Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 43, Number 43, Decatur, Adams County, 20 February 1945 — Page 1

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Sull. No. 43.

MARINES CAPTURE MAIN AIRFIELD ON IWO

fcfzsh Pledge Vctimost Support W) War On Japs

R&al Roosevelt AB Churchill Met liffgypt Following rfcpnn Conference Feb. 20. — (UP) — Winston Churchill oM Wfeident Roosevelt in a re.■nt that Great Britain to throw everyat the Japs as soon ,las ’ ,ePn defeated." House today discloss.( J the president and Prime iiiaitt* conferred on the Pacific ■ Alexandria. Egypt, after the meeting at Yalta in the said Churchill ,h<}|Kised to strengthen British lighting the Japansp: ’'■bough the White House did i - this point, it is known ■■erfii! British naval units re against the Japs, a troops under Lord are fighting trontßin Burma. conference last’d IwOthan four hours, the anwjffiffijent said. It permitted ■’’C.’B*' important discussions” ,? a K>je< t which could not be at Yalta because Soviet neutral in the Pacific liill.” the White House sid, Bld the president in blunt his government was to throw everything it it 1 Bhe Japs as soon as Gerbeen defeated and, metindo all it could to itmßen its forces already enthat conflict. House disclosed that 4r. fKevelt toured North Africa Iter ■> Crimea conference. In ddhioWto meeting Churchill, it ;iia. ■ president: 1. sited Gen. Charles DeGauile, president of France, to wfpßith him at Algiers. This ; ; .»'^B last sto " pins place on the A BBy.ashington." The announc•asS®Hi<vtly confirmed reports hsriKaulle had turned down the invitation. £, with the kings of and Saudi Arabia .I>NuK ('. S. warship in the Suez the U. S. ambassadors to and France for furthAlgiers. meeting with the White .House said, new and important dis“’W®nl' at least one subject (M&Mey could not take up beto do with Japan and the Pacific where Soviet a neutral power." it said. •Sgßesident’s invitation to Desent from the big three leegMplacc at Yalta six days in Mr. Roosevelt’s arrival ®#®To Page i>, Column 8) B 0 eove F° ur W Fires Burning Bn Center Os Tokyo 3i®Sßonnber Command, Guam, ■ B-tt Pl— -The largest force f B4Wever to hit Japan left at <i ’“ Bf ,l) 'S fires burning in the '-“''■'•gf Tokyo, pilots who parti-—-cgii ,he lnassivp laid yester- ■'*■>' S<Btoday. •gu^ej feha nce photographs con'•mcßßa! S evera] large, fires were -HH®n the raid, but a general 'SBl: nl "ide the photographs infor a definite assessment ” ■fc>ver 100 superfortresses in the attack. The - was the Nakajiima Mus?,a!n<Bc,ory and other industrial the capital area. “Good re- ! " achieved, a communiJmt Eßature READING ~rW CRAT THERMOMETER .■' B"- m - — 26 B’ m 28 T® -- 29 m 33 WEATHER and a warmer J”!®! an d Wednesday: oc-J-sR 1 *' 9ht ra ‘ n or B est P° rt 'on Wednes-

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DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

American Big Guns Pulverize Manila's Wall Prepare Final Blow On Pocket Os Japs Trapped In City Manila, Feb. 20— (UP)—(American big guns were pulverizing Manila's 400-year old wall today for a final assault on a one-square mile pocket of stubborn Japanese defenders south of the Papig river. With the heavy artillery (blasting a path through the thick wall around the original Spanish city, the end of the 17-day old liattle of Manila was in sight. Units of the 37th infantry division were firmly entrenched around the dwindling Japanese pocket and 11th airborne troops were rapidly cleaning up Fort McKinley on the southeast outskirts of the city. The final phase of the Manila campaign came as paratroops and infantry slowly dug out fanatical Japanese holdouts from the caves and tunnels of newly-invaded corregidor. Other American forces also were cleaning up enemy remnants on Bataan Peninsula. (Despite the impact of the heavy artillery fire, the Japanese were fighting -back bitterly from their last positions inside Manila. The pocket, now shrunk to l/14th of the charter city area, comprised northern Ermita, the walled city of Intramuros and the port -ilstritt. Heaviest fighting was reported from the bay front, where the 37th infantrymen pushed three blocks west from the Philippines general hospital and began attacking enemy positions on the University grounds. Japanese pilliboxes at the University were being destroyed systematically by artillery and mortars. But the Americans were meeting considerable fire from Japanes guns around the high commissioner’s home, which already was in ruins. iln pushing to the University grounds, the 37ith routed strong enemy defenses and caip'-ured Santo Theresa college and the German club. The assault on the 16th century wall was concentrated on the east side of Intramuros. Front reports said the big guns were tearing a hole in the masonry and no signs of life appeared within-the walled city. Most of the buildings, including Fort Santiago and the Spanish garri-

