Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 43, Number 210, Decatur, Adams County, 6 September 1945 — Page 1

M&lii. No? 210

TRUMAN CHARTS RECONVERSION COURSE

Votes I® Harbor 1 lM er 3 ~e "~A<fipts Resolution ] "Gon Approval Os b resident Truman t i., .[ijMMBMBr Sept. 6 — (UP) — | TU* today voted for a spet ration-endorsed con j-ressiMp investigation of the •'f~A|jSarafo 11 io r disaster. Prompt >TI r hv ,llp > )o,lse w as promunder suspension unanimously adopted it introduced by senate IMkWc leader Alben W. HaikU® with the knowledge and !s™| ot President Truman. Baifiky said house speaker MMgSgyburn, D • Tex., promised tHffi the resolution would get eonsideration" in the AdlKistration hacking added ll| strong Republican demamHkad made a special con-s-X investigation the defeat ißPearl Harbor a foregone and Rayburn discussed the -Mki for such an investigation president at the White Htwis®yes terday. Barkley said fes wwident not only approved ijffllfgari|jMMEi>lution "but urged that I by any reason. ' >elflilsMSlfeitey's resolution calls for a committee of five sen five congressmen to complete and impartial iut of the Pearl Harbor •I’iSl’K and report to congress Ssfßfe approval came promptly whenßen. Homer Ferugson, It, Mle«»vho bad planned to offer hi-; resolution, endorsed the proposal. —K*SS|aEh nly <l ues f>°n raised was the scope of Barkley's n;.-:o’Eon was broad enough t.> events leading up SuforH&ent to the actual attack 'C ’t'* ll ® of 1941. assured the senate that M? tßolulion was broad enough ■'-rr-ftestigate everything that ’*<! tH|o the attack and the conse°f it-” He said It was JBaMliEKM>oiigh to investigate every jß3BSg l ' ellllllt ‘ iv ( 'O |,lle< ted ' with Rtack. including events as fte.tjfe as the Japanese Invasion lAfiSHBBB 011111 ’ 11 ' a floor amendment so that the investiga- ( ' over everything "relat a,l( i events and circumitnK leading up to or following 1 EjfiMMßley said the investigation 4 conducted without parJ 3HBp or favoritism toward s ’';’ Responsible official, military, civi,ian - “hieh or low, ■... o i dead. "Ufoould be conducted in an sSaßfecre of judicial response it ought to be so com-Uyj-BWBBFd so far that no person 'SHE/HE” Tn Pat&> 5. Column 4) ||jSn Infant Dies This Morning r W^ linp Irwin, infant daughtßlrthur and Frieda Jewel Ird at oc ' oc ' < thia morn■tSMP»e hours after birth, at the miles east of Decatur. in addition to the parents 3i ‘ 6 KB following brothers and oistG'sMlrs. Warren Hinkle of Lima i •^^HR. Doro,1! - v ' jin,my ’ Kiva ' Bai ‘ Stephen, Ca'herina .**s■<• hael, al! at home; and the Mr. and Mr.s. M. P. Decatur and Mrs. Elmer Van Wert, O. E ral services were held at t^il ' Blr ck tuueral home thio aftertlle ev - G' eu Marshall . «W‘ ng ' burial was iu the DeIt ery. ( ~ O ''■HEB ocrat THERMOMETER V ■Owmpfrature reading a- m> 69 p- m- 90 WEATHER IIIbHbK toni O ht and Friday. Con- , vHsrsd warm except becoming With Oc oasional thunder'ESHS* in west and extreme Portion F r ' da y- -

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Jap War Casualties Over Five Millions San Francisco, Sept. 6—(UP)— Japan reported today that she Buffered 5,639,360 casualties during the Pacific war, including 554,350 civilians killed or wounded in air raids. The Japanese army listed 4,470,000 of Tts 4,926,000 casualties simply as “sick.” The terrific toll wait disclosed in statistics submitted to the closing session ot the imperial diet today, radio Tokyo said.

