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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 1944)
t Holland Invaders Reinforced by Long Sky Trains; Junction With British 2nd Army Is Declared Near Weather Forecast: Partly cloudy to night and Tuesday. Continued cool. Temp. Highest yesterday 63 Lowest this morninr 48 PreclplUUon past 24 hra. M Thirty-ninth Year BreakThrough Carries Half way Across Corridor Battle Flares Intensely London, Sept. 18. (U.R) The Berlin radio said today that a deep Russian break-through to ward the Latvian capital of Higa created a "critical situa tion" for German troops in the Baltics who would be trapped by a lS-mile Soviet advance to the North Sea. The red army break-through carried half way across the cor ridor the Germans had main tained In the Riga area along the seacoast through which tens of thousands of troops in the upper Baltics was supplied, Nazi broadcasts said. . Battle Spreads The Baltic battle flared to full Intensity, by Berlin account, and spread to new sectors as upward of 500,000 Soviet troops were engaged. To the southwest, Ber lin reported without Moscow confirmation, other Russian forces tried to cross the Vis tula river at Warsaw to storm the Polish capital, but were re pulsed. The German DNB news agency said the defensive battle on the northern front raged with "extreme violence" and the Russians had extended it to the area of Tartu, in lower Estonia. "Enemy forces whi!h broke through at single points were Intercepted and sealed off," the agency said in a backhanded admission of Nazi reverses in several sectors. To Spring Again The reports indicated that the red army was about to spring again the trap it closed on the Germans in the Baltics early in August, only to have the Nazis break through the barricade reaching to the North Sea near Riga. (The British radio said the battle of Warsaw "is entering its last phase" after the Rus sians "reached the Vistula about five miles north of the capital, where the crossing of the river is least difficult." The broad cast was recorded by CBS.) The Moscow communique, for the first time in several weeks, did not mention the fighting at Warsaw, the usual practice when a big offensive Is under way, but it tended to confirm German reports of a renewed drive toward the Gulf of Riga. FIRSTlIFALLS AT DIAMOND LAKE Two Inches of snow fell Sun-! day at Diamond lake and Mt. j Wagner was whitened on top In the first appearance of win ter in the southern Oregon hills this season. The snow at Dia mond lake melted fast, return ing travelers said. Highest tem perature last week at Fish lake was 34 degrees, according to phone messages to the Medford Irrigation district. Assistant County Agent C. B. Cordy said the mercury dropped to around 35 degrees in the val ley last Thursday, and frost was on the roofs of some rural build ings. The first killing frosts are generally due around October 10. Commercial tomato growers are now In the midst of their harvest and expect to be through by early October. All threshing has been completed, except seeds, County Agent Rob ert G. Fowler said. ' Radio Highlights Gov. Tom Dewey will broad cast from Seattle at 7:30 p. m. tnday. The speech will be car ried on a hookup of Oregon stations. NAZIS IN BALTICS "Pocketed" Germans Forced to Surrender MAY BE TRAPPED SS BYDEEP ADVANCE MMfMflli United Press CAUGHT IN THE GIGANTIC TRAP set for them by onrushing Americans and slugging British and Canadians in France, these ere some o( the thousands of German prisoners captured alter hard fighting in what has become famous as the "Falaise pocket." British troops are bringing them into a prisoner camp as Allied tanks roll on toward the battlefront. PALAU FOOTHOLD; NAVY GUNS HELP Pearl Harbor, Sept. 18 U.R) American invasion forces extend ed their foothold in the southern Palau islands today, capturing one-third of tiny Anguar and the southern end of Pelclius, togSth er with its airfield, 560 miles east of the Philippines. Army troops of the 81st in fantry division, which landed on Angaur Saturday, rolled through the three - square - mile island against little opposition and penetrated as much as 1500 yards at one point. Marines on Pelelius, six miles north of Angaur, met stiff re sistance, but with the support of a steady naval and air bombard ment, fanned out for ono-third of a mile on the southwest coast and were driving northward. Tighten Morotai Grip At