La Grande evening observer., June 26, 1945, Image 1

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ESTABLISHED 189B
World Security Charter Approved
China Is
First To
Sign Pact
SAN FRANCISCO, June 26
(UP) China, the first of
the United Nations to suffer
from fascist agression, today
whs the first to sijrn the new
world charter designed to
maintain an enduring peace
and prevent any future ag
gression. Wellington Koo, chairman of
the Chinese delegation at the
United Nations conference, start
ed what was expected to be an
eight hour signing ceremony by
affixing his signature to the 10,-000-word
document which holds
the hopes of the world that an
other world war can be avoided.
President Will Speak
The delegates of 50 nations ap
proved the chaitcr at an historic
public meeting last night at 10:50
o'clock. Tonight they will listen
to President Truman give it his
blessing and promise to seek im
mediate ratification by the United
States.
Koo admitted that he was hon
ored and "filled with emotion"
on "this great day."
"I confidently hope and be
lieve," he said, "that built on the
foundation of victory in Europe
and the early and final triumph
over' Japan, the new-security or
ganization : . . will be able to
spate the future generations the
horrors of recurrent war and to
ensure to them the blessings of
peace and prosperity."
Twenty-six years ago next
Thursday the treaty of Versailles
was signed ending wot Id war I.
That treaty incororated the cove
nant of the league of nations
man's first but futile attempt in
this generation to create interna
tional cooperation and prevent
future wars.
. Pitfalls Foreseen
The delegations which helped
to produce the present document
ate aware of all the. pitfalls ahead
of them. Some of the delegates
the venerable Held marshal Jan
C. Smuts of South Africa, the tall,
very-correct Earl of Halifax of
Britain, the white, bushy-haired
Joseph Paul-Boncour of France,
See CHINESE . . . Page 2
Bishop Remington
Is Elected To
Pennsylvania Post
PHILADELPHIA, June 26
(UP) The Rt. Rev. William P.
Remington, Pendleton, Oie., mis
sionary bishop of eastern Oregon,
today was elected suffragan bish
op of the Episcopal diocese of
Pennsylvania to assist Bishop
Oliver J. Hart in administrative
duties.
Rev. Remington was selected
on the first ballot by delegates
to a special election meeting. He
will have all of the rights and
duties of a bishop, except that of
succession.
The new suffragan bishop was
born in Philadelphia. He served
as rector of churches in Philadel
phia and St. Paul, Minn., until
the first world war.
During the war he was chap
'iin of the army base hospital at
Minneapolis. He was suffragan
bishop of South Dakota until
1!22 when he became missionary
bishop in eastern Oregon.
Durham Goes to
Prison for Life
Facing a life term in the state
piison at Salem, George Wash
ington Durham, escaped "convict
and jail breaker, yesterday was
taken to the state penitentiary
by Sheriff Jesse Breashers and
nemljers of the state police.
AiteAtcd nnai Hot Lake revcral
n onlhs ago while in possesion of
a; pistol, after escaping fiom the
slate prison, Durham was found
Ipjhy a jury in-the circuit court
I " here to have 'teen convictedof
j crime in other places which mnde
I him subject to the state's habit
i ual criminal act, the penalty for
'. which is life imprisonment.
fr. X
ICKES SUCCESSOR? Report
ed fifth change in the cabilet
of President Truman will see
Senator Joseph C. O'Mahonoy,
above, independent Wyoming
Democrat, succeeding Harold L.
Ickes as secretary of the inter
ior If the change is made, it
will end the record of 12 con
secutive years Ickes has served
i.i the cabinet
Final Testimony
Starts in Bowman
Murder Hearing
A parade of witnesses who
testified concerning the family
and business ' affaiis of the Al
bert (Bert) Bowman family-' and
to his reputation passed through
the witness box in the circuit
court late yesterday and today
as the trial of Albert Forrest
Bowman on a charge of slaying
his father drew to its close.
The state today launched its
rebuttal afler the defense com
pleted its case late yesterday af
trnoon. One of the outstanding wit
nesses for the defense during the
final testimony for the accused
slayer was his 15-ycar-old sister,
Larose Bowman.
Threats Are Told
She testified that her father
once threatened to "kick your
teeth in," and also said "I'll kill
that damn Foirest."
Other witnesses who testified
concerning the Bowman family
affairs and business transactions,
from the viewpoint of outsiders,
included John Dickinson, brother-in-law
of the accused, Harold
Craig, a neighbor, DeLile Gieen,
manager of the stale liquor store.
