Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 43, Number 70, Decatur, Adams County, 23 March 1945 — Page 1

XLIH. No. 70.

IOWERFUL ALLIED FORCES CLOSING IN In battered, reeling nazi armies

he For Big lied Drive Bar at Hand ■very Sign Points ■o'One Last Heave' Sited By Churchill ■kldii. Mar. 23—((’I*)—There sign today that the ■of the "one last heave to■r" in the European war is ■me Minister Churchill said ■tly while touring the west■ront that such a heave plain■ould end the war. ■p weather over the contincompletely on the Allied ■ for the first time since the armada set out last ■ attacks of a range and connever seen before were Hing Germany — especially ■ German troops waiting Just ■ the Rhine for the blow they Hr is coming. Hany enemy reports said a Hie crossing on a huge scale H begin right away. Hrmany’s wav position and Hg conditions now were —unHtionably for the first time—■far toward the end that one Hie push might put them in ■ abyss. ■rather over the continent ■ .reported perfect. There Be no spring rains to bog down Bntry. Sunny blue skies were Bit with the roar of endless Bams of Allied planes, always ■the attack. Bn the eastern front, the Red By’s flanks were secure for the ■ge at Berlin. The mopup of ■lifts behind the front was far ■ugh along to loose the drive ■n the Oder valley 30 or so B’s from the heart of Nazidom. ■Ready through the clouds of ■okft veiling Marshal Sir Ber»‘l L. Montgomery's forces on t Rhine, the guns were sound- ! the overture to the crossing, rlin said. is if the Germans didn't have ough to think about. Scandinian sources said they expected ft Allies to land in Denmark mit April 15 to open up a trth front. she report recalled 'Prime Miner Churchill's promise that the ties would lilt Germany by air, and sea from the north, as 11 aa the east, west and south, 'he coming months. A Swedish broadcast quoted the e Danish press service as says' that German occupation authorK in Denmark had notified local ' n ‘ sh authorities that the evaB " on of towns on the East Juts( coast “may be expected in the a >' future.” Oitlj a few workers, civil servants, Mfhcials will remain behind to Z7 n cental services, the IT urn To P aga B <>>]„„„, 2) . winess Session By Rotarians weekly meeting of the Deca- , ’ !a . ,y clull) Thursday evenon nLr er ? ted t 0 a bueines « Mlek c thr ar f ly Ptans for the an * «helli f officere - whlich will five m n next few wee, ks. hip in Vo™ acceplted >nto member’ducted at th W<iek * WerC fornlally lei] in oh, he meeting - with C. E. 119 new m the Perem*lnyam C P^ mlberß are: ‘Rev. Wil•»i«h Bowei'w'!h >1 % Flndla)rson ' Mon Harv W . ,bur E - Petrie and nt oft” clu ?' Le ? Ki,lsch presidR lni> cla1 >-conducted the meetRE re ading «:0O^ R * T ™ERMOMETER — p lrt . weather tonl o ht wuth to n<flht and B’tunUy, 4 east Portiona ■

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

I Permits One Light In Store Entrance Lester Pett'ibone, superintendent of the city light and power plant, has received a copy of the amended WiLB order which permits the use of a 60 watt electric light in the entrance to stores and offices. l.Mr. Pettibone stated that customers need not apply for permission to use the extra light, as the revised order automatically granted it. The order is now effective. -— oYankee Forces Close On Luzon City Os Baguio Jap Headquarters In Philippines Is American Target Manila, Mar. 23 — (UP) — American, troops and Filipino guerrillas closed in from two sides today on the northern Luzon city of Baguio. Japanese headquarters for the Philippines. Elements of the 33rd division, which linked with strong guerrillas forces on the Lingayen gulf, reached within It) miles north of Baguio while another American column moving up from the south was Jess than six miles from the former Philippines summer capital. The 33rd troops met only light opposition as they advanced eastward to the Naguilian river, where they were poised on the outskirts of Naguilian town together with its airfield. (A Tokyo broadcast, recorded by the FCC, said Japanese planes raided American airfields at Lingayen and San Fabian in western Luzon at dawn yesterday and started 11 fires.) In the campaign east of Manila. sixth division troops battled through strong Japanese arillery fire to near the crest of 460-foot high Mount Baytangan, 15 miles northeast of the capital. At the same time, 43rd division units pushed through Bosoboso valley, 10 miles to the south, and neared the twin mountains of Quitago and Tanauan, six miles east of Antipolo. The 158th regimental combat team continued its drive around Lake Taal in southern Luzon against light resistance, entered the outskirts of Cuenca and cut the main road leading eastward (Turn To Page 2. Column 3)

