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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (July 27, 1944)
in Weather Forecast: Fair tonight and Friday, with scattered thunder storms In mountains this eve ning. Little change In tempera ture. Temp. Highest yesterday 07 Lowest this morning 63 Precipitation past 24 brs. 0 Thirty-ninth Year Nazi Norman Defense Cracks Wide Open E SPEEDS TO TRAP Seven Badly Mauled Divi sions Menaced as Yanks Surge Forward Thru Gap With American Forces In Normandy, July 27 (U.R) United States forces occupied Periers and Lessay late to day. Supreme Headquarters, AEF, July 27 (U.R) The German de fense line in Normandy cracked wide open today and an Ameri can armored column raced southwestward toward the sea in a fast-breaking bid to shear oft the Nazi left wing and trap the enemy's 84th army corps of seven badly mauled divisions. The Nazi corps was reeling back under the heaviest pres sure, all along the line from the St. Lo break-through to the At lantic coast, as Lt. Gen. Omar N. Bradley sent a tank spear head careening down the high way within four miles of the Coutances transport hub, the fall of which would virtually doom the harried German divi sions. Stream Through Gap United States armor stream ing through the breach west of St. Lo fanned out for gains up to 12 miles and captured the road junction of Canisy and Le Mesnil Herman, along with scores of smaller towns and vil lages, as it threatened to turn the German line in both direc tions and collapse the entire en emy front. Lessay and Periers were by passed by American forces surg ing southward in the wake of what field dispatches Indicated was a general German with drawal on the left flank to es cape the sudden menace to the armored approach to Count ances. "The United States offensive now is rolling at top speed," United Press War Correspond ent Henry T. Gorrell reported from the front. "Tanks are four miles from Coutances, and the enemy caught to the north is beating a retreat In an effort to get out before Bradley's armor bars the way." Planes Busy He said U. S. dive-bombers and assault planes were "hav ing a field day beating up the German tanks pulling out" be fore the record array of Amer ican armor. Another front dispatch said the Americans advancing on the west flank were encounter ing some of the thickest mine fields and bobby traps in France, but little or no small arms fire. It said the Germans moved out during the night un der cover of a heavy artillery barrage when the front line po sitions became untenable under the mounting U. S. pressure. Two vital bridges in the vi cinity of Coutances had been knocked out by U. S. planes, making more difficult the Ger man retirement from the Les-say-Periers front. Major- Catastrophe "It is the biggest German catastrophe since Cherbourg," Gorrell said. His dispatch filed at 6:40 p.m. said more thana dozen sizable towns had been taken in the last 4 hours and well over 2.000 German prisoners captured. TJie bulk of the 84th German army corps was north of Cout ances. Only a few roads were available for Its exit from the hot corner, and "at best esti mates it can't pull out more than one-third per night," Gor rell said. Already Coutances was with in range of the mobile artillery accompanying the American ar mor, partially blocking the es cape corridor of the Germans. WEATHER Northern California Partly cloudy with scattered afternoon thunderstorms mountain and foothill section today and Fri day. Little change in tempera-1 tll'C 1 MEDFORD United Press Lead U. S. Invasion of Guam (Acme Telepholo) Rear Adm. Richard L. Conolly (left), who commanded landings at Roi and Namur In the Marshall!, Is in charge ot amphibious operations al U. S assault forces storm ashore on Guam. Commander ot expeditionary troops Is Brig. Gen Roy S. Geiger (right). U 8 Marine Corps, who commanded successful invasion of Bougainville. Marines Wipe Out Quarter Of Jap Strength On Tinian Aboard Expeditionary Flagship off Tinian, July 27 (East Longitude date) (U.R) (via Navy Radio) Marines, led by tanks and supported by plants, advanced against scattered rear-guard resistance on Tinian today and won gains of as much as a mile and a half. SIX MORE FIRES T Six additional fires were re ported set by lightning in the Rogue River National forest yes terday1 afternoon and last night and another, said to be man caused, was also reported. The lightning fires were in the Ap plegate, where two were report ed, and in the Butte Falls area, where