Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 43, Number 88, Decatur, Adams County, 13 April 1945 — Page 1

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LUI. No. 88.

RIEVING NATION, STUNNED BY DEATH F ROOSEVELT, PREPARES TO CARRY ON

Bmeral Rites Jbr Roosevelt ft Washington

Iftsevclt's Body I ftLast Journey; Est rm Springs Pays ift Final Tribute 1 Springs, Ga., Apr. 13. — body of Franklin D. ~KB e i; unlay was borne from While House" of Georgia *BK roll of muffled drums, startSfeß long, last journey to Washfl Bflhm southern sun .shone in as the funeral cortege green hills the president well. The procession BlowjKKvd down the winding mileKBku) to Warm Springs station. ®Klu distance a church bell 1111111 country steeple. left the “little White ■B' at l»:3n a. m. Along the | s ',Btoml hundreds of residents of ■rsid. in's “other home.” They ®Btheir heads and stood in s.ilKKa.-' the cortege passed. came the U. S. army band ||BI't. 1 't. Benning, Ga. The roll of drums carried softly -■W'" countryside in the still, Sjflair. sßiiii the hand marched 1.000 iißrymen. led by three compania. bine carrying troops, follly riflemen. Their colors JHlack streamers to signify the of the nation. ' Sjß ll came l '"' hearse bearing the ■Bent's body in a copper-lined, EB>"il>< 1 mahogany casket. gHtlie troops reached the little ||B>i across the tracks from the ■B> Springs hotel and the little aßltf Warm Springs stores and buildings, they deployed ■Bompany front and presented ■■arms at the salute. the hearse and at each ■gß was the honor guard of high ■B officers, afoot. Next came -9| black, with a fur cape. She upright, outwardly corn-?-”B 36 s ' le hat i been throughout. ■ Mrs. Roosevelt rode Fala. H|t : quietly at Mrs. Roosevelt’s sensing that some- |» was wrong—what, he could |Buite know. the route, troops—overseas gß® ns — stood at attention.MMany lllgrin cried openly as they stood" ■B- v Presenting their arms. j|B''y the procession passed on. BMf ictims n - the malady with Roosevelt had a special MBurn To p a „ p 5 Column 4)

E°ricFs, Nation's Leaders Death Os Roosevelt

I By United Press ® wor W‘s and the nation’s leadmourned today the death of Delano Roosevelt but E , Col| Mence that his aims— Plete victory over the Axis and and lasting peace—will be Oved. mment on the passing of Mr. Bevelt follows; bert Hoover —“The nation 8 at the passing of its presi- '. w a tever differences ’there I ’J 6 been > they in regrets • It is fortunate that in reat crisis of war our armies . ’j S are under such magnifi'eadership that we shall not , , While we mour n Mr. ard ’■ * tlea,h ’ We shall march Minister Winston Churchjeveit™®B^B6 t 0 Mrs - Eleanor id 1 send my most propathy in your grievous ish nLT° ,oes ot the cauße of iut'ouh' Stalin -“ Th e govse- it= f - the Sovlet Union «’ irlcan - nc , ere sympathy to the their <«7 P . ° their 6reat loss 11 that Ue pollcy between the great

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Report Yanks Are Within 15 Miles Os Berlin German Resistance Appears Collapsed Before Allied Push Paris, Apr. 13.—(UP)—American troops were reported unofficially only 15 to 16 miles from Berlin today and field dispatches said German resistance appeared to have collapsed even on the last approaches to the wrecked capital. Far to the south, the American hrst and third armies virtually cut Germany in two with parallel advances that carried almost twothirds of the way across the rei?h and brought the great military base 'of Leipzig within artillery range. First «army troops reached and perhaps entered Leipzig's companion stronghold of Halle, 15 miles to the northwest, and German spokesmen said other Yank columns were about 10 miles west and southwest of Leipzig at Mersebuig and Peagu. Flying tank columns of the second armored division officially were out in front of the U. S. ninth army drive on Berlin after crossing the Elbe river near Magdeburg and pushing ahead more than five miles to positions 55 miles or less southwest of the capital this morning. Unconfirmed radio Paris reports said, however, that American paratroops had dropped into Brandenburg province only 15 to 16 miles west of Berlin and linked up with the second armored division at an undisclosed point. At the same time, United Press war correspondent Robert Vermillion reported that the German defenders east of the Elbe were fighting no harder than those overwhelmed by the Americans west of the river—where resistance for three days has been almost negligible. Vermillion disclosed -nat strong infantry reinforcements already Were over the Elbe and moving up (Turn To Page 5, Column 5)

