Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 43, Number 110, Decatur, Adams County, 9 May 1945 — Page 1

All Else Is Chores!

j XLHI. No.llO.

FANATICAL NAZI OUTLAWS STILL RESIST

Loe ring American Prisoner

eports Escape tom Execution w Hiller Order Marshal Kesselring Also Captured By American 7th Army bulletin I London, May 9 — (UP) — L e Danish Kalundborg radio Ld today that it learned Linrich Himmler, gestapo Lief and German interior Lniiter, is in Sweden. Lith U. S. Seventh Army, May I _ Reiehsmarshal HerLn Goering has surrendered to [ Americans, telling them that [had been in hiding since April [ when Adolf Hitler condemned L to death for expressing a dele to take over control of the [man government. Ln announcement today that Ling was in custody of the [s. seventh army also revealed L capture of Marshal Albert [sselring, former commander of [many's western front. Lowing was the first of the R guard Nazi triumvirate —Hit- [, Goering, Goebbels —to be acRunted for officially. He surkdered to the 36th division, [ich was engaged in the seventh fciy mop-up of the surrendered |ea on the southern wing of what is the western front. [Reiehsmarshal Goering — the kk was his alone in the heyday I Nazism—gave up to Brig. Gen. fciiffl J. Stack, assistant diviliial commander, at Radstadt, lout 35 miles southeast of Salz[lie told Stack that Hitler —who ks reported by the Nazis to be lad in the ruins of Berlin —sentred him to death on April 24, pen the handwriting was on the kil for even the most nearsightI Nazi to read. IHitler's SS elite guards arrestI him, Goering said. But memIts of the German air force, bm the command of which he F ousted in the Nazi debacle, ped him, he said. hie streaked for a hideout in F Bavarian Alps, the touted Rational redoubt” in which the r‘ fanatics were going to hold ft after the rest of Hitler’s Wh was gone. P'hen the 36th division aproached his hideout* (Goering Rt his personal adjutant, Colonlion Brauchitsch, a son of the hunander in chief of the GerF n arn) y in the early days of r war, to divisional headquartL an offer to surrender to r' ” w ’?ht D. Eisenhower and F Jacob L. Devers, commandL.°‘ ***6 sixth army group. I on Brauchitsch arrived at a Fmand post at 9 a. m. ypsterU„. He explained his mission [Stack and Maj. Gen. John E. L qu ‘ st ’ Aviston commander. l-'Wk went with Von BraucL ® the . Radstadt hideout, L tae reiehsmarshal on the Column 3) wberculosis Clinic F Decatur Thursday ’“iberculosis clinic will LJ? at the Deeatur Puiblic lilbIP.m Af'r <iay ’ from 10 a - m - until r tiih ICla^B A-da'ms connstation an- | today. L ”.^ car kankenau, ,R. N. will L e clinicians from the I bad f° n fianit<)rium - No charge R d* Clinfc and the pubk opportn •? take advaMdn 8 e of examination. | 6 TeSII t THERMOMET ER 8;00 a RATURE READING 1’0:00 a- -37 Idoudu f * EATHE R I With and Thursday, ‘tonight port ‘ on late I Thup M«y J"‘ l r * ,tat « ** M rtu rm l r toni ° ht portion Thursday.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Decatur Stores Close Thursday Afternoon Officials of the Decatur Chamber of commerce announced today that the majority of Decatur stores will be closed at noon Thursday for the balance of the day, as per the custom which has (been prevalent in this city for several months. Yesterday’s V-iE day closing is not considered a holiday and will have no effect on the Thursday afternoon closing, the merchants committee stated. —o — Reveals Plans Are Drawn For Japan Invasion War's Spotlight Is Now Focused Solely On Pacific Theater Guam, May, 9.—(UP)—The joint chiefs of staff now are working on plans for an invasion of Japan, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz disclosed today. With the war spotlight now focused solely on the Pacific theater, Nimitz also told a press conference, the United States immediately will step up “very materially” its air bombardment of the enemy homeland. He spoke as adverse weather slowed ground operations on south ern Okinawa, where five American divisions were hammering at the strongest Japanese defenses fn the Pacific only a mile above Naha, capital of the island. American battleships and cruisers knocked out enemy gun emplacements, artillery and mortars in a heavy bombardment, Illuxnintion shells fired by the warships at night curbed Japanese infiltration of the American lines. Navy patrol bombers sank 14,000 tons of shipping and damaged 3,500 in a series of attacks in Korean coastal waters Monday. A small freighter transport and a large fleet oiler were sunk. Other patrol bombers sank two small cargo ships, a large fishing craft and a coastal cargo ship in the fourth straight day of raids off southern Honshu yesterday. Four small cargo ships, four large fishing craft and a coastal vessel were damaged. (Turn To Pag» 5. Column 3) —— —O Plan Installation Os Presbyterian Pastor Plan Service Here On Sunday Evening Dr. Fred Patterson, who has served as local moderator of the First Presbyterian church in this city since the resignation of the Rev. G. O. Walton last August when he was called as a chaplain in the United States army, has announced plans for the installation services for the Rev. John W. McPheeters, Jr., who has accepted the local pastorate. The services will be held at the church at Five Points Sunday evening at 7 o’clock and will be followed by a reception in the church parlors for the Rev. and Mrs. MePheetens. The Rev. John Norman Morrison, of Anthony Boulevard church, Fort Wayne, district moderator,, will preside. The Rev. George William Allison of the First church at Fort Wayne will give the sermon, his subject being “Courage for Life.” The Rev. Arthur K. Kortelling of Bluffton will give the charge to the minister and the Rev. David Robert Hutchinson of Huntington wdl charge the congregation. The Rev. John D. Yundt of Westfield church, Fort Wayne will pronounce the benediction. During the service Paul M. Saurer will sing “By the Waters of Babylon.” The Rev. McPheeters and family are now at home in the manse, the new pastor having given his initial sermon here last Sunday moining.

