Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 February 1943 — Page 6

ROMMEL DRIVEN] BACK 21 MILES

Allied Planes Return to Sky, Help Drive Germans to Gap Region. (Continued from Page One)

_ Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery’s British eighth army started the offensive that has now carried it to the Mareth line. Thus the tide of battle in Tunisia - swung sharply in favor of the allies with the German push exhausted and the eighth army, about 100 miles away from other allied forces in Tunisia, threatening Rommel’s flank from the south. Large numbers of prisoners were taken by the Americans and the British. On the plain in front.of Djebel Hamra alone the Americans captured 300 Italians and enough small arms and other weapons to equip a battalion.

Nazi Losses Considerable

The Germans made a desperate attempt to disengage their armor and infantry from the British in the Thala area. But the British tracked them every step of the way in the retreat while American artil- ~ lery blasted away at the German columns that were winding back along roads over which they advanced three days ago. Then the Americans, timing their action with the British, struck out from the Djebel Hamra area and forced the axis troops back to within three miles of the Kasserine gap.

The full extent of the German losses |

still are unknown, but it can definitely said they are considerable. One factor in the German defeat was that the bad weather broke after 10 days, allowing the allied air force® to get into action on a big scale. Bombs Make Pass an Inferno

The retreating Germans caught a fury of cannon fire, machine-gun bullets, and bombs from flying fortresses, Mitchells, Marauders, Bostons, and British and American fighters. ~ . The Kasserine pass was a roaring hell of exploding bombs. Marauder ‘bombers, escorted by Lockheed Lightnings, swung back and forth | over the pass, scoring direct hits on gun emplacements. Flying fortresses ranged over to the eastern side of the pass and bombed a road choked with axis vehicles. The fortresses also struck at the town of Kasserine itself and inflicted severe damage on a column . of German motor transport which got itself bottle-necked in a narrow

What You Buus With | WAR BON [| H]

purchase of War Bonds today.” Farmers are taking extra good care of the farm implements. They can’t buy them today. But with War Bond savings they'll be able to buy new farm equipment when the peace comes.

Farmers are helping in the war effort by the production of food. But increased income should go into War Bonds and Savings, not scarce, high-priced consumer goods. Buy more and more War Bonds with your increased profits today. You've Done Your Bit, Now Do Your Best.”

"SOMETHING TO POP IN EUROPE

It May Be by Allies or by Axis but It’s Likely to

Be Audacious.

(Continued from Page One)

pendent on the interminable supply line around South Africa. To frustrate this—and to help the Russians, who are again raising the ¢ry for a second front—the allies may be forced to undertake an offensive in Western Europe before the axis can recover from the mauling it has received in the east. One thing is certain. The Nazis are rushing back from the Volga and the Don as fast as they can do it and still maintain some semblance of a fighting front. Unquestionably, the Russians have cracked the whip behind them at every jump. Nevertheless the indications are that the Germans had yet another excellent reason for stepping fast—the growing allied menace fn North Africa and western Europe. A dispatch from Bern, Switzerland, states that German observers are bringing back reports of “extraordinary” activity in English ports and along English roads, indicating that “something big” is in preparation there. A similar report from Zurich tells of trains crowded with German troops, “most of them seasoned veterans, ” pouring through France “night and day” toward Spain, ' A third dispatch mentions heavy troop movements away from the eastern front, while a fourth says some 35 German divisions are moving toward the Russian front.

Each Trying to Beat the Other Experts here say these reports do

not necessarily conflict. They could all be true. In fact that is the sort of thing to be expected at this particular time. .The Nazis may be replacing some of their best divisions in the east with older and less seasoned recruits, while in England, France and North Africa both the axis and the allies are maneuvering} for position. Each side may be trying to beat the other to the draw —to “something audacious.” If Spain were forced into the conflict, and if this could be done so that the first we knew of it would be an eruption across from Gib-

[& | raltar in Spanish Morocco, our task # [in North Africa would become tre-

Amazing NEW Pep... Vitality...

mendously complicated. Highways and railroads follow. the coast line pretty closely. Our communication corridor, therefore, is very narrow, with the sea on one side and the Sahara on the other. The riddle of “where is Hitler?” may soon: be answered. There have been rumors that he is dead, .violently insane, or confined someplace by his general staff. Any of

