Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 August 1943 — Page 1
J fore i
=ures_sowazp] VOLUME 54—NUMBER 126
By UNITED PRESS The allies passed three milestones on the road to final
| victory today when they r
outed diehard axis garrisons
from the Sicilian stronghold of Catania, Orel on the | Russian steppes, and from Munda airstrip in.the jungles of
the central Solomons. "The three resounding v
ictories climaxed struggles of
: , like duration 4nd makeup, and each marked a sudden axis collapse under the weight of inexorable drives.
‘The allied fighting men—Americans, Britons, Rus-
sans, Canadians—were on the march. The once terrifying |
axis hordes—Germans, resting.
Japanese,
Italians—were ye-
After announcements of the capture of Catania and
ea
¥ - Put ‘Er There, OI Pal
-
Mayor Tyndall, a dog lover himself, shakes hands with this Irish iter at the formal opening of the city pound’s downtown salesroom
’ at Tomlinson hall.
Indeed, It Was a Great Day A For the $4 Ragamuffin Dog
The: ragamuffin “sd dog had better prospects for a new home today he city pound opened a downtown salesroom to popularize the
rphaned pets. People crowded the salesroom
8% A oi S malt to bly the dogs.
ney were lined up at the door when it was opened at 9 a. m. By 10 lock six dogs had found new homes.
‘The dogs, all sizes and breeds, yelped in glee! as prospective customers petted them and gave them more attention than they propebly | had ever had. Jim Millikan, Traders Point, was
* ‘a happy boy when he received a
.
Collie, Bebe, as a birthday present prom his grandfather, Edward G. ereth, city purchasing agent. Bebe Yes the first dog purchased today. Mrs. A. A. Thompson, 2916 E. 46th st., bought a beagle hound and Miss Bertha Croly, 930 N, Lynn st., miso purchased a beagle. - A white gpitz found a home with Russell Rickey, 2007 Forest Manor." fogs sold included a fox terrier and » springer spaniel. ' { 100 Dogs to Sell ! Mrs. Leona Frankfort, superin#endent of the dog pound, said there fwere about 100 dogs to sell. “People are buying dogs almost .@s fast as I can sell them,” she
/ med
rats 10
Mayor Tyndall and Police Chief Blifford Beeker participated in the
ther |.
POLICE BULLET KILLS BURGLAR
Youth Failed to Heed Command to Halt Flight.
BULLETIN
The youth killed by a merchant policeman early today was identified by Mrs. Fred Hopper, 411 Dorman st., as her 16- -year- -old son, Frederick.
One of two unidentified burglars was shot fatally in the head by a
FORECAST: Cooler tonight; continued cool tomorrow forenoon.
Orel, the finishing touch was
THURSDAY, AUGUST 5; 1943
put on the united nations vie-
tory. day by a report from the South Pacific that United States jungle troops had captured the Munda airstrip and were chopping up the remnants of its Japanese garrison. 1t said the enemy defenses had been crushed ang the mop-
up had begun.
4
The yard by yard push against the main Japanese base in the central Solomons became. a complete rout of the enemy as the Americans closed in with tanks and flame
The potential import of was tremendous.
throwers, the reports from the scene said.
the fall of Catania and Orel
The British 8th army's seizure of
-Sicily’s second city portended a quick cleanup of the rest of the island. The Russian army occupation of Orel unhinged
a01 AMERICANS DIED IN SICILY UP TO JULY 22
Then Are Unavailable, Stimson Says.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (U. P:).~— American casualties’ in Sicily up to July 22 numbered, 501 Killed, 3870 wounded and 2370 missing, Secre-
nounced today. : JHe said Italian and German prisoners taken by the allies now number about 100,000. The number of enemy killed and wounded also is believed to be substantial. © Stimson said American asin were mederate considering the nature of the fighting and the terrain. British casualties were not a great deal higher than the American, he added. While details of casualties since
believed to be light.
20 Per Cent of Raiders Lost Stimson said losses of ‘American B-24 Liberator bombers in the raid| on the Ploesti oil fields in Rumania amounted to 20 pjer cent, but a devigstating blow was. stragk «at the vital oil resources there, representing about one-third of the axis oil production. A total of 177 Liberators participated in the raid. Fifteen or 20 American planes were shot down over the target and as many more | failed to return from the mission. ' Light were forced to land in Turey. More than 50 enemy fighters were destroyed in the raid, on which the Liberators flew 2400 miles from the Middle East. The American bombers flew in a} heights from 100 to 500 feet, assuring pin point accuracy in bombing although this submitted the raiders to the maximum enemy resistance. Hails Orel Fall Stimson hailed Russian capture of Orel as a major victory and said that as a result the Russians now threaten Bryansk and other German positions in the Smolensk area. Likewise, he said, the capture of {Catania by the British 8th army in
Details of Casualties Since|g
tary of War Henry L. Stimson an-{]
July 22 are not available, they are!
