Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 39, Number 298, Decatur, Adams County, 18 December 1941 — Page 1

■ XXXIX. No. 298.

SHAKE UP ARMY. NAVY COMMANDS

lied Supreme Irnmand To Be linounced Soon ■Allied Nations Now ■n Discussion Over Ivor Time Strategy Kj,,,! Dec. 1« The V- British press nssocia- ■ tonight that Britain. ■ i'-..,| State*. Russia and „ * ..... currying nil "vital and that announce|K tn-at importance," pro- ■ . -tahli.hiu-ltt nt .in Hf .gpreme command can be in the near future diMU««ion». going <>n in ■ -he cast and in the west." K, -...nation said. have Km -iI already to th < point ■. -in had heel! mdlcat K .. tn--.il prill. Ipl.- if -est H- , . tn.- authority i r d.t Kof the war. ■ . M Wlnst-.n I'huri h H. , . ii' from recent «.-m H • ani.-nt This may Indi ■i. participating in Uh war H. apparently in progress ■i.biM'oii and Moscow I H,. ... - in th.- hous- of com H . ir>: to draw out th- gov He. ~ti lieae conferenci r, but Hl a-n.-M It Attlee, acting us B>>n‘ -jeikeaman in the abI' .me Milliliter W.llstoti H -,-d tn volun*. any Hr,-' -.'l ■- Hee Enlistments ■ported In County Hgd it Spiegel ot nortn of De■tsr baa enlisted in th* air Hot the 1 tilted States army ■ leao-. lh-< ember 29 for Cha-Hfi-U a' Rantoul, Illinois Hole Hm K !ia'd Fuelling, tH II Htto Fu< Hing, have rep oti-illy Hie!'., i.ivae aalso and leanHvy 3 for a Missouri field leek Os Prayer To ■Observed Here ■Churches Plan Union ■Services Jan. 4-11 H’b-.ru ministerial .in-ania ■ •sponsor the obu-i value y*- aaiversal week of piayer. ■*> I to 11. with union ser■'C evening Sunday through A) at 30 o'clock at the PresAc: i hun h. and morning pray ■»'n<-in »at 8 a. m . Monday ■ft Friday. Hr ti iri.ing prayer services are H»rrang.-d and directed by lay'he various churches: y*! Presbyterian; Tuesday. Hnot God. Wednesday Evin H>- Thursday, L'nlted breth- ■ Today. Church of the Nazar |B*-1 people of the entire comare invited and urged to ■rh H»*»ening services will be ar■patnl directed by the various of the couporating H** A devotional message ■ * brought each evening and SpitmiMe will be provided from H**h-a| talent of the various theme for the univer■Jj’T’VbKu ON PAGO glxF

PROCLAMATION WHEREAS our country ha* been viciously attacked and into a war o’ vast proportion*, which will Inevitably bring to many and self-sacrifice to all; and "HEREAB for mote than sixty year* the American National hM P* a J rw > “ role * n binding up the wounds of the ■ ,n ‘heltarlng, feeding, and clothing the hotneleaa. In suedistressed. In rebuilding broken lives, and In rehabilitate V.'.*. llm * catartrophos of nature and of war. and . "HEREAB In preparation for just such an emergency as we tJ?’ h,>ln «. «h« American National Red Cross has been spendHi ***• n,tc of more than one million dollars a month. "" " hut a small fraction of the amount that the organisation t»ii^t U l rM * n order to carry out effectively its functions us an . "I auxiliary of our armed forces, particularly as a friendly *® welfare probfems between the man in service and his vl™””*- end as a key agency in the civil-defense plans kJn • THEREFORE. 1. FORREST ELZEY. Mayor of the ,he rampalgn of the American National Red Cross for lr»iJ l n, , o f ’be sum of six thousand dollars for Adams county an m.. wln * uucceas and I confidently anthTpate an immediate tv°w. re, P°n** to thia appeal . . . WITNESS WHEREOF. I have hereunto set my hand and 'BEAI** 1 Ot ’ he CHy ° f I * wr,,Ur FORREST ELZEY, Mayor