(Turn To Page 4. Column 8) Decafur Is Listed On Air Mail Route Intermediate Point On Pick-Up Routes Decatur is listed as one of eight intermediate points on air pick-up mail routes to be established by AH American Aviation, Inc., it was announced today by Halsey R. Bazley, company president. The route on which Decatur is listed is proposed to extend from Columbus, Ohio, to Fort Wayne. Other cities listed are, Delaware, Marion, Kenton, Lima, Delphos and Van Wert, Ohio; Bluffton and Decatur. Combination passenger and pick-up service will be asked over some of the new routes where potential traffic appears to justify such an operation, Mr. Bazley said. On other routes only aitmail and air express is contemplated. The proposed routes will serve 46 communities in Michigan. 106 in Illinois, 76 in Indiana and 83 in Ohio. The company announced that It would file a petition with the civil aeronautics authority next week, seeking the establishing of the air routes.

IWO AND CORREGIDOR UNDER TERRIFIC ASSAULT H Mitts k 2 / J s i O — 20 z ’* i Wr OF fl S? nga r BAY •-Z1 BAGAct 0 - ■ U ~ I ... ... jU- ■■ .. \- cavite^L^2J : . - BATAAN AND Xj/ ' V tl' tL- " 2 CORREGIDOR ' ‘ -K^^CORREGIDdR—Xf \t| L _ RECAPTURED MB—— U. S. FLEET I\| .t. > ~ BY U. S. FORCES ENTERS BAY -I— — u- ' a BONINS a*l{NW 1 /■ ).:■-' 1wo|? .?• II W ContonM FORMOSA ‘ ’S WATOW v v' ■ • ■|HB ' lijI ij uT b |marmnas\k 8K M yWPHIUPPINES V v ■ MfiMCHINA CHINA W ? v < KITA [▼ y i# DAV B9MH ** a M|.S,nga P « , ■ [Bi .fliy gy TWO DIVISIONS OF U. S. MARINES, 30,000 men, have stormed Iwo island in the Volcano group from an 800-ship armada and battled inland with flame-throwers in a fight to the death with the Japanese garrison only 815 miles from Tokyo. While the Leathernecks were fighting to broaden their 4,500-yard beachhead on the strategic island, site of two excellent air strips. U. S. Army forces were cleaning out hundreds of die-hard Nips from the tunnels and crevices of Corregidor fortress in the Manila bay of the Philippines’ Luzon island, just off Bataan peninsula.

