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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (March 8, 1945)
M fpfo) lk?LrQ raw ji Lrairu t Medfoed United PrM Full Leased Wire Thirty ninth Year Americans Rescued From ' Cabanatuan Given Big Welcome in San Francisco CHEERING, CRYING MEN CROWD RAILS AS SHIP ARRIVES Flag-Bedecked Harbor Craft Escort Transport to Dock; All Eager to "Go Home." Ban Francisco, March 8 U.R) Two hundred and seventy-two army officers and enlisted men who somehow lived through al most three years of cruel treat ment by their Japanese captors arrived today from the Philip pines aboard a transport. Laughing, cheering and cry ing, the men, all of whom were liberated from the prison camp at Cabanatuan, T,uzon, January 30, by American Rangers, pack ed the rails of the ship as it steamed through -the Golden Gate to receive the greatest har- . I bor welcome in the city's his- Eager For Home The thoughts of every man can be expressed in Just five words: ' "I want to go home." . . The men, including survivors of the losing Bataan and Cor regidor campaigns and the in famous "march of death," gen erally looked surprisingly well. ,They said they have devoured huge quantities of steak, pota toes and beer since their libera tion. The transport was escorted to n army pier by a great fleet of flag bedecked harbor boats. The ship had been met outside the Golden Gate by a harbor craft bearing a 75-foot sign declaring in five-foot letters: "Welcome Home." . Furloughed Also Cam Hundreds of soldiers coming home from the southwest Pa cific under the army's rotation plan also were on the transport and rushed to the rails with the Cabanatuan men for their first view of the San Francisco sky line. Blimps and planes soared overhead and the sun came out just as the transport passed through the bay's submarine net When the ship arrived oppo site the Ferry building, whose huge siren had signalled their arrival in the city, the freed men and the other soldiers set up a strange chant of "where's Elea nor?" When a tug carrying 20 Wacs came alongside, a great whist ling started,' The men cheered as the Wacs came aboard and dis tributed messages and telegrams, Including a personal letter to each man from President Roose velt. A crowd estimated at about 8,000 swarmed around the Em barcadero. Only relatives were permitted out on the pier. Re V unions were tearful and heart- - rendering as the men of Cabana tuan came down the gangway Into the arms of their loved ones SIDE GLANCES By TRIBUNE REPORTERS Betty Latham amazed to find that Jean and Irene Hayes, two new cadet nurses in her class at Providence hospital in Portland, came from Medford and more amazed to further find out that they resided next door to the Latham family home. Victor Sether chasing a thiet through downtown alleys, and finding out the old underpinning wasn t what it used to be. His Honor, Mayor Clarence uitrcAei, visiuimig mnuuiu 25,000 population in the not-too- 1 a.lalnHlHM MBMfn.ll IT 1 T n distant tuiure. Besides the main public li brary in San Francisco, there re 21 branches and six deposit stations. Churchill Among 3F Stll-. Prime Minister Winston Churchill (foreground) walks among tne dragon's teeth Germany sowed amg her Siegfried line near Aachsn. At left is Field Marshal Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, second to General Sit Alan Brooke! and at right is Lieut. Gen. William Simpson. USA. British OHKU Photo via sUmal Cora, radio. , telephoto. s YARDS OF IWO'S NORTHERN SHORE By United Press U. S. Marines fought to with in a few hundred yards of Iwo's north shore today, while Amer ican troops neared the south western tip of Luzon and Indian tank patrols advanced to the northern outskirts ot Mandalay. A break-through to Iwo s north coast would split the last few thousand Japanese holding out in the heavily-defended north. The battle for Iwo continued fiercely with the marine gains measured in feet and yards. The Japanese claimed the marines suffered 580 casualties Monday. American troops virtually cleared Batangas Peninsula in southwestern Luzon and reached within four miles of the south ern tip, directly across verae Passage from Mindoro. In Burma. Indian tank patrols reached the northern outskirts of Mandalay after a 40-mile march down the Irrawaddy from the first bridgehead over the river at Singu. Chinese troops also cleared the new town of Lashio, two miles south of the old town which was captured yesterday. T VOTED BY HOUSE Washington, March 0 (U.R)- The House today passed and sent to the Senate legislation to boost the federal debt limit to $300 000.000,000. The vote came after the House had rejected, 71 to 26, an amend ment to set the new ceiling at $280,000,000,000. The present debt limit is $260,000,000,000. During debate. Chairman Robert L. Doughton, D., N. C, of the House Ways and Means Com mittee, laid on Republicans re sponsibility for any waste in war spending. DEMON MOVIE-GOER SEES 705 IN YEAR New York. March 8 U.R William Ontville, 16, saw 705 movies from March 4, 1944, to March 4, 1943 340 more than there were days in that year. He spent $121.35 for admis sions, $14.45 for carfare and $43.96 