Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, December 26, 1944, Image 1

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Medford mail tribune., December 26, 1944, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextMA fo)fUl miui i Medford United Prau Thirty ninth Year Foil Athens Plot to OF CONFERENCE SPOT Discovery of Fused Explo sive Beneath Hotel Made Shortly Before Gathering Athem, Dee. 26 (U.R) Allied and Greek leaden met today, a few houn after the thwarting of a possible plot against Prime Minister Win ston Churchill by discovery of a dynamite cache under the Great Britain hotel, for a mo mentous conference aimed at ettling the civil war in Greece. Athens, Dee. (?) (U.R) A pos sible plot to assassinate Prime Minister Winston Churchill was thwarted today with the discov ery of nearly a ton of dynamite under the Great Britain hotel, British and Greek government headquarters, while a confer ence aimed at ending the Greek civil war was reported shaping up. The dynamite was found in a sewer under the hotel a few hours before a planned convoca tion of British and Greek fac tional leaders, and the fused cache was removed. Greek government s o u f'c e s' said representatives of all ele ments of the civil war were in vited to a conference at which Churchill and Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden were expected to make their supreme bid to iron out the difficulties which threat ened the make-up of the British coalition government. (An Athens dispatch of the British Exchange Telegraph said a car carrying a white flag left government headquarters at the Great Britain hotel to fetch ELAS delegates for the confer ence.) Two hundred civilians gather ed near Constitution Square houting "Churchill" and "Roosevelt". They dispersed good naturedly at the request of police. A ragged column march ed away behind giant British and Greek flags. Themistocles Sophoulis, elder statesman and liberal party lead er, said he had been invited to the conference, but was ask ing for further details. He said he did not want to attend a meeting where the communists were represented, considering them rebels with whom negotia tions were Impossible. Canned Vegetables On Ration List Again; Point-Free Meat Rationed After Sunday Washington, Dec. 26 (U.R) Warned by Price Chief Chester Bowles that many of the nation's food supplies are at the war's lowest ebb, housewives today be gan paying out blue points again for most canned vege tables and prepared to dole out red points beginning Sunday for meat that has been point-free for many months. Would-be hoarders were caught unawares by the sudden ness of the OPA's move, which was advanced at least 24 hours due to premature circulation of reports that OPA was going to broaden the food rationing pro gram. The situation, in brief, is this: As of last midnight all ration free vegetables are now back on the ration list. This includes asparagus, green and waxed beans, corn, spinach, and peas. Asparagus, beans, and spinach are 10 points and com and peas 20 points for No. 2 cans. Meat Not Hoarded Beginning Sunday 85 per cent of all now ration-free meats will go back on the ration list. The OPA was not too worried about hoarding of meat because it Is too difficult to keep. Meats in cluded are utility beef, better grades and cuts of veal, bacon, Full Leased Wire Drama in Chaplin Trial 1 - (Acme TelepholoJ Joan Barry kisses her 14-month-old child, Carol Ann, before returning to stand In Los Angeles court to continue the story of her love affair with Charlie Chaplin, who she claims is the father of the child. This Is the first time Joan and baby nave appeared together in court. TUNNEL TO ESCAPE CAMP Phoenix, Ariz., . Dee. 28 U.R) The 25 prisoners of war w h o broke out ofthe Fapago park In ternment camp near here Christ mas eve escaped by way of a 200-foot rock tunnel, it was an nounced today by Col. William A. Holden, camp commanding officer. Holden disclosed that the nazis, led by Naval Capt. Jue regsn Wattenberg, dug their way under the inclosure fence through solid rock, emerging near an irrigation canal. Only six of the escapees have been recaptured so far. Preliminary reports indicated the Germans including 12 naval officers scattered after leaving the desert camp. It was considered likely, however, they had a definite plan of action, calling for a flight to Mexico, about 150 