L. E. Bramwell, manager of the
Union bank, Harley Smith, La
Grande merchant, Earl Stigaull
de, Bowman ranch employee,
Mrs. Mary Kail, mother-in-law
of the accused man, and County
Clerk C. L. Graham.
Rebuttal witnesses called by
the state included Leo Mann.
Frank Pearson and M. Hand,
neighbors of the Bowmans, Sleek
Tally, Lyle Ferguson and others.
They testified generally to the
good reputation of the elder Bow
man, and included in some of
the testimony was that he was
not quarrelsome or pugnacious
when either sober or under the
influence of liquor.
The witnesses were vigorously
cross-examined by the defense.
Counsel for both sides today
expressed the belief at the taking
of testimony will be concluded
today and that arguments will
consume most of tomorrow's ses
sion, making it possible to give
the case to the jury on Thursday.
Ceiling Price On
Apple Crop Shaded
WASHINGTON. June 26 (UP)
The office of price administra
tion has lowered shipping point
eeiling prices for the 1 1145 apple
crop by eight cents to S3. 45 a
standard bushel for the period
lasting from now until July 20.
This will mean a new retail
ceiling price about two-tenths of
a cent lower than th:; ceiling for
the previous period from May 2'l
to June 15. OPA said.
The OPA also announred thnt
while potatoes grown in 1045 will
be given July ceilings identical
to -those ic'r for July 15 to 31.
1!)44, except in a few areas. OPA
said the new prices will not af
fect totail ceilings.
LA GRANDE,
Prisoners
CHUNGKING, June 26 (UP) A Korean sublieuten
ant who deserted the Japanese at Swatow charged today
that he had witnessed the bayonet massacre of 15l
American and British prisoners of war at a Japanese
prison camp near Zentsuji. Shikuko island in the main
Japanese group, on April 26, 19M.
The Korean, whose name can not be revealed, deserted
the Japanese at Swatow in March and arrived in Chung
king this month.
lie said he had hern forced hy the Japanese to join
(heir army and was on a mission to the Zentsuji camp
when he witnessed (he massacre, which he attributed
chiefly to a shortage of food but also to provide prac
tice for Japanese army recruits.
lie said that at the time there was a shortage of food
not only for prisoners but also for the army and for the
general public. The Japanese picked sick prisoners for
the bayonet practice.
About 220 Japanese soldiers participated in the bay
oneting, the Korean said. They were divided into three
groups, each of which was allotted about fit) prisoners.
The prisoner of war camp was located about seven miles
from the town of Zentsuji in a mountainous area. so no
civilians witnessed the execution. Other prisoners how
ever, saw the whole proceedings.
Volcano Eruption
Endangers Soldiers
At Aleutian Base
FORT .GLENN, Umnak Island,
in the Aleutians, June 20 (UP)
Military personml of Fort Glenn
were believed safe from evacua
tion today after a violent erup
tion of 0,000 foot. Mount Tulik a
monlh ago endan;ercd the garri
son. The mountain had long been
inactive, but a month ago soldiers
heard ground rumblings and saw
smoke seeping from the brood
eloudcapped crater 10 miles from
this base.
A week later Mount Tulik
started eaiih-shaking eruptions.
Smoke and llames shot toward
the sky.
All military transport planes
in the area were put on a stand
by basis for use in evacuating
personnel if necessary and the
army sent poweicd barges from
other bases. The volcano then
quieted and the army released
the planes. The barges, however,
still are available for quick eva
cuation.
Lt.. Robert Rcnkegt of the 54lh
troop carrier squadron, who flew
over Tulik a week ago to get of
ficial pictures, said flames still
were shooting 100 feet upward
and smoke rising to a height of
15,000 feet made flying dilficult.
He said he saw five distinct cones
inside the mountainwicle crater.
New VFW Post is
Formed In Union
Earl Culver will install a new
Veterans of Foreign Wars post
in Union tomorrow night ut 8
o'clock.
Culver, a representative of de
partmental headquarters in Pott
land, will conduct the meeting in
the Legion hall, where officers
for the coining year will be elec
ted. A delegation from La
Grande is expected to attend.
KRUPP ON TRIAL? Alfred
Krupp, 37, munitions maker
who made Qormany'i vast
armament program possible,
may be tried as a war criminal.
He is being held in secret hide
away by British military authorities.
tiea ene rVew Coesffel
OREGON TUESDAY EVENING. JUNE 26, 19-15
Used for Bay
Dusting Is Urged to Save
Pea Crop from Weevils
Seriousness of the pen weevil infestation in Grande Ronde valley
pea crops was emphasized today by R. W. Schaad, county agricul
tuial agent, in a.. effort to spur growers to take action against pos
sible great' loss. .-' ' ' ' "
"Of the 18,000 acres of peas in the valley, half of which are in
edible peas and the other in Austrian, from 10 to 85 per cent is
affected at this time," Schaad said.
