Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 1945)
1M Weather forecast: Cloudy tonight ant Tuesday with occasional drli gle or Uiht rain. Little ctaango in temperature. - Temp. Hlffheet yesterday 55 Loweit this morning 41 Thirty ninth Year Four Yankee Armadas Converging on lUzon With 60,000 Assault Troops, Tokyo OF BEACH DEFENSES Planes Support Naval Action Nips Claim American Ship Losses Heavy By United Press Tokyo reported today that four American Invasion armadas, converging on Luzon, were carrying possibly 60,000 assault troops and said that one of the fleets had extended imo me ura rinv an unparalleled bombard ment of beach defenses in the Llngayen gulf north of Manila in preparation for an imminent ' landing. The Japanese estimated that 400 to 450 American ves sels, including battleships and cruisers, were moving through the Philippines toward some not too clearly definable point on or near Luzon. Near Shore The bombardment of Luzon Tnkvo said, was carried out by American battleships and other warships, escorting 70. to -80 landing craft, which entered Llngayen gulf to within a few thousand yards of the coast and ' shelled a 27-mlle stretch from San Fernando and Damortls. The latter is 116 miles north oi Ma nila. Tokvo also resorted that fight ers, bombers and dive-bombers from ten aircraft carriers sup ported the naval bombardment and claimed that the operations were the usual American tactics nreeedins a landing. The enemy reports were not confirmed either at Pearl Har bor or at American headquarters in the Philippines. The only U, S. announcements were that new neutralization raids by carrier , and land-based planes were made against Luzon Saturday and that Ameircan troops cap tured Paluan, in the northwest corner of Mindoro island 90 miles southwest of Manila Forty-five Japanese planes were destroyed and 14 others dam aged in the series of air attacks in and around Luzon. Tokyo said that Japanese fliers and shore batteries were engaging the four American naval forces in the Philippines and claimed that 32 ships, In cluding six aircraft carriers and 18 transports, had been sunk or damaged. The Japanese also reported that lone B-29 Superfortresses made four nuisance raids on the big aircraft center of Nagoya on the main Japanese island oi Hon shu over the week end. In other operations through the Pacific. Pacific fleet war ships bombarded enemy installa tions at Suribachl on Paramu- shiru in the Kurile islands, and American bombers hit Iwo Jima , again Saturday to open the sec ond month of consecutive as saults on the strategic island in the Volcanos, 7S0 miles south of Tokyo. SIDE GLANCES By TRIBUNE REPORTERS Mack Lillard arguing the merits of his wrestlers with a dubious but regular customer. Ernest Barnes pinch hitting as a weather prophet and scoring a near miss on a snow prognostica tion. Mrs. Larry Schade elated to be able to serve those cookies and other' wonderful edibles she has long been making for her flier son, Larry, Jr. Mighty quiet mighty quletl around here. A field litter carrier, capable . of transporting five wounded soldiers, ca nbe made by con verting an army ordnance three- quarter-ton weapon carrier. BOMBARDING SAID CONTINUING United Press Roosevelt Favors Moratorium For Insurance Change Washington, Jan. 8 (U.R) President Roosevelt favors a proposal for temporary mora torium which would give insur ance companies time for "t h e necessary readjustment" to the precedent-breaking supreme court decision holding the insur ance business subject to federal anti-trust laws, it was revealed today. The White House made public letter from the president to Sen. George L. Radcliffe, D., Md., which said that the admin istration "is not sponsoring fed eral legislation to regulate in surance" or to interfere with state regulation and taxation of the insurance business. BREEN DIFFERS WITH F. D. R. ON Cincinnati, O., Jan. 8. 