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About La Grande evening observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1904-1959 | View Entire Issue (May 8, 1945)
o MPS ESTABLISH KD 1S96 Allies Gain In Drive to Smash Japs By United Press Allied fighting forces in the Pacific pressed unremitting war fare against the Japanese today with no time out for celebrating the end of the war in Europe. Military authorities predicted that, even with reinforcements from the European theater, it would require another year to beat the Japanese on th? main land. They conceded, however, that Japan might surrender soon er. The "war as usual" brought new allied blows in the land cam paigns on Okinawa, the Philip pines and Tarakan and another B-29 assault on Kyushu's suicide plane bases. Gain on Okinawa Marines led a general advance on. southern Okinawa to drive within- a riffle7 of "Naha; the' capi tal. Troops of the 77th division drove near Shuri the island's second largest city, northeast ol Naha. The seventh infantry divi sion made small gains down the east coast above Yonabaru. Australian and Dutch troops were poised for a drive into the rich Paomosian oil fields east of Tarakan town on Taiakan island eiff the oast coast of Borneo. Australian officials announced that Tarakan town had been cap tured. Kyushu Airfields Bombed A fleet of about 50 Superfort resses attacked four airfields on Kyushu following up yesterday's assault. Radio Tokyo said the big bom- l.ors also attacked the Kochi dis trict on nearby Shiikoku island. The Domci agency reported about 50 Mustang fighters from Iwi; attacked the airfields on Boso peninsula, south of Tokyo for an hour this morning. Enemy Ships Sunk Admiral Chester W. Nimilz dis closed that navy patrol planes sank or damaged 12 more enemy vessels off Korea and Japan In bring a three-day toll of enemy ships in that area to at least 52 Carrier- planes made another neutralizing attack on airfields See MARINES . . . Page 8 Europe War Cost U.S. 800,000 Casualties and Billions In Cash WASHINGTON, May 8 (UP) The victory in Europe cost the TTn;,ni etitae sVimtt nnn nnn u;c nri -,,r,,-n ikn ci qk nnn nnn -.100 ' These are the best conservative estimates available now. It will be a long, time before the final figures are worked out. A United Press survey showed today that this country's share o: the cost of crushing the nazi b'd for world domination will exceed by three or lour times the cost of World War I and its aftermath whether the measuring stand ard is casualties or dollars. Cost Will Increase The cost in money ill be in creased in future years by many billions of dollars through inter est on government borrowings and benefits to vetOans. The cost in broken lives, too, will be pari over a long period. Most of the government ex perts consulted in the survey be lieved that at least two-thirds of the dollar outlay since defense lO'parations bgnn in 1940 ft-nt directly or indirectly into the wa Qa.t rmany and Italy. This iLbascd on the allocation of men tVthe two major spheres of a-n l5 On Iho hci nf the host jwWl.far bebfiYl able informationwo U.S. Iiht- ing men were yeW 1" r.uropi- in-.-1 each one sent to the Pacific. The cost estimate includes nut i only guns, bulle-ts, planes ir,.l ; tanks, plus the plants to mak them, but also such ito:ns as lend lease expenditures, training cost.- LA GRANDE. GETS CABINET POST Rob ert E. Hannegan, chairman of the Democratic National com mittee, whose nomination for poslmasler-ge-.ieral by Presi dent Truman was confirmed yesterday by the United States senate. Hannegan Voted Seat in Cabinet WASHINGTON, May 8 (UP) The senui-L- today confirmed the nomination of Democratic na tional chairman Robert E. Han- yan to be postmaster general. The vote was 60 to 2. The overwhelming vote came swiftly aftor senate Republicans lost a light to force public hear ings by the senate postoffice committee. The hearings were asked by Sen. Forrest C. Donnell, R., Mo. His motion was defeated on a roll call vote of 35 to 28 which followed strict party lines. Only Donnell and Sen. Robert A. Tafl, O., chairman of the sen ile Republican steering commit tee, voted an.ainst Kr.nr.e: ,.n on the final poll. German U-Iioats May Soon Fight Japan WASHINGTON, May 8 (UP) German U-boats soon may be sinking Japanese ships. Germany's surrender should make available 2110 to 300 suh niaiines which the allies could use in the war against Japan, a reliable source said today. I i subsistence and literally thou sands of articles and services that never appeared on the field of battle but were vital to victory. H?re are the results of the sur vey : Cost in money defense and war expi-nditures total-mou1 than $277,600,000,000 since July 1. 1 Sl-iO. Assigning two-thirds of this to the European war gives a fig ure of S185,O(iG.0O0,000. This com pares with the $55,345,000,000 cost of the last war. The figure for the last v(gr inckides continuing) ex penses for m:iny years after the Ojr and unpaid war o-bts. The figui for this 0v' is just ffiS e't up to now. Cost in Qsualties approxi-1 mately 800.0UO men killed, woiJ- ert, missing ami prisoners. Ti isrj) a projected fiQrc because Die of-1 (&r. arid) Mvt Otto P. Klein, final casualty coniDilat: ns arc 2904 rth Spnfcc street, today Army cnsu.iltios compiled h iy incaters as of March 31 showed I a total of (;8j,"47 pean.fShditerranean. middl rsW,st and Crfi ibbean theaters all part of the European war. The figure-, included l;i:i,;4 killed. 