Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 10, 1945)
mm SEE f -Lb M Uvll JL MM Weather FORECAST: Partly cloudy to night and Friday, Slightly warmer Friday. . Temp. Highest Yeiterday ........69 Lo wes t this Morning ..... .,..5 1 Precipitation To 8 ft. m. Today HWWHMH....0I Fortieth Year Mightiest B-29 Force Fires OVER 400 "FORTS" T Smoke Billows High From Devastating Hits on Larg est Fuel Storage Tanks. Guam, May 10. (U.R) The mightiest force of Superfort resses ever sent aloft today bat tled through heavy flak from the last remnants of the Jap anese fleet to ignite devastating fires in the enemy's largest fuel storage and synthetic oil produc ing centers. Returning crewmen of the more than 400 B-29's which at tacked the home islands of Hon shu and Shikoku said that clouds of black smoke billowed skyward to 18,000 feet from oil fires at key factories. Flak Ineffective They described as "ineffective" the curtain of antiaircraft fire from the guns of warships hud dled in Japan's inland sea. Specific targets included the Otake oil refinery, the Toku yama naval fuel station and the Tokuyama synthetic fuel factory on Honshu. Part of the huge aerial task force also struck the Oshlma oil storage area, Japan's largest known fuel storage area west of Kyushu. Second Lt. Donald L. Endlcott of Portland, Ore., flatly declared that the Otake refinery "has been eliminated as a target. When we left the whole penin sula was a mass of flames and smoke rose to 18,000 feet." Some of the big bombers staged earlier diversionary at tacks on airfields on southeast ern Honshu, northwest Shikoku and southern Kyushu. Steady Raids Due The raids came only a few hours after Lt. Gen. Barney Giles, commander of army air forces in the Facmc, saia Amen can bombers soon would be raid ing Japan around the clock on a scale greater even than the as sault that crippled Germany. (A Japanese Domei dispatch recorded by the FCC said 80 B-29s bombed Skikoku at 5 a.m., 40 raided southern Kyushu for an hour at 6 a.m. and 160 struck southern Honshu at 9 a.m.) (Another Domei dispatch re ported by the FCC said Japanese suicide planes sank an allied battleship and set two aircraft carriers afire off Okinawa yes terday.) Nearly 400 miles to the south west, 10th army forces in south ern Okinawa drove to within 1.500 yards of the west coast city of Naha, capital of the island, the inland town of Shuri and the east coast port of Yona baru. Marines on the west coast al ready could see the ruins of Naha, levelled by air and sea bombardment and apparently deserted. A communique announced that American casualties for the first 37 days of the Okinawa campaign were 16,425, including 2.684 dead one American, for every 16 Japanese killed. Rogue Valley Lines Opens I ntermediate Service to Ashland The Rogue Valley Transit company began today operating bus service between Mcdford and Ashland and Intermediate points, in connection with a franchise recently Issued by Public Utilities commission of Oregon. The company will operate eight round-trip schedules daily. Southbound, the route will leave highway 99 at Talent Junction, going through Talent and con necting with highway 99 about a half mile north of Jackson Hot Springs. Northbound schedules will also go through Talent. There will be no services to Grants Pass as was recently stat ed in a press release from the Public Utilities commiisiouw MEDFORD United Prat Srertinius Presides Over UNCIO Steering Committee Becy. of State Edward Stettlnlus presides over an DNCIO steering committee meeting In San Francisco's Veterans Building. At table with him are (left to right) : Sir Alexander Cadogan, British undersecretary of foreign affairs; V. K. Wellington Koo, Chinese ambassador to Washington; Dr. Gulllermo Belt, Cuban ambassador to Washington; Alger Hiss. Conference secretary general, and V. M, Molotov, Soviet foreign - ' - WMBlHtwaP ...ma. . .. . . .. -v Big Four Agrees To Curtail Veto Power S Except Regarding Enforcement Measures San Francisco. May 10 (U.R) The Big Four powers have agreed to refrain from exercis ing on any questions short of en forcement measures the veto power which they would have in the security council of the pro posed world peace organization, British Foreign Minister An- STATE RECALLS EDNA THOMPSON IN WOLF TRIAL Twelve witnesses marched to the witness stand yesterday in the circuit court trial of James A. Wolf, charged with the second degree murder of Percy H. Ijamcs at Gold Hill last Febru ary. All were