Pre-Induction Exams For 74 County Men Young Farmers Take Army Examinations Seventy-four young Adams, county farmers went to Indianapolis this morning for pre-induotion physical examinations under selective service. In addition, one man classified 4-E (conscientious objector), was sent for final type examination prior to assignment to a work camp. Threo buses were required to transport the men from the local selective service office to the Indianapolis examination center. Robert Jamee Dubach was leader of the group, with Richard Allen Martin and Dale Arnold Schnepf as assistants. '.ll members of today’s contingent are classified 2-C (essential agricultural workers), and the classification of those accepted for armed service will be reviewed by the local board' to determine their need for essential food production. The complete list of those who left this morning follows: Howard Lewis Zimmerman, Robert James Dubach, Berwyn Gerald Sprunger, Robert Henry Berning, Gerald Joseph Lengerich, Glen Dale Shoemaker, Roy Dwight Bieberich, Vernon Ray Neuenschwander, Weldon John Lehman, Luther Evan Engle, Roger John Kaehr, Thomas Otto Lehman, Gail Alton Runyon, Jacob S. Schwartz, Robert James Mailer, Raymond Bernard Schultz, Leroy Chester Vore, Karl Edwin Ray, Nolan Wayne'Barger. Harold Henry Schamerloh, Karl James Moser, Hubert Alphonous Lengerich. Daniel E. Hilty, Glen Edward Baumgartner, Zeal Harold Miller, Homer Lawrence Heyerly, Paul Melvin Schug, Leo Francis Miller, Ralph Joseph Loshe, Milton Reuben Liechty, William Lee Ringger, Wilmer Fenton Beihold, Gail Harvey Nidlinger. Loras Glenford Rich, Ivan Samuel Zeigler, Richard Allen Martin. Jerome Leo Rumschlag. Fredrick William Fuelling. Joel E. Schwartz, Rolland Justice Beer, Clinton David Steury, Edward Henry Heckman, Marvin Dale Sprunger, Howard Franklin Steiner, Oscar Russell Moser, Elmo Ehlerding, Andrew A. Hilty, Cornelius C. Troyer, Jacob K. Hilty, John Peter Koors, Dwight Edmund Sprunger, Vernon Smith Ralston, Daniel M. Schwartz, Walter Moellering, Arthur Netatm Fritzinger, (Tuc« To Page 2, Column «X

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, February 20, 1945.

BULLETIN London* Feb. 20—(UP) — David Lloyd George, 82-year-old British statesman and world war one prime minister, was reported in serious condition at his home in Wales tonight after a weeklong illness complicated by his age. 0 U. S. Bombers Smash Nazi Railway Yards May Have Destroyed German Troop Train London, Feb. 20. — (UP) —More than 1.600 American warplanes sowed fire and ruin through the packed Nuernberg railway yards in southwestern Germany today and first reports indictaed they may have smashed a big Nazi troop train moving out to the eastern front. Thousands of railway cars caught in the yards were blown up and the wreckage set ablaze in a 45minute Thunderbolt attack during which about 900 U. S. Flying Fortresses and 700 escorting fighters pounded the target The railers dumped more than 11,000 high explosive bombs and more than 300,000 incendiaries across the Nuernberg yards, stations and adjacent locomotive repair shops. It was the heaviest daylight blow of the war at the Nazi party center and returning pilots indicated (Turn To Page 6, Column 3)

Lenten Meditation (Rev. Glen E. Marshall, Church of God) PILGRIMS OF HOPE “For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.” The writer of Hebrews’eleven speaks of men of faith. Men of faith are long-visioned. They see things which are to be. They look beyond the confines of time. “They seek a country.” This world doesn’t satisfy the h eart of any man, much less the man of faith. He seeks a world—a country—beyond. He believes in that country beyond. He has high hopes of reaching it. The Pilgrim’s hope is not in vain! His Master, Jesus, has promised: “I go to prepare a place for you.” “I will come again and receive you unto myself.” The word of God promises a “new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.'.’ The pilgrim’s hope of a country is solidly founded upon the eternal promises of God. The man of faith is a pilgrim—one who passes through—to a better land. Are you one of those who seek that country 7

Skip Election Bill Action Is Delayed State GOP At Odds On Liquor Problems Indianapolis, Feb. 20 — (UP) — Hoosier senators delayed action on the municipal skip election proposal today shortly after sending to the house of representatives a measure recodifying the state election laws. During a, brief debate, Republicans and Democrats united in an attack on the proposed, skip election act to keep present mayors in office another year by postponing elections scheduled for November. 1946, until November, 1947, The bill was called down on third reading by its sponsor, Sen. Robert G. Miller, R., Bloomington. He urged its passage as a means “of correcting bad legislation passed in 1933.” Sen. John W. Van Ness, Valparaiso, Republican majority leader in the senate, postponed further debate on the hill by moving that it. be made a special order of business at 11 a. m. tomorrow. Earlier, the recodification bill of the Republican policy committee passed the senate, 43-1. IL now goes to the house. Much of the opposition to the skip election proposal centered around the cost of holding three primaries and three elections within a. four-year period. (Turn To Page 5. Column 4)