4:il.5 wounded. 67,008 missing mid 52.- uiiumininHmuMiiai Unioi and Wallowa Cowfi'l OREGON TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 8, 1915 Truman Proclaims Day of Prayer As Victory Comes President Harry S. Truman's proclamation announcing' surrender of Germany, follows: "By the president of the United States of America: A PROCLAMATION "The allied armies, through sacrifice and devotion and with God's help, have wrung- from Germany a final and un conditional surrender. The western world lias been freed of the evil forces which for five years and longer have im prisoned the bodies and broken the lives of millions upon millions of free-born men. They have violated their churches, destroyed their homes, corrupted their children, and mur dered their loved ones. Our armies of liberation have re stored freedom to these suffering peoples whose spirit and will the oppressors could never enslave. "Much remains to be done. The victory won in the west must now be won in the east. The whole world must be cleansed of the evil from which half the world has been freed. United, the peace-loving nations have demonstrated in-the west that their arms are stronger bv far than the might of dictators or the tyranny of us soft and weak. "The power of our peoples all enemies will be proved in proved in Europe. "For the triumph of spirit won arid fo.r itg'prorrfise to people everywhere who join us in4 the love of freedom, it is fitting that we as a nation give thanks to almighty God, who has strengthened us and given us the victory. "Now, therefore, I, Harry S. Truman, president of the United States of America, do hereby appoint Sunday, May 13, 1915, to be a day of prayer. "I call unoii the people of their faith, to unite in offering joyful thanks to God for the 1 ... i ,,?.., ti,.,f h .will ,.,.t the end of our present .struggle and guide us into the way of neace. "I also call upon my countrymen to dedicate this day of prayer to tne memory 01 tnose who nave given men- lives iu j0SPph stalin, Gen. Charles De make possible our victory. Gaulle. "In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and Mr. Truman counted the cost caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed, of victory. He did not forget "the "Done at the city of Washington this eighth day of May, terrible price we have paid to in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and forty-five, and , rid the world of Hitler and his r ;.wln,MitnnQ nf tlm ITnitnd Ktntpa nf Ampvieji I hn one i evil band." ...... r.r:... .r.l r ii nun i turn ,iiAL-imitii. "15 v the president: " "JOSEPH C. GREW, Governor Snell Proclaims Day One Of Thanksgiving and Rededication SALEM, Ore, May 8 (UP) V-E day was hailed as a time for rejoicing but not for wild celebration, by Gov. Eail Snell today. He proclaimed today as a day during which "there should te observed a period of prayerful thanksgiving and determined re dedication to the goals yet before us." "Orogon and its citizens must not and will not forget that there is yet another enemy to con ouei." the Governor said. "We must go forward with renewed real and determination toward that day when peace will be established on all our fighting fronts and in all the world." "We will pray ardently for divine guidance a the San Fran cisco conference," Gov. Snell said, "that there may be brought forth a groat memorial toward the creation of a just and lasting peace," "May God speed the day of final victory ... A guarantee of liberty, truth and justice among freedom - loving peoples every v, h ere," the governor said. No school holiday is contem plated, superintendent of public intruction Hex Putnam said, but hi: ar,k.'d that suitable assemblies and obseivances be held in schooisi emphasizing; the meaning it tbe war which is finished and the ftar which is still to be won. Irande Soldier laEksFfomTafeyo i nan me ursi oirecr news irom their (5)i. Clayton Klein, sine? he was t.iK.en prisoner the Japa nese at the fall ol Corrcg(jfiS) MryVcank Flanery heard him in a lirWjelcast this morning from Tokyo. He said he was in good health, that hj had received no letters but military cliques that once called to defend themselves against the Pacific war as it has been and of arms which we have the United States, whatever - .