Stokes: Wars intermingle
By Thomas L. Stokes
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Poll: Public wants uniform law for divorce
People concerned only by strictness
By George Gallup, Director, American Institute of Public Opinion
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Stocks close irregular in dull trading
Steels decline while motors hold steady
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U.S. leadership seen in post-war aviation
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Roving Reporter
By Ernie Pyle
IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC (delayed) – It’s easy to get acquainted aboard a naval vessel.
The sailors are just as friendly as the soldiers I’d known on the other side. Furthermore, they’re so delighted to see a stranger and have somebody new to talk to that they aren’t a bit standoffish.
They’re all sick to death of the isolation and monotony of the vast Pacific. I believe they talk more about wanting to go home than even the soldiers in Europe.
Their lives really are empty lives. They have their work, and their movies, and their mail, and that’s just about all they do have. And nothing to look forward to.
They never see anybody but themselves, and that gets mighty old. They sail and sail, and never arrive anywhere. They’ve not even seen a native village for a year.
Three times they’ve been to remote, lifeless sandbars in the Pacific, and have been allowed to g0 ashore for a few hours and sit under palm trees and drink three cans of beer. That’s all.
They live well
Yet they do live well. Their food is the best I’ve run onto in this war. They have steaks and ice cream – they probably eat better than they would at home.
The boys ask you a thousand times how this compares with the other side. I can only answer that this is much better. They seem to expect you to say that, but they are a little disappointed too.
They say “but it’s tough to be away from home for more than a year, and never see anything but water and an occasional atoll.” And I say yes, I know it is, but there are boys who have been in Europe more than three years, and have slept on the ground a good part of that time. And they say yes, they guess in contrast their lives are pretty good.
Seaman Paul Begley looks at his wartime life philosophically. He is a farm boy from Rogersville, Tennessee. He talks a lot in a soft voice that is Southern clear through. He’s one of the plane pushers on the flight deck.
He says:
I can stand this monotony all right. The point with us is that we’ve got a pretty good chance of living through this. Think of the Marines who have to take the beaches, and the infantry in Germany. I can stand a lot of monotony if I know my chances are pretty good for coming out of it alive.
But others yell their heads off about their lot, and feel they’re being persecuted by being kept out of America a year. I’ve heard some boys say “I’d trade this for a foxhole any day.” You just have to keep your mouth shut to remarks like that.
At least 50 percent of the sailors’ conversation, when talking to a newcomer like myself, is about three things:
The terrible typhoon they went through off the Philippines; the times they were hit by Jap bombs; and their desire to get back to America.
Very few of the boys have developed any real love for the sea – the kind that will draw them back to it for a lifetime. Some of course will come back if things get tough after the war. But mostly they are temporary sailors, and the sea is not in their blood.
Proud of the ship
Taking it all in all, they’re good boys who do what is asked of them, and do it well. They are very sincere and genuine, and they are almost unanimously proud of their ship.
I think I’ve been asked a hundred times how I happened to come on this ship, with so many to choose from. It is always said in that hopeful tone of wondering if I chose it because it has such a noble reputation.
So, I tell them that I asked to be put on a light carrier like this, rather than a big one. But that being a newcomer to the Pacific I didn’t know one ship from another, so this was the ship the Navy put me on.
But that satisfies them just as well, for then they assume that the Navy itself considers their ship a superior one – which I’m sure it does.
Führer HQ (March 18, 1945)
Kommuniqué des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht
Im Drau-Brückenkopf südwestlich Siklós behaupteten sich unsere Truppen gestern in schweren Abwehrkämpfen gegen starke feindliche Angriffe.
Die beiderseits des Plattensees gewonnenen Stellungsabschnitte wurden im Angriff begradigt und gegen Vorstöße der Sowjets gehalten. Die weitergeführten Durchbruchsangriffe der Bolschewisten zwischen dem Velencesee und dem Raum von Felsögalla kamen nördlich Stuhlweißenburg in unserem Abwehrfeuer zum Stehen oder wurden im Berggelände nördlich Mor durch herangeführte Kräfte aufgefangen. Am oberen Gran verwehrten unsere Truppen dem Feind in anhaltend harten Kämpfen den erstrebten Flussübergang.
Starke Panzerkräfte der Sowjets drangen im Verlauf der erbitterten Abwehrschlacht in Oberschlesien trotz des Verlustes von 121 Panzern bis in den Raum nordöstlich Leobschütz und östlich Neiße vor. Unsere Reserven warfen sich dem feindlichen Ansturm entgegen, verhinderten die Ausweitung der Einbrüche und fingen die Panzerspitzen der Bolschewisten in der Tiefe ihres Verteidigungsraumes auf. Nordöstlich Lauban blieben Einzelangriffe der Sowjets ohne Erfolg.
