Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 41, Number 60, Decatur, Adams County, 11 March 1943 — Page 1

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ltd XLI No. 60 l

HAVOC WROUGHT BY ALLIED AIR RAIDS

fees Occupy ktrategic Town On Tunis Front I Strateqic Railroad I Town Os Metlaoui I Seized By French I i||ied Headquarters, North I Msr. 11.-(UP)-I w rt. | .uirten heavy fl 9 h ‘”’ 9 •• I JI progress it Ksar Rhilono In I MU thera Tunisia. Kw Rhi ’ I line It 40 mile* ,ro '" ,he MU,h ' I .Mt end of the Mareth lino. I A unit of the British eighth I jrß ,y ,A Mid to hove inflicted I heavy casualties on the GerI fftn Africa corps in the area. I By United Press I Allied forces have occupied the Lrtteaic railroad town of Metlaoui ■is math-central Tnnlsla. I Ai . Allier! communique today Ltafiraed an earlier Algiers radio ■report that French troops have ■erifil the town, only 16 miles InuthwMt Os the Important Nasi |hie of Gafsa. I Mu itself, it rapidly becoming ■iii atuenable point for the Alla. ■The French are driving up from |tbe south And British and AmerIjran columit- are moving down on |tte town from the north. I (Mm wa« one of the first towns iukrn by Nazi marshal Rommel in |b:« biz westward push on the ItHtrrl front last month. Its re|e.«patir>ii would put the Allies in |u excellent position for a drive Im’ward toward Sened, .Mukiiassy ■sad the Gulf of Gabes—the area ■known as the Tunisian bottle-neck. I Tbs Allied communique also relyoru that the British first army Itei beaten off another enemy atItack ta the Sed Jenane sector of Isi-tbern Tunisia The Axis troops ■attacked yesterday afternoon but ■wets Immediately repulsed. I Allied air force squadrons are luck in action again Heavy bombItn attacked Axle airdromes near ■Tunis and scored several direct ■bin The raids cost the enemy |ei<ht fighter planes. I Allied medium bombers struck ■directly » Gafsa | n support of the Iround advance toward the town. ■And fighters opened up their guns |m enemy vehicles and infantry In |tte northern and central sectors. |We lost one plane in al! operaItlou. I Reports from every sector of the Inalilan battlefront Indicate that like zero hour for the AlltM final, offensive la approaching, libs main factor at the moment •ppean to be weather. Allied offensive action In northTunisia has been bogged down w »eeks by slinging mud and F*dy rains But now. United rre»i correspondent Edward Rattle reports that dear days r* ,rr,Tll, « more frequently and pi? the ground is hardening to «w rapport «o the armed forces, the taker ead of the Tunisian *"-.*.* Montgomery’s LT, I Mrtth army is drawn up. **‘‘•B weather already has ?.<■ | < It will for the next I **« To Pas, i, column 3> L I IN Farm Deferment Proposal Defeated I’M Men In 3-A To F Q:e Early Induction *uhlagton. Mar. IL—(UP) — » k -!*“** bo turned down a plan < ** ,er ~rm workers m <21 4rafl 0,17 *’■ Production quotas. The ° *•« J , wan offered by Ben°**ph c - O’Mahoney as a sub,or ‘he Bankhead bill, which Mses to give blanket defer**?«>tarm workers rejecting the O’Mahoney h^* 1 ’ ’*• vwtate took up an kJ »• the Bankhead bill. , Amendment la sponsored by Z*' BrtO " *• Mfheeler. the • ** • ) *mocrat. It would broadls u*. T”** =* ‘he Bankhead bill t® all ta‘b- * •• tamers iMurtioa "“agtou. Mar. U.-(VP>-Aa mTt lh * of health H “ r * ,)w »«Ifc‘k=a of >UI * —rly eom tTw * *• Faffs I. CeteMan »

