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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (April 13, 1945)
President of U. S. for Over 12 Tryinl ears FOUNDED 1651 NINETY-FIFTH YEAR 16 PAGES Salam, Oregon, Friday Mornino. April 13. 1945 Prico Sc. No. 15 -i?-V'v.- r "v ' j r, . v l C 5 X V , 4 if ' - . I '- - ,A' U - r ' ( -v r ' i i I I mam i O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip la dona, Th hip has weather'd every rack. the priie we aought ti won. The port it near, the beUs I hear, the VhUefollow eyei the iteidy keel, the vesael grim ana aanng, ' iBut O heart 1 heart 1 heart! rv th MHmff droDS of red. Where on the deck my Captain . '- lies, iii rrAA and dead. These lines ot Walt Whitman'! on Abraham Lincoln apply with insular fitnes to FranKlin D. Roosevelt Just at the moment of triumoh the president who guid ed the shiD of state through deep perils is snatched away by death. The ship has. weathered the rack of war; the port of victory is near at hand: the people everywhere are! exulting over the imminence m - 4n VnrnnA and uanxyxvK j the assurance of certain success in Ihe Pacific. But lust as with Lan coin 80 years ago-next Sunday, deck. "fallen cold! and dead.V An appropriate epitaph is to repeat the words of Secretary Stanton, anoken at ' Lincoln's deathbed: Now he belongs to the ages." There is not the tragedy of a$ cassination, as in Lincoln's case; and great as is the shock caused by Roosevelt's passing it is not attended with marked surprise, though no intimation had come of any illness. His health had Deen the subiect of much speculation In the late -campaign; and much concern was expressed orally when pictures . taken alter the Yalta conference showed him tired and -wan. - Moreover our genera tion has become .accustomed to the auddenness ot death. That of Wen dell Willkie but a few months ago gave the. people warning of the brevity of life, - and ; prompted ffars of a similar ' eventuality with Mr. Roosevelt Now it (Continued on editorial page) PFC Floyd Howard Dies in Iwo Action , pfc - Floyd i (Buster) Howard, !I9. of the Fifth marines, was kill ed in action February 23 on Iwo Jitna, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Howard, 350 West Lincoln at, were notified Thursday by the navy department -.; " Howard, who had attended Sa Jem high school and been employ ed at Blue Lake cannery prior to his enlistment in November, 1943, went overseas . last August. . He bad made hi home in Salem since u ur i i I i n II ui uujuyuLa 833. " - ' I I, I Americal Division Invades Last Central Philippine Isle Still in Japanese! Hands By CLYDE B ARTEL . Associated Press War Editor Americal division troops of the U. S. Eighth army charged ashore on Bohol island Wednesday, Gen. Douglas MacArthur reported today, and with Filipino of the last central Philippine Covered by American naval anded at Tagbilaran on Bohol's inland against the surprised Jap anese in "another thrust in the swift campaign to clear the bewil dered enemy from the Visayas," MacArthur said. On Cebu island, west of Bohol, the Americans made gains in clearing northeastern hills, and on Luzon 14th corps Yanks continued to close the trap on Japanese caught on Bicol peninsula in the southern part of the island. Superfortresses in very large force perhaps 300 or more made the longest bombing hop from Marianas bases Thursday, striking Koriyama, industrial cen ter 110 miles north of Tokyo, for the first time, and also hitting the Nippon capital. The raids in volved a 3800-mile round trip for the bombers, which picked up fighter escort Japan-bound at Iwo Jima. Tokyo raido said, without al lied confirmation, that about 80 enemy" carrier - based planes raided northern Formosa Thurs day, and a small British naval task force which included two carriers and two battleships raided We is land off northwestern Sumatra Wednesday. : . Washington navy headquarters reported the U. S. submarine Scamp overdue from the Pacific News of Roosevelt's Death sP reads Rapidly in Salem Stranger stopped stranger on downtown Salem streets and thus the news spread. Hags rose then dropped to half- mast against a showery April sky and onlookers paused in silent personal tribute. : Children learned of the death of the only president they had ever known 'when janitors low ered the Stars and Stripes on the masts of country and citjr school houses. ;V W.' ' 4 Telephone ; circuits over : the state were jammed Thursday aft ernoon when news .of the death of President Hoosevelt reached the west coast by wire and radio, Salem was no exception. At The Statesman the largest number of telephone queries came between 3 and 3:45 p. m. but an unusually .large number of calls also were guerrilla aid started liberation island still in Japanese hands. and air bombardment, the Yanks southwestern shore and pushed and presumed lost The Scamp, skippered by Cmdrj John C. Hoi- lingsworth, Emory University, Ga., was the 42nd American submarine lost in the war. In Santiago, Chile, President Rkts and his " cabinet Thursday signed a declaration of