Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, April 24, 1945, Image 1

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Medford mail tribune., April 24, 1945, Page 1, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextPattonites Breach Outer Defenses o Bavarian Redoubt: Stalin's Forces Knife Through Heart of Tottering Berlin Medford Unitad Press Fortieth Year E OF D Yankees Preparing for Key Base on Captured Land Bomb Tokyo Plane Plant By United Press American forces have con- tillered three quarters of Oki nawa island and are preparing it as a key base for the next phase oi the march toward Japan and the China coast. Adm. Chester W. Nimits said today. A fleet of 150 Superfortresses, meanwhile, smashed for the first time at the huge Hitachi aircraft Dlant in the Tokyo area and ground forces in the Philip pines cut Japanese lorces in iwu on Mindanao and continued a virtually unopposed drive to ward the principal city oi uavao. Bomb Plan Plant tvik attack on the Hitachi plant at Tachikawa, 14 miles west of Tokyo, was made from medium altitude and good results were expected. Radio Tokyo, acknowl edging the attacK, saia iu d-v were in the raiding force and claimed six were shot down and 20 damaged. The broadcast said the bomb ers also attacked air bases at Tachikawa and "nearby Tokorc- vnurfl Nimitz' regular communique said warships and carrier planes continued to bombard Japanese positions on southern Okinawa but said there was no further report of progress by ground forces, temporarily stalled be fore enemy defenses three ana a half milp. north of Naha. The communique said carrier planes and fighters destroyed r .. i i.t Dim. enemy aircraii mrougu ui and Monday. A Tokyo broadcast said Jap anese suicide planes had dam aged two AUied ships northeast of Okinawa ana sci lire iu transport off the southwest Tt Mid also that Japanese artillery fired on ships enter ing Nagasuku Bay yesieruay " sank a destroyer. 10.896 Japs Killed Gen. Douglas MacArthur, an- nnunrins the sains on Mindanao, disclosed that 10,896 Japanese had been killed and 353 cap tured throughout the Philippines n (ho lust pieht days. The figures boosted total Jap anese casualties in the Philip pines to 334.465, compared wun u Kin for American forces. The American casualties Included 7,- 491 killed, 26,606 w ounded ana 421 missing. The majority of Japanese casualties represented known dead. American bombers attacked Japanese positions throughout Luzon where ground forces pressed closer to Baguio in the north and scored new gams in the sector 21 milea northeast of Manila. Washington, April 24 (IJ.P1 President Truman, In his first formal role as a member of the Bis Three, sought today to pre vent further execution, starva : tion or torture of allied nation als In the hands of the crumb ling German army. At the same time It appeared that German forces no longer have the transport facilities to move prisoners out of the path of advancing allied armies. This accmed to be the reason behind the German offer accepted by this government to leave all prisoners, of war in the camps where they are now being held. Thinking of the 60.000 to 65. 000 American troops still in German hands as well as other captives of the nazis, Mr. Tru man Joined last night with Brit ish Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Russian Premier Josef Stalin in a warning that anyone party to the maltreat ment of allied prisoners "will be ruthlsIy pursued and brou&M to Pi.nt-tinif.nU " Full Leased Wire iff $X$m ICS k -fore.. v u f f (Acme Rodto-Telephoto) Prantlcally waving a white flag of surrender, this German civilian Is passed by American armored unit speed ing into Celsselhardt, Germany, which still burns from pre-attack shelling and air bombardment. Signal Corps radlo-teleDhoto. F Y Two youths are In the Jack son county jail and their girl companions are confined to Ash land Community hospital -as re sult of an accident in a stolen car on Siskiyou highway south of Ashland last night. According to city police, Jack son W. Pemberton, who gave his age as 17, Jack Sparks. 19; Lu cille Sparks, 18, and Rosemary Oleman, 17, hitch hiked to Med ford from Toledo O., and took up residence at Front and Second streets, Medford. The youths are said to have worked a few days at Timber Products company here. The couples, who are said to have used the names of Saunders and Mason, were reported by city police to have been drinking in a local tavern Monday nignt. While there the men requested the girls to go home, saying they would follow later. According to city police the men arrived shortly after driving a 1937 Nash sedan. About 11:30 p. m. Mrs. F. White. 