Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About La Grande evening observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1904-1959 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 1945)
1 yictory Reasons For Allied Victory Told Today In Second Section Edition iiiirniTJiT.rniiHiiiiiiHJ.n ESTABLISHED 1896 LA GRANDE. OREGON WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 15, 19-15 FIVE CENTS ami on Dimg J ; n ft I 1 l 1 1 J sip Chiang to otiate Disputes ' tONDON, Aug. 15 (UP) The Red army drove forward in Man- I W :n I I 17 .. 4nn;,,Ut nnn turing a number of places, under orders of the Soviet general staff to: continue offensive operations until the Japanese cease resist ance. The general staff issued a spe cial statement explaining Jap- anese forces had not ceased re sistance despite the Japanese sur 'fnder declaration. Soviet troops "tre ordered to continue to at c until the Japanese actually 'town their arms. .e Soviet communique re- .i il -n i . j . . r U uie neu unity uiuvc lui- ,oh both sides of the Sun ' river, capturing several A-,-and pushed ahead 12 to IB wi east of the Khingan range erstern Manchuria. . ' ar'RISE OVERTURE 3INESE REDS JNGKING, Aug. 15 (UP) Falissimo ; Chiang Kai-shek rd to negotiate a settlement i dispute with the Chinese unist party today in an ap !t bid to ward off a threat Jnfernal 'crisis.;; ;i rthern communists, Chiang rnl3. an urgent appeal to the ica 'eader, Mao Tse-Tung, to an'; personally with him in ciigking. a e have many international CO internal problems waiting lment," Chiang's message to j"May I humbly invite you .sec me to Chungking immedi nui and discuss things in per- SUi! . irr-iis involves our national lire, please do not decline." de'3 generalissimo's move came c0;e heels of a defiant commun- sa'oclamation announcing the "se communist forces had re- info,Chungking's orders forbid- annaem to take over Japanese- discrees of China. pers.gHOT DOWN viou:tJNDLY WAY appr-M, Aug. 15 (UP) Japan ,j enemmes against the U. S. third ?i Ruday as late as eight hours i tracesr surrender was announc was t the same time, Tokyo belie; allied warships not to fore .apanese home waters, i ed tny event, American anti , ' yon A gun crews and carrier i dev&.were taking no chances, he al William F. Halsey, com . "iir of the third fleet, had ra- J 'Kic nilnts- uep f e 'looks like the war is over, . Bnu anomtl nlamie nnnnsr me;. ."-"v anc- them down in friendly a n r1- ager)rts from the fleet said the bodynemv planes approached contir't even as Halsey hoisted it 30-foot American flag ' A.. flagship in triumphant """'edgment of the allied Spec Givena cease -' s T GIVEN .''.'?' .. .A, Aug. 15 (UP) Gen. -Knci"MacArthUr, taking over .T1! W1(iupreme comamnder, or- UStralKaM tn4av tn rosea hnc- Je,thjnmediately and send a "mt representative to "id receive surrender m net an be Ind . Jorwa tUur already has estab In ,-xUo communication with FCC n Mirohito and the Jap Melbouvefnment, a spokesman agemer Allied forces through tions v,acifio and far east will verely .Se cease hostilities Jient c'T ltl,e ene"iy has com 1 "It i.") s'm''ar orders. AtraL;, ciSTf wis f n TIME J" 'FRANCISCO, Aug. 15 Jtoan ""P6"" Hirohito, in the ulfr;lladcast ever made to his r, "00 subjecis, said Itoday linn. W l-A TonK n .. Tile first military defeat in listv , , . . , 1 bespectacled "Son of Heav r "Jeaking four hours aer fjnt Truman announced the waft- u-sic nvnr cniH 1 )i f tti nTAVi T-i n : vninnu . rcge I c Valley Celebrates Victory Brings Out Hysteria Whimsy in U.S. By United Pross San Francisco: Two nude beau ties stopped a taxi near the civic center serviceman's dormitory, stepped out unsteadily and plunged into the center's lib pond. Servicemen tumbled hasti ly from the dormitory and cheer ed on the swimming girls. When the girls emerged, the servicemen offered towels which they ac cepted gratefully, stepped back into the taxi and sped off. . Fairmont, W. Va servicemen and women will eat and drink free "as long as anything is left" in J. G. Papageorge's res taurant on the day following V-J day. BEDFORD SPRINGS, Pa., there was no celebration at the Bedford Springs hotel where Japanese of ficials are interned. NEW ORLEANS: A canal street tattoo artist, who has done thriving business since the war began with servicemen, boarded up his trailer. "Sure, it'll ruin my business," he said, "but I don't care." COLUMBUS, O. An elderly woman walked up to a stranger, kissed him and said tearfully. "It's over. It's over and my boy's coming home." LOUISVILLE, Ky.: A wom an paraded through the heart of happy celebrants, passing