Canes, dogs barred as blind walk
By Frederick Woltman
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Returning veterans have little trouble getting jobs back
U.S. official reports employers cooperating full-heartedly, except in rare instances
By Earl Rickert, Scripps-Howard staff writer
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New devices to link autos, radio network
Wartime inventions revealed by RCA
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Post-war business boom predicted
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Schwere US-Verluste auf Iwojima
Stockholm, 27. Februar – Admiral Nimitz, Oberbefehlshaber der amerikanischen Pazifikflotte, gab in einem Bericht zu, dass die US-Verluste auf der Insel Iwojima bis zum vorigen Mittwoch schon mehr als 5.300 Mann betrügen.
In einer zusammenfassenden Darstellung der Kriegslage im Pazifikraum stellt UP nach einer Neuyorker Meldung fest, dass noch niemals seit 150 Jahren die Marinestreitkräfte der Vereinigten Staaten derartig, große Verluste erlitten hätten, wie in den ersten drei Tagen der amerikanischen Invasion auf Iwojima. Die Härte der Kämpfe werde dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass von der 20.000 Mann starken japanischen Garnison in Iwojima bisher nur ein einziger Japaner in amerikanische Kriegsgefangenschaft geraten sei. Die amerikanische Flotte, Luftwaffe und Armee seien hier auf ihre vielleicht stärkste Probe gestellt.
Corregidor ein Vulkan
Tokio, 27. Februar – Die Felseninsel Corregidor, die der gewaltigen US-Landeflotte immer noch den Zugang zum Hafen von Manila verwehrt, ist nach wie vor die Szene heftigster Kämpfe.
In einem japanischen Frontbericht wird die kleine Insel von 5 Kilometer Umfang mit einem in Rauch und Flammen gehüllten feuerspeienden Berg verglichen. Obwohl die unterirdischen Verteidigungsanlagen von dem tagelangen ununterbrochenen Bombardement schwerer amerikanischer Schiffsgeschütze teilweise erheblich mitgenommen sind, ist es den Nordamerikanern bisher nicht gelungen, durch die schmale Wasserstraße in die Bucht von Manila einzudringen und von dort aus ihr Übergewicht an Menschen und Material in die Schlacht zu werfen. Die Kämpfe um Corregidor dauern an.
Die strategischen Stellungen der Japaner innerhalb der Stadt Manila, die von der Altstadt bis zu den südlichen Vorstädten Manilas reichen, sind in den letzten 24 Stunden erneut schwerem nordamerikanischem Artilleriebeschuss und heftigen Bombenangriffen ausgesetzt gewesen. Die japanischen Stellungen blieben jedoch intakt und die Japaner waren in der Lage, die anstürmenden Nordamerikaner aufzufangen und zurückzuwerfen. Sämtliche Gebäude der Universität von Manila sind einem Artillerieüberfall feindlicher Batterien zum Opfer gefallen.
Führer HQ (February 28, 1945)
Kommuniqué des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht
Während der gestrige Tag zwischen Drau und Donau ruhig verlief, versuchte der Feind in der Slowakei mit stärkeren Kräften in das Tal von Altsohl einzudringen. Diese Absicht scheiterte unter schweren Verlusten für den Gegner. Südlich Schwarzwasser beseitigten unsere Grenadiere in schwungvollem Angriff einen vorspringenden Frontbogen der Bolschewisten und zerschlugen feindliche Gegenangriffe.
Beiderseits Zobten sowie im Raum von Goldberg und Lauban wurden die wiederholten Durchbruchsversuche sowjetischer Infanterie- und Panzerverbände in zäher Abwehr vereitelt. Gegen unsere Neiße-Brückenköpfe von Forst und Guben setzten die Bolschewisten ihre erfolglosen Angriffe fort.
An der Oderfront gelang es dem Feind, mit starker Artillerieunterstützung seine kleinen Brückenköpfe südlich Küstrin geringfügig zu erweitern. Südlich Stargard brachen Fesselungsangriffe der Sowjets vor unseren Stellungen zusammen.