powers who have shouldered the main burden of war against a common. enemy will continue to develop in the future.” ' Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek—-"l am convinced the American people atid Roosevelt’s successor will finish his uncompleted task.” Gov. Thomas E. Dewey of New York—“ln building boldly for the future peace of the world, even as the war progressed, Franklin Roosevelt made his final and perhaps greatest contribution ... All people of good will, with equal determination, will do their part in bringing to final success the work of the United Nations in establishing the foundation for a just and lasting peace.” James F. Byrnes, director of the office of war mobilization— “I am sure that the sacrifice of his life will prove an inspiration to the statesmen of all nations to bring about the fulfillment of his dream that the mothers of this world should never again be called upon to offer up their sons as sacrifices to the god of war.” Harry Hopkins, former secretary of commerce and close friend of (Turn To Page *> Column 7)

lift/ Unfair iR. BbF i 1 *’Jl V 5 f W ||M I 'M/ - Ft i|BSI0!lSl , {f JEgggs ft x ’ fll * Franklin D. Roosevelt

Truman Proclaims Mourning, Prayer Proclaims Saturday As Day Os Mourning (Washington, April 13 —(UP) — President Truman today proclaimed Saturday as a day of mourning and prayer throughout the United States in respect to the late Franklin D. Roosevelt. IThe presidential proclamation was issued by secretary of state Edward R. Stettinius. At the same time, by order of the president, Stettinius ordered that: 1. —(Flags to remain at. half staff on all public buildings of the United States for one month—until the clcse of Monday. May 14. ,2. — All executive departments and agencies of the government be closed tomorrow ‘ afternoon — the day of the funeral. "I earnestly recommend the people to assemble on that day (tomorrow) in their respective places of divine worship,” Mr. Truman’s proclamation said, “There to how (Jown in submission to the will of Almighty God, and to pay out of full hearts their homage of love and reverence to the memory of the great, and good man whose death they mourn,” ' Mr. Roosevelt, it said, lived to see the assurance of victory in this great war, but not to share it; (Turn To Page 4, Column 8) o • — Gov. Gates Urges Hoosiers Meet In Churches, Saturday Indianapolis, April 13 —'(UP) Governor Gates urged in a proclamation today that Hoosiers assemble in their churches tomorrow at 3 p. m. for meditation out of respect to President Roosevelt. Gates asked that, during the funeral hour, the people of Indiana "shall assemble in the churches to pay proper tribute to his memory and ask divine guidance for the days ahead so that victory which the president so greatly sought shall be ours and that everlasting peace shall come to the world. ’ The governor’s proclamation extended symathy to the Roosevelt family, ordered that all public offices be closed all day Saturday, and asked that the flag on all public buildings ibe flown at half-mast for 30 days.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, April 13, 1945.

ROOSEVELT IS DEAD—TRUMAN LEADS NATION

U. S. Pacific Fleet To Honor Roosevelt Guam, April 13—(UP)—The officers and men of the U. S. Pacific fleet will pay a war time tribute to their late Commander-in-chief. Memorial services will be held on all ships and stations, where war conditions permit, on the day of the president’s funeral. Colors will fly at half-mast for 30 days. O—Eisenhower Orders Troops In Mourning To Honor Memory Os Franklin Roosevelt Paris, Apr. 13. — (UP) — Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered a 30-day mourning period for American troops throughout the European theater today in memory of President Roosevelt. Eisenhower flashed back the order to supreme headquarters from the front, where he was conferring with his generals on the final 'phases df the battle of Germany. The battle was drawing to the end long ago envisioned by President Roosevelt. And it was under the direction of the man he picked to be supreme commander on the western front. Word of the death of the president spread rapidly through supreme headquarters and Paris, leaving sadness and grief in its wake. Gen. Charles De Gaulle, provisional president of France, cabled President Truman that, the French government learned of Mr. Rooesvelt’s death with “great emotion and deep sadness.” He ordered flags lowered to halfstaff throughout France. In the cabarets, at the Red Cross rainbow corner and along the boulevards swarming with khaki the reaction was heartfelt. At fashionable Giro’s, the band was silenced and the leader read a brief announcement of Mr. Roosevelt’s death. All Allied troops left immediately. A tank brigade sergeant on furlough tried to get through to his commanding officer to arrange to return to the front. “I voted for him four times for president,” he said. “Since I can’t vote for him a fifth time, the least I can do is to go back up there and fight tor him.”

