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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 12, 1945)
R.OOSEVE Cerebral Hemorrhage Brings Sudden Ending . At Warm Springs, Ga. Warm Spring, Ga., April 12. (UP) Franklin D. Roosevelt, president for 12 of the most momentous years in this country's history, died suddenly at 3:35 p. m. (CWT) in a small room in the "little white house." . ? Mr. Roosevelt had been in Warm Springs which he liked to call his "second home" since March 30. The week preceding he had spent at his home in Hyde Park, N. Y. He was 63 years of age and served ai president longer than any other American. With the president at the time of his death was Cmdr. Howard G. Breunn. who was on the staff of Vice Adm, Ross T. Mclntyre. the president's personal physician. SECRETARY GIVES SAO NEWS News of Mr. Roosevelt's death came from Secretary William D. Hassett. He called in three press association reporters who had ac companied the president here and said: "It is my sad duty to inform' you that the president died at 3:35 of a cerebral hemorrhage." Simultaneously the news was telephoned to the White House in Washington and announced there too. ' In Washington the cabinet was immediately' convened in emergency session at the Whits House with Vice President Harry S. Truman, who will become the nation's new president. The president, 63, had spent a leisurely two weeks' in Warm Springs. At no time was there any indication that he was sick, beyond the fact that he had not made his usual visits to the Warm Springs swimming pool, where in 1924 he began his life-long battle to overcome withering effects of infantile paralysis. Almost daily during his stay the president took long automobile rides in the soft Georgia spring sun and had been keeping up constantly with developments In Washington and abroad by tele phone and through official papers flown to him every morning. On April 5 the president conferred for a day with President Sergio Osmena of the Philippine commonwealth. He told Osmena that he hoped the Philippine independence would be restored far in advance of the congressional statutory date of July 4, 1946. At the conference with Osmena Mr. Roosevlt reaffirmed his firm lntontlon to see that Japan and all of her mandates would be under complete allied control and policing for an indefinite period after the war ends. IN GAY SPIRITS AT LAST MEETING The occasion of his meeting with Osmena on April S was the last time the three wire service reporters accompanying the president saw him to talk to for any length of time. He was in gay spirits then and chatted lightly as he sat behind paper-laden card table, waving his long cigarat holder jauntily and wisecracking with the reporters. At that time the president had a good suntan, but his face was unusually drawn and there was evidence of a slight cough. But he did not look or act like a man who was going to die In week. This morning the president followed his usual routine of han dling paper work that had Just arrived from Washington. White House Secretary Stephen T. Early announced in Wash ington that funeral services will be held in the east room of the White House Saturday afternoon. Burial will be at the president's Hyde Park, N. Y., estate on Sunday afternoon. In Washington, where the news of the president's death at first produced shocked disbelief, officials immediately wondered what effect the tragedy would have on the many domestic and interna tional projects the president was guiding. Whether It would cause postponement of the United Nations security conference at San Francisco remained to be seen. No one knew in the confusion of the tragic moment. - CONFERENCE CLOSEST TO HEART But the conference was perhaps the project closest to the presi dent's heart, and there was some belief that In tribute to him the United Nations would carry it through. Here In peaceful Warm Springs, Dr. Bruenn said that at 9:30 a. m. today the president was "in excellent spirits" and showed no evidence whatever of feeling badly. Shortly before 1 p. m. the president was sitting for sketches to be made by an artist. At about 1 o'clock the president, according to Bruenn, suddenly complained of a "very severe occipital headache." This Is a head ache in the back of the head. About 1:15 the president lost consciousness and Bruenn was with him by 1:30. NEVER REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS The president never regained consciousness and died without pain at 3:35. After his attack Bruenn had quickly called Adm. Mclntyre In Washington and Mclntyre in turn called Dr. James P. Paulin of Atlanta, an