Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 43, Number 123, Decatur, Adams County, 24 May 1945 — Page 1

1 ■Self ■untry dMfIA ■ Bonds t. 71.1 Will

XLIII. No 123.

TOKYO IN FLAMES AFTER RECORD AIR RAID

Himmler Commits Suicide

kfapo Chief kes Own Life Prison Cell Hated Nazi Leader hallows Poison In Military Prison Lon. May 24—(UP)—HeinfHimmler, the once-dreaded Ipo hangman, committed sui|in a British military prison luneburg last night to escape [ and almost certain execution. L former gestapo chief, obLs a relentless manhunt since lany's capitulation more than [weeks ago, was taken by In second array troops at Lrvoerden in northwestern [any last Monday. [st accounts from second I headquarters indicated the bus were not aware of their [ions captive’s identity until [ody was searched in a terniry headquarters cell shortly I ’ll o’clock last night. linmler, who has been accused Lrsonal responsibility for the Her of thousands of Nazi po[l enemies and Alljed war pners, swallowed a fatal dose kanide of potassium when he [brought before British army tors for a routine examination night. be account said Himmler had tn a tiny vial of cyanide in mouth and concealed it from guards for three days. I medical officer forced him to I his mouth, however, and trapped hangman was said to E bitten off the neck of the I He died within 15 bninutes. ilit-ii he was. arrested, an ’ExKe Telegraph dispatch from pid army headquarters said, jmler was wearing pearl-col- | liorn-rimmed glasses and had red off his mustache in an bnpt to escape detection. His body is now lying on the rin the front parlor of a [ in Luneburg,” the dispatch I- “His mustache is again king thinly in the cruel, thin tr lip.” taler was said to have been fng out under the alias of linger, accompanied by two ppo aides, at the time of his Ist. o—k Mary Smith Dies ednesday Evening k 'Mary Smitlh, 74, wife of fd Smith, died Wednesday events 1 St. Joseph’s hosipital in Fort he. She had been ill since Iking her hip three weeks ago. .husband was born in Decatur ths family visited there on f occasions. Hving in addition to the husH are two daughters, Mrs. H. I Jatt and Mrs. Joseph Conrad, iioth of Fort Wayne; a son, r -of Baraboo, Wis.; two halters and a half-brother. The body 1 removed to the Mungovan & is mortuary. ■—-o , ,er 7,000 Army Men r * ve In New York May 24 ~(UP)-tMore , '-WO army wounded, former prisoners and rotational troops 1 Europe arrived at the New Port of embarkation today afive ships. ill said returning soon will be arriving here 'rate of 270,000 monthly, with « due in August. will be able bodied r ■ discharge or furlough prior Argument to Japan. . ~ o —' the ßmometer g JPERATURE reading loon 59 Pare WEATH ER light » y J loUdy a,,d mild *<>• ight /" d FrW «y. Scattered hftioi, , W * r * in north-central m tonight,

