Milford chronicle., 1942-11-13
Milford, Friday, November 10, 1914:
A WEEK OF THE WAR

"A powerful American force
equipped with adequate weapon!
of modern warfare and under Am
erican command, is today landing
on the Mediterranean and Atlantic
coasts of the French colonies il
Africa" President Roosevelt sale
in statement issued by the White
House late November 7. This ac-
ton provides an effective second
'front.' assistance to our heroic al
lies insRussia."
The U. S. force split into three
parts and struck at Algiers, neal
Oran on the Mediterranean cOast
of Algeria, and on the Atlantic
coast north and south of Casablan-
ca. The War Department stated
late November that the offensive
was advancing rapidly9 Everywhere
along 1000 miles of coast against
light French resistance. Algiers
capitulated within "a hours. The
Vichy government broke off diplo-
matte relations, but Secretary of
State Hull said the main purpose
of the Vichy policy of this govern
ment during the past two years was
simply to pave the way for the
military drive into the western
Mediterranean.
"The landing of this American
Army is being assisted by the Brit
ish navy and air forces and it will.
in the immediate future, be REIN
forced by a considerable number of
divisions of the British army" the
President stated. "This combined
Allied force in conjunction
with the British campaign in Egypt
is designed to prevent an occupa-
ton by the Axis armies of any part
of northern or western Africa, and
to deny the aggressor nations a
starting point from which to launch
an attack against the Atlantic
Coast of the Americas.
"The French Government and the
French people have, been informed
of the purpose of this expedition,
and have been assured that the
Allies seek no territory and have
no intention of interfering with the
friendly French authorities in
Africa" the Presidents statement
said. This expedition will devel-
op into major effort by the Allied
Nations and there is every expecta-
tion that it will be successful in
repelling the planned German and
Z Italian invasion of Africa and prove
the first historic step to the liberia
tion and restoration of France"
The President told the French
people by radio and by leaflets that
the American forces were going
into their empire as friends, to
"repulse the cruel invaders who
would remove forever your rights
of self-government, your rights to
religious freedom and your rights
to live your own lives in peace
and security. -. We assure you
that once the menace of Germany
and Italy is removed from you, we
shall quit your territory at once.
-. Do not obstruct this great
purpose"
1t. Gen. Dwight ID. Eisenhower.
commander of the American forces
in the European theater, is COM
mander in chief of the Allied in
vasion force. Gen. Eisenhower. in
a broadcast to "Frenchmen of
North Africa" promised not to at
tack the French themselves, pom
certain conditions. These condi-
tions were specific and he repeated
them many times in his broadcast.
Maj. Gen. Lewis H. Brereton's
headquarters in Cairo reported No
vember that American fiiers shot
down As enemy planes against Il
loss of 6 of their own in the Mid
die East from October l to Novem-
ber 5. In addition, tthe announce
ment said, the U. S. fliers have SER
iously damaged an uncalculated
number of tons of enemy shipping
and knocked out a number of tanks
and other motor vehicles.
The Navy announced that at least
5,1SS Japanese. by actual count,
have been killed in three months
of land fighting in the Solomon
Islands. Navy Secretary Knox
reported earlier that U. S. casual
ties were less than one-fifth of
japanese losses. The Navy said
1863 Japanese aircraft We're de-
stroyed there in October alone.
A Navy communique late November
reported the probable sinking of
another Jap cruiser and destroyer
in the Solomons and said the ad-
vance of American troops east
ward ON Guadalcanal was cOntinu-
ing.
LABOR SUPPLY
Labor Secretary Perkins reported
that between now and December /.
1913. industry will need 4,5OO,000
additional workers, and of this
number. 100000 will he women.
The Office of Defense Transporta-
tion said 10000 women will get
jobs in the "traditionally male"
transportation industry in the
coming months. Agriculture Sec
retary Wickard said that success
of the farm manpower program
next year would depend to a con-
siderable extent on the employ
ment of more women and girls and
older people on the country's
farms.
War Manpower Chairman McNutt
said that all major war production
plants soon will be required to
schedule their manpower require
ments in the same manner they
must now. schedule needs for
scarce raw materials. Official in
structions and forms for bringing
about the orderly withdrawal of
workers from war industries for