Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 43, Number 117, Decatur, Adams County, 17 May 1945 — Page 1

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I XLIII. No. 117.

BLOODY BATTLiHG CONTINUES ON OKINAWA

we Fleet Os w9s Blasis iJm Again Square Miles Os Third City TBflame After Raids dM.„. May 17 (UP)-Sixteen ’.WB snqrnv miles of industrial flMya Japan's third largest bM w 'e n t up in flames visible 3' Qfcilrs away today in the secsuperfortress raid days. sH r American air armada, ami perhaps exceeding force which hit Nagoya ■K| a y. crashed 575,000 fire ■K. weighing 3.500 tons into factory area in 90 before dawn. IK Japanese Dome! dispatch NDABBIed by the FCC said 40 IwoK Mustang fighters and two *H|iHE Marauders flew over the ‘ area for a half hour today l|M^^B S irai>'<l the Fujisawa district, out side the capital’s metro- - area.) was all over the place,” William Foran of Chitai* whose Ji-29 was over Nagonc. (he half-way mark in the "It seemed one big mass re “ I’ raid was the fourth large■K blow in a campaign to wipe the enemy's largest airmanufacturing center, off of Japan. One half or — —of Nagoya well may be in now. eacll ~f ide last two raids, SSlflHßemin 11-." is have dropped a weight of fire bombs on |||f||B ) ya ,ha ” '' ver was '’’(loaded ' ‘IB G erman cit y ’ n a single raid. Including demolition however, the European Miloads occasionally were nine-square-milo area of Na- ' ignited nearly 72 hours S.3^V er s! ‘" W:ls s| noking when SIIM first of the superfortresses over the city- today at E^^B 1 ' Japanese time. dugc- Mitsubishi aircraft largest of its kind in the aml five major ,1a;. SSaß* war factories lay within H||B® tir g** :Ir, ' a ' :!long wi, d h*ss W1)1 works, transportafaC'lilivS ’ ' v;ir, 'ltoti s »“S, storgtßßareas> alll ' workers' home ■stries. .■B^ e ot her principal plants BB f()r destruction were the 9|^V ,a factory of the Nagoya nne of Japan’s most im- » producers of aircraft S^B 1E " parts and artillery ord,'le Nippon Isolator comV' fading manufacturer of ; the Nippon 2 _ Column 1> Biased Tire Quota IBilsTo Meet Backlog ’’’creased quota of auto tires, »^^r" llnf,p d from Washington this lBh'?i !1 il :" wunt 10 than half gS* 6 Da ”’ i ”er of backlog applicaration boards have on IgM^ 11 Indiana, it was announced 3®?,, Jdatus county war price and B, n ll ’ ar d has been advised that county wil Ireceive only 20 adt * res > Wl hic>h in no way beU :nw '' the backlog of applica|Kpi '' flle ’ a member of the tire said. Bj^ ation f<)r tires are i?lft ned MpJ’V O cla ssificatione. Claes Bn m U .. 66 physicians, policemen, fi v .p Sag6( i in the most eesenIBdC a, ‘ services : Claes two, w °rkers, authorized govBn an,i agente - construction workB four i™! >almers - Classes three WOrkere ’ who - 011 ' are comparativel y Et!S*T thermometer ■ b:oo . ATUre reading 3 Noon - 47 |»9hi drt»»| Ortl ° n ' Occas ’onai M"orth.*..; ear| y tonight in ■'”* Fridav r tio "’ clearir 'O -B ' *>rtner e "°° r " Becom ’ * M mer "» afternoon.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Slight Earthquake In San Francisco San Francisco, May 17.—(UP) A light earthquake shook San Francisco at 8:06 a. m. PWT today. There were no reports of damage. The Santa Clara university seismograph registered the tremor and reported the epicenter as 50 miles north or south of Santa Clara. Occupants of downtown buildings felt the jar. — o— Speculate High Nazis Seek To Flee To Japan Three Nazi Leaders, Two Japanese On Surrendered Sub Washington, May 17. — (UP) — Surrender of a German submarine heading for Ja’pan with three liftwaffe generals and two Japanese aboard led the speculation today that Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler or other high Nazis might be trying to escape under the sea to Japan. Adm. Jonas H. Ingram, commander in chief of the Atlantic fleet, revealed the surrender to newsmen yesterday at a press conference in which he reviewed the entire course of the battle of the Atlantic. In addition to capture of the Jap-an-bound U-boat Ingram revealed that: 1. Three weeks before Germany surrendered, one of the most powerful U. S. carrier and destroyerescort forces ever to operate in midAtlantic broke up a formidable Üboat wolf pack. The U-boat force had orders to “blanket the east coast from Maine to Florida.” 2. In more than 16,000 convoys ( escorted by the Atlantic fleet a total of 15 merchantmen were l ist to enemy submarines. 3. The U. S. navy definitely accounted for 126 German U-boais during the battle of the Atlanic ou: of a total of about 500 sunk by the allies. 4. Convoy operation. 3 will continue in the Atlantic until every Nazi submarine is accounted for. In a last .desperate attack before Germany’s capitulation five freighters were torpedoed off the United States east coast. All but two reached port. The two Japanese aboard the Japan-bound submarine were not identified. They committed hara kari —the Japanese version of sui-