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Pfc. Carl Rash Is Reported Liberated •Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rash of Marshal street, have been notified that their son, Pfc. Carl Rash, who was reported missing in action last October and later .held as a prisoner of war, has been liberated. 'Pfc. Rash was returned th military control on April 29, the adjutant general has notified the parents. lit is expected that he will be returned to the United States in the near future. Pfc. Rash was in combat duty in France When first reported missing. He entered the army in April, 1943, and went overseas last June. 0 Chicago Union Truck Drivers Strike Ended Job Return Ordered By Union Officials After Truman Order Chicago, May 24. —’(UP) —Raiseseeking Chicago truck drivers were returning to their war-vital jobs today to end a paralyzing week long strike called off less than six hours before the government was to have seized trucking lines involved. Officials of the independent Chicago truck drivers union ordered the 6,500 strikers back to work shortly after President Truman authorized the office of defense transportation to take over as of 12:01 today. The president's order came while an estimated 1,500 specially-detail-ed troops camped on the ehores'of Lake Michigan ready to seize and operate the 10,000 trucks idled by the walkout, which halted deliveries of food, drugs and war materiel in the Chicago area. Harry L. Gormley, regional director of the ODT’s highway transport division, said his organization would proceed to carry out the executive order and that the truck lines would continue temporarily under technical custody. About 1,200 such firms were affected. Union attorney Raymond F. Hayes said he had been advised by George W. Taylor, chairman of the national war labor board, that the WLB would hold an early public (Turn To Pagie 2. Column 4) — O— — Increase Gasoline Ration Next Month 50 Percent Boost In 'A' Gas Ration Wasington, May 24—(UP)—That extra gasoline motorists were promised after V-E day will come to them in June. But it won't be enough to do much extra joyriding. “A” gasoline rations will be increased only about a gallon a week. “B” rations will be increased, but only if card holders can demonstrate increased need to tiheir local ration boards. Announcement of the increase was made jointly by petroleum administrator Harold L. Ickes and the office of price administration. Ickes said he took “great satisfaction” in giving civilians more gasoline for the first time since rationing began in July, 1941. Throughout the United States, “A” rations will be increased 50 per cent on June 22 when Al 6 coupons becoine valid. This means the values of eadh of the new coupons will go up from four to six gallons. Six coupons are validated at a time, all good for three months. “B” rations will be increased a little earlier —on June 11—by varying degrees throughout the country. ibringing them everwhere up to a new countrywide ceiling allotment of 650 miles a month. Rations in the east will go up 106 per cent from 3125 to 650 miles a month; in tlhe midwest they will increase from 475 to 650 miles a month; and in the far west they’ll go up from 400 to 650 miles a month.

Three Changes In Cabinet Are Made By Truman Cabinet Shake-Up Is Announced By President Truman Washington, May 24. — (UP) — President Truman has released four of the 10 cabinet members he inherited from Franklin D. Roosevelt, and insiders said today that several more were slated to go. The poetofflee, justice, agriculture and labor departments, have been affected so far. Changes also are taking place among the even more intimate advisers of the late President Roosevelt. The net effect appears to be a potentially more conservative administration. With the cabinet shake-up came announcement that Harry L. Hopkins had been sent to Moscow on a “special diplomatic mission.” The language of the announcement permitted the assumption that Hopkins might not return to his job as “special assistant to the president.” .Hopkins probably will begin to fade from the political scene when dis diplomatic duties are discharged. His mission to Moscow appears to be to seek some mutual abreement with Marshal Josef V. Stalin on some of the points covered by the last big three conference at Yalta. The White House also announced that Joseph E. Davies, one of the wealthiest Democrats, shortly would depart on a special temporary diplomatic mission to London. Davids long has been eager tor the permanent ambassadorial post there. The Davies-Hopkins missions seemed in some ways to be make-shift substitutes for an immediate big (Turn To Page 6, Column 5) 0 President To Fly To Frisco Confab Will Address Final Conference Session Washington, May 24. — (UP) — White House press Secretary Charles G. Ross announced today that President Truman will fly to the west coast for his appearance for the final plenary session of the United Nations conference at San Francisco. Ross said Mr. Truman will arrive in San Francisco only a few hours before the speech which he will deliver in the San Francisco opera house witnessing the signing of the world security charter. Ross said that en route back to Washington the president might make a side trip, but the plans for this had not been completed. This side trip, he said, probably would be to the Pacific northwest. Ross said he foresaw the possibility of some announcement on this soon from Olympia, Wash. Ross said Mr. Truman’s address would take about 15 minutes and would be broadcast over world-wide radio facilities. Tentative plans call for the president to attend a reception for the. delegates immediately after the plenary session and then leave San Francisco within a few hours., Ross said that even if the side trip to the northwest is arranged definitely, the entire trip will keep the president away from Washington much less than a week. Progress Made San Francisco, May 24.—(UP) — The big five powers edged toward an agreement on the delicate trusteeship problem today while the "little” United Nations waited for the big ones to define when and where they will use their veto in the proposed world security organization. Authoritative sources said “excellent progress” had been made on trusteeships during the last 24 hours and that agreement on virtually all issues was near. The major

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Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, May 24, 1945.