In Ostpommern stießen feindliche Panzerkräfte mit starker Schlachtfliegerunterstützung westlich Rummelsburg weit nach Norden vor. Rasch herangeführte Abteilungen fingen einen Teil der den Panzern folgenden sowjetischen Infanterie auf und verhinderten eine bedrohliche Ausweitung der Einbruchslücke.
In der Tucheler Heide und westlich der unteren Weichsel brachen zahlreiche, zum Teil von Panzern unterstützte Angriffe der Bolschewisten im Abwehrfeuer zusammen.
Unsere Divisionen in Ostpreußen errangen westlich Kreuzburg gegen starke feindliche Angriffe erneut einen vollen Abwehrerfolg.
An der Kurlandfront hat der sowjetische Großangriff südöstlich Libau an Wucht und Geschlossenheit verloren. Die trotzdem noch mit überlegenen Kräften geführten Angriffe des Feindes wurden auch gestern ohne größeren Geländeverlust zerschlagen.
Vor Polangen versenkten deutsche Schlachtflieger ein sowjetisches Schnellboot.
Im niederrheinischen Kampfraum blieben die südöstlich Kalkar und östlich Goch angreifenden Verbände der 1. kanadischen Armee unter hohen blutigen Verlusten bei geringem Geländegewinn in unserem Hauptkampffeld liegen. 63 englische Panzer wurden dabei vernichtet.
In die Schlacht an der Roer hat der Feind weitere Reserven geworfen. Die mit allen ihren Kräften angreifende 9. amerikanische Armee konnte unsere Verbände, die sich überall erbittert zur Wehr setzten, zurückdrängen. Trotz des gewaltigen feindlichen Einsatzes auf der Erde wie in der Luft wurden jedoch die Durchbruchsversuche des Gegners, zum Teil auch in schweren Panzerkämpfen, verhindert und dabei über 100 amerikanische Panzer abgeschossen. Eigene Panzergruppen stießen in die Flanke der feindlichen Angriffskeile und zerschlugen Bereitstellungen und Kolonnen.
Südlich von Schleiden und an der Prüm kam es zu örtlichen Kämpfen gegen den an mehreren Stellen angreifenden Gegner, ohne dass sich die Lage wesentlich verändert hat.
Im zusammengefassten Abwehrfeuer blieben erneute feindliche Angriffe auf Bitburg liegen. Im Brückenkopf an der unteren Saar gelang es den Amerikanern, in schweren Kämpfen nach Norden weiter Raum zu gewinnen.
In Italien scheiterten zahlreiche britische Aufklärungsvorstöße gegen unsere Stellungen am Senio.
Auf der Südspitze der dalmatinischen Insel Pag vor einigen Tagen gelandete feindliche Kräfte wurden durch unsere Gegenangriffe wieder ins Meer geworfen.
Anglo-amerikanische Terrorflieger warfen am Tage Bomben auf Wohnviertel von Leipzig, Halle, Augsburg, Mainz und im rheinisch-westfälischen Gebiet. Britische Flugzeuge griffen in der vergangenen Nacht die Reichshauptstadt an.
Durch Kampfmittel der Kriegsmarine wurden aus dem englischen Themse-Schelde-Verkehr ein Dampfer von 5.000 BRT und in der Adria zwei Frachtensegler mit zusammen 1.400 BRT versenkt.
Während der fünften Schlacht in Kurland hat sich das Heerespionierbataillon 44 unter Führung von Hauptmann Linke in schwerem Kampf gegen überlegenen Feind hervorragend geschlagen und durch zähes Halten den Aufbau einer neuen Abwehrfront ermöglicht.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (February 28, 1945)
FROM
(A) SHAEF MAIN
ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section
DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
281100A 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. 326
UNCLASSIFIED: Allied forces have captured Uedem and have advanced to the western edge of the Hochwald where heavy opposition has been met.
