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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (June 6, 1944)
IBM ma . S I M United Pres. 4 Thirty-ninth Year President Told 'Invasion Doing All TO JOIN IN -PRAYER 7 IT Roosevelt Will Lead in Sup plication For Divine Aid k In Conquering Enemy. . (The President'! Prayer ap peari In full on page 8.) "Washington, June 6 (U.R) Admiral Ernest J. King, com mander of the United States fleet, said after a conference with President Roosevelt today that the invasion of Europe is "doing all right so far." Mr. Roosevelt conferred with King, Gen. George C. Marshall, army chief of staff, and Gen. H. H. Arnold, commander of the army air forces, for an hour and a half. The service commanders and the President went over the latest information. and . ana lyzed It. When they came out of the White House Marshall was ask ed "how Is the invasion going?" "I cant" make any state ment," the general told report ers. "You know all about it." King, however, said "It's do ing all right so far." Up All Night The President had been up much of the night following the Allied Invasion of western Eur ope in minute detail. Tonight, over all radio networks at 7 p. m., PWT, the President will lead the nation in a special prayer which he finished com posing while the Invasion fleet was moving across the channel. In the prayer, Mr. Roosevelt asks for divine strength "to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies." "With thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy," the President's prayer said. "Lead up to the saving of our country, and with our sister na tions into a world unity that will spell a sure peace a peace Invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all men live in free dom, reaping the Just rewards of their honest toil. Thy will be done, Almighty God." Psychological Diversion White House Secretary Ste phen A. Early told reporters that the President's fireside chat discussion last night about the capture of Rome had the ef fect of a psychological diver sion. The Germans and others undoubtedly listened to it with interest, he said, and replied "I think you might call it that" when a reporter asked if it was a psychological diversion. Mr. Roosevelt, in his talk last night, had warned that victory over Germany "will be tough and costly." People in the cap ital recalled the somber warn ing when they awakened to discover that the long-awaited invasion had begun. SIDE GLANCES By TRIBUNE REPORTERS Closest prediction to the ac tual date of the invasion on European continent, June 6, as printed in the Sideglance col umn a few weeks ago, 'was made by Hap Gillette of Ash land, who prophesied that D Day would be June 4. Next guess beyond the invasion date was made by Maude Brault of Medford, who tagged June 11. The National Broadcasting . company reported tonight that i Radio Tokyo went off the air suddenly and without explana tion. Enemy stations usually "black out" when Allied bomb en have been spotted. EDFORD Full Leased Wire Invasion (Acme lintlio-Tfilrphoto) Invasion vehicles and their crews, Impatient for signal that will send them against Germans guarding At lantic wall, literally Jam the streets ol this Enelish coastal village. Photo radioed from London. NAZIS WILL TRAP IN By United Press The Japanese end of the be leaguered Axis whistled tremu lously In the dai'K on invasion Tuesday. The landing operations on the European continent must be hiehly welcome to the Germans." said Nobuhiko Ushiba. former secretarv of the Japanese embas sy In Berlin. In a statement broadcast by Tokyo radio. "There Is everr possibility that the enemy will be fatally caught In a death trap elaborate ly laid by the German high com mand." Ushiba took the view that the Nazis had been easorly awaiting D-day as the signal for a counter offensive against the Allies. "The much-heralded anti-Axis Invasion of the European conti nent will most certainly mean the advent of a decisive turning point In the European military situation. It will proviae uir many with a much-needed spring board for turning to a victorious general offensive against the en emy." Ushiba said he could "well Imagine the jubilation in the Ger man high command on receipts of the news of the Invasion." Norwegians Told To Wait Orders London. June 6 U.PJ Gen. Wilhelm Hansteen, commander-in-chief of the Norwegian un derground, broadcast an order to all organized fighting groups inside Norway today to "be prepared to take partj In the great settlement." Hansteen told his countrymen that they would receive orders on what to do. Eisenhower Eyes Start From Roof Allied Advance Post. England, june 6 (U.PJ Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower stood on a rooftop on invasion eve and watched a mighty airborne armada form In the dusky sky and wing toward France to begin the final phase of the war of liber ation. " " MEDFORD, OREGON, Vehicles Jam British Roads Invasion Date To Thousands Invasion Port, England, June 6 (U.R) Thousands upon thou sands of American invasion troops were told exactly where they were going and what they would do on D-day, It now can be dis closed, and then were placed under quarantine so rigid their food was prepared in an outside ; i a and passed to them through barbed wir? So far is Is known only two men 'escaped from the quaran tined area and both were cap tured Immediately. Guards in side and out were under orders to "shoot to kill" anyone at tempting to leave the area. Precautions to guard the se curity of the attack were super vised by the office of counter intelligence and it was one of the greatest feats of the war. For the first time In the history of the American army every man. down to the last private, was thoroughly instructed In the op erations expected of him. These troops knew the secret more than a week before D-day and yet they kept It so well that townspeople passing within three feet of them had no Idea of their destination or purpose. Several days before embarkation they were given the last details and were then completely cut off from all outside contact. D-Day Brings Rededication Call In Nation's Hour of Greatest Trial By United Press America's spokesmen called today for rededication in the nation's hour of greatest trial. President Roosevelt and gov ernors and mayors from coast to coast summoned citizens to prayer. Senators and representatives voiced the deep hope that the I assault on Hitler s fortress would succeed, and this war would be the last. Across the land, Americans re ceived the invasion news quiet ly, thankful that the decisive battle at long last was joined, anxious lest it prove more costly than their hopes. Workers Buckle In War workers, with few excep tions, worked harder. In Detroit, the strike capital of the country, there was not a single production-stopping labor dispute for the first time since the days Im mediately after Pearl Harbor. TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944. s.Vk ! Long Known of Americans E EXPECTED SOON London, June BOJ.R) Mili tary observers said today that a penernl Russian offensive co ordinated with ilic Anglo-American attack from the west may be launched within the next 48 hours and almost certalniy will begin before the week end. The United Press Informants said a crushing two-way cltack from the east and west was laid down by the American. British and Russian leaders at the Teh ran conference last year, envis aging the complete destruction of German military power be fore the close of 1944. In Birmingham, Ala., William Mitch, leader of 22,000 coal miners of whom 2,000 were re ported on strike, called on him followers to "work, work, work every hour necessary until this war is won." He said "nothing else matters." In Lockland, O., union officials sought to end a wildcat strike of about 12.000 workers at the Wright Aeronautical Corp. plant which stopped production of air plane engines. Throughout the nation, base ball leagues, race tracks, and fight arenas cancelled programs, or arranged pauses for prayer. War Productio Chief Donald M. Nel?on called on the nation to exert its "supremo effort." Long Way to Go "We've got a long way to go," he said, although the invasion forces were using secret weap ons "that tht public has never seen or even beard of" and RIBIME United Press Full Leased Wire PRAYERS OFFERED IN CITY CHURCHES FOR ALLIED ARMS Medford Thrills to Long Awaited Word of Invasion Flag Display Is Urged. An Interested and hopeful Medford population last night and today gave closest attention to all news sources giving out word of the long-awaited inva sion of Europe by the Allies which started early this morning. Men and women today eagerly discussed the latest news in of fices, homes and In street groups and visited Medford churches to participate in special D-day prayer services. At 8 a. m. a special mass at Sacred Heart Catholic church was well attended and at 10 a. m. Medford's Methodist church was filled with relatives of men In the services who heard special prayers for their sons and husbands and for the success of the war. This afternoon business houses are closing between 3 and 4 p. m. In order that employees might attend a special prayer service at the Presbyterian church. This morning's service was led by the Rev. Harry W. Hansen and the afternoon gathering was In charge of the Rev. Louis C. Kirby and the Rev. Ward A. Rice and other Protestant pastors. A second snecial mass Is sched uled for Sacred Heart church at 8 o'clock tonight. A vestryman of St. Mark's Episcopal church stated that no special services were being held there due to the absence from the city of the rector, but that the church Is i open and parishioners may en ter at any time for private de votions. Arrangements were made this mo-.ning for whistles and bells of the city to sound at 3 p. m., marking the opening of the spe cial hour of prayer. At the suggestio-.i of D. D. Da vis, ministers urged their con gregations to display American flags today and