miles due south through uninhabited desert. pork shoulders,-spare ribs, beef and veal liver, some sausages and meats in tin or glass con tainers. Point values will range from one to 13. All red and blue ration stamps validated before December 1 are no longer valid. All sugar stamps except No. 34 are no longer valid. A new sugar stamp will be issued February 1, but it will be good for five pounds over a three months period in stead of the present two and a half months. Butter is up from 20 to 24 points. Necessary Decision Bowles said the decision had been "difficult to make" but ne cessary "because civilian sup ples of sugar, butter and com mercially canned fruits and veg etables are at the lowest point since the war began and meat supplies are declining." "When Americans understand the facts back of today's action that prospective supplies are smaller and that it will help each one to his his fair share I am sure tiiey will welcome the action," Bowles said. Republicans laid the tight sit uation to the administration's failure to apopint a food "czar" with full power to handle all MEDFORD, OREGON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26, Assassinate MIDWEST CHILL HEADS FOR EAST By United Press The cold wave which brought temperatures as low as 22 de grees below zero to the midwest headed eastward today, still in sub-zero strength. The Chicago weather bureau said the cold would diminish somewhat as it moved east but that temperatures about five be low could be expected, particu larly in parts of Pennsylvania. Elsewhere in the east, the mer cury was not expected to rise far above the era mark. Meanwhile, the weather bu reau reported, the midwest will have "some relief," with tem peratures rising to about 20 de grees above zero tomorrow. The lowest temperature read ing today was at oRckford, 111., where the mercury dipped to 22 below at 7:30 a. m. and then be gan to rise slowly. phases of the food Industry, and indicated they might renew their fight for such an official in the new congress. Customers Rush Smaller Stores To Use Stamps . Small neighborhood grocery stores enjoyed a rush business yesterday from customers who learned the night before that drastic food ration changes were being made by OPA. With all larger food stores closed for Christmas, the few stores open were emptied of canned vege tables, butter, cheese, fish, su gar, and similar items on which points were being raised, return ed or back stamps cancelled. Today store staffs were be sieged by customers who want ed more details and harried clerks had no official Informa tion to offer. At the local war price and ra tion board it was said that only meager Information about the changes had been received in wires from headquarters and that official new point charts would probably be received later this week. . f y - ' Churchill LI BEFORE JURY FOR Comedian Expressionless As Joan Barry Holds Tot Two Yards From Him in Court Hollywood, Dec. 26 (U.R) Whitp-hnlrpri RA-vpnr-nlri pnme- dian Charlie Chaplin and the curly-haired, 14-month-old baby that Joan Barry says is his today linrfprwpnt n twruminntp apni- tiny by the jury hearing Miss carry s paternity suit. An pvnrpssinnlpsa flhnnlin stood before the jury box and Miss Barry held the baby Carol Ann about two yards from him whilp. tha tpnlpsmpn tripH tn see whether there was any facial resemblance. The joint appearance of the two principals in the case, for which Miss Barry's attorney, Joseph E. Scott, had been ar euine since t.h stnrt nf thp trial came after a conference of at torneys in Judge Henry M. Willis chambers. - Ordered by Court "The court deems it proper that you should be given the opportunity to look at the child and Mr. Chaplin together,", the judge told the jury,.. - Scott recalled Chaplin to the witness stand to show him pic tures which the comedian iden tified as those of his two sons, who he said were two or two and a half years old at the time. Judge Willis sustained an ob jection by Chaplin's attorney, Charles E. fPntl Millikan hnn. ever, when Scott attempted to introduce ine pictures In evi dence. ' , Miss Barrv earlier had ifonliwf under re-direct examination by bcott, that she ever was intimate with Hand Reusch, writer whom ChaDlin's attorneva anirl thv wanted to bring from New York to tesmy in their case. "Did you have anv Intimate relations or anything else im proper with Keusch