Day For Action
w about that Want is far
the InBday nonibif edltlaef
New la th tlnw tm prepac K.
Boij peopl, ban Una Sanaa?
tm ehcrk ap an yonr propoai
Uoa, with a full day lor actio.
Keep 'Em Flying
Buy Defenw Stamps or Bonds
from your bank, stores, paper
cmrrtera, or post off tea. San
mod aid.
Medford
Tribune
mil Associated Press
United Pre
Thirty-sixth Year
MEDFORD, OREGON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 194
All W
2. NO. 256. 'i
sns i mn m$
. . r- t , , -
AS
o
News Behind
The News
by Paul Mallon
Washington, Jan. IS. Mr.
Roosevelt did not go very deep
Into the barrel for his choice of
William H.
saw Davis as head
of the war la
bor board.
Before the
s e 1 e ction, he
sent Madame
Perkins to
sound out AFL
and CIO. The
labor secre
ta ry found
these warring
f a c 1 1 oris to
raol Mallon
gether again
In their complete lack of enthu
siasm for Mr. Davis.
The president also asked Com
merce Secretary Jesse Jones to
Inquire into the attitude of busi
ness through the chamber of
commerce and National Associ
ation of Manufacturers. Mr.
Jones could have used Lady
Perkins' report. Business was
likewise unsympathetic.
But Miss Perkins, Sidney
Hillman and Davis wanted
Davis and Mr. Roosevelt appar
ently thought the widely disap
proved mediations chairman
had done as well as could be
expected. (They were all friends
of old days In New York)..
So the Davis mediation board
was merely rejuggled. Half its
members, including the chair
man, were allowed to alight in
the new board.- The old office
staff was retained, even the old
office and the old telephone
number.
Business and labor had no
severe complaints against Mr.
Davis except they thought the
failures of the mediation board
(captive mine fiasco and all)
could best be forgotten if fresh
personality could be brought in
to give the wartime truce be
tween business and labor a
stronger character in the new
setup. Business also did not like
bis speeches favoring general
unionization and labor did not
care for some of his appearances
in the movie newsreels.
PIUS nothing Is guaranteed
about how the new board
will work out. Several business
(Continued on Paga Eight)
Radio Highlights
(Time is Pa'clflc Standard)
New York, Jan. 16. (Wide
World) Listening tonight: the
war and Pan-American confer
ences, 4 MBS, 4:15 NBC, MBS,
5 Blue MBS, 5:55 CBS, 6:15
MBS, 7:30 Blue, 7:45CBS-East,
8 MBS, 9 NBC, CBS, 9:55 NBC,
CBS
MBS, 7, lightweight fight,
Fritzie Zivlc vs. Ray Robinson.
What to expect Saturday: the
war 5 a. m., NBC, CBS Blue,
5:45 NBC, 5:55 Blue, 6 CBS,
7 MBS. 7:15 MBS, 8 CBS, MBS,
10:45 NBC and Blue, 11 CBS,
1:30 p. m. CBS, 2:45 NBC, 3:30
CBS, MBS, 3:25 NBC and Blue,
3:45 CBS, Blue.
NBC-Red, 12:15, On the Home
Front.
CBS, 11:30 a. m., Wendell
Willkie and Gov. Griswold of
Nebraska before Women's Na
tional Republican club; Blue,
9:30, National Grange.
SIDE GLANCES
BY
TRIBUNE REPORTERS
The F. F. Burk family being
greatly pleased with the new
puppy given Daughter Joan by
a friend after the sad death of
their faithful dog Waddles.
Robert Fowler braving nasty
weather without hat or coat,
declaring he has had a doctor
only once in 25 years and adding
he didn't authorize the doc's
visit that time.
' Deputy Coroner Carlos Morris
wondering why state police
aren't named in MT nev.s stor
ies, he not knowing the high
command doesn't 1-ke to have
individual policemen designated
by name.
JAP LOSSJO 24
Adm. Hart Without Base
At Cavite Scores Thrilling
Victory.
(By the Associated Press)
A spectacular American naval
triumph was reported by the
navy today with the announce
ment that the U. S. Asiatic fleet ;
has sunk three enemy transports
and two large Japanese cargo
ships in western Pacific waters.
The navy's announcement !
the biggest American success at !
sea in the five-week-old conflict !
boosted to 24 the total num
ber of Japanese warships and
non-combatant vessels sunk by
the U. S. navy and marine
forces.
