Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, February 05, 1945, Image 1

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Medford mail tribune., February 05, 1945, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Textmm M A LA Weather colder toulfht, Partlj cloudy - Xucfday. Temp. Blghtit yetterd&r CI Lowest this morning , 41 PreelpiUtlnn part 24 hn .7 Thirty-ninth Year OFFENSIVE FROM Germans Report Reds Lash Out Westward in New : Drive From Breig Section ( London, Feb. 8 4U.R) Ger man broadcasts reported tonight that Marshal' Gregory K. Zhu kov's army had broken across " the Oder river northwest ot Kus trin, less than 38 miles from Ber lin and established a bridge head on the west bank of the last natural barrier before the capital. London, Feb. 5 (U.R) Mar shall Ivan S. Konevs red army was reported by the Germans to day to have launched a new of fensive from a bridgehead across the Oder river some 200 miles southeast of Berlin in an appar ent bid to outflank this last na tural barrier before the capital. The German high command said powerful Russian forces had lashed out westward from a springboard in the Breig area of the Oder's west bank midway between Breslau and Oppeln and violent fighting was going on in the heart of Silesia. 30 Miles From Berlin The nazis also acknowledged officially that Marshal Gregory K. Zhukov's. army had clamped strong assault arcs against Frankfurt and Kustrin, twin bastions of the Oder . defenses east of Berlin- .... - Moscow broadcasts and dis patches said the soviet vanguard was "about 30" miles from Ber lin, that Frankfurt and Kustrin were "closely invested," and that heavy fighting was going on in the eastern suburbs of Frank furt. "The red army now has crash ed into Germany along a front of 360 miles, although steadily mounting resistance and a thaw which has turned the fields into bogs has slowed the soviet ad vance,'' one Moscow broadcast said. In Strong Force With a 100-mile stretch of the Oder line under assault and soviet forces reported battling for a- river crossing 32 miles W northeast of the capital, Konev's forces were said by the nazi com mand to have ripped into the Silesian defenses beyond the Oder in strong force. "On both sides of Brieg," a German communique said, "the enemy from his bridgehead on the Oder launched attacks sup ported by strong forces. Heavy fighting is in progress here." A supplementary report by Ernst von Hammer, nazi military commentator, said K o n e v's forces had reached the area of Grottkau, 12 miles beyond the Oder, the same distance south of Brieg, and 32 miles south-southeast of Braslau. A successful drive by Konev from the general area of Breslau, ' ceupled with a likely swing to the northwest, would flank the Oder defenses and either roll them up or neutralize them, pos ing a direct threat to Berlin in case the Oder line should hold against the frontal onrush of Zhukov's forces. Physician Released From Jail At Santo Tomas Prison Camp Santo Tomas Internment Camp, Manila, Feb. 5. (U.R) When the flag of the United States was raised over this in ternment camp this morning, one of the happiest spectators was Dr. Theodore Stevenson, former missionary in China and head of the camp medical staff. He was in the camp Jail when soldiers of the First cavalry di vision poured into the grounds. His confinement, he said, was ordered when he refused to tes tify that anything other than f tarvation was the cause of some recent deaths. As a free man Dr. Stevenson watched his former Jailer, Lt. i i Col. Hayashl, move out of the camp at the head of a small detachment of troops after re leasing hostages unharmed. "This is a great day . . . this is a great day," Dr. Stevenson said. MEDFORDeM i United Pim-Full Starved Internees Cry Hysterical Welcome As Liberating Yankees Enter Santo Tomas University Internment Camp In Manila Area By Frank Hewlett (UP War Correspondent) Manila, Feb. 3. (U.R) Some 3,700 thin, hungry allied civil ians, 2,500 of them Americans,' cried a hysterical welcome to liberating American troops at the Santo Tomas University in ternment camp tonight. Among them was my wife, Virginia, from whom I parted on New Year's eve of 1942 to go to Bataan with Gen. Douglas MacArthur. She insisted on staying behind in Manila as a nurse in Santa Catalina hospital. I found her there today, re covering from a nervous break down. Doctors said she would have fully