Fall of Four German Ports, Isolation of Denmark Near
British and Yankee Tanks
Ram Wedge in Weser Line;
Patton, Ninth Berlin Bound
Paris, April 7 (U.R) Four Allied tank columns plunging
as much as 35 miles across the north German plains, seemed at
the point of capturing Hamburg, Bremen, Hannover and Brunswick
today, their giant strides having carried them to within 133 miles
of Berlin and to within 85 miles of isolating Denmark.
The fall of those four large cities, with a total peacetime pop
ulation of ".,696,000 appeared imminent as Lt. Gen. William H.
Simpson's American 9th Army and Lt. Gen. Miles C. Dempsey's
British 2nd drove toward and beyond them against slight and dis
integrating opposition.
One British column racing up the west side of the Weser was
only 15 miles from Bremen and 54 miles from Hamburg. Another
which crossed the Weser three days ago was ramming a deep wedge
between Bremen and Hannover in what Berlin said was a drive for
the Baltic, 85 miles to the northeast, to cut off Denmark.
The Americans were 25 miles past the shattered Weser river
line at a point a scant nine miles southeast of Hannover and 25
mies west of the great aircraft center of Brunswick.
NINTH JOINS RACE
The 9th Army Joined the race for Berlin with a vengeance
and was only seven miles farther from the rubbled capital than
Lt. Gen. George S. Patton's 3rd Army armor which was 126 miles
to the southwest, on the Thuringian plains.
The American 1st Army slashed across the Weser northeast
of Kassel, putting four Allied armies over that river for the march
on the Elbe, Berlin's last natural defense line in the west.
A high 1st Army officer said that with the shattering of the
Weser river line, the Germans had no chance of establishing a
cohesive front in the west. He said the Elbe river, which flows
within 45 miles of Berlin, was next on the Allied timetable and
"the biggest thing now is to drive across Germany and join, hands
with the Russians, cutting Germany in half."
HIGH NAZI TRAPPED
The 3rd Army tanks, which have driven 235 miles into Ger
many, strengthened their flanks while infantry mopping up be
hind encountered fierce resistance and lost ground at points east
of Kassel. The 6th Armored Division, striking eight miles north
of Muehlhausen, reached the Keula area, on the south slopes of
the Harz mountains 62 miles west of Halle and 132 miles from
Berlin.
Field dispatches revealed that one of Germany's top military
men Field Marshal Walther von Model, one-time Nazi commander
in the west was trapped in the encircled Ruhr. He was at his
post at the head of army group "B" comprising the 5th Panzer and
15th armies when Lt. Gen. Courtney H. Hodges' American 1st
Army and the 9th snapped off the Ruhr. - Model presumably could
escape by plane if he chose.
T
E
Portland, Oregon, April 7
U.R) Ma. Denton Rees, Klam
ath Falls dentist, who survived
the Infamous Btitaan death
march and three years of Im
prisonment at the Cabanatuan
camp in the Phllliplnes, said to
day on his arrival here that his
foremost impression of wartime
America is "the way everyone
wants to do things for you."
"After the Jap prison treat
ment, you're surprised when
ever anyone tries to do anything
for you," he said.
An "Oregon Club" formed
by U. S. prisoners at the camp
was prevented from meeting by
the Japanese, who thought its
activities were directed against
them.
"The biggest trouble was that
it was the hottest time of tne
year, and the Japs had destroyed
our canteens Just for the hell
of it The fellows had malaria
and were starved. We had
straight rice for the first three
weeks, he added.
DUlHTPLAN
BE
Washington, April 7 (U.R)
The World Security Organiza
tion proposed at Dumbarton
Oaks "is subject to amendment"
by the United Nations conference
t San Francisco, Chairman Tom
Connally, D., Tex., of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee
said tonight.
Connally thus agreed with his
Senate colleague on the U. S.
delegation to the April 25 con
ference, Arthur H. Vandenberg.
