Posted on 10/18/2012 4:18:25 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
John Toland, The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-1945
All Arms Engaged (Hurd) – 2-3
War News Summarized – 3
U.S. Bombs Hit 3 Ships Off Kiska; Japanese Destroyer is Left Sinking – 3
Red Army Lines Holding; Nazi Tanks’ Thrust Halted (Parker) – 4-5
The Texts of the Day’s Communiques on the Fighting in Various War Zones – 6-7
Major Sports Yesterday – 7
The News of the Week in Review
Guadalcanal: Cockpit of the Southwest Pacific (map) – 8
Guadalcanal – 9
Stalingrad – 9-10
Twenty News Questions – 11
The Nazi Score in the Two Battles of Russia (map) – 12
Nazis’ Gains in Russia are Offset by Losses (Baldwin) – 13
Allies Build Power for Blow in Egypt (Sedgwick) – 14-15
Winter Returning as Russians’ Ally (Parker) – 15
Where Japan and the United Nations are Locked in Crucial Conflict (map) – 16
Jungle Island Becomes the Heart of Great Battle for the Pacific (Hurd) – 17-18
Answers to Twenty News Questions – 18
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1942/oct42/f18oct42.htm
US troops worn out by march
Sunday, October 18, 1942 www.onwar.com
In New Guinea... American forces sent on a parallel trail to help the Australians cut off Japanese retreats down the Kokoda Trail, finally begin to reach Pongani. The trip has proved to be so difficult that the soldiers are in no condition to fight. In addition, the transport of troops by air from Port Moresby to the northern coast has made the land trip unnecessary.
From Washington... Admiral Halsey is appointed chief of the Pacific Command Area, replacing Admiral Ghormley.
On the Eastern Front... In Stalingrad, renewed German attacks make small gains in the Red October Factory area.
From Berlin... In reaction to several incidents, Hitler orders that all prisoners taken from Commando or similar units are to be shot immediately.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/frame.htm
October 18th, 1942
UNITED KINGDOM: Escort carrier HMS Ameer (ex-USS Baffins) launched.
Corvette HMCS Louisburg completed fitting with extra a/a armament at Humber. (Dave Shirlaw)
GERMANY: Berlin: With the tide of war now turning against his armies, Hitler has issued a “Top Secret Commando Order” which says: “From now on, all enemies on so-called commando missions in Europe or Africa ... even if they are in uniform, whether armed or unarmed, in battle or in flight, are to be slaughtered to the last man.” Hitler says that he has been compelled to act because of the recent increase - not to mention success - of Allied commando operations. General Jodl, says that in no circumstances must it fall into enemy hands.
NORWAY: Operation Freshman.
U.S.S.R.: Renewed German attacks in the Krasnye Oktyabr area make gains against the Soviet defenses which have held over the past two days.
NEW GUINEA: US forces advancing over the Kapa Kapa Trail arrive at Pogani. This track parallels the Kodaka Trail over the Owen Stanley Mountains of New Guinea. The complete regiment will finish the journey over the next 3 days. They will, however, not be in condition to fight due to the rigors of the trek through the mountains and jungle. This overland journey will prove wasted, since it has become possible to airlift troops to the north shore of New Guinea.
U.S. forces advancing over the Kapa Kapa Trail, which parallels the Kokoda Trail over the Owen Stanley Mountains, arrive at Pogani. The complete regiment will finish the journey over the next 3 days. They will, however, not be in condition to fight due to the rigors of the trek through the mountains and jungle. This overland journey will prove wasted, since it has become possible to airlift troops to the north shore of New Guinea.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: At 1300 hours local, 16 F4F USMC and USN F4F Wildcats intercept 15 “Betty” bombers (Mitsubishi G4M, Navy Type 1 Attack Bombers) escorted by 9 “Zeke” fighters (Mitsubishi A6M, Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighters) over Guadalcanal; 3 Japanese aircrew are captured. The Americans claim 6 “Betty” bombers and 4 “Zekes”; IJN records state 3 bombers and 4 fighters lost. One Wildcat is lost in an operational accident and 2 F4Fs are shot down but there are no pilot loses.
Fifth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses attack shipping and aircraft in the Faisi area in the Shortland Islands, and Kahili Airfield, and shipping off Kahili, Pupukuna Point, and Buin on Bougainville Island.
During the early evening, a “Val” dive bomber (Aichi D3A, Navy Type 99 Carrier Bomber) and a “Zeke” fighter are shot down near Guadalcanal by a USMC F4F pilot and twoUSNFighting Squadron Seventy One (VF-71) Wildcat pilots.
