Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 42, Number 79, Decatur, Adams County, 1 April 1944 — Page 1

E e Is Chores' ,

I. No. 79.

HUES LAUNCH APRIL

I Underway live Japs If Islands ■t Long-Range K| Offensive Shing At Japs ■y United Pre**! Kpalgn to drive the Jap* ■ hi,-! stronghold* banK,..,11 rente to the Philip- ■ t'l.in.i appears Well tillK plane* have made the K : . lore aerial offensive K ( .,i in smashing ruble front in the Klands Eight attack* hour* were aimed at ■ 'iindini: Jap strong ■its obtained by the navy ■ at'.ok on Palau on Wed■r (till awaited. Rut the ■(in'ainitiK radio silence. until It reache* safer Kip threat at Palau carto within 460 ■e Philippine*. MacArthur reveal* that pevhiy noon raid on Truk >0 Jap plane* instead of finally reported Thirtyuho' down in a 9<» minute He over Truk that co*t ns rater bomber. The XO- - our aircraft derecord 19* Jap aircraft in the greatest aerial le war at the Jap*. lent monitor* any the t five raid* on Truk But Im* the assaults were In and add* that three <a han bomber* were allot seven damaged over the ♦ ’ .<! kyo radio report* an atan. ,goer. In the Kai I*l- - west of Dutch New y 2! American bomber* temy report, which hasn't Irnied by any V. 8. comsay* only alight damage to Japnntwe installation* claim their navy planes i one of our bombers. Pacific airmen continue lck« on the Isolated Jap In the eastern Marshalls, y bomber* from the southin' lounded out the aerial I with their 56th raid on th« tottering Jap strongthe northern tip of New taken over another island Imiraitles. some 600 mile* Truk American dismountT»nen Jumped four mile* tn Manus Inland to occupy ML Burma front, surprising Jap forces are attacking coops defending the east oacbes to -Kohirna in Infifpur state. Front diatell of severe lighting as try to block the Manipur 1 thus cut off all supplies entire Indian -Burmese •» Jsp attack is Jhe sec- • many day* started by the their drive on the ImportI linking Kohirna with Impita! of Manipur Hate d Is Received Prisoner Son rd Received From . Weldon Wittwer md Mrs Bam Wittwer of hav* received the first diord from their son Rgt Wittwer, 24. who was prisoner by the German **•” on January 11. during r»td over Germany The t from Weldon on a po»tal hrttten a few day* after •ken prisoner, stated: r dad. mother and all-1 •g held by the German as a prisoner of war. • Sood health and safe. MTy. Would like to bear *U Will write latr. * on ***rfut Love ntlMing in acWittwer's voice was 1 '»» days la tar zon an • r«dk> broadcast. Later, wy rscWvtd word from the ••rtment lbat tfce(r #ol| of war

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DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY ___

Answer Charges By Congressman Dies Fort Wayne, Ind . April 1 -(OP) -(Local DIO political action leader* today answered dbargea by Congressman .Martin Dies tijjit national CIO political action leader* were “fronts” and "atoogea'* for the Couvmunitt party. George J. Casper, of GE Ixtcal 901. who I* Indiana political action representative <d the United Electrical. Radio and Machine Worker* of America, declared that "Dies’ unfounded charges are merely an attempt to block the efforts of organised labor to elect a win-tdte-war congress till* year.” - —o — 1 ■ — Work To Simplify Income Tax Return Simplification Bill Is Near Completion Washington, Apr I—(UPt— It may be little comfort to American*. who today come to grips wltb the thumping new tax on luxury Items, but next year they will have easirr income tax forms to work with. Not that the income tax will be any lighter. But the house way* and mean* committee ha* nearly finished work on a tax simplification bill. .Member* say it probably will be ready for house action on April 12. Ko far. dependency exemption* have been the main Item for consideration. The house committee ha* adopted a proposal under which income* les* than <SOO earned by depend<-nt* can be Ignored by taxpayers. I'uder the new plan, children over Di can be dependents provided they dont make enough monry to support ■fflFPWfrrt Under existing law, a child I* not considered a dependent after reaching his IXth birthday. This tend* to work a hardship on parent* whose children are over 1* but are In college or not making money. The committee still mu»t ap(Turn To Psge 6. Column V) o Today Deadline For Candidates To File Clerk's Office Open Tonight For Voters Indications were at noon today that county clerk Clyde O. Troutner would receive several additioni al declarations of candidacy before | hi* office Howe* at ft o'clock this I evening. Tpday ia the last day to file. ’Hi* office will also be often 10. . night and Monday evening until 9 . o'clock for the purpose of re-reg- , istenng volet*. Monday Is the last day to register. Three Republicans had filed for , county office at noon, all candidates tor re nomination They were: Roy L. Price for county treasurer. Dale D. Mooes for county commissioner, first district, and John Christener. commissioner, second district Democratic candidates for county office* as filed at noon are: county recorder. Gerhard ReigkIng. Rose Nesswald and Wllliatft F Hobble; Judge. Nathan C Nelson; county surveyor. William Eh ream; county auditor, Thurman I. Drew; couvty treasurer. Freeman Bchnepp, prosecuting attorney. G. Remy Bierly; commissioner, first district. L. R Meyer Howard B Minier, a Democrat of Fort Wayne, filed for congress Following a ruling of the state election board, tbe declaration* of candidates for the slate conven Won were accompanied by peti- ' tlon® of !• name* each ' Democratic candidates for dele ' gates by district* are: first. Htsber ' M De Voss and J. Fred Frucbte: 1 second. Ma* Schafer and Frank P Heimann; (there are two delegates from each distrlc under tbe [ Democratic plant Jour. Edward (Turn To PM* •• •» ■ • TMMPIRATURff RFAOING DEMOCRAT THffRMOMffTffR ' — ' 44 • :00 a10:00 a. m. —— —— i 11:00 a. m. — • ” WBATHIR , Partly eieody fie ateudy M nI«M besoming mMtly wr

