Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 43, Number 29, Decatur, Adams County, 3 February 1945 — Page 1

r yst Win the Wai Hse Is Chores!

vJiBLIH. No. 29.

RUSSIANS MASSING FOR KNOCKOUT DRIVE

neral Allied ijaiics Along Bern Front Half-Way Wwouah Siegfried at One Point broke out of the .Mon- ■ v ’ itllin ll,lir > nil,s ° r ssA? highway center of today in a sudden power that carried halfthe Siegfried line at its point. S'iaKa-akthrough on the north>*B Hr of i!:p American offentir® sparked a general adalong the U.S. first and ,ines * nl ° aml over of Germany's vaunted fl s ß’ tllP south, the French all but eliminated the German pocket west of a* ißlhme around Colmar and ?t * oa ßi:e than half of the city .• bloody, close in street vtjM wils n ,) immediate word aerial operations this but reports still were .ojMnßin on the wholesale de,;ra<Mh heaped on Germany's b»uJB western railway system and last night. ' O1 blistering attack, '.win and British fliers deutsayßW more than 1.600 Nazi ears, at least 26 locomoseveral hundred motor immediately behind the trout. Reconnaissance indicated that the GerK6S.HHP divisions rushed out of bulge two weeks jiflOßhelp stem the Red. army ddtsKi Berlin still were floundon the broken railwttFHß-; s west of the capital, immobilized by the bombing offenof the U. S. sec-;--i were out in front of army assault on the forts with a three-mile from Wahlerscheid to tbs edge of the Monschau along the main highMonschau to Schleiden, and the Rhine, the late yesterday reached about four miles west of where a secondary Kfg|H)rks up six miles northto Gemund, 11 miles of Monschau. J||Hdrive carried all the way 'OH the first of two tiers of line fortifications laced the Monschau forest had built a double that point to cover the ajlßn flank of the Cologne wnKom apparently were planhave their main stand in tWaftond line —believed to run Schleidem abreast of the second element's of the ninth ®l®y farther north' burst the center of the Monfores to overrun another ' tgSt of the west wall. SBninth hammered out gains as four miles in 24 tejgßand fought its way into ? tejS-n, less than three miles 3&Ke>st of Schleiden and four southwest -of Gemund. • To Page 3, Column 4) M®is R. Leland Bwln Seymour R. Leland, 53, a farmer ■wHof tllis city ’ d ie( l yesterday a! aßiour. Ind., where he and his been making their home. ®WBof his death was received Carles Lose. *^B l ‘la’id suffered from a tumor S brain and last summer una major operation. Besides '"©■dow, he is survived by one r Leland, who is with the navßi the Pacific. H* o jmperature reading thermometer Bp a - m. -- 14 * a. m. 16 a. m 18 WEATHER Justly cloudy today through intermittent snow be;*B ing extrem « south and exy '.vest tonight, spreading entire state by Sunday and changing to rain • *" forenoon, slowly rising

