America at war! (1941– ) (Part 1)

White House letter praising the heroism of the Greeks
October 29, 1942

My dear Mr. Ambassador:
On the early morning of October 28, 1940, the Fascist aggressors handed an ultimatum to Greece. The challenge was hurled back without a moment’s hesitation. This was what might have been expected from a gallant and courageous people devoted to their homeland. You commemorate tonight the second anniversary of the beginning of the total resistance of the Greek people to totalitarian warfare.

More significant, even, than the initial reply to the challenge is the fact that Greece has continued to fight, with every means at its command. When the Greek mainland was overrun, the resistance was carried on from the islands. When the islands fell, resistance continued from Africa, from the seas, from anywhere the aggressor could be met.

To those who prefer to compromise, to follow a course of expediency, or to appease, or to count the cost, I say that Greece has set the example which every one of us must follow until the despoilers of freedom everywhere have been brought to their just doom.


U.S. Navy Department (October 29, 1942)

Communiqué No. 173

South Pacific.
On October 27:

  1. During the morning, our aircraft from Guadalcanal attacked enemy shore installations and aircraft moored in Rekata Bay. Fires were started and four seaplanes were destroyed on the water.

  2. During the day, aircraft from Guadalcanal bombed enemy gun positions to the westward of our airfield. An anti-aircraft battery and an ammunition dump were destroyed.

  3. During the late afternoon, an enemy assault on our positions succeeded in piercing our lines. Army and Marine Corps successfully counterattacked and our original positions were regained. Two additional enemy thrusts were repulsed.

No report of any recent action at sea or landing of enemy troop reinforcements has been received.

The Pittsburgh Press (October 29, 1942)

JAP RALLY FOR NEW ATTACK ON OUTNUMBERED AMERICANS
U.S. forces repel stabs in Solomons

Navy cites heavy enemy losses, but 3.5 days are unreported
By Sandor S. Klein, United Press staff writer

At treason trial –
Marine tells of visit from one of 8 spies

Says Haupt sought data on U.S. just before trip by U-boat

Many to face crisis –
Pay-as-you-go tax stresses

It’s necessary to avoid disaster, George says

Biggest armored clash so far –
Axis tanks smashed back as British gain in Egypt

Allied fliers hammer Rommel’s forces as both sides jockey for big blow; Infantry mops up wedges
By Leon Kay, United Press staff writer

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A silhouette in death and destruction is this remarkable picture of a formation of American-built B-25 bombers “laying their eggs” on the enemy in the African desert. Note the bombs gently nosing over on their deadly earthward errands.

Cairo, Egypt –
American and British planes struck continuously at Axis concentrations in the forward desert area today after Marshal Erwin Rommel’s tank forces had been thrown back in the most severe armored clash yet fought in the British Eighth Army’s new offensive.

German and Italian concentrations of trucks, troops and tanks were reported to be under severe punishment as Allied air supremacy in the battle area was pressed to the limit to smash Rommel’s forces before they could reorganize for counterattacks.

Other air squadrons raged over the Mediterranean, blasting at Axis attempts to rush reinforcements to the North African battle scene.

U.S. fliers score again

American planes shot down four more Messerschmitt Me 109 fighters in yesterday’s battles as the enemy tried to avoid combat all day, the U.S. Army reported.

In all, 10 planes were shot down by the Allied air forces, bringing the total for three days to 43.

Another Axis tanker heading for Tobruk was reported sunk, bringing the total of Axis supply ships destroyed in five days to five, including three tankers.

The fact that the five ships were heading for Tobruk when sunk was regarded as most significant since it indicates the enemy urgently needs fuel and other supplies for the current battle. Otherwise, the Axis would not risk exposing its shipping within easy range of Allied bombers. It is much safer, from the Axis viewpoint, to ship to Benghazi and bring up the supplies overland – but it is also considerably slower.

Brisk fighting was in progress in Rommel’s forward lines where British infantrymen were picking their way through a maze of mines and fortifications.

Both sides are cautious

An enemy counterattack was beaten off Tuesday night, the communiqué said, and yesterday further tank engagements developed, resulting in new losses for the Axis forces which had been hurled back in the first armored clash of the campaign Tuesday.

Lt. Gen. B. L. Montgomery’s polyglot British Army was inching forward carefully, feeling out its ground before permitting the new Battle of Egypt to develop into the expected all-out fight.

Both sides were exhibiting more than normal caution.

The British attacks in the north and center of the Alamein Line appeared to have made a promising start. Only in the south, toward the impassable Qattara salt bog, had it faltered. The exceptional resistance the British were meeting in the south was regarded here as a major reason why the general plan of attack was not developing more rapidly.

Torpedo planes attack

Allied aircraft were still leading the attack, battering Axis landing grounds and forward positions. Today’s communiqué reported that nine more of Rommel’s planes had been shot down against British losses, including operations over the Mediterranean island of Malta, of only four planes.