Half Million Americans To Occupy Japan Famous American Flag To Be Raised Over Jap Capital General MacArthur’s Headquarters, Yokohama. Sept. 6 — (UP)—Gen. Douglas MacArthur will raise the famous American flag that f)ew over the capitol at Washington on Pearl Harbor day, when he enters Tokyo Saturday as head of occupation forces for Japan that eventually will number approximately 590,000 men, it was disclosed today. MacArthur’s headquarters officially announced that Allied occupation forces for Japan will consist of 18 army divisions in addition to a service air force and navy personnel. The bulk of the occupation forces will be American with some other Allied troops included, headquarters said. On the basis of 15,000 men per division, American combat troops involved would total about 270,009 men, while air force, service and naval personnel probably will bring the total occupation forces to between 400,000 and 500,000 men. As for other Allied forces, a headquarters spokesman said that was not yet settled but small forces from each Allied nation might participate. Headquarters also announced that a total of 7,000,000 Japanese troops will have been disarmed and demobilized by Oct 15, — 3,000,000 in the home islands and 4,000,000 in Nippon’s erstwhile “greater East. Asia eoprosperily sphere.” “It is believed to be the greatest force surrendered in the history of warfan*, ” headquarters said.

(Turn To Page 4, Column 2) 85,000 Japs Quit City Os Singapore British Occupation Troops Are Cheered Singapore, Sept. 6 — (UP) — More than 85,000 Japanese troop; laid down their arms and evacuated Singapore today as British imperial forces moved in to reoccupy the great far eastern naval base. Marching smartly through streets jammed with cheering natives, British and Indian troop; took over the dockyards and fortifications they lost to the Japanese more than three years ago. An official communique said the re-occupation was proceeding according to plan without opposition. The surrendering Japanese were disarmed and permitted to withdraw across the causeway from Singapore island to the Malayan mainland. British troops guarding the causeway found a number of Japanese attempting to carry off loot from the city. They were searched on the spot and stripped of all their booty. One Japanese officer protected the forced removal of his command from Singapore to the northern side of the causeway, because it meant living in native huts instead of the city’s swank mansions. He was "overruled” in short order. Among the 85,000 surrendering Japanese were 85 generals and an undetermined number of admirals.

Where MacArthur Will Run Conquered Japan I 4 •' E EL* i * « r <3l li ft 9 » I?” ■W3 hi Hi .111 i BjafiSlil 01 -J imiMWfe <v x WHILE GEN. DOUGLAS MACARTHUR makes ready for his formal entrance into Tokyo, his future headquarters are rapidljr being put in shape for occupancy. The "White House” of Tokyo will be th? former U. S. embassy quarters and this photograph, which was flown in from Japan, is the first to show the bomb-damaged building. The wreckage of automobiles litters the front of the American building.

18-Cent Increase In County’s Tax Levy Only Slight Cuts Made By Council The Adams county council pruned the county’s budget only lightly, sufficient to make a one-cent cut in the tax levy and iopped off one cent from the welfare department’s levy. The council allowed the additional five cent levy for the highway department and fixed the 1946 rate at 62 cents on eac.lt SIOO of taxables. This is an increase of 18 centu over the 44-cent rate applying on this year’s tax bill. It is two cents under the estimates filed. Prunings in the budget amounted to approximately $2,600, ranging from $lO to S3OO in certain appropriations asked by county officials. The reductions came close enough to tlie $2,800 figure needed to reduce the levy one cent, so the council ordered that the proposed 43-cent levy lie cut to 42 cents. Based on the county’s net taxable valuation, a one-cent levy produces $2,800. The levies on each SIOO, payable on taxable property next, year, compared witli those in effect this year are: Fund 1945 1946 County 31c 42c Highway None 5c Welfare 13c 15c Tite resolution approving the additional' five-cent levy for tho highway department was adopted unanimously. With the $114,800 to be received from the gasoline tax and the amount to be raised by local taxation, tlie highway department’s budget for 1946 totals $128,835. None of the requested appropriations was changed by the council. The 42-cent levy for the general fund will produce approximately $121,000, while the 15-cent levy for the welfare department will raise more than $12,000 toward; the total budget of $171,400. Tho combined 62-cent levy will produce in the neighborhood of $177,400. The combined 62-cent levy will produce in the neighborhood of $177,600 next year, for the general fund, highway and welfare departments. Appropriations Allowed In session this morning to consider requests for special appropriations and transfer of funds, the county council approved all the requests as filed. The items totaled $3,625, including $765 for the salary of the new attendance officer from August 15 to January 1. Previously the council had rejected this request. The attendance officer’s salary for 1946 was allowed in the 1946 budget. The tax levies will be certified to the Adams county tax adjustment -board, which convenes next Monday. The board will review the levies and has the authority to reduce rates, if they so deem it necessary.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thurs day, September 6, 1945.

