Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 43, Number 131, Decatur, Adams County, 4 June 1945 — Page 1

I DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

■ tors Ml County mL Bonds

(ot XLIII. No. 131.

H WART JAP EFFORT TO ESCAPE OKINAWA

L Naval Air force Turns To silicide Corps I Radio Tokyo States I piloted Balloons To Raid United States Lam, June 4-(UP)-Radio Lo said today that Japan InL s to attack the United States Li! piloted, bomb-carrying balL s and has converted her L e naval air force into a tide corps. ■Tokyo said Lt. Col. Shozo NakaL c hief spokesman of JapanL armed forces in the southern Lns. predicted that piloted Etosphere balloons would atL; the American mainland in L "near future.” jThe present attacks on the Led States with pilotless balL,s were only on an experiment- | scale, he said. The first of Le was released from Japan Lli 10 and “hundreds” have L released daily since then, I said'. [“When actual results of the Lriment have been obtained,” Lyo said, "large-scale attacks L death-defying Japanese airLn manning the balloons will L launched.” L'akajima complained that the Led States had not divulged L extent of damage caused by L pilotless balloonh, but surmis- ■ they were "creating havoc.” [Tokyo said the Japanese naval L force had been converted into [suicide corps to shield the home [amis from the rampaging perican fleet. Every navy plane will be orderbto crash itself against an Ulied warship, a correspondent I the Tokyo newspaper Mainichi wealed in a radio interview nth pilots of the special (suicide) hack corps. “If this tactic is' successful,” n said, “victory is assured for span. If otherwise, the navy kill have many heroes for our brines.” Admiral William F. (Bull) Hally, commander of the American [ird fleet, welcomed the enemy nouncement and challenged the bpanese to, send the remnants I their fleet in a do-or die tarai” attack against him. h wish the b s would,” he lid newsmen aboard his flagship • Okinawa. “They might get heir thumbs halfway to their Me—but that’s all.” Halsey dismissed the Japanese mikaze suicide planes as a lamned nuisance rather than a lenace” despite the damage they pe inflicted on American naval •Its off Okinawa. Fast carriers from his third tet launched bombers and fightrtombers against Japan’s suiplane bases on Kyushu, whernmost of the enemy’s islands, Saturday and SunJhe attack Saturday thwarted plans for a new series of Bci ? e a ttacks on American for*'n the Okinawa area, a dishorn the carrier task force Sorted. A1 least 36 enemy planes were (Turn p age 4> Co i umn g) L — 0 •ty Council To Name tbool Board Member memiber of the Decatur school ™ will be elected by the city , ®cil Tuesday evening. The term ' lr l C. Pumphrey, secretary and J®er president of the board, exnext August, Mr. Pumphrey, .. served two terms, is not ‘PPlicant for re-election. . F-lunuma, a former member on < ,’° ai^’,^ aa filed an applieaappointment to the board. ° L| er two members of the H». ar 1 ! A ’ era '4"oole, President and ‘Warland, treasurer. The h. are the Democrat mem01 t! >e board. I TEMDe AT TKE RMOMETER reading --46 £ COntin ued R cool toScattered frost in . ui?’ 011, Tue »day fair