R., Mich., that full opportunity
should be provided for changing
the Dumbarton Oaks charter if
changes are desirable. There
have been charges that the Big
Four would try to ram the pro
posals through without altera
tion. iS HELD
San Francisco, April 7 (U.R)
More than 800 rescued U. S.
prisoners of the Japs the larg
est group ever to reach the coast
at one time is due to arrive at
U. S. Pacific coast port "soon,"
the navy announced today.
All the repatriated prisoners
are civilians who had been In
terned by the Japs in Santo
Tomas and other Philippines Is
land prisons. Included In the
group are ministers, missionar
ies, salesmen, students, engin
eers, Red Cross officials, clerks,
miners, druggists, and others
from all walks of life.
Portland, Ore., April 7 (U.R)
Officials of the Yank Legion, a
group of World War II veterans
and war workers, today reveal
ed the American Legion has pro
tested the new organization's in
signia and name as an infringe
ment of patent rights.
Ralph B. Gregg, national
judge advocate of the American
Legion, wrote the Yank group,
which has headquarters in Port
land, that "the emblem is simi
lar to that adopted by the Amer
ican Legion and protected by
letters patented in the United
States patent office and renewed
by act of congress. We feel that
the use of the name 'Yank Le
gion' and the emblem as display
ed is an Infringement on our
'ights, and must respectfully re
quest that thil practice be
discontinued."
Washington, April 7 (U.R) A
group of German war prisoners
in Camp Devens, Mass., have
appealed to the people of Ger
many to overth, ow Hitler and
make an Immediate peace with
the allies, the war department
revealed tonight.
The plea was contained In a
petition signed voluntarily by
1,391 of the 3.102 German pris
oners at the camp, the depart
ment said. The appeal will be
broadcast to Germany, It was
announced.
"The continuation of this
combat, which was mad from
the beginning, brings us only
closer to the total des.ruction of
our homeland, ou native coun
try; the bleeding to death of our
people." the petition said.
Declaring that "the dead have
no future," the petition pleaded,
"put dowr your weapons Imme
diately, stop '.he war, surrender."
MAY BE 'BABS' KIN
Stockholm, April 7 (U.P)
Four Copenhagen men, including
Count Ludwig Reventlow, were
shot to death by order of the
Germans yesterday, the Danish
Press Service said today. It was
not known here whether the
youn count was a relative of
Count Haugwltz von Reventlow.
former husband of the American
heiress, Barbara Hutton.
THE WEATHER
Forecast Sundry, occasional
rain: Monday, clearing and
cooler.
Medford
UMted Prat
Fortieth Year
Japanese Suffer
Allied Armies Close on Hannover
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British and Canadian troops, pushing their Netherlands drive from south,
outflank great German port o( Bremen. On Berlin road. American Ninth
and British Second Armies stream across Weser. converge on Hannover.
0. 8 First and Third Armies made new progress across German plain
towards the capita: while the O. S. Seventh and French First Armies
knlie deeper Into southern Germany.
WHOLESALE HEAT
E CEILING IS
E
Local OPA officials stated
Saturday they will be forced to
call in Portland and San Fran
cisco Investigators unless meat
wholesalers desist from the prac
tice of selling meat above ceiling
prices.
The OPA officials sid com
plaints that local wholesalers
are selling meats to retailers
and restaurants above ceiling
prices have been made by many
Medford merchants who claim
that the gravity of the situation
will force them to close several
days a week unless it is cleared
up soon.
"The overcharges are fre
quently made by changing the
weight of the meat on the in
voice which automatically places
it in a higher price bracket and
results in a substantial over
charge," the officials said they
had been informed.
'Retailers continue to buy In
excess of the ceiling in order to
supply their customers. Though
no overcharges at retail have
been reported, the retailer is as
much in violation for buying
over the celling price as for
selling," the OPA statement con
cluded. BACK IN ACTION
San Francisco, April 7 (U.R)
The 12th naval district disclosed
today that the U.S.S. Birming
ham, a light cruiser, has return
ed to action In the Pacific after
undergoing extensive damage
repairs j.id modernization.