Only yesterday, the navy an
nounced the sinking of a fast
27,000-ton Japanese liner of the
Yawata class, which could be
converted into an aircraft car
rier. '
The navy acknowledged that
the threat of axis submarines
hovering off the Atlantic coast
"remains unchanged," and it
confirmed the torpedo-sinking
of a foreign registry ship yester
day 20 miles off Long Island
the second victim in New York
waters within 36 hours.
Washington, Jan. 16. UP)
The Asiatic fleet has sunk three
enemy transports and two large
Japanese cargo vessels in the
far east.
These sinkings, announced to
day by the navy, brought to a
total of 24 the number of Japa
nese warships and non-combatant
vessels sunk by the United
States navy and marine forces.
The navy communique, based
on reports received up to 6 a. m.
PST today reported the subma
rine to the northeast coast of
the United States "remains un
changed." Text of the communique:
"Far east:
"Units of the U. S. Asiatic
fleet report the sinking of five
enemy vessels in far eastern
waters. They include two large
cargo ships, two large transports
and one medium-sized transport.
These sinking are in addition to
enemy casualties at sea previ
ously reported.
"Atlantic area:
"The submarine situation
along the northeast coast of the
United States remains unchang
ed.
"There li nothing to report
from other areas."
The success of Admiral Thom
as C. Hart's Asiatic fleet in wag
ing its fight against the Japa
nese, even though dispossessed
of its base at Cavite, Philippine
Isanlds, was underscored yester
day by the sinking of a speedy
17,000-ton Japanese passenger
and cargo liner of the Yawata
class. .
The navy gave no names or
identification of the five addi
tional Japanese ships sent to the
bottom.
ARGENTINA BALKY
SPELL IS ENDED
By John McKnlght
Rio De Janeiro, Jan. 16 IIP)
Indications that Argentina
had changed her position and
might swing Into line with her
sister republics in a resoultlon
calling foi a break of all rela
tions with the axis powers were
seen today in informed quar
ters as the conference ot Amer
ican foreign ministers rwung
into action.
Pre-conference talks between
her representatives and other
conference leaders. In which Ar
gentina was said to have been
brought under considerable
pressure by her sister republics,
were believed to have averted a
deadlock on the issue, one of the
most important on the agenda.
Boston, Jan. 16. AP-U.S.D.
A.) The Boston wool market
was not very active today.
Aussies Check Singapore Drive; Tank Unit Shattered
War Production Boss
i a king over his new Job as
America's war production boss.
Donald M. Nelson told the
army, navy and OPM that he
was ready to shake up the en
tire defense machinery Is neces
sary "to lick Hitler and the
Japs."
TIRE. RATIONING
MUST BE SEVERE
Washington, Jan. 16. (IP)
Price Administrator Leon Hen
derson told a congressional com
mittee today that the tire ration
ing program must be severe on
the nation's luxury-loving civil
ian population because "improv
ident use of rubber would bring
us to a day of reckoning in the
near future."
He cautioned that not even
all fire trucks, police cars, doc
tors and nurses on the "pre
ferred list" would be able to
get new tires for "there Just
simply isn't enough."
The tire rationing, he said,
would "pinch more and more"
with requests of defense work
ers coming in for tires to take
them to plants located intention
ally and strategically way from
transportation lines.
"I do not see," he said, ''how
the civilian communities can do
otherwise than choose to make
a severe curtailment at a time
when it has the most fat on its
bones."
With a shrug of bis shoulders,
the price administrator quoted
William Knudsen, OPM chief, a
saying: "Everyone seems to
want to get from one place to
another sitting dorfn."
JAP SUB FAILED
Washington, Jan. 16. VP) A
Japanese submarine, the navy
disclosed today, tried and failed
to ram a coast guard lifeboat
launched into heavy seas to res
cue survivors of the tanker
Emldio. shelled and torpedoed
off the northern California
coast December 20.
Twice later, after the power-
driven lifeboat had eluded the
ramming attempt, the little
coast guard vessel came into
close contact with the submers
ible, within sight ot the glow of
lights from Eureka, Cal.
The story was revealed in the
report of Chief Boatswain Gar
ner J. Churchill of Samoa, Cal.,
who took the lifeboat out with
a crew of four coast guardsmen
when squally weather and
rough seas prevented the cutter
Shawnee from leaving its sta
tion in Humboldt bay.
During the heavy air attacks
on England in 1940, British
fighter planet shot down nearly
10 time as many German bomb
er as did anti-aircraft guns.
:f J1.V
i w-t 1
V
1
-
II C$1
ARMY PROMOTIONS
0FFM1L.BE
EYED BY SENATE
Sen. Holman On Committee
Charge of 'Inefficiency'
Brings Action.
