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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1943)
NOON EDITION The HJUL TIUBUKE Wast Ad Way Cukk Raaisits At Sataii Cast FORD RIBUN Volt Press Tvil Lwri WtM TJniUd Pi Full Luh Wire Thirty-seventh Year. MEDFORD, OREGON, FRIDA Y, JANUARY 1, 1943 Med E - o Kelly's . Cbmment Trora Washington. D. C. Northwest to Get Alcohol Plants Plan Recruiting Of Truck Driver Subsidy Proposal Discarded by OPA Mr Jobs W, Salty Washington, D. C Jan. 1 There are some excellent cites for a plant to distill alcohol from wheat la the Washington nMtfnn ami. exnlain hiffh eov- ernment officials. They admit that the region has Been joonea over carefully and it is almost a certainty that one, if not two, of these plants will be author ised in the northwest. Beyond M ihm nfflrtala decline to com mit themselves. There are a few definite requirements, however, in respect to all of these alcohol plants, and a principal one is that the distillery shall be lo cated on water, where it is ac hv navieation. For this reason Baker, Ore., despite its plea, is not in the running. ........ will be located at a point where the grain can be shipped where there is a surplus ot grain. It rnnirl h st The Dalles. Pendle ton, Longvlew, Astoria or three or four likely spots In the fugei Sound country. The alcohol from nmiftictt (a h lined in the production of synthetic rubber. A pnvrnmmt scientist in the department of agriculture says that the best prospect ior syn 4hli nihbxr Is from the eolden- rod plant, which is the state flower of Oregon. MOST knowledge available of the Indians of the northwest coast, from Vancouver island south through Washington and Oregon, was gathered In the ear ly 1680s and published by the Smithsonian Institution. The man who collected much of the ma terial and edited the reports of other scientists was Dr. Franz Boss, who passed away last week. Practically all that is known of the myriad Indian tongues of the northwest was preserved by this famous an thropologist. Dr. Boss was Ger man born and educated in the Universities of Kiel, Bonn and Heidelberg. In 1933 his books were burned by the Nazis, as they were regarded as "Marx istie works." The scientist made (Continued on Pag Six) SEARCH FOR CRE OF FLYING BOAT ON OREGON COAST . Seattle, Jan. 1 flj.f!) The 13th naval district today announced coast guard crews were search ing for seven crew members of a PBY flying boat forced down off the Oregon coast near Coos Bay last night. The crew of eight men aban doned the flying boat and it sunk about a mile off the Oregon co sat, the 13th naval district re ported. One officer, identified onlv as Ensign Brush, the first pilot, was found unconscious in a small liferaft on the shore. He was taken to an army camp at Yachats, Ore., for treatment. Identity of the other crew members was not disclosed. A large liferaft, fully inflat ed, and a life Jacket were found on the beach in the same vicin ity, . but the seven other crew members were missing. Navy officials said searchers did not know whether the men succeeded in making shore or were lost at sea. Price Co! Ordered On Vacuum Cleaners Washington, Jan. 1 U.F3 The Office of Price Administra tion today ordered substantial reduction in wholesale and re tail prices for used household vacuum cleaners, saving house wives an estimated $800,000 to 8100.000,000. As a result of the order, OPA said, consumers will pay an average of $4 to $3 less for most models of vacuum cleaners. It said there are about 200,000 re built machines available to meet the brisk consumer demand re suiting from wartime curtail ment of new models, - Wake Island Raid on Christmas Eve Complete Surprise for Japanese is Revelation in Navy's Announcement AMERICAN PLANES DUMP HUGE LOAD RETURN IN SAFETY 75,000 Pounds of Bombs Delivered Anti-Aircraft ,Fire is Light, Ineffective. Honolulu, Jan. 1 (U.B The navy announced today that a force of army bombers raided Wake island early on Christmas eve, dropping more than 75,000 pounds of bombs and returning to its base without loss. The attack apparently caught the Japanese completely by sur prise. The army planes swept in at low altitude and sent their bombs1 crashing down on the island the enemy had wrested from gal lant band of American Marines in the early stages of the war. The returning pilots reported that fires were started that were visible for more than 75 miles. Peala Abo Bombed The army planes, delivering their attack in the dark in the early hours of Dec. 24, also dropped bombs on Peaie island, the announcement said. The Japanese, taken by sur prise, offered only ineffectual anti-aircraft fire and the Amer-i ican plarte returned without loss of personnel or