Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 43, Number 186, Decatur, Adams County, 8 August 1945 — Page 1

leMustWintheWan All Else Is Chores!

IXLIII. No. 186.

SOVIET RUSSIA DECLARES WAR ON JAPAN

Sroshima Is ] Jjvaslaled By wmic Bomb Square Miles t|S)f City Obliterated IKy Atomic Bombing 1 wB !11 "' Al,ff ' B.—(UP)—Tokyo 41 MBpib'd today that most of HiroI! EH. ,ia<l I)epn de6troye(l coin ' I by a single American bomb and said blasted and blis!£H corpses “too numerous to J littered the ruins. impact of the bomb was so . that practically all living human and animal, were seared to death by the heat and pressure en;fs(BMered by the blast,” one Tokyo said. BBh'rican reconnaissance photoconfirmed that four and square miles—6o percent M 1 ’ built-up area—of .llirosliima almost without trace qHH,. greatest explosion. ||i|Hi>!Tn iM American sources ?sIllHH" I”’’’ r , ’-'l > osotrndnf popmiii exceed 100,000. Mfr major war plants and scores factories, office build‘jfi'Btind dwellings were known to been levelled. Only a few of concrete buildings re■hahi'd in the obliterated area. Addamage outside the total■Sstroyed section still was be- \ Tokyo, breaking its silence than GO hours after the I said the “indescribable de--7 power" of the bomb had ’ big buildings and small E'jHings alike in an unparalleled were killed by blast, I KSref and crumbling buildings. ToMost, bodies were so battered that it was imposto distinguish between the the women. Tokyo said both the dead had been burned beKfOB recognition and confessed ■that authorities still were unable to EfflSn a definite check on civilian g Mtose outdoors burned to g 'Bl while those indoors were J Ml by the indescribable pressure g ' Mheat."' Tokyo said. It called 18-'' a ‘‘disastrous ruin.” S Medical relief agencies that g "M. rushed from the neighboring g ‘Bets were unable to distingmuch less identify, the dead g raft the injured,” the enemy I K' impact of the bomb was so Bjß'* ’hat practically all living human and animals, were b_ B’ly seared to death by the g'Badons heat and pressure en gfßref by the blast. S' Kith houses an d buildings S B f(i ' ilulu ding the emergency IPS’'' I ' l facilities, the authorities fc’Maving their hands full in giv|gjKjFYery available relief possible IpPy ’he circumstances.” J. A’io Tokyo still referred to the |SF missile as merely a “newB jßbomb.” It said order gradug^W Wa s being restored in the ■S' ’ii city. BBp Japanese cabinet was calk'd | Bl special session at the oftiI B^'dence- of Premier Kantaro IW 1 th ’ 3 morning to hear a re- | ! ' ! B ll '°'n ’*- s chief secretary, HiI B e Sekotnizu, on the raid, Toa>d. I 1 ~" Japanese imperial household | . .B ry announced that Prince Ri I of the head of the forf . ■’ u ' in g house of Korea, was | H ’ n ’he raid, while fulfilling * ■uties as a lieutenant-colonel Japanese army. I |B' Carl A. Spaatz, commander I M American strategic air forces J B* Pacific, said reconnaissance I ,M® laplls revealed that tires I ’B e 'l off by the almost unhelievS bkJ h ? at °* the bomb leaped ■ tv/i i<i, ‘ stream s and spread into ■ ■ f‘lty appeared desolate in I Q“’ n Z 0 Pa « 6 2. Column 2) I BOCRAT thermometer || M Mp ERATURE reading I <3°? a ’ m 60 |. ’2" Zl. 74 | B>o p.m I WEATHER * MJ ,r tonight and Thursday. Wpnued rather cool tonight, ■T y warmer Thursday.

DECATUR DAILY

Japan Charges U. S. With Violation Os International Law San Francisco, Aug. 8 —'(UP) — Japan, aghast at the ruin of Hiroshima, charged today that the United States had violated international law by using the atomic bomb. Radio Tokyo quoted authorized quarters in the capital as saying that the United States waS violating article 22 of the Hague convention and showing disregard for humanity. The broadcast made no mention of the fact that Japan did not subscribe to the Hague convention.

