Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 43, Number 25, Decatur, Adams County, 30 January 1945 — Page 1

ga, fife Must Win the War' All Else Is Chores!

Vol. XLIII. No. 25?

RUSSIANS REDOUBLE DRIVE FOR BERLIN

Yank Forces Drive Deeper Into Germany American Armies Hitting Outposts Os Siegfried Line Paris, Jan. 30— (VP) —American taSkr; and troops drove one to three -miles deeper into Germany today in a new attack northeast ot Monschau and to the south third army forces plunged Reich from the BelgianLuxembourg frontier and won a bridgehead two miles wide. Untied States armies were hitmifposts of the Siegfried broad front in attacks whMWSKifront dispatch said obviously reflected repeated statements by high Allied spokesmen effort would be made to Storm through the west wall when the Ardennes bulge had been wiped out A dispatch from the Monschau sector said the 78th infantry division and supporting armor " took off in waist deep snow during theMßigbt and by this afternoon had rolled up maximum gains off; three miles northeast 4R^BEG* rniil ' 1 <ily - Advancing through a continuina snowstorm, the Ill's seized the Village of Conzen and entered ' Huppenbroicli and Kesternich. Conzen it two and a half miles S northeast iof Monschau, HuppenXityroich two east of Conzen. and Kesternich a mile north of lluppenbraiciu The dispatch said the only ,F point where the Germans shWed wma.real light was at Kesternich, SbyHgAfing that the general Gerwhwi fallhaek into the Siegfried S'Wwy- intended to that sector were virtually nonbecause German artillery was strangely silent,*; the dispatch reported with- : <wt nxptenatio n. It wmS'the 78th division which took Kestert. ich in the" short-lived ■%’jtti|||jjMftheast of Monschau in December, just before the Ger- " maj{ Ciwptqr-offeqsive opened. 3Fllffi|'first victory in Germany Lt. Gen. George S. 'TsBS&SHuaMrd army forces was the capture of Welchenhausen, - eight miles southeast of St. Vith, a Belgium. BFroflti'feports said the attack MsSliißatwe Our had penetrated ’within a lit th 1 over two miles of -Sthe. •.frrat . main pillboxes of the Siegfried cline, and probably al(Turtl To Page 2. Column 3) O Edith May Stanley Is Taken By Death Funeral Services Thursday Afternoon s 'Bdith May Stanley, 25, died MonStat afternoon at the home of her .pa.'tTO’x. Mi and Mils. Wilbur R SBEMEEStve and one-half miles Deca hi r in Waabing- • Wjy '’jjiijiiiafei She had been an inwntm juan y years. tajMjfeMphorn in Fentin, Va„ July U daughter of Wilbur R. *‘SM*”y6ESMsy Mullins-Stanley. The ’o Adams county shEßri as °- In addition to the par'4 brother. Earl Stanley, at 'home, and a grandmother. Mre. of Roanoke, Va. J| UhtlEfefal services will be held at 1:45 p. tn. Thursday a: the home and art 2:80 o’clock at the First Mtej&urch in this city, with Rev. -Carey R. Moser officiating. (Burial win be in the Decatur cemetery. The body will be removed •Wrooi the Zwick funeral home to the at 7 o’clock Wednesday evening.. Mmfe—• n — TEMPERATURE READING DEMOCRAT THERMOMETER Woon/fc— 12 2:00 p. m - 12 I WEATHER Ciearing, and colder, with temperatures ranging from I I** • xtreme north to five •gHjjjbove in extreme south cartldmr tonight; Wednesday continued cold.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Stale Welfare Bill To Final Passage Adopt Amendment On Property Recovery Indianapolis, Jan. 30—(UP)—The welfare omnibus bill advanced to final passage on voice vote in the Indiana house of representatives today with an important property recovery clause amendment to prohibit welfare claims on estates worth less than SSOO. Apparently a concession to opponents of the section which would re-enact the recovery rigjits of counties against the estates of old age assistant recipients, the amendment offered by Rep. Led Dennis, R., Pekin, was tacked to the con troversial measure. (Dennis, who fought the recovery clause in yesterday’s house consideration of H. B. 33, sought to exempt from the provisions of the section the properties of elderly recipients who had meager estates at the time of their deaths. 'Members of the house social security committee, headed by Rep. Earl B. Teckemeyer, R., Indianapolis, held a hurried caucus on the Dennis amendment and announced to the lawmakers that the proposal was acceptable. Another amendment, offered by Teckemeyer, who sponsored the •bill, provides that recipients be notified of tihe revival of the recovery clause in the event that the measure became law. The change would require recipients to notify the county welfare board by May 1, 1945, If they wished discontinuance of their assistance payments. The recovery clause would become effective July 1, this year. Standard Time Indianapolis, Jan. 30 — (UP) — The Indiana house of representatives approved on second reading today to put the state back on central standard time, beginning April 1. Advancing it to the final passage Wage, house members defeated two amendments. One would have salvaged the present central war time throughout the State during the three summer months, June, through August. The other would have made the .bill effective in 1947. Approve Extension Indianapolis, Jan. 30 —-(UP) — (Turn To Page K. Column .3) — 0 Committee Approves Roosevelt Promotion Washington, Jan. 30. — (UP) — The senate military affairs committee unanimously approved today the nomination of 34-year-old Col. Elliott Roosevelt, second son of the president, to the rank of brigadier general. The nomination of the young air force officer was approved along with the promotions of 57 other colonels to the same rank. o Court House Clock Will Stay Lighted Brownout Becomes Effective Feb. 1 It will not. be necessary to turn off the light in the court house tower that illuminates the town clock, in the brownout which becomes effective at midnight Wednesday, the WPB has advised electric utilities. According to information received here, the lighting of clocks located in public buildings is permitted under the lighting restriction to conserve fuel. However, the illumination of a privately owned clock located outside a business establishment or in a show window is prohibited. Also on the prohibited list is electricity used for lighting honor rolls, church signs, Red Cross and war bond drive and military recruiting signs, and civic monuments. The order eliminated outdoor advertising and ornamental lighting outside stores and show window lighting. Outdoor business establishments such as a gasoline station, parking lot, or fruit and vegetable market, can only uae the normal amount of lighting necessary to carry on business. Food or spot lighting fe considered promotional unless it is the only means of lighting available for conduct of the business.