on the night of December 30 or early on the morning of December 31?" At torney Joseph Scott asked. "No," she answered. "Did you at any other time?" he said. " "No, sir," she answered. Scott called Miss Barry to the stand for a hripf ruir.t v. amination , following hew ap pearance on tne stand at the opening of the eighth day of the trial when Attorney Charles E. (Pat) Millikan called her back to continue his cross-examination. She told the Jury, In answer to Scott's queries, that she was intimate with Chaplin four times durine the month nt rA- cember, 1942 one the night of uec. iu, tne night of Dec. 23, the morning of Dec. 24, and the night of Dec. 30. The red-haired former drama protege of Chaplin was calm as She took the stnnH nflor a day Christmas recess wtilch came just in time to save her from complete collapse under the relpntlpee nrnc.ni.nn4l v.vdrMucavivuiiiK of Millikan. BOMBERS ATTACK London, Dec. 26.-(U.R) Al lied heavy bombers today at tacked concentrations of German troops and armor in the St. Vith area of Belgium, two rail yards in the Coblenz area, and rail road bridges between Coblenz and Bonn. Lancaster and Halifax heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force, escorted by Spitfires, hit the Germans in the St. Vith area In the northern sector of the enemy salient In Belgium. American Flying Fortresses and Liberators earlier bombed the Rhineland targets handling traffic for the German forces on the break-through front. TttBUNE OniUd Press FuU 194 NETH. MAASTRICHT 9th Tenant. V "fwhwells Htrafel Cupn TOuarte . Verrltrs oulMurtjb: u9nbach ..J lit Army TP, Slavttot. MolKfly v -i n BELGIUM T it. Kubarl ' Clsrveux Lig-6asfoana Arleii Highway 09na KautanbochifV t 9ey Wilts iig4MV JgJ Al Mcrscha ,., ' Erellte 1JAse LUX. -Virton 10 The German drive across Belgium, halted for a short time near Habiemont and Monschau, has again gotten out of hand, according to today's reports and a Nasi spearhead it within four miles of the raeuse river line, just east or tne Southward the enemy smash has can counterattacks. The U. S. troops have taken high ground three mues west oi tne L,uxemrourg-tterman frontier. Norwegians Impatient For Invasion by Allied Forces "" London, ifJec. 28 (U.PJ JJor wegian Prime Minister Johan Nygaardsvold, broadcasting to Norway, disclosed tonight that the "impatient" Norwegian gov ernment has been urging an al lied invasion of Norway. He also , announced that his government will resign at the first meeting that can be held in Oslo palace after the libera tion of Norway. Nygaardsvold said Norwegian forces are too small to Invade Norway without help, but said his government realized that al lied military leaders must de cide where allied forces can best be employed to inflict a decisive defeat on the Germans. RUSSIANS REACH London, Dec. 26 (U.R) Mar shall Fportnr T. Tnlhnkhln'. third Ukrainian army smashed to the uanurje northwest of Budapest today, competing the encircle ment of the Hungarian capital Into which soviet assault forces already were driving. A soviet high command com munique tonight announced the forging of an iron ring around Budapest, trapping whatever part of its axis garrison that failed to flee between tha pinn ing jaws of the pincers clamped on me capital. Annihilate Foe A battle of annihilation against the trapped defenders already had begun. Storm troops of two soviet armies were battering through the city's defenses. Tolbukhin's troops reached the Danube 21 miles northwest of Budapest and captured the town of Esztergom on its right bank. Across the river were the troops of Marshal Rodlon Y. Mallnovsky's second Ukrainian army who had swung around the city to the north along the course of the Danube. The Moscow communique said the Russians had captured Lug Hgct, western suburb of Buda pest and terminus of the city's tramway system. The Russians captured 2,304 prisoners west and southwest of Budapest yesterday, the soviet command reported. VET BENEFIT UPPED Washnlgton, Dec. 26 (U.R) Brig. Gen. Frank T. Hines, ad ministrator of veterans' affairs, announced today that benefit payments to veterans who have lost a leg, arm, or eye during peacetime will be Increancd from $18.79 to 926.29 t month. Leased Wire NO. 234. ulich Amy Dvran MMKtal , SMti.i) Adtaaiie ; StadHtyll I GERMANY Oaihurg - Wltrlkh 'Nciirbvrg7 ,' Born V CO 3 "trance3" Ay Merxig 1 (Acmt Talaphoto) Belgian