Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 43, Number 206, Decatur, Adams County, 31 August 1945 — Page 1

11. No. 206.

ffiEPARE TO RECEIVE JAPAN’S SURRENDER

I To Clear In Pearl lor Fiasco Ke Department Kases Letter ■ap Ultimatum Bgton, Aug. 31 — (UP) — Kartinent efforts to clear Kcretary of state Cordell ;£| responsibility for the Krbor disaster today par■continued congressional Ist for more information felic trials for the men Bate department released Better of a year ago in Kfc emphatically denied that ■proposal to the .Japanese ■ 26, 1941, was an “ultiE as it was .called by the Brd of inquiry. Briny board said the Hull Bled to the Japanese de- ■ attack Pearl Harbor and By criticized him for forc■ssue at a time when the Ed navy were desperately ■ for time in order to preEtter did not answer the Birge that secretary of war E. Stimson was not advis■lll that he had handed the V ultimatum to the JapanE however, reply to the ■ that Hull failed to keep ■y and navy informed of ■cal nature of the situa■ull said that at war coun■ngs on Nov. 25 and Nov. ■rarned of an imminent ■rith Japan and declared ■ security of the U. S. was | hands of the army and K • Bimself has made no state- ■ the charges except to ■at after careful study of torts he will say whatever ■ailed for. Officials doubtgat this time he personally ■enter .the nationwide delated by publication of the ■arbor reports. | officials hinted today that Is of the Japanese foreign E not completely destroyed, row more light, on Japan’s | move in late 1941. I congressmen want to drop fele matter. Sen. James E. I D., Mont., sees “nothing fcained” by investigations, jbert Thomas, D„ Utah, jhat we try to avoid a I Pearl Harbor instead of la scapegoat for the last I Harry F. Byrd, D., Va., |r. has called for a joint |sionai resolution directing I martial if the 1911 com|s at Pearl Harbor are not Jne. If such open trials are fesible, he said, then conthould conduct its own inlion. Several other conpn have demanded fuller |res. fetate department added to luminous reports already led by releasing a letter gull when ho war's still secTo Page 2. Column 71 ps Funeral Is | This Morning Inilitary rites were held at tholic cemetery this mornI Alex Tanvas, Spanish-Am-war veteran, whose death d Tuesday noon. Btes were in charge of memthe American Legion, head‘Floyd Hunter, commander, bed members of the post’3 Jfard and firing squad parti- The requiem high mass : Mary’s church was celej [by Msgr.-elect Joseph J. 1> pastor. SCRAT THERMOMETER NPERATURE READING •a. m _.. J 70 • a. m 77 • P- m. 91 WEATHER rt, y cloudy tonight and fday; scattered 1 thunderers northwest portion late Ibt; continued warm to--4 becoming cooler north- ; Portion Saturday after-

