Between Feb. 2-15, 1941, the United States took another step to aid Great Britain in the war, while the most talked about fighting continued to take place in North Africa between British and Italian troops.
Meanwhile in Galesburg, local politics and the beginnings of the new militia took up a number of headlines. It was also a period that saw the announcement of a great leap forward in healthcare in the area.
Great Britain continued having success throughout the two week period in both Eritrea and Libya, as evidenced by Register-Mail front pages.
“Panic-stricken Italian colonists were reported fleeing before the British in Premier Mussolini’s dwindling North African empire today,” read one article.
On the 7th, the paper reported a major capture by the British.
“Striking in a blinding sandstorm, Britain’s desert troops have captured the Italian stronghold of Bengasi, in eastern Libya, British general headquarters announced today and cut the Fascist line of communications south of the city.”
Benghazi, a city still known for being in headlines 80 years later, was considered to be the last big stronghold of Italy in eastern Libya while at the same time giving the British a base from which to attack Sicily.
The British announced the capture simply: “Bengasi is in our hands.”
A few days later, on the 9th, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill used a few more words to encourage the United States to pass the Lend-Lease Act, which would provide military weapons and…