the same time. Gen. Doug las MacArthur's veteran army forces tightened their grip on Morotai, in the Halmaheras, at the southern end of the Amer ican line extending around the southeastern corner of Mindanao from the Palaus. Southwest Pacific headquar ters said the troops reached all the perimeter objectives against negligible opposition and con tinued to consolidate their beach head. While construction battalions rushed completion of the Pitu airfield, 250 miles south of the Philippines, Allied bombers dropped more than 210 tons of explosives i n neutralization raids on other Halmahera air dromes. On Angaur, army troops un der Maj. Gen. Paul J. Mueller pushed more than 1000 yards inland within a dny after they landed, Joined their beachheads on the north and northeast end of the island, captured a radio station and started a drive south ward. Surgical Dressing Volunteers Called Tuesday Morning The call has gone ' out from the Jackson County Surgical Dressing Department for all vol unteers to register Tuesday at 10 a.m. to start the fall quota. The Court House auditorium has been redecorated during the two weeks vacation Riven the volunteer workers, after th-ir dramatic finishing of the 200,000 dressings on Sept. 1. All over the county workers will be trooping back again, the time varying according to the end of the fruit and canning sea son In the districts. The Medford work rooms will follow their previous schedule Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be no evening sessions at pres ent. Captain Bartholomew Gos-j nold, English, landed in Massa- chusetU in 1602. 1 Full Leased Wire MEDFORD, OREGON, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1944 20,000 Germans Surrender, March 200 Miles Guarded By Only 24 Brash Yankees By Collie Small United Press Sta f f Correspondent Beaugency, France, Sept. 18 (U.R) Twenty thousand Ger mans who surrendered to 24 brash Americans arrived at the River Loire today and turned in their arms to the American 83rd division. . Though tschnically prisoners, they had been permitted to march in a group, fully armed, for 200 miles. Twenty-four Americans had been insufficient to protect them from the ven geance of the French maquis. Only at the River Loire were there enough Americans to pro tect them. Strange Capitulation It was one of the strangest military capitulations on record. The French didn't like it. They thought the Americans were a little crazy to let 20,000 armed men march 200 miles without guard or direction. But it turned out as it had been planned. The Germans were more afraid of the French than the French dis trusted the Germans. They want ed to keep their arms only for their own protection. They were led by Maj. Gen. Erich Elster, their commander. He and his staff formally handed their swords to Maj. Gen. Robert C. Mason, commander of the 83rd. Two and a half miles be hind them were their men, three columns of weary and disheart ened Germans who stacked arms on the river bank and marched across pontoon bridges to prison camps. For weeks, there have been reports of large numbers of Ger mans in southern France want ing to surrender if only they could find some Americans to accept their surrender Ger mans who didn't want to surren der to the French forces of the interior. Now, for the first time, is told the authentic story of a remarkable footnote to the his tory of the war. I spoke to one German soldier on the lawn later. He spoke Eng lish perfectly. He said he used to be a coffee salesman in San Francisco. He explained he was surrendering because he realized six months ago the war was over for Germany. "I would like to see the Golden Gate again," he said wistfully. ;NEW GRID LOOP New York, Sept. 17 (U.R) Complete organization of a new professional football circuit, the Trans-America Football league, was announced today by. Presi dent John (Chick) Median, for mer Manhattan, New .YoMcl Uni versity and Syracuse coach. SIDE GLANCES BT TRIBUNE REPORTERS Gain Robinson searching for nine football scores for the amusement of the "False Friends" club. Ralph Green preparing to ex ercise his muscles on his day off. PACIFIC ADMIRALS FOR NIPPON SONS Aboard Adm. Marc Mitschcr's Carrier Flagship Off Mindanao, Sept. 17 U.R (Via Navy Ra dio) Adm. WUIinm F. Halsey, plain-spoken commander of the United States Third fleet, said tnday that he and Adm. Marc. Mitscher were cooking up more trouble for the Jnpanese. "Sure," said