Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 42, Number 3, Decatur, Adams County, 4 January 1944 — Page 1

"VeMtfst Win theWarl 4 All Else is Chores!

.. koi. XIII. No. Three.

RUSSIAN TROOPS DRIVING INTO POLAND

Allied Airmen tionfinue Blows Against Coast 3a& s ' on Coost Is 1 Fighting SwHeovy In Itoly ™ BULLETiN ■■■on. 4 — -UP) - ( American heavy bomber* raided neffthwest Germany today. Eighteen of the big plane* failedße return. ■ United Preet) IA it waa "bombs away" over the reneß ■vaeion coast again today. £ Marauder medium bombers led I T this Morning with a alam-bang <sauit en Hitler'* channel de4n*es. by fighter*. the anea trained their bomb-sight* on ie Pa® D- Calal* area aero** the overßtraiH without Buffering a ngle IB** B , Ax the day were on, other formion*S»un<!> r«d out across the jr BSMT *1 rip of water dividing Engnd from Hitler's Europe. At the tse (fan*-. thv Onio transmitter id oSbc nearby radio station* ent Ott the air, indicating that orwayhney have come In for at-,--k ea th- tide. 10 Today'* raider* took over from of flflMo bomber* which hit Gernight, while Berlin burnd Ml it* 11th ma** raid elnce I 23. Experienced British ! ‘/trsMdm»ow estimate that in more - delivered In quick sueAg would completely knock an the nerve center of fotnßu fell on southern Europe, v back to the attack on of Europe last night, rS from Jugoslavia to 1$ PowErfiil forces of Flying Fortthe aMiault* ‘th 9 raid on a big ball bearing orißAnd railroad yard* In Turin. -M.% the *ame time, a smaller I£atdi*force knocked cut-at least M^^Btrily—the key railroad line* adlajKg from Turin. As *- pianea etruck out, heavy oHm flared over the Italian batin the wake of savage bllzgalea. Canadian unit* of eighth army pushed northward from captured toward Pescara. The Allilied Bari radio say* the vanguard now la within five miles of the city. the peninsula. American the fifth army are stabbttfSp San Vittore, the outer ba*CaMino, which site athwart road to Borne. Thv Nazis with a barrage cn Mlthrough which fifth army are moving up to the front. Allied armies moved iSf in Italy. AUitd warplanes out across the Adriatic to hard fighting Jugoslavs, Mitchells and RAF Baltiteamed up to hit of Spilt and Sibenlk. fighting also ha* flared In Partisan troop* are of the second German talik central Jugoslavia Front indicate that the town may minute. Hungarian teiegarph agency Peter has left Cairo for to m»et the patriot leader. Mikhailovitch However, Ta P««s Column T) — o ■Uhpbraturi reading ■mocrat tmermomiter 3 a. n*. 25 ■fiO a. m. 26 - 2» Hoc p. m. 3* WEATHER cloudy tonight and Wsdoslder in south and cantonight and in cm■b north portion Wednesday; tonight 1 ■Buys Health Bond j H The Tri Kappa sorority voted purchase of a health bond, officials I w» of the Christmas seal cami paign In Adam* county : 9 announced today Official* LH today asked all person* forgotten to send In return* for Christmas seals ao at oocs.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Luxuriously Clothed Baby Abandoned In Church / ;■ t» t v r t Kill » Bl V W- 1 Mt JU a Identity of a luxuriously clothed baby boy found abandoned In St. Ignatius Loyola church on Park avenue. New York, la sought by authorities. The child is pictured alaivv In New York Foundling hospital. The cardboard box. left. In which he was found, also contained changes of clothing and three milk bottles. There was no clue to hl* Identity.

Decatur Civil City Cash Balance Higher Financial Report Prepared By Clerk The Decetur civil city had a cash balance of 835.962 69. on December 31. an increase cf 83.719.21 over a year ago, and the electric light utUlty had cash and bond reserves of 8317.616.02 and the water department 839.824.29 at tile dot.e of the year .according to the annual financial report prepared by H. Vernon Aurand. clerk-treasurer. e The gen- ral fund's balance rose to 835.96269. the total a year ago being 832.234.48. Receipts In the general fund were 855.770.04. Including 827.773.80 from taxation; 87.956.16 from the state ga* tax; 83.189.29 from the excise tax; 810.000 from the electric and water department* and 83,980.04 for hauling salt and coal to the municipal utility. Expenditures In the general fund amounted to 852.050.83. The report on the cash balance* in the electric utility fund* follow: Cash fund. 861,020.96; electric light depredation fund. 8115.019.72; electric light bond fund. 8129.122.83; electric utility construction account, 812452.51; electric light, meter deposit fund. 83.883 73. The latter Item is not Included In the tctal cash and bond reserve, eltice the deposits revert to the customers. In the water department, the balances at the close of the year were: cash fund. 819.815.49; water depredation fund. 820,208.80. The Barret law fund balance wa* 83.682.90 and the employe*' war bond allotment fund 8294.93. Victory tax paid amounted to 81.428.50 and the balance in the withholding lax fund waa 8488.50.

