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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 13, 1945)
AS FIRST ACTION New President Pledges War Will Go on With Vigor Leaders Promise Support. Washington, April 13. (U.PJ President Harry S. Truman took the nation's helm today, sum moning to the White House the chiefs of war and foreign policy to pledge his determination ;to carry forward President Rqoe-, velt's objectives of speedy vic tory and firm peace His first official act was to issue through Secretary of. Slate Edward H. Stettinius, Jr., a pro clamation of a .month's mourn-. Ing for Mr. Roosevelt. Plunges Into Task ' But already he had plunged deep Into the monumental task of carrying on the national war effort, without pause or hesita tion, both in the west and in the east. Within three hours of his first working day as president, Mr. Truman had shattered his first precedent. After conferring at the White House with military and diplo matic chiefs, he drove to Capitol Hill for a luncheon conference in the office of Lester Biffle, secretary of the senate, with the leaders of congress. -Stettinius Call To the White House came Stettinius for confirmation of Truman's pledge that the San Francisco conference shall be held as planned and for affirma tion of Truman's hope that at San Francisco will be erected the foundation stones of a per manent peace after the plans long advanced by Mr. Roosevelt And to the White House came the top leaders of the war effort to hear Truman implement the pledge he gave the nation as he was sworn in last night to suc ceed Mr. Roosevelt. The pledge was that the war would be prose cuted "on both fronts, east and west, with all the vigor we pos sess to a successful conclusion. In the nation's sorrowing capi tal leaders of all shades of opin ion shouldered up with pledges to stand with Truman and the nation In the sudden hour of tragedy. Republicans Join From the senate Republicans came a pledge of cooperation "for the winning of the war and successful peace at home and abroad." To which the Republi can senators added an "expres sion of our faith and trust" in the man who until Jan. 20, 1945, had been their Democratic col league from Missouri. As Truman entered the White House with a brisk step at 9 a.m this morning and sat down at the president's desk still littered with the jumble of knick-knacks and curios which was Mr. Roose velt's joy the funeral cortege was forming up in the green Georgia hills at Warm Springs. At 11:13 a.m. EWT. the presi dent's special train started its last, long journey northward. He arranged for Issuance of the proclamation of mourning- thirty days for the government and the nation and a half-day closing tomorrow in respect to Mr. Roosevelt. The new president gave no outward sign that his sudden re sponsibilities gave him any pause. He strode into the White House springily, like a soldier summoned to a new command. Romantic PW To Trinidad Prison Monte Vista, Colo., April 13 (U.R) Heinrich Lange, the Ger man prisoner of war who made it a habit to spend his days in the vlonte Vista prison camp and his nights at the Del Norte home of Miss Adeie Sophie Weiler, has been transferred to the prison camp at Trinidad, it was an nounced today. Lange's friendship with Miss Weiler was discovered last Fri day night, when he was found at the 42-year-old woman's home. Brazil grows three-quarters of the world's coffee supply, and ranks second only to the United States in production of oranges. SIDE. GLANCES TRIBUNE REPORTERS Sharkey Reinking alarmed at the prospect of having to answer scores of telephone calls intend ed for the Red Cross all because his home phone number appear ed in a story by mistake. Doris Taylor horrified to find that she had arrived at the beau fy parlor wearing shoes which didn't match. Red Stagg deciding that the coat he was wearing looked worse than some he was collect lng In the clothing drive. , Fred Morris, Espee agent, proudly displaying the attrac tions of the railroad's new club car. ' . & .k i r-. . to . NEW YORK MOURNS Albany. April 13. (U.PJ Gov. Thomas E. Dewey proclaimed today a 30-day period of public mourning in New York state to the memory of President Roose velt. World Leaders By United Press The world's and the nation's leaders mourned today the death of Franklin Delano Roose velt but voiced confidence that his alms complete victory over the axis and a just and lasting peace will be achieved. Comment on the passing of Mr. Roosevelt follows: HERBERT HOOVER "The nation sorrows at the passing of its president, whatever differ ences there may have been, they er.l in regrets of death. It is for tunate that In this great crisis of war our armies and navies are under such magnificent lead ership that we will not hesitate. While we mourn Mr. Roosevelt s death, we shall march forward." WINSTON CHURCHILL, In message to Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt '1 send my most profound sympathy in your grievous loss. It Is also the loss of the British nation and the cause of freedom in every land." Fortieth Year - - MEDFORD, OKEGON, FRIDAY, APRIL 1 ' 1 JUSTICE STONE --cjtf ADMINISTERS OATH iwWWWTi AT WHIH HOUSE f r4 ! It. w1 U ilted Press Full Leased Wire tjgT' n.t , 9 fcf s-Cy " f ELKS TO CLOSE In mourning the death of