Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 April 1944 — Page 1

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Here Is Your War In Italy—Tell The Home Folks It’s Toug

VOLUME 55—NUMBER 23

By REYNOLDS PACKARD United Press War Correspondent ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Naples, April 7.—This is a frank description of the allied campaign in Italy by ~ eorrespondents who have been in the field with the troops. It is not a cheery, optimistic report because that isn’t the kind of a war American, British, Canadian, African,

lis Times

FORECAST: Cloudy to partly cloudy and colder tonight; lowest about 36; tomorrow, fair.

Indian, French’ and Italian

FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 194

troops have been waging

against the Germans in this theater. vo The war in Italy is a matter of slogging ahead in some places a few hundred yards in a week and in others

of just digging in and trying

to hold firm at a stiff cost of

lives and limbs. It is a war ‘of mud and booby traps, of

hopes and disappointments. matic and unpleasant.

It is war at its most undra-

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice Indianapolis 9, Ind. Issued daily except Sunday

The men at the front want the people back home to

know that.

n'] v

I have been at the main 5th army front and more recently at the Anzio beachhead and at both places I was

impressed by the doughboy’s wish that the home folks

- know that their task in Italy

is “tough going.”

Some of them actually “dared” me to write how rough the going was in the mountains around Cassino and on the

PRICE FOUR CENTS

™

flat beachhead where soldiers fell “like cockroaches in a bathtub” when the Germans shoot down at them from the

surrounding heights.

Seven months of struggling up the Italian boot

“through mud and mountains and across bloody beaches

leave the allies today still short of Rome, the glittering Christmas objective of the armchair strategists at home

(Continued on Page 9 Column 1)

Bricker Steps Up Campaign in Speech Here

A CHAPTER ENDS— Politics Wins As Willkie's - Star Fades

By THOMAS L. STOKES

from | Willkie out of the G. O. P. presi

Republicans the political miracle of the 20th century— recipient of 23,000000 votes

public office, nor even ever - run for one. Today— fourth in a state | presidential pri- | mary, trailing three other candidates who

his in {friends made it clear that no con-

reception Bricker’s address before the Indianapolis Press club.

HAS NO SPECIAL PLAN IN INDIANA

Ignores Advice to Hit Hard; Criticizes New Deal, but

Not Roosevelt.

By EARL RICHERT * Although Governor John W. Bricker of Ohio announced here last night that now, with Wendell

dential ils campaign for delegates, his

race, he would intensify

crete plans have been formulated a Bricker-fdr-President organization in Indiana. “We have made no plans for Indiana,”

said Don Ebright, Ohio

Willkie Laughs On Backing

NEW YORK, April 7 (U. P))— Wendell L. Willkie, declaring that he felt “fine,” arrived in New York today and announced that his national campaign headquarters would be closed “immediately” as the result of his withdrawal from the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Willkie, accompanied by his wife, laughed off any -specific questions as to his future political moves.

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

ALBANY, April 7 (U.P) —~GovThomas E. Dewey sidestepped questions regarding his aspirations at rst press conference since Wen-

friends here who see the Dewey bandwagon rolling by. Some friends also were disap-| pointed because he failed to take their advice and “take off the gloves” ‘in his address before the Indianapolis Press club, his first official speech as a presidential candidate in Indiana. This is the ideal time, they ad-

(Continued on Page 16—Column 1) |

Off Query GOP Nominee

He declined to amplify his Omaha statement of Wednesday night, in which he said he was no longer a candidate because of his defeat in the Wisconsin Asked whether he intended to make any political trips or speeches in the near future, Willkie said: “Not that I know of. I'm going to devote all of my time to running my office and practicing law. This is my home, you know.” willkie, for the most part, appeared less jovial than usual and appeared tired. - He gave a hearty laugh, and raade no further reply when asked: “Will you support the Republican candidate, whoever he is?” Willkie said he did not intend to hold a press conference in the near future and had “no statement to make, whatsoever at this time.” Asked whether he had any plans to meet with Governor Thomas E. Dewey. now considered a leading Republican candidate in view of the Wisconsin primary result, Willkie again laughed and ‘declined to an“I made my statement in Oma-

