The Wrangell sentinel., 1942-11-13
Second Front
 Epic Story
 Of Conflict


 An epic in world history was written last week end when Amer iean forces landed in North Africa, and began what is generally accept ed as the second front To Ameri- cans and the Allied powers it sery- ed to raise spirits and envision vic tory a little sooner.
 Here's the way the reliable As sociated Press sent the account Of the memorable event into The Sen tinel starting last Saturday.
 WASHINGTON, Nov 2 - The White House announced tonight that powerful American forces were landing on the Mediterranean and Atlantic coast of French colonies in Africa In Germany and Italy the surprise announcement was timed to coincide with actual landing of troops at 9 D. m. eastern war time and 8 a. m. west African time.
 The announcement said the Amer ican forces, under command of Lieut.. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, chief Of the American European land forces. and equipped with aad- equate weapons Of modern war fare" were landing and were being assisted by the British navy and air force and would be reinforced in the immediate future by consider able number of divisions of the British army.
 The statement said the landing provided effective second front as- sistance to our heroic Allies in Rus sia." The press statement said the French government and people had been informed of the purpose of the American expedition and had been assured that the Allies seek no territory and have no intention of interfering with French author ity in Africa
 The government of France, its people and French possessions were requested to cooperate with and as-I sist the American expedition in it's effort to repel the German and Ital-I ian international criminals and by so doing to liberate France and the French empire from the Axis yoks'' l
 The statement did not specify theI exact points where the powerful American forces disembarked simul-I taneously with the statement from the White House made public byI President Roosevelt in a radio ad-I dress, recording of which was broad cast tonight to the French people by short wave from Washington and long wave, asking their assistance.
 LONDON. Sunday, Nov. 8-Lon- don has been filled with rumors of something "awfully big brewing for this week end.
 November S. By Associated Press U. s. troops seized several import ant air fields in French North Afri- l ca and other landings continue, the War Department announced in a communique which indicated that most of the Vichy French opposition was from light naval and coastal units.
 Vichy radio said French troops att Algiers had capitulated. Associated Press dispatches direct from the scene said two light Allied vessels lad been sunk in the operations thus far. 4 Washington communi- que confirmed these losses but alsoI aid loss of a troopship had beenI dispelled when torpedoed American soldiers aboard took to light land ing craft and continued toward 41. mil landing this morning.
 Marshal Petain of the Viehy gov-| ernment ordered French troops toI resist the American invasion and broke relations with the United States. Viehy and Axis reports in- dicated naval air actions were being fought in both the Atlantic. and Mediterranean at points where huge Allied conveys were disembarking troops for invasion of Africa which is generally regarded as the first step toward opening a second front in Europe, perhaps through Italy.
 The Berlin radio quoted a Vichy report that the new 35,000-ton French battleship Joan d'Arc and four French submarines had been hit in the action. Allied dive bomb CTS presumably were in action near Casa Blance on the Atlantic coast of French Morocco.
 That's the brief story of the launching of the second front For developments up to date see later dispatches.