Suicide '* Dr. Heinrich Himmler Americans Near To Mindanao Junction Only Eight Miles Separate Yankees Manila, May 24. — (UP) —Converging American troops in north central Mindanao ewept almost unopposed today into the last eight miles separating them from a junction that would split the island lengthwise. Troops of the 31st division, striking north, brushed aside resistance at Kalasungay, a'mile and a half north of recently captured Malaybalay, in a 10-mile advance to capture Dalwangan. Spearheads of the 40th and American divisions pushed south several miles beyond Maluko toward the junction with the 31st. The Japanese made no serious effort to halt the closing pincers. Apparently realizing the hopelessness of their position, the defenders were reported retiring to the hills for a last stand. “If the central Mindanao gap is closed, the Japs will have lost everything worth holding in that area,” a spokesman at Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters said. In the Davao sector, 24th division troops pushed a mile north of Bunawan to secure Tambungon and were reported closing in on (Turn To Page 6, Column 6) o— — Appoints Members Os Welfare Board Five-Member Board Appointed By Judge Judge J. Fred Fruchte of the Adams circuit court, today named the board members of the Adams county department of public welfare, one member being a township trustee as provided under the pew law. Three of the members were reappointed. The appointees are: Mrs. Lenora Glendening of Geneva, for one year; Elmer Baumgartner, Berne banker and John Duff, trustee of Hartford township, two years; Joseph Laurent, Decatur post office finance clerk, and Mrs. Luella Ellsworth, Decatur, for four-year terms. Mrs. Ellsworth and Mr. Duff are the new members of the board. They succeed Herman Krueckeberg and Mrs. Catherine Nelson of this city. Under the law, the new members take office at midnight on May 31. The five-person board will meet and organize by electing a president and vice-president, following their assuming of the official duties. Mrs. Glendening and Mr. Laurent are the Republican members and Mr. Baumgartner, Mr. Duff and Mrs. Ellsworth the Democrat members of the board. The county welfare department is one of the most important divisions of county government. It has an annual budget of nearly $200,000, and is the agency through which 300 old age pensions are granted. It also has the control of child welfare assistance, under the welfare act.

Yankees Drive Info Heart Os City Os Naha Both Flanks Os Jap Lines On Okinawa Turned By Yanks Guam, Friday, May 25—(UP) — Tenth army troops, in furious fighting, assaulted the fortifications of besieged Shuri today and advanced southward along the east and west coastlines of Okinawa in powerful drives that turned both flanks of the Japanese line. The enemy’s Naha-to-Yonabaru defense system which has held off American forces 55 days showed signs of crumbling except at Shuri, core of desperate Japanese resistance. Shuri was threatened with imminent encirclement. Front reports indicated sixth division marines have massed for a fullscale drive into shattered Naha to exploit a bridgehead deep inside the city. Dispatches said marines of the first division and infantrymen of the 77th and 96th divisions moved forward with raw courage in a frontal attack against the interlacing Japanese blockhouses, pillboxes, and caves outside Shuri. The assault troops, supported by artillery, were met with violent blasts of machine gun and rifle fire from entrenched Japanese who sporadically emerged from their defense positions to counterattack the Yanks. Fighting swirled among ancient tombs dotting the Shuri ridges. While the battle raged on three sides of Shuri, the sixth marine division sent a column knifing (Turn To Page 6, Column 4) Q Asks Authority For Executive Changes Authority Is Sought By President Truman Washington, May 24. — (UP) — President Truman today asked congress for permanent authority to undertake continuous, progressive reorganization of the executive branch of the government in accordance with changing needs. He sent a message to the congress asking its cooperation in steps “to make the executive branch more business-like and efficient.” Technically what the president asked was legislation generally similar to the reorganization act of 1939 and a section of the first war powers of 1941 which empowers the president to make necessary adjustments in the executive organization. The 1939 reorganization act provides that the president shall notify congress of the changes which he has ordered, with the alteration subject to disapproval by a majority of each of the two houses within 60 days. The first war powers act went further, enabling the president to make additional temporary improvements in the organization of the government. Changes under this legislation, however, automatically revert to the former status (Turn To Page 6. Column 8) O Autos Checked For Brakes, Licenses City police and three state police officers checked more than 900 autos in Decatur Wednesday afternoon for defective ibnakes and possession of operators’ licenses. These cars were checked in approximately two hours. IPolice chief Ed P. Miller stated that 7'B warnings were issued on defective brakes and two arrests were made for driving without an operator's license. The two arrested are scheduled for arrangement in city court Friday.