out kleenex by the hundreds. "The war's over," she shouted. "Have a kleenex." . DENVER Six automobile accidents were reported wiii.m two hours after the surrender announcement. One celebrant, driving alone, drove his car di rectly into a brick wall, SEATTLE A gang of sailors barricaded one downtown street and kissed every female that came along regardless of age. LINCOLN. Neb. A sergeant, glowing with assorted spirits, was sharing his worldly goods with a private. "Here's a package of cigarets for you, and one for me," he said, doling them out. Reaching into his pdeket he extracted two dimes. "One dime for you, and one for me." Turning to two second lieu tenants who were watching, he said, "and to you, nuts. The war's over." PHOENIX, Ariz. This sign hangs today in the window of a Chinese erocery store operated here by William Tang. ' This store closed V-J day and for several days thereafter while I get darn good and drunk." WMC To Establish Free Market; New Plan Of Aid Outlined WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 (UP) All ftderal controls over em ployment were abolished today. Removal of wartime manpwer re strictions was ordered by the war man power commission as Pres ident Truman made his V-J day announcement. Frank L. McNamee, acting WMC chief, said the action lifts all controls and restores a free labor market. He added a new "voluntary community action" program will be started at once to speed reconversion. Not Needed The announcement removed controls started in May, 1943, to prevent employes from unauth orized moving from one job to Planes, Band, Crowds Take Part inVictory Observance La Grando and Union county residents gave vent to pent up fedings again today as tluy celebrated, in crowds, the practical if not official end of nearly four years of war. Veterans of three wars Spanish-American, World War I, and World War II marched proudly through the city as citizens from all sections of Union county many of whom were as stunned at the news of peace as they had been at the news of Pearl Harbor looked on. Children who were unable to remember peacetime days looked First Impromptu Celebration Here Since 'Armistice' Jubilant throngs last night gave La Grande its first im promptu celebration since Nov. 11, 1918 the end of World War 1 as news of victory over Japan spread through the city. Crowds were boisterous but nol malicious, restive but not destruc tive, as high school students snake-danced through the streets, and cars single-filed slowly down Adams avenue. 'Teen-agers grabbed cow-bells, rusty pots and pans, and whistles, and ran down sidewalks making the city echo with noise. Chief of Police C. C. Lund lost his dignity, -but not his grin, as students swept him into the cen ter of the parade, and servicemen homa on leave, now sober now shouting, lined the streets. The majority of the celebrators went home before midnight, but individual merry-makers contin ued until 2 a. m. or later. Chief Lund, in commenting on the situation, said, "We have the people of the community to thank for keeping the celebration down. There was no destruction of prop erty or automobile wrecks that we have heard of, and no arrests were made." UNION, Aug. 15 (Special) Ringing of bells, the blowing of auto horns and other unusual noises aroused the citizens of Un ion Tuesday evening as the first reports of the completion of the war reached this community. Final word flashed through the Japanese have accepted the un conditional surrender, again set the bells ringing, but other than that the people moved hurriedly but in rather subdued groups to discuss and to comprehend if they can just what it will mean to all. Union has suffered her share of sorrow and heart break in these past war years. Twenty boys who marched forth at their coun try's call, will not return, others are in the hospital and many un heard of for months. NO MORE B-25S KANSAS CITY, Aug. 15 (UP) The huge North Ameiican av ialion plant here today received notice of termination of its con tract for production of B-25 Billy Mitchell medium bombers. Abolishes Labor Controls another and imposing ceilines on I thc number of persons an employ- i main in effect, but may be wd er could hire. ified soon. Workeis no loneer need to cb- New Prooram tain "certificates of availability" in order to change jobs. The war Outlook What is in store for postwar La Grande, the Grande Ronde valley and eastern Oregon? Industrial, agricultural and civic leaders of La Grande today answered that vital question in an enthusiastic vein; envisaging developments in the valley which will carry on