Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 July 1942 — Page 8

SECRET BASE |

Naval At

Operations Center Londonberry in North Ireland.

By HELEN KIRKPATRICK

. LONDON, July 7—High on Lon-

donderry hill in Northern Ireland,|

the Stars and Stripes fly over naval control headquarters only a few feet from the British Union Jack, marking the first autonomous American naval base ever to be established in these islands and the second to be seb up on foreign soil during this war. The first was in Iceland. U. 8. war correspondents who recently visited there may disclose the “secret” which has been no secret at all either to the Germans or to the many thousands of Americans, who have been writing to relations and friends in the navy at “U. 8. Naval Operating Base, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, in care of the New York postoffice.” And Lord Haw, Haw, Germany’s English radio commentator has provided practically an hour-to-hour account of their activities ever since the Americans arrived. Established In February The Londonderry base was formally established on Feb. 5, 1942, less than two months after our ‘entry into the war, On Jan. 25, the first American troop transport was safely shepherded around the northernmost tip of Ireland into the Irish sea. On Feb. 5 the base became officially known as the “United States operating base, Londonderry” and Capt. Lee Hewlett Thebaud took over his duties as operations officer. A magnificent naval hospital was opened under the direction of Capt. Brython P. David. In the last war Vice-Admiral (then captain) Joel Pringle arrived early in May, 1917, to become U. 8. chief of staff to Admiral Sir Lewis Bayley, and the first American destroyer, commanded by Com-=-mander Joseph K. Taussig arrived at Queenstown, Southern Ireland. Capt. Thebaud’s position today is comparable to that of Capt. Pringle’s in the last war. . Thebaud is under Admiral Sir Percy Noble, com-mander-in-chief of the western approaches, with headquarters in Liverpool.

All Is Harmony

Co-operation and friendly relations between the United States and British naval staffs extends down through all the ranks. The American escort control board room, supervised by Capt. Thebaud, is only a few hundred yards from that of Commodore Ross Stewart of the royal navy. There were several United States destroyers in off Atlantic convoy escort duty when United States war correspondents visited the base recently. Across from their anchorage lay several British corvettes. The Americans’ relations with the Irish are also friendly. Sometimes Irishmen get a little peeved at the Americans’ success with local girls. U. 8. Negro enlisted men get along extremely well with their own officers and with the British and Irish. The majority of the naval men are too busy to be homesick and many of them like Ireland.

Guarded by Marines

The base is well guarded by a marine contingent. The base provides practical and comfortable quarters for U. S. gobs and officers—both those permanently’ stationed there and those who come off destroyers. Its steel Quonset huts, well insulated, heated and ventilated, sleep 10 to 14 men. Most modern portable showers and washroom facilities are plentiful. Mess huts Branch off “galleys,” which are equipped with the best electrical devices. Complete laundry and dry-clean-ing establishments, set up in steel huts, boast the latest machinery for naval uniforms. A small but complete sick bay deals with minor inJuries and complaints. A large, modernly equipped theater, in a steel storage shed, permits the bluejackets to see American movies and shows put on by British theatrical groups.

Engineers Arrive First

The first American naval officers formally to take up active duty in Northern Ireland were members of the navy’s civil engineering corps,|B who arrived last year to supervise the work of American technicians of what had been intended as a lease-

2 Jidianapons Times|

~ Walter Wood

Walter Wood will be installed as commander of Atkins Saw post 355, American Legion, at ceremonies today. Other officers to ‘be installed are George Fox, first vicecommander; Charles Schemmel, second vice-commander; A. J, Nugent, adjutant; Albert Peters, finance officer; William O. Harper, service officer; William H. Bruhn, chaplain; William W. Jamison, historian, and James Hill, sergeant-at-arms. The post was organized in October, 1941, and now has a membership of 66.

CHINA IS GIVEN NEW ASSURANCE

Knox, Stimson | Issue Joint Order of Day After FDR,

Hull Statements.

WASHINGTON, July 7 (U. P.)— War Secretary Henry L. Stimson and Navy Secretary Frank Knox, in the first joint order of the day

of this war, today promised China that American armed forces would fight until the Japanese are expelled “from every foot of Chinese soil.” The order said: “Five years ago today the imperial Japanese government launched a brutal and unprovoked attack on the people of China. “Lacking adequate arms and other equipment, the soldiers of China have nevertheless continued their gallant resistance for five years. Today they are fighting with tenacity and a courage that are an inspiration for all defenders of democracy. on every front. “Today the members of the army and navy of the United States salute their comrades-in-arms in China and join with them in the firm determination to expel the aggressor from every foot of Chinese soil.” The Knox-Stimson order followed a message from President Roosevelt to Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek promising that the united nations would fight with China until peace, justice and freedom are established throughout the world, and a message from Secretary of State Cordell Hull asserting that “we shall not falter.”

2,500,000 Jap Casualties Claimed by Chungking

CHUNGKING, July 7 (U. P.)— Japan has suffered more than 2,500,000 casualties and lost: 2054 planes in 14 major battles and 10,375 guerrilla skirmishes in the war against the Chinese, the Chinese national military council announced today as Sino-Japanese hostilities entered the sixth year.

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ON 7 MONTHS

American Men or Equip-|

ment Now Active in

Every War Theater. WASHINGTON, July 7 (U, P.)—

: The nation: looked back on seven

months of war today and saw increasing indications that the United States is preparing to lead an offensive against the axis. Announcement that U. S. tanks had been in action in Egypt, that

_ |submarines had sunk three Japanese

destroyers off the Aleutian Islands and that the army air corps bombing planes had opened an offensive in China, placed American men or equipment in every theater of war. The disclosure of those actions came three days after American bombers, manned by American crews, attacked German airfields, planes and installations in Holland and machine-gunned Nazi flying personnel in the Netherlands.

