Roseburg news-review. (Roseburg, Or.) 1920-1948, January 04, 1943, Page 1, Image 1

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VOL. XLVII NO. 230 OF ROSEBURG REVIEW
FRENCH, AIM-" AN FORCES REPULSE
NAZIS' PANZER I tSAULT IN TUNISIA;
REDS KNIFE DEL .R INTO CAUCASUS
Fliers Also
Take Toll of
Tank Supply
Air Combats Result in
Destruction of 28 Nazi
Planes, Damaging of 34
LONDON, Jan. 4. (AP)
French forces effectively backed
by United States anti-tank Run
ners and planes hurled back n
heavy axis armored attack yes
terday southeast of Piclion and
captured both German and Ital
ian prisoners, dispatches from
allied headquarters in north Af
rica announced today.
Correlated with this action
were two raids by American air
men, flying light bombers and
fighters, against axis armored
equipment concealed about the
port of Sousse, some GO miles to
the east, in which half a dozen
tanks were destroyed or burned
and many others were damaged.
Braving bad weatiier, the
fliers struck with bombs, cannon
and machine-guns-. One Lockheed
P-38 was lost, but , the pilot got
down safely. i
It was a spectacular followup
10 a great aispiay 01 growing ae
Jied air power in Tunisia ,nt the
week end in which American and
Uritish planes shot down 2S en
emy aircraft, damaged 34 others
and battered axis supply bases.
French infantry, motorized
cavalry, some artillery and anti
tank units bore the brunt of the
German-Italian thrust in the re
gion of Foudouk, southeast of
Pinchon. The French comman
der cited American anti-tank
crews and planes for their sup
port. It was the first reference to
American troops in action in that
immediate area, although U. S.
forces were known previously to
(Continued on page 4)
In the Day's News
By FRANK JENKINS
T
HE big news comes from Rus
sia, and it's still good.
Not much Is doing elsewhere.
PRESENT emphasis in the news
is on the Kotelnikovski area.
At Kotelnikovski (which, you
will recall, was a big Gorman
base for operations against Stalin
grad) the Russian thrust se?n:s
to have split into two prongs, one
pushing to the southeast to.vaid
Elista (consult your map) to
clean out the Germans who at
one time threatened Astrakhan),
at the mouth of the Volpa. and
the other pushing on down the
railroad toward Salsk, which is
the junction point for a rail line
taking off for Rostov.
By threatening German com
munications (in a way that will
be made clear by your rnapt
these thrusts are expected to com
pel the Germans to withdraw
from the neighborhood of the
Grozny oil fields, which at the
peak of their offensive they
threatened but were never able to
get actually into their grip.
The Germans took the .Maikop
oil field, on the Black sea side of
the Caucasus strip, and the ex
perts expect them to put up a
hard fight to hold it as long as
possible. The Maikop field is
small, but oil, even in small quan
tities, must be getting precious to
Hitler.
TWERE is significant mention
of bitter German counter at
tacks in the neighborhood of
Millerovo significant because
Millerovo Is the northern jaw of
(Continued on page 2)
Attack on St. Nazaire Submarine Base
Costs Seven U. S. Bombers; RAF Hits
Lowlands, Nazis Retaliate On Britain
LONDON, Jan. 4. (AP)
British bombers attacked targets
in the Ruhr last night to top off
a day long Sunday assault on
nazi strongholds which Included
a smashing raid by U. S. army
heavy bombers on the St. Nazaire
submarine base.
Three of the RAF craft were
reported missing from the night
assault. DNB, official German
Hews agency, said a town in the
Ruhr suffered damage.
The U. S. army air force lost
seven bombers on the St. Nazaire
raid the greatest loss yet suf
fered on raids on German-held
territory but the communique
announcing the raid reported that
bursts were seen on the target
and fires were started among
the shipbuilding and repair fa
cilities of the huge base.