during the com ing critical days Many business houses already have displayed their sidewalk flags. A special prayer meeting will be held at the Medford Church of the Nnzarene this evening at 8 o'clock in observance of the allied Invasion of Europe It was announced this afternoon by the pastor, the Rev. Fred Weather ford. which match "everything the enemy has been able to devise." In New York, the world's greatest city, Protestants, Catho lics and Jews gathered In their churches to pray, the Christians summoned by pealing bells, the Jews by shofars (ram's horns). At the Brooklyn navy yard, workmen paused briefly to pray. The New York state guard unit on Staten Island took grimmer action: it mobilized to guard against possible sabotage. New England's governors at tended special prayer services. New England's workers stayed on the Job. Former President Herbert Hoover who as director of Bel gian relief saw at first hand the horrors of World War I, hailed the invasion as meaning that "the end of German tyranny is on the way." . For rank and file men and women it was a solemn diy. The waiting was over. NO. 64. Right 5TH ARMY DRIVES NAZIS NORTH LIKE FRIGHTENED SHEEP Kesslering's Broken Forces Offering Only Feeble Rear Guard Resistance. Allied Headquarters, Naples, June 6 (U.R) The Allied 5th ar my drove the battered Germans In disorderly retreat across the Tiber river on a 17-mile front from Rome to the Tyrrhenian sea today and sent powerful arm ored columns five mile beyond the river under orders to destroy the fleeing enemy. Front dispatches said Nazi Field Marshal Albert Kessler ing's broken 14th army was of fering only the feeblest sort of rear guard resistance as the Al lied tanks and riflemen burst across the winding Tiber at a score of points north and west of Home. 2000 Surrender At many points the enemy re treat had turned Into a disor ganized rout under the raking fire of Allied planes and tanks, and 2000 Nazis threw down their arms and surrendered to a fast- rolling British column that trnpDed them on the east bank of the river, near the teacoast. Every bridge across the Tiber below Rome had been blown up by the fleeing Germans, but 11 of the 14 main spans inside the capital were intact and Allied troops were crossing In a steady stream. Only In the northeastern out skirts of Rome did the Germans offer any determined resistance. A force of enemy tanks was re ported battling desperately around the Llttoria airport In an attempt to stem the swift Allied advance long enough for the main body of Kessclring's troops to escape. War Bulletins London, June 6 (U.R) Radio France at Algiers quoted a pur ported German broadcast ..to Spain tonight as saying Allied troops had landed and gained a foothold in the Boulogne-Calais area of northern France. The re port lacked confirmation In any responsible source. It also said Allied paratroops captured an airdrome in the fame region. London. Jn ft II pi Th German Transocean News Agen - cy said tonight that the Allied "offensive area" had been ex tended to the entire Norman peninsula. London, June 6 (U.R) The German-controlled Vichy radio said today that violent fighting was taking place on the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, west of the Norman peninsula, and the Allies were suffering heavy losses. London, June 6- flJ.R) Ger man coastal artillery in France opened up with salvoes across the Channel soon after noon to day, shaking towns in southeast England. STATE CORPORATION COMMISSIONER DIES Portland, Ore., June 6 U.R State Corporation Commissioner Lloyd R. Smith of Oregon died today in his Portland home. He was 62. Smith was in his office yester day but his health had been only fair in recent months. Funeral arrangements are pending. The commissioner was ap pointed first by Gov. Charles. Sprague in 1939 and reappointed In 1942. Battle of Europe Opens With 4,000 Vessels and 1 1,000 Planes in Assault By Virgil Plnkley United Press War Correspondent Washington, June 6. (U.R) President Roosevelt report ed late today that the invasion of Europe is running "up to schedule," He said that up to noon American naval losses In the operation comprised two destroyers and one escort ship and that air losses were relatively light, amounting to about one per cent. Supreme Headquarters, Allied Juno 6. (U.R) American, British, landed in northwestern France Normandy, and by evening had "gotten over the first five or aix hurdles" in the greatest amphibious assault of all time. Prime Minister Winston Churchill revealed that allied troops were fighting inside Caen, 9V4 miles Inside northwest France, that the invasion penetrations had reached several miles In depth in some cases, and that footholds had been established on a broad front as the operation proceeded "in a thoroughly satisfactory manner." Gen. Dwight D. Elsenhower's supreme headquarters revealed that the allied armies, carried and supported by 4,000 ships and 11,000 planes, encountered considerably less resistance than had been