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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 9, 1945)
"I r A. ilOST IN THOUGHTS OF JAP INTERNEES Nip Objective of Breaking Morale Nearly Success as Civilians Fight Over Food (Editor's Note Franz Weiss blatt, United Press staff corre spondent who was with Gen. MacArthur on Bataan and spent three years in a Japanese prison camp at Santo Tomas tells in the following dispatch of the Japs' systematic starvation of the internees and of the enemy's penalties against black market ers.) By Frani Weiiblatt United Press Correspondent Santo Tomas, Feb. 9 (U.R) I heard for the first time today about the OPA and food restric tions imposed on civilians back in the United States. I hesitate to draw parallels. It might be in poor taste. But I can't help writing about a sub ject that's been uppermost in my thoughts and the thoughts of my fellow internees for many months. Food First Thought Food was the first thought in the morning and the last at night. It was' the gnawing thought in the midst of all work and all leisure time. It was the principal topic of conversation. And the aim of all activity. All moral senses became sub merged by thoughts of food. Honest men stole from one another, or from a common lar der. Lifelong army friendships were broken by arguments over food distribution -often involv ing a single spoonful of rice. Black market dealing was not question of greed. It was the envy of those without jewelry, clothing or credit to obtain sta ples such as rice, Mongo beans, sugar or any other sweets or foods with high calories or en ergy content. The basic question was that of survival. Jap Penalties I do not know the OPA's pen alties, but I do know that the penalties imposed by the Japa nese included 30 days' solitary confinement for stealing weeds out of a neighbor's garden. Kangkong, a . tubular weed, was used for soup. Tapinum, a broad-leafed weed, was used for salads. It is surprising what ex cellent salad some leaves and weeds will make. In the early days of our con finement, rice was plentiful in Manila and we got an average of 1500 calories per day. We SPRING MERCHANDISE Coats,' Suits, Millinery Alterattoni by Experts Specializing LADIES' COATS & SUITS IN HALF SIZES Burelson's Ladies' Rcady-To-Wear 31 No. Central Avenue -4 F JIMMY lYTEIX an3 hM wchesttv THE LITENINCr 1AW Tvith DAVID It03 KMED THE COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO- OF MEDFORD secretly buried rice daily so the Japanese would not learn of the excess we were getting, and cut our rations. .' - , The situation became progres sively worse as the Japs began looting the islands and calling upon the Filipinos for increas ingly greater quantities of food stuffs. Food 0MTanabu ::t Finally the time came when food was unavailable even in exchange for Japanese curren cy. Our rations were not filled for days at a time. We got rot ten vegetables, fruits,' greens, and camotes, for a time and learned to relish them. Then we had the rice issue cut. Stealing broke but to an alarming extent.. The self-imposed discipline of the Americans disappeared. The Japs' apparent objective of breaking our morale neared achievement. We welcomed liberation, but even freedom is academic when your belly is empty. All that is past now, and we hope soon to return to America. With or without the initials OPA, America is the promised land. E FOR SILENCE ON BIG 3 CONCLAVE Washington, Feb. 9 (U.R) Director Byron Price of the Of fice of Censorship today offered his "thanks and appreciation" to American editors and news broadcasters for their conduct with respect to the current Big Three conference. ?i, "The responsible editors and news broadcasters of the United States," he. said in a note to edi tors and broadcasters, "are en titled to great credit for their conduct, under voluntary 'cen sorship, with respect to the in ternational conference in the Black Sea area. "The difficulties have been many but in spite of strong pro vocation from abroad domestic news columns and broadcasts in this country .have been, on' the whole, remarkably, free of aid to the enemy. That he still is confused about major points of security connected with the con; ference is demonstrated amply by misgivings of enemy propa gandists. - "The Office of Censorship of fers its thanks and apprecia tion." : ' Boy Scout News Scout troop 17 of Gold Hill in their meeting Feb. 1 decided on several important things. A window display in a local mer chant's window for Scout Week Feb. 8 to 14. A pot luck dinner during Scout Week at 6:30 p. m. on Feb. 8. Also painting of Scout hall. This is a start of a series of improvements by the Gold Hill troop. Lt. Jack Martin was present and talked to the troop. BIRTHS SHERARD To Mr. and Mrs. Carroll, 417V4-G St., Feb. 5, 1945, a girl, six pounds, at Oste opathic clinic. I 2:30 P. M. Mondays Through Fridays 1410 ICC - ' Navy enlistment reenrrla fnr the past nine months in the Ore gon recruiting district were broken in January with the en rollment Of 353 17-vear.nlri vnl. unteers, it was reported by Chief W. R. Cumley, USN, in charge or tne Medlord recruiting sub station. , , . . Previous hieh " month waff April of last year, when 369 teensters were aimed, Consider. able credit for January's excel lent showing goes to this district ior its response to the navy's Various recruitment nrnmmi the recruiter declares. Enlistment of men fnr th radar training course showed a substantial increase, it was re ported, and few states in the nation had as good a record on a per capita basis. Recruitment of radar trainees continue nn. abated this month, as many ships are delayed in commission ing because of an indaequate sunnlv of exrjertx in man hii radar devices. . .'