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UNIVERSAL NEWSREELS DVD ARCHIVE


02/12/1945 - 04/19/1945


1 Life-Line To China Re-Opened, 1945/02/12


(1) "Ledo Road ('Pick's Pike') Opens - After many had failed on the Ledo Road project, the task was assigned to Brig. Gen. L. A. Pike, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army. He constructed the 478 mile road, through mountain junbles, across swamps, spanning 400 streams or rivers and solving every conceivable kind of engineering problem. "The first convoy, made up of 100 trucks, loaded with supplies for China, sets out, with Gen. Pike fittingly at its heads. "At Myitkyina junction is made with the Burma Road. The successful operation of the Ledo Road means that all of Burma will be rendered useless to the Japs." scenes of Pigs Point on the Burma Road opened, 1st convoy goes into Myitkyina (2) Chinese Flee Jap Terror - "Chinese civilians, hundreds of thousands of them, plod along choked roads, retreating from the modernly-equipped armies of the Japs. Absolutely expressionless, they gulp their food, snatch a few winks of sleep, then rsume their slow, sad journey toward Tushan and Kweichow." scenes of refugees clog the roads (3) Dewey Wants Active Peace Role For U.S. - "Washington, DC: At the annual Lincoln Day Dinner, Gov. Dewey makes the speech of the evening, in which he lauds America's productive capacity, and states that peace must be the aim of everyone." (4) St. Nazaire Civilians Evacuated - "After Yank-Nazi parleys under truce, French civilians are evacuated daily by French Red Cross train, from Nazi-held St. Nazaire." (5) Honorable Discharge - "Dogs of the famous K-9 Corps go through an intensive 'toughening up process' to fit them for military duty. When honorably discharged, they loaf for two months on a Dude Ranch, getting 'domisticated' for a return to civilian life." scenes of dogs watch newsreel of Hitler on motion picture screen, trained to bark right into 'Der Fuhrer's Face' but now come home; (6) Notre Dame Cagers Beat N.Y.U. college basketball. (complete newsreel)


2 Big Three Confer, 1945/02/15


(1) "Meeting in Yalta - With the Foreign Secretaries Stettinius, Edon and Molotov on hand, Prime Minister Churchill is greeted, to be quickly followed by Joseph Stalin and President Roosevelt. Within the beautiful czaristic palace at Yalta in the Crimea, the heavy deliberations between the three heads of government begin, with their full staffs in attendance. Personalities on hande include Anne Boettinger, Sarah Oliver Churchill, Harry Hopkins, Steve Early, Ambassador Harriman and others." scenes of W. Averill Harriman and George Marshall and Field Marshall Wilson arrive in London, for meetings at Montgomery House, then FDR and Churchill and Stalin arrive at Yalta; (2) Poland Will Never Forget - "Lublin Massacre - When the Russians enter Lublin, Poland, a stark sight meets their eyes. Prostrate corpses of men, women and children are lying on the floor of a sewing room where they were slain. And 700 more dead are found in a nearby prison. Lublin suffered worst, in the liquidation of 1,500,000 Poles." scenes of the massacre of Polish civilians by retreating Germans; (3) Scores Die In Tornado, sweeping through Mississippi and Alabama; (4) Dogdom's Annual Show, at Westminster in New York; (5) National Scout Week; (6) China's "Tiger Joe' Joins Up - "When the U.S. 14th Air Force adopts a little 4 yr. old Chinese boy, the fun begins. His name is Tiger Joe, his equipment is strictly G.I., and everything is fine, except on those long marches, his feet are small and legs are too short." scenes of a 4-year old boy orphan found by GIs. (complete newsreel)


