Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 42, Number 150, Decatur, Adams County, 24 June 1944 — Page 1

C'WAR LOAM

JUY i )NDS

■ XLH N<» 159.

MAIN DEFENSES OF CHERBOURG BROKEN

M Japanese Ler Blasted ■Pacific War ■ 5 Navy Continues devastating Blows ■n Japanese Fleet ;Urlx>r. 21 - —. if .if tliv J’:i< ifi<- war ,.’ h in. "f their aircraft H, , at least two of ■.. a* powerful . prepared t > BK <■" Japan itself EK,, destiu'tlon in. |K ~ I'nited States forces I |K, \.l:n I 'lieM.T W Nilll- ! |K“„.<| that one of Japan's aircraft car. BK,< ion Shokaku EH was sunk Sunday ■K .in.nine wlihti EK... I .. - into the fl.it. ■ < arri.-r brought to 15. Hp..,. iioiiiy warships BHc Jcn.i..'l m iwo days of ii I S Pacific for. Jipiii *-‘s drawing Its ... >i. in anticipation of ■ • - super.fort. Vi.-- Vltniral Marc A task force 58, Gen. K. \l,. \:'liui Southwest . ,|. l.vcred anoihei i -.i. k on euelny ship. |K* a end of Dutch |Ki;. > i.oo miles from the noilium bomliera. In K'( h-av> -trike in a week - -.ink or dam. |K. !•;..■ ■ -hips and three Hd■-i.il, MacArthur an. \ I imi .me—a 3.000 ton were sunk. |K •:< hantnian was ■ e sunk or damaged." ' .Il of Japanes. M -lilps logeihi-l ■'- tllL.l I.Old drives from ' . X<-w Guinea and ■rx. mi the mainland, I.|mii to ,i, daikesl per. - battle of tin. east. |®s. ,;.;..ii. ■ XT.iiitz disclosed EH* >ii."ny de-iroyer. prev. >t.i| damaged, iiad |K o tiv>- ilie numbei Bi • Airships <lti nIT• 1 y 'he Isittmn by I'. S. car. planes The others ■ ‘ art:,- i ;.-r of tile Haya. and three tankers. HB*<i! o mother llayataka o- iiaaiaged severely and furiously, with a P"”iliilr> that either it or lUy- ‘OU I |>|.| liaps tiol Ii be added to a minimum : ’ "the- Japanese carriers listed a, sunk a j„ ( . e she l 8. planes al,o scored |K" N " pound bomb hits on carrier. believed the Znikaku. and hit a »ni<lentifi,.(j carrier witii torpedoes. Also announced that two |BJlplties>. bombers Were shot HBraise the enemy aeripl for two days to all estimat. Mfc !,P did not disclose where ■“’k'ku .airier was attacked. occurred In the EV*** sr'a during the Japan, air raid on the I*. S Ktk force radio broadcast said |H~ »ir units again attacked force off Saipan Thursday in<l damaged twa U. 8. '•rrlers Since June 12. |K** W - morn than 11 U 8 HE? ‘ nd upwards of 19 other and vessels have been K", ln ,l "‘ western Pacific W>o»<l<ast also reported WWoahnately bo Amerlca „ |V“***'f (dams attacked K* r ®* r 11 8 naval station morning The Japanese Hx 15 V- 8. planes were M. * hll “ ihey lost three > marines and U?" T " < ti~ Bg/ IRATUhe READING H[ Rat Th ERMOMETER KJJ*'m M Mr i _ 70 M m 73 M*' U? tA ™ ER n ' 9h * ,n< * Monday. MW .7 lr *'"* * outh Portfon •"•""y warmer Bun- *

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT —— ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