This airview of the Munda area
0ST RECORDS
=
the whole German front in
" Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice Indianapolis Ind. Issued daily except Sunday
Russia and proved Russia's
striking power in her first summer offensive. It was uncertain whether the Russians now would try
to push on to Bryansk,
75 miles northwest of Orel, but
observers regarded it as certain that Soviet army pressure would continue, slowly forcingnthe Germans back and gouging great chunks of the Nazi war potential. Some observers felt that the loss of Catania and Orel would sharpen the issue in the minds of the German high-~ command as to what means still exist by which it can reasonably hope for a stalemate in the war, which is going -against Germany at increasing speed. * The Italian cabinet of Marshal Pietro Badoglio was
® =» =
shows clearly the jungled growth through which U. S. troops from Viru Harbor fought to capture the airfield on New Georgia, The landing strip at Munda is still smoking here after a bombing attack (the point has been bombed more than 100 times). islands that Americans might use as stepping stones in seaborne assault,
STYMIE PROBE La
merchant policeman at the rear of] {Sicily, will oblige the enemy to the Bedford tavern, 119 Park ave. | withdraw into northern Sicily in the early today. direction of Taormina and Messina.
Editorials
Health Col.
formal opening of the salesroom. Sponsored by the Animal Welfare fleague, the opening of the downtown salesroom resulted from Hoosier Novelist Booth Tarkington's recent plea for better treatment of what he called the “$4 dog.” "He msked the city council to set aside; Xo funds for their care.
*paps INEFFICIENCY
| IN WAR PRODUCTION
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (U. P.) 2 Brig. Gen. Albert J. Browning, director of purchases for the army rvice forces, today threatened to ck down on inefficient war producers after a trip to Great Britain which is “more brutal” with the Inefficient producer than the United tes. Browning found Britain's war economy: “leaner” than ours—people living on lower wages and shorter rations and manufacturers working on lower profit margins.
LOCAL TEMPERATURES
| f .0 10a. m. ... 72 [9a.m. ... 7% "11am. ... 75 ‘8 a.m. ... 71 12 (noon).. 7 9am ...7% 1lpm.,."79
6a m ..
TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES
89 19
In Services. . Jane Jordan.. Millett Mowrér ...... 16 Movies Obituaries Pyle .. Radio .. Ration Dates. 17 Mrs. Roosevelt 15 Side Glances. 16 Society ....18,19 7|Sports ,... 20, 21 Hold. Ev’thing oH State Deaths. 5 Homemaking. 19/war Living.. 17 4 ; 3 Al Williams... 1
Clapper ..... 15 Comics Crossword ... 2] Curious World 21
. 16
ashions . 19 8. Ferguson 18 ancial.. 12, 13
B=
; . This narrow corridor along the east Howard Egols, 62, of 922 Eugene coast is highly vulnerable to attack by air and sea. Stimson declared that allied unity, of a strength unprecedented in history, is the most powerful weapon being used against the axi§
t
st., merchant policeman, said he saw a man running from the rear of thé tavern and ordered him to halt. “When he kept on running I fired fat” him with my revolver and he fell,” Mr. Egols said. Police said they found the victim, 19 or 20 years old, lying in the alley
‘lat the rear of the Park ave. address
with a bullet hole in the back of his head but he was still alive. He was taken to City hospital where he dieg several hours later.
i
mond Shonk, 1410 LeGrand ave. Mr. Shonk, who was found at work today, said his car had been brok into and looted during the night. No other marks of identification were found in the youth's clothes. The dead youth's companion escaped through a side window of the tavern with between $3 and $4 in cash. Police said the youth’s fingerprints were not found in any of the bureau of identification files. He was about 6 feet tall, weighed 150 pounds and was dressed in a blue shirt, dark blue trousers and a blue felt hat.
Over the air from station WISH tonight, an educator, a writer and an. exiled anti-Nazi leader will discuss the post-war fate of smaller European nations as part of the Indianapolis broadcast of “America’s Town Hall Meeting of the Air.” Admission begin at 7:15 p. m. at the Murat templé, will be by war bond. The broadcast is sponsored by.the Marion County League of Savings and Loan Associations. George V. Denny Jr.,- noted radio lity and of
Hoosier Heroes
Three Fliers | From State Win Honors
Decorated T. SGT. RUSSELL D. GOSTAGE, Greencastle, has been decorated with the distinguished flying cross, according to a communication from Lt. Gen. George C. Kenney, commander of the American fifth air force in the Southwest Pacific area. The A communication was. received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gostage, Gréncastle. The 23-year-old flier was cited for . “extraordinary achievement
Police found a stolen gasoline ra- | tion book in the wounded man's! clothes, bearing the name of Ray-|
to the broadcast, to,
of
(Continued on Page Three)
Educator, Writer, Nazi Foe on ‘Town Hall' Program Tonight
town hall broadcasts, expects to leave soon affer tonight's broadcast for England where he will conduct an educational tour of military centers to help train servicemen to meet changing ideas of the postwar world.
swers with their hands tied behind their backs,” Mr. Denny said. “These men will have much to say about the kingl of world they want to live in after the war but they must’ be prepared to deal with many new. problems when they return
/minent or whether they were lost
| Says, ‘I’m a Republican.’