3 Pacific Force Closes In On Japs,1945/02/19


(1) "U.S. Task Force Wrecks Japs - A huge American task force is seen bobbing in the heavy waters of the China Sea. When the storm is weathered, animated maps designate targets in all directions, which are to be struck. Planes take off...then the systematic and spectacular destruction of Jap ships begins. Their missions finished, our planes leave their burning targets and wing back to thehugh flat-tops. Then is seen vivid evidence of the heavy action through which they have gone." scenes of Pacific carrier forces in China Sea, planes attack enemy ships; (2) Soft Peace Not For Japs Says Halsey - "Washington, DC; The colorful Admiral William F. Halsey, leader of the American task forces in the West Pacific, describes what fighting with the Jap is like, then he scorns a negotiated peace." (3) 1st Women Marines Overseas - "Hawaii: 165 smiling women Marines arrive to relieve 165 Marines for fighting duty." scenes of 1st contingent of 165 women arrive by plane in Honolulu; (4) 'Backwards' Plane Flies Forward Fast - "With its elevator planes forward, and its 3-blade prop aft, this experimental monoplane proves highly maneuverable and exceptionally fast." (5) OPA Chief Lauds Local Price Boards - "Washington, DC: Chester Bowles, O.P.A. Head, speaks in praise of all local O.P.A. price-checking sleuths." scenes of Office of Price Administration chief. (6) U.S. Tightens Control Over Philippines - "Mopping Up on Luzon - Advancing Yanks pass wrecked Jap equipment and our tanks and field artillery continue to blaze away at skulking Japs. Dead Nips are all over the ground. General MacArthur confers with some of his Generals and the advance presses on. In a compound nearby are herded some rare specimens, Jap prisoners. To guard against their treachery, they are forced to stand in an awkward position while they are searched." scenes of dead Japanese, prisoners searched, MacArthur walks. (partial newsreel)


4 West Front Activities, 1945/03/08


(1) Combat scenes (some sound missing) 2 planes crash on icy runway in snow, flooded rivers, muddy roads, infantry clear rubble-strewn streets, German prisoners. (partial newsreel)


5 Air Smashes Devastate Germany, 1945/03/12


"As Allied air fleets converge on Germn cities we get visual evidence of their vital contributions to victory. A fleet of Flying Fortresses reaches Ansbach and utterly ruins the large rail yards there, with tons of accurately placed bombs. Stendall gets the same treatment with remarkable bombing pictures resulting. Wittenberg is quickly set on fire. Other vapor trailing Forts visit Indwigslust and destroy the rail yards with block busters. U. S. fighter planes swoop down on German airfields, where they leave every Nazi plane in flames ... even planes partially hidden in open hangers are set afire by the strafing airmen." (partial newsreel)


6 FDR confers with Middle East Chiefs, 1945/02/21


(1) "Returning from Yalta, President Roosevelt holds three separate conferences with three heads of state. Off the entrance to the Suez Canal, King Farouk of Egypt is the first royal visitor to meet Mr. Roosevelt aboard the American cruiser. The Lion of Judah, Emperor Haile Selaisse of Ethiopia makes many friends as he becomes the next caller. Shortly after, a U.S. destroyer, its decks covered with oriental rugs, comes alongside, with King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia leaving his golden throne chair to board the Presidential cruiser. His fierce native warriors accompany him, and the last of the three Middle East Conferences is held." scenes of Bitter Lakes conference on board USS Quincy, King Farouk of Egypt is first of Middle East rulers to meet with FDR on the presidential cruiser, also Ibn Saud. Marine Col. Eddy, kneeling, with Saud (2) Umberto Honors Allies - "Prince Umperto decorates Gen. Mark Clark and other U.S. officers with high Italian honors, in recognition of America's liberation efforts in his country." (3) 7 Injured In Train Wreck (4) GIs Tour Gay Paree - "48 Hours in Paris - when the G.I. Joes go on leave in Paris they visit all the seats of culture. But when Mignon swirls by on her bike, they cultivate other tastes." scenes of soldiers visit Arch d'Triumph and Eternal Light (5) Luzon Yanks Freed From Jap Prison - "The Daring Rescue at Cabanatuan - traveling through rice paddies and water trails by night, 121 U.S. Rangers and 286 Filipino guerrillas reach Cabanatuan (an old American camp), deep in Jap-held territory in East Luzon. They kill the Jap garrison and release 513 prisoners. Physically, they are a sorry lot after nearly three years of imprisonment. But American food, clothing and cigarettes soon restore their spirits. "Interviews with several of the men reveals their unconquerable fighting spirit." Corp. Cecil Hay and Sgt. Hall and Sgt Samuel Goldie speak. (complete newsreel)