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

11. S. Cennor u Byron Price Byron Price, fin year-old executive new* editor of the Associated Press, has lieen naiiieol direcuir of censorship by Piesidenl Roosevelt. Attacks Plans For Broadening Draft Age Limit Stimson Announces Army Enlistments Will Be Suspended Washington. Dec 18. — (UP! — Ren. Sheridan Downey. D„ California. opened an attack iu the senate today against the administration's proposal to broaden draft age IltnltM to Ift to 44. inclusive, asserting that any sudden increase In the draft army would bring in soldiers who would "train with broomsticks and sleep on the ground." Downey's objection was directed principally against the admhiiatralion's request for lowering the minimum age limit from 21 to I*. He told the senate that there are an estimated 1.800.u00 men In the 21 to 44 age brackets who would be available immediately for military service. "If these men are called into service within the next few months, they will certainly train with broomsticks and Bleep on the ground and lack any officers and leaders whatever." Downey said He spoke during the second day of senate debate on the administration's measure. The house yesterday passed Its own bill for subjecting m- u of 21 to 44. inclusive, for military service. Keferring to the house report refusing to lower the draft age from 21 to IP years on the ground that (CONTINUEP ON PAGE Sixt g> . — — Lawrence Smith Funeral Friday * Funeral services for Uwrence T. Smith. Decatur plumber, who died suddenly Tuesday evening, will be held at 10:15 a. m Friday at the Ft. Mary’s Catholic church, with burial In the Catholic cemeteiy. In the list of survivors, the name of Mrs. Margaret Hmlth-Lose. .Milwaukee. Wls.. a half-sister, was inadvertently omitted.

U S Defense Forces Smash Enemy Advance ■WWSMWMWMMM Allies Seize Island In East Indies To Forestall Jap Move By United Press The Allies took the Initiative in the East Indies today by seising the Island of Timor to prevent establishment of a dangerous Axis air and submarine base nor Hi of Australia. Seizure of the Island, owned by the Dutch and the Portuguese, brought Portugal directly within the war orbit but so far had led to no definite repercussions other than a protest by Lisbon autho.ltles. Dutch and Australian troops took over the Little Island after asaur- ' Ing Portugal that the action was [ only temporary and precautionary. (lit other fronts: Philippines — American defense forces defeated and chased an enemy motorized advance from Aparri on the north, killing abou' 40 and losing one dead. The Manila area again was attacked by enemy planes. Tokyo broadcasts claimed that three Japanese columns were I advancing on Luzon Island from Vlgan. Apart and la-gaspl The Japanese also claimed to have destroyed American bat racks in the I*egaspl sector and sunk three U. 8. submarines. Malaya—Japanese forces, using one-man tanks and infllterating through the flooded rice fields, adadvanced to a point opposite the British naval base on the island ot Penang, on the east coast of Malaya. British forces withdrew and , reorganized while reinforcements . arrived from tha south for a coun-ter-drive believed already under way The threat to Jenang was des•CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT) I 0 AAA Payments Here May Be $250,000 I Farmers Respond To Higher Production It is estimated that Adams coun- ' ty farmers who have panic.paled in the AAA programs this year will receive approximately (250.000 in benefit and parity payments. Winfred Gerke. county chairman of the agricultural conservation department stated today. The payments are now being figured In the local office In the post office building. Payments to sugar beet growers will be made after the first of the year, completing the 1941 program. Tlie department also called attention to the fact that farmers earn approximately (88.000 in soilbuilding practices during the 1912 program. Two-tblrds of this amount must Ire earned by spreading of limestone or acid phosphates, In compliance with AAA regulations and requirements. Mr. Gerke also announced that more than ®SO farmers have already signed up for crop insurance on wheat under the contract offered ' by the Federal Crop Insurance which guarantees growers 75 pur cent of their average yield. Adams county farmers r.«sponded patriotically to the agriculture department's plea to increase production of milk. eggs, hogs and soybeans. With goals of Increase of 4 percent for milk production, 9 percent increase was pledged; egg increase of 13 percent was boosted to 17 percent; hogs, from 9 percent to 20 percent; soybeans the 15 percent was pledged. The Increase of 15 percent for beef cattle was a little short of the (CONTINUED nN page nt Xi — o TEMPERATURE READING DEMOCRAT THERMOMETER B*oo a. m. • 90 10:00 a. m M Noon - 99 2:00 p. m — 54 3:00 p. m. 52 WEATHER Fair this afternoon and tonight; somewhat warmer in smtreme east portion.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decotur, Indiono, Thursday, December 18,1941.

