Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 43, Number 97, Decatur, Adams County, 24 April 1945 — Page 1

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I.XLIH. No. 97.

EIEGE RING IS CLOSING AROUND BERLIN

Jierican 3rd Bmy Reaches Lube River Leak Open Outer Lines Os Hitler's ■Bavarian Redoubt ■ ri; Apr.^-(L’ p >- Ameri - ■ .hud army troops broke open ■ ’ "ter defenses of Hitler's g redoubt on a broad front and rammed an armored Krbead up to the Danube ■.the western outskirts of L'til George S. Patton's K army tanks and armored |Kn carriers reached the northbentl of tlie Danube oppo- ■ Regensburg—the old Napocity of Ratisbon this af■oon after a 10-mile advance Kugh weak anti disorganized opposition. inv Nazi snipers battled the ■eu'ng American armored col- ■ along the west side of the river, but were cut down. ■ r 'l,l dispatches indicated the ■mans were planning a delayfjgin on the eastern hank of ■ Danube and inside Regens■g, where the enemy was rethrowing up barricades ■ moving hundreds of antiair- !■( guns into position for the iHle. infantry forces were iKtding up close behind the tank spearheads, reachM Deuerling, eight miles west this afternoon, Regensburg, the Americans ■He only 111 miles north of Mu|Hi. gateway to the Bavarian Kobt. was no immediate word Utbe progress of other third |Ky columns advancing southIK'd along the Czechoslovak (■der to the east within 105 o' Berchtesgaden. than 2,000 American and tanks were on the move |Hiiist the Nazis' last retreat in Bavarian Alps along a 200- !■( front manned by Patton's and the powerful Amerijß seventh and French ytirst Sis. jßieadquarters revealed that one ■& greatest armored striking in military history had thrown against the Bavar- ■ retreat where the hunted leaders were trying to gath- ■ their remaining SS divisions ■ last battle of Europe. American third and sevand the French first armies ■e advancing flank to flank ■ffurn To Pa. ge 4| Column 3) M o — *- Bote Bulletins Apr. 24—(up)_ ■™ nt , dispatches said Allied sighted huge German! jj lo Qr c °!umns moving eastira* from the Elbe river tojyiara Berlin today and de- ■” yed at least 200 vehicles 'n 15 miles of the capital. Apr. 24— (UP) — ■J? German radio admitted ■flviZ. « hat Red fla ßs ar e ■/ n g , frow homes ■ Br,!n ’ Nazi soldierg are ■ _ ”g down the Soviet em■ke L« ereVer they aPPear, ■ * broadcast said. U ’. S ’ N ' nth Arm y» ■u. " y ' A Pr- 24—(UP) — ■th; ’h’" tr ° Ops cleani ng out Bunday "° Urttain pocket Bendin,, aptuf,e< * comL h ßeneral ° f the Ger- ’ WaS a ”‘ ■ SpS \ HE «MOMETER H Rature reading ■’0:00 a — 56 ■ 57 H 57 Father Ira Cloudvtoni £ht and in mo7ni neaßt Portion w ed- ■ 'H’oudy j n _ nfl ' b ® cort ’i , ’sl parttnni.^? ay afternoon. ■ Michi Wn’ MeeP ‘ nMr ■ Mh *»it O i£ ’ warrner ‘ in g Portion Wednesday. ■

