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

Historic Oregon Newspapers

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

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Newspaper Page TextI-, Weather Aids Fire Fighters PORTLAND, Aug. 7 (UP) Raging flames today con tinued taking their toll of tim ber at fire areas in western Oregon and threatened the water supply of two towns. On the Forest Grove front, fire iighters from the Portland army base, state forest service crews, loggers and Forest Grove volun teers battled to save the city's watershed as flames approached a third of the 2,600-acre area. A few miles away, the Hillsboro water supply was threatened by fire which Sunday jumped out of bounds on Scroggins creek. Only 12 Miles U. S. forest servicemen today were strengthening their lines north of the Siuslaw national forest as a new branch of the fire raced out of control down the north fork of the Trask river and across the old 1933 burn, rcachin gto within 12 miles of the protective area. As the fire passed the month' mark today, desperate forestry officials mapped a new battle line for possible use five miles south of the flames and parallel ing a cleared telephone right of way from Cherry Grove through the Trask river watershed to ward Tillamook. It was the only route through the rugged moun tains on which bulldozer equip ment could operate. Much Slower Higher humidity today slowed the fires appreciably. State Forester Nels Rogers said 130 lightning fires have been re ported since Sunday and Monday storms over southwestern Wash ington and western and southern Washington and western and southern Oregon. The worst series of lightning strikes in many years. A new fire is sweeping up the slopes of Hembre ridge in the Jordan creek sector threatenine to connect with another at the summit and outflank fighters, who so far have been successful in holding fire lines at that spot. 45 More Flames were racing along the very edge of the Nehalm river while soldiers and loggers fought to prevent a river crossing that would eat into valuable timber. At Grants Pass, forest officials reported some 45 fires started by electrical storms in state-owned forests. Four.'bf '"here ""are con sidered dangerous one In the Williams creek district, one on Murphy creek, one at the head of Jackson creek, and another on Panther creek in the Applegate district. Gordon Creek To Join District 23 As Result of Vote Gordon creek school district No. JO will be consolidated with El gin school district No. 23, follow ing elections- held Saturday in both districts. Miss Ethol s Wnr,. sen, Union county superintendent oi scnoois, announced today. The required majority of votes was favorable to t h e proposed consolidation, with five affirma tive and three negative votes be ing cast in Gordon creek, and 11 affirmatives being cast in Elgin. Gordon creek had been the only rulay district immediately tribu tary to Elgin which had not con solidated No. 23. Nine other dis tricts voted some time ago for consolidation with the Elgin dis trict. Pupils of the consolidated dis tricts will enjoy the advantages of the new school which will be erected soon, and which will be modernly equipped. Officers Pledged Good Use of Bomb LOS ALAMOS, N. M., Aug. 7 (UP) An army general who helped develop the atomic bomb and saw the first one explode in a cloud of light which reached the substratosphere said today he hoped the new power "always will be used for good and never for evil." Among those who say the first test, said Brig. Gen. Thomas F. Fan-el, there was a feeling "those concerned with the nativity of at omic power should dedicate their lives to the mission that it would always be used for good." Union, Wallowa Men Wounded The navy war casualties re ports as wounded Pfc. Gene Ear Wells, U. S. marine corps reserve, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Wells, and Pvt. Clif ford Edwin Burford, USMCR, son of Mr. and Mrs. Orphia B. Burford, all of Union, as well as Pvt. Ivan Ray R o b e r s, USMCH, husband of Mrs. Agnes L. Roberts, Enterprise, and Cpl. John Lowell Wortman, uomlk, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ord Wortman, and Wesley Milton Wortman, seaman first class, USNR, son of Mrs. Vir ginia Wortman, all of Wallowa. ESTABLISHED 1896 u B-26s Renew Against Japan GUAM, Aug. 7 (UP) A fleet of 125 Superfortresses h i t the Toyokawa naval arsenal with 880 tons of high-explosive bombs to day while smoke still belched from atom-bombed Hiroshima, 300 miles to the west. Radio Tokyo said 40 Iwo-based American Mustang fighter-bomb ers led by a lone B-29 almost simultaneously bombed and straf ed military installations and "cities" in the Tokyo-Kokohama area foran hour for the fourth 4-H Club Girl's Camp Opens With Demonstrations Union county's two-day 4-H club girls camp was officially opened this morning at the east ern Oregon experiment station at Union, with registration at 9:30 and general assembly at 10. Jennie Marie Warren, Umatills