Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 41, Number 194, Decatur, Adams County, 17 August 1943 — Page 1

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UERICAN TROOPS CAPTURE MESSINA

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DECATUR DA ILY DEMOCRAT

Christmas Parcels For Armed Services To Be Mailed Carly It isn't merely an advertising *lon:in to 'Do your Christmas shopling early.” It w.ll have to be done early If y u intend to remember the men in the armed forces overseas with a Christmas gift. Leo Kirsch. Decatur postmaster, announced today that Christmas parcels for army personnel must be mailed between Sept. IS and Oct. 16 and for navy personnel be tween Sept. 15 and Nov. 1. During these period* only, no requests from service men are needed." Mr. Kirsch said. •The war and navy departments have announced that the men are receiving ample supplier cf food and clothing and urge relatives not to mail such articles," he added. The postmaster reminded the public that each parcel should not exceed five pounds in weight and should not be more than 15 inches long or .16 inches in length and girth combined. Each person Is permitted to mall only one package a week and should label it "Christmas parcel. ’ Allied Planes Baller Italy's Main Defenses Turin Latest Target Os British Bombers; Airdromes Blasted By United Press From scattered springboards in England. North Africa and the middle east. Allied planes are Im it wring Italy's main defenses. Illg British bombers last night struck again at the northern Industrial «Mtlon still the number one target. This time the royal air force unloaded Its explosives at Turin site of the royal arsenal and important airplane engine works. It was the third hammer-blow at northern Italy in three nights, and early reports indicate that Turin was showered by the same kind of sattyratlon bombing which has mangled Milan and Hamburg. Four royal air force planes were lost somewhere along the long flight over the Alps. Although very definite military targets are hit and hit again, some Allied sources call these bombardmanta of northern Italy "psychological raids.” That Is. they’re trashing down on Italians already weary of the war and shouting for a quick peace. There are unconfirmed reports that actual revolts have developed In Milan, and that demonstrations are -preading to other not them cities. , Marshal Badogllo’s military dictatorship i« reported to be facing Its gravest crisis. American liberator b.-*m)i*r* of the middle eastern command an- a new and powerful factor In the air drive on Italy. The liberators yesterday spanned the M*-dltcrran-(Turn To Pass 3. Column I) o Two Are Injured As Trucks Collide Amalio Carrol And Son Are Injured Amalio tTony) Carrol and three-year-old son. Raymond, are confined to the Adams county memorial ho-pital. suffering from Injuries received in a truck collision this morning at the Intersection of the Archbold and Winchester rosds. three miles west of Decatur The other truck was driven by Lloyd Hechter of u*ar Craigvill whose truck was loaded with 10 gallon can» of milk. Mr. Fiedrter was not injured. He estimated that about a ton and one-half of milk was spilled in the wreck. Deputy sheriff Sam Bents investeigsted the accident. Both drivers told him that they did not see the other truck. The Injured per-ons were brought tn the hospital by Mrs Mildred Belts who liven near the seme ot the accident Carrol is a farmer and beet worker living on the Hain farm He and his non will be dismiased from the hospital tomorrow, Il wa> staled.