Mrs. John P. Braun Is Taken By Death Funeral Services On Monday Morninge iMrs. Alvine Braun, 72. wife of John P. Braun, died at 11 o’clock thte morning at’ her home in Washington township. She had been in failing health for some time and serious for thd" past week. Death was attributed to complications. She was born in Germany February 19, 1873, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Passon and had lived in Adams county for the past 29 years. She was a memiber of the St. (Mary’s Catholic Church, the St., Mary’s society and the Third Order of St. Francis. Surviving are the. husband, the following Children: 'Mrs. Daniel Gilmartin of Chicago, Lawrence, Ed and Henry Braun and Mrs. Fred Geimer, all of Adams county; 25 grandchildren and three brothers and one sister. One daughter and one son are deceased. Funeral- services will be held at 9 o’clock .Monday morning at the St. Mary’s Catholic church with the Rev. J. J. Seim6t? officiating. Burial will be in the Catholic cemetery. The lardy will be removed from the Gillig & Doan funeral home to the residence late Saturday afternoon and iinay be viewed after 7 p. m.

Moscow Says Showdown Push On Berlin Near Three Red Armies Are Reported As Moving On Vienna BULLETIN London, Mar. 23.—(UP)—The German radio said tonight that Marshal Gregory K. Zhukov’s assault forces had smashed six miles westward from the Oder river citadel of Kuestrin to the village of Golzow, 32 miles east of Berlin. London, Mar. 23. — (UP) —The German high command said today that Russian tanks and infantry mounted an attack in the Kuestrin area east of Berlin after a strong artillery barrage and scored “some minor successes.” A Moscow broadcast said that Marshal Gregory K. Zhukov’s showdown assault on Berlin “can be expected very soon” now that both his flanks have been secured. The Nazi command’s report of a Red army attack in the Oder valley some 38 miles east of Berlin did not make clear its scope and weight. Its communique said: “After a strong artillery barrage, the enemy went over to the attack with infantry and tanks against the flank of the Kuestrin bridgehead, hut was brought to a standstill by the effective defense fire of our Oder defenses after achieving some minor initial successes.” Zhukov’s first White Russian army captured Kuestrin on March' 12, and later was reported by the Russians to have broken across the Oder in that sector. Marshal Ivan S. Konev’s first Ukrainian army was reported by the Nazi communique to have smashed across the Silesian border into Czechoslovakia in the newly reported offensive which had killed or captuked 45,000 German troops. The Germans reported that the Russians were attacking on either side of Hotzenplotz, a mile inside Czechoslovakia and 38 miles southwest of Oppeln. Konev’s army was one of three reported on the march toward Vienna along a 200-mile front in a possible bid to break up Nazi plans for a diehard stand in southern Germany or Austria. Another was driving, northwestward through the broken German defenses between Lake Balaton and

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Vast Toll Taken Os Jap Ships, Planes First 22 Days Os March Are Costly By United 'Press (America’s mighty air and naval forces, controlling the vast Pacific ocean, destroyed or damaged at least Japanese planes, 264 merchant vessels and 47 warships in the first 22 days of this month, a United Press survey showed today. That vast toll of Japan’s sea and air resources was taken in Interlocking attacks by planes and warships from the . commands of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and Gen. Douglas MacArthur. 'Their combined forces reaped that destruction in widespread blows that covered 12.600,0(W, square miles of the Pacific. Tile raids extended from the Dutch East Indies in the south to the Kuriles in the' north: from the Indo-China coast in the west to the Marshalls in the east. The Japanese los'es during that, period were prolbalbly even higher. The figures do not include the toll exacted by the 14th airforce in China, the eastern air command in southeast Asia, or the 20th airforce with its big B-29 superfortresses. The destruction and damage Jn(Tum To Page 5, Column 2)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, March 23,1945.

