La Grande evening observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1904-1959, April 07, 1945, Image 1

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La Grande evening observer., April 07, 1945, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextBattleship Yamato, Five Other Combat Ships, 391 Planes Lost In Fight With U.S. Navy Airmen GUAM, April 7 (UP) Japan's greatest battleship, the '10,000-ton Yamato, and five other warships were sunk today by aircraft of Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher's carrier task forces in a naval-air battle fought in the East China sea. More than a fourth of the enemy's remaining fleet was destroyed in the engagement. Three hundred and ninety -one Japanese aircraft were shot down or destroyed by American airmen in air battles Friday and Saturday ranging from "embattled Okin awa to Kyushyu, Japan's most southerly home island. Japan thus gambled her waning surface and air fleet in a desperate attempt to stem the inexorable advance of allied arms, and lost heavily again. A light cruiser of the Agano class, a small cruiser and three destroyers were sunk by U. S. pilots in addition to the Yamato in the battle off southern Japan. The enemy's fleet consisted of 12 warships. Three U. S. De (foyers Lost American battle losses' were seven aircraft and three destroyers. Several destroyers and smaller craft were1 damaged, fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz announced. Twenty-two Japanese planes were destroyed or damaged on Kyushu airfield by navy search planes, in addition to the 391 shot down in a great aerial victory reminiscent of the "Marianas turkey shoot" off Guam June 18, 1944. Today was the first time the sequestered Japanese navy has ventured forth to do battle since the great battle of Lcyte Gulf Oct. 24-25, when the U. S. seventh and fifth fleets inflicted a decisive defeat on a three-pronged surface thrust at the American New Jap Premier Has Pessimistic Outlook By United Press Premier Admiral Huron Kantaro Suzuki Saturday an nounced a new "battle" cabinet for Japan and, in a forebod ing inaugural statement, warned his people that the war sit uation "warrants not the least bit of optimism whatever for our nation's survival." "The enemy has now finnly established themselves on our homeland," Suzuki said, referring to the American invasion of Japan's Okinawa prefecture less than 400 miles from Kyushu. He offered to die in battle, if necessiiiy. i Following his investitive as premier, foreign minister and greater east Asia minister, sue- j ceeding the discredited Kuniaki KOISO, tjll.UKl rcvcaicu uiuiscJi iu be thoroughly pcssimlic over Japan's chances of holding off the Pacific Allies. Outlook Noi Pleasant "The present war, which is fought for the very existence of our empire, has come to the most important crucial stage, which warrants not the least bit of op timism whatever for our nation's survival. If the situation con tinues lfVe this, the basis of our nation's existence might be threatened," Suzuki said. The statement was broadcast by Tokyo radio and recorded by United Press, San Francisco. Army Shakeirp Revealed Along with announcement of a new cabinet, consisting of two other admirals, a general and a group of career civil servants, it was disclosed that the Japanese army administration had been reshuffled. The reshuffle included creation of n general army command and a general army air command in the Japanese homeland, pre sumably to strengthen the na tion's defense against an-anticipated Allied landing. ' Marshal Gen. '.Sugiyaiv.a, .war minister in this Kois-'j cabinet, and Marshal Shunroku- Hata. former supreme-comantler of the See PREMIER . . . Page 8 U. S. Bombers Hit German Airfields; Luftwaffe Routed LONDON, April 7- (UP)-Ahoul 2.150 American -warplancH nllack d four-air fields in nm thorn Germany .today. .Iii beating (iff the mo it 'concentrated counter attacks for mopths, -the fighter escort alone shot down at least C3 nazi planes. Sumo 1,300 Flying Fortresses ;;nd .Liberators of the eighth air !'rce carrii-d nut the attack. They '"re supported by 850 Mustong nd Thunderbolt fighters. The early ropoit on tile bag of 'irman planes did But include 'he number shut down by II"' el '- a- bombers. First account; "idic.itcd that the air battle; was of the greatest since the hoy "i.v of the German air force, i'argcls included the h o in e ises of iet-prnnclled fighter ianes, three ordnance and am-! munition dcpat,s,)an oil depot and The' Germans aho said Italy-' used bombci s were over Aus- j ria today. -O- -- It r II : s-'imers can get extra fuel oil ra il ealher s -fj,-. f,hct.ng wat this sum Oa'a for( hours cnTna 7 a.fti.tDmrv. SS -."v ; - r. . tj i temncraturWU Maximum .... Minimum . Precipitation 57 Ti .08 unset- tor-cast: Cloudy V.d I t"night(g)d Sunday. d Sirebst Navy Uiniofc " j Vi ! M U1L-J, FORMS NEW JAP CABINET Premier Boron Kantaro Sui uki, chore, ' today announced He formation of a new Jap anese cabinet and warned hit people that there is "not the least bit of optimism" for Jap an's survival. Growing Interest Fn Aviation Seen By State Aide Lt. Col. Leo G. Devaney, di rector of aviation in Oregon and wing commander of the civil ail patrol, was in La Grande today on official business in connection with the CAP and the state board oi aeronautics. His trip through eastern Ore gon, includes Ontario, Baker, La Gi.-ancle and Joseph.' He went- to Heppncr late today for an organ ization, meeting' of a CAP unit and to select airport sites. . On the Joseph trip he inspect ed the municipal airport site as well as a private site at Wallowa fake, both fields being construct ed by Contractor Ray Dun-more, he said. 1 , Col. "Devanev said Iheic ha: t been a marked increase in inter- est and activity in the CAP and that increased interest in Ihls vicinity has been noted. He explained that while the organization is not at present en gaged in active duty, the activi ties are being directed toward See OREGON Page 7 t()l tltU'l'St Will (:d iXo tixtfC Flicl OH ' Aus- j S WASHINGTON Aprd ) 7 (UP) O i .Thc office of pi JM administ', I linn announced toSii, how con- The additional lations will be issued to eligible persons every where except the Pacific north west. Extra coupons wi''. be is sued there only if the regional supply situation improves. : Philippines bridgehead In both the aerial and naval counter - attacks, the Japanese were attempting to disrupt our successful invasion of the Ryu kyus. The counter-attacks were divided into two phases. The first was off Okinawa where large forces of Japanese planes attacked American ships and 'shore installations in the late afternoon of Friday. Destroyers Screen Yamato The second was on Saluiday when Mitscher's first carriers en gaged the Japanese naval ves sels caught emerging from the inland sea. They were sighted by naval search aircraft as they 'le aded into the East China sea. The force of destroyers screen ed, the Yamato was sinking anese navy. Mitscher, steaming toward the Japanese force at high speed, sec BATTLESHIP . . . Page 7 Shipbuilders Seek Guaranteed Wajre, Short Work Week CAMDEN, N. J., April 7 (UP) he industrial union of marine and shipbuilding workers of America. (CIO), today called for establishment of a guaranteed annual wage and gradual taper-ing-off of the work week to 35 hours for all shipyards workers. Union President John Green announced that the proposals. ! adopted at a quarterly meeting of the general executive board, were designed to take up the slack in employment at shipyards as wartime production is cur tailed. The union proposed that a guaranteed annual wage of $:j.00() be set ud immediately for skilled shipyard mechanics on a basis of 50 work weeks and two weeks vacation. Other classifications of employes would be paid in proportion. "We further propose," the un ion said, "that this annual wage be paid for a 35-hour week, to be instituted as soon as possible lo enable a careful tapering uff in the W-ar production program, instead of an abrupt, cataclysmic shut-down which may result in the permanent impairment of the shipbuilding industry.'1 Japanese Defeated Fn Central ISurma CALCUTTA. . April 7 (UP) The Japanese 15th' army has been decisively defeated on--lhe central Burma plain- and is no longer considered an t ffeclive fighting force, the southeast Asia command reported today. ' -- "Our troops have " reached the -nd of the definite phaso of opw- -""" "'i "" miuiu-1 iiiii-c-iounns ol .Japanese rouib.it nting the large force of Japanese j ail craft engine production. Letween Mfindalny and Meiklila. The escorting Mustangs Jv,l the communique said. i rln-.vn 21 encniv fihti is, t.r.li- Formations of two oilier ,I,,p- ; sl.ly drstrnved s"ix more .-iiirl dam " armi.-s in Burma, the 33rd :.K1 )0. Two American figlHeis and 23th. have al.w sulf'-rt'd con- were lost hut one oilol u :i'; n s- sidcralile casualties, Consolidation of the ailifd posi tion is under way. - Wallowa County Soldiers Killed The-.war department tori .''U' d a casualty list containing the 1 nam re' of T.733 killed a'ifl' I wounueu a(H! uoi w oo w ere wikvii , .ir.soner in the varioust'V ar thea ters. The list included the names of two Wi.'ftWa county soldiers kill ed in action n the European previously notified. 