T Good Fellows Club > • Previous total 1240.27 II J Yager 1 00 Albert Rellemeyer - 1.00 A Friend 50 K. of C 6 00 Carpa Diem club 200 A Friend 50 Moose lodge 10 00 Total 1250.27 Burk Elevator Co. One ton coal. Fifty-five families, representing 175 children, will be aided by the club this year. No children over 15 will lie given gifts with response to the club not as enthusiastic as last 1 year. Coats are needed for girls of 1 10. 4 and 3 and a boy of 9. also a snow suit for age 5 and trousers for boy of 9. These articles can not be provided by the club. ” "■ ■ — — Sugar Company Plans : For Acreage Increase I - Central Sugar Co. To Seek 15,000 Acres t With all acreage restrictions re- • moved, the Central Huger company • will endeavor to contract with I growers for 15.000 acres of sugar i beets for 1942, J. Ward Caliand, r Held manager for the refinery, atat- | ed today. > The growers will be offered the i same contract as that used since 1933, known as a 50-50 agreement, , In which th«-y share equally with the ( company In the net sales of sugar. [ pulp and molassro. which last year amounted to nearly 11,000.000 with . the government payments includ1 In the food for defense program. # the AAA has removed all quotas f and festrictions on sugar beet production for next year and the local . company has set Its goal at 15.000 seres. This Is far more beet acre- * age than has ever been <ontr»<ted ‘ tn the Decatur mill territory. Ih view of the fact that approximately one-third of the total sugar supply of the United States comes from Hawaii and the Philippine Isalnds, this supply will probably be entirely shut off for the duration of the war. This will necessitate producing all the sugar possible in the United States and growers and plants will be urged to do their utmost to meet demands. company officials said. Mr. Caliand stated that the company's 15 fleldmen will not be assigned quotas in their respective - terrltoriees. but that each man will I contract for all the acreage offerI ed, until the 15.000 mark Is reachi ed. The past year approximately IL- - 800 acres were contracted and beets were harvested from 11.050 acre*, the shrinkage being due to loss of the crop during the extreme heavy rains hi the planting season. The loss, however. Is far below the , normal average. Harry Maddox. . auditor for the company stated. The additional acreage which is expected to increase the beet harvest by spproxjmately 32,000 tons. 1 will also add about one-third more days to the run of the factory next fall. This calculation is made on the basis of an average of elgbt tons of beets to the acre, which is normal. On that estimate the company would receive around 120,000 tons of beets. The average thia year is practically nine tons to the 1 acre. Mr. Caliand stated that the comtCONTINUED ON PAGE SEVEN) Native Os County Dies In Chicago Mrs. Joseph Ini Costello. 83, a native ot Adams county, died Wednesday at the St. Bernard hospital iu Chicago relatives were advised today. She bad been a patient at the hospital for the past four years, suffering from arthritis. She was born in Adams county October I, 1878, the daughter of James and Margaret Brunnograff. She moved to Chicago after her marriage to Michael Costello 41 years ago. Her husband died four ago. Surviving are two brothers. Joseph B and Martin Brunnograff, both of Decatur, and severs' nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 9 a. m Friday at St. Bernard' • Catholic church in Chicago, with burial in that city. Relatives hero will attend the services.

County Civilian Defense Council Organized Here Name Full Committee To Carry Out County Program Fourteen eltisene- representative of the various civil walks of life in Adams county met last night in the Decatur eity hall to lay the groundwork for civilian defense In the county The 14 persons—l 3 men and a woman-will form the Adams county civilian defense council and will have full charge of the county’s participation in the civilian defense program as outlined by state and national organisations Vincent J. Bormann, who was recently named to the post of county civilian defense director by Governor Hchrlcker. beads the organisation The other members are Frank Linlger, representing the Adams county board of commissioners; Dr. F. L. Grandstaff, as county health officer; Mrs. I .eons rd Baylors, representing the women's division and women's organizations of the county; Dr. D. D. Jones of Berne, as representative of the Adams county medical society; Lyman L. Hann, as county school superintendent and president ot the county trustees' aasocltalon; L. E. Archbold, as county agricultural agent; Mrs. Faye Smith Knapp as county welfare director; Ed Miller, sheriff ot Adams county; Forrest Elzey, mayor of Decstur; Grover Moser, president of the Berne town board; Wilmer Raudebush, president of the Monroe town board: Alvin Windmiiier. president of the Geneva town board, and George Thomas, who was named yesterday by Mayor Elzey as Decatur civilian defense director. Individual defense councils, which will work under the super(OONTINUMD ON PAGE TWO) Approve Plans For County Infirmary Will Receive Bids For Building Dec. 30 Four state supervisory departments have supervision over pu. He buildings, their construction and methods of ffnanclng have approved plans and specifications for the proposed 398.0U0 Adams county infirmary. Victor Eicher, county auditor, announced today. Approval of the project has been given by the state fire marshal, the welfare department, the board of health and the state board of accounts. Bids for the construction of the building and the sale of (65.000 of county bonds to help finance the project, will be received on December 30. The balance'of (33,000 has been appropriated from the county's general fund, of which (23,000 was paid by insurance companies for the loss suffered by Are which swept the old Infirmary on*August 1. There fa a great deal of inter- i eat iu the public letting and sals of the bonds. Sixteen sets of plans and specifications have already • been furnished by the auditor to , prospective bidders Inquiries from about 25 banks and security organizations have been received by the auditor. The purchasers of the bonds will bid the Interest rate, not to exceed four percent per annum. It is believed this rate will be closer to two percent, since bond issues of fCONTINUED ON PAGB TWO) JWOFWW' Dio WU Sir 7**7 JidfWz/ifl ' ' I ** w 1 Uli tK3Bf

