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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 1943)
buww WW HUM )Roosevelt Reveals Choice Of Commander for Allies In Christmas Eve Address Hyde Park, N. Tf., Dec. 24. (U.R President Roosevelt today announced the appointment of General Dwight D. Eisenhower as commander of the forthcoming allied invasion of Europe. In a Christmas eve radio address to the nation and men of the American armed services around the world, Mr. Roosevelt said as a remit of the International conferences at Cairo and Teheran, Eisenhower, now allied commander for North Africa, had been given the task of leading the new "combined attack" against Ger many. " ', Briton to Be Eisenhower, the president said, y terranean by a British officer whose name will be announced by TI R V 1 : iiri u : 1 1 i ' Eisenhower will have command of "air, sea and land power' In tackling Germany from new will be assisted by Lt. Gen. Carl mand "the entire American strategic bombing force operating against Germany." Mr. Roosevelt, speaking from his home where he was spending Christmas for the first time since he entered office, reported at length on his recent overseas conferences, saying that the United States,. Great Britain, China and the war "international force" would be used If necessary to pre serve peace. Heavy Casualties Coming .' He also struck' at those who see the war's end near at hand, saying "we shall have to look forward to large casualty lists," and that the end is "not yet in sight." In telling the news of Eisenhower's new command, the presi dent painted in general terms the plan of global battle that came out of the talks in the middle east with Churchill, Premier Josef I Stalin, and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek. "The Russian army will continue Its stern offensives on Ger many's eastern front," he said in discussing plans for Europe, "the allied armies in Italy and Africa will bring relentless pressure on Germany from the south, and now their encirclement will be com plete as great American and British forces attack from other points of the compass." - "The commander selected to lead the combined attack from these other points'," Mr. Roosevelt announced dramatically, "Is Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhwoer. His performances in Africa, Sicily and Italy have been brilliant. He knows by practical and success ful experience the way to coordinate air, sea and land power. All these will be under his control. ' "Lieut. Gen. Carl A. Spaatz will command the entire American strategic bombing force operating against Germany." . Spaatz now commands the American strategic bombing force In the Mediterranean. - Like Foch In World War I Eisenhower thus assumes the role approximate to that occupied by Marshal Ferdinand Foch, who late In World War I was ap toointed generalissimo of allied forces. The appointment left the - 'American' top command unchanged. Gen. George C. Marshall, fresh from conferences in the Pacific, remains as army chlef-of-staff in active charge of the nation's global war plans.' Adm. Wil liam D. Leahy continues as President Roosevelt's personal chief-of-staff. "' ' Mr. Roosevelt promised Eisenhower's successor in the African and Mediterranean theater "that our powerful ground, sea and air forces in the vital Mediterranean area will stand by his side until every objective in that bitter theater is attained." Uirv Hailing the Cairo and Tehran conferences as being eminently successful, the chief executive said the four powers rejected the enemy doctrine "that the strong shall dominate the weak." "But at the same time, we are agreed that If force Is necessary to keep international peace. International force will be applied tor as long as it may be necessary." t Warning to Non-Cooperationists. Seemingly as a warning to nations that refuse to cooperate with the allies, the president added: ' , . . . f "It has been our steady policy and lt is certainly a common f sense policy that the right of each nation to freedom must be I measured by the willingness of that nation to fight for freedom," Mr. Roosevelt far from ignored the war In the Pacific, saying that he and Churchill had settled with the Chinese generalissimo not only "definite military strategy," but also had discussed "cer tain long-range principles which we believe can assure peace In the