Gegen die Ost- und Südostfront des Brückenkopfes Stettin fasste der Gegner seine in den Kämpfen der Vortage stark angeschlagenen Verbände nochmals zu einem starken Angriff zusammen. Unter Abschuss von 45 Panzern scheiterte auch dieser Durchbruchsversuch zur Oder an der Standhaftigkeit der Verteidiger. Die Besatzung von Kolberg erwehrt sich, wirksam durch Einheiten der Kriegsmarine unterstützt, in heldenhaftem Kampf der feindlichen Übermacht.
In Westpreußen wehrten unsere Truppen in zahlreichen Gegenstößen starke Angriffe der Bolschewisten westlich Gotenhafen, nordöstlich Zuckau und im Raum von Kleschkau ohne wesentlichen Geländeverlust ab.
Auch in Ostpreußen stehen unsere Grenadiere in unvermindert schwerem Abwehrkampf gegen die nördlich Eisenberg und südlich Brandenburg angreifenden sowjetischen Armeen. Tapfer kämpfend schlossen sie entstandene Frontlücken und verhinderten den Durchstoß des Gegners zur Haff-Küste.
An der Kurlandfront trat der Feind neben dem bisherigen Schwerpunkt östlich Frauenburg auch südwestlich der Stadt nach starker Artillerievorbereitung zum Angriff an. Er wurde nach geringem Bodengewinn aufgefangen.
Im Westen wurde südwestlich Duisburgs ein feindlicher Übersetzversuch abgewiesen und Gefangene eingebracht. Am Mittelrhein stand der Tag im Zeichen weiterer erbitterter Kämpfe um den Brückenkopf des Amerikaners östlich Remagen. Infolge des harten Widerstandes und zahlreicher Gegenstöße unserer Verbände konnte der Feind nur in einigen Abschnitten Vordringen. Aus einer Reihe von Dörfern wurde er wieder geworfen. In den Straßen von Koblenz wird heftig gekämpft.
Die Schlacht zwischen Mosel, Saar und Rhein dauert an. Südlich Bad Münster am Stein über die Nahe vorgedrungene feindliche Panzer wurden durch Eingreifreserven aufgefangen. Den Einbruchsraum um Bad Kreuznach versuchte der Feind nach Osten und Südwesten zn erweitern und trat dabei mit inzwischen herangeführten eigenen Kräften in den Kampf. Im südlichen Hunsrück, an der unteren und mittleren Saar dauert der Kampf mit dem von Nordwesten eindringenden Feinds vor allem im Raum Birkenfeld an. Während bei Saarbrücken und beiderseits Hagenau der Druck der Amerikaner gestern nachgelassen hat, sind im Raum nordöstlich Saargemünd schwere Abwehrkämpfe um unsere Westbefestigungen im Gange.
Durch weiträumige Angriffe amerikanischer Terrorflieger gegen das Reichsgebiet entstanden Schäden besonders in Orten des thüringisch-sächsischen Raumes. Britische Kampfflugzeuge warfen am Tage Bomben auf einige Städte im rheinisch-westfälischen Gebiet. In der Nacht waren Berlin und Nürnberg das Ziel schwächerer britischer Verbände.
Das Störungsfeuer unserer Vergeltungswaffen auf London wird dauernd fortgesetzt. Der starke Fernbeschuss auf Antwerpen hält an.
Der Major Strobel von einem Pionierregimentsstab, der Major Scheller, Adjutant eines Armeekorps, der Major Kraft von einem Landespionierbataillon, der Oberleutnant Peters, Führer der zum Schutz der Rheinbrücke Remagen eingesetzten Flakkräfte, und in Abwesenheit der Hauptmann Brathke, Kampfkommandant von Remagen, teils wegen Feigheit, teils wegen schwerer Dienstpflichtverletzung im Felde zum Tode verurteilt, weil sie es fahrlässig unterlassen haben, die Rheinbrücke bei Remagen rechtzeitig zu sprengen oder entschlossen zu verteidigen. Die Urteile an Strobel, Scheller, Kraft und Peters wurden sofort vollstreckt.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (March 18, 1945)
FROM
(A) SHAEF MAIN
ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section
DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
181100A March
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 ARMY GP
(REF NO.)
NONE
(CLASSIFICATION)
IN THE CLEAR
Communiqué No. 344
UNCLASSIFIED: The Allied bridgehead across the Rhine is now 14 miles long by seven and one-half miles deep. Another cut in the autobahn has been made and east of Königswinter we have entered Ittenbach west of the highway, and Hüscheid and Brüngsberg on the east side. We control four and one-half miles of the autobahn. In the center of the bridgehead, Vettelschoss and Strödt were cleared, but our forces are encountering fire from enemy self-propelled guns east of the towns. In the southern sector of the bridgehead, Reifert and Bremscheid have been captured. In the vicinity of Hausen, we took 200 prisoners, including ten officers. Hönningen was cleared and our forces have advanced 1,500 yards east of the town. An enemy counterattack was broken up by our artillery in this area.