tortress city ot Ulnant. faltered under powerful Amerl. HIGH OFFICERS OF AIR FORCE LOST IN TOKYO ATTACK Headquarters, 21st . Bomber Command, Saipan, Dec. 4 (U.R) Col. Byron Ellas Brugge, de puty commander for operations and training of the 21st bomber command, and Col. Richard Thomas King, Jr., commanding officer of a Superfortress unit, failed to return from yesterday's B-29 raid on the Musashina fac tory of the Nakajima aircraft works in Tokyo. (Editor's note This dispatch filed by United Press War Cor respondent Mac R. Johnson on Saipan, has been held up since December 4, presumably pend ing notification of the next of kin.) Four other officers and six en listed men were abroad the Su perfortress which information indicated was shot down by Ja panese fighters over Tokyo. Brugge, 36, lived at 109-23 87th street. Ozone Park, N. Y., and his wife, Madeline Tinker Brugge and two sons, David and Stephen, at 2907 Coachman ave nue, Tampa, Fla. King, 36, was a native of Georgetown, S. C, where his parents now live. His wife. Clairee Swanson King, lives at 804 V4 Piatt street, Tampa. Fla. They were the highest-ranking officers ever lost In the raids on Japan. WARD STORE SEIZURE WAITS ARRANGEMENTS Washington, Dec. 28 (U.R) Seizure of Montsomerv Ward A Co. properties in Detroit for non compliance with war Labor Board directives was understood today to be awaiting completion of necessary papers for simul taneous court action against Sewcll Avery, company board chairman. The justice department was said to be preparing to ask fed eral courts in Detroit and Chi cago for temporary orders re straining Avery and other com pany officers from interfering with presidential agents as signed to operate the stores. Washington, Dec. 20 (U.R) The Office of Price Administra tion announced today that resi dences in Eugene and all of Lane county, Ore., will come under OPA rent control on Jan uary 1, 1944, as the maximum rent date. Hitlerites Pound For Meuse Despite Air Force Assaults; Further Gains Are Expected By J. Edward Murray. United Press War Correspondent Paris, Dec. 26. (U.R) Field Marshal Karl von Rumdstedt'a of fensive, backed by two and possibly three full German field armlet; advanced west today, despite continuous American air assaults, and a Nazi spearhead was planted within four miles of the Meuse river line, just east of the Belgian fortress city of Dinant. ' The most forward points reached by the Nazis were Celles, four miles east of Dinant, representing a gain of 11 miles from Rochefort, and Clney, ten miles northwest of Bochefort, about eight miles from the river Meuse. An allied military spokesman at supreme headquarters, allied . European force, said the offensive had been personally planned by Adolf Hitler and was designed to crush the allied forces In the west. EXPECT FURTHER GERMAN GAINS . He said the initial objective of the Germans was the Meuse river line and the fortress cities of Liege, Namur and Dinant. The plans had been thwarted, in measure, he said, but further German gains must be expected. Von Rundstedt has hurled the seventh German infantry army Into his attack and is employing the fifth German panzer army and possibly a second panzer army. With the crumbling away of the American positions in the cen ter ot the German salient the Nazis were pounding hard for the Meuse river, despite fresh tactical assaults by the ninth air force. The ninth had flown 325 sorties by noon and destroyed six Ger man tanks and damaged five. They had also shot down 22 Ger man fighters with one probable and five damaged. Four American planes were lost. HITLER CREDITED OF T By James McGlincy United Press War Correspondent Paris, Dec. 26 (U.R) Supreme headquarters reported today that Adolf Hitler personally conceived and planned the pres ent all-out German offensive during the rumor -clouded months when the world was swamped with reports that he "Was dead, .gravely 111, ox Insane. After Hitler had set up the grand attack now beating at the approaches of the Meuse line and the French border region, he turned over us execution to Marshal . Karl Von Rundstedt and the marshal's chief of staff, Von Westfall, a staff spokesman said. ... : . Rumors Hide Plan The overall nazi strategy was reported whipped into shape under cover of the smoke screen of "Hitler rumors" craftily thrown up by nazi propagan dists, the first authoritative ap