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

■ Independent Retail ■ Sales Show Gain Washington, Feib. 3—(UP)—The census bureau reported today that Indiana independent retail sales in December were JI per cent greater than in December, 1943, and 27 per cent greater than in November, 1944. •The report was based on a survey of 829 Hoosier merchants, whose business vblurne for December totaled 115431,314. — o - Big Three Os Allies Believed In Conference Many Signs Point To Long-Awaited Confab Os Leaders London, Feb. 3 — (UP) —President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill and Premier Stalin were believed studying armistice terms for Germany today at their "big three” conference. There were a number of signs that the long-awaited meeting finally had begun, with the approval of terms for a defeated Reich the most urgent item of the agenda. Though official secrecy cloaked the site of the meeting, unconfirmed reports placed it somewhere in southern Russia. A Tokyo broadcast, however, said the three Allied leaders were “reportedly" in session in Cairo. The Japanese-controlled Singapore radio guessed the meeting was being held at a "Romanian Black Sea port.” The European advisory commission was understood to have drafted armistice terms for Germany for final approval of Mr. Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin. Washington sources said the terms were put in textual form and initialed by the commission some weeks ago. Nature of the terms was not known. As in the case of Italy, ’hey probably will not be published immediately, if at all. While there was no indication of impending German collapse, it was believed the "big three” wished to be prepared in the event that the Germans decide to capitulate when the Red army reaches Berlin. The lightning-like Soviet drive into eastern Germany gave the armistice question precedence over pressing political problems affecting Poland, Greece, and (Turn To Page 6, Column 2) —O Peace Negotiations Underway In Greece Demand Given to Release Hostages Chens, Feb. 3—(UP)—Peace negotiations in tide Greek Civil war got under way early today with a government demand that the EAMEDAS release all hostages and turn in its arms. Jn return, foreign minister John Sofianpoulos told the leftist armistice mission, the government would conduct a “free plebiscite’ to decide a form of constitution for Greece and free elections for a new assembly. “The government will be glad to have Allied o>bservers attend the elections to assure that the will of the pople will be genuinely expressed,” he said. (He called upon the EAM-DLAS to disarm “at such times and in such a manner as shall be laid down by a techincal commission established for that purpose,” He said the mere act of bearing arms for the ELAS would not be considered "in itself’ an indictable crime. Only a few hours earlier, however, a special Greek army court sentenced a member of the ELAfc to 19 years in prison for high treason in hearing arms against the state. It was understood that he would be released if Amnesty resulted from the peace negotiations. , The Greek army court sentenced to other admitted members of the BLAS security organisation known as JPLA to die before a firing , squad for high treasoa and murder. (Turn To Pag* 6, Column 1)

Happy Parents Read News Os Son’s Rescue \ * TJi ’& - R vBBr w. ■ I Ts MR. AND MRS. JAMES BODY of Detroit joyfully verify good news as they read the story of the rescue of 510 Allied prisoners of war—the heroes of Bataan—of which their son, Pvt. Robert J. Body, shown at the right, was one. Private Body and other prisoners of the Japs were saved when 407 American Rangers and Filipino guerrillas stormed their prison at Cabtt in Nueva Eeija province on Luzon after a 25-mile penetration into enemy-held territory. Mr. and Mrs. Body are defense workers in the transmission plant at General Motors.

Harold McMillen Is Named Soya Officer Vice President Os Central Soya Co. Harold W. McMillen, former president of the Central Sugar company in this city, and who recently moved to Fort Wayne, has been elected a vice-president of the Central Soya company, in charge of the company’s soybean oil sales. As vice-president and director of oil sales, Mr. McMillen succeeds D. J. Bunnell of Chicago, who recently resigned to accept the position of general manager of a soybean processing plant in Canada. Mr. McMillen has been a director of the Central Soya company since 1939. Mr. McMillen, a son of Dale W. McMillen of Fort Wayne, president and founder of the McMillen Industries in this city, which includes the Central Soya company and McMillen Feed Mills, catne’to Decatur in 1933. He was assistant field manager for the sugar company. which was owned by the McMillen intersts, and in 1936 became plant manager. He was named vice-president of the company in 1937 and was elected to the presidency in September. 1939. (Turn Tn 2. nnliimn 4) Township Trustees In Session Today May Be Postponed Graduation Dates Commencement and graduation dates of the ■ consolidated high schools in the county may be postponed several days this year, because of the enforced closing of schools due to snow bound roads, when the buses could not bring the Children to the schools, Lyman L. Hann, county superintendent of schools, stated today. The township trustees met this morning with Mr. Hann and consideration to the commencement was being given. The closing of the rural schools is scheduled within the 10-day period beginning about April 19, Mr. Hann said. John L. Duff, former president of the Indiana township trustees association, spoke before the trustees and explained provisions in several of the bills placed in the legislative hopper, which are of paramount interest to the trustees. The trustees are also considering the date and plans for a county eighth g|rade commencement' next spring. The dates for holding the eighth grade examinations also will be determined by the trustees. Several of the rural schools have lost an entire week of classes and j on the schedule must have at least < 157 days of school to complete the j term, Mr. Hann explained.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, February 3,1945.