■HF- ' W BHBy J'' -’ ■ H - fw| Irr ' -- \• iB F • Baß ■ z moßmsE' ■i I' X2MBtowii-h 11 iruTu-L •. Harry S. Truman

United Nations To Meet As Scheduled F. D. R/s Death Not To Delay Conference Washington, Apr. 13 —(UP) — The United Nations will meet in San Francisco as scheduled on April 25, determined now to create as a memorial to Franklin D. Roosevelt a world organization capable of keeping the peace. Mr. Roosevelt was one of* the major architects of the new peace structure. His great collaborators —Premier Josef Stalin and Prime Minister Winston Churchill—described him on his death as the world leader in the cause of ensuring security for the whole world. To Stalin he was “a great politician of world significance and a pioneer in the organization of peace and security after the war.” To Churchill, whose friendship with Mr. Roosevelt began at the Atlantic charter meeting in the summer of 1941, he was “the world leader in the cause of freedom.” Mr. Roosevelt, who had done so much to prepare the United (Turn To Page 3, Column 3) 0 Decatur Is Shocked At Sudden Death Os President Roosevelt pecatur , like the rest of the nation and the greater part of the world, received the word of the death of President Roosevelt as a great shock. “Is it true the President i.s dead?” was the first expression heard. Although the nation was aware that the President was not as vigorous as they knew him in the past decade, there was the feeling in nearly every heart that he .was destined to live to see the victory of our armed forces over the causes of tyranny, and a peace fashioned over his four freedoms. Even this morning the import of the sad news had not lessened and Decaturitcs spoke in hushed tones of the peaceful passing of the greatest world personage. (People listened all evening to the broadcasts and eulogies paid to American’s leader, whose volte and ideals inspired snore mankind than any world creature who ever spoke, now silent in death.

Death Os President Mourned By Hoosiers Roosevelt Destiny Charted In Indiana Py United Press Indiana mourned with the nation and the world today the death of President Roosevelt. Flags flew at half mast. Activities in Hoosier government, business and political circles were curtailed as Governor Gates expressed shock and sorrow and prepared a proclamation calling for a period of mourning. democrat party leaders, whose political organization the president headed and kept in national control for 16 years, cancelled a series of nine Jefferson day dinners scheduled for tonight in Hoosier cities. The dinners were in the nature of between election years rallies. Hoosiers cherished memories of Mr. Roosevelt’s infrequent visits to the midwestern state which gave him its electoral votes in 1932 and 1936, but deserted him in 1940 for a favorite son, Wefidell L. Willkie, and again in 1944 for another native midwesterner, Thomas E. Dewey, formerly of Michigan. The president campaigned in Indiana in 1932 and 1936. His last visit to Hoosier soil was last fall when, shortly before he was elected to a fourth term, his presidential train crossed northern Indiana n the course of a trans-continental campaign tour. Mr. Roosevelt appeared briefly at Fort Wayne and Gary on that occasion. Indiana claimed the site where the Roosevelt destiny was charted. In 1931. after attending the Indianapolis 500-mile Speedway race, Mr. Roosevelt, then governor of New York, went to French Lick, Ind., for a three-day conference with Democratic governors of 35 other states. There, the groundwork was laid for his nomination (Turn To Page 3, Column 4) O TEMPERATURE READING DEMOCRAT THERMOMETER 8:00 a. m...~ —-61 10:00 a. m - 64 Noon ■■ —64 2:00 p. m - 65 , WEATHER Showers with thunderstorms tonight and scattered showers Saturday. Much cooler north and west portions and cooler southeast portion Saturday. Fresh winds.

