La Grande evening observer., June 28, 1945, Image 1

Valiant Carrier Survives Japanese Suicide Blasting
SEATTLE, June 28 (UP) Two Japanese suicide planes on
the morning of May 11 almost converted the U. S. S. Bunker
Hill into a llaming tomb off Okinnwa for Vice Adm. Marc A.
Mitscher, whose flagship she was.
But the hard-hitting and hard-to-kiil commander of task
force 58 escaped without a scratch or blister. He escaped,
and the Bunker Hill survived, but many members of Milschcr's
staff and hundreds of the big ship's crew did not.
After a six-hour ordeal of blasting bombs, exploding am
munition, and blazing gasoline, the carrier counted 65(i casual
ties, including 37,1 killed, 10 missing, and 204 wounded.
But thaks to her crow's heroicm and to a daring maneuver
under enemy noses, the 27,500-ton Bunker Hill, lived to join
the Franklin, her Essex class sister, and the mighty Sara
toga in the proud company of U. S, carriers which refused
to sink.
Because she will fight again, the Bunker Hill's story may now
be told. "Out of nowhere," as the survivors told it, came two
suicide planes which crashed with their 500-pound bombs into
the carrier's decks.
4
1
I
SYMBOL OF AMERICAN VALOR Neither flaming gasoline from the tanks of burning planes nor
the explosions of bombs aid rockets daunted the valiant crew of the USS Bunker Hill, when the car
rier was set ablaze by two Japanese suicide plenes off Okinawa May 11, A mass of charred, twisted
wreckage, the gallant ship now is being repaired and will again take to sea to avenge herself on tho
enemy. Additional pictures of the USS Bunker H 11 will be found on page 5.
Connally Urges Senate to
Approve Security Charter
WASHINGTON, June 28 (UP) The senate received an impas
sioned ulea today to spsed ratification of the United Nations secur
ity charter as a spur to its acceptance by the rest of the world.
Chairman Tom Cc umlly D Tex., of the senate foreign relations
committee, a delegate to the Sai Francisco conference which draft
ed the charter, opened or.3 of the most momentous debates in U. S.
history with a report on the success of his mission.
He pleaded for approval of the
Bowman Fate to
Be in Hands of
Jury Tomorrow
Taking of testimony in nu
tria! of Albert Forrest Bowman
on a charge of murdering his
father at the hitter's North Pow
der district ranch on April 22,
came to a close yesterday in tho
circuit court and arguments of
counsel advanced to a point
where it is expected the case will
go to the jury tomorrow morn
ing. With tin- conclusion of argu
ments Judge It. J. Green will
give his instructions to the jui
ors and the fat.? of the accused j
slayer will be in their hands. I United Nations organization for
Under tlic indictment, in which peace and security will face fail
he is accused of murder, the su-1 ore and futility unless the United
preme penalty is possible, and 1 States is a member. We face a
although the prosecution did not j high and solemn responsibility."
develop that possibility too , Connally left no doubt that he
strongly during the questioning fully expects the senate to heed
of witnesses, it was indicated it ; his plea. He said the agreement
would be demanded in the final 1 has the overwhelming support of
arguments, as during the qucs-, the American people,
tioning of prospective jurors the ! Curb o.i War Seen
. talesman's attitude on capital . "The world charter for peace is
'punishment was made an import-!
!anl factor.
l.i, The defense has built the self-
j defense motive, and sought to
i' prove that the victim of the fatal
J (fight was of a belligerent and
1 ipugnacious attitude and often
'. threatened various members of
i jjhis family with bodily harm. The
: Itstate introduced numerous wit-
fftrLlf !Lr,nhn1rahe
L'was a peaceful and industrious I
trnan.
i.)Wind Damage Heavy
) Whitman Forest
' h BAKER. Ore.. June 28 (UP)
f Whitman forest supervisor Ch.ir
? fins D. Simpson, predicted today
&' that it would take a week to
clean up damage to forest roads
suscd by a wind storm June z
Sweeping through most of j
Baker countv, the storm created
ir jam of hundreds of cven-reens
r.l the mouth of cast Eagle can
yon, caused some hail damage,
and- interrvf ted telephone se r
vice and damaged high - power
lines around Unity.