His estimation of the overall loss, should farmers fail immediately
to dust, ranges to 40 per cent of the total crop, or a money value of
Draft Deferment
Orderer for Rail
Workers in West
WASHINGTON, June 20 (UP)
Essential railroad workers in
the west will be eligible here
after for draft deferment regard
less of their age, selective serv
ice headquarters said today.
Workers eligible for the new
deferment must be employed in
specified "critical" jobs on rail
roads operating west of Lake
Michigan, the Illinois-Indiana
state line and the Mississippi
river.
The critical occupations arc:
Train and engine service En
gineers, firemen, conductors,
brakemen and switchmen, in
cluding switch foremen and
yardmen; general transportation
occupations train dispatcher,,
yard masters, telegraphers, in
cluding operators and tower men;
maintenance of equipment
blacksmiths, boilermukers, car
men. car inspectors, electricians,
machinists, sheetmetal workers,
including foremen in these crafts;
signal men, signal maintainors.
In a memorandum to local
draft boards, selective service di
rected them to give special con
sideration to deferment requests
for these workers.
Forest Fire Burns
Valuable Timber
BEND, Ore., June 20 (UP)
More than 4.000,000 board feet of
merchantable timber was lost in
the lower Metolius river fire this
past week. Deschutes national
forest officials estimated today.
Most of the timber covered '.n
the 800 acre fire was virgin pine,
on the steep green ridge slope ut
the Metolius basin, near the
northern tip of the Deschutes
forest.
New Ration Stamps
Are Valid Sunday
WASHINGTON, June 26 (UP)
Five new blue and five red
stamps become good on Sunday.
The stamps can be used through
Oct. 31.
They ore blue, for processed
foods: J-1, K-l, L-l, M-l, and
N-l; and red, for meat-fats: A-l,
B-l, C-l, D-l and E-l.
lied stamps E-2 through J-2
and blue stamps N-2 through S-2
became invalid after June 30.
oriet Practice by Japs
The Japanese, he said, tied each prisoner to a wooden
cross and the Japanese major in charge made a speech
to the victims, telling them: ,.
' "You are all Christians and it will be glory for you to
die in the same way as Jesus Christ. As Jesus Christ
had a resurrection in three days you will certainly have
one also.",
The major then ordered his soldiers to attack the pri
soners. The Korean said the Japs were inexperienced
nnd ''shivered" so that they could not wield their bay
onets effectively. They were seldom able to kill a man
with one stroke. He said the slaughter continued until
f p.m. that day with all the Japanese officials and men of
the camp watching the procedure.
The Korean said the Japanese had five large camps
for prisoners of war in Japan proper', in the vicinity of
Kuknkawa, near Tokyo., Zentsuji, Kukuoka and Kyushu
and Shimoneseki in the western part of Japan. He said
there were large camps in Korea at Seoul and Chemulpo,
one at. Kwelung, Formosa, and another, at Kiangwan,
near Shanghai.
He said he understood that Gen. Jonathan Wainwright
was at. Zentusji and British Gen. A. E. Percival who sur
rendered at Singapore, at Chemulpo.
$100,000.
Total production in the val
ley in edible peas is estimated
at 9,000,000 pour,," he said,
"which at Hi cents a pound will
approximate in value $405,000.
Farmers stand to lose 40 per cent
of their expected return in this
crop if they take no action to
combat the weevil or $162,000."
Total Austrian pea production
is estimated at seven and a half
million pounds. At 3 cents a
pound on estimated 10 per cent
loss will amount to $28,500, or a
total loss for both crops of $190,
000. "For many reasons in addition
to the monetary loss, wc cannot
urge too strongly that Grande
Ronde valley farmers take action
immdiately before the weevil
has progressed too far to stop this
season.
"Possible loss of markets, loss
of valley icputation as a seed
and Austrian pea growing area
and a loss of outlet for this year's
crop are among the foremost,"
the farm agent declared. "Our
office is ready to cooperate in any
See VALLEY . . . Page 7
Consolidation of
Schools Proposed
Consolidation of six element
ary school districts with the Im
bler district will be passed upon
at a special election to be held
July 10.
The districts are: Summer
Ville, Pleasant Grove, Dry Creek.
Pumpkin Ridge, Alice, and Wil
low Creek, it was announced to
day by Ethel S. Hansen, county
superintendent of schools.