State Fire Officials Attend Convention In addition to Clem Smith,, state ! fire marshal of Indianapolis, other I State offleiala who are attending! the 39th annual convention of the Northeastern Indiana industrial and j volunteer flremen'a association conventlo nin this city. Include the following: John .M. .Mahoney, deputy State fire marshal: Joseph £. Rudd, state propertit* officer and a dep? puty fire marshal; Francis Hartman of the Peru university fire fire echool; Robert Hamm, of the Indiana Inxptxtlon bureau. The Bremen department ha* a l,mm gallon tank truck, used for rural fire fighting entered in the display. The truck waa built by Bremen firemen. 250 Attend Firemen Banquet Last Night Firemen Convention Is Continuing Today Nearly 250 geests attended the banquet of the Northeastern Indi, ana industrial and volunteer fire, men's association at the American la-glon home, marking the opening of the 39th annual convention of the association, which will be in progress throughout the day. (’apt. K. P. Welsh, of Fort Hayes, Ohio, former chief of the Columbus fire department, was unable to attend the meeting. He was billed ft>r the principal ad. dress at the banquet. Paul Felber, of this city, presi. dent of the association, opened the meeting by introducing Clem Smith, state fire marshal, who discussed Indana's fire lighting efforts during the war. He said that in spite of the tremendous change over from an industrial and farming state to one which is the hub of the na. Hon's entire war effort, the fire loss last year increased only 54.000.00 u. He attributed this to the great changeover in mamifac. turn and personnel, but said It would have be< n much greater had not the tire departments of the state lieeti prepared. Sixty.live or 70 cities in the | state are now taking part in th. fire schisils which teach new methods to old tiremen ami in. struct the new tiremen. He paid tribute to the aid given paid lire departments by the many efficient Industrial and volunteer depart, menta. Chief Carter Bowser, of the] Fort Wayne department and president of the slate firemen's association, said great changes are being made in our lives because of the war and urged Hie lireineii to do their part in keeping Amer, jea as It was before the soldiers left. The tinal speaker was Rolierl Hamm, of the Indiana inspection bureau, who told how fires are on the increase due to the war. There were 28 major tires in which more than 5250,000 damage was done in 1929, 38 in 1940. ami 105 In 1943. (Turn To P»«« »- Column 4» ——o —— Water Ball Contest On This Afternoon Bremen And Monroe Firemen In Contest Interest In the Bremen's feats in connection with their conven. lion in this city today, centered In the water ball contest to be staged at 1:30 this afternoon on Liberty Way. The Bremen and .Monroe tire, men will tight It out for honors A large metal ball, attached to trolley wheels, hangs from a light wire. 208 feel long in the center of the space and the feat is to drive the bail to one end of the wire with a stream of waler from a one and one.half Inch hose, al a pressure not to exceed 6» pounds. There are five men to a team, three front guards and two back guards, the latter plying waler only when the front men miss the ball target. Cliff Steiner of the Central Soya company's department and Waller Edell, chief of the Bremen de. pariment. will act as Judges The hose laying contest ached, uldd for 10 o'clock this morning (Turn To Pass» »• Column 4)