President Roosevelt, and In memory of him as a brother Elk. the .local Elks Temple will be closed Saturcay between the hours of 1 and 2 p. m. km i Mourn Death of Franklin JOSEF STALIN "The gov ernment of the Soviet Union ex presses its sincere sympathy to the American people in their great loss and their conviction that the policy of friendship be tween the great powers who have shouldered the main burden of war against a common enemy will continue to develop In' the future." ' CHIANG KAI-SHEK "I am convinced the American people and Roosevelt's successor will finish his uncompleted task." THOMAS E. DEWEY "In building boldly for the future peace of the world, even as the war progressed, Franklin Roose velt made his final and perhaps his greatest contribution . , . all people of good will, with equal determination, will do their part in bringing to final success the work of the United Nations in establishing the foundation for a just and last ing peace." - tllL Flanked1 hr members of the cabinet- Harry S. Truman (left top) is sworn in as the 32nd presi dent by the United States by Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone. Mrs. Truman (center) stands by his side. Curious crowds shock ed by the sudden death of Presi dent Roosevelt stand outside the White House where flag flies at half mast. Below, Secretary of Commerce Henry A. Wallace (left) and Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson hurriedly en ter White House after hearing of president's death. Acme Tele photos. TORNADOES SLASH Oklahoma City, April 13. (U.R) Death toll in a scries of tornadoes which slashed de structive paths across Oklahoma was revised today to 81 but was expected to mount. More than 500 were reported injured by tempestuous winds which heavily damaged half a dozen communities last night, centering in the southeastern part of the state. Rescue crews, Including 300 soldiers, searched fra n 1 1 c al 1 y through smashed homes and other buildings for many per sons still unaccounted for. Carson City, Nev., April 13. (U.P) Gov. E. P. Carville today said the conference of western governors scheduled for Reno April 20, 21 and 22 will be held as scheduled despite the death of President Roosevelt. JAMES F. BYRNES, director of the Office of War Mobiliza tion "I am sure hat the sacri fice of his life will prove an In spiration to the statesmen of all nations to bring about the ful fillment of his dream that the mothers of this world should never again be called upon to offer up their sons as sacrifices to the god of war." GEN. DE GAULLE "At least the decisive successes to which he so powerfully contrib uted will have given him the certainty of victory before he succumbed at his post. He leaves to the world an undying example and an essential mes sage. This message will be heard." t HENRY MORGENTHAU, JR. "He more than any one per son, Is responsible, In my opin ion, for the successful conduct of this terrible war against the aggressor nations," Washington. April 13. (U.P.) The gray-haired man with the gold-rimmed spectacles walked into the awesome confusion that was the White House and into the most momentous hour of his life. . He came in as Vice President Harry S. Truman and he walked out again as the 32nd president of the United States. He made his way into the apple-green cabinet room of the White House. Cabinet members were seated there, solemn-faced. Leaders of congress were there, too. They stood in groups talking quietly. Bible Presented Harry S. Truman sat down In an overstuffed leather chiar. It was understandable that he was not completely at ease. Then up stepped Chief Justice Harlan F Stone of the United States su preme court. The vice president got to his feet. Someone gave him a - Bible from President Roosevelt's office. . He held it reverentially on his left palm. His right hand was on the cover. The clock on the man tlepicce pointed to 6:05 p.m. CWT. Three minutes later, the chief justice began administer ing the oath of office. "I, Harry Shippe Truman, do solemnly swear that I will faith fully execute the office of presi dent of the United States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." The chief justice recited the oath from memory. The new president repeated the words after him, phrase by phrase. It was 6:08 p.m. when Harry S. .Truman became the 32nd president of the United States Mrs. Truman Present Mrs. Truman a few moments before had dabbed at tear- stained eyes with a crumpled handkerchief. Her hand held that of their 20-year-old daugh ter, Mary Margaret. Both stood in the background as the oath was administered. They were just spectators. One of the witnesses was the man who might have been in Truman's place had the political fates been different former Vice President Henry A. Wal lace. Wallace, who will remain in President Truman's cabinet as secretary of commerce, was so shaken that Secretary, of State Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., had to help him from the room. D. Roosevelt HAROLD L. ICKES "Presi dent Roosevelt has died for us." SEN. VANDENBERG, R., Mich., an outstanding critic of Mr. Roosevelt's domestic poli cies "A successful peace must be his monument." MADAME CHIANG KAI SHEK, wife of the president of China "His tired body is now at rest but his never falling love for