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About Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 1942)
LdJonjiraaJi - Tflf ' 0'ft : : ; H . H V November 21, 1942 Buy War Bonds ep 'Em Flying 54th Year, No. 278 ffitT."."" Two SecttonB-16 pages Salem, Oregon . j H lk IHgy . B ts, .November 21, 1942 Price Five Cents All oes BafcterDng Anns at-Tunis and Bozeirte , i;1 II iTLl o i Yanks Advance West Flank on Guadalcanal American Outpost Line (Sains 5 Miles in Enemy .Territory Washington, Nov. 21' UP) The navy announced today that Am erican troops on Guadalcanal is land in the Solomons had ad vanced their western flank well into territory formerly held by the Japanese. A communique said that the advance, made by army and ma' rine forces, had carried the wes tern peg of the American line to a point about five miles west of the vital airfield on Guadalcanal and about one mile west of the Matanikau river, formerly the boundary of the American posi tion. Lrenerally reflecting a new outburst of land activity on the island, following last week's na val victories, the communique lso reported that American pa trols had advanced an outpost line on which flank was not stated and about 35 Japs were killed while American forces suffered few casualties. Aircraft Attacking The advance to the west was made on November 18, the ad vance of the outpost line was on November 19, and on November 21, which was yesterday, Guad alcanal time, ground' forces were reported engaged in "minor ac tivity," but aircraft carried but 11 attack missions against- ene. my installations on the island. The communique also raised by three the number of enemy planes , which had been shot down i November 18 when OS roup of army flying fortresses attacked Japanese cargo vessels at Buin on Bougainville island. This raised the total number of enemy planes destroyed in that action to 13 Zeros and two float biplanes. Text of Communique "South Pacific (all dates east longitude): 1. On Nov. 18: "A. Although enemy patrols were active, army and marine corps forces advanced on the western flank of our positions on Guadalcanal island to the westward of Point Cruz. "B. Army Lockeheed fighters shot down three 'Zeros' in the uin area in addition to those previously reported in navy de- . (Concluded on page 9, column 5) Gasoline Bloc Appeals to FDR Washington, Nov. .21 MV-A oi-partisan congressional bloc was reported unofficially today to be pinning its hopes for post ponement of nationwide gaso line rationing upon the possibi lity of intervention by President Roosevelt. Likelihood increased that the group would appeal directly to the White House for a delay even the chance that congress tvould pass stop legislation, di minished. Members of the bloc Iarcelv composed of congressmen from tne western oil-producing, states conceded freely there was lit tle possibility that leeislntinrf could be whipped into shape to postpone the rationing order be fore the Dec. 1 deadline. Out of a meeting of a commit, tee representing that group came indirect intimations of the plan to lay the case before the president and ask for a delay of at least a month in order to reopen a study of the entire gas oline situation. "We've mapped out a pro gram," declared Rep. Jed John son (D., Okla.), "and I think that it will be effective and ef fective at an early hour." In "esponse to a question as to whether the program included contact with the White House, he replied: "Well, It might." Escaped Con Captured at LaGrande State police headquarters here announced today the capture of Turman Wilson, 16-year-old convicted rap ist and escaped convict, in the climax of a wild auto mobile chase near La Grande, Oregon. Officers said they under stood Glenn Wilson, Tur man's 17-year-old brother, had been surrounded in the La Grande railroad yards. - The youths escaped from the Oregon State Peniten tiary early yesterday, de scending from the roof on a "rppe of towels." With an older brother, Rassie, they were serving long terms for the rape of two St. Johns, Ore., girls. Search Sea For 2 Airmen Gearhart, Ore., Nov. 21 (IP) Army airmen searched offshore waters here today for two men who parachuted into the Pacific yesterday from a stricken bomb er. The bomber, crippled by. en gine trouble while on a. routine flight from the Portland air base, faijed to make shore, crashing into the sea and killing Sgt. Albert Povodnik, Kansas City, Mo. Two ' other crew