11.8.44- No.3 AMERICAN NEWSPAPER COMMENT "THE LIFE LINE" The New York Times today says;- In October,l9l6, the late Earl Jcllicoe, then C-in-C of the British Fleet, wrote the Admiralty that unless the German submarines were checked it was quite possible that within six months Britain and France must accept peace terms "which the military position on the Continent would not justify and which fall short of our desires". It. is not known if during this war any high British sea commander has written a like letter to the British Admiralty, but it would not be beyond the realm of possibility. Fortunately for civilization, the submarine menace was finally overcome in the last war. Fortunately again for civilization, it appears to have been mastered in this at least so minimized that possibility that war, or any an undersea blockade of Britain might be made so effective that the war could not be continued has long since been overcome. It must have been with the of satisfaction that the tvo who greatest men probably above all others on the United Nations side appreciated the possibilities of the submarine menace on the basis of what it almost accomplished in the last war. - Prime Minister Churchill and President Roosevelt issued their joint statement declaring, the' U-boats to be- now the hunted, not the hunters. The Roosevelt-Chur chill statement more than 500 Axis submarines have been says sunk in this wa'r, or two-and-a-half times'the number the Germans lost in 1914-18, and that during July more U-boats were destroyed than there were merchant ships sunk by the dwindling wtlf-packs. the arid small in the river dropping Seeing large "blue-grey freighters lying or do’wnstrcam with the tide outward it is difficult to invest them with the hound, would hold and have held in the "battle of the world. Although importance they the is small compared to airplane provides a supplementary traffic link, it very of the The latter is the life the vein which the Germans that ships. line, jugular again have failed to cut. U.5.0.W.1. 11/8/44. No. 7- NOT FOR PUBLICATION, BROADCAST OR USE GN CLUB TAPES BEFORE 08JO D.B.S.T. (I.E. PGR EVENING PAPERS) ON FRILAY 11th AUGUST, 19A4. THIS K.3ARGO SHOULD BE RESPECTED OVERSEAS BY PREFACING- ANY MESSAGES PILED V/ITH THS BOARGO. SANK FIVE SHIPS IN ONE PATROL. the Mediterranean u'ithin a. period of four days during a. recent operational patrol in one'of His Majesty’s submarines sank a total of five enemy ships, including a 5,000 ten supply ship, a. salvage vessel of 1,000 tons, a lighter, a minesweeper and a.n R-boat. described a.s a "brilliant patrol, where every opportunity to inflict damaging blows to the enemy's cause was unfailingly seised,” these successes arc particularly outstand- ing in view of the scarcity of enemy shipping now to bo found in the Audit err ano a.n. The 'submarine was commanded by Lieutenant G.E. Hunt, L. S. 0. R.N. of Moffat, , , Dumfriesshire. After torpedoing and the salvage vessel, which in -with sinking was company seven other craft, Lieutenant Hunt dived to avoid the attentions of escort craft. ’’After a. short time,” he said, ”1 decided to come to periscope depth as things had quietened down considerably. The vessel had sunk and there much wreckage salvage was floating in the water. ’’Three large lighters were observed, hurrying eastwards, with an air of sen who had just remembered about an urgent. appointment.” Lieutenant Hunt then observed an R-boat alongside a 4-00 ton lighter. Ono torpedo was |fired and a few seconds later there was an enormous explosion which shook the submarine considerably. The R-boat completely disintegrated while the lighter was sunk. Later Lieutenant Hunt sighted a 5,000 ton supply ship escorted by a destroyer. He manoeuvred'his submarine to favourable and fired salvo of torpedoes. a attacking position a ’’There was a. most terrific explosion a.s one torpedo hit,” said Lieutenant Hunt, ’’followed by a long muffled rumbling noiso.” An ineffective counter attack by the destroyer forced the submarine to dive, but on coming to periscope depth sone tine later there was no sign whatsoever of the target. The destroyer was seen circling same distance away while in the last observed position of the target there were two small croft whoso decks were seen to be crowded with people, pre- sumably survivors. In addition there were three lifeboats, a raft and some Unidentified objects flooding in the possibly wreckage. water, Thu minesweeper blew up and sank foliowin:; a. brisk pun a.ction. Another minesweeper and shore batteries forced the ether submarine to withdraw. Licutenant Hunt has served in submarines since 