(Turn To Paffe 2. Column 6/ O Lisi Baccalaureate Service Program Hold Annual Service Here Sunday Night The program for the annual baccalaureate service of the Decatur high school Sunday evening at 7'30 o’clock at the junioriseiiior high school auditorium, was announced today by Walter J. Krick, superintendent of schools. The 79 high school graduates, less the numlber of young men already inducted into the armed forces, will attend the services. iThe Rev. William C. FelLr, pastor of the Zion Evangelical and Reformed church, will deliver the seimon. The musical selections will be under the direction of Miss HeLn Haulbold, supervisor of music of the Decatur public schools. 'The program follows:: Processional, — “God of Our Fathers" —(Warren. The Preface — “O Worship the King”, The Invocation and Scnputre lesson—(Rev. John W. McPheeters. Jr., pastor, First Presbyterian church. Music — “Bless This House” — Brahe, —glee clu'b. (Sermon — “(Facing the Mystery and Adventure of Tomorrow," Rev. William C. Feller, pastor, Zion Evangelical and Reformed church. 'Music—“The Loi'd’s Prayer” Malotte, double quartet Hymn—“ Lead On, 0 King Eternal”' . iPrayer and Benediction Kev ’ Glen E. Marshal, pastor, Church of God. Recessional — ‘'Alma Matei

As Aussies Rout Out Snipers In Tarakan Capital W!? 1 ---.. — • ■ ■■■ . ’ ■ • ■ ARTILLERY BURSTS knock out Japanese positions in the town of Tarakan as Australian troops advance on the strategic Tarakan island off the coast of Borneo. With the city under siege, the Aussies have fanned out into the island’s rich oil field. •

Plan Observance Os Memorial Day Here Adams Post To Lead In Day's Observance Plans for the observance of Decatur’s fourth war-year Memorial Day. May 30, are being completed by members of Adams Post 43 of the American Legion, added significance being placed on the program in view of the country’s large list of heroic war dead in World War 11. Headed by a committee composed of Leo Ehinger, chairman and Ed Bauer, assistant chairman, arrangements are being made for a three-fold program, 'including the annual pilgrimage to the Decatur and Catholic cemeteries, where military services will be held over the graves of departed veterans; a parade from the Legion home on First street to the soldiers’ and sailors' monument on Liberty Way,, followed by a ritualistic service and memorial address in front of the monument. The speaker will be named later, Mr. Bauer said. Legionnaires, including the post's officers, members of the color guard and firing squad, will appear in the new uniforms recently purchased by the Legion. Elmo Smith, first commander of Adams Post, will act as captain of the firing squad: Dee Fryback will be chairman of the parade and fourth district commander Tillman Gehrig and past post commander James K. Staley, will read the honor roll of war dead. While the arrangement ’of the program of services at the Peace (Turn To Page 4, Column a) O Announce Winners In Poster Contest Winners Are Listed For Poppy Posters Winners in the poppy poster contest, sponsored by the auxiliary* of Adams post 43, American Legion, were announced today. The contest was divided into three classes: first class, students in fourth, fifth and sixth grades: second class, students in seventh, eighth and ninth grades; third class, students in 10th, 11th and 12th grades. Winners in the first class were: Catherine Loshe, first; Mary Ann Ulman, second; Alice Geels, third. All are students in the St. Joseph school. Second class winners were: Marilyn Teeple, first; Robert Tonnellier, second; Marcille Geels, third. These winners also are all students of the St. Joseph school. Miss Mary Smith, senior in Decatur junior-senior high school, was the winner in class three. Her entry was the only one submitted in this class. All first place winners were awarded $2, second place winners $1 and third place winners (Turn To Page 4, Column 3)

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, May 17, 1945.