Americans Only 23 Miles From Cily Os Manila Feeble Opposition , Is Offered By Japs To Drive On Manila General MacArthur's Headquarters, Luzon, Jan. 30. — (UP) —Vanguards of the American sixth army swung down on the last Japanese defense line north of Manila today, driving into the swamp-lined Calumpit bottleneck barely ten miles from Manila bay and 23 miles from the enslaved Philippines capital. Front dispatches indicated that only a thin Japanese covering force lay between the advancing doughboys' and Manila, although the difficult terrain was expected to prevent a quick march into the city. (Tokyo, asserting that the Americans still were being contained on the central Luzon plain around Bamban, 18 miles above San Fernando, said the greatest battle of the Pacific war was expected to develop in that area and that a new American landing in the “Manila area” was articipated. (Another Japanese broadcast recorded by FCC monitors said 36 American Superfortresses bombed northern Luzon in the first B-29 raid of the war on the Philippines. The broadcast did not make clear when the reported attack occurred.) Far to the north other American troops were running into their bitterest opposition since the Luzon invasion began 22 days ago. Fanning out northeast and east from their Lingayen gulf beachheads, the Americans were threatening the entire Baguio area where the bulk of the enemy’s island garrison was believed concentrated, and the Japanese reacted savagely. Reinforced enemy tank and infantry units counter-attacked three times against the American spearheads over the week-end and were routed with serious losses after a touch-and-go battle. The Japanese tried their biggest counter-blow shortly after midnight (Turn To Page 2, Column 5) o Refund Donations For Airport Fund Checks Mailed To All Contributors R. C. Ehinger, secretary of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, : has completed the refunding of the donations received last fall toward the county airport project, with the exception of $1.60, out of a total of about $5,200. It was impossible to refund the $1.60, Mr. Ehinger explained, for reason that a ten cent donation was listed as given by a “Friend” and a $1.50 donation contained no name. The funds were turned over to Mr. Ehinger by Ray Leitz, county director and Earl Fuhrman, city chairman of the drive. In addition to the $5,200 refunded, the committee had pledges, equivalent to cash of $4,000 from the American Legion. Loyal Order of Moose and the B. P. O. Elks. With contributions from Berne and Geneva, the total receipts, including the pledges, were more than SIO,OOO, or less than half of the $25,000 goal set to meet the offer of the Central Soya company,' which agreed to donate a $25,000 farm for an airport site. Where cash was received by the solicitors, the money was deposited in the bank and Mr. Ehinger drew a check,in favor of the donor and mailed it to him. The cost of the drive was defrayed by the Decatur Chamber of Commerce. o Road To Berhr By United Press •'The distance to Berlin from advanced Allied lines: Eastern front: 90 miles (from point near Woldenburg). Western front: 286 miles (from point southeast ot Nijmegen). Italy: 530 miles (from point north of Ravenna).