Truman 'Don'ts' Washington, Sept. 6 —(UP) — President Truman gave congress some specific “dent’s” today. Among them were: 1. “In no case should rationing controls be removed if by doing so we should jeopardize our relief shipments to Europe and other distressed war areas." 2. "I urge that congress do not yet adopt a resolution proclaiming termination of the war or termination of the emergency of the cessation of hostilities." _ 3. ’“I urgently recommend that congress do not return the U. S. employment service to tlie states.” Sgt. Ray Schwartz Is Awarded Medal Decatur Soldier Is Honored For Heroism S'aff Sgt. Ray L. Schwartz, son of Peter Schwartz, 915 W. Monroe sheet, has been awarded the soldier’s medal for "distinguished heroi.m” while serving with the 6 th bombardment squadron, 39th bombardment group of the U. S. army air forces on tlie Marianas, in the Pacific. Sgt. Schwartz also previously received two presidential citations and an air medal for distinguished service with the air force. He is a radio operator on a B-29 ijuparfortress. Thg citation accompanying tho award of the soldier;’ medal reads: “Far heroMm on an island in the Marianas on May 19, 1915. Sgt. Scliwar'z was the radio operator on a B-29 aircraft that crashed and burned on attempting » a forced landing. The plane burst into flame immediately upon impact with the ground, the fires developing three wing tanks of high octane gasoline. Shor ly thereafter the gasoline which had c.pilled onto the ground along the length of the airplane caught fire, forming a wall of flame around the aircraft. Badly shaken up and dazed, Sgt. Schwartz climbed out through tho astrodome. Although he saw the flame; moun’ing higher and was aware that tlie plane was likely to explode any minute, he went, back to free a crew fnember who wan caught in the meshes of a parachute harness. He saw next a passenger who was hanging face down from a window and unable to free hlntcelf. Immediately Sgt. Schwartz ran to the man, released his foot and allowed him to escape. Not until then did he leave the burning aircraft, only to discover that the airplane commander had not escaped. Despite the imminence ot the plane’o exploding and .the warnings to stay away, he voluntarily returned to the burning aircraft and aided in get\ing the airplane com ma ntl er out. Sgt. Schwartz’s outstanding and courareobs actions refloct great credit on him .elf and the army air i. rco.” Sgt. Schwartz la now stationed on Guam.

Three Os Doolittle Fliers Still Missing Part Os Mystery Os Raid Is Cleared Up Washington, Sent. 6 — (UP) — Gen. Douglas MacArthur is certain to demand information from Japan on the fate of the only three Tokyo raiding Doolittle fliers atill unaccounted for, military observers believed today. >.f the fliers who participated in the history-making raid in April. 1942, cleared up the mystery surrounding the fate of several of Lt. Gen. Janies H. Doolittle's intrepid band at a press conference here yesterday. Their stories, together witli information already in the hands ot the war department, left still unknown the fate of only three of tin original Tokyo-bombing crew. The Japanese reported the execution of some of the original Tokyo raiders, but this lias neve? been confirmed. The three still missing airmo.i are Ist Lt. William G. Farrow, Washington. I). C., Ist. Lt. Dean H. Hallmark, Dallas, Tex., and Sgt. Harold A. Spatz, Lebo, Kan. They were among eight American fliers imprisoned and tried by the Japanese iu Shanghai in Au; - ust, 1912. Three others were the men who returned to this country yesterday alter their liberation from a Japanese prison camp near Peiping. They are Capt. Robert L. Hite, Earth, Tex,, Capt. C. Jay Neilsen. Hyrum, Utah, and Sgt. Jacob D. De Shazer, Madras, Ore. Tlie other two were Ist Lt. Robert J. Meder, Lakewood, 0., and 2nd Lt. George Barr, Madison Win. Hite, Neilsen and De Shazer sai l that on Oct. 15, 1942, they, Barr and Meder wore brought into court and told that all eight had been sentenced to death for killing innocent Japanese but that the emperor had commuted their sentences to life imprisonment. Barr was freed after ?he Japanese surrender and i,; now hospitalized in China. Hite said Meder died ia prlcon in December, 1943. after being ill 70 days and wasting away without medical attention. The three said they never saw (Turn To Pape 5. Column 4) Combat Casualties Show A Decrease Washington, Sept. 6—(UP) —U. S. combat casualties of World War II were computed at 1 070,452 today. This was a drop of 547 from the total computed a week ago. Navy casualty totals increased by 150 during the week, but army totals were reduced by 697 due to readjustments in the miseiug category. It was H(e second consecutive week the army figure has dropped Instead of increasing. The total indude J 25u,UJ6 dead, bJ.,261 wounded, 38,923 missing and 1.13,272 prisoners of war.

