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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 22, 1945)
TnlC in A (SEISM mil Weather FORECAST: Partly cloudy with howers tonight and Wcdnei day. Mild temperatures. Temp. Highest Venter day ,.. JLoweit thli Morning ...MMM..4I Fortieth Year Wind Blown Jap Balloon Bombs L.and T M!LITARYVALUE Fantastic Attacks Underway Several Months Public Is Cautioned. Japan for several months has been attacking the western United States with 'long-range balloon-borne bombs which thus far have caused "no property damage," the war and navy de partment! revealed Jointly to day. They called the Japanese at tempt "fantastic" and said the at tack "constitute no military hront " "During the past several months, Japanese free balloons are known to have landed or dropped explosives in isolated localities," the announcement aid. These balloons cannot be con trolled by their launchers, the war department said, and "the chances that any given place would be hit by these attacks is only one in many millions. This Japanese attempt to un dertake against the United States attacks which the Ger mans launched with infinitely greater -success - against Great Britain was handicapped so greatly by distance that It has been able to cause no damage to property. Apparently they were loosed to drift with wind currents to ward this continent in the hope that they would be carried over the United States. "These balloons are grey, white or greenish-blue paper, about 33 feet in diameter," the war department said. "They car ry a few small bombs suspended beneath the balloon. It is be lieved that the main purpose of the bombs is to set brush and forest fires. They are dangerous and should not be touched by anyone not familiar with bombs." The war department said that thus far the bombs had not suc ceeded In their apparent purpose of starting forest fires. The balloons, it was said, have landed or dropped their explo sives from time to time In iso lated areas, mostly in the moun tains, forests or deserts. There is no indication that any of them ever carried enemy per sonnel. "The war and navy depart ments make this statement so that the public may be aware of the possible danger and to re assure the nation that these at tacks are so scattered and aim less that they constitute no mil itary threat. They should not be ''.-jewed with alann. ' Due to the large areas of the United States and the variable nature of the winds, the possibil ity of a hit in any specific area is remote. The chances that any given place would be hit by these attacks is only one in many millions. "Newspaper and magazine readers and radio listeners should understand that reports of the Japanese balloons are be ing omitted from the news col umns and radio summaries by editors and broadcasters to keep from the enemy further infor mation of balloon attacks on the western hemisphere. "The war and navy depart ments take the liberty of rec ommending that civilians them selves take the same patriotic course and refrain from spread ing news of any specific balloon incident of which they may hear." LT. JAMES E. CURTIS EN ROUTE FROM PRISON First Lt. James E. Curtis is on his way home from Stalag Luft I, a German prison camp, it was stated in a telegram from the officer, received today by his wife. Mrs. Lavina Curtis, Oregon City. As a member of the army air corps Curtis was shot down Jan. S, 1944. He is the son of Mr. nrt Mrs. William Curtis of Ash- MEDFORD United Pres UNCIO Meets to Discuss International Court (Acme Telephotot Banners mark positions of delegates at publio session of UNCIO which met to hear plans for new Interna. Uonal Court of Justice. In foreground are Jan Masaryk (left;, Czecho-Slovakla's foreign minister, and Vlad imir S. 12 urban. Czech ambassador to Washington. CHURCHILL ACTS TO END BRITISH London, May 22-4U.PJ Prime Minister Churchill brought the breakup in his coallUofr cabinet to a head today when he served notice on the Labor party that the time was past when Labor- ites and Conservatives could work together in the govern ment. A formal announcement ' by Churchill dissolving the war time coalition and setting the date for a general election early in the summer was expected at any time. Churchill, in a letter to Labor Leader Clement R. Attlee, ack nowledged the widening breach between the political factions in the government. He said the tolerable conditions under which we could work together" no longer exist. The Laborites in effect broke away from