Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 43, Number 215, Decatur, Adams County, 12 September 1945 — Page 1

j.XLIH. No. 215.

CONTINUE ROUNDUP OF JAP CRIMINALS

Budgets Fixed lor Community Ld For 1946 I Combine Campaign I With National War I Fund In October ■ The Decal’" - Community Fund's for 1 946 ,otals $ 9 - Ofis ' to Kiel' is added this city's share ■ the national war fund, making ■ total of $1(5.983. which the Kanization will attempt to raise Kina the campaign to be launchK about October 15, Herman 11. Keckeberg, treasurer of the ■nil, announced today. directors of the Decatur Knimunity Fund met last night Kd approved the estimates for Ke budget, which were formerly Kssed on by the budget commitK Carl C. Pumphrey, president. Ed members of the committee Etended the meeting. ■ The final decision on the date Er launching the drive will be Kermined Monday evening at a Eeeting with Rev. C. P. Maas of Erne, county chairman of the Ear fund. Allocation of the war End. totalling $11,593.15, of Kiich Decatur assumes $7,918. to Kerne, Geneva. Monroe, Pleasant Kilis and Preble, will also be ■one at the meeting. | The Decatur Budget ■ The war fund and Decatur Kmmunity Fund budgets for the ■rive, follow: war fund, $7,918: Koy Scouts, $1,165; Girl Scouts, KhO: Salvation Army, $1,000; Knuth committee of Woman’s club ■or operation of teen canteen and Kther youth activities, $2,600; Kperating expenses, SSOO. ReKerve for contingencies, $3,000. ■ The directors explained that ■the budget allowed the Boy ■Scouts an increase of SIOO for the ■Anthony Wayne Council assessment and increased the Girl ■Scouts' budget from a nine month ■to a year’s basis. The teen can■leen fund was reduced approxiImtely SI,OOO, for the reason that ■the committee did not ask for as ■much money as a year ago. Ex■penditures last year for heating ■plant, booths and putting the ■building in shape for use will not. ■be necessary this year, it was ■explained. [ Financial Reports Given Each one of the organizations supported by the Community fund submitted an annual report to the Decatur Community Fund directors. The reports follow: Boy Scouts Balance on hand, Aug. 22, 1945 Community fund, receipts 1065.06 Total receipts $1,547.17 Disbursements Stove for scout cabin $ 25.00 "“Pair fireplace 10.09 Supplies 36.81 Install end repair stoves— 30.58 enb Scouts 50.00 Banquet tickets 3.75 Anthony Wayne Council.. 700.00 “nip at Shroyer lake 12.37 mee troops to Big Island 225.00 Total expenditures ...$1,093.49 “lance on hand $453.63 . Girl Scouts ’ceipts from fund $574.50 Expenditures barter fees $ 16 .02 stationery ~ 25 postage 39.49 i)'' eSSIOnaI service 150.00 lt,i? niP lance on hand $60.41 Teen Canteen Expenditures for the teen cantor 1 « r , tlle year e,, ding Septeni- ,, L follow: including oil b “n>er, booths, countPaintin tableS ’ Plumbing, North —H,963.43 Utility k „ Pl a ysround._ 600.00 Supplies , 1700 ° for fountain 770.86 urn To Page Column 5) °TEMDe AT T Osmometer 8 oq M ERATURE readinq 10:00 aZ! 54 Noon m 58 Mostly eU E ? THER •bower* 1 c,OU(l y with thunderlight r a i ln . Muth • nd occasional "W and ? h "°? h portlon t0 ‘ <o»| a "“ Thursday. Continued