recovered now if she had had sufficient good food. Though never a big girl, her weight has dropped to 80 pounds, but I found her in excel lent spirits. Japs Quickly Routed The Japanese were routed quickly from most of the build ings in the camp area. Troops of Brig. Gen. William C. Chase's mechanized flying column surrounded the build- AT SECOND ILL IN AACHEN AREA Paris, Feb. 5. (U.R) Ameri can first army troops cracked into the second wall of the Sieg fried line fortifications below Aachen today. Enemy reports said powerful allied forces to the north were moving up for an imminent offensive coordinated with the red. army drive on Berlin. German broadcasts, all uncon firmed thus far by allied spokes men or front dispatches, said the U. S. ninth and British second armies had opened a heavy bar rage across the Roer river be tween,' Julich ' and Duren, IS miles northeast of Aachen, " " Overture To Drive The shelling, Berlin said, was believed to be the "overture" to a new offensive on that front. The Nazis also predicted new allied attacks on the northern wing of the British second army on the Ma as (Meuse) river front between Roermond and Nijme gen. Far to the south, American and French troops stepped ' up their nutcracker offensive against the shrinking German pocket west of the Rhine around Alsace. Field dispatches said the Nazis were in full retreat across the Rhine, fleeing through an eight-mile corridor below Col mar under a storm of bombs and shells. More than 2,500 pocketed Germans surrendered there in the last 36 hours. Giant East, FRANCE Milt J- JjjjujSr muff jjllis ' ,f jT HOLLAND J . Omi f M)gL W fata P M...m. eNtm . ' JOf? Sledge hammer blows from east and west pound Germany with 1000-plane fleets ot American heavy bombers dropping their enormous bomb loads on military objectives to the heart of Jittery Berlin. The Russians are storming twin defense points ot Kustrin and Frankfurt, 30-odd miles east of Berlin, as Stettin waa reported iracuaud by Ujs Otrmaro. On the west tront the First and Third Armlea were on the move with a drive a' 6chleten carrying them ball-w ay througb Ibe Siegfried Uu. LMMd Wire MEDFORD, OREGON, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1945 Ing, but hesitated to use ma chine guns or other automatic weapons for fear of hitting the civilians. - The civilians, nonetheless, shouted encouragement and ad vice from the windows of the besieged building. They included many women and children. (Hewett,' in a later dispatch, said a truce was arranged under which the 221 internees were re-' leased unharmed and the Jap anese' force of 65 men under . The internees were so over joyed at the arrvial of the Amer ican troops that they insisted on lifting them to their thin, emaciated shoulders and carry Colonel Hayashl was permitted to leave the university area un molested.) ing the - soldiers through the buildings. . , ... ' ' V. P. Man Liberated ' Robert Crabb, another mem ber of the former United Press staff in Manila, his wife and two children, were among those set free. ' (A special' announcement from Gen. Douglas MacArthur's head quarters said the names of the rescued internees would be re leased to the press and radio "as soon as they are tabulated.") Chase, after a personal inspec tion of the concentration camp, described conditions as "most pitiful." Most of the internees, he said, were suffering from malnutrition and were "practi cally skin and bones." i '- :"jt would . break . your . hear! to look at them," he said. HS urged that first priority should be given food and medi cal supplies for the internees. (A broadcast from Luzon said great motor convoys with doc tors, Red Cross staffmen and enough equipment. to build a large - hospital were waiting north - of Manila to enter the city as soon as bridges were re stored. They also were bringing 12,000 letters and other mes sages to the internees, the broad cast said.) Chase's flying column, con sisting of a small force of tanks, Jeeps and troop-laden trucks, shoved off at 1 a. m. this morn ing on a reckless dash over a seldom-used, rough road into Manila from the northeast. The toughest fight of the day came at Novaliches, 10 miles from the capital, but brushes with the enemy were frequent all along the route. Lt. Col. Haskett Conner, Jr., of Wakeman, Ind., led this spec ial force, which undertook the mercy errand on special orders from Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who ordered them to take any risks to get through to Santo Tomas, liberate the civilians and then protect them until stronger forces could be brought up. Strangely, the nearer we came to Manila, the lighter the opposi tion was. We sped past Del Norte, Ma nila's greatest cemetery, then into Avenue Rizal. . We moved down avenue Rizal West Blows Hammer Germany TV ALA XT . several blocks. Civilians mob bed our vehicles, cheering and offering us portions of their mea ger food supplies. They passed out iced water, beer, and liquor. The women were weeping while the men saluted and children squealed in delight. Delirious Reception But the Santo Tomas recep tion was even more delirious. A grenade hurled from the Jap guardhouse at the entrance to the prison camp delayed us until tanks were brought up. Creeping along the buildings for what seemed an eternity, an other correspondent and I reach ed the main buildings where the windows were filled with ex cited faces. The internees were yelling so loudly we couldn't distinguish anything they were saying. We entered the building and were mobbed. The women kiss ed us and then these thin, starved people lifted us on their shoulders an honor that should have been reserved for Conner and his men. But Conner's forces were still busy outside killing Japs. . I found a little girl who could answer the question which was foremost in my mind. She told me where I could find my wife and kindly offered to accom pany me to the hospital where Mrs. Hewlett was held. It was a reunion after years about which I do not want to Ltninkv, - -i. -'- ' ;',--- The Americans here have suf fered terribly since last June, when the Japanese forbade them to purchase food from the out side. Conditions have been espec ially bad in the last two months, The ration has not been more than 700 calories a day. RESPITE SEEN IN Hanford, Cal Feb. 8. flJ.R) The U. S. weather bureau pre dicted "light showers" today for northern California as farmers and government agencies pre pared to assess crop and live stock damage caused by flood waters resulting from last week's four-day rainfall. A 'brief break in the rains over the week end gave swollen rivers and creeks a chance to subside and emergency crews an opportunity to repair burst or threatened dikes. It was believed that a "two-day heavy rainfall would be necessary again to bring the river levels to danger ous stages. Hardest hit by the downpour were Tulare and Kings county In the San Joaquin valley. Other areas reporting high waters were Sacramento, Woodland, Roseville and Knights landing. HUSJIA (Acmm TtUnhoto) FACES DELAY IN Senate Military Affairs Com mittee Votes to " Start Closed-Door Quiz Tuesday Washington Feb. R am The senate military affairs com mittee voted today to hold closed Hearings on the pending "work or else" bill, thereby delaying senate action on the pnntrnvpr. sial measure at least a week. Committee Chairman Elbert D. Thomas, D., Utah, said the hearings will beein tomorrow. He said he doubted that they could be completed this week. uniy specifically invited wit nesses will be permitted to tes tify, he said, in an effort to speed final committee action on the bill. Some Rebel The decision to hold hearings was the result of a rebellion hv several members against the speed-up program of Thomas ana other administration lead ers on the committee. The committee nearly ap proved the bill last Friday, but then a reaction set in asalnst the procedure. The first witnesses will be Secretary of War Henry L. Stlm son. Undersecretary nf War RoK. ert P. Patterson and Secretary a ht - n . . ut nHvy james t orrestai, Thom as said. t Strong bi-partisan opposition still threatened to result in dras tic revision of the bill before it is finally passed by the senate or even perhaps in substitution of some voluntary plan, how ever. ; - GALLICANO TAKEN BY YANK TROOPS Rome, Feb. (U.R) Fifth army troops have reoccupied Gallicano, captured in the Ger man counterattack in ' the Ser chio valley sector last Decem ber, headquarters reported to day. Active patrolling continued elsewhere along the fronts. Other slight advances were reported along the Serchio river in the renewal of opera tions at the Fifth army's west flank. Despite mist and waist-deep snow in some sectors, Fifth army raiding patrols continued intense activity and me t considerable resistance which