La Grande evening observer., May 23, 1945, Image 1

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ESTABLISHED 1S9B
Yonabaru Defense
Is Overrun; Enemy
Stronghold Taken
GUAM, Thursday, May 21 (UP) American seventh divi
sion troops were rolling up the east wing of the Japanese
defenses on Okinawa today. They stormed and captured
strategic Ozato Maru hill, more than half a mile southeast
of overrun Yonabaru.
Lt. Gen. Simon Buckner's tenth army forces beat out
steady if slow advances in most sectors of the five-mile Okin
ava front. Both ends of the Japanese line sagged back under
the relentless onslaught.
While the seventh division forces fanned out beyond Yona
baru, other troops gained southeast of Nairn. The coastal
ndvances threatened the complete isolation of besieged Shuri
and the slaughter of its complete garrison.
Grange Endorses
State Institution
Building Proposal
The executive committee of the
Oregon state grange announced
today in Portland that grange
units throughout the state have
been advised of the committee's
endorsement of the state building
fund mcasurc'on the ballot at the
special election June 22.
The measure provides for use
of $10,000,000 income tax receipts
for construction of needed build
ings at the Oregon state college,
state university, state hospital,
penitentiary and other state insti
tutions. The money will come from in
' come tax surpluses which were
impounded by the legislature for
building purposes and will not
come from a properly tax levy,
the committee advised the mem
bers of the various local grange
units.
June l is Set As
Tin Can Salvage
Day In La Grande
L. A. Bohnenkamp, chairman
of the Union county war salvage
committee, today announced an
other city-wide collection of tin
cans will be made June 1st, and
urged housewives to save every
can they open and have it ready
for the collection.
He callc-J attention to the fad
that each can should be washed
thoroughly, top and bottom re
moved or folded in, and the can
flattened !iy stepping on it.
They should be plated in a car
ton or other container for con
venience i.i handling and placed
at the curb on the collection day.
The war production board has
announced that the nation's sup
ply of tin is at the lowest point
since the country entered the
war, and it is more imperative
than ever that cans be saved and
salvaged.
"Four hundred ordinary cans
are required to reclaim one
pound of pure tin." Bohnenkamp
said, but that pound of tin will
re-coat another 100 cans, or will
provide the critical material to
protect and preserve medical sup
plies, or tood or may be needed
to make tome of the equipment
that goes to the men on the fight
ing fronts.
Eisenhower Pledges Quick Return To
America For Former Nazi Prisoners
By CHARLES F. KILEY
Stars and Stripes Staff Writer
ST VALERY EN CAUS, Fiance, May 23 (UP) More than 40,000
icpatriated American prisoners of war had direct assurance today
irom Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower that he is making every effort
to get them home as soon as possible.
The supreme commander, addressing the group over a public
address system from a truck, said he has ordered American-bound
ships, carrying prisoners of war, to be loaded to capacity even to
the extent of asking men to shore beds and sleep in shifts.
Gen. Eiscnhowcrc was accom
fiunied here yesterday by Sens.
Jjurton K. Wheeler, D., Mont.,
Albert W. Hawkcs. R., N". J., E.
W. McVarland. D., Ariz., and
Homer Capeharl, R Ind., Maj.
Gen. F. E. Stoner, war depart
ment representative with the
fo'Jeral communications commis
sion, and Paul Potter, chairman
of the FCC.
0 The congressional group, in
Europe to study the communica
tions system, had called at the
general's headquarters and was
invited to accompany him on the
living trip here.
Eisenhower told the repatriates
le fell suie the:.- it iwnc among
Lt. John J. Brokaw of Tren
ten, N. J., led the troops who
stormed Ozato Maru hill, one of
the few commanding features in
southern Okinawa. It is one of
the few remaining hills on which
the Japanese might anchor a line
for a new stand if and when they
pull out of Shuri.
Enemy Tanks Blasted
A front dispatch revealed that
an American tank knocked out
six Japanese tanks with 12 shells
Monday in a short-lived clash
near Chocolate Drop hill. The
dispatch described it as the near
est tiling to an armored battle
so far in the Okinawa campaign.
In a later engagement U. S.
Shermans knocked out six of
nine Japanese tanks at the out
skirts of Yonabaru.