the coalition at their convention yesterday. Today responsible sources expected Churchill to call for the resigna tion of his Labor ministers or to ask King George to dissolve, par liament either move a step to ward the general election. Whichever step was taken would result in the formation of an interim government, prob ably in time for presentation to the House of Commons when it reconvenes next Tuesday. LEADERS TO QUIT; EACE WAR TRIALS Paris, May 22 (U.R) Ad miral Karl Doenitz, Marshal Wilhelm Keitcl and other Ger man leaders at Flensburg are expected to be returned to civil ian life within a few days to face probable Indictment as war criminals, a source associated with Supreme Headquarters said today. Now reliable reports said the impression that Doenitz headed a government a SHAEF spokes man said last week that the Al lie's did not recognize the Doe nitz setup as a government would be exploded in a day or so by his dismissal and reversion to the status of an ordinary pris oner of war. SHAEF announced that Major- Gen. Lowell W. Rooks recently was appointed Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's representative with the German command at Flens burg. Pearl Harbor, May 22 U.R Secretary of Navy for Air Arte mus Gates has completed a hun dred 24-hour "inspection' of Full Lasd Wlr MEDFORD, OREGON, TUESDAY, MAY 22, T Agree to Use 'Independence' - For-r World- Charter But Not Trusteeships. San Francisco, May 22 (U.R) The United States and Great Britain have agreed to insert the word "independence"- in the world charter as an objective for peoples in trusteeships, but still object to it as a stated objective for other dependent peoples, it was learned today. The Anglo-American decision is a compromise on the Chinese proposal supported by the Rus sians that "independence" as "self-government" be stated as the organization's objectives for all dependent peoples, trusteed or otherwise. The British object ed to such broad application of the word "independence and were supported by the Ameri cans. It also was reported that the American delegation has work ed out some sort of a plan for equal representation of adminis tering and non-administering na tions on the trusteeship council. Under the original plan, Russia and China would have to face an assembly election every three years. Britain, the United States and France probably would have per manent seats under the first plan. Russia has proposed that provision be made for perma nent seats on the trusteeship council for each of the big five, These developments on the delicate trusteeship issue were expected to go far in making Dossible an early- big power agreement on this point. They come as United Nations confer ence officials aimed at adjourn ment during the first week in June. Chinese Political Fuss Alters Plans Washington, May 22 (U.R) Rep. Mike Mansfield, D Mont., told the House today that Chin ese poltlcal disunity may force American military leaders to switch plans and launch a di rect assault on the Japanese home islands. Mansfield, who visited China recently at the request of the late President Roosevelt, said this would be a costlier opera tion than one from the Chinese mainland. He predicted in a House speech that Russia would join in the fight against Japan and give aid to the Chinese Communists while the United States will con tinue to support Chiang Kai Shek and his government. London, May 22 (U.R) The soviet embassy publication, So viet War News, said today that Moscow Is building its fourth iitbwajr Una, BAND TO APPEAR HERE NEXT WEEK To stimulate sales In the "mighty seventh" war loan drive now. underway,- - 35-pieceband from the marine barracks in Klamath Falls will play in Med- ford Monday, May 28, it was an nounced today. The band, every member of which is an overseas veteran, is being brought to Medford by the Elks lodge in co operation with the county war fi nance committee and the lodge is making plans for entertaining the band members while they are in the city. A street concert will be given by the men at 4:30 p. m. Mon day on Main street between the First National and United States national banks and between, 4 and 5 p. m. both banks will be open for the sale of bonds, the committee states. In the evening the men will play at the Holly theater and in addition to band numbers there will be vecal se lections, comedy skits and other features, including a short film. Admission to the evening con cert will be by E 1 bond of any denomination, one bond for each ticket, and