Monday, May 2, 2011

Current Events May 3, 1943:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY MAY 3, 1943:
The United States government took control of most of the nation's
anthracite and soft coal mines today as more than 500,000 members of
John L. Lewis' United Mine Workers went on strike to enforce a demand
for $2 more a day to meet rising living costs.

Troops of the American Second Corps, advancing against fierce enemy
resistance in the rugged razor-backed hills of northern Tunisia, have made
important gains and captured three strategic hills near Mateur and Sidi-
Nsir, dispatches from North Africa reported last night.

RAF and USAAF bombers teamed over the weekend to strike two of the
Nazi military machine's most-blitzed targets in Europe.
The RAF poured its 10,000th ton—and then some—on Essen, in the Ruhr; Eighth
Air Force heavies struck St. Nazaire, U-'boat base on the western French coast.
Both raids were made in unfavorable weather.


                      THE STARS AND STRIPES
Daily Newspaper of U.S. Armed Forces In the European Theater of Operations
               New York, N.Y.—London, England . Monday, May 3 1943

U.S. Seizes Coal Mines as 500,000 Strike
Troops Held
Ready to Go
Into the Pits
Lewis Ignores Plea to Avert
Stoppage Crippling to
War Production
WASHINGTON, May 2—The
United States government took control of most of the nation's
anthracite and soft coal mines today as more than 500,000 members of
John L. Lewis' United Mine Workers went on strike to enforce a demand
for $2 more a day to meet rising living costs.
President Roosevelt instructed Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes to
take immediate possession of all struck mines, using the U.S. Army if necessary
to do so. Troops were standing by ready to go, but serious disorders were not
expected, and none had been sent up to tonight, it was reported here.
Mr, Ickes was reported to be considering a nation-wide " dim-out " to conserve
coal.
The troops, it was made clear, were not intended to force miners to work, but
to protect those who chose to stay on the job and, where possible, to carry on the
work themselves. The American flag was hoisted over all the seized mines, and men
working in them were to be considered government employees.
'Like Crippling Defeat'
The strike, called by Lewis in disregard of appeals made by the President and
the War Labor Board, is the most paralyzing in U.S. wartime history. Should it
continue for more than a few days it would seriously disrupt war production
for the United Nations.
As conferences proceeded in New York, Washington and elsewhere, however, the
strikers expressed the opinion that it would not last more than a few days, and called
attention to the fact that many of them had brothers and sons on the fighting
fronts.

Americans Take Three Hills in Tunisia
HeavyGuns
Hurl Shells
In to Mateur
Troops of the American Second Corps, advancing against fierce enemy
resistance in the rugged razor-backed hills of northern Tunisia, have made
important gains and captured three strategic hills near Mateur and Sidi-
Nsir, dispatches from North Africa reported last night.
The Americans were said by Algiers radio to be about 12 miles from
Mateur, and shells from American long range guns were reported at headquarters
to be falling in Mateur itself for the first time.

Allied Planes Destroy Eight
Axis Ships in Mediterranean
ALLIED HQ, North Africa, May 2—Allied planes have been having a
field day over the Mediterranean, a weekend total of their kills revealed
today. At least eight vessels received direct hits from Africa-based British
and American planes.
Among them were a light cruiser, two destroyers and a large merchant ship.
American B25 Mitchells, of Brig. Gen. "Jimmy" Doolittle's command, found
and attacked a group of enemy warships off Cape Bon on Friday. Bombs hit a
cruiser on the bow, amidships and on the stern. When they left her she appeared
to be sinking. The Mitchells also sank a destroyer and then fought off an attack
by six Mes, shooting down one.

Essen, Nazaire
Hit in Weekend
Raids by Allies
USAAF Loses 7 Bombers
Over France; RAF, 13
Over Ruhr
RAF and USAAF bombers teamed over the weekend to strike two of the
Nazi military machine's most-blitzed targets in Europe.
The RAF poured its 10,000th ton—and then some—on Essen, in the Ruhr; Eighth
Air Force heavies struck St. Nazaire, U-'boat base on the western French coast.
Both raids were made in unfavorable weather.
The U.S. raiders -ran into what officially was described as "adverse weather" in
daylight Saturday, and lost seven planes. The RAF, in its night attack Friday on
Essen, encountered heavy icing conditions, and lost 13 planes in the night's
work.
A communique from Headquarters, ETOUSA, said that "adverse weather was
encountered all along the route to and from the target. Heavy cloud made
identification of the target and observation of results difficult.

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