Reelected ' ' W1 . . Lyman L. Hann, superintendent of the Adams county schools, was reelected to his second four-year term by the township trustees this morning. Hann Is Reelected County School Head Election Held By Township Trustees Lyman L. Hann of this city was reelected county superintendent of schools today by the township trustees. He will begin his second term on August 16. Mr. Hann received 11 of the 12 possible votes. There were 12 trustees at the election meeting, but one did not vote. Thurman I. Drew, county auditor, acted as clerk of the election, which was done by secret, ballot. Before assuming the post of county superintendent, Mr. Hann served two years as principal of the Monmouth school in Root township. The term of county superintendent is for four years. A teacher in rural and city schools since 1911, Mr. Hann received his A. B. degree from Ball State Teachers college, Muncie, and later got his M. S. degree from Indiana university. He has been an active leader in school and educational circles and for the past three years has served as township chairman in the annual Red Cross war fund drives. Under his supervision are about 27 grade and consolidated schools, numbering more than 2,500 pupils. 0 28 Enrolled Here In Summer School Twenty-eight students, lx boys and 10 girls, were enrolled today at the first session of the summer school at the Decatur junior-senior high school. Os those enrolled, 21 are students of the school, six from the Decatur Catholic high school, and one from Kirkland. W. Guy Brown, principal, stated that enrollments will be accepted all of this week for the school, which offers a complete semester's work during the summer session. — o Band Concert Here On Tuesday Evening High School Band To Give Concert The second outdoor concert of the summer will be presented on the court house ramp At 8 o’clock Tuesday night by the Decatur high school band. The complete program for the concert, announced today by Albert Sellemeyer, director, is as follows: “Tuxedo,” inarch- Huff. “Cotton Top Rag”—Huff. “Barcarolle” —J. Offenbach. “Floral Parade,” march. “The Troubadours” —A. H. Schafer. Cornet trio, Vera Steury, Virginia Hutker, Clarice Anspaugh. “Semper Pairatus,” coast guaid song —Van Boskerck. “Humoresque” —Anton Dvorak. “Washington Post,” march — Sousa. “Angelus”—Massenet. (Tarn To Page 8. Column 3)

Jap Casualties In Philippines Now 385,480 Retreating Japs Take To Horseback On Luzon Island Manila. June 4.—(UP)—The 37th division drove along the Cagayan valley in northern Luzon today against light resistance amid indication.! the retreating Japanese had taken to horseback. In an advance to four miles north of Santa Fe on Saturday, units from the 37th captured large quantities of abandoned enemy equipment, including cavalry gear. This was the first indication the Japanese were using cavalry in the Pacific island fighting, although they have used horses and mules for pack work in the past. The 37th ran into some anti-tank fire as it advanced along the 120mile long valley, but there was no stout resistance from the Japanese. Seventy-five enemy bodies were counted. Today’s communique reported that Japanese casualties in the Philippines have reached 385,480. During the past week, 6,550 dead were counted and 503 prisoners taken. American and Filipino casualties were 225 killed and 657 wounded. On Mindanao island, deep wedges were driven into enemy defenses in the hills west of Davao city. The air force hammered the Japanese positions, and also harried their escape routes on the southern coast, where four barges and a motor' launch were sunk. On Tarakan, off Borneo, Dutch and Australian forces were reducing the last Japanese positions on the island, in the central hills. Borneo itself got one of its heaviest blows yet when medium, heavy, and fighter planes teamed to drop 190 tons of explosives on airstrips, bivouac areas, and defense positions. Radio Tokyo reported that Liberator bombers for the first time hit Pontiniak, on the western side of Borneo. The Philippines-based lieavies also struck another powerful blow at Formosa, their favorite target. The heavies dropped 275 tons of bombs on military installations at Takao, starting fires that sent smoke spiraling 5,000 feet in the air. Fighters strafed the island’s (Turn To Page o. Column 4) O Mrs. Olive Hurrless Dies Sunday Night Willshire Resident Dies At Hospital Mrs. Olive Ross Hurlless, 80, of Willshire. 0., died at 11 o’clock Sunday night at the Adams county memorial hospital. Death was attributed to complications after an illness of two years. She was born in Black Lick. 0., May 11, 1865, the daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Harrison. She was married to James Willis Ross on July 2, 1882, and he died in 1912. She was later married to Dayton Hurlless. She was a member of the Methodist church at Willshire and of the Pythian Sisters lodge, also at Willshire. Surviving are the ' following children: Mrs. Delton Passwater of Decatur, Mrs. Henry Brunstrup of Blue Creek township, C. H. Ross of Williamston, Mich., Ralph Ross of Fort Wayne, Willis E. Ross of Flint, Mich., and Miles Ross of Glenmore, O.; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Ferd Hennessey of Yonkers, N. Y.; 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Four children preceded her in death. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p. m. Wednesday at the residence and at 2 o’clock at the Willshire Methodist church, with the Rev. George W. Beck officiating. Burial will be in the Willshire cemetery. The body may be viewed after 7 o’clock this evening until 3 p. m. Tuesday at the Black funeral home in this city, and at the residence in Willshire after 4 p. m. Tuesday.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, June 4,1945.