Miss Hanri alio announced
that the repot ts of resident pu
pils' attendance are due from the
various distfiatj, and must be
filed before the districts can re
ceive state school support fund
money.
House Votes Huge
Jap War Fund
WASHINGTON, June 20 (UP)
The house today passed and
sent to the senate legislation to
give the army $38,500,285,951
with which to fight the Japanese
in the year starting July 1.
The bill, passed by voice vole,
will bring to about $410,000,000,
000 thf total made available by
congress for war purposes.
The house appropriations com
mittee said that if the Japanese
ore defeated before June 30,
1046, this will be the last gigantic
supply measure of the war.
FIVE CENTS
Shorter Working
Hours Seen As
Employment Key
" Creation of new jobs to pro.
vide employment for returning
veterans, and at the same time
prevent dislocation of thoso now
employed, is seen by H. G. Vdruz,'
chairman of the Union county
veterans employment committee
as the key to the past-war em
ployment situation.
At a meeting of the commit
tee last night, he said it would
be an injustice to workers who
stayed on their jobs during the
war period to be ousted in favor
of a veteran, and he suggested
thut shorter hours of labor to
spread employment may be one
of the major factors in solving
the employment problem.
Rev. Floyd White said it is in
conceivable that the nation
should go through another de
pression, and expressed the opin
ion thut the question of providing
employment for returning service
men and women will necessitate
only the application of common
sense and justice.
Strike Halts Work
On Superfortresses
DETROIT, June 20 (UP)
Strike action by CIO automobile
workers tocay shut down B-29
bomber production at Hudson
motor company, crippled war out
put at the huge rord Rouge plant
and idled more than 50,000 work
ers in the Detroit area.
Five thousand UAW-CIO mem
bers struck at the River Rouge
plnnl, forcing another 3,000 into
idleness. Hudson's plant was
closed when 3,800 CIO members
joined picket lines in sympathy
with 000 co-workers who had re
belled against re-assignments.
Meantime, an unauthorized
walkout of CIO maintenance
workers hit two additional Ford
plants in a spread of the CIO's
jurisdictional battle with AFL
skilled trades workers.
LEADS OPA FIGHT Rtp.
Thomei A. Jenkins, Ohio Re
publican, above, led the tight
for ihifti'.g the transfer of OPA,
pricing and rationing to the de
partment of agriculture.
) L
iokv
o Keports i?reat
U. S. Fleet Massed;
War Plants Blasted
GUAM, June 20 (UP) Tokyo reported a 200-ship Amer-
iean invasion fleet off Okinawa today and Premier Kantaro'
Suzuki, criticized at home for his conduct of the war, called'
on his people tJ sacrifice their lives freely in the coming de-
cisive battle of Japan, . ;
One enemy broadcast speculated American invasion forces,
may land on Amami and Kikai islands, 110 miles northeast
of Okinawa, to gain further bases before striking at Japan
itself.
'The life and death of any individual Japanese," said
Suzuki in a statement to his nation, "is no longer worth
giving consideration." He called on Japanese to "offer
their lives to the eternal cause of our country."
The totalitarian Nippon political association Japan's
fascist-like "sure victory" party called on Suzuki's govern-;
ment to take "stronger action" in coping with the war crisis'
growing out of the loss of Okinawa.
The
political ossociution ar
ranged a meeting with Suzuki
and other government leaders for
Wednesduy morning at which
time "vital Issues will to tho
roughly discussed and decided,"
Tokyo reported.
The American pre-invailon
bombardment of Japan mean
time roie to a new high pitch
with nearly SD0 Superforlresies
blasting buildtngi at 10 Jap
anese armi and aircraft works
into imoking rubble in a day
light raid.
It was the heaviest precision
demolition and greatest multiple
air assault yet made on Japan.
Rudio Tokyo said the 200-ship
invasion licet was In the American-held
Keruma islands just
southwest of Okinawa. It wus
said to Include three battleships,
three cruisers and a number of
large, medium and small trans
ports. The jittery Tokyo radio, turn
ing to the threat to the home is
lands, suggested today that
Seo TOKYO . ... Page 7
Balikpapan Again
Bombarded By
Allied Warships
' MANILA, June 20 (UP) Radio
Tokyo reported today that an al
lied fleet again was bombarding
Balikpapan on Borneo and that
allied troops had landed on tiny
Ternuto island in the Moluccas.