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Soys Baltics Have Right To Existence Stockholm. .March 11 — (UP)— Three prominent refugees from the Baltic statea of Latvia. Estonia and Lithuania «ays neither Russia nor anybody else has the right to claim their countries. In a statement published in Sweden, the three men -two professor* and one author—insist the Baltic states have a right to their existohte as independent nations in keeping with the Atlantic charter. • - X) French Continue To Riot Against Nazis German Troop Trains Wrecked By Patriots London, March 11 —(UP)— A special announcement says French guerillas blasted a speeding German troop train from the rails at Chagny in east-central France, killing more than 250 Nasis and wounding hundreds more. (By United Press I Rioting and demonstrations agalnst the Axis continue in France. European sources reveal that patriots have wrecked three more German troop trains. Seventy-three Nazis were killed, raising to 600 the number of Germans slain in the past five days. United Press reports from Madrid say that many French youths have gone into hiding in the Pyr enees and the Alps to escape Nazi conscription. The German radio, meanwhile, has broadcast Its verskn of yesterday's attempt to assassinate Mar cel Deat. close colleague of Pierre Laval. The Nazi report says a machine gun was used by the would-be killer at Arbouse In central France. Previous reports had said a pistol was used. Deat was uninjured. Reports from (Mio say a German transport has been blown up in Trcndhelm harbor by saboteurs Nazi authorities are holding several (Turn To Paars 6. Column 3> - O— — County Farm Labor Committee Meets Labor Situation In County Is Discussed The Adams county general farm labor committee. Mr. Weliennar. Ronald Newman, Winfred L. Gerke, Herman Gelmer. Walter Pressing. Menno P. Eicher. Charles Chew. J. Ward Calland. Delmore Wechter. Vincent Bormann, Lyman L. Hann. Walter Krick. E. M Webb. Arthur Voglewede. Carl Luglnbill. Joe Anderson, E. W. Busche and Leo Kirsch, met in the county agent s office Wednesday night. Lymann L. Hann, county school superintendent. was chcaen as chairman. The views of the committee on the farm labor situation were aa follows: (1) there Is sufficient labor on tbe farm to plant the spring crops, however, there is likely to be a great need for ezchpnge of labor and efcser cooperation between farmers This will be especially true during the haying season (2) with 1.000 acres of tomatoes in the county, approximately 500 pickers will be needed during the peak season With tbe normal planting of 2.W0 acres of sugar beets, there will be 250 migratory workers who will be available to help with the tomato harvest It will be n?cea sary for tbe labor committee to asatat in securing the addltkuial 250 pickers that will be needed. The probable sources are nonfarm youth of high school and college age. and non farm women. Herman Schaffer, head cf the Geneva Canning corporation, states that nls organisation will soon start a survey for the purpose of ffnding women for the peeling line (Turn Te Paw* L Colome 2) -0 — Finkhousen Rites Friday Afternoon Funeral services for John W. Finkhousen. father of Mrs Benjamin Woods of this city, who died Wedneoffay after an extended illness, wiH be held at 2 20 p m Friday at the Gamble and Alspach funeral bouse In Van Wort, Ohio. Burial will be in East Moptist cemetery.

