Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 42, Number 28, Decatur, Adams County, 2 February 1944 — Page 1

LfWint/ieWar. If |se Is Chores!

I-BLII. No, 28.

UTTER BATTLE RAGING FOR MARSHALLS

It French bps Smash Lsfav Line |r -Mile Hole Is Icked In German ■y Defense Line bulletin ■Advanced Command Po*t K, Feb 2—(UP)—AmsrlKiks and infantry reached Krthern cutakirta of CaaKday and are locked in a | battle with German ■ defending the town. I By ( lilted PreM ■ran and French troop* Kit a hard blow to the Nazi Km. abov* f’aasina in cenKnk and the French have Kuirli a four-mlle hole in the KnbiitiK the main Nazi fortiKnorth of Caaaino. Kn-n a' Allied headquartKa'c 'he Germans will be K> fail back nine mile* to Kiled Adolf Hitler line” Ke, Nazi prisoner* say. fa KiiV! than the Gustav line ■ reports nay the final battle Klieved to have broken the Kim was fought in an eerie Ko.’ The fog spread like e ■ over the Itapido river volKras so ooiipy it hampered ■lon by Nazi artillery crews Kight* to the north of CasIrioaked. American artilleryLhed up their hum They Ke with a terific bom bardK ( aasino and the area Just ■ Then the French and AmI infantrymen atormed into ■T- Official report* say our Kte stairbod forward to withKb- of a town at the base K foot Mount Calm, which kes the entire area. K* Allied communique reK new progress by forces on ■larged beachhead below It says only that fierce fight■Xing. Iver. the German high comlay- we have mad- a deep ■tlun at one point. And radio bays British troops have ocI Campo Ixone, 15 airline below Borne. lllri-.Hh were last reported ■ on the outskirts of the p- having cot the elecric I railroad, an enemy aupply Ite lower Italian front. I Weather has pinned down bavy bomber*, hut medium k raided enemy traffic on klan way. Fighter bom bens lay shipping on the Jugoslav lAnd the Allied communique I that Monday, British WellI boniiiers hit Nazi-operated penes at the northern AdriaIt of Trieste. bush there la no confirmaI the report in any Allied k. the Nazi Rome radio say* pine - home of Pope Pius at I Gandoifo near Rome has bombed. Allied headquarters F bomber* raided Albano, a bn<tion about a mile south li'apal villa. Ph fighters have shot down p tu German bombers interPTo Pa Ca », Column 1) r~ a oter-Goers In fne Contribution To March Os Dimes Utr'a t tieater«oers opened part* and tbelr purses wide *»k and the final tabulation ’hat they contributed 9M2 - b* March of Dimes drive conI in the Adamo and Cort thea- " •*» represents a In- • o’er the amount collected Hr. •onned Girl Scouts stationed theater lobules were on hand •7 performance and to their wl | g credited the • 'his year’s drive. While *«>*» is officially known as ••ivh of Dimes" many halves •nrters and dollar bills were lB the collection boxes. One I donor contributed a lie MH ■arise sergeant emptied all "♦r in his pockets into the Mr. kwk for the amount donated ’•ret by Roy Kaiver. chalr- • the local theater drive, to “toaai Fownda’loo for Intaaand half of the mon- ’ " refereed to Adams couatocal a*a.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Declares Groundhog A Fraud, No Good As A Weather Prophet Chicago, Feb. 2. —(UP) —Well, here it is groundhog day again—which means that whether or not the groundhog comes out of his hole, and sees his shadow -we etlll won't know what to < Xpert from the weather man. Yes, it seems, Mr. Grondhog is a fraud. And bis days as a forecaster are over. Mies Lera inc Lloyd—a specialist for the Chicago museum of natural history-- says right out that the groundhog is no forecaster. In fact, ahe says, he's only a rodent. One of the most essential things to know abuit the animal is that It makes good eating and requires no ration points. Mias Lloyd offers this thumbmail sketch of the groundhog: he is an acc< mpliahed bibernator, and during the time he spends in the ground, he comes closer to death than any other animal. When the weather warms up a bit, the groundhog feels it and conies up for a look. If the outside world still feels too cold, he gees back for a nap. But he doesn't know whether it will be six weeks or six months until spring.

