Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, February 23, 1945, Image 1

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Medford mail tribune., February 23, 1945, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Text(U. S. Marines Take Mt. Suribachi, Highest Peak on Iwo; Greatest Allied Offensive Opened in West, Say Nazis 28TH REGIMENT HOISTS BANNER Furious Fighting Taking Heavy Toll; Yanks Seize ' : Island Off Luzon Coast. Br United Press U. S. marines captured fortl. fled Mt. Suribachi to win gun emplacements commanding all of Iwo island today. Army forces .... seized another island in the Philippines and gained control of strategic San Bernardino strait. The stars and stripes was hoisted over Mt. Suribachi, an extinct volcano and highest peak on Iwo, by the 28th regiment. It was the biggest American success of the five-day-old cam paign. Losses Heavy Other marines continued to , slug it out with bayonets and grenades with desperate Jap anese on the approaches ot Iwo's second airfield, nearly three miles north of Mt. Suribachi. The furious hand-to-hand en counters were taking a heavy toll on both sides. In the first 58 hours of the invasion, 644 marines were killed, 4,168 wounded, and 860 missing. The count of Japanese dead . was 1,222. The Domel news agency re ported that Japanese forces had sunk 17 American warships and damaged 11 others off Iwo. A Tokyo broadcast said that 100 American warships and 80 trans ports were standing by off the embattled Volcano Island.;.' .; In the Philippines, American troops seized, Capul island off southeastern Luzon and gained nnrnl nf Can RarnanllnA ct-o it the direct shipping passageway from the United States to Manila bay. ; Manila Fight Rages Fierce fighting continued in southern Manila. The . battles raged from building to building around the besieged Intramuros section. American troops occu pied the first floor of the Manila hotel, but the Japanese still were holding out in the upper floors. . Southeast of Manila, airborne units advanced seven miles along the west coast of Laguna bay and surprised 500 Japanese at Mabata Point. The Japanese at tempted to flee in barges, but a number of the craft was sunk in the crossfire of American ar- ' tillery. American bombers continued widespread attacks throughout the Pacific. Heavy bombers and fighters again hit Formosa, de stroying 13 grounded enemy planes and wrecking or damag- f ing 10 coastal vessels. . Warships and Liberator bomb ers hit Paramushiro in the north ern Kurile Islands for two days. Other American planes also attacked enemy positions in the Bonins, north of Iwo; Marcus; the Palaus, Carolines, and Marl-anas. MORE NAMES OF FREED PRISONERS Additional Oregonians . are named on the lists of liberated prisoners-of-war and internees released by the war department yesterday and today. Listed among the liberated military personnel were Pfc. Al vin L. Fry, Portland; Sgt Thomas W. Houston, Oregon v City; Pvt. Raymond C. Reeves, ""Salem, and Pvt. Zoeth Skinner. Portland. On the lists of liberated civil ians were the names of Cecile Elizabeth Barnett, formerly of Medford and now of Berkeley Calif.; Gerald L. Dunton, Wood burn, Ore.; the Rev. Alfred L Griffiths, Elizabeth E. Griffiths and- Katherlne Griffiths, all of Portland; Kenenth Grimes, Mon mouth; Jack Cook, Oswego, Frank Eugene Long and Norman and Evelyn Whitfield, Portland SIDE GLANCES TRIBUNE REPORTERS Victor Sether putting out card calendars and a funny story among business acquaintances. Ralph McCarty storing up I y- cartwheel-sized pie against the day when he must get his own lunch. Seaman Barney Riggs roam ing around the scene of his for mer athletic triumphs. United Press Thirty ninth Year Tardiest Baby in r "r- , 1 r A. i Menu TeUimolo) Mrs. Buelah Hunter, 25, holds her new-born daughter, Fenny Diana, thi little girl whose tardy birth set medical history. The child, weighing sis pounds 15 ounces, was born more than three months after she was nor. mally due, according to the calculations ot Dr. Daniel Belts, who attended Mrs. Hunter, wife of Sydney Hunter, Los Angeles aircraft worker. Systematic Starvation Suffered By American By Henry Shapiro United Press Correspondent , Moscow, Feb.