19J9 and has taken part in many successful patrols in the mediterranean. Ho was awarded the A. S. 0. in Juno, 1942. NAVAL AFFAIRS. photorjrajhs available fra,; P.B.A. 11/8/44 No. 10 NOT POR PUBLICATION, BROADCAST IN OVERSEAS BULLETINS OR USE ON CLUB TAPES BEFORE 2530 D.B.S.T. ON FRIDAY 11,8*44 (i.e. FOR SATURDAY MORNING PAPERS). NOT TO BE BROADCAST IN THE MIDNIGHT NEWS OF AUGUST 11/12 THIS EMBARGO SHOULD BE RESPECTED OVERSEAS BY PREFACING ANY MESSAGES PILED WITH THE EMBARGO THE GRENADIER GUARDS IN ITALY (To July 20) the of The Grenadier Guards have played an important part since first days General Alexander's great offensive of May 12th. The regiment spent the first half of May in the Cassino area, whore it was constantly the target of enemy bombardment and local attacks. Reports have revealed how* every spare man in the battalion took up supplies by night on foot into the battered town along a road swept by machine- gun fire* Then came the great assault. The Grenadiers were swiftly in the van of the attacking forces and, to beat back having early crossed the Rapido, they helped the heavy opposition in their drive forward to force a crossing of the Melfa on 25th May, On the next day they continued their advance, meeting and crushing strong resis tance the slopes of Monte Orio. They engaged in on heavy fighting south-east of Arce on May 27, and on the’ next day shared in the taking of the strategically import- ant Monte Picolo and Monte Grande, overlooking Highway 6 and blocking the road to Rome. The regiment continued to advance. By the 4th June it had gained the high ground to the west of and for several days afterwards it took part in series of • Alatri, a heavy actions, which failed to impede its progress, as did the numerous demolitions with which it found itself confronted. became Enemy resistance particularly stubborn the 10th and 11th June, south of the Galanina but the Grenadiers went on River, resolutely forward in the teeth of fierce reaction. On the 19th the formation with which the regiment was fighting attacked and occupied Monte Comeo, and the initial assault was* so successful that although twice counter-attacked on the following day, it advanced to enter Perugia, Less than a week later the Grenadiers had shared in the taking of Monte and Monte north of Bagnolo Paociano, Perugia, Oft July 2nd. the advance pressed forward still further, Monte Tizio was reached the first day of the and fortnight- later the great assault on month, a on Arezzo was mounted. On the first day of the attack the Grenadiers shared in the taking of many peaks and ridges of great tactical importance, and later played their part in the .action which brought about the fall of Arezzo itself. MILITW AFEAIBS 11/8/44 - No, 18 Air Ministry No, 15105 AIR MINISTRY COIdviWIQUE , yesterday evening off Heligoland Beaufighters of R.A.F. Coastal Command attacked five merchant ships and a west-bound enemy convoy of ten escort vessels, A medium-sized merchant vessel was hit with torpedoes and left burning fiercely, and another merchantman, possibly hit with a torpedo, was set on fire. Of the escort hit with rocket projectiles and blew ships, one was whilst four which was left in sinking condition, up minesweepers, one of a were set on fire. Four of our aircraft arc missing. 11/8/44 No* 22 SOUTH EAST ASIA COMMUNIQUE NO* 220 Advance Post August 11, 19A1-. NORTH BURMA. Allied troops captured Taungni on the Burma railway seventeen miles south-west of late Wednesday afternoon* Leading elements are Mogaung on now south of Taungni* Chinese troops and Kachin levies moving south in the neighbourhood of the kjyitkyina-Bhamo road have advanced miles approximately seven south of Nyitkyina* Tiddim Road and Kabaw Valley: Japanese losses during the last fortnight from our raids on the Tiddim road supply line inside Burma have now risen to more than four hundred dead and one hundred and fifty wounded* Our forces moving directly south on the road are now within ten miles of the Burma frontier. patrols east of the Yu river in the Kabaw valley are still out of contact with the enemy* AIR; R, A,F, aircraft attacked targets at Tonzang on the? t Tiddim Road in the Kabaw valley and at Raing opposite Kalewa.. River craft the Chindwin and on Mayu river were also strafed* NORTH BURMA. HEADQUARTERS . EUROPEAN THEATER OF' OPERATIONS UNITED STATES ARKS' IMMEDIATE RELEASE NUMBER . ■ 9379 11 August 1944 ’ FROM: HEADQUARTERS, UNITED STATES STRATEGIC AIR FORCES IN EUROPE A number of German fuel and airdromes in the vicinity of Paris, and dumps two railroad in the attacked in clear yards Alsace-Lorraine, near Rhine, were weather with medium, good results this morning by sized forces of B-17 Flying Fortresses and of the Air Force,'with medium sized forces B-24 Liberators Eighth of P-51 Mustangs as escort. Targets bombed were: Fuel dumps at St. Florentin the Armancon about 75 and Pacy, on River, niles southeast of Paris. Airdromes at Villacoublay, on the outskirts of Paris; Tbussus-le-Noble, southwest .of Paris; and Coulommiers, about 30 miles east of Paris, Railroad yards at Mulhouse and Belfort, in Alsace Lorraine. END 2:30 P.M. 9th AF No. 17. 