Tuesday night, Allied heavy bombers raided airfields on Crete, from which Axis troops have been sent to North Africa in big aerial transports.

Last night, Allied torpedo-carrying planes attacked a large enemy tanker bound for the African coast and sank it.

Desert dispatches said that although the tank engagement did not develop into an all-out battle, it was fiercely fought and was an indication that the second phase of the offensive was opening.

The tank skirmish demonstrated that the breaks in Rommel’s maze of minefields, barbed wire and gun positions had become deep and wide enough to permit a limited amount of tank maneuvering.

Indications were that the main weight of the British attack was being delivered against the coastal section of the Alamein Line.

Strong Allied air forces, controlling the skies, were delivering paralyzing punches at Rommel’s forces. Fliers of the U.S. Air Force, who shot down seven planes in Tuesday’s widespread air activity, were again in the vanguard.

U.S. forces struck heavily through the air all through yesterday, shooting down seven planes, three of which were downed by Lt. Lyman L. Middleditch, of Union, New Jersey.

Many hits observed

An American communiqué said:

The Desert Air Task Force of the U.S. Army Middle East Air Force continued relentless attacks. In a series of combined operations with Allied light bombers, our medium bombardment aircraft bombed the enemy landing grounds, motor convoys, tanks, concentrations and the Matruh dock area. Many hits were observed.

Our fighters, flying patrol bomber escort with fighter-bomber missions, encountered fairly heavy enemy air oppositions. Three Me 109s and four CR.42 Italian fighters were shot down.

Lt. Middleditch, who was already credited with an Me 109 shot down Oct. 25, bagged his three planes in an engagement which started over Fuka, about midway between Daba and Matruh.

Outnumbered 4 to 1

American bombers, escorted by American and Australian fighters, encountered a formation of planes consisting of 20 Junkers Ju 87s, 20 CR.42s and 20 Me 109s. The American formation was outnumbered four to one.

Lt. Middleditch, flying high, opened fire immediately and shot down one Me 109. Three others got on his tail at once. He shook them off and, with guns blazing, got his second plane. With only two planes to deal with, Lt. Middleditch found himself over the sea.

He outmaneuvered the Germans, shot down his third plane and then, his ammunition exhausted, made for home.

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Hope for Rickenbacker still held by Stimson

Washington (UP) –
Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson said today that the search for Capt. E. V. “Eddie” Rickenbacker has not been abandoned and that he was “clinging to the hope” that the flier will be found.

Capt. Rickenbacker was reported missing in the Pacific on Oct. 23, while flying on a special mission for the Secretary.

Secretary Stimson said during his regular weekly press conference today that:

There has been no news of the Army plane which was carrying Capt. Rickenbacker. But the search for him and the seven gallant Army flyers who were with him has not been abandoned. You and I know Capt. Rickenbacker as an exception to all the cut-and-dried rules.

Silk, nylon salvage drive to open Nov. 16

Washington (UP) –
The nationwide campaign to salvage worn-out silk and nylon stockings for use in making gunpowder bags will begin Nov. 6, the War Production Board announced today.

Collection centers will be established at all retail stores having a women’s and misses’ hosiery department.

WPB said:

All women are asked to save, wash and take all worn and discarded silk and nylon stockings to any one of the local retail stores collecting stockings in their community.

Stores will ship the stockings in 100-pound lots by collect freight to the Defense Supplies Corp.

Effective Nov. 1 –
Post-induction furlough cut

Draftees will receive only week after exams

MPs call riot squad as girls visit jail

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (UP) –
Four military policemen were still shaking in their polished boots today after an encounter with half a dozen irate girls. The girls wanted to see their boyfriends who were prisoners in an Army service unit in an old police station. However, two soldiers arrested last week went AWOL and visitors were no longer admitted. The four MPs called for help when the shouting girls marched around the building. Fourteen policemen in two patrol wagons and firemen came to the rescue and the girls fled.

I DARE SAY —
This thing of leaves

By Florence Fisher Parry

Here’s gas ration application

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If you want gasoline to run your car after rationing begins next month, you’ll have to fill out this application, listing data pertaining to your car and tires. Other parts of the application, not shown here, provide a record of tire inspections, which will be compulsory under rationing.

Ten fliers survive weeks in jungles

Coffee drinker’s habits called restaurant guide

Rationing may become necessary if too many people start ‘eating out’

Millions lost by ship board, Aiken insists

Vermont Senator demand full inquiry of Land’s group

Church journal hits prohibition efforts

Manpower act placed on ice

President decides to use present powers

Record of Congress defended by Rayburn

Fat flier finds he can sun as 3 bushes (Japs) close in

Refugees assailed, jailed as smugglers

Blueprint war scoffed; small shop pitied