Admiral Halsey, "our dirty trick department is working overtime." Halsey, tanned and ebullient, came aboard this flagship today to confer four hours with Ad miral Mitscher on forthcoming blows against the retreating en emy. Replying to the question of whether we could keep up our advance as fast as the Japanese reretreated, Halsey said: "I hope to God we can so we can kick-'em',in .the backside." Halsey Is In overall command of the Palau Invasion and accom panying aerial blows against the Philippines. Halsey was characteristically Informal during "his visit with Mitscher. He came aboard In a breeches buoy, swinging gaily in the breeze and grinning and waving his hands while curious officers and enlisted men gath ered on the hangar deck of this Essex class carrier. T AT Headquarters, 14th Air Force, China, Sept. 18 flJ.R) Blasted runways and destroyed build ings were all that remained to day of the great Kwcilin air base, abandoned by the 14th Air Force in the face of two converg ing Japanese columns in China's Kwangsi province. Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chcnnault pulled out his sir forces from the central strategic base for eastern China after desperate day and night delaying air bat tles failed to stop the Japanese. The entire Kwcilin system of air fields were blown up with 1000-pound bombs, together with all headquarters stores, am munition, fuel and bombs that could not be evacuated. STILWELL OPENS ROAD TO CIA Junction of Yank and Chin ese Patrols East of Kashu Promises New Route Southeast Asia Headquarters, Kandv. Cevlon. Sent. 18 U.R J A Chinese-American patrol of Gen. Joseph W. Stilwells Bur ma forces crossed the Sino-Bur-ma border today to establish the first contact with Chinese troops from the Salwccn front and open the way for a new supply route into China. The junction east of Kashu put Stilwell well on the way toward fulfilling his promise to return, made when he reached Imphal on May 20, 1942, after walking from Burma. At that time he pledged to reopen the Burma road. Last at Kashu St!lweH's troops last were re ported at Kashu, southeast of Myitkylna, driving eastward I along jungle trails leading to Tengchung, key road junction In Yunnan province, which fell to the Chinese last week. Development of the 80 miles of trails between Myitkylna and Tengchung would require con siderable road building, but would slrbrten the ' Ledo road leading from India to Its junc tion with the Burma road. Army engineers have complet ed 238 miles of the Ledo road to Mogaung and now are work ing on a 33-mile stretch from Mogaung to Myitkyina. The Bur ma road, still in Japanese hands, runs far to the south, passing through Bhamo, 70 miles south of Kashu, across the border to Lungling, 25 miles south of Tengchung, and then turns northward at Paoshan, 40 miles cast of Tengchung. Buzzbombs Return When British Turn Lights On Again London, Sept. 18 flJ.R) Lon don's scheduled dimout, ending five years of blackouts, was marked down as a "flop" today because the Germans launched a flying bomb attack shortly af ter dark, the second within 24 hours following a 10-day lull. TO BERLIN By United Press The shortest distances to Berlin from advanced allied lines today: Western front 300 miles (from point east of Aachen, gain of 18 miles in woek). Dewey Calls for Clearer Definition " And More Permanence, in Labor Rights Crtoffls urn, c so it ml Gov. Thomas E. Dewey called today for a clearer definition and more permanent establish ment of labor's rights "so they will not depend on a single po litical party or the caprice of any individual." Dewey, In Seattle for the first of four west coast campaign speeches told a press conference that was the reason he had chos en labor questions as the subject or his first address on the de tails of the Republican program If he Is elected to the White House In November. Time for Scrutiny "I think It Is time that the labor pollclesof our government be examined with great care so that In the approaching peace time labor and the country gen erally can be brought closer to- gether and the rights of labor, be more clearly and permanent ly established so they will notl depend on a single political pnr-l ty or on the caprice of any In dividual," Dewey said. Dewey scheduled conferences with Seattle labor leaders, as well as leaders of business, Neg TRIBUNE United Press Twin Invosions CHINA, fnong Kong) Manila. ii MINDANAO TJSPALAU 'S rCEUBES, If Srr NETHERLANDS INDIES 'NEW Vv;' J 'GUINEA ,iJfI)MORV - A, .r pi U S American Invaslnn r... , . jM:-vv;:.