Tornado Hits In East, More Than 100 Dead Pennsylvania And West Virginia Are Hard Hit By Storm Pittsburgh June 24 — (t’PJ— A I Tornado which carved a tenuoua swath of destruction through western Pennaylvanla and northern West Virginia today left more than lint dead, hundreds botneleM and property damage totaling several million dollar*. ■Striking at duek last evening, the i storm, dweribed as a "cone-shaped cloud," t.wisted its way through 10 counties in the t-wo state.', traveling with tremendoue speed and leaving a trail of death, shattered building*, uprooted trees and other wreckage in its wake. The known dead stood at 123, and was excepted to riae. The num4>er of injured was estimated at clflM to 1.000 with many victims In critical condition. Whole district* were virtually devastated by the power of the storm, which struck with such speed and concentrated fury that buildings appeared to explode when the twister materialized. Some victims were propelled helter-ekelter from their homes. dn rural areas, cows, chicken*, pigs and other liveutock were scattered over the landscape. Railroad cam were lifted into the air and deposited on their sides Some communities reported as many a* 40 to s<> houses demolished with hundred* of others damaged. The atortn appeared to be at its worat when it hit Shinnston, W. Va.. where 5o were known dead and at least 100 injured. The next worst hit district, apparently wau the MoKeesport, Pa., area, eoulheasi of Pittsburgh where 13 were known (Turn To Pags 4. Column 3) Q Sentiment Grows For Dewey-Warren Ticket Report Pennsylvania To Vote For Dewey Chicago, June 24 (UP) In. creasingly pow<-rful sentiment developed here today for the nom. illation of Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, of New York, for president and Gov. Earl Warren of California for second place on the 1944 Re publican ticket. Prospects for Dewey's nomina. tlon on an early ballot boomed with apparently reliable reports that Pennsylvania's 70 Repulillcatt national convention votes would go for the New Yorker. The con ven'l'tl meets .Monday. The drive for Warren Is nothing new For six months he has lieeii in a position where only bls agreement to accept was needed to make his top contender for the vice presidential nomination . Warrell. whose delegation will arrive here tomorrow, does not want the Job. having more urgunt business in California where after long years of exile the Kepubli. cans are just now consolidating their return to power under his governorship. • Pennsylvania is one of the big states whose support of Dewey Is challenged by supporters of Gov. John W. Bricker, of Ohio. But sources close to Joseph N. Pew, Jr., Pennsylvania oil magnate, said today that Dewey had won that delegation. In a final pre-convention appeal to delegates, Bricker headquart, ers today mailed to each of them (Turn To P««« Column 7) o — Walters Funeral Monday Afternoon Funeral srevlcea for Amoa Walters. W, well known Adams county farmer, will be held Monday afternon at the home at 1: 30 o'clock and at the Calvary Evangelical church s' 2:30 p m. with Rev. M.W. Hundermann conducting the services, s* slated by Rev. F H. Willard. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery Mr. Walter* died early Friday morning at the Lutheran htaspf’al. Fort Wayne, of complications following a fall in which he fractured his hip.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, June 24,1944.

“Big Three” Report War Progress j I 'T wpn I » Aka nF - Vi# Pr 4 * r \ "r- t I ’* ' k_vJ ” 1 ! L Jk- L—k Ilr 1 i ..It's. HAVING JUST RETURNED from the battlefronts. Gen. George C. .Marshall, chief of staff; Gen. Henry 11. Arnold, chief of the army air force; and Admiral Ernest J. King, chief of naval (loft to right), call at the White House to report to President Roosevelt. They are pictured here leaving the executive mansion immediately after their conference.

Suit Filed Here To Recover Furniture • Replevin Action Is On File In Court A eilit to recover furniture valued at SI,OOO hi a replevin action, han been filed In Adams circuit court by H. O. White against Floyd Acker. Mr. White is acting upon a power of attorney recorded for him by Russell O. White, now in the armed services. The complaint alleges that the defendant is holding the property, probably in Decatur. Lifted 111 the complaint is the fol- , lowing: four piece bedroom suite complete with mattress and springs, one goat hair bedroom rug, one 9 x IS living room rug with pud and two throw ruga to match, one davenport, chair and stool to match, one occasional chair, one large stand. one end table, one diwk. one floor lamp, one table lamp, one handpainted picture, one Hoover sweeper and attachments, one dining room rug and pad 9x12; one electric washing machine, one studio couch, fire place fixtures and mirror, two pillows; two Iron lamps; beauty parlor equipment, two chairs, sterlll'zing cabinet, manicuring chair and table, kitchen equipment, dishee and cooking equipment, several Venetian blinds for entire house; one door hell chimes, 100 cans of fruit, 25 pounds of sugar, one bird bath, and one lawn set. Included with the complaint Is a copy of the power of attorney. Nathan Nelson Im the attorney (Turn To Pago «, Column 4) o Survey Being Made For Service Voles Republicans Make Survey In County Harry Essex. Republican county chairman, announced today that the precinct committeemen were making a survey of their precincts to obtain the names and addresses of servicemen, yo that applications for the special war ballot may be mailed to them. Persons knowing the correct address of a serviceman who wishes to vote a ballot this fall are requested to give the name to a committeeman. County clerk Clyde Troutner has already mailed more than 600 applications to servicemen in all parts of the world and so far only two envelopes have come back for want of the correct address. The war time ballots for ser. vicemen will be printed In August and mailing will start Immediate, ly, Mr. Troutner said. To he able to vote, the service, man must first fill out an appll. cation, giving the place where he formerly voted and where the ballot should be mailed.

