Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 42, Number 159, Decatur, Adams County, 6 July 1944 — Page 1

5 * WAR LOAN i

b uy |EX7»I |BONDS

Vol. XLII. No. 159.

2,752 Killed In Britain By German Robot Bombs

— 'luj-or lUITO Tur- -WXUST “WIM HjJF J :~=w taU Bjuro' T-aJV '<m —'mno 1 <U>H BITTER FIGHTING IS RAGING AT LA HAYE

High Proportion Os Casualties In British Capital

Churchill Discloses Germans Send 100 To 150 Os Bombs Daily Against London Area London, July 6—(UP)—prime Minister Churchill disclosed today hat &g C- loans were tombard. »< Loudon with robot bombs at he rate of 100 to 150 a day and n the Hrsi three week* of their issault tad killed 2.752 persons, i high proportion of them in the (liiish Oflpital. Soma other person* have men hospitalized for injuries, but i large taoportlon of them were lischsrged after only a few days, ‘hurchlll told commons in his ong-a waited statement on the dlotlass plane attacks. Altogether, he said, the Ger. nana Jam-barged 2.750 flying >omba from their launching plat'orma or| the French coast from he stare of the assault June 13 (trough 8 a. m. today, but a very arg* proportion of them either 'ailed tomrosx the channel or had teen shot down. "The talite will be favorably surprised to learn that the total lumbar of flying bombs launched have klll'i almost exactly one jersoß per bomb." he said The Marage number of deaths rom tttoßvrman rotot bombs was 130 daily, a relatively light figure n contrast to the slaughter of the 1949.41 blitz During the night >t May 10 1941, 1.438 Ixmdoners were killed by German bombs I iropped from piloted planes. : From the beginning of the war >o last Jkin. 1. air raid deaths In , 4SJW* persona were injured. Chttrcljill Raid he could give IM* guarantee for the future, but hftsured the house that the gov. Was doing 'everything in and we never have I "TlroFß the only promise I can Inake yet," he said. . "I must, however, make it perfectly plain had I do not want th. re to be any IfttaMltatatidlng about It. that we hall not allow the battle opera. lona in X ■ •nu.iiidy or the attacks ve aNMnaking on special targets n Germany to suffer. "They tome first and we must it our pwn domestic arrangements fMo the general sc heme of war I iporMkni- ' Churchill thus disposed of the r|y rfliroid ln i >arllan, ** nt and *“ (Turn Tn Page 1. Columa 1) ! Late Bulletins Allied Supreme Headquarters, Leetan. July «.—(UP)—Adolf HlU*r announced tonight that he tad removed Ma ahal Karl Ven Rundetedt from the supreme command of the broaqhede Atlantic wall defenses behind which American troupe were fighting for the traiMßort center of La Haye-Ou JPultaln the developing battle bP Ltadon, July 9. — (UP) — fc ! Warding sirens sounded and German flying bombs fell in the the London area today. n ■— tail Francisco, July B.—(UP) Lt. taaufort G. Swancutt. senJtoneta to death by an army court martial for the murder of his Sweetheart, another girl, a policeman and hie commanding I officer at Camp Ansa, hanged i himaplf at Letterman general I heyial today. ■K———O — I TIMPCRATURI RKADINffi | DEMOCRAT THERMOMETER R S*oo a. m. 70 10s®0 a. m 80 | 2:<» p. m. 96 weather Palp and oMtlnued warm to

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT I ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY I