Surplus Trucks io
Aid Wheat Harvest
PORTLAND, June 28 (UP)
S,x Oiegon counties will ri:aiT
in the use of 172 trucks released
by the surplus property board to
aid movement of wheat in Ore
Kon. Idaho. Washington and Mon
tana, it was revealed today by
Senator Wayne I.. Morse
l ?
charier with the argument that
"the date of world peace may
depend upon our decision." He
said the charter can not succeed
without this nation's participa
tion. Early Adoptioi is Aim
President Truman is scheduled
to transmit the charter to the sen
ate Monday. Connally's speech
opened an administrative cam
paign to get it ratified by mid
August, possibly making this na
tion the first in the world to for
mally approve the charter.
. "Early ratification here will
stimulate and encourage ratifica-
j lion by other nations," Connally
said.
I "The eyes of the entire world
ire centered on what we do here.
Foreign nations know that the
knocking at the doors of the sen
ate, hu declared. "We shall not
turn it away."
He said war could be prevent
ed by international cooperation.
"In this charter we have en
See CONNALLY . . . Page 7
Oleo, Canned Fish
Illation Values to
r"n IT,-, CunHnV
WASHINGTON, June 28 (UP)
Civilians will get five per cent
more meat in July than in June,
the office of price administration
disclosed today.
But during the new July 1-28
rationing period they must pay
more points for margarine and
canned fish.
OPA raised margarine from 12
to It points per pound, and raise-d
canned fish, currently worth from
four to nine points, by two and
three points.
Most meats, butter and canned
foods remain unchapgrd, as do
lard, shortening, and oils which
were increased from 10 to 12
points a pound June 17.
OPA added one and two points
on seven fat pork cut but in
spite of the estimated five per
cent increase in meat supply held,
points on other meats at June
levels isu "assist in distributing
meat to shortage areas."
The agency lowered hard
cheeses such as Cheddar and blue
by fuur points. All changes are
effective S;ndav.
Admiral Has Close Cal
Lives were snuffed out in a space of seconds n few feet from
where the doughty, weather-beaten, 58-year-old admiral was
standing.
According to Commodor Arleigh A. Burke, his chief of staff,
three officers and 11 men of Mitscher's staff were killed and 20
were wounded or overcoms by smoke.
Every man on the port tide of the flag bridge outside .the
"flag plot" where he stood was killed. But he survived to
transfer his flag to another craft and carry on.
Thus far in this war, Mitscher has been bombed off two flag
ships. The name of the other one may not now be revealed.
The Bunker Hill, her decks and island and gun galleries a
shambles, is being repaired at the Puget Sound navy yard,
Bremerton, Wash., where the Saratoga recently was made whole
again.
The Saratoga suffored greatly when seven enemy planes
scored hits on her off Iwo Jima. Bui only the Franklin, under
repair at the Brooklyn (N. Y.) navy yard, has taken 'more pun-
; - v
:- It,
Bacon? Butter?
He Got It, But
Trouble as Well
KLAMATH FALLS. Ore.,
June 28 (UP) Charles James
Bricco, 64, proprietor of a cafe
at Fort Klamath, must have
had some pretty happy custom
ers, according to charges filed
by the U, S .marshal.
He is accused of purchasing
stolen government properly
including 20 cases of ham, 10
cases of bacon and four cases
of butter from the moss at
the KJ.amaih Falls marine base.
He has been indicted by the
federal grand jury on the
charge. According to the in
dictment, Bricco bought tho
food for approximately $850
from two marines working in
the mess hall.
Suicide Corps Is
Formed By Japs to
Battle Invaders
GUAM, June 28 (UP) Japan
set up a separate defense com
mand for Tokyo today and re
vealed that tens of thousands of
special suicide weapons were be
ing prepared to ward off an
American invasion of the home
islands.
South of Japan, American
troops landed unopposed on six
small islands in the northern
Marianas in search of emergency
"ditching" spots for bombers
damaged in the air war over
Japan.
The troops returned to their
base after thoroughly reconnoil
cring the islands, which form a
340-milelong series of stepping
stones extending from Saipan to
within 1,100 miles of Japan.
