The New York Times Book of World War II, 1939-1945
Page 78
Wireless to The New York Times.
LONDON, Nov. 5—Confidence that General Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s forces would be crushed was voiced today in authoritative British quarters. It was asserted that General Sir Harold R.L.G. Alexander was not only rocking back the enemy on their heels, but at the same time was inflicting deliberate punishment of the kind the Nazis had meted out to helpless civilians in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
The Axis forces were described as being subjected to the worst sort of beating any army could suffer. They are being bombed and machine-gunned from the air as they struggle westward, a confused mass, on the desert tracks. They are harried over dusty ground by relentless ground attacks on their rear and flanks and pounded from the sea by the Royal Navy’s gunners following the course of the retreat.
All this is not just something that is happening accidentally. It was carefully planned months ago.
“We are not interested in towns or provinces—in Matruh, Derna, Tobruk or Bengazi,” said British officials. “Libya and Cyrenaica don’t mean much to us, but it is Rommel and his army we are after, and to smash him we will do our utmost.
“This is their kind of war. We wouldn’t do it to civilians the way they did in France and the Low Countries, but we are punishing them now, no doubt about it. We have waited two long years for this chance.”
When it was suggested that it might be premature to claim too much so early, the retort was that there was good reason to accept General Alexander’s accomplishment as a great victory.
True, Marshal Rommel might extract some of his forces, and the chances are that he will live to fight another day, it was acknowledged, but the Axis Army of El Alamein no longer exists. Its remnants are “getting the works.”
Emphasis is placed here on the part General Alexander has played. It is deemed a personal triumph for him, as it was he who planned the campaign, and since it opened he has been close to the scene of action. General B. L. Montgomery, commander of the Eighth Army, has received due credit, as General Alexander recognized his skill and personally wrote the communiqués.
VICTORY GOOD PROPAGANDA
Valuable material for propaganda is coming out of the sudden collapse of Marshal Rommel’s armies. The British explain their willingness to talk today on the ground that what they say is true and that it will have a tonic effect throughout the free world.
Adolf Hitler has played into their hands, it is felt, by building up Marshal Rommel as a superman. He and General Alexander commanded forces of about equal strength. The former’s was composed of some 60 percent Germans and the remainder Italians, it is disclosed here.
Of the British Eighth Army the outstanding fact is that its morale is higher than that of any other army to leave these islands since the war began. The men in it, who have known discouragement time and again, longing for a crack at the Germans, now are getting their heart’s desire.
A flood of congratulations started by the news of last night with King George’s message to General Alexander continued today with a message to the King from Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt The commander and army in Egypt received others from Premier Jan Christiaan Smuts of the Union of South Africa and General Charles de Gaulle.
Mitchell B026 bombers of the United States Army Air Forces and Baltimore bombers of the South African air forces on their way to attack Rommel’s position in North Africa, 1942.
Field Marshal Smuts sent messages to General Alexander, Air Marshal Sir Arthur William Tedder and General Dan Pienaar of the South African Division. In the first he noted the relief of the world at “this magnificent victory, the final dimensions of which will, I hope, make it the turning point of this war.”
General de Gaulle cabled that “the French Army will never forget that General Alexander led to victory some of its forces beside the British.”
Prime Minister Winston Churchill congratulated the Union of South Africa on its part in the successful operation.
Throughout the past twenty-four hours the British Broadcasting Corporation has been plugging reports from the Egyptian front in forty-six languages and dialects. Four-fifths of all its news bulletins to Europe have been devoted to accounts of events in the desert.
The Italians have been told their “German masters” have led them into grave trouble.
ALL BRITAIN IS HEARTENED
The effect of the Eighth Army’s cracking of Marshal Rommel’s defenses has been deep and wide among the British people. A majority are keeping their fingers crossed, for every one remembers earlier hopes that died away and almost turned to despair in North Africa. Yet many persons, high and humble alike, hungry for good news, gladly accept what they know for a fact to be true.
There are millions who have some stake in the battle now being fought out, millions with sons and husbands serving under General Alexander or who have helped make the weapons being used to beat the enemy for the first time in this war. Barring some unforeseen disaster, the spirit of Britain will pick up this week as it has not for many a long month.
Pointing to the Egyptian campaign and Malta’s resistance as reasons for increasing production at home still further, Sir Stafford Cripps, Lord Privy Seal, told war workers in a London factory that as United States and British strength increased, “other offensives will be started in other areas, for we are determined to do our utmost to hasten victory.”
“You will help this launching of offensives much more,” he added, “by speeding up war production than by talking about a second front, which the government is only too anxious to launch.”
Sir Stafford hailed the Egyptian campaign as “a glorious victory for our arms,” adding that the Allies were destroying German and Italian land and air forces that might otherwise attack the Soviet armies.