-w: SJ bastion kin . .. 1 ""rnntrns in Palau isiantts powcrlui Jan mJSSJ?- ,WMp "h only Icenii P "of"" rt Habanera, surprising Nlpa who expected us to strike at southern islands ot group. FASCIST TRIAL TO Rome, Sept. 18 U.R) More than 7,000 Romans stormed the first great trial of fascist crimi nals today, seized an assistant director of the Reglna Coell pri son, threw him Into the Tiber river and kept his head under water until he drowned. Donato Carreta was the man lynched but the mob was after Pietro Caruso, pro-nazi chief of the Rome police and defendant at the trial which never got un derway. They missed Caruso and re mained milling around the Re glna Coell prison, where they believed he was belnfc held, un til a squai of 50 American and 50 British military police arriv ed on the scene. Although they had Ignored. the orders of Cara blnlcri throughout the morning, the crowd quickly melted on sight of the allied uniforms. Carreta's body was hauled from the Tiber and hung from one of the bars of the Reglna Coell prison. Caruso terrorized Rome dur ing the nazi occupation. The wrath of the mob was turned toward Carreta when the black-veiled mother of a hostage shot by Germans In the Adrca tine caves screamed tut she had paid him 150,000 lire as a bribe to save her son, and that he had taken the money without doing anything In return. ' ' XT to, Scandinavian and Rcpubll-' can organizations during thei dav. He snenlcs tnnlaht r.n n nn.'i tionwide broadcast from civic auditorium where Republican leaders anticipate an overflow crowd of 1,000. ' Don't Expect Beck In response to a ; question. Dewey said he was "qtiitf sure" that Dave Beck, AFL Teamsters union leader, would "riot" be among the labor leaders he will see during the day. j Another reporter asked "how about Mr. Bridges?" (Harry Bridges, west coast head of the Internatl o n a I Longshoremen's union.) "Bridges?" Dewey responded. "I don't even know where he Is. Is he still In this country?" Dewey declined to comment on recent remarks of Senator Claude Pepper, (D., Fla.), in Se attle to the.effcct that a Repub lican victory In November would Influence Russia to delay get ting Into the Pacific war after' German collapses. Ho said he had decided from W11UV MO IIMU D'-HI Ul . O. remarks that there was "noth- Full Leased Wire NO. 151. Hem Philippines r a J A D I A k i a r , SAIPAN, "TINIAN, , GUAM, . TRUK CAROLINE ISLANDS' . .naoam r ' fort Moresby: i . . r Mine Bay TcR lY aI ' IRS m w3 ... vv , .. ,-.r i1 aw- . . - 'i ..:.. - . ( Acm Tclenhato) ENROLLMENT FOR SCHOOL OPENING UP 18 PER CENT Enrollment In Medford's four elementary schools is up 18 per cent over the first day s enroll ment last year, figures at the of fice of the city school superin tendent, E. H. Hcdrick, showed this afternoon. Last year total enrollment for the four element ary schools was 1114 pupils, and this year is 1314, the reports show. It was stated that flie Increase was unexpected but that space In the schools and the teaching staff is adequate to handle the pupils and no difficulties are ex pected. Jackson school enrollment this morning was 289, or 19.9 over last year; Lincoln, with the larg est increase, enrolled 255 pupils, an Increase of 23.8 per cent; Roosevelt's enrollment Is 339 students, representing a 20 per cent increase, and Washington school has enrolled 431 students, 12 per cent larger than last year. Two additional country schools, Agate and Independ ence, are bringing their students to Medford this year, but these do not account for the large In crease, It was stated at the school office. Portable room coolers will be available in the post-war period as soon as production can be started, electrical manufacturers assert They will be priced for an average-income family. Ing In It" to comment upon. Told that Pepper also had acciarcd that industrial recon-, VPrsinn U,nnlH rrmt In 4 1. .