G. E. Union To Elect Officers January 11 Polls To Be Open * Noon Until 8 p. m. Local 924. union of the Decatur General Electric company employe*. will hold the annual election of officers at the union hall next Tuesday, January 11. The election -will 4»e held by eecret ballot and Hie polio will be open from 12 noon antil 8 P m. The nominees for the varies* officers are as follow: -President --Henry Stauffer. Adam Kunowich and Robert Cole. Vlce-pre»ldent — Edga? Haaty. Emery Hawkina. George W. Myer® and Forrest Owens , Financial eeerdary -Robert M Miller. Recording secretary -Brice Roop. Cyril Hetaaa. Kenneth flecanr and James Kitchen. T-titse — Oscar Heller. Cleo Painter. Rawlign Richard* and Hebert Cochran. Sergeant at ar .re - Waldo Eck rote. Reaaell Flemlog and Oecar Tesple.

Schricker To Call Special Session Os State Legislature Gcottsburg, Ind. Jan. 4—(UP)— Governor Sbhrlcker announces he will call a special session of the Indiana legislature. The eereion will consider bills to facilitate the voting of eoldien. The chief executive told a Bcottaburg audience laet night that it will be called a* eoon a* congress outlines the proper procedure to permit voting. He add® that state political leadera have agreed to back the passage of whatever measure is needed to give the servicemen the privilege. He hope* to be Mile ot call the seosioiF early thia year. — o ——— Recorder's Annual Report Announced Reveals Mortgages Are Being Paid Off Farmers are taking advantage of Increased Income* by paying off their mortgage* almcat three time* a* fast a* n* w one* are acquired, while city residents are paying their mortgage* off about 25 percent faster than they are being recorded. These fact* were revealed in the annual report announced today by county recorded, Mrs. Ruth Hollingsworth. During 1943, a total of 143 new mortgages, totaling 8445,498, waa placed on rural property, while 371 old mortgage*, totaling 8L132.299. were released. In the same period. 157 mortgagee were placed on city property, amounting to 8408.745. and 224 released. mortgage® totaling 852.059.96 were Due to the fact that <47 of the 806 deni* made during 1943 were fcr 8L the true value* of the property conveyed during the year can not be determined. Mre. Hollingsworth pointed out. Her report show* the value of 419 deed* on city property amounted to 893.057 and 3*7 deed* on rural property equaled 8309.009. The 81 de-d* are the cause of the kw total value* on three Items. In addition, there were two shiriff** deeds for city property with a todeed for rural property amounting tai value of 86.850 and one sheriff's to 82.580. There were three auditor's deeds tor city property with a total value of 842 and four aid!tor deed* of rural property totaling 87K. The total of deed* is: all deeds except sheriff's qnd auditor's deeds: number, 806. valued at 8402.(Tur* Te Pae* 6. CotuM-a 4) i ■■■■' O "" ■■ Commissioners End Monthly Session The county commissioners concluded their regular monthly eion Monday afternoon Only claims were allowed, most of the tanportant new business have (seen taken cars of on (be New Years day meeting

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, January 4,1944.