Russian Army In New Gains Near Bryansk Main Soviet Force Now Only 16 Miles From Big Nazi Base By United Press \ live pronged Red army drive has made new gains on Bryansk —prize target of the whole central front offensive. The main Soviet force is now only D> miles from the Nazi base in its smash along the railroad linking Bryansk with fallen Orel. That's an eight mile gain over stublrornly defended territory from Karachev. About CO miles north of Bryansk, another Red army column is trying to outflank the German Desna river line. That’s the key defense line where the Nazis are expected to mak a stand —their last fight to| save Bryansk from the fate of I Orel and Belgorod. But Soviet firing power in this sector already has broken the back of three German panzer divisions equipped with self-propelled guns The enemy divisions have retreated to a point only 14 miles from an Important junction on the] line running from Bryansk to I Vyazma. And If the Red army can keep tip the pace, all German positions along the Desna line will be in peril There are other threats to the Nazi defenders of the central front. Three Russian flying columns are between *2 and 27 tnili-s of Bryansk. In the Kharkov area, the situation is obscure. The Germans have managed to bring up reinforcements in men. tanks and planes, and apparently fighting is going on within th* city itself. The .Nazis are counter-attacking around nearby Poltava in a desperate attempt to stem the Russian advance before It rolls on to the (Turn To Pag* 2. Column 1) o — Women Volunleers Aid In Bond Drive Aid House-To-House Canvassing In City Members of the women's volunteer corps of civilian defense met at the American Legion home la*t evening and organized for the thirst victory loan drive, which opens September 9. The colonel, fletenant-colonels, majors, captains and block lieutenants were present at the meeting, which was presided over by Cal E Pet- rson. city chairman of civilian defense, and Mrs. Arthur R. Holthouse, chairman of the women's group. The women went on record to help in the house-to-house canvassing for bond subscription. They will accompany one of the men to be named by the civilian defense organization in canvassing the homes in this city It was decided that two persons, n man and a woman, could canvass their blech within the week of] September 9 to IS. the lime designated by OCD for the canvassing Job. Chairman Peterson and other leaders in ’he civilian defense organization will meet shortly to organize the two units. Theodore Grallker. county chairman of the war finance committee, under whose direction the bond drive will be carried, will name a city committee to cooperate with the civilian defense soliciting teams so that reports can he compiled each day. Women attending last night* meeting included Mrs J Ward Calland. Mrs. L A. Cow*ns. Mrs. \V Guy Brown. Mrs. Leigh Bowen. Mrs Jesse Rice. Mrs R E. Glen dening. Mrs. H W McMillen. Mrs James Burk. Mrw Fred Patterson. Mrs Max Schafer. Mrs. C. E Hocker. Mt*. W. I. Porter. Mrs Don Jefferies. Mrs Jarn-s Ebinger. Mrs Cecil Dull. Mrs. O G Baughman. Mrs G Remy Blerly. Mrs. G*’ l *’ Squier. Mrs. N. A. Bixler. Mm rH Frank. Miss Nellie Winnes The women will organize thei: own volunteer solicitors through the block leader plan, which is an pervised by Mrs Carey Moser, in chargv ol »he a«r»K«

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, August 17,1943

Lost Dads, See New Wasp Launched

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They lost their fathers when the aircraft carrier Wasp went down during action in the Holomons but Jackie Hh*-a. centet. son ot the gallant commander of the Wasp, and Jimmy and Bobby Burling urn-, son -of an East Alton. 111., seaman who went down with th* ship, forgot theli family tragedies to cheer when th*- ntw Wasp slid down th*- way* at Quincy. Mas*., today. It was to Jiickl* that Uommandei Hhe.i wrote that tneniorable last letter which Jackie is reading to Bobby, left, ami Jimmy, right Th*- Burlingam* boys wrote to President Roosevelt for permission to witness the launching ot th*- m-w aircraft carrier.

Ration Book Three Good September 12 Fix Validity Dates Os Last Red Stamps Washington, Aug. 17 (UP)— Coiuiumer* will begin using war ration book three on Heptember 12. They’ll start with brown stamps which will be used to obtain meat, butter, fats, oils and rationed dairy products. Brown stamps lettered “A" will become valid on the 12th. and from then on. each subsequent lette** will be placed in circulation each succeeding Sunday. The brown stamps will replace the red ones in /ar ration book No. 2 as the latter are used up. They will have th*- same point value. Henc- forth. OPA announced also. the meats fat* ration atamim always will expire on the Saturday nearest the end of a month, with the new sets becoming valid >n successive Sundays OPA fixed the validity date* for the iaet red stamps in ration book two stamps X. V and Z. Th*-** will expire on October 2. and will become valid aa follows: Stamp X. August 22; stamp V. August 29. and Stamp Z. September 5. Brown stamps A and B becoming valid on September 12 and 19 respectively, both will expire on October 2. The next four brown stamps, all expiring on Octobet 30. will become valid on the following dates: Stamp ('. September 26; stamp D. October 3; stamp E. October 10; and stamp F. October 17. Between September 12. when the <Turn To I’ago 4, Column 4) O — Knox Says U-Boats Are Less Aggressive Most Activity Now In South Atlantic Washington. Aug. 17—(UP)— Secretary of the Navy Knox say* German I' boats are not ax aggressive as they have been- presumably because the Nazis hav? lost many ot their best submarme "kippers. Knox told a news conference this morning that recently the German subs have been most active in the south Atlantic. But be added "What they pick up now are stray ships or ships in small convoys inadequately protected” Knox said it Is difficult to estimate tbe number of submarines the Germans have in reserve. But he dectered that they undoubtedly are digging into their surplus be cause ot heavy U boat leases in recent months Tbe navy secretary, when questioned about the situation in the north Pacific, said be didn't know what is going on there He added that he presumed “there was a lot ot bad weather.”