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DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Bigger Meat Supply Promised Civilians Government Out Os Priority Market Washington, Aug. 31 (UP) The American public was told today that its biggest wartime competitor for the meat supply, the government, will step out of the priority market Sept. 2. As a consequence food officials predict that civiliane will get 25 percent more meat in the last months of 1945, still leaving 700,000,000 pounds for export. The bureau of labor statistics, meanwhile, reported that meat counters were better stocked in mid-August than at any time since last March. The agriculture department announced that, it was lifting the last remaining set-aside on federallyinspected meat production. Packers no longer will have to reserve 50 percent of the output of pork shoulders and loins for government purchase. Set-asides on beef, -mutton, lamb, veal and other pork cuts were removed 10 days ago. Henceforth military and other government needs for meat will be met by purchases on the open market. These cutbacks made possible the eharp slash in red points required for meat tor the next ration period, beginning Monday. The BLS survey, based on visits of field agents to independent retail stores in 56 large cities, showed increases in meats centering around beef and prepared meats. Supplies of veal, lamb and pork were about the same as in July. There was more margarine, canned pineapple and pineapple juice ou grocery shelves in August, ut less applesauce, mixed fruits lard, cooking and salad oils and sugar. As store shelves begin to fill up again the office of price administration is worried about the possibility of another inflationary food price spiral such as followed world war I. To combat this it plans to hand out “anti-inflation shopping lists” to housewives to use for spotting above-ceiling prices on meats and other foods. The lists will be distributed by local ration boards starting next week. Eacfr housewife Will be asked to write on her list for one week the exact prices she pays her butcher and grocer for all kinds of food and turn the list to the local board. The lists will give the OPA a picture of price complaints in various areas. Price chief Chester Bowles, in warning of the Inflationary danger, recalled that after the last war prices rose twice as fast as they did during the fighting. The (Turn To Page 3, Column 8) OWI Abolished By President Truman Foreign Functions In State Department Washington, Aug. 31 — (UP) — President Truman today ordered abolition of the office of war information and asked secretary of state James F. Byrnes to prepare a program to put American foreign informational needs on a continuing basis. Effectively immediately, the foreign functions of OWI and the informational operations of the office’ of inter-American affairs were consolidated in a new interim international information service within the state department. Effective Sept. 15, the domestic functions of OWI will be abolished. Byrnes was directed to abolish the interim international information service by Dec. 31. The president pointed out in a statement accompanying his executive order that while it is possible now to curtail wartime governmental information services, “some of our foreign information operations will continue to be necessary.” “The nature of present-day foreign relations makes it essential for the United States to maintain informational activities abroad as an integral part of the conduct of our foreign affairs,” the president (Turn To Page 8. Column 7)

Plea To Hike Jobless Pay Hits Trouble President's Plea Runs Into Trouble In House Committee Washington, Aug. 31 — (UP) — President Truman's appeal for higher unemployment benefits appeared to be running into serious trouble in the house ways and means committee today. Sharply critical sentiment was evident among a number of committee members and to a lesser extent in the senate finance committee as the two groups resumed hearings on the administration bill. The senate committee expected to hear opposition testimony from Gov. Edward Martin of Pennsylvania and representatives of seven state unemployment compensation commissions. Bills pending before both committees would increase the maximum unemployment benefits to $25 weekly for 26 weeks. The federal government would supplement state payments to bring them up to the proposed ceilings. In the ways and means committee, there was no indication that any of the 10 Republican members favored the basic provision. Indicated opposition, of some Democratic members induced proponents of the measure to admit that they were facing an uphill fight. While insisting that he was not arguing against the bill, committee chairman Robert L. Doughton, D., N. C., appeared unsympathetic in questioning witnesses during the initial hearing yesterday. He complained about a labor shortage in h(s home state and saw nothing in the bill to induce discharged war workers to return to their former homes. “This puts a premium on loafing," he said. Committee members believed provisions making federal workers and maritime employes eligible for benefits probably would be approved. The fate of the $25 ceiling was less certain, and there was already some talk of attempting a compromise to avoid rebuffing Mr. Truman. The bill is slated for senate consideration first. Passage in that chamber might strengthen ' ■ 1 ■ "■■■ ■ I — (Turn To Page 3, Column 7) Expect President To Urge Wage Hike Ldbor Leaders Urge Minimum Wage Hike Washington, Aug. 31 —(UP) — Labor leaders eaid today they expect President Truman to urge congress to raise the legal minimum wage from 40 to 65 cents an hour in a message next week. Official sources pointed out this would amount to a 62% percent hourly wage increase for the nation’s lowest paid workers. It would result in tapered bay boosts for the higher-rated employes and might help to forestall the development of industrial strife over new wage demands already made by organized labor, they said. Several Congress of Industrial organizations unions, including the United Automobile Workers, have asked a 30 per cent pay boost. Railroad maintenance of way workers have demanded a 75-cent hourly minimum. Mr. Truman has not yet recommended a specific minimum although an increase to 55 cents an hour was advocated by Fred M. Vinson while he was director of war mobilization, and is favored by stabilization director William (Turn To Pa.ge 8. Column «) To Check Auto Use Stamps Next Week Joseph Mason, deputy internal revenue collector, today announced that an intensive check of cars will be made here next week for auto use stamps. The penalty for failure to display the use stamp ranges from $5 to $25.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, Auqust 31,1945.

