The New York Times Book of World War II, 1939-1945
Page 34
JULY 20, 1940
BRITAIN IS DEFIANT
Hitler’s Peace Offer Not Worthy Of Comment, Officials State
By RAYMOND DANIELL
Special Cable to The New York Times.
LONDON, July 19—Chancellor Hitler’s speech tonight left official Britain unmoved. The attitude of Whitehall officialdom, with ears glued to radios, was that “we have heard all this before.”
To British ears there was discernible in Herr Hitler’s speech the usual attitude of injured innocence and plausible expressions of peaceful intent, coupled with threats of dire consequences to follow the flouting of his will. It was this part of the speech in which Herr Hitler declared his recognition that the belligerents were engaged in a life or death struggle, which aroused the chief interest here, and this was taken as an indication that the long anticipated and long delayed Battle for Britain may not be far off.
The Nazi leader’s words were interpreted here as designed for domestic consumption and indicative of a desire to get the struggle over with quickly before another Winter.
ALREADY “ANCIENT HISTORY”
The official reaction was that Herr Hitler’s speech deserved no comment, inasmuch as it dealt with what is counted in these swift-moving days as ancient history and with threats that had been anticipated by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who has said repeatedly that in the battle for this island there will be no surrender.
To officials here the most interesting passage in Herr Hitler’s speech was his statement that he could see no reason why the war should go on and his assertion that this was his last appeal to the “common sense” of the one nation still on this side of the Atlantic and east of Russia that opposes his domination. That was interpreted as the ultimatum for which this country, armed to the teeth, has been waiting.
However, there was nothing in the speech of the Nazi dictator, who taunted Mr. Churchill for allegedly giving away his country’s war secrets and thereby permitting Germany to steal the march in Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark, to give a clue to his future plans. Therefore official circles were chary of comment lest even sarcastic remarks might provide direction for the Nazis, who, deprived of the French fleet’s assistance, are believed to have had to recast their Blitzkrieg calendar.
British newspapers, however, were under no such restraint. With striking unanimity, from the Conservative Times of London to the Liberal Manchester Guardian, they snorted editorially at Herr Hitler’s self-justification, his professed reasonableness and his veiled threats of terror to come.
JULY 21, 1940
ROOSEVELT SIGNS 2-OCEAN NAVY BILL; START NOW SOUGHT
Knox to Ask House Tomorrow for $1,000,000,000 at Once to Get Program Under Way
ARMY TO STRESS INDUSTRY
By FRANK L. KLUCKHOHN
Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES
WASHINGTON, July 20—President Roosevelt signed today the $4,000,000,000 bill, authorizing construction of a giant two-ocean navy as Navy officials, including Secretary Knox, prepared to testify Monday before the House Appropriations Committee on a program for immediate expenditure of almost $1,000,000,000 under this authorization to get the six-year program rapidly under way.
On Tuesday Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of War, will lead Army officials to Capitol Hill to explain the Army’s need for nearly $4,000,000,000 additional for thousands of tanks, airplanes, anti-aircraft guns and other modern equipment fully to supply an army of 1,200,000 men and to furnish 800,000 reserves with “critical” weapons. Of this sum about $1,500,000,000 will be requested for airplanes to bring this country’s force to 26,000 planes.
PLANT EXPANSION AIDING BRITAIN
The stress in Army testimony, it is learned, will be upon plans for swiftly expanding facilities for production of all types of weapons for modern warfare, and, in addition to a long itemized list of weapons and supplies to be presented, about $400,000,000 will be requested as part of the $4,000,000,000 appropriation for the sole purpose of plant expansion.
In addition, officials revealed, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation will lend $72,000,000 for aircraft plant expansion and about $100,000,000 for general expansion. If Great Britain can withstand Nazi attempts at conquest in the coming weeks until uncertain weather begins, United States production of all types of materiel and munitions for modern warfare will be sufficiently increased by Spring to give the British tremendous, and perhaps decisive, supply aid, high Administration circles stated today.
In equipping a large American defensive army at top speed, American plant output will be stepped up to a point where, by May 10 of next year, it will be possible to sell the British enough to meet their needs without interfering with supplying needs at home, it was asserted.
DETAILS READY FOR CONGRESS
A rather astonishing picture of what War Department officials believe to be possible in rapidly utilizing American productive capacity and potential capacity is promised to Congress next week. Although the general objectives sought under the proposed expenditures and the time limits set for the program will be outlined, a strong effort will be made to have Congress keep the detailed information secret to prevent its reaching the hands of potential enemies. Whereas heretofore foreign attachés had been able to obtain information merely by reading the records of Congressional hearings, officials said that the time had come when detailed plans must be closely guarded.
Battleship Indiana under construction in the shipyard in Newport, Rhode Island, 1940.
With the Nazis threatening Great Britain, this country must spend every cent it can for defense as quickly as possible, it was stated in Administration quarters, where it was pointed out that the total of $4,848,000,000 requested by the President for additional Army-Navy development represented all that could be put into orders now.
