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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 6, 1945)
Three Armies Near Hannover in Drive Through Weakening Defense Medford Uilted Pre Fortieth Year WATER PROSPECT SOUTHERNJREGON Annual Forecast Shows Tal ent Irrigation District Facing Restricted Supply. Irrigation water prospects in louthern Oregon both east and west of the Cascades are about average, it was reported at the annual water forecast commit tee meeting here today. Snow cover in southern Ore gon mountains has been remark ably improved by March storms, it was reported by R. A. Work, snow survey supervisor for the soil conservation service and Oregon agricultural experiment station. Water supplies in prospect for 1945 are now listed as slightly better than last season and are nearly average. This year's crop production on most irrigated lands in Jack son and Josephine counties is not expected to suffer materially bvause of water shortage. Ample water supplies are In prospect for Klamath county. Reservoir storage in the Med ford -Rogue river irrigation dis tricts was pronounced generally sood. Superintendent J. M Spencer of Medford Irrigation district reported that reservoirs of that district are now about one-half filled with prospects of run-off to "come which assures some holdover in the reservoirs at conclusion of this irrigation season. Concern over shortages of nrosriective water supply was ex pressed for lands served by the Talent irrigation district. Hyatt Prairie reservoir is ex pected this year to fill to less than one-half capacity. Aitnougn Emigrant reservoir is full Talent irrigation district is sure of not more than 80 days irrigation supply. The only other areas of prospect water snoriage is xne Applegate river where late wa ter rights are likely to be out of water by Aug. 15. Applegate river flow is not expected to ex ceed 75 per cent normal. Canal alteration is not likely to be required this year in the Grants Pass irrigation district. Seventh n Series This was seventh in a series of meetings being held through out the state under the leader ship of R. A. Work and W. T. Frost in charge of snow surveys nd water forecasts for soil con servation service and O. S. C. ex periment station. Other participants in today s meeting included representatives of Klamath basin irrigation and power interests, county water masters and agricultural repre sentatives. The forecaster's conclusions were based on April 1 snow sur vey measurements, watershed soil moisture tests, reservoir storage records and stream flow readings. Washington, April 6 (U.R) Ceiling prices for Oregon fresh strawberries this year have been announced by office of price administration as follows: County shippers' ceiling. 13 cents a pint, 27 cents a quart, 18 cents a pound, F. O. B. coun try shipping point for entire season. Highest wholesale ceilings, 16.3 cents a pint, 32 cents a quart, 21.3 cents n pound. Highest retail ceilings, 20.8 cents a pint, 44.8 cents a quart, 28.5 cents a pound. FIFTH ARMY ADVANCES 2 MILES IN MOUNTAINS Rome, April 6. U.R Ameri can fifth army troops advanced nearly two miles In a new drive in the mountains dominating the Llgurian coastal plain southeast of La Spezia, it was announced today. The surprise attack south of Massa in northwestern Italy ap parently was the onslaught which the German radio describ ed as a major offensive along the Llgurian coast. The only commercial airport in the world that has dual run ways in all directions Is the Chi-1 cago Municipal Airport. Full Leased Wire Japanese Defenders of Stage First Heavy IEJIMA - MotobuJ). Na O bntanzanl worn " WShichan (Acme Telephoto) The showdown battle of southern Okinawa and the Japanese island's Bas tion's capital city of Naha appears to be shaping up or already mounting to full fury. The 10th Army has driven to within four miles of Naha aa Ma. Oen. Oelger's Third Marine Amphibious Corps continues advance across Ishlkawa Isthmus which has completely sealed off northern part of island. Black portions of map Indicate the eighty square miles of , choice territory now solidly controlled by Americans. Japan Prepared For Change In Relations With Soviets London, April 6. (U.R) Tokyo said today that Japan would make the "greatest possible effort" to remain at peace with Russia, but was fully prepared for any Tokyo Tried Hard To Keep Russian Agreement Alive Moscow, April 6. W.) Japan, it was rumored In diplomatic circles today, attempted to make far-reaching concessions to Rus sia Including nullification of the treaty of Portsmouth, in an effort to keep the Soviet Union from denouncing the Russo-Japanese neutrality pact. These rumors could not be confirmed but it was reported the Japanese were willing to pay almost any price to main tain the status quo with Russia. (Under the treaty of Ports mouth Russia was forced to give up Port Arthur, surrender her lease of the Kwantung Peninsu la, evacuate Manchuria, recog nize Japan's sphere of influence in Korea and surrender the southern half af Sakhalin island The treaty ended the Russo Japanese war and was negotiat ed at Portsmouth, N. H.) The Russians, it should be not ed, have long memories. The Russo-Japanese war was launch ed by the Japanese with an at tack which preceded declara tion of war. The Russians forget nothing and the treachery of Pearl Har bor did not fail to mal-e a pro found Impression in Mo.