Weather limited our air operations in the battle zones yesterday, however targets at Marienbaum and Sonsbeck were bombed in the morning and again in the afternoon by medium and light bombers. Fighter-bombers hit targets at Winnekendonk.
East of the Roer River we have made good progress. Our units have cleared Erkelenz and advanced to Waldniel and Rheindahlen. Farther east, we have occupied Kuckum and Borschemich, east of Erkelenz and have entered Königshofen on the left bank of the Erft River.
Farther to the southeast, our armored units, after a six-mile advance, entered the town of Sindorf, ten miles west of Köln. Armored and infantry elements cleared the towns of Berrendorf, Wüllenrath and Heppendorf, in the area northwest of Sindorf, and fighting continues in Elsdorf and in the nearby towns of Giesendorf, Angelsdorf and Grouven.
South of Sindorf, the towns of Bergerhausen and Blatzheim have been captured. Other elements, in the course of a two-mile push captured Niederbolheim and crossed the Neffel River north of the town.
In the area east and southeast of Düren, the towns of Eschweiler, Frauwüllesheim and Jakobwüllesheim have been captured and we are fighting in Vettweiss following a 4,000-yard gain. In the area east of Hürtgen, we have cleared Nideggen.
We have crossed the Prenther River and cleared Dickersheid, six miles southwest of Schleiden, and are fighting in Giescheid.
The communications centers of Glessen, west of Cologne, and Bad Munstereifel to the south were bombed by medium and light bombers while fighter-bombers struck at fortified places ahead of our ground forces.
North of Bitburg, armored elements have captured the towns of Nattenheim and Matzen and have cleared Fliessem. Infantry and armored elements have entered Bitburg.
In the area south of Bitburg, the Bitburg-Trier road has been cut in three places and we have cleared the towns of Oberstedem, Esslingen, and Meckel. Other units have entered Irrel and Gilzem, and have cleared Neiderwies and Kaschenbach.
Targets in the Bitburg area were attacked by fighter-bombers.
Farther south we have entered Wasserbillig, near the junction of the Moselle and Saar Rivers.
Our forces have extended the crossing of the Saar River to a depth of six miles. Beurig has been cleared and armored elements have captured Niederzerf, six and a half miles east of Saarburg.
In Forbach, our units were harassed by increased enemy artillery and mortar fire. Activity slackened farther east and along the Rhine.
Allied forces in the west captured well over 3,000 prisoners 26 February.
The rail centers of Mainz, Leipzig and Halle were attacked by escorted heavy bombers in very great strength. Another force of escorted heavy bombers attacked a benzol plant near Gelsenkirchen. Some of the escorting fighters on the Leipzig and Halle missions strafed enemy airfields and rail lines. A considerable number of enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground and locomotives and rail cars were shot up.
Rail communication in the areas of Heilbronn, Stuttgart and Pforzheim were struck at by fighter-bombers. Among the targets were railway yards at Kochendorf and Ernsbach.
Farther south other fighter bombers bombed railway yards at Löffingen, Villiengen, Rottweil and Sigmaringen, and hit rail lines between the upper Rhine and Constance Lake.
Berlin was attacked last night by light bombers.
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/
U.S. Navy Department (February 28, 1945)
Communiqué No. 581
The submarines USS ESCOLAR (SS-294) and USS SHARK (SS-174) are overdue from patrol and presumed lost.
Next of kin of officers and crew have been notified.
CINCPOA Communiqué No. 282
During the night of February 26‑27 (East Longitude Date), several small-scale enemy attempts to infiltrate through our lines on Iwo Island were repulsed. In one sector a movement of tanks and troops was broken up by our artillery fire. A mortar support unit destroyed two enemy ammunition dumps during the night and gunfire from cruisers and destroyers offshore continued to harass the enemy.
