Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 43, Number 109, Decatur, Adams County, 8 May 1945 — Page 1

j| Else Is Chores!

I XLHI. No. 109.

GERMANY QUITS

She? 0/ War Is Proclaimed By hes. Truman

Warns Nation Task 'Only Half Done/ Tough Fight Ahead To Defeat Japanese Washington, May B—(UP)—PreHH Truman today proclaimed lory in Europe but told the nai its fighting joib would be final only “When the last Japanese bion had surrendered uncondilally," le said "our victory is only halfi." H« gave this counsel for the whs to come: Work, work, work.” ie gave this advice to the Japse: surrender. unrounded by his government iers, Mr. Truman issued his pronation of victory and his stateit of the work ye t to do at a his!c news conference in the White Be. Then he broadcast them to nation. luteide, while the Presidenf' ke, a ehill rain fell. This," the President said, “is lolemn hut glorious hour.” He ted the thought of millions by ling: How I wish Franklin Roosevelt lived to see this day.” 'he President reminded the na--1 in its flush victory that it had been fighting alone, and he proImed Sunday, May 13, a day of yer. 'I call upon all the people of the ibd States, whatever their faith, unite in offering joyful thanks God for the victory w r e have won I to pray that he will support to the end of our present iggle and guide ue into the way peace. '1 also call upon my countrymen dedicate this day of prayer to I memory of those who have «n their lives to make possible ' victory.” The president sent his congratuiona and thanks to Prime MinisWinston Churchill, Premier le{ Stalin, Gen. Charles De nils To Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower said; 'Al‘of us owe to you and to your II of many nations a debt be- ' aPWaiaal for their high conution to the conquest of siiatn." Truman counted the cost of _ory. He did not forget "the le Mee we have paid to rid of Hitler and his evil alao sou “ded a note of * and hope. J?** 1, the na- ■ e said, ’’Have demonstrat»be lhat thfiir apme are » r "y far than the might of Ou ehe tmnny . ol m i li ‘ary that onc * called us soft and w’twTT ot our people 10 d ®- i ktMehrek against all enemir a ,7® proV6d in the Pacific ttope.. “ a ® lt)eeli proved in ' vietory ’ President 'Ms nr USt Wor k bind up the Hid an A. sufferi ®« world—4o Me4i hj«' nS PeSCe ’ a peac ® hr ? and in law -” ofe i 8 J apanese > he eaiti, the "under „ n unconditional d utter destruction to "Ss«rE=r»S»iIJ HERMOM wren 8:00, ~ ATURE READING , *!«vwXX C, " r “’

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Well and Safe hfcaX' 1 .' A cablegram from Pfc. Fred ‘Kunkel, 21-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Kunkel of route one (Monmouth), missing in action in France since January 18, brought the glad tidings this morning: “Well and Safe. Fred.” I V-E day turned out to be the I happiest day in the lives of the . Kunkels. Pfc. Kunkel, presumably a prisoner of war since last January, was in all probability liberated by the American armies that took over Germany this week. His cablegram did not give any details, date or location. He was with the 12th armored division of the Seventh army. A brother, Lt. (jg) David M, Kunkel,- is serving with the navy on the Hawaiian islands. — i 1 ■— — Great Britain Pledges Total War On Japan Churchill/ Making V-E Proclamation, Reiterates Pledge London, May 8 —(iUP) Prime Minister Churchill today proclaimed .the end of the war in Europe and pledged that Britain now would concentrate all her forces against Japan. 'Britain may allow herself a “brief moment of enjoyment,” he told hie countrymen in a brief radio speech, but added: “Japan with all her treachery and greed remains unsubdued. Her despicable cruelties call for justice and retribution. We must now concentrate all forces for the task ahead. ‘lLong live the cause of freedom. God save the King!” IChurchill from the cabinet room at his official residence, 10 Downing street, at 3 p. m. (8 a. m. CWT), then proceeded to commons. IThe house gave him an uproarious welcome. When the cheers had died down, he read to the members the same speech, he had broadcast a half-hour earlier. ~ iHe reviewed briefly the signing of the original unconditional surrender pact of Gen. Dwight D. Eis enhower’B headquarters at Reims yesterday and the arrangements for its ratification in Berlin today. Despite the capitulation, he said, (Turn To Page 5, Column 1).

> A GI Watches New York Celebrate V-E Report 1 811 E■ : I 8811 I I - fl ' Mhawr STANDING in a contemplative mood amidst tons of ticker tape and paper shreds at 42nd street and Broadway in Times Square, New York City, is Sgt. Arthur Moore of Buffalo, N. Y. Moore, who was wounded in Belgium, as he watched New Yorkers celebrate peace in Europe.

