Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 42, Number 107, Decatur, Adams County, 4 May 1944 — Page 1

Kje is Chores!

Kiil No 107.

ATTER GERMANY’S ATLANTIC SEA WALL

<r Allied "■an Drive Mved Near HI r,g Forces Are, rd Preparing v Offensive dqtiar’»*r*. Naples. -Strong British mid m<! forces were re* into position for a « In southern Italy d bombers attacked f communications skirts of Rome to of battle quickened main ground fronts as German combat d a score of points i unmask the Allied i|y, the Canadian per "Maple Leaf lon was imminent stalemated Italian II is going to take things wide open.” ipaper said. (•controlled Paris led armies in Italy > "battle positions** out offensive timed Ith an Allied InvaI Europe and a Red om the east.) a forecast followed a report In the 'rnment newspaper Milan of "feverish id tiie Allied lines reparation for new a "vast" scale. ■wishers particulare yesterday along uastal front and in i of Cassino. repeated reconnaisat touched off furbattles with brsatd units. pan and British patrols terr on th.- attack on all for weak spots in defense-■B'-r.v rid iii.-dluni bomb . : l.itt.-iing aerial nt j ms' itie enemy's flHt mp-dy n,,.-h ~f th,- n K ht itriking in force at the 'hsr-s 1 o rai| yards in the ihrktiess i-r-f nigh' ..Hack of the 'h* capital, s-iii’.rf.if-s. Ihalifuxes great '! ••rpiosiv.-s >|| the twoBBm rail y, ltl | -tailing large rolling k and repair l follow, d a smashing daylight sweeps by ■^B* 11 -Hid British medium M against enemy railroad 111 centr.,l and northern , F "rnat|„ 11 . marauders ■B’.” 1 * 'h.- Riviera, hitting Sir dg*s Taggla. on rhe in,.., al |,j a( | m . miles further east. The jl ’ o I "‘ <1 ,h '' v ** ,! ,"*'' '' ir,k on the coastal !■ miles east of Nice. »aly. mitchell med borjtt.. it k..y bridges ■B/, 0 ' and Flculle, ' yme Cl nee line, w hile MM.' ,! ‘ ha -'•••••ed C'lvitav.-e supply dumps in ’ r " 4 “ Three Allied MMj. * r * in the daylight ' *"‘ l '-'temy planes ■ «-royed. Democrats |y inqtfe All Women -bt 'I" 1, May 4 - - -h r m “’* c XaHenger MT, l '"""« ratie all-woman ln La Wri?llte - R N " r ’ n *« r elections “ e,lford w “* ‘he ». 7L i "““ uw lhs K|.J “-'•‘“'••d for the num MMib-- ”l ,r, *entatlve by ' Al,, *» of Mitchell. 525 BfccKact. TURE RE *D'NO j&T R * T thermometer ~ * *hH "" 80 ’®h lb * EAT HU| ■iJ** 1 *«** colder > (~w,’ *i«hlf>f wind* |Bh d *r fair, continued ■B »

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

I mted States Planes And Subs Hit Jap Bases —— |£ (OM> mcixocim 4 * M *** N 4 ‘J X '\ V mwawab*/ I MHO At ■ . *- d/wrt /WIIJPfIMF K/2*. V J B ' |>l*l4 JOUIM • (MXMrt V/w Ky* InftW Z7 »<»-** <xiu» V” e ■_ -jflLyik O* AVEVARD (~r Japanese planes was made at Truk In the Caroline islands by American dive sr X: d^,r<,yw * ~,ere "• ,h - >-•-« aX s Mg i ai guns a si. shtlhd Truk s primary eastern outposts of Potiape and the Satawan island* was sunk off We r wa7 wh’ "“t"*, 777' War4, "* H , " a ' A \f Japanesu'Jargea was sunk off Wewak, where Isolated Japs try to escape from United States forces

Union Confident Os Winning Ward Vote Montgomery Ward Election Tuesday Chicago. May 4.—(UPI -Union leaders were confident today of a victory In the collective bargaining election among Montgomery Ward and Company’s Chicago employes Tuesday "despite the lack of time to organize the "We will roll up an impressive majority anyway," Henry B. Anderson, president of local 20, United Retail. Wholesale and Department Store Employes Union (CIO) said “More than 1,000 new members have joined the union since the strike and we had a majority before that." Tuesday's election was ordered by the national labor rdotlmm board to determine If thg union had a majority membership among the firm's 9jnm employes working in Chicago Fratfli Kleller. chief field examiner for the regional NLRB, will supervise the vote The date for the election was announced yesterday by George J. Bott, regional director of the NIJIB. following a conference of union, company und b-iard officials. Union officials had asked for a 21-day extension to give them time to prepare for the election, but they did‘not press the point. "We would have liked al least another week to investigate the list of eligible voters as submitted to the board by the company.” Anderson said. "Six days is hardly enough time for the board to make Its own check of the thousands Os peopie on its payroll before letting the union look at the list.” Meanwhile, at Minneapolis, the executive committee of the United Automobile Worker* (CIO) voted a 125,000 appropriation to help the United Retail, Wholesale and Department Store employes union organize the more than 150,060 workers in Ward's nationwide (Turn To Pm< ». Column II