war against Japan, formally completing the government's belligerency action announced against Nippon Feb. 14. U. S. protests Nazi IjEandling Of Americans WASHINGTON, April 12-- America, where one group of Nazi prisoners of war went on strike recently because Cigarettes were late, formally: accused Germany today, of shockingly , inhuman treatment of American prisoners. Grimly, this : country promised punishment of the Nazi captors. . And it was apparent, that Ger man prisoners here are going to lose some privileges though eye-for-aneye retaliation - for Nazi "neglect indifference and cruelty" is not contemplated. tallied through early evening hours. i !; . Salem Ministerial association. the city's patriotic orders cooper ating, laid plans for union serv ices to be held Saturday after noon. Prayer meetings in the city's churches last : night took on an extra-solemn note as divine, guid ance was sought for a nation in making of war and peace. ' , Businessmen, "- discussed inform ally their pari in the tribute to the memory of the r resident and expected today to lay definite plans for darkening show win dows and possible funeral-hour closing. j - . Mayor I. r Mi Doughton asked that . all. flags in Salem remain at half-mast until after the burial services Sunday. - 9th Crosses Elbe kecMy for 49-Mile Drive Into Berlin 1st, 3rd Armies Sweep 50 Miles ; To Leipzig Gates By Austin Bealmear. PARIS, Friday, April 13 -UP) U.S. Ninth army tanks smashed across the Elbe river on a six- mile front just 57 miles from Ber lin yesterday and U.S. First and Third armies in sweeps of near ly 50 miles thundered at the gates of the great city of Leipzig, 75 miles southwest of the capital. A field dispatch said only or ders from Lt. Gen. William H. Simpson were needed to send the Second armored division dashing on into Berlin, which could pos sibly be reached , today. Wholly unconfirmed French reports said allied parachute troops had been dropped at Brandenburg, barely 20 miles from greater Berlin. The electrifying crossing of the Elbe last big river barrier be fore the devastated capital came with such speed that supreme headquarters was unable to con firm it, a spokesman saying that SHEAF was completely out of touch with Ninth army spear heads. The U.S. First and Third armies, after their long gains, were under a security blackout but a field report said it was possible that one of them, would reach Leipzig by today. They last were report ed 23 to 24 miles from the city with nothing in front of them. From out of the security black out came the news that the First army's Third armored division had reeled off a, 26-mile gain on the First's north flank and had driven more than two miles be yond Sangerhausen, 84 miles southwest of Berlin. The advances of these two pow erful armies, bidding for a quick decision in the war in Europe by balking a die-hard stand in south ern Germany, were expected to be western front sensations once the blackout is lifted. $100 Million in Water Control Projects Due WASHINGTON, April 2-JP)-Irrigation, flood controland pow er projects for Oregon, totalling nearly $100,000,000 and including $9,341,000 for the North Santiam river and $12,416,500 for the Yam hill project were included today in the revised post-war construc tion plan of the reclamation bur eau. The plan was reported to con gress. , ; The combined projects would provide water for nearly 500,000 acres of new land. (Details on page 3.) 3 Milk Bills Favored Here The state department of agri culture will oppose Vigorously any referendum of three bills from the recent legislature relating to pas teurization and fixing standards of milk, Director E. L. Peterson in dicated Thursday. J - Peterson declared the three measures would go far toward im proving the milk situation in Ore gon and protecting health of resi dents of the state. His declaration followed announcement this week by Henry Fruitlger, Portland, president - of the Milk Producer Distributors of Oregon, that he ex pected to file preliminary petitions for referendums by May 1. British Hit Formosa i? SAM FRANCISCO, April 12-UP) A Tokyo radio dispatch picked, up by the Blue network tonight said a British task f orce attacked northern . Formosa today with about 300 carrier, aircraft . Weather 1 V Max. is S5 Mis. 41 sc Bala Saa rranclsc EtIKCB Salem FortUa . .M SI 37 .S3 trace Statu SS S7 Willamette river t ft. 7 I. roBF.CAST: (from I. S. weetfcer ta re-, McNary field. Sale-) Clear, though becoming parUy clay tooajr, Etslnc temperature. Organized Resistance In Germany. Expected To End in Few Days WASHINGTON. April U-(JF) High ; army officials told the senate military affairs commit tee today the end of organized fighting in Germany probably win come tn a few days.' Those attending the confer ence quoted army chiefs as say ing orders are drawn drastically reducing shipments of durable equipment to Europe. Gen. Brehon B. Somervell, chief of army service of sup plies, told the group the nation arain Is scraping the bottom of the steel barrel because of in creased weight of bombs : pins needs in the Pacific. The civilian pinch will be felt primarily in steel, cotton goods and shoes, the senators heard. Shoes rot. fast In the Pacific. Civilians may be cat to one pair a year. Nip Warplanes Assault Fleet Off Okinawa! GUAM, Friday, April 13 J -UP) Japanese wtipltnei renewed their suicidal attacks on American amphibious forces off Okinawa yesterday, sinking one destroyer and damaging several other', sur face units. Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz said in today's communi que. Ail damaged u. s. snips re mained in action. One hundred eleven Japanese planes were shot down in an af ternoon attack after seven I had been downed in a morning raid, ! The afternoon attack, in great strength, also reached to the Yank land forces, for Nimitz 'said shore-based anti-aircraft as well as ships' guns and carrier planes shared in downing the 111 Japa nese planes. Nimitz also disclosed the pres ence on Okinawa of four more divisions, bringing to six the num ber officially ashore on Okinawa and nearby islands. j Two of the newly-named divi sions were marines, the 6th j and 1st The other two are army, the 27th and 96th. TOKYO TELLS OF DEATH I SAN FRANCISCO, April 12.-(JPy-Tokyo radio broadcast a fac tual report of President Roose velt's death to the Japanese peo ple tonight and the Dome! news agency said "immediately a cab inet meeting was summonedTo kyo radio later played soft music to "honor the passing of this great man," in the words of the announ cer. ' 5 The New UAIUIY S. , - , ' i ! -V- -- . .. .t- . t . - .. 'S Truman Becomes President Mrs. FDR Tells Him of Death and Cables Children WASHINGTON, April Yl.HJPy- Harry. S. Truman became the 32nd president of the United States at 7:09 p. m. (EWT) tonight ? Sworn in by Chief Justice Har- land Fiske Stone two hours and 34 minutes after Mr. Roosevelt's death in Warm Springs, Ga., as a shocked capital sought to weigh the import of the sudden change, Truman announced in quick suc cession: 1. He will try to carry on as he believes President Roosevelt would have done. 2. The San Francisco United Nations conference will go on as scheduled April 25. 3i He has asked the Roosevelt cabinet to stay on with him. 4. The war will be pressed to a "successful conclusion." Conference Still On A short time earlier Truman had announced that the United Na tions conference would open as scheduled on April 25 to draft a plan for a world organization. White House Secretary Stephen Early told reporters That the new 60-year-old president "wants to say that it will be his effort to carry on as he believes the pres ident would have done, and totKat end he has asked the cabinet to stay on with him." - Crowds stood silently outside .... . the White House? Flags on em bassies and other public build ings dipped to half staff. It was Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt who summoned Mr. Truman and told him her husband was dead. While waiting she sent messa ges to the four Roosevelt sons in the armed forces - - James, Elli ott Franklin, jr., and John - telling-them of their father's pass ing. A Mother's Message He slept away this afternoon, she told them. He did his job to the end, as he would want to do. Bless you all and all our love, She signed it mother. When informed- of the death, Mrs. Roosevelt was quoted as say ing: "I am more sorry for the people of the country and the world than I am for us. She .told Truman "The presi dent has Just passed away." "What can I do? Truman said. "Tell us what we. can ao," Mrs. Roosevelt replied. "Is there any way we can help you" 'He Can't Be Dead, the War Isn't Over Yet' SPOKANE, Wash., April 12-(ff) A grey-haired woman stood on a street corner arguing with a news boy. "It can't be true," she said. "It must be- a mistake. He cant be dead. The. war isn't over yet" President TRUMAN Franklin Delano Roosevelt -; Dies of Brain Hemorrhage; Trumait Sworn Into Office ...... . v. - - !' - ' ; WARM SPRINGS, Ga tll T T 11 t!J 1-iaiin.iiu xj. nuoseveii, nis nisiory-maKinj? tenure iasi ap proaching its climax in world events, died today of a cere bral hemorrhage a short time after laosing into unconscious ness. Death came at 4:35 p. m. (1:35 Pacific war time). Less than three hours later, a one-time Missouri county judge and senator, Harry &r Truman, in Washington took ormal oath as president to . . to the best of my ability,' to the policies of his chieftain. Mr. Roosevelt's last words nere were : : "I have a terrific headache." i He spoke them to Comdr. Harold Bruenn. naVal physi cian, and died a short time later. The funeral will be in the White House east room in Washington on Saturday. Burial will be at the Roosevelt ancestral home at Hyde Park, N. Y., Sunday. The body will not lie in state. Body Will Be Taken to Washington Presidential Secretary William body would leave here around 9 approximately 22-hour run to Washington. Mr. Roosevelt 63, his strength , . WARM SPRINGS. Ga- April 13.