NOVEMBER 8, 1942
President’s Statement
Special to The New York Times.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7—President Roosevelt’s statement announcing the opening of a second front in French North and West Africa follows:
In order to forestall an invasion of Africa by Germany and Italy, which, if successful, would constitute a direct threat to America across the comparatively narrow sea from Western Africa, a powerful American force equipped with adequate weapons of modern warfare and under American command is today landing on the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of the French colonies in Africa.
The landing of this American Army is being assisted by the British Navy and air forces, and it will, in the immediate future, be reinforced by a considerable number of divisions of the British Army.
This combined Allied force, under American command, in conjunction with the British campaign in Egypt. is designed to prevent an occupation by the Axis armies of any part of Northern or Western Africa and to deny to the aggressor nations a starting point from which to launch an attack against the Atlantic coast of the Americas.
In addition, it provides an effective second-front assistance to our heroic allies in Russia.
The French Government and the French people have been informed of the purpose of this expedition and have been assured that the Allies seek no territory and have no intention of interfering with friendly French authorities in Africa.
The government of France and the people of France and the French possessions have been requested to cooperate with and assist the American expedition in its effort to repel the German and Italian international criminals, and by so doing to liberate France and the French Empire from the Axis yoke.
This expedition will develop into a major effort by the Allied Nations and there is every expectation that it will be successful in repelling the planned German and Italian invasion of Africa and prove the first historic step to the liberation and restoration of France.
NOVEMBER 12, 1942
FRANCE IS OVERRUN
Nazis Reach Marseille After Hitler Scraps Armistice Pact
ITALIANS IN CORSICA
Resistance Is Reported in Their Invasion of Riviera and Savoy
By DANIEL T. BRIGHAM
By Telephone to The New York Times.
BERNE, Switzerland, Nov. 11—Twenty-four years, less six hours, after the signing of the armistice in World War I, the last vestiges of a “free” France disappeared from the map of Europe today when, preceded by two notes from Adolf Hitler—one to Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain and the other to the nation—German troops once again marched into territory that the Reichsfuehrer had promised to respect.
Simultaneously with this invasion from the north, Italian troops pushed westward from the French-Italian border into regions long coveted as “legitimate Italian aspirations,” including the “thousand-year-old Italian possession,” Nice. The Italians’ advance was reported late tonight not to have passed without incident; several battalions of Chasseurs Alpins—the same who held back the Italians in June, 1940—were said to have “misunderstood” Italian motives.
As was the case in certain larger cities for the Germans, the Italians were escorted into some of their “objectives” by detachments of local police.
NAZIS SEND TWO COLUMNS
The German invasion began simultaneously from two points—Chalons-sur-Saone, north of Lyon, when columns of German infantry massed along the Doubs River moved southwestward, and Moulins, north of Vichy, from where an armored train was dispatched to St. Germain-des-Fosses, ten miles from the provisional capital. By noon the Germans had passed Lyon in considerable numbers without meeting resistance.
In Vichy just before 11 A.M. an out-rider detachment accompanied General Field Marshal Karl von Rundstedt to his meeting with Marshal Pétain, who informed the German commander that he protested this latest German violation of the armistice convention.
[The German radio announced early this morning that Marseille, Montpelier, Pau and Toulouse had been occupied. There was no indication that the Germans had reached Toulon, where a large part of the French fleet is believed to be based.] The progress of the German motorized forces throughout the day proceeded almost without a hitch, except for some incidents in Toulouse and Marseille, where the regional prefects have imposed a state of siege with 7 o’clock curfews. The Toulouse radio at intervals this evening broadcast appeals to the population to remain calm, as the national networks had done all morning.
Private reports from many sources inside the country throughout the day stressed the apathy with which the French “greeted” the new invasion. There was no sign of panic or even of interest. Indeed, compared with June 26, 1940, today’s spectators gave the Germans a dismal reception. One eyewitness in Lyon declared an entire street had emptied so no German would feel he had been “welcomed.”
Just before midnight the advance guards of the Germans reached the outskirts of Marseille. They apparently did not intend to enter the blacked-out city tonight with the population in scarcely a welcoming mood.
On the western border regions other German units pushed into the interior and by noon had occupied Canfranc in the Basses Pyrenees, controlling the last railhead of French communication with Spain. Up to a late hour, except for rear-guards left at strategic points along their communications, the Germans did not appear to have made any gesture toward complete occupation.
The Italians, after crossing the frontier at Ventimiglia-Menton at 5 A.M. reached the outskirts of Nice, some twenty-five miles away, at 3 P.M., reportedly having encountered some resistance along the Grande Corniche Road. Other “engagements” were said to have occurred at Villefranche and Montauban.
German soldiers in front of the Rex movie theater, which was used to house them, Paris, 1942.
Northward from the coast the first practicable road runs parallel with the sea some twenty-eight miles away. Along this road, too, advance could not have been hasty, for the infantry reached Puget Theniers, near the head of the Var Valley, about 3 P.M. Official Italian reports said that, after reaching Nice, “strong formations of Italian mechanized troops rushed through the town, continuing their unhampered advance to the west.” There was no report from any quarter of the occupation of Cannes or Toulon.
