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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (July 15, 1945)
) Use The Mail Tribune Want Ad Way Quick Results At Small Cost i Weather FORECAST: Sunday clearing wlUi imoke; little change in temperature. s Temp. Highest Yesterday 87 Lowest this Morning M.w.....60.ft MEDFORD United Pres. Full Leased Wirt c? Tribune United Press Full Leased Wlr Fortieth Year EDFORD, OREGON, SUNDAY, JULY 15, 1945. No. 96. Ml N V IU TSii w"xMtU mm WSiDd v MIGHTIEST FLEE! Steel City, Key Ports Suf fer Air Sea Assaults Continue Unopposed. Guam, July 15 (U.R) A U. S. Pacific fleet force including some of the most powerful war ships in the world is now bom barding the Japanese steel city of Muronan on Hokkaido island in the second successive day of a thundering sea and air assault that has not yet been opposed by the enemy. Throwing a second punch into the Japanese homeland, the Pa cific fleet bombardment group swung around the fog-shrowded northern islands to train heavy guns on the key industrial cen ter. More than 1000 carrier air craft were attacking Honshu and Hokkaido at the same time In a continuation of the latest Third fleet blow against Japan which opened yesterday at dawn and was being pressed without a re- sDlte for the enemy. The Japanese already have lost 429 planes destroyed or dam aged all but three wrecked on the ground and 43 vessels sunk or damaged in the fleet attacks which began at Tokyo last Fri day. The battleships Towa, Missouri and Wisconsin are among the warships plastering Japan's sa cred mainland for the second time in 21 hours. The attack opened at 926 a. m. today (Tokyo Time 4:28 p. m. PWT) and was still continuing when Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz reported the bombard ment in his sixth communique in 28 hours. The world's most powerful naval force still prowled off northern Japan prepared to throw tons of bombs and shells into every worthwhile target in a naval and aerial Bssault which the Japanese appeared incapable of preventing. Hokkaido Hit The bombardment force struck Hokkaido through the heavy mists covering the northern is lands In a rapid follow-up to yes, tcrday's assault against the Ka ma ishl steel Dort on northern Honshu. Lighter units of the fleet, including the destroyers McGowan, Norman Scott and Ramev. were also bombarding Hokkaido's coast. Swarms of carrier aircraft also mav be raking Japan again while the eiant battleships continue their operations in the historic assault against the empire's mainland. Nimitz had announced less than four hours earlier that fleet forces were continuing their assault for the purpose of extending and tightening the naval and air blockade of Japan and to destroy Japanese resourc es. "These operations, on July 15, are continuing in strength with heavy surface units and fleet air craft engaged." Rear Adm. O. C. Badger. U S.N., is in command of the Bombardment Group, part of Adm. William F. Halsey's power ful Third fleet the mightiest battle force in history. Near Siberia . The port of Muroran is a shcl ' tcrcd harbor and offers several prime targets in addition to the important stee! works. A ship yard, synthetic oil plant, machin ery factories and an electric pow er plant are at this moment un der direct assault by the fleet's big guns. Muroran is 215 miles north of Kamifhl and only 310 miles from Siberia. The strength of Halsey's fleet was clearly shown in the events of the past 24 hours. His carriers were able to throw more than 1000 aircraft over northern Jap an at the same time one bom bardment group blasted Kama! shi. Now. another bombardment group had gone into action while air strikes apparently continued. Japan well understood her plight. Her radio, commentators noted that the gigantic Third fleet was traveling with its own supplv train and pessimistically reported that the fleet could carry on the coastal assault for "two or three weeks," Typhoon Washington, July 14 (U.R) A new bow is ready for the cruiser Pittsburgh which lost her origi nal bow in the Pacific typhoon, six weeks ago, the navy disclosed tonight. The original bow, floating stem up in the ocean, was caught and towed to Guam, It arrived a AIR POST, T Chungking, July 14 (U.R) Ma, Gen. Claire Chennault to day announced his resignation as commander of the U. S. 14th air force in China and his re tirement from the army because the Japanese now have been de