Internal medical specialist and honorary consultant to the surgeon general. ' Paulin rushed to Warm Springs and was with Bruenn and Lt. Cmdr. George Fox in the president's bedroom when the chief execu tive died. In the little white house, but not in the president's bedroom, were two of his cousins who had been in Warm Springs with him. Miss Margaret Buckley and Miss Laura Delano, and also Grace Tully, the president's private secretary, and Hassett MASSIVE HEMORRHAGE CAUSE The doctors described the cause of Mr. Roosevelt's death as a "massive cerebral hemorrhage." The tiny community that makes up Warm Springs was plunged quickly Into deep gloom by the death of Its literal patron saint. The president at 4:30 o'clock was to have gone to the mountain side cottage of Frank Allcorn, the mayor of Warm Springs, for an old-fashioned late afternoon barbeque. As the president died, country fiddlers were en the mountain side by Ailcorn's cottage testing out their violin and planning what they were going to play for the president. MEDF0RDfiT U -ited Press Full Leased Wire XtS & Fortieth Year BULLETIN Washington. April 12 (U.R) Vice President Harry S. Tru man, before taking the oath of office as 32nd president of the United States, announced to day that he had asked the late Franklin D. Roosevelt's statement in the House of cabinet to remain in office. London, Friday, April 12 (U.R) Great Britain received the news of President Roose velt's death shortly before midnight as a shock of stagger ing degree from Prime Minis ter Winston Churchill's en tourage to the man in the street. Albany, April 12 (U.R) Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, 1944 Republican presidential nomi nee, said late today President Roosevelt's deaih will be "mourned by all of the free dom loving people of the en tire world." Washington, April 12 (U.R) Mrs. Franklin D. Roose velt today was faced with the unhappy task of telling her four sons in the armed forces. White House Secretary Stephen T. Early said the sense of he. message was that the president slipped away this afternoon. He did his job to the end (the message said) as he would want you to do. Bless you all and all our love. Early said Mrs, Roosevelt signed the message, "Mother." London, April 12 (U.R) Prime Minister Winston Churchill's secretary, informed by the United Press late tv night of President Roosevelt's death, exclaimed "good lord!" He said he would advise the Prime Minister at once but did not expect a public statement until Churchill made a formal Commons probably tomorrow. NHS OF DEATH Mcdford and Jackson county residents were stunned this, af ternoon when the nation's news services flashed word at shortly before three o clock that Presi dent Roosevelt had died at Warm Springs, Ga. As the word spread, all ordinary tasks were dropped and shocked persons gathered in groups to discuss the momentous news. Since ordinary news sources had had no slightest indication In recent day that the president was not well, the news came as the greatest surprise to every one. No other piece of informa tion not even the capitulation of Germany or Japan, could have brought such instant and widespread reaction. Within three minutes after first word of the unexpected death was on the Mail Tribune's United Press leased wire tele phones began a constant ringing as subscribers called to check the news. Only hint which news staff workers had of any unusual oc curence was a note on the United Press wires last week that the president would not hold his usual weekly press conference but that no mention was to be made of this. Such notices have been carried in the past preced ing announcements that the president had left the capital for trips around the nation or abroad. ANTI-TRUST SUIT FILED AGAINST WESTINGHOUSE Washington, April 12 (U.R) The Justice department an nounced that it filed a civil anti trust suit today against Westing house Electrical and Manufac turing Co., charging it with maintaining restrictive interna tional cartel agreements with two German firms. The department said the suit was filed in federal district court at Newark. N. J. In addi tion to VVestinghouse, the suit also charged Westinghouse Inter national with participating In the cartel agreements. San Francisco, April 12 (U.R) Bobby Johnson, outstanding bantamweight flRher of the early nineties and trainer of the San Francisco baseball team, died yesterday after a lingering Ill ness of xthma and heart trou ble. He was 60. . "Hell on Wiieels" Outfit Storms Over Elbe In Home -Stretch Drive on Doomed Berlin; Russians Start From Oder River Bridgehead MASSED TO HEAD