Russians Drive Within 25 Miles Os Lithuania Germans Rush Fresh Reserves To Battle On Russian Front Moscow, July •— (UP) —The Germans rushed fresh reserves, including air-borne divisions. Into battle on the approaches to Lithuania today, but the onrushing Soviets hurled them aside and drove to within a little more than 25 miles of the border and 42 miles of the stronghold of Wilno. The fall of the encircled strong, hold of Moiodechno. 42 milea northwest of Minsk and 83 miles southeast of Wilno, yesterday opened the floodgates to cavalry, tanks and mobile Infantry of Marshal Ivan D. Cherntakhovskys 3rd White Russian army and they surged westward with Increasing momentum. An outflanking column north of Moiodechno set the pace for the assault on Lithuania by smashing through reinforced German lines along the Wilja river, capturing the highway and railway center of Smorgon, II miles northwest of Moiodechno, and pressing on to within 42 miles of Wilno. The advance carried the 3rd army to within 45 miles of the Lithuanian border and 121 miles of the East Prussian border as established by Russia and Ger. many respectively following the partition of Poland In 1839, North of Wilno, Gen Ivan C. Bagramian's Ist Baltic army ran into stiffened enemy resistance on the approaches to Daugavpils (Dvinsk) in southeastern Latvia, but to the south, the Ist White Russian army of Marshal Kon. slant in K. Rokossovsky pushed to within 18 miles east of the com. panion stronghold of Baranowicse More than 2.700 Germans were killed and 85 tanks and 1,000 motor vehicles destroyed by the advancing Russians. Another 13 tanks and 224 motor vehicles were captured. The Soviet high command said the Red army was penetrating the enemy's rear and "routing his strong points." Southwest of Minsk. Rokossov. sky's Ist army captured tpore than (Turn To Pegs 8. Column 8) ■- -o Chinese Say Japs Using Poison Gas American Officer Confirms Charges 14th U. S Army Air Force Base. China, Juno 29. —(Delayed)—(UP) —('apt Ralph F. Thompson, a U. s army chemical warfare Intelligence officer, conflrmed today that the Japanese were using poison gas against the Chinese defender*) of Hengyang. Thompson found evidence of use of both mustard and Lewisite gas. he reported on bis return from a special trip to Hengyang to investigate Chinese claims that deathdealing gases were being employed by the Japanese. Though the Chinese on several previous occasions have made similar claims, thia was believed to mark the first time that they have been Investigated on the spot and conflrmed by an American army officer. (A Chinese high command communique last week charged the Japanese were nMej p-fess il (Turn To Paffo L Mut| I)

Americans Take 2nd Airdrome On Noemfoor Within 770 Miles Os Philippines; Mop Up Japanese On Saipan (By United Press) American army troops captured ■a second airdrome on Noemfoor island off Dutch North Guinea to open twin bases today for U. H. bombers within 770 miles of the Philippines while the U. 8. marines and soldiers mopped up the last Japanese defenders on northern Saipan island in the Marianas. Disclosing that the bloody Sai(tan campaign was nearing a successful conclusion. Admiral Cheater W. Nimitz expressed "high hopes" of increasing pressure on Japan with his Pacific fleet now approach- , ing peak efficiency. Nimitz at a press conference said the fleet had developed a secret weapon for operations in the western Pacific —solution of the problem of supply. "We will apply continuing and , unremitting pressure at every possibie point" Nimita said. The ability of Admiral Raymond Spruance'a fifth fleet to strike hard , week after week Is an outstanding feature of the Marianas campaign, i Nimitz said. American infantrymen, meeting : only slight opposition, seized Koruasoren airdrome Tuesday while i roya) Australian air force crews , prepared nearby Kamirl airstrip ; which fell Sunday, for operations. , a communique reported. The Australian engineers landed shortly after the first assault '' troops and immediately began rei pairing the field which had been damaged in previous American bomber raids. The communique eaid far eastern air force fliers carried out widespread operations Tuesday, striking in the Carolines to hit Yap. Ngulu and Sorel islands and Woleal. The bombers hit Timor in the (Turn To Pag* 9. Column I) Denies Department Refused Fire Call Fire Chief Spikes Prevalent Rumors Harry Stultz, city tire chief, spiked rumors today that the city fire department refused a run recently to Bellmont park. Chief Stults said today the fire depart, ment answers all calls. In reference to the recent fire al Bellmont park, chief Stults says the records show no request for the department was made. al. though after the fire, two calls were received inquiring whether or not the city fire department had made a rural call. In many communitiea in the state, Including some In this county, the townships own part of the fire equipment and have local volunteers to assist the regular city or town firemen who bring the equipment to the scene. In Decatur, however, the de. partment has made it a policy of attending all rural calls and charging the property owner for the number of miles travelled and , the number of volunteers answer. , ing the call. The regular meeting of the city fire department was held at the fire station Wednesday night. A report was made on the convention by city firemen and by Gerald Vizard, representing the Central Soya company fire department. All accounts balanced and the convention was termed a success. ■ o — Tri Kappa Sorority . Operates Bond Booth The bond booth at the Schafer ' store Is In charge of the Tri Kappa sorority this week. Last week the nooth was operated by the Psi lota i ' XI members end sal— totaled «. ' 700 the second highest at the fifth war loan period.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, July 6,1944.