It was assumed that both
Flying Fortresses and Liberators
took part in the raid, but offi
cial reports did not specify the
types used. The communique
Crooner Crosby's
Colonial Mansion
Destroyed by Fire
HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 4-1 API
Charred framework and a mass
of blackened debris were all that
remained today of Crooner Bing
Crosby's 20-room colonial man
sion and his valuable collection of
musical recordings, golf awards
and horseracing trophies.
The residence, a rambling two
story film colony showplace situ
ated on a four-acre landscaped
estate fronting suburban Toluea
lake, was gutted last night by
fire, believed to have slat ted from
a short-circuit while Mrs. Crosby,
formerly actress Dixie Lee, and
their four sons were dismantling
Christmas tree decorations. Cros
by was not at home.
Battalion Chief Joseph C. Roed
er of the Los Angeles fire depart
ment tentatively placed the loss
at S250.O0O, but declared an exact
evaluation would await complete
inventory of furnishings and per
sonal effects.
Mrs. Crosby and the children
ran safely from the blazing
dwelling.
Although he dresses casually
on every possible occasion, Cros
by's wardrobe was considered
one ol the most extensive in
Hollywood. All of it was lost, as
were most of Mrs. Crosby's cloth
ing and furs, a family spokesman
said.
Roeder said Mrs. Crosby told
him she and the children - Gary.
9; Phillip and Dennis, 8, and
Lindsay, 4 (tomorrow is Lind
say's fifth birthday I - had just
begun taking down decorations
when the Christmas tree burst in
to flame, presumably from a
short-circuit. The fire spread
rapidly through the house.
Damaged by water but still
standing were the living room,
kitchen and servants' quarters.
The amount of the loss covered
by insurance was not immediately
learned.
Klamath Falls Flier on
Plane Crash Death List
SHREVEPORT. La., Jan. 4
(AP) Among the eight bodies
found yesterday in the wreckage
of an army plane near here was
that of Second Lieut. Thomas A.
Johnston, son of Bernard Johns
ton of Klamath Falls. Ore.
The plane had been missing
eight days in a flight from Barks
dale field, La. to the Walterbono,
S. C. army air base. '
said that a number of enemy
planes were destroyed as they at
tacked the formation in the tar
get area and during a running
fight which followed.
While the American bombers
were busy at St. Nazaire, RAF
bombers and fighters sped over
northern France, Holland and
Belgium in attacks on railways,
docks and airfields. The docks
at Bruges' and an airfield in Hol
land were attacked while other
planes bombed railway targets
in northern France.
German planes struck back at
England last night after two
daylight raids. Several places In
northeast England were bombed,
it was said, but there were no re
ports of casualties.
One of the night raiders was
shot down, the government an
nounced. The targets of the Germans
were not disclosed but the Ger
man radio said the chief objec
tive was the city of Hull.
Tax League Bill to Ask
3-Commissioner Setup
A bill, which if passed by the
state legislature, would require
election of county commissioners
from districts rather than from
the county at large, is in course
of preparation, it was announced
hero today. The form of the bill
was decided upon Saturday at a
meeting of the executive com
mittee of the Douglas County
Taxpayers league, which is spon
soring the measure.
Under the provisions of the
bill, as outlined, Douglas county
would he divided into three dis
tricts and candidates seeking
nomination and election would be
required to he residents of the
district from which a vacancy
existed. ihe candidates, how
ever, would bo voted upon by all
voters of the county father than
by the district alone.
Car Owners Warned On
Tire Inspection Lack
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4. (AP)
The office of price administra
tion said today that neither gaso
line ration books nor tires would
be issued in the future to motor
ists who fail to have their tires
inspected by January 31.
All car owners, regardless of
the kind of rationing book they
have, are required to have their
first tire Inspection by the end
of this month.