Harry S. Truman Takes Helm As Nation's Chief New President Os United States Pledges His Determination To Carry Out Roosevelt’s Objectives Os Victory And Peace Washington, Apr. 13—(UP)—President Harry S. Truman took the nation’s helm today, summoning to the White House the chiefs of war and foreign policy to pledge his determination to carry forward President Roosevelt s objectives of speedy victory and firm peace. His first official act was to issue through secretary of state Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., a proclamation of a month’s mourning for Mr. Roosevelt. But already he had plunged deep into the monumental task' of carrying on the national war effort, without pause or hesitation, both in the west and in the east. Within three hours of his first working day as president, Mr. Truman had shattered his first precedent. After conferring at the White House with military and diplomatic chiefs, he drove to capital hill for a luncheon conference in the office of Lester Biffle, secretary of the senate, with the leaders of congress.

Germans Burst Last Bounds Oi Decency Continue To Vilify President Roosevelt London, Apr. 13 —(UP) —The Nazis burst (he last bounds ot decency today and continued a vilification of President Rotosevelt—even in death. German propagandists gloated openly over the president's death. They poured out an abusive tirade that shocked the rest of the world, perhaps even Japan. While the Japanese joined with the Germans in accusing Mr. Roosevelt of causing the present war, Tokyo conceded at least the president was a “great man.” But Berlin's commentators heaped abuse upon the president's memory. One commentator, in a speech which apparently was written by propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, said that the miracle which had saved Adolf Hitler had killed the “inventor of this war.” The commentator was Wilfred Vonofen, one of Berlin’s best. But expert listeners said his remarks did not follow his usual tone and they were termed much after the way Goebbels writes. The broadcast was unusual in that Vonofen spoke in the first (Turn To Page 3, Cnlumij 6)

Terrific Pressure Os World's Toughest Job Told On F.D.R.

(Editor’s note: The author of the following special feature has been chief of the White House staff of the United Press since before Pearl Harbor. He has accompanied the late president on all of his domestic inspection tripe, his visits to Quebec and Hawaii, all of his fourthterm campaign tours, and met him in North Africa after Yalta.) By MERRIMAN SMITH (Copyright. 1945. by UP.) Warm Springs, Ga., Apr. 13. — (UP) —Did President Roosevelt know that he was an ill man and that the time had come to husband his strength? Many of us who saw him often and travelled with him believe he did. There was nothing wrong with him organically. But the tremendous pressure of the toughest job on earth had begun to take its toll in nerve energy. This was first noticeable last year after the Tehran conference. For two months he suffered from sinus trouble and bronchitis, and it was then that he decided to go to Bernard M. Baruch’s estate near Georgetown, S. C., and fight It out for himself.

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To the White House came Stettinius for confirmation of Truman’s pledge that the San Francisco conference shall be held as planned and for affirmation of Truman’s hope that at San Francisco will be erected the foundation stones of a permanent peace after the plans long advanced by Mr. Roosevelt. And to the White House came the top leaders of the war effort to hear Truman implement the pledge he gave the nation as he was sworn in last night to succeed Mr. Roosevelt. The pledge was that the war would be prosecuted “on both fronts, east and west, with all the vigor we possess to a successful conclusion. 4 ’ In the nation's sorrowing capital leaders of all shades of opinion shouldered up with pledges to stand with Truman and the nation in the sudden hour of tragedy. From the senate Republicans came a pledge of cooperation “for the winning of the war and a successful peace at home and abroad." To which the Republi-. can senators added an “expression of our faith and trust" in the man who until Jan. 20, 1945, had been their Democratic colleague from Missouri. As Truman entered the White House with a brisk step at 9 a. m. this morning and sat down at (Turn To Page 3, Column 8)

He was fighting more than bronchitis. He was, 1 think, trying to decide whether he was able to go through the rigors of another presidential campaign. He thought he had won. He took it easy in South Carolina for a month and came back to Washington, confident that he was in tip-top shape. But he did not snap back as he used to do. His voice was weaker, his tan faded faster and he began spending almost every week-end *in the restful atmosphere of Hyde Park. Then came the fourth-term campaign, terrific physical seating. He spent hours touring cities in an open car. often in miserable weather. He delivered a speech at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn standing bare-headed in a cold, driving rain. Next day at Hyde Park he laughed at those in his party who had the sniffles and told them he felt fine. But the Yalta conference was ahead of him and that trip. I think, was a serious drain on his vitality. It was probably the hardest 10 days he ever went through in his life. On the ship coming back I saw' (Turn To Page 5, Column 6)