1 ISo- are: 1 T5 Carl M. Hyney. the son ofW-'king to the wesoa.st. e Mrs. Etta J. Hyney. Wallowa. I was caught in g) Grande; and Pvt. G ;an L. Makin. the son of returned to face prosecution in Mrs. Mori L. Makin, KnU i prise. Uaker. KSTAHMSHEl) 1S96 Hannover, 2, x a a R ussians Center of Capital Is Assaulted LONDON, April 7 (UP) The Devlin radio said today that the German army had lost Moedling, southern sub url) of Vienna, after bloody fighting from house to house. LONDON, April 7 (UP) A dr.'imatic In'oadctist from Vienna said todav that the Russians had broken into the Austrian capital and were nearinjr the center in heavy street fightinn;. The rattle of trunfire punc tuated the broadcast, Iyondon newspapers s a i d. Speakers called on the inhabitants nearly 2,000,000 in 1939 to stand firm. "Volksstuimors (home guards) are going into line," the broad cast said. "With I he German Wehrmacht, Grenadiers and SS men, they are going lo defend their homes. "Every yard of ground is be ing defended to the last, but the Russians have increased the mo mentum of their attacks. Fight ing is now going on around and in Vienna itself . . . Gariison un its arc fighting against the Rus sians on the edge of the city's center." Cathedral Sounds Alarm Monitors said the announce ment was preceded by the ring ing of the bells of St. Stephen's latkedr.-il, which also sounded the alarm when Turks stood at the gates of Vienna many years ago. There was no immediate con firmation of the report that the Russians were nearing the cen ter of Vienna, but Moscow dis patches said the Red army was fighting for the Simmering dis trict just inside the city limits en the southeast. Tin; Red army reached Simmer See AUSTRIAN . . .- Page 7 Fighter Ilanes Escort IJ-29s Fn Kaids On Japan GUAM, April 7 (UP)- U. S. army fighter planes, appeared ever (he Japanese homeland for the first time today when lon'g lange P.-5I- Mustangs from hvo .lima escorted an estimated -KM) Siiirirfortrcsses in a eiushing al .laek on .aircraft factories on the" island of Honshu.. The air armada., largest land-k-isul force ever lo' strike the enemy homeland, rained Inch i xplosivts un the ' .Nakajlina-Mu-siihino ' factory near Tokyo and-'I'.'.- gianl Mitsubishi plant at Nauuya. Hclwncn them, these l.-.clories ,-iccount for Voueliiv I CllCfl. : t) The plants previously had been j n.ided by lt-2(i.s from tlu M--u i- nas. herjous damage to them ivould badly cripple Japanese air ci aft producljon. Woman IS'abbed fere T or linker Theft. BAKER, Ore. April 7 (UI'l- u.mi.-r noieuii opnelor thought iitr oiu west icwivs wnen (!und a blanket wiW&ng andvri note promisinB later navment. I signed I wo Gun J(io)-.." ' But the pistol-toting monicker I'.elonEed to Mis. Jackie Gan Jsr) - i.un wiles city, Montana, hit' h- l,A GRANDE. A 7, 'It.. $ FHU1TS OF OPPRESSION As so may thousands of Nail yic Jirr.i have done. Hitler's people themselves now fight for food. Photo above shows Grmm womtn battling over food loft behind by retreating German troops. Woman at right has just knocked dowi the older one l center. At left, a one-armed man, possibly a war casualty, doffs his hat, perhaps in politeness, perhaps in salute lo Amazons fighting ability. Vast Gold Reserves of Germany Captured by American Troops WITH THE (KITH INFANTRY DIVISION AT MERKF.HS, April 7 (UP) American troops today captured what was believed lo b? the entire German gold reserve, huge sums in German and foreign currency, and a large store of German's most valuable art 'treasures hidden in a salt mine. The treasure trove, evacuated from Berlin in the last six weeks, was found here in one of the largest salt mines in Europe DO miles west of Weimar. Officials Captured German officials, captured at LONDON', April 7 (UP)-I3er-the trove, estimated there was 1 jn 1T),)rtL,d (onj(!U that Aclolt IOC tons, ol gold in the mme. . Huk.r had 0,.dLT.d ,L. st.);tiull that would be W4.MOO0O at the , Ity and (,vilm.nl American rate ol $.K a troy ls wllh dislI.k.tSi U1S t,xc.,lld. ""nt0- I lag party gauleiters or district In addition, the Germans said, j 1, adi-rs and their subordinates there was aboiit S3,00,0(),()0() f, ,mi the government setup, in paper roirhsmarks, 2.IW.i,n(l j The first mizi broadcasts re in U. S. dollars, about $4411,-; nortiiiir the clianue in the basic 01)0 in English pounds, as. well as- 100,000,(10(1 French francs, 4,QOG,000 Norwegian crowns, and I lesser amounts of other currency in the mine. Art Trcasuros Found . The art treasures Include orig- ; inals by Raphael, Rembrandt, Van Dyke, ' Durier .and Hi.;ir. i The Germans said there were : 1,000 cases of paintimis and star ' tues. If)') tapestries, thousands of engi livings and '120 eases of Un original Goethe colleMion from Weimar-. j Thu gold was sliiicd in a chain- her 2.100 feet below the'grounil. The. doors of the -gold- vault had bfon jammed "and it was impos sible : immediately, to verify the story of t)le" German officials. However, with Hie American troops v.hieli found the trove I See VAST GERMAN . . . Pago 7 Chinese-I'ijssian 1. .A t.. .". J , luaitiwav iYienacea SIAN, North China, Ap'ri) (i I (Di!.