More Cigarets For Civilian Consumers 'New York, May I'7 — (UP)— A war department announcement that less cigarets would be needed for military distribution after June wa>3 followed today by (the announcement of a 50 per cent increase of supplies to civilians by the manufacturers of one of the leading “brand” cigarets. Phillip 'Morris and company, Ltd., said it had scheduled a 50 per cent increase of deliveries to jobbers after June 1. None of the other major cigaret companies would comment on their future distribution quotas. 0 Yanks Near Last Jap Mindanao Air Base Americans Smashing Closer To Valencia Manila. May 17—(UP) —American troops have smashed forward another five miles to within eight miles of Valencia, the enemy's last big air base on Mindanao, it was announced today. It was doubtful whether the Japanese still were using \alencla, but its capture would give the Americans aditional facilities for bombing the remaining enemy strong points on the island. The field, built by the United States army air force in the far eiast in 1&42, consists of two all-weather grass strips, one 4,000 feet long, the other 5,000 feet. The 31st division, which was closing on Valencia, was less than 40 airline mile from a junction with the 40th division advancing southward. A meeting between the two would bisect 'Mindanao lengthwise. No new positions were reported for the 40th, last reported in the vicinity of Del Monte, site of another large air base. But a communique from Gen. Douglas C. MacArhur’s headquarters said the destruction of the enemy’s isolated positions on Mindanao continued. iOn land in the Davao sector, American troops turned back stiff counterattaks Sunday night northeast of the Taloma river. It was in that sector that the Americans and Japanese were locked in some of the fiercest hand-to-hand fighting of the Pacific war. On Luzon’s east coast the first cavalry division gained five miles to a point within three miles of Port Lampon, a seaplane anchorage south of Infanta. Dutch troops on Tarakan island, off Borneo, made a shore-to-shore operation to land on the southernmost tip of the island, behind the Japanese defenders in the south. Elsewhere on Tarakan, activity was limited to aerial attacks on enemy airdromes. o —— Byford Macy Back From Pacific Area Word has come via West Palm Beach, Fla., that Byford Macy, former garage man here and well known, has landed in California after more than t'wo years service in the South Pacific war zone. He i« expected to visit his father, E. B. Macy, who has been ill the past six months at West Palm Beach.

200,000 New Autos Expected This Year Output To Increase First 1946 Quarter Washington, May 17 —<(UP) — Labor was expected to threw its weight today behind the automobile industry's appeal for permission to make 200,000 passenger cars this year and 4110,000 during the first, three months of 1946. Union leaders in the the automotive field will meet with war production board chairman J. A. Krug this afernoon to discuss the unemployment expected during the transitional period. Krug met with auto makers yest rdiay and W’PB indicated it would approve most of the industry’s proposals but withheld announcement of a definite program pending consultation with the labor groups. Government, industry and labor appear to be in complete agreement that a rapid return to civilian car manufacture would ease the unemployment problem expected during the latter part of 1945. “The industry indicated to us that if we gave them a go-ahead we could depend on their ingenuity to find their way out of apparent difficulties now facing us,” Henry P. Nelson, WPB’s automobile reconversion chief, told a press conference after a five hour session with manufacturers. IHe indicated that a few cars might be coming off assembly lines in late September ibut would actually say only that automobile reconveision will not start before July 1. Estimates on the amount of time it will take to get into production once the flag is down vary from 30 days to six months. Krug believes (Turn To Page 4, Column 4) o 15,000 Soldiers To Be Home By June 1 Release Quota Will Be Sharply Boosted Paris, May 17. —(UP) —More than 15,000 soldiers with critical scores above 85 points will be released from the European theater and headed for home by June 1, headquarters announced last night. The group will be made up almost entirely of combat soldiers with officers constituting less than two percent. It will include about 12.000 from the 12th army group, 3,000 from the Sixth army group and 500 from the air forces. Headquarters said the release quota had been restricted this month because of a transportation shortage but that it would be increased substantially next month. The men will start arriving in the Le Havre May 20. Domestic Discharges Washington, May 17. — (UP) — Soldiers in domestic army establishments who have enough points for discharge under the partial demobilization plan will be separat(Turn To Page 5, Column 4)

