Kämpfer, nicht Killer –
Bürgschaft deutscher Unbesiegbarkeit
…
US-Flugzeugträger versenkt
Tokio, 10. Oktober –
Das Kaiserliche Hauptquartier teilt mit, daß japanische Unterseeboote eine Gruppe feindlicher Flugzeugträger östlich der Insel Halmahera im Molukken-Archipel angriffen. Sie versenkten einen Flugzeugträger und beschädigten einen weiteren schwer.
Bei der Markusinsel wurde ein Zerstörer versenkt, ein zweiter schwer beschädigt. Auch ein Kreuzer wurde schwer getroffen.
Ergänzend wird dazu gemeldet, daß sich die feindlichen Formationen bei der Insel Markus aus einem Schlachtschiff der Pennsylvania-Klasse, zwei Kreuzern der Pensacola-Klasse und einer Reihe von Zerstörern der Ports-Klasse zusammensetzten.
Im ersten Feuerstoß der japanischen Küstenbatterien erhielt ein Zerstörer so schwere Treffer, daß er sofort in Flammen stand und unter starker Rauchentwicklung sank. Ferner erhielt ein Kreuzer drei Treffer, die ihn Zum Ausscheren aus der feindlichen Linie zwangen.
Nachdem der Gegner seine Einheiten umgruppiert hatte, setzte er das Bombardement fort. Dabei wurde ein dritter Zerstörer durch das japanische Feuer schwer beschädigt und der Gegner zum Abdrehen gezwungen.
Das Kaiserliche Hauptquartier hebt hervor, daß die Verluste und Schäden auf der Insel Markus gering sind.
Führer HQ (October 11, 1944)
Kommuniqué des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht
Im Raum von Aachen setzen die Amerikaner trotz der an den Vortagen erlittenen hohen blutigen Verluste ihre Versuche, die Stadt zu umfassen, hartnäckig fort. Unsere Truppen leisten den starken feindlichen Kräften erbitterten Widerstand. Auch südöstlich der Stadt wird im Wald von Roetgen heftig gekämpft.
An der übrigen Westfront kam es wiederum nordöstlich Nancy im Parroywald und beiderseits Remiremont zu heftigen Kämpfen.
Von den Stützpunkten und Festungen an der Kanal- und Atlantikküste werden keine wesentlichen Veränderungen gemeldet.
Vorpostenboote der Kriegsmarine versenkten in der vergangenen Nacht vor der niederländischen Küste erneut zwei britische Schnellboote und beschädigten drei weitere schwer.
Unter dem Eindruck ihrer Mißerfolge und Verluste haben sowohl die Amerikaner wie die Briten im etruskischen Apennin und an der adriatischen Küste gestern nur schwächere, im ganzen ergebnislose Angriffe geführt.
Auf dem Balkan stehen an der unteren Morawa und im Raum der unteren Theiß unsere Grenadiere und Gebirgsjäger in anhaltenden Kämpfen mit sowjetischen Verbänden.
In Südungarn wiesen deutsche und ungarische Truppen feindliche Übersetzversuche über die Theiß ab. Die Säuberung des Westufers des Flusses südlich Csongrad macht gute Fortschritte. Südwestlich Debrecen hat sich eine große Panzerschlacht entwickelt, in deren Verlauf am 8. und 9. Oktober 162 feindliche Panzer vernichtet wurden.
Westlich Großwardein wurden bei der Abwehr feindlicher Angriffe von 50 angreifenden Panzern 26 abgeschossen.
An den Pässen der Waldkarpaten führte der Gegner nur vergebliche schwächere Angriffe.
Nördlich Warschau und südlich Rozan traten die Bolschewisten nach heftigem Artilleriefeuer zu starken Angriffen an. Sie wurden im Wesentlichen abgeschlagen, Einbrüche durch sofortige Gegenangriffe beseitigt oder eingeengt.
Nördlich der Memel scheiterten an der ostpreußischen Grenze und im Memeler Zipfel erneute Durchbruchsversuche der Sowjets an dem entschlossenen Widerstand unserer Divisionen. Tauroggen wurde nach erbitterten Kämpfen geräumt.
Südöstlich Libau, im Brückenkopf von Riga sowie in der Landenge zur Halbinsel Sworbe rannte der Feind vergeblich gegen unsere Stellungen an und verlor in diesen Kämpfen 46 Panzer.
An der finnischen Südfront wurden in den letzten Tagen fortgesetzte Versuche der Finnen, sich unseren Absetzbewegungen vorzulegen, vereitelt An der Eismeerfront sind die Sowjets zu starken Angriffen angetreten, um unsere Stellungen im Raum von Petsamo zu durchstoßen. Heftige Kämpfe sind entbrannt. Am Fischerhals stehen unsere Gebirgsjäger im Kampf gegen gelandete feindliche Kräfte.
