The White Falcon - 20.02.1943, Page 1

Vol. Ill.
Saturday, February 20, 19k3.
No. 22.
J
U.S. Troops Fight
Onrushing Nazis
In fierce, bloody fighting, Am-
erican forces are absorbing the
shock of a two pronged jab by
the cornered German army in
the Faid Pass, Sidi Bouzid region
of Tunisia.
American troops, inflicting
heavy losses on the attacking
Germans in bitter tank battles,
withdrew 18 miles from isolat-
ed Gafsa to stronger, previously
prepared positions, then regain-
ed six miles in slashing counter-
attacks.
The German offensive, launch-
ed Sunday morning with one
drive directed at the Sidi Bou
Zid road, and another aimed at
Allied positions north of Faid,
employed crack Afrika Korps’
armored spearheads in conjunc-
tion with General Von Arnim’s
infantry and artillery forces, and
a large protective force of Stuka
dive bombers.
Apparently the attack was
designed to widen the narrow
corridor between the coast and
the mountains through which
Rommel’s forces may have to re-
treat in the case of an expected
offensive by the British Eighth
Army at the Mareth Line. Or it
may have been startfed to weak-
en the effects of the anticipat-
ed Allied move to close in on
Tunis and Bizerte.
(Continued on Page 2)
French Ships
Reach America
For Repairs
A fleet of French v^arships, in-
cluding the 35,000-ton battleship,
Richelieu, and the 7,000-ton cru-
iser, Montcalm, soon will he op-
erating in the Atlantic Ocean
with other Allied vessels, it was
revealed this week.
The fleet, which concluded a
successful sprint to the United
States from Dakar, Africa, is be-
ing repaired and refitted in Am-
erican shipyards. The French
vessels will be used primarily
to convoy supplies and equip-
ment to North Africa.
Meanwhile, the influential
French newspaper, Bourse Egyp-
tient©, declared that a decision
must be made soon regarding
the disposition of French ships
now based at Alexandria in
Egypt. The warships, consisting
of the 22,000-ton battleship, Lor-
raine; four cruisers, three dest-
royers and one submarine, are
reported in need of repair;
Right Place;
Wrong War!
Potential Service medal-
wearers have launched a pre-
mature attack on the commis-
sary, PX, or what have you,
and the salesmen are begging
for help! The authorized med-
als and ribbons- aren’t avail-
able as yet, and substitutes
hardly fill the bill.
The “hoax” was uncovered
this week when a rosy-cheek-
ed youngster of 20 pointed to
an attractive ribbon and said,
“I’ll take one of those.” It was
the “Victory” ribbon author-
ized only for veterans of
World War I.
Bombers
Lash Out
At Japs
Allied Air Forces continue to
rip all Japanese-held bases in
the Pacific from the northern
coast of New Britain to Lonkin
in northern Burma, while the
American Navy has been exact-
ing a heavy toll from the Jap
navy.
American Flying Fortresses
and Liberators this week carri-
ed out the biggest mass bomb-
ing raid on Rabaul Harbor of
New Britain since the war be-
gan. The powerful American
bomber formations made their
attack at night, roaring over in
four powerful waves, dropping
50 tons of high explosives and
thousands of incendiaries on the
waterfront, town and harbor in-
(Continued on Page 2)
Long Fast
Weakens^
Ghandi
Grave fears that a wave of ter-
rorism may result if Mohandas
Ghandi dies from the effects of
his self-imposed “protest fast”
were expressed in British circ-
les today, as the aged India chief-
tain moved into the 11th day of
his ordeal.
Ghandi’s condition was pro-
nounced as critical by his six
attending physicians—including
the Surgeon General of Bombay
—according to a communique
from Bombay. “Anxiety over
Ghandi’s condition is deepening,”
the statement read in part.
Nine hours of sleep Thursday
night failed to refresh Ghandi,
and he lapsed into a semi-coma
yesterday. His heart action was
described as feebler, and the doc
tors found other evidence of
“progress deterioration.”
The 73-year-old spiritual lead
er of the millions of Hindus who
compose the all-India Congress
started his diet of only water
and fruit juice early last week
British authorities sought to in-
tervene.