It was regarded as likely, however, that the War Department would reveal to Congress the need somewhat later for what President Rooseevelt has termed “total defense.”
The Two-Ocean Navy Bill signed by the President provides a 70 percent increase in currently authorized tonnage by 1946 and would permit the Navy to build its air force to 15,000 planes.
The completed program would bring the Navy’s strength to 3,049, 480 tons, which would be divided as follows: Battleships, 1,045,000 tons; aircraft carriers, 454,500; cruisers, 899,024; destroyers, 478,000, and submarines 172,956.
JULY 24, 1940
DE GAULLE SAYS WAR ON NAZIS IS RESUMED
Special Cable to The New York Times.
LONDON, July 23—General Charles de Gaulle, head of the French forces in Great Britain, told France tonight through the British Broadcasting Corporation that the war with Germany was resumed on Sunday in the air above German territory and would soon be taken up on sea and land as well. He referred to bombing raids over Germany when French airmen cooperated with the R.A.F.
He exhorted those Frenchmen who are unable to join him but who might “in other circumstances” take up arms again to guard their weapons.
“This message,” General de Gaulle said, “is meant in particular for French forces in North Africa. It is their duty to conceal from the so-called armistice delegations of the enemy all those arms that the enemy is trying to seize and which could be used against French troops who still carry on the fight.”
To those who now had to work in German-occupied territory, General de Gaulle said it was their duty to offer passive resistance by all means in their power and never help to forge weapons that might kill other Frenchmen.
General Charles de Gaulle delivering his speech asking French people to fight Germany in spite of the truce signed by Marshal Pétain with Hitler.
AUGUST 3, 1940
Where British Fliers Have Struck at Nazis
Reporting new raids on the Krupp works at Essen on the synthetic oil plants, supply depots and airdromes at various points, London asserted yesterday that military objectives in more than 100 German or German-held cities and towns had been badly damaged by its bomber
s since the war began. Points raided are indicated by heavy black dots. The British declared that the port of Hamburg was almost in ruins and that the docks, shipyards and plane factories of Bremen, the communications center of Cologne, the industrial cities of Ruhr and the naval bases of Kiel and Wilhelmshaven had also been hard hit. The raids have affected places 575 miles from England.
AUGUST 4, 1940
NEGROES REQUEST SHARE IN DEFENSE
Leaders Ask Training In Ratio to Population
LOG CABIN CENTER, Ga., Aug. 3 (AP)—Southern Negro leaders called today for racial opportunity “in proportion to population” to train for defense skills and combat service.
Dr. Benjamin F. Hubert of Savannah, chairman of the State Central Planning Commission, declared before that group that Negroes should be “more thoroughly coordinated” into the defense program.
Such coordination would materially assist in raising the economic level of the 14,000,000 Negroes in the country, he said.
Dr. Hubert asserted that the commission proposed to seek military training for all Negro high schools and land-grant colleges and to enlarge facilities of vocational training in metal work, mechanics and carpentry.
The commission outlined a proposal that Negroes be allowed to serve in all phases of combat service, such as Army, Navy and Air Corps, as well as “behind the lines in labor battalions.” Commission members said pre-service training should be greatly increased for Negro youth.
Dr. L. A. Pinkston of Augusta, head of the State Baptist Convention, said that the commission should favor compulsory military training and insist that Negroes get a “fair share” in the selective drafts.
“If we are going to be drafted for service, we want to be trained for that service just as the white man is trained,” he said.
Dr. Hubert pointed out that additional training should be provided for Negroes in agriculture so that they might get advanced scientific learning to produce foods efficiently.
More than 100 Negro leaders in college, fraternal, business and farm activities of several Southern States met for the commission session.
AUGUST 5, 1940
Lindbergh Urges We ‘Cooperate’ With Germany if Reich Wins War
Special to The New York Times.
CHICAGO, Aug. 4—A move by the United States to bring about peace in Europe, to be undertaken without surrendering our traditional non-entanglement policy, was advocated today by Colonel Charles A Lindbergh. He called for “cooperation” with Germany if it wins the war, adding that an agreement could maintain peace and civilization throughout the world.
Delivering his plea in his third public statement of recent months concerning international policy, Colonel Lindbergh spoke before a rally in Soldier Field, attended by 40,000 persons and organized by the Citizens Committee to Keep America Out of War. His declarations were carried to other parts of the country by radio. The title of his address was “Keeping America Out of War, for American Reasons.”
“If we want to keep America out of war, we must take the lead in offering a plan for peace,” Colonel Lindbergh declared.
He did not offer any particular plan, but asserted that whatever suggestions might be put forward on the initiative of this country should be based on “the welfare of America,” and supported by “an impregnable system of defense.”
“It should incorporate terms of mutual advantage,” he continued, “but it should not involve the internal affairs of Europe; they never were and never will be carried out to our desires.
“Let us offer Europe a plan for the progress and protection of Western civilization, of which they and we each form a part. But whatever their reply may be, let us carry on the American destiny of which our forefathers dreamed as they cut their farm lands from the virgin forest. What would they think of the claim that our frontiers lie in Europe?”