Nazis Seek Woman Spy In Denmark London, Aug. 17—(UP) German occupation authcrllles in Denmark are hunting a mysterious woman spy who appeared literally out of the blue. Sin- is IM-lieved to have landed by parachute and now is operating a small radio transmitter. The woman already ha* had several narrow escapes. The Gestapo tracked her to a Danish worker's home just a few minutes after ah ■ slipped cut with her radio equip ment. Informed sources say Denmark Is seething with unrest and outbreaks of sabotage. • O— ——— Call Received For Contingent Sept. 3 County Draft Board Receives Call Today Th* Adam* county selective service board today announced receipt of a tail for a contingent to take final physical examination.* L»r Friday. September 3. This is th*- second call for a contingent within the last week Earlier, a group wa* ordered to report for final physicals on Wednesday. Augu- 25. Tit!* is the only call received for tin- month <>t August. Two contingent* wen- tent for examinations in July, with the men accepted for aemv *erv ce In th.July 29 contingent scheduled to leav* later this week for active induction after the customary threeweeks' furlough. Men accepted through a selective service for naval duty are given leaves of on*- week before reporting. while those accepted for other service are returned home to await call to active duty, with no deflnit*- length as to leave. St. Mary's Society To Recite Rosary Members of the Ht. Mary's society are reque-.ted to go to the home of Mr*. Anna Kelley tonight at 7 :30 o'clock to recite th.- rosary. Tomorrow night, members are asked to go to the Zurich fun*- al home to recite the ro-ary for Mrs. Loutoe fftraub. also at 7:30 o'clo k. Monroe Township's To* Levy Is $1.17 Monroe township’s proposed tax rate payable in 1944 for tbe civil township and ths - perstion of the schools totals 21.17. Glen Neuenschwander, trustee, announced today The levies on each lioo of taxable property are divided as (o!lonrs: general fund, five cents; special school. 68 cents; and tuition •und. 44 cents The rate will produce approximately 222.5 M The rate this year is 75 cents ID aria* on the budget will be held B*ptctn btr 7.

