London Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 31, 1942, London, Middlesex                                The daily newspaper of . Armed forces tripes in the european theater of operations vol. 3 no. 50 London England thursday dec. 31, 1942 a lots Brave ice storms to hit Axis found bases in Tunisia As Africa Battles draw closer women guard Navy air base eds menace nazi grip on All caucasus take two key cities in drive on Koslov move closer hourly j one f orc occupies Kotel Nikoo Railhead another takes Yaskul defense line two May converge on Don City Moscow dec. 30 up a Hitler s hold on the caucasus As Well As his gains during the summer North and East of Rostov Are beginning to totter following the russian successes of the last 24 hours. The fall of Kotelnikov 95 Miles Southwest of Stalingrad on the railway to Krasnodar has paved the Way for a new russian drive across the Flat Kuban country towards Rostov. It has destroyed the Anchor of the entire German right Wing Southwest of Stalingrad and Southeast of the great Bend of the Don. The entire strategic position of the Kuban area is thus reversed laying it open to the last moving russian tank columns. By the associated press mud and mystery dominated the a ties of Tunisia and Libya last it As these two struggles con used to merge slowly into a single title for Africa. Rain and electrical storms were a pled with gooey mire to reduce id and air activity to a minimum do clearer than this mud was the ser to the question a a where is a Mmel s Armor ? a although badly Hurt by the British a through at Alamein and nicked ply again after Asheila it was Gener agreed that the nazi marshal still i a heavy weight of tanks and men nowhere. Fly in bad weather British and american bombers and items braved violent electrical rain rms and severe icing conditions to Iti nue a Day and night assault on in Tant German communications and p concentrations in Tunisia. H7s with a p38 escort bombed the Brand docks at Sousse yesterday but e hampered by icing which compelled bomber to turn Back after one Mem of the Crew on the pilots orders d out and landed on Friendly Terri Douglas a20s attacked Bridges at la Cha North of Sousse and also bed an enemy tank depot Southeast Pont do Fahs which had been the get of a p38 attack earlier in the Day. Spokesman reported that All the . Myers returned safely. Night flights in rain Raf Bisley bombers flew through me of Tunisia s worst weather of the mpa Ign for a night of bombing and level strafing assault against German p concentrations Road junctions and or  the night of dec. 28 the Tunis Mas Sicault and Pont do its areas. Allied fighters destroyed at least six Man planes and at least 32 lorries in a spread forays against Axis com a cations in Tunisia and Tripoli Tania fuday while Allied artillery destroyed German tanks. Raf spitfires and United states p38s 11 the Day s bag of six enemy planes. British leave Medvez Hill to communique announced that to ten guards units had retired from Hill gained in the Christmas Battle Miles Northeast of Medvez Al Bab after in Tang heavy casualties on the enemy. Exp mud continued to hamper major cements of troops and supplies there 8 along the Northern sector. Slight withdrawal of Allied forces 1 of Medvez Al Bab was not regarded observers As serious in itself although n3s further evidence of what the Allied Momand has been emphasizing rights that the Axis is Strong in Tunisia prepared to fight to the last to save anal african foothold thereby delay As Long As possible the Day whetted nations will be in a position to c into Europe from the South. A Forest official report tending to continued on Page 4 is. Bombers blast Lorient 3s starving planet photo a a port. Arms a is the order As these women first of their sex to relieve men As . Airport guards line up for inspection at the naval air station South Weymouth mass. Stiff civil service examinations must be passed before they receive appointments. Wounded gunner9slast-ditch fight saved fortress won dec a sergeant  manned his gun despite a broken Arm a broken leg and numerous wounds a colonel  brought his group through Long hazardous operations without loss a Corporal  saved a Man and woman from drowning these were among four officers and eight enlisted men whose names appeared today on the growing eighth air Force Honor Roll. A sgt. John j. Hudjera Chicago 111., led the list receiving the dec. Jan disease Ridden at Guadalcanal a pkg Zibers continued the assault on Europe yesterday attacking sub-j11� at Lorient in France in