Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 42, Number 68, Decatur, Adams County, 20 March 1944 — Page 1

Else Is Chores!

LII. No. 68.

USSIANS POUND ON IN

le German Ing Point lassino ■w Zealand Troops &e Hotel, Center Jnozi Resistance ■div United Rrem> K,. N<* Zealand troop* have K,,. way Into the center a: t'aaalno. K,. |p>tr! Continental. ■n. « Ze danilera. who are Kp { |,1 Maori natives, have linn h-botnbed hotel asK<x k' <l out a number of GerKk, ahi. h had been quartH\h.- lobby of the hotel anil K about ins Nazis. Balong southwestern ■ v : c,.ssin<>. New Zealanders ■pplnc up enieny paratroopKmanaged to enter the town ■ virtually had been won by K the hills overlooking CatKied and German troops are ■ it. a savage. shifting battle Kw< strong points changing Kep.-at--.iiy. And from theft ■antsg" points, enemy gun K|l are able to pour their Are K th. New Zealanders Inside ■wed patrol fighting la reKrom -If other Italian fronts, ■h n<> important changes in Kle lines.' ■ night, British and American K*>iiJ>--ts attacked the Italian Kdtng . enter of Monfalcone, ■rthwest of Trieste. And to■men.an ineulutn bombers ■sd.'d the Allied Southern air Ke with assaults on a number Kny rail targets In central By stein Europe today, more 1.500 Allied planes, an eati--1.000 of them American. id enemy objectives in Germa occupied territory. the second time In three United States four-motored ra returned to southern GerHundreds of American ■ protected the heavies, as tnada flew through a thick cover There are signa that i teases were light. The iatgets haven't been announced | 25 miles north of Paris. Am- | medium bombers hurled anbarrage on a rail junction. I the main Natl feeder lines hr • channel porta And othlied plane* again hit the h invasion coast itself. * latches from Zurich say 8.000 la were killed in the RAF m Frankfurt last Saturday and that the Industrial city I the most devastated in sfl •y. all of the losses aren't on the r side. It's disclosed today ate of America's leading air I. Lieutenant John Cary Mor f New York City and Amarfesaa. i» missing In action the raid on Berlin on March argan held the congressional of honor, our country's high rsrd for valor. He was given •adal after taking the place dead pilot, continuing a cripfor' res* on its bombing run llraculously bringing the ship to Ha British base. erica torpedo boats also have action og the Italian west They have sunk a Nasi PT and lighter sad returned to without damage or casualties. I*’ French naval units have M a German convoy trying to through the central Medtter “ They aank three and prob tar vessels * wave* of Nail bombers were * »*rly this morning in I to attack an Allied convoy * North Africa ncoast iMPgRATURg READING HOCRAT thkrmomctir Rl •. »n, , .i. .. M *- — 37 — 30 "►*• — . SI WtATHM T ' tar ton,(St end temor. taiewpg py imcmo*,mavraw after- *«• eceeeisMl rate begiow- .,/' r —wtbweet pertievi: earth and east ’T**’ »• eeuthweet peeMaa

DECATUR D AIIY DEMOCRAT

Armored Car M-8 Is Army’s latest Combat Vehicle

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Ib-slglted by the ordnance department, the armored ear M-8. shown above, is the latest combat vehicle addition to U. S. army mechanlxed eipiipment. This six-wheeled, eight ton car combine* the speed and maneuverability ot an anti with the punch and aimored protection of a light tank. The M-8 mount* a 37 M-.M. cannon and a .30 callbei machim gun and is intended primarily foi uai as a combat reconnaissance car. A crew o! foui, protected !»y armor plate, handles the M-8. Many thou-ands nf these vehicles are in operation with the army both in thi U. N and overseas. Signal Corps Photo.