the war time ma terial prosperity and will provide work not only for those who al ready are employed but for the 2.000 or more young men and women in the armed forces who Peace on round-eyed as they tried to understand, while Boy and Girl Scouts, members of the high school band, and various city or ganizations paraded, and four planes, piloted by Dr. William P e a r e, Merlin Johnson, W. M. Pierson and Lowell Hutchinson, flew overhead. Way for the parade was brok en by motorcycle patrolmen with siren wailing, followed by flag bearers on horseback. Order of the parade following was: City Manager Ed Ford, a screaming fire truck loaded down with children, high school band, preceded by majorettes, cadet nurses, veterans, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Salvation army truck, Maverick club, decorated bicycles and cars, fleet of freightway trucks, and stream of cars. Churches Open ' The parade formed at 1 p. m. at Greenwood street and Adams avenue, marched up Adams ave nue to Fourth street, turned south on Fourth to Washington, and east on Washington to Fir street, where it disbanded. Churches in La Grande re mained open all day for thanks giving. Banks will be closed all day tomorrow, but stores, res'.iau rants and other business will be open again Thursday as usual. Union church' services will be held at 8 p. m. for Presbyterians and Methodists at First Metho dist church; churches on the north side will meet at Fir street Methodist church. Services are also scheduled all 8 p. m. at First Baptist and First Christian churches. Two Babies Horn On Victory Days La Grande's two victory-day babies were born yesterday and today at St. Joseph's hospital. A boy being born Aug. 14 to Mr. and Mrs. Claire Singley, La Grande, and a girl being born today to Mr, and Mrs. Wilbur Campbell, also of La Grande. Hysteria Takes Over SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. 15 (UP) A plump red head danc ed naked atop the base of San Francisco's native sons monu ment early today after hyster ical sorvicemen tore off her dress and underthings. After several minutes of nudity, the woman borrowed a coat from a sailor, and the pair disappear ed in the yelling crowd. labor board's wage controls re- The new program, McNamee issid, includes: 'Good' for Valley ! will want jobs when they ore : mustered out in what is now ; hoped will be a short time. Remain Active i Present population of La Grande has been estimated at nearly 11,000 persons. The sur rounding communities and farms and the city itself must lemain active if the valley is to continue to progress, in the opinion of leaders. One of the problems is to ton tinue to maintain payrolls at their Editorial Now We Must Go to Work The war is over. We could dwell on that fact, examining: generally or min utely all of its implications and consequences. We are, however, in this after V-J editorial going to emphasize one thing, and that we consider the most im portant because it underlies many of the implications of the moment. For years we have been waiting for this day to come. We have bent all of our efforts in its accomplishment. We have allowed ourselves to be propagandized, taxed, have parted with our loved ones, submitted to indignities, in conveniences, hardships, sorrow and suffering steadfast ly, believing that the end for which we were driving justi fied all these things. Now the end has come. Victory is here, a real thing. We, of this nation, are now in peculiar position. Victory means nothing to us excepting the opportu nity to pursue our ways of life in the democratic fashion in which we believe. We have none of the satisfaction of the imperialistic or nationalistic countries which partici pate in this victory with us. Victory means nothing to us unless we can build a great er life and nation for ourselves and our returning soldiers to whom we owe so much. And thnt is the crux of this editorial. This newspaper has pointed out as emphatically as pos sible from time to time that we in eastern Oregon, Union county and La Grande, have a tremendous responsibility to our returning soldiers and for their economic welfare and urged planning for the expansion of the facilities of our area so that they may be prosperously absorbed in its economy. Those that do not come back will have died in vain, and those that do will have interrupted their lives and given their youth: and perhaps their limbs to no purpose un less this nution and our' particular area 'can now provide ' for them the things which we told them they were fight ing for. We are not as prepared as we should be to