C. Os C. Directors Approve Softener Approval Is Voiced At Council Meeting The Decatur Chamber of Commerce lock th* lead Tuesday night in approving a water softener for the city plant at the regular meeting of the city council Tuesday night. \k letter approving the project of softening the city’s drinking wafer ao it could be used for washing as well as human consumption was read at the council meeting and tiled The letter wa* signed by Ralph Gentls, president, and Rcbert Holthouae. aecretary treasurer of the civic organization. Thia latter came in response to a recent request of city official* a* to what would be the most popular projects to include in Decatur's planning for pest war conditions when labor and material will again be available for Improvement*. Among the question* asked city councilmen recently about the results of a water softener is whether or not It would taste like Fort Wayne water. Authorities on the subject, whe have been asked, say they believe not. Und<r the system proposed for Decatur, the present deep well water would be ua»-d and sos .ened. A good percentage of Fort Wayne water is from the river. Reek Projects City officials are endeavoring to learn what the citizens deem the most necessary improvement* for post war planning in order that preparation* for them can be made well in advance. Another project, which probably would be popular, is that of a storm ~(Turn To Fag* 2, Column I) —C Jap Espionage In Solomons In 1912 Noted Lady Explorer Tells Os Espionage Las Angele*. Feb. 2 —(l’Pi —Explorer Osa J ohnson say* ahe noted Japanese espionage throughout the world long before the first world w * r - . . . She and her huwband the Ute Martin Jobroon-went all over the world in their queal for out-of-the-way places and cu*tom» The south seas, the orient. Africa, and the United SUtM. Everywhere they taw the Jap* on noue-too-innocent bualnM* As an example. Mr*. Johnson tell* of the time she end her husband were exporing in the Solo mow in 1812 They found a Japanese tailor at Tulagl who m>d«■hlrta and dresses for them. He wan a good tailor —the best they had ever had But as Mm. Johnson says, it seemed a llttte etrenge that a simple tailor should have fine eauserw and a small aaillng bust with a powerful auaillary motor It turns out that after Pwrl Harbor tho little tailor euddenly became the Geaorel teblmoto who was killed while leading ’be Japaaeoe force on Guadalcanal.

Compromise On Soldier Vote Is Past First Test Compromise Bill Survives Test As Amendment Loses Washington. Fell. 2- (UP)—The compromise soldier vote bill in the senate has survived Us first floor test. By a vote of 23 to 88, the senate defeated an ainendtnen' which would have provided that the validity of service ballots should be determined In accordance with state law. The compromise bill, as written, already provides that a proposed federal war ballot commission shall have no power to pass on the validity of a ballot. It specifies that this determination of validity shall be made by the appropriate district election official*. A series of similar amendment* also was defeated, indicating proliable voting power to bring the compromise measure to final action as it is. However, the senate adopted unanimously an amendment by senator Vandenberg Instructing the army and navy to give the same priority to state ballots a* I* given to federal ballots. If practical without Injury to the war effort. In the meantime, congress has been warned that it must enact national service legislation or prolonged the war The warning came from Warren Atherton, the national commander of the American Legion, who told a congressional committee that we cannot cure oure our manpower shortages without a national labor act At the same time, the old battle over food subsidies la coming to life again. Antisubsidy leadens met at a strategy conference, and decided to go all-out for a measure (tanning food subridies. One antifood subsidy bill has already been approved in the house. While congress worrlro about the soldier vote, food sulisldles and la(Turn To Pag* I. Column 8) William J. Kuhnle Dies This Afternoon Prominent Resident Is Token By Death William J Kuhnle. Sr.. 49. prominent Decatur citizen, died this afternoon at 12:15 o'clock at the Adams county memorial hospital of a heart ailment which followed a stroke of apoplexy. January 22. He had been at the hospital since the stroke in a critical condition. He became 111 January 20. Mr. Kuhnle resided at 127 North Third street and was employed as supervisor of the print shop at Baer field in Fort Wayne. For 19*3 years he was a salesman for the ndard Oil company, coming here . that concent from Lafayette. Hr was the son of George and Anna Marie Kuhnle. of Lafayette, where he was born February 9. 1994. He was married June 18. 1920 to Leons Rogers, of Romney. (Turn To P«<« •• Column 7) — 0 — Boughn Funeral Rites Held At Ridgeville Funeral serrice* were held at Ridgeville Monday sot Mr*. Worley Baugton. W. who died Saturday. Survivor* Include the husband, a daughter, and two »ons. Carl and Harold Baughn. both ot Decatur. temperature reading democrat thermometer 8:00 a. m. 28 10:00 a.- 30 Noon 2:00 p. m. — • 33 J:00 p. m. 34 WEATHER Cloudy with occasional rein In south and central portions, and bfM snow se rain In w treme north portion tonight and and Thureday. except ending in north portion Thuredsy Oiiphtly wsrtwor tonight and Thursday.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, February 2, 1944

Happy Ending To Strange Story MRS. JUANITA WAITS. 18, of Columbus, O. left her baby. Marylln Ann Waits, with a friend while she visited her husband in a -oiiihern army cainp. The friend ‘ln-d of caring for the baby and. taking a trip west without notifying the mother, abandoned it in nn autoitm bile in Detroit. That was last Novemb-i The child six months old. was placed with a private family by the Children's Aid Society. Only recently hearing of the abandonment. Mrs. Waits went to itetroft and has been reunited with the child, above.