Greatest Fire Raid Os War Kindles Tremendous Blazes In Jap Capital

Waste Paper Pickup Delayed To June 16 iPhil iSauers, chairman of the waste paper campaign in Decatur, announced this morning that the next pick-up cannot 'be made until Saturday, June 16. It had been set for June 2 but tihe Boy Scouts have camporees that day and the following Saturday so the work cannot be done until three weeks from the coming Saturday, since the services of the boys are required. He urges that every one continue to save the paper so the extra amount will make up for the delay. o—. 0 —. Plan Observance Os Memorial Day Here List Program For Memorial Service The Memorial Day service next Wednesday was announced today by Ed Bauer, program chairman of Adams Post 43 of the. American Legion, sponsors of the local observance of the day on which tribute is paid to the men and women who have served their country in uniform in time of war. ' Military services will be held at the graves of departed veterans in the Decatur and Catholic cemeteries, beginning at 9 o’clock in the morning, when the Legionnaires and friends proceed from the Legion home to burial grounds. At the Decatur cemetery, the military rites will be held over the grave of Harry Miller. In the Catholic cemetery services will be held at the grave of James Ginley. Memorial rites will be held at the lagoon in the latter cemetery in memory of the men of the navy. The parade to the soldiers’ and sailors’ • monument at the southwest corner of the court house lawn, will be preceded by a band concert by the Decatur high school band, in front of the Legion home. The line of march will form at I'o o’clock, proceeding north on First street to Monroe street, then west to Second street and then south to Liberty Way and to the monument. Program at Monument Chairman Bauer has prepared the following detailed program to be given at the monument: Advancing colors to monument —Legion color guard. Song—“ America,” by audience, (Turn To Page 4, Column 5) Rector Scholarship Awarded Graduate William W. Bromer Given Scholarship William W. Bromer, 17 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bromer of North Firth street, who will be graduated this evening from the Decatur high school, has been awarded a Rector scholarship, W. Guy Brown, school principal, announced today. The scholarship iff .worth SI,OOO, payable over eight semesters at De Pauw University, Greencastle. Bromer, who is president of the 1945 graduating class, intends to enroll in the summer semester, Mr. Brown said. The scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit to young men ASKS AUTHORITY six months after the termination of hostilities. The president said such automatic reversion was unworkable and would result “in the re-estab-lishment of some agencies that should not be re-established.” The president said that, aside from disposition of the war organ(Turn To Page 6, Column 2)

Durham Corp. Is Indicted In War Fraud Plot Fort Wayne Company Accused In Federal Grand Jury Charges Fort Wayne, Ind., May 24 — —(UP)—A federal grand jury indictment on file here today charged the Durham Manufacturing Corp, and 12 of its officials and employes with conspiracy to conceal defects in shells, rocket bombs and propeller shafts for the navy. r The indictment, citing the case as one of the “worst examples of war frauds since the beginning of the war,” accused the defendants of using “schemes, tricks and de. vices to avoid meeting and complying with navy specifications." U. S. district attorney Alexander M. Campbell said it was impossible to estimate the amount of defective equipment actually delivered. He pointed out, however, that in the 18-month period between Jan. 1, 1943, and May 15, 1944, the plant sold $14,069,796 worth of war material to the navy. The indictment and three individual indictments against various company officials were returned late yesterday before federal judge Luther M. Swygert. Specifically, the defendants were charged with hiding defects in materials that would have been rejected by government inspectors and, in some cases, with removing rejection stamps. The indictment charged that faulty 6,8, 14 and 16-inch shells were sent past naval inspectors after workmen had blocked over sized threads so that inspectors would fail to detect the erroi’. Campbell said that company officials had been told that oversized threads would permit seepage of gas, which could cause the shell to explode prematurely in the ship's magazine or in the gun. In the case of propeller shafts for LST’s and landing barges, the government claimed that de(Turn To Pagie 2, Column 4) O No Admission Charge For Navy Show Here USS Helena Band Here Next Monday Evening Gerald Vizard, chairman of arrangements for the appearance here next Monday evening of the USS Helena Navy Band, emphasized the fact that no admission charge will be made to hear the famous musical organization. Everybody will be admitted free and no eeats will be reserved. Mention of the bond sale may be made as part of the program, but it will not be necessary to purchase a bond to gain admittance to the auditorium of the junior-senior high school. The band of 45 members, several of whom are survivors from the cruiser USS Helena, which was sunk by the Jape in Kula Gulf in July, 1943, will arrive here Sunday from Flint, Mich. Their apearance is sponsored by the Adams county war bond staff, through the cooperation of the U. S. treasury, in recognition of the record made by the people of this county in the purchase of bonds in former drives. Lt. Robert K. Adams, USNR., radio officer on the ninth naval district public relations staff, Chicago, will be in charge of the program.