Gar a pan Entered By American Patrols Aboard Expeditionary Flagship. Slaiwn, June 24 -(UP) American patrols in Saipan entered the sole ui*l* of Garapan, capital city of the Japanese Marianas, almost unopposed tody while other forces of leathernecks nad doughboy* fought their way up the Jungli-covi-red slop,. a guarding Mt. Tapotc.hau. o Threaten Flank Os Germans In Italy American Forces Take Roccastrada Rome, June 24 tl'l’t Amer lean armored forces drove six miles through German mountain position* Inland from the Tyrrhenian sea and captured Roccastrada, threatening the flank of Nazi forces fighting a strong delaying action around Like Traslmetio to the east, it was announced today. The seizure of Roccastrada by the American forces pushing up highway 73 opened the way to key road Junction of Siena. 23 miles to the north and only 32 miles below Florence, the next major objective of the Italian campaign. Another column of the American units on the left wing of the Allied fifth army struck up the coastal highway to the gates of Follonlca, 12 miles west of Giuncarico and 55 miles below Pisa, anchor of the next German defense line across the peninsula. "The enemy continues to offer strong resistance on hie present delaying position east and west of latke Trasltneno,” the dally war communique said In re|M>rtlng little change in the general situation on the Italian front. The Nazi were putting up sjubItorn resietance against the British eighth army on either side of latke Trasltneno in the region of Chiusi. which had changed hands a number of times, and above Perugia to the east. The official designation of the opposition as a “delaying" action, however, indicated that the Germans were bidding for time to dig in along more defenoible positions farther north, probably along the Rlmini-Pfsa line. Front dispatches revealed that the Germans had carried out extensive demolitions at Roccastrada. Engineers described it as the most effective the Allies had encountered north of Rome, Three armored spearheads collaborated in the reduction of German resistance in the Roccastrada area. Two speared past the town mt either aide but ran into stiff resistance. The third crashed due north, forcing the Germans to fall back aud surrender the town United Press war correspondent Janies Roper reported from Roccastrada that he found the Interior of many bouses blackened by flames, while undamaged homes were nests of booby traps.