American Pilots Smash Jap Raid On Guadalcanal Four Jap Fighter Planes Shot Down, Others Driven Away By United Pre«s Fast American interceptor planes have r>mashed the biggest Jap effort to raid Guadalcanal in weeks. The navy says that the enemy sent 10 dive bombers escorted by 12 fighter planes on a raiding party headed for tho IslatMl yesterday. American fliers caught the Japs before they reached their objective, shot down four, and chased the others away. At tbe same time, the Americans were getting in their own bombing blows. They hammered home four attacks on enemy bases in the central Solomons. Huge fires were started In one base. Not a single American plane was lost In these operations. At the northern end of the Pacific front. American bomber and fighter planes again have attacked the Japs at Klska. Hits were scored In the camp area. Once more every American plane returned safely. American air power also 1s making itself felt on the Burma end of the far east front. Planes of the 10th air force have scored five direct hits on a bridge north of Jap-held Rangoon But tbe news is not so good from China. Reinforced Jap troops —strongly supported by planes—have seized an Important Chinese base in a drive to clear the Chinese from the banks of the Yangtze river In Hupeh province. A Chinese spokesman says that the Japs advanced 22 miles after crossing the river two days ago. Meanwhile, the Allies have struck damaging new air blows against tbe Japs In Burma and in the southwest Pacific. British bombers hit hard at the strategic enemy sea and air base of Akyab in western Burma. And American planes dumped 12 tons of bombs on a strategic enemy-held bridge north of Rangoon. General MacArthur’s fliers sank or damaged six more Japanese supply ships in an 1,100-mlle sweep extending from New Guinea to the Banda sea. In the Netherlands East Indies area. From Honolulu comes a warning by Admiral Nlmltz that the enemy may strike again at strengthened American defenses In Hawaii. Nlmltz has told the territorial legislature that the Japs still have the capacity to carry out such an assault. And he says they might run the risk of doing It. ’For this reason." dedares Nlmlty. "It is unwise to relax our precautions.” The Tokyo radio betrays fears (Tura To Paws 4. Column 5) o ..... - — Conchies Indicted By Federal Jurors Steeie Brothers Are Indicted At Hammond Two Decatur men—brothers who are charged with, falling to report to an objector’s camp—are among the 00 ddlendants named today In indictments returned by the second federal grand jury of the Hammond division of the northern Indiana district court. The two are Clyde Steele. 32 and his brother, Ralph. 23. Two others named in the Indictments are also charged with failing to report for transportation to a conscientious objectors camp They are Simon Domanowski. Fort Wayne and Fred Williams. Butler All four are members of the Jehovah Witnesses, a religious sect. The Steele brothers were arrested sometime ago by federal authorities and released under bond after pleading gwUty to the charges preferred against them about a month apart. Both are scheduled to be tried in federal court In Fort Wayne early in the April term. Four other men named In the odktments are charged with selective service viola Gone. Various other federal coasts are placed against the balance of tbe defendants.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, March 11,1943

Bundists Paid Week's Salary To Hitler Ixm Angeles. March 11—(UP)— i A federal colurt witness says Adolf ' Hitler once extracted a week’s sal- ! ary from every member of the Ger- i man-American bund as a b.rthday | present. The testimony was given yesterday by Peter Glmibl in the government's attempt to revoke the citizenship of 23 German-Am-erlcans. (Ilasibl. who took part in the i beer cellar putsch at Munich, said ' that on Hltler'd orders the bund collected the money and sent it to Germany aa part of the regular contribution for the Fuehrer’s birthday celebration. o Increased Lend-Lease Aid Is Given Allies Greatly Increased Assistance Revealed Washington. MSr. 11 — (UP) — Today Is the second anniversary of lend-lease. and congress has new proof of the Increased aid we're giving our Allies. In a quarterly report to the lawmakers. b*nd-lease administrator Stettlnlus iinn on need that. In the past 12 months, the United , States shipped to Its Allies 30 out , of every 100 bombers produced in country and 3S out of every 100 fighter planes. | Stettlnlus disclosed that almost aa much aid was provided under ‘ the lend-leaae program In the last ! six months as in the previous 13 | months. More than half of all lend-lease I shipments in the past year went , to the middle and far east and to Russia. The United Kingdom re- . reived 38 percent of the total; Russia. 29 percent; middle east , and Africa. 15 percent; Australia. New Zealand. India. China. 14 per- ! cent; other areas, four percent. In the last three months. Htettinius reported, lend-lease goods , were transferred to all countries | at the rate of 3659.00u.uuu a month. I (Turn To Page t. Column 3) , O tldine Schroeder ! Dies This Morning Allen County Girl Is Taken By Death Eldlne Ruth Schroeder. 13. died at 4:05 o'clock this morning at her home, one mile south of Hoagland Death was caused by congenital heart disease She had i been in poor health for severs! years and bedfast the past 10 days. She was born in Madison township, Allen county, December 23. \ 1929. tbe daughter of Herman and Lydia Scheumann-Schroeder. She was a student at St. John's Lutheran school and a member of this ; year’s confirmation class. Surviving besides the parents, are a brother. Marvin, stationed < with the U. 8. navy at Stanton Island. N. V.: and the grandmothers, Mrs. Henry SehrnHer and Mrs. Charles Scheumann, both of Marlon township. Allen county. One sister. Lucille. Is deceased Funeral services W® be held at 1:30 o'clock Sundsy afternoon at the home and at 2 o’clock at the St. John's Lutheran church, with Rev Herbert J Roumann officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The body will be removed to the residence from the Zwick funeral home Friday afternoon.