-, 23 (U.PJ American war prisoner liberat ed by the red army had' been subjected to systematic under nourishment by the Germans in a deliberate attempt to weaken their resistance to questioning and deaden their desire to escape. " This ' and other instances of mistreatment were reported to day by a new group of Ameri can officers who hitch-hiked to Moscow, from the German fron tier. ' The -newly arrived - officers said the German technique in the early stages of imprisonment was something like this: ' The prisoners were stripped of their personal effects, including cigarets, fountain pens, blankets, IN. THIS DISTRICT Salem, Ore., Feb. 23 (U.R) Three bills, introduced by Reps. Baldere, Van Dyke and Bengs ton, and Sens. Newbry and Mo ser, which would affect Judicial procedure in Jackson and Jose phine counties, passed the house today. . One of them (H. B. 158) pro vides for an additional Judge tor the first Judicial district. Another, (H. B. 380) a sub stitute for house' bill 292, trans fers judicial authority of the county court to the circuit courts in Jackson and Josephine coun ties, except during the absence of the circuit Judge.' The other bill, (H. B. 296) merely changes the method of payment of the salaries of the court reporters of the first dis trict, and does not change the salaries. House bill 161, by the com mittee on utilities, passed the house with little opposition. It is "only a shadow of its former self' after committee amend ment, Rep. Frank Van Dyke said. In its present form it is "ac ceptable to all parties concern ed," Van Dyke said. It would make the Oregon laws concern ing utilities conform more close ly to the federal code. One of the principal new provisions Is the requirement of a two-year notice by the state when it In tends to take over a utility pro ject. Van Dyke said that it would aid projected utility expansion In southern Oregon - after the Full Leased Wire Medical History Prisoners In Reich and overcoats. They were left hungry to weaken their resist ance. Finally the nazla sought to trap the prisoners into giving military information. ' ' r h Capt. Frank OlevSky, Cam den, N.. J., of the 294th engi neers, was captured in the Sieg fried line on November 2 while reconnoitering with a five-man patrol. He was wounded by a booby trap. . He said the. wounded among the : prisoners were obliged to march several miles before receiving medical aid. After a stop at a hospital Olevsky was taken to the Dietz castle near Llmburg and thrown into a soli tary cell. Olevsky said the guards taunt ed the Americans with such Jibes as "The Americans are more barbaric than the British and Russians. They insist on bombing only hospitals and churches, ignoring military ob jectives. Second Lt. Alvin McCormick, of Livonia, N. Y., who was cap tured at Portvall, in Normandy, on June 19, said immediately after his capture an. SS offlcei shouted to McCormick: "Ameri cans, what the blank are you doing in Europe7" McCormick shouted back: "what the blank are you doing in jrrance?" 'S ESTATE Portland, Cre., Feb. 23 U.R) Mrs. Margaret Rummel. Chi cago, will apparently receive the duik or an estimated $125,000 estate, as the result of the sup posed suicide of Harry William Bewley, 54, Portland, who was found dead here. The estate as left by the late Koswell Lanson Bewley, McMinnvllle, Ore., banker, who died Feb. 2. Mrs. Rummel, the bankers granddaughter and Harry Bewley, his son, were the only heirs under terms of a will. The son was to have received all but $500, which was be queathed to Mrs. Rummel, wife of Richard Rummel, United Air Lines executive. Bewley, 54, a former Portland policeman, Thursday was found dead alongside the body of his wife, Rose, 37, but the shooting was believed to have occurred the day before. OFFICERS WIVES TO MEET The newly organized Local Officers' Wives club will meet at the Outpost tomorrow at 1 p. m. for luncheon and bridge The committee in charge is Mrs. Edwin R. Dumo, ' Mrs. John Daugherty and Mrs. H. D. Bylng-ton. WORTH $125,000 MEDFORD, OREGON, JOBLESS BENEFIT OFFEREDSENATE Compromise Bill Favored by Labor, Industries Com , mittee Ups Benefits. By John W. Dunlap United Press Correspondent Salem, Ore., Feb. 23 (U.R) Compromise legislation to liber alize Oregon's jobless benefits laws went to the floor of the sen ate today with approval of the labor and Industries committee. Main