Nation Close To Unrafioned Diet * Butter Situation Is Reported Improving Washington. May 4.—(UP)-The nation came close to going on an unrationed diet today as all meats, with the exception of beef zteaks and roast*, joined coffee and most processed vegetables on the pointfree list. A new office of price administration order, which relaxed meat rationing effective last midnight, left butter, margarine, cheese, evaporated milk, sugar and canned fruits as the major food items still requiring points. The butter situation was said to be improving daily and there were some predictions that It. together with the beef cuts still rationed, might also join the point-free Het within the next several months. The easing of meat rationing will not mean that consumers will have a surplus of points tor the stIU rationed beef cuts, butter, or other items taking red points Effective Sunday, monthly allotment of red points will be cut from 6o to 30 per person

Rooseve/t Calls On Citizens To Display Flag Proudly June 14 Washington. May 4— (UP)--Pre-sident Roosevelt called on American* today to “display our flag proudly" on June 14 in observance of Flag Day. The president said in a proclamation that the stare anl stripes is a"flag of battles" which k» "carrying our message of promise and freedom into all corneAi of the world" and also a "flag of peace" under whose protection "men have found refuge from oppression.** ■’Let us then display our flag proudly, knowing that it symbolize* the strong constructive Mvulm (the which we oppose to the evil of our enemies," the p -oclamation said. "Let us display our flag and the flags of all united nation* which fight beside us to symbolize our joint brotherhood, our joint dedication. under God, to the cause of unity of man." o House Alters Senate G. I. Bill Os Rights Unemployment Pay Provisions Halved Washington. May 4.—(UP)—A revamped version of the senate approved "() I bill of rights" today appeared headed for heated debate when It reaches the houae floor, probably next week. Unemployment pay provision* of the senate measure were halved and loan benefits boosted from 1,000 to 51.500 in the bill which the house veterans legislation committee approved unanimously yesterday after five we--k* of hearings. ('hairman John E. Rankin, D. Mias., of the house veterans committee. said the measure probably would be taken to the floor under a procedure which would permit introduction of amendments. When the bill left the senate Its cost was unofficially estimated at $3,500,000,000. Ranklln refused to say how much he thought the house version would cos’. Both house and senate versions would place veterans affairs under the veterans administration and give the administration priority over all departments except the war and navy. However, the house measure places greater emphasis on states rights and centers less power in the veterans administration. Ths house bill would grant veterans pay readjuatment allowances of S2O weekly,for a maximum of 26 weeks, deductible from any possible future bonus payments. This would cut In half the senate proposal for benefits ranging from sl6 to $26 weekly, depending upon dependency, for a maximum of 62 weeks, House committee proposals on loan benefits were more generous. ~(Turn To Page 3, Column 4) Fort Wayne Suffers Severe Wind Storm Fori Wayne. Ind.. May 4~(UF) A violent wind caused several thousand dollars worth us damage In Fort Wayne and northeastern Allen county hist night. Many free* were uprooted, and the setwlce of 1,600 light and telephone usere was upaet.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, May 4, 1944

Senate Passes War Contracts Measure Termination Bill Passed By Senate Washington. May 4 — (UP)-Th.-senate tofiay panned and *ent to the house the Murray-George war contracts termination hill Pa*sage by voice vote — came after the senate rejected an amendment by Sen Harley M Kilgore, D., W. Va.. "which would nave expanded the bill to make It an overall reconversion measure. Proponent* of the .Murray-George hill augured the senate that additional legislation would be reported promptly to cover .»ther reconversion sub Jects demanded by Kilgore. As panted, the bill Would: 1. Create an office of contract aettlement headed by a presidentially appointed $12,000 a year director. 2. Create a 10 man contract settlement adviwory board composed of the director ar chairman, the secr«-taries of war. navy and treasury; chairman of the Reconstruction finance Corp., war production board. Smaller War Plants Corp., and the maritime commission; the foreign economic administrator, and the attorney general. 3. Establish a formula for settling terminated war contracj* with provision for part payment of claim* pending final setdement, payment* to subcontractors as well as prime contractor and prompt removal of government materials and machinery from industrial plants. 4 Ban the general accounting office from auditing or reviewing contracts before nettlenient. but authorize that office to review payments after settlement to determine whether payments were made in accordance with the agreements, and whether there was any fraud. 6. Require all contractors to pre(Turn To Page 4, Column 5)

