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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 15, 1945)
Yanks Drive Close to Heart of Naha in Fierce Fighting Weather FORECAST; Clearing tonight. Partly cloudy and slisntly warmer Wednesday. Temp. Highest Yesterday 68 Lowest this Morning so Prec. To f a. m. Today -r-- .21 Fortieth Year WILL ESTABLISH MEDFORDOFFICE Contact Representative and Other Personnel Promised Will Fill Major Need. A ccfntact unit of the United States Veterans Administration, consisting of a contact represen tative and a clerk-stenographer, with additional personnel later, will be established in Medford according to a wire received by the Mail Tribune this morning from Senator Guy Cordon. The office will be opened as soon as desirable space can be obtained and personnel procured, Senator Cordon't wire states, and the ' facility will be expanded with assignment of additional person nel as need develops. County Judge J. B. Coleman stated this morning after hear ing the news that he was most gratified at the step and be- lieved this would relieve the county court of the necessity of appointing a local service offi cer. Long Sought Provision for the officer had been made in the county budget now in the process of being adopted by the court, he said. The judge stated that the court had delayed action on the matter of a local service officer in the belief that the problem would be eventually settled in this fashion, but had finally decided upon action when budget-time approached -with no definite word from the administration. Frank Hull, manager of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Harry Young, commander of the Medford American Legion, also expressed satisfaction at the news. Hull stated that chamber officials had carried on correspondence with both Senator Cordon and Con gressman Harris Ellsworth in an effort to have a representative stationed here in the belief that this would simplify the matter of handling veterans' problems. Young declared he believed all veterans' organizations would be pleased to have an administra tion representative in the dis trict. It was pointed out by all thiee that since the administration constitutes the final authority on so many of the veterans' problems, having a representa tive of the bureau here would be a great relief. - VANDALS VISIT E Eugene, Oregon, May 15 (U.R) Vandalism in a Jewish syna gogue including swastikas on the military honor roll and des ecration of the Ameican flag was reported today by Chief of Police L. L. Pittcngcr of Eugene. The Beth Israel temple on the University of Oregon campus was entered sometime during last weekend but the mutilation was not discovered until late last night Pettinger said. Large figures of the swastika were cut in the wall paper and marked with crayon in four rooms, the chief reported. A swastika was scratched with a sharp object on the honor roll containing the names of 14 church men and women In mili tary service. An American flag standard was overturned in one room and the eagle on the staff broken. The velvet altar covering was torn in half. "This entrance apparently was made by a person or persons for the purpose of desecration of this church and follows a pattern of religious persecution of the worst kind," Pittengcr said. Police recovered a carving knife, about 10 inches long, in the church and said it would be checked for fingerprints and identification. They believed it was the sharp instrument used in defacing the walls. WEATHER Northern California Slight ly cloudy north portion today, otherwise clear today, tonight and Wednesday; warmer Wednesday. M United Prase Brutality, Murder System As Practiced By Germans Is Reported To Congress Washington, May 15 U.R) Congress heard at first hand to day a part of the terrible story of nazi methods of rule by exter mination. A 12-man committee of both houses, fresh from a tour of Ger man concentration and slave la bor camps, verified many of the worst atrocitystories. They told a tragic tale of filth, disease, starvation and murder. Declaring the concentration camp practices to be "no less than organized crime against civilization," they demanded "swift, certain and adequate pun ishment" for those responsible. Future Justice Hope But despite the cruelty and horrror they "saw they held forth hope of future justice. Senate Democratic Leader Al ben W. Barkley of Kentucky, spokesman for the committee, voiced it this way: "Through the sickening spec tacle which we have witnessed . . . will come ultimately a firm er realization that men of all na tions and tongues must resist en croachments of every theory and ideology that debases mankind." Three Camps Seen The 12-man committee, invited by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower to see the results of nazi treat ment of political prisoners and slave laborers, visited camps at Buchenwald, Nordhausen and Dachau. . Members were Barkley, Sens. Walter F. George, D., Ga.; El bert D. Thomas, D., Utah; C. Wayland Brooks, R., 111.; Ken neth S. Wherry, R., Neb., and Leverelt Saltonstall, R., Mass., and