members, First Lieut. William S. Southern, Barton, " Kas., V and ' Staff Sgt; William R. Dart; Fort Luptori, Colo., were rescued. The two who parachuted while the bomber still was some miles from shore were Second Lieut. Roy Kline, Chicago, and Sgt. Robert E. Pierce, Marma duke, Ark. Chile Rejects Reprisal Threat Santiago, Chile, Nov; 21 (fl The government announced to day that Japanese Minister Ki yoshi Yamagata had been ad vised Chile "would reject with the greatest energy" any threat of reprisals in connection with her international policy. The Japanese envoy was re ported so notified by Foreign Minister Joaquin Fernandez, who asked an explanation of a threat of "serious and far-reaching political, economic and mil itary consequences" if Chile abandoned neutrality, reported in axis bradcasts Nov. 18 to have been voiced by Tomokazu Hori, Japanese spokesman, in a Tokyo press conference. The government has been awaiting a delayed report on the spokesman's words from the Chilean minister of Tokyo. Chile and Argentina are the only American republics still maintaining diplomatic relations with the axis. Laval to Sign Pact Joining with Axis London, Nov. 21 (U.R) Pierre Laval, newly created by the nazls as puppet dictator of France, was reported on the verge of concluding a military alliance between continental France and Germany today. Reliable re- ports from Madrid said Laval was conferring with Otto Abetz, nazi delegate to Paris, and was expected soon to leave for Ber lin to sign a treaty Joining France, militarily and econom ically, with the axis. These reports were strength ened by Laval's speech to the French people - last night in which he proclaimed his admir ation for the nazis, his hate for the democracies and a promise that " olunteer legions" would avenge the . "insults"1 the pro nazis of France, had received. presumably from French pa triots. "A legion of volunteers is ris ing at this moment who will go to North Africa to fight and whom we are not going to stop, Turin Target Of Heaviest Raid Staged on Italy Mass Bombing of Arsen al City Leaves Fires . Visible for 50 Miles London, Nov. 21 (IP) The ar senal city of Turin was attacked last night by RAF bombers in raids which an authoritative British source termed the "heav iest yet made on Italy." Of the, scores of Stirlings, Halifaxcs, Lancasters and Wel lingtons assigned to the mission, three failed to return. The others made the 1,500 mile round trip successfully in another of the mass attacks that are proving an economical way to tear at the industrial vitals of the axis. Text of Communique A terse air communique said only: "The attack was heavy and concentrated . but dense smoke from many fires made observa tion of the results difficult." Clear weather gave the tar gets sharp outlines, -' however, and an Italian communique it self said the British, attacking in waves, "dropped incendiary bombs in great quantities, main ly in the central district of the town." The Italians said the British inflicted damage r and . spread fires and listed, casualties at 29 dead and 120 wounded. Fires Seen SO Miles Members of several Canadian squadrons which participated in the raid said Turin's, air defenses included only one searchlight. Fires were visible 50 miles from the city, they said, and smoke from one notably large one rose to almost 5,000 feet. One flier said it was so thick he believed an oil dump was hit. Another said he -saw "one big building fall apart" when a two-ton block-buster burst on it. It was the fourth raid on Italy in eight nights, and the . tenth, including one by day, since the latest and heaviest bomb of fensive was set off October 22 with a grand scale lambasting of Genoa, key supply port for axis forces in North Africa. Hitler Sends Ridel Other raids in this series have been on Genoa, Milan, Savoia and Turin, the most recent pre vious one having been on the latter city Wednesday night. The air ministry has announc ed that only 17 bombers have been lost in the eight night thrusts and one day sally from October 22 through November 18. The London Daily Sketch has reported that General Ridel, anti-aircraft defense, chief for Ger many, is being sent to Italy at the request of Premier Musso (Concluded on page 10, column 8) to give the answer to the insult inflicted upon' France," the United Press listening post heard Laval say. '"France braces her self. There is no more rivalry or parties." The