Far East for many generations to come." "These principles," he explained, "are as simple as they are ' fundamental. They Involve the restoration of stolen property to its rightful owners, and the recognition of the rights of millions of people In the Far East to build up their own forms of self-gov- eminent without molestation." The president emphasized that "essential to all peace and se curity in the- Pacific and in the rest of the world Is the permanent elimination of the empire of Japan as "a potential force of aggres sion." .. "Never again," he said, "must our soldiers and sailors and marines be compelled to fight from Island to island as they are fighting so gallantly and so successfully today." Greater Effort Needed at Home ( "The massed offensives which are In the making both In 'Europe and the Far East will fortitude that we and our allies and In all the workshops at home." Mr. Roosevelt obviously directed this passage about the need for greater effort In the "workshops at home" at strike threats for higher wages and the preoccupation of some industrialists over reconversion of peacetime production. The president said he would tell more about the Cairo and Tehran conferences when he delivers his state of the union mes sage to congress In about two weeks. "And, on that occasion, I shall also have a great deal to say about certain conditions here at home." That meant plainly that the president will again take up the cudgels publicly for support of his anti-Inflation program which now is under attack from many points in congress and out. In disclosing the new Invasion command for Eisenhower, the president did not overlook General Marshall, army chief of staff who was reported erroneously some time ago as slated to be "global commander"' of the allies. ' Faith In Leaders Affirmed. "To the members of our armed forces, to their wives, mothers and fathers," he said, "I want to affirm the great faith and confi dence we have in General Marshall and Admiral King (U. S. fleet commander) who direct all of our armed might throughout the world. ' The president was blunt and harsh in his treatment of "cheer ful Idiots in this country" who hid behind their isolationist policies. and he was plain-spoken in spiking theories of a quick victory. ' The war Is now reaching the stage," he said, "where we shall have to look forward to large missing. "War entails lust that There the ecd is not in sight," Successor will be succeeded in the Medi- "points of the compass," and he Andrew Spaatz, who will com Russia were in agreement after require every ounce of energy and can summon on the fighting fronts casualty lists dead, wounded and ' Is no easy road to victory. And . ' Medford United Press Thirty-eighth Year Allies Hurl Knockout Punches Merry Christmas Yourself! 3 7 1 f A 141 V V V Baby LeRoy. child actor, appears overwhelmed by folly old 8t Nick, who brings forth surprises for all from his wondrous pack. Christmas Occupies World From Fox Holes to Homes . .By United Press i ' In Bethlehem, the president's home, the. war worker's cot tage, the army camp, and even in the fox-holes of the world's battle-fields, the last-minute preparations were being made to day for Christmas. - ; - Civilians, ; with well -filled PRESUMED LOST Washington, Dec. 24. (U.R) The navy announced today that the 1,475-ton U, S. submarine Grayling is overdue and pre sumed lost. Although the navy did not say where the craft disappeared, it presumably was in the jfacmc or the Far East where the Pre ponderance of the U. S. under seas fleet Is carrying on u de structive campaign again Japa nese supply lines. : The Grayling, which carries a normal complement of 63 men, was skippered by Lt. Cmdr. Robert Marion Brinker, 33, of Park Ridge, 111. Jap Officials Plan Flight From Tokyo - Chungking, Dec. 24. (U.R). Highranking Japanese officials are prepared to flee from Tokyo to emergency headquarters In Shanghai in the event the Jap anese capital becomes a target for mass allied air raids, a for mer Shanghai editor said today Chao Chen Hao, editor of the discontinued Shanghai Shun Pao, expressed that belief on his arrival at Chungking with his wife and four children and two former employes. They fled Shanghai disguised as peasants. ACTOR WALTER PIDGEON BECOMES U. S. CITIZEN Hollywood, Dec. 24. (U.R) Screen Star Walter PIdgeon was admitted to citizenship to day in a