Die Scheidung der Geister
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Neue Dokumente der Feindbarbarei
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)
Kommuniqué des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht
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
Communiqué No. 325
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/
Address by Gen. MacArthur on Reestablishment of Philippine Government
February 27, 1945
More than three years have elapsed – years of bitterness, struggle, and sacrifice – since I withdrew our forces and installations from this beautiful city that over and under fire, its churches, monuments, and cultural centers might, in accordance with the rules of warfare, be spared the violence of military ravage. The enemy would not have it so. And much that I sought to preserve has been unnecessarily destroyed by his desperate action at bay. By these actions he has wantonly fixed the future pattern of his own doom. Then we were but a small force struggling to stem the advance of overwhelming hordes treacherously hurled against us behind the masks of professed friendship and international good will. That struggle was not in vain. God has indeed blessed our arms.
The girded and unleashed power of America supported by our Allies turned the tide of battle in the Pacific and resulted in an unbroken series of crushing defeats upon the enemy, culminating in the redemption of your soil and the liberation of your people.
My country has kept the faith. Its soldiers come here as an army of free men dedicated with your people to the cause of human liberty, and committed to the task of destroying those evil forces that have fought to suppress it by brutality of the sword.
An army of free men has brought your people once again under democracy’s banner to rededicate their churches, long desecrated, to the glory of God and public worship; to reopen their schools to liberal education; to till the soil and reap its harvest without fear of confiscation; to reestablish their industries that they may again enjoy the profit from their sweat and enjoy their homes unafraid of violent intrusion.
Thus, to millions of your now-liberated people comes the opportunity to pledge themselves, their hearts, their minds, and their hands to the task of building a new and stronger nation, a nation consecrated in the blood nobly shed that this might be a nation dedicated to making imperishable those sacred liberties for which we have fought and for which many have died.
On behalf of my government, I now solemnly declare, Mr. President, the full powers and responsibilities under the Constitution restored to the Commonwealth, whose seat is here reestablished as provided by law. Your country is once again at liberty to pursue its destiny to an honored position in the family of free nations. Your capital city, severely punished though it be, has regained its rightful place as a symbol of democracy.
Address by Philippines President Osmena on Reestablishment of Philippine Government
February 27, 1945
This is an historic event in an historic city. From the time our Malay ancestors founded it more than eight centuries ago, colonial powers have fought for its conquest and domination. The Spaniards, the Dutch, the English, a Chinese pirate, our revolutionary fathers, have all vied with each other and shed blood for its possession; because its conquest has always meant the ultimate control of the entire archipelago. But today’s event is different from any of the previous conquests and victories. The present victory of American arms is not a victory for power, control or domination, but a victory for freedom, democracy and independence.
In sharing with you today the exultation over the triumph of American arms, let us bow our heads in reverent memory of our sacred dead and the dead of our Allies, whose lives are the forfeit that these, our liberties, might be restored. We mourn the destruction of our once-beautiful capital city of Manila and the murder of thousands of innocent people by the Japanese vandals, but this latest dastardly act of a savage enemy which has aroused the conscience of an outraged world should steel us to the firm resolve to continue the fight with every ounce of our strength until he shall have been completely vanquished.
To President Roosevelt who, in our grim days in Corregidor and Bataan, solemnly pledged to us in the name of the American people, the men and resources of the United States for our liberation, this day must be also a day of happiness over a pledge fulfilled. We shall be forever grateful to him and to the American people.
To Gen. MacArthur, this campaign has been a crusade. Friend and defender of our race, he never lost faith in the spiritual strength of our people. In this crusade, he is finishing the noble work begun by his illustrious father, Gen. Arthur MacArthur who, on August 13, 1898, successfully led another American Army to free Manila from a European power. Gen. Douglas MacArthur will go down in history not only for his signal military successes but also for consistently following truly democratic methods in dealing with Philippine civil affairs in areas retaken from the enemy. Instead of taking advantage of military operations to maintain military government over territories already recaptured, he has been faithful in his role as liberator in the truest American tradition. Thus, forty-eight hours after the occupation of Tacloban by the American forces, he turned over the functions of government to our Commonwealth. And now, in this City of Manila, he is following the same procedure.
To all the gallant members of the United States Forces, I bespeak the immeasurable indebtedness, the highest admiration, and the eternal gratitude of our people for their victorious accomplishments. They have come as brothers-in-arms enlisted in and dedicated to the sacred cause of restoring our liberties.