-cow. Jimmie Stewart Becomes Colonel U. S. Eighth Air Force Head quarters, England, April 6 (U.PJ Former Film Star Jimmie Stew art of Indiana. Pa., has been promoted to the rank of colonel. it was disclosed today. Stewart, who has flown 20 combat missions as a bomber pilot, rose from captain to lieu tenant colonel during his 18 months in the European theater. He u now serving as chief of staff of a liberated combat wing in MaJ. Gen. William Kepner's second air division. German Cruiser Is Sunk, Photos Show London, April 8. (U.R) Air reconnaissance photos today dis closed that the German light cruiser Koeln, was sunk during the American air attack on the Wllhelmshaven naval base Mar. 30. The Koeln is a 6,000-ton light cruiser, built by the Germans In 1928. The photos showed the Koeln apparently resting on the bot tom with damage amidshlp and ait and on hole on the port side. MEDFORD, OREGON, FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 194F Mom fit 1 . . t&TAKAHANARE SHIMA H AM AHI KA JIMA "TSUKEN JIMA OKINAWA fIIMf 10 'f STAJOTE MUES abrupt change" in their relations. London newspapers predicted Russia would follow up her de nunciation of the soviet-Japanese neutrality pact with a grant of Siberian bases to the allies or even a declaration of war against Japan. Japanese hopes that a new cabinet would be completed to day to succeed the resigned Koiso government in meeting the country's gravest military and political crisis were thwarted. Adm. Baron Kantaro Suzuki, premier designate, ended his first day of conferences without submitting a list of ministers to Emperor Hirohlto for approval as expected, Radio Tokyo ad mitted. Suzuki did succeed In obtain ing the co-operation of the army and navy, Tokyo said, and ex Dects to take un the naming of candidates for those and other portfolios at 8 a. m. tomor row (Tokyo time). scioTsTi E C. R. Bowman, county school superintendent, has issued a bul letin to all rural schools, seek ing their participation in the United National clothing drive, sponsored In the county by Med ford Junior chamber of com merce. The schools rre to bring their collections to either collec tion depot Humphrey Motors, 33 South Riverside or Fichner garage, 104 West Sixth street. Joe Early, representing the Kiwanls club, is contacting all granges in the county requesting their aid In the drive. CENTRAL POINT PLANER TO BE RECONSTRUCTED Preliminary steps for recon struction of the Southern Ore gon Planing mill near Central Point which burned last Mon day with a partially insured loss of $15,000, are now under way and work is Sue to start soon. Harry G. Dowson and A. W Lingaas, operators of the mill, have made arrangements for new planers. The old ones were ruined by the flames. MORMONS WARNED TO PREPARE FOR SLUMP Salt Lake City, April 8. (U.R) The first presidency of the Latter Day Saints (Mormon) church today warned nearly one million church followers to pre pare for the days ahead by be coming as nearly self-sustaining as possible. Okinawa Counterblow T SEEN AHEAD FOR NVASION FORCE Guam, April 8 (U.R) Japa nese defenders of Okinawa opened their biggest counterat tack of the campaign today, bringing the Amercian invasion forces to a virtual standstill in the west and central sectors of the island battlefront. A United Press correspond ent reported the Japanese coun terblow in a dispatch from Oki nawa. Ii coincided with numer ous signs that the walkover phase of the invasion was fin ished and bloody fighting lay ahead. 10th Storms Hills Resistance was reported stif fening all along the Okinawa front. The stalemate in the west and central parts came as 10th army forces stormed the slopes of three hills anchoring the de fenses of Naha, smouldering and deserted capital city some four miles to the south. The hills before Naha blocked the United States passage down the isthmus to the southern part of the island. Lt. Gen. Simon B. Buckner's forces were pushing down the east coast toward the town of Tsuwa, three miles north of Yonabaru, the island's principal east coast port. Near Air Strip The American vanguard was within two miles of Yonabaru air strip, which the 'Japanese had partly constructed when the invasion began. Front reports said It probably could be made usable in a short time. On the west coast, the Amer icans were bogged