FDR Asks Congress For Relief Funds • Asks Funds To Aid War Relief Program * Washington, May 4. — (UP) — President Roosevelt asked congress today (or an initial appropriation of $450,000,000 for United States participstlon In the United Nations relief and rehabilitation program. He al*o requested authority to transfer to UNRRA $366,600,000 worth of supplies, services and fund* available under the lend lease act. Mr. Roosevelt's request was disdosed In a White Houoe announcement which said It was baaed on legislation of March 2* authorizing a total United State* contribution of $1,350,000,000 to be made available to the war relief program by congrea* In the form of appropriations or transfer authority. Th* president estimated that UNRRA will need a minimum of $450,000,000 from the United StaJe* before it begins operations In liberated ureas to finance advance purchases of supplies and to provide necesaary services. The request also covered this nat.on's share of the $4,000,000 UNRRA admintstra- ( .Turs Jo Fag« 4, Cpiuma 6Z

Soviet Troops Continue Move In Carpathians Russian Air Force Taking Heavy Toll Os German Planes Moscow, May 4 - (UP) Red army front di patches reported today that Soviet mountain troops are pushing methodically up the valleys and through the foothills of the Romanian Carpathians In a series of fierce, localized battles. f Berlin said a heavy liattle had been going on since Tuesday In the middle Slret valley of northeastern Romania west of la-1, where the Russians Were persisting In large scale efforts to break through the Axis lines. I The Nazis also reported that the Red army had stepped up attacks in the Kc*vel area of prewar Poland, and acknowledged heavy Soviet air a'lVicks on® a number of German bases behind the southern front I Field reports from the Carpathian sector said Red army spearheads wwe probing repe.-fji-dly*' into Axis territory. reducing strong points by flanking maneuvers and engaging the enemy In repeated dashes that still were on a relatively minor scale Ammunition, food, and supplies must be hauled across the rivers of fit* Romanian (Wrpathlana aboard rublier and flat-bottomed boats, after which troops lug them on their shoulders tip twisting footpaths to forward posts, the dispatches said Increasing German nervousness at Sevastopol was reported hi ifoviet dlspati'hes which >Bid the Axis artillery was maintaining constant fire against Red army positions rimming the beleagured Crimean port. German machine guns chatter (Turn ?o Page 7, Column J)

Demand Revision Os Reni Conlrol Policy Occupancy Control Need Os Landlords Washington, May 4. — (UP) — Members of the house hanking committee showed Increasing sup port today for propowal* to write important revision* of the government's present rent control policies into legislation to extend the price control act. Rep. Thomas E. Ford. D. Cal.. ranking majority member of the committee which is considering extension legislation, joined other member* in demanding that: 1. landlords be given more control over occupancy of rental properties. 2. Rent adjustments be mad* to assure landlord* a profit on their investment and up keep costs. 3. Certain GPA administrative practices be corrected Ford charged at a hearing yesterday that rent adjustments were necessary In many ca«e* but that the "damned GPA won't make them." He said he would do his utmost to "give property owners some control over who should occupy his property.” (Sting a personal case, Ford said a property he owned was rented for $37.60 a month to a man earning $l6O a week and that the (Turn Tn P*s» 4. «Tntumn 6) 0 Sixth Street Sewer Is Near Completion Phil Hauer, city etreet commiealonnr. said a crow of men working for the city Is completing a new sewer on Hixth etreet, which is being conwtruoted to replace one wtblch ha* been inadequate In the past ill is hellwved that the older sewer did not have the proper fall as water frequently remained on the streets after rain*. The new s«wer has been built in the alley behind ths houses In order not to tear up the street. iMr. 3*usr also said that the benches which have been placed In the uptown districts in the past are being reconditioned and will soon be set up for the benefit of VMiturs to the «it{.