The seventh division ripped
through shattered defenses near
Yonabaru. Reports lagging at
least 24 hours behind actual de
velopments placed elements of
of Yonabaru, cast coast strong
hold and Okinawa's fifth largest
city.
At the opposite, (western) end
of the fivc-milo battlcfront, mar
ines of Major Gen. Pedro dc
Valle's first division drove south
and cast of Nana, rubbled capital
of Okinawa.
Leathernecks Advance
Slogging through ankle-deep
mud, the Leathernecks advanced
to a point overlooking the Naha
Shuri road, which cuts diagonally
across the island from a point
near the end of Naha harbor.
The gains beyond Naha and
the Yonabaru break-through op
See IS'OLATION . . . Page 7
Trieste Quiet As
Allies Move In
ADVANCED ALLIED HEAD
QUARTERS, Italy, May 23 (UP)
Peaceful allied occupation of
Trieste and the remainder of dis
puted Vcnizia Guilia province
appeared likely today despite
Marshal Tito's refusal last week
to withdraw Yugoslav troops.
British and American forces,
reinforced by the powerful sec
ond American corps, moved into
the province and occupied at
least two towns and three moun
tains yesterday without opposi
tion from Yugoslav troops.
The fact that Tito failed to re
sist allied occupation of such
strategic hiijh ground was taken
as a sign that he will permit the
western allies also to take over
Trieste and other key points
pending final disposition of tfie
territory by the peace confer
ence. them who has "forgotten we are
dill at war with Japan."
"We ore doing everything in
our power to get you out of here
and back home to sec your fami
lies," he said.
Speaking for everyone in
America, I want to express our
gratitude to you all for defeating
Germany. You men carried the
bail for us and we will not for
get it."
The repatrial"i gave the gen
eral a big ovation as he mounted
the truck to speak. Another roar
went up after he motioned for
quiet and said "Say, I'm just a
GI, not am ovie star."
a (Branil cSbs
Truman Cabinet
Superforts Rain Fire on
Capital's
Industries
Are Hit
GUAM, Thursday, May 24
(UP) More than uoO Super
fortresses unleashed a great
fire attack on Tokyo today,
dropping more than 700,000
incendiary bombs on the cap
ital in the early morning dark
ness. -
It was the greatest fleet of
B-29s ever sent aloft in a sin
gle mission and it brought the
air war against the Japanese
homeland to a new peak of
intensity. They dropped '1,500
tons of incendiaries.
Taking off last night from
basis in the Marianas, the Super
fortresses first appeared over the
enemy capital in the early hours
of the morning, the 20th air force
said.
Today's attack was the first
one on Tokyo since April 15.
It was aimed at the Shinagawa
areas of the Nipponese capital, a
highly congested area which
houses many small industries
turning out machine tools and
precision instruments vital tu
Japan's war industries, and major
industrial targets. i
If the attack is successful, it
will put hundreds of thousands
of Tokyo small Industry workers
out of jobs and add to the gen
eral bewildermbent already ad
mittedly prevalent among Jap
an's civilian population.
If previous raids are any cri
terrion, the heat generated by to
day's record load of fire-bombs
will wreck havoc not only in
flimsy housing districts but also
among the modern cement build
ings. This was the 23rd major at
tack on Tokyo the 16th on tar
gets within the city proper, and
the fifth incendiary raid.
Nazi Anti-Semite
Leader Captured
WITH U. S. 101st AIRBORNE
DIVISION, May 23 (UP) Amer
ican troops today captured Jul
ius Strcicher, one of the most
bitter anti-Semites in the nazi
regime of Adolf Hitler.
Stereich:r was captured by
troops of the 101st airborne divi
sion on a farm near Waldring,
about 40 miles west of Berchtcs
gaden. He was turned over to
the 15th corps.
Strcicher was captured at 2:30
p. m.
Gen. Ritter von Epp, one-time
minister for colonics and later
governor-general of Bavaria, al
so was captured by the 101st di
vision. U. S. Forces Near
Mindanao Union
MANILA, May 23 (UP) The
thirty-first division swept north
ward today toward a junction
with southbound troops to split
Mindanao after capturing Malay
balay, capital of Budkinon prov
ince. Only 21 miles separated the
31st from the 40th and Americal
divisions, which were meeting
differ fighting in the hills near
the town of Maluko on the Sayre
highway.