Assails Handling 01 Labor Matters AFL Head Defends Union Production Washington. Jan. 4 — (UP) — AFL pre»ident William Green ha* pointed an accusing finger at the admlnl»tration — charging it with hiconfpetence In the handling of labor matters. Green took offense at the statement of a high government official who said labor unreal comfort* the enemy and has the effect of prolonging the war. In rebuttal, the AFL leader defend* the production record* of union members. And he place* labor difficulties squarely DM door of the administration. Green * attitude I* supported by some senators. Senator Ball of Minnesota say* he is Inclined to blame government more than labor. He adds, .'it demonstrates our failure to enact at the start a labor relation* policy for the duration.” In tho ;:<eanttme. C'lu president Murray I* turning to the role labor will play In tho national election* this year. Murray announce* that tho newlyformed CIO political action committee will hold a meeting just before the two major party conventions, in an article In the current issue of the American magazine, Murray says the object of the conference will be to draft and present to the people a specific set of principles for our general warfare. And he says the political action committee win decide what action to take regarding the two parties and their Individual candidate*. In Washington, a storm of pro(Turn To Pa*o :. Column 1) Labor Leaders Aid Indiana Bond Rally Indianapolis Site Os Program Monday Indianapolis, Jan. 4 — (UP) — AFL president William Green and other labor leaders will participate in a rally launching the nation's fourth war loan drive next Monday. Chairman Eugene Pulliam ot the etate war finance committee announces that Ted Gamble, who ie national director ot the committee, also will take part In the Indianapolis meeting. Labor leadens, beside* Green, will include secretary Fred Carey ot Hie CIO and Tom Ca*hen. who k* presiden*. of 21 railway brother hood*. Governor Schricker and novelist Cleo D*w»on are also on the list ot speakers. Pulliam rey« part of the program will be broadcast over a national network The astional drive open* on January 18. However. Pulliam says bond purrh**e« made betw-en Jan aary 1 and February 29 will be credited toward the Mtionai goal of 114.M9.M9.090

Would Simplify All Income Tax Returns Kansas Congressman Suggests New Plan Washington. Jan. 4 — (IP) • A Kansas congressman ha* had a vision a vision of a near pa!n!e*» March 15. the deadline you-never-qui'enir-r-t for filing income tax return*. The congre«sinan — Representative Carlson of the Sunflower state —would simplify return* so that paying taxes would be no more complicated than paying the butcher The representative would broaden the withholding tax provision* so between 30,<MMI.0W0 and 40,000.000 persons would pay their tax out of their pay check each week and be done with it. And secondly, he proposes that personal income taxes Ire combined into one set of exemption* and one set of rates. This would Include the victory tax. More concrete grard new* for the breadwinner especially those who worry about 5 o’clock shadow —come* from the war production board. The WPB has removed all restriction* on the manufacture of razors and razor blade*. Thu«, one of the first item* to feel the pinch of the war is on the comeback trail. The WPB say* producHon In the future will be limited only by the amount of materials available. And the ladies will be interested in a new ruling by the office of price administration. It concerns rayon stocking*. The price set-up I* going to be completely revamped. But that doesn't necessarily mean that women will have to pay more for their hose. The GPA says the price of some rayon* will go up- -but other type* will be reduced In price. GPA also delved Into the food (Turn To Pars t. Column I) 0 Hunt Is Abandoned For Missing Bomber Fort Wayne Soldier Is One Os Missing Westover Field. Ma**.. Jan. 4 (I’Pt— The army announce* the abandonment of the hunt for an army heay bomber which carried a Fort Wayne. Ind., soldier and seven other crew member*. The ml*aing Hooalrr. Sergeant Bernard Stockley. and the other crewmen are presumed to have perished somewhere In the New England area. The 22-day aearch was the longest plane hunt ever conducted in the area. Since December 12. the missing bomber and crew member* have been hunted by air and by land. The plane was on a routine musion when It* last radio «lgnal indicated it was over the mountainou» region of central New Hampshire and had developed trouble. It I* now thought the bomber may have crashed off the New England coast. Hoosier Killed Fort Worth, Tex . Jan 4— fl’P) —Air cadet James Robrabaugh of Lafayette. Ind., ha* been killed In a plane collision near Hicks Field. Hi* training plane collided with another plane piloted by cadet Thoma* Johnstone. Jr., of Westford. Maas. Johnstone wa* uninjured. Eckstrom Missing London. Jan. 4—tt’P)—Captain Carl Eckstrom of Minneapoli*- a former national collegiate boxing champion — I* missing from a bombing flight over Germany Eck*trom never returned from (Turn Ta Pag* •• Column 4) 0 Dolch Funeral Rites Thursday Afternoon Funeral services for Mrs. Bessie Dolch twill be held at 2:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the Ft ret Methodist church in this city, with Dr. M. O. Lewter officiating. Burial will be in (be Decatur cemetery. Mrs. Dolch. well knoan Decatur woman, died early Monday morning enroute to a hospital at Prospect. Hi., where she bad been vlsi’ing her sister. Mm. John Nichol soh The body will arrive here thia evening, and may be viewed at the Zwlck funeral home after 3 •’clock Wednesday afternoon.