Germans Trans-Ocean ag ency quoted him: - "Never so long as I have a say in the mat ter will democracy return to France." He said Marshal Hen ri Philippe Petain, in making him German-occupied France dictator had given him "the heaviest task a man can carry on his shoulders." "Roosevelt, by his attack on North Africa and the release of the Jews as well as commu nists, has shown us who is stand ing behind the Anglo-Saxon powers," Trans-Ocean quoted him. Destroyer Damaged, But Fought on A flaming Jap torpedo plane crashed on the fore castle of the U. S. destroyer Smith in the battle off the Santa Cruz islands, Oct. 26. In this closeup some of the damage to the ship is shown. Just abreast of the number one gun platform the after part of the Jap torpedo is barely visible. The Smith maintained her place in the screening line after she was struck and continued her anti-aircraft fire. (This is an official U, S. navy photo transmitted by. Associated Press.) Poison Deaths dt Hospital Probed The investigation of the roach powder poisoning case that was fatal to 47 patients at the Oregon state hospital was still mired deeply in the process of checking- and re-checking information from employes and patients, according to Captain. Walter Lansing, of the state police. "To understand our difficulty, "isaid Captain Foreign Relief Washington, Nov. 21 (U.R) The White House announced to day that Gov. Herbert H. Leh man of New York will resign as governor on or about Dec. 3 to become director of foreign relief and rehabilitation opera tions under 'the state depart ment. "Gov. Lehman will undertake the work of organizing Ameri cans participating in the activi ties of the United Nations in furnishing relief and other . as sistance to the victims of war in the areas reoccupied by the forces of the United Nations," the White House said. This' is a step in the presi dent's program of mobilizing the available resources of this coun try in food,, clothing, medical supplies and other necessities for foreign relief. ... "Gov. Lehman's appointment assures that this country will play its part in such efforts," the White House said. The administration contem plates that American relief sup plies shall follow our troops step by step as they move for ward in the battle to liberate occupied countries. Already Mr. Roosevelt has ordered food and other supplies made avail able through lend-lease for the populace of North Africa. . . British Task Force Killed in Norway Berlin, (From German Broad casts), Nov. 21 VP) Two British planes towing troop-filled glid ers landed in southern Norway for purposes of sabotage and all the occupants were annihilated, the German high command said today. "On the night of November 19-20 two British bombers, each towing a glider, flew over south Norway," the communique said. "One bomber and both gli ders were forced to land. Sabo tage troops on board were at tacked and exterminated." Six Airmen Die in Crash West Palm Beach, Fla., Nov. 21 (JP) The army today an nounced that two officers and a crew of four were killed in the crash, yesterday of a light army bomber taking off from Morri son field headquarters of the army air transport command's Caribbean wing. " Lansing,, who is handling, the in. vestlgation almost single-hand edly, "it must be. understood that a great deal , of our discussion must be with, the patients of this institution, and their information is not reliable.". . He . told , of getting several "beautiful stories" from patients, only to have them refuted. One man's detailed account evapor ated when his doctor said he was confined, in another part of the institution all during the time of the poisoning. Although several theories have developed, the question of exactly when or i.aw ,the. fatal . (Concluded on pace 9, column 6) Coffee Sales Stop for Week Portland, Npv.'