from Gold Hill. Ijamcs. following a sidewalk altercation died of a hemorrhage caused by a sharp instrument, the state charges. The state today recalled Mrs. Edna M. Thompson of Gold Hill, a nurse, who was called by tele phone to render help to Ijames. She said the man who summoned her called himself' "Art". The state sought to impeach Mrs. Thompson on the grounds her testimony late yesterday had taken them by surprise, and it was at variance with statements she had given to Criminal Dep uty Sheriff Vern Smith and State Trooper Willard Ruch. a few days after the stabbing. Mrs. Thompson insisted, under questioning, her testimony was correct. She testified that f ollowing the affair she was brought by auto from her home by Floyd Dusenbcrry and John A. Sutton. When she arrived Ijames was Iving on the sidewalk, bleeding, with a soldier applying a tourni quet and another soldier nearby. She was unable to describe them. She testified she adminis tered some medicine and en deavored to calm Mrs. Ijames. also present, until the arrival of the ambulance. John A. Sutton of Talent testi fied! today he had driven the auto that brought Mrs. Thomp son to the scene and had taken her coat into a beer hall. He saw the two soldiers but paid no particular attention to them, he said. He saw the defendant, Wolf, walking away from the scene later, according to testi mony. The state is scheduled to com plete its main case today, when Full Leased Wire MEDFORD, OREGON, THURSDAY, MAY jyi'l thony Eden said today. Eden made this disclosure at a press conference called amid a new drive to speed up this United Nations conference's main job drafting the charter for a world peace organization. Leaders hope to complete the conference before the end of the month. Soviet Plan Loses The conference's steering com mittee meanwhile voted 33 to 7 against a soviet-sponsored pro posal that the new world labor congress be invited to join tlje conference as an observer. Eden told the gathering of more than 400 correspondents that he could not now see any solution to the conference con troversy over -regional arrange ments in connection with the proposed world organization. But he added that he thought the BRITISH DRAFT TO E London, May 10 (U.R) Prime Minister Churchill told Commons today that conscription of men for the British Armed Forces will continue during the war against Japan, and hinted that it might go on several years after that. Churchill said conscription Is essential to provide for the re allocation of manpower to re lieve men who have served long periods, and to provide man power for armies fighting Japan and occupying Germany. London, May 10 (U.R) Prime Minitttr Churchill Im plied strongly in Commons to day that the Big Three had ailed io make any progress toward a solution of the Polish problem. The Prime Minister's world wide radio speech, scheduled for 3 p. m. F.WT today was post poned until Sunday because of the pressure of other duties. Churchill told Commons that he would address the House next Tuesday on the subject of Allied victory In Europe. Churchill announced that as one of the first blessings of peace, a basic gasoline ration for motorists, similar to that in the United States, will be introduced within 30 days. For years civil ians have had no gasoline. The Rotary club was founded LiU ttea.0 la ISO). "" (Acme Telenholo) matter could be settled eventu ally. Polish Issue Deadlock On the Polish issue, the for eign minister asserted anew that the problem had been com plicated by Russian arrest of 16 former Polish underground lead ers. He said the development had made it impossible to con tinue talks on the matter here, and "we now leave it to our governments to determine what the next step should be." Of his own plans, he said he planned to "stay a day or two more to do what I can". Other British sources indicated he might leave here Monday. Brit ish Prime Minister Winston Churchill said in the House of Commons earlier today that he expected Eden back next week. Point System To Govern G. I. Discharge; 85 Points Needed For Immediate Action Washington, May 10 (U.R) Soldiers with long combat serv ice overseas and dependent chil dren will top the list of those eligible for discharge under the Army's partial demobilization plan. Details of the Point System that will govern discharge of more than 1,300,000 soldiers during the next II months were announced at noon today to troops and to the public. The point values follow: One credit for each month of army service since Sept. 16. 