Reps. R. Ewing Thomason, D., Tex.; James P. Richards, D S. C; Ed V. Izac, D Calif.; John M. Vdrys, R O.; James W. Mott, R., Ore., and Dewey Short R., Mo. - Barkley, who' read his report to the senate,, charged that the camps constituted a "calculated and diabolical program of planned torture and extermina tion on the part of those who were in control of the German government." He said the three camps visit ed were an "accurate cross-section" of the more than 100 such concentration and slave labor camps in Germany. Camps were largely conducted and controlled by SS troops and the gestapo either acting under orders from superiors or "given wide discre tion in the methods they were to adopt in perpetrating these hid eous and Inhuman sufferings." No Americans He reassured the senate at the outset that American prisoners of war were not incarcerated in any of the concentration camps. Bodily tortures were not de scribed because "eyewitnesses to the proceedings in the torture chambers seem always to have been done away with." He said the committee saw with its own eyes: 1. "The barracks, the work places, the physical facilities for torture, degradation and execu tion." 2. "The victims both dead and alive," of the atrocities prac ticed at these camps." 3. "The progress of liquida tion by starvation which was still going on." 4. "We saw the Indescribable filth and smelled the nauseating strench before it was cleaned up, and we saw a number of victims of this liquidation process actu ally die." Sleep On Shelves Barkley said that at Buchen wald, the first camp visited, the committee saw the "little camp", in which prisoners slept on triple-decked shelves. Each shelf was about 12 feet square with 16 prisoners to a shelf. The clear ance height between the shelves was a little over two feet. In the "little camp," he said, prisoners were given six weeks before being graduated to the 'regular barracks." During this time, he said, they were "expected" to lose about 40 per cent in weight. Rations were less than at the regular barracks and the death rate was very high, recently running about 50 per day. The "regular barracks," he de clared, had dormitory rooms ap proximately 42 by 23 feet and about 10 feet high in which, since the war. 2J0 persons mere made to sleep with less than one blanket per person and no heat. The "hospital" at Buchenwald Barkley said, was a place "where moribund (dying) persons were sent to die." No remedies were available, hence then was no EDFORD Full Leased Wire MEDFORD, OREGON, TUESDAY, MAY 15, treatment. Typhus and tubercu losis were rampant and death rates ran from 5 to 20 persons a day. Used As Guinea Pigs The "medical experiment building" at Buchenwald was used by scientists from Berlin who came down to inoculate "guinea pigs" with deadly di seases. The crematory at Buchenwald, Barkley said, had a maximum capacity of about 400 bodies per 10-hour day. It was enclosed by a high board fence and manned by SS guards. Roll call at Buchenwald was held every evening and a truck collected the bodies of all who had died during the day as well as live prisoners who were to be executed for political reasons. Ttje dead were taken directly to the crematorium. The living were forced down a 13-foot shaft, strangled and hung on hooks by SS men and then fed to the ovens. There were two batteries of three brick ovens each. Total capacity was 18 bodies. It took 15 to 20 minutes to dispose of an ovenful. Lack of fuel in March prior to the arrival of the Americans interrupted the cremations, Barkley said. He said the com mittee saw a truckload of 60 bodies, with about 25 additional bodies near it, standing near the crematorium. Systematically Starved The Nordhausen camp, Bark ley said, was a combination fac tory and starvation-center. Slave laborers were systematically starved to death, meanwhile be ing forced to work long hours at an underground factory which produced- V-l and V-2 bombs, airplane engines and munitions. 'At Dachau, Barkley said, the committee saw about 300 bodies of those who had died that morning. The Dachau gas cham ber, he reported, could dispose of about 100 men at a time. Pris oners were also shot after being forced to kneel at the edge of open pits. Barkley .aid the worst-treated prisoners were Jews, Russians and Poles. He said the commit tee was of the opinion that a colossal scheme of extermina tion was planned and put into effect against all those in occu pied countries who. refused to accept the principles of Naziism, or who opposed the saddling of the Nazi yoke on their1 coun tries." The number of prisoners and slave-laborers, he said, is esti mated to run between 12,000,000 and 20,000,000. LIS! UN STARTS MAY 28 The Jury list for the May term of circuit court starting Monday, May 28 was drawn yesterday by the county clerk and sheriff offi ces. Fifteen of the prospective are women and the remaining 16 men. As it is the opening day of a new term, court will convene at ten o'clock, as required by The list follows: Medford Stella Romine, Rt. 2; Mary E. Frohreich, Lillie Douglas. Rt. 2; Elsie