12
Armstead Brown Diaries.
[inside front cover:]
for 1945.
Armstead Brown.
[title page:]
One Year for 1945.
Dow’s birthday—Feby 27th.
Monday, January 1, [1945]. Rain, clearing, colder.
Some rain last night & early this morning. Turned rapidly cooler after dawn. W. to N.W. wind. Clearing by noon.
Went to office this morning, but it was so cold that I returned home, bringing a case to work on, about 11 a.m. I worked at home this afternoon and tonight, but took a long walk on golf course about 5 to 6 p.m.
Gen. Patton has advanced four miles deeper into the German salient, and Von Runsted has turned most of his force for an attack on Gen Patch’s 7th Army, which was forced to give some ground before rallying to hold back the Nazis.
A recording of a speech by Hitler was radioed yesterday. He still propesies [sic] victory. First time he has been heard from in 5 mos. Goebeles [sic] says he has been spending his time on high strategy, studying maps, etc. Strange.
The air was clear in Belgium and Germany today and American & British planes did a great day’s work. 285 German planes were shot down during the day.
The intense[?] fighting is still going on in Budapest. The Russians have 2/3 of the city now. It looks like another Stalingrad.
Our state Dept has, like the British, refused to recognize the Lublin, Russian-sponsored, Polish cabinet as the government of Poland, but continue recognition of the Polish Government in exile in London.
Tuesday, January 2, 1945.
Clear and Cold. Lizzie and I attended the Inauguration ceremonies. The Justices were asked to be in the So. corridor of the Capitol by 10:45, but it was near 11:30 before the Gov’r & Gov’r elect, followed by the Cabinet and Supreme Court Justices (Terrell & Adams being absent) marched out on the platform erected yesterday in front of the Capitol. Our wives had already been escorted and seated. Sec. of State Gray was master of ceremonies and handled the situation well. The first speech was by Gov’r Holland who made a fine 12 min. speech. Then Ch. J. Buford swore in Governor Millard Caldwell, and he also made an excellent speech. Then we all went to the reviewing stand, but Liz and I went home. At 2 p.m. we went to a delightful buffet dinner given by Justice & Mrs. Sebring, to about 30 friends. Home by 3:30. I rested awhile, then took a long walk on golf course.
At 8 p.m. we went to the Reception at the Capitol. We stood in the receiving line, headed by the new Gov’r & his wife until 9:30, and had shaken hands with probably 180 people or more when we got out of the line and went home. It was a pretty strenuous day.
Holland has made us a good and great Governor and he and his good wife have endeared themselves to our people. The Caldwells will do likewise, I believe.
Wednesday, January 3, 1945.
Mostly cloudy today. Got in a good day’s work in office. Wrote up one case. Got home at 6:30, took a walk, and then we had the Cowles and Mary Maud to dinner with us. A very pleasant evening.
Gen. Patton has advanced about four miles No. of Bastogne and the 1st Army under Hodges is fighting hard to advance Southward. It will be fine if they can cut off Von Runsted’s line of retreat. But meanwhile the Germans have made a strong attack on our 7th Army to the South and our troops had to give some ground along a considerable front. The Germans are sure putting up a hard fight and the end is not yet in sight. Our planes have done them a lot of damage, and we have killed or captured or put out of action about 60,000 Germans. What our losses are has not been reported but the Germans claim to have practically destroyed five of our Divisions.
Our superfortresses have bombed various Jap. war plants, and sunk some 25 vessels off Luzon. The Japs. are evidently preparing to try and take back Mindanao Island, but we have landed reinforcements there.
Fighting still on in Budapest.
Thursday, January 4, 1945.
A clear, fine & mild day.
Worked in office, passed on a number of cases, until 4:30, when I went over to the links and played golf and I felt very much better afterwards.
Our 1st Army has made some progress, advancing about 4 miles on a 25 mile front through a blinding snowstorm, without air support or advance artillery preparation, taking the Germans by surprise. Our 3rd Army was able to make only a mile advance east of Bastogne, on account of stiff resistance.