- ' "HARRY S. TRUMAN acting secretary of slate." V-E Day Heralded With Impromptu La Grande Parade An impromptu parade herald ed by martial music by the high school band and scream of a fire siien launched La Grande's ob servance of V-E day shortly after the official announcement reach ed the city. A colorful demonstration was staged later in the day by mount ed members of the Mavericks club, a score or mors of whom paraded the city's streets w ith the national colors flying in keeping with the spirit of the occasion. City government offices were closed throughout the day, but courlty offices and agencies of the federal government remained open, having received no official authorization to observe a holi day. Generally, the day was one for individual thanksgiving that the world's most d-Hy conflict hut come to an end, coupled with a prayer Sot early victory in the war against the Japanese. Private and (pb hi ic buimss came to a pre-arranged stand still and the only public activity was in the public schools, whicii icmained in session. The Ministerial association has arranged for service in most ot the Protestant churchfS") at 8 o'clock this evening. Public thanksgiving will be held at 3 p.m. tomorrow in the rresbylcrian church, rather than FIVE CENTS Victory Is Only Half Won, Says President Truman Warns Japan to Surrender; Urges Nation to Work WASHINGTON, May 8 (UP) President Truman today pro claimed victory in Europe but told the nation its fighting job would be finished only "when the last Japanese division has surrendered unconditionally." He said "Our victory is only half-won." He gave this counsel for the months to come: "Work, work, work." He gave this advice to the Ja panese: Surrender. Surrounded by his government leaders, Mr. Truman issued his proclamation of victory and his statement of the work yet to do J at a. historic news conference in the White House. Then he broad- j cast them to the nation, Outside, . while the president spoke, a chill rain fell. 'This," the president said, "is a solemn -but glorious hour." He voiced ihe thought of mil lions by adding: "How I wish Franklin Roosevelt had lived to see this day." Proclaims Day of Prayer The president reminded the na- I Hon in its flush victory that it "ud not been righting atone. And i he proclaimed Sunday, May 1.1. a day of prayer. The president sent his congrat I istcI. Winston-Churchill, Premier ulations and thanks to Prime Min- I But he also sounded a note of triumph and hope. Pacific Victory Scon "The power of our peoples to defend themselves against all en emies will be proved in the Pa cific war as it has been proved in Europe," he said. For the Japanese, he saitl, the choice is between unconditional surrender and "utter destruction to Japan's Industrial war produc tion, to its shipping, and to every thing that supports its military activity." Surrounded by the leaders ot his government, President Tru man told a crowded news confer See VICTORY . . Page 8 Churchill Pledges Britain to All-Out War on Japanese LONDON, May 8 (UP) Prime Minister Churchill today pro claimed the end of the war in Europe and pledged that Britain now would concentrate all her forces against Japan. , Britain may allow hrrself a "brief moment of enjoyment," he told his countrymen in a brief radio speech, but added: "Japan with all her treachery and greed remains unsubdued. Hi- despicable cruelties call for justice and retribution. We must now concentrate all forces for the task ahead. "Long live the cause of free dom! God save the kim!" Chuifjiill broadcast from the cabinet room at his official resi dence) 10 Downing street, at 3 p.m. ((I a.m. PW35), then proceeded to commons, The house liaira ta-n an unioar- ious welcome. Ufticn the chocrsQ had dic.Odown, he readjlo the members tlg sai speech we (hjid broadcast a half-tjr earlier. r O- 0 Weatlqr Data for 24 hours ending 7 a.m. Temperatures: Maximum ... 76 Minimum 38 Forecast: Fair today and Wed f i- German Capitulation Brings End to Five Years of Greatest Conflict In History Of World PARIS, May 8 (UP) The bloodiest war in European history will come to its official end at 12:01 am. tomorrow, European tijne (3:01 p.m., PWT today), with the formal end of hostilities onji continent desolated by more than five years of conflict. ' The agreement formalizing the unconditional surrender will be ratified in Berlin today; with Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel; chief of the German high command, officially acknowledging that Germany is beaten. . . -',." Sitting around the table with Keitel in Berlin will be: - W. For the western allies: Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur W. TiecM der, deputy supreme commander. ' ' For Russia: Marshal Gregory K. Zhukov, commander of tli6 First White Russian army. . ?j$ For France: Gen. Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, commander of the French First army. ' ' To save lives, the cease fire order already has sounded. But the fighting went on today in some small and scattered sectors... -..i. Fanatical nazis, defying- the high command's unconditional RATIFIES CAPITULATION Field Marshal Wilhelm Koitsl, chief of the Gorman high com ma id, who today is to sign the official acknowledgement of Germany's unconditional sur render to the allies. American Troops Enter Prague to Crush Germans Who Refuse to Quit LONDON, May 8 (UP) The partisan-controlled Czech radio said today that hostilities havo endod by agroeme.it in Prague, one of the last nazi pockets of resistance in Czechoslovakia. LONDON, May 8 (UP) European reports said isolated pockets of diehard nazis still were resisting in Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, the Netherlands and the Baltic island of Boinholm today despite allied proclamations of V-E day. The commanders of the last major surviving German armies in the field in Czechoslovakia and Norway agreed to unconditional surrender, but some troops in Prague refused to obey the cease