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, January 30, 1945.

Warship Named For Navy Nurse I r ~~ 1 I .i. ms THE DESTROYER HIGBEE, first combat vessel of the U. S. Navy named for a woman, was commissioned at the Navy yard in Charleston, Mass. Tiie Higbee was named in honor of the late Mrs. Lenah S. Higbee, superintendent of the Navy Nurse Corps. Cadet DorothyHarkins and Ensign Frances Durant salute the flag after the commissioning attended by U. S. naval and cadet nurses.

Rev. Alban Berling Will Be Ordained *»■ Former Decatur Man To Become Priest The Rev. Alban Berling. 0.5.8, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Berling of 6468 Park Avenue. Indianapolis. formerly of this city, will > be ordained to the Catholic priesf-. hood on February 2. at St. Mein-j rad's Abbey. St Meinrad, Ind., by the Most Rev. Joseph E, Ritter, archbishop of Indianapolis. Decatur relatives of the newly ordained priest are planning to attend his first mass, which will be celebrated at St. Joan of Arc Church, Indianapolis, on Sunday. February 11. The Rev. Vincent X. Ehinger, C.P., of the Passionist Fathers. Birmingham. Ala., an uncle of Rev. Berling, will preach the sermon at the solemn high mass. Officers of the mass will be Rev. Clement Bosler, archpriest; Rev. Adelbert, 0.5.8.. deacon, and Rev. Bartholomew. 0.5.8., both St. Meinrad’s Abbey, subdeacon. A reception for Father Berling, who is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Berling, will be held at the home of his parents from 8 to 10 o’clock on the evening of the day he celebrates his first mass. o Hoosier Solon Hits ! Work-Or-Else Plans Halleck Assails Political Motive Washington, Jan. 30 — (UP)— Rep. Charles A. Halleck, R„ lnd„ asserted in an attack on proposed compulsory work legislation today that American boys on the battlefronts “were sacrificed upon the atlar of political expediency” bypromoters of President Roosevelt a fourth term campaign. Opposing work-or-elee legislation •to bolster lagging war production as unnecessary, Halleck asserted in a speech prepared for house delivery that: “'Before the election and during the campaign, the promoters of the fourth term stated time and again that onr. production was all that anyone could ask . . . our people were told that every bullet and shell was going to just the right place, at the right time and in necessary quantities,” Asserting that “we were led to •believe that the war was next to over,” Halleck added that “the irevita/ble result was to lull the people of our country into a feeling of false accomplishment.” •Halleck said these impressions did much to re-elect President vTurq To Page 2, Column 3)

Navy Part In D-Day Lauded In Report Paris, Jan. 30. —(UP)—The scope of the Allied naval effort involved in the invasion of western Europe was revealed for the first time today in a headquarters review disclosing that more than 2,200,000 troops. 450.000 vehicles, and 4.000.000 tons of supplies were landed in France in the first 100 days after D-Day. • •» The covering the comj bined naval operations from D-Day > on June 6 to the end of 1944, paid tribute to the precision and timing of the amphibious assault and the close-in support lent by American, British and French warships after they got their cargoes of men and equipment ashore. o Two Missing Aller Hammond Explosion Famous Restaurant Is Scene Os Blast Hammond. Ind.. Jan. 30—(UP) — Firemen and police used a bulldozer today to search the debris of a lake front restaurant for a bartender and a waitress j who were missing after an explo- | sion and fire destroyed the | establishment last night, injur- | ing 17 persons. Police identified the missing persons as Werner Petriel 35, Hammond, and Marie Hart, Calumet City, employes of the Phil Smidt and Son restaurant, which was wrecked by a blast believed to have been originated from a gas heating plant in the building. Damage was estimated at 000.Nine of those injured were hospitalized in Hammond and East Chicago. Officers were uncertain whether Petrie or Miss Hart were in the building when the explosion .occurred and questioned their families and friends to learn their whereabouts. The blast ripped the restaurant as the evening dinner trade was filing in last night. Operators said that the loss included a recent SBO,OOO investment in remodeling and air conditioning. Sheets of flame, fed by a cracked gas main, roared through the restaurant, caving in the entire two-story brick and glass front and most ot the south wall. Most of the 40 diners and cocktail customers escaped to safety through holes under fallring walls and ceilings, but firemen continued to dig for possible victims pinned under the debris. Reservations tor 175 people had been made for later in the evening. The 150 by 100 foot building was valued at more than SIOO,OOO.