The time has come when the world should know that when our forces surrender in Bataan and Corregidor, resistance to the enemy was taken up by the people itself – resistance which was inarticulate and disorganized at its inception but which grew from day to day and from island to island, until it broke out into an open warfare against the enemy.
The fight against the enemy was truly a people’s war because it counted with the wholehearted support of the masses. From the humble peasant to the barrio school teacher, from the volunteer guard to the women’s auxiliary service units, from the loyal local official to the barrio folk – each and every one of these contributed his share in the great crusade for liberation.
The guerrillas knew that without the support of the civilian population, they could not survive. Whole towns and villages dared enemy reprisal to oppose the hated invader openly or give assistance to the underground movement. It is thus that the Filipino people drew the ire of the Japanese who has never followed the rules of civilized warfare. And now his conduct towards the civilian population has become more cruel and brutal, embittered as he is by his failure to enlist the support of the people. For this reason, it is imperative that the war against him be prosecuted all over the country relentlessly and with dispatch in order that the people’s agony may not be prolonged and precious human life may be salvaged.
As I take over the civil functions of the Commonwealth government in our country, I cannot but pause in all humility, for guidance and inspiration before the figures of Jose Rizal for his patriotism, Andres Bonifacio for his indomitable courage, Apolinario Mabini for his farsighted statesmanship, and Manuel L. Quezon for his devotion to the cause of independence.
That no time may be lost in the complete restoration of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, the executive and judicial branches will be reestablished with utmost vigor and dispatch and I now call upon all the duly elected members of our Congress who have remained steadfast in their allegiance to our government during the period of enemy occupation, to be in readiness to meet in Manila as soon as conditions permit for the reestablishment of the Legislative branch.
I am fully cognizant that problems of great national significance must be faced immediately. The reestablishment of law and order in areas already liberated, the reopening of schools, the reorganization of the government, both national and local, are among the complicated problems that have arisen as a consequence of enemy occupation. Foremost among these problems is that of relief and rehabilitation, the urgency of which cannot be overemphasized.
This war has not only caused untold misery and suffering to the individual; it has also brought about wanton destruction, economic dislocation and financial bankruptcy to the nation at large. Farms and industries have to be rehabilitated; banks and credit institutions have to be reopened; roads and bridges have to be repaired; schools and hospitals have to be rebuilt; destroyed and damaged properties, both public and private, have either to be rehabilitated or indemnified. The legitimate claim of the common laborer and of the small farmer who has lost his only work animal and nipa hut must be given preferential attention.
So that these manifold problems may be faced with promptness and energy, I shall enlist the assistance of all those possessing not only proven ability and loyalty but also the confidence and trust of the people. In Leyte, as a recognition of the guerrillas who so valiantly fought the Japanese, I appointed Col. Ruperto Kangleon as the Acting Governor of that province. Today I have the pleasure to announce that, as a tribute to the civilian elements of our country who resisted the enemy with courage and fortitude, I have chosen Gov. Tomas Confesor as the ranking member of my Cabinet, appointing him Secretary of the Interior, and in charge of the reorganization of the City of Manila.
Our independence is a settled question. Our five decades of consistent struggles, in peace and war, have come to a definite, successful end. Our government, when in exile, was considered as possessing the attributes of an independent nation. It is a member of the United Nations. We have President Roosevelt’s word that when normal conditions have returned, law and order reestablished, and democratic processes restored, our request for the advancement of the date of independence will be granted. I hope this can be accomplished on August 13, 1945, the 47th anniversary of the landing of the American forces in Manila. Thus, Occupation Day will become Philippine Independence Day.
The gravity of our new problems demands the collective effort of all the people. The government cannot undertake to solve them alone. It needs the support of the people a united people. More than ever before, now that the rapid advance of our forces is widening its field of action, the government needs a united popular support to enable it to undertake successfully its tremendous tasks. Not by dissension and bickerings, not by resort to violence and lawlessness can we serve the national interest. It would be tragic indeed if at this last state of our crucial struggle for nationhood, we should fall apart and be divided against ourselves. We have had enough misfortunes and sufferings in this war; we cannot bear any more. To plunge ourselves into the abyss of disunion would be suicidal.