Marines launched an attack on the morning of February 27 after preparation by Marine artillery, naval gunfire and carrier aircraft bombing. By nightfall limited advances had been made by the 3rd Marine Division in the center and the 4th Marine Division on the right flank. Enemy artillery and mortar fire was heavy throughout the day, some of it falling on our rear areas and on the beaches.
Carrier aircraft and naval guns continued to support the ground troops.
Seventh Army Air Force Liberators of the Strategic Air Force, Pacific Ocean Areas, bombed enemy positions on Iwo Island during the afternoon.
Improved beach conditions continued to facilitate unloading of supplies.
The extent of the enemy’s defense preparations on Iwo Island is indicated by the total of 800 pillboxes of various types which have been scouted in the Third Marine Division zone of action.
On February 25, 7th AAF Liberators, operating under StrAirPoa, bombed the airfield on Chichi Jima in the Bonins.
Fighters and torpedo planes of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing destroyed a bridge and other installations on Babelthuap in the Palaus and destroyed warehouses on Yap in the western Carolines on February 27.
CINCPOA Communiqué No. 283
The Marines on Iwo Island made an advance of several hundred yards in most sectors of the lines on February 28 (East Longitude Date). Driving through the center of the enemy’s main line of resistance, the 3rd Marine Division moved beyond the village of Motoyama on the island plateau. The 5th Division on the west, led by tanks and the 4th Division on the east, pushed forward several hundred yards against stiff opposition. The attack was supported by naval gunfire, Marine artillery and carrier aircraft. Some mortar fire fell on our northern beaches during the day but facilities for unloading continued to develop.
The attack was made after a night of light activity. The enemy attempted infiltration with small groups which were driven off and our mortar support units and fleet surface units maintained harassing fire and illumination fire throughout the night.
At 1800 on February 26, 4,784 enemy dead had been counted and 10 prisoners of war taken.
On February 27, carrier aircraft attacked the seaplane base on Chichi Jima in the Bonins causing an explosion.
Fighters and torpedo planes of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing made bombing and rocket attacks on enemy-held bases in the Palaus on February 27 and 28. Several fires were started, one bridge was destroyed, and a bridge and pier were damaged.
The Pittsburgh Press (February 28, 1945)
YANKS IN SIGHT OF RHINE
German rearguards battle furiously close to Cologne
U.S. tanks push across Erft River line into 3 bridgeheads
…
Roosevelt suggests 50-year curb be put on Nazis and Japs
President, back from Big Three conference, will speak in Congress tomorrow
By Merriman Smith, United Press staff writer
WASHINGTON – President Roosevelt returned today from his historic Crimea Conference so inspired by the Big Three’s progress toward a durable peace that he could foresee ultimate armament reduction by the major Allied fighting powers.
But he feels that Germany and Japan must be on trial for perhaps 50 years or more before being readmitted as equals to the society of nations. In the meantime, they must be restrained by force if necessary.
Mr. Roosevelt’s full report will be made to Congress tomorrow.
All major radio stations will broadcast Mr. Roosevelt’s address at 12:30 p.m. EWT Thursday.
The President returned to American soil last night, landing at an east coast port after a 10-day voyage from Algiers aboard a heavy American cruiser which went within a few miles of enemy submarines striking at Allied shipping off Gibraltar.
He then proceeded to Washington by overnight train, arriving back in the White House early today.
Mr. Roosevelt has ready for Congress a lengthy report on the Crimea meeting which he will deliver in person tomorrow.
In his message, Mr. Roosevelt will tell how he, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Marshal Joseph Stalin and their top advisers met in the old Livadia Palace of Czar Nicolas II on the Black Sea and developed plans for a three-way operation to squeeze the last life out of the German military machine.
He also will tell how they also built the foundation of an international organization which can squelch future wars before they start.
In news conference aboard his ship while coming back across the Atlantic, the President was buoyant about the achievements of the meeting at Yalta.
Seeks permanent organization
He looked to the United Nations Conference at San Francisco in April to produce a permanent international organization which will have unprecedented success in keeping the world at peace.