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Graduate Speaker v vvj> * ■ U-. - ‘ *] fUw 1 f " ■ i At I SK JBr Barton Rees Pogue, poet and humorist, will speak at the annual commencement exercises for the eighth grade graduates of the Adams county rural schools Saturday, May 12. Graduates To Hear Barton Rees Pogue County Exercises Saturday, May 12 Barton Rees Pogue, of Upland, rhyimster, humorist and radio entertainer, will give the commenceaddress at the annual Adams county eighth grade graduation exercises in this city, on Saturday afternoon, May 12, Lyman L. Hann, county superintendent of schools, announced today. The exercises will be held at the junior-senior high school. Mr. Hann is chairman of the program. About 215 graduates will receive diplomas. IMr. Pogue, who grew up in the home-town of James Whitcomb Riley, is himself author of five books of poetry. In his inspirational commencement address he will interpret some of his homey and witty poems, in his whimsically humorous manner. The speaker is a graduate of Taylor University, Boston University, and the University of Michigan and taught 12 years in Taylor university and Indiana university. For 12 years he was a featured artist' at station WLW, appearing each week on “Truly American” and “Wayside Windows.” 'Friendly toward people, and endowed with a fine sense of humor, Mr. Pogue’s address will ibe human and happy. • 0 To Receive First Communion May 6 28 Boys, Girls- At St. Mary's Church A class of 28 boys and girls will receive their first Holy Communion in impressive ceremonies at a 7:30 o’clock high mass at St. Mary’s Catholic church on Sunday, May 6, it was announced today. The Rev. J. J. Seimetz, pastor, will be celebrant of the mass and deliver Jhe sermon. The communicants are members of the second grade of St. Joseph’s school. The men’s and boys’ choir will sing the “Mass of the Shepherds," by Pietro Yon, and at thf offertory, “Ecce Panis,” by Polleri. The vested boys’ choir will sing the processional hymn, "Suffer Little Children to Come,” and the recessional, “Hail Virgin, dearest Mary.” Those who will approach the holy banquet table for the first time and receive communion are: Herbert Buffenbarger, Donald Gase, Gregory Harris, David Kohne. Robert Miller, Timothy Murtaugh, Walter Mowery. Thomas Omlor. Donald Rumschlag, Dean T. Titus. Charles Voglewede, John Lengerich. Barbara Borman, Dolores Braun, Joanne Braun, Marilyn Brown, Ann Durkin, Leola F.ord, Alice Gage, Rosemary Gase, Jacqueline Gase, Marcella Gillig, Joan Laurent, Anna M. Lengerich, Nita Osterman. Joyce Parent, Rheta Ulman, Patricia Zehr.

Peace Confab Scheduled To Open Tomorrow Dispute On Poland Participation Mars Conference Opening San Francisco, Apr. 24.—(UP)— The United Nations conference on international oiganization was jeopardized today before it began as the American British-Russian dispute over Polish participation was transferred here for adjustment. The first plenary conference session is scheduled for 6:30 p. m, (CWT) tomorrow. With scarcely more than 24 hours to go, the big three found themselves in the embarrassing position of being unable to settle a misunderstanding which they thought they had cleared up last winter in the Crimea. Efforts to adjust the dispute in preliminary Washington discussions have failed. Delegates of other nations anxiously awaited the arrival of the top diplomats of the big powers. It generally was conceded that the United States, Great Britain and the Soviet Union must adjust this dispute among themselves if the United Nations conference is to have the hoped-for democratic leaders from Poland itself and from Poles abroad.” Britain’s foreign secretary Anthony Eden and U. S. secretary of state Edward R. Stettinius Jr., have been Insisting that the Soviet Union live up to the Crimea agreement that the Lublin government “be reorganized on a broader democratic basis with the inclusion of democratic leaders from Pland itsoself and from Poles abrad.” That was the essence of the Crimea report on Poland and it was signed by the late President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Marshal Josef V. Stalin. Stettinius, Eden, foreign commissar V. M. Molotov, of the Soviet Union, and foreign minister T. V. Soong, of China, were coming here separately by air. The Russians here are saying nothing but they are the talk of the town. The mere fact that the 10th floor of the St. Francis hotel has been taken over by the Russian delegation has San Francisco punchy with curiosity. The accurate report that Russian guards protected the Russian quarters added to the popular interest. The American delegates awaited Stettinius’ report and the arrival of their No. 2 colleague, chairman Tom Connally, D., Tex., of the senate foreign relations committee. He’ll be in today. Clement Attlee, deputy prime minister of Great Britain, arrived yesterday but without significant comment. 0 — Allies Warn Against Torturing Prisoners Stern Warning Sent To German Leaders Washington, Apr. 24—(UP)— President Truman, in his first formal role as a member of the big three, sought today to prevent further execution, starvation or torture of Allied nationals in the hands of the crumbling German army. At the same time it appeared that German forces no longer have the transport facilities to move prisoners out of the path of advancing Allied armies. This seemed to, be the reason behind the German offer — accepted by this government — to leave all prisoners of war in the camps where they are now being held. (A London dispatch reported the British government also had accepted the German offer. British secretary of war Sir James Grigg was expected to make a statement on prisoners in the house of commons today. According to latest figures available, some 143,000 British prisoners still were in German hands as of April 17.) Thinking of the 60,000 to 65,000 hands as well as other captives (Turn To Page 4, Column 4)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, April .24, 1945.