As the head of your duly constituted government, I therefore appeal to you, my people, to remain united. I urge you to forget petty political differences, to bury the hatreds and animosities engendered by the struggle, to obey the rule of law, justice and reason, and to remember that we all belong to one common country, our beloved Philippines. United we will continue assisting effectively in the successful prosecution of the war and in the rehabilitation of our country. United we can speedily achieve the full restoration of the constitutional processes of our government, disrupted by the enemy. United and in close cooperation with the United States, we can win for ourselves and our children all the blessings of democracy, freedom and security for which we have sacrificed so much in this titanic struggle against the brutal forces of tyranny and oppression.
U.S. Navy Department (February 27, 1945)
CINCPOA Communiqué No. 281
Under extremely adverse weather conditions carrier aircraft of the U.S. Pacific Fleet attacked the Tokyo Area on February 25, and the island of Hachijo on February 26 (East Longitude Dates).
Incomplete reports indicate that our forces inflicted the following damage on the enemy:
AIRCRAFT:
- 158 planes destroyed, including 47 shot out of the air.
- About 75 planes damaged on the ground.
SHIPPING:
- 5 small enemy vessels including one picket craft sunk.
- 5 coastal vessels and 7 small craft probably sunk.
- 9 coastal vessels and 5 small craft damaged.
GROUND INSTALLATIONS:
- 2 trains destroyed in the Tokyo Area.
- Radar installations and hangars at airfields destroyed.
- Ota aircraft plant near Tokyo heavily hit.
- About 75 percent of its buildings are now destroyed and 15 percent heavily damaged.
- Koizumi Aircraft Plant heavily damaged.
Our forces lost nine fighter planes in combat and four pilots. The ships of our Task Force suffered no damage from enemy action during the attack but minor damage was caused to two light units during retirement.
Throughout our attacks the enemy offered only slight resistance; about 100 aircraft were observed in the air but the majority of them were unaggressive. No substantial attempt was made to attack our force.
ADM R. A. Spruance, USN, Commander Fifth Fleet commanded our forces and VADM Marc A. Mitscher, USN, was in tactical command of the Fast Carrier Task Force.
The Pittsburgh Press (February 27, 1945)
NAZIS FLEEING OVER RHINE
Yanks gain mile an hour
Americans smash to Ruhr Valley rim – defenses collapsing
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3,568 bodies found –
Half of Japs on Iwo Island knocked out
Marines 1½ miles from north coast
GUAM (UP) – Field dispatches said today that U.S. Marines have knocked out half the Jap garrison of 20,000 in battling across both Iwo’s airfields to within a little more than a mile and a half of the north coast.
A Jap Domei dispatch said the Marines opened a “major offensive against our main positions” in Central and Northern Iwo Monday following an all-night bombardment by Nary guns. “Sanguinary battles” were said to be raging.
Marine planes were already operating from the southern airfield, captured a week ago. The northern up of the central airfield still was in Jap hands, but it was under artillery fire from a newly-captured hill dominating the area.
3,568 Japs slain
Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, commander of the Pacific Fleet, announced that 741 more Jap bodies had been counted on Iwo, bringing the number of known enemy dead to 3,568 for the first eight days of battle.
However, as many more enemy dead probably still remained behind enemy lines, United Press writer Mac R. Johnson, aboard the invasion flagship off Iwo, said 10,000 Japs were believed dead or seriously wounded.
Maj. Gen. Graves B. Erskine’s 3rd Marine Division advanced 400 yards – four times the length of a football field – at the center of the line in bloody fighting yesterday. By dusk, the Marines had seized high ground of the 342-foot-high central plateau and most of the central airfield, Motoyama No. 2.
May split Jap lines
The 4th Marine Division on the eastern flank and the 5th Division on the west also scored new gains. The 4th Division captured Hill 382 near the east coast, dominating a major portion of the remaining enemy-held territory to the north.
The 3rd Division was only a little more than a mile and a half from the north coast and was threatening to split the enemy defenses.
An advance of another half mile to the north would cut both remaining lateral roads between the east and west coasts. though both flanks still could communicate over mountain trails.
Enemy resistance was mounting as the Marines steadily compressed the territory remaining in Jap hands. The Japs stepped up their artillery and rocket fire and Adm. Nimitz reported a “very heavy volume” of small arms fire. Some of the Japs were fighting from concrete pillboxes with walls four feet thick.