county home demonstration agent from Pendleton, gave demonstra tions before the group, followed by lunchen and rest period. Clayton Fox, national Moses trophy winner, talked on national contests, and Miss Doris McWhor tcr, Union county home demon stration agent, lectlred on "Table etiqhette and meal service." Tolr of Inspection The camp was set up at 3:30, followed by a tour of inspection conducted by H. B. Avery, super intendent of the station. After dinner, group singing will be held,' with Mrs. Schock plays ing the piano. Panel discussion on "Your Fu ture 4-H Club Work" will be led by Dr. Roy Skeen of the Eastern Oregon college of education. Movies will be shown at 9 p. m., followed by lights out, bringing the first day of the camp to its close. Swim at Cove Highlights of the program to morrow will be an assembly at 8:30 a. m. conducted by Mrs. Aza lea Sager, state home demon stration leader from Oregon state college, talks on "Your Health," by Mrs. Anne Thomas, Union county health nurse, "Overseas Adventure," by Jean Williams, experienced Red Cross recreation worker, and work in leather crafts, conducted by Mrs. Wil liams. The two-day camp will be end ed with a swimming party at Cove, with Harvey Carter, in structor at Pine Cone swimming pool, in charge. Man Dies in First Robbery Attempt CAMARILLO, Calif., Aug. 7 (UP) Julian P. Foster, shot as lie tried to get away with $2,300 he allegedly stole from the bank of America here, died today in Ventura county hospital. The former Oxnard, Calif., high school English teacher was shot yester day in his first robbery attempt officers said. Foster told officers he escaped six months ago from Camarillo state mental hospital. SOONG RETURNS MOSCOW, Aug. 7 (UP) Pre mier T. V. Soong of China ar rived today to resume his discus sions with Premier Josef Stalin which where interrupted by the Potsdam conference. Does No Good Get New Oven If your freshly canned jars of fruits and vegetables explode in the oven, don't rush out and buy a new oven, which can't be done anyway, and don't kick the jars in anger, which only makes it wnrut Tnslnad. learn the method ot canning, Miss Doris McWhor- ter. Union county home demon stration agent, advises. The agent's office recommends the hot-pack method, with more linniH nnrf tpss nark, for eood heat penetration. The fruit should be dropped in boning syrup, pre rnnlfina it fnr three to five min utes. This shrinks the fruit, so more can be packed in the jar, and also allows for mole equal Daytime Blows Naval Base time in five days. Several British planes partici pated in the Tokyo raid. Tokyo said. It marked the first time Brit ish land-based planes have been reported in action over the Jap anese capital. 400 Planes From Okinawa came a belated report 400 bombers and fighters of the far eastern air force had utterly demolished what appear ed to be robot plane launching installations and other military targets at Taramizu in southern Kyushu. The city itself was left a sea of flames, airmen said. Returning pilots said they saw on the ground a number of small planes resembling the V-l or VI jet-propelled anr" rocket bombs used by the Germans against Britain. It was tneorized the Jap anese might have been plotting a robot bombardment of the Amer ican invasion base of Okinawa. Hit Arsenal Superfortresses thundered over the naval arsenal at Toyokawa, 35 miles southeast of Nagoya, at the noon lunch hour today in their first daylight raid on the enemy homeland in recent weeks. Iwo-based fighters escorted the big bombers. Preliminary reports indicated excellent results were achieved in pin-point bombing of the main surviving source of Japan's naval ammunition. The arsenal also turned out machine-guns, aircraft, cannon, anti-aircraft guns and rifles. The arsenal was situated on a narrow coastal plain northeast of Atsumi bay. "Some damage" was caused during the" 9b-minute raid, Radio Tokyo admitted. 21 Killed, Four Wounded When Vessel Hits Mine WASHINGTON, Aug. .7 (UP) Twenty-one men were killed and four wounded when the 2,100 ton destroyer Lavallette struck a mine off Luzon last February, the navy revealed today. The three-year-old destroyer is now at Hunter's Point naval drydocks, San Francisco for per manent repairs. She had been damaged once previously when a Japanese torpedo hit her off Guadalcanal in January, 1943. The Lavallette has accounted for at least 11 Japanese planes and several troop-laden enemy barges in operations extending from the west African coast to the Philippines. The ship has had four com manding officers during her ser vice. They include Comdr. Wells Thompson, of 1725 Naomi Place, Seattle, Wash. Einstein Won't Talk About Bomb SARANAC LAKE, N. Y., Aug. 7 (UP) Prof. Albert Einstein "thoroughly understands" h o w the atomic bomb works, his sec retary said today, but he won't talk about it. The 66-year-old master physic ist, whose theory of relativity pointed the way toward the de velopment of the fantastic explos ive, has been given the subject intensive