. There are several roacnn tvhv the radar program is having such a great anneal, the recruiter plains. One is that the candidate wno qualities lor the training is enlisted as seaman first pl two steps above the normal start ing rate of apprentice seaman. Another Is that the successful applicant is elven between m and 11 months of training in ad: vancea radio and electronics at leading colleges, universities and naW Schools hafnra hnlnff put on active duty as a petty of- iicer. The most popular reason with many radar trainees in that thev will be assured of a fine job in tne postwar period by virtue of their schooling and actual ex perience in the navy. This back ground wiU permit, them to work in television, civilian nvi. ation and many other commer cial enterprises. The recruiter emphasizes that the navy's radar program is op en to men of draft age as well as to 17-year-oldsters. Anyone interested is asked to go to the navy recruiting station for addi tional information. ER E Temple, Tex., Feb. 9 (U.R) Pvt. William H. Edwards, a booby trap who didn't explode, told today how German soldiers who found him wounded on the Western front turned him into a living bomb. , . Edwards, pending the healing of his right leg and getting back home to his wife and six chil dren at Haytl, Mo., is at Mc Cioskey General Hospital here. The 4th infantry division foot soldier recalled vividly the agonizing 70 hours he lay in the Huertgen forest after stepping on a land mine which blew off his right foot. . On night patrol near the Nazi lines when wounded, Edwards called a medical corpsman. The enemy heard too, and began a search. It wasn't long, the Missouri soldier recounted, until a voice whispered, Vare ,you'a GI?" "Hell, yes," 'answered Ed wards. The medic promised help, but the Germans forced them to drop back. Edwards said he lay undetect ed in the forest until 3 patrol ing Germans found him. They refused his plea for water, he said. Instead, they rummaged through his field jacket and di vided up hit five packages of cigarettes. Then the Germans turned the American soldier into a human booby trap by Inserting a land mine beneath his body and wir ing It tight to him. " "They left," Edwards con tinued, ''and I had to lay on that mine all day and most of the night. I smoked some cigarettes the Germans failed to find in my shirt pocket, all the time thinking I was a goner. "I knew I would never leave the forest alive." . About two a. m. the next day. WE I MORTON'S SALT I AND GRAPEFRUIT two soldiers from another com pany rescued him. "I warned them about the mine," Edwards said, "then helped them get me loose." POTATOllTRY IS TAKEN UNDER WFA PERMIT PLAN Washington, Feb. 9 U.R The War Food Administration today brought the last two re maining Important potato pro ducing areas, Colorado and the Red River valley of North Da kota and Minnesota, under its potato shipping permit plan. The plan bans shipments ex cept under WFA permits. It al ready is in effect in Idaho, Ore gon, California and Maine. It is designed to assure the armed forces of their full allocation of good quality potatoes. WFA has warned civilians that they must expect a potato shortage this spring because of a shorter crop and rapid disap pearance of supplies since the fall harvest. It said the exten sion order undoubtedly would divert further supplies from the civilian market. Under the order, effective Feb. 9, shippers in affected areas must offer their potatoes to a government agency. Pota toes not needed for the armed services either for consumption or processing will be released into commercial channels un der a WFA permit. PEANUT SHORTAGE HITS CANDY MEN Chicago, Feb. 9 (U.R) Sugar and peanut shortages are likely to put a tighter squeeze on civilian candy supplies, leaving counters as bare as Mother Hub bard's cupboard, Philip P. Gotf, president of the National Con fectioners' Association, said to day. "The sugar shortage In trie United States will prevail through 1945 despite release of the Philippines. Even if the Japanese are not destroying the sugar mills, which is unlikely, the maximum production of the islands is required for our troops, unina, and Allied forces in the Pacific area," Gott said. The candy industry is con fronted not only with the sugar shortage but with . a peanut shortage that prevents it from filling government contracted orders, according to the indus try. Shelled peanuts for 1944 topped all previous crop records but "50 per cent of the Dec. 31 invoices of peanuts in the hands of shelters have been frozen," Gott said. E BAN ON RACE HATRED New York, Feb. 8 (U.R)---A message urging Mat a world wide ban