Last Axis Escape Port On Sicily Seized; Yanks Guns Shelling Mainland

Yankee Troops Take Another Solomons Base r - Little Opposition Is Met By Americans In Surprising Landing •By t'nlted Press • American troops hav-- taken another island lease from the Japanese in the central Solomons. A communique reveals that an American force landed on Vella Lavella island last Sunday. The land Ing caught th.- Japs completely off guard. Three hundred and 50 prisoners were taken an unusually high number since the Japs usually tight to the last. To reach l.avella the troop con voys had to swing out past Japan-ese-held Kolombangara island. Juet north of New Georgia. Our soldiers and marines landed at susirise. And it wasn't until R in the morning that the Japanese discovered tlie Invasion force. Then they attack**! the c nvoy with 60 dive-bombers. But Allied tighter* although outnumbered cut the raiding group to pieces, shooting down -11 planes. We lost only two planes am) the pilot of one of them was saved. Moreover, n I one of th. ships in the convoy was hit by the dive-bombers. The landing on Vella latvdla puts our fore*-* only 70 miles from the Japantwe island fortress at Bougainville island in the northern Holomons. In addition, it moves th- Americans past Kolombangara island, which the Japs thought W< uld be the next objective of our offensive In the central Solomons It also threatens the Japanese simply line to garrisons on Kolombangat.t ami New G-orgia islands. Moreover, the occupation of Vel-I la Utvella places th*- Americana 5o miles closer to the gn at Japanese base at Rabaul. Vella Lav Ila is IXO miles from Rabaul. one of the mainobjectlves of the South Pacific offensive. The other mm ofi the Allied pincers toward Rabaul j |h <m New Guinea. G neral Ma* Arthur's latest * <>m I munique reports an Allied advance | In New Guinea Amerl* an and . Australian troops have seized another ridge near Salamaua after a battle Whic h cc st the Japanese 2»" dead Incidentally, the name of the captured point is Roosevelt . Ridge. Allied fliers also are seeing plenty of action- At leaat 12 Japanese planes were shot down yesterday in a 25-inlnute dogfight over l-ae. (Turn To Pago I. Column 1) 0Anniversary Os U. S. Bombing 01 Europe 82 Bombing Missions During Past Year London. A*it 17 tl Pi American heavy iMimbiiig raids over Europe- are one yeai old today Some 17JKHI tons of le>m|>« smashed airfields, submarine pens, shipyards, railroad yards, and war factories In M 2 missions during that year Four hundred and 2" flying fortresses and liberators went down in the assaults — but with them they took *»ver L7oc» German fighters probably another 670 and damaged t>2e more. According Io Brigadier General Frederick U Anderson, last year's aerial campaign haa proved the ability of our combat crews to smash objective* by accurate bombiua It ha- proved our ability to penetrate the heart of Get many a* will during tbe daylight And it has proved our bomber»’ defensive power against the strongest Axis fighter opposition.

Axis Europe Jittery Over Invasion Fear Drastic Military Law On In Norway By United I’ress The Impending Roosevelt Churchill conference is casting a shadow of fear over Axis Europe Th*- Germans seem to he particularly epprehen-lve over a possible* invasion of Norway Drastic military law has been proclaimed in th*- Scandinavian ■ country and new courts have been set up with virtually unlimited ' power over Norwegian lives and property. Tile n* w courts are de scribed as courts martial In fact, if not in name*. And then- Is tn* appeal. The first Norwegian to be tried before the special tribunals was Gunnar Eilif-*-n. tin- chief ot th*- (> Io civil police department. Eilifsen was executed yesterday on a charge of disloyalty to the occupa Hot* power The Nazis and their quisling puppets also hav*- taken a step to prevent the development of any organized fifth column in advance < an Alii*-*! invasion Occupation troops atid tin* gestapo are rounding up Norwegian army officials for removal to prison camps in Germany Spediiation has been iucreusilcg in Allied circle, that an invasion of western Europe will lie among tlie first tangible results of the Roosevelt Churchill meeting And Norway -end Franc*- an- likely place- for attack There’s a strong hint this morn(Turn To Psgs 2. Column 2) Hull Will Attend Quebec Conference Secretary Os State To Attend Confabs (Ry United I’ressl Sec retary of State Hull says that i he. too. will attend th- itoosevei - j Chui i hill conferenc es in Quehi < Ami this seems to throw a n*-w I light on ths- important Allied meetling Tin- -ecretary’s presence eiig- | gests that political as well as military questions are going to Ite discussed This assumption is backed up by ttp- fact that Foreign Secrotary Anthony Eden will attend, and pi bably the British minister ' of Information Brendan Bracken. it also suggest* that there m cy have been some rec-ent changes i.c ’ plans. As late m yesterday. Hull I said he did not contemplate going to the Quebec conferences. Then hi' had a conference with Mr Roo—evelt followed by his statement today that h- will attend The political quest: ns probably I I will concern Allied relations with the Soviet Union, as well as our attitude toward the French Commit I A... «e l lhei.itien at Algiers. Many prominent Canadian*, including the earl *>f Athlone. governor general of Canada, will be* on hand to greet Mr. Roosevelt when he arrives. And a Quebec correspondent writing for the Ixmdon Itaily Mail says that General Eisenhower. commander of the Allied (Turn To P»g» 2. Column i) Preble Township's Tax Levy 50 Cents I Preble township's tax levy colI lectabk In 19(4 is sft cents on the 1100. The three levies, exclusive ! of poor relief rates are: township fund. I! cents: special school. 21 - cents; and tuition fund. 18 cents The levy will produce approximately 1M.527. Last year's levy was 49 cents on the 1100. including i one cent for ths poot fund. Th- - to b* raised this year .a H. 252. Charles Fuhrman trustee, said that the bearing date was Sep • tember 7. when the advisory bua.d will toeet.