Nimitz Boards HMS King George V 1 w ' z vBHf * |II .A ■ * t’L . iggg|g V L w V '■ I fli W Sb s J Fl I / ' I ML ||l B

VICE ADM. SIR BERNARD RAWLINGS of the Royal Navy, flying his flag in HMS King George V, pays a visit to Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, commander of the U. S. Pacific fleet and Pacific ocean areas, aet the latter’s headquarters on Guam. Admiral Nimitz is shown above second from left as he reviewed the offiers and men aboard the British ship. On the left is Admiral Rawlings.

★ *★*★*★* Honorable Discharge ★ ★★★★★★★ SGT. EDWARD F. TRICKER of Decatur route six. He entered the ■army in October, 1942, amd went overseas in October, 1943. He was a member of the 305th Engineer’s Battalion and served with his outfit in Germany. o —, Invasion 01 England Plans Are Revealed Failure To Defeat RAF Blasted Plans (Editor's note: The following dispatch, written by a United Press correspondent who covered the first two years of the war from Berlin, gives the first detailed explanation from the German side of the Wehrmacht’s failure to invade England after the fall of France in 1940.) By Joseph W. Grigg Wiesbaden, Germany, June 4 — (UP)— D-day for the German invasion of England was Sept. 15, 1940, and ten crack Nazi divisions were to be hurled across the channel for a 10-day blitz that Adolf Hitler believed would crush Britain and end the we-tern war. For more than a month the troop-packed invasion barges waited for the signal to attack, while the sky battle of Britain swirled overhead. Then, suddenly, Hitler abandoned the plan and ordered his legions eastward for the attack on Russia. The United Press learned today that high-ranking members of the German general staff finally have revealed to Allied authorities the full plan for the invasion of England and the reasons for its failure. These officers, all of whom were very close to Hitler, revealed that the fuehrer himself sent (Turn To Page 5, Column 4) : o— — Commissioners Meet In Regular Session iThe county commissioners met in regular session today at the auditor’s office. The morning was devoted to the checking and allowing of claims'. The session was open this afternoon to hearings on roads and other county matters. The commissioners will meet on June 18 to receive bids for supplying coal to the >county infirmary, count house, jail and garage. The board will also receive bids for supplying gasoline to the county highway department, beginning July 1, for a six months period.

Charles Magley Dies Early This Morning Former County Road ♦ Supervisor Is Dead Charles E. Magley, 72, former superintendent of the Adams county highway department, died at 3 o’clock this morning at his home three miles north of Decatur. Death was attributed to uremic poisoning. He had been in failing health since December. A lifelong resident of Root township, he was born March 25, 1873. the son of Henry and Louisa Kart-Magley. He was married to Mary O. Cline'June 8, 1898. Mrs. Magley preceded her husband in death. Mr. Magley was active in Democratic politics for many years. He served as trustee of Root township for six years and was also a township assessor. He was superintendent of the county highway department from 1920 to 1928, and was employed by the state highway department for two years, following which he retired to his farm. At one time he operated the Magley tile mill near Monmouth. He was a member of the Alpha Methodist church near Monmouth. Surviving are a sister, Mrs. C. D. Lewton of Decatur and a brother, John C. Magley of Root township. Wayne and Esther Huston Burger have made their home with Mr. Magley for many years. Funeral sevices will be held at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Zwick funeral home, with the Rev. G. A. Eddy officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7:30 o’clock this evening. , ( o Auto Use Tax Stamps Go On Sale Saturday Will H. Smith, collector of internal revenue, announced today that the neiw $5. automobile use tax stiaimips will 'be placed oh sale in all post offices and offices of collectons of internal revenue on Saturday, June 9. The law requires the owner of every motor vehicle which fe used upon the highways to buy this stamp and to display it on the vehicle beginning July 1. The law provides iboth cash and jail penalties for failure to pay this tax. To protect themselves against unnecessary penalties, Collector Smith advised owners of motor vehicles not to Ibe misled by false rumors alleging that this tax has been repealed. IThe stamps will be sold over the counter at the Decatur Post Office,