Washington Jan. 16 UP)
The senate military affairs com
mittee acted today to expand
its investigation of army ap
pointments following charges in
the senate that officers acused
of inefficiency and waste in the
defense program often got pro
motions instead of censure.
Chairman Reynolds (D-NC) an
nounced appointment of a sub
committee headed by Senator
Chandler (D-Ky) and including
Senators Kilgore (D-WVa) and
Holman (R-Ore) to investigate
all presidential nominations for
army promotions.
Chandler told reporters the
group was named largely be
cause of a statement senator
Truman (D-Mo) made to the sen
ate yesterday. '
Truman, discussing the de
fense investigating committee's
charges that thero were graft,
waste and inefficiency in the
defense program, was asked by
Senator Vandenberg (R-Mich)
what usually happened to army
and navy officers thus-involved.
The Missouri senator . replied
that they usually were promo
ted.
Chandler said it was the sub
committee's intention to inves
tigate all army appointments
to see it they were justified on
the basis ot the individual's re
cord.
"There will be no attempt to
delay, Jurt to scrutinize these
appointments," Chandler said.
' The president sent to the sen
ate today a long list ot lieu
tenant colonels he recommended
for promotion to the lull rank of
colonel. Included also was a
shorter list of ma tors, serving
temporarily as 'ieutenant col
onels, for whom he sought con
firmation as colonels.
BILL LOSES 2 T0 1
Washington, Jan. 16. UP)
The senate defeated today an
effort of Senator O'Danlel (D
Tex) to obtain immediate con
sideration of a measure barring
the sale of liquors, wines and
beers at army and navy posts.
O Daniel s motion to take up
the bill, made on the anniver
sary of national prohibition, was
announced as lost on a voice
vote. Senator Johnson (D-Colo)
then demanded a standing vote.
An unofficial count from the
galleries showed the motion was
lost by a margin of approxi
mately two 'o one.
OF OSC PASSES
Corvallls, Jan. 16 (IP) Thou
sands of Oregon State college
students and alumni today
mourned the death of Mrs. Lulu
M. Howard, for 21 years a com
bination lady bountiful and em
ployment agent for undergradu
ates who had to finance their
own education.
Funeral services for Mrs.
Howard, who died Wednesday,
were held today.
IRRIGATION CHARGE
Washington, Jan. 16. OP)
Interior Secretary Ickes an
nounced today the annual oper
ation and maintenance water
charge on the Boise reclama
tion project in Oregon-Idaho for
this year and thereafter until
changed would be 11.15 for the
first three acre feet of water.
RFNFRAI PUBLIC
EXPECTED TO USE
DAYLIGHT SAVING
Law Applies Only To Fed
eral Business And Inter
state Transportation.
Washington, Jan. 16. UP)
Chairman Lea (D-Callf) ot the
house interstate commerce com
mittee predicted today that
there would be general, nation
wide acceptance of daylight sav
ing time even though it applies
directly only to interstate trans
portation and federal business
and personnel.
'In practice, I believe that
the general course of the coun
try will be to conform to day
light saving time," Lea said.
"Doubtless there will be a few
cases where Industry a needs
will be such that they will use
some other time.
"The convenience and dispo
sition of the public will be to
observe the general and com
mon practice."
Legislation which 'congress
sent to President Roosevelt for
approval yesterday would re
quire the time governing inter
state transportation and all fed
eral business to be advanced
one hour throughout the nation,
effective 20 - days after Mr.
Roosevelt signs the measure.
Lea said that no one but those
affected in the two categories
of employment would . be re
quired to comply, but many
house members said the two
alone were sufficient to com
mand all others to follow suit.
During house debate -on the
legislation, Rep. Wadsworth (R
NY) said that "literally every
body in the country must lead
the life decreed by this statute."
ENT JAN. 23
ON FAG TAX VOTE
Portland, Jan. 16. W No
attempt to refund clgaret tax
money would be made should
the supreme court order a ref
erendum on the tax. Commis
sion Chairman Charles V. Gal
loway said last night.
Galloway asserted the com
mission assumes that the two-cent-per-package
tax is being
passed along to the consumer
and there would be no way of
certifying refunds.
Salem, Jan. 16. UP) Attor
ney General I. H. Van Winkle
said today he has not yet de
cided whether he would file an
answer or a demurrer in the
proceeding to force Secretary of
State Earl Snell to place the
clgaret tax law on the referen
dum ballot.
Arguments on the ease will
be heard by the supreme coui t
on January 23. The suit was
brought by the Retail Grocers
association.