points in the compro mise (S. B. 78) were raising the maximum benefits from $15 to $18 weekly, extending the bene fit period from 18 to 20 weeks, raising the percentage of the base period to be paid weekly from 6 to 7 per cent, and in creasing the total to be paid from one-sixth the base period earnings (13 weeks) to one-fifth. Labor Wants More Labor groups sought even greater benefits, including $25 weekly, 28 weeks duration, 10 per cent per week, and one-third the total base period. The $10 weekly minimum re mains unchanged and commit teemen felt employment was not expected to sag enough in the next two years to have much ef fect on Oregon's $67,000,000 re serve. ; ' .' , The committee also tabled in definitely a proposed little Wag ner act for Oregon (S. B179) Approved was a bill guarantee ing equal rights for women workers (S. B. 239) for perform ing an equal amount and quality of labor ' under .' like circum stances for a private employer .'The senate -was .expected to confirm minor amendments to the .fish commission bill passed yesterday In the house. The com mission would be placed on an appropriation basis under , the bill (S. B. 99) i FEAR ALL ABOARD KILLED IN MISHAP Bristol, Va., Feb. 23(U.R American Airlines announced today that a missing New York-to-Los Angeles plane carrying 19 passengers and a crew of three had been found four miles southwest of Rural Retreat, Va., about 50 miles northeast of here. It was feared the 19 passen gers and three crew members had been killed. State troopers were scaling the wooded mountainside to ward the wreckage. The plane was sighted about noon, some 10 hours after it had last report ed bv radio over Pulaski, Va., 30 miles to the northeast. The entire area Is rugged and mountainous with White Top towering upward nearly to 6,000 feet The liner left New York at 9:30 last night and departed from Washington at 12:15 a. m. El REJECTED AS Salem, Ore., Feb. 23 U.R Forty-one per cent of all men ordered examined for the armed forces In Oregon have been re jected for physical reasons, Col Elmer V. Wooton, state director of selective service had said to day. . Appearing as a witness at a joint ways and means sub-committee considering a bill (H. B 53) which calls for a program of physical fitness for high school students of the state, Woo ten said Thursday that there are 25,000 men, most of them in the 18 to 29 age group, who have been rejected in Oregon. FRIDAY, FE AY 23, RELIT DECLakl WAR GE Big Three Ultimatum Brings Action; Egypt on Verge of Joining Declaration. London, Feb. 23 (U.R) Tur key declared war on Germany and Japan today as a result of a note from the Big Three serving notice on nine "Associated Na tions" to take such a step by March 1 or forfeit seats at the San Francisco conference. i The Ankara radio reported that the Turkish national assem bly had voted unanimous ap proval of the government de cision to declare war after hear ing of the Big Three decision reached at the Crimea confer ence. Note Clearcut The note, couched in clearcut terms, told the Associated Na tions that a declaration of war was essential to any voice in the peace conference. As If in protest to the blunt tone of the ultimatum, the Tur kish parliament ostentatiously dated its declaration of war for March 1 the deadline. Bracketed with Turkey as the Associated Nations were Egypt, Iceland, Chile, Paraguay, Ecua dor, Peru, Uruguay and Vene zuela. Egypt appeared to be about to follow Turkey In the declaration, Iceland has been without diplomatic relations With Germany since the occupa tion of Denmark in 1940, All six of the Latin American nations listed by the Turks have declared war on Germany with in the last two weeks. BDDarent- ly as a result of the notice. Official quarters in London confirmed the Turkish list of nine nations to which the notes were handed.