Soviet Republics To Have Post-War Voice Seen Move To Match Other Allied Votes (By United Pres»> Sixteen votes at the peace table —that is believed to be Russia'* goal iu giving all the republic* of the Soviet union an independent voice In foreign affair*. Observers in Washington interpret Russia's conatitullonal change a* a move to match vote* with the United State* and Britain In postwar decisions. As you recall, B’ltain had the advantage of one vote for each member of her commonwealth in the U-ague of Nation*. And Ituiwia had only one. Observer* In Moscow »ee the same implication. Many noted the new system would resemble organization of the British commonwealth In respect to diplomatic procedure. o®ny Charges Prominent American Catholiro today are denying charge* in the official Soviet newspaper Izvestia that the Vatican is a supporter of fascism. They charge, in turn, (hat Russia is preparing to make a separate treaty with Germany. Monsignor Fulton Sheen of Catholic university in Washington say* Soviet condemnation of the Vatican Is “merely an Item in a pattern which Russia is skUlfuily working (Turn To P»<« •- Column 4) o — Saw Dust Pile On Fire, Call Firemen The city fire department answered a call to lhe Wayne Novelty Co. on Washington s'reet where a saw duet pile wa* on fire. It was extlnrulahed Wore much damage wa* done. The run was at 5:45 o’clock this morning.

City Council May Take Action To Stop Destruction Os Trees

Th. city council, aroused by the Ire of dozen* of citizens in the west part cf the city, are considering the adoption of a ordinance with leeth in it unless the promiscuous chopping down of tre«B is stopped. Recently It is reported a home owner cut down two go< d trees in front of hl* home in order to "have more sun." The "council sought an opinion from city attorney Hubtr M. DeVcM on the subject. After con»ulting with Ralph Roop, city engin eer. It was learned that the tree*, abou* which the protest* were received. were actually on city property. a* are moot of the other* in Decatur. Therefore. It to utcesaary to obtain permtosion from the city before almost any cf the front ynrd shade tree* can be cut down, even though there to no ordinance at the preaent time regulating It, city attorney De Vos* Informed the conn-

Yankee Pilot Bags His 25th Jap Plane Guadalcanal, Feb. 2 - (UP) | Lieutenant Robert ’'Bouncer'' Ilanj son—MW the leading South Pacific air ace—ha* shot down hi* 25th Jap plane. The marine comltat pilot, who hail* from Newtonville. Mass., voleicttd four of Ni|>pon's finest In *he Sunday raid on Rabanl. Hi* total bag of 25 is one short of lhe all-time American record. 94,000 Killed By Accidents In '43 Accidents In Homes Show 2,500 Boost Wa-hington. Feb. 2 — (UP) — The home front sound* like a veritable battletii Id when the national safety council make* a re port. For Instance, the council say* that in 1943. accident* hull’d more than 94 'bat pei son*. That's 94.888 per-on* who never saw a South Pacific jungle or who never were measured to, a pair of 0. I- shoe*. These 94.088 were right here at home At that, the figure mark* a decrease of one and one half percent In fatalities' from 1912. But almost 18.000.880 persons were Injured last year. And that's an increase. That means that one out of every 14 persons In the country wa* Injured during 1913. In other word*, the council say* accidents caused a lo<* In manhour* equivalent to a year'* work for 150.000 persons -or the time it take* to build more than 17.880 hear) Isoinber* Traffic death* declined by S.(KMI —but that is In direct proportion to the decrease In mileage tinder ga- eatkining. The toll wa* the (Turn To ?*<• •. Poluma i»

.til. Members of the council individually said that the city ba* long been i r»cognized a* one with beautiful ' ihade tree*. Most < f them now are : 40 or 50 year* old. some older, and : would take a generation to replace History of Tress French Quinn, local historian, said the trees were planted tn the late seventies, when Decatur was a sun-baked cieaYing At that t!mtbere was scarcely a shade tree. The late R. 8 Peterson, town attorney at that time, to generally given the credit for stirring up the enthusiasm for the trees. He had an ordinance passed by the town council requiring every property owner to plant shade trees in trout of bis bouse The citizens co-operated aad planted maple* and cottonwood, •he totter because they grew quirk- * (Turn Te Pass L Calmna 4/