Jap Effort to
Grew's Warning of Pearl Harbor Attack
By WADE WERNER
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (AP)
How close Pearl harbor came
to being a much greater national
humiliation than it actually was
is disclosed in the White Book is
sued by Secretary of State Hull
over the week-end to promote "a
clearer understanding" of war
problems and issues by Ameri
cans. The final and most dramatic
iwrtion of the book reveals that
the Japanese not only planned
months in advance for "a sur
prise mass attack at Pearl har
bor," but did their diplomatic ut
most to maneuver Japanese
American peace discussions in
such a way that President Roose
velt would be in the hands of the
Japanese navy when its torpedo
planes stabbed at the heart of
American seapower in the Pa
cific. Ambassador Joseph C. Grew in
formed the state department on
Jan. 27, 1041, of reports that
Japan planned the surprise at
ROSEBURG, OREGON, MONDAY.
Nazis Yield
Grozny, Gate
To Oil Region
Invaders Also Pressed
Back at Other Points on
1,000-Mile Battlefront
(By the Associated Press)
The new Russian offensive
which smashed the Germans back
from Mozdok and the Grozny
oil fields was reported unchecked
today, rolling the . nazis steadily
back across the Caucasus, while
Hie red army announced further
gains in the Kalmyck steppe, the
middle Don and on the north
central front 70 miles from the
Latvian border.
Thus with an enlarging offen
sive which set the Germans back
at both ends of a battlefield more
than 1,000 miles long and kept
them on the defensive along its
entire length, Premier Stalin's
armies showed their reserve
power and the extent of Adult
Hitler's miscalculation.
Battlefront dispatches and the
Moscow communiques gave this
account of the long eastern front:
Caucasus the Russians press
ed northwest and west on the
heels of German troops retreat
ing from Mozdok and Malgobek,
recapturing "several more popu
lated places." The Moscow war
bulletin said "the enemy is suffer
ing heavy losses."
Mozdok, 60 miles northwest of
Grozny, was a major trophy of
the axis drive toward the oil
fields last August.
Nazis Casualties Heavy
Kalmyck steppes and lower
Don the red army thrust deep
er into nazi positions on a fan
shaped front from the Don,
across the Staiingrad-Tikhorotsk
railway into the Kalmyck waste
lands. "Breaking the enemy's resist
ance, soviet troops are pene
trating the German defenses," a
communique said of this sector.
It reported several more com
munities liberated from the In
vaders and said heavy losses
were inflicted on two German
elite guard regiments which at
tempted a counter attack.
Middle Don "our troops con
tinued their offensive and oc
cupied a number of populated
places." the communique an
nounced. "A soviet guards unit in
a sudden attack broke an enemy
fortified line and occupied three
populated places. . .
iNortnwest of Moscow the
Russians thrust westward beyond
recaptured Velikie Luki, long an
anchor of the nazi line, and reach-
(Continued on page 4)
Lure Roosevelt Aboard Nippon Warship,
tack in case of "trouble" with the
United States.
Attempted Lure Related
Apparently the Japanese gov
ernment did not know the Ameri
can ambassador had got wind of
its designs, for a few months la'er
it began urging on the state de
partment a plan to bring Presi
dent Roosevelt and Premier
Prince Konoye together aboard a
Japanese warship in the Pacific
lor a "frank exchange of views."
Japanese Ambassador Nomura
broached the subject to Secretary
Hull on Aug. 8, when the presence
of Japanese troops in French
Indo-China was complicating the
already strained relations be
tween Japan and the United
States.
"The ambassador then Inquir
ed. "says the White Book, "wheth
er it might be possible to arrange
lor a meeting of the responsible
heads of the two governments to
discuss means of aeMusting rela
tions between the t " nations. "
.Secretary Hull's i espouse Is not
JANUARY 4, 1943.
Buna Area's
Mopup Nears
Completion
Latest Allied Assault
Nets 800 Japs; Munda,
2 Destroyers Blasted
SOMEWHERE IN NEW
GUINEA. Jan. 4 -(AP) Allied
forces methodically engaged in
eliminating the last small pocket
of enemy resistance In the Huna
area, succeeded yesterday in cut
ting off an estimated 1(H) Japan
ese troops from escape by sea.