Only one shot was fired in the
six landings. That was a pistol
shot that killed a Japanese who
refused to surrender. Twenty
four other Japanese copra com
pany or shipwreck survivors,
were removed from the islands.
Supplies and food were left
behind for the approximately 260
native Japanese civilians who re
mained on the various islands.
Baseball Results
By United Pros
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Washington 2 G 2
Detroit 5 !) 0
Wolff, Ullrich (8) and Ferrell:
Ncwhous'jr and Richards.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Cincinnati U I" "
Boston 7 10 2
Da.-so, Lieenlxe (8) and Un
ser; Tobin and Masi.
Chicago 11 15 I
Brooklyn 8 II 2
Pascal Signer (7) and Liv
ingston; I'fund, Rudolph, Scati;
(1), King (91 and Fcacntk.
St. Lou s 6 12 i
Philadelphia 1
Buikhaidt and ODea;
Coffman 9 tnri MuncuMi,
del ()-
6 1
V.
Spin-
Weatter
Data for 24 hours to 7 a.m.
Maximum 73
Winimvan 43
j Forecast: Partly cloudy;
warmer tonight and Fiiday.
ind
,n ' ,a a-vvjlv. m.ur jm i t yvl nv ii.il ill. u
KSTABLISHKU 1896
4 Cities
Smashed
By B-29s
G U A M, Friday, June 29
(UP) A giant sky fleet of
almost f00 Superfortresses
showered more than 8,000
tons of fire bombs on thrse
major Japanese seaports and
a htiffe army training center
in a pre-dawn multiple attack
today.
The B-2!)s attacked Sascbo, one
of Japan's most important nava,l
bases on the northwestern coast
of Kyushu island; Moji, large
shipping center at the northern
lip of Kyushu facing Shimono-
scki; Nolx-oka, on the southcast-
ern Kyushu coast; and Oknyama.
site of an enemy army training
base. V
Maj. Gen. Curtis E. Lemtiy's
21st bomber command Super
forts flew in four separate form
ations and dropped their jellied
gasolinc incendiaries in pre
dawn darkness.
Today's raid, the 85th on Japan
and the 12th this month, brought
to approximately 4,500 the total
number of B-20s that have as
saulted the enemy homeland this
month.
Sascbo was hit before, rally in
the B-20 campaign. China-based
Superforts struck at Sascbo July
7, 1944, blasting dockyards, dry
docks, repair basis, arsenal and
moorings capable of handling
most of Nippon's buttered navy.
todays raid was the first fire
See FOUR WAR . . . Page 7
Annual Budget
Is Approved By
City Commission
The La Grande city commis
sion last night adopted the annu
al budget, and authorized the
levying of taxes to raise $89,6118,
which, with funds from sources
other than taxation, will be used
to operate the city government
during the forthcoming fiscal
year, which starts Sunday.
The commission granted a li
cense to Orella Holmes to oper
ate a skating rink at Zuber hall
for six months, and granted per
mission lo the Russell Brother's
circus to use the fair grounds
July 27.
A resolution was adopted to
buy United States scries F bonds
in the amount of $4095, and
$7000 worth of series C notes.
Samuel Wilkins, 2798 Fourth
street, complained about pigs and
other livestock being kept in the
neighborhood. The city manager
was instructed lo inspect the
premises.
The commission also approved
the following real estate sales:
Lots 12 and 13. Blk, 15, Oran
dy's second addition, La Grand"
city, to W. C. and Catherine
Bruce for $150.
Lot IS, Blk. 4, Riverside addi
tion, La Grande city, to Jean F.
and Minnie M. Halsey for $150.
Lot 10, Blk. 25, Predinore's ad
dition. I ji Grande cily, to Ve
rone E. Miller for $:!W.
A 90-day option was granted
to Chester A. Lybarflcr to pur
chase Lots 8 and I), Blk. 15, dan
dy's second addition.