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

War Time Abolishment Is Voted By House Washington, Sept. 12— (UP) — The House voted unanimously today to abolish war time and turn the nation’s clock back one hour to prewar standard time on Sept. 30. The bill to put an end to the present emergency daylight saving time which has been in effect since early 1942 was introduced by Rep. Lyle H. Boren, R„ Okla. It now goes to the Senate, where swift concurrence is expected. Federal Court Changes Made By President Biddle Appointed American Judge On Military Tribunal Washington, Sept. 12—'(UP) — President Truman today announced a series of changes in federal district and appeals court benches and disclosed that he uad appointed lormer attorney general Francis Biddle to be the American judge on the international military tribunal to try Axis war criminals. •Mr. Truman also announced the resignation of Elmer Davis as director of the Office of War Information, which is now in the process of liquidation. Neil Dalton, Louisville, Ky.. who has been next to Davis in the OWI setup, will serve as ac.ing director to preside over liquidation of the agency. The liquidation must be completed by the end of this year. Thti>e are the judgeships filled today by the president: E. Barrett Prettyman of Washington to succeed Justin Miller as associate justice for the Court of Appeals in file District of Columbia. Former Missouri Senator Bennett C. Clark to succed Truman Arnold, resigned, on the same district Court of Appeals here in the District of Columbia. ( Wilbur K. Miller of Owensboro, Ky., to fill the vacancy created when Fred M. Vinson, now Secretary of the Treasury, left the Di.trict Court of Appeals branch here to join the Roosevelt administration during the war. Alexander Holtzoff of Washington as judge of the U. S. District Court of the District of Columbia. John J. O’Connell of Pittsburgh to be judge of the Third District Circuit Court of Appeals, a new judicial post created by congress.

(Turn To Page 4, Column 6) Herbert Ehlerding Memorial On Sunday Hold Service For Luzon War Victim Memorial services for Pfc. Herbert Ehlerding, 27, son of Gustav Ehlerding of Preble township, wili be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the St, Paul Lutheran church at Preble. The Rev. A. T. Koehler, pastor, will conduct the service. Pfc. Ehlerding was killed in action by Japanese mortar fire on Luzon island in the Philippine, May 7, 1945. He was a member of the 38th (Cyclone) division and was a veteran of more than 16 months service in the Pacific war theater. He entered the army April 19, 1941, and received baeic training at Camp Shelby, Miss., Camp Carabelle, Fla., and Camp Livingstone, r_a., before being sent overseas in December, 1943. Pfc. Ehlerding had been awarded the American defense medal, the good conduct medal, Philippine liberation medal, Asiatic-Pacific thea’er medal, and the combat infantryman badge. He wco born in Preble township June 12, 1917, attended the Prebie Lutheran school and was a' member of the St. Paul Lutheran church. He assisted his father in farming before entering service. Surviving in addition to the fa’her are two sisters, Mrs. Frank Schuller and Mrs. Vern Linker, and one brother, Louis.

First World War II Vets To Receive State Bonus

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HONOR MERAL WEARER George J. Hall, left. Stoneham, Mass., ex-army sergeant, and Miss Elizabeth T. Riley, Allston, Mass., discharged WAC, receive th- first SIOO state bonuses for World War II veterans Massachusetts State Treasurer John E. Hurley is shown making presentation to the in Boston.

Marine Corps Lists New Discharge Plan Cut Point System, Reduce Age Limit Washington, Sept. 12 —(UP) — The marine corps announced today tha*, effective immediately, all male officers and men over 35 or with 70 or more discharge points will be eligible for release. The critical score wor women marines remains at 25, however. But all personnel, women as well as men. who are 35 or older will be eligible for discharge, the marine corps naid. The new conditions for discharge eligibility apply to personnel, whether they are serving within the United States or overseas. The critical score for male personnel was initially set at 85 on Aug. 15, and this is the first reduction of that score. The critical score does not apply to enlisted men serving four-year enlistments in the regular marine corps. The previous discharge age. set on June 29, 1944 was 38 for male narinc.s .serving within .the coninental limits of the United States. Today’s action lowering the age applies to ail personnel, officers and enlisted, men and women. The marine corps credit system allows one point for each month of service from Sept. 16, 1940, to Sept. 1, 1945; one point for each month overseas or afloat between the came dates; five poin’s for each decoration and bronze service star, and 12 points for each dependent child (not exceeding hree) under 18 years of age. La Moil M. Dailey Awarded Silver Star Discharge Reveals Award Presentation T/5 La Moil M. Dailey, formerly of Rockford, Ohio, now living in .his city at 909 Dierkos street, was awarded the silver star for heroic service in the army, his honorable discharge, filed with the county recorder, reveals. Mr. Dailey is a veteran with eight years service in the army to his credit, the discharge notes. He .served in the Luzon and North Solomons campaign in the Pacific, and was with the medical uetachment of the 148th infantry. Besides the silver star, he holds the Asiatic-Pacific theater ribbon, with two bronze stars; the American defense service medal; the Philippine liberation ribbon with one bronze star and the good conduct medal. He enlisted in the army on Dec. 20, 1938, and previously had served about 18 months in the service. The silver star is an award ranked higher than the bronze star which is conferred on soldiers for meritorious service.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, September 12, 1945.