against racial and re ligious discrimination be pro posed at the Big Three confer ence has been sent to President Roosevelt from the Committee of Catholics for human rights, it was announced today. The message was signed by Catholic leaders in educational, political, and labor fields. Among them were Sen. James E. Murray. D., Mont., Philip Murray, president of the con gress of Industrial organizations, and Gov. Frank J. Lausche of Ohio. Murray is honorary na tional chairman of the commit tee. ..' THE GRANGE Eagle Point Grange Recreation night will be held Feb. ' 10 by the Eagle Point i Grange at the hall, beginning at 8 p. m. Boys and men attending are asked to bring six whole sandwiches for refreshments. . STAR FOR OVERSEAS Hollywood, Feb. 9 (U.R) First Lt. Tyrone Power, former motion picture star, has com pleted marine corps transport pilot training and has been as signed to the El Centra, Calif., marine air station awaiting transfer overseas. IAIN Ol I IODIZID Um WEST FACES FLOODS IN YEARS fntr-affA ITeh O 111 M Tha threat of the worst spring flood in nine years hangs over the East and Mid-west where heavy winter snowa have niled nn a huge backlog of precipitation inai couia turn every stream into a roaring torrent with the first rainfall, weather hiirenu and flood control officials re ported today. So great is the threat to the millions of residenta In the w land areas, where previous iioods nave taken a huge toll in life and property, that dis aster and relief agencies are nre. paring for the "heaviest flood year since i3B," and the U. S. coastguard and Red Cross have flood relief erminment nu for instant use. Improvement in flnnrf train ing and the use of amphibious vehicles develnneri fnr the armed forces is expected to Keep casualties to a minimum, but the National Safety Council has urged residents of these regions "to prepare now and re duce the loss of life." U. S. Weather Rnre.ni ntn. cials predicted that a quick spring tnaw would burden riv ers and tributaries in the threat IT ALWAYS PAYS TO BUY AT LUMANS' Easier Wartime Shopping Yes, wartime shopping IS easier, here at LUMAN'S. You'll find EVERYTHING you need for truly good eating at prices in line or below OPA Community prices. You'll find friendly assistance in buying the most for your ration point and plenty of UNrationed foods to conserve those precious points! Woodbury's NEW NUCOA JELLO FACIAL ' Ap m ' MA SOAP 25c I 4o 29o 4 27c FRESH EGGS MIRACLE WHIP DEL ROGUE Lynden Brand Jewell Shortening Sold ro you Tresn wnen LEG OF SPRING LAMB, fine for roasting lb. 38c STEAKS 1 Loin or Rib VEAL STEAKS lb. 35c YOUNG "6 RABBITS lb. 48c BONELESS BEEF SHORT RIBS LARD'vrr-aihsSOex VISIT POTATOES OIHOliS 7.1 LEFilOIIS 3ok,six California...... ened areas with an overflow as disastrous as nine years ago. The second half of the winter term at the Southern Oregon College of Education opened Monday of this week. There has been a substantial gain in enrollment for this term, with new curricula ihaving been of fered which should interest prospective students. In addi tion to the approval of two new two-year terminal curricula in merchandising and for medical and dental assistants, the state board has approved additional B00 other MONARCH Fowl Mil Jatt a CmmII n nnMAM Grada A Large Per Dozen......... 42c SALAD DRESSING quarts pints TOMATO JUICE 46-ox. tin No. 2 six 24c 12e CHICKEN Mb. and NOODLES jar , 33c -lb. carton. .............65e carton ..........22e tiavor is Desri C -BONE or SIRLOIN lb 35c CHOICE CUTS PORK ROASTS Choice Shoulder Cuts..: lb. 33c SALT PORK lb. 24c BEEF POT ROASTS Shoulder Cuts Extra, lb. 25c sS HENS 0 lb 37c SPRING LAMB Shoulder Cuts Extra lb. 30c BEEF SB lb 30c Fine for Baking lb. 20c OUR FRUIT AND VEGETABLE STJt; -S1.79F 10-lb. sack 39c dozen 29c Ik COaIV . Friday. Feb. A, 1943 courses which will be offered here, beginning in 1945-46. These courses are clothing construction and selection, three hours credit; foods, nutrition and cookery, three hours credit; personal and family relation ships, three hours credit; indus trial arts for elementary schools, two hours credit, each term. METAL SUBSIDY ASKED Washington, Feb. 9 UJ9 A bill to permit continuation of "J raiMAaY They're ripe with tang? julea our Desert Grapefruit. What's more. This Ariiona .California grown fruit ia racked with vitamin C . . . each uscious half provides an adult's primary supply of this all-important vitamin. Discover the test that Julcy fresh Desert Grapefruit gives to breakfast, the zip and flavor it adds to noontime salads. En ny this tempting fruit often. 44c 28c 15 " 5 m MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE SEVEH subsidy payments on strategic minerals, metals and petroleum products was introduced today by Reps. Clare Engle, D., Calif. (lie Hall Tribunal Waal Ada. Just Taste WHAT TEMPTING FLAVOR THE I SUN HAS STORED FOR YOU IN TELEPHONE 2239 MAIN AND BATRTLETT JELLYS PRESERVE HONEY Peanut BUTTER Not Rationed Selfer's CHOCOLATE SYRUP jars! 34C BAKERY TREATS DANISH PASTRY Bear Paws Lemon and Jelly Filled Rings Cherry Fruit Nougats , for 33e SWEETHEART CAKE FOR VALENTINES 79c each Specially decorated $1.75 DEPT. P5J 1 in. g,uy vt o -'.jW.:" Iiiuiiihiimi
