GOOD EVEN! G EVERYBODY: I am in Canada tonight, at Montreal, watching the news of the world fro ■ the banks of the St.Lawrence. I wish I had all good news to pas along, but, there is some of both. P AIIFI C . It is now apparent that the various actions in the central P acific constitute one giant coordinated operation against the word we had was or the naval air assault on Palau, - only tour hundred a island-group lies over toward the Philippines sixty milea trom Mindanao. That was plur:ging away over into r side or the Japanese Island empire. ~ The navy task force struck from . south - rrom the direction or New Guinea and new Britain. Units fled from the lmerican warships sa:b smashed heavii, at Palau. 7r af,R ~ ~ + i lat Clftt.t-Awas only one part or a much larger wholef r ~ r 1 o day the news 1 1 that the assault on Palau was coordinated with blows against Truk. This afternoon's late navy bulletin gives us what have hurled three s eparate assaults a g ain 5 t Truk astonis~~eeks ago 1 when we learned tha t our :1,1\. able to reach Trult with a carriel'-plane attack. It wa s - ~ forces had been That Japanese naval and air base had been so highly touted as a key stronghold (2 PACIFIC) of the enemy island em r ire ~ that we thought it would be 8 long time before we would be able to take 8 smack at Truk. lnd now today - three blows in thirty six hours; our rorces standing off that island center or enemy power, and - hammering Truk was hit by a task force, w1 th the carrier planes doing their devastating work. And then that was followed up by a llnited States army smash - w1 th long range .!,_iberator bomber, flying o'f'er Truk ~ ~ - ~ l ' \ -=:iii~a denlge of explosives. The bombers tlew trom the south, from bases that we captured trom the Japa in the •ew ~ Guinea - NewBritain area. The attack appears to be still continuing, aa lmer1can power strikes clear across the vast arc ot the Caroline lrch1pelago - ~ Palau at the eastern end, Truk over to the weat, a apace ot twent1- A six hundred miles between the■• lnd)other ene111 bases 1n between are being hit_ in a rlalliDI offensive along the whole line ot the Carolines. Tonight, s dispatch indicates that 1 t• s a general offensive intended to smash the Japanese power 1n the Carol1nes, March 31st 44 L E AD ACIFIC The latest tonight, in the superb American Naval and air operation against the Japs in the Caroline Islands, discloses the thin. ~ that you might at first consider incredible. Incredible In point or distance. Take a look at your map, and see where the Solomon Islands are, and then go war over to the Caroline,. That la -- form an impression or the distance between the northern Solomons and the legendary Jap base at Truk. ltter that -- consider the latest trom Admiral Halsey's advance headquarters. 1PThe bulletin states that tlberator bomber■ or the thirteenth - army air force tlew trom Solomon lr1111 bases to Eten Island, in - - - the center of that great ltoll called Truk. The bombers baaed on the Solomons dropped thirty tons ot high explosive on Truk. 1f ls a point or mere geography that's a staggering accompli1hllent, and it sets the pattern or the whole stupendous lmer1can otrens1ve against the Carolines. -- The Japanese invasion of Ind i;--:a ~ c ~ o ~ ~ ........ ~ t ~ - - - : - - - - - - - - - ~ nues o push on. Today t=o o untbatten's headquarters announce• that enemy forces have cut the number one supply line 1n the !ndian state of Man1pur, the highway linking the two principal British strongholds in that Imphal and Kohima. The battle ls fierce and widespread, as various Japanese columns press forward in the wild country at the border of Burma and India. ountbatten's headquarters now places the Japs forty mile■ inside of India. The town or Tiddim Was been evacuated, with British .rt. . lo11mand . . teneral Auchinleck explaining that TidcUm had been outflanked bf the Japs and there was no point in attempting to hold 1t. Other ene111 units have reached a point twenty mile■ south or the key city or Imphal. Altogether, the Jap invasion seems to be rather an ambitious attempt, and today's dispatch tromNew Delhi calls the situation - dangerous. the British Military authorities in Rew How ever, Delhi appear to be confident that they will be able, in their words, "to cut the Japs' neck ott when they stick it out tar enough." FOLLO BUR l blow to the Allied cause was announced today __ the death of General 1ngate, leader or 1ngate• 1 Raiders. He was killed 1n ~ Burma 1n an airplane crash, cmSTbe lll1ea los~ one·or the fabulous personalities or As the commander oommandoe. force• that has been hitting the J•pan e supply lines in Burma, Wingate performed ~~~ exploits or such antast1c daring that he)ec1~known , a1 the He was an extraordinary character, bearded and statel1, knOlfD a1 "the sword and bible general". He came trom a Scottish ta■117, or military otticers and m1n11ter1 ot the gospel -- and •a• born in the Himal~as. Hens passionately addicted to music, philosophy A and religious history, not to mention his airborne comando exploits against the J apa, )\ ~ma::de~h:i~•:..:• ... 1 :e::g~e: nd :.:.• _.. ........ :- t;-::- ---~ ~_,,. ~ ~ ~ -- - n ~-tc:e. ~ ~ / ~ ~~ ~ SAKALIN Soviet Russia has concluded an illlJ)ortant agreement with Japan_ this was announced 1n oscow today. It's one or those give- nd- take things, w1 th the Japs doing most of the giving, and the Russians most or the taking. Japan returns to Russia valuable coal and oil concess10119 on the Island or Sakal1n~M1neral rights which Russia had granted to Japan in a treaty some rears ago. The treaty does not expire ~ until ~nteen-.!_eventy. But, loag in advance, the Japs~agreed to abrogate it, and the Russians r e g ~ ~ a l andfl:• 1 The island of Sakal1n lies ott the coast or Siberia, jut north of Japan, and is rich in deposits or mineral fuel. 1-frn return for this, the Japa~a dist1Dctl1 llinor concession, with the soviets agreeing to renew Japanese fishing r11hta orr the Siberian Coast. This for a period or five 7ear1. Hitherto, the 1n 1 t d tha t the fishing egreement be made for Soviets have s s e ha i"~ to get it renewed every twelve OnlJ one year - the Japs v -o months. Now the period is five years - the Japs getting their (2 Sakal1n) c ncession in return for the imm~nsely valuable coal and oil on Saka11n Island. of Odessa. Apparentl7 tte1 ■ I'• meeting littl resistance, a ■ they pour acro11 the Steppes of the lower Ukr e1xteen mile cain was recorded today, when Red ar117 troops captured Ochakov, tEQr'\e Ea1t or Odes1a, ~~ at the 1a■e tl■e)fro■ the north J another Soviet colu■n droYe down toward the Black Sea port -- 11 111<•¢ .. ~~~~~___, ~~. the capture or which w ~ 1:atfoviet troop ■ have 1urged acro11 tbe lliddle 1ection of the Prut River and have plunged into Ruan1•;_. 