Red Cross War Fund Quota Is Exceeded Here Incomplete Totals Are Reported By County Chairman The Red Cross war fund drive went over the top today with incomplete total* reported by Clarence Ziner, chai rm an of the drive. At noon today the 216,700 quota was oversubscribed by more than 2630. totaling $17,344.02. Report* (rom blocks and disstr lets In Decatur not yet canvassed will swell the total, Mr. Ziner said. The incomplete return* from the various point* in the county are: Rural section* 15,9.1(1 ,xx Geneva 71772 Berne 2,331.10 Decatur: Ca«h .. 7,15X92 Pledge* 1.200.00 Total to date 217.344.62 Mr. Ziner expressed hl* apprecitaion to donor* and worker* for their support and time In helping make a drive aucces*. "Thl* county has proved again that It I* hacking the men and women in uniform," he *aid. The national Red f'ros* will receive 414.000 of the 110.700 quota and a proportionate share of the surplus. Red Cross official* explained. This tabulation will not be made until final fotal* are available Contributing largely to the last few hundred dollars needed to pul the total over the top. was 1225.02. turned in by Roy Kalt er, representing collection* at the Adams and Cort theater*, during the national motion picture week campaign. This was held during the last week in March. Desai ur Girl Scout* stationed in the lobbies of the theater* solicited movie-goer* for contribution* and through their effort* obtained more than 4200. Lyman L Hann was chairman of the township territories, where nearly |«.0O0 was obtained Walter J. Krick beaded the campaign in Decatur, while E. M. Webb directed the Berne drive and Mrs. James Brings acted a* Geneva chairman. Each place exceeded Its quota Decatur high school girl* under the supervision of Miss Eleanor Pumphrey, physical educational InVructor. swelled the Red Cross funds by 423.92 through two basketball game played last week. The freshmen played the sophomore girl* and the Junior* met the (Turn Tn P*«» A Column •> O Hope To Cut Short Assembly Session Seek To Consider Only Soldier Bill Indianapolis. Apr. 1. — (UP) — Hoosier Republican leaders appear pretty well agreed that the Indiana legislative special session should be a short one. The new G.O.P. state chairman. John Lauer, aska that tbe session which opens on the 11th of this month be limited to P*«*P of a state soldiers' vote bUI. User made a pies for (he strict llmitaUon in a latter to Republican legislators. who will meet with him on the day proceeding the session's opening House speaker Hobart Creighton echoes Lauer's sentiments Crelgh ton ffaUy predict* that the legislators will meet "only one or two days " And be also thlnha that tbe vote measure will be tbe only one conmdered The third member of tbe power wielding trio at Republican leaders is putUag out pretty much the same line of talk However. Ilea tenant governor Dawson, tbe sen Ste president warns that tbe oess ion may last the entire 4« days if any >gialaMon other Than the soldiers' vote Mil Is Introduced But Creighton bold* th* key to the situation. When the roll call is made tor bllb. he can refuse 10 hand them down for reeding Or. if the GO? majority chooses it can appotm a "MU committee” end rotor uR extraaeou* bills tp that group