41 Leave Today For Pre-Induction Exam Contingent Is Sent For Physical Exams Forty-one men and youths left Decatur this morning for Indianapolis for pre-induction physical examinations under selective service, the local board announced. Os the contingent, 39 were from Adams county and two were transferred from other boards. Roger Eli Meshberger, scheduled for examination today, failed to report. Those accepted for the nation’s armed services will be returned home on furlough to await call to active duty. In addition to the regular contingent, three conscientious objectors were sent for final type examination prior to being assigned to work camps. Robert Earl Gay, manager of the Local Loan Co. office in this city, was leader of today’s contingent, and Thomas Anthony Terveer, senior in the Decatur Catholic high school, was the assistant leader. Members of the contingent are as follows: Amos Stauffer, Harold Edwin Melchi, Robert Earl Gay, John Henry Poorman, Ernest Emanuel Sprunger, Ralph Junior Teeter, Leßoy Justus Moser, Delmar Wayne Neuenschwander, Chester William Porter. Richard Earl Sheets, Marvin Lee Sprunger, Eugene Christion Sommer, Thomas Anthony Terveer, Nolan Eugean Hoffman, Winston Dwight Moser, Harold Johnson Plumley, Richard Wayne Reinhart, Ken. nett Paul Kauffman. Silvino William Vergara. John Henry Schultz, Vilas Eugene Burry. Albert Francis Gillig, Raymond Arthur Hirschy, James Clayton Everett. Robert Leilan Smitley, Charles W’illiam Bollinger, Ralph Warren Rose, Leslie Eugene Ohmit, Richard Paul Hurst, Obbie True Jackson, Harry William 'Stucky, Werner Elmer Hoffman, Henry Oscar Getting, Keith Oakley McCollum, Lynn Wallace Sprunger, Roger Thomas Knapp, Max Eugene Ogg, Robert Henry Bucher, Hubert Leroy Bailer, Wilson Harper Snyder (transferred from Mercer county, O.), Morse William Huffman (transferred from Van Wert, O.) The three conscientious objectors were: Christian M. Schwartz, Eli S. Wingerd, John Girod (transferred from Kosciusko county). o Marshal Petain To Surrender To French I French Vichy Leader Faces Treason Trial Bern, Apr. 24. —(UP) —The Swiss government announced today that it had granted permission to Marshal Henri Philippe Petain to pass through Switzerland and surrender to French authorities. (A Swiss radio broadcast said Petain entered Switzerland from southwest Germany at 9 a. m. in a convoy of nine automobiles.) Petain, chief of state in the defunct Vichy government, will await instructions from Paris as to time and place of surrender, the announcement said. He is wanted for trial ae a traitor in surrendering France to Germany in 1940 and subsequently collaborating with the Nazis. Hie trial was to have been held in absentia next month, but the Swiss announcement means that he will be on hand for the opening. An official communique said Petain applied to the Swiss federal council for permission for himself, his wife and a small suite to cross Switzerland to France “in order to give himself up to the French court of justice.” “The federal council granted his request,” - the communique said. “Petain will await French government instructions regarding time and place of surrender to France in Switzerland. Instructions are expected very soon.” The announcement came on Petain’s 89th birthday. He went to Germany with Premier Pierre Laval and other members of the former Vichy government last summer when Allied armies began to overrun his homeland.

Died for Country I Pfc. Alva Myers, 19-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Myers of Decatur route three, living near Pleasant Mills, who was killed in action in Germany on March 3, the report of which was published here on March 14. He had been overseas since September, 1944, and entered the army in March. 1943. The father is employed at the Decatur Casting company. Fifth Army Closing On La Spezia Base Great Naval Base Is Near Encirclement Rome, Apr. 24. —(UP) —The American Fifth Army closed in on the great naval base of La Spezia today on the heels of fast-retreating German forces in northern Italy. Allied force headquarters reported the Americans were moving in for the kill at La Spezia, while Italian radio reports said the city was flanked from the east and northeast and faced encirclement. A security blackout obscured ex act Fifth Army positions. La Spezia, with a peace-time population of 89,000, has a large harbor and was the Italian navy’s chief base. Meanwhile, Eighth army units fought a bitter battle in the outskirts of Ferrara, where the Nazis were making a suicide stand io save at least one Po river crossing for their routed forces. Today’s emmunique reported that the Fifth and Eighth armies generally had closed to the Po banks along a wide front, but a stricterthan ever security blackout prevented the mention of specific positions. So far there were no reports of crossings of the Po, last great river barrier in northern Italy. Allied air forces pounded retreating German columns day and night, turning the northward flight into a rout. o Army To Discharge Men 42 And Older Soldier Discharges Will Be Permitted Washington, Apr. 24. — (UP) — The war department announced to-, day that army enlisted men 42 or older may be discharged from the service upon application. Applications for discharge by such men will be rejected only if they are undergoing disciplinaty action or require further medical or surgical treatment, the war department said. The navy, meanwhile, said it planned no such blanket discharge moves until the Japanese war has been won. Navy spokesmen said the navy would, however, continue to judge each discharge request on its merits. Enlisted men may apply for discharge, it was said, but cannot be assured of release unk-ss they are no longer needed. Eligible soldiers overseas who apply will be returned to the United States for discharge at the earliest practicable date. The war department estimated approximately 50,000 Soldiers are eligible to apply. The new policy does not apply to officers, but there already is provision for surplus officers to be discharges.