“Soldiers can’t find the right an-|
Grand Jury ry Asks. Search | For Julietta Infirmary
Papers. -
By NOBLE REED The Marion county grand jury has asked that a new search be made ‘for the missing original contracts and records of the half-mil-lion-dollar Julietta infirmary building project which has been under investigation for six months. The new grand jury, which was impaneled July 6 to resume investigation of county contracts not completed by the previous jury, began inquiry into the Julietta expenditures yesterday. After making a preliminary review of evidence in the five-year-old project, whose cost ran from the original estimate of $263,000 up to $500,000 without being completed, grand jurors were stymied by failure to have original records in the case. When the previous grand jury began investigating the project six months ago, the original contracts could not be found in the auditor's] ‘office, No further search has been made. Whether the old papers were removed from the files when investigation of the project became im-
Around it are scores of small
Ionian Sea
Capture of Sicily’s ¢ last comer severs sea communications between ltaly’s east and west coasts, for Allied wedge in Mediterronean extends to Europe mainland
|
Cape Passers
Mediterranean Sea.
(Continued on Page Three)
POLITICS TO BLAME, OPA HEAD EXPLAINS
Ouster Rumored, Williams
Like most rationing officials, Birkett L. Williams of Cleveland, OPA administrator for this region, is pessimistic. His attitude has been forged by factors other than the bleak rationing outlook,:- however. For, according to reports from Washington he’s slated to be replaced by John K. Jennings, former Indiana WPA administrator. | Asked whether he could account for His rumored release, Mr. Williams, here yesterday to address board chairmen of 74 Indiana counties, replied: “Haven't you heard? -I'm a Relican.” didn't pull any strings .to get this job, and I won't pull any to keep it. I don't know anything about politics, and if I'm going to}. have to learn to keep this jap, then |: I guess I'm on my way out.” :He later qualified this remark, however, by stating that “we've hired more than 2000 persons in. {Continusa on Page Three) |
p
This map shows the allied path in the final stages of the conquest
of Sicily.
Quakes, Lis
Spell History Of Catanians
- By UNITED PRESS CATANIA, SICILY'S second city with a population. of 244,000
and 10th in size in all Italy, has
suffered more from. Mt. Etna's
volcanic outbursts and earthquakes ‘than she ever has. from war.
Located in the southern foothills of the .towering mountain and ‘midway’ along the eastern
coast of Sicily, Catania was almost completely wiped out by an
earthquake in 1693 ‘and several times has been partly destroyed or. threatened by- streams of lava. It was & prosperous town more than: 2600.-years ago. Under. the
"Romans it became a lavish city
even though torn periodically by Founded ‘by Grecian . colonists, Gatanias first figured historically in.476'B. C. when Hiero I con-
quered it.apd depopulated it: re- | _iswept awdy When. the ‘O'Brien
cusans and Pelopon washed five: houses . Zar. Sion wnstream. - The
WEATHER ALL THAT IS PROTECTING ROME
Allies Plan New Attack as
Soon as Possible.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, North Africa, Aug. 5 (U. P.).—The allies are planning to renew their air attack on Rome as soon as possible, it was revealed today with disclosure that only unfavorable weather con(Continued on- Page Four)
15 ARE ‘DROWNED IN W. ‘VIRGINIA FLOOD
SUTTON, W.. Va, Aug. 5 (U.P).
|
FINAL HOME
PRICE FOUR CENTS
Catania, Munda And Orel Captured
summoned to meet today, and it was expected to give as much attention to Orel as to Catania in deciding where ltaly goes from here. The cabinet may have been summoned in expectation of the fall of Catania and a breakup in :Sicilian resistance. - But there still was no positive indication that the Badoglio government was prepared for unconditional surrender. . Carrying out the allied intention of helping Badoglio make up his mind, Flying Fortresses pounded Naples for the fourth time in four days. The bombardment of the big port spearheaded the aerial assault renewed ,against Italy last week-end.
AZIS FACING ENTRAPMENT “ON ETNA LINE
Complete Conquest Is Termed ‘Matter of Time’ as Main Defense Roads Are Cut by Allies in Sicily.
