Sub sinks U.S. ship
Washington –
A medium-sized U.S. merchant ship was sunk by a submarine early in November in the North Atlantic, the Navy announced today. Survivors were landed at a U.S. East Coast port.
Screen acting nowadays is easy picking, says Lillian, recalling early hardships
Long years ago, the stars had to wait on themselves, put on their own makeup
…
U.S. Navy Department (November 29, 1942)
Communiqué No. 205
North Pacific.
On November 26, Army “Flying Fortresses” attacked a small enemy cargo vessel off Attu Island. Three bomb hits set fire to the vessel which, when last seen, appeared to be sinking. Army fighters, which accompanied the “Fortresses,” strafed enemy antiaircraft installations on the island. No U.S. planes were lost.
South Pacific.
On November 28:
-
U.S. forces on Guadalcanal Island engaged in minor patrol activity incident to the consolidation of our positions.
-
U.S. aircraft carried out a night attack on enemy shipping in the Munda Bay area in the New Georgia Islands.
Minor Japanese activity has been observed recently in the Munda Bay area. Japanese destroyers have shelled native villages in the western islands of the New Georgia Group.
The Pittsburgh Press (November 29, 1942)
189 dead in cabaret fire!
Navy officers, football fans among victims
Bulletin
Boston, Massachusetts –
Medical examiner Timothy Leary announced at 2 a.m. that 189 persons were dead in the fire at the Cocoanut Grove Nightclub. He said 117 bodies were at City Hospital, 65 at Massachusetts General Hospital and seven at Cambridge City Hospital. Among those reported in the nightclub were Buck Jones (movie cowboy star), Herman Rifkin (vice president of Monogram Pictures), Eddie Ansin (wealthy theater-chain owner) and Charles Stern (Boston theater executive).
Boston, Massachusetts (UP) – (Nov. 28)
Fire followed by panic in a theatrical district cabaret tonight took a heavy toll of life among the 350 merrymakers.
Fire Commissioner William A. Reilly said that more than 140 persons were carried from the building which housed the Cocoanut Grove Nightclub. An attaché at City Hospital said approximately 20 bodies had been taken there.
Many of the bodies brought out on stretchers were described as Navy officers. One witness said many wore the insignia of ensigns and lieutenants.
Unconscious persons were being carried from the building at the rate of three every five minutes.
All available city ambulances were called to the scene. Railway Express Company trucks were pressed into service to help transport the injured.
Many of the victims were carried across the street from the nightclub and placed on a garage floor. Doctors and nurses administered first aid there.
Policemen on guard in the area said they were told that many of the persons in the building were football fans celebrating the Holy Cross victory over Boston College this afternoon. They described them as the “overflow” from the Holy Cross victory dance at the Copley Plaza Hotel only a few blocks distant. It was impossible to learn if players on either team were in the club.
Officials said apparently many of the 350 patrons met death. Massachusetts General Hospital said that there were “quite a number” of bodies at that place but they were too busy to give an exact figure.
Commissioner Reilly said that the fire apparently started in a palm tree decoration.
A moving van was even commandeered to take victims to hospitals.
Narrow streets surrounding the nightclub were jammed with ambulances, fire apparatus and rescue workers and survivors.
Smoke continued to pour from the building as firemen dug their way through debris to where persons were trapped in the main dance floor area.
Pvt. Adrian Christian of Fort Devens stumbled from the front entrance and collapsed in a priest’s arms crying:
I saw my sister die.
Joseph Rizzo, a waiter, said a stampede followed the first shout of fire.
He said:
They stampeded toward a revolving a door at the head of the stairway and many of them fell headlong down the stairs. I fell too.
Rizzo said when he recovered consciousness, he managed to smash a window and about 30 persons escaped with him.
Dozens of those carried out on stretchers were seen to have horribly burned faces or arms. One rescue worker told of aiding in carrying out 20 charred bodies.
The area echoed with the screams of persons within the building and the calls of those outside to friends who were trapped.
Allies drive against Axis in Tunis area
British submarines sink nine ships near Africa
By William B. Dickinson, United Press staff writer
…
Troops mop up –
Jap Solomons bases blasted
U.S. fliers strike hard north of Guadalcanal
By Joseph L. Myler, United Press staff writer
…
Married nurses may enlist
Washington – (Nov. 28)
The Army Nurse Corps will now accept applications for appointment from married registered nurses between 21 and 40 years of age who are American citizens, the War Department announced today.
4 fliers die in crash
Albuquerque, New Mexico – (Nov. 28)
Four Army fliers were killed in the crash of a two-motored bomber north of here today, Albuquerque Air Base officials announced.