EMBEZZLER TRIAL
St. Louis, Jan. 19. UP) Four
officers of the AFL Hod Car
riers union pleaded Innocent to
charges of embezzlement of
$151,355 In union funds today
and trial was set for Feb
ruary 17.
The Indicted officers are Ed
ward Hill, president of local 42;
Orvllle Golden,, secretary-treas
urer, and Paul H. Hulahan and
Earl Jenkins, business agents.
INDUSTRY ACCIDENTS
Salem, Jan. 16 JP) Oregon
industries reported to the state
Industrial accident commission
during the week ended yester
day that their employ's lud 714
accidents, including one fatality
TO ACT IN ESPEE
E
PUC Advised Formal Hear
ing Sought ICC Has No
Authority Over Service.
Grants Pass, Jan. 16. (IP)
The ICC in a letter replying
to a personal telegram protest
ing discontinuance of passenger
train service by the Southern
Pacific railroad between Ash
land and Dunsmuir, Cal., has
disclaimed authority in the mat
ter. However, the ICC has made
no reply to the formal protest
which followed the telegram,
said Niel R. Allen, attorney,
who was asked by Josephine
and Jackson county officials to
draw up their Joint protest The
inter-county committee today
advised Ormond Bean, Oregon
PUC commissioner now in the
east, that they will require a
formal hearing on discontinu
ance of the Shasta between
Grants Pass and San Francisco
last Sunday.
The ICC letter aald:
The supervisory power of
this commission under the law
ot the operation ot passenger
trains is very limited and cov
ert only matters dealing with
the safety feature. No authority
is vested with the commission
to compel frequency of passen
ger train service by the rail
roads... -
"It is suggested that you may
care to refer your problem to
your state railroad commission,
who may have authority over
matters involving the frequency
or adequacy of passenger train
service.
E
Washington, Jan. 16 UP)
The war department denounced
today as "utterly false" what it
described as a "whispering cam
paign" report that 1,500 bodies
had arrived without coffins at
the Brooklyn. N. Y, army base
from Hawaii.
- The war department acted
after being advised by the army
base commander, Brigadier Gen
eral Homer M. Gronlnger, that
the reports were circulating.
He said it was reported that
help was needed to put the bod
ies In coffins.
'The war department states
that there It no truth whatso
ever In the report as to the arri
val of any bodies and that, in
no case, would shipments be
made unless the bodies were
cared for in coffins, according
to. the highest standards of
civilian practice," a statement
said,
'The war department accords
its honored dead the honor and
dignities rightfully due the de
fenders of our nation.
EXEMPTION CUTS
Washington, Jan. 16 UP)
Chairman George (D-Ga.) of the
senate finance committee said
today he was oppomd to any re
ductions In the present Individ
ual Income tax exemptions of
$1,500 for married persons and
1750 for single persons. -
There have been reports In
congressional circle that the
treasury might suggest that all
single persona with Incomes of
$500 yearly and married persons
with 11,000 incomes Incomes be
subjected to direct federal taxes,
thus broadening the sources of
revenue in an effort to raise
$9,000,000 000 In new levies re
quested by President Roosevelt
War Bulletins
London. Jan. 16 P) The
Exchange Telegraph heard a
Berlin radio announcement
today that further curtailment
in railroad passenger traffic
had been ordered starting
Sunday night because of an
"increase in Important traffic-
London. Jan. 1. (IP) The
admiralty announced today
that the trawler Lady Shirley
which sank the German sub
marine U-lll on October 4 is
over-due and considered lost.
The Lady Shirley was cred
ited with sinking the U-boat
in a dramatic, fast-firing fight
against what the admiralty
termed "a larger and better
equipped adversary."
SOVIET REPULSES
S
E
Moscow, Jan. 16 (IP) A So
viet communique declared to
night that the Germans had at
tempted counter-attacks in some
sectors of the Russian battle
front but said they were beaten
back with heavy losses.
"Our troops," the communi
que asserted, "continued to ad
vance." ' . ..
Moscow, .Jan. 16 (IP) Red
army, troops, driving 100 miles
west from Kalinin in a month,
based the northern spearhead of
the central front plncer today at
Sellzharovo and 14.000 German!
were reported alain in this and
associated actions from Jan.
to 15.
Sellzharovo Is a railroad town
on the headwaters of the Volga
river 175 miles northwest of
Moscow. The lower spearhead
was last officially reported at
Kirov, almost an equal distance
southwest of the capital.