This aclion followed the allies'
Investment of the Buna govern
ment station and of Giropa point,
major assaults which resulted In
the death or capture of at least
800 Japs.
Late yesterday the smaller
enemy force was reported hold
ing an area 400 yards wide along
the beach west of Giropa point
and extending inland to an un
known depth.
Hut during today a part of the
American troops vho had carved
out a corridor to Ihe sea between
the government station and Giro
pa point, drove southeast along
the coast and established contact
with the Australians on the point.
Thus the enemy lost Us sea
ward line of retreat and if it
seeks to withdraw Inland, prob
ably will be wiped out piecemeal
by the allies' stronger units There
is a definite likelihood that these
enemy troops are short of am
munition and food. Their elimina
tion is regarded as little more
than a moppingup operation.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (AP)
American fliers continued their
assaults against Japanese ground
and sea forces in (be Solomon
islands over the week end, pound
ing the enemy airfield at Munda
ayd bombing two destroyers.
One of tile destroyers was left
burning badly and the other ap
peared to be sinking after an at
tack 30 miles northwest of Ren
dova island in the New Georgia
group.
About four hours earlier, the
navy reported, a formation of
enemy destroyers was attacked
by Flying Fortresses and Light
ning fighters 30 miles south of
Short land island, hut no hit s were
observed.
Anti aircraft emplacements and
other installations at Ihe Munda
airfield on New Georgia island
were hit ill raids Saturday and
Sunday. The navy said no enemy
planes were observed either in the
air or on the field.
Land fighting continued on
Guadalcanal island, with between
30 and 35 Japanese reported kill
ed In patrol clashes. Enemy artil
lery was reported active for the
first time in several weeks.
Hanna Barber Shop
Bought by J. T. Miller '
J. T. (Shorty) Miller, who for
the past 1!) years has been cm
ployed in the Barnes barber shop,
today announced the purchase of
the Hanna barber shop at 101 S.
Jackson street. He moved to the
new location, adjoining Lillie's
Flower shop, today and is estab
lishing his own business.
recorded, but a lew weeks later
ihe subject was reopened: this
'ime by a message from Prince
Konoye, himself to President
Roosevelt, pointing out that in
formal Japanese-American con
versations were getting nowhere
in a situation "which might pro
duce unforeseen contingencies."
Hull Parries Suggestion
Konoye told the president, says
the While Book, "that he consid
ered it, there lure, ol urgent neces
sity that the heads of the two
governments meet first to discuss
from a broad standpoint all im
portant problems between Japan
and the United States covering
the entire Pacific area."
In a conversation with Secre
tary Hull the same day (Aug. 2K1
Nomura said Konoye planned to
meet the president "In a Japanese
warship," and that his govern
ment was "very anxious that the
meeting be held at the earliest
possible moment."
Hull was cool to this suggestion,
VOL. XXXI NO.
First Casualty in WAAC Ranks
First WAAC officer bolieved to have lost her life In service of
her country Is 3rd Officer Eleanor C. Nate, missing with six other
officers on a medium bomber between Tampa, Fla., and San An
tonio, Texas. With her Is her husband, MaJ. Joseph C. Nate.
Days Ceek Men
Find Coin Cache
A cache of old coins bearing
dates ranging from 1837 to 18S2
lias been uncovered at Days
Creek by Howard Moore and Dan
Taylor, who to date have recover
ed about $34 In old coins, which,
bemuse of their age, will prob
ably have a collector's value in ex
cess of their denominations.
The coins apparently had been
cached in n hollow stump which
later was burned. The first dis
covery was made about a year
ago by H. A. Moore, who found a
fid-cent piece bearing the date of
18(10 on a hillside on the Marion
Purdue place.