President's Message To Congress Gives Program For Peace-Time Nation

5 Navy Fliers Are Executed By Japanese Navy Reveals Japs Execute Five Men Downed Over Borneo Washington. Sept. 6 —(UP) —The navy revealed today that Japanese forces executed five navy airmen shot down over Borneo last Jan. 13. Names of the executed navy fliero were not revealed, and the navy gave no further details ot the executions. The executions were revealed in a navy announcement telling the story ot three members of the crew ot a Liberator bomber shot down in a dogfight with four Japanese figh'er planes. Four members of the crew of 19 • urvived. Three have just returned to an advance base in the Philippines after 179 days of wandering through the Borneo jungles, the navy said. The fourth made his way to safety separately. The navy quoted Lt. (j.g.) Robert J. Graham, Rosemont, Pa., as saying that nine crew members surviving the cra b. They separated in the jungle later when tho Japanese occupying forces in Borneo picked up their trail. They eplit into three groups. “Later, however, he (Graham) learned that the Japs had caught live members o£ the original party and executed them,” the navy said. The three navy fliers who reached the advance base in the Philip pines were Graham, aviation chief machinists mate Reuben L. Robbins, Omak, Wa. h.. and aviation machinists mate 2-c James R. Shepherd, San Diego, Calif. The four'll survivor was seaman 1-c Alvin M. Harms, Holly, Colo., All had been listed as officially mis. ing in action and presumed dead. The Liberator bomber went

(Turn To Page 3. Column 5) q — Court Docket Called Here This Morning Reckless Homicide Case Set For Trial The calling of the docket took place in Adams Circuit court this morning with Judge J. Fred Fi uchte presiding and a number of local attorneys attending the cei'cmony. G. Remy Bierly, prosecuting attorney, asked that the case of reckless homicide against Geral.l Grandstat'f in connection with the death of Mrs. Rutli Cooley of Day ton, Tenn., on August 10. 1944, lie set for trial on September 19. Judge William H. Schannen of the Allen circuit court. Fort Wayne, is tlie special judge in the case. Mrs. Cooley died of injuries and burn,; received in an auto collision a tew feet north of the intersection of the River road ant| U. S. highway 27. Grandstaff was charged with crushing into the Cooley car, which was driven by Mr. Cooley. The Tennessee couple was returning from a vacation trip in Michigan. The Adams county grand juty returned an indictment last December charging Grandetaff with reckless homicide. Mauy cases were being removed from the docket today. Judge Fruchte called off the titles of the cases and where action had not been taken for a year or more, the complaints were ordered left off the docket. Attorneys G. Remy Bierly, Henry B. Heller. Ferd L. Litterer and Nathan Nelson attended the morning session.

Studebaker Plant Offered For Sale St. I.on is, Sept. 6 — (UP) —IlGlenn Gulledge, manager of the local office of the reconstruction finance corporation today annotraced a number of plan’s being offered for -ale or lease by the RFC. They included: Fort Wayne, Ind. — Studebaker Corporation plant. o Survivors Os Houston Clear Up Ship Fate American Cruiser Sunk In Flames By Japanese Task Force Calcutta, Sept. 6—(UP) —Survivors, long given up for dead revealed today that the American cruiser Houston, which vanished wi'hout tiaee after the battle of the Java sea, was iiunk in flame; bj a Japanese ta-k force off the Java coast with a lose of 644 ci her 1,912-man crew. Os 368 survivors who reached Java's beaches and were captured by the Japanese, 220 were sent to Burma where 69 died along with 62 olher American and 20,090 Allied prisoners of war laboring in ihe isteaming sun on tonstruclijn of the Burma-Thailand railroad. The remainder of tho e rescued from the Houdton were sent t > Japan as Technician.-' and have n’t been heard from since. The Houston group of survivors and members of the 131st Texas (National Guard) field ar'iliery battalion also captured on Java were flown into Calcutta fr ,m Thailand yesterday. Mcut were gaunt and hollow-eyed and suffering from malnutrition. One out of every four of the 475 American -oldiers and ctrilorr working on the railway project died. One officer estimated that he 131st, which was only one week out of Pearl Harbor when the Japanese struck, had left onefourth of Its 25(1 survivors buried beside the deep cute and steep grades of (he railway. They lay mixed among the graves ot 150,0,0 Thai and Burmnse slave laborers who were also worked to death by the Japanese. (Turn To Pag* 2. Column 4) Rationing, Price Controls Continue