1 b , pAA -- 10 1tate1 a bulletin fro■ Berlin. From 110,coir we have a 1tateaent that, with the Russians ha1111er1111 at the gates of both Cze boslOYakia and northern Rwnan1a, the battle of the Baltic states bas alreadJ be1un. AIR WAR London announces that last night the Royal l1r Force lost a record number of bomber, - nl.netr-~This occurred in a moonlight rold on Nuremberg, where twentr-two hundred and rortr tons or bombe were dropped on Nazi war plants. In the bright moon at night, anti- aircraft guns and night fighting planes were particularly ettect1••• The German air coanand sent up the greate ■ t swarm ot night t11hter1 the R l F haJ. ever encountered. l wild battle resulted 1n the " ~~ moonlit sky and ninetr-~~ I 1111 bomber■ tailed to return. ADD &IR WAR This afternoon's tondon dispatch states that the R 1 r gambled on dimin1sh1ng f1g ht ~ power rrom the Ger n l1r torce - the 1uppo11tion being that, after the great bo■b1ncs or the plane-producing tactorte1, the Nazis must be running short or tighter,. That' a why the R l P undertook such a l1r1e · ■cale a111ult in the bri1btest or moonlight - ■oonligbt being the tl e when the ntaAt- ti1hter1 can operate •1th the greate■ t ettect. Bft ft:G as things turned out, the Ger•n1 dic(\i't see■ to be .-4.o ~~. . abort or tighter plan•~- aq i&IHII:'- The London air lini1tr,- descr1bes the ene117 air opposition in the•• word11 •The lar1e1t number or fighter, the Ger•ns have ever put up.• lnd the re1ult was, in the words or the l1r Ministry - "The bittere1t tightinc ever kno~ since the battle or German, becan." PLANE. ~~ . ~ ~ The ~A. discloeed another tragic mishap or war _ 1hootinc down or a plane"'- friendly gun,. Thi i t ~3 , s s he second time that so calamitous a thing has been reported on our side -- the firet inetance having been the horror when, in the invaeion or Sicil1, : ! ~ 1 ~ tr■naport plane■ loaded w1tb p■r■troopera ~o.-J~·, were ehot down mi1takenl7 bJJ\.•1t11• ~ i t - guns. 7P_ I ~ Toda7' • 1tor1 concern• onl7 one plane -- a big United Stat•• Army transport. The ship or the •kr wa1 carrying cargo, and had no passenger, aboard -- onl7 the crew or 11.z, a civilian crew under armr air torce co-nd. The tranaport ne tl11n& OYer the Atlantic when it encountered an lllied COlffOJ, which wae protected b7 fighter plane,. And these made a m11take. Toda1 1 1 bulletin 1tate1: "Identitication was not e1tabli1hed. Evidentl7 the fighters mistook the transport tor a Ger•n rour-aotored bo■ber.• The Allied tighter ■ thought the7 were dealing _ with a Oer•n war plane oat .• to , bomb the convor, and they ■hot down the American transport_ which crashed tnto the sea, and the six crew me bere aboard were killed. (2 Plane) This account is released by both the War Dept in Washington and the British ldmiraltr in London. ITALY At Cassino, the situation 11 now 1a complete revere•. Rot onlJ have the lll1ed forces given up their ottemive, but the Ger•u have taken the initiative. h11 • • 1tated 1n a d11patcb tro■ b have rolled hea ant tore•• and poured tre1h troop• into the ruined tOWD. TheJ are now do1Dg the 1ttack1111, and the lll1ed cownd is preparing tor a heaTJ ~e"l ottenai••• Part of tbe preparation baa been a w1tbdrawal ot adnnced pos1t1on1 on tbe 1lope or Monte Cassino, torward p1rtie1 pulled back - •• po11t1om are consolidated. -- SOLDIERS VOTE The Soldier vote bill becomes a law - without the Presidenti 1 signature. President Roosevelt today notified Congress that he considered the bill to be what he called - "whollr inadequate." (,.M the the whole to v o 1t) lnd this afternoon the President notit1e4 Congress, that he would allow the bill to becoae • law without his signature. -- LONERGAN In the Lonergan trial in New York the verdict tonight was __ murder in the second degree. This decides the rate ot the peculiar young man who murdered h11 younc wife, heiress to a brewery fortune. He 11 saved from the electric chair, which 11 not 1urpri11ng - because his murderous crime did not 1eem to be the re1ult or t prem•d~tion but one of iapulse, the 1■pu11e or a d11ea1e4 ■ind. The conviction or second degree IIUl'der call■ for a 1entence of from