Escape Effort Made In Small Boats; Toehold On South Coast Split

Japan Reports Allied Attack On Sandakan Capital Os British North Borneo Said To Be Assaulted [San Francteco, June 4. —(UP)— ■. The Japanese radio reported today Allied ground and sea units were participatiug in an aissault on Sandakan, capital of British North Borneo in the Eas't Indies. There was no confirmation of the report from Allied .sources. 'The Tokyo broadcast,, recorded by United Press, quoted a “dispatch from a Borneo base” as saying “the enemy has resumed their attack on the Sandakan area on the eastern coast.” ’’Enemy warships are repoi’ted operating in the nearby waters,” the broadcast said. “Today destroyers moved into Sandakan Bay and bomlbarded our positions. “They were immediately put to rout by our garrison forces. Enemy planes also seen to be co-operating with the ground and sea units in this assault.” The enemy broadcast made no reference to a possible landing except in mentioning “ground units." iSandakan lies on the northern arm of an excellent harbor oil the Tiortheasit coast of Borneo. It is 180 miles north of the Island of Tarakan, invaded by Australian troops, and 27'5 miles south of Puerto Princesa. principal city of the Philippines Island of Palawan. Sandakan is approximately 525 miles directly west of Davao, Mindanao. - Ilf Allied troops actually are engaged in or preparing for a landing at Sandakan, it would be the first such operation on Borneo proper. The Japanese landed on the north coast of Borne Dec. 16. 1941. Borneo fell to the enemy the following montlh. [Borneo is one of the world’s greatest oil producing centers. It has an area of square miles. 11,000 Gl’s Back From Europe's War 10 Generals Also Return Home Sunday New York, June 1 — (UP) — Today was hero day in New York. For almost 11,000 Gl’s and 10 of the generals who led them to victory in Europe, it was H-for-homecoming day plus one. The generals arrived by plane and the troops by ships which docked after a near-disastrous convoy collision in a fog 1,200 miles off shore. Gen. Omar Nelson Bradley, soft-spoken Missourian who led the 12th army group, arrived by transport plane. Gen. Carl (Tooey) Spaatz, head of U. S. strategic air forces in Europe, came back in a bomber. Spaatz was on a shuttle trip, slated to return to Europe after staff consultations in Washington. Bradley said at a press conference that he wants to go to Japan. Maj. Gen. Clarence Huebner, commanding general of the sth army corps, and Maj. Gen. Elwood R. Quesada, head of the 9th U. S. tactical command, said they want to follow Bradley. “We go wherever we’re sent,” Bradley said. The tall, tanned leader of the Ist, 3rd and 9th armies, recalled his tour of duty in Hawaii from 1924 to 1927 and said: “The only opinion I ever formed of the Japanese is that I would not trust them anywhere." (Turn To Paffe 2, Column 4)

Seriously Wounded p . W ■ ! * « • A I' Pfc. Merrill E. Johnson. 28, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Largent of the Homewood addition, was seriously wounded in action on Okinawa on April 29, the parents have been notified by the war department. An infantryman, Pfc. Johnson has been overseas for three and one-half years. He is a graduate of the Decatur high school. Boy Seoul Camporee Held Over Weekend I County Boy Scouts In Annual Camporee The annual Adams county Boy Scout camporee, although hampered by heavy rainfall Saturday afternoon and chill weather both days, was held Saturday and Sunday at Shroyer lake, east of Decatur with 74 Scouts from the Decatur and Berne troops in attendance. Tlie basket dinner for the Scouts and their parents Sunday noon was transferred to the Zion Lutheran church in this city because of the inclement weather. Sunday morning, the Scouts attended special services at the First Presbyterian church in this city. Ribbon awards were presented to the various patrols by Clarence Ziner, camporee chairman. Steve Everhart was campmaster and others who assisted were: Dick Rathman, Seouthmaster of Rotary troop 61; Lowell Smith, Scoutmaster of Lions troop 62; Clarence Weber, Scoutmaster and Dale Smitley. assistant, of American Legion troop 63; Sherman Stuckey, Scoutmaster of Berne troop 68; Carl Hilty. Scoutmaster, Gerald Elzey, assistant and John H. Sprunger, junior assistant, of Berne troop 67. Awards and patrol members follow: Fox patrol troop 61, red ribbon— Dick Mies, leader; Don Mae Lean. Gerald Schultz, Herbert Kitson, Jerry Marbaugh. Cobra patrol troop 61, red ribbon —Sheldon Daniels, leader: Norman Stingely. Ralph Bollinger. James Lake, Don Schmitt, Merlin Johnston, Kenneth Nash. Swallow patrol troop 61, blue ribbon — Dan Freeby, leader; Gene Ziner, Kenneth Grant, Grover Odle, Jr., Dave Mae Lean. Eagles patrol troop 62, blue ribbon —Medford Smith, leader; Victor Porter, Byford Smith, Merlin Lister, Dick McConnell. Crow patrol troop 62, blue ribbon Roger Gentis, leader; Bob Boknecht, Dick Hott, Bill Brentlinger. Kangaroo patrol troop 62, blue ribbon — John Doan, leader; Don Smith, Dan Mills, Dave Owens. Bob Dague. Jim Bassett. Indian patrol troop 63, blue ribbon—Sam Bogner, leader; Bill Schulte, Terry Byrd, Neil Heshfir, Ed Swager, Bob Lenhart. Bob Strickler, Kay Runyon. Flaming Arrow patrol troop 63, blue ribbon—Norris Blocker, leader; Ronald Ballard, Mick Ladd, Dan Kitson, Ted Wemhoff, Charles Johnson. Bear patrol troop 63, blue ribbon (Turn To Page 3, Column 4)