feated in the skies of China. Chennault acted only a few days after the announcement that Lt. Gen. George Stratemey- er, commander of the eastern air force, had been appointed com manding general of all U. S. air forces in the China theater. - Chennault, who has spent eight years fighting the Japa nese in China first as air ad viser to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek, later as head of the Flying Tigers and then as 14th air force commander said his retirement was dictated by rea sons of health. Observers at Chennault's head quarters in Munming, however, declared that army politics on a farily high level had contribut ed to his decision to retire at this time, when the defeat of Japan was in sight. WAVELL TAKES BLAME Simla, India, July 14 (U.R) Field Marshal Viscount Wavell said today the Simla conference of Indian political leaders on British proposals for greater In dian self-government had failed and he accepted responsibility for the future. FINNS FOR WARSAW London, July 14 (U.R) The Swiss radio said the Finnish gov ernment had decided to recog nize the Warsaw Polish govern ment, it was disclosed today in a dispatch from exchange tel egraph. PRINTERS PENALIZED Washington. July 14 (U.R) The War Labor Board tonight penalized the International Typ ographical Union (AFL) on the grounds that "it has placed its laws above the laws of the Unit ed States congress." BASEBALL Pacific Coast San Francisco 0 6 Portland . 4 11 Buzolich and Ogrodowski; ee ny tne army. Mosser and Younker. I Officers arriving were Lt. Commander Louise M. Paul, Lt. Hollywood 3 10 0 Daniel S. Klaffen, Lt. Palmer R. Seattle 0 8 2Kundert. Lt. W. S. Rinker, Lt. Marshall and Hill; Turpin and William F. Hovis, Jr., and Lt. ,f"inlcy. I Blasts Bow Off USS Pittsburgh week later than the 'cruiser, in weather-beaten condition and was beached outside the harbor. Eventually it will be salvaged. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh was taken into a floating dry dock at a Pacific base and had a "stub bow" built on her to in sure water-tightness and to al low her to. move safely to Puget Sound navy yard, Bremerton, BULLETIN "' Albuquerque, N. M., July 14 U.R) Thirteen men were killed and one was injured to day when a B-29 Superfortress from - Kirtland Field crashed near here. RETAIN PACIFIC ISLES AFTER WAR Washington, July 14 (U.R) Sen. Thomas C. Hart, R., Conn., tonight urged that the United States maintain exclusive post war control over the Pacific islands formerly mandated to Japan. Hart, former commander-in-chief of the U. S. Far Eeastern fleet, said in a radio interview (NBC) that he had no objection to these islands being placed un der a United Nations trusteeship "provided we are the trustees." "I think they (the islands) should all be governed as one unit," he said, "and that we are the ones to do the Job." Hart and Sen. Elbert D. Thom as, D., Utah, were interviewed on problems connected with the fall of Japan. Hart served as head of the U. S. fleet in the Japanese area from 1939 to 1942, while Thomas spent many years in the Far East in the early part of the century. Hart said control of the Jap anese islands by the U. S. was necessary if we arc to insure the future independence of the Phil ippines and peace in the Pacific. "We need bases in those islands," he said. "One reason we couldn't defend the Philip pines from Japanese attack was that we made the mistake of let ting those islands go -from Spain to other powers first Ger many and then Japan. If we are to accept the responsibility for defending the Philippines, we must be secure in the road which leads there." NAVY DOCTORS HERE FOR HOSPITAL DUTY Six naval medical officers ar rived at Camp White last week to await assignment to the camp hospital. According to word from Oregon congressmen, the facility is scheduled to begin operation August 1 as a naval general hospital, with joint us- James A Kaufman, ( Arm9 Rmltu-Telephoto) Wash." A hew permanent bow will be standing in drydock there so that the Pittsburgh may float in behind it. The two parts will be joined. The original bow referred to by her crew as the "suburbs of Pittsburgh" cracked off in the typhoon on June 5, 1945. No personnel of the cruiser were on the bow when it broke away. TOSS FOR GLIDER RIDE: IS UNHURT Washington, July 14 (U.R) The flip of a coin today sent Mrs. Ruth D. (Betty) Kraus, pretty aide to Senate Secretary Leslie L. Biffle, to