Preinvasion Bombing Os Continent In 18th Day; Nazi Bases Devastated

Allies Step Up Aerial Attacks Against Japs Two U. S. Planes, Two P-T Boats Are Wrecked By Mistake By United Press The Allied offensive has brought new aerial attacks on the Japanese in the Pacific, tin- destruction of an enemy submarine, and a defeat for Japanese forces in Burma, it was disclosed today, although the Americans lost two airplanes and two PT boats when they Inadvertently fought each other off New Britain. The American losses were caused by an apparent failure of rec ornitiun signals, a communique said, after one of the P-T boats was grounded on a reef near Isolated Japane-e base of Rabaul. In the aerial attacks throtitrftout the central and southwest Pacific. Allied bombers hrs Woleal, approximately 600 miles west of Truk in the Carolines, for the 13th time of the war; the Rabaul area in the Bismarck An hipelago. and the northern New Guinea coast from Hansa bay in the < ast to Biak Island In the west. A Japanese broadcast said that 100 Allied planes also "attempted' to raid Ponape, 436 miles east of Truk, twice on Tuesday, but added that the island defenses suff- red only "negligible" damage. The Japanese said that Bve of the Allied raiders were shot down. An unidentified enemy submarine »*as Sunk by British medium bombers southwest of Socotra island off the coast of Italian Somaliland of Africa. British troops fought their way to the high ground overlooking the Bithidaung-Maungdaw road after heavy engagements on the Arakan front of southwest Burma. The new position- gave the British control of the hills above the highway, which links Bit hi dauiig with the Burma coast. Jap Broadcast A Tokyo radio broadcast today reported that Japanese planes were involved in Saturday’s Mita ken engagement between American tighter planes and P-T boat* near Rabaul. New Britain, announced in le ti Douglas Mat Arthur's communique today The Tokyo version of the Incident. heard by United Press in Han Francisco, said: "Our Intercepiois downed an enemy tighter anti forced a torpedo boat to run agrotintl on (Turn To Page i. Column 1)

Theft Os Truck And Cash Reported Here Sixth Stolen Car In Recent Weeks The sixth stolen vzMlcle In liecatur or vicinity >n the last three weeks was reported this morning to the office of Hheriff Leo Gillig It is a truck belonging to Clarence Osterman, and was parked last evening near his cadiiti at the Willow Bend service station a mile south of Decatur. Along with the truck. $3(H> ha* been taken from the caah register of the service station and fruit market managed by Glen Hoblet, and the dining room managed by Mrs. Tony Hchumacher. The theft of the truck and of the money wa« noticed this morning and an investigation begun Mr. Os teiondK bi manager of the Sanitary Fruit Market. He parked the truck at the Willow Bend last evening. dome evidence was unearthed by the sheriff's department which it is believed may lead to the arrest of Mie thief. The theft of the truck was reported over the slate police radio uyfciu this ottonven.

Appeals Board Rules On Classifications 10 Rulings Upheld, Others Are Reversed A report on appeals from draft classifications by the Adame county selective service board has been received from the dlstrit t appeal board In io cases the classification of the local board was upheld and in nine caees the local board was overruled anil the men placed in either 2-A or 2-B. Those continued in 1-A were: 11,-nry Charles Swygert. Francis Hnrl Tester. Robert Lee Derrickson. Don Earl Krick. Edwin Frederick Hess. Gorman Allen Gilbert, la-roy Clinton Cable and Alfred Martin Bultemeier. Fred L. VonGunten and Edward Dale VonGunten are in 1-A w <> or const-lentous objectors to combat duly. Th,- remaining men were placed In either 2-A, men necessary In eupport of the war effort; or 2-B. those necessary for war production. The men to whom appeals have been granted anil the length of time they have been deferred to are: John Thomas Houk. 2B until July 2M; Harold Edwin Melchl, 2-A until June 3; Roy Edward Newlin, 2-A until July 3; Christ Edward Gerber. 2 B until September 15; until October IM; William Dwight Harvey Everet Crandall. 2-A until July 3; Albert Merrej Stahly. 2-A Itenny. 2-B until August 11. Edwin Herman Relnking. 2B until July M. and Arley Dale Sprnnger. 2 B until June 11. — o— — 35,000 Workers Idle In Detroit, Windsor War Production Is Tied Up By Strikes. By United Pr> ■ Mor.- than 35.000 workmen wi re idle In Detroit ami Windsor. Ont today, tying up vital war produc lion in four plants of the Ford Motor Co. of Canada. Ltd. and 17 plants in the Detroit area. At tIA- same time, return of ?.'■ percent of the 3.500 striking employes of the Kelsey-Hayes D trolt plant brought indication of a possible termination of the strike wave which lias engulfed Detroit plants Normal production of tankers alid cargo ships was also resumed at the Sun Shipbuilding and Dry dock Co. of Chester, I'i. aft-r a letni ii to work vole by striking piecework counters. Facilities of Montgomery Ward A- Co. In Chicago, when- a atiike was In effect for 13 days, were being operated by th department of justice. The properties Were seized last week after the firm defied a WLB order to extend an expired CIO contract. A decision will be handed down in federal court Monday as to ths- legal authority for rhe seizure. Meantime, on Tuesday, employewill vote as to whether the United Retail. Wholesale and Department Store Employes union should act as sole bargaining agent The aecond "break" in the strike at the Ford plants and (Turn To Ihcge 7, Column 4) 1 —— o — * — Major Jimmy Stewart Awarded Flying Cross -An American Liberator Base In England. May 4—(UPI -(Major Jimmy Siwwart received the dottingumlied flying <-roaa yesterday for leading a raid on a Nazi aircraft plant at Brunswodt. Germany, last Fob 20. The U. S air force headquarters announced today. •M guess I'd beat send it home I'm mighty proud of it," waa Htewart's only comment when asked alstut the decoration. Th- former movie star's parents live at Indiana. Pa He now Is servin* as group upvXU6«£ UM* AM’'®