realize the full value of our victory. Unless we now get to work and build and create and plan for the future, the fruits of our victory will be frittered away. So then today let us toot horns and dance and otherwise manifest our jubilance that peace is here and humanity and civilization is once more free of the horror that has . gripped it for so long. Even in the midst of this, however, there must weigh on our collective conscience the awful responsibility we now bear. Every citizen of our area, every civic and public leader, every employer, every union leader, all who are charged with public and private responsibility, now have an in escapable obligation to move rapidly toward the full de velopment of employment and progress. If we fail, our nation will fail and the young men of our nation who lie buried in foreign lands who, with high purpose and courage, immolated themselves for their peo ple and their country, will have made a terrible, empty gesture. Governor Urges 'Thanks to God' SALEM, Aug. 15 (UP) Gov. Earl Snell today called upon the people of Oregon to give thanks "to Almighty God that this terrible and most devastat ing war that man and history hove ever known has finally come to an end." Today and tomorrow were proclaimed legal holidays in Oregon by the governor, who ordered closed all state and public buildings, stores and agencies. Local officials fol lowed suit. 1. Immediate lifting of all man power controls and substitution of a "voluntary emmunity action program to speed conversion." 2. Surveys the number of dis placed workers and returning present peak or to exceed it. This will involve not only keep ing industry and agriculture and the supplying businesses In the valley busy but expanding them to meet the needs of an expand ing economy. Brief View' Some of the larger industries are lumbering, contracting and railroading. Here is a brief look at what may be in store in these: There are signs of increased See OUTLOOK . . . Page 7 mi Earthquake Rocks San Diego, Area SAN DIEGO, Aug. 15 (UP) A sharp earthquake rocked San Di ego at 10:50 a. m. today. The shock drove hundreds from down- itown office buildings which swayed back and forth for sev eral minutes. It was recorded by Seismologist Fred Robinson who said it was of number two intensity and had an east west motion. The earthquake was felt in Im perial valley where thousands of persons ran into the streets. At Calexico, Calif., tremors were be ing felt 10 minutes after the first shock. veterans in each community in cooperation with local management-labor groups and U. S. em ployment service offices "to speed reconversion and reemployment." 3. Channeling of labor by vol untary methods into civilian in dustries, especially where bottle necks may arise to delay mass reemployment. 4. Restore full facilities of USES offices to al lemployers. 5. Expand services to veterans. 6. New emphasis on job-counseling and other personalized serv ices to aid job seekers to adept their waitimc experience to peacetime job pportunities. 7. Assist displaced war workers to find employment in communi ties where civilian production has expanded. The WMC announcement em phasized the community action and voluntary angles of the new program. Meat, Shoes, Butter Fat Restricted Still By EULALIE McDOWELL WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 (UP) Gasoline rationing is end ed, the office of price administration announced today. Nor will canned fruits and vegetables, fuel oil, and oil stoves be rationed any longer, OPA said. Rationing stop or ders are effective immediately. But rationing of meats, fats and oils, butter, sugar, shoes', tires and other commodities will continue indefinitely, OPA said, until military cutbacks and increased production can balance civilian supply demand. - ' Price Administrator Chester Bowles said "right now it's impossible to say just when all civilian buying restrictions can be ended forever. , "It certainly can't come too soon as far as we are con Government Cuts Procurement By 23 Billion Dollars WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 (UP) The war department announc ed today it has cut procurement of munitions and supplies by $23, 500,000,000 a year. Telegrams notifying prime con tractors started going out immed iately after 7 p. m. Tuesday ad vising them of cutbacks which will reduce army procurement from $2,400,000,000 a month to $435,000,000 a month. Of the lat ter, $268,000,000 a month repre sents cost.of food, ., ; .. v, ' . Manufacture of most weapons and equipment was halted entire ly. Those which continue on a limited basis