the. N. Three 0f our bombers act r j 10 Gie air ministry and head-1 s Urt it Pean theater of opera-1 nut return. Led rating i inns of Raf Dominion and inters made covering and sup sweep no encounter to aircraft. Mules of enemy fighters which gov a a intercept the bombers were Yed and a number a were Des later. Tails Are not yet available. To amp Ivee Cay Saaf fighters on Bevy jul patrol Over the Boulogne last Ria backed a freight train. A 1111 be Box cars were seen to army revises signal alphabet a by is Baker not Beer in new symbols for letters numbers american British and Canadian armies Here have got a new alphabet. Several symbols for letters used to insure Correct reception when signalled in any Way have been altered. Thus a a a a becomes Able instead of ack and a a p a is now Peter instead of Pip. Here is the Complete revised list a becomes Able instead of ack b is Baker instead of Beer c remains Charlie d is dog instead of Don e is easy instead of Edward f is Fox instead of Freddie. G remains George h becomes How instead of Harry i is item instead of Ink j is Jig instead of Johnnie k remains King l is love instead of London. M becomes Monkey instead of Mike n is Nan instead of nuts o is oboe instead of Orange p is Peter instead of Pip q remains Queen r is Roger instead of Robert s remains sugar. T becomes Tare instead of toe u remains Uncle v is Victor instead of Vic w remains William x remains a Ray y is yorker instead of Yoke and z remains Zebra. There Are also new numeral sounds. 0 is Zero 3 is thu ree 4 is Fower 5 is i Yiv and 9 is niner. The others Are As normally pronounced. Italian paper approves Wallace a peace Aims Berne dec. 30 apr the peace Aims along economic lines vice president Henry Wallace indicated in his recent speech would be acceptable to Italy provided there were adjustments to give the poorer nations economic Opportunity Gior Nale a italia implied in commenting on the speech today. The newspaper whose viewpoint is presumably spokesman especially passages concerning abundance .,1� marines find Many dead from ills starvation no recent supplies Washington. Dec. 30 apr Japan a isolated forces on Guadalcanal Island in the Solomons were reported authoritatively to be suffering severely from starvation and disease and to have been without fresh supplies for about six weeks. Comdr. Dwight Dexter coast guard officer  was in charge of the naval j though grievously wounded in a fortress operating base at Guadalcanal until nov. Fight Over occupied Europe he stuck to 5, told a press conference at the Navy High gun and according to the citation department today a a right now the a a undoubtedly prevented Complete de japanese Are having All they can do to Striction of the air plane and probably combat starvation and disease let alone saved the lives of other Crew  sgt. Robert h. Sangster Vienna ga., won an Oak Leaf Cluster along with his air medal a a for extraordinary achievement a while Manning the Ball Turret guns of a fortress during combat Over France dec. 6. His ship was attacked by several German fighters and sgt. Sangster destroyed one fw190. Led troop carriers col. A. J. Kerwin Malone West Point n.y., was awarded the air medal a a for exceptional meritorious achievement while commanding and leading a troop Carrier group during july 1942. Displaying great personal courage leadership of the highest order and exceptional flying skill. Col. Malone led his group on a Long hazardous flight to its destination without loss of life or  maj. Claude e. Putnam Jacksboro tex., received the air medal award for a a courage coolness and skill a in five combat missions Over enemy territory serving variously As Pilot co Pilot and at machine gun stations on flying fortresses. Capt. Homer h. Noss Stockton cal., continued on Page 4 the left flank of the German caucasian armies is now threatened following the capture of the Yaskul line the strongest German base protecting this flank. Two paths open from Yaskul the russians May drive South across the Flat Steppes and hit at the germans in the East caucasus or push directly Westward and add their strength to the forces already converging towards Rostov in what is now More than a 90-degree arc. At practically All Points these converging russian columns Are advancing hourly gravely increasing the threat to the big key Point on the Mouth of the Don. The position on various parts of this from now is on the germans left flank the russians arc continuing their push towards Oroshi Novgrad although latest reports indicate stiffened German resistance