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, April 1, 1944

Getting Closer To Japan hffloNG Marianas ph,I, PP"W* W'a. X PALAU IS, ' cZ £ PALAU I J ffATUTIMItB "*2O Kumol ffeefm • » -».**«• CermeronlleefTCZZL—’fJCTZ-Yt . Kowwswfc A — ; --tHWfhanto; . W Z Jsrt* / wthi Fo**wf BABELTH UAP ’ st Nomm low f — ' Mother GQIKULT- ! wnmM/ STNGAfitXXOtOK W 7 ■ ~ n == " ” A MIGHTY I'. 8 naval task fqrce moved within 4fio mile* of the I'hilippliie* to pound tbe Palau island* xhown above, Japanese "Blugapori” und administration cenfet for all th< 1 500 Ixlandr in the Carolina* Ja|>ane>< warship* fled before tbe American naval might while Army and Navy Inimber* backed up the battle force with attack* at Truk and Woleai.

117.344.62

Hoosier Hop To Be Here On April 11 High School Band Is Local Sponsor The nationally famous WOWO “Hoosier Hop." Its ranka linplemented with Blue Network and NBC barn dance alar*, will appear in (be Decatur juniorsenior high •chool gymnasium. Tuesday. April 11 at X p. tn., according to an announcement by W. Guy Brown, school principal. The appearance of the "Hooaier Hop” la under the sponsorship of the Decatur high school band and profits derived from the show will be placed In an accumulated fund to purchase new uniforms for the band. Mr Brown placed particular emphaols on the fact that the entire WOWO "Hoosier Hop” group of artists will be here In person direct from their sensational run of 22 weeks in Fort Wsyne. He also stressed the fket that there are thousands of “Hoosier Hop” admirers in thi® vicinity and that there will be an early demand for ticket*. The advance sale of tickets will be handled by the B J. Smith drug store and may be obtalr.ed there, at tbe high school or from any member of the Decatur high school band. General admission ticket* wIU be 60 cents. Children under 12 will be admitted for 39 cent® Tfrkets will go on sale April 4. Compriaiag tbe "Famous Howler Hop" family are the Blackhawk Valley Boys. Hoosier Cornhmsker*. Don and Helen. Judy and Jean. Herb Hayworth. George Arthur. Bkests Cros®, Joe Trlmm. Patsy Jo. Howard Ropa Penny Went, Gran'pap. The OM Man of the Mountain and master of ceremonleu Fred Oliver. Robert Heller To Seek Re-Nomination Robert H. Heller, state repreeea taUve from Adams and Well* counties. announced today ha would bo a candidate for roaomlaatloo ia the Dssnocratic primary to be heM May 3 Mr Heller has served three terns aad during the last sesalon WM mlnoritp floor leader

Helm Funeral Rites Are Not Completed

The funeral cortage actompanyIng the laxly of L C. Helm, well known Decatur man, ,who died Thursday night at Miami. Fla., will arrive in Decatur late today or early Munday morning. The iNtdy will be taken to the Zwlck funeral home, where the remains may I** viewed after 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon. Funeral arrangement* will not be completed until after arrival <rf the family. o Lisis Schedule For Holy Week Services St. Mary's Church To Hold Services Holy week will lie ushered tn with the observance of Palm funday at St Mary's Catholic church. Rev Father Joseph J, Seimet*. pa»tor. said in announcing the schedule of service* for the week, including Eastar Sundsy. Palms will be distributed at the high mans tomorrow morning. The story of Christ's Pstsiou will by read during the masses. Tbe Holy week schedule fol Iowa: Wednesday, confession*, morning. afternoon and evening. Holy Thunday. distribution of Holy Communion st < a. m. High mass, procession with Blessed Sacrament at 7:30 a. m Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the day. Holy hour from 7 to 3 o'clock In the evening Confessious after the service. Good Friday, mas* of the presanctified at 7:30 a. m. Observance of Thre® Hour* from 12 to 3 p m PubUc and private devotion*, congregational Way of ths Cross at 12:45 and 1:46 P. m Confessions will be heard during the afternoon and after tbe evening service Ven®rat ion of tbs true cross at 2: to o'clock and again aftoc the 7:39 evening service Sermon by the visiting oaiasioaary at the evening aarvic®. Holy teturday. tbo Noosing of the Easier fire water and Pascal (Turn To Puff* A Coloma 21