Colonel Lindbergh’s stand in favor of cooperation with Germany, if necessary, found expression in the part of his address leading up to his advocacy of a peace proposal. Declaring that only by cooperation could the supremacy of Western civilization be maintained, he continued:
“In the past we have dealt with a Europe dominated by England and France. In the future we may have to deal with a Europe dominated by Germany. But whether England or Germany wins this war, Western civilization will still depend upon two great centers, one in each hemisphere.
“With all the aids of modern science, neither of these centers is in a position to attack the other as long as the defenses of both are reasonably strong. A war between us could easily last for generations and bring all civilization tumbling down, as has happened more than once before. An agreement between us could maintain civilization and peace throughout the world as far into the future as we can see.”
Charles Lindbergh arriving at the White House in 1939 for a meeting with President Roosevelt.
AUGUST 13, 1940
R.A.F. SEES MARGIN OF 4 TO 1 OVER FOE
British Fliers Claim Nazis Pay Dearly for Every Fighter They Down in Raids
By VINCENT SHEEAN
North American Newspaper Alliance.
LONDON, Aug. 12—A few American correspondents sat in the control center for the southeastern group of a fighter command while operations were directed against four important German attacks. We had gone there by appointment to hear the details of a previous large-scale air battle, but before we arrived and while we were there, the Germans were repeating their performance.
Fighter operations are centralized by a complex but smooth-running system of communications and warnings. Information comes from numerous sources in the navy, the Air Force and the Coastal Command, all of whom are centered at the Fighter Command. The Fighter Command has instantaneous communication with a separate group command.
Our group command was that which controls the most consistently attacked part of England, that in which both British and German fighters can operate best because each is operating within range of its airdromes. Our air vice marshal called it “the playground.”
DEFENSE ACTION SWIFT
The central office where operations are directed is rather like the chart room of a big ship, with many maps, charts and scoreboards and a system of constant reporting. It runs so smoothly now that, within a very short time of warning that the Germans are coming, word had gone out to the waiting squadrons and British fighter planes are actually in the air.
The battle we saw started like the previous one with a big attack from the nearest coast—seventy to ninety airplanes. Hurricanes and Spitfires got into this cloud of Germans and did heavy execution. The next attack was in the same region, but a considerably heavier raid was started ten minutes later on another coast.
The fourth attack of the day, involving between thirty and forty German planes, started shortly after noon on the east coast. In each of these four battles the group command that I observed was able to get squadrons into the air with record speed and important results.
A statement on gains and losses always must wait for an Air Ministry communiqué. When we left the control center eighteen German planes were “confirmed” as shot down, sixteen German casualties were “unconfirmed,” three were “probable” and thirteen were “damaged.” Pilots’ claims are “unconfirmed” unless two or more witnesses report on them, although many “unconfirmed” kills are certainly true ones.
FOUR-TO-ONE SUPERIORITY CLAIMED
English fighters are keeping up a pretty steady average of a four-to-one superiority over German fighters—that is, they bring down four Germans for each fighter they lose. Hurricanes and Spitfires easily outclass Messerschmitts, both the 109 and 110, in performance. The new German fighter, the Heinkel 113, which first appeared over Dunkerque, is apparently now coming forward in greater numbers since last week.
In all recent attacks, the Germans have shown their healthy respect for British fighters by coming over with immense escorts. Nowadays they think it wise to provide fighter escorts in a proportion of five, six or even ten to each bomber.
The British system of a dispersal of airdromes is so good and communications here are so rapid that they are able to give immediate combat wherever the attack appears. Many lessons have been learned from various failures in France.
To hear the reports coming in and the orders going out is to acquire renewed faith in the Fighter Command here.
AUGUST 17, 1940
BERLIN IS EXULTANT OVER LONDON RAIDS
Devastation in Suburbs Is Said to Be Great—Fires Started
By C. BROOKS PETERS
Wireless to The New York Times.
BERLIN, Aug. 17—Masses of German bombers with their accompanying protectors yesterday raided the British Isles, including London. What has gone on heretofore, informed quarters in Berlin declared, has been but child’s play, and real pressure is about to be felt for the first time by the British.
After six days of intensive air fighting, the Germans claim they have won air superiority over the British—with all that implies. To do this, they add, has required a number of days of furious fighting in which between Aug. 8 and Aug. 15 they claim to have shot down 505 British planes, mostly pursuit ships, with the loss of only 129 machines. Yesterday, they add, because of indifferent weather conditions, their activities were confined, although they bombed a number of objectives successfully and brought down sixty-five British planes with the loss of fifteen of their machines.
British anti-aircraft batteries, the Germans declare, were unable to hold up the onslaughts of their bombers, and British captive balloons, traps or nets, as well as pursuit planes, were ineffectual in holding off the German raids. German pursuit planes and destroyers, it is said here, have demonstrated their superiority over British fighters, so that German reconnaissance machines can now fly over the scenes of the bombing and take pictures of the results achieved without fear of interference.