Hold Confirmation Services On Sunday Three Churches Will Hold Annual Service Confirmation services will be held Sunday morning for 23 young people in the Zion Evangelical and Reformed and the Zion Lutheran churches of this city and the Salem Evangelical and Reformed church at Magley, pastors of the churches have announced. A class of 10 will be confirmed at special services and exercises at the Zion Lutheran church Sunday morning at 10 o’clock. The class will sing the hymn, “God Most Holy, Hear My Prayer,” a special confirmation selection written by Rev. A. Hinz, former pastor of the local church. An anthem, “Who Rides from Olivet.” will be presented by the church choir. The examination and confirmation will be conducted by the Rev. Paul W. Schultz, pastor of the church. Members of the class are as follows: Margene Bauer, Eileen Bieberich, Phyllis Gerke, Barbara Helm, Barbara Sautter, Mrs. Lloyd Wagner, Paul Busse. Daniel Freeby, Robert Krueckeberg end Gerald Schultz. A class of eight young people will be confirmed at the Zion Evangelical and Reformed church in a special Palm Sunday service at 10 a. m. Sunday. The Rev. William C. Feller, pastor, will deliver a brief message on the theme, “The Way, the Truth and the Life.” Special music will consist of "O Jesus I Have Promised," the confirmation hymn sung by the class; “Ride On, Ride On in Majesty,” sung by the choir, and “The Hoiy Hour,” sung by the girls’ double trio. Members of the class, who have finished a course of instruction in the Bible, Christian doctrines and church membership, are: Max Andrews, Beverly Arnold, Bernadine Kirchhofer, Bryan Lehman, David Mac Clean, Donald Mac Lean, Neil Thomas and Joan Von Gunten. A class of five young people of the Salem Evangelical and Reformed church at Magley have completed their years of catechetical instruction. and will be confirmed Sunday morning at 10:30 o’clock. The pastor, the Rev. John M. Michael, will deliver the confirmation sermon on the theme, “Names Written in Heaven.” The confirmands are: Roger D. Borne, Russell E. Krtietzman, James Stauffei-, Eileen M. Scher.-y and Virginia A. Wood.

Distinguished Service Cross Awarded To Richard F. Linn

The high award of the Distinguished service cross has been conferred on. Tech. 5/G Richard F. Linn, -son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Linn, 410 Fornax street, for “extraordinary heroism in action on Oct. 24, 1944, in the vicinity of Embermentl, France", the parents were advised today. iCpl. Linn with a medical detachment of the 324th Infantry Regiment was wounded on the battlefield, “but with utter disregard for liis oiwn life, . .administered first aid to his wounded comrades.” The parents today received a copy of the citation, with the DSC, the former reading as follows: ‘lßichard F. L'inn, 35, 549 472, technician fifth grade, medical department medical detachment 3(24 infantry regiment. For extraordinary heroism in action on 24 October 1944 in the vicinity of Embermenil, France, Although seriously wounded when his organigation .was subjected to an unusually heavy artillery and mortar barrage, technician fifth grade Linn, with utter disregard for his own life, coupled with unusual presence of mind administered first aid to his wounded comrades. He refused to be evacauted until another aid man could take his place and thus remained with his platoon all night, administering to their needls. Technician fifth grade Linn’s admirable courage and exemplary devotion to

New Jap Offensive Reported By China Chungking, Mar. 23. — (UP)— A Chinese army spokesman said today the Japanese had opened a new offensive from bases on the Peip-ing-Hankow railroad against the air-base town of Lochokow, 230 miles northwest of Hankowf He said the attack was started Wednesday by three Japanese divisions. 0 Senate Committee To Probe Meat Shortage Public Hearings To Be Opened Monday’ Washington, March 23. —(UP) — The newly-created senate food investigating committee made plans today for an immediate survey of the meat shortage. 'Chairman Elmer Thomas, D., Okla., announced that his five-man committee will begin public hearings Monday. First witnesses will be representatives of small meat packers and slaughterers who only yesterday told the senate banking committee that GPA price policies confront them with one choice — “go broke or go black.” ’ Thomas said the committee is beginning with the meat shortage "because the meat men are here.” But another memiber, Sen. Harlan J. Bushfield, R., iS. D„ told reporters it was “’because the heat is on.” ISen. Robert A. Taft R-. 0., meanwhile proposed that meat sold to the government 'be freed from regular ceiling prices to encourage production by hard-pressed packers. 'Renewing charges that the DPA’s present policies were forcing many packers to close down and thereby worsening the meat shortage, Taft said some change would be made to allow them d “reasonable profit” on their operations. His proposal came w’hile both houses of congress concentrated their attention on the predicted food shortage and sought to learn if government agencies were in any way responsible. The senate war investigating committee plans to Visit next week a limestone cave which has been converted into a gigantic government warehouse at Atchinson, Kans. War food administration officials said they were confident that the committee would find nothing amiss there despite reports that the converted quarry was unsuitable for food storage and that spoilage has occurred. Taft said his proposal would he XTurn To Page 2, Column 8)