26 South Orange street, reported her Nash sedan had been stolen from in front of the L. C. Taylor garage, South Riverside avenue. Shortly before midnight last nlirht state Dolice reported the car had been found on the Siskl-you-highway. badly wrecked. Dr. RalDh E. Poston, Asniano, who was called to attend me in jured, said Lucille Sparks, who said to be a sister-in-law oi Sparks. Is suffering from acio burns on the face and Rosemary fllemnn has a cut foot and body bruises. Sparks has a fractured nose and head contusions while Pemberton has several lacera- ions of the head and contusions. There was considerable evidence nf Hrlnkine. Dr. Poston said. According to state police, tne drls also are under arrest and will be held by authorities after their release from the nospiuu. Lady Jaycees Hear Report On Cancer, Clothing Campaign The Lady Jaycees, at a busi ness meeting held at Valentine-s Cafe Monday night, heard a re port on progress of covering the business district, in connection with the National Cancer drive. The drive will be completed by the end of the month, the report said. A report on the club's part n the recent clothing drive was Iso heard. Mrs. Blanche Frisbie, super- ntendent of Jackson county ealth nurses, was guest speak er and gave som? interesting facts about her work. Other business saw Mrs. Ne vada Danncn named secretary of the organization and seven new members taken in. Next meeting will be a social gather ing at Medford Hotel May 8, Canada's only salt mine is lo cator! in Nova Scotia at Mala- MEDFORD, OREGON, TUESDAY, APRIT f J45 This German Civilian Hod Hnouqh W Food Menus Of Nazi Captives Revised Because Of Shortage New York, April 24 U.R) The 13,000 German prisoners of war in the army's second service command went without butter, beef and jelly today under a new plan to feed enemy captives nu tritious but plain meals in ac cordance with Geneva confer ence rules. Col.-Clinton J. Harrold pf Pit man, N. J., director of supplies for the second service command, said in a press conference that the menu change was not order ed In retaliation for German treatment of allied prisoners but as a result of the nation's food shortage. PETAIN PREPARES TO FACE TREASON TRIAL IN FRANCE Bern, April 24 U.R) Mar shal Henri Philippe Petain came from Germany into Switzerland today and prepared to return to France to face trial for treason as the French chief-of-state un der the nazi occupation. The 89-year-old marshal ar rived In one of a long line of dark limousines. He professed great pleasure at being in Swit zerland. He appeared physical ly and mentally spry, but brok en In morale. His wife and a retinue of followers accom panied him as he rode across the border In a car bearing the French tricolor. The Swiss announced that Pe tain had been permitted to en ter Switzerland when he asked to return through this country to France. The border crossing Into Swit zerland was made at St. Man garethen this morning. Petain said he was taken for cibly to Germany by the SS elite guard last fall when the allies swept through France. He said the Vichy crowd stopped briefly at Belfort, where a fee ble attempt was made to estab lish a French collaborationist government, and then he was taken into interior Germany. CHICKENP0X CASES ON HEALTH REPORT Twelve new cases of chicken pox mi! seven of measles were reported to the county health officer. Dr. A. Erin Merkel for the week ending April 20. The chickenpox was reported from Jacksonville, Shady Cove and Medford and the measles from the Applegate, Howard, Med ford and Shady Cove districts. Also listed were three cases of whooping cough, two in Eagle Point and one in Gold Hill. BASEBALL' Kailonal " New York 5 7 1 Philadelphia 2 S 2 Hansen and Lnmbardi: Rai- ieotbexfiOf (Ad peftcKj - i I Han-old said he believed the revised food menus now effect only second service command prisoners but that the war de partment is considering adopt ing them for all 302,000 German prisoners In this country. The prisoners' daily diet con tains 3,560 calories and costs the United States 41 cents.per man per day. The GI gets 3,800 cal ories costing 65 cents, Harrold said. He outlined this typical menu for German prisoners: Breakfast Apples, oatmeal, fresh milk, coffee cake, marga rine and coffee. Dinner Liver, boiled pota toes, sauerkraut, lettuce salad with dressing, bread,- oranges and coffee. Supper Baked beans with fatback, boiled cabbage, fried potatoes, string bean and onion salad, dressing, bread, raisin twists and coffee. DISCHARGE FOR IS ARMY'S OFFER Washington, April 24 AI.R) The War Department announced today that army enlisted men 42 or older may be discharged from the service upon applica tion. Applications for discharge by such men will be rejected only if they nre undergoing discip linary action or require further medical or surgical treatment, the War Department said. Eligible soldiers overseas who apply will be returned to the United States for discharge at the earliest practicable date. The War Department estimat ed approximately 50,000 sol diers are eligible to apply. The new policy docs not ap ply to officers, but there already is provision for surplus officers to be discharged. 