-iv(fl - till') .lapane.si i meehaiu.i 'I cidunins art piivliiiii.' toward this ancient walled city today in rliiV" 'which, if un chicked. iiiii.'ht cvenliiallv srlV"i Chil-a'c I .-i-k door" i)f,d lo ,bo vi' t Russia. ,. Chine:e euunli r-tittfii. ks ye:,ti r j day ti nipoia.'ily halted Japanese spearheads converging from"; the i ast and soutn toward Sian. Sian. capltM of Shi n.si provinc-', lies approximati ly 3(if)"-'miles almost directly r.ottli pi) Chu.oliing. , Observi is heij" belgyV the J,-p, a.'ir).,e iilan a ciiikaign in not ill China this srrlmi i- similar to last ear's east China campaign. If tm- pt-;.- ! ought in (gjfonsi(S) co!itu&5. evrntually sevei' ttie i"e C Irnnti-huvi.-t link. cuttmgofl C hungking from l(gi)i.how. capi- tal of Kansu province, and deny ( hennailtSli fighters and bom-1 hers the use o-orth China air fields. ! 7itjjll,'l!t"",","l!'!l!!llli Union and Wpllowa Counfiei OREGON SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 7, 19-13 Bremen Isolated a a a a a a t . .a ' jbK a: nt Battle TnmW'T'i 1 I. T i 1 Separation Of Nazi Party And State Ordered y Hitler policy of naisin did not make char its full import. It came at an hour when the organised ro sislaiice of the Gorman army was crumbling and tht' question was arising' win ther the irazis still ruled the reich and if so how long they could continue lo do so. The "UNII news agency in a fioadeast dispatch said Hitler had .ordoVed A cloarcul separation in the government and party po.sts, as n.veahd in uai press corn spo'ndenee. I'ind. Job too Big The C'.'rman radio said Hitler had found that , the . war had proved it jmpossilile for .onr man to carry, out effectively .the tasks of two or nton- offices. It said the order would nol i. lb ct the "close and harmoni ous cooperation between the party and stale in all decisive ' in st inns, many times tested and .- ulfk-ionlly assured." The ,'innuiincement of the parly hill in policy followed diselo--ine that the imzi old guaid, Hit i's SA stormtioopers. had been .'iiinmoned to a sacrificial de Icivo nf Germany. Willie hn Kchcpmatin, SA chief of :'tiiff, issued an older of the f'a.v adinonishnig the Hi ownsi.'irts to lo.-iki. the "lilmosl Siie-iihces" in a supreme effort to ciu.'-li th.'li eni.uiiei, not only in the homc liel liiil "in enemy-occupied ter iiiirtijs and cveiy where." Tax Gim in i union ers Are Reappointed Apiil 7 (fit') SAI.EM, On Hi aiipointmt nt of Earl Fisher ind Charles V. Galloway as incmh'Aa of th state tagcom- Hussion was announced Ijv tnn Mate board of conlr.Vf) follow..; :i special nutting of the board i this morning. Thefiinis of the two commissioners ixnire June 4. The reappointments are for fuu i- year terms. 1 a I I lists' In Vienna State Observance Of Sunday School j Week Is Urged SALEM, Ore, April 7 (UP) Governor Snoll today urged the people of Oregon lo support national Sunday school week, April 9-15. "Encouregomeni of the Sun day schools and Sunday school attendance can be an import ant factor in eliminating juve nile dolinquencv and in speed ing the gonoraf spiritual awak ening," the governor said. Can Salvage To Be Resumed As Tin Crisis Grows Responding to the govern ment's plea for salvage of every ounce of available tin, the Union county salvage committee, head ed by L. A. Rohncnkmnp and R. W. Schaad, today announced the resumption of can collections in La Grande and urged every housewiffe to save cans .for monthly collections. Due to the distance from East ern Oregon counties to the de- tinning plant in San Francisco officials of the salvage division of the war production board have considereif it uneconomical to move salvaged cans from this area, but the tin situation has become so acute in recent months that every possible source of this highly important commodity is bein" combed. First Collection April 25 In cooperation with the junior chamber of commerce, the coun ty committee has arranfwrf