The Bend bulletin. (Bend, Deschutes County, Or.) 1917-1963, March 21, 1944, Image 1

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The Bend bulletin., March 21, 1944, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextME BENB 3 K Weather Forecast Increasing ekmdinea followed by occasional light rain over north west Oregon late today, spreading to aouth and eaat portione tonight. Snow above 4,00V feet. , CENTRAL OREGON'S DAILY NEWSPAPER Volume U THE BEND BULLETIN, BEND, DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON. TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1944 NO. 91 Call Before 7 The Bulletin circulation office reV main open until 7 o'clock Men eve ning to servo subscribers. Cal 66 before 7 p. m. if you f lt to receive your paper. T SecretTunnel Used by Nazis To Aid Cassino Troops Moved Through Underground Passage; Situation Is Critical Allied Headquarters, Naples, March 21 (IPi German shock troops lashed back savagely at attacking allied forces around Cassino's gutted .Continental hotel today and allied spokesmen revealed that reinforcements were being dispatched to the em battled Nazi garrison through a secret 1,200-yard tunnel leading to an ancient Roman amphitheat er outside the town. . Front reports said a brawling. hand-to-hand battle raged ' all around the hotel and it was indi cated that the New Zealand in fantrymen who broke into the building yesterday and captured almost 200 prisoners had been hurled back into the streets. The hotel itself, which the Ger mans had converted into a brist ling strongpoint, was described as a no-man's-land, under heavy fire from both sides. Situation Critical (BBC reporter Michael Reyn olds reported from advanced 5th army headquarters that the allied forces inside Cassino are in a "critical and rather grim situa tion." While the New Zealanders hold practically all of the town, he said, they are under constant artillery fire from the surround ing hills and may have difficulty in holding on to their gains). Fighting across huge heaps of rubble that provided perfect cover for the defending Germans, the New Zealanders were forced to attack each Nazi position frontal ly, under a murderous fire from enemy machine guns, mortars, and hand grenades. Official information reaching headquarters traced the strong German stand to the existence of a hitherto unsuspected tunnel run ning from the Roman amphi theater almost three-quarters of a mile southwest of Cassino. ' Tunnel Is Used German panzer grenadiers. It was revealed, have been slipping through the tunnel Into Cassino under the guns of the unsuspect ing allies to bolster the band of paratroopers who had been hold ing the southwestern end of the town since the record allied aerial and artillery bombardment last Wednesday. Almost 200 paratroopers, who had boasted they would stay in Cassino "indefinitely," quit when the Maoris broke into the Con tinental hotel yesterday, but it was indicated that the Nazi resis tance had stiffened immeasure ably with the arrival of the gren adiers. Lions Club Pays Tribute to Bears Bend high school's Lava Bears were the center of attention at the regular noon meeting of the Lions club today at the Pine Tav ern, after the group voted to ex press a "Jug" of Tumalo water to Pvt. Richard F. Lyons, club mem ber now stationed at Camp Rob erts, Calif., who is seeking a "drink of good Bend water." Glenn Gregg, who was in charge of the program, intro duced Coach Claude Cook, who led the team Into second place in Oregon's basketball kingdom this year, and the following players: Bob Rines, captain; Harold Smith, Bill Higgins, Bob James, Bill Wood, Phil Brogan, George Ras mussen, Howard Smead, Don Hal ligan. Doug Wlrtz, Dennis Moore, and Roland Brick, team manager. George Murphy was unable to be present. Support Appreciated Coach Cook expressed apprecia tion to the Lions club for its or ganized support of the high school sports program and stated: "This is the nicest group of boys I have -ever worked with and I believe Bend has an excellent op portunity to return to the state tournament In 1945." R. E. Jewell, principal of the high school and Loans member, oointed out that the 1944 Lava Bears caee team is the second team In 14 years to rate the state tournament. "Claude Cook plaved every game 24 hours a dav," Jew ell said, "and it Is through his untiring efforts In developing ath letics that has given Bend high school such a fine team and the runnpr-up trophy for the entire state." Brief reviews of all games In which the boys participated were given by Jerry Branaman. FDR HAS COLD Washington, March 21 OPi President Roosevelt Is suffering again from a head cold and will remain In his room today, the " "e tiouse announced. 