suffering humanity and his Invincible courage to fight for right In crisis for the man In the street will live long as hj world survives." . PREMIER PER ALBIH HAN SSON, of Sweden "It Is a ter rible tragedy for mankind." METHODIST BISHOP G. BROMLEY OXNAM, president of the federal council of the Churches of Christ in America "The world is not ready, If It follows on in his spirit and wis dom, to possess the promised land of the four freedoms." Tribune United Press Full Leased Wire 13, 1945 Russians Capture Vienna; 130,000 Prisoners Taken DEAD PRESIDENT TO Residents of "Other Home" Line Broadway as Cortege Moves Slowly to Station. Warm Springs, Ga., April 13 (U.R) The body of Franklin D. Roosevelt today was borne from the "little white house" of Geor gia to the roll of muffled drums, starting the long, last journey to Washington. The hot southern sun shone in a blue sky as the funeral cortege left the green hills the president loved so well. The procession slowly moved down the winding mile-long road to Warm Springs station. In the distance a church bell pealed from some country steeple. Residents Mourn The cortege left the "little white house" at 10:30 a. m. Along the road stood hundreds of residents of the president's "other home." They bared their heads and stood in silence as the cortege passed. First came the U. S. Army band from Ft. Benning, Ga. The roll of Its muffled drums carried softly over the country side in the still, warm air. Behind the band marched 1,000 infantrymen, led by three companies of carbine -carrying troops, followed by riflemen. Their colors flew black stream ers to signify the mourning of the nation. . - Then came the hearse bear lng the president's body in a copper-lined, flag draped ma hognay casket. . Wife Follows Hearse Behind the hearse and at each flank was the honor guard ot high naval officers, afoot. Next came Mrs. Franklin D. Roose velt, dressed In black, with a fur cape. She sat stiffly upright, outwardly composed as she had been throughout. With Mrs. Roosevelt rode Fala. He sat quietly at Mrs. Roosevelt's feet, apparently sensing that something was wrong what, he could not quite know. At 10:55 a. m. the president's casket was placed aboard the train by eight enlisted men, the picked body guard for the last journey. Mrs. Roosevelt, accompanied by the president's two cousins, Miss Laura Delano and Miss Margaret Sucklcy, and Grace Tully, the president's secretary, boarded the train. Funeral services will be held In the east room o( the white house at 4 p. m. EWT tomorrow. At 10 p. m. the same day, the funeral party will leave Wash ington by train for the ancestral Roosevelt estate on the Hudson at Hyde Park, N. Y. It will ar rive at 9 a. m. EWT Sunday. Burial Sunday The president will be burled at 10 a. m. Sunday In the sunlit garden between his Hyde Park home and the Franklin D. Roosevelt library a garden bordered by a hemlock . hedge and a profusion of rose bushes. The Roosevelt family was being summoned to Washington. Two sons, now overseas, will not bo able to attend the funeral Lt. John and Lt. Comdr. Franklin, Jr., both in the navy but thWr wives will be there. Other fam-' ily members at the services will Include Col and Mrs. James Roosevelt and Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Elliott Roosevelt. Elliott Is coming from Europe. Until the burial, the presi dent's body will be guarded-24 hours a day by four sentries chosen from enlisted men of the navy, the army and the marine corps. The entries were posted at each of the four corners of the coffin and will be rotated In regular shifts. This was the only guard of honor planned now. There were no plans for the president to lie in state in Washington. Washington, April 13. (U.R All Jefferson day dinners sched uled for tonight here and in other cities throughout the coun try have been postponed Indefi nitely because of the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. ' WAR BULLETINS With U. S. Third Army, Germany, April 13 (U.R) The Americans reached the' notorious Buchenwald concen tration camp near Weimar just a week after the Nazis had executed at least 900 prison ers, it was revealed today. With U. S. Third Army. Germany. April 13 (U.R) Third army troops today crossed the Mulde river about 47 miles east of Jena. London, April 13. (U.R) The Eighth air force announc ed that preliminary reports showed at least 261 German planes were destroyed on the ground by fighter pilots shoot ing up fields in the area of Neumuensler today. Guam. April 14 (U.R) A huge force of hundreds of Superfortresses dropped thou sands of tons of fire bombs Into a five-square-mile arsenal area of Tokyo early today. CLOSE SATURDAY F.D.R. Saturday will be day of mourning throughout the Unit ed States and today Medford and Jackson county citizens made plans tor setting aside the day out of respect for the late Franklin D. Roosevelt. City hall offices will be closed all day and court house offices will close at 1 p.m. Joining with the rest of the nation, stores will be closed throughout the day, motion pic ture theaters will be closed until 8 p. m. and meetings and dances have been cancelled. Flags will remain at half staff on public buildings. Gov. Earl Snell early today proclaimed a "state of sorrow in Oregon and ordered flags to be