Army’s “Weasel” Makes Debut f -wsearogmaa* ~ 'MBTH I aW 1 " -A x "U , sTHIS RADICAL VEHICLE of war, which hns been in secret production at the Studebaker automobile factory In South Bend. Ind., for almost two years, ha* just been reveai.*d by the war department. It l» the "Weasel." Known to the Army a» the M-29. It Is a low-slung, squarefaced personnel and supply carrier capable of operating over enow, deep mud. sand or paved highways, a grqater variety of terrain conditions than possible for any other vehicle.

Ernst Stoppenhagen Is Taken By Death Heart Attack Fatal To Retired Farmer Ernst H. Stoppenhagen. 85, retired Preble township farmer, died of a heart attack late Wednesday afternoon at his home, threefourths of a mile south of the Friedhelm Lutheran church. He had been In falling health for the past six months. He wax torn in Preble township June 29. 1859. the son of Ernst 1 and Charlotte Buuck-Stoppenhag. en. He married Louiae Fuhrman June 2, 1885. He wax a member of the Frirdhelm Lutheran church Surviving In addition to the widow are a son. Adolph of Preble township; two daughters. Clara of Preble township and Mrs. I,yd la ' Reese of Fort Wayne; one sister, Mrs. Christian Eichkoff of Preble township; 10 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Two sons, three brothers and six sisters are deceased. Funeral services will be Held at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the home, and at 2:30 p. m. at the church, with Rev, E. T. Schmldtke officiating. Burial will be In the church cemetery. 'The body will be removed from the (Tuva Te Pags 6. Column 4>

Lt. Miles Jones Aids In Downing German Fighter During Invasion

A Ninth Air Forte Bomber Sts. tion, European Theater of Opera, tion, July < —How four Thunder, bolt piiota. led by Lt. Roy L Manx. Cretins, La., teamed together to get the first enemy lighter of their group In the Invasion war waa told today at thia elation It waa D.Day plus two. two daya after commencement of the iuva. alon, and Lt. Saux, flying the “Crescent City Cajun." waa lead. Ing hia flight, including 2nd Lt. Miiea Jones, rural route 2. Deca, tur. Ind.. 2nd Lt. Roger I. Woods. Mlndon, Mass., and 2nd Lt. Mai. colm McLane, Manchester. N. H, on a dive bombing mission 30 miles south of Le Havre. “The big thing about tbls one was bow we did that Jerry in to. gather" said Lt. Saux. “We've been flying together tor four months now, and we hnow just what each other can do." Woods, flying “Woody |i« Wolf." was the flrat to spot the enemy fighter, an ME 109. flying above and to the left of the Thunderbolt formation. A few seconds later U circled to tae rear and b«gau a run uu McLane's plane. "We all broke left then.** said

Heat Prompts City Dads To Advertise For Snow Plow Bids With the temperature up In the nineties today, one’s thought dote not turn to snow. But the city fathers have an eye on next December and (he following winter months. On July 18, up to 7:30 o'clock, the city council will receive sealed blds for the furnishing of a snow plow that can be attached to a one and one-halt ton truck ’Specifications call for a plow with a straight, reversible blade, hydraulic control 102 inches long and 24 inches high. Hide must to I accompanied by a V>" bond. The city, which obtained a priority for the plow, will ask the WPB to renew the approval for its purchase, following receipt of blds. — o_ Dissipate Fears Os Rationing Os Bread Washington. July 6 — (UP) — Fears of bread rationing were officially dissipated today when the agriculture department reported that this year's prospective billionbushel record wheat crop nhouid meet all requirements with enough left over to build up sizable reserves. A departmental survey of the national wheat situation disclosed that this year's carryover stocks w|| be at least 50.000.t00 bushels ‘larger than originally mtimated.

