Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 12, Number 9, DeMotte, Jasper County, 8 January 1942 — WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS FDR Pledge to Philippine Islands: U. S., Britain, Dutch, China Resources Will Aid in Defeat of Jap War Lords; Manila Hard Hit by Bombing Attacks [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS FDR Pledge to Philippine Islands: U. S., Britain, Dutch, China Resources Will Aid in Defeat of Jap War Lords; Manila Hard Hit by Bombing Attacks

By Edward C. Wayne

(EDITOR'S NOTE —When opinions are expressed in these columns, they are those of the news analyst and not necessarily of this newspaper.) (Released by Western Newspaper Union)

PHILIPPINES: Full Scale While the United States anxiously scanned bulletins from Manila, and frowned at the increasing seriousness of the situation, there were reasons for a general belief that the army and navy high commands were not blind to the situation, but had agreed on counter measures of some sort. Obviously these had not been made public, as to do so would be to “tip our hand” to Japan. But the meeting of Churchill and Roosevelt in Washington, and the presence in the United States of the now-famous party of 80, which included all the British military and naval, as well as economic leaders, was assurance enough that something was in the wind. A message from President Roosevelt to the people of the Philippines pledged the aid of “the resources of the United States; of the British empire, of the Netherlands East Indies, and of the Chinese Re-

public have been dedicated to the ... utter and complete defeat of the Japanese war lords . . . We are engaged in a great common cause . . . I count on every Philippine man, woman and child to do his duty. We will do ours.” The navy at the same time announced that the fleet was already in action “following an intensive and well-planned campaign against the Japanese forces which will result in positive assistance to the defense of the Philippine islands.” Another reason for increased American confidence as to the outcome of the war with Japan was a message from Secretary of War Stimson to President Manuel Quezon of the Philippines in which he assured him that as soon as American forces were organized, the Japanese invader would be driven from the islands. That sounded like reinforcements by sea, land and air, reinforcements much needed by the little army of Americans plus a fair-sized army of Filipinos who were giving a good account of themselves against considerable odds. Further Plans A further bit of news which contributed to the feeling in many quarters that some definite plan was in progress was the statement by the Australian premier that he was now intending to go to Washington. He said he had been assured by the United States of complete co-opera-tion in the war effort. There were signs, however, that the West coast feared that Churchill might have persuaded the United States to regard the Pacific war as a minor affair and to concentrate on the battle of the Atlantic. Churchill indeed did say the latter, but the former he did not say, nor dial he hint at any but an allout effort on the part of the British to save Singapore, keep the Burma road open, and do all in their power to defeat the Japs. Those whose homes, families and properties rested on the Pacific slope were becoming nervous over the smashing attack on Pearl Harbor, the loss of Pacific island strongholds, the nearness of Jap submarines, and the unchecked landings of Japanese on the Philippines. And the Churchill statements about the battle of the Atlantic being the most vital of the whole war, together with his prediction of reverses in prospect for 1942, and the turning of the tide in 1943, did not allay the Pacific coast nerves at all. VICHY: And Washington The Vichy-Washington talks concerning the St: Pierre-Miquelon episode showed that there was much confusion about the whole situation, and while the “man in the street” wanted De Gaulle’s forces to have the islands with American co-opera-tion, and while Canada seemed much in this frame of mind also, there was much in the situation which the same man in the street did not know anything about.

MANILA: Jap Frightfulness Close observers of the war in China had brought back horror stories concerning the brutality of the Japanese war machine, the bombings and machine-gunnings of helpless civilians; attacks on. Chinese women, rapine and pilage of towns. Any desire the Philippines population might have had to disbelieve the general tenor of these reports had been rudely dispelled by the bombing of Manila just as General MacArthur had officially declared it an undefended city, had moved the government and the military away. Japan’s answer was (first) to carry out their heaviest unscathed bombing of the metropolis (second) to inform the world that it was “unthinkable” that Manila should be considered undefended. This was tantamount to calling the Americans liars, and then killing off a few helpless ones with welldirected bombs. Newspaper men at the principal offices of the large services stood fearlessly and watched while scores of Japanese bombers rained death and destruction about them. Fortunately they lived to write unforgettable reports of the raid, the damage it caused, the mint watchman slain and buried under huge heaps of silver coins, the priceless Catholic rosary destroyed in the direct hit on the Church of Santo Domingo, the flames, the crunch of the bombs, the thunder of the planes, the explosions, the death and disaster. They also were able to describe the spirit of the people, digging out of the bomb horror as though from one of the frequent earthquakes that have visited city, and of the defiant mood which resolved them to die to the last man rather than surrender the islands to the little brown invaders. NEW YEAR: Predictions While President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill were setting 1943 for the “turning of the tide” in favor of the Allies, New Year’s greetings were being handed back and forth between Rome, Berlin and Tokyo. Von Ribbentrop said: “The tri-partite Powers approach the decisive battles of 1942 con-