Here. Nazi maps in Battle among the German reinforcements in this area Are Many police units which have been thrown into Battle immediately they reached the front after their marches. A number of these units were destroyed according to the latest reports. The russians have also smashed a number of fortified Points on this front and other enemy units which counterattacked were subsequently routed abandoning a considerable Quantity of arms and vehicles. Fierce Battles were raging today in the having to worry about the bit of hell the marines Are giving  his observation coincided with a report from sgt. James Hurlbut Marine corps combat correspondent in the Solomons  said the americans were keeping i enemy reinforcements and supplies from Guadalcanal and disease and Lack of outskirts of a town believed to he Millerov. The russians reached the outskirts after smashing the German resistance Stifler than hitherto on this front. Proper medical facilities Are playing havoc with the enemy. Recent Marine patrols have discovered scores of japanese in bivouac areas  apparently died from disease or  yesterday american forces scored a Success in an artillery Duel on Guadalcanal according to the Navy department. Buna Airfield taken with american troops new Guinea dec. 30 apr Buna Airfield from which Jap bombers and zeros once started raids on Allied bases fell completely into the hands of american and australian forces today. The Field now overgrown with High native grass was completely occupied after artillery firing at almost Point Blank Range smashed the enemy a defend continued on Page 4 special service red Cross plan Happy new years eve Millerov encircled Millerov is already known to have been practically surrounded with the russians fighting at some parts with less than three Miles of it. South of the town the russians Are already Pushin southwards towards Rostov along the railway towards Kamensky. From Here to where the russian line crosses the Don Southwest of Biryukov steady pressure is being maintained by the red army. South of Stalingrad the russians Are driving Forward with several More places already in their hands after the capture of Kotelnikov.  the Kotelnikov Tik Horetsky railway is the next big town in their path. In this Advance the russians captured the Headquarters of two German division. At one place a German battalion commander gave himself up. When Given the Opportunity he crossed Back into the continued on Page 4 Rao mov Ich american soldiers Are sure of a Good time Over new years if they can get time off to attend to it. Although Jan. 1, 1943 will be a a business As usual a in . Forces the american red Cross and special services  provided a history making Christmas for men overseas arc ready with a variety of dances entertainments and other Means of ringing out the old and in the new. For instance any Soldier  has t any place to go new years eve needs Only Call special services London base command where there Are a number of invitations to parties in private London Homes. Hotels were booked up solid yesterday but All the red Cross hostels Are giving special events not Only new years eve but also new year s Day. At the Hans Crescent a a a balloon that of Gayda official j dance a a comedy floor show featuring quoted lengthy excerpts a a slim a Allen Tom Jova and Virginia As against misery a War Point on which All Peoples could  White souvenirs and refreshments Are on the program. And for the first time in any red Cross club in Britain women guests and hostesses will Wear evening dress. The dance starts at 7.30 pm and ends 12.30 am. On new7 year s Day 3 pm concert by an army band is scheduled. The Washington club will be converted into a night club for its new year s eve dance music by . Frank Rodatos infantry swing orchestra. Celia Lipton. Singing Star of a a get a Load of this a Tommy Trinder Star of a Best bib and Tucker a and the dancing team of Jeanne Ravel and Ronny Boyer Are among the entertainers. A vaudeville show and dance 8 pm to 12.30 am Are listed for the Milestone club on new year s eve. Another dance 7.30 pm to 11 will be held new year s night. A Stag a a Surprise party a no babes Bud at the Rainbow Corner starts 8.30 pm on new year s eve. The Mostyn club s new year s eve continued on Page 4 Stu eff Vul wimm Vor quot a Zahe Steppe Cicanty a Salsa Fusta Wilile with Kotelnikov and Yaskul key communications Points fallen to the reds nazi forces in the Southeast Are in flight. In the Northeast the russians strike closer to Oroshi Novgrad after surrounding Millerov