Nazi Troops Surrender By Hundreds; Americans | Break Through Defenses

Summer Drive Is Opened By Russian Army Opens Third Phase Os Master Plan To Beat Axis Nations iMomcvw. June 21 --(VP)— Red armies, clamping a siege are two thirds of the way around the White Russia fortress of Vitebsk, drove toward a Junction today in the firwt phase of a Soviet summer offensive on the same route that another Russian army took to Berlin 184 years ago. The enemy's last reim ircesnent and escape railway* radiating from Vit<*zsk were cut yesterday in the fitwt .24 hours of the offensive which carried through powerful fortifications both northwest ami southeaet of the lily and liberated more than 150 towns and villages. Three secondary roads running southweot from Vitebsk remained in German hands, but three were were being pounded by scores of Soviet plane* and guns and appeared in imminent Peril of being cut by tiie converging Russian anniea seeking to encircle the fottrees. The offensive set in motion the third phase of the maotqr plan agreed upon by Preaidetr Roosevelt, Prime .Minister Churchill and Premier Stalin nt Tehran for the defeat of Germany and brought Adolf Hitler's fortress undf attack simultaneously from the east, west and south. The Russians launched their attack in the northern sector of the historic Smolensk gap on the shortest invasion rout to Warirnw and Berlin, the latter 73'' miles west of (’itt'lsk. During the seven years’ ! war, tiie Russian- advanced against tin* Prussians along this same road i and In 17»io actually reached Berlin and ransacked the capital The offensive also lle'id II long range threat to tens of touaanils . of German troops in the Baltic , states, since the Soviets may drive west from Vlii-I>ek along the Dvina river to Riga and Hie Baltic, trapping them. (German refiort* said the whole 300-mlie-long north central front from Pskov, gateway to laitiva, south to Mogilev. 87 tnlles below Vitobsk was flaming into action, but Russian reports told only of Soviet attack* around Vitelwk. Northwest of Smolensk, the Russians drove seven and a half to nine mil'* through fortified forests, waterways, ravines and marshes (Turn Tn )*«*• S. Column 4) — -o Congress Adjourns Until August First Few Congressmen On Hand Last Session Washington. June 24. — (VP) — Members o( congress were homeward or convention bound today aHer five and one-halt months of concentrated law making during which they voted 587.000,000,000 in new funds to carry on the war and began to lay the groundwork for the return of the nation's economy to a peacetime basis. The 587.000.000.000 in new funds voted this year was 547.000.000.0(H) less (han Hie total voted last year, reflecting the passage of the peak In war production and the down ward trend In war spending that since June, 1940, has mounted to 539o.(HHi.iMm.OOO—over a third of a trillion dollar*. Legislative work ended without fanfare yesterday with few senators or representatives on hand when the final "must’* bill, the aecond deficiency appropriation which (chided funds for the GPA, was sent to the White House after both branches approved a conference re(Tara T< Pape t, Ceiuma >1

I Allied Planes Pound Defenses In France Planes Joining In Cherbourg Assault London, June 24. (VP) Hun dreds of Allied planes, from fighters to Flying Fortresses and Liberators. shuttled across the channel in un almost endless stream today to Join the assault on Cherbourg and carry out widespread attacks on German communication lines deep in France. German radios also reported Allied bomber formations over northwestern Germany. Since dawn swarms of Allied lighters and bombers filled the clear, windless sky over the channel and the procession still was continuing this afternoon Many of the returning formations came buck from the French coast area between Boulogne and Dieppe and it was believed they may have made new attacks on Hie Ne»i robot plane bases. The American Fortresses and Liberator* from the eighth airforce were escorted by Thunderbolts. Lightnings, and .Mustangs as they concentrated on railroad bridges, airfields and other military installations throughout France. 1 Although some of the targets were hidden by clouds, the heavy ’ Imi in lie rs were aide Io carry out partof the attacks witii visual observation of the enemy installa- ' ions. — - o Firemen Reelect Officers Friday Postpone Selection Os Convention City Officers of Hn- Northeastern Indiana volume r and Industrial tiremen’s association were re. elected at the business meeting of the delegates, h-Id at the engine house on Hevelltll sll'ect late Friday afternoon. ■More than 100 delegates att< lid. ed the meeiing, which was ad. dressed by .Mayor John B. Stulls, who welcomed the tiremen and "turned the k< ys of the city over to the boys." Paul Felber, the reflected , president, Is chief of the Indus, trial department at the Central Soya company in this city. Joe Brenner, secretary-treasurer of the department, was chairman of the meeting. The offices, besides Mr Felber are: William Stm-key, Monroe, (Turn To Page 3, Column 4) No 'Ear-Marking' Os Men For Army, Navy Indiamrpolis June 24 — W'P) — Beginning July J. Hoosier inductee* will be placed in a commono pool to b«- drawn upon by the army and navy as need* develop, no longer "earsnarked" for either branch of service, Indiana draft director Rob- ] inson HitchiM-k announced today. ' The ear-marking procedure has ' been in effect since Jan I. but ' Hitchcock said ihat changing de- ' mands of the two services made it impossible to withdraw men from the induction pools at an even rate —o- — i Batter Japs Back In India, Burma Southeast Asia Headquarters, Kandy. Ceylon. June 24. — (UP)—Allied troops, battering the Japanese back through India and northern Burma, captured 13 pieces i»f enemy artillery. Including a 150mm rifle, in recent fighting, a communique announced today. The bulk of the artillery, together with large quantities of ammunition. was taken by British imperials under Lt. Gen. Williams Slims in the Mauipur hills when they reopened laud communication yesterday betweeu luiphal and Kubima.