“It was com-

f (left), Indiana G. O. P. national commitieeman, was host to Governor John W. . Cooper (right), former Ohio governor, at a

yesterday at the Claypool

CAN'T BE DONE? 'Fort' Makes Inside Loop; Crew Saved

By ROBERT RICHARDS United Press War Correspondent WU. 8. FLYING FORTRESS BASE, England, April 7.—Lt. John W. Raedeke of Waterville, Minn, who made the experiment over Europe, says he’s tired of arguing about it—the truth is that a Flying Fortress can do an inside loop. we ; ; Raedecke's report on the maneuver, subject of much scientific debate among fliers in London bars, was being made, he said, because fliers who had heard of it from a sergeant, shook their heads in disbelief.

“This is how it happened,” RaedeRe said, admitting that the plane the “Hit Parade,” could not be offered in evidence because she Was on a junk heap. “Fighters were pouring in from all directions. Our top turret gunner hit a Folke-Wulf 190 which exploded right in front of us and shunted off to the right, colliding with the Fortress next door. “That Fort went up on its tail and fell across our tail, taking away most of the rudder and one-third of the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator,

“That sudden pressure on our tail threw our nose up and put us in a complete loop. “I and the co-pilot, 2d Lt. Don Urban of Nazareth, Pa. realized we could not bring her back, so

(Continued on Page 9—Column 4)

PEACETIME LABOR BOARD IS URGED

Veterans in Auto Industry Make Post-War ‘Plans.

WASHINGTON, April 7 (U.P) ~— War veteran members of the United Automobile Workers (C. 1. 0) called today for immediate creation of a federal peace production board to plan, organize and direct reconversion of industry from war to peace. The proposal was part of a “full employment program” adopted by 135 U. A. W. veterans of world war I and II in the concluding sessions of a two-day conference here. The program calls for “post-war Jobs and sécurity—not normalcy.” In addition to the peace production board, the veterans proposed: 1. A post-war 30-hour week at 40hour pay. -2. A vast public works program— emphasizing housing—'not as a glorified WPA but as a permanent part of a healthy, expanding economy.” . 8. Federal operation of govern ment-owned plants in monopolistic or semi-monopolistic industries or industries “strategic to . national welfare and defense.” 4. Adjusted service pay, - ployment compensation and social security credit, educational and vocational training, and pensions “adequate to provide a decent living” for veterans.

RUSS BESIEGE ODESSA FROM LAND, SEA, AIR

Nazi Garrison in Black Sea Port Seems Doomed to Destruction. . MOSCOW, April 7 (U. P.).

|—Soviet forces laid siege by

land, sea and air today to the Black sea port of Odessa and the battered German 6th army trapped within a 50-

The defenders literally were jammed against the Black sea and being squeezed tighter by Russian forces relentlessly bearing down on them from a solid belt of bases less than 13 miles from the center of Odessa. ! German air and naval forces could offer little help to the begarrison because they have no major support bases closer than Constanta, Rumania, nearly 200 miles to the south. Heavy rains turned the terrain

(Continued on Page 9-—Column 5)

JAPS ARE FIGHTING IN IMPHAL AREA

NEW DELHI, April 7 (U.P).— Japanese invasion forces driving westward through India’s Manipur state have reached the Imphal area and are engaging the defenders of that British stronghold, a communique disclosed today. Adm. Lord Louis Mountbatten’s {southeast Asia headquarters re{ported that “small” enemy columns were attacking British positions around Imphal, but asserted that all these initial thrusts had been repulsed. The attacks apparently were made by Japanese flying columns moving down the Imphal-Kohima highway in the van of the main enemy force.

SIMMS IN LONDON— Petain Facing Execution or Life in Prison

By WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS, Seripps-Howard Foreign Editor LONDON, April 7. — Unless saved by a miracle or spared because of his eighty-odd years, Marshal Philippe Petain, head of the Vichy regime, will be summarily tried and shot like Pierre Pucheu as soon as the French Committee of National Liberation can lay hands on him. . Of that I am convinced after talking with fol- Marshal Petain lowers of Gen. De Gaulle in this country. Possibly his sentence might be commuted to life imprisonment, but his arrest, trial and punishment are deemed political necessity. He, more than the notorious

So Sa ei ei

HAMBURG HIT BY MOSQUITOES

R. A. F. Pounds Other Ruhr,’ Rhineland Targets; One

Plane Lost.

