The White Falcon - 25.12.1942, Blaðsíða 3

3
Planes
Surprise
Jap Ships
Powerful American Air Force
offensives continue to lash the
Japanese with repeated attacks
on all Pacific fronts, while Allied
ground forces — in the face of
strong resistance — are gradually
closing in on the Buna Mission
area of New Guinea.
American heavy bombers at-
tacked an enemy convoy of two
merchant ships and five war-
ships near Vitiaz Strait off Marf-
dang, New Guinea, about 250
miles northwest of Buna. Dron-
ing in a low level formation,
four direct hits were scored by
U.S. bombers on the deck of
a cruiser.
One of the bombs hit the pow-
der magazine, and the vessel
sank instantly. The remaining
Japanese ships took refuge in
the Mandang Harbor for the
night, but fled before morning.
Two Jap Zero fighters were shot
down during the battle.
Marine dive-bombers smashed
the most recent Jap-acquired
bases at Munda Bay on New Ge-
orgia Island. Flying Fortresses
and a strong escort of fighters
staged the attacks for eight con-
secutive days, leaving a mass
of disrupted enemy facilities,
and meeting with practically no
opposition other than a small
squadron of enemy planes.
Allied attacks in the Buna
Mission area are still making
steady headway, and a wedge
has been driven into the Jap-
anese main defense line. Strik-
(Continued on Page 4)
Non-Coms
Will ‘Host*
At Rec Center
The Red Cross hostesses' now
will be assured of at least one
customer every night—as though
they ever have to worry about
company with the mobs who
frequent the Rec Center—be-
cause a smartly groomed, ears-
washed, hair-slicked non-com
will be present.
Miss Jane Goodell, attractive
Red Cross publicist, coyly par-
ried questions about the innova-
tion, merely asserting that a non-
com “host” will be in attend-
ance daily. How the lucky two-
and three-stripers will be select-
ed hasn’t been determined as
yet, but their duties apparently
consist of acting as a “gigolo”
for the gals (not really!).
According to Miss Goodell. the
non-com will be greeter, guide,
usher, handy-man and bouncer,
with a few other tasks tossed
in for good measure. And he’ll
even be permitted to wear a
bonifide Red Cross ariq-bgpd
’ during his tour of duty,
Shut-ins have
their own com-
fortably furnish-
ed recreation
hall at a local
Army hospital,
open to patients
who are conval-
escing. Card tab-
les and reading
facilities are ade-
quate for all, and
there’s also a
Red Cross host-
ess in attendance
to help the men
pass their time.
To Our III or Wounded Fighters
On this, another wartime Christmas, I would like to send
you a personal message. We shall need your help when the
war is won in the hard task of building a better and freer
world. It is fitting, therefore, that at the Christmas time we
who are older pledge that you who are younger shall be
given the opportunity to fight for a better world in time of
peace, as you have fought to save this lesser world in time
of war. God bless you and keep you, for you belong to us
and to the’future of America.
(Signed) FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.
Judges Select Winners
At Arts ’n’ Crafts Show
Following is the list of win-
ners in the Red Cross Arts and
Crafts contest:
Sculpture.
1. Pfc. Ernest Miller, 2. S£t.
Rondeau, 3. Sgt. R. Corbett.
Oils (Advanced).
1. Corp. Elmer Youmans, 2. Sgt
Sperry Andrews, 3. Sgt. Rond-
eau, 3. Pvt. Henry Meyer.
Oils (Amateur)
1. Pfc. Keith Pitzer, 2. Pvt.
Carson Anderson, 3. Pvt. Nor-
man Zolondak.
Water Color (Advanced)
1. Corp. Chester Tarka, 2.
T/4G. Harrison Standley, 3.
T/5G. E. R. Mulchahey.
Water Color (Amateur)
1. Pfc. George Majors. 2.
Shuckley, 3. Pvt. Don Sterns, 3.
Pfc. Harry Mahleman.
Fabrics
1. Pvt. Charles Moss. 1. Pvt.
.Francis LeMay, 2. Pvt. Owen
Keener, 2. Pvt. Elmer Moore, 3.
Pfc. Robt. Adams, 3. Corp. Charl-
es Blackburn, 3. Earl E. Thomas.
Woodcraft
1. Pvt. Pendleton, 2. G. R. Liv-
ingston, 3. Charles W. Goe, 3.
O. Conner.
’Nother CA Unit
loins Bond Drive
Capt. Wayne F. Cameron’s
Coast Artillery unit turned in a
100% score this week to join
the “Victory Bond March” of the
local Command. Col. Wra, N.
Leonard, Base Bond Officer,
said, “The man who secures his
future with bonds is also help-
ing to preserve “The American
Way of Life,” as his, y»Teekly
“Buy Bonds" slogan.
Model Boats
1. Pvt. Salvatore Comada, 2.
M/Sgt. Badge, 3. Pvt. Orlando
Aguero,
Novelty Crafts
1. Pfc. George Feyereisen, 1.
Pvt. Jack Clark, 2. Pvt. M. Tol-
(Continued on Page 4)
Sgt Johnson
Is Lt. Johnson
After 2Q Years
A sergeant for more than 28
years, Edward Johnson received
word last week that he is now
a silver-barred lieutenant, hav-
ing been appointed via the Re-
serve ranks. He has bceii on ac-
tive duty since 1914, with the
exception of a two-month “civil-
ian furlough.”