Long-Delayed. Sweep Be lieved Touched Off; Reds Aim at Berchtesgaden. London, April 12 (U.R) Mos cow reported today that violent fighting had blazed up in the red army's Oder river bridgehead on tne approaches to Berlin as American mobile forces raced toward the Nazi capital from the west. "Soviet troops are waging fierce battles beyond the Odei on me approaches to Berlin," a Moscow broadcast said. The report Indicated that Mar shal Gregory K. - Zhukov had lighted the fuse of his long brewing . push agalmt Berlin synchronizing it with the U, S ninth army drive to squeeze the heart of Nazidom in a nut cracker, Due East of Berlin Zhukov's reported, onslaught hit the German defenses in the Oder valley about 30 miles due east of Berlin. There he had massed In his bridgehead across the order a great array of Soviet troops and arms. Only yester day formidable forces of Cossack cavalry were reported on the move, evidently into positions to spearhead a lightning sweep westward. The Soviet high command never officially reported the Oder crossing in front of Berlin But Berlin and Moscow re ports have made it evident that Zhukov has won a springboard beyond the river for the climac tic assault, now apparently be ginning. The Germans reported last night that their army had lost Klessin, on the Berlin side of the Oder, 33 miles east of the capital. Aim At Berchtesgaden In the Danube valley west of virtually-conquered Vienna, an other red army push was aimed at Berchtesgaden and the Bavar Ian Alps, touted as a sanctuary for the Nazi hlerachy. Soviet armor was reported fat up the Danube from Vienna and a Nazi commentator, Lt. Col Alfred von Olberg, bluntly ad mitted that the Germans were retreating In Austria. Von Olberg said that stiff re sistance between the Danube and Drava in Austria "merely screens disengaging movements of the German formations which are falling back toward the northwest." 5 TONS CLOTHING Approximately five tons of old clothing '.a., been turned In for .he United National clothing drive in Medford, according to Junior chamber of commerce of ficials. The national quota has been set at five pounds per per son which makes a county quota of nearly 123 tons. Junior chamber officials said men':, clothing dominate- the contributions. Final pickup from the street receptacles will dc made Monday. In the meantime, donations may be left at Hum phrey Motors, Fichtner's Garage street boxes, or at the Holland Hotel after the receiving depot have been closed at night Schools will end their drive Fri day night, Supt. E. H. Hedrick Mid. MEDFORD, 0T v A, THURSDAY, APRIL 12,1945 OVER 400 B-29'S I WAR PLANTS IN T0KY0REGI0N One of Largest -Air Fleets Hit at Japan From Land Bases; Fighters Join In. By United Press An American aerial armada of 400 or more B-29 Superfort resses and fighters blasted today at Japanese war plants In the Tikyo area and at Koriayama 110 miles north. The fleet, possibly the largest yet hurled at Japan from land bases, split over the enemy home land, with half bombing the Musashlna aircraft plant in Nakajima, a Tokyo suburb. The rest attacked aircraft plants and a power plant at Korlyama. " Fighters Join In . " The B-29's, striking their 15th major blow in the Tokyo area flew 3, BOO miles in the round trip between their Marianas oases and Korlyama. Mustang fighters joined the group from Iwo, 750 miles south of Tokyo. , While the aerial campaign was being renewed, American invasion forces on southern Okinawa remained stalled for the fourth day by heavy Japa nese artillery and mortar fire from defensive positions tout miles north of the capital Naha Marine forces to the north continued advances on Ishiwaka peninsula. A Japanese Domel dispatch reported by the FCC, said about BO American carrier planes raid ed Formosa off the southwestern tip of the Ryukyus for about two h.urs today. Radio Tokyo said an allied task force which Included the British battleship Queen Eliza Doth and anothei believed to be the French battleship Richelieu attacked Sabang on an island off northwest Sumatra in the Jap anese-occupied Dutch East In dies. It was the first report of a major French vessel partlclpat inc in Pacific war operations. Tsugen Occupied Admiral Chester W. Nlmltz announced that American trjops naa completed occupation of Tsugen island off southwest Okinawa, controlling the en trnnse to Nakagushku bay, Nimltz disclosed that Ameri can casualties in the first nine days of the Okinawa campaign were 432 killed, 2,103 wounded and 180 missing. The count of Japanese dead through Sun-lay was 8,009. ' In the Philippines, units of the first cavalry division drove 14 miles through disorganized Jap anese resistance to secure a sec ond toolhold on the east coast of Luzon. 