Lt Saux. “and 1 wound up sitting on Jerry's tali from about 300 yards; that's when the rat race began. I fired about 1.100 rounds —pilot buck fever; you’re eager with lite first on« —and I could see the hits streaking up his cockfTurg To Paws L W*a* fil

Yankee Troops By-Pass La Haye, Seizing Some Os Outlying Villages

Abandon Hope For 64 Trapped In Ohio Mine Hope Is Abandoned As Fire Breaks Out Anew, Halts Rescue Bellaire. 0.. July 8 — (UP) Mine officials today gave up as dead 64 miners trapped five miles inside the burning Powhatan coal mine, 14 miles south of here, and began sealing the mine ehafts. Hope for the men wux abandoned when the Are at one of the four entrances which had been extinguished broke out again and forced weary rescue crews to return to the surface. Mine officials said it wan necessary to seal the entrances to the mines to pul out the fire, which began at 12 30 p. tn before it destroyed the entire mine. Roy Fox. supervisor of the Powhatan Coal Mining company, owner of the mine, largest In Ohio, said that in "my opinion the men are dead. How they died we do not know. Their wupply of oxygen may have run out. or they may have been trapped by the spreading Are." Fox said that if the entrance were not sealed now. it would be a week or perhaps longer before the min>- could be entered. T’u- number of presumed dead was established by counting the mlslsng head lamps. Fox said Earlier, the doomed men had answered the tappings of rescue workers on a water pipe running through the mine, and some ho|wwas held then for ther rescue. But the rescue crews, including some of the 150 men who- were in the mine when the fire broke out ami made their way to safety, could do nothing after the fire which had been extinguished flared anew. Sealing of the mine will prevent air from getting Into the shaft. Rescue crew* sobbed without shame as they abandoned their efforts and emerged grimy and weary from the shaft. Many had brothers and other relatives trapped ill*ide. One of the rescue workers described the tire as ”a red hot furnace -the hottest place I ever (Turn To Paws ». Column O — -o Thousands Os Allied ’ Planes Blasi Europe Widely Scattered Targets Attacked lx>ndon, July •—(DP)—Oflo thousand flying fortresses and Liberators sca'tered a great weight of bombs across non Invest Germany flying Iximih platforms In the Pas de Calais, and French air fields today In a full scale resumption of the aerial offenaiv against the continent. The daylight assault by the United States eighth air force waa the second blow in a one-two punch, the Roya) Air Force having sent some 1.4 M) of it* heavy isjinbers out on a similar night mission extending from deep in France to the Ruhr valley of Germany. The first American airmen returning from the continent said the bombers ran into Intense antiaircraft fire at some places but mv no German fighters. The pin-point bonding of the widely scattered targets was carried out under ideal conditions of perfect visibility The LOOObomtier fleet of ftgtiter(Turn To Pag* 4, Coloma 3).

Allies On Advance On Italian Front Resistance Toughest Since Fall Os Rome Rome. July 6.—(UP)—American armored forces battled halt-way through the stronghold of Rosignano. keystone to the German defenses before Livorno, today while other Allied troops smashed northward toward Florence and Ancona In a general advance of one to I more than five milea. Driving rains and deep mud hampered the attacking Sth and Bth armies, but official reports said they were moving northward with . increasing speed ail along the front, riding roughshod over ex- . tensive enemy demolitions and the bitterest opposition since the fall i of Rome. Only on the western coastal strip were the desperate Germans able , to stem the Allied tide momentar- | ily, taking every advantage of the rugged terrain and long prejsared defenses around itosignano. 12 miles' below Livorno, and the coastal town of Castiglioiicello, 10 miles below the big seaport. Bitter fighting also was contlnu- ( ing around CasteJlina. five inile>. | Inland, where another American , column wae pushing slowly toward Poggibonsi, five miles farther to the northeast. In the same sector, the Americans advanced miles from ' Mintecatini to within less than 20 miles of the Pisa-Florence highway on which the Nazis were expected to make their next major stand. (Turn To Pa«s 2. Column 8> ! o ... Appeal Made To Put Bond Drive Over Top I f County $374,765 Short Os Quota I FIFTH WAR LOAN County’s quots $1,473,300 Sales to date 1.098.535 For goal . 374.795 With actual sales to date swelled • by payroll bond purchase* by Gen- ■ eral Electric employes, the total ' was boasted from yesterday's figure by 343.535, Earl Caston, co-chair-man of the county bond stuff announced today. Remaining allocations expected to come through before Saturday, will probably boost sales another 375,000, still leaving about S3(K>.(Mto short of the goal, bond officials explained. Buying of bonds as the final stretch was reached was not as heavy as anticipated and the county faces the chagrin of tailing down on the *ob. it was pointed out by officials. An appeal was issued by Theodore F. Graliker. county chairman, to all citizens to help put the county over the top through the Immediate purchase of bonds Officially the drive ends Saturday. although purchases made during the months will be credited to the fifth war loan. . o State General Fund At Record Balance Indianapolis July 8 (UP)—(State auditor Richard T. James announced today that a state general fund balance of 343,113.867.46 ezfeted nt the end of the flees I year June 30 James ssid that Ute balance was 38.000,000 «Im>w. the figure on June ' 30. 1943 when >36.434,002.43 remaln- ! cd 1Q She feud. The size of I the bulanue wau imprecedeuted in '| Indiana aa was tha slse of the IX3 balance a year ago.