On Guadalcanal, construction begins on an all-weather fighter airfield to the west of Henderson Field. (John Nicholas and Jack McKillop)
Admiral William F. Halsey arrives at Noumea, New Caledonia prior to the arrival of his flagship Enterprise to scout the situation. He receives a sealed envelope containing orders, from Admiral Nimitz, to immediately take command of the South Pacific Ocean Area. In relieving Admiral Ghormley just days after the public release of the Battle of Savo Island, the blame for the loss is attached publically to Ghormley.
In the arena of US public opinion, the NY Times on October 16, “The shadows of a great conflict lie heavily over the Solomons - all that can be perceived is the magnitude of the stakes at issue. ... Guadalcanal. The name will not die out of the memories of the generation. It will endure in honor.”
US Navy Secretary Knox responds to a question of holding Guadalcanal: “I certainly hope so and expect so ... I will not make any predictions, but every man will give good account of himself. What I am trying to say is that there is a good stiff fight going on. Everybody hopes we can hold on.”
Fifth Air Force B-17s attack schooners and buildings at Lorengau on Manus Island, Admiralty Islands. In New Guinea, B-25s hit Wairopi bridge in the Owen Stanley Range, the village of Mubo, and the dock and occupied area on Pilelo Island; the Fifth Air Force completes the air movement of most of the 128th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, to Wanigela. (John Nicholas and Jack McKillop)
TERRITORY OF ALASKA: Aleutians: On Kiska Island 4 Eleventh Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb the Main Camp, score near misses on a beached vessel in Trout Lagoon, and hit a gasoline storage area; weather aircraft flies reconnaissance over Attu, Segula, Little Sitkin, and Gareloi Islands. (Jack McKillop)
NEWFOUNDLAND: Corvettes HMCS Baddeck, Port Arthur and Baddeck departed St. John’s to join with the 50-ship New York City to Liverpool convoy SC-105 and subsequent support to Operation Torch, the North African Landings. SC-105 arrived safely in Liverpool on 31 Oct 42. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.: Minesweepers USS Admirable and Adopt launched. (Dave Shirlaw)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: U.S. freighter SS Steel Navigator, also straggling from convoy ON 137, takes on 40° list as her sand ballast shifts; USN Armed Guard volunteers shovel ballast for 30 hours without relief (reducing the list to 12°) until financial bonus offered by ship’s master induces reluctant merchant sailors to lend a hand in the arduous work. (Jack McKillop)
U-618 sank SS Angelina in Convoy ON-137. (Dave Shirlaw)
"Edwin Chwedyk was issued this identification bracelet, a leather strap with a metal tag and buckle, while imprisoned in the Majdanek concentration camp in Poland.
After Chedwyk contracted typhoid, he was sent home; he died a short time later."
"Odilo Globocnik headed Operation Reinhard, the plan to exterminate the Jews of the Generalgouvernement.
Born in Trieste, Globocnik joined the Nazi Party in 1931, became a member of the SS in 1934, and was appointed SS and police leader for Poland's Lublin district by Heinrich Himmler in 1939.
His scandalous past (illegal currency dealings) and virulent antisemitism made him an ideal choice to head Operation Reinhard.
"Globocnik founded the death camps at Belzec, Sobibór and Treblinka to facilitate the liquidation of Polish Jewry.
His brutally efficient operations were so successful that the Nazis were able to shut down those camps in late 1942 and 1943.
"Although Globocnik greatly enriched himself with the valuables stolen from the Jews, he too met an early death.
Shortly after being captured by a British patrol in May 1945, Globocnik committed suicide by swallowing cyanide."
"Several men, probably Jews, are executed in Lvov, Ukraine, in 1942.
At the time of the German invasion of the Soviet Union, there were about 160,000 Jews in Lvov.
When the Germans occupied the area, they turned the local Ukrainian population loose on local Jews, thousands of whom were tortured and killed even before the establishment of the ghetto.
In December 1942 the Lvov Ghetto was liquidated, with most of its Jews sent to the Belzec extermination camp."
Vandegrift’s men finally wiped out the Japanese opposing them and Ghormley allows the Japanese to land a new army essentially without opposition. No wonder Nimitz relieved him.
It will take a full week for news of the shift to hit the headlines.
WASHINGTON, oct 17 - Criticism of American operations in the Solomons was voided today by Representative John M. Costello of California, a member of the House Military Affairs Committee, who told the House that he feared that the Navy “has attempted to conduct a grandstand play in the Solomon Islands without asking aid of the Army ground and air forces.”
Mr. Costello said that the entire situation in the southwestern Pacific “cries to heaven for an answer.
...................................
For two months the Marines have been fight on Guadalcanal,: Mr. Costello declare, “and the Army has not given relief. There are soldiers in the southwest Pacific ready to come to the aid of the Marines, but they can't get there by walking across water.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.