By VIRGIL PINKLEY United Press Staff’ Correspondent
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, North Africa, Aug. 5.— Allied armies captured the axis base of Catania and the Mt. Etna road junctions of Paterno and Gerbini today, crumbling the southern anchors of the enemy defense line and threatening to trap crack German forces under a terrific air, naval and artillery bombardment in northeastern Sicily. With the liquidation of the Sicilian campaign described as “only a matter of time” after the British 8th army entered Catania, the Americans and Canadians poufided for-. ward through stiffened resistance and heavy mine fields on the central and north coast fronts in their drive to push| the axis back toward heavilybombed Messina, last Por of exit from the island.’ Thé fall of Catania was followed quickly by the seiztire' of Paterno, | which is an important road junction about 12 miles to the northwest in a web formed by moun-;Troina toward Randazzo and the tainous roads and a railroad loop- Canadians hammering toward Ading around the west side of Mt. rano, which guards the only road Etna. The allied gain cut one of | by which ghe enemy can circle west the main roads by which the Ger-|of Mt. Etna, were reported fighting mans and Italians could escape from [in the most difficult terrain, The the Catania trap and put British|enemy had laid heavy mine fields
force r or astride the only rail-|in their paths and moved up mobile road on the western slopes of Mt. (Continued on Page Three)
~
{| Etna. Allied warships and bombers hammered the other escape road on the east side of the peak. The fall of Paterno’ and Catania
terbianco, mid-way between the two": bigger towns and on the main escape road out of Catania. (Misterbianco means Mr. White.) The Americans pushing from
» » »
Russians Closing Corridor Of German Army's Flight
By HARRY SHAPIRO United Press Staff Correspondent MOSCOW, Aug. 5.—Soviet armies recaptured Orel, one of the strongest axis bastions on the whole 1800-mile front, today and smashed on through crumbling German defenses in a race to trap the fleeing remnant of the garrison of 250,000. Eight Soviet columns were converging on frantically retreating
| Germans attempting to escape over two ‘narrow dirt roads through a
{steadily-narrowing corridor to the
.lappeared to dopm the town of: Misa A ad
southwest? (Radio Berlin said the whole Orel salient as well as the city itself was being evacuated by German troops “according to plan” after removing “all military installations, material and supplies.”) The Soviet avalanche rolled up the German hedgehog defense sys-
threat to Bryansk, biggest German base on the central front 58 miles west of Orel. The Russians quickly liquidated
» » »
individual German pockets cut off by the speed of the main army’s retreat and then pushed on in pursuit of the enemy. German rear guards fought desperately to stem the Russians, but apparently nowhere were able to halt them completely. Orel fell after bloody street bat-
tem at a rate that posed a directitles that boosted Nazi losses on-the
Orel front alone yesterday to some 6000 killed, 236 tanks destroyed and 138 planes shot down. ‘Hundreds
(Continued on Page Three)
u u n
American Jungle Troops Swarm Over Japs’ Base
By GEORGE JONES United Press. Staff Correspondent
MUNDA AIRPORT, New Georgia Island, Aug. 4 (Delayed) —The ‘battle for Munda airfield ended today, except for mopping up, when
sweatstained American jungle troops poured onto this strategic airstrip,
For the past three days, their
defenses have cracked wide open. |
We believe now that they began evacuating high-ranking officer's and some troopers by destroyer to Kolombangara island to the northeast several days ago, leaving a rear guard to protect the evacuation. The battered Japs were instructed to “fight to the death” for their emperor. They are still hurling a weak challenge from Kokengolo hill, extending from the airport in a
—Fifteen persons—10 of them young children—were reported drowned or missing today as Little O'Brien] creek went over its banks in a flash’
{ flocd which caused heavy damage to
-
crops and property. Other streams were flooding. and Red Cross and civilian rescue work- | ers were. evacuating residents in a wide grea. . The 15 persons : were- reported |
: two
northwesterly direction.
American artillery, which has tor- | {mented the Japs since the start of the campaign, poured hundreds of |
'shells on this position in preparation for the final extermination .of the Japanese remnants. Other American - troops moved \north, attempting to cut off the would-be evacuees. Small craft last night sank a small Jap ship in the narrow ‘Blackett straits and damaged two barges in early stages
an objective which they had struggled yard by yard for 356 days. The battle for New Georgia island itsel has not ended, but already it has been turned into rout for the stubborn Japanese defenders.
BULLETIN STOCKHOLM, Aug. § (U.P.).— The Swedish foreign office announced today an agreement with the German government, ending’ traffic of German troops and war materials across Sweden this month.
On the War Fronts
Aug. 5, 1943
| SICILY: British 8th army captures Catania, blasting off anchor ef . Etna defense line and opening way for cleanup of island. :
RUSSIA: Red army captures Orel; unhinging German defense front in triumphant climax to Russia's first summer offensive of the war.
PACIFIC: United States ids : forces. capture Mma in central