a hospital after she won a toss for a glider ride from Sen. Guy Cordon, R., Ore. Handled by a veteran army air forces glider pilot, the glider crashed after hitting a down draft as it came in for a landing during a glider demonstration at a nearby Clinton, Md., airfield. Mrs. Kraus, not seriously in jured, remained tonight at Casu alty hospital for observation. After losing the toss as to who would get the first ride, Cordon gallantly helped Mrs. Kraus Into the motorlcss craft with government officials and other members of congress look ing on. A few minutes later, the ship hit the downdraft, land ed on a wing and crashed. JAPS TRAPPED BY. FLOOD IN JUNGLE Calcutta, July 14 U.R Hard pressed Japanese units caught In a flooded jungle trap northeast of Pegu have launched a series of small attacks on British troops in an effort to escape across the Sittang river, a com munique said today. Monsoon rains have flooded the sector to a depth of several feet. In many places British pa trols have made their way through waist-deep water. About 15 miles northwest of Pegu, British troops seized three villages. More than 200 miles of Pegu three Japanese units were contacted west of Thaungyi on the road leading to the Thcsh- n Hills. CHINA SATISFIED London, July 14 (U.R) Chinese quarters In Moscow a:e satisfied with preliminary re sults of the conversations be tween Chinese Premier T. V. Soong and Premier Marshal Josef Stalin, it was reported to day. Seattle, July 14 (U.R) En route from Portland, Ore., four cars of a 48-car freight train were derailed today while run ning through a cross switch. Great Northern Pacific officials said tonight. T PACIFIC HEROES, GET DESK POSTS Fleet Flag Officers Given New Duties; Moves Will Speed Victory. Washington, July 14 (U.R) Vice Adm. Marc A. Mitschcr is reluctantly leaving the bridge for a desk in order to speed vic tory by giving wider range to his genius for destroying Japa nese. " The 55-ycar-old commander of task force 58, who twice has been bombed off a flagship, is one of 29 navy flag officers who will take on new duties in the next 30 days, Secretary of Navy James Forrcstal announced to day. Among others coming ashore is Mitscher's counterpart as a carrier task force chief, 60-year-old Vice Admiral John S. Mc Cain. At the moment, he Is commanding the carrier force of Adm. William F. Halsey's third fleet which is blasting Japan's northern islands. Mitscher, who said recently he hoped he would not have to give up fighting Japanese to take a desk job, will do just that he will become deputy chief of naval operations for air. In this job he will help to plan and direct a quick finish ,for Japan, deploying the 1,000-plane attacks which havd helped to soften up-the-1 enemy for the Iinal blows. McCain's new job was not an nounced, but Forrestal said it would be a presidential appoint ment. He would not comment on reports that McCain will be assigned to the Veterans admin istration under lis new chief, Gen. Omar Bradley. For most of three years Mit scher and McCain have been commanders of the first and sec ond fast carrier task forces In the Pacific Mitscher of 58 and McCain of 38. They and certain other flag officers are being brought home. Forrestal said, in order that their "combat experience may be utilized in administrative posts ashore to plan and direct the final phases of the intensified Pacific war." E Washington, July 14 (U.R) President Truman will nomin ate War Mobilization Director Fred Vinson to be secretary of the treasury next Monday, in stead of waiting until after he returns from the forthcoming Big Three conference in Ger many, the White House an nounced today. Mr. Truman originally planned to have outgoing Secretary Henry Morgenthau, Jr., continue as treasury head until the con ference was concluded. The White House said he changed his plans at.Morgcnthau's request. E San Francisco, July 14 (U.R) A United States destroyer was saved from possible damnge by a Japanese suicide aerial attack by an eclipse of the moon, the navy announced here today. The warship, which was skip pered by Comdr. A. E. Teall. San Francisco, was silhouetted agaim-t a brilliant full moon when the attack got underway. Ship's gunners shot down only two enemy planes before the eclipse blanketed the area and the destroyer was able to elude the Japanese pilots. ONE THING OR ANOTHER Albuquerque, N. M , July 14 (U.R) New Mexicans have been able to eat