Rich Prize On Island 750 Miles From Tokyo Falls To U.S. Marines

Several Inches Os Snowfall In City Several inches of snow fell in Decatur and vicinity early this morning, covering the gound with a layer of whiteness, from which is emerged only last week after 68 days of ice and snow. At 10 o’clock this morning, snow again began to fall, adding to the layer already on the ground. The temperature stood at 28 degrees and there was no sign of spring being around the corner. o Canadian First Army Pushing Toward Ruhr 15-Mile Offensive Front Is Slowly Closing On Ruhr Paris, Feb. 20 —(UP) —Canadian first army troops blasted all but a stubborn bandful of Nazis from the west wall anchor of Goch today and pushed on beyond the town at the center of a 15mile offensive front closing slowly on the German Ruhr. To the south, the American third army wedged a mile or more into the German Eifel mountain defenses at a half-dozen points on a 50-ntile front and pushed a new invasion spearhead across the Moselle river into Germany behind a drumfire artillery barrage. The U. S. seventh army also was on the move in a limited offensive into the Saar industrial basin, expanding its sraali foothold across the Saar river above Sarreguemines against stiff opposition. The stalemate on the vital central front along the Roer river remained unbroken, but there were increasing signs that the Allies were about to explode a full-scale drive for the Rhine in that area Field dispatches said the flood waters of the Roer were subsiding and that the water level behind the great Schwammaneui dam had dropped more than eight feet in the past 24 hours. The dam level was reported 8(1 feet lower than when the Nazis blew its sluice gates on Feb. 9 to stall the British second and (Turn To Page 2. Column 5) O County Allocates Deposits To Banks Funds Are Allotted By Commissioners The county commissioners, meeting as a board of finance, with John Christener as chairman, received proposals from banks in the county and allocated the percentage of county funds for deposit in the banks during ithe coming year. The following allocations were made by the board: First State Bank, Decatur, 40 percent; First Bank of Berne, 41 percent; Bank of Geneva, 13 percent; Farmers State Bank, Preble, 6 percent. The interest which the banks pay < n public deposits is, under the law, paid to the state sinking fund, which insures the county treasurer against loss. Earlier in the day. the members of the county council met in special session and allowed additional appropriations, as petitioned for. Thpy included, probation officer, salhry, $1,200; probation officer, mileage and operating expenses. $400: secretary of the grand jury, balance of salary, $24; surveyor’s office, new equipment. $220; William Ehrsam, former county surveyor, balance of salary, $292; Herman Haugk, salary for 1945. in addition to that already appropriated, $1,275. ' _

Russian Army Tears Gap In German lines Final Defenses Os East Prussia Are About To Collapse London. Feb. 20 —(UPt —Nazi broadcasts reported today that Marshal Ivan S. Konev’s first Ukrainian army had torn a gap in the German line some 75 miles southeast of Berlin in the bitterly contested sector north of Sorau. Berlin reported that German counterblows were getting stronger and were slowing down the Red army. Berlin also claimed that at one point in Silesia west of beleaguered Breslau the Russians had been edged back an unspecified distance. The German high command conceded that Kony-vfsf forces scored new gains in several sectors between Sorau, between the Bober and Neisse rivers, and Guben, on the Neisse 28 miles to the northwest. Col. srnst Von Hammer, Nazi military commentator who often reflects the information of the high command, said that north of Sorau the Germans “closed a gap which the enemy had torn in the German barrier line." Von Hammer also said that in the southern sector of the Breslau defense belt, the Russians scored a penetration of the fortifications around the Silesian capital, but added that it was ironed out. The daily German communique said 64 Russian tanks were destroyed in defensive battle against, strong Soviet forces compressing the remnants of 200,000 troops trapped in East Prussia. Soviet dispatches said the Russians had captured the main supply base for Koenigsberg and the final defenses of East Prussia (Turn To Page 3, Column .1) 0 Red Cross Campaign Will Open March 1 Over 600 Volunteer Solicitors To Aid

