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.