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Stockholm Reports Three Point Plan Mapped By Germany To Battle Invasion Ismdon, May 14 - (UP) -Flying fortresses struck a German airdrome It. Holland today anj Berlin reporter) American bomber force* over Germany a few hours after MSI BrltMi raiders devastated three big Nazi atiti-inva i ( on supply bases in France. About 200 fortresses of the United States eighth air force led several formations of Allied planes 1 over the ramparts of the Atlantic wall to carry the preinvasion bombardment through Hs Uth straight day. Royal air force Ismabing fleets crashed through a stiff shield of German night fighters and rained about 2.240 tons of explosives on ! Nazi munitions, aircraft, and supply depots at Mailly, Montdidler. and Uhateaudun, while a division--1 ary force jab!>ed at Ludwigshafen and other targets in Western Ger--1 many. 1 lamdon newspapers interpreted • the three-way smash at France as significant blows against Important concent eat ion points of (b-rman - troops assigned to defend western ■ Europe against the Allied invasion. ‘ "RAF mnaah at massing Nazi I arm’-e." tihe Evening News b.imter t ed. . American marauder and havoc 1 »in'diinn .<fi<l tlgiit lamiln-rs ,ofthe ninth air force opened the dayt light phase of the offensive, poundI Ing targets in Northern France, i American thunderlmlts and British i s|dtfir<K escorted th«-m Nazi broadcaets during the mornI Ing said Isanber formations also were over northwest and west Germany. including the i.Munster area, an Indication that Mth air force fly Ing fortrese< s or Liberator* might be in action. Allied planes streamed acroas the English channel toward the continent in an almost ceaeeles* provession. d<*epite < lutidy weather. KVF ami Allied planes of the 2nd tacticai an force also attacked I b • > ■-j > ■ in m>n io n France dining the morning, they, to. w.-ie escorted, by epitfires. Germany hurled the biggi*t force of night fighters yet encountered over Frame again*! the RAF las: night, but the foureiigined Hallfaxes ami iandcastern broke through and blow up munitions. , arm* and other equipment whicn the rnevuy Ind been hoarding against the impending Allied Invasion. • More titan 2.340 tons of block hustera ami fire bombs were cascaded on a military <l<-pot at Mailly. ■> mtihvast of Rvimri, aircraft store* and equipment at Montdidler, 21 miles Moutheast of Amien*, and an atnmunition -lump at Chataudun, s-»rtie 7o mile* southwtwt of Paris. Smaller forces pounded Ludwigshafen. one »t Germany's main (Turn To Page 4, Column 4> o— War Casualties Os Nation Now 197.873 Increase Os 5,037 Over Previous Week Washington. May 4—(fp)—Announced casualties of the American armed forces today stood at 197.M73, an incease of 5,037 above the figure a week ago. The total Included 45,535 dead. 74.223 wounded, 43.010 missing, and 35.055 prisoners of war. Hecretatry of War Henry L Stimson told a news conference army csxualtltM through April 21 totaled 153.302. of which 26.575 were dead. 62.312 wounded. 33.N14 missing and 30.601 prisoners of war. Os the wounded, he added. 35.507 already have been returned to duty, while 1.6*0 prisoners of war have been reported as having died tn enemy prison camps, mostly Japanese A navy casualty list released today showed 44.571 casualties. Including 13.010 dead. 11.311 wounded. 9.196 missing, and 4.454 prim ujtsta wl _