AIR OFFENSIVE

American Bombers Hit Southwestern Germany In Opening Offensive

Max Edson Melchi Dies Os Injuries Decatur School Boy Dies Friday Night .Max Edson Melchi, 18-year-pld son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Melchi of this city, died at X:10 o'clock Friday night at the Adam* county memorial hospital of Injuries suff- red in an unusual accident while In gym class at the Lincoln school Wednesday afternoon. The Melchi lad. a student in the eighth grade of the Decatur Jun-ior-senior high school, was playing kick-ball, a combined form of volleyball and softball, during a regular class Wednesday The lad attempted to score from third base on a play and collided with the catcher, whose knee, apparently brought up for protection. struck the Melchi hoy In the abdomen. The Injur d lad was taken home, apparently not seriously injured, but hi* condition became serious Wednesday night and he was taken to the hospital. As his condition grew worth-, diagnosis Indicated a ruptured intestine had developed, although not shown shortly after the*accident. An operation was performed but little hope was held for his recovery The Melchi lad was born In this city July 4, 193t>. the son of Eugene and Bea trice Pet rsonMelchi. He had made an unu-ital record during hl* school year*, having a perfect attendance record and with no tardy reports against his t record. He was a (Turn To Pngs ». Column i) ■ o Lonergan Convicted Os Murdering Wife Facing Sentence Os 20 Years To Life New York. Apr. 1.- fl'Pi —Federal Judge Janie* Wallace now must decide what price Wayne Ixuiergan will pay for the caadle■tick slaying of his heireau wife. Patricia. After nine hours and 3<i minutes of deliberation, a Jury returned a verdict of second degree murder against Lonergan last night. , The conviction carries a sentence ranging from 20 yeans to life in prison. Judge Waitace has *<•< April 17 a* the date for sentencing When the jury foreman announced the verdfit, the former RCAF aircraftsman slumped in hi* chair and had to be helped to hia feel lamergan was visibly ehaken. and some spectator* said they heard him sob After the verdict. New York district attorney Frank Hogan congratulated bls assistant. Jacob Grumet, who prosecuted the case. Hogan said: “The case was fairly presented " Lonergan's counsel. Edward Broderick said merely "Well, iamergan’a a soldier of fortune. He believe* if his number * up. it's up" Broderick made no comment concerning a possible appeal. 0 Confirmation Rites At Preble Lutheran . In a special service ad Iff a. *n a class of nine children will be confirmed on Sunday in St. Paul's Lutheran chureh. Prrible. The children who will pledge their solemn row are: Ixrrea August Harold Macke. Elmer Henry Macke. R.ihert Louis Paul Binberich. (Varies Gustav Edgar Uweil. Oscar Elmer Norwin Hoffman. Louise Marie Luella Bultemeler. Rosalia Mae Werllng Margaret Louise Sei king and Mardella Pauline Scbuoter Tbs ri’e of confoMmrion win ho administorsd by Rev A T. Kodhlev. pastor nd fit Paul's Lutbornn church