equipment. "Just after midnight of Dee. 23-24 (east longitude time)," the navy announcement said, "a force of United States army air craft conducted a bombing at tack on enemy installations at Wake island. "All our participating aircraft returned undamaged to their bases. There were no injuries to our personnel. Enemy Surprised "The enemy apparently was completely surprised by the at tack, In which more than 73,000 pounds of bombs were dropped from low altitudes on designated target areas. Ineffectual anti-air craft fire was observed after the first bombs had been dropped on Wake and Peale islands. "Two enemy aircraft ap proached our planes but retired when they were fired upon with no damage sustained by our planes. "Crews of our planes report ed fires started by the attack were visible from a distance of 75 miles." EASTERN GASOLINE PROBLEM CRITICAL Washington, Jan. 1 (U.fD Petroleum and rationing author ities were In continuous confer ence today on action to meet a renewed critical gasoline and fuel shortage in the 17-state east-: era emergency area. Officials admitted the situa tion again is "serious." In some places, they said, it probably Is as critical as during the pre-; Christmas petroleum famine when a two-day "freeze" was clamped on all except "T" gaso line coupons. Officials said, however, that no new "freeze" or cut in gaso line and fuel oil rations is con templated at the moment. LABOR LEADERS URGE PRODUCTION INCREASE Washington, Jan. 1 U.B Presidents William Green and Philip Murray of the American Federation of Labor and Con-; gress of Industrial organizations, i today called upon workers to: increase production by all-out efforts in 1943 as their contribu-1 tion in achieving a speedy vlj tory. In New Year s Day messages. the two labor chieftains pledged : the complete support of their i organizations to the war effort,! and declared that nothing must interfere with the one U. S. aim winning the war, j Thrilling Moments of Attack Told by War Correspondent (Correspondent Oiert W. Clements of the Associated Press was chosen by lot to represent all press associations in the greatest mass raid of the Pacific war on Christmas Eve. Clement rode in the lead bomber. Sis eyewitness dispatch follows;) By Olaa W. Clements Distributed by the United Press Aboard a Bomber over Wake Island, Dec. 24 (Delayed) Huge American bomber plunged today on unsuspecting Wake Island and plastered the Japs with 78,000 pounds of bombs in the biggest mass raid of the Pacific war. Possibly more than half the Jap defenders were killed. There were no Americans lost. Intense fires were started both on Wake and Peale islands. The Japs were caught in bed one minute after midnight. Their anti-aircraft fire, which didn't start until long after the first bombs exploded, was wild and the frightened Taps could be seen in the brilliant moonlight running madly for their dug outs. Fire Exrywh In a split second the bombs crashed all over both islands. Fires crackled everywhere. Precisely at midnight the flight leader. Col. William A. Matheny, of Carrington, N. D., flipped on his radio and called to the long line of planes be hind him: "Thi i it, boy. I'm going to get those yellow . . . ." ,. The nose of hi plane siantad down.. The engines roared. There bey end the nose Of his bomber lay. Wake Island where for 18 days, one year ago, United States marines made one of the most gallant last stands in the world's history. Planes Plunge In - Faster and faster the bomber plunged In, Its nose pointing at a long row of buildings on Pea cock Point ' The - island wat blacked out. Co-pilot Lt. Z. K. Carey of Gridley, Calif, "was pouring coal to four engines" and droning out the Increased speed and the decreasing alti tude to Col. Matheny. Down and down the plane sped, its occupants watching on all sides for signs of anti-aircraft fire. None came. ' Col. Matheny pulled her nose up. Suddenly brilliant red flashes were seen below. Then more and more. The bomber was streaking through the air at terrific speed. .- - "When are you going to turn loose those incendiaries?" Col. Matheny asked the bombardier. Lt. D. D. Manchester, of Spo kane, Wash. "Gone sir," replied the lieu tenant, and at that moment a huge flash was seen. Planes on each wing let theirs go at the same time. When the colonel turned his ship, every one of the buildings in that long row were afire. No Japanese were seen to run -from them, - Aek-Aek art - Still there was no anti-aircraft fire. Dozens of more bombers be gan to hit all sections of both islands. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, a few Japs managed to reach two ack-ack guns and let go wildly. Shells burst fully six thousand feet above and two miles away from the nearest American plane. Then machine guns unlimbered and tracers be- gsn to hunt the planes above. Two searchlights popped on below. Their beams caught the leading plane, but almost in stantly they went out. Taiigunner Sgt. W. C. Will of Lehighton, Pa., who was in structed to shoot out any light that caught the plane in its beam, didn't even deign to fire a shot at them. Nor did he return the tire of machine guns. Instead he just sat and watched the tracers fall far short ot their target. More searchlight beams began to sweep the sky. Gunners in other bombers let go at them and started putting them out, Jap Plana Rises One Jap plane started rolling down the airfield, which bor dered the flaming aircraft. As the enemy plane gained speed. Lt. Lou Zamperini of Torrance, Cal., famed University of South ern California miier, tried to fait it with a hundred pound bomb. It tea just behind the Zero and the tighter got into the air. That was the only Jap plane seen to take the sir, but bomber crews saw three others flying around. One bomber and a Jap plane exchanged shots at a dis tance, but the Japs didn't want to mix it at all and that was the nearest to an air fight in the raid. One squadron leader. Ma. Glen R. Birchard of Bay City, Mich, dropped bombs near oil tanks, starting huge fire. Peer ing out the window, he saw Japs running for cover in their under wear. No fight was left in them. A quick look st Wake and Peale islands showed that by this time fire were burning be tween Peacock Point and the east-west runway in the vicinity of the underground hangar: large fires were observed in the area of the bachelor officers' quarters on the heel ef the point; in the building area south east of the bridge between Peale and Wake; in a large building in that area which had received a direct bit - Oil tanks were afire in the middle of Peale island.. More tanks were- flaming sear, the south" channel -entrance to the harbor" and columns" of black smoke were rising from Kuku Point -Their bombs gone, the bomb ers started for their "Shangri-la" base. Forty miles from Wake, that Zero that had got off the ground timidly fired a burst at one bomber, which promptly re plied. Apparently neither was hit ' Fires on Wake island were vis ible for 75 miles.' . RAINFALL IN 1942 WITHIN FRACTION OF ALL-TIME HIGH Balnfall for 1942 in the Med ford area failed by .34 of an inch equalling the rii-time record in 1837. Precipitation for 1942 was 25.80 inches, according to the U. S. weather bureau at the air port, and in 1837 26.64 inches of rain felt. Local records date back to 1811. . - Total for the year was boosted considerably by record-breaking; rainfall in November of 8.62, more than for any other single month since the records were kept Precipitation for last month,: however, did not quite equal December of 1841, although the steady nature of the rain has given the impression of a very wet month, it was pointed out by weather bureau officials. : Only 5.87 inches of rain fell last month, while 7.97 inches was recorded in December of 1841. The month was unusually warm, however,, temperatures never failing below 27 degrees and averaging well aiove 30. Average low temperatures for December over a period of years it about 20 degrees, the bureau records show. Last year on De cember 31 the thermometer fell to 21 and the high for the day was 36 degrees. - . Rainfall figures by Hie month for the past year are as follows: : January, 2.18; February. 2.33;i March, .53; April, .86; May,: 3.68; June, .84; July, trace; August, .08; September,- .18; Oc-; tober, .82; November, 8.82; De cember, 5.87. Washington, Jan. 1 U.J9 Di rector Joseph Weiner of the of fice of civilian supply today an nounced the appointment if Richard Johnson, former ptib Usher of the Boston Evening Transcrlot. as head of the in. turner goods division. JAPANESE BASE AT LAE SUFFERS lojras 2G Enemy Planes Destroyed Dog-Fights Staged With Zero Machines, Gen. MacArthur's Headquar ters, Australia, Jan. 1, 4U.fi) Americas P-38 lightnings, sup ported by attack planes and me dium bombers of the allied air forces, battered the Japanese base at Lae yesterday, destroy ing at least 20 enemy planes. Gen. Douglas MacArthur an nounced today. The combined attack by the Americans and Australians was one of the heaviest and most crushing blows of the New Guinea campaign. The fast allied aircraft storm ed into the Lae area, more than 100 miles northwest of Buna, where allied ground troops are steadily pushing the Japanese garrison into the sea. Nine Zeros Dowsed Lockheed Lightnings, in com bat for the second time in the New Guinea area, shot down nine Zero fighters and damaged two more of a formation of 12 In a fierce, 25-minute dogfight Only two