Daring Bid To Overcome Nazi Capital Defenses With Great Onslaught

Henry Wallace Bids For Popular Support Roosevelt Highly Praises Wallace New York. Jan. 30 —(UP)—Backed by a letter of endorsement from President Roosevelt. Henry A. Wallace campaigned for popular support today in his fight for both the sec- j retaryship of commerce and control! of the federal loan agencies. He told 1,450 labor leaders, liberal j writers and pro-New Deal industrialists, gathered in his honor last ‘ night, that ‘"while the senate would relieve me of a great burden by giving me commerce without RFC (Reconstruction Finance Corporation), I feel that from the standpoint of the 60 million workers, the profits of business, the income of farmers, the welfare of the country as a whole, and the protection of the United States treasury, I could do a better job if the two were combined than if they were separated." "Undoubtedly many good men j could lie found to head the loan | agency,” he said, “hut I wish to make it clear to you that if there were serious danger of a ‘too little’ and ‘too late’ man being appointed, j I would prefer not to be secretary : of commerce.” Although his nomination by | •President Roosevelt to the com-1 merce post, which presently controls the loan agencies, is under I fire in the senate, Wallace was encountered by a praiseful letter from the President, brought to the meet- j ing by Mrs. Franklin 1). Roosevelt. | Existence of the letter was re- • vealed for the first time at the testimonial dinner sponsored by the union for Democratic action, presided over by Bruce Biiven, editor of the new republic.. It was written Jan. 17. five days before Mr. Roosevelt nominated Wallace to the commerce pest. It said, in part:: “Whenever and wherever men gather to give testimony to the contribution of Henry Wallace >o our times and our future, I want to be called as witness. “You and I can be grateful also for what Henry Wallace is in the meaning of things we have been trying to do to make a better America and, in the war we now wage, to make a better world. "America, its people, and its government, need Henry Wallace now more than ever before." Jefferson Township Soldier Is Killed Ralph Derrickson Killed In Germany Pvt. Ralph Derrickson, Jr., 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Derrickson of Jefferson township was killed in action in Germany on January 15. according to a message received yesterday by the parents from the war department. Pvt. Derrickson was serving in the infantry and had been overseas seven months and in service about a year and a half. •Pvt. Derrickson was born in Jefferson township on April 5. 1925 and had resided in that community all his life until he was called into service. Surviving are his parents and the following brothers and sisters, Lee of Bertie; Paul at home. Elva, wife of Floyd Beitler in Alabama, Mrs. Ruby Glaselburn of South Bend and iMiss Pauline at home. Paratrooper Wounded Word was also received at Geneva of the serious injury of Leroy Billman, a paratrooper and son of Mr. and Mrs. Flavius Billman of that place. According to the information received by the parents, Billman was seriously wounded in Belgium. •Pvt. Billman is married and his wife and small son reside in Portland.

