Allied High Command Faces Biggest Worry as German Breakthrough Stuns Front
A detailed field view describes Von Rundstedt’s December offensive that breached Allied lines from Monschau to Trier, threatening Liege and capturing Bastogne area. It cites intelligence failures and overconfidence among Allied officers as key factors, with timely American countermeasures credited for eventual containment.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Belgium
Pield
Karl Gerd von Rundstedt
Ardennes
von Undstedt
Hich
Aachen
von Rundstedt
Normandy
Young and Swope Resign and Return as GE Directors
Owen D. Young and Gerard Swope announced their resignations as General Electric directors effective tomorrow in Schenectady New York They had been directors since 1922 with Young serving as chairman and Swope as president They previously resigned those posts in 1940 were replaced by Reed and Wilson and returned in 1942 when Reed and Wilson joined government service. they had hinted at retirement last Sept 8 but remained as directors.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Schenectady
N. Y
Owen D. Young
Gerard
General Electric Company
Tomarew
Young
Swope
Philip D. Reed
Charles E. Wilson
Reed
Wilson
Former Williamson Mayor Alonzo Pinson Dies at 69
Alonzo C. Pinson aged 69 a former Williamson mayor and sheriff died in a hospital after an operation. Pinson served as sheriff from 1901 to 1923 during which the Mingo county mine war saw multiple killings. He is survived by a widow.
Tokyo claims sinking of several transports
Tokyo radio reports sinking around 20 transports in a U S convoy toward Mindoro while U S officials say no movement is noted in that area American forces hold control of the Philippines as Gen Douglas MacArthur updates a Mindoro convoy under heavy attack and Yamashita’s forces retreat on Leyte with losses in four divisions and other units
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tokyo
United States
Mindoro
Japan
Domei
Imperial Headquarters
Sulu
MacArthur
Philippines
Douglas MacArthur
Allied Command Shake-Up Seen
London reports hint at imminent reorganization of the western front allied command. Multiple papers cite potential changes under General Eisenhower amid improved Allied position, with Reuters noting Rundstedt’s offensive phase ended. No official confirmation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Western Front
London Evening News
Evening Standard
Reuters
Karl von Rundstedt
Belgium
Eisenhower
North Africa
Italy
Normandy
Italian Front Fluid as German Forces Step Up Moves
Allied reports say German troop and matériel movements increased on the western Italian coast while counterattacks persisted in the Serchio valley where US 92nd Infantry earlier yielded forward positions. The 15th Army Group noted heightened enemy patrols as activity also surged along the Senio river in the Po valley sector.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rome
Kesselring
Serchio
92Nd
15Th Army Group
Eighth Army
Po Valley
Senio
1944 Recount Calls Year Disappointing Yet Noted Wins
A Washington assessment cites 1944 as the most disappointing year of the war with optimism overestimated. It notes key Allied moves including Europe invasion, German naval destruction, air supremacy, Russian push to Warsaw, and Pacific progress toward the Philippines, alongside Dumbarton Oaks progress.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
United States
Europe
Pacific
Hitler
Germany
Warsaw
France
Philippines
World Organization
Greek Archbishop Named Regent Amid Greek Civil Strife
London reports King George II of Greece named Archbishop Damaskinos of Athens regent as the monarchy faces a likely end. Greek forces fight in the eastern suburbs while Elasi pressure pressures rightist lines in the northwest, with evacuations toward Corfu under British and Zervas forces.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
George II
Greece
Damaskinos
Athens
Elas
Napoleon Zervas
Corfu
Zervas
Belgian Army Joins Western Front Battle Lines
London dispatch reports the first battalions of Belgiums newly formed army have joined Allied forces on the western front. The Luxembourg radio broadcast the update as of tonight signaling a shift in regional manpower and frontline engagement.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Luxembourg
Restrictions Tighten on Shoes and Poultry for Army
Government actions tighten the home front belt with shoe coupons no longer valid for two pairs a year and poultry set aside for armed forces. Byrnes will propose mobilization measures, WPB freezes stocks and restricts camelback tires, and OPA extends poultry set-asides to Georgia, Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion
James F. Byrnes
Congress
Byrnes
Office of Price Administration
War Production Board
WPB
War Manpower Commission
War Food Administration
Georgia
Arkansas
Missouri
Oklahoma
Miami- Palm Beach
Office of Defense Transportation
Florida
OPA
WFA
Next Pay Checks To Reflect New Withholding Tax System
Washington reports changes to the withholding tax system. New tables affect income and social security withholdings, with higher or lower deductions on first pay of 1945. Credits for dependents expand exemptions, simplifying as pay as you go.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Congress
Cautious Optimism On 1945 Predictions From World Leaders
Leaders and citizens express cautious optimism for 1945 as Europe nears victory and the Pacific fight continues. Churchill vows victory in Europe while Ehrenburg predicts Berlin next. Patterson warns of a hard, extended campaign against Japan. Mitscher sees the fleet weakened by next summer.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Associated Press
Man In the Street
London
Churchill
Europe
Russia
Ilya Ehrenburg
Berlin
Pacific
Robert P. Patterson
Japan
Germany
Marc A. Mitscher
Philippines
Pearl Harbor
Empire
Jim Goodman
New Motor Law Demands Public Awareness In Virginia
Richmond officials warn motorists of a strict safety responsibility statute taking effect at midnight. The law requires reporting accidents with injuries or $25 in damage within 24 hours and imposes penalties for ignorance or noncompliance. It also mandates financial responsibility proofs and post-accident security for both parties.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Richmond
Virginia
C. F. Joyner, Jr
Division of Motor Vehicles
Joyner
Mtor Vehicles
Division of
Motor Vehicles
George Spurrier Killed in Action in France
Pvt. George Spurrier age 20 of Bluefield was killed in France on July 28, per a War Department telegram received by his father J. S. Spurrier of Princeton Avenue. Spurrier enlisted in 1940, shipped from Fort Meade in June, and is survived by his father, stepmother, three sisters, two brothers, a step brother, and his mother who died in 1940. he was a nephew of local residents Mrs. P. S. Graham and Mrs. C. Scott Lilly.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
George Spurrier
Bluefield
France
War Department
J. S. Spurrier
Princeton Avenue
Spurrier
Pt. Meade, Md
Lila Lee
Edith
Chris
Joe Spurrier
Nicklesville
Junior Spurrier
Infantry
J. Clifford Bailey
U.S. A Y
San Diego
Alif
P. S. Graham
C. Scott Lilly
Labor Urged to Stay On Job On New Year’s Day
War production officials and AFL CIO leaders urged workers to remain on the job in critical plants for the New Year’s Day holiday. A. H. Cooper cited J. A. Krug warning of immense military needs and two wars, stressing full production.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ralph W. Sockman
Park Avenue
Christchurch
New York
J. A. Krug
War Production Board
Paul V. McNutt
William H. Davis
National War Labor Board
Chester Bowles
CPA
A. H. Cooper
Charleston
Cooper
Mr. Krug
Washington
AFL
CIO
Organized Labor
William Green
American Federation of Labor
Philip Murray
Congress of Industrial Organizations
Von Rundstedt Attacks as Yanks Strike Near Bastogne
German forces renewed pressure on Bastogne as Von Rundstedt launched a three-division push from east and west. American units under Patton and Hodges widened fronts, recaptured ground, and threatened to cut off armored thrusts toward Sedan. Brussels radio reported Rochefort possibly fallen amid fierce fighting.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
St. Vith
Ommenschau
Trier
Bastogne
Paris
Sedan
Libramont
von Rundstedt
Supreme Headquarters
Moirey
St. Hubert
Courtney H. Hodges
First Army
Rochefort
Brussels
Low-Gear Travel Stays The Rule On WV Roads
Rattling tire chains and low-gear travel marked a winter night in West Virginia as sleet and snow hit the state. Roads in the northern and eastern panhandle, around Parkersburg, and central areas were ice coated and hazardous, with cinder crews spreading snow in Preston county.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Charleston
West Virginia
Panhandle
Parkersburg
Road Commission
Preston
Marion
Monongalia
Elkins
Princeton
Beckley
Also Mentioned on This Page
Allied High Command
By Wes Gallagher
General Electric
Williamson Ayor
Wingon
Fred Vinson
War Labor Board
Vinson
Iron and Steel
WLB
THE
Tokey
Allied Command
Bastogne Corridor
Dermans
Budapest
Red Army
Danube Islands
Moscow
Debrecen
Feodor I. Tolbukhin
Rodion Y. Malinovsky
Ukraine
Danube
Soviets
Nazi Bulge
By Edward Kennedy
Rewin Territory
Highway Department
Roanoke
Staunton
Maryland Line
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