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Price Four Cents.

American Soldiers Are Converging On Remaining Japanese Positions On Island Guam, Tuesday, June S—(UP)5 —(UP) —Japanese soldiers attempted unsuccessfully to escape from a die-or-surrender trap on southern Okinawa by putting to sea in small boats, it was disclosed today. The escape effort was made as five American divisions converged on remaining enemy positions. Small groups of enemy, soldiers, some of them naked and carrying only hand grenades, were captured by American patrol craft off the southern tip of the island. The Japanese troops obviously were trying to escape the heating being administered their disorganized forces by U. S. marines and soldiers, who fanned out along the south coast of the island. The Yanks’ objective was the envelopment and annihilation of t|ie last 15,000 to 20,000 Japanese on Okinawa. The seventh division split the Japanese toehold in two in a drive to the southeast coast, on the Pacific slope of the Chinen peninsula. This push effectively sealed off whatever enemy troops remained on the peninsula, which forms the southern arm of Nakagusuku bay. From its new positions south of the peninsula, the seventh wheeled both left and right in quick i movements designed to eliminate further resistance. Around the Naha peninsula, massed marines were believed preparing to open their own offensive in the air field area, where the enemy showed signs of holding his positions. There the final battles may be fought, on Okinawa. Tokyo radio’s contention that the battle of Okinawa still is a nip-and-tuck affair was belied conspiciously by the Japanese escape attempts. These attempts have become a familiar part of the enemy behavior pattern in island campaigns where the Japanese cause is lost. The end of the Okinawa campaign appears only a matter of days away. The advance to the south coast ripped apart the enemy’s best remaining defenses and exposed forces holding Naha airfield on the west coast to a flank attack. Only in the Naha airfield area and on the south coast of adjacent Naha harbor did the enemy show signs of holding his positions. There the final Hatties may be fought. Radio Tokyo conceded that the situation was “very grave” and also reported that two Allied task forces had returned to waters east of Okinawa after a 10-day absence. It speculated that the task forces were attempting to rein force American air strength on tlie island. Tokyo said one force comprised three aircraft carriers, three battleships and cruisers and 10 other warcraft. The sec« ond force also was said to be built I around three carriers and three battleships. Elements of the American seventh division's 17th and 184th regiments planted the American flag on the south coast of Okinawa at l:30_ p. m. yesterday Turn To Page 5, Column 8) 0 BULLETIN Aboard Admiral McCain's Flagship Off Ryukhyus, June 3— (Delayed) —(UP)—(Via Navy Rad;o) —American carrier pilots returning from strikes against Kyushu reported, today they encountered expert Japanese pilots flying new fighter planes that out-performed even the U. S. Corsair. “Our Corsairs couldn’t stay up with the new Japanese planes.” Lt. Cmdr. Stockton Birney Strong, New York, who led today's raid, -said. “The Japs thumbed their nose at us.”