The 31st, commanded by Mnj.
Gen. Clarence Martin, also was
near a junction with the 24th
division, driving north from the
Davao sector, less than 25 miles
away.
American Troops
To Occupy Oslo
OSLO, May 23 ,IP) Oslo will
bo temporarily occupied by Amer
ican troops, it was revealed to
day by Brigadier P. H. Hansen,
head of SHAEF civil affairs unit.
(ai'et and
LA GRANDE. OREGON
Chain Letter Han
Not Relaxed For
War Stamp Sales
Postmaster Victor Eckley to
day announced that chain let
ters containing war stamps can;
not legaiiy be sent through the
U. S. mails. This announce
ment came as the result of nu
merous inquiries phoned to the
post office.
He 3atd that regardless of
the patriotic motive behind the
scheme, the chain letters are
still illegal, and offenders are
liable to prosecution under the
postal laws.
Doenitz Regime
Ends, Leaders Are
War Prisoners
PARIS, May 23 (UP) Supreme
headquarters announced today
thai all members of Admiral Karl
Doonitz's acting German govern
ment and of the German high
command in Flensburg had been
taken into custody as prisoner
ot war. f
The allies arrested 300 German
officers and an unspecified num
ber of other military and civilian
personnel, an official annouco
mcnt of the move against the
temporary setup at Fenbutg
revealed.
The arrest of the German lead
ers in Flensburg collapsed the
interim setup which succeeded
the government of Adolf Hitler.
SHAEF has made it plain in
repeated slacmcnts that the al
lies tolerated the regime headed
by Doenitz only as a temporary
measure of expediency. They
never recognized the Doe nitz
clique as a "government," but
worked with it us the best sub
stitute for an organized author
ity cfpablc of expediting the
German surrender.
(The British radio reported
that Gen.-Adm. Hans Georg von
Friedcburg, who surrendered the
Germans in northwcl'. Europe
committed suicide to escape ar
rest.) Gen. Hodges First
To Return to U. S.
NEW YORK, May 23 (UP)
Gen. Courtney H. Hodges, com
mander of the First army, land
ed at La Guardia field at 3:40 p.
m. today, the first of the victor
ious Amo.ican four-star generals
to return irom Europe.
Hodges and his army will be
transferred to the Pacific, it was
announced in Washington this
week. The general arrived in
the first of three planes carrying
his party of 50 officers and men.
PRESIDENT DECORATES WAR HERO President Truman is hown above awarding the congres
sional medal of honor to Tech. Sgl. Jake Lindsay of Lucedale. Misi., before a joint session of con
gron. At the left is Col. Harry Vaughan. the preside it's military aide, aid at the right it Gen.
George C. Marshall. On the roilrum are Rep. John W. McCormack, left, and house speaker Sam
Rayburn. It was the first time such an honor wei bestowed by the preiidont before both houses of
congress.
kVaew Cotiei'ti
WKDNESDAY EVENING. MAY
U. S. Faces Defeat
On Employment
Issue at Parley
Other Nations
Want Job Issue
In Security Pact
SAN FRANCISCO, May 23
(UP) The United States today
headed for its first "major" de
feat at the United Nations con
ference. The other nations ap
parently are going to overrule
this country's objection to mak
ing "full employment" an objec
tive of thf; new world organiza
tion. The dispute involves the func
tions of tivc proposed social and
economic council. A conference
committee already has inserted
"full employment" as one of the
council's objectives. U. S. dele
gate Dean Virginia Gildcrslecve
is trying to have it removed and
to substitute some general phrase
such as "high level of stable em
ployment." Meanwhile, the conference of
ficials prepared for a dramatic
closing of this conference with
President Truman delivering the
final address probably early in
June.
The chief executive's decision
was reveaied in Washington by
Secretary of Stale Edward R.
Slettinius, jr., after a morning
talk with Mr. Truman. Slettin
ius flew to the eapitol last night
to consult with the president and
with state department aides. He
is expected back here tomorrow
or Friday.
French sources here said there
was a possibility that Gen.
Charles De Gaulle, president of
the provisional government of
Fiance, might also attend the
close ,of the conference. They
said De Gaulle had been invited
to come to this country to con
fer with Mr. Truman. While it
seemed likely that any Truman
De Gaulle talks would be held
in Washington, they said it is
possible that the French leader
might also come to San Francisco.