OLD GLORY WAVES IN JAPAN I. ■■ •?, - J \ .ei I • j rus; ?* Mi E -"■ >vv ' $/ K / ' • 1— V W - •■. i&rJ £ WKIOMi EF v ''- " I I

A FEW HOURS after 10,000 American Marines and Navy personnel waded to the shores of Japan’s main island of Honshu, Old Glory was unfurled above the naval air station at Yokosuka. This radiophoto sent from U. S. S. lowa in Tokyo Bay.

Ration Board Office Force To Be Reduced Drop Two Workers From Office Force Glen Hill, chairman of the Adams county war price ami ration board, has been advised by the state OPA office to reduce the clerical force in the local office by two persona, within the next 30 days. The elimination of gasoline and canned goods from the rationing program and the probable elimination of many items within the coming months, is the reason ascribed for reducing OPA clerical staffs throughout the country. The local office has five paid employes. Tinder civil service regulations, governmental employes may not be terminated without a 36-day notice. The names of the clerks to be let out were not released at this time. The official notice to Mr. Hill stated that it is probable the OPA may function until June 30, 1946. At present, in addition to serving local persons in the rationing propram, efforts will be devoted to the anti-inflation program, which is backed by a grocer-consumer committee. Through the war years the OPA office has been one of the busiest in the country, dealing with more than 20,00 t) persons and making it possible for each individual to get (Turn To Page 6, Column 6)

Japanese Brutality To War Prisoners Revealed Today

Admiral Badger’s Flagship, Yokosuka, Aug. 31—(UP)—‘Fifty per cent of the 1,500 Allied war prisoners already rescued from ramps in the Tokyo area were treated so brutally by the Japanese that they need hospital care, Comdr. Harold E. Stassen revealed today. Most prisoners said they were beaten regularly by Japanese seeking information. Some showed torture scars on their hands, apparently the result of thumb screws or similar devices. Stassen, former governor of Minnesota and a member of Admiral William F. Halsey’s staff, said there were many reports of prisoners dying from beatings and lack of care. No instances of deliberate executions yet have been reported, however, he said. The latest count showed 1,494 American, British, Australian and Dutch prisoners liberated and aboard the hospital ship Benevolence. Those who do not require hospital treatment will be transferred soon to army ships alongside for transportation home.

NO PAPER MONDAY In accordance with annual custom, the Decatur Daily Democrat will not publish an edition Monday, September 3, which is Labor Day. Four Drowned In Lake Near Angola Four Ohio Men Are Drowning Victims Angola, Ind., Aug. 31 —(UP) — Four Bryan, O„ men drowned in Snow Lake last night during a storm which capsized the motorboat in which they were fishing. The body of Dr. Court C. Schwartzebeck, 54, was recovered shortly after the brief wind and electrical storm subsided. Sheriff Paul Duguid of Steuben county and Indiana state pqlie'i from the Ligonier post said they had established definitely that three companions of Schwartzbeck also lost their lives. x Bodies of Harry Huffman, Ross Stine and Arthur Spangler, all of Bryan, still were sought 12 hours after the storm, authorities announced. Duguid said the four men had gone to the lake for a day of fishing. They had started out in a small motorboat shortly before a storm broke over the lake. Campers watched the boat tossed about by the wind until it over(Turn To Page fi. Column 6)

Some prisoners told of an “inquisition center” inland from Toko. Airmen and submarine crews were the main “customers,” Stassen said. Shiragawa “hospital" also was among the worst places, prisoners said. “You shouldn’t use the word ‘hospital’ for that place,” Stassen said. “You could only describe it as a hellhole. The filth was indescribable.” An American doctor captured on Guam was given a pick and shovel job until recently and not permitted to treat fellow prisoners, although Japanese medical help was inadequate. Asked it Japanese camp officials had expressed any remorse, Stassen said: “I just can’t analyze what a Jap appears to be.” The tales of torture spurred American rescue squads rushing relief to others among the 30 war prisoner camps clustered about the Tokyo area.