The bitterness of the fighting was shown in part by the fact that only nine Jap prisoners have been taken.
Mop-up on Suribachi
Marine observation planes began operating from the southern airfield, Motoyama No. 1, yesterday while Seabees still were repairing the runways.
South of the airfield, mopping-up operations continued around Mt. Suribachi.
Little enemy fire fell on the interior of the American beachhead and supplies and equipment flowed ashore in increasing quantities as road and beach conditions improved.
Carrier planes strafed targets in and around Chichi in the Bonin Islands just north of Iwo. A small merchant vessel was sunk, two medium merchant ships were set afire, one plane on the ground was burned and oil storage facilities were destroyed.
Iwo’s fall predicted in few more days
ABOARD ADM. TURNER’S FLAGSHIP OFF IWO JIMA (UP) – Lt. Gen. Holland M. Smith, commanding general of Marine forces in the Pacific, predicted today that Iwo Island will fall in a matter of days.
“We expect to take this island in a few more days,” Gen. Smith said.
He was in high spirits after making a long tour of the American-held portion of Iwo Jima.
I DARE SAY —
Let’s be fair
By Florence Fisher Parry
Those of us who have seen the magnificent newsreels of the epic Yalta meeting, whether we be for or against our President and his administration, must admit that Mr. Roosevelt looks bad.
And I think now is as good a time as any to protest the assumption, on the part of New Dealers, that any admission of the President’s impaired health is merely vicious propaganda. This would be doing injustice to all too many fair-minded and honestly concerned Americans whose anxiety over the President’s health is as natural as it is unprejudiced.
Compared with the faces of Mr. Churchill and Mr. Stalin, that of our President is old and tired.
Why is it not possible for the people of America to be calm and impersonal about the vitally important subject of the President’s health? Why must his defenders bristle when hint of his failing looks is brought up in conversation?
Why must we make such issue over a subject which, more than any other, directly affects this country as a nation and a people?
Honest concern
For nothing could be so paralyzing to this country as any tragedy that could possibly befall our President. This issue was brought up in our last presidential election, but was then, as now, dismissed by the New Deal party as vicious campaign propaganda.
Those of us who remember the final days of President Wilson’s administration, when every White House item had to wait the decision of the President’s wife, who had sole power to accept or reject petitions for the President’s attention – cannot be blamed for our natural apprehension about our present President, when we look at the telltale newsreels taken in Yalta.
There is no high office on earth which makes as relentless a call upon the health of its holder as does that of President of the United States. Twelve years of occupancy of this post is bound to take toll of the most vigorous and stout-hearted human being; and however ebullient our President’s temperament may be, it is folly for his admirers to refuse to face, with anything but acute and compassionate uneasiness and concern, the next three years of his tenure of office.
Is it unfair to ask: What provisions are being made in the event of a catastrophe? True, Mr. Roosevelt is surrounded by persons far more experienced than was Mrs. Wilson; men who have enjoyed unprecedented and undelegated (except by the President) powers. It will be a problem for the historians to set down the limitless powers that have been Harry Hopkins’ and Mrs. Roosevelt’s to enjoy. To what degree this assumption of power would be maintained if Mr. Truman were President is an interesting, if uneasy, speculation.
Time to be prepared
Would that more of us remembered those last days that President Wilson spent in the White House. It will probably never be known to what degree the public was kept in ignorance of President Wilson’s incapacity. That excellent motion picture Wilson glossed and glorified those pitiful last days.
I remember all too well the enemies he had, and how they wickedly capitalized upon his physical incapacitation. But underlying all this political division and bitterness, the people of this country were humanly concerned, were sorry, would have liked to ease the loneliness and bitterness of the President’s last days in the White House. The occasional pictures that were shown of him in those last days were not pounced upon by his enemies and used against his administration. They served rather to remind a stricken nation of the appalling tragedy of a President’s illness.
I really think that it is time for the pro-Roosevelts to recognize in their political antagonists the human attribute of a sincere concern for his health. No one reading of the occasional air transport accidents and the assassination of leaders, the most recent of which has been the Egyptian premier, killed only Saturday, can fail to feel genuine admiration for these brave men, Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin and their personal retinues of advisors, who so willingly face danger and the risk of death to bring some kind of order and future to this now tragic world.
18-year-olds sent to front, U.S. admits
Soldiers go after 26-week training
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Campaign still on to modify curfew
By the United Press
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