Truman Moves to
Feed Hungry Allies
WASHINGTON, May 23 (UP)
The needs of liberated Europe
for food, coal and transportation
leceived a presidential priority
today.
President Truman .instructed
the heads of four government
f-gencie.-i to grant whatever prior
ities are necessary to meet mini
mum civilian requirements of
European allies.
The president acted on recom
mendations of Judge Samuel I.
Roscnman, White House adviser
who visited Europe recently for
the late President Roosevelt.
23, 1943
Members Resign
I m bier Passes
7th War Loan
Bond Quota
Alex McKenzio, war finance
committee chairman for 1m
bler, today announced that
community has reached its
()uota of K bond sales in the
seventh war loan with a total
of $21,173, sale value, sold
against a quota of $20,800.
The community's quota of all
types of bonds is $22,500.
The sales in the Iinblcr dis
trict were under the direction of
the mini solicitation group, of
which R. W. Schaad, county
agent, is chairman. Mrs. Dick
Hibberd is chairman of the Im
bler women's committee.
Mrs. Ann Decker, chairman of
the La Grande women's division
of the county organization, to
day announced that bonds of a
sale value of $B,45C25 have been
sold in the booths which have
been maintained in the banks
and the Trotter and Falk stores.
Of the total, $1,030 have been
sold by women of the railroad
auxiliaries she said.
Pin Money Purchases Urgod
The booths are maintained by
volunteer workers from various
women's organizations, through
which the women's division is
promoting the "pin money" pur
chses of war stamps and their
reconversion into bonds piior to
June 30.
War stamp books may be ob
tained at the banks, post office
and in most of the stores and the
stamps are readily available,
making it easier for housewives
to save their "pin money" for
bond purchases, Mrs. Decker
See E BOND . . . Page 7
Party Lines Hold
In Tariff Debate
WASHINGTON, May 23 (UP)
Party lines wen.1 holding firm
on the administration's reciprocal
trade legislation, underscoring
the historic attitudes of the le
; publican and democratic parlies
on the protective tariff.
Debute on the bill will irsumc
tomorrow and continue at least
through .Saturday, the dale ten
tatively set by democratic lead
ers for a vote.
Amid growing indications that
the democrats have the votes to
pass the administration - backed
bill, the house spent live hours
yesterday wrangling over it. With
a single exception the initial do
bale followed straight party linr.s
,ind reflected traditional views in
a congressional tariff fight.
4 1 oL 1
Tokyo
Churchill Quits;
Interim Cabinet
Ordered By King
Premier Forces
Test of Strength
In Election
LONDON, May 23 (UP)
Prime Minister Churchill re-,
signed today and accepted an
invitation to form a new gov
ernment. Parliament w n 8
ordered dissolved as of June
15 in a series of moves clear
ing the way for a British gen
eral election on or about July
5.
Churchill's resignation formal
ized the breakup of the coalition
cabinet which governed Britain
lor five years. It was precipitated
by the labor party's rejection of
his proposal that the coalition be
maintained until Japan is de
feated. Interim Cabinet Planned
Within a few hours of his sur
render, Churchill was commis
sioned by King George to organ
ize an interim cabinet to hold
office until the general election.
Soon thereafter No. 10 Down
ing street announced that Chur
chill had accepted the commis
sion and asked the king to dis
solve the present parliament.
This will be done by royal pro
clamation as of June 15, the
statement .said.
A brief announcement from
Churchill's olficlal residence at
10 Downing street said he sub
mitted his resignation as prime
minister, first lord of the trcas
uiy and minister of defense to
the king at noon today.
Churchill remained at Buck
ingham palace with the king fur
50 minutes.
Resignation is Formality
The resignation was regarded
largely as a formality to clear
the way for a general election
on July 5 Britain's first in 10
See INTERIM . . . Page 7
Jap Abandonment
Of South China
Area Indicated
CHUNGKING, May 23 (UP)
Unconfirmed reports reaching
Chungking today indicated the
Japanese were preparing to aban
don most of southern and south
eastern China in favor of an
Okinawa-type defense in north
China, Manchuria and Korea.
