October 31, 1944; STILWELL CASE EXPLAINED

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, OCTOBER 31, 1944:

Stilwell Case Explained 
(see below)

OGDEN CITY, UTAH. TUESDAY EVENING. OCTOBER .31. 1944

Nazis Fleeing Maas,

Leaving Only

20,000 for Defense

SUPREME HEADQUARTERS,AEP, PARIS, Oct. 31 (UP)—

Allied armies brought the battle of southwest Holland near a victorious end today when British troops reached the Maas northwest of Tilburg and Canadian forces stormed the last nazi pockets athwart the sea lane to Antwerp.

Lieutenant General Sir Miles C. Dempsey's units drew up on the south, bank of the lower Maas' above Apelle, 12 1/2 miles northwest of Tilburg, and Raamsdonk, three and one-half miles to the west, after the collapse of the 55- mile German line below the river.

Front dispatches said all but 10,000 to 20,000 of the Germans in the Maas salient had fled across the river, leaving only rear guards to fight a delaying action.

Nazis In Full Retreat

Boyd Lewis, United Press .war correspondent with the Canadian First army, reported the Germans were pulling back so fast that their Polish, Canadian, American and Dutch pursuers had lost contact with the nazis in the soggy lowlands.

Leyte and Samar

Reconquered,

Philippines Told

Naval Defeat Costs

Japs 35,000 on

64 Sunken Warships

GEN. MAC ARTHUR'S HEADQUARTERS,

Leyte,Oct. 31 .(UP) —

American troops pushed through the Leyte valley to within 10 miles of the west coast today against dwindling Jap resistance'

which appeared to have broken down everywhere except before Ormoc, head of a westward ferry line to Cebu island.

(Brig. Gen. Charles P. Romulo, resident commissioner of the Philippines, said in a broadcast to the Philippines people from Leyte today that American and Filipino troops has "reconquered all of Leyte and Samar," but did not elaborate. The broadcast was recorded by FCC monitors.)

Gen Douglas MacArthur was understood to be hard at work on plans for forthcoming operations in the Philippines, designed to exploit fully the initial success on Leyte.

Supplies Pour Ashore

As the Yanks struck westward in a 70 - mile - an - hour typhoon, thousands of tons of ammunition, rations and clothing poured ashore on Leyte. American fighters hovered almost constantly overhead, and there was no Jap interference. Indicative of the mounting air strength, several types of planes in addition to the Lockheed Lightnings in action for the last few days now were shuttling through the Philippine skies.

Stilwell Case

Explained

NEW DELHI, Oct. 31 (AP) —

The removal of General Joseph W. Stilwell as commander in the China-India^Burma. theatre, it can be reported today, resulted from. a combination of- strategy and-"diplomacy such as could arise only in the Orient. It is possible only today to get further details passed through censorship

The abrupt new shaping ol the whole American position in this part of the world war front began with the arrival in Chungking two months ago of Major General Patrick Hurley and Donald M. Nelson, both carrying vast powers designed

to .get from China some solid commitments for increased cooperation with America in the war against Japan. _

The Associated Press is informed that the commitments were given virtually under threat of American withdrawal of her support of Chiang's government.

In turn, the Associated Press was informed under circumstances leaving no doubt as to its accuracy, a last minute -softening in the

American attitude resulted in an agreement for the withdrawal of Stilwell as supreme commander in the C-B-I theatre as a face-saving and pacifying gesture demanded by the generalissimo.

CHUNGKING, Oct. 31 (AP)—

Jap troops advancing on a wide arc against Kweilin, defense pivot of southeast China, have hammered to within six miles. east, six miles northeast and nine and one-half miles southeast of .the Kwangsi province capital, the Chinese acknowledged

tonight.

October 30, 1944; NAZI'S COLLAPSE IN HOLLAND:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, OCTOBER 30, 1944:

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., Monday, October 30, 1944.

(By the Associated Press)

U. S. Pacific Fleet Headquarters, Pearl Harbor—

The victorious American navy has launched new aerial attacks against Manila, Tokyo reported today, after sinking or damaging 58 Japanese warships in one of history's greatest naval triumphs.

The Third and Seventh U. S. fleets definitely sank 24 Japanese warcraft, including four aircraft carriers and two battleships,

in last week's naval action off the Philippines, Adm. Chester W. Nmitz announced last night.

Thirteen more Japanese craft, including a battleship, were damaged so badly they may. have sunk, and 21 other warcraft, including six battleships, were damaged.