Mr. Vizard stated that places would be available for at least 2,000 people.

Enonr

Price Four Cents.

Bases Os Japanese Suicide Planes In South Japan Raided By Carrier Planes Guam, May 24—(UP)— Some 180 American carrier planes attacked suicide-plane bases in southern Japan today, enemy broadcasts said, while miles' of Tokyo’s industrial waterfront still blazed from a record predawn superfortress raid. ißadio Tokyo eaid the carrier planes began their attacks on bases on Kyushu, southernmost of the Japanese home islands, at 3 p. m, Japanese time. They caused “relatively light” damage, Tokyo eaid. Carrier planes and Superfortresses have struck repeatedly in the past month at the Kyushu airfields, from which suicide planes take off to attack American shipping off Okinawa. More than 550 superfortresses kindled fires in southern Tokyo visible 200 miles away early today. Approximately 4,500 tons of fire bombs were dropped in the greatest incendiary attack ever made. IA 200-mile-long sky train of B-295, the biggest force of Superfortresses , ever sent aloft dropped 700,000 fire bombs on the jam-packed Shinagawa factory area at the rate of 42 tons a minute for 105 minutes In the pre-dawn darkness. Flames quickly engulfed the structures and merged Thto huge conflagrations. Either consumed by or in the path of the billowing fires were railway yards, aircraft plants and other key war factories. “It looks like a good job.” said Brig. Gen. Thomas S. Powers, commander of Guam-based superfortresses. The raid was expected to add materially to the almost 33 of Tokyo's 260 square miles burned out by superfortresses since they began their offensive against the capital six months ago today. A Japanese communique said some fires still were burning at 7 a. in. Japanese time, more than five and a half hours after the start of the raid. Tokyo broadcasts said the Singaku temple of the Ronins,“symbol of Japanese chivalry,” was destroyed. Some 'bombs fell in Yokohama and Kawasaki as well as in Tokyo, the broadcasts said. Another formation of about 40 planes attacked iShizuhoka and Hamamatsu, coastal cities southwest of Tokyo, a Japanese Dome! dispatch said. The Japanese claimed 27 superfortresses had been shot down and 30 others damaged. The raid was more than 1,000 tons heavier than any made by the American eighth air force on Germany, but, still ranked behind a 5.600-ton attack by the RAF on Dortmund March 12. Never before, however, has so great a weight of fire bomlbs alone been dropped in a single attack on a single city. Both demolition and incendiary bombs were dropped on Dortmund by the RAF. Utilizing a tactic introduced by the RAF for night raids, the 21st bomber command sent “pathfinder” planes manned by veteran pilots over Tokyo first to mark out the target area with 100-pound oil bombs. o - Expresses Thanks For Blood Donations The Fort Wayne chapter of the 1 American Red Cross has sent a letter to the Adams county Chapter of the Red Cross, thanking the people of this county who donated their blood at the blood bank, which operated in Fort Wayne during tlhe European war. With the arrival of V-E day the mobile blood units closed. In a dozen large cities, donations Os blood will still be received, the Red Crosn has announced. In addition to the several trips made to Fort Wayne, blood donors from Decatur, Berne, Monroe and Kirkland, went to Huntington and Portlad. These stations also clceed with the end of the war in Germany,