{ |these could be true. But a better

explanation may be that Hitler and his military advisers have been busy working out some desperate final plan to escape the disaster now closing in about him. To succeed, it must be audacious. #

MEET A. A, IRWIN, GARDEN EXPERT

(Continued from Page Ore)

pumpkins squash. Thereupon he elaborates on the fact that these are always placed in separate classes. Pumpkins are pumpkins -and squash is squash. There's really no srgumen; :

ANOTHER acvit that keeps Mr. Irwin busy is broadcasting on WIRE at 8:30 a. m. every other Wednesday with Martha Meadows. Right now they're doing a series of programs on victory gardening. Here’s a man who has up-to-the-minute information, which is placed at your disposal. Questions on fertilizer, seeds and many other subjects are answered in short order. Mr. Irwin knows what it’s all about and doesn’t have: 10 Yefsr 10 & DOOR for the

| answers.

Mail your questions to The ‘Times. Mr. Irwin will help you

solve all your . victory = garden problems.

demand, Ja

“Build for Tomorrow with your!

FARE TAGE i

7 [FOES OF MERIT FEEL ‘BG STICK’

Personnel Funds. (Continued from Page One)

erful clubs were being wielded over the merit system’s opponents. Legislators said that if Rowland Allen, personnel board member, and W. Leonard Johnson, personnel director, would resign all argument over the merit appropriations in the budget would be ended. Whether or not they resign—and they have indicated they will not— the Republican leadership is going ahead with its plans with several Republican legislators already having been called to the “green carpet” in Republican state headquarters to be brought back in line. The probable situation shaped up thus: Senator Thurman Biddinger, G. O. P, floor leader, will use his influence to have the appropriation restored and he probably will be successful. The house, where opposition to merit is the strongest, probably will refuse to concur unless Mr, Allen and Mr. Johnson resign in the meantime. : The matter then would be thrown into a conference committee which can be “stacked” by Lieut. Gov. Charles M. Dawson, presiding officer in the senate, and House Speaker Hobart Creighton to carry out the policy committee’s wishes, Both Dawson and Creighton are members of the policy committee that decided to retain the present merit system, Some opposition legislators contend that Mr. Gates is fighting for the merit system chiefly because he “wants to be governor.” If the Republican leadership’s strategy is successful, there may develop a struggle among the individuals over which of the “high command” should receive public credit for saving the merit system.

STATE MAY BUY TRIMBLE HOME

Considered for Executive Mansion; Inspection Due Today.

(Continued from Page One)

described the present governor’s mansion on Fall Creek boulevard as a “disgrace” to the state of Indiana. The 18-room mansion is so close to the boulevard that there is little privacy for the chief executive and his family and in the summer the dust rolls into the mansion from the heavily-traveled thoroughfare. The present mansion also is too small for the receptions which the governor customarily holds. Political leaders think that this is ‘the “right time” to buy a mansion. The action would be taken by the G.-O. P.-controlled assembly in approving an appropriation for the purchase and the immediate beneficiary would be Democratic Governor Schricker. + This, they think should stop any

happen if they waited two years when there may be a Republican governor and another Republicancontrolled legislature. The present governor's mansion was built in 1908 by the late Henry Kahn at a cost of $30,000 for the house itself. His estate, which ran down the creek, virtually was ruined when the city ran Fall Creek boulevard through the property. The city paid Mr. Kahn $65,000 for the house and grounds and the city park board, not being able to find any practical use for the house, voted. May 25, 1916, to present the house to the state as a home for its gOVernors. The 1919 legislature accepted the gift under a 99-year lease renewable forever at the option of the state. The state, however, according to the legislative act, may surrender the property to the city at any time for park purposes and it is presumed that this will be done if the new mansion is purchased. The 1921 legislature appropriated $20,000 for furnishing the present mansion and it was first occupied by Governor and Mrs. McCray.

BLUE'S FUND PLEA SUFFERS SETBACK

Prosecutor Sherwood Blue's hopes to obtain more investigators for his staff were blocked momentarily today with the adoption of a house amendment to cut the amount of money proposed for investigators. Rep. Betty Malinka (D. Gary) reduced the amount proposed in her bill for the hiring of new investigators in Lake and Marion counties from $20,000 to $6000. As the measure now stands, Mr. Blue would be able to spend only $1000 a year more than is now available to increase his investigative staff.