4U.B- William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, today -differed sharply with President Roosevelt's : proposal for a national service- act and said that he believed a; labor draft was "unnecessary." ' ; Green said that he was "reli- ably Informed" that the shortage of manpower detailed by ' tne president in his message to con gress was "not more than 300,000." "It would be an easy matter to supply the needed 300,000 workers if all of us got together without passing legislation," be said. By "all." Green said he meant labor, industry, manpower, and military officials. "I believe American workers will reach a higher standard of efficiency as free men rather than subject to compulsion," he said. "We are apprehensive of the possible effect of a draft on morale and efficiency." Cooks Helper Is Death To Tanks With U. S. Forces, Belgium, Jan. 8 U.R) Cooks Helper Isa bel Salazer of Houston, Tex., was credited today with knock ing out two German panther tanks during a counterattack on his antitank company. Caot. James Love of Butte, Mont., said Salazar blasted the first tank with one round from an antitank gun at a range if 200 yards. He duplicated the feat a few hours later. Buzz Bomb Attack Probable New York, Washington Told An East Coast Port, Jan. 8 (U.R) Adm. Jonas H. Ingram, commander-in-chief of the At lantic fleet, said today that it was "possible and probable that New York City or Washington twill be hit by buzz bombs with in the next 30 or 60 days." Ingram said he would take charge of coastal defenses of New York and Washington and that he had moved "plenty of forces" to take every possible precaution against the attack. He said ' the bombs could come In one of three ways: (1) Surface ship. (2) Submarine. . (3) Long-range planes. He said the bombs would probably be smaller than the V-l or V-2 launched against Great Britain. He said the great est danger to expect was from fires and that the bombs were not expected to seriously damage any large buildings. . ... Full Leased Wire MEDFORD, OREGON, MONDAY, JANUARY 8, IP 'S USED INSEIZURE Government Agents Insti tuted Martial Law, Claim In Opposing Injunction Chicago, Jan. 8. (U.R) Coun sel for Montgomery Ward and Company charged In federal court today that government agents have used threats and in timidations to execute the presi dent's order for seizure of 16 of the firm's properties and have '"instituted a reign of martial law." Stuart Ball, attorney for. Wards, appeared before Federal Judge Philip Sullivan to oppose the government's motion for a temporary injunction to prevent the company from interfering with the army's operation of Ward facilities In seven cities under a seizure order Issued by President Roosevelt for failure to comply with War Labor. Board orders. .- - . Earlier, the government had claimed that the mail order and retail store firm, by waging a campaign against the WLB, "has become a symbol that we can go ' ahead and have ' labor dis putes despite the war." Ball said the company con tended that the president had no authority to seize the prop erty and that his order violated the constitution. The Montgpmery-Ward attor ney contended further that: The company's operation has not been detrimental to the war effort. . i The executive order violates "the command of congress in that it directs the army to put into effect War Labor Board orders which were not in effect at' the time the plants were seized." Power Denied Ball asserted that the presi dential order was invalid be cause: -1. The president has no pow er to seize property to enforce orders of the WLB since the board orders ' are merely . ad visory. 2. The chief executive has no statutory power to seize retail stores, warehouses, and mail or der houses because none of them is equipped for production of any article required for war production. 3. The president, even in time of war, "has .no authority outside of an actual battle area to seize private property unless he is given the power to do so by congress." He warned against panic, which he said could increase the damage. "The next alert will be the real McCoy," ha said. The danger area, he said, was In a 300-mile arc from which either New York or Washington could be hit. He said the Ger mans had 300 submarines "at least" in the Atlantic and that the navy was prepared to keep them from coming close en jugh to fire, or to stop them before they fired very many bombs. He said six or eight subs would be needed to bomb New York. "I consider that adequite measures have been taken to protect New York and Washing ton," he said. He said that he "didn't think protective measures were ade quate earlier," indicating th protection will be largely naval. He made his statements at a press conference aboard his flag (hip. i Cordon Bill For Service Academy Awaiting Senate Washington, Jan. 8 (U.R) The senate today went into its first full week of work in the new session with a large number of new bills already awaiting committee consideration. Among the bills was one by Sen. Guy Cordon, R., Ore., to provide for another naval acad emy and another military acad emy, to