The Birmingham was stand
ing by the doomed llsht carrier
Princeton last Oct. 24 off the
Philippines when the Princeton's
magazine exploded. The cruis
suffered 64P casualties.
The Birmingham was within
50 feet of the carrier when the
hazajlne exploded. The cruis
er's topside structures were
pierced by a hall of torn frag
ments. The stacks, deckhouse
and antiaircraft guns and mounts
were considerably damaged.
State Board Keeps
Tax Commissioners
Salem, Ore., April 7 (U.R)
The state board of control today
reappointed Earl Fisher and
Charles V. Galloway to the state
tax commission for four-year
terms. Secretary of State Robert
Parrel! opposed the action, but
v.-ns outvoted by Gov. Earl Snell
and Treasurer Leslie M. Scott.
Full Leased Wire
ALLIES II RUHR
. SAY THEY
By Jack Fleischar
United Press War Correspondent
Recklinghausen, April 7-rU.R)
Dr. Posef Hellermann, allied
appointed mayor of this north
Ruhr city, said today he was
very "disappointed" with the
Americans and British.
His disappointment like that
of many other Germans I have
talked with stems from the
fact that we have not come as
"liberators" but conquerors and
because, ho charged, we have
not strictly controlled freed al
lied prisoners of war and slave
laborers.
He complained that German
homes were being "plundered."
These complaints have been
made both by Germans who are
Nazis and by some who claim
they are anti-Nazi, The mayor,
like a good many other Ger
mans, advanced what appears to
be the post-war German propa
ganda line it was all the fault
of Adolph Hitler and the Nazis.
It seems apparent that the
Germans are already trying to
shift all responsibility for the
war off their own shoulders.
German after German whom I
have interviewed denounces the
Nazis, and in the next breath re
cites almost verbatim some Nazi
propaganda theme such as "the
crime of the Treaty of Ver
sailles." Hellermann Is a former super
intendent of city schools In
Recklinghausen who was retired
on a rension after two months
In a Gestapo jail. He had been
charged with showing favor to a
city employe who had made in
sulting remarks about Hitler.
HAPPYTOSr- WAR
SEEN BY TRUMAN
Buffalo, April 7 (U.R) Vice
President Harry S. Truman fore
cast a prosperous postwar Amer
ica In a speech tonight to a
Grover Cleveland day dinner of
the Democratic party.
"As lor.g as we utilize our
plants, resources, manpower and
skills intelligently, there seems
no sound reason why America
should fear the future In any
field of human endeavor," Tru
man said.
"As long as we remain free
and industrious, our progress
should be practically unlimited."
With the nation using Its pow
er and prortlge In the cause of
justice, he said, "America may
again lead the world back to
tolerance and understanding."
CONQUERORS
HPT! TT TTTYTT7
ffflSSl RIB UNE
MEDFORD, OREGON, SUNDAY, APRIL 8, 1945.
Air ' A Naval
fbhiTLES
RAGE IN STREET
Moscow, April 7 (U.R)
The Official Communist Party
Newspaper Pravda raised the
question of Austria's war guilt
today as the fall of Vienna ap
peared imminent. Pravda said
the foundation for a free and
democratic nation should be
formed immediately.
London, Sunday, April 8 (U.R)
The red army stormed 18 miles
to the Danube northwest of Vi
enna yesterday, encircling two
thirds of the Austrian capital
and putting the last German
escape roads under short-range
artillery fire while other Rus
sian troops battled into the city
streets from the south.
Marshal Feodor I. Tolbukhin's
3d Ukrainian army captured
Klessenburg, one mile from the
Vienna limits and left only a
13-mle gap between its spear
heads at the Danube on both
sides of Vienna, which lies al
most entirely on the south bank.