Pennsylvania Train Is Wrecked In Ohio Bucruo, 0., Sept. 12—(UP)—The Pennsylvania railroads' westbound Red Arrow Limited; today was wrecked near Tiro, 0., about 15 miles northeast of here. First reports indicated that at least six persons were injured, including engineer C. E. Snyder and fireman C. R. Coerst, both of Toledo. They were taken to a hospital a) nearby Shelby, 0., where they were reported in critical condition. - - o _. Half-Million Japs Surrender In Asia Ceremony Is Held Today In Singapore Singapore, Sept. 12—(UP)—Gen. Seiohiro Itagaki, using the official seal of absent field marshal Count Juichi Terauehi, today formally surrendered nearly 50.1,000 Japanese troops in the southeast Asia aiea to Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten. The Hitler-inustached, our-faced I’agaki applied Terauchi’s seal to the finst eleven copies of the surrender document at 11:15 a.m. in the conference room of Singapore’s municipal building. Itagaki was flanked by three Japanese officers on either side. He faced Mount bat ten, who stood across the table with Bri'i-h Maj. Gen. W. R. C. Penney. Penney handed the stamped documents to the supreme commander after Itagaki had placed the official eeal on them. Before the ceremony, Mountbat,en, af’er entering the marble pillard council chamber alone, read Terauchi’s telegram expressing regrets over being “unable to pay homage to you r excellency. ’ .Mountbatten then explained why the 71-year-old Terauehi, wh o claimed illness, was not present. Mountbatten stressed that troops of his southeast Asia command would have retaken Singapore whether lhe Japanese had decided :u surrender or not. During the ceremony Itagaki and the Japanese delegation stood with immobile features, except when Itagaki occasionally scowled. American Lt. Gen. Raymond A. Wheeler, deputy commander of the southeast Asia command, cat on Mountbatten’s right. Preceding the ceremony Mount-

(Turn To Page 2 Coiuum Motion Pictures Are Shown To Lions Club Three interesting and instructive motion pictures were shown at the weekly meeting of the Decatur Lions club Tuesday evening. The movies were on the part American railroads played during the war, operation of “The Weasel,” an amphibious vehicle manufactured by the S’udebaker Corp., and a news reel of the Japanese capi.ulatLn. N. R. Steury was chairman of he program.

Hirohito To Remain As Spiritual Leader Future As Temporal Leader Is Uncertain Tokyo, Sept. 12 - (UP) — Gen. i Douglas MacArthur will permit I Emperor Hirohito to remain spirii tual and moral leader of Japan, i but his future as temporal leader jawai’s future developments. The supreme occupation com- ■ mander outlined these and other ; views on Japan to three corresl pendents representing the Allied press at his headquarters in Yokohama yesterday. Don Starr of the Chicago Tribune, who waa present for the combined American press, said MacArthur “made it clear the occupation forces would not tamper : with the religious faith of- the Jap- . anese, thus leaving the Emperor j the spiritual and moral guide of his worshipful subjects. ’ “On the o’her hand,” Starr i said, “pos ible changes in the Em- , peror’s pastoral leadership are subiject to future developments. There is room for hope that the Emperor . himself will display democratic ! librealism. i “But for the immediate present, his position 1; a ma'tet* for speeu- ' lation in which the general refusI ed to indulge.” MacArthur's decision not to meddle with the Emperor’s spiritual ' powers means a perpetuation of Japan’s Shinto religion, in which the Emperor is regarded as a god who can do no wrong. Shintoism has been denounced bitterly by many critics of Japan. Smrr said MacArthur also; 1. Expressed the belief that (Turn To Pag-e ?>. Column fi)

Barn And Equipment Destroyed By Fire Mutschler Farm Is Fire Scene Tuesday A fire of unknown origin destroyed a barn an I several thousand dollars’ worth of equipment, hay and grain on the Fay Mutschler farm, five miles east of Decatur, at about 5 o’clock yesterday morning. Th£ tarm is tenanted by Chester Barker, who was awakened from his sleep by a telephone call from a neighbor, informing him that his barn was afire. A valuable riding horse was in the barn yard. A tractor and combine was burned, Joe Korteuber, driver of the city fire truck, who answered the call, stated. Water was pumped on an adjoining building and on tile house, preventing the flames from spreading. Only part of the loss, which will be heavy, is covered by insurance, it was stated. The farm is near the Jackson home and farm, also owned by Mrs. Mutschler, and is known as the former Alt farm.

