President Roosevelt has announced the arrival of an American military force on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Vichy French territories in North Africa in what has been called ‘the largest single American offensive action in history.’

The offensive’s purpose, Roosevelt said, is to deny the aggressor nations “a starting point” from which they could attack the Atlantic coast of the Americas.

The surprise announcement came at 9:00 PM, the precise moment when American troops began their African assault at 3:00 AM Africa time.

Calling the effort a ‘second front’ in the war, Roosevelt says the African expedition, which brings Americans to the other side of the Atlantic for the first time since the World War, will assist the Soviets in their ongoing defensive struggle against Germany and will also prove to be ‘the first step’ in liberating occupied France.

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