11.8.44, No. 31 SEAGEANT EECOHA.TED FOE ASSISTING AT SCENE OF FLYING- BOKB EXPLOSION HQS NINTH AIR FORCE -- Sergeant Chester A, Reynolds of Orange, Virginia* received the Soldier’s Medal Friday, for the aid he rendered at the scene of a flying bomb explosion in S. England. Reynolds, a driver in the transportation section of the Ninth Air Force, arrived at the scene of the explosion before any other outside help. He carried victims to a first aid post, then returned to help put water hoses in action. He worked with disregard fbr the danger of falling walls and the possible explosion of stocks of combustibles. Ho left before civilians he had been assisting could thank him and his action only came to light when he was late for a formation and officers checked the for his reason absence. The medal was awarded Sergeant Reynolds by Brigadier. General V.H. Strahm, Chief of Staff of the 9th Air Force. 11/8/44- No. 37 2nd TAF/AIR 1NF.323 HOSQUITOS DESTROY FIVE BY NIGHT ► Carrying either a nine or a large bomb slang externally, a Ju. 88 was blown up in the air by the commanding officer of the RCAP Cougar Squadron, TC/Cclr. Ceorge Abner ‘Hiltz, of New Brunswick, over Normandy*s beaches last night (Thursday). Enemy activity over the beachhead area was on a moderate scale, but AEAF Mosquitos succeeded in destroying five, three being accounted for by RCAF Squadrons. W/Cdr. Hiltz, a former schoolmaster, caused a violent explosion in his Ju.BB as soon as he had opened fire and it crashed into the sea, lighting up the clouds " with a vivid orange flame as it fell. It was his first "Kill 1 Five members of the crew of another Ju. 88 baled out when their aircraft was attacked by S/bdr. Frederick Chase, of Cambridge, a former master at Rugby School, who now has .a personal score of five destroyed* of This enemy aircraft crashed into the sea Decamps with both engines ablaze* 11/8/44 No. 38 ?th A»F. Np.lB AMMUNITION DUMP BOMBED BY MARAUDERS H,Q.S, NINTH BOMBER COMLAND: An ammunition dump in the Poret de Roumare, five miles east of Rouen, was attacked by two waves of Marauders and Havocs during the noon hour Friday, Marauders made the first attack and bombed through clouds with Pathfinder techniques. Results of this raid were unobserved though bonbs went into the target area. Thirty minutes later Havocs began bombing. Through a break in the clouds they saw their bombs falling squarely on the target. "I several large and then black smoke covered the ’whole area," saw explosions Staff Sergeant John A, Pejes, Box 363, Irwin, Pa,, a gunner, said. Another Marauder force was out at the sane tine to attack a temporary bridge said the bombs were in the over the Seine River near Oissel. Pathfinder planes target area* 11.8.44 - No. 39 Air Ministry Nows Service Air Ministry Bulletin N0.15107 FLYING BOOS DESTROYED A number of the flying bombs launched against this country last night and to-day wore destroyed by fighters of air defence of Great Britain and anti-aircraft defences. 11. .8, 44. No, 43 U. S. GENERAL SOMERVELL DISCUSSES AMERICAN ARMY* S SUPPLY SITUATION Washington, Friday General Brehon B. Somervell, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Service Forces, the has informed the U.S, War Manpower Commisson that although "on the whole" U.S. short in about 320 critical Army was in fine shape with respect to supplies, it was Chairman Paul V. McNutt said yesterday. McNutt said that General items, W.M.C. I Labour Committee of declared that Somervell, in a talk before the Management W.M.C, about dozen items merited from standpoint of a special attention a manpower. Production 'which the Army had. expected during the first part of this year had not the second half materialised, the General added, and, as a result, production during of 1944 had to be He also said requirements had been increased for certain expanded. items as the needs of the overseas fighting forces grew. "In fighting a 'War you always have an enemy to contend with and you have to adjust yourself to his actions as well as to those other considerations which generally apply in Somervell General said thousands of