News of this day in November 1942 was about small gains and the long road ahead in the War. Beginning with news reports that the five Japanese warships sunk during the Solomon Islands campaign were not double-reported (five had been sunk the previous day) but were in fact five additional ships was cause for elation in that part of the South Pacific. Meanwhile, fighting continued on Guadalcanal with impenetrable terrain a slowing factor for both sides.
In North Africa, news on the success of the invasion was coming in, with word finally released that Prime Minister Winston Churchill's son Randolph was with Commando units heading to Bengazi. Reports from Algiers mentioned German bomber raids causing little damage.
It was looking like the Blitz over London would be a thing of the past, with the last such raid coming on November 6th and none since. It was believed the Luftwaffe was busy in North Africa and other parts of the Theater. Apparently the smokescreen set up to spread over Genoa Italy was having little effect on keeping the city away from Allied planes, since the smoke itself was blowing out over the ocean, leaving the city clearly visible.
In other news, it was learned Marshal Weygand, one of the leading military figures in France during World War 1 had been jailed and moved to a prison in Germany. German appointed French puppet government leader Pierre Laval addressed his country, saying in effect it would only be a matter of time before Germany won the war and that France would once again be united.
In Domestic news, the showdown on Capitol Hill was continuing over the Poll Tax issue. The Labor Relations Board issued a complaint against Kaiser Steel and their Ship building plants on the West Coast, bringing a counter-complaint from AFofL President William Green. And 70% of all butter in the U.S. was being requisitioned for government use in the war effort.
And the war dragged on.
As heard on NBC's News Of The World for November 21, 1942.