Cily Manager K. H. Ford s re
port for the wcift ending June 23 i
Jap S
showed: general receipts, $574.04; chief Paul V. McNutt pointed out
disbursements, $2,338.34; on hand, that while unemployment in
$80,118.88; water teceipts. $263.-j creases in some areas there will
40: disbursements, $533.79) and j continue to be a critical man
ea4i on hand, $12,792.73. power shortage in others.
ijhment than the Bunker Hill
Few U, S. naval craft of any kind have as lino a war record
as the Bunker Hill. Since her arrival in the Pacific in tho fall
of 19411, she has sunk 162,000 tons of enemy shipping and shot
down 475 Japanese planes. In addition she has probably sunk.
253,975 tons of enemy vessels and damaged 454,075 tons.
In 58 consecutive days and nigh with task force 58 before
she was hit, her planes had struck at Iwo Jima, Tokyo, the In
land sea, Kyushu, and Okinawa. From March 14 to tho day
her career was interrupted, tho Bunker Hill shot down 1(10
Japanese planes. -.
But In a space of 30 seconds on tho morning of May 11, two
Japanese suicide planes got through, catching 34 of the Bunker
Hill's craft ready to take off, this transformed tho mighty ship
into a hell of fire and explosions which riddled her decks and
bulkheads and blasted her sides.
Many Planes Destroyed
Of the carrier's planes only 10 that were in tho air sutvived.
Seventy were reduced to molten puddles.
LA GRANDE,
NEW SECRETARY? James F.
Byrnes, former war mobilisa
tion director, who is reported
' ,j.n Washington to be President
TrumaVs choice to succeed Ed
ward Slettinlus as secretary of
state.
Byrnes Believed
Slated to Head
State Department
WASHINGTON, June 28 (UP)
It was established through
White House intimaUr. today
that James F. Byrnes of South
Caiolina will be named the na
tion's new secretary of slate next
week.
He will succeed 44-year-old
Kdward R. Steltlnius, jr., a pro
tege of the late Franklin D.
Roosevelt. President T r u m a n
disclosed late yesterday that he
had accepted Stetlinius' resigna
tion and appointed h i m lop
American representative on Un
united Nations world security
organization.
The president described Stet
linius' new job as the biggest
post in the gift of the govern
ment. When the big five and 21)
other United Nations ratify the
charter which was completed
this week at San Francisco the
outgoing secretary of state will
sit for the United States on the
powerful world security council.
At the same time he will head
the American delegation to the
world assembly.
Mr. Truman said he would
name the new secretary of state
Monday or Tuesday. It will be
a man not now in the govern
ment, he added. Byrnes left the
government shortly before Presi-
Sec BYRNES . . . Page 7
Increase Foreseen
In Unemployment
WASHINGTON, June 28 (UP)
The war manpower commission
predicted tpday that 1,800,000
people will be unemployed by
July 1, 194(1.
Actually, about 7,700,WKl people
will lose their jobs or be dis
charged from I he armcc' forces
during the next 12 months but
11,300,0.10 of them will be ro-cm-ployed
in an expanding civilian
economy, WMC said.
By Jan. I, Itl40, WMC unit);. un
employment will riM- fiom ttie
S eptral wartime level of 700,0(10
lo 1.300,000. The additional un
employnn nl of BOO.OUU will fol
low after that.
In a forecast which approxim
ated an curlier estimate bv the
war production board, manpower
I tie" 'BS. -
fi-V 1 1' ' ' f v
and survived.
Jlll!3;!llllll;ll!''5iliil!!!;;:!9!!i!!!!!l!!!!!!l!!(!
i:iiiiP.in:r.rn!n.MH:i:u.i:iH.n
tVei'ei 4 rVoiow Coeefi'ti
OREGON THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 28, 1915
E Bond Sales In
County Are $34,302
From Objective
Small Purchases
Urged to Meet
7th Loan Quota
Confronted with tho prospect
of a failure lo meet tho 7th war
loan quota set for Union county,
W. C. Perkins, war finance com
mittee chairman, today appealed
to cvory resident of the county
to invest every available dollar
in bonds before the end of the
week.
Perkins reported that sales this
morning were $114,302 short of
the G bond quota of $741,100, and
he called attention to the fact
that the 7th war loan campaign
will end officially at the close of
business Saturday evening. This
figure- includes $75,000 expected
from payroll 'savings purchases.