The total—at least 500,000 tons— is more warcraft than Japan lost in all the four preceding great Pacific war sea battles combined.

U. S. Lost Six Warships American forces spent six warships for a victory by which, Nimitz said, "the Japanese fleet has been decisively defeated and routed." Dispatches from the Philippines say, however, American personnel casualties were "considerable."

In addition, the 10,000-ton Australian cruiser, Australia, was damaged. Tokyo radio today reported, without allied confirmation, that 200 U. S. carrier planes staged three raids on Manila and Clark airfield Saturday—just three days after heavy fighting in the naval battle ended.

Japanese aircraft, said anotherTokyo broadcast, Sunday began attacking an American task force, including four aircraft carriers, in Lamon bay, on the east coast of Luzon, opposite Manila).

'Overwhelming Victory'

Nimitz' 1100-word communique said that "amplifying reports, although still subject to revision as more information is received, indicate an overwhelming victory. . . .the second battle of the Philippine sea ranks as one of the major sea

battles of World War II in the Pacific."

Allies Enter Last

Link in Defense

Line Below Maas

London—(U.P)—Allied columns paced by tanks and planes raced for the German escape bridges and ferries across their

broad Maas and Hollandsch Diep in Holland only five miles away today, and Berlin radio asserted that a major withdrawal

across that barrier to Rotterdam was in full swing.

Allied troops, breaking into the last of the chain of strongpoints before the Maas, entered Roosendaal, a city of 25,000, 12 miles south of Wilemstad ferry across the Diep, the sea arm of the river.

American armor plunged to within six miles of the Moerdijk bridge, one of the longest spans in Europe, and other forces fought to within three miles of the Maas and five miles from the Gecrtruidenberg crossing by capturing Oosterhout northeast of fallen Bieda.

Nazi Force Disintegrating

The German stand in all southwestern Holland and northern Belhad been cut into four pockets, and military spokesmen said the German force was disintegrating under the concerted pounding

STORY RELATED

BY YANK RESCUED;

IN PHILIPPINES

By AL DOPKING

With the 7th, Division, Leyte—(AP)—

A slender, blue-eyed American who escaped at Bataan's fall was rescued from Leyte Mountains today, ending three years of secret! missions in the Philippines with the Japanese constantly hounding him.

Second Lt. Joseph Francis Saint John, 24, of Philadelphia, related the story from the bamboo hut where he was given his second pair of shoes in three years. He was brought through American lines by, 1st Lt. Claude Hombacher, Sebewaing, Mich., whose patrol reached him by crossing the bay south of Abuyog.

Rescued also was red-haired Ensign Edwin J. Beattie, 21, Columbianville, Mich., naval pilot who crashed in a dog fight during the invasion and took refuge with Saint John.

(The dispatch failed to reveal any details of the "secret missions.")

A B-17 gunner of the 14th bombardment squadron when he was bombed out Dec. 7, 1941, Saint John leached Bataan Christmas Eve and later with 900 other airmen went to Maiabang airfield on Mindanao where "we waited for planes that never came.

When the surrender came, Saint John and 11 other Americans fled to the hills and finally reached Leyte May 8, I,942, in a frail native launch, passing through the straits in the darkness. There, Col. Cornell* the island commander told them they must leave before 5 p. m. May; 10 to avoid surrender. They left 2 hours before the deadline in an outrigger boat for Australia but

were shipwrecked off Cauit point,, Mindanao, May 17, in a storm. It was Saint John's birthday.

Then began his guerrilla life. He subsisted on fried monkey meat and tropical fruit He once wasted from 155 pounds to 100 before he was cured of malaria with "ditto" tree bark brews concocted for him by a native. His escapes were many

Once 200 Nips charged his hideout, shooting everything at him without! success.

Recall of Gen. Stilwell

Plunges China Into New

Military, Political Crisis

BY JOHN M. HIGHTOWER

Washington —•(&)—

China has been plunged headlong into a new military and political crisis by the recall of General Joseph W. Stilwell

to Washington.

, Information reaching here indicates that decisions which must be made in Chungking in the next three to four weeks may well determine the fate of the Chinese war effort from now on.

Among American officials there is hope, but little real confidence, that Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek will be able to put his military and political affairs in order without further delay. High strategy of the war against Japan hangs on the outcome.