$2,000 Damage From Fire Here Sunday McClymonds Home Is Dodly Damaged Fire caused approximately 12.000 damage* to the building and furniture at the Frank Meriymonds home, on the corner of Walnut and Meibern streets. Sunday afternoon at t: 25 o’clock. The city fire department, under the direction of chief Harry tituits, tattled against smoke and flames for more than an hour and a half before the fire was completely extinguished, hut It was under control In about an hour. Huge volumes of smoke poured from the doors and windows and prevented entrance to the building for the purpose of saving any of the furniture, most of which was a total loss due to the smoke heat and water, although little of It was actually destroyed by fire. The family's pet cal. trapped in the basement, was suffocated by the smoke. Firemen using gas masks finally penetrated the smoke far enough to direct streams of water on the center of the fire, which apparently was located on the sleepers and joists near the furnace in the center of the house. The smoke followed the frame work of the house to the roof and made the fire appear to come from every part. Fire chief Stulls said today he believed It originated in a broom closet oil the kitchen In which some dust mops and rags may have become ignited by spontaneous combustion. A hole was burned In the living room floor near this closet and the ceiling above was damaged It was befleved the house could be repaired. ft was reported the loss was not completely covered by insurance. - — —o— American Destroyer Escort Vessel Lost Leopold Sinks From Explosion March 10 Washington. Mar. 2b-tl*P» - The navy announces that the 1.300-ton destroyer escort vessel Leopold has been lost The vessel went down aa the result of an underwater explosion on March 10 In the Atlantic The Leopold Is the first destroyer escort and the 146th naval veseel announced loot by the navy thus far in the war .The vessel, manned by coast guard personnel, carri-d a normal complement of IM men Next of kin of aU casualties have been notified. The skipper of the ship. Com mander Kenatb Phillips of Glen brook. Coan- has beta »«tod as missing in action The heel of the boopold was laid on March 24. 1242. at the Consolidated Steel Corporation In Orange. Texas The ship was launched on June 11. 1242

Warns Against High Real Estate Prices rommenting on the highly inflated real estate prices which have been reported from some sections of-the country. It Earl Peters, state Fl IA director, told a group of realtors nd mortgagees that "this rep resents a dangerous trend and should be guarded against In the interest of property owners, home financing institutions and communities. Such a condition in any area (an but reflect primarily the impact of rising consumer Incomes upon the reduced supply at housew for purchase, resulting from the necessary limitation of new construction tn the tn in Ha urn required I.h .wsetotial war workers." City Is Blanketed By Heavy Snowfall Precedes Arrival Os Spring One Day The winter’s second heaviest snow fell Sunday afternoon ana night, just One day ahead of the official arrival of spring. The Herman Meyer w-a|hef gauge recorded three and onehalf Inches of snow up until thia morning. The storm started about 4:20 o'dock Sunday afternoon and grew in intensity. It took on the proportions of a billiard around early evening and the snow was piled high on sidewalks and at street intersections. Mr. Meyer said that the river stage was lower today measuring P2O feet, dropping from last week's p-ak of 13.27 feel. A bright sun this morning melted some of the snow and with the coming of spring, it is believed old man winter will give up the ghos.’. I hie to leap year, spring was ushered in at 12: W o’clock this aft< rnoon. »<« Deaths Indianapolis. Mar. 20 —tl’Pl — bpring arrived In name only throughout most of Indiana today. Snow and Ice. which cover highways in central and southern Indiana already have caused* six deaths in auto accidents. State police warn that driving conditions are haurdous In the areas covered by yesterday's sleet storm. They add that the most dangerous highway intersections are being sanded to relieve the dangers of skidding (Turn To Paas (. (Mama II a- - Auto Thief In Custody Os FBI Police chief Ed P Miller received word Bunday that Harley Les lie Ooa. Id. o< Huntington. W. Va.. has been taken into custody by the F. B I- following hie arrest at Findlay Ohio. The youth, accordlag to authorities. confessed the theft of an automobile. owned by Adolph Baumann, which was stolen from a parking place oa Madison street Marek Id The car was recovered a few bourn later at Mlddldbury. O, where aaother auto was stolen A charge of violating the Dyer set io eapectsd to be filed by federal authorities

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, March 20, 1944.