Major Shift In War Strategy Presaged As Exponents Os Air Power Take Over Pacific Posts

Soviet Annies Pursue Germans On Long Front Red Commander Says Russia Determined On Knockout Blow With the Red army on the Moscow front. Dec. 17. — (Delayed > — (UP>—Russia's R'ml army, pursuing German forces with ever increasing momentum through lireblackened villages and past the frozen iMxlles of German dead which blot the fields, intends to continue its offensive indefinitely In an attempt to deliver a knockout blow, Maj.-Gen. A. A. Vlasov announced today. Vlasov, commanding the army on thia Klin-Volokolamsk sector, was asked where he thought the Germans might try to form a strong defense line to try to check his men. "So far ax I know, nowhere,” he said. "We Intend to pursue the enemy Indefinitely. The tempo of our advance Is Increasing and the German resistance Is weakening." A* we approached the front, driving beyond Solnechnogorsk 40 miles west of Moscow, toward the rumble of the guns, through the ruins of villages from which the Germans had fled only a few hours before, marching soldiers shouted: "They are running so fast we can not catch them '" "Tell America We have licked, are licking and will lick the Gormans alt the way to Berlin.'' a 17year old girl said as we stood in the main square of Solnechnogorsk. where townspeople had greeted ns with cries of "welcome, our British and American friends and allies." We had sped along Moscow's central streets, through several rings of barricades and steel and concrete fortifications which a few weeks ago were to have aided in a stand to the death against the mONTINUnn ON I'AOE HIXI 0 Thad Hoffman Safe On Ship In Honolulu Junior englneir. Thad Hoffman of the United States merchant marine. cabled his father, Os-ai Hoffman of Isiuisville. Ky. ot hi* sabarrival in Honolulu yesterday on the American transport, Gen Hugh 1. Scott, according Io word received this morning by his aunt. Miss Fanny Hite. Engineer Hoffman was to have ' arrived in Honolulu December 8 and been back in San Frt nclsco by the 15th of Decemlier. He did not state when he would sail for the stales. Thad, who formerly lived here ' and who has visited here many times in the past several years. 1 has a host of friends In this com- ' rnunlty who will lie glad to learn of hiM Buff landing. — fr First Donations To Red Cross Listed The first day's contributions to the Red Cross war relief fund are listed on page two of today’s paper. Contributions, including the (1,000 donated by the local Red Cross chapter, total (1.048.50, Miss Annie Winnes, chapter secretary, announced. Adams county's goal Is (6,000 and an effort is being made to raise the entire amount by voluntary donations. Eugene V. McCann Is chairman of the committee that will formulate plans for reaching the 1,500 factory employes In this city. Bozes where donations can be placed are located in several stores and public buildings and the list ot donors will be published daily, Miss Winnes slated.

A Nazi Spy? Ew Ernest Frollch De Meyer Reputed Austrian baron and an alien, Ernest Frollch De Meyer. 27. has tieen Imokcd by l«os Angeles authorities on suspicion of espionage and impersonating an U. 8. army officer. Postpone Hearing On Stengel Drain Blue Creek Dredge Trial Delayed Week Ths Blue Creek dredge frla. will be opened in Adams circuit court Decemlier 29, instead of next Monday. Decemlier 22. Judge J. Fred Fruchte »< t the trial of the widely heralded ditch case over to that date in court this morning. "I have no desire to see the home life of Adams county residents at Christmas time marred by a law suit,** the court stated in ordering the continuance." Christmas should be the happiest day of the year and it is belter that even the contentions of a lawsuit be banished from the air of reverence which should prevail '* The point ot continuance was brought to the court's attention this morning when C. 11. Muaelman. Berne attorney, entered his appearance for the remonstratorv iu the proceedings and asked for more time in which to become acquainted with the facts of the case. D Burdette Custer, counsel tor the petitioners, urged against any continuance. asserting that it would work a hardship upon the involved litigants. Mr. Muselman indicated to Uie court that January 2 would lie a satisfactory date. When <*ounsel failed to agree. Judge Fruchte said that the court would move the trial over the Christmas date to the following Monday. Tho case is expected to require about a month. It has been estimat-j ed by the attorneys and court attaches. In addition to Mr. Muselman. Eichhorn, Gordon and Edrin of Bluffton represent the romonstrators.