The President plans to attend the San Francisco conference, either at the start or the close of the meeting, to make what he described as a speech of greetings in the role of host. And he expects another meeting with Mr. Churchill after the conference.
British news agencies put out almost identical reports today that Mr. Roosevelt has decided to visit London this spring or summer. The reports indicated they may have been inspired officially. Marshal Stalin also may accept an invitation to visit England this year, the reports said.
Mr. Roosevelt left Washington the night of January 22. During his 36-day absence, he covered about 14,000 miles which included stops at Malta, in Russia, Egypt and Algiers.
Confers with monarchs
In addition to his eight-day meeting with Mr. Churchill and Marshal Stalin, he also conferred with King Farouk of Egypt, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia and King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia. He made most of the trip by cruiser, but flew from Malta to Yalta, and from Yalta to Great Bitter Lake, in the Suez Canal.
As his ship approached the American coast, he spent an hour with three press association correspondents who joined his party at Algiers, going over the accomplishments of the Yalta conference.
Program outlined
He made these specific points:
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He looks forward to a time after the war when armament of all nations, including the United States, England, Russia, China and France, will be decreased,
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Germany snd Japan at some time should be added to the assembly of United Nations members, but only after they have shown a definite trend away from militarism. This possibly will require more than 50 years of concrete proof.
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Until Germany and Japan have made considerable, unmistakable progress toward peace-keeping forms of government, the United Nations should see, by force if necessary, that they are utterly incapable of arming or preparing for war in any manner.
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A plan of American-Russian-English occupation of Germany has been worked out, but will have to be changed according to the degree of French participation in the occupation.
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The Big Three meeting and the later conference between the President and Mr. Churchill at Alexandria, Egypt, were concerned with Europe and not the Pacific. In fact, the President said the Pacific situation just did not come up in his later talk with Mr. Churchill. It did not arise in the tripartite conversations because Russia 1s neutral toward Japan and this country is respecting that neutrality.
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The people of the United States, particularly in face of European successes, too often blow hot and cold about the war in the Pacific. The actual situation is that even after Germany is defeated, we face a long, hard war in the Pacific. This fact, the President said, needs particular industrial emphasis in this country.
Hard fighting faced
Mr. Roosevelt’s forward view toward a time when the five major Allied powers can cut down the size of their war machines was not meant as any prospect for the near future. He stressed repeatedly the fact that we have yet to win the war and that there 1s much work and fighting to be done before final victory.
Asked whether he thought Germany and Japan ever should be permitted to rearm, the President explained that these nations once were peaceful. They became militaristic only after a long period of years. Therefore, he said, it is possible for them to move back in the opposite direction toward peace-loving, law-abiding principles during a similarly length period.
The future of Germany and Japan, he added, depends largely on their post-war leadership and their national objectives.
Must prove selves
Until they move definitely toward a plane of good international behavior, the United Nations should see to it that they do not rearm,
In the Crimean communiqué, the Big Three announced a plan whereby “the forces of the three powers will each occupy a separate zone of Germany,” with France invited to share in the occupation if she desires.
En route home, the President amplified this by saying that the original three-power plan for post-surrender occupation of Germany had provided that:
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Russia would occupy Eastern Germany.
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Great Britain would occupy Western and Northern Germany.
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The American zone of occupation would start at the turn of the Rhine River at Mainz and extend through Southern Germany. It would include a supply corridor to the sea at Bremen and would extend into the provinces of Wurttemberg, Baden and Bavaria.
May change zones
The President added, however, that this was an old plan, and that it was complicated and had not been settled upon because a French zone of occupation would change either the American or British zones. This meant obviously that Russia will occupy eastern Germany regardless of what France does.
Russian participation in the deliberations of the Anglo-American Combined Chiefs of Staff was explained by the President this way: The Russians will have a part in anything affecting their own troops, but not in anything pertaining to operations in the Pacific.