Truman Cites Need To Avert Inflation Washington, Sept. 6 — (UP) — President Truman warned congress and the nation today that some rationing and price control must continue through tlie reconversion period to avoid a repetition of the inflation and “disastrous” deflation that followed World War 1. “We must be sure this time not to repeat that bitter mistake,” he said. “We must not, however, allow inflationary dangers to obscure our vision of the possibilities of lower incomes and widespread unemployment,” the president added. “Our policy must guard against both contingencies." Mr. Truman said price chief Chester Bowles will “continue to resist unreasonable pressure" for higher prices on some commodities. Rationing will be eliminated only when the supply situation of a particular commodity permits. The government also will resist pressures for wage rate boosts which would imperil price (Turn To Pago. I, Column •)

Price Four Cents.

Prompt, Courageous Handling Essential To Launch Nation ‘ On Great Activity 1 Washington, Sept. 6— (UP) — 1 Pre. ident Truman told Congress In a message today that prompt and courageous handling of reconversion is essential to launch the Uni'ed Stales upon "the greateat peacetime industrial activity we have ever seen.” His message gave Congress the emergency and long-range programs, including “limited" lousiness tax relief in 1946. It was an urgent invitation to legislator.; to join Mr. Truman in 'determined action now." The extraordinary, 16,000 word document arrived on Capitol Hili witli supplementary reports. Tha President did not deliver it in person. “The next few montiw are crucial," tlte message said. "What we do now will affect our life for de•ades to come." Mr. Truman ayknow'-cdged that there will be “a great deal of in--vitable unemployment." But he said there was "no reason to fear either the immediate future or the yeat>j that lie ahead.” With lite promise of alm t immediate but limited and unspecified tax relief and more to come later- at least for business — tlte message warned that price lines must be held on reconversion and cost of living items. The Pro ident a ked for extension of the second war powers act—expiring Dee. 31, 1945—under which he exercises production and inventory controls as well as the right to order ailo.alionu of food, set-asido; of commodities and ra.ioning among conmtners. He urged Congres.- to avoid any arbitrary and wholesale abridgement of the numerous war powers vot.-d to the late Franklin Dalane Roosevelt. If some powers .should be eliminate.!, the President said, let it be on a selective basis. Otherwise there would be a ■ weeping and crippling abolition of powers variously authorized for "in time of war,” "during the present war.” "for the duration," or unlit the “cessation of hostilities.” The time has not arrived, he •mid, for proclamation . f "terminaion of the war." Mr. Truman indicated that ma.ts production industries must expect .it first to produce at a loss uptil they actually are in mass production again. Promising firm enforcement of price control powers, Mr. Truman said the office of price administration wpuld have hid complete support in tho ’.luld-the line program. Mr .Truman proposed limited tax relief effee'ive next year by means of a transitional revenue bill designed t .p . peed reconversion find ■xpatt ion of the peace-time economy. He proposed careful modernization of the entire federal tax structure to encourage business and aid consumer purchasing power. The latter was a hint of eoine individual tax relief in the future. Tlie President recommended a "substantial” immediate increase in tlie fair labor standards act minimum wage from its present 40(Turn To Page 2 Column 3) Death Car Driver Is Fined In Court Ralph Vannette, of the Homewood addition, pleaded guilty in Adams circuit court late yesterday as ernoon to driving an automobile without a driver’o license and was fined $lO atul costs, amounting to 121.05. Vannette was the driver of the car which struck Charles Longenberger, aged Adams county farmer, on August 25, at the corner ot Jackson und Second streets, resulting in the latter’s death. No criminal charge has been filed against Vannette. The arrest of Vannette wao made by city police, following aa investigation by police and (1. Remy Eicrly, prosecuting attorney.