of the Lightnings in action were damaged, head quarters spokesman disclosed. Eleven other Japanese planes were destroyed aground, the communique reported. Douglas Boston A-20 bombers strafed and bombed the Lae air field after the twin-tailed light nings had spread their destruc tion. They destroyed four Mitsu bishi bombers and one Zero fighter on the ground. In the ground fighting, the situation around Buna Mission was little changed. ALLIESSTRlAT AISUIWUNES (Br tfnftsd Pint) The land situation appeared stagnant in North Africa, bat Allied planes and naval unit struck heavy blows at the Axis iuies. a Cairo com munique announced that Allied planes raided Kfa-r nn islan east coast, Wednesday yesieroay, causing heavy damage. The admiralty reported in London that Rritich submarines sank two large Axis supply ships off Tunis and prob- aoiy sans as enemy destroyer off Blzerte. The Allies were reported thrUStinff towan) th Tunisia. Tripolitania coastal corridor in the land fighting while the "lost lorce oi r rencn from the Lake Chad area are now within 500 miles of Tripoli. A strategic position was recaptured by the Allies southwest of Tunis. The British Eighth army still was stvmimi at Wn Ttt n Chebir. 185 miles east of Tripoli, me Cairo communique Indi cated. Hard Struggle Coming Year; Washington, Jan. 1. (U.FD Cabinet members and other gov ernment officials today predict ed a year of hard struggle in 1943, but confidently forecast: that it will bring a total United Nations victory nearer. Following are excerpts from: their statements. Secretary of War Henry LJ Stimson: "193 will be a hard year, bat one which, God will-: ing, will bring us nearer to vie-: tory. Secretary of Navy Frank: Knox: "Our prospects are brighter; 1843 will be better: than 1942. The great war ma-: chine of the United Nations Is gathering strength and momen tum" 1 BULLETIN Wuhingtos, Jus, 1 PJ.fii The savy department reported today tisst three Amaricsn pitas and en Japan plan vara shot down Wad ntsdey is th Aleutians whss the American planes war In tercepted in an attack en two namy cargo ships or trans ports in Kiikl harbor. Leaden, Jan. 1 (t!.F0 The flghtiBg French will b tmtbia to reach an agreement with San. Kesri Honor Gircud un til the Preach North African Imperial Council, which is "packed with Vlchyitat." it eliminated, a fighting French spokesman asserted today, London, Jan. 1 (U.R) The Ksii-ccBtroUad Vichy radio rapes-tad from Earlia today that the Carman navy and air fore sank 1.308 allied roar chant vessels totaling 8,000. 000 tons daring 182. ft claimed also the Brltlth aircraft carrier Eagle, which the Admiralty admitted was sunk, IS destroyers and six submarines. London, Jan. 1 fti.R) Royal air force planes bombed ob jectives la western Germany last eight, the air ministry an souaced today. The air minis try communique did not dis close the exact objectives ef th RAF night raiders. 1,900 ADDED TO NAZI MASSACRE OH THREE LIES Moscow, Jan. 1 flJ3 The Red army, surging forward on three fronts in its massive winter offensives, killed 1,603 more axis troops yesterday, raising to 313,065 the number ttf pnemv effective hilled or captured in the last six weeks, it was an nounced today. New gains were reported by the Soviet mid-day communique at Stalingrad, northwest and southwest of the city, on the middle reaches of the Don river, and on the central frost north west of Moscow. The communioue van not an spectacular as that issued just alter midnight which reported that towiM rtti viiiaav had been liberated, 22 divisions encircled ana 38 more routed and 312,630 axis troops killed or captured in six weeks. It added 1,800 more soldiers killed to the axis casualties, however, and reported CIS additional prisoners. GOiWENTiONALFUN ONNEWJEARtl By United Press America greeted the New Year today, expressing hope for victory in 1843 and confidence that Axis military might would be at least crippled before an other year ends. The conventional note of hi larity prevailed in New Year's celebration from coast to coast although It was tempered by war time restrictions and the knowl edge that many who had joined In last year' festivities now were stationed on foreign battle- fronts or working in war fac tories. But the millions free to cele brate had more spending money than they've had in recent years and they spent it freely. Record crowds filled hotels, night clubs and theater. Predicted in Victory Sure Secretary of Agriculture Claude B. Wickard: "In 1843 the demands upon our food supply will be even greater. Military and lend-lease needs will take at least a quarter of ear total output. Secretary of Interior Harold L. lcks: "Remember above all else that this is an oil war that oil is ammunition; and that you should end must use Vt both wisely and frugally" War Production Board Chair man Donald M. Nelson: "It will be a hard year, but it will be fruitful. We are being tested as never before but because we know what is at stake 1 am sure w shall meet the test. 