resulted in cas ualties to both sides. x Several clashes between pa trols were reported in the area southeast of Bologna. MLVElADAS New York, Feb. 5. (U.R) Flaming oil spread over the New York harbor early today after a collision of two tankers, setting fire to both tankers and to a Liberty ship. At noon, 12 were known dead, 20 were missing, and 80 were injured. The ships were identified by survivors as the tanker Spring Hill, a Liberty ship named Ber nard Carter, and a Norwegian tanker Dlvi. The fire was brought under control 00 minutes after it start ed. Police said at least 60 In jured had been taken to hospi tals. M'ARTHUR STAFF CHIEF WOUNDED IS JAP CLAIM ' By United Press Ouotins a "Lisbon diinatrh " Tokyo radio said Monday that Ma). Gen. Richard Sutherland, chief of staff to Gen. Douglas MacArthur, "was seriously wounded while Inspecting the Luzon front on Jan. 30." The broadcast was recorded by United Press at San Francisco. Fribune United Praia Full Leased Wire Old Glory Flies Over Luzon WM.ximm ipii j,,,,!,........ fa. v., . . i mum 4 j$&r$ ' It. Holated proudly over Dagupan City Hall as elvlo functions are restored under American protection. Old Glory waves once more above Luson soil. FATALLY KNIFED; TOWNSMAN HELD A murder complaint charging James Alexander Wolf, 63, with the death of Percy Harold James, 44, as the result of an altercation early Sunday morn ing in front of the Gold Hill Ho tel at Gold Hill, will be filed by the district attorney's office to day, according to District At torney George . W. Neilson. Wolf is held in the county Jail pending justice court arraign ment. James, according to the report of the state police and sheriff's Investigating officers, died of a wound in the right groin from a sharp instrument presumably a knife allegedly held in tho hand of Wolf. The blow severed a main artery and James bled profusely before death. Met on Street According to reports gathered by Sergeant M. W. Ruch of the state police, and Deputy Sheriff Vern Smith, the two men met in front of the hotel about one o'clock Sunday morning and en gaged in an argument, Wolf ob jecting to being the object of Jests by James and others. Dur ing the exchange the fatal blow was struck It further developed the two men were acquaintances and no bad blood previously ex Isted between them. District At torney Neilson said Wolf had been the butt of considerable bantering by others. Following the affair James collapsed and died in a few mm utes, according to witnesses. The Perl ambulance removed James' body and Wolf was plac ed under arrest. Both men were employed by the Pacific Portland Beaver cement plant at Gold Hill James was employed on the power dam of the Company In Rogue River, and Wolf as sec tion of the company railroad maintenance crew. Family Survives James Is survived by his wid ow and two children, a boy 15 and a girl 13. He resided on the north slope of Blackwell Hill near Gold Hill. Wolf has been a resident of various parts of this county since 1933. He has a grown fam ily. His wife is in Oklahoma. A son was killed in an auto acci dent near Gold Hill last Novem ber. No time has been set, but an lnqtt-st will probably be held late today. NO. 268. E IN WEEK OPENING , Salem, Ore., Feb. 8. (U.R) Business before the Oregon le gislature today was strictly rou tine, with only a few non-controversial bills up for final pas sage, and the number of bills introduced were down to a low for this session, A total of 499 bills had been introduced up to the weekend recess, and today only two made their appearance in the house, one of which was the contro versial measure which would change the basis of taxation on public and private carriers in the state. Some Exclusions The bill, the result of a lengthy Interim committee report, ex cludes farm trucks and some municipal busses, but would establish a gas tax on most other carriers, collecting the tax on the basis of miles traveled. Action on most of the contro versial measures which are ready for final debate and pass age has been deferred to later in the week. One of the reasons is the absence of members ot the house and senate fish industry committees, who are in Olympia today to meet with similar Washington groups. Floor debate is due as a spe cial order ot business tomorrow on the tax study resolution re quested by Gov. Earl Snell. lt will come to the floor with a "do adopt" recommendation, in