LENTEN MEDITATIONS (Rev George 8 boiler. First Evangelical Church) ■tCerne ya yeureelv** apart into a desert pl*e*. and rest ■ while."—«t. Mark «:Sl. The crowd afford* very little Incentive for meditation and attention. Our very busy modern life, with It* complex program of activities, i* not conducive to visions of Ood nor of men s most urgent needs Whereas, in an inaction which is meditative and attentive, the soul find* It* choicest experiences of fellowship with the Infinite Ood These experience* are the outstanding need of men In a day when men have forgotten God in their attempt to become •elf-sufficient Seasons of withdrawal from the world I* th* urgent need of men today Men need to learn, anew, the art and blessed net* of becoming still and knowing that He is God There is great danger that we may become so occupied with the issue* of th* material, political and social aspects of Ilf* that we shall mis* the more important, which I* spiritual. The result of nch a course of action Is tragedy Th* Ilf* of prayer is the on* which create* an appreciation tor spiritual values It to that which transform * men who hate and murder Into loving *nd considerate one*, and i* the prelude and basic requisite to a world tn which the ‘Fatherhood of Ood" and the brotherhood of man shall become an actual reality.

Fierce Battle Raging Along Kharkov Front Russians Inflict Heavy Losses On German Attackers By United Press Nazi tank and Infantry forces] are pounding Russian linns around Kharkov — but the Red army is ] holding firm. Soviet reports from the front say that German men and machines hurled Into the fight greatly outweigh the Russian defenders. But the Russians, strongly entrenched along the banks of the Donets river, declare that they have repulsed every assault with huge losses to the enemy. Despite the fury of the German attacks In the south, the Russians show no signs of letting up in their own big drive on the central front. One Soviet column, striking In toward Vyazma from the east, has seized a rail station only 12 miles from the city. The Moscow midday communique says that several other villages east of Vyazma also fell in the night fighting. In the past 24 hours, two other columns driving In toward the enemy bastion from the northeast and north have taken scores of villages and hamlets. One of these columns la only 17 miles from Vyazma and the other Is 28 miles (Turn To Pagn I. Column » — o - Morgan's Condition Reported Unchanged New York. March 11 —(UP) — The office of J. P. Morgan announced at 11:30 A. M. that the condition of the 75-year-old financier has not greatly changed. The statement concerned Morgan’s condition as of 10:30 A. M. EWT. From Boca Grande, Florida, where the 75-year-old financier 1s 81. it Is reported be aprnt a fairly comfortable night. His doctors have intimated that a crista is expected within 15 hours. o Late Bulletins Washington, Mar. 11.—(UP) — American cast.alties In Tunisia from Fobrusry 14 to 20— ths period of ths Allisd retreat snd Initial counter attack —touted 2.242. The figure was disclosed this morning by Secretary of War Stimson. The total figure included 59 killed. 17S wounded and 2.007 missing. Most of tho missing prsbsbly srt prisoners of the Axis. Washington, Mar. 11.—(UP) —Pries Administrator Prentiss Brown has announced a It percent increase in the coffee ration in the nest period beginning March 22. Stamp number 26 in war ration book number one will be good for one pound of coffee during the five weeks from March 22 to April 25. The present ration io one pound for sis weeks ending March 21. Washington, Mar. 11—(UP) —Tho Republican house steering committee today voted to support tho Rumi "okip-a-yoar’’ plan for placing income tan cellections on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Whole Sections Os Western Germany Devastated By Air Blows From Allied Bombers