. URGES “PLAY” SHOE LIMIT WASHINGTON, Feb. 2¢ (U. P.). ~—Price Administrator Prentiss M. Brown today appealed to consumers to limit their purchases of “play” shoes to one pair per person when they are released from rationing toMOrTowW.

cry of “politics” as would certainly}

Itching Blisters? Cracks Between Toes?

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H.V.222

they will not keep sprouting up in the garden.

Blue grass sod should be plowed under in the fall; however, that is

are going to have to spade and cultivate the garden by hand, it will be more satisfactory to remove the sod first, being ‘careful not to remove over one inch of soil when you cut the sod. Do not throw the sod away, but stack it up on the back of the lot and let it compost until next spring, then use it on next year’s garden, If you are fortunate enough to get your garden plowed, you may leave the sod to be plowed under. There will be danger of cutworms on sod ground. When you set your early cabbage or tomato plants, wrap a piece of paper around the plant to prevent the cutworms from cutting them off,

water under the bridge now. If you|*

Here Are Answers to Your Queries on Victory Gardens

(Continued from Page One)

Please give me information as to the correct spray to use for scale insects on fruit trees and when is the proper time to apply this spray? :

A dormant spray of oil emulsion or liquid lime sulphur. applied before the buds on the trees start opening-up. Now is the time to apply this spray, being careful to apply it when the‘ temperature is above 55 degrees, For complete fruit tree spray schedule consult your county agricultural agent. ® » » We have 200 fruit tress and would like some suggestions on the marketing of the fruit. With the increased demand for all fruits and vegetables to use fresh or for home canning, there should be no problem in marketing fruit either direct to the consumer or through the stores his year.

replace, but -that doesn’t mean their services should be scorned. Three million unskilled workers ‘obviously are better ‘than no workers at all. ~The plan to mobilize them is another refutation of Mr. Bromfield’s charge that the department is doing nothing. Te the contrary, it indicates that we’ are making every effort to get every worker we possibly can into the fields to help maintain production of the food and livestock we so urgently need. Again, Mr. Bromfield complains that “no figures are given out about the hundreds of thousands of acres of soybeans, potatoes and corn still left unharvested. None are given out about the soybeans that cannot be marketed _because the secretary, when urging farmers to plant more last year, overlooked the fact that soybean processing plants are limited in

capacity.”

Disputes Soybean Claim

UNHARVESTED CROPS cause some loss of food nearly every year, and there is no doubt that lack of labor resulted in more waste than usual in some areas in 1942. I have referred to these losses at press conferences and elsewhere. The figures concerning the extent of the loss will be published when available, The statement that I overlooked the limited capacity of soybean processing plants also disregards the facts. A fats-and-oil program was proposed by the department in March, 1942, and at that time attention was called to the fact that the soybean processing capacity could not handle the increased acreage called for in our production pro-

gram. ; At that time, plans were made to ship soybeans to crushing mills in the South and in other areas where there might be excess crushing capacity. Our reports show that contracts have been signed for crushing more than 12,000,000 bushels of soybeans in plants that ordinarily crush cottonseed or peanuts, and that additional quantities will be crushed out of the main soybean area as the beans are harvested. This plan avoided the use of new steel for processing plants .which later would have stood idle, as at this date there is no shortage of soybean crushing facilities. » 2 tJ

Some Herds Increased

MR. BROMFIELD complains of the sale of dairy cows “by the thousands” to butchers for slaughter, and implies that the production of milk and dairy products has suffered major disaster because the department has done

nothing. It is true that some dairy ‘cows have been sold for slaughter, mainly because of lack of suffi-

cient skilled labor on dairy farms.

Wickard Defends Plan

For Civilian Farm Army

(Continued from Page One)

Our reports indicate, however, that a much larger proportion of the dispersed herds have been taken by other dairy farmers to increase their herds. 4 The department moved some time ago to meet the threat to milk production caused by the sale of cows for slaughter, setting up a program for the purchase of dairy cows offered for sale and the placement of the cows with: dairy farmers on other farms or in other areas desiring to increase herds. This program is now in operation, and many cows that might otherwise have gone to slaughter have been saved for further production of milk.. Incidentally, the department’s most recent figures indicate that the total number of dairy cows on farms in the United States increased by more than half a million last year. These are some of the major complaints in Mr. Bromfield’s four articles. He also considers the draft an “inadequate scheme,” questions the size of our armed forces, charges me with working “against the best interests of the average, hard-working farmer,” and even questions the willingness of farmers to continue their efforts to maintain production in the face of their difficulties, » » »