Störflugzeuge warfen in der vergangenen Nacht verstreut Bomben auf westdeutsches Gebiet und in Ostpreußen.
Geschwaderkommodore Oberstleutnant Helmut Lent, Inhaber der höchsten deutschen Tapferkeitsauszeichnung, fand den Fliegertod. Mit ihm verliert die Luftwaffe ihren erfolgreichsten Nachtjäger, der im Kampf gegen die nächtlichen Terrorangriffe der englischen Luftwaffe 102 Luftsiege errungen hat.
Mit 75 Tagesabschüssen gegen einen zahlenmäßig überlegenen Gegner errang die III. Gruppe eines an der Eismeerfront eingesetzten Jagdgeschwaders unter Führung von Ritterkreuzträger Hauptmann Duerr am 9. Oktober ihren 3.000 Luftsieg.
Bei den Kämpfen im Banat hat sich die Grenadierbrigade (mot.) 92. unter Führung von Oberst Hillebrand durch vorbildliche Härte und Standhaftigkeit besonders ausgezeichnet.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (October 11, 1944)
FROM
(A) SHAEF FORWARD
ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section
DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
111100A October
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. 186
The Allied force which landed on the south bank of the Scheldt Estuary has improved its positions east of Breskens. Fighters and fighter bombers attacked enemy strong points in the area yesterday. Elsewhere, air operations were restricted by weather. Heavy fighting continues in the area of the Saint-Leenarts Canal bridgehead. North of Antwerp, we have cut the main road leading from the mainland to Zuid Beveland. A sharp enemy attack near Dodewaard, in the Waal River area, was repulsed yesterday morning. A 24-hour ultimatum to surrender was served on the German forces in Aachen at 1015 hours Tuesday.
Earlier, units in the northern arm of our encircling movement had captured Scharfenberg and advanced to Würselen. Other units moving up from the south and east had reached Haaren and had cut the main Aachen–Köln highway. By noon, the enemy was being mopped-up in the northern part of Haaren. German counter-attacks were repulsed at the Crucifix Hill, southeast of Haaren, and the area of Bardenberg. Hard fighting is in progress southwest of Hürtgen, and our troops have made gains. Patrol activity and sporadic artillery fire are reported along the frontier in the area of Monschau.
In France, house-to-house fighting is in progress in Maizières-lès-Metz. East of Lunéville, our troops in the Forêt de Parroy have advanced about 1,500 yards. East of Epinal, our positions were improved despite increased enemy artillery fire. After hard fighting in the Le Thillot sector, our troops established a substantial bridgehead across the Moselotte River. Heavy losses were inflicted on the enemy. Several strong points near Le Thillot have been taken against stiff resistance. The Forêt de Longegoutte and Gehan have been largely mopped-up. Progress has been made in the Champagney region west of Belfort.
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/U.S. Navy Department (October 11, 1944)
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 148
Troops of the 81st Infantry Division landed on Bairakaseru Island in the Palau Islands on October 10 (West Longitude Date). No opposition was encountered. Meantime, troops of the 1st Marine Division continued to make slow but steady progress against the remaining pocket of enemy resistance on Bloody Nose Ridge. During the day, a sizeable ammunition dump was exploded within one of the largest enemy-held caves. On Angaur, mopping-up operations by the 81st Infantry Division proceeded. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas Communiqué No. 143 stated in error that enemy dead on Peleliu number 11,083. This figure should have read 10,083. Enemy dead counted on Peleliu through October 10 were 10,305 and on Angaur 1,165. On Peleliu, 284 enemy troops have been made prisoners of war and on Angaur, 11 have been taken. In addition, 184 civilians have been interned on Angaur. On October 10, the airstrip at Babelthuap was bombed by Corsair fighters of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and several small craft were damaged by strafing in Gamilangel Bay.
The airfield and shipping in the harbor at Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands were bombed on October 9. Eight enemy fighters rose to Intercept; two were shot down, one was probably shot down and one was damaged. One of our planes suffered minor damage.
Supply dumps, personnel areas and a radio station on Pagan Island in the Marianas were bombed and strafed on October 9. One of our planes was shot down by anti-aircraft fire but the pilot was rescued.
On October 9, Liberators of the 7th Air Force bombed Wake Island.
The Pittsburgh Press (October 11, 1944)
Massed bombers and guns pounding Aachen to pieces
German relief columns struggle to reach beleaguered garrison
By Jack Frankish, United Press staff writer
…
Fleet strikes in Japan’s home waters
U.S. planes hammer Ryukyu Islands
By Frank Tremaine, United Press staff writer
…
Poll: Dewey is strong in 12 Midwestern farm states
GOP increases vote in five, Roosevelt in three, latest survey indicates
By George Gallup, Director, American Institute of Public Opinion
…
Nazis lose last Greenland station
Washington (UP) –
A German weather station, believed to be the last one in Greenland, was located and captured last week, Army Air Force sources revealed today.