four small fires were set. The man-caused fire was re ported from Union Creek dis trict, having been discovered in the area between Crater and Na tional creeks on the old Diamond Lake road. Forest officials were of the opinion that a careless fisherman had thrown down a lighted cigarette which set the blaze. It spread over approxi mately two acres before being controlled. The thunder storms resulted In some scattered rain in the! Applegate district, but other sec tions reported none. The valley experienced considerable wind, velocity rising to about 35 miles an hour at 10:30 p. m. and then subsiding. Yesterday's high was 87 de grees, somewhat warmer than Tuesday's 93, the heat that day also resulting in thunder storms and several small forest fires. Continued high temperatures and additional storms tonight are forecast. Poles Will Seek Compromise With Soviet Officials London, July 27 (U.R) Pre mier Stanislaw Mikolajszky. head of the Polish government In exile, left for Moscow today, accompanied by his minister of foreign affairs, Tadeusz Romer, Polish sources announced. The surprise announcement came barely 24 hours after yes terday's lengthy conference be tween the Polish leaders and Anthony Eden, British minister of foreign affairs, concerning the effects of the formation of 8 Polish committee for national liberation in Moscow. Well-informed sources In Lon don said that by this visit the Polish premier hopes to reach a compromise with Russia and participate in administering lib erated Poland Full Leased Wire l 1 The Invaders now have se cured the northern quarter of the 48 square mile island. They have wiped out approximately one-fourth of the estimated fighting strength of the enemy on Tinian. Win New Airstrip Additionally, the Americans have won a new airstrip in the Marianas at Ushi Point. Today small planes the eyes of the artillery were making landings at the Ushi Field. (Occupation of Ushi airstrip was announced by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz last night.) The flat country being cov ered at present by the marines is Ideal for tanks and other types of heavy armor maneuver ing, adding further weight to the fire power against the Jap anese who apparently have not committed the main forces known to be on the Island. The unofficial guess Is that they will probably attempt to maintain themselves in the high ground on the extreme south eastern sector where hills some times are more than 400 feet high nearly as high as Mount Lasso, seized more than 24 hours ago to give the Americans the best vantage point on the island. w"ir U. S. Brands Argentina Government as Deserter of Neighbors in Needy Hour Washington, July 27 flJ.R) Branded by the United States as a deserter of her neighbors In an hour of need and as one who aids enemies of the United Na tions, the Argentine government today stood Just short of being considered a traitor to the west ern hemisphere. This country's bitter castlga tion of the present Argentine re gime of Gen. Edelmiro Farrell was delivered last night by Sec retary of State Cordcll Hull. It did not, however, provide a solu tion to the complex problem but instead, posed a serlei of prob lems concerning the future of the good neighbor policy and the attempt to establieh hemis pheric solidarity. Discrimination Charged (Foreign Minister Orlando Peluffo of Argentina charged in a radio speech In Buenos Aires last night that the United States had singled out Argentina for discriminatory treatment. He said Argentina not only favored the cause of the United Nations, but had taken eight rpecificj measures against the Axis.) MEDFORD, OREGON, THURSDAY, JULY 27, 1944. MOUNTING FORCES HITLER TO Special Order in East Prus sia, Northeast Germany to Deal With Saboteurs. By Edward W. Beattie United Press Staff Correspondent London, July 27 (U.R) Stock holm advices said today that mounting unrest in East Prussia and northeast Germany, direct ly In the path of advancing Red armies, has forced Adolf Hitler to establish a special unified command there to deal with saboteurs and guerrillas. (A Stockholm dispatch broad cast by the British radio assert ed that German youth, once the backbone of Nazism, was In a "state of latent revolt" and ges tapo police camps for both girls and boys had been established with authority to "liquidate" those whom it was found "impos sible to educate." FCC monitors recorded the British broadcast.) Not All Caught The report came only a few hours after Nazi Propaganda. Minister Paul Joseph