-,-' before it does In the far west. Dewey said he considered the' Florida senator a spokesman for the present administration and therefore It could be expected that unless there Is a change In November that was what the far west could expect. Progress Possible Dewey promised a crowd which met him at the Union station that "If we can achieve equality between the east, the midwest and the far west In re conversion, If wo can achieve an administration that believes in the great future development of this country we can go for ward once again to full employ ment, real security and happi ness among all our people. Dewey came to Seattle to make his bid for labor support In the November election with an address outlining a program designed to "restore freo collec tive bargaining, and to correct the existing situation In which labor's rights are made subject to political favoritism." GOOD PROGRESS, BEING MADE BY,1 AIR-BORNE ARM! i Germans Stiffen Resistance Against U.S. 1st Army- Counterattacks Launched Supreme Headquarters, AEf Sopt. 18 (U.R) Troops of th allied first airborne army and the British 2nd army joined ! hands in Holland today, ep parently assuring the success of the bold descent by sky ' troopers In a bid to turn the Siegfried line. Supreme Headquarters, AET, Sept. 18 (U.R) Reinforced b sky trains totaling 285 miles in length, the Allied first air-born army in Holland was making "excellent progress" today and nearing a junction with the Brit, ish 2nd army after achieving iU first objectives. Twenty-four hours after t)i original descent on Holland, an other vast fleet of gliders, bomb ers and other planes poured more men and material Into th section of Holland carved out by the aerial army making a bid to turn the Siegfried line and open the way to Berlin. Nails Stiffen German resistance against tb U. S. 1st army stiffened sudden ly Inside the Reich The Nazi struck out in. a series of counter attacks along the entire front on their homeland soil The pens, tration east of Aachen wag slowed down In the area two miles beyond Stolberg. Counter blows In the Luxembourg fron tier area pushed the Yanks back two miles, but the ground was) retaken during the night. A tight security ban obscured the operations and lqcations of the air-borne forces, who wero very close to a linkup with th British 2nd army. They had at tained several critical first ob jectives, consolidated t h e i t forces, and now were expanding their newly-won territory against oposltlon that was heavy la places. Front dispatches said the 2nd army was seven miles inside HoW land at nightfall Sunday and pushing toward Eindhoven. Tht Germans claimed that the air borne forces descended In th Eindhoven area, which would mean that the two armies were) less than 10 miles apart. Libs Drop Supplies A force of 250 Liberator! dropped supplies to tho air-born forces early Monday afternoon, 24 hours after the Invaders de scended on Holland In a section reported by the Nazis to em brace the Eindhoven-Tilburijb Nijmegen area and reach to the) north banks of the Rhine abovO the northern end of the Siegfried line. Some 000 8th air force fight, ers escorted the Liberators and glider trains carrying reinforce ments to Holland They also shot up antiaircraft Installations. On force of Mustangs Intercepted 60 German fighters trying to hre.ik up a supply train over Holland and shot down at least 28 for a loss of two. While all reports of the aerial descent on Holland were favor able, it still was too early to siiy" the danger was past. A continued flow of supplies and a linkup oi the scattered forces Into a cohe sive front must be accomplished swiftly. j Germans Fleeing A front dispatch apparently written last night said the Gt r mans were fleeing from the Al lied Invasion by air, and had evacuated at least 13 Dutch towns and villages. The security blackout still con cealed from the German hii:l command and the world the da tails of the descent on Holland details of which the Nazis obvi ously had not been able to patch Into a pattern for use In the de fense of northwestern Germany. Crack German troops shifted westward from the Russian fro.it counter-attacked tho tip of tho American 1st army wedge which Lt. Gen. Courtney II. Hodgea had driven through the Siegfried line east of Aachen, but tliO Yanks absorbed the Impact handily without the loss of single pillbox. United Press Correspondent Jack Frnnklsh, In a 1st army front dispatch reporting the Ger man counter-attack, said it wn launched on a smaller scale than one yesterday. U. S. artillery rained more than 200 tons of shells onto crack fusilier and grenadier units, the finest Ger man troops yet faced by tho Americans in this sector. Lt. Gen. Sir Miles C. Demp sey's British 2nd army smashed forward across the Dutch fron tier In a full scale advance af ter nearly two weeks of a corns parative lull.