LONDON, April 7 (U. P)— Swarms of R. A. F. Mosquito bombers attacked Hamburg and targets in the industrial Ruhr and Rhineland last night and axis reports sald scattered allied “nuisance raiders” struck at Germany by daylight today. There was no immediate allied confirmation of the reported daylight stab at Germany, but the enemy broadcasts indicated that Anglo = American reconnaissance planes might be ranging over the Reich to photograph bomb damage or scout out new targets for the big allied bombing fleets. One British plane was lost in last night's operations, which rounded out 24 hours of widespread allied aerial blows against axis Europe from the north and south. U. 8. 8th -air force Liberators raked the Pas de Calais “invasion coast” of France yesterday. Fighter-escorted Flying Fortresses and Liberators from the Italianbased 15th air force struck again at the Balkans, although in considerably smaller force than in the previous days’ attacks on Rumania and Hungary. The big bombers hit at Zagreb airfield in northern Jugoslavia.

Home From

By LEO DISHER United Press Stall Correspondent ABOARD A BRITISH WARSHIP, April 6 (Delayed) (U. P.).—The British naval force whose planes knocked Germany's super-battle-

to its home base today to be greeted by resounding salutes from other

British Cheer Naval Force

Blasting Tirpitz

Reconnaissance photographs showed at least 24 direct hits with bomb totaling eight tons,’ but officlals said the scarcity of water spouts from misses indicated that actually the number of hits was “far greater.” It also was pointed out that no photographs were taken after the final wave of bombers attacked. The bombs silenced the Tirpitz's guns and wracked the’ ship’ with terrific inner and outer explosions. Set adrift, the Tirpitz was believed to have grounded by the stern, The fleet generally hailed the victory as decisive as that scored over the 26,000-ton Scharnhorst,

‘Hull's Aid Arrives to Talk

sunk in Arctic waters earlier his

{ { | |

INTY HAILED BY STETTINIUS

With British Leaders on War Strategy. LONDON, April 7 (U. P.).

Reaches England

| |

—Edward R. Stettinius Jr.,

“last desperate hope” of the axis to avert defeat by creating suspicion and distrust among the united nations had “signally failed.”

Stettinius issued his statement on allied unity to the press soon after his arrival for exploratory discussions with British leaders of a wide range of topics probably including diplomatic matters connected with the forthcoming invasion of Europe

The united nations are nearer now = learned to plan and fight together,” he said. “We of the united nations will not relinquish the co-operation and unity which has brought us so far along the road to victory.”

Confers With Winant

Stettinius conferred at length this afternoon with United States Ambassador John G. Winant, but had no other appointments immediately. In his statement, the undersecretary said he was “looking forward to full and frank discussions with British officials on many subjects of current importance,” emphasizing that the purpose of his visit was not to conclude agreements. He recalled that two years ago when he was in London as lendlease administrator, the united nations forces were on the defensive everywhere, while “today it is‘ the axis armies which are falling back.” “The enemy has learned to its sorrow what mighty blows we ean strike when our men, our weapons and our leadership are combined in common cause,” he said.

Mutual Trust Cited

The divide-and-conquer policy of the axis has foundered on united nations unity, he said, and with it has gone the enemy's hope of victory by dividing the combined strength of the allies through suspicion and distrust among them. “One of the essential mechanisms in preserving the unity of purpose and action between the united na-

(Continued on Page §—Column 35)

Hoosier Heroes—

DANFORTH LISTED AS WAR PRISONER

Reported Missing.

S. SGT. CHARLES 8S. DANFORTH JR. who has been missing in action over Austria since Feb. 24, yesterday was listed as a prisoner of war in Germany. A top turret gunner in the

forth, 914 ave, and son of Mrs. Hazel L. Danforth, 410 Villa ave. : ; Before enlisting in the army Jan. 15, 1943, the 21-year-old soldier worked at Holcomb & Hoke. He went overseas in September, 1943,

(Continued on Page 6 —Column 4)

LOCAL TEMPERATURES

6am... .. Tam... ] ‘$a. m..... 47 12( Noon),, 47

Sgt. Danforth

United States undersecretary of state, said today that the,

tions is the frequent exchange of

Turret Gunner Previously|

Edward R. Stettinius . . . axis has failed to disrupt United Nations by propaganda.