Truman Speaks To Nation By Radio Thursday President To Make Radio Address At 9 p.m. Thursday Washington, Aug. 8 — (UP) — President Truman will renort to the Nation on the Rig Three Berlin conference tomorrow (Thursday) night at 9 o'clock (CWT). The White House said the address would be broadcast on ail radio networks. Presidential Secretary Charles G. Ross said Mr. Truman would make a 30-minute address, in which he would go into greater detail about the historic Potsdam parley than was related in last week's official communique on the meeting. Ross said the President would "mention" the new atomic bomb, but probably to no great extent. One of Mr. Truman's first appointments today—his first day in the White House since his return from Europe —was with Seseretary of War Henry L. Stimson. Rrss said they were to discuss the fearsome new bomb which devastated a Japanese industrial city in its first use. The President’s first press c >nference following the Berlin meeting will be held early next week, probably Monday or Tuesday, Rvss said. "He felt he should rjport to the people as a whole first,” ’he press secretary explained. Mr. Truman also planned brief conferences today with Sens. Carl A. Hatch, I).. N. M„ and Harley M. Kilgore, D„ W. Va„ He planed to spend the remainder ot the day catching up with paper work and putting finishing touches on his address. The President arranged to confer during the morning with Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, ostensibly on the latest pnases of the Pacific war including th.? ato(Turn To Pase 2. Column 5)

Visits Brother's Grave In France Sgt Bob Eitinq Now In Germany A visit to his brother’s grave, Cpl. Richard Eiting, buried in the American cemetery near Touls, France, in the vicinity of Nice, is told i na letter from Sgt. Bob Eiting to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Eiting of south of Decatur. Cpl. Eiting died last September 17 in France, from wounds received in action. The visit to his grave was on August 1. Sgt. Eiting is now stationed m Darmstadt, Germany. He obtained a pass to Nice, and then made his way to Houls and was driven to the cemetery by a G. I. on a motor■cycle. T,he cemetery is located a short distance from a main road. It extends over seven acres and 3,400 American soldiere are now buried within its boundary. There is space for an additional 1,500 graves, Sgt. Eiting stated. All the graves face the east and are laid off in even plots. The area is ceing leveled and landscaped by Italian work battalions, or prisoners of war. At present the ground ia bare, but grass seed will be sown (Turn To Page *■ Column 1)

Council Approves Civil Cily Budget Three-Cent Boost In Proposed Levy The common council in session last night approved the civil city’s $65,129.11 budget, carrying with it a 42-cent tax rate on each SIOO of taxables and ordered the document published, as provided by law. The proposed levy is three cents higher than the 39-cent rate applying on Decatur property this year. Final action on the budget will be taken August 27, when a public hearing will be held at the city hall. Based on the city s net. valuation of $6,313,780, the levy will produce about $27,450.87 in tax funds. Petitions for rural electric lines were filed with an electric light committee. They included a petition from farmers in Union and St. Mary’s townships, namely Harry Jackson, H. B. Mitch, William Miller, and Basil I. Gephart. A contract with Waldo Wiseman for an electric line hookup to his farm in Root township was approved by the council. The matter of extending an electric power line north of Decatur, along U. S. highway 27 to a proposed site for a slaughter house to be built by Calvin Steury, was presented to the council by Lester Pettibone, city plant superintendent, and referred to the committee, in conjunction with the superintendent. No communication from the Indiana state board of health was received by the council relative to the pollution of St. Mary’s river, based on the investigations last week on the dead fish found in the stream. Explosion Toll May Mount To 25 Deaths