ceremony he consid ered the finest Christmas pre sent he had ever received. Pklgeon came to the United States from Canada in 1918. The Immigration bureau meanwhile announced it had withdrawn protests against citizenship for Rudolph Sieber, 45, scenarist husband of Film Actress Marlene Dietrich. Sieber was reported ill In New York. MO PAPER DEC. 28 In order to -conserve paper under the government's ra tloning program, the Mail Tribune will not publish on Sunday, December 26. full Leased Wire .11 IMk.. 1 f7 JaT X r pocketbooks, were . putting the finishing . touches): to a record buying spree across the nation, and all forms of transportation were jammed with soldiers re turning home for furloughs and civilians traveling to see rela tives In the armed forces. Feast In Service Army and navy cooks in all parts of the world were begin ning to prepare a 'holiday feast for America s service men. Around the globe there was this pre-Chrlstmas scene: At Hyde Park, N. Y. Presi dent and Mrs. Roosevelt arrived today to spend Christmas at their Hyde Park home where to night the President will read Dickens' "Christmas Carol." . At Fifth Army Headquarters, Italy Lt. Gen. Mark W. Clark sdid he hoped that "with God's help we shall make 1944 a de cisively victorious year." Victory Hope In 1944 At Washington, Adm. Ernest J. King, Commander-in-chief of the U. S. fleet, and Secretary of the Wavy Frank Knox held out hope lor victory in 1944. At South Pacific Bases There were Christmas trees dec orated with aluminum-painted ammunition belts. Preparations were under way to serve a tur key dinner to every soldier and each man will receive three cans of beer. . IDAHO-OREGON-NEVADA HIGHWAY IS ASSURED Portland, Ore., Dec. 24 U.R) Completion of the Oregon se. tion of the IdahoOregon-Nevada highway in Malheur county, Ore., was assured today with awarding of contracts to the Rog ers Construction company of Dayton, Wash. The Oregon State Highway commission said the contract covered surfacing of 46.97 mil., which would provide a major highway from the Snake River Valley in Idaho to San Fran cisco, saving ISO miles of travel. The army requested the im provements. CHANGTEH CAMPAIGN NEARS CONCLUSION Hungklng, Dec. 24 (U.R) The Changteh campaign is reaching the "concluding stage" with the bulk of Japanese troops with drawn to the east bank of the 8ungtze river and about four fifths of the Tungting Lake reg ion back in Chinese hands, a Chines military spokesman said (oaajv MEDFORD, OREGON, FRIDAY, DEw JER 24, 1943 1 BROTHERHOODS TO ARBITRATION Trainmen and Engineers Willing to Leave Wage Problem In F. R.'s Hands. Washington. Dec. 24 (U.R) Spokesmen for the Brotherhood o; Railroad Trainmen and the Brotherhod oof Locomotive En gineers announced at the White House today that they will call off their scheduled strike and submit the issues to President Roosevelt for arbitration. The announcement was made in the White House lobby by A. F. Whitney, of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, and Al- vanley Johnston, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. ; Three Decline Offer The unions represented by Whitney and Johnston agreed late yesterday to accept PresI di.nt Roosevelt's offer to arbi trate the wage deadlock, but the other - three operating rati road brotherhoods declined the offer. i . . Referring to their decision to Issue a statement later calling off "any strike for any future date,' Whitney told reporters: , "Wa faal Mint tha nuhlla an.' titled to this information now as a Christmas present. We feel that this will be bad news for Hitler and Hlrohlto." To Go Ahead Whitney also revealed that War Mobilization Director James. F. Byrnes had told him and Johnston this morning that president noorevelt haa aectdea to go ahead and arbitrate the case for the railroad trainmen and locomotive engineers regard less of whether the other three operating unions agree to submit to such a plan. Meanwhile, Byrnes called a meeting of the non-operating unions at the White House for 2 n. m.. BDDarentlv to Rive the government's answer to their wage proposal. ' San Francisco, Dec. 24 (U.R) Tokyo radio said today a Thai land government spokesman an- nounced that American bombers, based in China, raided Bangkok Tuesday afternoon and Wednes day morning.. The raids caused "numerous1 casualties and damaged civilian homes, Tokyo said In a broad cast