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,