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United States Air And Sea Forces On Guard; Jap Surrender Sunday

Marcus Island Japs Formally Surrender Ceremony Held On Destroyer Bagley Guam. Aug. 31—(UP)—Marcus island, Japanese bastion 1,400 miles southeast of Tokyo, was formally surrendered with its garrison of 2,445 army and navy personnel in a ceremony today aboard the destroyer U. S. S. Bagley. The navy announced that the Japanese commander of Marcus, Rear Adm. M. Matsubara, rose from a sick bed to attend the ceremony conference on the forcastle of the Bagley. He was accompanied by live staff officers. Matsubara presented the U. S. representative. Rear Adm. F. M. Whiting, Watertown, N. Y., and Alexandria, Va.. three ceremonial swords at the opening of the 30minute ceremony. Matsubara said the majority of the personnel at Marcus were ill and emaciated from dysentery and malnutrition. Three hundred Japanese were evacuated from Marcus a few days ago aboard a Japanese destroyer. Men aboard the Bagley, a few hundred yards offshore, could see damage and devastation wrought on the island by American bombers. No date was set for the formal occupation of Marcus. Truk Sunday Guam, Aug. 31 — (UP) —Truk, Japan’s Pearl Harbor, and its garrison of 38,000 men will be surrendered formally to the United States at a ceremony aboard an American cruiser Sunday, it was announced today. The Truk atoll of 100 islands comprising the biggest and best Japanese naval and air base in the South Pacific once was considered a major obstacle on the road to Tokyo, but ultimately was neutralized by American planes. It never was invaded. American occupation of the atoll may be delayed for some time to give the Japanese more time to comply with all American surrender demands. In addition to military personnel, there are 10,000 civilians on the atoll. 0 Fight Over Easing Building Controls Three Government Agencies In Fight Washington, Aug. 31 — (UP) — How soon home-hungry Americans will be able to build new houses depends today on the outcome of a three-cornered fight, among government agencies over lifting restrictions on home-building. Because they can’t get together, they've put the matter up to reconversion chief John W. Snyder. He may make a decision within the next few weeks. This is what the argument is about: The war production board wants to take the lid completely off home-building. It already has revoked controls over industrial construction. Major national business organizations are backing up WPB. The office of price administration says modify the controls but don’t tear them all down. The national housing adminis tration says modification would be okay but wants it done differently. All three agencies agree that there is a tremendous demand for new private housing. WPB says that there will soon be enough lumber and other construction materials to take care of every need. The chief problem is to get the stuff flowing Into

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Urges Truman Tell Nation Os Need For Army Strong Occupation Forces Needed For Peace Preservation Washington, Aug. 31— (UP) — President Truman should “go on the air and sell the nation” on the vital needs for adequate occupational forces to preserve the peace, Rep. Leslie C. Arends, R„ 111., said today. Arends, high ranking minority member of the House Military Affairs committee, eaid “we can’t stop at knocking out an enemy.” “We must stand guard over him with powerful occupation forces . . to keep the peace our men died to win.” He said his view represents a growing sentiment within the com mittee. He expressed his conviction as the committee resumed hearings on the nation’s military manpower resources and requirements. “Our committee already has heard some very strong arguments to show that enlistments will not furnish enough men to do the United States’ job of occupation,” Arends said. “1 know that I could sell my constituents on the strength of this information,” he added. Arends said the army’s review of the history of American recruitment, weighed against our occupational task, convinced him “that enlistment is not enough." The Military Committee is hearing army and navy witnesses preparatory to considering legislation to continue selective service. The present draft authority expires next May 15. President Truman has asked the continuance of the draft of 18 to 25 year olds. He suggested a two year service limit. The army has said it plans to shrink its present strength of 8,050,000 to 2,500,000 by next July 1. It estimates that during that period it will gain 500,000 men through the draft and 300,000 through enlistment. (Turn To page 3, Column 7) Drastic Cut Made In War Spending Over 19 Billions Cut From Expenses Washington. Aug. 31 — (UP) — The government today announced a drastic victory cut in the war spending program and revised upward somewhat its plans for nonwar expenditures for the 1946 fiscal year ending next June 30. Budget director Harold D. Smith pointed out that the slash of $19,500,000,000 in estimated war expenditures was prompted by the end of the war in the Pacific. The cut was to $50,500,000,000 from the previous budget estimate of $70,000,000,000 for a one-front war. As a result of layoffs in war plants and other phases of the industrial economy, government receipts are now estimated at roughly $36,000,000,000 for the year, or $10,500,000,000 below those of the last fiscal year which ended June 30. The deficit Smith said in the newest revision which made obsolete the changes of last Aug. 1, will be about $30,400,000,000, $15,500,000,000 below that of the last fiscal year. The overall budget, as revised, will be $66,400,000,000, compared with actual spending last year of (Turn To Pare 6, Column 7)