Treasurer's Books Balanced To Penny Report Os Auditors Is Announced Today County treasurer John W. Blakey handled more than 31.000,000 of public money In 1941 and his Imoks I>a!anced to the penny, according to the audit made by Jay M. Brown and O. A. Hutchens, field examiners for the state lioard of accounts. Treasurer Blakey is In receipt of the examiner's audit covering last year. No recommendations are made In the report. The examiners stale, "proper records ore in use and all are In balane. Opening bal- ] antes of this report are same as cliuilng balance of last report. Treasurer John W. Blakey has on file a proper surety bond In the sum of 330.000 executed by the Aetna Casualty and Surely com- , pany” The treasurer was charged with . receipts of 31.025.051 33 during the year. Disbursements were 1842,947.64. leaving balance. December 81, 1941. of 3182.103.69. Outstanding warrants at the close of the year amounted to 39,847.83. Warrants of checks issued back in January, 1934. are listed aa outstanding. Under the date of August 5. 1939, a warrant for 3100 baa not been presented for payment at tbe bank on which It was drawn. Field examiners Brown and Hut- ' cbens audited the records of ail public officials in tbe county last : year. o Roosevelt Promises Hard Blows At Axis Statement Read At United Nations Meet Washington, March 11 — (UP)— President Roosevelt declared today that the United Nations will strike mighty blows at the Axis on battlefields of our own choosing. Tbe President told representatives of all the major United Nations that the Axis faces Inevitable defeat aa a result of lend-lease and reciprocal aid among tbe Allies. Mr. Roosevelt's statement was read by vice president Wallace to a luncheon meeting observing the second anniversary of the lendlease program. High ranking dip-lomats-representing Russia. Britain and China as well as the United States-listened approvingly to the president’s words. The chief executive recalled that ' two years ago when lend-lease was le-gun. the question was where would the Axis strike next. Now, he said, the quqestion is where will the United Nations strike next. And. he added, the enemy will receive its answers on battlefields of our own choice. Soviet Ambassador Litvinov gave bls country’s answer to Ambassa dor Standley's remarks in Moscow that tbe Russian people wera not informed of the extent of American aid. Litvinov said his countrymen are fully aware of the l»nd-lease assistance they have received and are grateful for it. In this connection. acting secretary of state Wells said today that Standley has assumed personal responsibility for his remarks. Tbe Washington observance of (Tura Tn Paws 3. Column 8> O - — Charles Henry Lash Is Taken By Death Charles Henry Lash. 88. retired fanner of Cralgville. died Wednesday at tbe Wells county hoapKal In Bluffton of Infirmities. Surviv ora Include a son. Brandon R. Lash, of Cralgville, six grandchildren and seven grrat-grandchildren. Ono of the grandsons ta Don Lash, of Loatavllla. Ky. widely known lang distance runner. Fanoral services will he held at 19 a. m Friday at the United Brethren church In Craigvtllo, with burial at Pleaoant Dale.

Broad Social Plan Studied By Congressmen Vast Security Plan Is Introduced By President Roosevelt Wrahington. Mar. 11 —(UP) — An American Beveridge plan is fairly launched today upon a congressional «ea that promises to be rough and stormy, ft is th« broadest and most far-reaching social legislation ever offered for consideration of the lawmakers of the United States. Vigorous opposition appeared at the mere mention of its general objectives In the president’s earlier state-of-fhe-union address. And congressmen are now poring over a digest of the 500,900 word report of the national resource* planning lioard. which urges not only wider social security but post-war economics control based on jobs for all. Now to review just what the "American Beveridge Plan" contains. Basically, it divides Into three sections -one for social aecurlty, another for transition from war to post-war economy, and a third for the real post-war future of America -In fact, of the world. The president. In presenting the plan, asked Immediate consideration of the social security features. These include wide social insurance against old age. want, dependency. and unemployment. They also embrace equal education for all from kindergarten straight through college, and full guarantees of auequate medical care regardless of Income. The remaining broad features of tbe plan, tbe president says, can be acted on later. A gradanl demobilization of the armed forces is foreseen, with a dismissal wage to cushion the shock of re-entry Into competitive private life and a guarantee of jobs with fair pay for soldiers. They call for a gradual and orderly conversion of war industries to civilian production under government supervision. And they call for a limited continuation of price and rationing controls in order to guard against the type of inflation that followed the lust war. Tbe plan also urges work guarantees for all. and government participation in vital industries such (Turn To Pass 4. Column 4) O — - High School Youth To Enter Service Robert Laurent To Take Physical Exam Robert ”Bdb” LaurenJ, well known local youth ami a senior at Decatur Ctetholic hich school, will be the first high ac-hocl youth from Adams county to enter tharmed force* through selective ser»lce. according to present report*. Bob has been ordered to report for final army examination with the next selective service contingent and if successful in the exam wiH be Inducted Several other* in both the Decatur public and (tetho’.ic high schools have received order* to report but their induction was delayed until the end of the school year. Bob. however, declined the delay, and will not wait until school ta ended. A number of others have enlisted in various branches of the armed forces, but none ta bettered to have entered through selective service. LaurenL the eon of Mr. and Mra. Joseph LnnrenL was It years of M* last Septeraber and ta rafftatored la the sixth rsgistrattoa. He has been popular ta school actlvittas and has served a* photoffrapher tor the ichool publication.