< : * x y duty were in inspiration to his officers and fellow soldiers and were decisive factors in the maintenance of control and in bolstering the morale of his platoon during its initial engagement with the enemy.” dpi. Linn, a graduate of Decatur high school, entered the army in March, 1943, and went overseas last September. He was hospitalized in England hut has fully recovered from his iwpunds and is back on active duty on the Western front.

Allied Planes Continue Big Air Onslaught Massive Air Blows Aimed At Paralyzing Germany's Transport BULLETIN London, March 23—(UP)— Thousands of Allied warplanes rained bombs on the Ruhr all day today, and airmen said the , industrial valley was a wasteland of burning ruins. London, Mar. 23 —(UP) —Lt. Gen. James H. Doolittle hurled more than 1,250 flying fortresses and liberators at 11 railyards in and near the Ruhr today, the third straight day of a massive aerial onslaught aimed at paralyzing the transport of northwest Germany. The eighth air force heavy bombers and their escort of more than 350 mustang fighters blasted and gunned the German traffic lines in the path of a reported Allied offensive about to explode across the Rhine into the Ruhr. Earlier today British Lancaster heavies dumped 11-ton. volcano bombs and other missiles on a railway bridge at Bremen, main transport link between northwest Germany and the western front. The U. S. heavy bomber targets included Osnabrueck, Rheijie, Muensteix and Coesfeld north of the Ruhr and Recklinghausen, Gladbeck, Hengstey. Geisecke, Unna-Borgumnz. Holzwickede, and Siegen in the east and southeast reaches of that industrial area. Throughout the morning and into the afternoon Allied bombers streamed across the channel in waves. By mid afternoon at least four large forces had flown toward Germany. Mustangs escorted the Lancasters to Bremen, Germany’s second largest port. American flying fortresses and liberators also were ranging Germany, softening up Nazi defenses for an impending Allied smash across the Rhine. The eighth air force announced that its planes were over Germany again, but listed no targets. Radio calls from Berlin’s warn(Turn To Page 2, Column 7) o

Frank L. Johnston Dies This Morning Funeral Services Monday Afternoon Frank L. Johnston, 60, woll home 803 W. Monroe street, of a at 1:30 o'clock this morning at his home 803 W. Monroe street, of a heart ailment. IMr. Johnston, who built the new barns at the Adams county home, was stricken with a heart attack three weeks ago. .A native of this county, Mr, Johnston was born in Washington township. Oct. 6. 1884, a son of James iS. and Mylinda Johnston. He iwas married to Miss Emma Wolfe. Surviving besides the widow are nine children: Mrs. Goldie StYielby and Mrs. Nellie Atepach of Key West, Fla., Mrs. Dorothy Robison and Mrs. Mary Colter of this city; Opl. Ollie Johnston, U. S. army, stationed in India; Eileen, Dona Hunbert and (Merlin at home. Brothers and sisters who survive are, Cyrus Johnston of Morgantown. W. Va., Samuel of Rome City; Mrs. Eliza Hahnert of Monroe. Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the residence and 2:30 at the Nuttman Avenue United Brethren church, of which Mr. Johnston was a trustee. Interment will be in the Ray cemetery, west of Monroe. The body will be returned from the Gillig and Doan funeral home to the Johnston residence Saturday, where friends may call after 7 o’clock in the evening.