meat pretty well this month so far, but they are hav ing trouble finding soap, BY VII OF CIO Indiana Mine Strike Looms Over Meat Shortage; Only 20,000 Idle. Chicago, July 14 (U.R) The nation's largest strike, that of 16,700 United Rubber Workers at the Firestone Tire and Rub ber Co., Akron, O., plant, ended today, leaving only 20,000 other workers still idle throughout the country. The Akron CIO union voted by a large margin to return to work as soon as the plant can resume operations. The two week long strike began when contract negotiations collapsed. A 24-hour strike at the Stude baker Corp., South Bend, Ind., automotive division ended today when 800 workers, members of the United Auto Workers, CIO, returned to work. They quit over a wage dispute. A major walkout loomed In southern Illinois where 11,000 progressive mine workers mem bers threatened to join 3,000 fel low miners on strike because of the meat shortage. A jurisdictional dispute broke out in two San Francisco bay area yards. There 1,500 AFL shipyard workers quit in protest against the hiring of CIO work ers. Three strikes affecting news papers continued. Striking de liverymcn received an appeal from New York City newspaper publishers to end their 14-day strike. The publishers warned that the alternative would be the discharge of the 1,700 members of the Independent union. The walkout of AFL compos ing room employes forced con tinued suspension of three Bir mingham, Ala., and two Fort Wayne, Ind., dailies. OVER RATIONING Minot, N. D July 14 (U.R) The spirit of Old Chief Crazy Horse and Sitting BulK, inflamed with the white man's firo water, caused a band of Elbowoods In dians to go on the warpath in Minot early today. As a result of their escapade, two of them are in jail on 60 days disorderly conduct sen tences and police are searching for several other members of the tribal band. The whole affair started when a waitress at Butler's Inn told them there were no more spare ribs in the kitchen. The Indians, according to pol ice, didn't like the idea of being told that meat was rationed, and reminded that there was a war on, so they decided to start a little war of their own, appro priating the Inn's kitchen knives as weapons. Police arrived just In time to prevent an old time scalping party, and today, Fred Morsette and Isaac Fox were In Jail and William Works, an aged Minot man, was In a hospital re covering from a severe beating. STRIKE TIES UP WARSHIPS REPAIR San VranrUnn .Tut,, li Mm Repair work on nine battle-damaged U. S. ships now berthed In San Francisco bay area ship yards Wfl hnlffwt tnrlr. I - Wlll-ll 874 AFL shipyard workers re fused to continue'work in a juris dictional protest against the hir ing of CIO workers in two local yards. The AFL contended that the War Shlnnlno iHmi,.i.i,..n had "gone outside the craft" In issuing work orders to con tractors employing CIO labur, WAR BULLETINS Manila, Sunday, July 15 (U.R) American troops battling the last resisting Japs in the Philippines captured three im portant enemy-held towns in mountainous north Luzon, made a new landing on south ern Mindanao and advanced 17 miles inland against light resistance. Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur announced today. Manila, Sunday, July 15 (U.R) The harbor facilities of huge Balikpapan Bay have been opened to allied ship ping. Gen. Douglas MacArthur announced today. FANNED BY WIND IT Coos Bay Blaze Checked Wilson River Road Closed; Cut Logs Burn. Portland, Ore., July 14 (U.R A thousand-acre forest fire in the Coos Bay area was believed under control today, but addi tional fighters were still being rushed to combat Tillamook county fires from the Portland nrmv nirbase. Now involving nearly 4.000 acres, the Tillamook fires were fanned into fury by sea-borne winds which swept flames over an additional 600 acres 'to con sume new scrub and underbrush. No ereen timber has been touched so far. Along the Wilson river, a fire burned eastward up toward Cochran and state police said the Wilson river highway cast of Glenwood and west of Tillamook would be closed. The closure was made because of the burn ing of the McNamer bridge, 20 miles from Tillamook. Because of rugged terrain, C. C. Scott, manager of the Oregon Forest Fire association made no predictions when the fire around Wilson river would be halted. The Salmonberry river fire, however, is expected to be en circled some time today unless