Higher Postal Rates Effective March 26 New Rates Go Into Effect Next Sunday In order to prevent delays In the delivery of mall Postmaster Leo Kirsch today reminded residents of this community to observe the new postal rates, which go in effect Sunday. March 26. Most particularly, postmaster Kirsch warned about the use of twp-cent, ptMiage on mail sent within'the city, whlidt will be banned under the new law. All flrat class mail will be three cents fur each ounce regardless of whether it is sent to persona In the city or away from this community. Ho also called attention to the increase In rates of air mail letters which will be eight cents an ounce Instead of six. However, this does not apply to air mail letters sent to members of the armed service, overseas, nerved through annv or navy poetofllces There will be no change in z tbe rate which requires Hi cent stamps, placed on greeting cards which are sent with unsealed envelopes and with no writing enclosed except the signature of the sender. Home cards which are printed but have blanks in which informa Hon is added In writing must carry first class postage, or a minimum of three cents under the new law. A common card of thia type Is the birth announcement. In which the weight, date, name and other information about the new baby is added to the card by filling in blanks. Other changes have been made (Turn To Ps«e «. Columa 1) To Receive Payment For Husband's Death Widow Os Soldier To Receive Benefit Mrs. Vivian Taylor, widow of B/Sgt. Willis Taylor, war hero, who was killed with the American Rangers In the Cisterns tattle In Italy, has received the first papers from the we- department, to apply for the gratuity payment to which she Is entitled Ry act of congress. dependents of men killed in the service of their country are entitled to what is called a gratuity payment. The communication from the war department to Mrs Taylor explain ed that she is entitled to the death payment Bgt Taylor also carried a 210,000 life insurance policy. Mrs. Taylor said She has not yet been notified when payment to her will begin on this policy Mrs. Taylor has two small children and may be entitled to other support money from the governBKQv. While Bgt Taylor was la earvice bio bare pay was Sill Hr mouth Mrs Taylor received an allotment from him of 122. plus |76 from the government. 2M of which was tor the two children and 226 tor the wife and mother.

Japs Cleared From Valley In North Burma Combined Chinese, American Forces Smash Resistance By United Press The four-momh old campaign in the Hukawng valley of northern Burma is ended. A t'hlneM announcement says the combined Chinese and American forces completely have smashed Japanese resistance In the valley. Fighting against some of the enemy's toughest and most seasoned divisions. Lieutenant-Gener-al Stilwell's forces recaptured 1.800 square miles of territory and killed 4.000 enemy troop* Now they are pressing on. Supported In strength and supplies by the Allied air force, the combined Chinese and American troops are attacking a strategic pass which joins the Hukawng valley with the .Mogaung valley to the south. But to the south, in northwestern Burma. It's a different story. There it's the Japs who are making the gains with a new offensive pointed towards India from the Chindwin river. On Thursday and Friday, enemy bombers twice atAcked the area of Imphal. capital of India's Manipur state adjoining Burma IM mage was negligible ami casualties, light. But the Japanese ground troops have succeeded In crossing the Chindwin river In force at several points and at last reports were tTuya To Page 1. Column ») — ' 0 *— Bierly To Resign As County Chairman Central Committee Will Meet Saturday The Democratic county central tymmlttee will meet at Ifftnocratic headquarter* In Decatur Saturday afternoon, at 1:30 o'clock, at which time G. Remy Bierly will offer his resignation as county chairman. Notices were sent to each of the committeemen and women this morning by the chairman notifying them of the meeting and stating that several matter* concerning the campaign, indud ing registration of voters, will also be discussed Chairman Bierly has appointed each committeeman as a deputy registration office.’. Mr. Bierly has served the past four year* as county chairman and has bandied the difficult problems of that period conscientiously and with satisfaction. He announced recently as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for prosecuting attorney and felt he should not continue as chairman of the committee Details for the primary have been arranged up to thia date and the new chairman will look after the ■wmbsrs. Chairman Bierly also announced this morning that he ha* appointed Harold Daniel as committeeman for third ward B precinct to fill the place made vacant by the resignation of William Lister. Mr. Daniel served In that position prior to the election of Mr. Lister. While several name* hav» lieen mentioned, it la not known who the candidates for the chairmanship will be A full attendance of members of the committee is desired and anticipated There are 3* committeemen and the same number' of vice-committee-men. each entitled to one vote. The new chairman will serve until after the May primary, when the regular election of officers will be held All County Highways Reported Passable County road supervisor William Ebrssm reported today that no com plain’s had boon received on the condition of the eonnty rtsds and the anow plows were not used At n few points It balloted traffic was a UlUe difficult btcauM of drifting All school buses were able to get through this morning