Lt. Johnson volunteered in
1914 and soon belonged to the
class of rugged sergeants during
World War I. Upon return from
the battlefields of France, he
was handed a temporary appoint-
ment as a second lieutenant, but
re-enlisted in the ranks in 1919,
following his only return to ci-
vies since 1914.
A native of Fort Thomas, Ky.,
Lt. Johnson has two children, a
15-year-old son and a married
daughter. He belies his 53 years,
and has one chief goal—lo send
his son through college, provid-
ing, of course, peace has re-
liirned when the youth is ready
I
to matriculate.
Lt. Johnson, who will be elig-
ible for retirement next year,
believes Uncle Sam’s Army of
this era is a much better fight-
ing force than the soldiers of
’17—T8, and he is especially
pleased with the comforts of
modern GI ganpppts.
Rommel Retreats
As Allies Follow
Nazi Flank
Threatened
By Russians
Two high-geared Russian col-
umns are rapidly converging on
the important railroad town of
Millerovo today in the third and
biggest phase of the Red Army’s
winter offensive.
Millerovo is on the Voronezh-
Rostov railroad, which already
has been cut 25 miles above the
junction point by the new Soviet
advance. The latest Russian
sweep is now in its eighth day,
and at some points the Nazis have
been forced to withdraw as much
as 75 miles.
The Soviet onslaught threatens
to cut off the entire right flank
of the Germans, including the
forces trapped west of Stalingrad
and those on the Caucasus front.
The Nazis were reported to be
attempting to check the onrush-
ing Soviet troops by a series of
counter-attacks, but Moscow
claims all German efforts have
been flung back without retard-
ing the offensive.
The two-pronged push has left
a mountainous pils of German
dead in its wake. More than
20,000 Nazis have been slain and
10,000 captured in the fighting
on the Voronezh front since the
assault began, while more than
2,300 enemy troops were killed in
Tuesday’s fighting.
A fierce battle was fought earli-
er in the week for the strategic
town of Boguchar, which the Ger-
(Continued on Page 4)
The British Eighth Army, hav-
ing relentlessly blasted Axis
troops from stronghold after
stronghold in Libya, has reach-
ed a point 160 miles west of El
Agheila, while Allied forces in
West Africa are opening a new
large-scale drive toward Tunis
and Bizerte as climatic condi-
tions improve.
The present 160-mile retreat
of the shattered Axis forces be-
gan at El Agheila, the gateway
to Tripolitania, which Rommel
attempted to hold against the
smashing artillery and tank at-
tacks of the Eighth Army. Brit-
ish light-armored units are now
reported in contact with the
Axis rearguard near Sultan in
the vicinity of Sirte, while Al-
lied bombers are pounding flee-
ing enemy units on the Buerat
El Ahsun road.
During the Afrika Korps’ re-
treat from El Agheila to Misur-
ata, British forces cut through
enemy columns at Wadi Matra-
tin in a surprise move which
cost Rommel heavily.
The next Axis stand on the
road of retreat to Tripoli is ex-
pected at Buerat El Ahsun, a
strong defensive position which
lies on a harrow strip of coastal
ridge cut by deep canyons and
bordered by impassible salt
marshes.
Buerat, which is 50 miles west
of Sirte, is being bombed by
Allied planes from landing fields
that have been swiftly built close
to the rear of the retreating Axis
troops. Thq lack of strong air
support has hindered the Ger-
mans and Italians from halting
the Allied drive toward Tripoli.
In the Tunis sector, after a
(Continued on Page 4)
Navy Cites Dock Workers
For Speedy, Efficient Work
“Tote that barge, lift that bale,”
may sound romantic in song, but
for the members of the Army
Transport Service here it means
hard work and the constant pro-
blem of coping with unforeseen
emergencies.
Lt. Col. Richard S. Whitconib,
hulking but softspoken Superin-
tendent of the local ATS, is un-
stinting in his praise of the men
of the Command who are re-
sponsible for the recent com-
mendation addressed to Maj. Gen.
Charles H. Bonesteel by Rear Ad-
miral Donald B. Beary, U.S.N.
“I don’t know why they make
so much fuss," Col. Whitcomb
commented, when asked about
his reaction to the commenda-
tion, “we’ve been putting out all
along.” To substantiate his claim
he pointed out that the local port,
though small and with limited
facilities, handles twice the ton-
nage that the New York Port
of Embarkation did at its pre-
Pearl Harbor peak.
Known to bis intimates as a
master of the finely-turned
phrase, Col. Whitcomb is very
modest when speaking of him-
self. He did, however, volunteer
the information that he is a
World War I veteran, was a man-
agement counsel before this con.
flict pressed him into service, and
that his home is in Springffeld,
Mass.
His capacity for work is seem-
(Continued on Page 4)'
Lost Money Bag
A money hag was lost be-
tween a Coast Artillery Camp
and the commissary on the mailt
road to town. The only identi-
fication is a list of F,]\f com-
missary requests. This bag
was lost Friday, December 18,
1942, between the hours of
2130 an 0500. The finder can
contact THE WHITE FALCON
office for information about
the Joser.

I