The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-07-08
DIARY OF THE WAR


and air forces beat off Japdn's first
aerial counter-attack on Solomons
prong of South Pacific offensive, /
while troops ashore on New Georgia
Island captured Nnu harbor. At least
s Jap planes We're destroyed in all
day battle off Rendova island where
| American troops had landed. A L. S.
transport was damaged, later sunk.
| Japs were caught fiat-footed in at
tack on New Georgia Island. From
| North Africa American fortresses (
smashed Sicilian port Of Palermo.
! There was little air opposition by
| Axis. Allies were keeping Giraud in
command of French forces in North
Africa. In New Guinea area General
MacAIthu's troops advanced on
| Salamaua.
SATURDAY-New blows by land,
air and sea were struck at Japs in
SOlomons and New Guinea area with
destruction of 1913 enemy planes in
two days over New Georgia. The
small Jap garrison on Rendova island
five miles from Munda was destroyed.
Japs were making light Of offensive.
Knox said ships, planes and subs in
greater numbers were enroute to Pa
cific area. Germans still looked for
invasion of continent to begin on this
day. June bombing hit a new high
over Europe by Raj, principally on
Germany Net increases Of , million
in armed forces and 100000 in war
industries were declared needed by
July, 1914.
SUNDAY American warships
pounced on a Jap force which tried
t to shell Rendova island and drove off
G attackers Army and marine forces
,. drove steadily toward enemy air base
o at Munda and American and Austria
a liam forces frightened their ring of po-
= sitons around Salamaua on New
@ Guinea. Both were subject to attack
d from two sides. Yank flyers bombed
h oil targets in Burma. Chennault noted
., !ulls in Jap raids in China. China de-
clarcd it wanted Japs oustcd from all
j Of her provinces. General Giraud was
J. cnroute to Washington to visit Roose-
/ welt. Allies pounded airfields of Italy,
/ stepping up pace in assaults. British
d raiders hit France, Belgium and Hol-
d land. The Nazi radios were testing
G about invasion and ridiculing failure
s to launch attack on date set by Nazis
a themselves.
lei MONDAY-Gen. Macarthur took
= personal command of Allied offensive
in southwest Pacific Small islands of
~, Kiriwino and Woodlark were occupied
10 near New Guinea. Raj pounded
Il Cologne, and Hamburg, losing 80
: planes. American fortresses in day
- light offensive raided Axis targets in
- France. The need for still bigger
70 raids on Europe was stated with even
Il more intensity Italians were blowing
. up port facilities at Sicily in attempt
7 to forestall possible use to Allies il
they invade Rome admits base at
Palermo has ceased to exist. Nazis
/ claimed an advance against Russians
II in Kuban area of Caucasus. Nine
l. more raids were made on Jap hello
: island of Kiska in Aleutians.
~ TUESDAY - British commands
:. landed on Axis-held Crete, raidine
-, enemy airfields. destroying grounded
- planes They withdrew safely. Ger
~ mans opened a major offensive il
Orel-Kursk- Belgorod area but Reds
~ claimed 58G tanks destroyed, 2O&
planes downed and the attack re,
= pulsed. Axis strength was estimated
- at 200 divisions. Allied planes smashed
. enemy arfields and shot down 4:
~ enemy fighters over Sicily with five
Of ten airfields there hit heavily. II
!. Pacific the final drive to knock out
- Jap base at Munda appeared immi-
!, nent. Plans for a new baclldoor sup.
ply route to China by way of Turllcs-
ton-Siberian railroad were disclosed
- as China prepared to mark the sixth
=, anniversary Of the war against in.
- vaders Jap attacks in three sectors il
7 China We're repulsed.
III WEDNESDAY-New German of.
j. fensive in central Russia punched
Q through some Soviet defenses but il
&C cost l009 tanks, 314 planes and more
y than 10000 men, according to Moscow
7 The push seemed aimed at Voronezt
= on the Don. a highwater mark OF
G their last summers drive. Other Rus.
sian lines held A Navy task force
~ inflicted considerable damage on JAP
v surface units in Kula gulf of central
# Solomons. U. S. lost destroyer Strong
n but six Jap ships were believed sunk
6 and four others damaged. Allies wor
ri control of Vangunu island in New
!. Georgia group and on New Guinea the
V Allies were reaching for Salamaua
~ Allied air fleets in Mediterranean
A. bombed six towns in Sicily and an
9 other in Sardinia. Opposition was
g vigorous. Flying forts over Gerbini
G shot down Al planes out of 100 and
&c lost three. Raj fighters swept
n northern France.
s, THURSDAY - German assault in