Powerful Yank Invasion Force Releases Fury On Japs' Main Strongholds

Russian Army Virtually On Estonia Border Red Troops Trying To Trap 150,000 Os Nazi Soldiers By United Press Importan* news is ezpected from Russia within the next few hour*. Front report* say the Red army Is moving up to the Estonian bor- i der on a 10-mlle front. Mobile ’ gun . have been moving up within range of Narva key Junction four mile* inside Estonia. And three Itiissliin column* are ge’ting into 1 position for an attack on the city Th« Russians have been trying to close a trap on the German armies south of Leningrad, believed to number IW.Owt. If, the maneuver were successful it would [ he the greatest vic’.ory. from the point of enemy losses, since Stalingrad. Finland is getting more worried about RuMlP’a victory news. President Ilyll of Finland I* reported io have told the opening session of the die’ loday that the country’* position is grave. Official reports Indicate German resistance in this area collapsed With the fall of the Nazi stronghold of Kingisepp. It was among more than 50 places the Russian* took yesterday. Front report* say "sensational" j ! development* can lie eapected in the nelt 24 hours A Soviet bulletin announcing the crossing of the l»ord<-r and perhaps annihilation of remnant* I of the Nazi U-nlngrad siege arm j les would lie doubly significan' I today. For this I* the first anniversary of the Anal victory of I Stalingrad. Briefly, here's the picture on ' the Leningrad front: I Three main Soviet columns are repotted moving into position for i a pincers drive on the rail and road junefon of Nara, inside Estonia German troop- who rushed into the woods and swamps m an effort to reach the 27 mile Narva escape corridor between Lake Peipus and the Gulf of Finland are reported being slain by the thousands. And some 50 miles southeast of ' the Narva-liotind offensive, other Russian ’roopa are heightening the threat to 150,800 Nazi* in a pocket south of Leningrad. (Turn To «. Column 7) 1 o John Frauhiger Dies Al Home In Bluffton Funeral Services On Thursday Afternoon John Frauhiger. 94. father of Mrs. Jennie Heer of thia city, died Tuesday at hie home in Bluffton after a two day*' illness of shingles. He was born in Switzerland in 1888. but wa* brought to thia country when five yeans old. and had lived In Well* county since that tlmeSurvlvli’.g are the following children: a!rs. Beer. Mrs. Aldine Aeschiiman and Mr*. Ellaabeth Reini hart, both of Bluffton: William. I John. Amos and Xdam Frauhiger. 'all of Bluffton: Leri Frauhiger. of i near Decatur; Mrs. Itella Hyerly. of Bluff'on. Mrs. Rose Heer of Berne and Mrs. Hertha Dubach, of ' near Geneva; p step-son. Samuel i Kaebr of Sturgis. Mich ; So grandchildren and St groat-grandchild-ren. Funeral service will be held at 1 p m Thuraday a’ the residence and at 2 o'clock at ’be Christian . Apoatollc church, east of Bluffton. Burial will be in the church ceoieItery

Group Leaves For Physical Exams 26 Report Today At Indianapolis Twenty-six Adamo county men left this morning for Indianapolis to take physical examinations under the new selective service setup now In force throughout the nation. Men from this group accepted for armed service will n t be sworn into service at thio time, but will be included In contingent* at later date*. Certitli ate* of fltnes* will be mailed later to the accepted men. and the local draft board will he notified If the individual I* fit for army. navy, marine or limited service, or rejected. The new procedure provides that the individual can not be inducted until at least 21 days following the mailing < f his certificate of fltnws. .No <alls have been received for active Induction, draft board off!dale Mated today. William Howard Bell was the leader of today s group, with Dale Bernell Lantz as assistant leader. Two men ordered to report today failed to Mlpear and are classed a« delinquent They are: Emilio laFernandez and Sylvester t’ostancio Dels Cruuz. J”. Lyle Yake, 4-E (consi ieutiou* oh- ' jector to both combat and non-com-I bat service), was ordered to go with today's contingent for typing examination for induction into a I work camp, but failed to appear. 1 He will be reported as delinquent. (Turn To Pa«s I. Columa 8) Will Publish List 01 All In Service Legion, Democrat Cooperate On List The Decatur Daily Democrat, in cooperation with Adams post 43. American Legion, will publish the name* of all Adam* county men and women now in the nation* armed services. The firwt list of these names will be published in Friday's edition of the Democrat, and other names will follow in later losum. In addition to this list, a coupon ’ wilt be printed for a correction of 1 error* in iiam«w published and also for any omitted names. This list, which I* to Include all throe in *ervice on or after Pearl Harlior, December 7. 1941. will be published in alphabetical eider. With an estimated number of more than 1.808 Adame county m- n and wroneii in service. It will be impossible to print all the names in ; one issue. On thte correction coupon, the f<dowing information may be listed: If name I* Iteted incorrectly, typor print correct name at top ot coupon and incorrect name on bottom of coupon. Give home address. NOT »ervlce addreae. Wait until the particular letter "(Turn To VMS- S. Colums 8) Council Rejects Claim By Dairy The city council adopted a report of the electric I'ght committee, which rejected a claim of Ito* til- . ed by the Blue Creek Dairy agaln»t th- city for damage to it* equipment. at the regular meeting of . the council Turoday nigh'. I An agreement for rural I‘ght line ’ extension to H. A. Hodle in Midi--1 son township. Allen county, wa* approved. Petition* were received from the following four parties for rural light line extensions George F and Georgia E Morris. Union ■ township. Adam* county. Amos ! Thieme, Union township. Adams . | county. George W Sooner of nrer ■ 1 Dereutr. and Sheldon Wigley, of I south of Decatnr.

