Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 43, Number 129, Decatur, Adams County, 1 June 1945 — Page 1

f DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY ’’■!■■

XLIII- N °- ,29 -

’ruman Calls For Renewed National War Effort

lOT, FIRE AT FORT BENJAMIN HARRISON

b Double Size )f Present Army i War On Japan

■ppeals To Congress ■nd Nation Against ■ny Letdown In War K Pacific Theater jßshington. .June 1 — ~ Truman today called elll .wed national effort, in against Japan. ii>e American force to I^K., would be more than Im,, the Size of the present |M || lt . Pacific. This apparmeant that an army of near- -■ threatened Japan with a ■Uy-increasing air war and bH Japanese civilians to leave |M cities "if they wish to save lives.” set forth his views fIK 9,ii00-word special message on the status of the HM It was an appeal not only iMngrpss but to all the nation any letdown from a falsd IK. of feeling that the job is done. telling in great detail |Hkd.>rat.' plans for intensify|Mthe war against Japan, the timed that the strength l|Hic army would be reduced to 6,968,000 in the » year, making it possible to a total of 2,000,000 offi|Haml men to their homes. He out though that this SH; be possible only by mainaHng selective service calls at flMw! substantially higher than merely for combat re■ements. maintaining' our army at &■ size." he told congress, “we be able to more than double force we now have in the ■lit and hurl against the Jap9Mr an overseas force larger the 3.bun,mu) men who united gM our Allies to crush the wehrand the luftwaffe.” |M!ie president said our military |Mcy for the defeat of Japan IjHs for: |H ‘‘Pinning down the JapanlaM forces where they now are ■ keeping them divided so they |M be destroyed piece by piece.’’ ■ "Concentrating overwhelm■l»w on each segment which SB attack." |H “Using ships, aircraft, armQS artillery and other material concentrations to gain with the smallest possible ■(Turn To Page 5. Column 2) «s' — ~— o £■ Bate Bulletins 9 Washington, June I—(UP)— ||W' S. submarines in Japanese ■’ a ' ers have sunk 14 more enships, including five comvessels, the navy announctoday, ■ The latest submarine bag inone destroyer, three patrol vessels, one coastlayer, one large tanker, IVe medium merchant vessels, medium freighters, and one ■ ffiall merchant vessel. Mt Madrid, June 1, (UP) ■7 tel ° na reports said today M ’t Pierre Laval had decided ■A th' Ve , himself U P to French orities, and was expected flown soon from Barcelo- ■ ‘to France. ■ tS at thermometer ■ Jm PERATURE READING ■. a - tn. ... « ■ 2:00 p m ' 73 ■ P ’ - 81 ■ ** ■Fihi WEATHER Baht ' loU<,y and warm to ‘ ■ tl "mder»h CePt a tew mattered ■north ° Wers in extreme ■cooler Mrt ' on ’ Saturday fair, lin aft.'" "° rthwest portion

France Orders Levant Troops To Cease Fire Middle East Crisis Believed Eased By Troop Withdrawal Paris, June I.— (UP) —France ordered her troops in Levant to cease fire and retire into their barracks today, presumably ending an undeclared miniature war that had enflamed the Middle-East. Syrian sources estimated that at least 400 persons had been killed in fighting between French troops and Syrian irregulars in Damascus and Hama alone. The cease fire order complied to the letter with Prime Minister Churchill’s virtual ultimatum of yesterday to President Gen. Charles De Gaulle. Churchill had ordered British forces in Levant to intervene to prevent further bloodshed. A spokesman for De Gaulle’s personal advisory cabinet’ confirmed that the order had been dispatched to Levant. A Beyrouth dispatch said th" French had instructed their commander to “play ball with the British.” The American embassy said De Gaulle’s reply to an American note regarding Syria had been received and transmitted to Washington Thursday night. The text of the American note was published in French newspapers today. To Seek Agreement Washington, June 1. — (UP) — The United States expects to sit down soon with Britain and France in London to seek a satisfactory agreement on the explosive situation in Syria and Lebanon. It is feared here that unless such a meeting ie held at once the cessation of hostilities in the Levant may be only temporary. The London discussions were proposed yesterday by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill with the advance approval of President Truman, according to reliable information. France’s attitude has (Turn To Page 5, Column 4) O — —— Boy Scout Camporee Saturday And Sunday Decatur And Berne Troops Participate The annual Adams county Boy Scout camporee will be held at Shroyer lake Saturday and Sunday, it was announced today. Clarence Ziner will be chairman of the camporee and Steve Everhart will be the campmaster. A court of honor will be held Saturday night at 8 o’clock, with W. Guy Brown in charge. Scoutmasters and troop committeemen will act as judges during the camporee, with a basket lunch by the parents to feature the Sunday program. Special church services will be held at the First Presbyterian church at 10:30 a. m. ’ Scout troops from Decatur and Berne will participate in the camporee. The detailed program for the two-day camporee follows: Saturday 7-10 a. m. —Patrols check in and set up camp. 10:30 a. m. —Personal and campsite inspection. 12 noon—Cookcraft inspection. 1:30 p. m.—Rest period. (Torn To Page 2, Column 5)