70 Foot Wall of Molten Lava Obliterates Town By Eleanor Packard ' (United Pm SUff CorropoMtent) - On the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius, March 21 (U.P.) A 70-foot wall of molten lava obliterated the village of San Sebastian, on the upper slopes of Mount Vesuvius today, only a few hours after allied military authorities had removed its 6,000 inhabitants. The great stream of lava, snewed out of the volcano's cone in its worst eruption of modern times, moved down the northwest slope with inexorable force-and by mid-afternoon had traveled 600 yards beyond San Sebastian to cover three quarters of the neighboring town of Massa di Somma. When I last saw Massa di Somma earlier today the lava flow was circling around the ancient' granite wall of the Fliers to Blast River Ice Jam Miles City,. Mont., March 1 P Four-motored bombers and dive bombers loaded with 300-pound bombs came to the rescue of flooded Miles City today and pre pared to free the ice-jammed waters of the Yellowstone river in "practice maneuvers over an enemy objective." The flight of bombers from Peterson Field, Colorado Springs, Colo., army air base came in an swer to an appeal from Gov. Sam C. Ford for emergency relief to the stricken city after the swollen river overflowed its banks and flooded a residential district, leav ing more than 300 persons tem porarily homeless. As melting snow-fed waters continued to pour into the ice choked Yellowstone and threat ened further flooding of the city, army pilots planned their strat egy of dropping the big bombs on "key points" in the ice jam. En gineers explained that a break-up of the Ice gorge would permit the heavy volume of water to move down the river. Two square miles of the city's residents! district were inundated yesterday, forcing 300 residents to evacuate their homes and causing an estimated property damage of $30,000. The river stood three feet over the flood stage and about 15 feet higher than normal today and formed a. lake more than a mile wide In one portlon'of the city. About ISO homes were flooded, some to a depth of three feet. No lives were lost and no injuries were reported. Mary Griffin, 79, Taken by Death' Mary Ellen Wilson Griffin, 79 year old native of Breckenridge county, Kentucky, and a resident of Central Oregon since 1913, when the family hoinesteaded in the Brothers community, died in Bend this morning at her home at 931 Ogden. Death followed an ill ness of three, weeks. Mrs. Griffin had made her home in Bend for a number of years, since moving here from Brothers. Surviving are two sons, Elmer Wilson, Portland, and Charles Robinson, Omaha, Neb., and two daughters, Ollie Carman, of Ken tucky, and Mrs. Virtie Guill of Illinois. Funeral services will be held from the Niswonger & Winslow chapel Thursday at 2:30 p. m., with Rev. Dan Hager of the First Baptist church in charge. Burial will be in the Pilot Butte ceme tery. Officers Receive Aid Certificates Certificates showing the suc cessful completion of both stand ard and advanced courses in Red Cross first aid have been Issued to the following members of the city and state police forces: Frank Chapman, Floyd Chestnut, Loy A. Cole, Ken Gulick, R. J. Hafstad, Robert Houtchens, Earl G. Huff, Dale McMeen, Glenn Ray, Garold A. Reid, Kenneth L. Roach, and Walter W. Smead. The courses were under the di rection of John Mogan. Stassen, on Duty With Navy in South Pacific, Outlines His Position in Political Campaign Washington, March 21 UP Lt. Cmdr. Harold E. Stassen, former governor of Minnesota, has noti fied Secretary of Navy Frank Knox that while he will not seek the republican presidential nom ination he will accept if nomin ated. Knox told reporters today that Stassen made his position clear In a letter which came through offi cial channels from the South Pa cific where the former governor is now serving on the staff of Ad miral William F. Halsey, Jr., com mander of the South Pacific area. Stassen's letter to Knox fol lows: "In recent weeks there have been numerous questions by rep resentatives of the press in the South Pacific aa to my attitude village church, and it appear ed doubtful that anything would be left of the village by nightfall. . Lava Moves On ' The force of the flow showed no signs of slackening, although it was cooling rapidly as it spread over the mountainside, resem bling a huge pile of slag spilling out red-hot coals as it advanced. After more than 200 military vehicles, starting work at dark last night in the ruddy glow of the volcano, had completed