Report Nazis In Retreat In South Ukraine Russians Speed Up Drive For Odessa, Big Black Sea Port By United Pres* The Nazi* are said to be retreating In the southern Ukraine. Moscow describes th. withdrawal at many point* a* “a panicstricken rout." More than 100,000 German* are reported racing to escape a Russian trap, threatening to cut their last land route* of retreat Military observer* say It * possible that the entire Ukraine, including Odessa, will be cleared of the enemy in a matter of day*. Converging Soviet armies are advancing up to 20 mile* in 24 hours in pursuit of the retreating German*. The Axis withdrawal came a* the Russian* shifted the main weight of their offensive south and west toward Odessa. Russia * biggest Black Sea port. The Immediate ItUKsian objectives ate the f w remaining railroad* over which the enemy could escape to Rumania. Marshal Konev's second Ukrainian army deprived the German* yesterday of one of their main escape line*. Hi* troop* *lash.d across the Odeusa-toJassy railroad More than ll»0 towns and Village- have fallen to Soviet troop* north and northeast of l)de*sii In one area. Russian forces broke Into a town so rapidly that the Nazi garrison fled in panic, leaving Inhind six gun*. !'"• truck* anil a supply column. Thu third Ukrainian army under General Malinovsky drove IX mile* along tbe -hore of Dnieper bay Aided by a naval landing party, these Soviet units seized the atxth c titttry fortress o, Ochakova. Marshal Konev's troops, meanwhile, are driving on Tiraspol, junction for all hut one of the remaining German-held single-track escape lines clearing Into old It it ma nia. The right wing of Konev's army in old Rumania seised another l<> mile stretch of the east bank of the Prut river bottler. Russian troop* and tank* ar® massing along the river for a 'Turn Tn Psgs •. Column 4) o Meyer Is Candidate For Commissioner To Seek Nomination In First District L R ißudyt Meyer, former farm Implement dealer and well known clerk at the Sdhafer store, today announced hl* candidacy for the Democratic nomination for county <omsnstsioner fiotr. the first district. An ardent conservationist, Mr. Meyer is widely known throughout the county for hi* Interest In conservation clffb work He I* president of the Country Cotuiervatlon club and is dbairman of the Adams county council of conservation clubs, wfiik-h last year, with Its seven affiliated -Iwha. bad a memliervfftp of neariy 2 2«* Mr Meyer live* In Preble township. where he own* a small tract of land and a filling station, which he operates in the Iv'ereat of bls •on M Rgt Robert Meyer, for the past eight mouths Rationed in Eng land with the V. 8 army Mr Meyar la a member of 8t John's Lutheran <harob and las' yswr waa a mwnbe' of th* rommttt«« which sponsored a ptenr at which U Gov Harry Dwwnou •poke

Buy War Savinas Bonds And Stamps

Price Three Cents

Fifth Army Troops Score Victory On Cassino Front By Surprise Assault By United Pres* American heavy Itoinber* lambasted southwestern Germany today to start the April war campaign. Il was a relatively small force of liberator* and escorting fighter* which made thl* morning'* *we<p into the deepest reaches of the Reich. Target* haven't yet been announced. In what may have been an accidental off-shoot of today » raid, a Swiss communique reports that plane* dropped bombs on Schaffhausen In northern Switzerland The communique does not Identify the plane*, but unofficial Swiss dispatches claim they were American, and that their bomb* hit a power plant, two factories and an asylum for the aged. Schaffhausen, th.- capital of a Swiss canton by the same name, lie* In a narrow neck northern Switzerland almost surrounded by German territory In London, Allied air chiefs ar® still adding up the score* of tbe March bombings, of the greatest month In the history of this spreading air war. During March. British and American heavy bombers dumped 5o.t»oO tons of fire and destruction on Germany and the occupied countries For American airmen. It was a particularly significant month, the time of our first raid on Berlin. In March, as wa* the case la February, British-based American planes carried out more operations than did the RAF But mounting air blows still mean mounting losses. Last month 575 American bomber* and 145 American fighter plane- w-re lost over Hitler's Europe. In exchang-.-, United States airmen knocked at least Kid German fighters out of the skies and d<*strayed many more on the ground. In Italy, fifth army troop* have won their most Important victory since the Allie* reached the outskirts of Cassino in February. General Mark Clark’s men have •eiaed S.HtMI foot Mount Marrone In a surprise attack which threat>n» to outflank the stubborn Nazi defense* along the Cassino front. From Mount Marrone, the Allies are in position to attack the German* at Cassino from the rear. The sudden move ends a monthlong lull on this central sector of the Italian front. Both at Cassino und on tbe Anglo beachhead the Nazis have made new unsuccessful attacks. And along the beachhead. American destroyer* camo close to ■ hore on Wednesday and Thursday to shell th* Nazi* — - O- —» Blood Donors Go To Portland Wednesday The buwse* and c«r* that will leave Deeatur next Wednesday for Portland with the volunteer blood donors, will start from the American Legion home at 9 46 o'clock, * H. H High, chairman, said. (Mr High said that one bus load of donors wonM leave fron the Kirkland township high •chool at afiiuut the same time, arriving in Portland with the Decatur bu». Private cars win also be furnished if nredt-d Tbe blood donors were cautioned •gainst eating a heavy meal before going to Portland. Frul' Jukea. mint or a tight diet ah,mid be taken. Mr High said Factory worker* wdto plan to go to Portland on Tuesday evening were also advised not to eat a heavy meal before making the trip Q,. Annual Banquet Held By Rural Teachers The annua! teartier* banquet wan bald at tbe Kirkland high acfiool building Friday nlgbt with an attoodanew of approximately lie tawebora sad trustana An interesting talk was given by HaroM Cooper world travalor from Marton He diacuaeed Vacle Bam ia a Dictator World '