Opening credits.

I. ‘News of the War in Italy’ Allied Military Government Headquarters, Naples: large crowds of Neapolitan civilians queue for the opportunity to apply for jobs. Shots filmed on the ground and from the upper storeys of the buildings: perspective view of the street shows military vehicles moving away from the camera and thronging crowds on both sides of the road as far as the eye can see. Men seen exiting the building as police hold back the line; then letting members of the queue into the building. Harbour scene: engineers distilling seawater, soldier assisting group of women with children to carry large tub of drinking water (waves at camera). US light aircraft lands on waterfront boulevard carrying Lt.-General Mark Clark (Commander, Allied 5th Army); Clark seen talking to a soldier. US troops on the march (commentary sheet: ‘American troops skirt the city as they push on in pursuit of the Nazi Army’). Large landing craft (commentary: ‘Huge invasion boats’) bringing ashore reinforcements, under German bombardment; shots of US artillery fire, ostensibly in response. Foggia airport after capture by British 8th Army; scenes of destroyed aircraft. German P.O.W.S. marching; ship carrying large numbers of German prisoners to ‘prison camps overseas’.

II. ‘Canada Speeds Huge Timber Crop to War’ Canadian lumberjacks felling Douglas fir. Trains transport the logs to a river, where they are floated; lumberjacks on the floating timber.

III. ‘Italian Flyers Join Allies as Co-Belligerents’ Item on Italian airforce joining with Allies. Italian Savoia-Marchetti bomber, en route for Allied airbase, and coming in to land (airmen seen waving from the hatch). Italian officer exchanges greetings with American counterpart on tarmac; Italian airmen greet Americans, and are seen enjoying outdoor lunch on long mess table.

IV. ‘Chinese Army Prepares for Action in Burma’ Lt.-General Stilwell inspects American-trained and equipped Chinese troops who are taking up positions on Salween River, Burma. Chinese soldiers swimming and wading neck deep in river, with kit and hardware floated on bamboo rafts. Further shots of Stilwell. Column of Chinese troops advances through jungle, hacking through undergrowth with machetes. Scenes of battle: machine gun, artillery and anti-aricraft fire in jungle, various shots of American and Chinese troops in action. Infantry column crosses river by means of rickety-looking rope bridge. Field hospital. Column of jeeps traversing muddy jungle track. Troops on the march; Lt.-General Stilwell looks up at passing US aircraft.

V. ‘U.S. Navy Blasts Wake Island by Sea and Air!’ U.S. airmen on board naval aircraft carrier prepare fighters and bombers for action against Japanese positions on Wake Island. Various shots of aircraft in flight, and aerial views of ships. Map of Pacific – pointer indicates first Wake, then Japan. Wake Island, seen from the air; clouds of smoke from explosions seen billowing up from ground. Aerial views of ships. U.S. Grumann Hellcat fighter strafes a Japanese vessel; two scenes of ‘Japanese bombers’ being shot and damaged by Hellcat fire. Damaged U.S. aircraft comes in to land aboard Aircraft carrier; shot of cameraman filming the action. Machine gun fire at ground targets. Island is seen smoking: ‘Wake Island as an enemy stronghold is reduced to a battered spot of sand in the Pacific.’

Edition of US-produced wartime newsreel.

Notes

Sound: International edition - music and sound, but no voiceover.