1940. One credit for each month served overseas since the same date. Decorations Count Five credit for each bronze service star and for each decora tion. The service stars arc awarded for participation In each battle or campaign. This also means five credits for each wound suffered, since a purple heart decoration is awarded for each wound. Twelve credits for each child under 18 years, up to inree cnu dren. Enlisted men of the Army Ground. Air and Service For:es will be Immcdialcly eligible for discharg" if their total credit score is B5 or more. WACs with total credit scores of 44 points will Immediately be eligible for discharge. These total credit scores are designated as "interim scores." Immediately after the scores of all soldiers are compiled, the number of soldiers with each point total In every theater will be reported to the War Depart ment toed ea laest rcpoit la 10, 1945. Jap Oil Bases E SHIFT BY K. F. Washington, May 10. (U.R) Any attempt by "ambitious local interests" to shift the interre gional highway route in Oregon from U. S. 99 to 97 will be con trary to the best interests of the state, Rep. Harris Ellsworth, R Ore., said today. "Highway 99 carries an enor mous volume of year-round traf fic," Ellsworth said. "Already a large portion of it has been brought up to most recent stand ards." The Roseburg congressman said pressure was being brought on the Federal Bureau of Public Roads to move the official Pa cific highway route east of the Cascades by way of U. S. 97 via Eugene end Klamath Falls. The U S. 99 runs from Eugene to Medford and Into California. Up to Commission Ellsworth said he was inform ed no change was planned unless requested by the Oregon High way Commission. The shift was proposed by Arthur Schaupp, member of the Commission from Klamath Falls. "I hope Oregon's Highway Commission will decline to be swerved from what I feel to be the best interest of the state by some ambitious local Interests," Ellsworth added. , Earlier this week, Rep. Lowell Stockman, from Pendleton, whose district embraces part of the U. S. 97 route to Klamath Falls, endorsed the change. FIRST ON BONDS Showlow, Ariz.. May 10 U.R) This village today had the dis tinction of being the first com munity in Arizona and possl ly In the nation of exceeding its quota In the still-to-bestartcd Seventh War Loan Drive. DR. COUNTRYMAN Spokane, Wash., May 10 U.R) Lt. Col. C. W. Countryman, popular Spokane physician, was killed in Cuba May 5, according to a telegram received by his wi dow here. The telegram gave no particulars of his death. about six weeks, revised figures will be announced as to the total credits needed for discharge. To Compile Scores Scores will be compiled on the basis of points earned as of Sat urday, May 12. Decorations and battle credits awarded after that date, but earned prior thereto, may be counted. Children born on or before May 12, whose birth were not known to their fathers at the time the scores first were compiled, may be counted in re vised scores. Service In the army will be computed from the date the sol dier reported to his reception center and took his oath. Odd portions of the month of 15 days or more will count as a whole month. Overseas credit Is counted for the period from the date of de parture from a U. S. port to the return to a U. S. port, with odd 15 days or more counting as a month. The point system for discharg es cover men in all parts of the world not merely those who served In Europe. Immediate ellgibllty for dis charge does not mean immediate discharge. It will take- nearly a year to bring the 1.300.000 eligi ble mon home, although they will be coming by hundreds of thousands in ensuing months. May Be Retained And any given man even though he has more than the necessary number of credits for discharge can be kept in serv ice if his work is deemed vital to the war against Japan. The combat and decoration credits, worth five points each, will be awarded for the follow ing iiutttu and deceiaUouj by Tribune United Prat CAMPS SELECTED Y Washington, May 10. (U.R) U. S. troops brought back from Europe for redeployment or dis charge will go first to disposi tion centers attached to ports of embarkation. There they will be classified geographically and sent to per sonnel center reception stations throughout the country. At the personnel center, the returned soldier will be Issued required clothing, receive his pay, and have his record put in shape . before going home on furlough. After furlough the men will return to the personnel centers to await discharge or reassign ment. Wherever possible returned troops will be sent to personnel centers serving their home states. The centers and states include: Camp Beale, Calif. northern California. Fort Lewis, Wash. Washington, Oregon. Fort MacArthur, Calif. South ern California. 