Butler. Myr tle Jenkins. Mrs J. C. Stockman. Allen D. Curry, Mary Dodge. Lynn Brown. Ralph A. Fraser. Verna B. Brophy, Dorothy A. Bennett, and Belle L. Bradley, Rt. 2. Ashland Roy M. Spalding. Henry C. Galey. Percy Hardy. Arthur E. Peters, Albert C. Joy, C. C. Robertson. Harry D. Mc Nair, Arthur A. Madden. Clyde N. Caton and Gertrude Brower. Eagle Point Jessie Freeman. Star Rt.. Box 83: Gertrude Stan ley, and George Millard. Central Point Leola Faber. Viola A. Cooper, and Leon C. Tavlor, Rt. 1. Gold Hill Olive M. Turner and Louis F. Swanson. LIBEREE3 ARRIVE San Francisco, May IS. (U.R) A group of 254 civilians liber ated from Japanese prison camps in the Philippines, includ ing 47 litter patients and 100 ambulatory cases, arrived here today aboard an army transport. U. S. DELEGATION EYES TICKLISH SECURITY ISSUE Further Debate Slated With . Latin American Countries Final Draft Pends. San Francisco, May 15 (U.R) The United States Delegation at the United Nations Confer ence canvassed the ticklish prob lem of regional security arrange ments for nearly three hours to day, then arranged to discuss it further with Latin American countries. Secretary of State Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., called a press conference for later in the day and scheduled a conference with delegation chiefs of the same nine Latin American countries with whom he met yesterday about the regional arrangements question. Big Stake Involved High officials admitted that the biggest stakes of the entire conference are at issue in the current crisis over the future relationship of the inter-American regional system to the new world organization which is be ing drafted here. Stettinius was asked as he left the delegation meeting whether they had agreed on a final draft of the U. S. com promise on the question. "Not yet.? he replied. "We've been working at It all morning and will continue throughout the' day." Meanwhile, another contro versy but one of far less im portance developed over the question of selection of the sec cretary general of the proposed World organization. " ' Under the basic Dumbarton Oaks plan, the secretary general would be elected by the general assembly upon recommendation of the Security Council. The un derstanding had been that the council's recommendation would require unanimous concurrence of the Big Five. Cpl. . William Kime Freed By British Cpl. William N. Kime. report ed missing In action In Belgium Dec. 17, was held prisoner by the Germans for a time and re cently liberated by the British army information received by his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Kime, Griffin Creek district, states. Cpl. Kime is now in Bel gium and expects to be able to return home soon, the message said. JOB DAUGHTERS OFFICER TO BE HERE WEDNESDAY Mrs. Bcrnlce Britton, Corval lii, grand guardian of Daughters of Job for Oregon, will be in Medford Wednesday evening and will install council members for the Medford Jsethel during the regular session of that group. Bethel members will also elect a marshal. The meeting is set for 7:30 p, m. at the Masonic Temple. r Arm Tmephmn SU11 dltry, wild-eyed and bewildered but wearing huge and apparently permanent grins, this group of more (ban lot enlisted men cheer as they prepare to leave Camp neaJe, Calif, far boms under Uit new point re lease wteau - 1945 IS V o S ' J History's Greatest Manhunt Produces Few Captives; Hitler Fate Is Unsolved. Thousands of nazi war crimi nals and renegade leaders of Germany's puppet states were in allied hands awaiting judgment today. But one week after V-E day, history's greatest manhunt had produced only Hermann Goering out of all the top nazi hierarchy. Adolf Hitler and his heir-apparent, Nazi Leader Martin Bor mann, were reported dead in the wreckage of Berlin's Reichs chancellory, although no positive identification of their bodies had yet been announced by the Red army. Goebbels Believed Dead Hitler's top spokesman, Propa ganda Minister Joseph Goebbels, was almost certainly dead. The Russian army organ Red Star said the bodies of Goebbels and his wife and children were found in a subterranean chamber be neath the streets of Berlin all suicides. Goering was a prisoner of the American seventh army, facing trial for his part in the direction of nazidom's countless atrocities. Gestapo Chief Hcinrich Himm ler, branded the number-one war criminal following Hitler's re ported death, apparently was still at large somewhere on the continent," despite repeated ru mors that he had been arrested. Himmler's ace atrocity expert, Lt. Gen. of Police Ernst W. Kal tenbrunner, who has been ac cused of responsibility for the nazi gas extermination program, was reported captured in the Austrian Tyrol by the American third army. But there was still no word on the whereabouts of Foreign Min ister Joachim Von Ribbentrop, Labor Minister Robert Ley, Dr. Arthur Rosenberg, author of the infamous nazi racial laws, or the virulent Jew-biter Julius Streich er, chief artisans of nazi Ger many's 12-ycar reign of terror. Pvt. Rodney Witham Reports Good News A wire from Pvt. Rodney A. Witham which reached his par ents, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. With am, 1428 East Main street, this morning, brought the good news that the soldier is alive and safe. He was reported missing in action while serving with Pat ton's Third army March 6 and his parents had had no word of him until the cablegram this morning. Pvt. Witham went overseas last July and was sent from Eng land to the European front late in December. He is an ordnance man attached to an infantry unit. Washington, May 15. (U.R) Charles G. Ross, who used to be a newspaperman himself, took the oath today as President Tru man's press secretary. Tapped for the '85' Club .,,,..'":,!' --, ;,, . ..!"