Street fighting broke out in
the shell-shaken Austrian cap
ital as other 3d Ukrainian army
units entered the main city from
the south, a Moscow commu
nique announced. Berlin . ad
mitted a penetration of two
miles inside Vienna to the edge
of Simmering, the city's gas and
electric power station four miles
southeast of St. Stephen's cathe
dral in the city's center.
The battle for Vienna, a me
tropolis of almost 2,000,000 pop
ulation and one of the most fa
mous capitals in the world, en
tered the climatic phase as Ger
man commentators vowed that
it would be defended street by
street.
Besides this route, the only
other railroads open to the Ger
mans were an auxiliary line con
necting eventually with Brno
and the main Vienna-Brno rail
road which hugs the west bank
of the Morava. Russian columns
at or across the Morava were
dominating this route with their
artillery.
None of the routes was more
than six miles from soviet guns
and It appeared the Germans
had no chance to evacuate their
main garrison.
THIRD WAR TOLD
Washington, April 7 (U.R)
The Allies have mapped detailed
plant for destroying a long-prepared
Nazi program to achieve
world domination "through a
third World War," the State Do
partment disclosed tonight.
Assistant Secretary of State
Julius C. Holmes said the United
Nations had collected "ample
evidence" that Hitler and his
henchmen already were working
on plans for a strong, world-wide
Nazi organization "iter this war
He disclosed in the last of the
State Department's weekly radio
broadcasts (NBC) that the Nazis'
post-war plans took shape in
1943, when top party leaders con
ceded that "Germany could no
longer hope to win the war."
NEW DETROIT STRIKE
Detroit, April 7 (U.R) A
sixth Detroit war plant was clos
ed by strikes today when 37
members of the United Automo
bile Workers (CIO) picketed the
Draper Motors Corp.
BULLETIN
(NIGHT GAMES)
Oakland, April 7 (U.R) The
hard-hitting Oakland Oaks
clinched their series with the
Hollywood Stars hers tonight by
a 6-3 count, in a Pacific coast
league gam before 2.500 fans.
Hollywood 2 19 3
Oakland 6 14 2
Intlekofer and Hill; Chelim
and B. Ralmondi.
San Diego, April 7 (U.R) The
San Diego Padres maintained a
five Inning lead over the San
Francisco Seals tonight In one
of the wildest team vs. team bat
ting duels this season with a 12
to 8 score at the end of the
fourth inning.
WAR BULLETINS
London. April 7 (U.R)
American bombers and fight,
rs shot down at least 87 Ger
man planes today as t h
crippled Luftwaffe desperate
ly sought to stop crushing
raids on their dwindling air
bases In northern Germany.
Rome. April 7 (U.R)
Fifth U. S. Army Troops ad
vanced in the Tyrrhenian sec
tor fox the third straight day,
today and drove toward the
great German naval base of
La Zpesla after capturing
Mount Fragollto and outflank
ing enemy-held Massa to tha
west.
Chungking. April 7 (U.R)
Chinese forces beat back
tank-led Japanese columns at
tempting to storm Laohokow.
former American airbase town
in northwest Rupeh province,
a Chines communique said
today.
London. April 7 (U.R)
A BBC broadcast said tonight
that the government of Greek
Premier Nicholas Plastiras
had resigned. The broadcast
said that Greek Regent Damas
kinos reportedly had asked
Adm. Pearos Voulgaris, commander-in-chief
of the Greek
navy, to form a new govern
ment. Plastiras had formed his
cabinet Jan. 3. 1945.
PLANE SPRAYING
FOR FIRST TIME
ON VALLEY PEARS
' For the first time In the his
tory of the valley's orchard In
dustry, orchard spraying is being
carried on from the air. Yester
day morning a pilot and crew
from the Central Aircraft com
pany, Yakima, dusted Walter
Leverette s Crown Point orchard
on Egar. Road and Monday the
crew will dust the Fair Oaks
tract on Hillcrest Road, Lever
ette stated last night. Much in
terest is being displayed in the
venture.
The orchardist stated that only
the pre-pink and pink sprays
could be put on from the air and
that tho dusting by airplane is
in the nature of an experiment.