miles of pipe, business," General said. The of various Mi tanks, aircraft equipment, 80,000 heavy trucks, tyres, ammunition types, radio equipment, tractors, artillery cranes, derricks, bull-dozers and shovels, are some of the war materials in which there were shortages. "One General had to call off 100 air missions because he didn’t have the right type of bombs," he said, "Now, although we may be long on certain types of bombs, we’re theater I cl war ,he short on the ones that "were needed for those 100 missons," In another continued, "four-ton dump trucks were badly needed. We had to tell the General that we coulun’t furnish him hithJhc f?tlr-ton duilp trucks that he wantea, because, we don* t t . have them," Indicating a need for thousands of additional workers for production of ansnunition, General Somervell said the rate of fire for artillery had. been more than doubled above estimated, "Heavy artillery, rather than air power", he said, "caused deadlocks at Anzio, Casino and in Normandy". He said, the had set about increasing his programme for Army of larger ealiter and ammunition last more guns January. Buttressing his pleas for production increases of cranes, derricks and essential engineering supplies, the General said that demolition carried out by the Germans in ports of Naples, and Cherbourg were devastating. In Naples, he said, "The Germans sank -at every berth and a ship toppled giant cranes on top of them. They destroyed bridges, signals, switches and whole sections of railroad beds. He compared, the amount of shipping during the last war with that of this war, saying during all of the Pershing got other war General a total of 8,800,000 tons. "We’re shipping half of that amount every month now" he added. The peak month of October, the General said., calls for deliveries cent than the 21.5 per greater 1943 monthly average. "The situation," he said, "Is that production has dropped off in the face slightly of increased demands which have been the result of increased demands on us from overseas. "We‘ll have to make what we’tre lost, in will have to up and, addition, we supplement production in order to take care of these overseas demands. We 9an‘t debate these things for a long time',’ "This is the final round," he said, "There isn’t ary doubt about that, and if you can give these fighting forces what they need, all the heavy artillery they need, all the trucks they need to haul that if he ammunition; you can give General MacArthur the tents beeds so ho take of his to build can care mon without stopping shelters, they’ll push along fast and nnough everybody is perfectly willing to do it," 1/84.No,3 11/8/44 - No, 54- LiOBE U,Se WHINES AVAILABLE POE U.S* TEOOPS V/dshington, Friday The U S. e Nar Department said today that following analysis of additional data received by the department since publication on July 19, 1944, of the list of 189 magazines preferred by U.S. soldiers# the department had released today thirty-three additional magazines of general circulation within the U.S..for which the soldiers had shorn a preference# The list now totals 218 titles* four of the original 189 titles having been withdrawn when it was determined that they were properly classifiable as bo :hs rather than magazines. Under the the law# army is permitted to make available to soldiers magazines of general circulation in the U*S, irrespective of political content if the soldiei - show a preference for then .through a reliable method established by the U.S, - Secretary of 'Jar* The “Revised Preference Lis 4'* 1' of 218 titles includes all the magazines for which soldier preference has now been determined under the statute, The army $ will check the list periodically for any future changes in.'prcfere?aco»_ :t My nagazine. the Preference List he delivered by on. 'may the army free t? soldiers-or hac.c available .under array' sponsorship to.-, soldiers inside-lor outside the U»3, ? irrespective of its political content#. But the law does not .require the amy to furnish:all the magazines or any specific magazine ■on the-list* •- ■. ’ . \ l ■ .odd .•Eurtheimarc#-the law.docs not-prevent soldier, frori .-subscribing -to any that., he wants..or having it nailed to him by family'or friends at hone. • ..--.- .■ . . y.s.o.w.j, Uiioois 2ND TAF/AIR INF., 327. 11/8/44 No.57 DAY : A;i3AD QD CAL.-DtYD) -> ■ I 111I iiiM.| m Dwf ibiw Ttfiiwr.!