IBUYOT4 WAR BONDS a* >»» » * *

Price Four Cents

Fall Os Cherbourg Imminent As Allied Forces Pound Nazis In Besieged Port Allied Supreme Hendquartetw, Ixmdon, June 24. (Vl’) American shock troops broke through the main German defenses outside Cherbourg today and drove within a BtUe more than a mile of the city limits, a front dispatch filed at 8 a. m. reported, adding that the fall of the city was considered imminent. German troops were surrendering by the hundreds, and during the night they offred very little artillery and small arms fire to impede the American advance to heights overlooking the city, where resistance was slight. "The rate of the enemy surrend er. coupled with the failure to react to the breaching of tiie Cherbourg defense perimeter, indicated the rapid deteriorating of German morale and ability to defend the fortress Cherbourg much longer,” Henry T. Gorrell of the I'nlted Pnws reported. The German high command said I that fierce hand to nand fighting for Cherbourg developed yesterday and last night, and the Americans captured several strongholds "to advance further toward the fortress." "Fighting for Cherbourg now is raging between the defensive belt and the town.” the German traneocean news agency reported. Th* Americans have succeeded in piercing the outer defense chain of the town at three points." Hundreds of Vnited States bombers began pounding the last German defenses of Cherbourg at 7 30 a, in in a Maturation assault which Gorrell said was "creating an artificial earthquake hereabouts.” • The bombers were pounding German strong points around the city, including forts Du Route and D'Octeville. main strongholds guarding ihe southern gates of the city lying in it* very outskirts. (A National Broadcasting Company rejsirt from the beachhead said the Americans had readied Octeville. apparently the village a short distance southwest of the fort of the same name.) “One unit of infantry attacking from tiie south at 3:20 a. in. had reached heights overlooking Cherbourg dty with only slight enemy resistance," Gorrell reported, suggesting that, with the outlying de tense perimeter breached, the opposition in that sector at least automatically fell off In the 24 hours preceding the tiling of his dispatch, Gorrell reported. the bag of prisoners in three vector* had totaled 1.250. indicating that tiie hulk of them had surrendered. The V. 8. units advancing from Hu- southwest were subjected to a heavy artillery concentration at midnight, after which the enemy wax (ompletely silent along the entire front. Tiie strong ,>. lnts in the new battle sector* were among the most intricate yet encountered in France, but they were not defended tenaciously. Gorrell said in a further hint that the end of Nazi resistance was nearing. "Fighting is heavy and resistance is strong Immediately before Cherbourg." Gen. Dwight D. Elsenhower announced In his 37th communique of the invasion. "We are making steady progress and are now within a short distance of the north coast on both sides of the fort res* ” Again coming to the al dos the hard pressed Infantry, ninth air force Marauder* early this morning pounded heavy German guns on the outskirts of Cherbourg with more than 250 ton* of explosives "to re lieve the storming American troops from German pressure.” an Allied air forces announcement said. The Germans, threatened with shooting by their commanders if they attempted to surrender, were fighting a do-or-dle battle from their steadily *hrinking pocket some 15 miles iong and only two to three miles deep. Front dispatches indicated th* Americans made their most important advance southwest of Cherbourg. where they drove the Germane from commanding ground on (Tura T« 3. Caltutß

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