for candy to munch. He attended 274 different perform ances and saw some pitcures thrie and four times. MEDFORD, OREGON, THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1945 Dragon's Teeth of Siegfried Line srtPT Old "Blood and Guts'! Swims Cold River Twice to Inspire Soldiers Baltimore, March 8 (U.R) knottier daring exploit was re ported today In the colorful ca reer of Lt. Gen. George s. (Blood and Guts) Patton, Jr. that of twice swimming the icy, 150-foot Sure river In Germany, despite heavy enemy, fire, to show his men it could be done. One of the men who followed him across, S'Sgt. Thomas J. Defibaugh of Cumberland, Md., reported the story while on a tour of war plants here. Defibaugh, member of the IS El Rome, March 8 (U.R) A mob stormed a military clinic last night in an attempt to reach Gen. Francesco Jacoraini, fascist war criminal, but was dispersed after a gun battle. Police were Investigating to day to determine whether the crowd was trying to lynch Ja comini or help him to escape It was from the same clinic thai Gen. Mario Roatta, another ma jor Italian war criminal, escaped Sunday night. T By United Press Rain-swollen tributaries pour ed into the twisting Ohio river today, treatenin to engulf down river communities and forcing an ever-increasing torrent of refugees to flee their homes. The swirling, debris-laden wa ters rose rapidly below Cincin nati and as far west as Cairo, 111., with the crest expected in southern Indiana end Kentucky during the week-end. A 47-foot level 18 feet above flood stage already was registered at Louisville. Farther up the river level ap peared to have reached its peak. The rain had ceased, and thoje was no appreciable rise after midnight. In all, rriore than 30,000 fam ilies were at the mercy of the sullen Ohio river, on its worst rampage in eight years. (Arm RtidtihTeUnhoto) Fourth Infantry Division, said the incident took place in Jan uary when elements of Patton's Third army reached the banks of the Sure opposite Bettendorf. They were told to lose no time in taking the town. But the Ger mans opened up with murderous artillery and machinegun lire. Just before dawn we started going across In three-man boats, the sergeant said. "Aftel a while, though. General Patton decided the men were 'sitting pigeons' for the Germans. He called the boats back and ordered the men to swim across with rifles, ba zookas, and everything they could carry. "To show us it could be done and to inspire the troops. Gen eral Patton jumped into the river and swam to the opposite bank. Then he swam back. "Thousands of troops followed him and fought like madmen for Bettendorf." FOR TAXI MURDER Pentonville Prison, London, March 8 (U.R) Pvt. Karl Gustav Hulten, 23, a Boston Mass., paratrooper, was hanged today for the $30 murder of a taxicab driver. Mrs. Elizabeth Jones, the 18-year-old strip tease dancer who was condemned to death with Hulten for the murder of George Heath, "the man with the cleft chin," was beginning a life sen tence at Aylesbury prison. She was reprieved by Home Sacretary Herbert Morrison less than 48 hours before she, too, was scheduled to hang. Morrison refused clemency for Hulten. London newspapers reported they received numerous tele phone Inquiries as to why Morri son had reprieved only Mrs. Jones when both had been found equally guilty. Stassen Outlines Seven Points For Permanent Peace Minneapolis, Minn., March 8 (U.R) Cmdr. Harold E. Stassen a delegate to the United Nations conference at San Francisco April 25, declared last night that America should "use Its enor mous productive capacity, capi tal and credit to contribute to higher world living standards." It was one of the seven card! nal points for an enduring peace which Stassen outlined in an ad dress before the Minnesota Unit ed Nations committee. Unit -Full Leased Wire E TO END LABOR BY Turn On Pressure As Ses sion Threatens to Become One of Longest on Record Salem, Ore., March 8 (U.R) -The Oregon Legislature today faced its heaviest calendar of the 1945 session. Nearly 40 measures were due for passage in both houses today, while members turned on the pressure to adjourn about the middle of next week. Today is the 60th of the ses sion, 10 . over the statutory limit, which may easily be the longest on record. If the law makers adjourned next Wednes day the session would have been 66 days in length, tying the rec ord of the 1939 session. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission was under attack in the House, after a tempestuous session yesterday which carried over into today a calendar. Rep Jack Bain,' Portland nightclub operator, rear1 into the record a direct charge that an employe of the commission had attempt ed 10 influence his vote on a measure by a threat. The charges were made during debate over Senate Bill 117. which extends the power of the commission in the enforcement of the liquor laws. ' The majority report on the bill was finally accepted after two hours of debate and the nouse turned down, 4Z to 16, a motion to substitute a minority report. The minority made distinction between licenses and unlicensed clubs. Opponents of the measure charged that the distinction was unconstitutional. The majority report changed very little the provisions of the present law, as minority report adherents said that the commis sion already had sufficient law enforcement powers If they cared to use them. Two allied bills, also request ed by the commission, were placed on the calendar late to day as special orders. The bills (SB's 144 and 145) also broaden the commission's powers. Another special order due for today was the consideration of committee majority and minor ity reports for House Bill 272 which changes the limitations now placed on the practice of op tometry. A new measure, House Joint Resolution 14, calling for the appointment of an Interim com mittee to study further the taxes and fees for carriers on public highways was introduced yesterday. - Action by the Senate on House-approved measure pro viding civil service for most state employes started today with a hearing before the judi ciary committee. Fish and game measures were set for major hearings of the Senate game committee late this afternoon and the joint fish and game com mittees tonight. Errol Flynn To Be Sued For Divorce Hollywood, March 8 (U.R) Errol Flynn, romantic film actor who has been in court almost as much as he's been before the cameras In recent years, soon will be sued for divorce by his latest wife, Nora Eddington, It was renorted today. Neither Flynn nor Miss Ed dington was here to confirm or deny the report. Flynn was be- llved to be In New York City his young wife In Mexico City Mrs. Jack Eddington, Nora mother, said that her daughter planned to fly from Mexico City to Hollywood "sometime this month," but she knew nothing of tin divorca plans. UNE NO. 224. N BERLIN DRIVE Now Within 27 Miles of Ger man Capital Nazis Ad mit Defense Breached London, March 8 (U.R) The Germans said today that the Red army broke across the Oder river south of Kuestrln, carved out a bridehead 10 miles deep, and stormed westward within 27 miles of Berlin. Nazi broadcasts said Marshal Gregory K. Zhukov's 1st White Russian army massed along the Oder smashed westward from the area of Goeritz. six miles south of Kuestin, and plunged aue west toward Berlin. 27 Miles Away The vanguard of the bulslne Soviet bridgehead edged against Seelow, 12 miles southwest of Kuestrln, 10 west of the last natural barrier before Berlin, and 27 miles from the capital itself, enemy radio dispatches reported. The nazl acknowledgment of a yawning breach in the Oder river line was broadcast a day after the Germans reported that Zhukov's mighty armv wan opening the battle for Berlin. The whole Berlin front in the Oder valley was reported ablaze irom me Oder elbow 29 miles northeast of Berlin to the sec tor around Frankfurt, a dis tance of some 40 miles. inner Russian tnmem storming the rear defenses of Stettin and hurrying the battle ui eastern Fomerania to a vic torious conclusion. Th A Oaf. mans said Marshal Ivan S. Konev was massing for. in Silesia in apparent prenaratlon iur renewal ol his drive into the south flank of the Berlin uexenses. Daring Daylight Kobbers Hold Ud Air Lines Office San Francisco. Mnrh n mm Two robbers, working In full view of scores of passersby, to day held up the Western Air ies iicKet office in downtown San Francisco and walked out with an estimated $2,000. One of the men, apparently holding a sawed off shotgun over his coat, kept a clerk anrf fan customers at bay while his com panion took tne money from a rear wall safe. The robbers walked Intn Ihs omce across from the St. Fran cis Hotel shortly after lt opened hi i m. m. xney pushed a cus tomer, D. Alexander of Sau- salito, to one side. There are 9,333,0C0 horses and 3,500,000 mules on the farms of the nation. Hitler Says "Treacherous Allies" Including Japan. Caused War Loss - Stockholm, March 8 (U.R) Unconfirmed German under ground reports claimed today that Adolf Hitler confessed to high nazl officials that Ger many had lost the war. The admission was said to have been made February 24 at a meeting of 30 responsible nazl leaders, mostly Gauleiters and Rclchleitcrs. Hitler told them, the reports said, that he lost the war be cause he "fell victim to the big gest treason In history" and as a result proclaimed a wanton destruction of Germany. The fuehrer's statement to the group, it was added, put all the blame for losing the war on "reactionaries" and treacherous allies, including Japan which Resistance Light As Yankees Drive Into Reich Heart Paris, March 8 (U.R) Units of United States 1st army hava stormed across the Rhine and are advancing Into the heart of Germany against light resistance. Vanguards ot Lt. Gen. Courtney Hodges' 1st army made th historic crossing at 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon south ot Cologne, a front dispatch revealed. A partial security blackout cloaked the progress of the first American columns east of the Rhine, but the announcement from Hodges' headquarters that only "light" resistance had been en countered in the early stages made it clear the advance was going well. COLOGNE TAKEN WITHOUT STRUGGLE First army troops who broke the back of the German Rhine land army on the plains before Cologne itself almost without a