Indianapolis Man Is Appointed By Gates I Indianapolis, Feb. 3 — (UP) — ! Governor Gates has appointed Herman 'El'Bowens, Indianapolis city I councilman, as assistant to Capt. O. F. Heelar of Indianapolis, who recently was named state purchasing agent. Oates said that Bowers would • take office Monday and would re- . ceive a salary of $3,600 a year. . Bowers has been active in Republi- , Ocan poli’ice in Marion county for ’ 20 years and was a delegate to the GOP nalional convention at Phila--1 d Iphia in 1910. o Name Chairmen For Red Cross War Fund City Industrial Heads Appointed City and industrial chairmen for tile 1945 Red Cross war fund drive, which will open March 1, have been named by Clarence Ziner, county chairman. James Elherson, retired gasoline and oil dealer, who has headed several other community drives in the past year, will be the city chairman for the Red Cross war fund. Mr. Ziner. in forming his organization fbr the campaign to raise $16,700 during the first two weeks in March, has named chairmen for the several leading industries in the city, where the drives will be made separately. Last year contributions from factory employes toward the Red Cross were not included in the Decatur Community Fund drive, for reason that the national Red Cross requested that the war fund, campaign be conducted separately. Felix Maier will be general chairman of the industrial group. Tho captains in the various industrial plants are: George Laurent. General Electric company. Gerald Vizard, Central Soya and McMillen Feed Mills. Virgil Krick, Krick-Tyndall Tile company. Ed Bauer, Schafer company. Robert Thompson, Kraft Cheese company. Henry Bromer, Decatur Casting company. R. W. Bradtmiller. Wayne Novelty company. Noah Steury, Decatur Industries, Walter Lister has been named general chairman for service clubs, lodges and other fraternal organizations. E. M. Webb will continue as chairman ■in Berne and Mrs. Richard Briggs will again be the chairman in Geneva. They will form their own organizations. It was not announced if a house-to-house canvass would be made in Decatur, the plans for the drive in this city being developed by Mr. Elherson. who will meet next week with Clarence E. Bell, county Red Cross chairman, to complete the details. Lyman L. Hann will organize the township groups and direct ■ the drive in the rural sections, outside of the incorporated towns (Turn To Page 6, Column 2)

Republicans Seek Strong State Hold Party Grab Control Bill Is Introduced Indianapolis, Fell. 3 — (UP) — Tho Republican legislative policy committee’s recommendation that laws governing many Indiana ' state boards and commissions be ‘clarified,’’ was embraced in a major reorganization bill studied today by the state general assembly. The bill, designed to restore lost power to the new all-GOP state administration, was introduced in the house of representatives late yesterday, shortly before the assembly adjourned for the weekend. Although the measure’s scope took in all bi-partisan boards, commissions. departments and . agencies, sponsors claimed that they had no intention of suggesting that the party grab control of the bi-partisan state institutional trustee boards. Actually, however, the bill provided that Governor Gates could appoint a chairman on any state board with an even number of members, the chairman having the power to cast a deciding vote >n the event of ties on any controversial matter. Gates was not expected to exercise this power on boards of state .nstitutions, in view of his pledge the day after his inauguration to keep the institutions free of politics. House majority leader George W. Henley, R.. Bloomington, sponsor of the bill, said that the provisions of the measure carried out to the letter the ruling of the state supreme court on “ripper" legislation in 1941, when the court declared unconstitutional a series of Republican bills intended to strip Democratic Governor Schricker of control over state agencies. Most sweeping of nearly 500 bills offered in the legislature since it convened Jan. 4, the measure would affect boards on alcoholic beverages, conservation, health, highways, financial institutions, personnel, police and probation. Senators and representatives both adjourned until Monday, when the deadline for introducing new bills will fall. Friday's house session, however, left little to be offered by the majority party. Election recodification and liquor control measures were expected to highlight the day, however, when the legislators return to the statehouse to begin another week of work. o Feast of St. Blaise Observed at Church The feast of St. Blaise was observed today in St. Mary’s Catholic church. The patron of those afflicted with throat trouble, the blessing of throats of the faithful took place thio morning after the 7:30 o’clock ma.’s. Throats will also be blessed ait 8 o’clock this afternoon and 7 o’clock this svsning.