'i?-''-:i!f I rjrin (-4 j j "The CSsier comes hsraa Adaiirsi Cfcesier HimiU, eosascade? ia auel of the Pacific Fieet, is pictured here with Mr. Kteits tsd their "-'.!cr,tr Mars on a recent rtei to the Ban Francisco Bay Area. WILLAMETTE RISE FORCES MORE TO QUIT RESIDENCES Eugene, Ore, Jan. 1 : Flood waters cascading over the lowlands of western Oregon con tinued their steady rise today toward unprecedented level as damage soared into the millions. It appeared likely that more persons would have to be evacuated from their threatened homes in addition to the hun dreds hurriedly removed yester day and last night. Points along the surging Wil lamette river, unruliest of the streams, were warned by weath er bureau observers to prepare for waters averaging more than five feet above flood stages be fore Saturday night. . At Portland, the weather bur eau predicted the following peaks would be reached along the Willamette: Eugene 18.S feet by early Friday, 6-3 feet above flood stage. Harrisbarg 183 test by Sat-; urday, S3 feet above flood stage. : Albany 233 feet by Saturday night, S3 feet above flood stage. : Salem 27 feet by Saturday sight, ? feet above flood stage. : Portland 183 feet by Satur-: day, one-half foot above flood; stage. More "serious floods r ia dicated in the lowlands in the: upper snd middle Willamette: river and its tributaries,1 the: weather bureau said at Portland. : The crest of the flood already: was in the upper reaches of the river, which flows northward west of the Cascade mountains to its Junction with the Colum bia near Portland. Two major highway were blocked, secondary road were inundated and bus traffic south of Eugene was generally para lyzed. Last night Southern Pacific trails were blocked by a sew slide some SO or 108 miles south of here. Officials declined to ven ture a guess on when traffic might fee resumed. IEWEY DEDICATE Albany, N. Y., Jan. i.fj.'Pj Thomas E. Dewey, inaugurated today as the first republican governor of New York in 20 years, dedicated the state to an ail-out war program and to the "cardinal objective" of provid ing peace-time employment to the returning armed forces. Dewey, at 40 one of fee youngest governors is the na tion, declared In his inaugural address that the post-war period will find the federal govern ment being "called upon to abandon iix avLventna- vrAim controls over the freedom of the j individual." j CARRIES DAMAGE TO NEW SECTION By Csitaii Press Ohio, Kentucky and fediaaat cities met flood emergencies to day a the crest of the swollen. Ohio river roiled scuSvsrsTii toward a Juiictiea with th rising Mississippi Behind, in the ttpper reasbe of the river and It tributaries in Westers Pennsylvania and West Virginia, thousand were left homeless and million dollar ia damage was caused, by the receding flood waters. Same war producties plants re suraed work today while ethers prepared to resume as soon as possible, la Eastern Pennsylvania, n gineera Bought to brasg the swollen Susquehanna and other river under control, while re ports from Central New Yoir state indicated that waters wers receding izt the Mohawk, 3sea ango and larger SssquehsBcs rivers. The Willamette river ia Western Grezon 1r4t if v,nt- and drove hundreds from the- acmes in the fertile iowiaact and at Eugene. At Pittsburgh, where the All, gbeny and Monongaheis join and flow into the Ohio river, the water was receding rapidiy while at Whwiir.n W V h crest of the Ohio was reached iast eight et ? p. m. Across the river at Blair, C, the flood isA cut the town's water supply asd residents were depending crs reserves in the reservoir. Most of. the business sseiiea of Marietta, G, was submerged when the river reached the tS foot level. A crest of 53 feet waa expected by noon today which will inundate the whole business district asd half She tows. Mil LOCKED BY SLIDE Local Southern Pacific offices said today that all trains were being routed through Medford, today due to slides en the Klam ath Fall line again in the tame locality those the first at the week when an avalanche derail ed eight car ef the northbound Klamath train about 20 mile above Oakridge in the Cascades, Local Southern Pacific officials stated today that they did not know when routing would fol low regular schedules. 5?io Be Janeiro. Jan. 1 flj.KS Afrsnio De Meilo Franco, for mer foreign minister and cele brated international Jurist, died tclay. He was 72. SIDE GLANCES By - TRIBUNE 7CTS Happy New Year,