Germany Faces Greatest Disaster Os War As Red Armies Smash Forward

Knox Hints At Plan To Invade Marshall Isles Says Enemy Strictly On The Defensive In Pacific War Zones By I'nlted Pie** Secretary of the navy Knox *uy* that American airmen are carrying forward “softening” operation* against the Marshals—indicating that an Invasion of those Japanese-held island* can soon lie expected. That’s the first time Knox ever ha* used the phrase “softening up" in connection with sustained aerial blow*. Psually. such a phrase i« connected with pre-in-vaslon operation*. Knox also says the enemy ha* been strictly on the defensive throughout the South Pacific and Southwest "Pacific area*, and added that the Japanese air arm seem* particularly weak. Knox believes the most important development of the week wa* tho carrier-based attack on Japanese ships just outride of Kavleng. on New Ireland Two Japanese heavy cruisers were hit by I.OM pound bombs and are believed to have been *unk or beached In the same attack, two Jap destroyer* were bombed and strafed. One wa* set afire and probably sunk, while the other wa* badly damaged. Between 11 and 15 Jap fighter plane* and a bomber were downed during the operation. And Knox said the entire cost to American force* wa* two lighters and one dive bomber lost. Knox al«o »ay« that PT boat* and planes are raising havoc with Japanese barge*. The enemy has been forced to place heavy reliance on this type of craft due to severe losses in merchant shipping. Here’s another report on the Marshals — but this one come* front Japan: The Japanese Domel agency say* that 14 American liberator bomber* raided Japanese position < on Taroa Island in the Maloelap group. To the southwest—ln New Guinea American troop* are fanning out on all front* in a search for Jap soldier*. The enemy failed to oppose the American landing and capture of Saldor—the im|Mirtant Japanese barge trans-shipment point on the supply route to Hum |M-iilnsiila and Kabaul Army source* say the operation (Turn To Page 1. Coloma I) 1 "" ' I U. — .ll, . .Ml I —. Carter Glass Marks His 86th Birthday Confident Allies Will Win In 1944 Washington. Jan. 4. — (t'Pi Carter Gla«* of Virginia, the oldest member <f the senate, is celebrating hl* *6th birthday today confident that the year ahead will bring peace. He believe* the Allie* will win complete victory in 1»44 Senator Glasa is recuperating from a critical lUnee* which kept him from his place as president pro tempore of the senate during IMS. Although he broke with Mr. Roosevelt over domestic policies early In the new deal. Glass says: “I have the utmost faith in the laaderwhip of President Rooeeveit, Churchill, fltalln. Chiang Kai-Shek •nd every man and woman serving In the armed forces” Glass was secretary of the treasury under Wilson, and went to the senate in l»20. Since then, he ha* served continuously.

Toll In Destroyer Blast May Be 50 No Information On Cause Os Explosion New York. Jan. 4 —(VP) — A death toll of at least 50 is feared In the explosion* which «ank a I’nited States destroyer off Sandy Hook .N. J. The navy «aya tiiat 163 men were rescued. Os those, 108 were injured. six seriously. Survivors tell stories of seeing comrade* burned and hurled into the water a* the first blast rocked the ehip. They believe Hie explosion# killed all or most of the officer*. The number of persons altoard ha* not been disclosed. But ft is estimated generally at 230. The third naval dbrtrlct say* the casualty liet and other information will tie releaaed through the navy department at Washington. A naval 4»ard of inquiry Is Investigating the cause of the Mast. Cause Uncertain Waohington, Jan. 4 — (I’Pt — Navy secretary Knox say* he ha* no definite information as to the cause of the explosion which sank a I'nlted States destroyer off Sunday Hook. N. J. Knox told hi* n«ws conference, "our Information is that the vessel wa* at anchor when I' happened.” And he added: "A thotough inve*tigation is being made. We are awaiting a report from the third naval district.” o Levi Johnson Dies Suddenly Monday Dies Last Night At Adams County Home Levi Johnson, aged about 78. formerly of near Monroe, died suddenly M' nday evening at about 6:2<> o'clock while sitting alone in a chair at the Adam* county home, where be hail been taken Sunday afternoon. Coroner Robert Zwlck gave a verdict today of death due to a cerebral hemorrhage Frank Kitson, »iip< rintendent of the in*'ltuHon said today that supper had been served Mr Johnson at 6 o'clork Monday evening. He apparently wa* not *eriou*ly 111. At 6:45 o'clock Mr Kitson returned and found him dead in hi* chair. He had been ill for some time previous to being taken to the county home. He had never married and had lived near Monroe all his life. He had been making hi* home with hl* only living brother. Noah Johnson. who is seriously ill at the Adam* county memorial hi spltal. Levi Johnwon had worked for many year* a« a section hand on the Pennsylvania railroad until forced to retire due to ill health. Reside* the one brother he Is survived by a sister. Mrs Matilda McGown. cf Mtamasburg, Ohio, and a number of nephews ami niece*. Including Frank Vhrick. and Frank L. Johnson, of Decatur, and Mrs. Eliza N. Hahnert. <»T Monroe Three (Turn To >'»<• 6. Column I) sl9l In Cash Too Well Hidden, Store Proprietor Reports Proprietors of the Equity Dairy Store, which was robbed early Monday morning, today notified Ed P Miller, chief of pc lee. that 8191 in cash, previously reported as pan of the loot, was found In the store late Monday night The money apparently w.w too well hidden, not only for the intruder* to find, bat for the proprietors to remember the oecrer hiding place At leant, last night's find reduces the Equity's lore to 825 in cash, which wa* taken from the caab register.