7 First Pictures Manila Conquest, 1945/02/26


(1) "The Capture of Manila (First pictures of the final stages of General MacArthur's masterful Luzon campaign) - As the U.S. 6th Army approaches from the North, units of the U.S. 8th Army approach Manila from the West and from the South. Naval stations and heavily-mined air fields are taken. U.S. rifle fire is augmented with bazookas, phosphorus grenades and 155 mm. howitzers. Guerrillas render invaluable aid and the hated collaborationists are quickly rounded up. Manila proper is entered, but the cornered Japs have planted TNT charges and soaked blocks of buildings with gasoline. The resultant huge fires burn by day and by night. General MacArthur enters Bilibid prison and is cheered by the 1,100 prisoners who have been captive there since Bataan fell. Refugees mill about Manila's streets, laden down with their few belongings. Water pressure in the mains is negligible, hence the fires rage unchecked. The stench from mass open graves where murdered Filipinos lie, is unbearable. The fighting zone shifts to South Manila, and Intramuros, the old walled city. When the Japs are exterminated, the refugees timidly return to their liberated city, Manila." scenes of MacArthur's three-pronged attack advances, artillery pounds enemy, heavy resistance near Manila, Gen. Eichelberger lead another attack, net closes on japanese collaborators, GIs drink beer from local brewery, evidence seen of Japanese demolition in Manila, MacArthur enters Manila, visits prison and released captives, boat sunk in fighting on Passic River, fires in north Manila, dead Filipinos. (complete newsreel)


8 Santo Tomas Prisoners Liberated, 1945/03/01


(1) "Since their conquest of the Philippines in 1941, the Japs have been holding 3,700 prisoners on the campus of Santo Tomas University. As the American forces reach Manila in the current campaign, General MacArthur, with an Honor Guard of the 1st Cavalry Brigade enters the stockades to the cheers of the famished internees. Mail call finds them overjoyed again, only this time they weep openly." "Jap Artillery finds the range of the University and the assembly breaks up quickly, but not until several victims are wounded." scenes of MacArthur visits the Allied prisoners freed in the Philippines, Japanese still fire on Manila, Red Cross provides news and letters from home; (2) Geneva, Red Cross On The Job - "Geneva, Switzerland: The central office of the Red Cross maintains huge warehouses, loaded with food and other essentials for war prisoners and internees." (3) Ice Jams Rivers - near Cleveland, along Susquehanna in Pa., (4) 'Flea' Fleet Can Take It - "The Coast Guard '83's' - The 83-ft. craft of the U.S. Coast Guard, long famous as sub-busters and severs of downed-at-sea airmen, are adding laurels to their records with patrol activities in the icy Atlantic." (5) FDR Calls For World Accord - "F.D.R. Reports on Yalta - The House Chambers, Washington, DC: Returned from the historic conference of The Big Three, President Roosevelt gives his report to a special joint session of Congress, and the nation, in which he states that both Germany and Japan will be brought to unconditional surrender. Also, he advocates that a world organization be set up to maintain world-wide peace." scenes of FDR, sitting in chair, speaks to Congress on return from Yalta. (complete newsreel)