New Year's day, Howard
Moore, a brother of it. A. Moore,
and Mr. Taylor decided to return
to the spot where Ihe coin had
been previously found and make
further search. They found a
number of silver coins, princi
pally dollars, half-dollars and
quarters and one dime. They are
planning to make further ex
ploration. Civilian Use of Lumber
Facing Further Slash
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (AP)
The commerce department
warned today that "further re
strictions upon civilian lumber
use" could he expected.
The agency said that lumber
consumption has been running
consistently ahead of production,
and further civilian restriction
appeared inevitable because of
the huge amounts of lumber need
ed for ships, barges, airplanes,
gliders, boxes (for war items),
and lend-lease.
The department said tile in
dutry was suffering particularly
from a high rate of labor turn
over, which in September cost
sawmills 12 out of every KKI em
ployes, anil in October .'mother 10
out of every 100.
Plan Revealed
although the then recent meeting
of President Roosevelt and Prime
Minister Churchill aboard a war
ship In the Atlantic, made the
Japanese proposal technically in
nocent enough. Hull told Nomura
he thought an agreement in
principle on the main issues
should lie reached before any
meeting of the president and the
premier.
On Sept. 6 Ambassador Grew
informed Hull that Konoye as
sured him Japanese army and
navy leaders were very favorable
to the proposed bleb seas con
ference; that the navy would
send along a full admiral and the
army its vice chief of staff.
The White Book does not say
whether Hull suspected treachery,
but mentions the fact that the
military element responsible lor
Japanese aggression would be
"heavily represented" at the con
ference was a factor in this gov
ernment's disapproval of the
plan.
210 OF THE EVENING NEWS
INBA Tetepholo)
New Officers Of
Douglas County,
Cities Take Jobs
State, county, district and
municipal officers, chosen at the
general election Nov. J, looK tnetr
respective offices today, few
changes being made locally.
Thomas Parkinson, stnte sena
tor, and Robert C. Gile and Carl
C. Hill, representatives, will be
gin their work - next Monday,
when the state legislature meets
at Salem.
Ned Dixon today took over the
county assessor's office, succeed
ing Barton Helllweil who was
not a candidate for reelection
Mr. Helllweil had planned retire
ment two years earlier, but
mained In office due to the sud
den death of J. Earl Pickens only
a few days before the time when
he would have taken office. Mr
Dixon has been serving as first
deputy in the tax collection de
partment of the sheriff's office,
Ills successor In that department
has not been announced by
Sheriff Cliff Thornton.
Ira B. Riddle, serving as justice
of the peace through appoint
ment, following the death of R,
W. Marslcrs, was succeeded to
day by Attorney Thomas C. Hart
fiel, the successful candidate ill
the last election. Mr. Riddle Is re
turning to private law practice
and Is establishing his office in
the Perkins building.
J. Ross Hutchinson succeeded
himself as county commissioner.
W. F. Harris, who has been
serving as acting mayor of the
city of Roscburg, as a result o
the resignation of A. J. Young, be
came mayor today, while Record
er A. J. Geddes and Treasurer T,
J. Brown continued in their re
spective offices. Council mi:
Percy Croft, C. W. Wharton, li
. Riddle, G. M. Krcll. C. 1
Snoddy and O. J. Feldkamp wen
returned to office anil two va
cancies were filled by Andrew
Townsend, Ward 2, and Wall
Fisher, Ward 4. City officers wei
being sworn in today In prepan
Hon for organization of the city
council at the regular mcctinf!
scheduled for tonight.
Attorney Harlficl, In taking the
office of justice of the peace, an
nounced his resignation as chair
man of the wai' price and ration
ing hoard. Harvey Stark, it was
reported, has been appointed as
chairman and E. G. High has
been appointed as a member of
Hie board filling the place made
by Ihe advancement of Stark.