Buy War Savings Bbnds And Stamps

Price Three Cents

Million Nazis Face Entrapment As Reds Surge Forward Along Front Os 50 Miles By I'nlted Press Powerful Rumian armies are reported sweeping ocros* the prewar Polish frontier and fanning out through the western Ukraine in a two-pronged drive that threatens to trap 1,000,000 Nazi troopo in Germany's greatest disaster of the war. The northern wing of General Nlkolla Vatutin'* first Ukrainian army is reported rolling swiftly in’o Poland on a 50 mile front. And. simultaneously. Vatutin's Southern wing has lashed out south of Kiev to capture the highway and railroad junction of Belaya Tserkov. The southern thrust is alined at closing off the last escape route* open to the huge Nazi forces pinned In the Dnieper bend. Belaya Taerkov, which ha* been virtually encircle I for some time, lie* astride the north-south rail linn linking Germany's armies in tho bend. Stalin'* order of the day. announcing Its capture, describes it as an Important German defenso liase and rail junction. It was taken after a four day liattle. Reports from the front linc-re farther north indicate that Red army column* have crossed the old Polish frontier which, incidentally, the Russian government doe* not recognize at several points. A Nazi conMnunique admits that Red army men are pressing homo new attacks with strong force*. The GerrnaM complain of bitter weather, rnrhlle Bovlet front di* patches tell of the Nazi retreating in a disorganized fashion. German troops are said to lie throwing away their rifle*, their equipment and «upplles. All in all. it's a far different story from that of 1941 when tho Germans rolled across this samn country bito Russia proper. Now the Russian* are not only threatening to march due wust towards the Nazi homeland—they'r also menacing the entire German position in the Dniper 4>end. Field reports say the Red army I* knocking down the last major defense line east of Rumania. And soino German sources according to Stockholm expect the Red army to attack along the Black Sea coast at any moment. The crashing of the pre-war Polish border brings to a head Hw longsmouldertag problem of relation* between Poland and Russia. The Russian government doe* not recognize the pre-war lioundary. It's felt, instead, that the actual border lies some 150 mil’s to tho wret. at a line eatwblished when both Russia and Germany entered Poland In 1939 And Moscow dispatches say any attempt to ratao the question of Russia's sovereignty over the eastern part of Poland would probably lie met by stony silence in the Kremlin. In Washington, the Polish ambassador visited secretary of state Hull today. The amliawiador said his talk with Hull had been satisfactory Hull told reporter* later that nothing new can be eaid about the Polish Russian situation. Greatest Year In History For Bank Deposits, Assets Hit New High Mark DrposHs in the First State bank on December 31 totaled 85 705.727.93. an itwreaae of 81-544.5.1 39 during the year. Assets of the bank climbed above the KOoeow mark, totaling. 8«.o«4 702 75 at the close of the year. A year ago they wer® 14.47X.4M67 The Imuk enjoyed Its greatest growth and heavier business laat year in all its history Theodor® F. GnUlker. president said. The banka capital structure was Increased with additions to the undivided profits account and reserve*. The annual election of directors and officW* of the beak will be held this mouth.