American Marines And Doughhoys Prepare For Final Okinawa Drive

Speed Plans To Try Nazi War Criminals Papen's Indictment Virtually Assured London, May 17- —(UP) —Indictment of Baron Franz Von Papen as a German war criminal was reported today to be virtually assured as signs increased that plans were being speeded up for bringing Nazi leaders to justice. Foreign secretary Anthony Eden, fresh from the San Francisco conference, told commons that he hoped swift justice would be visited upon reichsmarshal Hermann Goering. He was unable to specify Mie date for beginning the trial of war criminals, but said the Allies were busy with arrangements. Sources close to the Allied war crimes commission revealed that it was investigating Von Papen, ace diplomat of Germany in both world wars. These sources said* he already had been charged with complicity in systematic terrorism and other crimes. The commission was disclosed to have indicted Hjalmar Schacht, German financial wizard, and Count Schwerin Von Krosigk, former Nazi finance minister now designated as foreign minister by Admiral Karl Doenitz. Eden told commons that the question of Doenitz’ guilt in connection with war crimes is under investigation, and that according to newspaper reports he has been arrested. Supreme, headquarters announced yesterday that. Doenitz was under Allied orders and in effect an Allied prisoner. Former German foreign minister Joachim Von Ribbentrop is missing, Eden said, adding that every effort is being made to arrest him and bring him to justice. The status of other big names in the actual or potential field of war criminality included: Heinrich Himmler— According to his wife who was found near Bolzano. Italy, he was believed killed in Berlin with Adolf Hitler. This view lacked convincing support. Frau Himmler and a 15(Turn 't’o rage 4. Column 5) o Summer School To Open Here June 4 Full Semester's Work Is Offered The third annual summer .school at the .Decatur junior-senior high school will open Monday, June 4, and continue for 12 weeks. W. Guy Brown, principal, announced today. Primary purpose of the summer school is to enable youths who will reach their 18th birthdays during the fall to complete the necessary work for graduation before they are called to military service. A complete semester’s credit may be completed during the Intensive 12-weeks summer school. Classes are held from 7 a. m. until noon six days weekly during the summer session. Mr. Brown stated that 25 sudents have already enrolled for the summer school and registration may be made at any time at the high school office Tuition fee is $8 per subject. The summer session is not limited to students of the Decatur juniorsenior high chool, but is open to students of the Catholic school, rural schools of the coun’y and nearby towns and cities. Thirty-seven students were enrolled in both the 1943 and 1944 sessions. Mr. Brown and R. A. Adams will instruct all classes. Courses to be taught during the summer school are: American literature, 'American government, business English, sociology and chemistry, and other courses may be added.