down about a mile north of Nakama, atop a high ridge running inland. Jap anese artillery on the ridge was pounding our forces. A curtain of smoke hung over the ridge as naVal guns and land-based artillery teamed with bombers in a concerted assault on it. THREE FIRE ALARMS ' THURSDAY EVENING ' Firemen were summoned three times last night. First call was from the home of Ed For rest, 511 East Main street, to extinguish a trash fire. Another run was made to the West Main apartments to put out a flue fire which caused no damage. The third call was to the home of Charles Reider, 306 Willa mette avenue to extinguish a fire which caused considerable damage to a children's play house. LUXURY TAX Mexico City, April 6 (U.R) A three per cent luxury tax was decreed on a large number of articles today, to become effec tive May 1. The articles includ ed antiques, carpets, radios, cameras, glass and chinaware, jewelry, toilet and beauty prod ucts, automobiles, pianos and furs. German Archbishop Complains Because Freed Slaves Plundering Nazi Homes Br Jack Fleischer United Press Correspondent Sendenhorst, Germany, April 6 (U.PJ Archbishop Count Von Galen of Muenstcr, outspoken critic of the Hitler regime, still Is against the nazis but he still is "loyal to the Fatherland." "I am and I remain a German and I will not discuss politics," the 67-year-old Catholic arch bishop said in an informal in terview in the reception room at the Catholic hospital here. He has lived in two rooms In the hospital since he was forced to leave Muenstcr, 11 miles to the northwest, by heavy air raids last October. ! had hoped he would talk about what had happened inside Germany and of possible con flicts h: had had with the nazls since I left the Berlin Bureau of the United Press after Pearl Harbor. At that time, I had copies of nry-BTl TTTTX United Press DUMBARTON PLAN OPEN TO CHANGE SAYS STETTINIUS Sec. of State Disputes Rus sian Claim Big 4 Agreed Against Amendments. Washington, April 6 (U.R) Secretary of State Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., said today that the Big Four powers who draft ed the Dumbarton Oaks propos als for world organization would be free to sponsor any amend ments to that plan at San Fran cisco. A soviet publication had sug gested that the Dumbarton Oaks proposals "virtually amount to an agreement" among the Big Four not only to refrain from repudiating or amending them but to defend them against pos sible attempts of others to amend or weaken them. The article appeared in the soviet embassy's information bulletin earlier this week. Stettinius' press conference came shortly after President Roosevelt named him tempor ary chairman of the San Fran cisco conference. The appoint ment followed regular proce dure for the chief executive of the host government. The con ference itself will elect Stettin ius permanent chairman. Stettinius also announced that the preliminary meeting of United Nations jurists will con vene here next Monday to be gin drafting the legal structure for a new world court. BABYlLDl DOG GIVEN MORE Til Los, Angeles, April B. (U.R) Woof, five-year-old Stafford shire bull terrier, today won an other week's reprieve from a death sentence imposed for kill ing 21 months' old Marguerite Derdenger. Superior Judge William Mc Kay said he would need another week to determine all legal facts in the entangled case and decide whether to grant a permanent injunction against the dog's exe cution sought by 'cafe owner Grady C. Terry, self-styled "friend of all dogs." Worried Woman Makes Torch of Children, Self Marengo, la., April 6. (U.R) Worry that her husband might be called for military service caused Mrs. Elsie Krakov. to pour gasoline on herself and three children and set a match to It, police said todcy. Carol Krakow told police that his five-year-old daughter, Mary, rushed out of the house yester day, her clothing in flames shrieking, "Mama poured gaso line on us and set us on fire." Inside, Krakow found his wife, two-month-old son, Michael, and another daughter, Carline, 2, burned to death on the kitchen floor. Mary died later in Ma rengo hospital. telegrams he had sent Adolf Hitler and Rcichsmarshal Her mann Goerlng vigorously pro testing nazi "mercy killings" of Insane or physically unfit Ger mans, confiscation of church buildings by the Gestapo and the turning of monks, nuns, and other members of Catholic In stitutions into the streets t o make way for the nazis. The archbishop reaffirmed ills opposition to such practices, but reiterated he would not dis cuss politics further while the war continued. Instead, he expressed concern over what arrangements would be made to care for the thou sands of liberated foreign slave workers and war prisoners wandering along every road to the west. He referred to all the liber ated, wandering peoples as "Russians" and accused them of