Buy War Savings Bonds And Stamps

Price Three Cents

Soldiers, Marines Launch Invasion Os Islands Under Big Naval Protection By Unlte-d Pre** America's powerful invasion force ba'tHng In the heart of the Marshall* ha* turned its fury on the main stronghold* In Kwnjaleln Atoll. home 30.008 United State* marines and soldiers already have seized 10 islet beachhead* within Kwajaleln and opened up with major an-anlt* on Rot. Namur and Kwajaleln Islands the chief components of Kwajaleln Atoll. Striking Mt 500 mile* from the captured Gilbert*, army and marine troop* waded ashore Monday under the protecfjng fire of thw greatest naval striking force ever assembled. Quickly stabbing through light resistance, they killed 40 Jap* and captured many more, American casualties were extremely light Only when the Yank* turned their might on the three great island* in the Kwajaleln nest, did the Jap* rally and begin putting up a strong defense. For Japan- , ese military strength I* concentrated on these three coral island*. On Kwajaleln Inland, at the southern end of 6fi mile-long Kwajaleln Atoll. Is a naval base. On Rol and Namur Islands, at th- northern > end. are air base facilities. Score* of guns, hauled ashore on the 10 islet lieacbheads. are joining 18-lnch rifle* on warships i ‘ offshore in pounding those threw I bases. Ton* of she”* an- being \ pumped Into the three strongpoints — already scourged l>y a 14.500-toa sen and air pre-lnvasion Ismibardment. Great flapping tongues of *moke are mushrooming l.iMHi feet in the air over lhe three bases The preliminary phase is over and the big batlie has just started In Kwajaleln Atoll. The commander of amphibious forces. Rear ! Admiral Rb-iwiioiid Turner, warns that the operation is going to lie tough. But at the same lime, he believe* tho Marshall invasion "could become lhe main event" in the Pacific war. He add"Anything can happen now. and We hope it does. We have never j been more ready." Turner »ay» the capture of | Kwajaleln Atoll would give tho I United S'ates q, huge naval operating base on the road to Tokyo, Furthermore, he adds, we would i acquire air base* within I.Sint mile* of the powerful Japanesw . ba»<> o' Truk The Invasion of the Marshall* came after 2*> day* of almost continuous air Irombardtnent A similar air offensive now I* in pro- : gres* in the Southwest Pacific. Alllr-d airmen again have attacked (Turn To Purs I. Column t) —— ——— Long-Range Public Works Program Aim Post-War Building Plans To Be Sound Chicago. Feb. 2.—<UP>—Director Harold Smith of the federal budget bureau warns that funds will not he aUocated for post-war construction that isn't of sound value And be says that public werks will not be permitted to compete for manpower with private enterprise Hmith told a meeting of the American road builder • asaociation at Chicago this noon that it is th* responsibility of private enterprise to take the lead in maintaining ’ high employment and a maximum nati nal income. He pointed ont that full employ- ' ment is commonly recognized as » peacetime objective. Hut he added that today's brand of lull employment te not one that man would wish to perpetuate "No one. ho said, “wants to live in a permanent areaaal " Smith says that a long range public works program te being drawn , up by the budget bureau at the re(Turn Te Peg* <. Colnaa* 8)