The Mahatma’s fast is for two
purposes: To repudiate charges
that the Congress was respon-
sible for the recent wave of sa-
botage and terror, and because
the British have refused to grant
India total independence until
the war is over.
Wife No. 6
Leaves Tommy
“I am still his number-one
heartbeat, and we are going to
paint the town red,” chirped
blond Billy Rose, 21, ex-wife No.
G of Tommy Manville, 49-year-
old playboy. She was granted a
divorce from Tommy in Reno,
Nev., on charges of mental cru-
elty this week.
Maj. General
Charles H.Bone-
stcel, Command-
ing, pins silver
star on shoulder
of newly pro-
moted Brig. Gen.
George T. Tour-
tellot, head of
the local U.S.
Army Air Forc-
es. Gen. Tour-
tellot is a native
of Tampa, Fla.,
and haB been in
the Army since
1917.
%
Red Army Pushes
Toward Kiev
Pfc. Eulogio Lores.
'Frenchie1 Lores
Sang His Way
’Round Globe
Mention of tongue-twisting
towns and villages in the war
news doesn’t mystify Pfc. Eul-
ogio Lores of the local Signal
Corps because he’s a widely tra-
veled gent.
American born, but of French
descent, “Frenchie” speaks five
languages—French, Spanish, It-
alian, Portuguese and English—
and is a talented singer. In fact,
he has sung in America, Europe,
Africa and Asia, and lie’s still
going strong, so his mellow bari-
tone should speak for itself.
Frenchie was born at Stock-
ton, Calif., in 191(5, but went to
(Continued on Page 3)
Furious Nazi counter-attacks
west of Kharkov have cost the
Germans heavily in manpower
and equipment, and have failed
to stem the onrushing Red Army
forces.
Possibility that the retreating
Germans arc withdrawing with-
out making a stand was express-
ed widely in military circles this
week because of the ease with
which the Soviets regained Khar-
kov. But capture of the vital
base definitely doomed any ideas
Hitler may have had about an-
nexing the Caucasus and its vi-
cinity.
The Russian victory belies
Nazi claims of might because it
has been determined that several
crack German units—including
a Hun SS coyps of two tank di-
visions rushed recently from
France to bolster the crumbling
invasion—were routed in the
three-pronged Soviet offensive.
The loss oT Kharkov seriously
jeopardizes the German hold on
Kiev, 200 miles west. Capture of
Kiev, the next Red Army objec-
tive because there are no heavy
defense lines between Kharkov
and Kiev, would amount to a vir-
tual expulsion of German troops
in Southern Russia.
Orel, too, appears to be on the
Russian offensive itinerary. Gen.
Reuter’s army has pierced Nazi
defenses and has smashed an im-
portant chain of German strong
points 40 to 50 miles southeast
of Orel. One big Soviet column
already has progressed beyond
Droskovo.
Driving on from Kharkov, Gen.
Golikov’s forces have scored new
(Continued on Page 2)
‘Ace of Diamonds’ Players
Offer Fast-Moving Revue
“GI Varieties,” latest musical
revue to be presented by the
Ace of Diamonds players, moves
farther along its ambitious barn-
storming itinerary tonight and
tomorrow. The show enjoyed a
successful debut Thursday even-
ing at a performance for high-
ranking military officials and
their guests.
With the musical pattern pro-
vided by Jimmy Rotas and his
six-piece swing band, “GI Varie-
ties” is an entertaining six-act
throwback to the heyday of vau-
deville, Produced for small stag-
es because the troupe will tour
the local Command instead of
settling in one theater, it packs
entertainment for all in its 90-
minute duration.
The “Four Hill Billies,” Jesse
J. Roberts, Raymond F. Hisle,
Clate Fairrchild and Febby La
Paril, open the program with an
amusing repetoire of songs from
the hills. Their best number is
an intricate duet on one guitar.
George Kerfoot and his refu-
gee from the W'ood pile, sarcas-
tic Red McGarry, take over the
stage next, and the pair of “Ace
of piamonds” favorites again en-
^Continufd on Page 2)