the evacuation of the two towns in 10 hours, authorities began mov ing the population of the village of Cercola, which Is lower down the slope. Emergency food stations and rest points have been established to take care of the increasing number of refugees. The main stream was flowing down the narrow valley between the two villages at a rate of about 300 yards an hour, and observers feared that both towns would be obliterated during the day. , U.S. Subs Sink ips Washington, March 21 (U Sec retary of the Navy Frank Knox announced today that American submarines have sunk IS more Japanese ships in the Pacific and far east . The latest haul included two transports, two tankers, and 11 freighters. This brought to 642 the total of Japanese ships hit by our sub- barlnes 492 sunk, 3b probaDiy sunk and 114 damaged. The sinkings were disclosed in a communique released by Knox at his news conference. Supply Problem Acute Knox said that there was no doubt that the question of supply is getting to be "an extremely acute one" for the Japanese. Concerning that the Japanese have increased their skill in anti submarine operations Kndx ob served that the skill of our sub marines also has improved per haps at a relatively greater pace. Furthermore, he pointed out, we have a larger number of subma rines in the Pacific for the ene my to shoot at. Patch Replaces Ge neral Patton Allied Headquarters, Naples, March 21 IP Lt. Gen. George S. Patton has been replaced as com mander of the American seventh army by Major-Gen. Alexander M. Patch, Jr., it was announced to day. Patch formerly commanded the U. S. army troops who moved into Guadalcanal to relieve the ma rines and initiated the offensive that drove the Japanese from that Island. The new seventh army com mander received the distinguished service medal and the navy cross for his part In the southwest Pa cific campaign. General Patch was command ing general of the IV corps ma neuver In Central Oregon last year. toward the current inclusion of my name in the presidential nom ination discussions. "The same questions' have been raised in the public press on the mainland, accompanied by an in creasing amount of conjecture and speculation and attempts at interpretation and misinterpreta tion. "I have therefore concluded that it Is desirable and In the best Interests of my naval service that my position be clearly, concisely, promptly, and publicly stated. (The following, Knox said, Is the statement Stassen wished to make publicly.) "In reply to the questions that are being asked as to my attitude toward the current inclusion of my name In the presidential nom ination discussions, I will frankly and directly state my position. Airmen Smash Nip Convoy, Kill 1500 Japs Two Loaded Transports : Fall Prey to Americans In Air Blow at Wewak Allied Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, March 21 (US American bombers and fighters, smashing a Japanese convoy attempting to re inforce the battered enemy garri son at Wewak, New Guinea, sank two loaded transports and three armed corvettes, killing an esti mated 1500 Japanese troops, it was disclosed today. The Japanese personnel losses were believed to be the largest of any sea engagement In the south west Pacific since the first battle of Bismarck sea a year ago this month. . Destroyer Damaged United Press War Correspond ent Ralph C. Tatsorth reported from an advanced air base in New Guinea that a Japanese destroyer and other ships were damaged by more than 100 U. S. planes which smashed the convoy Sunday in a running 150 mile battle from north of Wewak to Hollandia. A communique from Gen. Douglas MacArthur's headquart ers said heavy and medium bomb ers hit the Japanese ships in a low-level attack that apparently carried them barely across the masts as the enemy vessels at tempted to flee under forced draft. The troop-filled transports, of 6,000 and 4,000 tons, were believed carrying reinforcements for a last-stand fight by the Japanese at Wewak, which allied planes have been pounding almost con tinuously for the last month. . Few Planes Lost American fighter planes also added to the destruction, sinking an enemy troop-laden barge and a coastal vessel on snore irom we wak, while bomber forces show ered the town with 113 tons of bombs. A heavy gun battery et Moem was silenced, the communi- que said, and numerous fires were started In supply areas.