! &4 Tribune United Press Hitler's Stenographer Recounts Final Hours In Underground Office By Jack Fleischer (UP Staff Correspondent) Obersalzberg, Germany, May 15 (U.R) A man who was a stenographer at Adolf Hitler's headquarters in Berlin said to day that the fuehrer decided on April 22 to meet his end fight ing the Russians from an under ground fortress behind the reichs chancellory. The man is Gerhardt Herrge selle, who was summoned to Hit ler's headquarters last July to do stenographic work after another stenographer had been killed in the attempt of the German army generals to assassinate Hitler. Herrgeselle said that Hitler, his sweetheart Eva Braun, Ma tin Bormann, deputy leader of the nazi party; Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, and Col. Gen. Alfred Jodl, former chief-of-staff who signed the German sur render at Reims, were living in the underground fortress. "Around 10:30 a. m., April 21," Herrgeselle said, "the Rus sian artillery fire became heavier and obviously they were seeking to concentrate their fire on the government district. Later Rus sian planes made low-level at tacks around central areas such as Friedrich Strasse and Halles ches Tor. Many Conferences "From noon on there were conferences almost without in terruption. Paul Joseph Goeb bels, as commander of the Berlin defense, rushed in and out of headquarters many times. "Subordinate commanders re ported in a steady stream. Still no decision was made to remove us to the south." . Herrgeselle said the next day the Russian infantry began pressing steadily in toward the center of Berlin. "Various officers and govern ment officials frantically rushed around trying to organize the re mainder of the chancellory per sonnel into a volksturm unit, Herrgeselle said. During this period the first criticism was made of Hitler regarding remain ing In Berlin. But Hitler seemed slightly hazy. He often failed to reply to questions. At other times he obviously was not pay ing attention to questions. Finally Decide "The big decision finally was made in a 15-minute conference beginning at 5:30 p. m. Those present were Hitler, Bormann, Keitel and Jodl. Hitler was dressed, as usual, In dark trou sers, field gray Jacket with iron cross hanging from the left side nnd a brown shirt that had white collar and cuffs. In recent days he had not looked so fit. His face was rather puffy and he flushed easily. He seemed to be come more stooped dally and when he walked his shoulders gave the Impression almost of being a hunchback. His left arm shook considerably. His right konH urhum hn won wounded In the July 20 explosion, also shook. Herrgeselle said that a steel door was closed for the 5:30 o clock conference and then Hit ler announced to Bormann, Kei tel and Jodl: "It is lost. I shall Full Leased Wire NO. 46. remain In Berlin, I shall fall here in the reichs chancellory." Tne conference, according to Herrgeselle, was confused and heated. At times everybody ex cept Jodl was talking at the same time in loud voices. Keitel and Bormann opposed Hitler's decis ion to stay in the chancellory. Jodl appeared to be indifferent. Both Keitel and Bormann, ac cording to Herrgeselle, told Hit ler: "My fuehrer, that contra dicts what you have taught us In past months." They referred to Hitler's declaration that he would continue to fight so long as there was any German, soil left to fight on. 99 PROPONENTS OPPOSE KLAMATH Portland, Ore., May 15. (U.R) Advocates of designation of Highway U. S. 09 via Ashland and Medford as the official link between Oregon and California has first Innings at today's meet ing of the state highway com mission, with sponsors of High way U. S. 07 via Klamath Falls scheduled to give their argu ments next. Mayor C. A. Meeker of Med ford said 100,000 persons are served by U. S. 09, compared with 40,000 on U. S. 97. Paul B. Rynning of Medford, secre tary of the Oregon Pacific Coast Highway association, declared that the association li not op posing any highway but is seek ing additional road development Rynning, Jackson county sur veyor, said the association had refused to join eastern Oregon In opposing construction of Ore gon coast bridges and comple tion of u. s. 89, which, he said, has more timber and more agri cultural development along its route. Douglas County Judge D. N. Busenbark said the county will have the greatest concentration of logging and