vorgestoßenen schnellen Kräfte der Sowjets. In der Tucheler Heide wurde der Feind im Gegenangriff nach Süden zurückgeworfen.
An der Ostpreußen- und Samlandfront griffen die Bolschewisten unter dem Eindruck ihrer hohen Verluste nur im Raum nordwestlich Kreuzburg in der bisherigen Stärke an. Unsere seit Tagen schwer ringenden Divisionen vereitelten hier den Durchbruch zahlreicher, von Panzerrudeln unterstützter feindlicher Schützenverbände.
In Kurland brachte uns der siebente Tag der Abwehrschlacht südöstlich Libau einen vollen Abwehrerfolg.
Nach stärkster Artillerievorbereitung nahm die 1. kanadische Armee ihre Großangriffe zwischen Niederrhein und Maas wieder auf. Südlich, Kalkar und südwestlich Goch konnte der Feind in unsere Stellungen eindringen. Unsere Reserven warfen sich den Angreifern entgegen und behaupteten so den Zusammenhang der Abwehrfront. Ein dort eingesetztes Panzerkorps vernichtete 57 feindliche Panzer.
Die Materialschlacht an der Rur hat gestern noch an Heftigkeit zugenommen. Im Raum von Erkelenz, östlich Jülich und nordöstlich Düren wurde der massiert angreifende Feind aufgefangen, sein Durchbruch verhindert In den letzten drei Tagen schossen unsere Truppen hier 170 feindliche Panzer ab. Die Versuche des Feindes, die Stadt Bitburg durch Umfassung zu nehmen, scheiterten an unseren entschlossenen Gegenangriffen.
Bei Saarburg konnten unsere Truppen ein Vordringen der Amerikaner aus ihrem Brückenköpf östlich der Saar verhindern, östlich Forbach dauern die Stellungskämpfe an.
Unsere Artillerie zerschlug vor Dünkirchen den Angriffsversuch einer feindlichen Panzergruppe.
Nordamerikanische Bomberverbände führten am gestrigen Tage einen Terrorangriff gegen die Reichshauptstadt Es entstanden Verluste unter der Bevölkerung und erhebliche Schäden in Wohngebieten. Außerdem wurden zahlreiche Kulturbauten und Krankenhäuser zerstört. Britische Bomber griffen westdeutsches Gebiet und in den Abendstunden Berlin an.
In Pommern hat sich eine zum Flankenschutz eingesetzte Kampfgruppe der SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadierdivision „Wallenstein“ unter Führung von SS-Obersturmführer Capelle mit vorbildlicher Standhaftigkeit und fanatischem Kampfwillen geschlagen.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (February 27, 1945)
FROM
(A) SHAEF MAIN
ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section
DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
271100A February
TO FOR ACTION
(1) AGWAR
(2) NAVY DEPARTMENT
TO (W) FOR INFORMATION (INFO)
(3) TAC HQ 12 ARMY GP
(4) MAIN 12 ARMY GP
(5) AIR STAFF
(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) UNITED KINGDOM BASE
(15) SACSEA
(16) CMHQ (Pass to RCAF & RCN)
(17) COM ZONE
(18) SHAEF REAR
(19) SHAEF MAIN
(20) PRO, ROME
(21) HQ SIXTH ARMT GP
(REF NO.)
NONE
(CLASSIFICATION)
IN THE CLEAR
UNCLASSIFIED: Allied infantry, supported by tanks advanced against strong opposition to Keppeln, southwest of Kalkar, where heavy fighting continues. Enemy gun positions west of Xanten were attacked by medium bombers.
East of the Roer, our troops have made further good progress.
In the area north of Linnich, we have captured Golkrath, Granterath and Kückhoven. Northeast of Jülich, we have occupied Ameln and Oberembt, and to the east, most of the Hambach Forest is in our hands.
In the Jülich-Düren area we have reached the outskirts of Elsdorf, and have entered Blatzheim, Eschweiler and Frauwüllesheim. A number of towns were captured including Buir, Golzheim, Rommersheim, Drove and Boich. Düren has been completely cleared of the enemy. Resistance in the area was centered mainly in the towns.
Armored elements have crossed the Nims River in the vicinity of Bitburg. In this area we have captured Liessem, Oberweis, Bettingen and Messerich, and have entered Wolsfeld. A strong enemy counterattack was repulsed six miles southwest of Bitburg.
Northeast of Saarburg, our armored units have cleared Schoden, and we have reached a point five and one-half miles east of Saarburg. We repulsed a strong tank-supported counterattack five miles east of Saarburg.
North of Forbach, our forces repulsed two attacks near Stiring-Wendel.
Enemy patrols were turned back in the northern Alsace Plain and farther south along the west bank of the Rhine.
Allied forces in the west captured 3,500 prisoners 24 February.
Three Berlin rail stations, their sidings and traffic handling facilities, were attacked yesterday by more than 1200 heavy bombers, escorted by more than 700 fighters. The targets were the Schlesischer station, which has freight car repair shops and extensive sidings and storage depots; the Berlin north station, a large freight terminal with important facilities; and the Alexander Platz, which serves several lines. More than 3,000 tons of bombs were dropped. Some of the escorting fighters strafed ground targets, destroyed two enemy aircraft on the ground and shot up locomotives and trucks.
The Hoesch-Benzin synthetic oil plant at Dortmund was attacked by other escorted heavy bombers.
Medium and light bombers struck at junctions of rail and road lines in the Düsseldorf area and south of Euskirchen.
Rail lines and other rail targets in the Kaiserslautern and Mannheim areas, a troop train near Würzburg, and a barracks at Rumbach were attacked by fighter-bombers, which also struck at an airfield at Rohrdorf, west of Rotterburg, railyards near Freudenstadt, and objectives in Freiburg.
From yesterday’s operations, 16 heavy bombers and 8 fighters are missing.
Last night, light bombers attacked Berlin and Nuremberg.
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 FA4655
AUTHENTICATING SIGNATURE
/s/