Heads Drive f >. wk« J Clarence Ziner, of Decatur, has been appointed to head a countywide drive for used clothing for refugees and war victims in Europe. The drive, which is nationwide, will lie made in April. Ziner Heads Drive For Used Clothing Clarence Ziner To Head County Drive Clarence Ziner, tire recapping dealer, has been named by Henry J. Kaiser, the great ship builder, to head a county-wide drive in April for used clothing for the war refugees and victims of the war in Europe. Members of the two service clubs in Decatur, the Rotary and Lions, will assist Mr. Ziner in plans for the drive. Chairmen of special groups have been designated by Mr. Ziner and they will complete their organizations after Holy Week, the plan being to reach the people through the churches and schools. The tentative organization, Mr. Ziner explained, calls for full cooperation among the Schools and home economics clubs in the epunty, so that the need for used clothing can be brought to every home. Lyman L. Hann will head the school division and Lawrence Archbold, will act as chairman of the home economics clubs. The pastors of the churches will be individual chairmen of their parishes and form their own organization within their congregation, Mr. Ziner outlined. Phil Sauer will be in charge of collecting and delivering the clothing to a central depot, when instructions are received here to transport the merchandise. Three types of clothing will be collected, namely children’s, women's and men’s. It is planned to sort the clothing at the various gathering

(Turn To Page 2, Column 7) o Aubrey Williams Is Rejected By Senate Refuse Nomination As RE Administrator Washington, .March 23—'(UP) — The senate today rejected the nomination of Aubrey Williams, a left-of-center New Dealer, to be rural electrification administrator. 'The vote against Williams was 52 to 36. The rejection was no surprise. It had Ibeen foreshadowed two weeks ago when the senate agriculture committee voted 12 to 8 against the nomination. <Williaims’ supporters in the senate futilely devoted most of t)he week to speeches urging his confirmation. They denounced charges that Williams leans toward a communist philosophy. They cited his record as deputy director of the works projects administration and director of the national youth administration as evidence of his ability. Opponents of Williams, confident of their strength, talked but little.

Price Four Cents.

Great Aerial Barrage Seen Opening Blow Skirmishers Cross Rhine In Arnhem Area; 'Wide Open' BULLETIN Paris, March 23—(UP) —Allied and German reports hinted today that a grand scale win-the-war offensive by General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s armies in the Rhineland was imminent or beginning, Paris, Mar. 23—(UP)—British skirmishers crossed the Rhine in the Arnhem area today and an unconfirmed Paris radio report, said Field Marshal Sir Bernard L. Montgomery’s three Allied armies had stormed across the river on a 65-mile front extending south to Dusseldorf in the Ruhr. The German high command said American troops attempted to storm the Rhine barrier still farther south in the Ludwigshafen ■area, .following their smashing victory in the Saar-Palatinate. The crossing attempt, made by spearheads of the third or seventh army, was repulsed, Berlin said. But there was every sign that the “one last heave" to end ths European war was coming at the northern end of the long western front, possibly in a matter of hours if it had not already begun. Thousands of Allied warplanes shuttled over the smoke-shrouded river in endless waves throughout the day, laying a deadly pattern of bombs and gunfire across the maze of German defenses east of the Rhine. The full striking power of the Allied strategic and tactical air forces was thrown into the battle on a scale not even exceeded in file invasion of France. London observers speculated freely that, the great aerial barrage was the opening blow in the final battle of the west. Berlin said that through the clouds of smoke veiling Montgomery’s armies on the Rhine ..the guns already are sounding the overture to the crossing.” Lt. Gen. Omar N. Bradley, commander of the U. S. 12th army group, told a press conference at. his headquarters that the whole Rhine line was wide open to attack. “There’s nothing to prevent us from crossing the Rhine most, anywhere, anytime," lie said. Radio Paris said its monitors intercepted a German broadcast announcing that shock troops of the American ninth, British second and Canadian first armies tinder Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery launched their great Rhine attack last night. Striking under cover of a massive smoke screen, the Allies broke through the German defenses along the east bank of the Rhine and plunged forward into Germany's inner fortress, according to this version. There was no confirmation of the report at Allied headquarters, and no other continental listening posts recorded the German account relayed by the Paris transmitter. The sensational report came as the American first army lashed out on the northern and southern (Turn To Pagw 2. Column 4) O— Willshire Sergeant Is Killed In France T/Sgt. Gale Hileman. 26. husband of IMns. Mary Stout Hileman of Willshire, 0., was killed in action in France Felbruary 11. ho was killed in action in France February 11. He was twice wounded but had returned to duty. iSgt. Hiileman was a eon of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hileman and was -born near Rockford, O. Surviving are the wife, a daughter, Mary Beth whome he never saw; five brothers and four sisters.