5 DIE IN BLAST, FIRE IN PLASTIC FACTORY Des Moines, la., April 12. (U.R) Five persons, two of them women, were dead today as the result of an explosion and fin that destroyed the Super Pro ducts Co. plant. The dead were Identified as Thomas Carmlchacl, Mildred Peterson, Mont Walters, Bill Marshman end Margaret Mc Dannell. JOIN UNITED NATIONS Washington. April 12. ttl.R! Secretary of State Edward R Stcttinlus, Jr., today welcomed Syria, Lebanon, and Audi Arabia Into the ranks of the United Nations and praised them for their contributions to the war effort. a 'ft ; r . I ... - "sThl ' ML FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT ." i A,- ,1 4 n - if P. '..J ' i HARRY 8. ADOLF TO LEAD IN LAST STAND London, April 12 (U.R) Stockholm reports said today that Adolf Hitler and his hench men personally would lead the Nazis In their armageddon at Leipzig, throwing all their se cret weapons and possibly poison gas Into a climatic battle to the death. The Stockholm Tldnlngen quoted military sources In Ber lin is saying that the final de RIBUNE United Press Full Leased Wire V , ' ' , .:rf.i,fv.. Vjr.i ' -'.I j V. : .- i--f .4 JAcmi Ttltphoto) TRUMAN cisive battle of Germany would ba fought on the historic Napo leonic bsttlcfli-ld at Leipzig. Hitler, high party members and Nazi Gauleiters or district leaders Intend to die with Ger many on the Usl battlefield, Uie unconfirmed Stockholm report said. PRINCESS TRAINS ATS Training Center, South ern England, April 12. Ol.PJ Princess Elizabeth has nearly completed her training course is i driver and, issociatet said to day, she can change wheel or grease truck with the best of them. NO. 18. J 3 OTHER ARES SURGE EASTWARD ON EITHER SIDE Less Than 100 Miles Separ ates Russian and Yanfc Forces In Pincer Tactics. London, April IS (U.R) The frequently unreliable ra dio Paris said tonight that ac cording to unconfirmed reports Allied troops have dropped by parachute IB miles from Ber lin. Paris, April 12 (U.R) U. S. Ninth Army Mobile Forces broke across the Elbe river at Magde burg today and raced for Ber lin, which lay only 49 miles or less ahead of the rampaging "Hell on Wheels'" Second Ar mored Division by unofficial ac count. Three other Allied Armlee were surging eastward on either side of Lt. Gen. William H. Simp son's lightning columns, chop ping deeper by the hour into the Weimar, Germany. April 12 (U.R)Welmar, cradle of the German republic which Adolf Hitler smashed in his rise to power, surrendered today te the men of Lt. Gen. George 8. Patton's third army who en tered the city and completed Its occupation at 10:30 a. m. The 80th Infantry division occupied Weimar which had surrendered to the Americana despite desperate orders issued only today by Gestapo Chief Hslnrlch Hlmmltr that no town or city of Germany was to surrender on pain of death to German officials. waistline of unoccupied Cer many, already less than 100 miles wide between the Russian and American forces. 26-Mile Advance The U. S. First and Third Arm lea advanced up to 28 miles along a linked front aimed at Leipzig and Hallo. Lt. Gen. George S. Patton's Third Army armor broke across the Saale river at several points and to the north the Ninth Armored Division of Lt. Gen. Courtney II. Hodges' First Army reached the Sanle at Naumbcrg, 23 miles southwest of Leipzig, Berlin reported that Patton's left wing had swung up to Lich tenberg, 10 miles from the Czech frontier, 70 miles northeast ot Nuernberg and 40 miles south east of Jena. On the north end of the Berlin-bound front, Scottish troops of the British Second Army took th lead. They captured Cello on the Aller river and speared within 130 miles of Berlin. First Army front reports said the Ninth Armored Division set the pace for Hodges' men. It dashed forward 26 miles from Its bivouac of last night to the Naumberg area, 121 miles from the Red Army lines across the German corridor. Front dispatches said the First Army rolled up impressive gains along Its entire front and was finding virtually no resistance. The Third End Ninth Armored Divisions were spearheading the First Army push. The Third picked up 22 miles since last night, pushing beyond Sanger hausen, 10 miles west of Eisle ben and 23 miles from Halle. Third Army reports said that despite a blackout on locations, it could be revealed that ele ments of both the Fourth and Sixth Armored Divisions crossed the Saale rive- at several points In the JeravNaumberg ares. They pressed on end reached the rim ot the Berlin plain at undis closed points.