Cover Advancing Marines On Okinawa ' ' '- I ®U ~~~~ ’ — - wwr-w--- w 41 jUI J I ~ ■» s AS A FILE OF MARINES on Okinawa quick-march to an advanced position, one of their buddies, left throws phosphorous grenades at Jap snipers hidden to the left and off the picture thereby screening the movement of the Leathernecks. This is an official U. S. Marine Corps photo.

Professional Hotel Thief Escapes Here Jumps From Window To Escape Officers A professional hotel thief, who looted guest rooms in the hostelries ■where he stayed over night, escaped from the Rice hotel in this city at about 1:30 o’clock this morning by jumping from a third story window’ onto an adjoining roof and then 15 feet to the ground, as Sheriff Ike Cook, Blackford county, and state police officer Albert Merkel, knocked at his door and told him to “open up in the name of the law.” The man had registered at the hotel under the name of “Harry Durbin,” one of many aliases used by him, at about 6 o’clock last evening, when Fred Kolter, night clerk, was on duty. He was assigned room 54 on the third floor, which faces to the north. From his window he dropped about 16 feet to the roof of the coffee shop and then to the ground. Sheriff Cook and Officer Merkel had trailed the man from New Castle, Portland, Winchester and Hartford City, where he had ransacked guest rooms and stolen valuables. His practice was to wait until morning when the guests would leave their rooms and then enter the quarters with a pass key. In his circus-like escape from the local hotel he left his suit case, which contained clothing, $6 in currency, Masonic and Fourth degree Knights ’ of Columbus pins and two crucifixes. Some of this loot has already been identified by guests of the hotels at Portland and Hartford City, Sheriff Cook stated. The man, described. as about 40 years of age, ruddy complexioned, with reddish thinning hair, slightly bald in front, weighing about 160 pounds, presumably took to the window as soon as he heard the knock on his door. Sheriff Cook and the state policeman did not know the window of his room was directly over the adjoining roof. However, • merchant police officer Grover. Cottrell, who accompanied the sheriff and state patrolman to the hotel, remained outside. He saw the man run across the roof and fired two shots in his direction. The alleged thief ran to the west end of the building, formerly known as the bar or coffee shop and used the down spouting as a means of climbing down the building. He ran west toward. Fourth street, where officers lost sight of him. He either made his escape in an automobile or hid behind a tree or shrubbery until the chase had cooled. Otto Beehler, hotel proprietor, did not see the man. He heard the noise and shots and then learned from Sheriff Cook that they were on the trail of an (Turn To Page 3, Column 3)

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, June 1, 1945.

*★*★**★■* Honorable Discharge *★***★*★ Sgt. Eugene J. Gase, son of Mr. and Mrs. Philbert Gase of Decatur route 5. He entered the army on Nov. 17, 1942 and went overseas in 1943. He was twice wounded in action in Italy on Oct. 26. 1943 and Feb. 8, 1944. He was a patient at Percy Jones hospital, Fort Custer, Mich. He was awarded combat badges and the Purple Heart. o Rosen man Resignation Refused By President iWashington, June 1. —(UP) — President Truman announced today that he had declined to accept the resignation of Judge Samuel I. Rosenman, special counsel to the chief executive. He said that Rosenman would remain at his post at least until victory over Japan. (Rosenman, and old and trusted friend of the late President Roosevelt, left a surpreme count judgeship in New York City to become an important and hard-working memiber of Mr. Roosevelt’s White House organization. o— Rueful Conclusion Reached By Tokyo iSan Francisco, June 1. —>(UP) — Tokyo adio today reached this rueful conclusion: _ ’’The Okinawa push and the B-29 raids seem all aimed at securing an early peace and the conclusion of the war in the Pacific.” The (broadcast was hoard by United Press.