Previously the Big Three had announced that “the very close working partnership among the three staffs” attained. at Yalta would “result in shortening the war.”
May speak tomorrow
Mr. Roosevelt’s final plans for appearing in Congress will not be settled until after the funeral today of his military aide and secretary, Maj. Gen. Edwin M, Watson, who died at sea aboard the President’s cruiser. and until after the Chief Executive has had an opportunity to confer with his congressional leaders.
Mr. Roosevelt returned to the White House feeling fine and rested after the arduous meeting in Yalta. The 10-day sea voyage from Algiers gave him an opportunity to catch up in his sleep following the conference which was marked by long, hard hours of almost constant meeting.
Preparing report
En route home the President also devoted a good part of his time to preparation of his report to Congress, working in consultation with his special counsel, Judge Samuel I. Rosenman, who joined the presidential party at Algiers.
Traveling through balmy, spring-like weather most of the way across the Atlantic, the President got a good bit of sun and acquired a noticeable tan. En route to Yalta, however, he ran into several days of heavy weather in the Atlantic.
The Chief Executive’s meeting with Mr. Churchill and Marshal Stalin was, by all estimates of his close associates, the most successful conference of its type since the war began.
The President, in his role of chairman and moderator, was successful in bringing agreement out of several pronounced differences among the principals.
Among these were certainly the Polish territorial and governmental Situation and the voting and veto procedure for the United Nations, but the President did not discuss these points at his news conferences. An announcement on the voting procedure worked out at Yalta is expected shortly.
One thing detracted from the trip – the failure of Gen. Charles de Gaulle, head of the French Provisional Government, to meet the President at Algiers when Mr. Roosevelt was en route home.
President disappointed
The President invited him. Gen. de Gaulle declined and the President expressed disappointment because “questions of mutual interest and importance to France and the United States are pending.”
Later, when questioned about reports that he still would see Gen. de Gaulle soon, Mr. Roosevelt said he would be glad to see the French leader at any time, but had no present plans for such a meeting.
Yards measure U.S. gains on Iwo
Marines straighten lines across island
GUAM (UP) – U.S. Marines straightened their lines across Iwo’s central plateau in no-quarter battles today preparatory to a general assault toward the mountainous north coast.
A Tokyo broadcast heard by the Australian Information Department listening post said the Americans “at last are showing signs of victory on Iwo.”
Gains were measured in feet and yards at high cost. A front dispatch said the Marines were coming up against such heavy defenses as two-story cement blockhouses sunk so deep that they protrude only a couple of feet above the ground.
“There are no apparent exits to these mammoth vaults,” United Press writer Lisle Shoemaker reported from Iwo. “There may be underground tunnels, but it would not be surprising if the Japs had sealed themselves in for a death stand.”
The 3rd Marine Division alone has counted 800 pillboxes of all sizes and shapes in its zone of operations at the center of the American line. Mr. Shoemaker said Iwo was the most heavily defended spot “per square inch” ever assaulted in warfare,
“Even the most optimistic won’t surmise that this assault may be concluded in under 10 days,” Mr. Shoemaker said.
Make ‘limited gains’
Adm. Chester W. Nimitz announced in a communique that the Marines made “limited gains” in an attack yesterday after repulsing several small-scale enemy attempts to infiltrate the American lines the previous night.
Marine artillery, naval guns and carrier aircraft supported the attack. Best gains, though still measured only in yards, were made by 3rd Division veterans of Guam and Saipan on the central plateau and by the 4th Division on the east flank.
The 5th Division on the west flank made little progress.
Unloading speeded
Enemy artillery and mortar fire continued heavy throughout yesterday, some falling on rear areas and on the beaches. The newly-captured central plateau airfield was under particularly severe fire.
Beach conditions further improved, speeding the unloading of supplies.
Army Liberators bombed enemy positions on Iwo yesterday. The four-engined bombers went at 3,500 feet and even lower for pinpoint destruction on enemy installations with 6,500-pound bombs.