praisal of the planning behind the offensive indicated. It was an audaciously brilliant as well as fundamentally simple operation which Hitler was de scribed as mapping with the aim of destroying the allies in the west. Already committed to it were one infantry army, one panzer army, and possibly a second panzer army, supreme headquar ters reported. The immediate ob jective of the original plan was me une of the Meuse river as defined by the great fortress cities of Liege. Namur and Dinant. The original plan was renort- ed frustrated in its initial phase Dy me lauure of the Amer rnn First army to collapse, but more German gains are to be expect ed before the full picture of one of the most confused military situations of the entire war emerges. Third Pair Twins To Arrive Here In Month Born Today Third pair of twins to arrlv In Medford during the month of uecember were born this morn ing to Mr. and Mrs. Leonard nreve, 738 Oak street. The twins, both boys, weighed five and seven pounds. This brings w uve me number of sons In the Shreve family, their first three children being aged nine, eight and four years. Mr. Shreve is a salesman for Fluhrer's bak ery here. First twins of the month were a boy and girl born December 4 to Mr. and Mrs. Furman Ever- nam, oia Mayette street. The next day twins were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Lowe, S25 uaicoia avenue. EX-SEN LEE DIES Norwood, Md., Dec. 26. (U.R) Former Sen. Blair Lee, for more than 60 years a power In Marylan dDemocratlc circles and the first U. S. senator elected by popular vote, died at the home of a son here last night at the age of 87. Lee, a native of Sil ver Spring. Md., was elected to the senate in 1913. Gain In South On the southern side of th German salient, where the Americans have been throwing in powerful counterattacks, our troops registered slight gams, taking high ground near Eppel dorf, four and a half miles south east of Dlekirch and three miles west of the Luxembourg-German frontier. Eighth air force Flyina Fort resses and Liberators again join ed uie Dauie, smashing at tha Nazi supply route and freight yards along the Rhine. Flying conditions were not quite as good as they had been, but most of the bombing was done visually. At supreme headquarters It was acknowledged that the bat tle oi tne Meuse already had be gun, with German tanks and mo bile Infantry riding Into the ap- p.uutueB oi jjinani in an 1 1-mile spurt. - .-.-, ..v.-" Both the German prongs at Celles and Ciney ran into allied troops, and the fight to stop them short of the Meuse was let ting under way. British Join In (The specification of "nint troops rather than Americans of the First army suggested the pos sibility, which was not clarified ir the supreme headquarters dis patch, that elements of the Brit ish second army had moved down to join in the battle of Bel gium). On the outcome of that battle depended whether the Germans would read, the first big objec tive of their winter offensive the Meuse river line. The possi bility of their rushing across the river faded when their original plan to have paratroopers seize key bridges was thwarted. But SHEAF sources conceded that it would be a major victory If the Germans -ould extend their salient to the river line, giving them a chance to strength ei their corridor while pausing fcr the next phase of the of fensive. CATTLE CEILING BILL ADVOCATED Washington, Dec. 26 (U.R) Rep. Emanuel Celler, D., N. Y., calling the cattle bloc "stronger than the government," said to day that he will offer a bill In the new congress to compel the government to put price ceilings on cattle. The office of price administra tion hearings will be held In Chi cago on Wednesday and in Kan sas City on Thursday. Celler charged that the cattle bloc "lines its pockets with nice profits, while retail butchers must sell at runlous prices." "Cattle producers and feeders can no longer remain 'untouch able as far as the OPA and tha WFA are concerned," Celler said in a statement. SIDE GLANCES By TRIBUNE REPORTERS Editor Moore Hamilton find ing a long-lost piece of newt copy In the depths of the family davenport. Jack Moran refusing to tell his age in his phone call to Santa Claus. ' Jack Meyer inventorying his new daughter's good points for the benefit of admiring friends. Frank R o w e unblushingly maintaining that he could con coct wonderful clam chowder.