RUMANIA DRIVE

Big German Dniester River Base Captured By Onrushing Forces

Score Feared Killed In East Bus Accident Bus Skids Through Bridge Rail, Fear Many Are Drowned Washington, Mar. 20 fl’Pl— A snowstorm caused a serious Ims accident at Passaic. N. J., today. Police estimate that more than 20 persons may have lost their lives. An unknown number of passengers were trapped underwater when a bu* skidded through the railing of Market street bridge in Passaic and plunged into a deep channel of the Passaic river. It is not known yet how many passengers the bus carried, but estimates range from 24 to 50 Only seven passengers escaped from the wreck which was submerged in some 18 feet of water. One of those rescued, an unidentified woman, died later in a hospital. In addition, a pedestrian struck by the careening bus and hurled into the water also died It Is believed the bu* skidded on the icy bridge. The pavement Is said to have been constructed partially of rubber as an expertmen:. In Canada, a Canadian Pacific Airlines plane with three men aboard was last seen marooned on an ice floe In the St Lawrence rlvei n-ar Harrington harbor. Quebec. Officials say the floe was drifting out to sea. The plane was sighted last Wednesday. Food, rubber boat*, fuel and emergency equipment were dropp ed by parachute to the men <>n the floe. Because of bad weather. contact wa» lost with the floe. In Washington. Presid- nt Roosevelt is remaining in hi* revidential quarters to devote all his time to the manpower prole lem. He is expected to announce S<M>n. |» rhaps at his pres- conference tomorrow, a new manpower program designed to bring more men under 2<l into service while permitting Industry to retain technicians who are Irreplaceable. Meantime representative* of the Tool and Die Manufacturers' assiM-iatioti prefflct t%ut production of tool- and dies will drop 3o percent if Its workers In the 18 to 25 age group are drafted. Says Russia To Join War Against Japan Ex-Russian Premier Makes Prediction Indianapolis. Mar. 20, — il’Pl — Former Russian Premier Alexander Kerensky predict* that the Soviet union will join the other Allies against Japan a* soon as the European war ends. Kerensky, who headed the Ru* slan government after the overthrow of the ciar. also believes that the end of the totalitarian sya tern in Russia is inevitable after the war. He say* there already are evidence* of a psychological change in communism, even in the party And he think* that the temporary destroying of industry and agriculture during the war will hasten the end of the system. The former oflctal see* no cause fur alarm In Russia's desire for what he calls strstegk- frontier in Europe He points oat that the frontiers are necessary because th* nation has no secure outlet to the warm ocean and seas Me adds that England la a maritime power and the United States is both a coatiaaatal and merit une power with more means of military eocur Ry. Kernsky spoke at 'be Catholic forum In Indianapolis yesterday.

Drive Is Continued To Simplify Taxes May Eliminate Task Os Filing Estimates WlfTiiington. Mmr. 2" H'Pi — The congressional drive to simplify taxes will take another step forward today. Senator George say* his senate finance committee will work out a method to ease or even eliminate, the task of filing quarterly estimates of future income and taxes Senator George say* the plan I* aimed primarily at those whose incomes are almost impossible to forecast. For instance, professional men whose Incomes vary greatly from month to month. Under present rules some 15.000.000 tax payer* have to file advance estimates of their earnings. And they have to make quarterly payments if they aren’t fully covered l>y withholding laxe*. The house simplification plan appear* Io lie winning almost general approval among congressmen. This plan would relieve some 30,000 000 taxpayers of the task of computing returns. On another front, navy secretary Knox has endorsed the plan for a special house committee on postwar military policy. The proposed committee would Dave the task of investigating all matters relating to future military require(Turn To Pag* 2. t’olunin (> Germans Boast 01 Invasion Defenses Boast To Americans In Interment Camps New York. Mar. 2" -tl’Pi German agents gave Americans a description of Naal invasion defenses while they wi re held in German concentration camps. Ralph Heinxeii. former United Press chief In France, ha* brought back with him till* German story. He heard It during 13 months Internment at Baden Baden Tile German* boaeted that 1.001*.000 men stand guard from Spain to Finland under the high rnmnutt4 of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. Be*id<« that, they claimed, that millions of mines and concrete-im-bedded steel obstailes stud the coastal water from the FrancoSpanish boarder to Holland These are designed to rip the bottoms off assault craft. Along the 1.700-mile Norwewian coast, cannons stand at mUe Interval*, and acres of minefields stretch from Frame to Petsamo. Finland. An'intermediate defense system extend* behind these coastal defenses acro»« the plain* of France, from Flanders to the Argonne. And behind this, the Nasis describe a third barrier, the original Siegfried line, now completely overhauled and ready for the defense of the Rhine. The German* boast that they have poured 10.000.000 tons of con crete into the Atlantic wall. They say they also have set hundreds of thousands of French and Italian laborers St work on the construe tten of a Mediterranean wall. Thin Is said to extend along the French south coast and is aseborerd at either end end In the Alps and Pyrenees ■ , . 0 —- Pork Supply Ample, Other Meats Short Chicago. Ms rob Jff—<UP»—Meat pocking operators report that beef veal and lamb supplies ar’ shorter than they were last month while auppiias of many pork Items are more plentiful A na'ioa-wide survey just romplstod.by the Ameri can man' institute at Chicago reveals a food supp:> of sauMgv. be con and other pork Imm Tbs survey we» made at the reqqqeet of GPA officials.