be built in Oregon, Washington or California. EMPLOYERS ADVISED TO GET Washington, Jan. 8 U,PJ Se lective service headquarters said today that employers in essen tial businesses would be wise to obtain occupational deferments for all employes now classified 4-F in order to keep them on the job. A new regulation issued over the week-end provides for in duction, under- sharply lowered physical standards, of alL'oecu pationally-def erred . men who quit essential jobs without draft board consent. Draft boards throughout the country, meanwhile, began to carry out the week-end regula tion. - Age 18 to 37 The new order, applicable to a pool of about 5,000,000 men in the 18-37 year brackets, was Issued by selective service na tional headquarters over the week-end in the wake of Presi dent Roosevelt's recommenda tions for tighter job controls. It was designed to halt an alarming rate of turnover in vital Industries and covered all men classified as 2-A and 2-B and those whose 2-A and 2-B classifications are followed by the letters F or L. The F and L listings are given to 4-Fs and limited service men (1-A-L's) who have additional deferments for occupational reasons. 2-A and 2-B Subject All men with 2-A and 2-B classifications of any type, the announcement said, will be sub ject to immediate reclassifica tion and induction if they leave their present Jobs without local board approval. The army will use "drastically lower stand ards to induct those who pre viously were rejected on physi cal grounds. i "In complying with the In structions of the director of war mobilization," the order said, "the army will accept certain men below our general service physical standards who are re classified and presented for in duction by the selective service system. . . . (and) placed in as signments best suited to their physical condition." Chicago Stockyard Has January Glut Chicago. Jan. 8 (U.R) The heaviest January run of cattle in 18 years was received at the Chi cago stockyards today. It inciuo- ed 27.000 head of cattle and 1,500 calves. Fat steers and cows predomi nated In the receipts with top choice yearling steers selling for $17.25 and good beef cows at $14.00 and slightly higher. The bulk of the run was not sold immediately. HANNA "JUST FAIR" IS REPORT FROM PORTLAND The dally United Press bulle tin from Portland on the condl- tion of Circuit Judge Herbert K. Hanna today read "Just f ah-." The Judge has been in a Port land hospital nearly two weeks and a message from Mrs. Hanna Saturday was to the effect that her husband was conscious and appeared cheerful. Declares GOV. SNELL ASKS FULL TAXSURVEY Message to Convening Ses sion Recommends Twelve Specific Legislative Bills By Eric W. Allen, Jr. CUP Staff Correspondent) Statehouse, Salem, Ore., Jan. u lu.K) praising the war rec ord so far made by the soldiers. industries and workers of Ore gon, Gov. Earl Snell today told the opening joint session of the Oregon legislature that now is "no time to rest on laurels or records" and outlined 12 spe cific recommendations for leg islation. Snell's biennial - message fol lowed brief formal opening cere monies by the 43rd regular leg islature. Tax Survey Urged Speaking on the contentious subject of taxes early In his 6000-word message, the gov ernor recommended that the leg islature provide , for. the engag ing of a firm of tax experts for a complete "survey, examina tion and analysis of all phases of our tax structure," leaving further action to the discretion of the legislature. Gov. Snell reiterated a sec tion of his message of two years ago, stating his feeling that "$40 per month is little enough, to provide sustenance and reason able comfort" for those receiv ing old age assistance. How ever, he made no specific recom mendations that the present amount be raised. Most of the recommendations he made were of a secondary, administrative nature. Statehouse, Salem, Ore., Jan. 8. (U.R) Gov. Earl Snell made tne following specific recom mendations to the 1945 legisla ture in his biennial message to day. 1. Hiring a nationally-recognized firm of tax experts to in vestigate and make recom mendations . on Oregon's tax structure. 2. Adoption of legislation ac tivating veterans' educational and loan benefits voted at the November general election. 3. Creation of a department of veterans' welfare with a sin gle commissioner. 4. Study of the milk pasteuri zation situation, and enactment of appropriate safeguarding leg islation. 5. Creation of a revolving fund of $100,000 for forest acquisition. 