"Purchases of bonds of small
denominations by employed per
sons will put tho drive over the
top," he said, "and it is upon
these buyers that the federal
treasury department is counting
lo do the job. .The treasury de
partment is seeking to obtain the
widest possible distribution of
bonds of this war loan, thereby
giving everyone the opportunity
to take a personal part in win
ning the war against Japan."
"We have been advised that
bonds purchased any time until
July 7 will bo credited to this
campaign,, there fore the com
mittee urges that every employed
person buy IS bonds (o the limit
with money from paychecks re
ceived prior to that date."
He reported sales of E bonds
yesterday . aggregated $2 1, 111)!). 25,
making the total for the cam
paign $030,9(18.25, and bringing
the total of all types of securi
ties sold during the drive to
$919,399.25.
U. S. Occupation of
Italy To Cease
By End of Year
WASHINGTON, June 28 (UI'l
U. S. occupation of Italy will
be t: rminaled by the end of the
year except for some small forces,
Gen. Josepn 1. McfNarney uc
clarcl today.
The commander of U. S. forces
in the Meditel ranean, back in
Washington for a brief visit, said
also that Gen. Mark W. Clark
will head U. S. occupation forces
in Austria, with headquarters at
Vienna.
The occupational forces in
Austria will consist of two or
three envisions.- tnoy win De
selected from troops already in
central Kurope rather than Irom
Clark's Ilalian forces.
In Italy, McNarney said, ti e
only U. S. troops remaining next
year will be small service- units,
about O.OK air loiee personnel
and perhaps a division of occupa
tion troops in the Venice-Giuiia
area.
, Tho only forces from the Medi
terranean theater lo e-ngage in
Austrian occupation will be
Clark's headquarters and the
headquarters of the second ai my
corps now commanded by Lt.
Gen. Geoffrey Keycs. The divi
sions will com from Kuropean
thi'Blor personnrel. Headquarters
of the second corps will be at
Salzburg. Austria.
American lorcts in the Medi
terranean theater when the war
ended included ths 34lh, 85th,
88th, Ulst and 92nd infantry divi
sions, the first armored division
and the loth mountain division.
In. the six hours that followed the two suicide hits, Mitschor ,
and his surviving staff members were removed by breeches
bucy to the destroyer English while the Bunker Hill's still- , ,'.
living officers and men braved death to fight fires, jettison am- .
munition and gasoline, and rescue the- wounded and trapped. ;
So many erstwhile ordinary human beings were trans- :
. formed into heroes that the ship's skipper. Capi. George A.
Seits of Coronado, Calif., hat recommended 280 ol his crew ;'
for awards, including three navy crosses.
"There were so many acts of outstanding heroism," he ;
raid, ''that it would be impossible to praise any one over
another.' '
And of the men who died at their posts to keep the boiler! .
going and tho pressure in the fire mains, ho added:
"They died as only bravo men can."
Helping the Bunker Hill in her need were the cruiser Wilkes- i
barre and the destroyers English, Stembel and Charles S
Sperry. The Wilkcsburre pushed her bow against tho carrici's ..
starboard quarter and kept her hoses aboard.
See VALIANT . . . Page 5 .. ' ..
Reclamation Expert
Urge NewSources of
City and Farm Water
Urjrcnt need for new water supplies for both domestic and
industrial requirements of the city of La Grande, and to pro
vide adequately for irrigation are seen by representatives
of the United States reclamation bureau who were in the
city yesterday conferring with George Cochran, one of the
leaders in the irrigation movement in the Grande Rondo
valley.
Hugh Blonk of Boise, regional
information officer of the reclam
ation service, Wayne Adams, set
tlement specialist from Washing
ton, D. C, und G. W. Line-weaver,
operations and maintenance di
rector of the bureau, were in the
area in connection with adjust
ment of existing government
contracts with water users, and
stopped in La Grande to discuss
the Grande Hondo project.