Through the recapture of Sel
lzharovo, announced by the So
viet Information bureau, a Ger
man defense point 60 miles
down the river at Rzher was
outflanked. '
In today's communique the In
formation bureau reported the
reoccupatlon of tlx localities in
one sector of the ftont and of
four In another sector but did
not Identify them.
In actions at the two extrem
ities of the long battleline.
added that 280 German officers
and men were destroyed by one
unit in the Leningrad reaion
while in the Crimea, in the far
south, a detachment of Guer
rillas attacked German units re
treating front Kerch and killed
120 men.
By William J. Humphreys
London, Jan. 16 UP) A
'drastic reconstruction" of the
Churchill government, with em
phasis on the war and colonial
offices, wat forecast today by
inlormed circlet to follow upon
the prime minister's return from
the United States.
The view in qualified circlet
It that the prime minister hat
been "let down" by advisers on
the oriental situation and that
immediate cabinet changes are
essential because of the setbacks
in Malaya.
At minister of detente.
Churchill also is responsible for
all land, sea and air operations.
"Soma of Churchill's advisers
In the Pacific already have been
tacked" one observer pointed
out.
LET GRADING CONTRACT
Redmond, Jan. 18 (IP) Bab-
ler Bros., of Portland, won
contract for clearing and grad
ing the northwest southwest
runway of Roberta field, Red
mond airport, today on bid of
$108,625. The project will
under WPA supervision.
BRITISH CABINET
CHANGES COMING
INVADERS BLASTED
N MINED BRIDGE,
IR FORCE BUSY
Battle Looms Near Johore
New Action Thrill
Orient Casualties High.
Rangoon, Burma, Jan. 16 UP)
British combined headquar
ters announced tonight that Brit
ish troops had "met" the Japa
nese on the Burma-Thailand
border.
Singapore, Jan. 18 UP)
Rallying around a fresh force
of battle-hungry and Jungle-wise
Australians, the British imperial
defenders of Singapore appeared
today to have checked the Jap
anese In their offensive toward
this vital oriental base.
Two Japanese armored unlta
were reported shattered by the
stiffened defense all along a
shortened front in lower Malaya
aided by considerable aerial
support.
While the air force smashed
at Japanese truck and railway
concentrations near Tampin, 120
miles northwest of Singapore,
British Imperials fighting with
fresh fury in the coastal strip
north of the Malacca plain
claimed to have knocked out 14
Japanese tanks and 10 armored
vehicles. An official communi
que said advance guards of the
Australians smashed six more
tanks and inflicted heavy casu
alties in their first battle tine
the Malayan invasion began, In
tha eastern part of Negri Sem
bilan state.
(BBC, quoting Reuters dis
patch on the Malacca coastal
strip engagement, said "an en
emy armored column wat allow
ed to advance over a bridge pre
pared for demolition. When tha
column passed over the bridge,
it was blown up and the enemy
engaged by artillery. Heavy cas
ualties were Inflicted on the
Japanese and they ran for
cover." The broadcast wat heard
in New York by CBS.)
The Australians' first tight
occurred yesterday In eastern
Negri Sembllan state, some 120
mllea north of Singapore, while
the main body ot the Austra
lians, singing and eager for a
fight, moved into battle posi
tions on the main Malayan front
for their first taste ot fire.
The command said the plane
left several vehicles burning,
damaged a number of railway
trucks and Inflicted casualties
on the Japanese army.
(The scene of the air attack
Indicated the British were bit
ting just behind the Japaneae
front lines in preparation for a
big battle In that sector Just
north of Johore state).
The news that the Australlana
had seen action tent a thrill ot
expectancy through this British
stronghold even as lta resident
prepared to defend It.
On all sides nope wat express
ed that the Australian reinforce
ments would be prepared to
take the offensive rather than
continue the policy ot fighting
rear guard actions. -
The movement of th Austra
lians to the battle tone was de
scribed at one of the most stir
ring sights yet teen in Malaya.
Major General Gordon Ben
nett, commander ot the Austra
lians In Malaya, bad gooa
laugh when he read the Japa
nese report ot his alleged cap
ture during the retreat irons
Kuala Lumpur, when the Japa
nese still were 200 mile from
defense position! assigned th
Australians.
In Canberra, Australia, Prim
Minister John Curtln said be
had received a cable from Major
General Bennett declaring that
the "troops are eager for a tight,
I truti the enemy soon will
realize I'm alive.")
Seattle. Jan. 18 V-Washington
women are going to get a
chance at state-sponsored train
Ing tor metal works Jobs In th
expanding aircraft industry.