6 Months Training For 18-Year-Olda Voted By Senate Washington, April 24 U.W The Senate today adopted an amendment to the Selective Service Extension Act requiring six months pre-combat training for 18-year-olds. The amendment requires six months pre-combat training for all Inductees under 19, but pro vides that the navy may assign 18-year-olds to vessels for com pletion of training, even though Ihe vessels may ultimalcly be engaged in combat. Meanwhile, Sen. Owen Brew ster, R., Me., introduced another amendment to prohibit drafting of men over 31 after next May 31. Brewster said this amendment was In accord with the action of the British government, which recently announced that after tliat dMe it would slop the draft tllflUWOVU 3JU- -J Tribune United Press ONE CONTROL FOR U.S.F00D SUPPLY Merging of 0PA, WFA Rec ommended; Few Practical Heads Also Held Needed. Washington, April 24 (U.R) Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia of New York urged today that the country's food program be put under one administrator. He recommended to the Sen ate Food Investigating commit tee that all food-control func tions of the Office of Price Ad ministration and War Food Ad ministration be merged, with "the control and the price fix ing all under one head. Butchers Needed LaGuardia added that it "wouldn't be a bad idea to get a butcher or two who knows something about it to write the regulations," concerning meat. "The main trouble is there are Just too many bosses around and too many theorists working under these bosses,"" he said. LaGuardia said creation of a centralized food agency would "end this overlapping and, what is worst of all, the delay and in action. LaGuardia also recommend ed: 1, That meat purchased by the armed forces be bought "at the actual cost of the meat it self. .. . - . , 2. Payment of subsidies to cattle feeders. 3. Placement of special com missioners In federal courts to hear violations of OPA reeula- tions. Only One Reason LaGuardia said there was only one reason for a black mar ket in meat: "When conditions are such that the first processor, the slaughterer, cannot sell at law- iui ceiling prices without a loss. he either goes out of business or he starts to chisel. And once he goes wrong, he goes wrong all the way." LaGuardia said nackers hnun lost so much money on their set-aside order for the armed lorces 60 per cent nf thoir sales that they have had to "re coup their losses on the 40 per cent" sold to civilian consum ers. If the armed forces paid wnat ine meat costs in the first place, he said, it would be a ll better. Columnist Allen Suffers Arm Loss Washington. Aorll 24 (U.R) Col. Robert S. Allen of the U. S. Third army staff, former co author of the "Washington iwcrry-uo-Hound" column, lost his lower right arm my amputa tion after being wounded Anril 7 south of. Ohrdruf. Germany. the war department announced today. He was ambushed, wounded and captured by the enemy, but was freed three days later when the third army occupied Ehrfurt. beriousncss of the gunshot wound required amputation of the lower part of the arm. He was released from the hospital April 20. King Ibn's 5 Sons Without Tents or San Francisco, April 24 U.R) The five sons of King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia were on hand today for the United Nations conference but without the sheep and tents that their fa mous father takes along on trips away from home. Tired as tourists but Just as enthusiastic, the five brothers took life easy in the relatively modest surroundings of a suite In a swanky hilltop hotel here after a sight-seeing air tour across the country. The brothers ranged In age from 9 to 80. They let It be known through an Interpreter that they were happy to be here and plca.'ed by the reception given lhm at Ihe airport. . Jtlurt rccortai wen oo. lu&d Full Leased Wire No. 28. 