Port Arthur, Ont., Aug. B—(UP) —'Officials feared today that the death toll in an explosion in a grain elevator may reach 25 after 19 bodies were taken from the wreckage. Six men were reported missing and believed crushed under box care which were smashed as they rested on tracks by the side of the elevator. The explosion, caused by spontaneous combustion yesterday in the Saskatchewan pool elevator No. 5, blew out the four walls of the elevator. o Hospital Budget Totals $104,797 No Request Made For Any Tax Levy The 1946 budget for the Adams county memorial hospital totals $104,797, and no request for a tax levy to operate the institution, Earl D. Colter, board member, has notified Thurman 1. Drew, county auditor. For more than five years the hospital has been operating without funds from taxation, the income from operating being sufficient to maintain the institution. The budget as filed is merely an appropriation of the expected income next year. The expenses will be offset with a like amount of revenue from patients who patronize the place, it was explained. This year’s budget totaled S9O ( - 746. Income for the seven months, ending July 31, amounted to $51,054.62, an average of more than $7,200 monthly. Operating expen(Turn To Paxe 2. Column 6) Plan Withdrawal Os Troops From Tehran Tehran, Aug. 8 —(UP) — The Iranian foreign minister announced today that Britain and Russia agreed at the Potsdam conference to withdraw their troops from Tehran immediately. The ministry said it was notified of the decision by the British embassy. (A spokesman in London for the British foreign office confirmed that the decision was reached at Potsdam as a "good will gesture toward Iran.”)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, August 8,1945.

Four Raids In 24 Hours On Japan Cities "Death List' City Os Fukuyama Latest Superforts Target Guam, Thursday, Aug. 9—(UP) — Nearly 100 Superfortresses, hitting the Japanese home islands for the fourth time in 24 hours, sent incendiaries crashing into the “death list” City of Fukuyama shortly before midnight yesterday, it was announced today. The new blow in a round-the-clock offensive by the 20th airforce followed two late afternoon demolition strikes at the Nakajima Musa ehino-Tama aircraft plant in Tokyo and the once mighty Tokyo arsenal, and a smashing daylight raid with more than 1,000 tons of explosives on the great steel center of Yawata. (Fukuyama was the 15th of 31 cities warned by the B-29 command to be blasted by incendiaries, and the 62nd Japanese city to be burned out. Located 47 miles northeast of Kure on the Inland Sea, with a population of 57,000, it ie a center for chemical production and airPape 2. Column 4) General Electric Workers On Strike 1,100 Fort Wayne Employes Strike - Fort Wayne, Ind., Aug. B—(UP) About 1,100 tool and diemakers and machinists, members of machinists Lodge 70, (AFL) of the three plants of the General Electric works in Fort Wayne, walked out at the second shift lait night, after the War Labor Board failed to hand down a decision in the 20-month old wage dispute between the workers and the company. Members of the union sought a 10 cent an hour wage increase after the new wage rate ranges of October 18, 1943; and in November, 1944 the WLB ordered the company to pay the increases retroactive to October 18, 1943. The company appealed this decision, and last June the WLB again handed down a decision asking the company to pay the increases to several classes of tool and diemakers and machinists but did not include the maintenance machinists in the order. This decision is being appealed by the company in an effort to have the tool room machine operators to withdraw from the award; this would affect about (Turn To Page 2, Column 8)

Duane Davidson Describes Navy Shelling Os Japs' Steel Mills

Duane Davidson, radioman first class, aboard the U. S. S. South Dakota, participated in the navy’s first bombing of the imperial steel mills in Kamaishi, on the island of Honshu, about 275 miles north of Tokyo, Japan, last month, he related in a letter to his wife, R. D. Davidson, 158% S. Second street. The South Dakota was one of the trio of battleships, including the Indiana and Massachusetts, that poured tons of huge shells in the Kamaishi steel mills from a point a few miles'from the Japanese mainland. It was the first time that such an exploit had been undertaken by the U. S. navy. Radioman Davidson describes the plans made for the historic naval bombing and then relates how men aboard his ship watched the fires and smoke that emerged from the steel city. “We were told before the action began that the steel mills located at Kamaishi were of great importance to the Jape and would be hard to replace. It is known now that our guns did a pretty good job, so the Japs are probably trying frantically to repair the damage suffered so far,” he wrote. Commenting about the damage done by the salvo of navy guns,