to have the first locai'collcction of cans made on April 25th In con nection with the waste paper collection of the Junior chamber and hoy scouts. Thereafter collections will be j marie one day during the last week of each month, on duvs lo be specified in advance of the collection dale;. The salvay chairman em phasised thai cans must b properly prepared hf house wives. U . l. .1 I .L. . ,..t be removed, placed inside the can, na inw can uafivitvu aw reduce space required for ship ment ami time in handling. Labels also must b removed frcm all cans, and the cans e'enhed and kept from rusting. Hnhncnkami) announced that See TIN CAN . . . Page 7 Cost! Wajre Pad Agreement Seen WASHINGTON, April 7 (UP) , The soft coal wage conference reported lo' the war labor lioard loday that it expected l' reach ''an agreemeiil, at least in prin ciple" on all controversial points of a new wage agreement by Monday, night. Chairman Kzra Van Horn said the conference appointed thrue subcommittees this morning lo deal with "technical questions." Thev 'Tcporlod progress," he said. Coliseum lit ly. Van Horn said, Ihi' opi tutors will not meet with the war labor board as scheduled to report a breakdown of nego tiations. They will send a litter to VVLB reporting the nj-w turn of events. A mericans Step Up Action In Italy HOMK, April 7 (UP) Ameri can Fifth army troops captured Mt. Folgorito and plunged on Ujy.-ard Spczin, some 20 miles to the mifthwesl, against scattered resistance today as their offen sive went into its third day, The British destroyers Marine andi,ookout supported the nd v;"'' with bombardment from the.igurian sea that silenced enemy gun batteries. Fighters and fighter-bombers also were in action. Syimk FIVE CENTS Nazi In North ' Tottering- PARIS, April 7' (UP) Two American nnd one Brit ish army today drove across the Weser river on a tifty mile front, striking a little mere than 130 miles from Herlin and splintering the eonnections of Hannover and Hremen with the central Gen; man front. ' The American PSrst army hur dled the Wescr to join the Brit ish Second and American .Ninth which already were well forward of the last river barrier before Berlin short of the Elbe. The First army crossing was made northeast of Kasecl and advance troops pushed 1,500 yards txjyond the river at an un disclosed point for a gain of -30 miles from their jump-off point near .Paoterborn. Lang Gains Established The Ninth and, Second armies scored: gains, of 2J to 2fi miles, cruckmtf tho whole nortlMsm flank of the German positions, despite nazi reserves rushed in from Denmark (n a desperate ef fort to hold tho battle iines. British forces wore ISO miles beyond the Rhine but the ad-, vanccd point was under a secur ity blackout. However, Harm over was rapidly being encircled from the northwest, west, south, nnd southeast, where American troops were only 11 miles front the city. (Swedish dispatches said Has; die Hannover went off the aif suddenly at 11 a. m. a He Hashing a warning that tiw Americans were nearinet the city) Other British forces were re ported within 10 to 12 miles Sec HANNOVEK . . . Page 7 Army, Navy Join , rf $lt In Rescue Of . Flood Vittims NEW ORLEANS, La April 7 (UP) Army assault boats, na val amphibious planes and heli copters were pressed into servi($ today to evacuate trapped famii lies from flooded districts in cen tral Louisiana where the swolllii) .Mississippi has inundated an estimated 500,0(10 acres of rich farmland. The river is still under control in most places, but disaster offi cials warned that "the f iatht has just begun" and predicted that Hie worst would come next week when the river and its trilnit.ri ies reach lljeir crest. , '., Army field kitchens and cnW genty Red Cross housing arid medical units were working around lite cluck to cure for tho ever increasing number of rotu gees. An estimated 12,000 pel" sons already have been uvacuatcd, from flooded areas, and officials raid that the flood waters of Mis sissippi tributaries and indepenst nt streams hav risen into mof4 than :tO,O0O homes. IHack Market Curb ' Jty Flit Demanded WASHINGTON, April 7 (UP) With,,, a blistering attack on OP A "inefficiency" Sen. Burton K. Wheeler, D., Mont', demanded today that the FBI take over the drive against the "flourishing" food black market. He said black markets and rrjfl point rings wcro operating "so openly and bruzenly" in major cities like New York and Pitts burgh that there were only two conclusions: "Either there is inefficiency in the OPA localrofflces or local of fices are involved in the Block market operations."