Meas To Be Civilian Luxury; To Cancel Foreign Shipments

Chicago, June I—(UP)— Eggs, fish and grain products will be the main foods for U. S. civilians the rest of this year. A United Press survey based on government and private sources show that pork and beef will be luxuries. Chicken will be only a little more abundant. Sugar will be available only for necessary uses — such as sweetening coffee, tea and cereals. And butter is rapidly approaching the status of a museum piece. Chicken to some extent will help alleviate the meat shortage. But the farm bureau federation said chicken raisers can’t get enough feed, The federation said the government would not grant needed manpower priorities to feed producers. Main items on the family table, the government reported, will be: eggs, fluid milk, skim milk by-products, fresh and frozen fish, and grain products with the exception of rice in some areas. Add to these items fresh vegetables from truck farms and vic-

Rotary Potato Club Launched Thursday Rotary 4-H Project Opens Second Season The Rotary 4-H potato club, sponsored by the Decatur Rotary club, was officially launched on its second year Thursday evening at the weekly meeting of the service club. Twenty-seven Adams county boys and girle were guests at the meeting. These 4-H club members, each of whom is sponsored by a Rotarian, will compete in the potato derby, with prizes to be awarded to the high placings at the close of the potato harvest season. The club made an excellent showing in its first season last year despite adverse weather conditions, and with the experience of a season behind them, the club members expect a much better record this year. Os 28 boys and girls signed for the potato club last year, 26 completed their projects and were guests of the service club in a fall meeting. W. B. Ward, of the horticulture department of Purdue university, was the guest speaker, at last night’s meeting. The speaker, who also acted as judge at last year’s show, gave some instructive tips on proper preparation, planting, care and harvest of the potatoes, using slide films to illustrate his discussion. Ernest W. Busche was chairman of the program.

tory gardens and the nation will find a well-balanced, if plain, diet. The outlook for other staples: Sugar — dropped sharply this year. Sugar available for rest of the year is a million tons less than same period last year. Butter — outlook poor. Butter production 90 percent of 1944 output, which itself was drastically low. Fish —occupies key position in nation’s civilian diet. Fresh and frozen fish will absorb all demands for this item. Potatoes —supply ample. Coffee — still toes the margin line of rationing. Tea —ample. Cocoa —short. Breakfast foods—sufficient. Baby foods in cans—meet demands. Halt Shipments Washington, June 1 — (UP) — The government will cancel all lend-lease and , foreign relief meat shipments during July, August and September, government (Turn To Page 5, Column 6)

Guard Is Slain, Three Prisoners Are Wounded During Riot Last Night

Big Three Meeting Definitely Planned Truman Announces Confab Is Planned Washington. June 1. — (UP) ■ - President Truman told his news conference today he could now say definitely that a big three conference will take place in the not-too-distant future. Mr. Truman also said that he has been in daily communication with Prime Minister Winston Churchill regarding the crisis in the Levant. He stated definitely that the French have ceased firing as a result of a message that Churchill sent to Gen. Charles De Gaulle. This message was approved by the American government. He said, too, that he expected the San Francisco conference to end within 10 days. He still rejected any suggestion that the big three meeting might be expanded into a big four or big fiive conference, including France or China. When asked about this he said that he had only talked about one meeting —a big three meeting. * The president told reporters that the big three meeting was getting closer. Although details had not been decided, he could say that the meeting definitely would take place. Asked if a delay of as much as two weeks in the conclusion of the United Nations conference at Sin Francisco would affect the timing of the big three meeting, the president said it would not. He also saw no reason why the French-Syrian crisis would have any effect on plans for projected meeting with Gen. Charles De Gaulle. But he added that no date had ever been set for such a meeting. He said he had been following the Syrian situation closely and had been in communication with Churcftill as recently as this morning, yesterday and the day before, exchanging messages by wire. o Japs' Balloon Bomb Kills Six In Oregon Pastor's Wife And Five Children Die Lakeview, Ore., June 1. —(UP)— An Oregon minister, still horror stricken at seeing his wife and five church children killed by a balloonborn Japanese bomb, had war department permission today to tell how their gay picnic party ended in tragedy. The Rev. Archie Mitchell, pastor of the Christian Alliance church in Bly, Ore., was the sole survivior of the outing on May 5, today, almost a month after he and his wife packed five children into their car and headed for an afternoon in the mountains, Mitchell could tell this story: The excursionists had found a fihaded spot to eat lunch. The others hiked through the woods, R6v. Mitchell drove around toward the side by a road. As he got out of the car, he said, the children shouted to him that they had found something like a balloon. “I had heard of Japanese balloons and hurriedly called a warning to them, but it was too late,” Mitchell said. “Just then there was a big explosion. I ran up—and they were all lying there dead.” The clergyman wae so overcome, that he hardly realized two forest service employes bad hoard the (Turn To Page 3, Column 4)