(JP(Friday )-(fPlahs were completed eriy today for a simple funeral for'FnuikUn Delano . Roosevelt, as Mrs. Roosevelt arrived to Join her beloved dead.; The president's wife , was flown from Washing-ton in an army i plane. It wu made known that the funeral would be at 4 p. bl, (1 p. m. Pacific war time) in the east room of the White House. The room seats only 200 and only highest U. S. and foreign officials will attend. chief in America's greatest war, was, sitting in front of a fireplace in the little white house here atop Pine mountain when the attack struck him. i Bruenn described it as a massive cerebral hemorrhage. The president's negro valet Arthur Prettyman, and a Filipino messboy carried him to his bedroom. He was unconscious at the end. It came without pain. I Mr. Roosevelt in the third month of his fourth term as president, came here three weeks ago to rest His death removed from world Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill who worked together to win the war and laid joint plans for keeping- the peace. Dr. Bruenn said he saw the in excellent spirits at 9:30 a. m. Complained of Bad Headache "At one o'clock," Bruenn added, "he was sitting in a chair while sketches were being made of him by an architect. He suddenly complained of a very severe occipital headache (back of the head). "Within a very few minutes by me at 1:30 p. m., fifteen minutes after the episode had started. "He did not regain consciousness and he died at 3:35 p. m." ; Only others present in the cottage were Comdr. George Fox, White House pharmacist and long an attendant on the president; Hassett Miss Grace Tully, confidential secretary; and two cousins, Miss Laura Delano and Miss Margaret Suckley. Bruenn said he called Vice surgeon general and White House Mclntyre in turn called Dr. James medicine practioner and honorary general' , .. j.- " : President Had Been Under-Welsh t ; Mr. Roosevelt arrived at Warm underweight and his doctors wanted him to take it easy to see if he could not regain the poundage at which he felt comfortable, Rumors bad been heard the was not picking up as much as : He received reporters last Sergio Osmena, president of the: Philippine commonwealth,' told , of s his desire to grant full independence to the islands by autumn. . i Mr. Roosevelt also outlined can participation fn the western aggression...-. --.:; t ' He said the United States accept trusteeships over Japanese - and air bases and . help the Philippines rebuild economically after the commonwealth becomes a self Conference News Delayed " Reports of this news conference were to have been withheld ' for security reasons until the president returned to Washington. , Reporters who. attended the conference noted his gray pallor ' , Mr. Roosevelt's voice also had become weak in recent months, and he frequently asked reporters to repeat their questions. "This was attributable, according to those" close to 'him, to i 1 sinus leakage into the throat which caused slight ' constrictions. 4 : The last piece of legislation Mr. Roosevelt signed was to' con tinue the commodity credit corporation and increase its borrowing rwer.:r:;.:4 flMv; - ' - ' - WASHINGTON, April 13.-(Fri-day)Hp-Prime , Minister Chur-; chin said today that the death of President Roosevelt was "the loss of the British nation and of -the cause of freedom in every; land." Jonathan .Daniels, " one of Mr. Roosevelt's secretaries, ; read the message sent Mrs. Roosevelt , "I send my most profound sym pathy in your grievous loss x x x I trust you may find, consolation in the glory of his name and the magnitude of his work." t , .. - LONDON, FridayApril 13.- -Premier Marshal Stalin express es his sorrow at the death of Pres ident Roosevelt today in a mes sage to Mrs. Roosevelt in which Ik it a a April 12 (AP) President 1! A ' j "faithfully execute the office ' and solemnly pledged himself before being fatally stricken D. Hassett said Mr. Roosevelt's a. m., (EWT) tomorrow for the sapped away as commander-in- ' councils one of the big three- president this morning and he was . he lost consciousness. He was seen Admiral Ross T. Mclntyre, navy physician in Washington and that E. Paullin, of Atlanta, an internal consultant to the navy surgeon " " U i Springs March 30. He had been last few. days that the president his doctors would have liked. f ; Thursday and, in , the ' presence of ambitious postwar plans for Ameri Pacifier to prevent further Japanese - -V t ; and the other united nations must mandated islands, build new naval - governing nation. ' '.: - - ;' - "'r';'":.;;::::"j -C 1'"'.':;':". Ui he characterized the president as "A great organizer of the strug gles of the freedom-loving nations against the common enemy, x x x f "T h e government x x x ex- t presses sincere sympathy to the American people in their great ' loss.". LONDON, Friday, April. 13.-P) -The German DNB news agency said this morning that the news of President Roosevelt's death "Has of course had 'a great impres-; sion in Berlin," but added that s nazi officials refrained from b drawing any Immediate conclu- j sions" concerning any possible ef- : feet on American foreign policy. . (Stories and pktares en page I)