Price Four Cents.

General MacArthur Arranging For Jap Formal Surrender To Be Held Sunday General MacArthur's Headquarters, Yokohama, Aug. 31 —(UP) —■ U. S. air and sea forces mounted armed guard over strategic point* within a 20-square-mile area of tho Tokyo plain today and Gen. Douglas MacArthur prepared to receive Japan’s surrender. In light drizzling rain and under grey skies armed units of the llth airborne division fanned out over the metropolitan Atsugi-Yokosuka-Yokohama areas. They set up guard posts at the main intersections, bridges, strategic points and around the buildings which have been taken over by the American forces. More than 4U.000 American army and navy men were ashore and thousands more were pouring in. But as they fanned out over the metropolitan region their numbers still seemed small. MacArthur in his new' headquarters at the new Grand hotel was busy arranging for the surrender ceremony Sunday. Lt. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright, his companion of Corregidor, arrived to witness the surrender. No untoward incidents of any nature with the Japanese were reported and it was said that they continued to cooperate fully. Tokyo itself was off limits to American forces but correspondents who inspected the Japanese capital said it was the "worst beaten up city" they had ever seen. Japanese informants placed destruction at "about 60- percent.” Yokohama was about 75 percent burned down by American incendiary bombing. But a good manv modern buildings in the downtown area were in good condition and American headquarters was rapidly being installed in these buildings. It appeared that it may be considerable time before any largo number of American troops enter Tokyo. Life in the city is at a complete standstill. No shops are open and only a few government agencies, the police and the official news service are functioning. In both Tokyo and Yokohama street cars and trains—in small numbers—are operating but there are few people on the streets. All* Allied prisoners in the Tokyo area, with the exception of one prison camp, have been liberated. Some 700 were released from the Omori camp. All records at this camp were seized by the recovered personnel team of the 11th airborne division. The Japanese bad held about 10,000 prisoners on Honshu island, 6,000 within a 100 mile radius of Tokyo and about 1,6v0 in Tokyo ami vicinity. (A Japanese government announcement broadcast by radio Tokyo said the main strength of the American Eighth army will land Sunday at Yokohama and Monday at Tateyamahojo, on the China peninsula at the southeast entrance to Tokyo bay. The announcement said the landings had been postponed from Saturday.) Fifteen to 20 towns and villages south of Tokyo had been overrun by American air-borne troops, Marines and bluejackets as the occupation of Japan entered its second day without untoward incident. Reinforcements still were pouring into Atsugi airfield, 18 miles (Turn To Page 3, Column 7) 66 Million Tires Planned Next Year Washington, Aug. 31—i(UP) — The War Production Board today schedtlTed the production of 66.000,000 passenger and automobile tires for 19441. This would be the highest production of automobile tires In the - nation’s history. The previous alltime high was 53,000,000 tires in 1941. WPB said 44,000,000 tires of the 1946 total .would be available for civilian replacements and export.