Die-Hard Nazis Resisting In Isolated Spots Some Nazi Troops Refusing To Qbey . Cease Fire Order London, May 8— (UP) —European reports said isolated pockets of diehard Nazis still were resisting in Czechoslovakia. Yugoslavia, the Netherlands and the Baltic island of Bornholm today despite Allied proclamations of V-E day. The commanders of the last major surviving German armies inthe field — in Czechoslovakia and Norway—agreed to unconditional surrender, but some Hoops in Prague refused to obey the cease fire order. German resistance in the Czechoslovak capital was expected to be crushed quickly, however. Liaison officers of the American third army already were in the city and a Brussels broadcast said American tanks were entering the city. The patriot radio in Prague said some German units ,»were burning houses, murdering Czech civilians and looting in defiance of orders of their commanders. The broadcast called on patriot units to “reply to these bandits with hard blows.” The Allies notified the German high 'command that Allied plenipotentiaries would fly to Oslo in two flying boats today to accept the surrender of the German garrison of 250,000 men in Norway. Stockholm dispatches said an Allied naval force of 48 ships had sailed through the Skagerrak and entered Oslofjord, possibly to land troops in Norway., Crown Prince Olav, commander in chjef of Norwegian forces, officially announced the capitulation of German forces in Norway and said Allied troops will be sent to help round up the enemy (Turn To Page 5, Column 4)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, May 8, 1945.

2,200 STRONG * The most authoritative figure on the number of men from this county who served their country in the armed forces is between 2,200 and 2,300, or more than 10 percent of the - county’s population. Prior to 1940, when the first selective service law was passed, scores of men enlisted in the army and navy. Youths under 18 also volunteered in the military services before this country was forced into the war with the dastardly attack by the Japs on Pearl Harbor. Since December 7, 1941, all men from this county, except reserve officers and youths under 18, have been inducted through the local selective service office. Persons wealring the uniform include many women who readily en-

Lest We Forget They Died for Their Country.

* Floyd J. Andress * Truman Krueckeberg * Carl D. Baumgartner * Herman Krick * Wilbur P. Baker Leonard Landis * Beulah I. Barkley * Lester Mazelm * Francis Beitler * Muss er * Dale Baumga»tner * Edward J. Metzger * Paul Baumgartner Alva Myers / Clyde Bebout * JJ°. ber J M° ser * Thomas Dale Biery Robert Mille. j * Robert Barnthouse Elmer C. Getting * Arthur Berning * J«seph Poffenberger i * Leroy Billman Eoy Reber * Albert Brunner ' M t ° n i? Ra l ing Qii a4 iv i * James B. Christen Max Eu g ®"®^ b . ] * Merle Dick * »• nhauf ’ * George Engle A \ a ?^ er < * Solomon Eicher * J’ or . do " . Selk,n l ß . ' * Howard Eicher p ir Scba p er c?„ la 1 * Richard Eiting * Raymond E. Sheets : Fennis * E - S “"“" ' *eX Ms * Willia™ Sheets ; * Hubert V. Glendenninc * Norwm Stoppenhasen * Jerome Geimer * J - * Go?man al Cilbert ’ * Frederick Seheuman * F d m ß n hX : Walter * Rnhprt I Hnllowav Wayne Sprunger ! * Unlvi/ r Hahnert * Delbert R. Thatcher I * S im iv« * Wi,,is Ta > !or 1 * EvireU Johnson * Richard T °P e 1 •* nZh * Richard H. Teeple l B JackZ • * Richard J. Teeple 1 Carl H. Jackson * Jack Tricker

listed in the army and navy nurses corps and in the auxiliary branches of the services. • known as the Waves, Wacs, Spars and Marines. — o Youth Is Drowned in School Swimming Pool / 1 Vincennes, Ind., May B—(UP)8 —(UP) —Robert Eugene Swettenain, a 13-year old junior high school student, was found dead yesterday in the school swimming pool. Fellow students and teachers found the body and applied artificial respiration with no success. County coroner J. Ross Flummerfelt said the youth, a good swimmer, apparently became suddenly ill when he returned to the pool after a class.

Hostilities Formally Cease At 5:01 P. M. In Desolated Europe T Bloodiest War In European History Will Be Officially End e d With Agreement Formally Ratifying Unconditional Surrender Os Germans To Allied Nations Paris, May B—(UP)—The bloodiest war in European history will come to its official end at 12:01 a. m. tomorrow, European time, (5:01 p. m., CWT) today, with the formal end of hostilities on a continent desolated by more than five years ol conflict. . The agreement formalizing the unconditional surrender will be ratified in I>vi“H today, with Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, chief of the German high command, otliciailj acknowledging that Germany is beaten. Sitting around the table with Keitel in Berlin will be: * For the western Allies: Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur W. Tedder, deputy supreme commander. For Russia: Marshal Gregory K. Zhukov, commander of the First White Russian army. \ For France: Gen. Jean De Lattre De Tassigny, commander of the French first army. To save lives, the cease fire order already has sounded. But the lighting wen. on today in some small and scattered sectors.