Black Dragon Society Is Abolished-Tojo Is Given Even Chance To Recover

President Truman To Visit Missouri Home President's Travel Plans Are Announced Washington, Sept. 12—(UP) President and Mrs. Truman will spend the next week-end at their home in Independence, Mo, the White House announced today. The President will leave by plane for Kan-as City at 12:30 p. m. (CWT) Friday, taking off in his special four-engined C-54 at the national airport. The White House also announced other travel plans by the chief executive. He will be in Statenville, N. C., on Nov. 2 to address an adjourned setnion of the North Carolina sta'e senate. On the week-end trip to Kansas City and Independence the President and Mrs. Truman will be accompanied by the President’s personal secretary, Miss Rise Conway, and an old Truman family friend, Mrs. Alvin .1. Accola of New York. Sen. Alben W. Barkley, D., Ky.. will fly with the President as far -as Paducah where the presidential plane will land at 3:50 p.m. (CWT) Friday. Barkley will leave the flight there for a week-end speech in Ken: ucky. Then the President’s plane will fly to Scottfield, 111., where it will land at 4:50 p.m. (CWT) Friday to let off Miss Reathel Odum, Mis. Truman’s secretary, who is going to her home in Illinois for a vacation. Then the President and Mr.-. Truman will continue on to Kansas City. (Turn To Page 5. Column 7) Bluffton Youth Is Killed Last Night

Bluffton, Ind., Sept. 12 —(UP)— Richard Rush, 16, Bluffton, Was. injured fatally last night in a traffic accident. He was riding a bicycle while hanging on a milk truck near Poneto, when his trousers leg caught on the truck. Army Planning Cut To Two Million Men Patterson Defends Demobilization Plan Washington, Sept. 12—'(UP) Undersecretary of War Robert P. Patterson told the Senate Mili’ary Affairs committee today that the army might cut to 2,000,000 men by July 1 instead of 2,501',000 as previously es’imated. Patterson said earlier that 6.t>oo,ooo would lie discharged by July from the total of 5,500.000 a;, the end of the European war. He added, however, tha* the army may actually be reduced to 2,000,000. He based the lower figure on estimates of 500,000 for the occupation force in Europe, 90J,000 in the Pacific and 600,000 in training, supplies and "strategic reserve.” Patte:<son said the army now had approxima’ely 2,500,000 in Europe and 1,900,000 in the Pacific. The Undersecretary said that because so many soldiers already have more than a year of service he saw no chance of halting the draft before July unless the occupational forces are reduced. He predicted that no more than 300,000 voluntary recrui’s would enlist by that time. Patterson promised to “see to it” that high point veterans already returned to this country would "get out” promptly and not be kept in idleness in army camps. Patterson was the first witness in public hearings ordered by com(Turn To Page 2, Column 5)

Japan Branded Liar For Claim On Atom Bomb Claim Os Continued Radio-Activity Is Found To Be False Oscura, N. M„ Sept. 12—(UP)— Twenty one news correspondents walked into the world’s first atomic bomb crater here Sunday and today Japan stands branded a liar for her claims that continuing radioactivity — X-rays — killed persons who went into atomized Hiroshima after the Aug. 5 smash. Maj. Gen. Leslie R. Groves, commanding general of the atomic bomb project, charged that Japan's lack of medical skill and not lingering X-rays was the real cause of continuing deaths in Hiroshima. Groves based his charges on new Japanese reports just transmitted to the United States by American expert*- studying the effects of history’s first atomicbombing of living human beings. Groves said the Japanese now admit that all harmful radioactivity had disappeared from Hiroshima 11 days after the blast. The Japanese also admit, he said, that the “relief workers” whom radio Tokyo claimed were fatally burned by entering Hiro shima after the bombing were actually survivors of the atom blast. They were in the city when the bomb hit. They received radio burns then. And, Groves said. Japanese medical men either fail ed to examine their injuries properly or did not treat the victims ‘as we know how to treat these burns.” Meanwhile the 21 correspondents and photographers to whom the government showed the first experimental crater here are hale and hearty proof that Japanese propagandists lied in their appeal for world sympathy. The newsmen were flown to the Xlamogordo air base and traveled □ver 100 miles by motor coach to the arid valley at the foot of the Oscura mountains. Before alighting from the busses they were handed canvas ‘booties’’ to slip over their shoes “merely to make sure you don't pick up any stray particle that might be (radio) active," Groves /Turn Tn r»9srn ? r*nl*imn 5)