More than 600 volunteers to solicit for the 1945 Red Cross war fund have already been enrolled for the drive which opens March 1, chairmen of the various divisions of the county-wide campaign informed C. E. Bell, chapter chairman and Clarence Zinpr, county director of the drive, at an organization meeting of Red Cross officials last night. Lyman L. Hann, township chairman, said that a chairman had been named for each of the 12 townships, along with a leader for each farm section, a total of 330. In Decatur, Janies ElVersou, city chairman, stated that 16 precinct captains had been named, they to name their block workers. Felix Maier, industrial group chairman, said that separate organizations were being set up in each one of the leading industries and that the solicitation for funds would be made by co-workers in the plants. Walter Lister, chairman of the fraternal division, is naming his helpers in the various fraternal organizations and service clubs. The quota of this year’s drive is $16,700. It was emphasized that the war fund drive was not the usual Red Cross roll call, hut that donations had to be more than sl, or the county would fall short of its goal. Miss Grace Bliss, area director, attended the meeting and praised <Turis Tij Pfiga Column 71

Buy War Sayings Bonds And Stamps

Price Four Cents.

Powerful Attacks, Led By Tanks And Flame Throwers Are Launched On Japs Admiral Nimitz’ Headquarters, Guam, Wednesday, Feb. 21 — (UP) — American marines have captured the main airfield on Iwo Jima. occupied approximately onethird of the island, and opened a powerful attack led by tanks and flame throwers against fanatically resisting Japanese, it was disclosed today. In bloody fighting, the fourth and fifth marine divisions established a straight east-west line across the island north of the air field. Then, with a spearhead of tanks estimated by Tokyo to number 300, the leathernecks charged forward against the entrenched enemy, aerial observers reported. Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz announced capture of the air field, richest single prize on the eight-square mile island 750 miles south of Tokyo. A headquarters spokesman later said the fighting continued as bitter as that in any of the battles across the Pacific —from Guadalcanal, to Arawa, to Saipan. After capturing the airfield, the marines drove across the narrow ngek of Iwo and reached the their lines, the marines pivoted on western shore. Consolidating their right flank for the offensive. Automatic riflemen moved ahead with the tanks and flamethrowers in the vanguard of x the attack against the enemy’s interlocking pillboxes and concrete bunkers. The Japanese defenders have been split into two pockets by the drive which slashed across the southern end of the island. Marines stormed Cue forbidding plank of towering Suribachi volcano, from the crater of which the enemy was raining shells on the Americans. A Japanese Domei news agency dispatch broadcast by Tokyo radio said 300 American tanks have been landed at the marina beachhead. Tokyo reported that in one sector alone, held by 10,000 marines, there were 150 tanks. Tlie enemy claimed 30 had been ’blasted.’ From their girdle across the southern tip of Iwo. units of the two invasion divisions stormed into heavy Japanese gunfire from the northern rim of the key airfield this morning. Nimitz’ communique soma hours later reported that the marine gains against violent resistance. overran the air base (Turn To Page 2. Column 3) o Midnight Curlew For Entertainment Amusement Places Close At Midnight Washington. Fe*b. 20 — (UP) —- Government agencies prepared today for the job of enforcing what may become the most unpoipular na-tion-wide order since prohibition—a midnight curfew on bars, theaters and other amusement places. Curtailment of the nation's night life, beginning next Monday, was decreed by war mobilization director James F. Byrnes late yesterday in the hope of saving coal, transportation, and manpower. Un announcing the midnight curfew, Byrnes said it should “impose no real hardships’ and that he was “convinced people will gladly comply.” Hut immediate reaction by congress, case owners, and the public indicated that support of the drastic order would be far from unanimous. Rev. Joseph Baldwin. D., N. V. opposed the action as unnecessary and said it probably would lead to reopening of speakeasies. “Members of the armed forces on leave must have-their entertainment —and they will get it some way or other,” he said. “No such curfew is sounded in London or . aria-— .(Xur* To Page 2> Column 3).