Our units have virtually cleared the city of Koblenz. Our infantry, advancing east and southeast, has reached the Rhine River on a six-mile stretch, in the area nine to 15 miles south of Koblenz and has entered Boppard and captured the towns of Bad Salzig, Holzfeld and Sankt Goar. Farther west armored elements advancing southeast have captured Maisborn, Laudert, Rheinböllen and Ellern. Another armored unit advancing southeast of Simmern, against light resistance has reached the Nahe River. Our infantry following up the armor has captured numerous towns including Wüschheim, Reich, Kulz and Nannhausen. East of the Moselle River town of Zell, other units moving south, captured Blankenrath, Panzweiler, Würrich and Büchenbeuren. Merl, north of Zell, and Briedel to the southwest, have been cleared and our units are on the high ground overlooking the two remaining enemy pockets on the north bank of the Moselle.
Southeast of Trier, we captured Thomm. Southeast of Saarburg, the towns of Steinberg, Konfeld, Wadern, Thailen, Mitlosheim, Losheim and Bachem were cleared, Rimlingen was entered and our units reached a point less than one mile north of Merzig, on the Saar River. Enemy troops, armor, transport and artillery in the Moselle battle area were attacked by fighter-bombers. Advances of up to seven miles were made from the Saarbrücken area east toward the Rhine. The Siegfried Line was reached and the outer defenses entered at several points. Among the towns entered were Niederwürzbach, eight miles east of Saarbrücken in the Siegfried Line; Mimbach and Alschbach, farther east and in front of the Siegfried Defenses; Hornbach and Dietrichingen, ten miles northwest of Bitche in Germany; and Rolbing, French border town, ten miles north of Bitche.
In the Rhine Valley, Niederbronn was cleared and advances of six miles were made northwest of Haguenau. In the Rhine sector we are fighting in Schirrheim.
Allied forces in the west captured 4,299 prisoners 16 March.
Northeast of Sankt Wendel, 175 motor vehicles were destroyed and many others were damaged by fighter-bombers. Targets at Neunkirchen, Sankt Ingbert, and Pirmasens were also attacked. Other fighter-bombers bombed and strafed an enemy troop concentration and command post near Zweibrücken. An ammunitions dump northeast of Strasbourg was attacked by fighter-bombers. Communications in Holland were the objectives for other fighter-bombers. A supply dump east of Wesel and enemy-held buildings northeast of Bocholt were bombed by fighter-bombers. Synthetic oil plants at Böhlen and Ruhland, a benzol plant at Molbis, tank factories at Hannover, and other industrial targets and rail yards at Münster were attacked by escorted heavy bombers in very great strength. Benzol plants near Hüls and Dortmund were bombed by other escorted heavy bombers. The attack on the enemy’s communications was continued. Medium, light, and fighter-bombers operating, in strength, from north of the Ruhr southward to Ettlingen struck at 13 railyards, and the communications centers of Weilburg and Idstein. Ordnance and storage plants at Giessen also were attacked.
Last night, light bombers attacked targets in Berlin.
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 (March 18, 1945)
CINCPOA Communiqué No. 303
On March 18 (East Longitude Date), a strong force of carrier aircraft of the Pacific Fleet attacked enemy aircraft bases and installations on the Island of Kyushu.
The Marines on Iwo mopped up isolated remnants of the former enemy garrison in the rugged terrain of the northern part of the island on March 18. Marine uniforms were again found on enemy soldiers, one of whom stopped one of our ambulances, shot and wounded the driver and escaped. Snipers continued to be active. Army fighters bombed and strafed barges and radio and radar facilities on Chichi Jima in the Bonins on the same date.
Army Liberators of the Strategic Air Force bombed the airfield on Chichi Jima on March 16 and 17.
Without opposition, Liberators of the 11th Army Air Force bombed Shimushiru in the Kurils on March 17. Fighters, dive bombers and torpedo planes of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing bombed radio towers, airstrip and other targets on Yap in the Western Carolines on March 18.
On March 17 and 18, Marine aircraft attacked buildings, bridges and other facilities on Babelthuap in the Palaus. One plane was lost in the attacks.
CINCPAC Press Release No. 743
For Immediate Release
March 18, 1945
LtGen Holland M. Smith, USMC, returns from Iwo
Reiterating that the battle for Iwo Jima was “the toughest and hardest fight in Marine Corps history,” LtGen Holland M. Smith, USMC, Commanding General of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, has returned to his Pearl Harbor headquarters with members of his staff.
The bloody conquest of Japan’s Gibraltar of the Pacific further evidenced that the fighting will “get tougher” as we close in on the Nipponese empire, Gen Smith said.
The Pittsburgh Press (March 18, 1945)
COBLENZ FALLS IN 12-HOUR FIGHT
U.S. tanks run wild in Saar
First Army broadens hold on bridgehead road to 4½ miles
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