3-VOTEJMAND Attlee Also Voices Hope Pol ish Problem May Be Set tled on Yalta Proposal. San Francisco, April 24 (U.R) Secretary of State Edward R. Stettinlus, Jr., expressed con fidence today the World Secur ity conference would succeed and Britain re-pledged her support to Russias demand for three votes in the Security assembly. Britain's pledge was placed on record by Maj. Clement R. Attlee, deputy prime minister, who also expressed hope that the knotty Polish controversy might be settled along the lines of the Yalta proposal for broadening the base of the present Warsaw government. Red Proposal Sound Attlee said that since the Ukraine and White Russia both have foreign ministers the Rus sian proposal that these states be represented in the Security as sembly was sound. Stettlnlus, first of the Big Three to arrive by plane from Washington, confined himself to a general statement expressing confidence in the success of the conference. He declined to an swer specific questions about the Polish problem which was left still unsettled when time ran out on the foreign ministers and they were forced to transfer their deliberations to San Francisco. Stcttlnius' colleagues In the Polish discussions Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden ana Fnreisn Commissar V. M. Molo- tov are due here later by nlnno from Washington. Stcttlnius expressed "firm be lief that the United Nations are united In their determination to succeed In establishing a World Organization." His sentiments were echoed by the veteran statesman. Field Marshal Jan Christian Smuts, South African premier and the only veteran of Versailles who Is playing a major roie at oan nun cisco. "South Africa." Smuta said "has only one proposal to make and that is for the success of the conference. All the rest is de tail " Smuts strongly urged that the nrenmble of the charter setting up the peace organization de clare "a statement oi our iaiwi, nr nhwtivea. the things we tnnri fnr " Foreign Minister Jan Masaryk nf Czechoslovakia, arriving in San Francisco, said that "little people should be seen and not heard." He said that later on "I may have something to howl about. Detroit Walkout ' Hits War Supply Detroit, April 24 (U.R) Production of vital war mater ials again was halted at the main plant of the Kelscy-Hayes Wheel Co. today when more than 2,000 workers walked off their Jobs In protest against the discharge of 13 employes. Company officials refused to comment on a report that nearly 1 800 workers at another unit began a slowdown. at Conference Flock of Sheep to report their arrival there were when more than prom lnent conference figures put In their apperances. It was a color ful reception, with a navy band on hand to give the Arabian roy ally the honor due their rank. But newsmen were frankly disappointed. They remembered the flock of sheep and the tents that Ibn Saud took along when he made the destroyer trip to F.gypt after the Big Three con ference at the Crimea. One of the reporters took a look inside the plane before ac cepting the fact that the five brothers brought along nothing morn spectacular than suitcases and bodyguards. And so far as anyone could see. Hie body- tw&t weiui'l evco au&c& Armored Spearhead Enters Regensburg; Berlin Ring Closed LONDON, APRIL 24 (U.R) TONIGHT THAT MORE THAN SIAN HANDS. LONDON. APRIL 24 (U.R) THE OFTEN INACCURATE PARIS RADIO TONIGHT REPORTED A LINKUP BETWEEN RUSSIAN AND AMERICAN SPEARHEADS. WITH U. S. FIRST ARMY FORCES, GERMANY, APRIL 24 A LINKUP OF THE RED ARMY AND THE AMERICAN FORCES CAN BE EXPECTED TOMORROW. LONDON. APRIL 24 (U.R) PROPAGANDA MINISTER JO. SEPH GOEBBELS TONIGHT ISSUED A PROCLAMATION AS GAULEITER OF BERLIN EXHORTING THE GERMAN SOL DIERS AND PEOPLE TO STAVE OFF THE RED ARMY UNTIL REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE. Paris, April 24 (U.R) Ameri can 3rd army troops broke open the outer defenses of Hitler's Bavarian redoubt on a broad front today and rammed and ar mored spearhead up to the Dan ube river on the western out skirts of Regensburg. Lt. Gen. George S. Patton's 3rd army tanks and armored troop carriers reached the north western bend of the Danube op posite Regensburg the old Na poleonic cit of Ratisbon this afternoon after a 10-mi!e ad vance through weak and disor ganized enemy opposition. Snipers Cut Down A few nazi snipers battled the speeding American armored col umns along the west side of the historic river, but were cut down. Field dispatches Indicated the Germans were planning a delay ing fight on the eastern bank of the Danube and Inside Re gensburg, where the enemy was reported throwing up barricades and moving hundreds of anti aircraft guns into position for the battle. Strong Infantry forces wore crowding up close behind ho American tank spearheads, reaching Deuerling, eight miles west of Regensburg, this after noon. At Regensburg, the Ameri cans were only 61 miles north of Munich, gateway to the Ba varian redoubt. There was no Immediate word on the progress of other 3rd army columns advancing south ward along the Czechoslovak border to the east within 103 miles of Berchtesgaden. Vast Tank DrWe More tjian 2,000 American and