BULLETINS Washington, Dee. It—(UP)—Secretary of war Henry Stimson announced today that major general Herbert A. Dargue, commanding general of the flrat army force, Mitchel Field. N. V.. and a group of high ranking army officers have been missing sines December 12 on a transcontenintal flight. The plane, according to Stimson, was last reported at 7:55 p.m. last Friday, about two miles south of Palmdale, California, and a search has been Instituted. Those on the big transport included five other officers and two enlisted men. Washington, Dec. IB—(UP)—President Roosevelt today signed the (10,000.000.000 supplements! war appropriation bill. The measure carries 55.253.000.000 In cssh appropriations and 5794.000.000 in contract authorixations. It provides sufficient funds to purchase eouipment for a 2.000,000 man army and critical supplies for a 3.200.000 man army. It was passed by congress Monday. Manila, Dec. IS—(UP)—American and Philippine field forces drove back Japanese patrols and motorised forces In the Vigan and Aparrl sectors and reports early today Indicated little success for Japansse planes in scattered air operations. London. Dec. IS— (UP)—The air ministry reported tonight that It wee believed the 28,000-ton German dreadnauohte Scharnhorse and Gneleenau were hit in today's royal air force attack on Brest. The German battleships have been reported hit repeatedly In past RAF attacks on the French port where they are believed • to be undergoing repairs.

Price Two Cents

Three Men Ousted In Drastic Shake Up Os Army And Navy Heads Following Jap Fiasco Washington. Dec 18 (I'Pi A major shift in American strategy In waging the war in the Paclflc, with heavy stress upon aerial attack. was believed today to be Involved In the drastic wartime shakeup of army and naval forces. The shakeup, apparently carried out under orders of President Roosevelt, placed a new triumvir* ate of strategists In command In the Hawaiian-Pacific battlefront on land, sea and In the air and answered congressional and public clamor stirred by Japan* "Infam ous" attack on Pearl Harbor 11 days ago. A fighting general of the air. who la an exponent ot the heavy bomber as a major striking force, became commander of Hawaii's land ' and air defenses, replacing an In- - fantry general of the same rank. , The naval change places a full admiral, who was a pioneer submarine commander and expert, in - charge of all naval vessels in the Pacific. The shakeup came in the midst of a secret presidential inquiry into the Japanese surprise attack which plunged the l'nlted States Into war and which Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox said had caught the American defenders "not on the aiera." The joint army-navy inquiry board, which will seek to tlx the blame—ls there I hl any -for the Hawaiian forces , being caught off guard, mets for a second secret meeting today. Ouster were the commander-in- , chief of the U. S. fleet and two | high generals In command of Hawaii's land and air defenses. The oustings were described officially ax made "In view of" Knox' findings on his flying visit of Inspection to Pearl Harbor where the surprise enemy assault ' took a toll of 2.897 army and navy 1 lives, destroyed many planes and 1 sank six American warships, Including the 32.600-ion battleship Arizona. Relieved of their commands at “this critical hour" were Rear Admiral Husband E. Kim- ' mel. S9-year-old commander-in-chief of the U. 8. fleet and functional commander of the Pacific fleet, who was replaced by R>-ar Admiral 1 Chaster V. Nlmltz, chief of the bureau of navigation, who was commander of this country's first i submarine flotilla Nlmltz will be jumped two ranks to a full admiral. Lieut -Gen. Walter <’. Short, com(OONTINUBD ON IPAGE HIX) ' ■■ ——o--- - First Aid Classes To Be Held Here Plans for securing enrolments in Red Cross first aid clast-ev here have been opened, it was announc* I ed I>y Mrs. Milo Black. Classes for men and women and advanced first aid work are being planned. It Is anticipated that classes will he started by January 1, Mrs. Black stated.