- , The Turks broadcast a lengthy explanation of their action, ting ed with Irony. It indicated their reluctance to give way under a big stick and declare war. LEGISLATORS NUDGED ON FLIGHT OF TIME Salem, Ore., Feb. 23 (U.R) A resolution to adjourn sine die on Monday evening, the 50th day of the 43rd legislature, was introduced to the house of rep resentatives today. The resolution was laid on the table "to be read at 10 p. m. Monday night," (when the house will not be In session.) The 50th day of the session Is the last for which members of the legislature are paid for their services, and the measure was to "Jog tHe memory" of the members and speed up the work on bills. UNWELCOME When Mas ako Takayoshl resumed dut ies as nurse training super visor of Seattle, Wash, hos pital, some fellow workers filed petition In protest The-Japanese-American Univers ity of Washington graduate laid aside her white uniform when she was evacuated from the Facifle Coast in 1842., X ! r( ... Tribune United Press 1945 Hitler's Hideout Bombed --e XT t .J 1. ?ti(iV:.v...: il M"i w rv tr -Km".: (Acmt Telephoto) This Is Adolf Hitler's mountain fortress at Berchtesgaden, bombed b) Italian-based force of American bombers. The attack apparently wal directed mainly against the railway yards in Berchtesgaden village, but first reoorts said rocket-firing Thunderbolts roared across the fortresi , Itself at low level Japanese Roll Hand Grenades Down Suribachi in Effort By Mao R. Johnson United Press War Correspondent Aboard Admiral Turner's Flagship off Iwo Jlma, Feb. 23 (U.R) (Via Navy Radio) A fan tastic fight developed for Mt Suribachi, Japanese stronghold on Iwo Jlma's southern tip when the Japanese rolled grenades down the steep slopes of the ex tinct volcano on marines stub bornly preparing to scale the exposed walls of the cone. The spectacular and perilous battle, although on a compara tively small scale was on Surl bachl's barren sides. The marines have the enemy In a cul de sac, and patrols com pletely encircle the cone. So desperate Is the enemy that officers reported eight Nips de stroyed themselves by Jumping off cliffs on the east side of the volcano. The Japanese defenders of Iwo Jlma are breaking their own backs with counterattacks, . it was disclosed today. In no other Island campaign in the Central Pacific has there been so many counterattacks by Japanese garrison forces against American lines. The enemy onslaughts serve OF JACKSONVILLE IS TAKEN BY DEATH Portland, Ore., Feb. 23 (U.R) Benjamin B. Beekman, 81, re tired Portland attorney, and son of Oregon pioneers, died here early today. Beekman was born at Jack sonville, Ore., in 1863. His fath er, the late C. C. Beekman, was one of the famed Pony Express riders, and founded the Jackson ville bank. His mother, Julln Elizabeth Hoffman Beekman was a southern Oregon pioneer He presented the annual Ore gon historical essay award in honor of his father to winning school students for many years Beekman graduated from the University of Oregon in 1884 and entered Yale law school. where he graduated In 1888. On being admitted to the Ore gon bar, he entered the law firm of Watson, Hume and Watson Following the death of the elder Beekman In 1916, he retired from practice. He is survived by one sister Carrie C. Beekman, of Portland New Bedford, Mass., Feb. 23 (U.R) Threats of a textile strike arose today as the government sought to unravel the tangle of its first court-challenged labor draft. Full Leased Wire NO. 283. to Halt Foe to slow and sometimes stall ma rine advance, but the resultant death toll for the Japs is un- profltably high.- ; i' Japs in groups of 50 to 200 or more smash against the leath erneck lines. When Jap counterattacks are seen. forming, our artillery and naval shellf ire is concentrated on the area. If the enemy troops still are able to attack or make an assault without prior detec tion, the marines meet them with heavy machine gun and rifle fire and hand grenades. Such charges are costly to the Japs every time, with entire units sometimes being wiped out. IN HOUSE FRACAS Washington, Feb. 23 j(U.R) THe House closed its books to day on the bloodless battle be tween Reps. John E. Rankin, D., Miss., and Frank E. Hook, D., Mich. Hook apologized to the House, Rankin offered his regrets, and members turned their at tention back to matters of state. Rankin and Hook pawed at each other yesterday after an exchange of name-calling, Ran kin said Hook was associated with Communists. Hook said Rankin was a liar. Their statements to the House closed an Incident which for a time threatened to turn into a floor battle over which, if eith er, congressman should be cen sured or expelled. Ding Dong Daddy's Head Examined San Francisco, Feb. 23 (U.R) Francis