cluding the tax experts' provi sion which the senate had earlier decided to delete. On Wednesday the senate will vote on the controversial "civil rights" bill, which would pro hlbit the refusing of public ac commodations to a person be cause of race, color or creed. STORM CONDITIONS IN MOUNTAINS OF COUNTY General storm conditions pre vailed over the mountain areas of Jackson county today, with snow falling in the higher levels. according to the California Ore gon Power company weather re ports. Rain, accompanied by wind prevailed in the Prospect and Butte Falls sections. No re port was received today from Fish Lake, due to the telephone line being out of commission. It was presumed storm condi tions were the cause. A rather heavy fall of snow was reported in Klamath county. SOUTHERN PART OF CITY STILL 3,700 Imprisoned American and Allied Civilians Freed With Arrival of Yankees Manila, Feb. B. (U.R) Aveng ing American troops seized con trol ot virtually all the northern half of burning, starving Manila today after freeing 3,700 im prisoned American and allied civilians and capturing the presi dential palace. The First cavalry and 37th in fantry divisions stabbed into the heart of the Philippines capital from the east and north and NAMES LATER Washington, Feb. 5. UR) Names of American internees rescued In Manila will be transmuted to Waahlngton by the army and releaaad here by the war department as rap idly as they can be complied. No names had been received up to noon today, and the war department doubted that any would be received until to morrow or later. - . rapidly were mopping up the last enemy pockets north of the Paslg river, which bisects the city. Japs Wreck Docks South ot the 200 to 300-yard-wide river, several thousand crack Japanese marines were blasting and burning docks, warehouses, bridges and other vital installations preparatory to what may develop into a last man stand in the southern half of the capital. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, at last reports, was waiting- impa tiently in the northern suburbs for the bridging of one last river for a' triumphal entry into the city he was forced to abandon to its fate three years, one month and three days ago. (A CBS broadcast from Luzon said President Sergio Oamena and Resident Commissioner Gen. Carlos P. Romulo landed at a Luzon airport from Washington Sunday and headed south to Join MacArthur in his return to Ma nila.) j . Fa!1 Conceded ' (Radio Tokyo conceded short ly after S a. m. today that' the Americans had entered Manila from the north and east in forces outnumbering the Japanese gar rison.) The 3,700 American and Brit ish civilian internees were res cued by a mechanized flying col umn of the First cavalry divis ion at the Santo Tomas Univer sity concentration camp in the heart of Manila Saturday night after a spectacular 100-mile ad vance in 36 hours. Virtually all of the buildings in the camp area, including the Infamous, ancient Bilibid prison, had been cleared of Japanese by last night. The Americans fought literally from room to room for some of the buildings. Police Seised Other elements of the first cavalry division pressed on to the north bank of the Paslg river and seized the Malacanan palace, former residence of the American governors general and later seat of the Quezon govern ment. The 37th Infantry division en tered Manila from the north at 6:30 a. m. yesterday and by early afternoon was within a few hundred yards of a Junction with the first cavalry units ot Santo Tomas. The infantrymen overran the Grace Park airfield In the north ern suburbs of Manila. Though pitted by American bombs, lt was expected to be repaired quickly. At least one artiUery observation plane already has landed there. Both the First cavalry and 37th divisions met only sniper and machine gun fire in their advances Into the capital, but fierce fighting was expected when they attempt to force the Paslg to clean out the remainder of the city. "It may be a hell of a Jqb," one high officer said. "It may be several days before we have the city cleaned out, but the Japs have no chance now." TO BERLIN . By United Press The nearest distances to Berlin from advanced allied lines today: ' Eastern front 32 miles (from point on Oder north west of capital, by German report). Western front 296 miles (from point southeast of Nl megen). Italy 530 miles (from point north of Ravenna).