recorded by United Pres. The Japanese report of the Thai announcement said that no damage was inflicted on "other Installations." (There has been no Allied an nouncement of recent raids on Bangkok, capital city of Thai land.) JAP REINFORCEMENTS SEEN AT KWAJALEIN Pearl Harbdr, Dec. 24 U.R Army and navy Liberator bomb ers, carrying into the tenth day non-stop American raids intend ed to- knock out Japanese air strength in the Marshall islands, have uncovered further evidence that the Japanese are rushing reinforcements into the region. A communique by Admiral Chester W. Nimltz said that 20 Japanese ships were sighted Tuesday at Kwajaleln lagoon, which stretches 40 miles be tween Kwajaleln and Roi islands of the boot-shaped Kwajaleln atoll. CHRISTMAS IN TARAWA Washington, Dec. 24 (U.R) It's Christmas in Tarawa now. Christmas came at 8:0.1 a. m., EWT, today to American fight ing men on the newly-won Gil bert Islands where rows of crosses mark graves of those who gave their lives to help bring peace on earth, good-will to men, ' RUSSIANS CRASH IMOF VITEBSK DEFENSE Stalin Announces Victory In Order of Day New Drive Opens in White Russia. London, Dec. 24 (U.R) A fast- rolling Russian offensive crashed through the northern rim of de fenses guarding the approaches to Vitebsk today as the German high command reported that the Red army had launched a new onslaught in lower White Russia and regained the initiative in the see-saw battle of the Kiev salient. Premier Marshal Josef Stalin, In an order of the day broad cast by the Moscow radio, an nounced that the 1st Baltic army stormed and captured the German stronghold of Gorodok, 19 miles north of Vitebsk on the Vitebsk-Nevel railroad line. Big Force Involved ) Stalin revealed that at least four rifle divisions and a num ber of smaller units, possibly 75,000 or more men, were In volved in the capture of Goro dok, which poised a grave flank ing threat to the Nazi garrison defending Vitebsk. An official Berlin broadcast said the Russians attacked in force along the upper Dnieper northeast of Zhlobin, key rail Junction of southern White Rus sia. It added that "heavy fight ing" is going on. significantly giving no hint of the trend. Soviet attacks southeast of Korosten and east of Zhitomir had collapsed, the Nazis renort- ea in xneir customarily oblique acanowiedgement that the Ini tiative again was in Russian hands. It was in the region of those towns west of Kiev that the Nazis apparently had ex pended their supreme effort to reverse the sweeping gains of the Red army's summer and early winter offensive. 15 KNOWN DEAD IN LODGING FIRE New York, Dec. 24 (U.R) Fire ate through a small factory and into a cheap West 42nd street lodging house today. trar ping many persons inside the Building, At 4 n. m police and fire of ficials at the scene said there were 15 known dead. Ten bodies had been removed from the building at that hour and five had been counted inside. FARMERS BEWILDERED Washington, Dec. 24 (U.R) Technological bewilderment was blamed by government officials today for the fact that midwest farmers are calling recent parity parments "gift checks" because they arrived without explana tion. Pope in Christmas Message Says War Breaking All Laws London, Dec. 24 flJ.R) Pope Pius XII, in a Christmas mes sage to the world, said today that the war was breaking all laws and exceeding all moral bardiers. "The horrible pages of past history fade away In compari son with the bloody disaster hap pening today," he said in a broadcast over the Vatican ra dio. The present I witnessing a "moral decadence which is bury ing all humanitarian sentiments, but in the midst of this dark night, the light of Bethlehem must shine," he said. "Only Christ alone can allevi ate the dark sentiments . - . only Christ can alleviate tbt tor TRIBUNE United Press Full Across Channel Dr. Erb Dies Dr. Donald Milton Erb. 43 president of the University ol Oregon, who died yesterday of pneumonia after an Illness of only a few davs. Seventh pros! dent of the university, he his served in that position since BLOODY ORTONA Allied Headquarters, Algiers, Dec. 24 (U.R) The British 8th army . hammered the Adriatic wing of the German Una across Italy today, ' pounding the last enenvy toehold In Ortona. cap turing the nearby village of Vezannr. and.' driving ' against Villa Grande on the road run ning inland. Americans of the 5th