Twin Anchors Os Oder Defense Line Stormed By Red Army Soldiers

American Bombers In Smash Al Berlin More Than Thousand Bombers Hit Capital London, Feb. 3 —-(UP)—American heavy bombers more than 1,000 strong today struck at military objectives in tne heart of Berlin. The eighth air force attack was in direct support of the Rpd army columns hammering at the Oder river line only 33 miles to the east—a distance readily visible from the height at which the American strategic bombers drop their deadly cargo. The Berlin assault was the- major effort of the U. S. strategic air force but more than 400 other lib- ’ erators struck at the Brabag synthetic oil plant in Rothensee. a suburb of Madgeburg, and at the Madgeburg freight yards. The American heavy bombens dropped between 2.000 and 2.500 tons of high explosives and incendiaries on Berlin in one of the heaviest daylight assaults ever delivered against the reich capital. The huge fleet of. American ■bombers was screened by swarms of mustang and thunderbolt fighters in anticipation that the lul’t- . waffe would rise in challenge to the attack. Nearly 2,500 planes of the eighth air force were operating today in excellent flying weather. The Berlin attack was carried out by an all-fortress task force. There seemed little doubt that the American bombers had struck a savage blow at the beleaguer 'd Nazi capital already jam-packed with thousands of fleeing refugees from eastern Gernfany and fevershly engaged in building street baricades and tank traps to halt the onrushing Russians. The effect of the bombardment upon the network of German rail and highway transport radiating out of Berlin was also expected to be deadly. The railroads and highways are already clogged 'with refugees pouring back from the overrun areas and with hastily gathered Volksturm and other reserves with which the Nazi high command is trying to stop the Red army. o— — Seek Speedy Senate Action On May Bill Deny Demands For Further Hearings Washington, Feb. 3—,UP)—Detemined to get fast senate action on so-called "work or else legislation, the senate military affairs committee today put the finishing touches on its version of the houseapproved May bill. The May bill provides for fines or jail sentences for men 18 to 45 not subject to induction who leave essential jobs without permission or refuse to take essential jobs if thpy dont” already have them? Pliysicaly fit men of service age who refuse to do essential work would he drafted, as they are now. Defying labor and industry demands for further hearings, the committee worked behind closed doors, scratching out some provisions of the house May bill and adding others after receiving reports from government war agenI cies. As a result of those reports the senate committee would place manpower mobilization under the direction of war mobilizer James F. Byrnes instead of splitting it between his agency and selective service as provided by the house. * The senate committee version also includes a provision giving Byrnes authority to prescribe reatu(Tnrn To Pag* 6, Column 4)

Fall Os Manila To Americans Believed Near Vanguards Os Two American Divisions Speeding On Manila General MacArthur’s Headquarters, Luzon, Feb. 3—(UP) —Vanguards of two American divisions sped down parallel highways less 1 (han 20 miles north of Manila today and liberation of the Phil- ' ippines capital appeared imminent. Japan's three year reign ofter- • ror and starvation in Manila was ■ entering its last hours just 26 | days after the landing of Gen. I Douglas MacArthur's liberating' army on the shores of Lingayen ; i Gulf. 110 miles to the north. Caught off balance by the mul-! , titude American attacks and with i their main forces pinned down impotently in the northern hills around Baguio, the Japanese ap--1 parently had little or nothing to oppose the armored columns sweeping down on the capital. Motorized outriders of the U.S. , ! 37th infantry and first cavalry divisions were meeting only scattered resistance in their parallel advance through the northern approaches to Manila, and there was every prospect that their battle flags would be raised over the city before the close of the week-end. Official headquarters reports, admittedly lagging more than 36 hours behind the event, said the 37th had finally worked out of the swampy bottleneck at Calumpit and pushed on more than five miles down highway three to the Malolos area. 17% miles north of Manila, by Thursday night. A few miles to the east, veteran troopers of the first cavalry were pushing down highway five below Sabang. 23 miles north of Manila, after a breakneck 57-mile advance in 24 hours. The first cavalry, entering the (Turn To Page 3. Column 4) O Fuel Is Restricted In Appalachian Area Severe Weather Is Cause Os Restriction Washington. Fell. 3 —(UP) —Tae vast Appalachian area — heart of American industry—today struggled to maintain war production under severe transportation and fuel restrictions caused by the most prolanged spell of had winter weather since 1941. Snowbound railroads and overuse of natural and mixed gas to keep warm led to a crisis that forced the government to: 1. Order another fowr-fiay em< bargo on non-esential freight shipment in the Applachian area, effective at 10:01 a. m. today. 2. Prohibit until 7 p. m. Monday the use of natural and mixed gas by movies, theaters, night clubs, bowling alleys, bars and other amusement places in roughly [ the same region. , 3. Urge all local authorities in j the same area to curtail use of < natural and mixed gas in public < institutions, libraries, mtjseums, ’ and schools. 4. Appeal to householders using gas heat to reduce their home heat- ’ ing to 65 degrees or less. 5. Ouf-tail ccfashimptiion of the two types of gas in 200 of the most ' critical war plants in the eastern central region, and shut off virtually all gas service in thousands . of Jess essential facilities. Government officials eaid that < (Turn To Pag* 3, Columa 4) '