.21: ff), Cof fee sales will. be4 suspended .in Oregon and throughout the na tion effective, at midnight to night until midnight, Nov. 28, the office of war. information said.. i nereaf ter holders of sugar rationing books' may buy one pound , of coffee' with sugar stamp No. 27, .covering the, pe riod from Nov. 29 to Jan. 3. . If ; by i that- time all-purpose ration books have not been is sued, other sugar stamps will be designated for further coffee purchases. Those , without sugar ration books will obtain from their local ration board sugar books with the first 16 stamps remov ed. These they ' may use for coffee purchases. Persons with out sugar dooks whose sugar stocks are exhausted before all purpose books are issued, also may get sugar ration books from the local boards. , -. ' General Timberlake Escapes Death Cairo, Nov. 21 (IP)' Brig. Gen. Patrick Timberlake, chief of the U.S. . army air 'force bomber command in the middle east, narrowly missed ; being shot down by axis fighters when he was returning from one of the longest bombing flights of the war, it was disclosed today. More than 70. bullet and can non shell holes were counted in the plane in which . he was a passenger. Part of its rudder was destroyed and made .tem porarily useless and an engine went dead but was restarted Two crewmen were wounded but the general escaped unhurt. U. S. Bombers Raid Lungling With American Forces in China, Nov. 20 (Delayed) (IP) Fighter-escorted -American me dium bombers, striking down the Burma road from free China, unloaded three tons, of explo sives) " today. - on the Japanese army base at Lungling, Blurting several fires and inflicting heavy damage. . The mission was led by Lieut. Col. Herbert (Butch) Morgan of Freedom, Pa., and was aimed chiefly at a large munitions dump and barracks. After two runs over- the tar get the bombers had caused fires which billowed smoke so dense that the crews were unable to assess full results. A big cache of munitions, however, was be lieved hit. . Col. . Merion C. Cooper of Jacksonville, Fla., chief of staff of U.S. army air forces in China, accompanied Col. Morgan to in spect the area, which offers a possible invasion route into China. Lieut. Patrick Daniels of Van Nuys, Calif., led the fighters in today's raid, the second on Lungling since Nov. 8.' Deadline Delayed For Tire Disposal Washington, Nov. 21 (U.R) The deadline for disposal of "idle" tires today was postpon ed from November 22 to Decem ber 1, the date scheduled for the start of nationwide gasoline ra tioning. Possession of tires in excess of five per car, with one addi tion for each running wheel of trailers or similar equipment, will be illegal after the first of next month under gasoline ra tioning regulations. Allied Naval Units , Mine Mediterranean By Edward W. Bcattle London, Nov. 21 (U.R) Allied naval units have mined a new area of the Mediterranean to cut the axis off from Spain and its Balearic islands, the admiralty disclosed today as American, British and French troops pin ned the Germans into two small defense perimeters on the Tu nisia coast. Warning that all Mediterran ean . waters outside Spanish territorial limits were now dan gerous, the admiralty said that any ship which entered them without allied permission did so at Its own risk. It was announced that mines had been laid in an area ex tending from the French-Spanish frontier to a point outside the Balearic islands and thence southward to the Algerian coast. The allied forces, pressing eastward into Tunisia were re Hemmed in Japs In Last Stand On Hew Guinea MacArthur's Forces Pin Enemy to Beachhead As Battle Rages By Brydon C. Taves Gen. MacArthur's Headquar ters, Australia, Nov. 21 (U.R) United States and Australian troops drove into the Japanese forces on the north New Guinea coast today with the promise plain-before them of the biggest victory of the Southwest Paci fic campaign. The Japanese were fighting fiercely, with their backs to the sea, pinned to a beachhead ex tending 20 miles along the coast between Buna and Gona and six miVes inand to the native village of Soputa, on the Buna Kokoda road at the clossing of the Giriwu river. Last Ditch Stand Hour after hour the allied forces ripped the Japanese lines with mortar and machine gun fire, softening them for the final drive. A new fleet of enemy planes, sent in an attempt to retrieve the imminent threat of disaster, was thrown into action yester day against the allied positions. Strong forces of enemy Zero fighters raked the allied lines with bomb and machine gun in an effort to reduce the steady pressure on the beachhead. The Japanese seemed pre pared for a last ditch stand in prepared positions which ex tend from Buna to Gona on the coast and made a triangu lar area to include Soputa vil lage. In Buna Outskirts American troops were attack ing the enemy on the outskirts of Buna while the Australians hammered at a strong Japanese defense pocket at Soputa. Fighting was heavier than In any battle so far in the South west Pacific. The