After Nazis Surrender At “Ike’s” Headquarters Jr* -■ WMn .(■ I jfl&K OteMMHy « «MF ' wfflF M s i, i : T"’ - Hi jaHran THE MAN who led the victorious Allied Armies in the successful war against Germany, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, is shown, center, surrounded by U. S., British and Russian officials at Reims, France, following the signing of surrender terms by the Germans. Left to right are Gen. Ivan Susloparoff of the Russian Army, Lt. Gen. Sir F. E. Morgan, deputy chief of staff, SHEAF; Lt. Gen. W. B. Smith, chief of staff, SHEAF; Capt. Harry C. Butcher, naval aide; General Eisenhower, holding pens with which the surrender was signed; Sir Arthur Tedder, deputy supreme commander, and Adm. Sir Harold M. Burroughs, Allied naval chief. Signal Corps radiophoto.

McComb Appointed CAP Flight Leader Civil Air Patrol To Meet Thursday Robert McComb of this city, a former army civilian pilot instructor, has been named flight leader of Decatur Flight CAP Group 523, succeeding Dr. Joe Morris, named temporary leader when the local unit was organized two weeks ago. The appointment was made by Capt. Don White of Fort Wayne, in behalf of Major I. W. Baldwin,group commander. The Decatur CAP members will meet Thursday evening at the Lincoln school for the regular weeklw instructions. Plans will also be completed to attend the flight maneuvers at Huntington on May 20. Many planes and pilots will participate in the event. Commander McComb will give a demonstration of precision acrobatics and low inverted flying maneuvers in a Waco taperwing plane. The show is for the public and will be held at the Huntington airport. Members of the local flight unit, which now numbers 65 men and women, are taking a 10week’s indoctrination course from the CAP officers in Fort Wayne. 0 1 Allies Advance On Tarakan Oil Field Aussies Close On \ Second Oil Field Manila, May 9.—(UP)—Tank-led Australian troops closed in today on a second oil field in Tarakan island off the east coast of Borneo. The drive on Bjoeata oil field, three miles north of the captured Tarakan airdrome, came as other Australian forces and Dutch troops tightened a pincers on the Paomesian field east of Tarakan town. Strong forces of Liberators, Mitchells and Lightnings supported the Australian troops who cleared the area around the airfield and pushed northward through broken country to less than two miles from the Bjoeata derricks. Combined Australian and Dutch forces at the same time continued their envelopment of the Paomesian oil field east of Tarakan town and seized the Japanese headquarters for the island. The Japanese had hurriedly evacuated the headquarters as the Allied troops circled around the oil field and pushed to within a mile (Turn To Page 2, Column 7)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, May 9,1945.

Red Cross Benefits From Salvage Drive A donation of $l5O was made today to the local chapter of the Red Croes by Mrs. Delton Pasewater, representing the money received from the tin can salvage drives, up to Janpary 1, 1945. The county salvage committee receives $5 per ton for the prepared tins and it was recently decided to turn the amount ever to the Red Cross. (Mrs. Passwater is county chairman of the tin can salvage committee and held the payments for tins in trust until the present substantial amount accummulated. o Ship Troops From Italy To Pacific Combat And Service Troops Sent Direct Rome, May 9. — (UP) —The Allies' already have begun shipping combat and service troops from Italy directly to the Pacific for the war against Japan, Gen. Joseph T. McNarney revealed today. McNarney, deputy supreme commander in the Mediterranean theater, said other troops would be sent from Italy to the Pacific by way of the United States. It generally was known that engineering and other technical troops, as well as certain air force personnel, had been embarking for the Pacific for several weeks, but McNarney’s speech was the first confirmation that combat troops already were on the way. McNarney said that his answer to persistent questions from Allied troops as to when they would be permitted to go home would be disappointing. “But it would be unfair if I were not absolutely frank in answering that question even if it is unpleasant,” he said. The return to civilian life for the majority of troops in Italy would come only after Japan has been defeated, he said. All troops in the (European and Mediterranean theaters had been divided into groups for future disposition, he said. “The first group will consist of men to be retained overseas and required for occupation, the tremendous job of reestablishing law and order in conquered Europe and of moving out our supplies and breaking up installations,” he said. “In the second group will come combat and service troops who will betransferred to active theaters in the Far East. “Some in this group will go directly from Italy to the Pacific. Some already have gone. Others will go byway of the United States.”