He said the dusting supplies
were in a field on the old Barne
burg ranch, where a temporary
air strip for the plane had been
arranged. A "flag" crew posted
in the orchard aids the pilot.
According to Leverette, many
low crops are regularly dusted
from the air for insect and di
sease control but that dusting of
orchards is still In the experi
mental stage.
E
Guam, Sunday, April 8 (U.R)
The marine 3d amphibious corps
continued to drive northward
against negligible Japanese re
sistance on the Iskikawa Isthmus
of Okinawa yesterday Fleet
Adm. Chester W. Nimltz an
nounced In a communique today.
NImltz reported that by noon
the leathernecks had advanced
about 3,000 yards to the vicinity
of Nago town pa the west coast
of the island and Orbay on the
east coast. The 24th army corps
In the south was mo'-ing through
difficult terrain in which the
Japanese were fortified behind
an extensive system of strong
points.
The enemy troops were bar
ricaded behind pillboxes, block
houses and trenches.
Red Cross Assists
'Louisiana Victims
Alexandria. La., April 7 (U.R)
Rising flood waters of Louisiana
rivers by tonight had affected
half of the state's 64 parishes and
inundated over 1,000,000 acres
of land.
Red Cross director John Fllgg
estimated 'hat 20.000 perons
have now been drive i from
their homes and are being hous
ed in 27 tent cities, state guerd
armories, high ground churches
and munlclnal buildings. Long
food lines formed at hurriedly
set up army field kitchens.
United Press
Defeats
HALT B-29 RAID
Mitcscher's Carriers Destroy
Quarter of Remaining
Navy Plane Loss High.
Guam, Monday, April 8 (U.R)
American Superfortresses and
Mustang fighter planes destroy
ed or damaged 173 Japanese
planes during Saturday's attacks
against aircraft plants at Tokyo
and Nagoy, it was announced of
ficially today.
More than 400 B-29s great
est force ever dispatched from
Marianas bases were jumped
by swarms of Japanese intercept
ors who for the first time met
U. S. army - fighter plane op
position over the home islands.
Plane Plants Hit
The formations which poured
tons of demolition bombs on the
Mitsubishi aircraft plant at Na
goya and the Nakajima-Musa-shina
aircraft engine plant near
Tokyo destroyed or damaged 136
Japanese fighters alone at a cost
of five Superforts.
Enemy planes made as many
as 600 separate attacks on the
big bombers, indicating there
were at at least several hundred
interceptors in the area. Of
these, B-29 gunners definitely
shot down 64, probably destroy
ed 31 and damaged 41.
Mustang pilots shot down 21,
probably destroyed six and dam
aged ten. ,
Antiaircraft flro was Intense.
but photographs revealed the
bombs hit their targets. Damage
assessments will not be an
nounced until all reports are in.
Hug Yamato Sunk
An all-out Japanese effort to
Interfere with the American in
vasion of the key bastion of Oki
nawa had ended in complete
disaster today as reports showed
that 417 enemy aircraft and six
warships, Including the 40,000
ton battleship Yamato. were de
stroyed In a two-day period.
As defeat was heaped upon
defeat, Baron Kantaro Suzuki
the new premier of Japan,
warned his country that the war
now "warrants not the least bit
of optimism whatever for our
nation's survival."
Vice Adm. Marc A. MHcschcr'r
fast carriers went hunting and
found a Japanese task force,
spearheaded by the hugo Yama
to, In the waters off the south
ern tip of the enemy homeland.
Within a few hours, the battle
ship, an Agano class light cruis
er, a smaller cruiser or heavy
destroyer and three destroyers
had been sunk. Three other ae-
stroycrs were left burning and
three were reported to have
escaoed.
A navy spokesman at Wash
ington said a "good 25 per cent
of the remaining naval Japanese
combat force" was wiped out.
Washington, April 7 (U.R)
A naval spokesman revealed to
day that 1,212 Japanese planes
have been shot down, destroyea
on the ground or damaged since
March 18 in the campaign of
Okinawa.