Japs'Okinawa Line Crumbles; Osaka Ablaze Third Largest Jap City Ablaze After Big Bomber Attack (Pearl Hanbor, June 1 — (UP) —i The last of Japan’s main defence I line on Okinawa crumbled today j and said the American 10th army j has hurled upwards of 120,000 troops against the southern tip of the island. While the 10th army paced the Allied ground offensives in the Pacific, a fleet of 450 (Superfortresses and 150 escorting fighters set fire to Osaka, Japan’s biggest war production center. Returning airmen said smoke billowed five miles into the sky, enveloping some of the big bomibers’. (FrontJby-front developments in the Pacific war included: British announced the formation of a second srmy, the 12>th, to fight along side the 14th in southeast Asia. Okinawa —American forces encircled the last 1,000 defenders of the Naha J Shauri-Yonabaru defense line. Radio Tokyo eaid two more marine divisions have gone into battle, making a total of eight noiw attacking the 20,000-odd Japanese in the southern tip. Japan — Superfortresses dropped 3,200' tons of fire bombs on Osaka, Japan'ts third largest city. Fires threatened shipyards, steel mills, aircraft plants, tank works, oil refineries and other key war plants. 'Luzon—(American forces opened a battle of annihilation against 20,000 to 30,000 Japanese troops in the Cagayan valley of northern Luzon. Filipino forces moving down from the north coast already had cut their last route of escape by sea. (China — Chinese forces began a drive toward Poaking, threatening to cut the main escape routes for (Turn To Pagie 2, Column 4) O New Welfare Boards Take Over In Slate Board Named Here, Not Yet Organized Indianapolis, June 1. — (UP) — New administrative boards assumed control of the public welfare program in 92 Indiana counties today. Provisions of legislation enacted by the 1945 Indiana general assembly became operative and the old five-member boards retired last midnight. Circuit court judges appointed the new board members, as they did before the new law took effect, but certain requirements were necessary in forming the boards. Under the old law, circuit court judges apointed any five persons they chose, provided that no more than three were affiliated with any one political party. The new law created new fivemember boards, stipulated that the old political division be retained, required that two of the five be women and that one of the five be a township trustee. Most circuit judges, who retained their appointive power after a movement in the. legislature to divide the responsibility among other county officials was defeated, appointed the new board well in addurn To Page 2, Column 3)

Price Four Cents.

Barracks Buildings Destroyed But None Os Prisoners Escape During Riot, Fire Indianapolis, June I—(UP)1 —(UP) A military guard and a civilian fireman were killed and three soldier-prisoners were wounded last night in a riot and fire in the Fort Benjamin Harrison army disciplinary compound, an official statement said today. Maj. Gen. James L. Collins, commanding general of the fifth service command at Columbus, 0., who was present on an inspection tour w’hen the outbreak occurred, said the riot and fire apparently were “a planned affair,” but that no prisoners escaped. Collins blamed the riot on the imposition of extra duty for military prisoners who broke rules. He ordered an investigation of the outbreak which began with , the stoning of guards and smashing of electric lights. The general issued the official account of the riot and fire, which destroyed nine barracks buildings. in the compound, more than 12 hours after they occurred. In the fighting, the guard was killed, one military prisoner was wounded seriously and two others slightly. • The civilian fireman was overcome by heat and smoke and died of a stroke while battling- the flames. The dead guard was identified as Pvt. Elton Hendrix, Paducah, Ky., who was killed by a bullet believed to have been fired by another guard firing a machine gun from a guard tow’er. The most seriously wmunded soldier-prisoner was a negro. The Indianapolis Times said that “a high fort officer, who would not be quoted by name,” had cited considerable unrest among the prisoners since Pvt. Joseph McGee was released and restored to duty last week. McGee was convicted by a court martial and sentenced to two years at hard labor for striking nine German prisoners. In a review of his case, the war department cancelled the sentence. “The officer said that many of the prisoners felt that if McGee was pardoned, they should be too,” the Times said. Fire broke out in a barracks and an infirmary some distance apart, the statement said. "Immediate cause of the riot was believed due to extra duty for infraction of prison rules.” the statement said. “Indications are that the riot was a planned affair. Prompt and efficient action alone prevented a mass break.” Nine barracks buildings burned with a loss estimated at $100,660, according to the announcement. “The statement issued by Gen. Collins said: “About 9:30 p. m., May 31, the prisoners of the disciplinary bar(Turn To Page 6, Column 5) 2,500 Officers And 33,000 Os Enlisted Personnel Discharged Washimgton, June I.—(UP)—ln ■ the three 'Weeks that the army point system has been in operation, 2,500officers and 33,000 enlisted men and women from every theater of war have been discharged, president Truman told congress today. (This month. “50,000 high-point men are scheduled to leave Europe” for the U. S„ and “33,000 are scheduled to come from the Pacific and Asia,” he said. “The great majority of these, a few days after they rive, will be civilians again." Within the coming 12 months ahout 1,3(00.000 men will be discharged on points, according to recent army estimates.