WAR BONDS » • • • R7TO * 1

Price Four Cents

Germans Resisting Strongly; Steady Progress Reported In Most Sectors Allied Supreme H.-adi|uartera. lutndon July 6 —(l'Pl— American troops, ewarmlng around !>v<>aseed Ist Haye-du Pults, captured outlying villages on each side of it today and were locked In ItiUer fighting between the town and its rail station 500 yard* to the north. Supreme Headquarters announced that the Germaim were resisting strongly along ths American offensive front in Normandy, and Uteru was no indication on any large scale enemy withdrawal. 'However, alow I tut sure progress was reported in most sector*. German rorces counterattacked briskly along the Carenun-Periera road, and drove American i.nits out of the village of Culot. four miles southrweet of Carentan. which they had captured a few hours earlier. i The forrested Mt. Castre, three ! miles southeast of Ln Haye and dominating feature of the entire lai i Haye-Carentan-Perierx triangle, apI peared to be within the grasp of the ’ forces iate today while th-’ column • pushing down the west coast comi pleted a by passing movement beHaye. Among the gains was one of a mile lielow St. J ores which netted i the village for lai IfUlte. I The first army was battering for- > ward all along the zigzag 27-m-il« front from the west coast to Caren- - tan. and He several individul ati tacks were bloMomng into an ofi fensive of consideradile scope. illea<h|uarters announced that in I the first 30 days of the Normandy campaign the Allies* had liberated 1,313 square miles of France. A field dispatch reported a swaying battle for the lai Haye rail station. The Americans bad oeen in and out of rail yards three times s.nce yesterday afternoon, the repert filed at 12:30 p. in said, and for the moment |r was in German bands. The same account said American forces driving In agaiisst lai Haye from the southwest were within one mile of the town. United Press correspondent Henry T Gorrell reported from Hie Vicinity of lai Haye" that the battle for the Nazi-held bastion oft Tie West Normandy front raged violently throughout the night, and by mid-morning bad nut taken a decisive turn. Earlier advices said lai Haye had been by-passed on troth sides, and (Turn To Pag« 4. Column 4) — — O — —— New American Ace Bags 28th Plane Pennsylvania Pilot New Fighting Ace Eighth Air Force Thunderbolt Base, England. July 6—(UP)—Lt. Col. Francis Gshreskl of Oil City. Pa. held top spot among America’s flghting aces today after bagging his 28th victim, a Messerschmlt 199. over France yesterday. Last week he had tied the marks of Maj. Robert S. Johnson. Lawton. Okla., eight air force piloi. and Maj. Richard 1. Bong. Poplar. Wis., flier In the Pacific, who have 27 planes each. Garreskl said his 28th Jerry gave him the "longest and best" fight he ever had Gabreskl waa leading a Thnn. derbolt squadron which flew into France to eacort shuttle raiders returning from Italy on the last leg of a trip from Russia when he encountered three German planes. "Two of them tried to lure me down while a third siayeu up to jump me." Bag reski said. “I realised what they were try. - .(Taro Ta Page |* Cehuaq 7J **.

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