J. O. Bailey Elected
Oregon Chief Justice
SALEM. Jan. 4. (AP) Jus
tice John O. Bailey was elected
Oregon's chief Justice today to
sei-ve a two year term, succeed
ing Chief Justice Percy R. Kelly.
justice Kelly, reelected two
months ago, will serve at least
six more years on the court.
Today's elections, in which the
seven justices took part, was the
first under a 10-11 law providing
that the chief justice shall be
chosen by the court Itself.
Justice Bailey became a mem
ber of the court January 2, 1933,
and was reelected In 1938.
PORTLAND, Ore., Jon. 4.
(AP) The worst Willamette riv
er flood in years ebbed slowly to
day, leaving ten persons dead or
missing.
Hundreds still were homeless
and thousands of acres of rich
farm land were under water as
western Oregon's largest river re
mained above flood level for half
its length.
Health authorities feared an
outbreak of typhoid and rushed
vaccine to McMinnville, Corval-
lis and Eugene. Dr. Frederick
D. Strieker, state health officer,
said water sources at small com
munities from West Salem to
Eugene were contaminated and
that drinking water would have
to be treated for some time.
At Eugene the river dropped
below flood stage and farmers
began returning to their silt-
covered lands. Traffic was re
sumed over all major routes ex
cept the coast highway, still
flooded between Coqullle and
Bandon, but highway officials
said it would be a week before
some secondary roads would be
opened.
Damage was estimated In the
millions.
From Salem to Portland the
Willamette was above flood level,
inundating canneries, ware
houses, shipyards, paper and
lumber mills.
At Oregon City, near Portland,
water was 12 feet deep over the
city athletic field and the main
line of the Southern Pacific rail
road was blocked, the first time
since 1893. Rail traffic was re
routed around the area.
A concrete flood wall saved
Portland proper ,and below the
city the Willamette emptied Into
the milc-wlde Columbia, which
easily carried oft the flow.
Runaway Logs Salvaged,
To rlvermen there the flood
provided a rich windfall, , .
More than a million board feet
of logs were washed away from
upstream lumber mills and they
bobbed through Portland by the
hundreds, giving the Willamette
Ihe appearance of an old-time
log drive.
Rivermen threw out chain
booms to catch the logs, which
will, by river custom, be bought
back by lumber companies. The
lake will run into thousands ot
dollars.
Of the flood victims, seven
were known dead. Missing were
Archie Cook, 33, Woodburn, and
Michael Maurer, 27, Stayton, who
were swept downstream as they
tried to free debris from a bridge
at Salem Saturday night, and Au
gust Hanson, elderly man fear-i
ed to have been carried away by
an overflowing drainage ditch
(Continued on page 4)
Conviction of
Pendergast, Two
Others Reversed
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (AP)
"The supreme court reversed
today the conviction of Thomas
J. Pendergast, former democratic
political boss at Kansas City, Mo.,
and two others on a charge of
criminal contempt of court In
connection with Missouri's $10,
000,000 fire insurance settlement.
Justice Douglas delivered the
G to 1 opinion, which also ap
plied to Robert Emmett O'Mal
ley, former Missouri superinten
dent of Insurance, and A. L. Me
Cormack, SI. Louis Insurance
agent.
They were accused of "fraudu
lently foisting upon" a three
Judge federal court at Kansas
City "a corrupt settlement of In
surance rate litigation, procured
through bribery of the Missouri
superintendent of insurance."
Validity of the conviction was
challenged on the ground that
the alleged activities did not take
place "in the presence of the
court or so near thereto as to ob
struct the administration of jus
tice." This was necessary, It was
contended, before the Judges
could punish summarily for con
tempt without the formality, of
an incident and Jury trial.
' "The facts that the scheme
was fraudulent and corruptly ob
structed the administration of
justice," the opinion said, "does
not enlarge the limited power to
punish for contempt. It merely
! means that if petitioners can be
punished, it must be through the
ordinary channels of criminal
prosecutions under the criminal
code."
Tills would require an Indicts
ment and jury trial,