expected In the storming of Adolf Hitler's vaunted west wall. Nasis Admit Penetration Nazi broadcasts reported allied troops pouring ashore most of the day along a broad reach of the Norman coast and to the east, and admitted that Invasion landing barges had penetrated two estuaries behind the Atlantic wall. The apparent key to the lightness of the Nazi opposition to in vasion forces opening the battle of Europe was contained in a dis closure that thousands of allied planes dropped more than 11,200 tons of bombs on German coastal fortifications In eight and a half hours last night and early today. As massive allied air fleets took over complete command of the skies over the invasion zone, Reichsmarshal Hermann Goerlng issued an order of the day to his air force declurlng that the In vasion "must bo fought off, even If it means the death of the luft waffe." Churchill Tells Satisfaction ' Late In the day Prime Minister Winston Churchill, making hi ' second statement of the day to commons, said the Invasion was pro. ceedlng "in a thoroughly satisfactory manner." Earlier hs told commons It was going "according to plan and what a plan!" Simultaneously the German DNB news agency reported that the Invasion front "has been further widened." Nazi broadcasts throughout the day told of the amphibious assault developing on a grand scale, with fighting as deep as 10 miles Inland a figure apparently extended by the last enemy report. Supreme headquarters revealed late In the day that had wea ther had forced a 24-hour postponement of the invasion. The al lied command gave the go-ahead order last night despite strong northwest winds and rain squalls when weather experts forecast improving conditions today. The weather still was somewhat un favorable, however, impeding the support given the land armies by the air force. "Over First Few Hurdles" Although detailed official reports were lacking as the tense first day wore towards a close, it was summed up by one source at headquarters In the words: "We have gotten over the first five or six hurdles." The surmounted hurdles were described as: 1 The German air force did little or no bombing of ports from which the Invasion was mounted In the last critical days. 2 Attacks on Invasion convoys failed to reach the expected scale. 3 Minesweepers succeeded In sweeping channels to the beaches without much opposition from shore batteries or from the air. 4 The troops got ashore with less opposition from shore guns than was' believed probable. 5 Opposition generally was well below expectations; for in stance, up to a certain time this morning, the German air force had flown only 90 battlo area sorties. Casualties Relatively Light Allied overall casualties appeared to have been relatively light. Headquarters announced that they were light among air-borne troops and "surprisingly small very small" at sea. The disembarkation went according to plan. Warships suc ceeded In silencing shore batteries and laying smoke screens on schedule. A United States battleship moved in much closer to j shore than scheduled In order to fortifications. The mincswecplng was described as the biggest and probably most difficult operation of Its kind ever attempted. Hundreds of sweepers headed the Invasion fleets, clearing the water and mark ing channels. The German DNB news agency said this afternoon that allied landing barges had pushed Into the estuaries of the Orne and Vlre rivers In the coastal stretch between Cherbourg and Le Havre "In the rear of the Atlantic wall" the vaunted defense line that Hitler hoped would keep Invaders off the soil of Germany. Nazi broadcasters also acknowledged that allied tanks had cut several kilometers Inland between the towns of Caen and Islgny, and admitted allied penetrations ranging up to 10 miles. Heavy Fighting Near Caen The Germans reported heavy fighting In the area of Caen, nine and a half miles Inland and 113 miles from Paris on a direct railroad line. Nazi broadcasters said the allies had won footholds on several Islands off the coast of France. Earlier they reported landings In the channel islands west of the Norman peninsula. The Transocean agency reported that a naval battle was going on in the channel north of Le Havre between German units and allied forces trying to make a landing. DNB, the official Nazi agency, said German counterthrusta were being undertaken cast of Cherbourg, but "the enemy keeps throwing the bulk of his troops Into the area between Cherbourg and Ouistreham." The 28th and 101st American parachute divisions dropped in the Normandy area, DNB reported, adding the usual propaganda claim that mnny were captured. Even while the Berlin radio was blaring repeated reports of allied landings, it quoted military quarters as forecasting still more, "especially In St. Malo bay." St. Malo, ancient walled city with ramparts 80 feet high, Is on the Ranoe river. Expeditionary Force, London, and Canadian invasion forces today, established beachheads in silence a troublesome group of