ITALIANS REACH CORSICA
Another Italian bulletin late tonight reported that “Italian troops have reached the shores of Corsica and occupied the island without incident.”
Advancing into Savoy, long coveted by the Fascisti, other Italian formations were reported to have reached the Pont des Chevres, about midway between Modane and St. Michel de Maurienne. Tomorrow, it was added, the Italians are expected to push on to Pont Royal, thirty miles from Chambery, the limit of the demilitarized zone.
Shortly after 2 P.M. the Germans assumed control of the French side of the frontier post at Moillesullaz, near Geneva. The “ceremony” was carried out with the arrival of an Elite Guard captain, assisted by a few soldiers, who closed the French barrier. After remaining closed for more than an hour, the barricade was reopened to permit access to France, but everyone passing over was warned there would be no exit except with special permission.
NOVEMBER 16, 1942
RUSSIA ACCLAIMS ‘FIGHTING ALLIES’
Press and Radio Extol Effects of African Campaign to All Soldiers and Workers
PRAVDA SOUNDS KEYNOTE
30,000,000 Copies of Paper Broadcast That Burden Is Not Being Carried Alone
MOSCOW, Nov. 15 (AP)—Russian soldiers and workers received by every available channel today the glad news that they had fighting Allies, and that powerful British and American forces in Africa were striking effective blows at the Axis.
The news had been told before, in newspaper accounts and by radio announcements. But today all agencies imparting information—press, radio, factory announcing systems and club gazettes—combined to tell fully and in elaborate detail the story of the arrival of the Americans and the smashing of the Axis African Corps.
More than 30,000,000 copies of Pravda alone went out to the people of Russia on all fronts, its headlines proclaiming the effectiveness of the Anglo-American-Soviet alliance.
Army newspapers, which go out to the men in the most advanced fighting fronts, carried enthusiastic accounts, and it was safe to assume that not a Russian soldier was unaware of the second front being created in the Mediterranean.
The impression prevailed that for days Russia had been holding back, waiting to see whether the African operations were a large-scale campaign that would have a decisive influence on the course of the war. Today that reserve was cast aside and Russia’s 200,000,000 citizens were informed fully of the Allied success in Africa and its far-reaching implications.
Americans felt a new warmth in conversations with Russian people, on the subways, in streets, on buses.
“We are leading in a great war of liberation,” said Pravda. “We don’t carry the burden alone, but together with our Allies. Our fight is bringing victory over the enemies of humanity, over German, Fascist imperialism. On its banners are written ‘Long live victory, and the Anglo-American battle alliance.’”
NOVEMBER 17, 1942
ENEMY ‘COMPLETELY FRUSTRATED’ IN SOLOMON ISLANDS
Our Losses Are Only 2 Light Cruisers and 6 Destroyers Sunk
WE SINK BATTLESHIP
5 Cruisers Also in Toll—Japanese, Confused, Fire on Each Other
By CHARLES HURD
Special to The New York Times.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16—United States naval forces in the Solomons overwhelmingly defeated a formidable Japanese force, destroying twenty-three warships and transports, including one battleship and five cruisers, in a three-day series of actions that ended yesterday (Solomons date), the Navy Department reported today.
Our losses in this fighting—the Navy stated without reservation that all known ones had been included—were listed as two light cruisers and six destroyers sunk.
The Navy announcement further stated that a Japanese battleship and six destroyers had been damaged. There was no announcement of damage suffered by American warships because this is information that would be of great value to the enemy.
PLANES NOT DOMI
NANT
Air power played an important role in the victory, the Navy stated, but it was not the dominant factor as in the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway Island. The bulk of the destruction was accomplished by gun crews of American warships who outfought the enemy in slashing engagements of the traditional sort.
Navy spokesmen who supplemented the factual announcement contained in the communiqué said that this action should not be considered a decisive and conclusive victory, assuring our domination of the Pacific. It was apparent, however, that the naval victory had cleared away one critical threat hanging over our land forces on New Guinea and in the Solomons.
This was the largest surface engagement yet fought in the Pacific and possibly set a record for the war.
The running battle occurred after victories by our ground and air forces in the battle area of the southwestern Pacific had forced the Japanese to attempt to counterattack in force to relieve their own soldiers. For that reason, the American command, operating through Admiral Halsey and General Douglas MacArthur, whose army bombers have collaborated in every sea engagement for months past, could lay their plans to meet the enemy at some distance from his own bases rather than undertake an expedition into the heart of Japanese waters.
The reasoning behind that plan proved to be correct, with the following results:
One Japanese battleship sunk, three heavy cruisers sunk, two light cruisers sunk, five destroyers sunk, eight transports sunk, four cargo transports destroyed where they were beached on Guadalcanal, one battleship damaged and six destroyers damaged.
“Two light cruisers and six destroyers are the only United States naval vessels reported sunk in the actions which were fought on Nov. 13, 14 and 15,” the communiqué added. “The next of kin of casualties will be notified by telegram immediately upon receipt of information.”