plundering German homes. He TTTVTT1 Full Leased Wlr NO. 13. E 2 Armies Storming Capital After Cutting Supply Line; Eastern Edge Penetrated. London, April 6 (U.R) A Moscow dispatch said today that Soviet forces had three-quarters encircled Vienna and were bat tling in the eastern outskirts. Two soviet armies were storming the Austrian capita from the east, west and south, after cutting the main German supply lines southwest of the city. . Moscow said assault units of Marshal Feodor I. Tolbukhin's 3rd Ukrainian army had pene trated an industrial settlement on the eastern edge of the city. Resistance at Vienna appar ently was considerably stiffer than that at Bratislava, which fell two days ago after one-day battle. Front reports said, how ever, the Russians were driving with all possible force in an at tempt to capture the city before it suffered the disastrous fate that befell Budapest. JOEL OF Joel Huntsman, 32, chief avia tion machinist's mate in the navy, died recently as the result of wounds suffered during ac tion in the Pacific, according to. a wSta from the war department received Wednesday by Mrs. Huntsman, who resides at 613 South Ivy street. Huntsman had been in the navy 18 years, hav ing enlisted at the age of 14, and was a crew member of an aircraft carrier. Survivors are Mrs. Huntsman and four children. The family came here the first of January from Portsmouth, Va., in order to be near Mrs. Huntsman's par ents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Harris, route 4, and Mr. Huntsman left Jan. 20 for overseas duty. Peterson Becomes S.P. Passenger Head Portland, April 6 Appoint ment of Claude E. Peterson as vice-president in charge of sys tem passenger traffic for South ern Pacific was announced to day by A. T. Mercier, president of the railroad. Peterson suc ceeds the late Felix S. McGlnnls. The appointment is effective im mediately. Peterson moves up from assistant vice president In the passenger traffic department, a post he has held since June of 1842. DELEGATE Berkeley, Cal., April 8. (U.R) Ernesto Quiroga-Ocampo, 23-year-old sophomore student at the University of California, has been designated a delegate of Bolivia to the United Nations conference on International or ganization at San Francisco, It was disclosed today. expressed deep concern that the Americans did not exercise more control over them, "espe cially since the German police are now disarmed." The cleric appeared piqued that thus far no high-ranking American officer had visited him. When he found we were newspapermen, he said: "I don't want to have any thing In the press It would be better if an American general called on me." He was deeply grieved rather than angry about the allied bombings of Germany. Ha said bombs had destroyed his resi dence, the cathedral and other "culture monuments" In Muen ster and added that one "also almost got me while I was sit ting at home during an attack. Asked Just when he moved to Sendenhorst from Mucnster, he replied: "Ask the Americans when they bombed me out.' Breakthrough by 9th Army , Sparks Powerful Surge of Allied Forces Over Weser Paris, April 6. (U.R) Two American and one British army rammed through wilting Nazi defense lines today to plunge within 17 miles of Hannover, 138 miles west of Berlin, and the great North, Sea port of Bremen was flanked in a drive across the open north German plain. The American 1st army joined the British second and the Amer ican 9th in a new offensive that rolled up the Weser river line, last German river line before the Elbe which lies Just beyond the city's western suburbs. 8TH ONLY 17 MILES FROM HANNOVER The 9th army was within 17 miles of Hannover and the 1st army swung forward as much as 23 miles to reach the Weser about 160 miles southwest of Berlin. Lt. Gen. George S. Patton's 3rd army, which has paced the at tack across Germany, drove forward seven miles southeast of Gotha to a point less than 60 miles from Leipzig. Reports from returning fighter pilots said that heavy German military movement had been noted on the highways leading to Leipzig. That might indicate extensive Nazi preparations In an attempt to halt Patton's rampaging columns before they can reach Leipzig, which is a likely Junction point with the soviet forces of Marshal Ivan S. Konev. At the closest point Patton was little mora than 160 miles from achieving this juncture. AMERICAN GLIDERS LAND LIGHT TANKS A German report said that American gliders had landed light tanks at Langensalza, 17 miles north of Gotha, where heavy fight ing was reported. Langensalza is 79 miles southwest of Magdeburg. The report, If correct, might Indicate that Patton's advanced spearheads now are placing more reliance upon air transport due to the rapidity of their advance. Third army registers showed a total of 84,614 prisoners cap tured this week 42.649 last week. There have been 71,670 proc essed in the last 15 days and an estimated 92,300 captured in that period to bring the total to 200,000 since March 7 and 400,000 since August 1. Late field dispatches said the American!" were 87 miles or less from the northwestern corner of Czechoslovakia, 60 miles from Leipzig and 166 miles away from the westbound red army. Lt Gen. George S. Patton's 3rd army tanks officially were 128 miles southwest of Berlin, but still-unconfirmed reports placed them inside the Harz mountain range 120 miles or less from Hit ler's dying citadel. 