Goebbels, in his new role as plenipotentiary for total war mobilization, ack nowledged Ip a radio broadcast yesterday that not all those In volved in last week's abortive attempt on Hitler's life and military revolt had been execut ed or arrested. Radio Stockholm relayed a dispatch from the newspaper Morgontidningcn reporting that Hitler had put a General Eisen back at the head of the new anti guerrilla command of special troops In East Prussia, Danzig and West Prussia. Ships Crowded Morgontidningcn said that ships leaving East Prussian ports were booked weeks In advance and a black market was flourish ing in passages. The Danish press service also reported that German officers wounded several soldiers in a town In North Jutland when a detachment refused to travel to Germany in freight cars and de manded more comfortable trans portation. STORE MAN NAMED Washington, July 27 (U.R) The Office of Price Administra tion today announced appoint ment of Byres H. Gitchell, St. Paul, Minn., as director of OPA's consumer goods price division. He is chairman of the board of the Golden Rule department store, St. Paul. About 750,000 married women with children under 11 are cm ployed in British war Industry. Hull set forth for the world to inspect what an authoritative government source described as Argentina's "monstrous doctrine of desertion." Hull invited its comparison with the doctrine of cooperation against the Axis fol lowed by the rest of the Amer icas and recommended the dip lomatic isolation of Argentina. His bitterly critical statement brings into the open what Is con sidered one of the gravest crisis in Pan American history since 1917 when the Zimmerman note revealed that Germany had1 promised Mexico American land if she would align herself with the central powers. It certainly is the gravest crisis In the west ern hemisphere since, President Roosevelt proclaimed the good neighbor policy. The United States decision to publish In forthright language Its appeal to the other United Nations to follow the example may force the Argentine leaders to revise drastically their policy in favor of the Allied cause. Ambassador Recalled Both countries have recalled mMJL ill ICADE STREETS OF PISA FOR Fit STAND Spotters Atop Leaning Tow er Direct Artillery Against Yanks Massing for Attack Rome, July 27 (U.R) Ger man troops barricaded the streets of Pisa in preparation for a bloody, house-to-house defense of the city today while their long-range guns, directed by spotters atop the famous lean ing tower, raked American forces massing along the south bank of the Arno river. Working in full view of Amer ican patrols on tho opposite side of the river, the Nazis threw barbed wire and concrete bar riers across the medieval streets and planted machine gun squads along the river bank to meet the expected American assault. May Destroy Tower Allied headquarters spokes men said German artillery spot ters had been observed on the 179-foot leaning tower In the northwest corner of the city and warned that it might become necessary for American guns to destroy the historic building. Front reports Indicated that until a late hour yesterday the Americans hid made no attempt to shell me ancient nan or t-isa held by the Germans and the city's cultural monuments still were intact. The famous leaning tower was begun In 1174 and completed In 1350. STOCKTON GETS BIG NAVY DEPOT Stockton, Cal., July 28. U.P.) Rep. Leroy Johnson, Stockton, today said that the navy bureau of yards and docks in Washing ton, D. C, had authorized him to announce that a navy supply depot will be established near the ccep water port of Stockton with initial projects totaling ap proximately $20,000,000 already approved . The site of the project will be Rough and Ready Island slight ly downstream in the Stockton channel from the deep water port where the Stockton army ordnance depot now Is establish ed. The island is about five miles west of tho city limits. Lumber production In the United States was estimated at 17,701,602,000 board feet for the 1 first quarter of 1944. their ambassadors, with Argen tina describing Its action as "first step" In retaliation for the United States' charges. The au thoritative U. S. government source admitted that no thought Is being given here now to im plementing the non-recognition policy against Argentina with economic sanctions. This government's reason for refusing to recognize the Argen tine regime was mode public by Hull in a long memorandum In I which he accused