9 Allies Open Final Drive In Germany, 1945/03/15


(1) "The Roer Offensive - The U..S. 1st Army and the U.S. 9th Army open their concerted attacks on the Roer River fortresses which guard the approach to the all important Cologne Plain. Intensive bombardments precede their fighting advances into Julich. Linnich, Neuss, Baal and Erklenz. Pontoon bridge approach to the various cities reveal them to be in ruins. Gen. Simpson, Commandant of the U.S. 9th Army, accompanies Gen. Eisenhower on a tour of inspection of ruined Julich and its famous citadel. Celebrant G.I.'s parade through the streets, Nazi prisoners and refugees march to the rear, and the foundation is laid for the advance on the Rhine." scenes of Allies crossed the Rohr river, then the Rhine river at Remagen, have taken more than one million prisoners, destroyed cities, Ike and Gen. Simpson of 9th Army, civilians rounded up, forced laborers freed, inmates prepare own meals in concentration camp liberated; (2) A City Dies - "In 20 minutes of saturation night bombing, the R.A.F. wipes out Pforzheim, medium-sized Nazi industrial city. Huge oxygen consuming bombs are the answer." scenes of RAF Lancasters bomb industrial center of city in Germany, "a city is being literally wiped out before your eyes." (3) Freed From A Living Death - "Bataan Prisoners in U.S. - San Francisco wildly welcomes the 274 U.S. Army heroes from Bataan. All of the heroes, freshly uniformed and in normal health, form a striking contrast to their lot when they were discovered in their Jap prison. The Horror of Bilibid - U.S. Naval men held prisoner in Bilibid, in the Philippines, are reduced to living skeletons. Some of their buddies starved to death on the daily ration of several ounces of grain. Yanks entering Duren free hundreds of Poles and Russians from a concentration camp. The smiles of the comely women prisoners are returned with compound interest by the doughboys." (4) Flirting With Danger - rodeo in California; (5) Vets Learn Peace Trades - "The Toronto Rehabilitation Training Center is devoted to fitting Canada's ex-servicement for profitable trades. It's all very interesting, especially barbering. Joe Blow, the customer, explodes right in the student's face, if he slices too deep." scenes of Canadian rehabilitation training centers. (complete newsreel)


10 Carriers Hit Tokyo! 1945/03/19


(1) "Plowing through tempestuous seas the U. S. Fifth Fleet takes positions several hundred miles off Tokyo ... the huge carriers of Task Force 58 emerge from the armada ... and fleets of war planes swoop away, their destination Tokyo. En route, Jap ships are plastered and sunk by air cannon. Tokyo's docks are pounded. Mammouth Imperial air fields are strafed repeatedly. Intercepting Zeros are destroyed. Gun cameras record power dives on sprawling Jap factories. Rockets speed down into an aluminum factory, and huge fires mount from Tokyo. "Combat loss - Jap 817 planes, 51 vessels - U.S. 9 planes and 4 pilots." (2) Old Glory Flies Over Iwo Jima - "With the costly beach head finally secure on Iwo Jima, the U.S. Marines turn their attention to Mt. Suribachi, the volcano which is covered with Jap guns. Off shore, U.S. Naval ships pour tons of shells into the mountain. The Marines slowly advance uphill as U.S. dive bombers place sticks of bombs immediately ahead of the Leathernecks. Jap fortifications with narrow entrances and huge, thick walls are reduced with hand grenades. Battered Jap gun emplacements, and scores of slain Japs are passed. When at last the summit is reached, the Marines enact one of the stirring scenes in American history, the Stars and Stripes are planted on Suribachi, 750 miles from Tokyo!" (partial newsreel)


11 Manila Free of Japanese Domination, 1945/03/22


"The Battle of Manila (Additional pictures, just received, showing the details of the terrible battle between MacArthur's Armies and the fanatical Japs). The Japs, content with delaying actions against the Yanks, as they retreated southward in Luzon, resolved to put on one of their fanatical 'death stands' within the confusion of Manila. The motorized U.S. 1st Cavalry Division enters Rizal Stadium, where Jap fire meets them from the bleachers and the stands. Tank fire and machine guns turn the stadium into a death trap for the Japs. Huge fires are raging throughout the city. Hundreds of huge Yank guns fire across the Pasig River into Jap hideouts. Then foot soldiers of the U.S. 8th Army use rifles, machine guns, liquid fire and grenades to finish off the Japs. Charred Jap corpses are seen. American wounded receive American Red Cross blood plasma. Fighting converges on Intramuros, the old city, surrounded with 30 ft. walls. U.S. artillery breaches the walls, Jap madchine gun nests are silenced, and fighting in Manila ceases. Nuns and Filipino civilians, used as shields by the Nips, leave Manila. Scores of corpses of other civilians are found, tied hand and foot, then coldly stabbed and butchered by the fiendish Japs. General MacArthur walks through Manila, which now lies in absolute and complete ruin, the Stalingrad of the Pacific, Pres. Osmena's government assumes power and Gen. MacArthur takes a PT boat to Corregidor. He stands before Parachute Troop formations up on the Parade Grounds, and touchingly orders the Stars and Stripes to be raised, 'nevermore to be hauled down by any foe.'" scenes of the taking of Manila, artillery used against enemy dug in, "alert riflement cut down," two fleeing Japanese, flame throwers burn out resistence in southern city, litter bearers come under fire of Japanese snipers, big guns breach thick walls of city, dead bodies, "natives slaughtered in cold blood," MacArthur inspects ruined city, speaks on Corregidor, flag raised to bugle call. Newsreel end with sound. (complete newsreel)