twenty year ■ to lite. The jury was out tor ten hour■ in deciding the rate or the cafe I society playboy who became a member of the Royal Canadian lir Force, and then killed bis wife 1n a 1enaational criM. l late story from the courtroom states that Loner1an when be heard the verdict or the jury ■lumped into hi• chair. l court ~~ attendant bad to lift him to h11 feet. One wonder■,--~id be CHAPLIN The Charlie Chaplin on the screen of old was 8 tunny little •n • o was always in betwee~ a smile and a tear. TodaJ, on tbe Hollywood witness stand, the Chaplin 1mile1 were absent bat the ' . tears were there. In a searching cros1-examination by the pro1ecution, tbe 1•11 gray man on the witness stand told or bi ■ romance witb Joan Barry -- whose charges against hi■ have brought about his prosecution an4er the •nn act. The question and answer exchanae broqbt forward various turns ot sentiment and emotion and tears ran don Chaplin'• cheeks, and his voice choked as be answered. Be 1ra1 10 cU1turbect the judge took ti~• out to soothe hi■, and tell hi■ to be cal■• CHAPLIN - :2. , One curious turn or Gbarlle Chaplin'• teatimony on the witne 11 stand came when he was asked about the time when Joan Barr, ca• to his house and threatened to kill beraelt. She broke tbroqh a window. Toda7 on the witness stand Charlie Chaplin said that the circma1tance1 were noted b)' hie 10,,a,, wb, F ' ~ t l e pa11lld. "My son~," said he, "thought that bur1lar1 had broken into th• house. The7 thought that until the7 saw her ahoe1 and 1tocklnc1 on the lawn. Then," exclaimed Charlie Chaplin, •theJ kiln ■ o■ething was wrong.• To which the echo llight respond, 1n the iaortal wore!• ot Baal.eta "there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt or in 1our philospby." ( llarch 31st 44 IRELAND. Here's• news dispatch from Ireland, which country 1 1 1n the . - spotlight or• crisis or war - because or the policy or neutralltr which the De Valera Government 1na11ts on ma1nta1n1na. So what grave tidings do we get rrom Dubl1i1 t Well, the new, dispatch tla1he1 a batch or jokes. One baa to do with the large number or Iri1bme11 who enl.11ted in the British ar111 and are DOW fighting in Ital7. Padc!J 1D lhl'bllil 11 represented as sayings "Sure, and 1r the Br1t11h 1et toq~ with us becauae we're neutral, Devalera will have to cail the eighth ar117 home to detend Ireland." - - lnd then we hear ot Jira llcGu1re and Jira Murpbys "And how are all 7our line children; llr1 Murphy?" a1lt1 llr1 McGuire. "Bow 11 Paddy?". "Paddy is tine," 1111 llrs Mttrpby. "Be's in the Baglllh ara, \ and he send1 me a pound ••err week." "lnd how ls Bridget?" ~ · \al ,;.1 in a nr tactor1 1n Enllalld, "Sure, she• a grand. 1B!ll hl · •or. DI A . ' ••• k' • nd sen41DI •• two or the■ '••i-7 , making eight pounds - a week or the year." (2) "lnd how is 1ke '" • • n 1ke / 1 s d o1ng f 1ne. He' s on a war job 1n Ing land~ he HDIII me s o m e t h i n g ~ ~ / ' "lnd what about Maureen, sweet little Maureen?". To which Mrs Murph7 explodes 1n high ind1gnat1ona "Don't be talking to m• about that one. She's down 1n Church - pra,1111 ror peace." The Irish sense or humor invades even ottlclal proceed1Di1 - like a news conterence held by Frank Ga lash r, Director ot Information tor the Devalera Government. The aubject ui:lder discussion concerned the lllled charge that the Dublin polio, ot neutrality favors Nazi-Japanese eaplonage - wlth the possibility of second tront lnforat1on leaking out. lnd 1ntormat1on ~!rector Gallagher •de the tollowlng announce■enta - - "They're going to stop the shipment ot Irl1b cattle to Eqlam,• he said, and added: "~t seem• that the~• _have been carnlnC