Fight Global War

Small though the units and action may have been it showed that seven months after Pearl Harbor the United States was fighting a global war, American men were fighting over Europe, in Asia, Africa and the'little outposts of North America. They were striking at the Japanese every day from Australia. On fronts where there were no fighting men, American weapons were doing their part. American supply lines were encircling the

-|globe. American boats: were reach-

ing into strange ports that seldom saw ships flying the Stars and Stripes ‘before the war, unloading guns, tanks, planes and ammunition for the united nations. At home, production was increasing. Planes were being produced on a 50,000-a-year basis, soon to reach President Roosevelt's schedule of 60,000." The production schedules of guns, tanks, ships and am-

FOR STUDYING PAY CONTROLS

Also Considered as Inflation Check.

WASHINGTON, July 7 (U. P.)—

|The administration, concerned about

its faltering anti-inflation program,

« is considering bolstering it with spe-

These are “pancakes,” new high-speed, light-weight diese} 2ngines now Peng made by General Motors

for the navy to increase speed, cruising radius and maneuve! engines are being manufactured at the G. M. Electro-Motive ci

munition were stepped up accordingly. ; The units meeting the enemy in Asia, Africa and Europe were small, but they were strong enough to give the Germans and Japanese an indication of what is to come. The leaders of the fighting men have promised that the actions are only the beginning—that thousands

are in the British Isles waiting for

the word to go; thousands more are en route to battle stations; hundreds of thousands are trained at home for work ahead. The . war department’s last com-

munique revealed the first action!

by American armored forces on any front. The fact that Aiverican-

manned tanks have met

German Marshal Erwin

forces and that American forces in north Africa fo :

some of F-mmel's armored several

weeks was taken here as &it indica-

tion that the United St:

12S was

getting ready for action in [ile Mid-

dle East war theater.

The first American actic: battle of Libya occurred and 12 when medium tan: command of Capt. Charles| ling of Augusta, Ga., kno

in the jéune 11 under | J. Stele sed out

several of Rommel’s tanks! |

The American tanks wer

+i bility of the newer U. S. sub-chasers. vision, LaGrange, Ill.

The

peatedly, the war department disclosed, but were not damaged seriously and the personnel suffered no casualties. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge (R. Mass.), a major in the armored forces, witnessed the battle in which American units participated and said “Our soldiers behaved splendidly and were very cagey and clever fighters.” He revealed that “each tank unit” scored eight or nine “direct hits” each on German tanks and that several enemy machines were “knocked out.” Lodge returned \to the senate yesterday.

cific wage controls and production cost subsidies, it was learned today. The wage controls being studied still are in the formative stage, and legislative authority for them and for price subsidies apparently will not be requested until. after a congressional recess,congressional sources said. "High administration officials have revealed in statements and speeches for more than. a week their concern over failure to get the president's anti-inflation program into high gear. Major hurdles have been farm prices, wage stabilization and help for companies “squeezed” by the

President Roosevelt discussed

control in general with his le tive leaders at their White House conference yesterday. He did not outline a definite program nor were the conferees under the impression - that he was committed to that method of keeping living costs in line. But he did express belief that holding living costs at their present level without subsidies to equalize rising production costs was utterly impossible.

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The 1930's were tough years in the se business. Stockholders were getting no idends. Some years showed huge net lossq 5

Many people said: “The country is over-buil::

It has more steel plants than it can use.”

Right in that lean period United Stats Steel decided to invest $600,000,000 in puttin 2

its plants into tip-top condition, and addin; some big ultra-modern plants.

"There was no talk of war then. This plan investment was made simply on faith in ae future of the country. The United States always had come back; it would again.

How fortunate for America at war this $600,000,000 was invested.

UNITED STATES STEEL

/MATIONAL TUBE COMPANY - OIL WELL SUPPLY CORPORATION - SCULLY STEEL PRODUCTS COMPANT EXPORT COMPANY © U.S COAL & COKE COMPANY |

fiz! i ti: it it .

War production is months ahead of where “it would be otherwise. United States Steel’s production this year will surpass the pesk year of 1929 by more than six million tons.

United States Steel's production of ship plates is greater today than the ship plate capacity of the entire steel industry in‘ 1939.

The manufacturing plants of the United States Steel Corporation alone "produce more steel than Germany: But we are still not satisfied. We are still expanding war production:

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The above report of progress is presented in the public interest: This is the people’s ar. The people are entitled to these facts.

OPERAT NG’ COMPANIES:

AMERICAN BRIDGE COMPANY - - AMERICAN STERL & 18 COMPANY AND CYCLONE FENCE DIVISION - 8OYL2 MANUFACTURING COMPANY +: CARNEGIE-ILUNOIS STEEL CORPORATIC!! » COLUMSIA STEEL COMPANY - FEDERAL SHIPBUILDING &.DRY DOCK COMPANY + H.C. FRICK COKE COMPANY MICHIGAN! 'IMESTONE AND CHEMICAL COMPANY + NATIONAL MINING COMPANY «

ch inany . OUVER IRON MINING COMPANY . PITTSBURGH UMESTONS ’ TENNESSEE COAL, ION & RAILROAD COMPANY - UNITED STATES STER : UNIVERSAL ATIAS CERENT COMPANY - VIRGINIA BRIDGE COMPANY