RITES DEVOTED T0 600D FRIDAY

"Hold Special Services On Crucifixion.

By EMMA RIVERS MILNER Times Church Editor

The multitude of Christians

HOLD LINE’ PRICE PLAN SUCCESS, MUST BE CONTINUED, FDR INSISTS

LONDON HEARS |

LOWER LIVING COST CLAMED FOR THE NATION

‘Report Comes in Face of

‘Little Steel’ Demands For Higher Wages.

WASHINGTON, April 7 (U. P.).—President Roosevelt today released with his emphatic approval a report

{stating that the “hold-the-

line” stabilization policy on prices and wages has succeeded in its first year and must be continued without change “in the critical months ahead.” The program, the report said, has helped to “slightly lower” the cost of living and maintain “one year of stable living costs — unprecedented either in this war or in the last

pacany are esc Chuo, Theaters: Here Boer

was signed by Economic Stabilizas tion Director Fred M. Vinson, Price Administrator Chester Bowles,

WASHINGTON, April 7 (U. P.).

marking Good Friday, today in Indianapolis, find prevailing conditions strikingly similar to. those of the first Good Friday. Thousands are expected to

places where worship will be held, just as they always do on this

service, the ages-old story of the crucifixion will be told again just as

tongues throughout all of Christendom, to the “uttermost parts of the earth.”

unto the ninth hour . . . and then when Jesus died . . . the earth did

part of the story to be read from the Bible. Darkness of War

Today, people kneeling to pray will be aware that on crucifixion day in our time the world again is covered with darkness, the darkness of war. And many of them, mourning the loss of some courageous young soldier or fearing for the fate of another, will seem to feel the quaking of the war-torn earth beneath their feet. Mindful of those folk among us whom the war has dealt with severely and of our youth away at the fronts, the Catholic church has requested that all attending the outdoor “Way of the Cross Devotions” offer prayers for the armed forces. The devotions were to be held from 2:15 to 3 p. m. in the

(Continued on Page 6~—Column 3)

Along Beac

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Naples, April 7 (U. P.).—Fierce patrol fighting flared along the Anzio front, a communique reported today, while allied field guns and armored tank destroyers joined in a shattering bombardment of German artil-

throwing increasing weight of artillery into the struggle.

| throng theaters, churches and all wr Pood Administrator Marvin

| Jones, and War Labor Board Chair{man William H. Davis. sacred day in this city. In each! The report's defense of policies

thus far followed was considered

quake and the rocks rent , , .” is!

—President Roosevelt had ne comment at his news conference

| today on the withdrawal of Wen-

dell L. Willkie from the Republican presidential campaign.

especially significant inasmuch as

it has been for nearly 2000 years. one of the keystones of the stabilizaIt will be sung and spoken in many

tion program-—the “little steel” wage limitation formula—is being’ at

| tacked in two quarters, The

Congress of Industrial or-

“Now from the sixth hour there | 80izations is now asking the war wad darkness over all the land; 1abor board to break that formula

| to give steel workers an increase in | wages. The board also is hearing | American Federation of Labor officials on their petition to have the allowable wage increases under the formula revised upward. Increases in basic, straight-time rates now are limited to 15 per cent of the rate paid Jan. 1, 1941.

‘Figures Don’t Lie’

The section of the report to the President on cost of living comes after a series of bitter attacks on various government indices of living costs, ° The report said that “the task of stopping the rise in prices has thus far been carried out” and added that “as a result, the cost of living, which before the “hold-the-line” order was rising three-fourths of 1. per cent a month, has for & solid year been held without change of any consequence.” Mr. Roosevelt interrupted his

(Continued on Page 16—~Column 2)

Fierce Patrol Fights Flare

hhead at Anzio

has been pouring material and

row—of his hold-the-line order and

2