Information reaching Chung
king from what were described
as most reliable sources ruised
the possibility Japan was re
shaping her strategy to prolong
the war in an attempt to obtain
;. negotiated peace.
There were some indications
the withdrawal process already
has begun.
American fliers spotted and at
tacked three he-avily-loadcd Jap
anese troop and supply trains
lushing northward from the Nan
king and Hankow areas, tending
to support the withdrawal re
ports. Farther south, other Japanese
forces were in retreat before the
Chinese along the coast ni ar Foo
cliow and more than 500 miles
inland in Hunan and Kwungsi
orovinees.
Baseball Results
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Chicago I! 7 I
New York 5 6 l
Haynes 'ind Trcsh; Bevans and
Crompton.
St. Louis I 5 0
Boston 4 ll 0
Jakueki and Mancuso, Ferriss
and Carbark.
Detroit 7 12 0
Philadelphia I 7 0
Newhouser and Richards;
Flores, Berry, Gassajyay and
Hayes.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia , 3 7 0
Chicago 8 10 3
Schanz, Sproull and Mancuso;
Passcau and Livingston, Rice.
Seeking A Job?
Need Help?
Reach the Needed
Person Quickly With
A Classified Ad
Phone 600
FIVE CENTS'"
President
N
ames
To Posts
WASHINGTON, May 23
(UP) President; Truman to
day announced three cabinet
resignations and the names
of the new members he will
dominate.
The president told his new
conference he was accepting
the resignations of - Attorney
General Francis Biddle, Sec
retary of Labor Frances Per
Kins and Secretary of AinH-
culture Claude A, Wickard;
At the same time he announced
thut War Food Administrator
Marvin Jones is resigning and his
duties probably will be transfer
red to the agriculture depart:
nient. :'
The now cabinet appointees ai;e.
Tom C. Clark of Dallas, Tcxh
present assistant attorney gener
al, to become attorney general,;
Federal' Judge Lewis B. Sqh
wcllenbach of Spokane, Wash,
to be secretary of labor, and Rep.
Clinton P. Anderson, D., N. MJ.)
lo be secrotary of agriculture' '
Wickard Named REA Head'
The president said he was ap
pointing Wickard as rural elec
trification administrator. - , "
Mr. Truman said all the cab
inet changes become effective
June 30 to the U. S. court -of
claims from which he stepped lo
head the war food administra
tion. He said when Jones leaves
AVFA,- probably will be tfutv.lntt
the agriculture .department,;:?..':.
.The president gave no indica
tion when other cabinet changes
may come or that there definite;
ly will be any further changes.
The president said ho did not
request any of the cabinet' re
signations but added that when
ho succeeded the late President
Roosevelt, ho received resigna
tions from practically every gov
ernment official who can resign.
All Members Win t
As Rotarians Have
Yarn Spinning Bee
La Grande Reparians today
competed in a "Can You Top
This One?" contest sponsored by
the club service committee uo
der the direction of Murtin Fiti
gerald with all members being
awarded prizes. ,
Lynn Larson, commanding of
ficer of the state guard uriiT,
commented on the free Japanese
balloons, information on which
was released yesterday by thd
war and navy departments, urg
ing civilians not to touch the bal
loons if accidentally come upoft,
Trevo Lumsdcn, president, an
nounced there will be no . meet
ing of the club next Wednesday,
Memorial day.
Capt. Merlin Batlcy of , La
Grande, now in the service,
greeted the members. He is here
on leave. v
Harry Nixon of Kimberly, B.
C, was introduced as a visiting
Kotarian, Fitzgerald was chair
man of the day. . ;
Baker Will Have
Aviation Session ;
Members of the state board (it.
aeronautics, civil aeronautics au
thority and other interested per,r
sons from eastern Oregon will at
tend a dinner meeting at 6:30
o'clock tomorrow evening in Bak
er, to discuss construction jf
landing or airport facilities in
cities Hnd recreational areas.'
Baker is the last city to be vis
ited this week by the state board
members and the CAA represent
atives, .s
These meetings arc being held
with a view toward promoting
development oi private and com
mercial flying.
Weather
Data for 24 houra to 7 a. m.'l
Temperature:
Maximum 67 ' . ,,
Minimum 40
Precipitation 01
Furccast: Cloudy and unsettled
tonight nnd Thursday,