Welfare Budget Os $171,440 Proposed Proposed Levy Os 16 Cents Sought The county welfare department’s budget for 1946 totals $171,440, entailing a tax levy of 16 cents on each SIOO of taxable property in the county. The county’s net assessed valuation of taxable property is $28,687,661. The proposed levy will produce approximately $45,402, the budget reveals. Compared with a year ago the budget is practically the same. In 1944 it totaled 171,320 and a 15cent levy was asked. The county council cut the levy to 13 cents on the SIOO. The additional levy of three cents, if allowed by the council and approved by the tax adjustment board, would replenish the department’s working balance to approximately $40,000. The balance on hand on July 1 was $33,503. The budget is in two parts. Part one involves the larger share of the budget, totaling $147,950, which includes $122,000 for old age pension payments; $22,000 for assistance to dependent children in custody of relatives and minor appropriations. Part two of the budget totals $23,490. Under this heading is listed, $4,000 for assistance of inpendent children in custody of individuals; $2,500 for assistance to dependent children in custody of institutions and $2,800 for assistance to crippled children and adults. Salaries and personal services of the director, visitors and cleri(Turn To Page 2. Column 2) 0 Military Rites For Major Richard Bong Greatest Air Ace Home In Wisconsin Superior, Wis., Aug. 8. —(UP) — The greatest air ace this country ever had came home today to stay. An army transport plane brought the body of Maj. Richard I. Bong in a flag-draped casket back to the shores of sky-blue Lake Superior where he roamed the woods as a boy. Bongj 2)1, became the nation's top flying ace by shooting down 40 Jap planes. He was killed Monday in the crash of a jet plane he was testing in California. A silent crowd of about a hundred persons watched the big transport glide onto the runway at the airport in Duluth, SJinn., adjacent to Superior. There were military dignitaries from Washington, young men who went to school with the war hero, and the plain folks from nearby Poplar where (Turn To Pagie 4. Column 6)

1 ■Mt Radioman Davidson stated, “The whole steel mill is ablaze now. AU that can be seen is smoke and flame. We only see the town whenever the ship passes directly in front of the town and inner harbor entrance.” Radioman Davidson has been in the navy since March, 1941. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Davideon of 103 South Seventh street.

Army Leaders Still Planning Jap Invasion Success Os Atomic Bomb Bringing No Shift In Army Plan Washington, Aug. 8. —(UP)—The U. S. army still plans to land on the shores of Japan —either with occupational troops or with fullscale invasion forces, depending on what the atomic bomb does to the Japanese will and power to go on fighting. For the army to plan any other way, high officials believed today, would be to take unjustifiable risks. In the atomic bomb it has the deadliest weapon ever made. But it is just one weapon. .For that reaeon, the war department has no intention—despite scattered congressional criticism — to cut the army below the 7,000,000 men and women which it has felt all along are essential to the conquest of Japan. Forty-eight hours after the historic announcements proclaiming the dawn of the atomic age, officials felt soberly constrained to point out that the new era has yet to reach its zenith. The new bomb certainly should shorten the Japanese war, but tlje only way it can end the conflict abruptly is for the Japanese themselves to decide to quit. , This, some observers believed, they will be given a second chance to do before the full fury of atomic bomb assault is unleashed against them. Certainly the army ie ready with plenty of the new bombs. President. Truman, now back from Germany, was thought by some to be considering a second ultimatum following up the sur-render-or-be destroyed proclamation issued from Potsdam July 26. Or it may just take the form of more atom bombs. On Monday he reminded the Japanese of the Potsdam ultimatum and invited them, in the light of what the atomic bomb did to Hiroshima, to recinsider their ultimatum. The alternative, he said, will be a rain of destruction “the like of which has never been seen on earth.” But fantastic as this destruction may be, the army had discounted it last week when Secretary ot War Stimson let it be known that the 7,000,000-man army figure still stood. Understandably, officials felt, many persons may have jumped to (Turn To Page 2, Column 6/

Educator Speaks To Decatur Lions Postwar Education - Discussion Topic Adrian Little, superintendent of the Huntington county schools, delivered an interesting and instructive address on "postwar education" at the weekly meeting of the Decatur Lions club Tuesday evening. Expressing to postwar compulsory military training, Mr. Little emphasized his belief that the schools of the nation, if properly staffed and equipped, could far better train the youth of the country than could be done by any army program. Expanding this theme, the school leader said the public schools can accomplish as much as army educators provided thej* have the incentive and motivation compared to army education. The United States should spend more money on education than has been done in the past, Mr. Little said, stating that such expenditures have not been in line with other government expenses in comparison with the value received. Quoting from a report by a committee from Harvard University which recently completed an exhaustive educational survey which was started in 1943, the speaker pointed out that too much emphasis has been placed in the schools on vocational education, (Turn To Pago 2, Column 2).