Churches Thronged Here On V-E Day Decatur's Churches Filled Last Night The largest outpouring of churchgoers ever witnessed in this city was that of last evening when services of thanksgiving for the end of the war in Europe were held in Protestant, Catholic and Lutheran churches. In nearly every case, the churches were filled to overflowing. Parishioners found their way to the church of their choice and participated in the special prayer and thanksgiving services arranged by minister and priest. They sang the praises of the Lord for the victory afforded American and Allied troops in the terrible war that just closed, the defeating of tyranny and the bringing of freedom to Europe’s millions. In devout and sincere spirit, the hundreds of faithful offered prayers of thanksgiving and interceded with God to protect loved ones still on the battlefield. Ministers stated that the attendance last night was a record breaker. V-E day passed quietly, with all public offices, schools, retail stores and offices closed for the day. Early in the morning, following President Truman’s proclamation, a semblance of a parade formed, which never gathered momentum sufficient to stage a celebration. This newspaper issued its Victory edition, a section being devoted in paying tribute to the men and women from this county who served their country in uniform. It was sponsored by Adams Post 43 of the American Legion, the Kraft Cheese company, General Electric company, the Loyal Order of Moose, B. P. O. Elks, the Central Soya company, the municipal plants of the City of Decatur, and the First State Bank. 0 Pvt. Donald Knittie Reported Liberated 'Word was received here today that Pvt. Donald Knittie, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Knittie of Decatur route five, who has been missing in action since January 9, is safe somewhere in France. Presumalbly he was a German prisoner of war and has been liberated. Word of his release was given to this newspaper by a neighbor of the Knittie family. The parents could not (be reached by telephone.

Russian Army Captures Prague, Scene Os Last Resistance By Germans

Articles Os Nazi Surrender Signed Today Final Act In Nazi Surrender Signed In Ruined Berlin Moscow. May 9—(UP)-JA jubilant Russia announced the signing of the final articles of Germany’s unconditional surrender and proclaimed today its own victory day. The final act in Germany’s capitulation took place in the main hall of the German military academy of engineering at the corner of Friedrichstrasse and Rheinstelnstraese in ruined Berlin at 12:45 A. M. There Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, supreme commander of the German armed forces; Gen. Admiral Hans Georg Friedeiberg, commander of the German Navy, and Col. Gen. Hana Jurgen Stumps, chief of the luftwaffe, ratified the articles of surrender, Marshal Gregory K. Zhukov signed for Russia and air chief Marshal Sir Arthiir William Tedder, deputy supreme commander, for the western Allies. Gen. Carl A. Spaatz, commander of the American strategic air forces in Europe, and Gen. Jean de Lat-tre De Tassigny, commander in chief of the French army, were present as witnesses. (Radio Moscow, broadcasting a description of the surrender scene, said Keitel was flushed and his eyes filled with tears as he rose and strode to the table to sign the surrender articles. Zhukov and Tedder entered the hall of the military academy exactly at midnight last night, the •broadeasit said. The Allied delegates sat in a row beneath their national flags. Members of the Allied delegations and (Soviet commanders who participated in the capture of Berlin sat at a central taible, while the table for the German delegation w*as at one side. “Gentlemen,” Zhukov said, “We are gathered here to accept the unconditional surrender of the German armed forces. I propose to come straight to business and invite the representatives of the German army.” Keitel, Friedeiberg and Stumps •entered with their adjutants a*i 12.08 A. M. “We are about to sign the act of surrender of the German army, Zhukov said. “Are you in posses(Turn To Page 4, Column •>) O —- Lights To Go On In City Again Tonight 'Brownout' Order Cancelled By WPB The lights will go on in Decatur again tonight, Lester Pettibone, superintendent of the city plant announced today, following the revoking of the “brownout” order which has been observed here since last January. Following the end of the war in Germany, the WPB yesterday cancelled its former order and told communities they could “light up” as much as they cared. Today the city light crew was putting in bulbs and fastening those in the large ornamental posts on Second street. They will be turned on tonight, along with others that can be serviced during the day. Merchants may also turn on window display lights and burn all the juice they want, it was pointed out. There are no restrictions of any kind, except that kilowatt hours used during the month must be paid for, Mr. . Pettibone explained.