Japanese had the advantage of light artillery in addition to their mortars and machine guns and they kept up an incessant fire. Testifying to the rapidly growing allied strength In the Southwest and South Pacific, it was announced today that well equipped New Zealand forces had arrived at Noumea, New Caledonia, south of the Solo mons, to reinforce the United States troops already there. A dispatch from Suva, in the British Fiji islands, east of New Caledonia, contained the offici al announcement that strong United States forces were now stationed in the Fijis. ?500,000 Fine on City London, Nov. 21 (IP) The Germans have imposed a $500, 000 fine on the Netherlands town of Bloemcndaai after the cutting of several cables belong ing to . nazi occupation forces, Aneta reported today. ported to have driven the Ger mans into one defense perimeter in the Turis-Bizerte area on the northeast coast and another at Gabcs on the east coast. American and British advance guards were reported to be feel ing out the enemy strength at the Bizcrtc-Tunis perimeter al ready, preparing for the kill. Radio Morocco said the Ger mans had concentrated a great amount of war material on the coast just northwest of Tunis, along the road to Bizerte, ap parently planning to make their big stand there, .and it was added that a violent battle was expected. Enemy Cooped Along 30 Mile Coastal Strip Axis Retreat to Tripoli tana Cut Off and Main Forces Split London, Nov. 21 (IP) Americ an and British troops, scoring five-mile advance in one direc tion, pitched into the Germans on the outer defenses of Bizerte and Tunis today while U. S. fly ing fortresses rained deadly pun ishment on the enemy hemmed in along a 30-mile coastal strip. A nazi broadcast, quoting al lied sources In Spanish Morocco, said allied forces had reached the area of Hammamet, about 40 miles southeast of Tunis, on the Gulf of Gabes. This, 11 confirmed, would mean that the allies had now pinned the axis into a small cor ner of the northeast Tunisian coast and cut off the route of retreat to Italian Tripolitania. In that case, the two main axis forces in Tunisia and Libya would be split. Prisoners Taken The Algiers radio said French troops below Tunis had cap tured nazis in a fight northwest of the port of Gabes. German reports said Adolf Hitler was rushing a stream ol air borne reinforcements, includ ing tanks, across the-Mediterran-. ean in a desperate effort fo stem the allied offensive. Field dispatches said the bat tle was growing more bitter hour by hour, with allied troops storming nazi fortifications only 3D miles from both cities in the French North Africa colony. .. One allied vanguard was re ported to have driven forward five miles to a point 25 miles southeast of Tunis, the capital, fighting over ancient battlefields of the Carthaginian empire. Italian Report Italian headquarters asserted the battle was developing "on the Tunisian-Algerian border" about 50 miles west of the scene described by allied dispatches and declared that operations "have gone to the advantage of the axis." A fascist communique said British and American troops were turned back in the front ier region after losing armored cars and trucks. The German radio claimed that axis forces Thursday night seized a railway station east of (Concluded on page 9, column 8) Claim Rommel Escapes Trap New York, Nov. 21 (P) The German radio said today that Marshal Rommel's Africa Corps had escaped entrapment by the British eighth army and that af ter receiving reinforcements of guns and tanks is "deployed in full fighting strength in thor oughly prepared and strongly fortified positions of consider able depth." This broadcast, did not. specify where Rommel had established his positions, but the reference to fortifications in depth might have indicated the El Agheila area. "Detaching the axis for ces from allied troops unnoticed by the enemy may now be con sidered successfully concluded," the radio said, adding: "All efforts made by the Bri tish eighth army to force the German and Italian panzer army to fight under conditions favor able to the enemy were frus trated." The broadcasts, in sharp con trast to the German high com mand's official silence on Rom mel's aciivities, boasted that his reinforcements included "tanks and guns of the most modern construction." In Tunisia, too, it said axis forces "after having been rein forced now possess considerable fighting strength."