wind increases. Humidity in the area was 30 per cent low enough to halt logging operations. Increased humidity was forecast with some what cooler weather. On the Coos river, 20 miles from Coos Bay, losses of $41 000 are estimated in logs felled and ready for milling. Logging crews, the Coos county Fire Pat rol, high school students and conscientious objectors from Elk tort camp have been fighting the blaze for 48 hours. E Washington, July 14 (U.R) The red point value of creamery butter will drop from 24 to 16 points a pound at midnight to night. The Office of Price Adminis tration, announcing the cut, said the point value of farm or coun try butter and process butter will remain unchanged at 12 points a pound. The reduction In the creamery butter point value was decided upon, OPA said, because of re duced military requirements for August and to prevent accumu lations of butter In cold storage houses. The OPA warned that if supplies are exhausted too fast the ration value will have to be Increased. utvi 'C Washington, July 14 (U.R) The use of "C" gasoline coupons will be discontinued about Oct. 1 and supplemental mileage ra tions thereafter will be issued only with "B" coupons, tho Of fice of Price Administration said touight. ON WORLD PEACE TO Big Three Leaders and Top Advisers Arrive Secrecy Shrouds Meet. London, July 14 (U.R) . President Truman. Prime Minis ter Churchill and Premier Stalin converged on the shattered Ger man capital of Berlin tonight, where they will confer amid the ruins wrought by their armies in search of the means of an endur ing world peace. The advance guard of their top advisers were arriving at the closely-guarded capital. The three leaders themselves are ex pected to confer for the first time at suburban Potsdam Sun- rlnu niirM nnfminff n historic 10- day conference which will seele agreement on an Intricate maze of political, economic and mili- tnrv nrnhlpms Detailed disCUS- sions will begin Monday. Last-minute preparations in the sealed-off conference area ot Hohenzollcrn palaces and wood lands at Potsdum set the staga for the meeting. A freshly-painted green and white barrief guards the road Into .the forbid ren zone. Green-capped Russian troops manned the barrier and stood guard at 50 yard intervals along the highways. All visitors, including news papermen, were forbidden to pass the barrier. Marshal Stalin of Russia was host as he was at Yalta. Potsdam is In the Russian occupation zone. A small airfield In the British zone of Berlin has been Isolated, and It is probable that Prime Minister Churchill will arriva there by plane from his vacation castle at Hendaye. Dispatches from Berlin said President Truman and Marshal Stalin were expected to arrive in the United States and Rus sian sectors respectively. The Big Three probably will greet each other for the first time in the vast Potsdam palace set aside for the conference. The first important arrivals set down at two secret areas a few miles from Berlin early this evening. Their identities and tho areas where they landed could not be disclosed, as the whole meeting is surrounded with com prehensive security precautions. ITALYTIARES READYJO FIGHT UocMnotnn Julv 14 (U.R) Italian Ambassador Alberto Tar- chluni said tonight that his gov ommnnt ovnnrtnd to make land. sea and air forces available for use in the war against Japan. U... unite nf (111- tllllian fleet arc capable of operating in tho Pacific, despite the typhoon haz ard there, he said. In addition tii.iv ovrft that air force men and volunteer land forces will be available for service ol tne United Nations, he said. Tarchiani explained Italy's readiness to fight at a press con r.ri.nr after he officially noti fied Acting Secretary of State Joseph Grew of Itoly's declara tion of war against Japan. "I hope that this is now proof; . that Italy desires to become one of the United Nations," he said, iinlv i working more and more on the side against their enemies. . , . We are now co-belligerents ..r, now front and I hone that we will become allies in every way." MEXICO GREETS Mevirn CltV. Julv 14 (U.R) President Avila Camacho today sent a telegram of congratu'a Hons to Gen. Charles De Gaulle on the anniversary of the French revolution. FEED LACK SEEN Washington, July 14 (U.R) Representatives of the livestock feed industry warned tonight that the nation's grain supplies will not permit any expansion in livestock pruiluctiuu. r-