7TH ADVANCES SLOWLY EAST On Patton's right flank, the U. S. 7th army advanced slowly but steadily east and southeast toward Nuernberg against fanatical opposition from German volksturm and regular army units de fending the approaches to the nazls' "last redoubt" in the Bavarian mountains. French 1st army forces In the extreme south wera reported 25 miles or less from Stuttgart, 112 miles northeast of Munich and less than 40 miles from the headquarters of the Danube. North of the 3rd army, the American 1st army broke through the hilly Hardahausen forests In a 22-mile eastward surge that car ried almost to the Weser river at a point 161 miles due west of Berlin. Simultaneously, the 1st army wheeled strong tank and Infantry forces mto the southeastern corner of the Ruhr basin, teaming up with American 9th army doughboys in a drive to wipe out an esti mated 150,000 Germans trapped in the Ruhr. Massive assault teams of the 9th army's 30th Infantry and 2nd armored divisions sparked the drive on the Weser river and Hannover. The doughboys crossed the 240-foot Weser In assault boats early Thursday at a point two miles south of Hamelin, 22 miles southwest of Hannover, and advanced more village of Tuendern, 153 miles west of Berlin. Armored units followed the Infantrymen across on hastily- erected pontoon bridges, and struck up. for Hannover against fcebla resistance. FEDERAL COURT IN E-DAY HEARI1 i Federal court reopened here today for a brief session to han dle one land condemnation case. Judge James Alger Fee is pre siding. The action, that of the United States versus Llona Creason Koff, Kenneth W. and Halllc Ford, the city of Roscburg and Douglas county, concerns a tract of land on which a railroad spur connecting with a sawmill has been constructed by the Defense Plant corporation of the Recon struction Finance corporation Jurors drawn to hear the case were Elmer C. Boiled, Ashland: Harold A. Frye, Robert B. Ham mond, Medford; Chester Wendt. Jacksonville; Lowell Ager, Beat ty; Leo T. Saner, Grants Pass: Donald C. Reames, CottaRe Grove; Dom Provost, Ashland: Douglass Talbott, Rogue River: R. C. Hartley, Ashland; Frank Kllngle, Brownsboro and Elwyn Hamacher, Klamath Falls. Attorney for the plaintiff are Bert C. Boylan and Linus M. Fuller. Court will open In Klamath Falls next Mor.day to try a num ber of condemnation cases. RODEO PERFORMER IS HELD ON RAPE CHARGE Burns, Ore., April 6 (U.R) A long time rodeo performer Thomas Dunn, Sr., known as Shancko Red, was held In Burns today for California authorities The 43-year-old cowboy was arrested by federal bureau of In vestlgation agents and Harney county officers at Wagontlre. A federal warrant charges him with unlawful flight from Stock ton, Cal., Oct. 8, 1944, to Burns to avoid prosecution on an at tempted rape charge. A Callfor nla warrant charges him with attempted rape. than a half-mile to capture the Pravda Attacks Hoover Proposal To Limit Powet Moscow, April 6 (U.R) Tho communist party newspaper Pravda today bitterly attacked former President Herbert Hoov er's proposal to limit the powers of the American delegate to tha security council to bring the United States into war against an aggressor. Pravda said Hoover desired that this power be reserved to the President of the United States, acting only upon the con sent of the senate and House Foreign Relations committees. ft charged that this proposal was "the most suspicious of tha many schemes in circulation." It really aimed, Pravda charged, at sabotaging tha peace. The newspaper claimed that Hoover "feared" a long peace. BILLY L Ji KILLED IN ACTION Mrs. Lucy Lyman, 43 Rosa Court, received information yes terday that her grandson, Billy Lyman Jackson, was recently killed In action aboard an air craft carrier. Tha young man, in the navy 10 years, was a chief pharmacist's mate. Young Jackson had made his home with his grandmother since Infancy and was well known here. He attsnded Med ford schools and after graduat ing from high school attended the Southern Oregon College of Education In Ashland. TO BERLIN The nearest distances to Berlin from advanced allied lines today: Eastern front 31 miles (from Zaeckerlck), Western front 128 miles (from Schlotheim; 120 miles, by German report, from Hara mountains). Italian front SIS miles (from near Comacchtt).