Goering Held 8081 F A Supreme Allied headquarters announced today that Reichsinarshal Hermann Goering, one of the Nazis’ ‘Big Three,’ is a prisoner of the American Seventh army. Curfew, Racing Ban Lifted By Vinson Order Restrictions For Transportation To Be Kept In Force Washington, May 9 — (UP) — War mobilization director Fred M. Vinson today lifted the midnight curfew on amusement places but said restrictions on transportation must continue. He also revoked, effective at once, the government Pan on racing. Vinson discussed almost every phase of home front activity at a press conference in which he said that he was confident the American neople would “keep their feet on the ground and not go haywire” during the coming months. Vinson announced revocation of the midnight curfew with the words “curfew will not ring tonight.” He then went on to other aspects of civilian life in wartime. Vinson said production of electric refrigerators and washing machines will be started immediately in “moderate” quantities. Reconversion, he continued, must proceed “vigorously.” He warned, however, that complete changc-ovcr to a civilian economy must await the defeat of Japan. Vinson also announced that: 1. War plants will continue on the 48-hour work week. 2. The little steel wage formula and other stabilization policies will be retained. 3. The administration still favors legislation to put manpower ceilings on employment. 4. Strict manpower controls will continue to be necessary, especially in areas where war production remains at a high peak. 5. There will be an increase soon of 8 to 16 percent in gasoline supplies available for civilian use. The increase _ will be distributed primarily to “A” and commercial card holders, with “B" card drivers possibly getting some of it. Vinson said that generally speaking, the objective will be to bring consumer goods back at the same price charged before they went out. Concerning civilian food supplies, Vinson said he saw no prospect for early improvement. Vinson's report projected this picture of civilian life in the months ahead: Rationing will continue. The most serious food shortage is in meat, and sugar is next. Butter and other fats and oils also will (Turn To Page 3, Column 6)

Buy War Savings Bonds And Stamps

Price Four Cents.

Nazis, In Defiance Os Surrender Terms, Bomb Capital, Two Other Czech Cities London, May 9— (UP) —The Rod army, fighting on against outlawed German diehards after the official end of the European war, today captured the Czechoslovak capital of Prague in a predawn attack. The Prague radio reported that the Germans in defiance of the unconditional surrender agreement, bombed the capital and two other Czechoslovak cities. Nazis garrisoning the Czechoslovak bastion were the only force of any consequence carrying on after the officially proclaimed cessation of hostilities at 12:01 a. m. today. Reports from the continent said the garrisons of historic Dunkerque and the last enemyheld pockets at St. Nazaire, La Rochelle and Lorient had given up: Marshal Stalin announced the capture of Prague. His broadcast order of the day said Marshal Ivan S. Konev’s first Ukrainian army seized the capital in a tank and infantry attack. Despite the end of the war 19 hours earlier, the order of the day concluded with the usual formula “Death to the German invaders.” The Prague radio reported that German bombs crashed on the Czechoslovak capital and two other cities hours after the official end of the war in Europe. It added that Russian forces had entered Prague and with Czechoslovak patriots cleared the city of German troops. Dunkerque Surrenders Paris dispatches reported that the Germans in Dunkerque, scene of the British evacuation from the continent in 1940, surrendered at 9 a. m. A French communique announced the German capitulations at St. Nazaire. La Rochelle and Lorient. Telephone reports from Bornholm byway of Copenhagen said the German resistance on the Danish island off the tip of Sweden cracked during the night, ami Russian warships put in after daylight. Tlie crumbling of the last nests of Nazi resistance, outlawed by the unconditional surrender which made them subject to Allied attack of any nature, followed word of the final formalizing of Germany’s surrender in Berlin. Allied and German generals sat down at an extraordinary capitulation conference in the ruined capital. Harassed but helpless, the Germans signed the documents—differing only in Inconse* quential wording from the ones sign, d at Reims. . — 0 Good Showing Made On Bond Purchases Individual Sales Now $165,597.25 Up to May 5. and including the month of April, the purchase of bonds by individuals in the seventh war loan drive amounted to $165.597.25, Earl Caston, co-chairman of the bond staff, stated. The showing is considered good. Mr. Caston said. All E bonds and other issues purchased by individals ttsince April 1, up to June 30. will be credited to the seventh war loan drive. . In addition to the individual purchases. $3,013.50 in other issues were purchased by corporations, Mr. Caston said. The quota for individuals in the seventh war loan drive is $866,300 and for corporations, $425,600. The canvase in the rural sections is being made, with the goal to complete the drive by May 15.