any bond purchased beginning today and during the week, including May 28, will be eligible for tickets, the commit tee states. Tickets will be avail able at all Medford bond selling agencies and at the Ashland bank, and bonds purchased any where in the county will be eli gible for admission. The veteran band has been playing in many towns and cities of the state and is being widely acclaimed, it is reported. Some of the members played in widely known "name" orchestras and bands of the nation before going into the service. The men will be accompanied by Major Fcl ker, who is to speak during the concerts. ' Elks' committees are making pi a. is to entertain the marines at lunch, at an evening banquet and again after the evening concert and the entire band will spend the night at the Medford Hotel. TO GOVERNORS NELL Ashland, May 22 Gov. Earl Snell, who has just rcturnrd from the San Francisco world security conference, will be hon ored gut!st at the annual Ash land Chamber of Commerce banquet in the Elks' dining room Thursday at 7:30 p. m. A com plete program has been arranged with Gov. Sncll as the main speaker. Chamber of Commerce offic ials from Medford, Grants Pass, Klamath Falls and Yreka have been extended invitations to at tend the banquet. Mayors Of the cities also have been invited. ' Tickets are on sale at the Mcd f'.rd and Ashland chambers, it tu announced. - -7 1945 FOR LEND-LEASE ADJUS1ENICUT Continuance Is Needed To Crush Japan, Congress Told In Report. Washington, May 22 U.R) President Truman and the For eign Economic administration told Congress today that lend lease must continue on an "ad justed and reduced" basis to generate the overwhelming pow er needed to crush Japan. FEA reported that a grand total of $38,971,000,000 in Amer ican lend-lease aid had been poured into the United Nations war machine in a little more than four years up until March 31. This, it said, amounted to 15 cents out of every American dollar spent during that period. The most important thing the U. S. has gained through lend lease, the report declared, has been "the defeat of Nazi Ger many and the hastening of the day of victory over Japan." In addition, however, it said this country had received up to last January 1 nearly $5,000,- 000,00,0. worth of reverse lend lease supplies ancTsef vices" from its allies. That's a return roughly of one-eighth of what we shipped to our allies. Lend-lease programs to all the allies have now been adjusted and reduced to take into account the end of hostilities in Europe and the new military situation," FEA said. Both the report and a letter from President Truman accom panying it avoided any direct mention of Russia's role in lend lease now that full war emphasis has been shifted to the Pacific. The Soviets are neutral there. This was partly attributable to the fact that the report cov ered only up to the end of March. The war in Europe end ed in May. Since March, because of the end of the European war, the bulk of Russia s $300,000,000-8-month lend-lease deliveries has been suspended. Work has be gun on a 45 per cent reduction in the flow of lend-lease aid to the British commonwealth. Ad ditional reductions are in the making in lend-lease programs with other allies. The report said more than 98 per cent of this nation's vast lend-lease contribution had gone to the four major allies Britain, Russia, France and China. crooneroice Hollywood. Mnv 22 fllPI Crooner Frank Sinatra flew to New York under army orders with a No. 3 priority, the USO announced today after" it was reported that an Iwo Jima vet eran lost his Plane seat tn the screen and radio star. Sinatra had been alerted for an overseas USO tour to enter tain troops and was traveling under armv nrripra tisr spokesman said. Eugene E. Harshbargcr, 18, signalman 3c, a veteran of Iwo Jima and Okinawa lnv..lnn. said at Mt. Vernon, 111., that his Homecoming was delayed four hours when he lost his place on the plane to "The Voice." "Sinatra was very nice and said he was sorry if his trip was going to delav me " H...1.1...... said. "He went to the manager 'KM mm to do everything he could for me. But when the plBne left. Sinatra warn nn It mH I wasn't." Bel'ast, May 22 (U.R) Prime Minister Sir Basil Brooke said today l'at nort!ier;i lie land's general election will be "nym "f - Tribune United Press West Mainland WAR BULLETINS Manila. May 22 (U.R) Thirty-first division dough boys closed in today on Malay balay, agricultural center of middle Mindanao, after driv ing 10 miles to the