-- -. Only three American planes were lost in ail tne operations in the Wewak area, although a spokesman at MacArthur's head quarters estimated that more thn 280 bombers and fighters had taken part in the various assaults. Thirteen Bodies Taken from River Passic, N. J., March 21 (IPt Thirteen bodies had been recover ed today and between 10 and 16 persons still were missing from the 20-year-old bus that crashed through a . bridge railing and plunged into the icy waters of the Passic river Wednesday. Eight bodies were in the bus when it was raised from the river bottom by a crane last night. Bodies of the others had been re covered earlier, including that of Walter Leroy Thomas, a pedes train who was struck by the bus as it went out of control. Seven persons were rescued and were being treated for submersion. Res cue workers were to resume th sarch for other bodies at dawn to day. Red Cross Funds Far Over Quota Total funds contributed In the 1944 Deschutes county Red Cross war fund have now reached over $26,500, the committee revealed today. The county's quota of $22, 250 was reached March 14, only a week after the drive got under way officially, and credited Des chutes county with being the third area in the state to make its mark. To date, only four counties have attained their goals In Ore gon. "I do not seek and will do noth ing personally to secure the nom ination. If, notwithstanding this position, I were to be nominated, I would consider it to be my plain duty to accept and would do so, requesting Inactive duty for a suf ficient time to discuss with the people the Issues and problems of the future. "I wish to make It equally clear that I will make no statement on political Issues while on active duty, that I do not wish any pub licity of my activities In the navy to be used in a political manner, and that no one is authorized to make personal commitments on my behalf. "I will continue to carry out to the best of my ability those naval duties assigned to me." Knox made no comment on the letter. Soviets Kjnumue r ront as u Take Hitler Sets Up Puppet Rule in Balkan Capital i Budapest Is Isolated ; From Outside World; v Horty Loses His Post By Edward W. Seattle 1 (Usltcd Pm. Staff CoRWxmdmt) London, March 21 IIP! Hungar ian sources said today that the Germans, swiftly completing the occupation of Hungary, have set up a nazi puppet government at Budapest and removed Regent Adm. Nicholas Horthy, Premier Nicholas Kallay and Foreign Min ister Jenoe de Ghyczy to Ger many. - Though the Germans cut all Budapest communications with the outside world, roundabout re ports reaching London said some 150,000 German troops occupied all strategic points in Hungary in a weekend coup designed to fore stall a Hungarian peace move and prepare for a last-ditch stand be hind the Carpathians against the approaching red army, i Germans In Control ' Scattered fighting was report ed, but the clandestine radio At lantic reported that German troops firmly held all important railways, radio stations, telephone exchanges and government build ings. ; Hungarian quarters (n Stock holm said Franz Basch, German minority leader in Hungary, form ed a pro-nazi government after Former Premier Bela Imredy, leader of the radical rejuvenation party, had refused a German re quest to appoint a cabinet. The latest official communica tion received at the Hungarian le gation at Stockholm, Hungarian sources in the Swedish capital said, reported that Horthy, Kallay and Ghyczy had been forced to go to Germany. All previously had been reported arrested by the Ger mans. Horthy Believed Seized Horthy was believed to have been seized while at Adolf Hitler's headquarters, presumably at Lwow. An exchange telegram dispatch from Zurich said a Hun garian diplomat in Berlin in formed a colleague that Horthy arrived at the headquarters Satur day with Gen. Helyl Szumbathy, chief of the Hungarian general staff. The two leaders conferred, the dispatch said, with Hitler, German Foreign -Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, supreme commander of the German armed forces, who de manded: 1. General mobilization of the Hungarian army under German supervision. 2. Reorganization of the Hun garian army on the Rumanian pattern with German liaison of ficers with each regiment. 3. Hungarian railway and Dan ube river traffic be placed under a mixed general staff of Hungarian and German officers. 4. Placing of Hungarian food reserves In a general pool for equal distribution of all food sup plies to axis countries. 