Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 42, Number 41, Decatur, Adams County, 17 February 1944 — Page 1

f OstWinfheWa A’Wse /$ Chores/

J!. No. 41.

■OMAN KILLED BY FAST ERIE TRAIN TODAY

Lines Hold Fast Furious Attack Ms German War Machine

■ge Battles Are ■ng On Ground, ■r Over Front ■Hied Beachhead ■y United Press Kermaii* are throwing ■ they're got into the Kus offensive ye’ against ■h.-ad below Rome. K latest official reports ■battlefront Indicate that ■ are holding fast — not ■n Inch — and bluffing ■t blow. ■ort* from th# front dos- ■ stone as one terrific ■gvage air battles raging ■of violent artillery bar- ■ of tanks churning up ■try side in lumbering, ■ulvalents of dog-fights. Kough I* all. British and ■ ground troops are grit- ■ teeth and holding every ■round they've gained so ■st German counter-drive ■ .terday morning and ■ 'htotighout the day and light This morning the Knits increased in intenKorts from the front indiItis new offensive Is on rale than the first > the Nasis started a That's the one. where had an advantage in roather was holding Ir force. And President announcing that the is tense, said we were a break in the weatht enjoy no such advantne. The weather is our air superiority is If felt. tans them*elves tacitly they haven't succeeded a break-through yet. tl communique, in fact. British counter-attack and troops In the or — the froni that's ralght toward R*»mc. the sector where the id ’brown the heaviest their latest counterpower also Is playing of the main fifth army ssino. There’s no parrsh news from that r. bu’ secretary of war ys our troop* there Itlative and are slowly tad. ilso says that reports nsio beachhead area In r days have been overlie. that the people on front should “keep on" brings us to a controi raging bo*h In Lonashington over censorIthe news coming from Iforreipondenls last week I what they considered a hmong the military leadI the public should no* be ■pleasant news. Then bt Roosevelt spoke of the ■nation and of praying for I Ta Paws I. noluma I) P- 0— - least Monday kome Returns Archbold. Adams county ■ral agent, will broadcast ■ion WOWO. Port Wayne, ■oon to 1(:N Monday. Fete b- His broadcast will be on Income tax fMing by farm be will be assisted by EdBleeke. of the Port Wayne I revenue office. IPERATURE RIAOI NO YCRAT THERMOMETER * .* M fo(fo„., JB p. m. 18 WEATHER |bi io moderate snow In •urriee In south portion H; mostly cloudy Friday, •urrioo In extreme north M muon colder tooifht

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Goal in Sight! YOU koi BOWHT YOURt 'J| County’s Quota .. $1,221,600 Sale* to date .... 1,215.010 llalance to go 6.590 It’s goal oi nothing!

New Ration Tokens In Effect Feb. 27 One-Point Green Stamps As Change During the three-week period from February 27. when the new ration token plan begin*, and March 2**. when the last of the green stamp* good for buying processed food* run out, one-point green stamps, along with token*, may be given •‘change" when proceased food* are bcught, the office of price administration provided today. While one-point brown atamp* (for meats-fata) bar* been used for change making In the past, nae of one-point green stamps) had not. before now, been authorixed by the rationing ragulationa. It ia desirable to permit their use during the three-week transition period since it fa possible that tokens may not be well distributed in some sections, and for a time the one-point green stamps, along with the onepoint brown stamps, may be needed in a few localities for change making. During the three-week transition period from the old rationing program to the simplified token plan, two acts of stamps will be used for processed foods and two tor meatsfata. Blue 10-polnt stamp* AM, Bm, CB. DM and KM In war ration took four may be used tor processed foods from February 27 through May 20. Green stamps K. L and M tn the same ration bock may be used for processed foods from February 27 through March 20. Blue tokens and green one-point stamps may be used as change Red stamps AB. BM and C 8 in war ration book four will l>e good for meats-fat* February 27 through May 20. Red stamp* DB. EM and F 8 will be good March 12 through May 20. Brown stamp* Y and Zin war ration book three will be good thrcugh March 20. Red tokens and brown one-point stamps may be (TuraTe Paas «. Column l> To Continue Present Livestock Assessing District Meeting Is Held At Fort Wayne Adam* county township and county assessing officials will continue to assess farm livestock at <o percent of the market value (delivered to market», it was repc rted today, following a district meeting in Fort Wayne. County assessor Ernest Worthman. county auditor Thurman Drew, county treasurer Roy Price and moat of the township trustee*, who are also the assessing official*, attended the district meeting Value* to top work horses are to be lIW and down and the registered stallions and mare* from 1500 down First class mule* will be 1150 to 1200 down and two-yearold mule* will be 1100 down. It wm reported that the Allen county asssesor bad objected to the 70 percent valuation, but moot of th* '.ownship* have been follow inf It in the past Members of th* etale tax board, geldmea for the state tea board and others exptainod the new law. •ad procedure*