study. He will withhold any statement, for political and military reasons, she said. to Kick Jars or If Jars Explode heat distribution, since the jar is hot when the fruit is packed. Tht jar should then be placed in boiling water bath for 20 min utes, with the bath coming an inch above the top of the jar. Tin cans are nice for canning fruits and vegetables, Miss Mc Whorter says, if sealers are avail able, since the enns may be cool ed immediately after cooking, when too quick cooling of the jars causes breakage. When jars are used, the boil ing syrup should be about one an done-half inches below the lop of the jar, and the fruit should be oiuvhalf inch l!ow the top. Racks should be one-half inch above the bottom of the canner. LA GRAJSDE, UKEUUM TUESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 7, I K " mr'l PLANE WHICH CARRIED Maj. Richard Bong to his death Is this type of P-80 "Shooting Star," jet propoled. It does belter than 550 m.p.h. and Its ceiling is more ! Major Bong Dies In Crash of P-80 In Test Flight By PATRICIA CLARY BURBANK, Calif., Aug. 7 (UP) Maj. Richard I. Bong, Amer ica's e-reatest ace. was killed in the flaming crash of a jet piano, from which he desperately tried to jump clear, investigators said today. Bong, 24-year-old congressional medal of honor holder, died yes terday as he struggled to free his heavy clothing from the narrow escape hatch of the P-80 Shooting Star he was testing. He had al most bailed out when the crip plied aircraft exploded. "Safe" Duty The force of the blast, which shattered the plane into picces less than three feet square, shot Bong's body clear of the plane. He had pulled the ripcord of his.. parachute, and its silken folds swirled about the crumpled body as flames swept over it. Bong was brought home for "safe" duty after he became America's all time air ace by shooting down 40 of the enemy without a scratch. "Safe" duty was testing the jet-propelled P-80, the army's newest fighter model. In Trouble Bong contacted the control tower at the field almost as soon as he was airborne, officials said, and reported he was "having trouble." "He was dipping first one wing, then the other," said one witness. "The motor was making a muffled popping. He flew over some telephone wires and un der high tension wire making for a vacant lot." The ship lurched over a clump of trees and exploded in the field. Smoke and flames bellied up 400 feet and brought crowds running from the airport. By the time the wreckage was reached it had been almost con sumed and Bong's body badly burned. When the wreckage cooled, bystanders piilled the veteran flyer's body from the jumble of molten metal and toss ed a gray blanket over it. One wrist and hand protruded, show ing Bong's army identification tag. With Body Mrs. Bong leaves today ti ac company the body to Superior, Wis., in an army transport plane. Bong, who fought his twin engined Lockheed fighter through the toughest battles of the southwest Pacific, also wore the distinguished jscrvice cross and the silver star. In all he held 26 decorations. His death left Lt. Col. John C. Meyer, of Forrest Hills, N. Y., the nation's leading ace with 37 44 planes to his credit, the war department said. Maj. Thomas B. McGuire, jr., of San Antonio, Tex., listed as missing in action, was credited with 38. Johnson Will Have Simple Funeral WASHINGTON. Aug. 7 tUP)--Kuneral arrangements are being made today for Hiram Johnson. California's 78-year-old R'-puhli-can senator who died yesterday. Announcement of burial plans was being held up pending the ( rrival from California of his son, Hiram. He was expected some time today. The body probably will be laken to California for internum after simple services here. In keeping with Johnson's wishes, the family was expected to rul out the elaborate ceremony of a state funeral. mis than 40,000 feet. t' MAJ. RICHARD BONG: He roturned to "safe" duty from fighting in south Pacific. Valley's Wheat Quality Exceeds Expectations Quality of Grande Ronde val ley winter wheal now being har vested has held up well beyond expectations despite scorching summer weather, Merlon Kiddle of the Pioneer flour mills at Is land City said today. Kiddle, running tests on wheat now being hauled to the mill, declared that the quality has held up to No. 1 with only a small amount dropping below 60 pounds to the bushel. Qual'ily has ranged over the 63 pound mark. Yield has also held up beyond cxpectationX Lon Eycrs hast estimated a 60 bushel per acre harvest for his operation in the Cove area. W. W. Wright is averaging 70 bushels to the acre and Joe Harrison of Gekelor lane, who begun harvest yesterday, is estimating a minimum of 50 bushels. Kiddle declared pre-harvest in dications pointed to a lower quality, similar to that experi enced in the Umatilla valley, hut so far quality has remained high. Spring wheat, which had little chance to mature before advent of the hot weather, may suffer, he added. Cottage Grove Man Wounded by Police EUGENE, Aug. 7 (UP) Don Frazicr, 25, Cottage Grove, was in a Eugene hospital day after be ing wounded in the arm and leg while trying to escape from the Cottage Grove police station Man day where he was held on a fel ony charge. New Energy WASHINGTON, Aug. fi Oil') The dawn of the age of atomic power brings with it visions of fantt'itic changes. Men of science can see reason now for believing some time such things as these can be: Automobiles, trains and air planes that run for their lifetime on a single fueling of n bit of stuff from which atomic power can be released al will. Hugo Power Furnaces of vest-pocket size. Power for whole cities pro duced from a few handfuls of matter. The experience of the past in r (til " , 1945 n - ra n a Think Control of Atomic Energy Sufficient: to Deter Aggressors By R. H. SHACKFORD WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UP) The advent of the atomic bomb today made imperative the de mands of peace-loving peoples there mustbe no more wars. And it placed in the hands of the United States an instrument the threat of which alone may deter any future would-be ag gressors. With It go great responsibility for the United States and im mense problems of how this wea pon of utter destruction can be used to keep the peace. Sure to Find It Scientists the world over know a lot about the theory of atomic energy. Sooner or later they arc certain to make the same dis covery American-British scien tists have. But the United States and Britain now know the most about it and he Unied States has a monopolistic head start in facil ities for its production. Misused, the atomic bomb could probably destroy civili sation. Well used, lt should enable the Capital of World Suggested Near San Francisco WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UP) A virtual "capital of the world" probably will be established with in 100 miles of San Francisco, birthplace of the united nations charter, to house the mechanics of the international organizations planned for post-war operation, the United Press has been in formed. A treasury spokesman disclos ed the plan today and said inas much as it has been pretty well agreed such organizations as the international monetary fund and the international bank for recon struction and development are to be located in the United Stales, it was almost certain they will be situated in the same area. It was suggested furthermore that a world university for the study of finance and economics, peace, labor and the intcrnatinal aspects of aviation already men tioned in numerous quarters be set up within the borders of the "capital," which would bd a dis trict 10 miles square patterned after the District of Columbia. Location of the two in New York is opposed on the ground that they would become too closely asociatcd with Wall Street; to locate in Washington, oppo j nenls have declared, would ex- pose them to entanglements in politics. Petain 'Wanted' To Rejoin Allies PARIS, Aug. 7 (UP) A form, or Vichy official testified today Marshal Henri Philippe Petain told him in February, 1044, he vanted to unite France with the allied administration in Algiers. The witness was Francois Mar tin, former radical socialist dele gate in the chamber of deputies and a departmental prefect under the Vichy regime. Martin said when the Vichy militia look over power in Jan uary, 1944, he asked to be re lieved of his duties. He had a talk with Petain in Fcbraury, and quoted the old marshal: "You are doing well to leave. You can lay down your duties, but I am charged With duties that I cannot hand over to any one. I have taken a pledge not to leave France. I am a prisoner of the Germans." to Bring Fantastic Changes dicates such achievements will com by very gradual steps. Stu pendous problems in technical and practical science have to be overcome. The? first great peak has been surmounted with discovery of how to use atomic energy as an explosive force. The vistas of the future, however, remote, be gin to tak shape. In simplest terms, two funda mental problems face the post war scientists. First, they must learn to gov ern the release of atomic energy so that it will produce heat at a temperature practicable for use i-i II w Encr wars great English-speaking nations to assurca world of peace. The threat of the bomb alone might be enough to prevent any saber rattling. Revolutionary That is the hope of President Truman, Winston Churchill, Sec retary of War Henry L. Stimson and other officials who are aware of the awesomeness of the new military weapon. The war department described HENRY HESS: "If drafted for the office I shall serve." Hess Boosted For U. S. Attorney For Oregon If Henry Hess, La Grande' at torney, is offered the post of U. S. district attorney for Oregon he will accept it but ho has not made any application for the job and will not actively campaign for it, he said today. A telegram to Richard R. Nacy, vice chairman of the democratic committee, recommended Hess for the post, and was sent by Lew