Farmers Patriotic

HE QUOTES one farmer as saying: “I and my family are all. right. We will eat. When the city people haven’t enough to eat, maybe Washington will do something about this situation.” I do not believe that the great majority of farmers over the country feel that way, because I know that the great majority are good, honest, patriotic farmers and that they will continue to do their best. The lot of a farmer is one of risks and hard labor and long hours. His burdens are greater in wartime than ever before, but I am confident that he will meet his individual difficulties willingly and unselfishly; and that for the most part he will meet them with more resourcefulness and determination than Mr. Bromfield indicates in his lengthy list of personal complaints. As a farmer, I have faced some of the difficulties Mr. Bromfield describes. I, of course, do not represent that I have made no mistakes, and I submit that my capacity as a public official is a matter of opinion. However, I find nothing in Mr, Bromfield’s articles that leads me to believe he had a better

grasp of the farming situation, ||

either from the standpoint of an operator or from a national viewpoint. In carrying out his program of complaints to the press, it is my hope that at the same time he will not be unmindful of his obligation as a good and patriotic citizen to continue to do all he can to increase production of food.

gestion Suffers Plenty, Says Lifelong Resident. Sluggish Elimination and Muscular

‘lieved.

Among the. thousands of wellknown residents throughout Indiana who are happily and gratef praising Retonga for the relief

Vitamin B-1 medicine brought them is Mr. Oliver A. Morgan, of 1738 N. Fourth st., a lifelong and highly respected resident of Terre Haute. Declaring that Retonga relieved him of distress that had bothered

gan states: “I guess everybody who has acid

Pains Also Promptly Re-|

purely herbal gastric tonic and|.

him for about .two years, Mr, Mor-

indigestion suffers plenty, and Ij.

MR. MORGAN THANKS RETONGA FOR STRENGTH ‘TO WORK ALL DAY AGAIN

Anybody Who Hs Has Acid Indi-|

"|GIVES REPLY ON WELFARE PROBE

Senator Van Ness Defends Purpose in Letter to

Governor.

Senator John' VanNess (R. NValparaiso) today sent a letter to Governor Schricker replying to the governor's letter earlier this week in which the governor. asked for a speedy investigation of the state welfare department to keep “a cloud of suspicion” from hanging over the department for the next two years. Senator Van Ness is the author of a: resolution now pending in the house to create a commission to investigate the welfare department and make a report to the 1945 legislature. ? “There is nothing in this resolution to prevent the commission from reporting at any time and I have no doubt that periodic reports will be given to the public as the work progresses. The members of the public welfare board and the director should and will be heard,” Senator VanNess wrote.

Only ‘Scratched Surface’

you are, of ‘eliminating these evil practices,” prevail on the members

ture to avoid further delay in the passage of the resolution. Accord‘ing to many statements the public is construing the action of some of the senators of your party as an attempt to block the passage of this measure and to stop any further investigation. The action of the house members of your party will either | =F=T =

vestigation is welcome.” Senator Van Ness’ reference to “evil practices” was made in connection with the startling report | == given him on the floor of the senate

“If you are desirous, and I believe |=

of your party serving in the legisla-| =

confirm this or show that an in-|=F=—=

recently of sworn Aestinany attained ' by the special legislative | investigating committee which ended its study of the welfare department on Feb. 15. He said that the members of that committee had “just scratched the surface” and that they were unanimous in their opinion that much more time should be given to investigation of the department than that which could be done during just the 61 days of the session. “I hope with you, governor, that a complete investigation will vindicate the welfare department,” Sen-

ALTENHEIM ELECTS NEW ’43 PRESIDENT,

After ‘completing 17 years as president of the board of directors of the Altenheim old peoples’ home, Joseph C. Gardner is now serving as honorary president. Adolph G. Emhardt Jr. was named president at a recent meeting, and other officers are Harry Link, vice president; Charlotte D. Riess, recording secretary; Anna J, Schaefer, corresponding secretary; Charles C. Kistner, finance secretary; Theodore Schuller, treasurer, and Louis Adams, Emma Minter

ator Van Ness said.

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