Says Big Three Meet Musi Be Held Quickly Harry Hopkins In i Rome, Meets With Pope In Vatican Rome, Jan. 30— (UP) —Harry I Hopkins told newspapermen to- ! day that the big three conference i must be conducted quickly because Marshal Stalin cannot absent himself long from the Russian front. Hopkins conferred today witty Pope Pius in his series of European consultations which have already taken him to London and Paris as advance man for President Roosevelt. Hopkins said that since Stalin himself actively directed the Red ; army’s operations and strategy j the Soviet leader could not rej main away from front operations for any lengthy period, particularly at the present time. Hopkins said frankly that neither the Americans nor the, : British knsw how powerful the I ! Soviet offensive would prove to be jor whether the Nazis would be • able to halt the Red army. Hopkins was received by the Pope this morning. AAtican officials gave no hint j of the nature of the conference • • but said it could be considered j I part of Hopkins spadework in i ; preparation for the big three I meeting. Flurry of Reports Washington, Jan. 30—(UP) — The broad outlines of the American position on several basic international problems — and the fact that there is an American position — were emerging piece- • meal today from a flurry of dip(Turn To Page 2. Column 3) —O Decatur Cubs Will Meet On Wednesday Each Os Dens Will Give Minstrel Act The Decatur Cute will present a minstrel show at their pack meeting, which will be held Wednesday evening at 7 o’clock at the Lincoln school auditorium. Each of the four dens has prepared an act to present to the Culbs and their parents. Following the program, a round table discussion of proposed Cub activities will be held by the parents, under the leadership of John Halterman, chairman of the pack committee, and Bryce Thomas. Cubmaster while the boys are playing games under the leadership of Robert Zwick. activities chairman, and his den chiefs. The Cub pack is sponsored this year by the Lincoln school parentteachers association. At the present time it has a membership of 22 boys, nine to 11 years of age. During tomorrow night’s meeting, each •boy will be presented a certificate .of membership from national Boy Scout headquarters by Herman H. Kilieekeibei'g. Cub advancement and award chairman. The following boys are members of the oiganization: Den 1—• Dwight Sheets, Eddie Stocksdale, Dan Thomas, Bill Bell, •Bill Troutner. Richard Reidenbach and Bruce Andress. Den 2 —(Robert Doan, Robert Nelson, James Nelson and Edgar Swager. •Den 3—■ Tommy Cole, James Moses. Roger Blackburn, David •Blackburn. Gerald Kolter and Norman Schieferstein. Den 4 —Allan Cole, Ronald Murphy, Richard Callow, Don Hott and Philip Eicher. Any other boys or parents who are interested are invited to attend •the meeting.

Buy War Savings Bonds And Stamps

Price Four Cents.

Explode Redoubled Offensive, Crash Through Obra River Line, Sweep West London, Jan'. 39 —(UP) —Mar* shal Gregory K. Zhukov exploded a redoubled offensive on a broad front 90 to 100 miles from Berlin today in a daring bid to overwhelm the defenses of the theatened German capital with one great onslaught. Moscow dispatches said Zhukov's massed tanks and troops had crashed through the Obra river line, last natural harrier before the Oder, and were sweeping westward toward Frankfurt and Stettin. Nazi broadcasts reported that powerful! Russian forces had struck out on a 42-mile front between. Drisen and Neu Bentschen in the border area of Germany east of Berlin in a plunge pointed at Kustrin. on the Oder 41 miles northeast of the capital. Soviet and Nazi reports made it evident that Zhukov was throwing his blue chips into the game , of war for the highest stake — Berlin. Obviously he had the situation well enough in hand after his sweep across the Polish plains from the Vistula to gamble for the enemy's capital before the groggy Nazis had a , chance to rally for its defense. German descriptions indicated the massive weight Khukov was throwing into his plunge. The Nazi designation of the immediate Soviet objective as ' Kustrin. at the confluence of the j Oder and Warthe 17 miles north • east of Frankfurt, suggested that i Khukov’s assault forces might have broken through the outlying I perimeter of Berlhif’s defenses • for a quick grab at the river city I which is the last of any size before. Berlin on the trunk railway from Danzig. Driesen and Neu Bentschen. the outer limits of Zhukov's intensified push as reported by Berlin, are 42 miles apart and a few miles inside Germany from the northwestern and southwestern arcs of Polands westernmost bulge. The German reports indicated that Zhukovs first White Russian army had crossed the border in great strength, and Moscow dispatches said that after breaking through the line of the Obra bis armor and mobile infantry Were rolling on toward Frankfurt. 'ln the Obra sector and north of the Netze river at Driesen the enemy attacked with strong forces in the westerly direction,” the German high command said. ‘Heavy fighting is in progress." The thrust across the Obra, which winds 75 to 100 miles east of Berlin, carried the Soviets into tile capital’s home province f Brandenburg while other Russian columns were rolling unchecked across Pomerania within 90 miles northeast of tile city. Moscow did not identify immediately the point at which the I Turn To Page li. Column 3) 0 Predict Some Relief From Cold Wednesday Chicago. Jan. 30 —(UP)— Temperatures dropped below zero over much of the midwest and intermountain region today and the weather bureau here predicted more of the same for rrmight. but added •that relief will come tomorrow, when temperatures are expected to rise slowly. Sub-zero weatiher prevailed over most of. ’Wisconsin, Minncso’a. Northern lowa, the Dakotas. Montana and Wyoming. Ruth Hollingsworth Suffers Broken Arm Mrs. Ruth Hollingsworth of this city, former Adams county recorder. suffered a fractured arm Monday night in a fall on the ire in the front of 'he Knights of Pythias home on Third street. She was taken to the Adams county memorial for treotfient and was then removed to her home.