town's out skirts. E FRONT FIRST IS E Report Asks Less Agencies and Foreign Shipments to Safeguard. Washington, May 22 (U.R) The House Food committee to day warned that the nation's sugar bowl is rapidly emptying and urged prompt establishment of a sugar czar. In a 5,000-word unanimous re port filed by Chairman Clinton P. Anderson, D., N. M., the com mittee criticized the present gov ernment program which scat ters sugar controls among 20 agencies. Repeatedly calling for protec tion of American consumers, the report recommended immediate review of all promises of sugar shipments for foreign countries and adjustment of these commit ments to "safeguard" domestic users. If the United States lives up to its foreign commitments Amer ican civilians will be left hold- ing a near-empty sugar bag, the report declared. It asked that the public be fully informed on all domestic and foreign commihnents and allocations. It favored aiding liberated countries and neutrals to restore their sugar production, rather than too severely draining the worm pool to meet their de mands. Other carbohydrates particularly cereals, might be suDstitutcd for sugar shipments the report stated. "There must be a minimum figure which civilian supplies in mis country should not be per mitted to go," it asserted. ALLIESlVE TO By W. R. Hlgglnbotham United Press Correspondent London, May 22 (U.R) Brit ish and American forces in northeast Italy began moving east toward the Yugoslav border today, In effect Infiltrating Yu goslav lines in disputed Venizia Giulla province. Rome dispatches said Field Marshal Sir Harold R. L. G. Alexander, allied Mediterranean commander, left for Trlcsto to day with Major-Gen. Alfred M. Grucnther, chlef-of-stsaff of the U. S. fifth army, to take direct charge of the delicate situation. By mid-afternoon, more than three hours after the American 9Bth division and units of the British 8th army had moved in to their new positions, no inci dents had been reported between the Yugoslavs and the western allied forces. 45' LEGISLATURE COSTS $195,424 Salem. Ore., May 22 (UR) A record amount of $195,424.38 was the cost of holding the 1945 legislature, Secretary of State Robert S. Farrell Jr., reported here today. This figure does not include the cost of printing the session laws and the house and senate journal. The 1943 session cost the next largest amount, taking $179, 271.97 for the 59-day session. The 1945 session lasted lor 69 d), longest is history Full Leased Wixa NO. 52. DEFER DRAFT OF MEN OVER 30; TO New Program Effective Now Older Men Needed In War Plants. Washington, May 22 (U.R) Selective Service Director Lewis B. Hershey today announced in definite deferment for men 30 or over who are contributing to the war effort or are doing "useful" community work. Hershey also instructed local boards to review the cases of men in the 18-25 age group who were previously disqualified on physical grounds. Under the new progrem, which is effective immediately, drafting of older men virtually will be halted if local draft boards rule that they are en gaged In work contributing to national health, safety or inter est. Local draft boards henceforth, Hershey said, should give fathers over 29 "sympathetic considera tion" In meeting draft calls. The boards, he said, also should re member the cost to the govern ment in dependency allotments of Inducting fathers. In case of doubt, Hershey said, draft boards should defer fath ers over 29. Hershey said that men over 29 who have received their induc tion notices but are not yet In the army will come under the new policy. Hershey emphasized that the armed forces need younger men. Munitions cutbacks In war plants will make older men available for war jobs, he point ed out, and this situation should enable the release for Induction of younger men now occupa tionally deferred. Discharged veterans, he said, also will be available In increasing numbers to replace the young men in war nlnnts. Hershey added, however, that men 30 and over who leave es sential 1obs will still face the prospect of induction. TARIFF ACT HELD EFFORT TO Washington, May 22 (U.R) The administration's fight for broader tariff-making powers opened today In the House. The pending reciprocal traae dim praised as "economic disarma ment" and condemned as attempt to "bamboozle" the American people. "Our vote on this bill will be the first test as to whether or not we are willing to participate In International cooperation or revert to a policy of economic and political