largely represent research and development items. Expenditures for such mainten ance items as food, clothing, shoes, medical supplies and gaso line will be further reduced as demobilization proceeds, the war department said. Cuts of 100 percent were or dered in contracts for tires, loco motive and railroad cars, tele phone and telegraph, and con struction equipment, including tractors and bridging equipment. Other cuts: aircraft, 94 percent; artillery and tanks, 08 percent; ammunition of all types, 08 per- ceat: radio and radio equipment, 80 percent; clothing and equip age including shoes and textiles, 75 percent; gasoline, 44 percent; medical supplies, 50 percent and food, 20 percent. Today, Tomorrow Victory Holidays By United Press Today and tomorrow are the "victory holidays." V-J day will come later, and it will not be a holiday. It will be proclaimed after the Japs sign the surrender papers. The V-J day proclamation will be largely a legal matter for the purpose of setting a date for tile end of hostilities as required by various laws. Baseball Results . NATIONAL FIRST GAME Cincinnati 5 11 0 Boston 10 13 3 Batteries: Biddle, Nodak (5), Libke (8) and Lakeman; Logan, Hendrickson (8) and Mas), Hot forth (8). Pittsburgh 11 15 2 New York 0 17 Batteries: Butcher, Rescigno (0), Gables (7), Gerheauser (!)), and Salkeld, Lopez (7); Volsellt Emmerich (1), Fischer (7), Feld man (0) and Lombardi, Berres (8). AMERICAN Philadelphia 3 13 1 Cleveland 8 10 0 Batteries: Christopher, Bowles (5) and Rosar, Stroth (5); Gromek and Hayes. Weather Data for 24 hours to 7 a. m.: Temperature: ,t Maximum 91 Minimum 51 Precipitation ...Trace Forecast: Clear tonight; Thurs day partly cloudy, with scattered showers over mountains; cooler inland over north and west por tions Thursday. Airmy cerned, Bowles said. "You can be sure these items will go off the list the minute we hear sup plies are anywhere near big enough.").,' With the lid off gasoline pur chases, motorists may now shout "fill 'er upl" for the first time since May 15, 1042. Lifting of rationing on gaso line and fuel oil was made pos sible by tremendous cutbacks of military purchases. Reconversion Director John W. Snyder reveal ed earlier today that with the end of the war, the military will' require 44 percent less gasoline. The army-navy petroleum board had announced it will reduce its fuel oil and gasoline supplies for the armed forces by about 565, 009,000 gallons a month. ,, , Record Hirh.vt ;. V .. The petroleum industry is now operating at record rate. Not only will civilians get more gasoline, but the quality will return soon to peacetime standards with the cutback of military requirements for aviution fuel. Removal of blue-stump canned fruits and vegetables from the ration list was made possible by good crop prospects. To keep these programs oper ating, Bowles asked members of the nation's 5,500 local rationing boards to stay on their Jobs. Tires may be among the next items to be removed. Women are happy, too. The ny lon that went into parachutes and glider tow-ropes is going back into hosiery and it won't be long, either. To prevent inflation, Price Ad ministrator Chester Bowles warn ed price controls must be main tained. The picture: i Gasoline Rationing ended. . Tires Will follow gasoline off the ration list although the first tires will not be pre-war quality. Fuel oil Rationing will be eased well before heating season. Shoes Rationing expected to end not later than first of year. Automobiles C o n t rols to be continued. Beef Relief expected first of year. Pork Slight increase. Sugar Short. Fats and oils Short. Butter and other dairy products To continue at present levels. Radios 2,500,000 to be manu factured by year-end. Observer Ready For VJ Day, Has Extra Out Quickly V-J day found the Evening Observer prepared to service eastern Oregon with full In formation on the momentous occasion. Constantly on the alert, night and day since the original Jap-' anese offer to surrender, the entire staff was prepared to function when the news came. The regular edition of the Evening Observer went to press at 3 o'clock yesterday, but the. edition was held, though en tirely printed, in expectation of President Truman's announce ment at 4 o'clock. After the flash came, the V-J extra was rolling off the press es in 40 minutes and every sub scriber received a copy, the earlier edition being discarded. NEED BEAN PICKERS ALBANY, Aug. 15 (UP) Some 200 more pickers are needed to save the current bean crop in the Albany area, W. V. Merrill, Linn county farm lnbor assistant. said today, TO ; -' AT