Three officers, nine men and quantities of technical radio, ordnance and scientific equipment were captured, it was reported.
Deprivation of weather information from this source will substantially handicap German aerial activities, it was said, because prevailing weather conditions tend to move from Greenland and Iceland across the British Isles to the continent.
1 Like
Final tribute paid to Willkie
Great and humble attend funeral
By Charles T. Lucey, Scripps-Howard staff writer
…
Soldier voter gets benefit of doubt here
Election board takes liberal attitude
By Kermit McFarland
Allegheny County election officials, in handling military ballots for the country’s voters in the Armed Forces, have taken literally the admonition of the Pennsylvania Military Ballot Act to “liberally construe” the provisions of the law.
They are bending over backwards to give the soldier-voter, as Election Director David Olbum expresses it, “the benefit of the doubt.”
In following this policy, the Elections Department is proceeding on the theory that it was the intention of the law to give every voter in the military and naval forces a vote if:
- His intention is plain.
- There is no evidence of fraud.
- The voter will be 21 or more on Nov. 8.
Up to board
Mr. Olbum said he could see no other reasons for disallowing any military ballot, although the final decisions will be determined in each case by the Board of County Commissioners, who will sit as a special election board beginning Nov. 22 to count military ballots.
State election officials have predicted that wherever the civilian vote results in a close election, there will be substantial challenges to soldier votes based on technicalities. Election authorities here are not anticipation any such trouble.
The Elections Department is not even waiting until the count begin to start giving the soldier-voters the “benefit of the doubt.”
Minor oversights seen
So far, the department has received 1,122 from voters in the military and naval forces who did not comply strictly with the technicalities outlined in the Military Ballot Act. They sent in ballots without the required affidavits, without taking the affidavits before commissioned officers as provided by the law or without signing their own signatures. Other minor oversights on the part of military voters have also been detected by the Elections Department.
In each case, the ballot has been returned to the voter the same day it was received with a letter explaining his error and asking him to correct it at once and return it.
Some undelivered
In addition, out of the 99,381 ballots sent to the Armed Forces by the County Elections Department, 970 have come back undelivered.
In these cases, the Elections Department has sent letters to the next of kin asking for new addresses. In 503 cases, the families have supplied these addresses and the ballots were forwarded immediately.
The Department has even passed out second ballots in some bases, as the War Ballot Commission in New York has done.
This has happened in cases where a soldier home from overseas service, has appeared personally at the Elections Department and asked for a ballot. When a checkup disclosed that a ballot had already been sent him at Guam, the South Pacific, India or some other place so far away that the chances of the ballot catching up with him before election was remote, the Department has handed over a new one.
Any chance for double voting in such cases is eliminated by the fact that the voter must sign his name on the sealed envelope containing the ballot and a complete check of these envelopes will be made before the count of military ballots begins.
While the Elections Department has been returning ballots on which the affidavits were not sworn before a commissioned officer, Mr. Olbum said he thought there was good legal basis for counting these ballots if the oath was administration by an Army sergeant or a Navy petty officer.
Laws differ
The federal law – as well as the New York and Wisconsin laws – permits taking affidavits before sergeants and petty officers. Since this would create confusion, Mr. Olbum said he believed the courts would take it into account, despite the fact that the Pennsylvania law specifically requires an affidavit before a commissioned officer.
Ballot forms for military use officially approved by the State Elections Department carry an instruction to the voter to “ask for a new ballot” if he makes a mistake. The rules sent out by the same bureau, however, merely instruct the vote to make a neat erasure and forward the same ballot, since he obviously cannot “ask for a new ballot.”
The County Elections Department left this instruction off the ballots printed here.
When it comes to counting military ballots, Mr. Olbum says he thinks every ballot on which the voter’s intention is clear should be counted, “even if it’s marked with a burnt match.”
The Elections Director said:
We don’t know under what conditions a soldier may be compelled to mark his ballot. You can’t pay strict attention to all the rules and regulations when you are trying to mark the ballot in a foxhole.
The law itself contemplates a similar policy, for, unlike the law governing civilian voters, it permits the military voter to mark his ballot with “pencil, crayon, indelible pencil or ink.” Civilian voters are restricted to pencil or indelible pencil.
Incidentally, the Elections Department has sent 75 ballots to Pittsburgh soldiers now prisoners of war in Axis internment camps. The addresses were furnished by the families. None so far has been returned.
About 75 ballots have been returned by the Army and Navy undelivered and marked “deceased.”