isolation," said Chairman Robert L, Doughton, D., N. C, of the Ways and Means committee, sponsor of the bill. "We are told by advocate! of the Doughton bill that we must open our trade doors wlda to other nations or we will break the faith reposed In us by a war weary world; (we are told) that renewal is necessary to save the world," replied Rep. Harold Knutson of Minnesota, ranking Republican member of the com mittee and leader of the Repub lican opposition. Republicans supported trade reciprocity, Knutson said, "But not the tumblewood variety practiced by the State depart ment, which makes Uncle Sam a glorified Santa Claus." FOREST FIRE RACES I Roswcll, N. M., May 22 (U.R) i Soldiers from Roswell Army Air Field joined Forest Rangers , and civilians to combat a raging forest fire which swept through ! mountain fnrestland destroying thousand Qf jjfei 9I Umbefc j' 'BAMBOOZLE' LAND MLllll uiiulu mini DRIVE THREATENS YONABARU, SHURI Adm. Turner Reveals Island Base For Jap Attacks Siege Arc Formed. ' Guam, Wednesday, May 22 (U.R) Reinforced American troops on Okinawa besieged the Japanese fortress city of Shurl today and threatened to outflank the eastern anchor town of Yona bura in a new drive southward along the coast. Vice Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner, commander of U. S. am phibious forces for the Ryukyu invasion operation, predicted Okinawa will be captured in the "comparatively near future." He disclosed Okinawa already was being used as the base for "im portant attacks" against Japan. "Every day, at this early stage, we have airplanes from Okinawa over Japan," said Admiral Tut ner. "Think what it will be like a month from now" Marines of the 1st division and doughboys of the 77th and 96th army divisions clamped a siege arc roughly 1,000 yards outsido rocky Shurl, In a wide semt-clrcle, the Yanks slid around Shurl along a line approximately 800 to 1,100 yards from the center ot the town. The marines fought along the west side, the soldiers along the east. Shuri's main for. tlfications were pierced In soma of the fiercest fighting of tha Pacific war. Patrols of the 98th division were disclosed to have probed completely through Ypnabaru, east coast port, in the deepest American penetration of Okl. nawa. United Press War Correspond, ent Edward Thomas, with thi 96th, said the patrols reconnoU tered Yonabaru and later with drew. The 98th plunged west o Yonabaru In a drive that threat, ened to Isolate Yonabaru fron inland Japanese defense post tions. Major Gen. Roy S. Gelger, commanding general of the 3rd marine amphibious corps on. Okinawa, said his men wcra "making good progress." Ha acknowledged, however, that tha Japanese artillery on Okinawa was "the most effective we hava run Into In the Pacific." He declined to make a dcflnita prediction as to when the Shurl defense zone would be broken. But he said any withdrawal from Shurl would force the Japanesa to take up positions strung out over a longer line. A broadcast Tokyo newspaper dispatch recorded by the FCCI said today that the "crisis now confronting Japan appears hope, li-ssly serious." In the dispatch the Tokyo Shlmbun praised the leadership of Russia and said the soviet union "has shown us how to sur mount these overwhelming dif ficulties." The newspaper compared tha German invasion of Russia to an enemy occupation of Oki. nawa, Kyushu, Shikoku and a major part of the Japanese main, land east of Tokyo, plus the de struction of 60 to 70 per cent of the Japanese army. Despite that situation, the d!s patch observed, Russia "fought back to ultimate victory," over coming a "danger of defeat far (reater than the one facing tha Japanese at present." Sgt. Ray Casebeer Free, Message Says Sgt. Rny Casebeer, declared missing In action In Germany in February, has been released from a prisoner-of-war camp a wire received by his mother, Mrs. Elsie Casebeer, R. I., Cen tral Point, stated yesterday. Tha message was from the American Red Cross. Mrs. Casebeer received tha "missing In action" message Feb. 25 and later learned through a fellow serviceman of Sgt. Case beer that he had been taken prl. soner Feb. B. No further details concerning the sergeant wera contained in the message. Set. Casebeer, who had been serving with the Fourth Infan try Division in Europe sinca Nov. 1, played football while a student at Medford senior high school and was president of the atU'Vnt body. Seventh War Loan Drlva "E" Sales to Date $170,925 Quota $1,067,000 Total Sales to Data $504,984 Quota $2,087,000