5. Establishment of censorship and press control on the German pattern with a ban on printing or broadcasting news originating with non-axis news agencies. House Approves Senate Bill 250 Washington, D. C, March 21 (Special) The house of repre sentatives today passed senate bill 250, a measure that embodies the chief provisions of the origi nal McNary-Doxey sustained yield bill. This bill passed the senate last year. Minor amendments were made In the house. The bill now goes to the senate for approval. BULLETIN Ankara, March 21 (Ipw Formal occupation of Rumania was be Meved Imminent today after re ports reached Informed Ankara quarters that five nazi division one Infantry and four armored had crossed Hungary and mov ed Into Rumania. Race Into Over Rule of Hungary Hitler Moves to UCKAft o too lp . HUNGARY .3vK,A 'asir'i if . - w . r. . In a move apparently designed to impress the Balkan states and other satellite nations that they must stick with the nazis in the present crisis, Hitler's army late yesterday swiftly occupied Hun gary. The move was made as Stalin's legions threatened to entrap 500,000 nazis in the Dnieper bend-Black sea region. White arrows point to the goal of the Reds' drives. Mild Winters, Hot Summers Still Mystery Washington, March 21 (IP) The weather bureau, taking advantage of 'a Washington spring morning clothed with a mantle of ice and snowannouricea today; )'-. 1. That the past winter has been "one of the warmest" on record for the United States. 2. That the "warm wave" of the pdst few years, consisting of mild er winters and hotter summers, appears to be continuing. 3. That after the war forecasts may reveal the weather anywhere from 30 days to one whole year in advance. The reason for the "warm wave" Is a mystery even to the weather bureau, which pointed out that since 1919, all but four winters have been warm above the 33.5 degree normal and all but two summers have been hot ter than the 72.2 average national summer temperature. Secret Military Zone Established London, March 21 tP An or der establishing a secret military zone 10 miles deep along some 600 miles of England's east and south coasts beginning April 1 was regarded today as another step in the preparation for the in vasion of western Europe. The most sweeping regulations since those imposed in the days Just after Dunkirk will forbid visitors to enter coastal areas all the way from the Wash, half way up the English east coast, down the shores of the North Sea and the Dover straits to the wind swept rocks on the tip of Land's End. Smaller areas along the Firth of Forth In Eastern Scot land also will be designated mili tary zones. Announcement of the closure of coastal areas came soon after a warning that public travel on Brit ish railways may be stopped with out notice because of military traffic. Miss Umbarger Full Fledged Wave Martha Leigh Umbarger, daugh ter bf Mrs. Mary E. Umbarger, Rt. 2, Box 64-A, Bend, is now a full- Hedged Wave, according to Wal ter F. Patrie, navy recruiter here, today. Patrie disclosed that Miss Umbarger successfully passed all tests at the Portland Wave head quarters, and shortly will go to Hunters College in New xorK lor training. Her brother is a gun ner's mate in the navy, stationed somewhere In the south Pacific. Before enlisting Miss Umbarger was connected with the Lakevlew branch of the First National bank of Portland, and previous to that was a stenographer for City At torney E. O. Stadter and a sales woman for the J. J. Newberry company In Bend. A graduate of the Redmond hlgn scnool, miss Umbarger also attended the Eu gene business college. Bessarabia Hold Balkans Road to Tap Big Body of Timber Prlneville, March 21 (Special) Plans for construction of a new logging road from .Prlneville to tap a big body of ,timber in. the Pilot bii t te-Cadie butfe area tef he- south were announced today by the Ochoco Lumber company. The project includes 11 miles of new county road to be constructed at an estimated cost of $30,000 by the lumber company and Crook county and another 10 miles of logging road on private land. Natt McDougall and Company of Portland are general contrac tors on the project. Work is to start next week and the road is to be finished not later than June 15. County to Aid Under a cooperative agreement Crook county will contribute $10, 000 toward the cost of the new county road, and will also furnish county-owned trucks and other road machinery lor JO days. I he new road will shorten by about four miles the haul on an esti mated three years supply of tim ber for the big lumber company and will replace the present Combs flat county road, often impassable in winter, with a year round route. About five miles of new alignment will be used in constructing the county road on a maximum four per cent grade, and the entire 11 miles will be built 22 feet wide with a 20 foot macadam surface. The new coun ty road will extend from the pres ent pavement end on the Combs flat road Just south of Prlneville to