John Bauman Killed Al Sturgis, Mich. Former Resident Os Adams County Killed John Bauman, SO, ot Sturgis, Mich., former resident of Monroe township, died Tuesday afternoon it the Sturgis memorial hospital of injuries suffered Sunday night when he stepped in front of an auto driven by Glen A. Brackney, of Howe. The aged man suffered a fracured skull and a broken leg and was in critical condition from the time of the accident until his death. Bauman moved from Monroe township to S urgis about 25 years ago. He i.s survived by three sons, Fred Bauman of Pleasant Mills, Sam of Climax, Mich,, and Ed of Battle Creek, Mich.; one daughter, Mrs. Ella Beebe of Battle Creek, Mich.; four bro the rs. Adolph, Albert and Fred Bauman, all of Decatur, and Pete Bauman of Berne, and one sister, Mrs. Henry Hirschy, Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon at a funeral home in Climax, Mivh,

Price Four Cents.

Admiral Shimada, Who Planned Pearl Harbor Raid, Caught In Continued Drive BULLETIN Tokyo, Sept. 12—(UP)— Field Marshall Gen Sugiyama. one of the top Japanese war lords who ordered the attack on Pearl Harbor, shot and killed himself today, and a suicidal purge appeared to be sweeping through Nippon’s discredited high command. Tokyo, Sept. 12 — (UP) —Gen. Douglas MacArthur today ordered the abolition of the notorious Black Dragon society in his sweeping campaign against Japanese war criminals which netted another prize catch, Admiral Shigetaro Shimada, former navy minister who planned the Pearl Harbor attack. Shimada was arrested at his Tokyo home while American doctors fought an apparently winning battle to save the life of the sui-cide-bent primier under whom he served, Gen. Hideki Tojo. Tojo was reported “resting comfortably” at a Yokohama military hospital. MacArthur, in another of tiie ■iwift series of moves to shackle Japan's' former warlords, ordered the eradication of the Black Dragon society and the arrest of seven of its leaders. The immediate dissolution of the society, long one of the most influential groups in Japan, was demanded. Coincident with the arrest of Shimada and four other war criminals by American military police, supreme headquarters ordered the seizure of the Black Dragon leaders. They were listed as Rychei Uchida, Col. Kingoro Hashimoto, Seigo Nakano. Toyasaburo Kikuchi. Koki Horota, Oketora Ogato and Prof. Genchi Kato. Strengthened by a direct blood transfusion from an American sergeant, Tojo was given a better han even chance to recover from his suicide attempt and stand trial as Japan's No. 1 crimin il. His condition was described as ‘very satisfactory” at an Ameri•an military hospital in Yokohama. Two more Japanese army suicides were revealed, one by a forner commander of the Japanese Philippines army and the other iy a public relations officer at mperiai general headquarters. Besides Shimada, American military police also took into custody as war criminals ; n American civilian — Mark L. Streeter, wiio allegedly wrote and participated in Tokyo propaganda broadcasts after his capture on Wake island —along witli an Australian army officer, a Filipino puppet diplomat and a German diplomat. The 61 -year old Shimada, No. 3 on lhe list of Japanese war criminals. was arrested by Maj. Paul Kraus, who burst into Tojo’s home yesterday after he fired a bullet into his chest Japanese sources disclosed the two army suicides.” One, Col. T. Oydomari, public relations officer at imperial general headquarters, killed himself, with a pistol after poisoning his wife, son and daughter only a few

(Turn To Pape 4, Column 6) Harry Essex Manager Auto License Bureau Harry Essex, Republican county chairman, today became manager of the auto license bureau in this city, succeeding Cal F. Peteiwon, who held the appointment for the past three years. Mr. Peterson is employed by the Pennsylvania railroad in Fort Wayne. He is a former Republican county chairman. Mr. Essex stated that there would not be any change in the bureau's personnel. Mrs. Roy Bieberich, who has been in charge of the office, will continue in that capacity. The bureau is located in the Heiman building, where Mr. Essex and James Andrews maintain their real estate and insurance office.