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2,000 German War Plants Damaged; Million Germans Homeless In Raids qty United Press The Allied air armadas are t«rt’* Ing whole sections of western Europe into a no-man's land. The impressive figures on destruction were announced today by Britain's air minister Sir Archibald Sinclair. Two-thousand industrial plants damaged . . LOUIkOfIO German* homeless. . . more than 2.000 acre* of damaged enemy cities. . . . and considerably more than 3.200 Axis planes destroyed or captured. That’s the score to dat» In the devastating aerial offensive against the Axis war machine. And the tempo of the drive is rising ilySinclair say* bomb damage to the German steel works in the Ruhr and Saar districts of western Germany alone have resulted In loss of 1,250.000 ‘ on * *’*’*' or ler’s war machine. The enemy, says Sinclair, has l»een losing three planes for every Allied plane shot down in tho Euroj>eun-African theater. The total area of buildings disabled by tbe RAF is estimated at 136.(MH» square yards. The metsago cites the recent raid on Essen as one of the heaviest of the war. Sinclair says the Essen raid ta comparwbie to the earlier attack on Cologne, when 1.000 planes were uaod. ‘ , Many persons, says Sinclair, have been evacuated from entire section* of Germany’s cities due to the intensity of the Allied aerial offensive The RAF dropped more than 4.« 000 tons of high explosives on Germany during the first 10 days of I March, while the total tonnage tn February was 10.000. Sinclair report* that in egypt and Libya the German* have lo»t 1.477 planes and the Allies 345. In the Imttle <»f Tunisia. German losses are 767 and Allbs lease* 392. In 1942. Sinclair said. British bomber* laid nine time* as many mines in enemy waters as they did In 1941. He estimated that the RAF has sunk or seriously damaged more than 1.600,000 tons of enemy shipping. The only reported aerixl op*-ra-tion* In western Europe oo tar today were German bombing and machinegun attack* on the southeast England coaatal town One enemy plane was shot down off the coast. Two churches were hit and several house* demolished, causing some casualties. Bad weather presumably I* to blame for an Interruption in tho Anglo-American air offensive during the night. Meanwhile, the Rome radio has repeated a German threat to bomb American cities. Tbe enemy radio, in a broadcast to north America# listeners, described the new German Hemkel 177-tMimbera as four engined planes which can carry more than a six-ton load of bomhs. These planes said the Rome broadcaster. can reach New York without difficulty and return to their base. o ■ — Archbishop Spellman Is En Route To Cairo Ixtndon March 11—(UP)—Archbishop Francis J. Spellman of New York i» reported en route to CXfrO. Radio Morocco says he will be a runs: at Allied headquarters. 0 1 TEMPERATURE READING DEMOCRAT THERMOMETER 8:00 a. m. 28 10:00 a.— 29 Noon „ — 30 2:00 p. m. — 31 3:00 p. m. — 81 WEATHER Warmsr ta sxtrsms northwont portion and afightiy raid* •r In ramatader sf state thin • wrougn rnwjr tui noon. Light rain ta *«tr*ma southeast portion thia afterffk AdhM ta I XAfoff taffk A i A A AFff Bk*