vinced that it will bring final victory over their adversaries. “Then they will work in common for a new order in Europe and East Asia.” He did not recall that on January 1, 1941, Hitler had said, in an “order of the day”. “Soldiers, the year 1941 will bring consummation of the greatest victory of our history.” Ribbontrop blamed President Roosevelt for “aggression” which brought Japan into the war. CHURCHILL: And Roosevelt Prime Minister Winston Churchill, in his dramatic address, tinged with his famous humor and flashing with his matchless victory, had completely captured the senate and house. After a week of solid conferences, from early morning until nightfall, the President climaxed the visiting prime minister’s speech with a statement. He said: “We have advanced far along the road toward achievement of the ultimate objective, the crushing defeat of those forces which have attacked and made war upon us.” It was his first full communique, and followed almost immediately after a conference which included representatives of the 33 nations and British dominions aligned in the fight on the Axis. “Much has been accomplished,” the President said, “through the medium of many conferences held in the meetings of supply and production officials, military and naval leaders, and in discussions . . . “I know the position of the United States and of all nations aligned with us has been strengthened immeasurably

ALIENS: Biddle Cracks Down

Attorney General Biddle had ordered that all aliens on the Pacific coast surrender at once their shortwave radios and their cameras, in an official “crack-down” following important news concerning Japanese and other nationals’ fifth-column activities. It also coincided with the report of Mrs. Gail Beach, an evacuee from Hawaii, that many of the Japanese fliers who attacked Pearl Harbor December 7 had been schooled in the islands. She said that several who were shot down wore rings indicating that they had attended either the University of Hawaii or McKinley high school. She said: “They certainly knew, their landmarks. They must have lived in Honolulu.” She said that newspapers and radio constantly urged the Hawaiian public against any demonstrations against Japanese on the islands, and that she saw no disturbances, although . “there was some feeling against them.” RUSSIANS: Drive Hard Despite the obvious stiffening of Nazi resistance on the Russian front almost immediately following the ousting of the German high generals and the taking over of the reins by Hitler himself, the Russians had seemed to keep their drive going, weather or no weather, and to be reporting continued successes. In fact, the drive to relieve the siege of Leningrad was said to be “picking up speed” all the time. A 20-mile gain was reported on the Volkhov front, and there were indications that the Russians were seeking to re-enter the Crimean front on the extreme south. German broadcasts had been heard telling of sinking two Russian transports in the Kerch vicinity, which was taken as a Red attempt to get back into that peninsula. Sevastopol was still holding out, and the German pressure there was admitted by the Soviet to be strong, despite enormous losses. But on the central and northern fronts the Germans were “catching the devil,” losing an average of more than 20 villages daily. Increased German resistance in the north was evidenced by Russian sappers finding 600 land mines in one kilometer of road. Highway, telephonic and telegraph communication between Moscow and Leningrad had been resumed, but the Red immediate objective was to shove the Germans back far enough so that uninterrupted rail communication might be restored, thus losing for Hitler what had taken hundreds of thousands of German and Finnish troops six months to accomplish. That the Christmas week drive of the Reds had carried them through positions the Nazis had intended to hold all winter was seen from the fact that in many German-occupied houses they found Christmas trees still decorated and the candles burning. LIBYA: Nazi Rush Reports had come in that the Nazis, desperate over the conditions confronting General Rommel’s divisions in Libya, had landed reinforcements in Tripoli and were rushing them eastward to try to make contact with Rommel’s men before they were hopelessly trapped. Heavy rains, however, which had slowed the British operations, also were hampering these rescue divisions and were giving Rommel little chance to gather together the German-Italian forces, which remained to him for a last stand. The latest reports were that the British, by rapid movement, had again made contact with the enemy’s main force at Agedabia, a district south of Bengasi, formerly the main Axis stronghold, which fell to the imperial forces on Christmas Eve.

Photograph of Manuel Quezon, president of the Philippines.

MANUEL QUEZON Everybody 'assured ' him.

Photograph of Joachim Von Ribbentrop

JOACHIM VON RIBBENTROP He didn't recall Hitler’s statement.

Photograph of Attorney General Biddle

ATTORNEY GENERAL BIDDLE Came an official crack-down.