Kendallville Scene Os Bad Fire Today Fire Is Started By Chemical Explosion Kendallville. Ind.. Feb. 17—(OP) -•Firemen from Kendallville and several surrounding towny have brought under control a blaze which threatened to wipe out an entire business block In Kendallville. The flames were touched off In mid-morning by an explosion at the Banal chemical company. The fire spread from the company to other buildings in the block. At least five •buslnra* establishments were damaged. The loss is estimated at more than 120.000. The Fort Wayne fore department was one of those which rushed to Kendallville to save the business houses. Fort Wayne cow memmdbrs traveled the 30 miles over Icy highways to bring a 1.000-gsl-lon per-mlnute pumper to the scene. The blaze, fanned by a north wind, advanced from the (hemical company into the Brownman electrical appliance company, a Liquor store and a restaurant and leaped to the roof of the KendallviHe News-sun building The newspapers employes were at work putting out an early edition of the paper. Editor H. V. Fisher says the paper may be a little late, but It will go (Turn To Pae* «. Column 4) -■ .— — Aid Farmers To File For Gasoline Coupons AAA Members To Aid In Renewal Forms Local members of the triple A. organization, beginning today and extending to March 3, will assist farmers in filing out renewal form 543 for non-blgbway gasoline coupons. which are due March 1. Farmers were urged to go to the designated places and fill out the blanks, which will then be checked by the AAA committeemen and turned over to the local war price and ration board gas panel for processing. Miss Rosemary Spangler, chief clerk at the board, stated that blanks for domestic u«er* of gasoline have already been mailed and that they should be filled out and returned to the local board not later Saturday. Domestic user* include those who use gasoline for cooking and purposes other than highway use. The meet in toe scheduled, with todays at Emanuel Lutheran school In Union township, follow:* Washington. Feb. 18. city hall; French. Feb. 21. Election school. Jefferson. Feb 22. high school: Blue Creek. Fdb. 23. Woods school; Monroe. Feb 24. town hall; Wabash. Feb. 25. Geneva high school: Hartford. Feb 38. high school; Kirkland. Feb 28. high school; Root. March 1. Monmouth high school; Preble. March 2. Koeilng er*s. Preble. St. Mary's. March 3. Pleasant Mills high school. The coupons will be mailed from the local ration board office by March 1. or as soon as the expected supply is received from regional headquarters. . ■■■<> . ——e Former Local Man's Son Top Bond Buyer Relatives here have received word that Douglas Steury. 12. son of a firmer Adams county man. is the top war bond buyer among youngsters at Grand Rapids. Mich. Young Bleary. a carrier boy for the Grand Rapids Herald, bought ata 128 war bonds laat week to top all in his school He had previously purchased a 850 bond, all fr:m hte earnings as a newspaper car rter. Ho is building up the fund to ■nance his coltego education His father te J. P- fftoary. former Adams county resident