6. Increase to $50,000 the funds for forest products lab oratory. 7. Continuation of experience rating feature of unemployment compensation law. 8. Liberalization ,of compen sation benefits. 9. Reception of liquor reve nues Into state general fund un- earmarked, and direct appro priations from fund for old age assistance. 10. Increased allotment from highway funds for tourist pro motion after the war. 11. Adoption of legislation setting forth qualifications whereby those once convicted of felonies may vote, pursuant to measure passed by popular vote in November election. 12. Creation of a national cemetery in Portland. (Further details on page I) TENDER READY San Pedro, Cal., Jan. 8 (U.R) The 14,000-ton seaplane tender U. S. S. Norton Sound, named for the large Alaskan sound on whose shores Nome is the major port, was placed in commission today by Capt. Knefler Mcuin- nis, commander of the naval air i station here. Tribune United Prn Full 'Two Battles 7s u Germany 9t4 Ann I VWV " jjF'f 1 BELGIUM I kJvp AftanA LUX. Mb , 'Mw.hM - FRANCE J WfJW - ( 7 ""s . . K v O 10 10 - f) (Acm TtUphoto) The Battle of the Bulge shared the limelight with a German thrust across the Rhine In the Strasbourg area. The U. 8. First and British Second Armies smashed Into the north side of the bulge (or slight gains while the Germans were counter-attacking heavily In the Bastogne area. In the Baar area Seventh Army troops were reported to have stopped the Ger mans after a 10-mlle penetration. Very heavy fighting continued at Bltcne, wlngen and Work-or-Fight Law Favored Over Broadening National Service Act Washington; Jan. 8 (U.R) , Congress today appeared better disposed, toward- work-or-flght legislation affecting present draft registrants than toward the broader national service act requested by - President Roose velt. . -1 ' ; Both houses seemed to be In substantial agreement with Mr. Roosevelt's view that nurses should be inducted into the arm ed forces and that 4-Fs should be made available for war work, many members, however, favor- F MAY OPEN COURT Circuit Judge James W. Craw ford of Portland assigned by the state supreme court to occupy the Josephine and Jackson county circuit court benches dur ing the present illness of Judge Herbert K. Hanna, is expected to hold a court session here to morrow. Judge Crawford opened a term of court in Grants Pass to day. A defendant whose trial was set for today has entered a plea of guilty, so only routine matters will come up there. Considerable court business awaits the Multnomah county Jurists here as the county has been without either a county Judge or a circuit judge for nearly two weeks. Sentencing of Woodrow Wil son Newburn. convicted by a Jury of a statutory offense, and trial of Robert N. (Babe) High charged with grand larcehy, and R. V. Greene, charged with a statutory offense are due for trial, previously set for this month. Salem, Jan. 8. (U.R) Jack son county representatives were named on the following legis lative) committees today: Frank J. Van Dyke chair man utilities; counties and cities; Judiciary; military affairs and postwar planning; mining. O. H. Bengtson Administra tion and reorganization, vice chairman; commerce and navi gation; land use; public institu tion; revision of laws. Luud Wire NO. 244. Wlssembourg. . ed legislation snort of national service. . :. ' 'Third Branch Aim Rep. William M. Colmer, D., Miss., introduced a measure to make all draft registrants sub ject to induction Into "a third branch of the service a sup ply force" which, he said, could be used In war plants or else where in the war effort at the president's discretion. This supply force, Colmer said, could induct not only 4-Fs but also workers In non-essential in dustry and war workers with a record of "wilful absenteeism." Sen. Warren R. Austin, R., Vt., a leading congressional pro ponent of national service, said after a meeting of the Republi can steering committee that he might support less far-reaching legislation, such as a 4-F draft, as an alternative to manpower control by executive order. Congressional leaders general ly were ready to put tightening of. manpower controls at the head of the legislative calendar in response to the president's request for "total mobilization of all human resources for the prosecution of the war, HIGH COURT KILLS TEXAS LABOR LAW Washington, Jan. 8. (U.R) The supreme court, reversing the contempt conviction of R. J, Thomas, president of the United Automobile Workers of Ameri