Von Runstedt has brought in reinforcements, and the battle will apparently be long and bitter—and in bitter cold winter weather.
In spite of the concessions that have been made, the [ ? ] forces in Greece keep on fighting but the British continue to progress. However, it is hard street to street and house to house fighting, as in Budapest. The Germans sent a strong force to cut the Russian ring around Budapest, and came very near doing it. Germany has a much larger army at every front than we had thought. The Germans are still strong and appear to have plenty of men and material.
Our air war in the Pacific is wonderful. 35 more ships sunk off Luzon & Jap war plants struck at various points.
The war in Burma is going well.
Friday, January 5, 1945.
Partly cloudy. Long court conference this morning. This aft. I had to go to my dentist, Dr. Conrad, and then worked from 4 to 6:30.
The Battle of the Western front continues to be very fierce. Not much change in lines today.
Gen. Montgomery is in charge of all our armies north of the German bulge and Gen. Omar Bradley of those to the South, both under Gen. Eisenhower. The weather continues very cold, and snow, sleet and rain abound. Our air force could not do much.
The picture in the Pacific theater is better. MacArthur has landed troops on a small island N. of Mindoro and only 20 miles from the South shore of Luzon. Our carrier based planes struck the Japs in Formosa and the China Coast.
The fighting in Budapest still goes on.
The Russians have recognized the communist Lublin contingent as the provisional government of Poland. Britain & America say they recognize the Polish government in exile in London. Am sorry this rift has occurred.
The British have taken the part of Akyab in Burma & British, American & Chinese troops are moving toward Mandalay. Then they intend to take the port of Rangoon. It looks like the Japs. are going to be run out of Burma soon and that the Burmese road to China may be opened.
Saturday, January 6, 1945.
Cloudy with strong N.E. to S.E. winds in afternoon and early evening. Rain at night. Put in a good deal of office work today till 6:30. Also made out personal, real & intangible tax returns.
Our 1st & 9th armies and the British 2nd made some progress today on the North side of the German salient, and Gen. Patton withstood 18 vicious counter attacks on the South side. The Germans broke through to a point 15 miles inside of France from the Alsace area and our 7th Army, while beaten back for some distance, rallied and counter attacked. On the whole, our situation is somewhat improved. But the snow and fog have held back our air support.
Today Pres. Roosevelt sent a 8000 word message to Congress, of which he gave a summary tonight in a 25 minute radio address. It was strong, sane & sensible. He recommended passage of a National Service Act, which we should have had long since, and the immediate draft of 20,000 nurses imperatively needed by our armies. He also made a plea for tolerance and understanding and unity among the Allied Nations. I think his speech will do good.
Our air forces are playing havoc with Jap. shipping and Jap. war industries.
Sunday, January 7, 1945.
Warm, with low barometer. Rained nearly all night last night, & some more today. Went to office at 1:30 & got a big bunch of letters from Jimmy. 11 to Annie & three to Lizzie & me. Most interesting. We felt like we were on his ship with him. His descriptions were so vivid. In must be a very large ship, with several thousand soldiers aboard. He told of crossing the equator on Dec 23rd and the hazing that was meted out to him & 4 others who had never crossed it before. So he must be bound for the S.W. Pacific—where [,] he could not tell us. I wonder if there was ever another such boy as Jimmy.
I have been suffering with indigestion today, but felt better after playing golf with Judge Chapman & Roy Snipes[?] 4:30 to 6:30. I made a par 5 in the long 585 yard hole, and another par in the hard 15th hole and yet took a 51.
While the Germans are still fighting hard, the tide of battle is beginning to turn in our favor the past two or three days.
Gen. Montgomery, who is in charge of the American & British Armies North of the German salient since Dec. 17th expresses satisfaction with the fight our men have put up, & thinks the situation looks pretty good for the Allies.
Things are moving well for us in the Pacific theatre.
Monday, January 8, 1945.
Cloudy & warm early morning, but beginning to get cold by 8:30. Wind changed to N.W. Got colder all day. Partly clear in afternoon.