*. era UKOTHAR TIP AUI;, AUOTHK. OU GROUIu). G-erman artillery and mortar positions in front of the Canadians in the Falaisc- sector were bombed without loss this evening by Mitchal la and Bostons of R.A.F. 2nd T.A.F* A New Zealand staff navigation officer in Mitchell squadron leader, a a wing., described the operation as "very satisfactory". He was in the air- craft which led the second wave of Mitchells and saw that the first wave had started fires in a wood where forces were concentrated. enemy Among many Canadians who found particular enjoyment in this operation in support of their own Army was F/0 Melvin Smith, an air gunner of Windhaven, Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was making his 50th sortie of his second first operational tour, the having been on Wellingtons. "My brother, Malcolm, a lanec--bombardier in an anti-tank outfit, was down below there somewhere, so it gave me plenty of satisfaction to sec our bombs making the way easier for the boys" . in Malcolm arid Melvin Smith came to England together 11/8/44 - No. 58 9th Air Force No. 20 NINTH AIR FORCE MARAUDERS O HAVOCS POUND ST. MALO GUN DEFENCES; OTHER DROP ALMOST FOUR MILLION LEAFLETS TO RESISTING GERMANS IN BREST PENINSULA NINTH,AIR FORCE Marauders and Havocs of the Ninth Air Force pounded German coastal gun positions at St. Malo .Friday evening in support of ground forces engaged in mopping up last remnants of enemy resistance in the besieged fortress, while other Marauders dropped close to four million leaflets on isolated German garrisons in the ports of Brest, Lorient, and St. Nazairc. The medium and light bombers struck at enemy batteries and barracks on the lie de Cezembre, immediately north of St. Malo ' harbor and at heavy guns on the St, Scrvan entrance to the harbor. Other Marauders penetrated deep into Northern France to attack two important rail bridges at St. Maximin, 20 miles north of and at Paris, Fismcs, 60 miles northeast of Paris, The special leaflet mission this evening boosted to more than eighteen million the number of leaflets which have been dropped on troops in enemy Normandy-and Brittany by the Ninth Bomber Command. The leaflets pointed out to the Nazis the futility of their resistance and enjoined them to surrender. Ist, Lt, Paul Harrison, 636 State St,, Salem, Oregon., a Marauder pilot " who dropped leaflets said, I got a big kick out of being a flying newsboy. If our cargo, will help capture the port, and save. American lives, I’m all for having more of it," The Marauders and Havocs were escorted by Thunderbolts and Lightnings of the Ninth Air Force. . All of the bombers returned. HEADQUARTERS EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS UNITED STATES ARMY IMMEDIATE RELEASE NUMBER 9386 11 AUGUST 1944 FROM: HEADQUARTERS, UNITED STATES STRATEGIC AIR FORCES IN EUROPE. •After escorting heavy bonbers throughout Friday afternoon, Eighth n-ir Forcefighters strafed railway yards near Evreux, west of Paris, and in an area from Paris southeast to Dijon; and damaged or destroyed 43 locomotives and 56 rail cars. Strafing P-47 Thunderbolts and R-51 Mus- tangs also shot up 20 trucks and eight armored cars. Three grounded air- craft were destroyed on airdromes near Chartres and Metz. Little enemy opposition was encountered during the escorting of the heavies, but three enemy planes were shot down. Two 109 s were shot out of the air by 2nd Lt. Charles E, Parmdlee, of Lakewood, Ohio, a Thunderbolt pilot. Another Jerry was shot down'southwest of. Paris by Ist Lt, Max B. Bun- gate, Flint, Mich., a Thunderbolt pilot. ,! We about said Lt. "Once I fought at 40 feet," Hungate. had to skip a telephone wire to keep on his* tail. With my first hits, his engine quit and he-bellied in." One of the strafing attacks was described by It-. Col. Kenneth W. Gallup, - ~47 Thunderbolt i squadron commander from Clint, Tex., who- destroyed an FW 190. "As I to make at flak tower I .came along my pass a plane parked near a about 20 from and make dash for the guns," paw men emerge a nearby farmyard a he "I kicked little the left burst. If those said. a to and gave them a full Jerries were having supper and I think they were it was the last meal for a lot of them.’ 1 Another plane Junkers 52 the ground by Flight Lt. - a - was destroyed on Warren B, Peglar, of Toronto, Ont., Candda, an RCAF pilot flying with an Eighth Air Force Fighter Command Mustang group. Other ground targets strafed included flak positions, power stations, radio installations, water towers and oil tanks. Two of our fighters are missing. The of aircraft: following pilots reported destruction enemy TWO (AIR) 2nd Lt, Charles E, Parmalee, 2177 Richland Ave., Lakewood, Ohio. ONE (AIR) Ist Lt. Max B. Hungate, 2617 West Court St,, Flint, Mich. ONE (GROUND) Flight Lieut. Warren B. Peglar, 114 Glengarry St., Toronto, Canada. Lt. Col. Kenneth W, Gallup, Clint, Tex. END 12: 10 A.M.