In addition, 493 enemy ves
sels ranging from warships to
small Junks and luggers were
sunk or damaged in support of
the landings. This total included
244 vessels sunk, 208 damaged
and 43 probably sunk or dam
aged. v
JAIL TERMS COT
Hartford, Conn., April 7 (U.R)
Superior Court Judge William J.
Shea suspended today the prison
terms of one of the six Barnum
and Balley-Ringlitig Brothers
Circus officials hold responsible
for last July's big top fire and
reduced the term of three
others.
Shea said he suspended the
six months jail sentence of David
W. Blanchfield, rolling stock
superintendent, because "t h e
court Is Impressed with your
testimony In this case. You have
stated the truth."
Blanchfield was the only one
of the six to testify that the cir-
cui could continue without him.
Full Leased Wire
NO. 14.
GOLD RESERVE OF
E
SALT MINE VAULT
Americans Take Treasure
Trove, and Priceless Art
Loot.
With tho 90th Infantry Divis
ion, at Merkers, Germany, April
7 U.R) American soldiers
found a vast treasure trove said
to include the entire' German
gold reserve In a salt mine today.
Fritz Vieche, a balding offic
ail of the Reichsbank, was on
guard. He said the subterranean
v.tults contained approximately
100 tons of gold bullion, $2,000.
000 in United States currency,
100,000,000 francs in French
currency, 110,000 British
pounds, 4,000,000 Norwegian
crowns, and lesser amounts in
other currencies.
The salt mine also sheltered a
priceless art collection. The gold
and currency were stored in a
room 2,100 feet under tho
ground.
"The gojd was brought from
Berlin by train, starting Febru
ary 11th and later all the rest of
the treasures were brought In,"
Vieche told this correspondent.
"Later when the Berlin print
ing presses were all destroyed
by bombing, we attempted to re
turn the paper currency back to
the capital.
"However, because of blown
can armor moved so swiftly, wo
b.!"tges and the fact that Ameri
were unable to escape with the
paper currency and were forced
to give up the entire Idea."
The tip-off on the. hidden
treasure came late yesterday
when two military policemen
itoppcd two women who were on
their way to get a midwife for a
friend.
Walking with them, they pass
ed the mine entrance. One wo
man said: "That's where tho
bullion Is hidden." The M. P.
barked "What did you say?"
She repeated her remark. The
M. P.'s investigated at once.
Eight civil servants in all
were In charge of the treasure.
They showed no Inclination to
run away and both Vieche and
Rave were most willing to talk.
GOALlirWAGE
PEACE FORECAST
Washington, April 7 l.n
The soft coal mine wage dispulo
will be ended on Monday, both
sides predicted tonight.
Operators and miners said
they expected to solve their own
wage-hour problems with out
drastic government Intervention
by signing a new two-year con
tract. It would replace the one
which expired April 1.
The new contract, removing
the threat of nationwide govern
ment seizure of mines, will pro
vide substantial pay Increases
for miners but will not, it was
understood, Include the 10-cents-a-ton
royally originally asked by
the united mine workers.
New York, April 7 (U.R)
The demat.ds of John L. Lewis
for sf 10-cent a ton royalty on all
hard coal mined by his united
mine workers If successful,
could lead to union efforts to
tax the American public almost
$3,000,000,000 annually, Ira Mo
ther, president of the national
association of manufacturers
said today.
GALES F(
ON COAST TODAY
San Francisco, April 7 (U.R)
Storm warning for gales to
night and Sunday were hoisted
from the mouth of the Columbia
river In Oregon to Cape Mendo
cino In California, the U. S.
Weather Bureau announced to
night. Tho Wnnthcr Bureau said that
winds of 40 to 50 mile velocity
were reported off the Oregon
coast and ai high as 36 miles an
hour on the California coastline.
Donner Summit In the mountains
reported 50 mlles-an-hour gales.