struggle won the first Rhine bridgehead. Strong supporting infantry units were rushed Into the bridge head after the first shock troops had broken across and it was indicated that Hodges was pouring a steady tide of men and armor into the attack. - It was the first time an Invading army had crossed Germany's historic western rampart since Napoleon's grand army pushed across the Rhine more than 100 years ago. NOW 290 MILES FROM BERLIN ' The assault put Hodges' fast-rolling Infantry columns into the southern flank of the teeming Ruhr basin less than 290 miles southwest of Berlin. The blow fell squarely upon armies struggling to pull back behind the Rhine under a terrible storm of fire from American, British, and Canadian divisions massed along a 110-mile stretch of the Rhine from Coblenz north ward to the Dutch border. Rhine Mopup lArmt TtUpholo) American troops clear German real guards out of Cologne and hem In last Nazis on west bank of Rhine. One First Army unit closed on Bonn. U. S. Ninth Army cleaned out Hom berg. The Canadian First Army took Bonsbeck, 10 miles west ot WeseL The U. 8. Third crossed Kyi! River in Moselle River Valley drive. SENATE IN FAVOR Washington, March 8 U.R) The senate today wrote Into its pending manpower bill fine arid jail penalties for employers who violate employment ceilings. The amendment provides a maximum penalty of $10,000 fine and one year in jail for any employers who wilfully re tains more employes than au thorized by the war manpower commission. Earlier today President Roose velt had urged that the senate hurry up and make up its mind about the legislation. he said had pledged to attack Russia simultaneously with Ger many. According to the reports, Hit ler disclosed that German war casualties amounted to 12,500, 000 dead, wounded, and missing. Because of the hopeless situa tion, the underground sources said Hitler appointed Gestapo Chief Helm-ich Hlmmler "spe cial commissioner ot destruc tion" with orders to devastate all German cities and Industries even with the aid of the Luft waffe if necessary. The plans were reported to Include the killing of all politi cal prisoners and hostages, al though lt was said Hitler was "still deliberating" ways and means ot dealing with war pris oners. 'S3icv'''iM"M,","," ! Ktl.ib..l ytuttfert MFTHVi 0IJf.-J .OUrkon.. Rstnnond' TsWt " .jrJu, 1 fed N.TpOVWHlP0f Mvmkm SIWk3 Jfi ii.li,, muc- LUX . Of Jtflmik SmI U.S. (d-ZTSS : ) J . . the center of three German Fear General Assault Frantic German broadcasts hinted that a general assault on the Rhine was under way or about to begin at several points north and south of the 1st army bridgehead. Berlin spokesmen said the Canadian 1st army was massing powerful tank and infantry for mations along the lower Rhine near the Dutch border tor a strike Into the rolling plains of northwestern Germany. They warned their people, too, that the U. S. 9th and 3rd armies flanking Hodges' men were de ploying on the west bank of the river for a similar crossing. Toward Reich Heart Hodges' swift drive across thai Rhine, coming barely 48 hours after the fall ot Cologne, made it clear that th allied armies of the west were ready to carry the war into the heart of Hitler's reich without the 'expected pause for consolidation on the west side of the river. , Another potential crossing was in the making a dozen miles south a of Cologne, where other 1st army troops captured half the university city of Bonn. The Yanks also were ramming southward along the Rhine from Bonn toward a junction with Lt. Gen. George S. Patton's rampaging 3rd army tanks In the Coblenz sector. AMONG LIBERATED Mrs. Cora L. Glaze. 494 Fair view St., and Mr. and Mrs. Theo dore Ryall, Route 2, Ashland, were Informed today that Mrs. Glaze's daughter and son-in-law and the Ryall's son are among those liberated from Japanese prison camps In the Philippine Islands recently. Mrs. Glaze had had but one communication from her daugh ter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney S. Bartlett, since the fall of the Islands. Mr. Bartlett was a mining engineer working near Manila before the war and in the letter Mrs. Bartlett wrote that he had been put to work building roods for the Japanese. Mrs. Bartlett visited Ashland shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor and then returned to the Philippines. The Ryalls could not be con tacted today for Information con cerning their son, Theodore Ry all, Jr., but it was reported that they had received almost no In formation from him during the time since the capture of the is lands. Other Oregonlans listed as liberated were Rodney A. Depue, Portland: Beverly E. Hardy, Sa lem: Richard. Hammill, Stan field; Montague Lord, Salem; Carlln H. McClure, Mount An gel; John R. Nichols, Portland; Johnson W. Wareham, Portland. AMERICAN CASUALTIES UP 10,000 DURING WEEK Washington, March 8 (U.R U. S. combat casualties announc ed here reached 823.632 today, an Increase of 10,600 over a week ago. The total Included 732,923 army casualties through Febru ary 28, as announced by Secre tary of War Henry L. Stlmson, and 90,710 navy, marine corps, and coast guard casualties, as I announced by the navy. 5