23 COAL KILLED IN BLAST Sunnyslde, Utah, May 10 (U.R) Twenty -three Carbon county coal miners were dead today victims of a terrific gas explosion about two miles un derground in the Utah Fuel Co. I'o. 1 mine. The seared bodies of 21 of the victims were recovered dur ing the night. Rescue ciew of 35 continued to dig through the coal-strewn tunnels of the mine in search of two of the workers. Seven miners were critically injured and were hospitalized In nearby Draggerton. Belgium, before the war, had complete religious freedom, and part of the salaries of ministers of all creeds was paid from the national treasury. army personnel for services per formed since Sept. 16, 1940: Army SC, Legion of Merit, Silver Star, DFC, Soldiers' Me dal, Bronze Star Medal, Air Me dal, Purple Heart and Bronze Service Star. Navy Navy Cross, DSM, Le gion of Merit, Silver Star Medal, DFC. Nnvy and Marine Corps Medal, Bronze Star Medal. Air Medal and Purple Heart Medal. Foreign Awards and decora tions of foreign countries accept ed and worn under War Depart ment regulations. The Army announced earlier that any holder of the Medal of Honor was eligible for immedi ate release. The mention of navy decora tions does not mean that navy personnel are included in the plan. They are not. It refers only to navy and marine corps decorations that may have been awarded to army men. Five points are given for the first and each additional award of the honors mentioned above as represented by Oak Leaf Clus- Commissioned officers will have adjusted service rating scores with the same point val ues as enlisted men. Eligibility of otficers for discharge, how ever, will be determined primar ily by military necessity with the point rating secondary. Major-Gen. William F. Tomp kins, director of the- Special Planning Division of the War De partment General Starf, said dis charges under the Point System should commence In about two weeks. Men with long overseas service who have since returned to this country will be fust to set out, Full Leased Wire 42. FIRE L M 0 J Remaining Units Flee To ward Yank Lines to Es cape Russians, Yugoslavs By United Press The last shots were being fired in Europe today. The German surrender in Eu rope was complete except for some units in Czechoslovakia, Austria and Yugoslavia who were not so much fighting the victors as fleeing in disorder to ward the American lines to es cape capture by the Russians and Yugoslavs. Premier Josef Stalin announc ed that the German pockets In Latvia, in the Vistula Delta-near Danzig and on the Hel Peninsula above the Polish port of Gdynia had joined in the general sur render. Islands Surrender The Germans In the British channel Islands surrendered to British troops who landed today. The hold-out French ports hav ing capitulated, that about ac counts for Nazi resistance In Europe. A few Islands in the Mediterranean remained to 'be taken over. ' German submarines and other vessels still at sea also were giv ing up. The first U-boat to reach England surrendered at Wey mouth, and six others were sight ed making for British ports. - The German garrison tn the Channol Islands numbered about 30.000. It surrendered without a fight and the terms were signed aboard a British warship. The Islands, Just off the French coast, have an area of about 75 square miles and the pre-war population was about 100,000. They were seizea ay the Germans In 1940 and were useful for channel observation and as torpedo boat bases. The nrlnelnal islands are Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark. Round uo Traitors The military situation being In hand, the liberated European mostly busy re establishing their own countries and rounding up traitors and col laborationists. Czechosiovaic pa triots, aided by Russians, hunted down scattered Nazi snipers in cellars and on roof-tops. Thm rmindun was especially vigorous In Norway. The chief villain, Vldkun Quisling, whose name has become synonomous with traitor, was In Jail. Josef Terboven, German governor of M,, and fiS Lt. Gen. Wil- helm Rediess, Gestapo chief In Oslo, were reported to have com mitted suicide. The notorious Jonas