Van Wie, 58-year-old trolley conductor who assertely married 14 wives, was having his head examined today at San Francisco Hospital Psycopathic ward. Van Wie, awaiting trial on three bigamy charges growing out of his wooings last year to the tunemf thj trolley bell, was transferred to the hospital from the County Jail yesterday. Three court-appointed alien ists will report their findings lo Superior Judge Herbert C. Kauf man prior to Van Wle's trial March 5. TRANSPORT READY Alameda, Cel., Feb. 23 (U.R) The U. S. S. Admiral Hugh Rod man, a 22,380-ton troop trans port, will be launched Sunday at the Bethlehem-Alameda ship yard, it was announced today. The ship Is the seventh of a type to be converted to luxury liners after tha war. BATTLES RAGE ON 40-MILEJRONT Attack Follows 3-Hour Bar rage by Massed Artillery; Dueren Yankees' Goal. Br United Press The big Allied push has start ed in the west, Berlin reported today. The German High Com mand said the American Ninth army and part of the First open ed a major offensive against the Cologne plain west of Aachen before dawn today. Other Nazi spokesmen refer red to an Anglo-American offen sive, suggesting that the British Second army had joined in. En emy accounts said armored and infantry battles were in prog ress on a 40-mlle front from Roermond to the headwaters at the Roer river. Three-Hour Barrage The Transocean News Aeencv reported that the Ninth army'a attack began after a three-hour barrage by massed artillery. It said the Americans were striking for strategic Dueren and were across the Roer at four or more points in the Llnnlch-Dueren area. North and south of the Dueren sector three Allied armies pounded at the defenses of the nunr and the Saar basin. Allied war planes again roared over Germany In the wake of yester day's paralyzing assault on the enemy's transport system lead ing to the fronts. Nearly 2,000 American heavy bombers and fighters struck deep into Germany, bombing railway yards and other targets from Nuernberg to Leipzig. On the eastern front, Nazi broadcasts said powerful Rus sian armored forces have driven -into Forst and Guben, two of the main anchors of the Nelssa river line southeast of Berlin. The Russians were clearing a 601 mile stretch nf th NpIrm mn. red on by Marshal Josef Stalin's declaration that final victory la near. Attack Follows Talk The co-ordinated attack on Germany from west and east which was agreed upon by tha United States, British, and Rus sian military staffs at the Crimea conference apparently la about to get unJer way. German accounts Indicate that almost the entire western front Is In action from the Goch-Cal-car area In the north to the lower Saar basin. The blow in the center had been expected mo mentarily as the Allied armies pounded at either German flank, creating an urgent need for reserves which could scarce 1 be spared If the Cologne plain is threatened. Roer Crossed Trans-ocean said four cross ings of the Roer were made In the opening hours of the offen sive. Two columns forced tha river above and below Linnlch, 27 miles west of Cologne, while two others broke Into the Co logne plain opposite Niederau and Krechguf, three and four miles south of Dueren. Twin Allied drives were in progress at the same time on the northern and southern flanks of the Cologne plain. The Cana dian First army In the north was within a mile northwest of the German ancho. town of Calcar, threatening a break-through to the Rhine crossings barely 20 miles from the Ruhr. Six Towns Taken The American Third army In the south fought to close a pinch cers around a 17-mile stretch of the Siegfried line between Pruem and Echternach. Tha Americans took six German towns and villages in that sector in the last 24 hours and gained as much as 214 miles at soma points. IS SWEPT OUT TO SEA Toledo, Ore., Feb. 23 (U.R) Searchers today were seeking the body of Mrs. Ada Baum gardner, 47, Canby, Ore., one of two persons drowned when a wave swept out to sea five per sons walking along the beach near Newport. Also drowned was E. W. Bat leson, 55, Scobey, Mont., whose body was found Thursday a few hours after the five persons were engulfed by the wave. The three survivors said all were knocked down by the heavy surf and that when they arose the other two persons were missing. '