army fought through a downpour to capture more high ground in the Acquafondala sector above Cas- slno on the Rome - road, but yielded a hill three miles to the south to strengthened German counterblows. Bombers Hit Railroad Marauder medium bombers of the northwest African air forces braved bad weather to attack the coastal railroad on the Ital ian Riviera, plastering targets at Ventlmlglia near the French border and Imperia 30 miles to the east. The battle of Ortona was car ried through another day of bloody fighting by a last-ditch German stand In the northwest ern outskirts. Struggling to hold the anchor post at all costs and delay a general fallback on the Adriatic, the Nazis were fighting to the last man at some strong points amidst the rubble of Ortona. New York, Dec. 24 (U.R) Matthew Woll, vice-president of the American Federation of Labor, replying to a Soviet at tack on American labor leaders, today accused Russia of "un warranted Interference in the Internal - affairs of the United States." tures of humanity." The Pope said the world for ths fifth time was preparing to celebrate Christmas in a "tense atmosphere of death and hatred." He said the church would do all lt could to alleviate the pains of all suffering humanity, call ing on all christians to to take comfort from their faith. The Pope said he realized that deaths, anxiety for war prisoners and fears for departed persons were breaking the hearts of many christians. 'Our fatherly heart is more that never with you," he said. "but all our efforts cannot sud denly end this horrible war or give you back your dear oau," Leased Wire NO. 234 ROCKET COAST IS F U. S. Heavy Bombers Join Onslaught After Berlin Given 1,000-Ton Blasting London, Deo. 24 U.ffl Amer ican heavy bombers swarmed into the unprecedented aerial onslaught on the French "rocket coast" for the first time today after British night raiders strewed flaming destruction through Berlin with more than 1,000 tons of bombs. The allies were hurling every type of plane In their British arsenal against the Pas Da Calais area of France, across the narrowest stretch of the chan nel, In one of their biggest and most concentrated and most ius talned bombardments. Skies Full of Pianos Four-motored bombers "of the United States eighth air force made their first attack' on the strip of gun-studded continental soil. ' American marauder medl um bombers struck at the same area. - The skies over the straits of Dover throbbed all day with the beat of motors as allied bombers . and fighters shuttled back and. forth ceaselessly,' carrying the attack on the French shore to new peak of intensity and past Its fifth day. . - . (The Dutch Aneta News agen cy reported in London that invasion-Jittery German forces were) hurriedly strengthening their defenses in. Holland and intensi fying measures of suppression against the civilian population.) Berlin Visit Continued Big British bombers still war returning to their bases from the heavy attack on Berlin when the daylight formation headed for France. The aerial traffic picked up) progressively until the Ameri can heavy bombers, escorted by fighters, crashed their bombs on the Pas De Calais strip around Boulogne and Calais. Marauder medium bombers of the Eighth air force, also accom panied by allied fighters, Joined the big parade. Early report made no men tion of the specific targets. Spec ulation over the aerial concen tration on the French coast had dwelt on unofficial reports that the Germans had mounted their "secret weapon," a rocket gun for bombing London and other objectives In Britain. e; TO London, Dec. 24 (U.R) Gen. Sir Henry Maltland Wilson is succeeding Gen. Dwight D, Eisenhower as Allied command er In the Mediterranean theater. lt was announced tonight. Gen. Sir Harold R. L. G. Alex ander, Elsenhower's deputy com mander, takes over command of the Allied armies In Italy. Gen. Sir Bernard L. Mont gomery, commander of the Brit ish 8th army, will command the) British forces under Eisenhower- SIDE GLANCES TRIBUNE REPORTERS Fire Chief Roy Elliot presid ing over his annual dinner for the fire laddies and serving up a super-dooper menu of wild goose and venison mince pie. Jack Boyl sneaking a cigar out of a box which ha had Just presented as a Christmas gift. Bob . Shepherd and Pater Shepherd exuding charm and cheer at the University club open house. lOBBV CUBISTMASI 3