ca, today held unconstitutional a Texas law requiring labor or ganizers to register with the state before soliciting at union gatherings. The Judgment, delivered by Justice Wiley D. Rutledge, was 5 to 4. Justice Owen J. Roberts dissented, and was Joined by Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone and Justices Stanley Reed and Felix Frankfurter. Justices Rob ert H. Jackson and William O. Douglas wrote separate concur ring opinions. Thomas challenged the law as unconstitutional on the grounds that it was "aimed at labor unions" and was in con flict with the constitutional rights of "free speech and as sembly." WESTERN UNION MAY USE YOUTH UNDER 16 Washington, Jan. 8. (U.R) The supreme court ruled today that Western Union may use messenger boys and girls under 16 In the sending or delivery of Interstate telegrams. Justice Robert H. Jackson de- livered the 5 to 4 opinion. YANKS BITE DEEP IN NORTH FLANK Battle Also Favors Ameri cans in Northeast France Patch Takes Offensive Paris, Jan. 8. (U.R) Amer ican forces drove through swirling snowstorm a mile to a mile and a half deeper Into the crumbling north flank of the Ardennes salient on a 15-mile front today, and the Germans began pulling out of Its blunted nose. The tide of battle also swung in favor of the American sev enth army in northeastern. France, where Lt. Gen. Alsaes der M. Patch's troops seized tVe initiative In several sectors, compressed a German bridge head north of Strasbourg to ease a threat to that city, and drove the Nazis back two miles from the high water mark of their Bltche bulge. Outlook Brightest Supreme headquarters and front reports sketched one of the most encouraging overall sit uations on the western front since the German offensive be gan on Dec. 16. Lt. Gen. Courtney H. Hodges' first army headquarters report ed general gains along the north rim of Marshal Karl von Rund stedt's shrinking salient In Bel gium. With the main east-west road on the north side of the bulge . cut and that on the south under fire, British troops at the west ernmost sector of the Belgian front were advancing against negligible resistance in some sec tors, while at others they found no sign of the defense front which faded back with a Ger man withdrawal. Bulge Waist Narrowed - Hodges'.- second - and ' third' armored divisions pushed their way south through the Belgian, forests toward Lt. Gen. George S. Patton's northbound forces. whittling down the waistline of the bulge to less than a dozen miles.) ' t. -. The - 82nd airborne division captured Thierdumont ridge,:. two miles southwest of Vielsalm, choke point not only on the cut German escape route along ' the north side of the bulge but also a roundabout roadway angling up from the Houfallize area. Units of the second armored division stormed Into Dochamps, five miles northwest of the key transport center of La Roche. The towns of Jouniveal and Herbronval on the La Roche St. Vith highway fell to the third armored after a German delaying action was overwhelm ed. Hamlets Under Fire The hamlets of Walvne, Spin- eux, and Wanneranval, clustered some three miles south of Stave- lot along the Salm river, were under fire most of the day, and in a twilight charge the 30th division stormed and captured the latter two. Across the salient, about a regiment something less than, 3,000 German troops were ob served disengaging themselves from Patton's grip. They were breaking up into four columns, formed in marching order, when Patton's big guns opened up on them, shattered the formations, and sent the dispersed fragments scurrying northward. Shaef revealed that the Brit ish sixth airborne division, which dropped near Caen In the first phase of the western front campaign, now was engaged at the western end of the Ardennes salient Headquarters revealed that the so-called German bridgehead north of Venlo In Holland was not a new foothold across the Maas river, but actually a pocket which never was mopped up. The brightest reports from Alsace In some days told of def inite compression of the Nazi bulge in the Bltche area and the reduction of the threat to Stras bourg. SIX FRENCH CLASSES TO BE CALLED TO SERVICE Paris, Jan. 8. (U.R) Six French classes, perhaps 1,800, 000 men, will be called to the colors soon as result of the al lied decision to speed equipment to the reborn French army. War Minister Andre Diethelm said the class of 1943 will be inducted at the end of January, to be followed In the spring by the class of 1944. The others will follow. . ,