Put in a good days work up to 4 pm when I had to go to Dr. Conrad. He put a gold crown on a lower back jaw tooth and a filling in an upper tooth on left side.
The news from the Western European front is reassuring. We are gradually closing in on all sides of the Russian [he means “German”] salient, which is now reduced to about 10 miles in width. The western tip has been pinched off. The Germans have only one main road left for their communications and for retreat. But they are still fighting. The weather continues bitter cold, and our airplanes have had a hard time, and our soldiers too.
The Germans made a bridge head across the Maas River, but the British have wiped it out. They have also made two bridge heads across the Rhine N. and S. of Strasbourg, but opinion is that they cannot break our hold on Strasbourg.
The fighting in Budapest continues terrific and the Germans are making a strong effort to break through the rim of Russian positions and relieve their 80,000 troops in the City.
The Japs say we are trying to land troops on the beach of Lingayan Gulf on North Luzon. Maybe we have landed them.
Congress does not seem to be in a mood to grant the President’s request for a National Service Act.
Tuesday, January 9, 1945.
Mostly cloudy & overcast, with strong N.W. wind. Pretty cold tonight & N.W. wind still blowing.
The invasion of Jap. held Luzon began today by forces under General MacArthur on the beaches of Lingayen gulf, about the same spot where the Japs. landed 37 months ago. The invasion was on a big scale. The convoy was over 70 miles in length. Just how many ships and how many men we do not know, but newsmen estimate that we have landed 200,000 men & thousands of tanks and vehicles. Four beach heads established. Our losses insignificant. 79 Jap. planes destroyed in Luzon today, but this assault on Jap. air power has been growing in intensity for days on Luzon & Formosa.
And things are still going well for us in Europe in spite of the bitter weather and lack of air support. We are gradually narrowing the German salient and only one good road is left, & that is under artillery fire. There are signs that Von Runsted is beginning a withdrawal. Gen’l Bradley says the German casualties have been greater than our own, which are heavy.
The bitter battle for Budapest goes on, but Russian victory seems assured. We are even making some progress in Italy.
Wednesday, January 10, 1945.
Clear and cold.
800 ships were used in our landing of troops and equipment on Luzon. Gen MacArthur landed with his men. We have about 15 miles of the beaches and have penetrated about 4 miles inland. So far the Jap. opposition has been light, but they are undoubtedly moving their troops to the South. Observation officers say the Japs. are withdrawing their troops from S. Luzon, where they thought we might strike, and the chances are our forces will soon be in contact with large Jap. forces and big battles will be fought before we can reach Manila.
The Germans are evidently withdrawing from most of their salient, but the snow blizzard has been so bad, movements of men and equipment have been slowed down on both sides. Planes could do little to help. Our own planes bombed one village held by our own troops. Terrible.
The Russians have taken 3/4 of Budapest. House to house fighting still goes on.
Dictated an important opinion today.
Thursday, January 11, 1945.
Clear, but somewhat warmer.
Office work, with considerable interruptions. Had to go to my dentist again, and put in some work on my income tax return.
This aft. at 4:20 I went to Country Club & had a game with Judge Chapman. I made a 48.
The Germans are pulling out of their bulge, which has been reduced from 1400 sq. miles to 200. Some of them are being caught in the process. In one hour of clear weather our airplanes did them considerable damage.
They have nearly been cleared out of Budapest.
The British have made excellent progress in Burma.
Everything seems to be going well with our landing on Luzon, but Jap. torpedo boats sank three of our big fleet of ships, with considerable loss of life, so our convoy was withdrawn.
Lizzie & Annie & the Cowles went to the movies tonight and I got in some work on one of our cases.
Tokyo radio says that there is a naval battle going on off Indo China.
Friday, January 12, 1945.
Partly cloudy & a bit warmer.
There is news-brief so far-of a big Naval & Air craft from carriers battle off Indo China. Our warships & carriers struck at a large Jap. convoy evidently making for Luzon-- A number of Jap. ships sunk, 25 of them, & others damaged. One light cruiser & several destroyers.