Argentina of deserting her sister republics In the face of enemy fire and of Riving continuing aid and com fort to the enemies of the United Nations. The memorandum was a com bination of two that already had been sent to the other Latin American countries and to which, It was learned, virtually all subscribed. The nearly 8,000 word document was considered here as one of the strongest statements ever made against a nation with which the United Statei was not it war. United Press Full GOP Nominees ".itf..J;v.' (Acme letephotoj Governor Thomas E. Dewey tlelt) and Governor Jura. w. unuu, u- j- P. lu'u&iuuuuui ana vice piwiuenuiu uummces, meet uu Hum purun oJ hUiie executive uiaiwou, Aiutuiy, i, tu uiey picpiuea lor cuuiemii uu issues in iui uicuiiuuit uaiiuuifcU. Dewey Will Offer Program To End Chaos in Government Albany, N. Y., July 27 (U.R) Gov, Thomns E. Dewey, repub lican presidential nominee, said today he would place a sweep ing program before the St. Louis GOP Governors' conference next week in an effort to "bring agreement out of chaos which has existed between the federal government and tho slates for 12 years." Dewey's program, which was. approved by his running mate, Gov. John W. Brlcker of Ohio, Includes 15 major Issues: 1 Public expenditures. 2 Public health. 3 Administration of unem ployment insurance. 4 Administration of employ ment services. 5 Relationship between un employment Insurance and em ployment services. 6 Labor the i.phcre of In fluence of tho national govern ment as contrasted to local gov ernment. 7 Public works, the extent to be financed and supervised by the various units of government. 8 Highways. 9 Regulation of Insurance. 10 Ownership of national lands. 1 1 Water and flood control and the conservation of national resources. 12 The national guard, whether It shall be returned to the states In the post war era or remain federalized. 13 The whole problem of federal and state tax coordina tion. 14 Agriculture, the extent lo which agriculture, soil conserva tion and controls, if any, should be administered by the national government of the states reg ionally. 15 Veterans affairs. Dewey said the program would be submitted to the gov ernors for their consideration, lie revealed the program at a press conference on tho front porch of the executive mansion. Urickcr snt beside him. "We (Dewey and Brlcker) have canvassed the entire field of conflict between the fcderol government and tho state and local government," he said. "This conflict of authority and responsibility has been a con stant source of 'riction for 12 years in this country. "There have been enough people spending their full time fighting each other over the questions of Jurisdiction and power between the federal, and state and local governments to make up a small army. In fact, there are almost as many people squabbling over this thing as there are squabbling In the fcd erol government, if that were possible. We conceive It to be one of our first obligations to bring agreement out of this chaos and to bring unity where there Is only disunity now." to Berlin" By United Press The shortest distances to Berlin from advanced allied lines today: Russia 300 miles. Italy 608 miles. France 623 miles. Accorlngd to the Missouri stite highway patrol six per cent of the total rural accidents In the state last year were pedes trian accidents which caused 22 per cent of all fatal Injuries. IUNE Leaied Wire NO. 107. Confer at Albany m- v A, JS"4' " . , M L MCNAI KILLED AT FRONT Washington, July 27 (U.R) Lt. Gen. Lesley J. McNalr, the man who trained this country's mammoth new ground forces for the battles they are now fighting around the world, was killed in the front line of the current American offensive in Normondy, the war department announced today. Ho was 01. Before he full, McNalr saw the start of an offenslvo which already has smashed through the German lines and carried deeper Into the enemy's terrl tory the doughboys whose train' Ing he directed. McNoIr stood high In the small group of military leaders who, under Gen. George C. Mar shall, chief of staff, built tho U, S. army from 1,500.000 to its present size of 7,700,000. Wounded Before McNalr hnd some narrow escapes In other wars and had come close to death once before In this one. On April 23, 1943, while visiting the Tunisian front a splinter from a German four- inch shell pierced his steel hel met and lodged a quortcr of an Inch from his brain. From March, 1942, until re cently McNalr was commanding general of