Buy War Savings Bonds And Stamps

Price Three Cents

Allied Conquest Os Sicily Is Near To Completion; Nazis Escape To Mainland By United I’ress Th*- Americans on Sicily have cnu-i*-*i Messina the last Axis escape port And the entire island i,* expected to be in Allied hands l»> midnight. American troops stormed Into th*- bomb ami shell-torn city this morning after reaching its outskirt- about x o'clock last night Th*- Americans Immediately turned their big guns toward Italy and liegan shelling th*- mainland. Hom*- quarter- coiisld*->*•*! this* a prelude to a>: invasion of Italy propi'f. But I here is no official w*»rd on th*- subjei-t. Th*- British eighth irmy. at last report, was only about eight miles south of Messina, and by till- lime* may hav*- Joined the American forces occupying th*- port American troop* for tin- first time are within sight ami firing distance—of Italy—Just two mile* a< n>ss the narrow traits of Messina. It was across this narrow waterway that th*- Germans for th*- last few days hail been feverishly evacuating what men amt equipment they could sa»*-. Th* Berlin radio says that all Nazi forces had managed an escape to the contltient. and that all Important Installations of the Mi-ssiim harbor wen- destroyed 10-fore tin- Axis withdrawal In the absence of official Allied word tl believed many German soldiers did es< ape. bn’ tha' most of the heavy i-quipmeni was left b.-hims The capture of Messina marks the end of all organized resistatl* •' Si< ily Tit-- Alli*-- -eon-ii tJuvictory in 39 day* Th*- third American divlsl m appears to have hail tin- honor of first penetrating into the battered por: of Mf'slna It Is part of the How famous seventh army, headed by General "Two Gull" i’.ilton. A German liioad- ist boasts that the last German ami Italian troop* and all of their arm and supplies are Itai k on the European continent. Mid 'hat the last man to leave w,.-. General H'tb*-. the German commamier But iiu-ie is eviil- ine that tin- Nazis left many Italiana behind to cover their re-tr*-a<". Whatever the final toll of * n*-tny ii*-ad in this Mediterranean Dunkirk, the evacuation attempt ha-Ju-t about emlisl Allied pilots report that anti-aircraft fire is decreasing over th** Messina straits ami picking up along the Italian mainland. This s*-«-ms to indicate that the Nazis are saving their fire to protect troops at debarkation pointa alone th*- tip of southern (Turn To Psge •. Column 4) o — Longer Work Week For Coal Miners Authorize Boost In Face Os Shortage Washington Aug 17 (I’l’l 4 longer work week ie ucheduled for coal tnlm-rs In srpcial'y-d**signated areas Th*- war labor hoard has authorized secretary of the Interior Tckes to set up a 48-hor work week where the need is greatest Official* «ay the longer working period i* needed to meet a threatrnrd coal shortage The move also Is seen a- a etep toward peace between th* coal miner* and operators A W L. B Spokesman eaid It wm assumed the extra working hours would be paid at the regular over-time rate Thia would rai-e th* miner*’ pay an average of 29 a week, making it »s*> rather than 247 Edwa-d Burke, who represents the southern group of coat operators. says the order probably will raise the price of coal. H» estimates an increase of 20 cento per