the graveled portion of the present road at Eagle Rock hill. During the periods when the Combs flat road Is usable, it shortens the route "to upper Crooked river points by about 10 miles as compared to the Crooked river highway, which follows the winding river from Prlneville to Post. The new logging road will make this route available all the year around. Nazi Occupation Forces Set Up Puppet Rule London, March 21 ip Private advices from the continent said today that after German occupa tion forces had set up a puppet regime in Hungary, gestapo agents and storm troopers took over Budapest and arrested more than 600 prominent Hungarians in a city-wide roundup. Armed forces were reported! clashing along the border of Hun' gary and Rumania, where the smouldering hatred of the axis satellites was rekindled by the German occupation, against only negligible resistance. Hungarian troopers and home guards opposed Rumanian and German contingent attempting to penertate Hungary from the south, the private advices from responsible quarters on the con tinent said. An exchange telegraph dispatch from Zurich said two Rumanian divisions marched Into Hungary with the Germans. The nazi ef fort to tighten a grip on the ermans Smashed Nazis In Full Retreat Over Rumania Moscow Indicates Foe Pulling Forces Back to Prut in Defense Move Moscow, March 21 .HI) Marshal Ivan S. Konev drove soviet spear heads through Bessarabia to with in 35 miles of the Rumanian fron tier today, and the government or- ; gan Izvestia said they smashed i German regiments are retreating across Rumania.". (Since the Soviets regard Bes sarabia as a part of Russia, the J Izvestia report of a nazi retreat "across - Rumania" apparently , meant that the Germans are pull ing back beyond the Prut river, the boundary between Rumania and Bessarabia.) As the second army of the Uk raine poured into Bessarabia on a -front more than 50 miles wide, the official soviet army Journal Red Star proclaimed jubilantly: Battle Culled Lost 'Germany has lost the battle of the south. The red army offensive is spreading like a spring flood. "The red army has crossed the last river barrier in the soviet south. The Dniester is behind us. There is increasing anxiety among Hitler's vassals; especially the Ru manians." ' To the northwest, Marshal Greg ory Zhukov's first army of the UkWftne -poslte -toward flur :Oh- pathians and stepped up the pres sure on Marshal Fritz von Mann stein's salient stretched taut be tween the Lwow approaches and Proskurov. With the nipping off of the Vin nitsa end of the salient the Ger- " man position now was narrowed to a precarious foothold, at many points only 60 miles wide, between the soviet northern pincers and the forbidding Carpathian walls. Germans Endangered Increasing soviet pressure from the north raised the possibility of a break-through which would en-' circle the German garrisons of Proskurov and Tamopol. Bordy, about 50 miles northeast of Lwow, already was three-quarters encircled, front dispatches said. Its fall would open the way for a straight shoot down the rail road to Lwow. Field reports said the Germans were relying on Rumanian divis ions to cover their retreat at many (Continued on Page 5) Purple Heart Won By Bend Soldier The Purple Heart has been awarded to Pfc. Ralph Knopsny der, 28, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Knopsnyder, 438- Railroad avenue, have learned. Ralph was wounded In the Sicilian campaign but has fully recovered and is now participating In the action in Italy with his field artillery unit. In addition to the purple heart, Pfc. Knopsnyder also wears four sliver stars, testifying to his serv ice in four major engagements. He enlisted from Bend in 1938 and prior to that was employed in Madras. in Budapest satellites of southeastern Europe appeared to be expanding on the basis of an Ankara radio report that the Germans had taken ovrr all telephone and telegraph facili ties in Bulgaria. Among the prominent Hungari ans reported In the private ad vices to have been arrested In Budapest were Karl Peyer, social- 1st leader, and Arpad Szaka, edl- tor-ln-chief of the Socialist Dally Nepszava. A wave of suicides among the Jews In Hungary was reported spreading In the wake of the Ger man occupation. About 800,000 Jews were believed to be there. Large contingents of antl-nazl Hungarians were reported trying to cross the frontier Into Jugo slavia in an effort to Join the guerilla campaign against the Ger mans. One report said that Premier Nicholas Kallay had fled to south Hungary, where he was attempt ing to organize armed resistance against the occupation forces..