12 Allies Drive Across Rhine To Victory, 1945/03/26


(1) "The Capture of Cologne - Tank units of the onrushing U.S. 1st Army rumble into Cologne's suburbs, with all guns blazing at heavy pockets of Nazi resistance. Stalled street cars are hauled out of the way, and Yank foot soldiers fight their way into Cologne, block by block. Cologne lays in absolute ruin, after having been a 'saturation attack' target for allied bombers for three years. In sharp contrast, the Cathedral stands almost undamaged. Near the Cathedral, a Nazi tank is caught in U.S. gun sights, to be set afire with a direct hit. Nazi prisoners are rounded up, Cologne natives return, while in back of the whole scene, the giant Hohenzollern Rhine bridge lies, mangled and twisted. Cologne is truly a 'dead city.' The Ludendorff Bridge - After this majestic 1,300 ft. bridge at Remagen, Germany was seized by the U.S. 9th Armored Division. Yank troops and supplies raced across it to the Rhine east bank in ever increasing numbers. Nazi precision bombers are driven off by anti-aircraft fire, the Remagen bridge-head widens, and hordes of Nazi prisoners are bagged." scenes of the Cathedral city of Cologne, mostly in rubble, lies before Allied army, streetcars used as barriers, "fleeing Nazi car doesn't get far," direct hit on German tank and crew flees, great domed cathedral spared on bombing, bridge destroyed, inhabitants returning, south at Remagen the bridge was captured; (2) "Prior to the opening of the momentous United Nations Conference in San Francisco on April 25th, the U.S. delegation covenes in Washington with Pres. Roosevelt. The U.S. members are Congressmen Eaton and Bloom, Senators Vandenburg and Connally, Dean Gildersleeve, Naval Commander Stassen and Sec. of State Stettinius. Pre-convention views of San Francisco reveal that the attractive West Coast metropolis is ready and waiting for the arrivval of the dignitaries of the world. In a film interview, Sen. Stettinius states the aims and purposes of the parley." scenes of U.S. delegates to United Nations meets with FDR in Washington, preparing for general meeting in San Francisco, Stettinius speaks (2) Kaiser Seeks Clothing For War Victims - "New York City: Shipbuilder Henry Kaiser, chairman of the national drive to collect clothing for war sufferers in foreign lands announces that the compaign will extend from April 1st to April 30th." scenes of Henry Kaiser speaks on the need for clothing. (partial newsreel)


13 Death Knell For Germany, 1945/04/02


(1) "When the Yanks enter Godesberg they survey the Hotel Dresden, site of the famous Chamberlain-Hitler conference of '38 which was meant to avert war. To prevent the Huns from engaging in any more fighting, the Yanks disarm the citizens of all their weapons, including lances. U.S. Rocket Tanks - In the Rhine offensive, giant U.S. tanks mounting 60 rocket tubes lay down terrific rocket barrages either in salvo, or in rapid fire. Zweibrucken Captured - Gen. 'Iron Mike' O'Daniel's U.S. 3rd Infantry virtually razes this Nazi industrial and mining center before they enter it and round up all the civilians and bitter young Nazi troupers. Capture of Saarbrucken - The U.S. 7th Army rolls through the ruins and wreckage of this once proud city - site of the 1935 plebiscite. Now A.M.G. takes over." scenes of civilians of captured Godesberg rounded up and questioned, same hotel where Hitler and Chamberlain met 1938, gaze at Rhine river, new rocket-firing tank unveiled. (partial newsreel)