Allied Nations Make Plans To Occupy Reich French Zone Makeup Only Uncertainty; Ports To U. S. Navy Washington, May 17 —(UP)—Official sources said today the only undecided question about the four occupation zones in Germany concerns the exact makeup of the French zone. iT.hey revealed also that suggestions for “internationalizing” the rich Ruhr valley had been abandoned for the time being. The Ruhr will be part of the French zone. However Hie Big Three and France are said to have reserved the right eventually to divorce the valley entirely from Germany and make it an international settlement. Under such an arrangement it would become an adopted child of the United nations curity organization. Once agreements has been leached on the boundaries of the French Zone, it was said, the problem of occupation areas will be settled. Lt. Gen. Lucius D. Clay, deptt'y U. S. occupation chief for Germany, said in Paris yesterday he believed the exact and final occupation zones would be agreed on within a few days. ■According to reliable information there still is likelihood of big three, disagreement over the degree of autority to be weilded over t'he four occupation zones by the British. Russian, French. American control council which will sit in Berlin or some other central location. To Control Bremen London, May 17 (UP) Authoritative sources said today that the U. S. Navy has been given administrative control of Bn men. Germany’s second largest port, ami nearby Bremerhaven. The two ports, both on the Wiser river Estuary of northwest Germany, will be used to unload supplies for American occupation forces in Germany. Rear Admiral Arthur .1. Robinson, former commander of tiie cruiser Marblehead, will be in charge of the ports under vice admiral Robert L. Chormley, who will sit on the joint Allied control commission as chief of the American navy organization for occupied Germany. (Turn To Page 2. Column 3) Habeas Corpus Writ Action Is Dismissed Suit Withdrawn By Fort Wayne Lawyer Dismissal of the writ of habeas corpus as filed by Robert Buhler, Fort Wayne attorney, in which he made Lorien Schueler the plaintiff in a suit against her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gustave Schueler. and asked by the attorney when the case was called before Judge .1. Fred Fruchte Wednesday afternoon. The writ had been filed during the morning and summons were issued. Attorney Buhler appeared before the court and immediately asked dismissal of the case. Attorney Buhler was the affiant seeking the writ. Miss Schueler did not sign the affidavit and it was stated that she was not consulted in the matter. The court granted the dismissal petition and Mr. Buhler paid the costs, including sheriff fees entailed in serving the warrants. Mr. Schueler. who is a prominent farmer living northwest of Decatur, also appeared in court. He was surprised to learn that the (Turn To Page 2, Column 5)

,*sup'porif Wo * • Effort-

Price Four Cents.

Japanese Resistance Fierce In Bloodiest Campaign Os Pacific War; Losses Heavy Guam, May 17 — (UP) —American marines and doughboys on Okinawa sent patrols into the key towns of Naha and Yonabaru today in preparation for what may be the final offensive for control of the big island. Tanks pushed out 800 yards toward Yonabaru and 6th marine division patrols probed the bloody and debris-strewn streets of the capital city of Naha. At the same time, the 10th army's 382nd regiment tightened a pincers within 200 yards of the bitterly contested inland stronghold of Shuri, which appeared to be the chief obstacle to a swing down the island on both the eastern and western flanks. Ahead of the marines on the west side of the island lay Naha airstrip, a mile southwest of the capital and biggest prize of the 48-day campaign. The Japanese were resisting fiercely from well-established defense positions, and only the tenacity of an estimated 30,000 or moj’e fanatical enemy troops—which were being killed at the rate of one a minute —stood in the way of American forces anxious for a quick clean-up of the island. A recapitulation of Monday’s Japanese counterattack against the Ist marine division north oi Takamotoji showed 585 enemy dead and an estimated 446 additional dead a ratio of 20 to 1 to U. S. losses. One flame throwing tank crew claimed it burned to death 75 enemy soldiers in less than a minute. Lt. Col. Robert Postyot' Miami, Fla., estimated this tank crew' already has accounted for more than 1,000 Japanese, in addition to those they have flushed from hidden positions. The battle raged on with unparalleled fury all across the southern lip of the island. It. already was the bloodiest campaign of the Pacific war. and casualties on both sides continued to mount by the thousands. A J’acific fleet communique reported that 46,505 Japanese had been killed and 1,038 taken prisoners through Tuesday. In tho last, five days, the Americans have been killing Japanese at the rate of 1,400 every 24 hours. American soldiers and marines have been dying at the rate of 156 a day during the past week. Casualties for the first 44 days of the campaign through Monday totalled 3,781 dead, 17,004 wounded, and 165 missing—a total of 20,950. (Turn To Pag© 2, Column’ 7) 0 Former Pastor's Wife Dies In California Mrs. Bertha Thornburg, wife of the Rev. Fred Thornburg, former pastor of the Decatur Methodist church, died Wednesday at her home in Arcadia, Calif., friends here have been informed. Surviving in addition to the ’ husband are two sons, both of whom reside in California. The Rev. Thornburg was pastor here from 1919 to 1921, during which time he served for six months as army chaplain along the Mexican border. He served in a number of Indiana charges prior to and following his pastorate in Decatur, and also was superintendent of the Richmond district. He has been retired for several years. 0 ★ ★★★★★★★ Honorable Discharge ★ ★★★★★★★ Staff Sgt. WILBERT STOPPENHAGEN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Stoppenhagen. Decatur route one. Entered the army in March, 1941. Went overseas in January 1943 and served in Italy. Discharged at Camp Atterbury.