They laid Cochrun more activ
ity is needed locally lo bring the
proposed Grande Hondo river
project before the bureau, offi
cials in Washington, if it is to beJ
incorpoiatcd in tho buteau's pro
gram for post-war construction.
it was their opinion that exist
ing water supplies are far below
current requirements, and they
said it is evident the cily cannot
expand industrially until an ade
quate supply of water is pro.
vided. Additionally, they suid
there is insufficient water to take
care of agricultural expunsion.
They recommended that 'pro
ponents of the Grande Hondo
piojecl step up their uclivity to
bring the proposul more force
fully lo the attention of both of
ficials, water users and the pub
lic generally.
Kotarians Hear
Reclamation Aide
At Meeting Here
G. W. Lienweaver, director of
operations land maintenance of
the bureau of reclamation, Wash
ington, D. C, was guest speaker
at the Rotary club luncheon held
yesterday noon at the Stein cafe,
talking on irrigation and recla
mation problems.
Other guests were Wayne Ad
ams, settlement specialist, bureau
of reclamation, and H. C. Blonke,
information officer of the bureau,
Rev. Logan Pruitl, new pastor of
the First Methodist church, and
Henry Labbe of Portland.
A musical program was pre
sented by summer school stu-
I dents. Participating were Dick
i j0insin
Dunne Hamlin, Rob
ert Quinn und Charles Brackett,
who formed a brass quartet;
MaL inc Gerards, f.'ile soloist,
and Franklin Seward, cornet solo
ist. A list of President Holie-n J.
Maaske's committee! for the
coming year was announced. Dr.
Maaske will assume the club
presidency in July.
Loren Turner Sells
Interest in Dairy
Sale of the interfjst 'of Loren
Turner in tho Valley dairy in
La Grande lo Hoy C. Heineeke
of Wallace, Ida., was announced
today.
The purchaser Is the brother of
Ralph neinceke, who, with Tur
ner established the milk pasteur
ization and distribution plant
here1 several months ago. Hein
eeke and his wife have come to
La Grande from Idaho to make
their home.
r
FIVE CENTS
Extension Service
Aide Resigns To ';
Take College Post
The resignation, of Julianne
Wise as Union county home dem- -dhstralion
agent and apppoint
ment of ,M3ss . Doris . McWhoHcr'
as her successor were announced
today by the extension service. )
Miss McWhortcr lias been scr'
ving as food assistant in Douglas
county, and has a background of
soveral years of 4-H club work.
She is a graduate of Oregon State
college in the class of 1043, and
received her master's degree at
Cornell university. She is a mem?
ber of Omieron Nu and Phi Kap
pu Phi. - ;
She arrived In La Grande today
with William Teutch, director of
extension service. They will rc
muin here tomorrow after which
she will return to Douglas county
to complete her work. She will
return to Lu Grande July 23 to
assume her new duties.
Mim Wise has been appointed
assistant professor of household
administration at Oregon State
college, where juhe will teach
home management and function
al housing and will have home
management house supervision.
Miss Wise has been in Union
county for two years, during
which she hus led the home
economics extension program
with 13 units, and from 20 lo 40
home economics clubs.
She plans to spend two months
at the University of Minnesota
In Minneapolis preparing for her
new work und will go lo Corval
lis September 15.
Miss Wise was graduated from
the state college in 1941, and re
ceived her master's degree there.
She was instructor in home man
agement at West Virginia univer
sity prior to coming to Union
counly. She is a member of Omi
eron Nu, und locally has been
active in Deltu Kappa Gamma
the Soroptimist club, YWEA and
other groups.
FSA Aides Here
For Area Parley
Employees from offices of the
Farm security administration in
Le Grande, Pe-ndellon and On
tario, arc in this city for a three
day conference, to study the job
methods training course und re
view operating procedure and
policies.
In charge of presentation of
the deta is Dean Spencer, from
the regional office in P"rtland.
Ned Williams, district supervisor
from The Dalles, is also here.
fiom Pendleton arc Eugene
Hampton. Ary Larkin and Miss
Helen Keller. Hero from Ontario
ore Ruth Montague, Fred Bubb,
Dunne Daly, Rosel Hunter, Irene
Makinson and Eugene Denny;
He-presenting La Grande are
Freeman Dull and Phyllis Conrad.
. : 1 : '