French tanks were on the move against the nazis' last re treat In the Bavarian Alps along a 200-mile front manned by Pat ton's veterans and the power ful American 7th and French 1st armies. Headquarters revealed that one of the greatest armored striking forces In military his tory had been thrown against the Bavarian retreat where the hunted nazi leaders were trying to gather their remaining SS divisions for the last battle of Europe. The American 3rd and 7th and the French 1st armies were advancing flank to flank through the outer Bavarian de fenses on a battle line extend ing from the Swiss to the Czech oslovak borders, using possibly 10 or more armored divisions to spearhead the assault. The 3rd army break-through overshadowed big gains by the American 7th and French 1st armies farther to the southwest. LA SPEZIA TAKEN BY FIFTH ARMY Rome. April 24 (U.R) U. S. fifth army troops captured the big Italian naval base of La Spezla today and crossed the Po river at several points north of Botognn. Modena, 23 miles northwest of Bologna, also was taken. British troops captured Fer rara and Bondeno, southeast of the Americans' positions on the historic Po. At least 40.000 prisoners were captured by Gen. Mark Clark's swift-moving 15th army group. La Spezia, with a peace-time population of 89.000, has a large harbor and was the Italian navy's chief base. SNYDER APPROVED Washington, Aprol 24 4U.R1 President Truman's nomination of John W. Snyder of St. Louis to be Federal Loan Administra tor was approved today by the Scoata Baukiug CwuuUlca A MOSCOW BROADCAST SAID HALF OF BERLIN WAS IN RUS. London, April 24 U.R) . Russian Siege Forces were re ported late today to have driven into the Charlottenburg area of west-central Berlin, apparently after knifing clear through the heart of the devastated and tot tering city. "The imminent fall of Berlin," a Moscow radio commentator said this evening, "will break the last vestiges of resistance, the last convulsive throes of tha wounded monster." Siege Ring Closed Unofficial advices reported that the seiege ring had been closed around Berlin In a grand scale encirclement maneuver by two Red armies, trapping any Nazi leaders who stayed to sea the death of their capital. In what Moscow called Ber lin's last hours, a United Press dispatch from the Soviet capital reported that the Red army and the U. S. First army had made) the long-awaited Junction from east to west some 60 miles south) of the German capital. The re port lacked official confirmation by an expected Joint statement in Moscow, London and Wash lngton on the subject. The BBC reported 'that Mar shal Gregory K. Zhukov'a First White Russian army had broken into Charottenburg, the sprawl ing area of Berlin lying directly west of the business area. Zhu kov'a forces had been beatlns straight across the core of Ber lin on a siege line between the northwest and southeast parts of the city. In Last Stand The report tallied with an earV ler hint from Nazi sources that the hard pressed defenders were falling back into the northwest ern quarter of Berlin for their last stand. One third to one half of Bc lln already had been captured. The usually reliable Luxem bourg radio said Red banner were flying over the ruins of the Reichstag. Also In Soviet hands, lt said, were Potsdamer Platz, geographical center of the cap ital, Anhalter station and tha famed Tiergarten. The United Press Bureau In Moscow cabled flatly that Mar shal Ivan C. Konev's First Ukrainian army has linked up with the American First army some 80 miles south of Berlin. The First White Russian army northwest of Berlin was rolling toward an Imminent Junction with the American Ninth army at Stendal, Moscow said. A poll of high Soviet officer In Moscow revealed that they be lieved all German resistance north of Berlin and south of Dresden would be crushed in the next fortnight, leaving only the redoubt to be conquered. End In Sight Within the next few days, tw more Russian army groups the Second and Third White Rus slan probably will smash acrosa the Oder In the Stettin area and clear western Pomeranla and Mccklenberg for a Junction with Mnr.hal Sir Bernard L. Mont gomery's 21st army group, Mos cow said. With the completion of thesa drives, the battle of Europe will enter the mop-up stage. SIDE GLANCES. Bf TRIBUNE REPORTERS Bob McCarty, 12, excited by the arrival of l,win calves for the family bossy, Daisy May. A Tribune reporter polling fellow staff members, the Cham ber of Commerce, library and numerous friends for the In dian name for cradle board without results. Miles Stuart In a quandaiy because he knew two busincs acquaintances by their first names only. The first bathtub in the V. & JtM built oi wabogaay, .