flown at half staff and all public offices to be closed during the hour of the president's funeral. From Portland lt was announced that all Portland stores will be closed throughout the day and that another mes sage stated that liquor stores throughout the state are to be closed until Monday. The Mail Tribune office will be closed be tween 12 and 4 p.m. Decision here to close for the entire day of Saturday was made by the Medford Retailers through Noble Vincent, presi dent of the group. Prison Term For Philanthropist New York, April 13, (U.R Mrs. Madeline Dunnlgan, 22. who stole $28,488 from her em ployer and gave it to fellow em ployes and relatives was sen tenced today In general sessions court to from two to four years In prison. Judge Gcorgo L. Doncllan an swered her lawyer's plea for leniency because she is to be come a mother with a remlndei that Herman Cropper, her em ployer, had killed himself be cause of losses due to her thefts. Mrs. Dunnigan had pleaded guilty to embezzling the funds over a long period from Crop per's, Inc., leather goods firm, where she had been a book keeper. THIRD SMUDGE OCCURS IN. VALLEY ORCHARDS The third smudging of the season occurred early this morn ing in the pear orchards of the valley when tcmperuture drop ped to 24 degrees in the cooler areas. The general temperature was around 27 degrees. Assistant County Horticulturist C. B Cordy said the frost was light. EDGAR SMITH HERE Edgar W. Smith, democratic candidate for the U. S. Senate at the election last November was Medford visitor today Smith was en route to Portland by United Airlines from Sacra mento where ha had been visit Ing his son, Jack, when he was "bumped off" the plane here He planned to take the evening train to Portland. Smith said his son had Just returned from Italy. The former congressional candidate Is now engaged in farming In the Palouse country of Washington. Weather Forecast! Fair and warmer to night and Saturday. Tamp. BItneit yeiUrday .,., S3 Lowest this morning 29 Precipitation to a a. m.f trace NO. 19. ERASED WEST Remnants o f Wehrmacht Split; Yankee Spearhead Few Miles From Berlin London, April 13. U.R) Vi enna has been captured by Mar shal teodor I. Tolbukhin's 3rd Ukranian army and 130,000 pris oners have been taken. Marshal Stalin announced in an order ot the day. By United Press Enemy military strategists ad mitted today that the west front has collapsed completely and the remnants of the wehrmacht hava been split, leaving two fronts, one in the Berlin area and tha other in the south. The west front was split in two by the smashing attacks of tha American 1st, 3rd and 8th ar mies, a German commentator ad mitted. Those American armies had Berlin, Leipzig and Nuern berg as their Immediate objec tives. An American junctura with the Russian armies appear ed possible within the next 72 hours. Near Berlin The American 9th army spear head was within 49 and per haps 18 miles of Berlin. Leip zig was less than 17 miles away, and at several points the Amerl-' can tanks were within 115 miles of the red armies at Frankfort and Forst. The Moscow radio reported that the red army was waging "fierce battles" from its bridge heads across the Oder river, 30 miles east of Berlin, but gave no details. If the Americans maintain their same pace across the undefended Berlin plains, they will be nearer to Berlin than the Russians are by night fall. The autobahn down which the 9th army tanks are racing bypasses Berlin, to the south, and reaches the Russian front at Frankfurt. The eastern and west ern allied armies thus could join without waiting to take Berlin. Tokyo radio talked of a "sui cide war" as the Japanese com mand threw hundreds of planes against the American naval forces off Okinawa yesterday. The enemy lost 118 planes and fall d to prevent the landing of two more divisions, bringing from four to six divisions tha strength ot the Invading force. Two of the new divisions were marines, the first and sixth di visions. The third amphibious corps of marines continued steady prog ress In the northern half of Okin awa, but on the southern front there was intensel bitter fight ing with the defending garrison mnklng a fanatical stand. The whole allied strategy as it unfolds on the west front dis closes a conviction that the war will not end with the fall of Berlin or even the Juncture of the American and Russinn ar mies somewhere near Berlin. The strategy appears to antici pate a continuation of hostilities on both of the two fronts Into which Germany has been split by the American breakthrough In the west. WAR CASUALTIES Four Jackson county service men have been wounded while serving with the armed forces, according to the latest casualty list of the office of war informa tion. Pvt. Kenneth Dorman Hatch, son of Linden Kenneth Hatch, Rogue River, was wounded while serving wtlh the marina corps, and Hubert Walter O'Quin, chief quartermaster In tha navy, is also listed wounded. Cpl. Robert O. Bailey, hus bmd of Mrs. Louise F. Bailey, GrtBauer apartments, Medford, and Pfc. Joseph W. Fields, son of Mrs. Ila Fields, Gold Hill, have been wounded while serv ing In the European theater, the release states. Pfc. Robert E. Groves, Grant Pass, son of Mrs. Frances Groves, has also been wounded while seiving in Europe, FOUR COUNTY IN ..if