14 Reds Roll On In Germany, 1945/03/29


(1) "Armies gain momentum in their terrific offensives as giant guns, rocket batteries and Stalin tanks mow down the Nazis. The enemy death toll is enormous, they surrender in droves, and their cities are methodically destroyed by shell and by torch. "And Russian might thunders on to a rendezvous with Gen. Eisenhower's Armies from the West." scenes of Russian drive For Berlin, rockets, tanks, prisoners, dead bodies; (2) Fire Bombs For Japan - "M 69 Jellied Bombs - First revealing pictures of America's incendiary bombs which are turning sections of Jap homeland cities into flaming and gutted square miles of destruction. "Tests at an East Coast Proving Grounds show them to be 500 lb. clusters of 38 individual containers of jellied gasoline which burns at 1000 degree temperature. Actual battle use of these "clinging fire" incendiaries against the Japs in Pacific outpost island warfare is shown." (3) Peace Code For Labor And Industry - "Washington, DC: Eric Johnson, Pres. of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, William Green, Pres. of the A.F. of L., and Philip Murray, Pres. of the C.I.O. sign a code committing management and labor to joint national interests in the post-war period. Mr. Johnson explains the action in a statement." (4) Bombs Wreck Munitions Ship - "When a U.S. ammunition ship in convoy is struck by enemy dive bombers it explodes in one terrific blast which fills the entire screen, sending one gigantic smoke ring whirling skyward." (5) On stage Everybody - talent audition for Universal picture version of the radio show (6) It's A Navy Slugfest - "Fights on Pier 88 - When some sluggers from Pier 92 Receiving Station meet U.S. Navy Salvage School Leather pushers in the squared circle on Pier 88, you see better fights than on the Garden stages. And there's a laugh in every punch." scenes of boxing. (complete newsreel)


15 Air Army Invades Germany, 1945/04/05


(1) "When the entire Rhine front explodes into action the First Allied Airborne Army takes flight for the Westphalian plains. From an observation post Gen. Eisenhower and Prime Minister Churchill watch the sky trains roar by overhead. The drop area reached, thousands of chutes float to the ground from twin side-door C-46 carriers, while giant C-47 tow planes release their gliders. Despite damaging resistance the gliders land with their jeeps and other materiel. Shortly, Nazi troops are marched in as captives, and this airborne invasion becomes one of the most successful in the history of warfare. Flail Tanks - The Canadian First Army uses huge tanks with heavy rotating chain beaters in front of them which explode any and all buried Nazi road mines." scenes of 1500 planes and gliders join in major invasion across Rhine in north, Churchill and Ike observe, parachutes from C-46 filling the sky with billowing parachutes, gliders land, plane crashes, artillery, 4000 prisoners taken. (2) Coblenz Key to Saar Captured - "With tanks leading the way, units of Gen. Patton's U.S. 3rd Army advance on Coblenz, the thousand-year-old transportation center. Repeated air bombings and heavy artillery fire have reduced the city to ruins, from which the Nazis offer scattered resistance. Tom Priestley, Universal cameraman, covers the entire action. Soldier dead litter the ground. A loud speaker is used to demand and direct surrender and several thousand Nazi prisoners are collared. White flags flutter from the few remaining ancient homes. Ancient Ehrenbrightstein Castle, used by the Germans as a fortress, is a battered pile of ruins. American tanks rumble through the narrow streets, and head eastward, deeper into Germany." scenes of Universal's Tom Priestley operating camera to make films, soldiers fighting street by street in the town, Germans surrender to Patton's 3rd Army (3) New French Sky Giant - "Secretly built during Nazi occupation, a gigantic 6 motor French flying boat is now unveiled. It takes off and flies as gracefully as anything in the air." (4) Airborne Division Decorated - "In a stirring speech, Gen. Eisenhower awards the Presidential Citation to the famous 101st Airborne Division for its heroic defense of Bastogne. Steel-helmeted Marlene Dietrich joins the entire reviewing party in saluting the 101st." scenes of Eisenhower honors Screaming Eagles, Ike speaks on 1st time decoration given to an entire division, Marlene Dietrich salutes. (complete newsreel)