Wallace, national committeeman. Elton Watkino asked to be with drawn due to the pressure of his private law practice. Wallace was not joined in the proposal by Nancy Honcyman Robinson, national committee woman, Stale Chairman Henry Aike nor Vice Chairman Celia Gavin. Carl Donaugh's term ended July 23 and President Truman will be able to act directly upon any nomination sent him. Hess ran for governor in 1938, defeating Governor Martin in.the primaries and losing to Charles .Spraguc in the fall. He had pre viously served five sessions in the stale senate for Union and Wallowa counties. Since 1921 he has been practicing law here, and was in partnership with R. J. Green until the latter was elected circuit Judge In 1938. A veteran of the world 'war, he saw action in France and had been practicing law at North Powder before the war. Born at Rexburg, Ida., ho moved to Ore gon when a youth and attended high school at Union. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon law school. Weather Data for 24 hours to 7 a. m. Temperature: Maximum 97 Minimum 56 Forecast: Partly cloudy tonight and Wednesday with scattered showers. conventional power plants, or develop unconventional power plants that will use it as it can lie released. Reduce Cost Secondly, they must in some or many ways reduce the cost of this operation. This is the same hurdle science has faced with the discovery of every new substance or process since the beginning of time. The answer has been found before. Then fantastic imaginings of the Sunday supplements will be commonplace, and perpetual mo tion will be virtually an accomp lished fact. .' . ' ygwt"" .... it leiUJWWW m Vv WAY TO DESTRUCTION LONDON, Aug. 7 (UP) The Manchester Guardian, one of the world's moil erudite news papers, lummed up the atomic bomb In these wordsi "Man U t lait well on the way to mastery of a meant of destroying himself utterly." FIVE CENTS it as "a revlutionary weapon des tined to change war as we know It, or which may even by the in strumentality to end all major wars." , , One of the first questions raised was: Will the United States make the new discovery available to the united nations organization? . ' Keep Secret . The answer probably is, this country will use the atomic bomb in the Interest of the united na tions, but keep under its own direction the secrets of its de velopment and the experience gained in producing it. The United States congress will have the last word on that. Tru man has promised the congress will be responsible for the con trol of both production and use of atomic power within the U.S. TRUMAN SAYS U. S. WILL RETAIN CONTROL WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UP) The potentialities of atomic pow er are so great President Truman See "CONTROL" . . . Page 5 . Germany Within , Five Months Of I Own Atom Bomb 21ST ARMY HDQTRS., Ger many, Aug. 7 (UP) Germany was within five months of com pleting her own atom bomb when the European war ended. A British task force four months ago discovered that German sci entists almost completed work on the bomb in a two-room labora tory In the heart of a small silk factory north of Hannover. The bomb, it was calculated, would wipe out everything with in a radius of six miles. A famous German research sci entist in charge of the experi ments was flown immediately to Britain at the time. He estimated his work would have been com pleted by October. He said the German govern ment had given him unlimited funds and equipment and had not demanded any immediate results. Contracts Signed For Remodeling Of Courthouse , Contracts for remodeling and improvement of the county courts house were signed by Weldon Vedder today, following accept ance of his $3,480 bid by tKe county court. Work on the court house will begin as soon as mate rials arrive, it was announced. , Moin improvements will be the biulding of a larger fire-proof and burglar-proof vault in the basement directly below the presr cnt recorder's office, and a now stairway to be built from the first-floor vault to the basement vault, with the stairway being used for stacks. "M Changes will also be made in the locations of offices, it was an nounced. A doorway will be made between the county re cordcr's office and the present county superintendent will then office, which will be converted into the county clerk's office. The ounty superintendent will then move to the present location of the county clerk's office on the second floor. Chinese Forces Recapture Port CHUNGKING, Aug. 7 (UP) Chinese forces have captured the south Kwangtung port of Yeung kong, and Tanchuk airfield in eastern Kwangsi province, it was announced today. Bulletin PORT ARTHUR. Ont Aug. 7 (UP) Twenty persons were believed to have been killed and at least four were missing as t result of an explosion in No. 5 Saskatchewan wheat pool elevator today. - NEWPORT NEWS. Va Aug 7 (UP) President Truman re turned to this country today, exactly a month after he left to attend the momentous big three conference at Potsdam. .