Moscow Dispatch Says City's Fall Imminent, Capital Is Encircled

Three-Fourths Os Okinawa Is Held By Yanks Converting Island Into Key Base For Next American Move Guam, Apr. 24.—(UP) —American forces have captured three quarters of Okinawa and have begun converting it into a key base for the next stage of the American march on Japan and the China coast. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz said today. Even as he spoke, American B-29 Superfortresses were continuing their softening-up bombardment of Japan proper. A fleet of 150 from the Marianas hit the Hitachi aircraft factory at Tachikawa, 14 miles west of Tokyo, for the first time. Nimitz revealed that development of Okinawa into a major American base was under way at a press conference on the island following an inspection tour. “The acquisition of Okinawa will permit us to project our sea and air power to the China coast and Japanese homeland and will greatly facilitate and speed up operations in the future,” he said. “The operations here are going along as planned and development of the island already has started.” Nimitz said the remnants of the Japanese surface fleet still are capable of attacking American shipping, but cannot be regarded as a “serious threat”. He said they would be hunted down as soon as the Okinawa airfields are ready to handle all the available planes. Nimitz arrived at Okinawa shortly after noon Sunday and left today after conferring with Admiral A. Spruance, commander of the fifth fleet, Vice-Admiral Richmond K. Turner, commander of Pacific amphibious forces, and Lt. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr., commander of the 10th army. The American ground offensive (Turn To Page 4, Column 5) 0 Jap Forces Are Split On Mindanao Island Campaign Reported Nearing Final Phase Manila, Apr. 24. — (UP) —American troops split Japanese forces on Mindanao in two and raced toward the principal city of Davao today against only light opposition. As the Mindanao campaign neared its final phase. Gen. Douglas MacArthur announced that 10,896 Japanese were killed and 353 captured throughout the Philippines in the last eight days. Those figures brought the total Japanese casualties in the Philippines to 354.465, compared to 34,518 for the U. S. Sixth and Eighth armies fighting in the archipelago. The American casualties consisted of 7,491 killed, 26.606 wounded and 421 missing, while a great majority of the Japanese casualties represented known dead. The Japanese on Mindanao, southernmost of the Philippine islands, were cut in two when elements of the 24th division speared 30 miles across country and seized the road junction of Kabacan, severing the only land communication between Davao and the northern part of the island. The drive into Kabacan brought those American troops just north of the U. S. forces which pushed through Fort Pikit. Front reports described the enemy opposition as light as the two columns moved within 50 miles of Davao. American tactical bombers dropp(Turn To Page 4, Column 4>.