I Decatur Joins In Observance Os V-E Day All Churches Hold Services Tonight; Business Suspended Aside from the sounding of the fire siren with final whips of the wild-cat whistle at the city plan*, following President Truman's solemn V-E Day Proclamation, along with youthful zest of school children, who, though feebly but consistently attempted to inaugurate a victory parade on Second street. Decatur seemed to express itself in an appreciative way as news of the end of the war in Europe was broadcast to the world. While the schools, public offices, stores and offices were closed for the day, the factories continued operations and as far as could be learned, fairly normal shifts were maintained. President Truman, in his message to the American people, notifying them of the unconditional surrender of Germany and the cecessation of hostilities on the Western battle front, urged all to “Work, Wonk and More Work.” so that the war in Japan could be more speedily brought to a victorious end. War plant employes followed the ; president’s admonition and stayed ; on the job. Citizens went about their bus- i iness and their thoughts turned to loved ones, and the days ahead. < The war against Japan will still demand the services of millions of i troops, including hundreds and i hundreds from this county. i This evening, beginning at 7:30 o'clock, services of thanksgiving i will be held in every Decatur < church, Protestant, Catholic and Lutheran, where minister and i priest will join their congregations 1 in offering prayers to God for bring- i ing peace to one part of the world. In the spirit of thanksgiving ami , humiliation, grateful hearts will ex- ■ press their appreciation to Divine i Providence for the day that humanity has yearned for . . . peace in i Europe. 1 V-E day did not have the hilar- f ious tone of Armistice Day in 1918. < (Turn To Page 5, Column 2)

Fanatical Nazis, defying the big command’s unconditional surrender, held out in some parts of Czechoslovakia, in French Atlantic ports, the channel islands, and some pinpoints ii. the Aegean. And on the Russian front resistance continued in some considerable strength. Rut Prime Minister Churchill warned in London that if the Nazis held out after the 12:01 a. m. deadline, they would become outlaws under the rules of war, and would be attacked from all sides by the Allies. The German “peace” government of Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz, successor of Adolf Hitler, was carrying on a semblance of official functions at Flensburg on the Danish frontier. Doenitz offered today in a Flensburg broadcast to continue the leadership of the German government during the Allied occupation of the Reich.

Doenilz Offers To Remain In Office Hitler Successor Speaks To Germans London. May 8. — (UP) — Grand | Admiral Karl Doenttz. appointed by Adolf Hitler to succeed him as fuehrer of Germany, offered today to remain at the helm of the government during Allied occupation of the reich. “When Germany is occupied.” he told the German people in a broadcast over the Flensburg radio, ‘ control will be in the hands of the occupying powers. “It rests with them whether or not I and the reich government appointed by me can be in office. Should I be able to he of use and assistance to my Fatherland by continuing in office there. I shall remain in office.” He recalled that he hail promised he would try “in the coming time of distress” to provide olereble living conditions for German men. women and children, but added: “I don't know whether I shall be able to help you in these hard days.” Doenitz told the Germans they must face the fact tha’ the foundations on which Hitler's third reich were built and collapsed. “Unity of the state and (Nazi) party no longer exists,” he said. “The party has left the scene of its activities.” Doenitz said he ordered the German high command to surrender uncondtiionally all German fighting forces in ail theaters of war in order to “save the lives of the Ger(Turn To Page 5, Column 3)

Buy War Savinqs Bonds And Stamps

Price Four Cents.

Reichsmarshal Hermann Goering, ousted in the ijist days of organized resistance from the command of the German air force, was believed to be with the Doenitz government. So was Heinrich Himmler, gestapo chief and interior minifjter. Churchill said the unconditional surrender of Germany was signed at 2:41 a. m. yesterday at Reims. Doenitz and General Jodi, representing the German high command, signed for Germany. Lt. Gen. Walter Bedell Smith, Eisenhower’s chief of staff, and Gen. Francois Sevez signed for the western Allies, and Gen. Ivan Susloparov for Russia. Even in the hour of Allied triumph in Europe, Churchill turned sober attention to the war against Japan. He warned that Japan. ..with all her treachery and greed, remains unsubdued. We must now concentrate all forces for the task ahead.” The Allied proclamation of victory in Europe was made simultaneously in London, Washington and Paris. No word came immediately from Moscow. It appeared that the Russians might be waiting until Zhukov has signed the surrender document in Berlin later today. Gen. Charles Be Gaulle told the French people by radio that “the war has been won! Victory is here! The victory of the United Nations and the victory of France!" The Germans have capitulated, and the French high command was a party to the act of capitulation, De Gaulle said. He said it was possible that because of the collapse of central power in Germany, certain enemy units might hold out in isolated resistance.