fire order. German resistance in the Czech oslovak capital was expected to be crushed quickly, however. Liaison officers of the American Third army already were in the city and a Brussels broadcast said American tanks were enter ing the city. The patriot radio in Prague said some German units were burning houses, murde'iing Czech civilians and looting in defiance of orelers of th.'ir commanders. The broadcast called on patriot units to "reply to these bandits with hard blows." ' Fighting extended from the out skirts to the center of Prague, but parts of the enemy forces were laying down their arms, the broadcast said. The allied notified the German hiiJft command that allied pleni potentiaries would fly to Oslo in two flying boats today to accept the surrender of the German gar rison of 250, Oil!) men in Norway. Stockholm dispatches said an allied naval force of III ships had sailed through t(g)(ljkagoiTak and entered Oslofjord, possibly tei land troops in Norway. Crown Prince Olav, commander in chief of Norwegian forces, of ficially announced the capitula tion of German forces in Norway and said troops will be sent t.i surrender, held out in some parts of Czechoslovakiar-in-French Atlantic ports, the Channel islands, and some pln points in the Aegean. .iT Holdouts Are Warned ''.;.'..'' t.f On the Russinn front resistance continued in sortw con siderable strength. But Prime Minister Churchill warned in London that if the nazis held, .out, after. t!)e '12.:01 'tWfy. deadline,- they would become outlaws under the rules of "wari and would be attacked from all sides by the allies. - 1' - i The German "peace" government of Gland Admiral Karl Docnitz, successor of Adolf Hitler, was carrying on a senit blance of official functions at Flensburg on the Danish frontier. '-'. Kcichsmarshal Hermann Goering, ousted in the last day's of organized resistance from the command of the German air force, is believed to be with the Doenitz government. SO was Heinrich Ilimmler, gestapo chief and interior minister.' Churchill said the uncondition al surrender of Germany was sinned at 2:41 a.m. yesterday at Reims. Doenllz Capitulates Doenitz and General Judl, rep resenting the German high com mand, siuned tor Germany. Lt. Gen. Walter Bedell Smith, Eisen hower's chief of staff and Gen. Francois Sovez signed for the I western allies, and Gi'n. Ivan I See GERMAN . . . Page 8 Allied Troops to Go to Norway to Disarm Germans LONDON, May 8 (UP) Crown Prince Olav, commander in chief of Norwegian forces, disclosed to day that allied troops will be sent to Norway to dh-arm the capitu lated loicc of fiO.COO Germans there. Olav, in a broadcast to Nor way, called for calm and urged his countrymen not to take mat ters in their own hands in pun ishing traitors and Germans. "Even though the Germans have capitulated that does not end the state of war," he said. "Until all enemy forces have been disarmed the determining factor willubo the military operatiems which must bo i&dcrtakcn in order to carry out terms ofQhc capitulation." The crown prince said he had put Norwegian ahOland, and na val units in Britain and SwcdG. at the elispo.- of the supreme allied eommind to help allied fore-cs in disarming the Germans. An earlier broadcast notified the German high command that two planes would carry allied plenipotentiaries to Norway to day to accept the German sur- f , I ': .-i-i Doenitz Offers To Remain As German Leader LONDON, May 8 (UP) Grah Admiral Karl Doenitz, appointed by Adolf Hitler to succeed hliiri as fuehrer of Germany, offered today to remain at the helm of the government during allied pc cupation of the reich. . '. "When Germany is occupied," he told the German people in 9 broadcast over the Flensburg fa dio, "control will be in the hand of the occupying powers. . . ' "It rests with them whether or not I and the reich government appointed by me can be in' of' ficc. Should I be able to be of use and assistance to my fatherland by continuing in office there, It shall remain in office." "'!; Ho recalled that he had prom ised he would try "in the coming times of distress" to provide tol erable living conditions for Ger man men, women and childreri,' but added: - .'; :; "I don't know whether I shall be able to help you in these hard days." ' .' Doenitz told the Germans they must face the fact that the foun dations on which Hitler's third reich were built had collapsed. "Unity of the state and (nazi) party no longer exists,", he said. "The party has left the scene of See DOENITZ . . . Page B ; Russians Capture ( Big Czech Base u. LONDON, May 8 (UP) Dr rienind the Czechoslovak strong huld' of Olmuetz fell to the Red army in a day of bloody fighting today as diehareP nazi units con tinued the war in isolated Euro pean pockets in defiance of theif leaders' unconditional surrender proclamation. .)", Premier .'Odin announced thai Dresden, the capital of German Saxony and one of the stubborn' est enemy resistance centers left en the continent, was captured by Marshal Ivan S. Konev's first Ukrainian army after two days of violent strce't fighting. . hi Olmuetz, a major Czechoslovak ailway junction SO miles south west of Morava Ostrava, fell al most simultaneously to Gen. Ahr drei Ycrcmenko's fourth ITkrsln.
