Editorial: Paging Horatio Alger
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Editorial: Almost perfect
Loss of a U.S. troop transport in the South Pacific was recently announced by the Navy.
This transport, the former well-known liner President Coolidge, carried 4,000 troops with full equipment.
Yet the Navy, by “prompt and efficient” rescue, saved all except four men.
This is a remarkable record, especially since the transport struck a mine, meaning there was not even a second’s notice.
While this is only one of many fine jobs turned in by the Navy, it is worthy of special notice and the officers and men responsible deserve the highest commendation.
Dear Santa: Watch you step, please
A few pointers for old Kris Kringle are listed here
By Erskine Johnson
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Roving Reporter
By Ernie Pyle
WITH U.S. FORCES IN ALGERIA – Our troops are finding the African climate a welcome change, most of the time, from the wet bitterness of England.
The North African winter at this time of year is rather spotty. It has been nice most of the time since we came, but when it isn’t nice, it sure is terrible.
We are now in the first month of their winter season. From now till late March, there are few mosquitoes, and there isn’t much danger of malaria. The hospitals report only an occasional case.
On the average, the nights are quite chilly. It starts getting cold as soon as the sun gets low, around 4 o’clock. By dark, it is usually cold enough for an overcoat. You sleep under all the blankets you can get.
In the morning, the sun isn’t up well until after 8. Usually, the sky is a clear blue before noon. It seems to be a larger sky than ours back home. Maybe that’s because we are out where we can see more sky than ordinarily. Some days, high white clouds cover the sky. Some days go by entirely cloudless, and then the sun is quite warm and it is really like a day in late June at home.
The troops go around most days stripped to the waist, and practically everybody is getting a sun tan. But nobody wears a sun helmet now.
Troops living mostly in fields
Once a week or so comes a bad spell. The last one was thoroughly miserable. For two days, it poured rain, and there was a cold and bitter wind. It was exactly like a bad winter day in England.
Our troops are living mostly in fields. Many company commanders march their men up and down just to keep them warm. I felt sure that half of them would be sick, but there was no such reaction at all. Doctors say the constant living outdoors, even in bad weather, is healthier than living inside. Also, our troops are getting pretty tough now.
Most of the men have abandoned their heavy underwear, but they’re not wearing summer uniforms and won’t till next spring.
They live pretty primitively in their scattered camps. They’re on American rations now and the food is really wonderful. But there is very little water. At some camps, a man ordinarily gets a gallon a day for drinking, shaving and washing his clothes. But at many camps, it’s as little as a quart.
During a cold spell, the men fill their mattress covers with straw, put down one blanket to lie on, and have five spread over them. There is just room in each tent for two men, and the two usually sleep together so they can pile both men’s blankets across them.
Two men rig up Eskimo lamp
There is no room for little niceties and homey touches as in the bigger tents in England. And there are no lights. But two men did rig up an Eskimo lamp. They bought some liquid paraffin in a nearby town, poured it into an empty can, then cut a few inches off one man’s waist belt (which was too big for him) and shoved this through the top of the can for a wick. It really made a serviceable light.
Military police patrol the streets in the cities. Usually, it is quiet as the grave by 10:30. The local people are terrified of air raids and won’t venture out at night. Their fear is so intense I think Germany must have done an extra propaganda job of scaring them before we came.
We Americans actually know less about what is happening throughout North Africa than you do at home. We get the communiqués here daily in the French papers, but there aren’t many details, and anyway most of us can’t read French well enough to get the fine points.
Some listen to the 9 o’clock news from BBC in London, and a few camps have shortwave radios and get hourly news from America. It seems ironic that what happens 200 miles from us must be flashed to America and then back here again before we can hear it. But that’s the way things are in this crazy world.
U.S. Navy Department (December 16, 1942)
Communiqué No. 221
South Pacific.
On December 13, U.S. patrols on Guadalcanal Island destroyed two Japanese machine gun positions and killed both gun crews.
On December 14, U.S. bombers attacked the enemy airfield at Buin on the island of Bougainville. No enemy aircraft were encountered and no antiaircraft opposition was met. Results were not reported.
On December 15, at noon, a striking force of Marine Corps dive bombers from Guadalcanal attacked Japanese installations at Munda, on New Georgia Island. No enemy resistance was encountered. Results were not observed.
The Pittsburgh Press (December 16, 1942)
NAZIS FALL BACK IN TUNISIA
Pincers tighten on Axis as Allies advance in Libya
Rommel’s army drive back 65 miles – U.S., British air strength grows
By Edward W. Beattie, United Press staff writer
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Buna area mopped up –
Planes batter new Jap force
Half of Guinea landing party already killed
By Brydon Taves, United Press staff writer
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Eyewitness reports –
Here’s how U.S. troops seized Buna
Artillerymen lay down barrage 100 yards ahead of infantry
By Frank Hewlett, United Press staff writer
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Another fire hits Boston; $1 million loss
Flames follow blackout; 46 Coast Guardsmen, firemen hurt
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Ruling ends controversy –
WLB denies right to enter municipal labor disputes
Long-awaited vote recognizes state’s rights; unions say decision deprives government workers of collective bargaining
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Men 18 to 38 can ‘enlist’ until Feb. 1
Volunteers may sign up at draft boards for any branch of service
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Jackie Cooper sworn in for Navy college course
Hollywood, California (UP) –
Jackie Cooper, juvenile film star, was sworn into the Navy yesterday under the V-1 program for general service.
Cooper, 20, will enroll in February at Loyola University, taking a Navy-approved course leading to a commission as a deck officer or qualifying him for naval aviation training. He will end his screen activities.
Sniper misses Earle in Casablanca road
Haverford, Pennsylvania (UP) –
Lt. Cdr. George H. Earle, former Governor of Pennsylvania, escaped “by only two feet” a French sniper’s bullet during the Allied occupation of French North Africa, it was disclosed today.
Cdr. Earle, while on a 24-hour leave which he spent with his family, told of his narrow escape from death. He has since reported back to duty as an officer on a troopship.
He said that the bullet whizzed by him as he walked along a street in Casablanca.
The former Governor, who was also Minister to Bulgaria, said that walking for nine hours every day on the bridge of his ship caused him to lose 20 pounds.