16 Landings On Okinawa, 1945/04/09


(1) "Conferences at Guam ended, Pacific Fleet Commander, Admiral Nimitz sends an armada of 1,400 vessels to Okinawa in the Ryukus. En route, the men of the new U.S. 10th Army stage their own deck entertainment, and secure their issue of invasion money. Land sighted, the big guns of the fleet bark into action, and tons of rockets are sped shoreward. Landing craft race in, and unopposed landings are made. Inland, Jap dugouts and pill boxes are destroyed with grenades. Past broken forts, natives climb down from the hills, the Stars and Stripes are run up, and the Yanks prepare for their campaign on Okinawa, 360 miles from Japan itself." scenes of Adms. Nimitz, Mitscher, Ernie Pyle watches accordion and dance, 1400 ships prepare attack, naval guns open up, rocket barrages, civilians gave up. (2) Mandalay Recaptured, - "British and Indian combat troops capture Mandalay ending three years of Jap occupation. Burmese campaign continues to gain momentum as the mechanized might of the British splits the Jap hold of Burma into two segments." scenes of the campaign cutting the Burma peninsula in two, isolating Japanese forces in the south, city of pagodas under siege for 12 days (3) Allied Net Tightens on Germany - ""Advancing with the U.S. 3rd Army - From hill positions, the Yanks are confronted with blistering fire from the Nazis in the valley below. When Yankee tanks, tank destroyers, and machine guns silence the enemy, the U.S. 3rd continues its victory advance, rolling by miles of burning and wrecked Nazi equipment. And a flood of Nazi prisoners streams to a collecting yard. Battle Rockets - U.S. uses mobile rocket projectors to hurl banks of rockets into German towns. They are fired by remote control so that the crews may escape the terrific discharge fires." scenes of 3rd Army overrunning the Reich, prisoners taken, first time rocket attacks filmed by Signal Corps cameras (4) Final Plans for Security Conference - "Washington, DC: Sec. Stettinius meets with the Ambassadors from Britain, Russia and China in first meeting of the four powers prior to the San Francisco parley. Asst. Sec. of State Archibald MacLeish explains the urgency of the Dumbarton Oaks principles being accepted by the United Nations and citizens of the U.S.A." scenes of Stettinius confers in San Francisco, Archibald MacLeish speaks (5) Golfers Entertain Wounded - "Atlanta, GA, Golf stars put on exhibition for wounded veterans at naval Air Station. After a Byron Nelson lesson, one vet flubs his shots almost as badly as Joe Kirkwood, the fancy shot maker." scenes of trick shot specialist Joe Kirkwood. (complete newsreel)


17 Truman Faces New Job With Confidence, 1945/04/19


(1) [starts with no sound, silent pictures of Truman, staff, then sound when Truman gives speech] "Early in the A.M. President Harry S. Truman leaves Blair House, his new temporary home, and briskly walks to the White House. Mathew J. Connelly, his confidential secretary, and Leonard Reinsch, his press and radio relations man, are busy at their tasks. The President nominates John W. Snyder, St. Louis banker, to become Federal Loan Administrator. Mr. Truman confers with the U.S. delegates to the forthcoming Golden Gate conference, then later, in the presence of Congressional leaders, he signs a bill extending Lend Lease. 348 members of the press, a record number, crowd into his office to attend his first press conference. In the evening, the President goes on the air, to talk to U.S. service men all over the world. He explains he is an ex-serviceman, and that he is carrying on, as the entire country expects them to do." (2) Archbishop Spellman opens drive for Catholic Charities. (partial newsreel)