WLB Approves New Coal Wage Contract Soft Coal Strike Threat Is Removed Washington, Apr. 24 —(UP) — The threat of a soft coal strike this year appeared to have blown over for good today. This followed war labor board approval late yesterday of all money provisions of the new soft coal wage contract. The board estimated the new contract would * give 310,000 miners an average raise of $1.02 a day. WLB chairman George W. Taylor said in a formal opinion that the wage provisions were within stabilization limits because no increase in basic hourly rates . was involved. Soft coal producers and the United Mine Workers alike expect stabilization director William H. Davis to approve the WLB’s action and any contingent price increases by May 1. That’s the date the 30-day extension of the old contract expires. The WLB has been rushing its work on the new pact to prevent a repeat performance of the 1943 strikes when much valuable coal production was lost. Davis will await a ruling by the ' office of price administration on the amount of price relief required by coal companies before finally okaying the new contract which is retroactive to April 1. Producers estimate that it will cost them on the average of 25 cents a ton. On the basis of the WLB’s figures, however, production costs would go up only 10 to 20 cents a ton. Taylor said that the provision for full pay for travel time inside the mines amounted to 81 cents of the daily wage increase. o Civil Air Patrol Meeting Thursday Plan Organization Os Decatur Patrol Major I. W. Baldwin, commander of Group 523 CAP, Fort Wayne, and his staff of officers will attend the organization meeting of the local civil air patrol, Thursday evening at 8 o’clock at the Lincoln school building. • Major Baldwin is commander of the unit at Smith Field. He will deliver the principal talk at the meeting and Capt. Don White, who was scheduled to deliver the address, will assist in the enrollment of local persons ih the Decatur CAP. An invitation is extended to persons from 15 to 60 years of age. It was explained that young men who wish to enlist in the army air corps must do so through the CAP. Therefore, a special invitation is extended to youths who wish to get into the air corps to attend the meeting and have the program explained to them by Major Baldwin. Dr. Joe Morris, local pilot, 'Robert McComb, former army instructor and civilian pilot, and others are assisting in the organization of the Decatur CAP. Besides Major Baldwin and Capt. White, others who will attend Thursday’s meeting are, Capt. Lipk y, executive officer; Capt. Yaney, training officer; Capt. Gebhart, supply officer; Lt. Blitz, transportation officer; Lt. Bryan, cadet coordinator, and Lt. Fletcher, intelligence officer. o Over Million German Prisoners In April < Parte, April 24 —(UP) — Allied troops captured more than 1,000.000 German prisoners on the western front in the first 23 days of April, it was disclosed officially today.

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Unconfirmed Report Says United States And Russian Forces Have Made Junction London, Apr. 24 — (UP) — Russian siege forces were reported late today to have driven into the Charlottenburg area of westcentral Berlin, apparently after knifing clear through the heart of the devastated and tottering city. “The imminent fall of Berlin,” a Moscow radio commentator said this evening, “will break the last vestiges of resistance, the last convulsive throes of the wounded monster.” Unofficial advices reported that the siege ring had been closed around Berlin in a grand scale encirclement maneuver by two Red armies, trapping any Nazi leaders who stayed to see the death of their capital. In what Moscow called Berlin's last hours, a United Press dispatch from the Soviet capital reported that the Red army and the U.S. first army had made the long-awaited junction from east and west some 60 miles south of the German capital. The report lacked official confirmation by an expected joiiit statement in Moscow, London and Washington on the subject. The BBC reported that Marshal Gregory K. Zhukov’s first White Russian army had broken into Charlottenburg, the sprawling area of Berlin lying direcly west of the business area. Zhukov’s forces had been beating straight across the core of Berlin on a siege line between the northwest and southeast parts of the city. The report tallied with an earlier hint from Nazi sources that the hard pressed defenders were falling back into the northwestern quarter of Berlin for their last stand. The Soviet government organ Izvestia said Berlins hours were numbered. Two Russian armies were chopping through street barricades in the heart of the capital. Official reports lagging far behind the blazing battle said one third to one half of Berlin had been captured. Street fighting of “fantastic fury” was reported by the Nazicontrolled Oslo radio. It said the Soviet assault forces had taken a “great number” of the stricken city’s blocks, and that the main weight of the struggle now centered in the northwestern section, which the Nazis appeared to have chosen for their last, stand. A German high command admission that the Russians had reached Brandenburg, 22 miles west of Berlin, indicated that they were running rampant beyond the. capital. It tended to support the encirclement report. A communique also said the Soviets had thrust as far as the area south of Potsdam and beyond Koenigswusterhausen, at the southeastern edge of the city. As the battle of Berlin raged, the first unqualified report of a historic junction between the Red army and the United States army came from Moscow. A United Press dispatch said Marshal Ivan S. Konev’s first Ukrainian army had joined forces with the American first army 60 miles or so south of Berlin. It added that. Marshal Gregory K. Zhukov’s first White Russian army was speeding toward an imminent junction with the U. S. ninth army at Stendal. Stockholm and French advices reported the encirclement of Berlin and the trapping of whatever members of the Nazi hierarchy remained to witness the death throes of their devastated capital. The Nazis said yesterday that Adolf Hitler was directing the defense of Berlin, but the report was tainted with propaganda possibilities. Soviet front dispatches said the defenders of interior Berlin were beginning to show signs of cracking up. In one rubbish-heaped street 600 men surrendered. Hundreds of Russian and Ukrainian (Turn To Page 4, Column 4)