tho army's ground forces, a post which ranked him with Gen. H. II. Arnold, com mander of tho army air forces, and Lt. Gen, Brehon B. Somer vell, commander of tho army supply forces. On July 14 the war depart ment announced that he had been succeeded by Lt. Gen. Ben Lear and had been given an "Important overseas assign ment." Tho war department an nouncement said merely that McNalr "was killed by enemy fire while observing the action of our front lino units In the recent offensive." McNalr, credited with possess ing one of the best brains In the army, used to bo known as "the GIIQ sparkplug." CIO HEAD ENDORSES TRUMAN'S CANDIDACY Washington, July 27. (U.R) President R. J. Thomas of the United Automobile Workers (CIO) today endorsed the Demo cratic vice presidential candi date, Sen. Horry S. Truman, as a "progressive man" and denied Republican charges that the CIO was involved In a conspiracy with democratic machine bosses. BIALYSTOK FALL Stanlslawow, Cital Guard ing Carpathian Passes to Czechoslovakia Taken. London. July 27. (U.R) Maw ive Russian forces burst through the disintegrating Gor man battle lines at three key points along the 800-mile fight, ing front today and sent lhoir armored spearheads racing ahead toward Ciechoslovakla Warsaw, and the Baltic states. The entire German arc of de femes winding northward from the Carpathian passes, scrota the plains of Poland and on to the Baltic sea buckled under lhe triphammer blows of the red army as Soviet tanks and infan trymen struck for their greatest victory of the month-old sum. mer offensive. In three triumphant orders ot ihe day, Soviet Premier Josef Stalin announced that his arm ies had captured Bialystok. un hinged the Nazi defenses before) Warsaw and East Prussiai Stanislawow, at the Carpathian mountain gateway to Czecho slovakia, and the Latvian strong holds of Daugavpils (Dvinik) and Resenke, on the road to Riga and the Baltic coast. London, July 27 (U.R) The Red army in twin victories at opposite ends of the battlefront In Poland today captured Bialy stok, unhinging the German de fenses before East Prussia and Warsaw,and Stanlslawow, cita del guarding the approaches to the Carpathian Passes into Czechoslovakia. Premier Josef Stalin Issued orders of the day announcing that Soviet assault forces had stormed through the ancient fortress of Bialystok In two days of fierce fighting and had taken Stanlslawow In a coor dinated flanking maneuver and frontal onslaught. Col. Gen. Georgl Zakhnrov's second army of White Russia scored the Bialystok victory, clearing the way for a two-way push against East Prussia 50 miles to the northwest and War saw to the southwest. Marshal Ivan S. Konev's First army of the Ukraine took Stanls lawow, big base dominating the southernmost tip of old Poland, which Stalin described as a "large rail Junction and Import ant stronghold of the German defenses in the Carpathian foot hills." Stanlslawow Is 38 miles from the Czechoslovak frontier, 70 miles southeast of Lwow, and on the Lwow-Bucharest trunk railway. Covering the highway and railroad lines running south ward to Warsaw and the roads to East Prussia, only 50 miles to the north, Bialystok's fall poised a twin threat to tho German armies trying desperately to hold the Polish capital and at tha same timo prevent a break through into their fatherland soil to the north. Stalin hailed the city's fall as a first-rate military triumph and ordered Moscow's 224 victory guns to fire a 20-salvo salute to Zokharov's troops. Radio Berlin acknowledged the loss ot the powerful strong hold little more than an hour earlier, admitting that the Nazi defenders had been forced to abandon the city and fall back "several kilometers." WIND-DAMAGED WIRES CAUSE SMALL BLAZE Sparks caused by an overload In the electric - wiring at tha home of Miss Vera Humphrey, 103 Genesee St., at 10:45 o'clock last night necessitated a call for the fire department. Firemen explained today that wind broke the ground wire leading Into tha house, throwing an overload ot 220 volts Into the electric wir ing system, which burned out lights, and switch wires on tha electric stove. SIDE GLANCES Br TRIBUNE REPORTERS George Carter sending his of fice force Into spasms of horror with his boogy man tactics. Carl Tengwald thinking up ways to persuade the women of the family to port with numerous back issues of cherished maga zines. Greta and Frank Humphrey recounting the strange experi ence of picking up the same two RAF hitch-hikers twice within a wcck'i time.