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, February 17,1944

Promise More Aid For Asian War Theater Huge Cargo Planes Promised; Japan's Bases Are Raided By United Press Secretary of war Stimson promises that the latest and largest air transport* will be furnished to General Stilwell in Southeast Aaia. He told a news conference today that steps now are being taken to supply the India-China. Burma war theater with huge cargo carriers. General Stilwell recently called for more air supplies to China so that Chinese forces could support a naval drive by Admiral Nlmltz when he reaches the China coast. On the Arakan front, in W’estern Burma. British troop* have killed more than <OO Japanese In two weeks of bitter jungle Oghting. The Japanese have failed to encircle the British at the strategic pas* leading across the Mayu range. And the enemy now is running short of supplies and ammunition. From New Guinea comes the story of Germans who fled from the Japanese to safety with the Allies. The Allied censor has released a story that the Japs have Imprisoned more than 200 Catholic missionaries — most of them Germans—in norlhren New Guinea. The dispatch — held up by military censorship since last August—says three men and five nuns. German and Dutch, escaped from the prison. They fled to the Allies over 10.000-foot mountain ranges and through territory never before seen by white men. Another official disclosure tells of the successful use of big General Sherman tanks In the New Britain swamp* near Cape Gloucester. completely surprising the enemy. The tanks knocked out 54 Jap pillboxes, 20 mountain howitzers, killed 350 enemy soldier* and forced the surrender of a vital airport. The General Bherman* repeatedly took direct hits from Jap 75-mililmeter guns without faltering. Before this, the Jap* had run into only light tanks at Buna and Guadalcanal. American plane* have bit still another Jap base in the Southwest Pacific. An enemy broadcast says 10 of our heavy bomber* and tire light bombers attacked Japanese position* at Amboina In the Dutch East Indies. At the same time, the Japanese give some Indication of the power we packed In smashing up their base at Kavieng. New Ireland. The Jap* tell us that 218 Allied planes carried out the attack. The enemy -making an indirect admission that Its defense* were caught flat footed — »ay» only 12 of the raider* were shot down. Even (Turn Te Peg* A Cetane 8) O-- — Adams County Bond Drive Nears Quota Sales Only $6,590 Short Os Final Goal Official totals of fourth war loan bond sales in Adam* county up to noon today were (1,218,010. only (6.590 short of the (1.221.890 quota Co-chairmen Theodore F. Grailker and Earl Caston, predicted that the goal would be reached this week, aa industrial and corporation committments for block* of bond* were being redeemed, added to the redeeming of pledgee by individual* and payroll purchase of bonds. Several townships are on the onefoot line of making their goal and it is expected that workers in these areas will “shake the bush” for a tew more bonds and have the aattefootion of helping put their townships over the top. Payroll purchase* of bond* will continue throughout the month, the chairman said. Many worker* figured their regular deductions for the mouths of January and February and by noct week, final payments will have been made and the purchase added to the total. Buying the bond* continued quite heavy over the county. Mr Caston said, but totals are Mt yet report-

Tighten Deferments For Farm Workers Order Draft Boards Review Deferments Washington, Feb. 17. -- (UP) — IxK-al draft board* have been ordered to review and tighten up on deferment* now held by 1,700.000 farm workers of military age. But Major-General Lewi* Hershey. the selective service director, says he doesn't kn< w whether this step will greatly alow down the drafting of father*. Hershey says it Is uncertain how many registrants will be available from the farm group. The primary purpose of the new move, he adds, I* to put men where they are "most valuable.** Herehey reveals that between 60,000 and 70,000 father* were dratted In January — compared with about 45.000 in December. The number of fathers Inducted since October 1 new Is estimated at between 160,000 and 170,000. It'* revealed that the housewife can revamp her 1944 menu to Include a slight Increase in beef. The war food administration Indicate* that beef and veal consumption te now estimated at an average of 63 pounds a person--or four pounds more than In 1943. But the b<*ost probably will be offset- by decrease* tn pork and mutton. The senate appears In for a disappointment today if it had hope* for speedy passage of a bill authorizing our financial share of the United Nations relief program. A sert»s of promised amendment* have cropped up. Senator Taft of Ohio said he would Introduce one amendment. And then Senator MeKellar of Tennessee promised four. All are designed to restrict UNRRA activities as far as this country Is concerned, and to give congress a stronger voice in any activities II doe* undertake. Representative OToole of New (Tura To Pags_ 1. Columa II Germans Claim Abbey Not Used By Troops Allies Contradict Statement Flatly Ixrndon. Fob 17 —(UP) — The German radio te broadcasting report* from Rome that the Pope ha* condemned American destruction of Monte Oaosino Monastery. According to the Nazi*, the Pope baa said that the Monastery could have been saved. The Nazis also report that t’<e United States has offered to contribute money toward rebuilding the monastery. In addition. Nazi radios are broadcasting a long statement by Field Marshal Kesselring. The Nazi commander In central Italy says German troops did not us* the abbey for military purposes. And he declare* that 600 persons-includ-Ing 19 nun* -were killed in the attack He also quotes statements at trlbuted. he says, to the ulibot of the monastery to »how tha* no German troop* bid in the anci-nt build Ings. Official Allied quartern contradict this statement flatly. And Untted Press eyewitness account* say that around >0 Nazi troop* were seen fleeing from the abbey during Thursday's raid. The Allied statement I* further backed up 4>y a Madrid dispat. h. This *ays that the German* rejected a direct appeal from the abbot to withdraw their forces from the building. o— ■-- — Receives Details On Son Reported Missing Mrs Delo’s Engle, mother of George Engle. 24. ha* received further information from h-r daugh-ter-in-law about the action in whi h Mr Engle was reported missing by the merchant marine* It was stated by officiate that he wa* lost during a “major battle. * ■ln the first account of hl* being reported miming, it wa* not stated be was a nephew of Mr. and Mn» Albert Beery of Mercer avenue and Mr and Mr* Paris Beery, of near Hudson. Mich. Hte mother now lives south of Decatur In Washington town*hlp The widow, the former Mary Paal ot Fort Wayne, and now a private first cla*s in the Woes at Camp Lee. Va. has bee a sent all the details available on the * -T- -4 — IDCIWvVh