The new developmepls in the
Last Indies came as the Ameri
ccan 37lh division in northern
Luzon was within four miles of
Tuuegarao, where a gallant guer'
rillu force fought off alnv. ,t con
stant Japanese counterattacks
"Some 30 odd surface units, in
cluding cruisers and destroyers,
are now bombarding Balikpa
pan," said the enemy broadcast
The oil center, on the east coast
of Borneo, has been under sea
and air fire for more than two
weeks.
"Enemy minesweepers are re
ported clearing our minefields,
but no indications of a landing
are observed," Tokyo said.
inc Japanese Dome! news
agency reported the invasion of
Ternute, which lies a few miles
off the west coast of Hulmahera
in the Molucca islunds, northwest
of New Guinea. The island com
mands the approaches to Ternale
harbor, one of the finest ports
in thut part of the Eust Indies.
U. S. Minesweeper
Is Lost Off Borneo
WASHINGTON, June 20 (UP)
The navy today announced the
loss of the minesweeper Salute as
u result of enemy action In the
Borneo urea.
The 945-ton vessel, which car
ried a wartime crew of about
100, lost nine members six killed
and three missing.
Loss of this small craft brought
to 310 the number of American
naval vessels lost from all causes
in this war.
The ship saw action in the
Liyte island invasion und in
ininesweeping operations in the
Philippines area.
She wus engaged in convoy and
escort work prior to the Borneo
opeiations in which she wus lost.
Columbia and Snake
Projects Approved
WASHINGTON, June 38 (UP)
The house appropriations com
mittee has recommended thut the
war department be given an addi
tional $15,400,000 for flood con
trol and rivers and harbors work
during the 1940 fiscal year,
A $4,000,000 Item authorized
for advanced planning included
funds fur studies of the following
previously approved flood control
projects: Snake river locift and
dam construction, Oregon, Wdlh
ington and Iduho: Umatilla dam,
Columbin river, OiegmiN und
Washington, -
Drive Pushed
' . i: ' '
To Reach E :
Bond Quota ;
Responding to the appeal ot
the wur finance committee for
larger purchases of Series E war
bonds, citizens of Union county
yesterday purchased these secur
ities in the amount of $18,200, .
bringing the totul for the 7th war
loan campaign to $577,080.
While this still is far below thp
$741,000 quota in G bonds set for
the county by the United States
treasury department, members of
the county committee today ex
pressed the belief that continued
heavy buying for the remainder
of- the week will put the county
over the top. Sales of all types
of bonds to date total $781,175,
against a quota of $964,000.. '
This belief is predicated upon
receipt of a substantial amount of
bond credit through payroll pur
chases by members of the armed ,
forces whose homes are In the
county, and by county -employees
of commercial and industrial con
cerns, the railroad and other or
ganizations. ' - ' -
It also was Indicated today that
sales of bonds to corporations, for
which the quota for the current
campaign is $223,000, will be
reached or exceeded by Saturday
the finul day of the campaign.
W. C. Perkins, county chair
man, said today that the commit
tee is highly gratified at the re
sponse by Union county citizens
to the committee's appeal for
them to purchase more E bonds.
He said many had already pur
chased bonds to the limit of their
ubility, while others huve been
deferring purchases.
' Now is the time for the latter
to buy their bonds," he said. "If
wo can maintain the pace we
have reached in the lust few days,
there will be no question of the
county reuching its quota."
Federal reserve bank officials
unounced today that bond pur
chasers in Oregon hav5 exceeded
the state quota of $110,000,000,
due largely to oversubscribing the
corporation bond totul. It was
revealed that the state as a whole
is $14,500,000 short of its E band
quota of $55,000,000.
Hearing on City
Budget Will Be
Tomorrow Night
Public hearing of the budget
of the city of La Grande for the
fiscal year of 1945-46, which
starts July 1, will be held by th5
city commission at 7:30 o'clock
tomorrow evening in the com
mission chambers in the city hall.
The budget providing for ex
penditures aggregating $179,857,
covers expenditures to which the
city is definitely committed and
others which will be made if cer.
tain wartime restrictions are re
laxed suffciently.
The budgeted costs are $30,033
higher than the aggregate of last
year's budget, but because of sub
stantial i educations in bond in
terest and redumption and trans
fers of money from reserves and
surpluses, the amount that must
be raised by taxes is some $12,000
below that of the past fiscal year.
This will result in a reduction
of approximately 3 mills in thg
tax rate surpluses, the amount
that must be raised by taxation
is below that of the past year,
which will effect a saving of ap
proximately 3 mills in the tax
rate.
Weather
Data for 24 hours to 7 u.m.
Temperature:
t Maximum a
MtaftQiitft O
forecast: Partly r4)loOlv. prob
able showers toni)u (gncf Wecff
nesday. .,'
i
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