![]() “Americans, with the assistance of the United Nations, are striving for their own safe future as well as the restoration of the ideals, the liberties, and the democracy of all those who have lived under the tricolor. No two nations exist which are more united by historic and mutually friendly ties than the people of France and the United States. “I salute again and reiterate my faith in liberty, equality and fraternity. I know what a precious heritage of the French people are your homes, your culture and the principles of democracy in France. I know your soldiers, professors and workmen. I know your farms, your villages and your cities. I retain and cherish the friendship of hundreds of French people in France and outside of France. “I have held all my life the deepest friendship for the French people- for the entire French people. “My friends, who suffer day and night under the crushing yoke of the Nazis, I speak to you as one who was with your army and navy in France in 1918. This announcement to the American people was accompanied by one in French, broadcast in the early hours of 8 November, of which the English translation is as follows: With these few words President Roosevelt announced the landing of American troops on African soil on Sunday, 8 November 1942. “In addition, it provides an effective second front assistance to our heroic allies in Russia.” “This combined Allied force, under American command, in conjunction with the British campaign in Egypt, is designated to prevent an occupation by the Axis armies of any part of northern or western Africa and to deny to the aggressor nations a starting point from which to launch an attack against the Atlantic coast of the Americas. “The landing of this American army is being assisted by the British Navy and Air Forces, and it will in the immediate future be reinforced by a considerable number of divisions of the British Army. In order to forestall an invasion of Africa by Germany and Italy, which, if successful, would constitute a direct threat to America across the comparatively narrow sea from western Africa, a powerful American force equipped with adequate weapons of modern warfare and under American command is today landing on the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of the French colonies in Africa. Illustration: Oran viewed from Santa Cruz The Jean Bart brethed at the Môle du Commerce Illustrations: Batterie Railleuse, wreck of fire control stationīatterie Railleuse, direct hit on storehouse ![]() ![]() The Primaugent, Albatros, and Milan beached outside CasablancaĬharts: Sketch of Mehdia and Port Lyautey Illustrations: Damage to the Jean Bart, bow ![]() Illustration: The Walney and Hartland entering OranĬharts: Route of Task Force, 23 October – 8 November 1942 Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations.Ĭharts: North African theater of operations It is hoped that these narratives will afford a clear view of what has occurred, and form a basis for a broader understanding which will result in ever more successful operations.Ĭommander in Chief, U.S. Thus, an effort has been made to provide accurate and, within the above-mentioned limitations, complete narratives with charts covering raids, combats, joint operations, and battles in which our Fleet have engaged in the current war. In those instances where views cannot be reconciled, extract from the conflicting evidence are reprinted. In general, Combat Narratives represent a reasoned interpretation of these discrepancies. As a result, the reports of commanding officers may differ although they participated in the same action and shared a common purpose. It should be remembered also that the observation of men in battle are sometimes at variance. In perusing these narratives, the reader should bear in mind that while they recount in considerable detail the engagements in which our forces participated, certain underlying aspects of these operations must be kept in a secret category until after the end of the war. This material has been collated and presented in chronological order. The data on which these studies are based are those official documents which are suitable for a confidential publication. Combat Narratives have been prepared by the Publications Branch of the Office of Naval Intelligence for the officers of the United States Navy.
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