Buy War Savinas Bonds And Stamps

Price Three Centi

Stalin Announces Seizure Os Another Great Russian City From German Forces (By United Press! The Russian army ha# scored another great victory in Its drive into pre-war Rumania. It has captured the big German Daiester river ba*« of Mogilev Podolski. The city's Importance lies in the fact that it dominate* a rail crossing of Hie Dniester river. Now. the Germans have only one rail crossing to support their armies still left in the Ukraine. And Premier Stalin has Jnst announced the capture of another great Russian city. In his second order of the day today, he reveals that Soviet troops have taken Vinnitsa. a big German defense bsetion in the northwest Ukraine. Capture of the city of >3.000 crushed a German salient between Soviet force* pushing into Poland and those pouring ito old Rumania This salient long ha* supported the flank of German forces falling back In pre-war Poland. The defeat was admitted first by the enemy. The Nazi high comman reported that Vinnitsa was evacuated according to plan after the destruction of military installations. the usual German phra*eology Still further north in okl Poland. Marshal Zhukov's flrvt Ukrainian army broke Into the outer defeiine ring of Lwow. one of the most important communications hub* In MoutheaMtern Europe. This force captured the Nazi stronghold of Kremenela in the Carpathian foothills. just 71 miles east of Lwow. More than 40 other localities also were seized in tbi* area. A German broadcast ilaima the IliuwiaiiN also are attacking Kowel. !»S miles inside the pre-war Polish border, and 125 mile* northwest of Kremenets. Berlin admits that. Nazi troops have partly exacualed Kowel. Soviet bombers and torpedo plane* are punishing tile enemy off It ii »»las north coast A communique says they attacked a German convoy in the Haients sea. sinking two transports and two patrolships. A third Nazi transport was sunk in the Gulf of Finland Fifteen German planes were shot down in the Bareni* sea action. As the Red army move* deeper into Bessarabia, panic is spreading through Rumania. An Istabul dispatch received in Moscow says a patriotic front* la growing in Rumania. a movement to pull Rumania out of the Axis orbit aud make peace with the Allie*. Other report* say a Rumanian prince ha* arrived In the middle east to sound out the Allies on peace. But while Rumania reportedly gropes toward peace. Finland ap patently I* l*a< king away from it. United Press wa* correspondent (Turn 1* Fags «. Columa 1> _. _ — o ——-—— Vichy War Criminal Is Executed Today Pierre Pucheu is First One Executed Algiers. March 20 —fl’Pi— The (irot of the Vichy war criminal* was executed today a* a traitor Early this morning a firing squad in Algiers carried oat the death sentence against Pierre Pucheu. the former Vichy Minister of In’erior. 'He was convicted last week of treason by a French military court. Pucbeu was held responsible for turning over to the Nazi* a large number of French host Mes After his conviction. Pucbeu appealed for mercy Lent night, the appeal was rejected, presumably by general De Gnalle. the presidset at tbe French Ltbsmon cummittea Tbe only persons present at ths exscutios wsre nHltary officer*. Pucheu food st tbs snd of s rifis range with bin band* tied behind bia back, according to French custom. Then ths rifles west oft.