Lie and others were still at large. Freed Denmark was slowly re turning to normal. A British ad miral and 2.000 sailors took over command of Copenhagen harbor after the Inst German ship ex cept for a few Red Cross vessels had departed. Japs Slink Around While Moscovites Celebrate Victory Moscow, May 10 (U.R) Ev erybody celebrated victory day in Moscow except the Japanese, who slunk around all day trying to make themselves as small as possible. The victory celebration reach ed its climax last night Just be fore Premier Stalin's speech, when a million Muscovites swarmed into the center of the city. The spacious Red Square was as crowded as an allied pris oner of war camp. It was Impossible to reach Red Square. The mobs moved In waves through the streets, dan cing and singing and shouting. The premier's brief speech, fol lowed by his order of the day, raised enlhusiam to a new high pitch. Then came the great victory salvo 100 roars from 1,000 guru,, the greatest barrage ever fired except at the front. PILOT KILLED Vineyard Haven, Mass., May 10 U.R Lt. Joseph F. Koll, Jr., of Boise, Idaho, was killed Tuesday when his fighter plane crashed Into the sea off Martha's Vineyard, the navy announced tcO&Zt T APPROVAL GIVEN, C.0FC. Telegram From Ellsworth Says Details Being Work ed Out; Date Not Known. Approval of the transfer of the station hospital at Camp White from the army to the navy has been given by the war de partment a wire from Congress man Harris Ellsworth to Herb: Grey, president of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce stated today. The chamber has long urged that the hospital be put to full use, either by the army or some other branch of the service. Congressman Ellsworth stated that details of the transfer are now being worked out and that the exact date of naval activa tion were not yet available. Col. John R. Young, commanding of ficer at Camp White, stated this morning that he had not been Informed of the transfer and therefore could make no com ment on the announcement. Long Sought Chamber of Commerce files on the hospital project show that since the moving of the last training division from Camp White, the chamber along with other groups and citizens in the valley,, have advocated convert ing the station hospital into an. other classification for addition, al use by the army or transfer to some other branch of the ser vice in order that its extensive facilities might not be idle. The chamber was aided by Senator Guy Cordon and Congressman Ellsworth in the project. In correspondence with army and navy officers lt was point ed out that use of thg idle facili ties at Camp White could save large sums of money since hos pitals in other parts of the nation are being enlarged or entirely new ones are being constructed, to Care for the returning service men in need of hospitalization. Several months ago the navy took over the hospital at Camp Adair, Corvallis, and it is now in use by that branch of the service and three hospitals in southern California were also transferred from the army to the navy it recent months. JAP DEFENSES IN E BOW TO CHINESE Chungking, May 10. (U.R) The entire " Japanese line in western Hunan province, where an enemy drive threatened th American air base at Chihkiang, crumbled yesterday under s Chinese general counter-offensive, a communique announced today. More than 2,600 Japanese dead were counted In the area south east of Kiangkow by the Chi nese forces which launched their attack Tuesday. The communt. que said the Japanese forces be gan retreating at 4 .m. yester day. In a dozen more places evi dence that the enemy had burnt his dead was discovered. About 120 prisoners were taken. The central Chinese column pursuing the enemy reached Chukaotang and the left column entered the Shnnmeng area. An enemy unit 50 miles west of Paoching, main Japanese base for the attack on Chihkiang, was surrounded and wiped out. Another Chinese unit pressed southward to cut off enemy units retreating on the highway. A, P. T i By United Press Robert McLean, president of the Associated Press and presi dent of the Philadelphia Bulle tin, said today that the AP ' pro foundly regrets" the distribution of Edward Kennedy's unauthor ized dispatch of the German sur render at Reims. "The AP profoundly regret the distribution on Monday of the report of the total surrender in Europe which Investigation disclosed was distributed in ad vance of authorization by allied supreme headquarters," McLeaa aid, " " - 1