Affects Future Strategy

The campaigns ahead have had to be planned on an "if" basis—if free China remains an effective force against Japan, or if she

doesn't. Counting always the possibility of a Russian move in east Asia and also of a direct attack on the Japanese homeland, allied strategists now appear ready to play their cards either way.

Stilwell's recall from the China-Burma-India theater was announced at the White House Saturday. The war department said he would get an important new assignment. The action is linked directly with the thus far unsuccessful American efforts for a complete shakeup of the Chinese high command and subsequent reorganization of the Chinese armies.

Plan for China

Allied strategy has called for a drive across the Pacific, via the Philippines, to the China coast and a drive from interior China to the same coasttal point. The ultimate objective was to equip China's manpower with American supplies and technical training.

Until this could be accomplished the aim was to keep pressure on the Japanese from forward air bases which had to be protected by Chinese armies. Recently the Japanese have forced evacuation of some of the best of these bases.

In a sense their place has been taken, however, by bases on the Pacific side, in the Saipan-Guam area and now in the Philippines.

Despair Over Situation

Nonetheless considerable effort has been made to keep free China functioning effectively against Japan and the United States virtually alone has sponsored the role of China as one of the "big four" allies.

Evidence of the despair now overtaking this effort was seen in a dispatch from New Delhi, India, by Associated Press correspondent Preston Grover. Writing through allied censorship, Grover reported last night that Stilwell's withdrawal

appears "to have pulled the props from under American activity in this area."

Grover pointed out that it bad been Stilwell's dual task to obtain for China a maximum amount of supplies from the outside and to get the Chinese to use them in the most effective manner.

October 29, 1944; STILLWEL RELIEVED OF COMMAND:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, OCTOBER 29, 1944:

Salt Lake City, Utah, Sunday Morning, October 29, 1944

British and Canadians Race North

To Block Rhine Escape Route;

Victory Speeds Up Use of Antwerp

Allies (Official)—By Associated Press

LONDON, Oct. 28—

Forty thousand Germans reeled northward Saturday in a scramble to get across the Maas (Meuse) and Waal Rhine and escape destruction at the hands of advancing Canadian and British forces who smashed the enemy defense lines in western Holland.

Field dispatches from the muddy Dutch front said that the 50- mile-long German line from the sea to ('a) Hertogcnbosch had fallen, to pieces and that it was evident a full-scale German withdrawal was in progress after some of the most stubborn fighting of the western front campaign.

Significance of the retreat was pointed up by enemy abandonment of Bergen op Zoom, mainland coastal key to this line.

Dooms Antwerp Barriers

Allied headquarters announced that, as a result, free use of the great Belgian port of Antwerp was now blocked only by the isolated German batteries at Vlissingen  (Flushing), on Walcheren island, and these were doomed.

Even when the Germans there and In the contracting pocket south of the Schelde are liquidated, however, a gigantic minesweeping and dredging job must be done on the 100-mile Schelde estuary before deep-draft ships can use the port readily, it was disclosed.

Vinegar Joe Leaves Burma

Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell, who has been relieved of his command in Asia.

He has become « * famous to his many soldiers  as 'Vinegar Joe' because of

his forthright habit of speaking his mind.

Washington reports that he is to be given new and important command,

while observers in China claim he was removed because of numerous

disagreements with Asia commanders and particularly Generalissimo Chiang

Kai-shek.

Gen. Stilwell

Relieved of

His Command

Chiang Requested

Recall Because

Of Opposing Views

By United Press

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28—

Gen Joseph W. Stilwell, hero of the north Burma campaign, and "Uncle Joe" to thousands of worshipful fighting men, has been relieved of all his command and staff posts in the Far East at the request of Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.

The sensational development first of its kind Involving, a four star general in this war—was brought to light by a brief White House announcement that Stilwell has been relieved of his Far Eastern command and "recalled to Washington." The war department added later that he would be given "a new and important but at present undisclosed  a s s i g n m e n t."

Neither disclosed any of the factors leading to Stilwell's 'recall.

Dispute With Chiang

The United Press, however, learned from other sources that Chiang had' requested the action in a climax of long-standing differences with the American over

conduct of the Far Eastern phase of the war against Japan.

Stilwell, 61-year-old soldier' of the old school, was commander of U, S,, forces in the China-Burma- India theater, chief of staff to Chiang, and deputy to British Adm. Lord Mountbatten, commander of of the allied southeast Asia command.

He was relieved simultaneously

of all three posts.