lumber activity in the northwest after the war ends. T. H. Banfield, commission chairman, assured the delega tions that each side would be given complete hearing. MAN,WARE LISTEOJISSING Two Jackson county residents have been reported missing from their homes since yesterday, po lice reported today. John A. Houser, listed between 55 and 60 years old, was report ed missing after leaving his home in Ashland yesterday to come to Medford. Police said Houser was driving a 1935 chocolate-colored sedan, license 460 233, and was reported to have been seen In California. Houser operates a hot dog stand on the highway . -near Jackson Hot Springs. Bobby Harp, 15. son of Mr. and Mrs. S. D. Harp, Rt. 1, Box 456, was also reported missing since yesterday noon. According to police the boy is five feet, six inches tall, weighs 155 pounds, dark complexion, brown hair and eyes, and was wearing green trousers, light brown coat and oxfords when last seen. He was riding a bicycle, police said. DAVISREVERSED E 'Washington, May 15 OI.P.) President Truman said today that Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower Intends to permit "a free flow of Information and ideas .... In Germany In a manner consistent with military security." Mr. Truman a announcement! at a press conference reversed a policy announced last week by Elmer Davis, head of the Office of War Information. Davis said American and al lied newspapers and magazines would not be permitted to cir culate among the Germans. He said special, censored publica tiens would be issued for them. ADVANCE FLANKS JAP DEFENSE LINE 96th Dlv. Wheels Around Captured Conical Hill and Lays Siege To Yonabaru. Washington. May 15 U.R) U. S. submarines have sunk nine more Japanese vessels. . Including five warships, the navy announced today. The combatant vessels in cluded one destroyer, two small escort vessels and two patrol vessels. The remainder of the bag included one large tanker and three cargo ves sels. Guam, Wednesday, May 16 (U.R) Tenth army infantrymen fought through the rubbled streets and ruined buildings of Naha today In a fiercely-contested advance that carried to with in 2,000 yards of the dock area and unhinged the Japanese de fense line across southern Oki nawa. Marines of the sixth division, braving a storm of Japanesa mortar and machine gun fire, crossed the Asato river and bat tled house-to-house to within 1,000 yards of the heart of tha capital city. On the opposite end of the six-mile battle front, troops of the 96th army division wheeled around captured Conical Hill, consolidated their positions at Yonabaru air field, and laid siege to Yonabaru City and its east coast port. Maj. Gen. Pedro de Valle's 1st marine division and Maj. Gen. Andrew Brace's 77th army divi sion were closing princers on Shuri village, the enemy's an chor point in the center of tha trans-island fortifications sys tem. The center of the Una proved as tough as either the Naha or TonabarU flanks. Progress of both the army and marine divi sions still was being measured in fractions of miles. Marines Invaded Naha at tha Takamotoji district after span ning the Asato. During the cross ing, Maj, Gen. Lemuel C. Shep herd, Jr. 'a leathernecks were under almost constant fir. The Japanese garrison, astl mated between 30,000 and 40c 000 appeared determined to re sist bitterly to the inevitable end, as they have in virtually every Pacific campaign. Tha capture of Conical Hill, announced yesterday by Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nlmitz, split tha Naha-Yonabaru Una and opened tha way for out flanking movements against Naha and Shuri. Carrier planes and tha big guns of warships offshore con tinued to support tha ground campaign. Several groups of Japanesa planes attacked American ship ping off Okinawa Sunday night and early Monday and damaged three units. Off Okinawa, 35 enemy planes attacked in three groups. They damaged two light American naval units, but lost 25 planes In the effort. One destroyer alone shot down eight enemy planet. To the Peopfo of this Community Home Front, U.S.A. Six mil lion volunteer! took the field to open a great War Bond oil en- The finish of this dis patch will be written by you. How you receive these men, women and children the patriotic duty of sell in it you a personal quota based on your earnings, will determine the success or failure of the biggest hnme-front job handed you by the war. There Is no glory or fanfare for these volunteers. They are the infantry of this community. They make H easier for you to respond to the 7th War Loan's needs. In most instances they have a brother a father, a son, a husband, or some other close relative In the aervice. They cannot succeed without your help. Your personal quota may be big but is it bigger than the task assigned a soldier to wade ashore on a Japanese Island? Your Victory Volunteer will ask you to Invest more than ever be fore. If you think that'a tough, tell It to the Marines on Iwo Jima. THE EDITOR Seventh War Loan Drivt Sfilca to date... 1130,812 Quota 11,067.000 Total Sales to Datt $239,812 Quota 12.087,000