Buy War Savings Bonds And Stamps

Price Four Cents.

Marsal Zhukov's Forces Push To Within 33 Miles Os Berlin Limits London. Feb. 3 —(UP) —The German high command tacitly admitted today that the Red army had won most of a 75-mile stretch of I the east bank of the Oder river I curving around Berlin at a dis--1 tance ranging between 30 and 68 I miles. As Marshal Gregory K. Zhukov's forces pushed within 33 miles of Berlin’s city Smits, the United, States eighth air force laid aerial siege to the capital with mote than 1,000 heavy bombers. Moscow dispatches reported that strong Russian forces were storming Frankfurt and Kustrin, twin anchors of the Oder river defense line before Berlin. , A Na;|j Wifkaa-y commentated } left-handedly acknowledged a Rus- | sian crossing of the river in the J Kustrin area, claiming that Soviet shock troops were “cleared from i the west bank of the Oder” there. Tfe German high command’s! daily comumni'que, issued inoi<| than an hour later than usut.l without explanation, said: “On the Oder between Crosson and the Oder bend, enemy attacks against oure bridgehead positions were repelled, partly by coute■•- | attacks." Thus the high command put the official label of “bridgeheads” on Wie remaining German positions east of the Oder in the long stretch between the elbow 30 miles northeast of Beilin and Crossen, on its east bank 68 miles southeast of Berlin and 33 miles southeast of Frankfurt? The number and depth of the “bridgeheads" amidst the Soviet forces massing on the east bank of the Oder for a plunge at Berlin was not specified. The Nazi communique said the Germans were counterattacking in the area of Steinau. northwest of Breslau, and in the area of Reppe i. 12 miles east of Frankfurt, but their operations appeared to be mainly defensive in desperate efforts to check the Soviet drive against the last natural barrier short of Berlin. Moscow said the weather turned bad along the entire front. A sudden thaw in Silesia and Pomerania impeded the Soviet armored and mobile forces, while snowstorms swept east Prussia where a Red army nose was tightening on the pocketed defenders. Stifening German resistance slowed the Soviet push as it came up aginst the enemy’s last-ditch defenses, but Moscow confirmed that Soviet vanguards already had reached the Oder at points within 39 miles east of Berlin. The Nazis conceded that the Red army was even closer —33 miles from ttie city limits of Berlin at a point midway between Kustrin and Frankfurt. To the north. Moscow said, heavy Soviet motorized spearheads had driven to within less than 30 miles of Stettin, big Baltic port whose capture would seal off 11,(Turn To Paffp S. Column f> February Term Os Court Opens Monday The February term of the Adams circuit court will open Monday morning. The court has been in vacation the past two weeks. Judge J. Fred Fruchte stated that few cases were pending and that it was doubtful if the docket would lie called. Further action In the murder case of Orva! Johnson, charged with the shooting and killing of his wife. Mary E. Johnson on last December 7. will be taken during the present term. It is likely case will be called during the first of the ■week. Johnson is still confined to the Adams county jail. He has not yet entered his plea, a dilatory action which questioned the legality of the grand jury indictment, delaying the case.