March 1, 1942 - Japan invades Java. British Commando raid on French coast. Ground action in North Africa. Labour Party issues pamphlet on Life In A Post-War World. Japan attacks Port Moresby. Fears of an invasion of Australia. Capitol Hill: Court-Martial proceedings against Military commanders accused of dereliction of duty postponed until after the War.
March 1, 2012

Commando-Raid-prisoners-194.jpg
The morale boost even netted prisoners.


News on the War continued to be grim, but with a few high spots, this March 1st in 1942.

Starting with news of the Japanese invasion of Java and fierce fighting at the time of this broadcast. Also news on Japanese attacks on Port Moresby, bringing the war a little closer to Australia and fears an invasion could happen.

On the other side of the world, news of ground action in North Africa with no further details at air-time. On a positive note, it was learned British Commandos staged a successful raid on the French Coast, taking prisoners and testing the waters to see if it would be possible in the near or not-so-near future for a full-scale invasion of Europe. So far, so good.

Meanwhile in London, The Labour Party issued a pamphlet entitled Life In A Post-War World, the first to consider what a post-war Britain was going to be like and an appeal to address the concerns of the working people of Britain for the common good.

Over on Capitol Hill - Court-Martial proceedings were put on hold against Rear Admiral Husband E. Kimmel and Major-General Walter C. Short, accused of dereliction of duty during their Command of Pearl Harbor at the time of the surprise attack. It was felt any sort of proceedings would be best to take place after the war since a long and arduous Court-Martial trial would detract from the business at hand.

And some of that business at hand came from a group of Farm Bloc Senators organizing a protest to President Roosevelt over selling surplus food stocks at below parity. The President had gone on record rejecting calls for higher farm prices.

And a call to local governments to send their World War One era monuments of captured German cannons to the local scrap dealers for re-use as Allied guns to use against the Axis. A sort of "turn-about-is-fair-play" scheme was suggested. Although many Courthouses throughout the country would be hard pressed to find new resting grounds for the fleets of displaced Pigeons as the result.

And so went March 1st in 1942 as presented by NBC Radio on their Sunday World News Roundup.

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