Miss Barbara Riesen Is Killed This Afternoon As Train Strikes Auto

Germans Seek To Rescue Men

Trapped By Reds Disregard Cost Os Big Counter-Drives In Cherkassy Pocket (By United Press) The Germans are reported starting fresh counterattack*, regardless of cent. In an effort to rescue the remnants of Nazi legions irapp- ] ed pi the Cherkaasy pocket. Field dispatches say the Nazi* are striking again and again at the Ru wlan lines surrounding the pocket. The communist party new*paper, Pravda, report* the Nazi* attack* have clockilke regularity. The battle I* mounting in fury. The Russians are using munition* at ouch a rate that if* said infantrymen have been drafted to carry ammunition through the mud Russian Are power and trorp* arc reported to lie beating ba< k the new enemy attack*. Inside the pocket, Soviet and German sold iers are clashing in hand-to-hand combat. Far to the north, other Soviet troops are sweeping ahead through forest and lake country toward* Bekov, on a major road to south ern Etonia At last reports, one Red army spearhead wa* les* than 39 miles from Pskov. Bomb Helsinki Russian warplane* have delivered a one-two punch against the Finnish capital of Helsinki. Mat night the Soviet air force launched two heavy raids again*) Helxinkl. First. 100 planes hit the city about 8 p. in. in an attack that lasted an hour And. at midnight, a six-hour raid began. Wave after wave of Soviet plane* roared over Helsinki at short Intervals, Three hundred planes took part in the second raid. Then the night of bombing wa* over, big lire* were raging. Russian flleta are also roported to have struck at the city of Abo. 95 miles west of Helsinki. Observers ill Sweden says these air blow* don't mean there ha* been a breakdown in peace negotiations. They point out that during the Ru»*o-Finnieli war a few years ago. Soviet planes pounded at Finnish positions after an armistice had been signed and right up to the time the armistice took effect. In fact, the new air attack* • Turn fn Psae Z. Cslum* t) — o ■ — Nine Indiana Firms Penalized By OPA Violated Price, Rationing Rules Indianapolis. Feb. 17. — (t'Pl —• Sus|>ension and pr bation order* for nine more Indiana e«tabli»hment* have been issued by the office of price administration. The Arms are found guilty of violation of price and rationing regulations. The Liberty Markets located at Terra Haute and Vincennes are suspended from dealing in rationed meats and ratl< nrd processed food* for three month*, effective March 10. Charles Stuart, the operator of Stuart's Super Service station at Danville, wa* prohibited from dealing In any kind of new passenger cars or gasoline for a period of six month* However, the OPA say* the test four months he will be silowed to trade on probation. Four Boyle *erv|ce store* at Mum le are suspended from dealing In rationed processed foods or meata for one m ath, and another Boyle More at Yorktown Is placed on probation tor one month A3B day suspension order effective March 1 to issued for the C and J narket at Andsroon The order (Turn T# F»fis k Cslarna 8)