Truman Reveals Declaration Os War By Russia Momentous Event Announced By President Truman This Afternoon; Molotov In Simultaneous Declaration Washington, Aug. B—(UP)—Soviet Russia has declared war on Japan, President Truman announced toda\. The President called reporters into his executive office to announce the momentous event. “Russia has declared war on Japan—that s all, Mi. Truman said. He said he hadn’t been able to call a regular press conference but the announcement was so important, I thought I had better give it to you.” So he called in the reporters who were available on quick notice. The announcement meant that the days of the Japanese Empire were numbered and that the Pacific War, shortened by the atomic bomb, would be ended even sooner. The Soviet action apparently stemmed from arrangements made by President Truman and Generalissimo Josef Stalin during the Big Three meeting at Potsdam. Russia presumably now will throw against Japan the vast military organization that it has built up opposite Manchuria and Korea. This organization has been reinforced since Russia whipped Nazi Germany in the eastern front. Thus the United States will be able to concentrate its power on the Japanese homeland without worrying about liquidating enemy forces on the upper Asiatic mainland. Mr. Truman was seated, smiling and confident, at his desk when Ihe reporters entered. He stood when al! had entered and made his startling announcement. While reporters were entering the room, he had fondled a large letter opener and greeted each person who enter'd the room. Secretary of State James F. Byrnes and Fleet Adm. William Leahy flanked the President. Each of them held a sheet of pink paper on which were the heading in red ink ‘top secret". The President’s military and naval aides and a few other lesser administration officials formed a semi-circle behind Mr. Truman’s desk. It has been speculated that the United States would continue to bear the brunt of the air war against Japan, and possibly the invasion, while Russia neutralizes and presses forward on the enemy’s flank. * The Soviet Air Force is not believed to be geared for long-range bombing assaults upon the Japanese home islands, but it may be expected to attack installations in Manchuria and perhaps Korea. From Kamchatka, Russian planes also could dominate the Japanese Kuriles and the Japanese half of Sakhalin island. The Russians are known to have surveyed Kamchatka’s possibilities as a military base, and they also have recently undertaken large scale “training" operations in Eastern Siberia. Moscow Broadcast London. Aug. B—(UP) —Premier V. M. Molotov announced tonight that Russia has declared war on Japan, a Moscow radio broadcast said tonight. Molotov said that effective tomorrow the Soviets consider themselves at war with Japan, the radio reported.

Slightly More Meat Predicted For Fall Washington, Aug. B—(UP8 —(UP) —The Department of Agriculture said today that civilians may expect more meat this fall than they have been able to buy in recent months. The total meat output for 1945 it said, is expected to approximate 22,700,000.000 pounds of dressed meat, the third largest of record, but nearly 2,000,000,000 pounds less than the record output in 1944. High School Youths Taken Into Custody Chicago, Aug. 8. —(UP) —Twelve high school youths were held uuaqt Xq pasnoou ‘Xupoj puoq Jap Federal Bureau of Investigation' of rifling the bags of servicemen m Chicago’s union station. A criminal information was filed in federal court against the youths by Assistant Attorney Bernard Sokol. Sokol said the boys, all employed in the station’s baggkge room, had formed a corporation, to ransack servicemen’s luggage.

F Buy War Savingi I 1 Bonds And Stampi

Price Four Cents.

New Constitution Is Adopted By Georgia Atlanta, Ga„ ‘Aug. S — (UP) — Georgia today had adop'ed a new ■constitution, permanently abolishing the poll tax, setting up a merit system for state employes and placing the state’s agencies under strict budget control. The new code was installed by an overwhelming majority in an election marked by a light vote yesterday. o Inmate Os Mental Hospital Is Slain Indianapolis, Aug. 8. —(UP) — Central state hospital authorities revealed today that the victim of a fatal attack Sunday by another patient at the mental institution was Mrs Frances Kennedy, 58, Indianapolis. Dr. Max A. Bahr, superintendent, identified the attacker as Miss Mabel Brooks, 43. Mr®. Kennedy was struck and killed by an aluminum vessel in her ward at the hospital.