Flays Pessimism On Battle At Beachhead Secretary Stimson Assails Pessimism Washington. Feh. 17 — (UP) Keep your shirt on about the Anzio bMChhead battle in Italy. That advice come* from secretary of war Stimson, who says there wa* uncalled-for pessimism near the end of last week about the beachhead situation. Stimson admits that still heavier German attacks may lie forthcoming and that bitter fighting I* ahead. But he r<•p ,,, ' , * that the Allies are firmly e»aH>llabed and point* out that strong enemy attempts to cut up the beachhead force* thus far have failed. The war secretary expressed these views at hi* news conference this morning He also Inferenttally approved the halting of direct new* dispatches from the scene of the Iteachhead fighting. But OWI director Elmer Davis doesn't approve. And he said this morning shat he i* going to make representation* to the war department ailMtut the handling of news from Italy. He Indicated that he fell the censorship there has exceeded the necessltfoz of military security. On that score. Stimson aseertMl that General Kir Henry Malttaud Wilson commander in the Mediterranean theater. I* the beat possible (Turn To Page Column 7) o —- Explains System Os Rotating Furloughs Length Os Service Overseas Is Factor Washington. Feb. 17 tUPt The war department ha* released *(»me fact* to show h<»w it* »y*tem of rotating American soldiers on the fighting front* is working Since the start of the war, for example, more than 300.000 oversea* troop* have lien brought back to this country Most of them have l>een returned under the so-called rotation system, whereby men who have seen oversea* service for extended length* of time become eligible for repatriation. Some of them have been brought back under a return personnel classification and require no replacement*. Others have teen sent home for emergency reason* for discharge and in the case of some of the officers, they were returned for more efficient distribution on highly qualified individual*. However, the 388.000 fgure dm* not inHude those men whe have been brought track sick or wonded Soldiers become eligible for reqrat riaMon in rotation after so many month* of service abroad it varies in different parts of the world In North Africa, for instance. It’s 1* mon'h*. and It's two year* in Alaska nud the Caribbean. Length of service for repatriation eligibility from the Pacific has not yet been determined, but it's under study. The war department emphasize* that just because a man te eligible for repatriation. It's not a right that he can demand It merely sets up a baste for selection and many other factor* enter into It before he get* sent home. For itwtance. there rust me men available for that theater of war who can replace him. Secondly, there mult he shipping space <o (Turn To Pag* Z. Csluasa T> BULLETIN Waahinqtos. Ftb. 17—(UF) The house this afternoon approved a bill banninp feed subaidiea. The meaaure. which waa paaotd by a veto of 248 te 118. eiready hae boon approved by the senate It now goo* U FA4«w* w w a wow con tends that auch subsidise ore needed to hold dawn living coots.

Buy War Savinas Bonds And Stamps

Price Three Cents

Bluffton Resident, Well Known Here As Saleslady, Killed At Mercer Crossing Ml** ItartMra Riesen. 67, of 406 ■test Market street. Bluffton, and very well known hern a* a saleslady. waa instantly killed at 1:30 o'clock this afternoon, when a car she was driving south w.« struck by a fast two-engine train going west on the Erie tracks. Tlte car waa struck directly in the aide by the fast train and hooked on to the front of the cow catcher. which pushed it past Twelfth street before ft could stop. Parts of the Itody and car were strewn along th. track. By the time the train came to a halt, the car was s maea of twisted steel and wood wrapped around the body. County coroner Robert Zwiek ■was notified by telephone as he wa* out of the city and he gave oral permission for the removal of the l>ody It was estimated It would take about two hour* to free her. Death wa* caused by the crushing of her heed, but she apparently suffered other serious Injuries in the wrecking of the automobile. Erie railroad officiate here were unable to make statement*. It is known, however, that the train was not a regular scheduled one. It waa pulled by two engine*, both of whirtt had steam up when viewed after the accident. The engine niMivle-ra were 2922 and 2937. It could not he learned from railroad men or chief of police Ed Miller, who was Investigating the accident, at 2:B® o'clock thia afternoon. who the engineer* were. Apparently it wa* the type of train u»ed by the railroad to transport troojw No passengers were believed on it al the time. No witness was found, although it wa* reported that on.- person who saw It said "It happened awful fast Just a noise end that was all." The car rapidly di»ap|»-ar.-d down the track ahead of the train after (Turn Te P*g* 8. Columa 4) o— — BULLETIN E. W. Jackson. 85. prommtnt farmer, died thia afternoon at Mg home four mile* east of Decatur. Several chddren survive, including Mrs. John Kennedy and Rolla Jacksen. both of thia city. o — Indiana Democratic Conclave June 15-16 Indianapolis, Feb. 17. — il'Pt — The Indiana l>-mocratic convention will be held In Indianapolis on June 15 and 16 Stat.- party chairman Fred Hay* announces that caucus sessi< ns of the uotivention delegates will be held on the 15th The convention proper will be held the next day in the Indianapolis coliseum. Prwvtousljr, stale Republican* said their state gathering will be held in the capital city on June 1 and 2 - - Urick Infant Dies At County Hospital Funeral Services Friday Morning Jerry Wayne Urick. 22-day-old twin sou of Mr and Mr*. Rotert Urick, of Decatur route 6. died at 9:18 o'clock Wednesday night al the Adam* county memorial h.'api tai. Death wa* caused by pneumonii The infant wa* tern at the hospital January 36. the son of Robert and Ethsl Tumibleaon-rrirk Surviving beside* the parent* are the twin brother. Larry Wayne; another brother. Palmer Delaae. and a alMer. Patsy Joan. Funeral service* will be held at 1® o'clock Friday morning at the residence, with Rev Charles Glena officiating Burial will be in the Decat ar cemetery The body waa removed to the residence late this afternooa from the Gillig A Doan funeral home