Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (July 29, 1945)
New Disasters Befall Jap Navy; 6 'Marked Cities Bombed Weather FORECAST: Continued fair with little change In tempera ture, Sunday, HlKheit Yesterday 89 Lowest thli Morning 64 Fortieth Year B-25 Bomber Rams Empire State Building I HIDDENBLASTED Spectacular Disaster Shakes New York Flames Leap High 13 Killed, 20 Hurt. New York, July 28 (U.R) A B-25 Billy Mitchel bomber ram red into the 78th story of the Empire State Building at 9:52 A. M. today exploding in a cone of flames that turned the world's tallest skyscraper into a pillar of horror and brought death to at least 13 persons and injury to 20 more. It was the most spectacular disaster to strike the New York metropolitan area since the burning of the Zeppelin, Hinden burg. A searing envelope of gasoline flames shrouded 10 stories of the spire-like tower of the 1,250-foot Empire State Biulding. It trapped hundreds of per sons within flame and gas-filled rooms more than 1,000 feet above the street. Three elevators plunged out of control from the 80th flood to the basement. Bro ken glass and , debris rained down over several square blocks. So tremendous was the explo sion, it ripped away the fog which had hidden the topmost stories of the skyscraper from the vision of the B-25 pilot. For two minutes the pinnacle of the chromium-girt Empirt State stood out sharp and clear in the drizzle while orange-red flames licked around. Then the soft fog closed in again to hide the scene from the horrified sight of thousands of midtown office workers who had rushed to windows at the sound of the explosion which echoed over central Manhattan like a block-buster. Inside the building there was pandemon ium. ' The plane was en route to Newark, N. J., from New Bed ford, Mass., on the .final lap of a cross-country flight which start ed at Sioux Falls, S. D. The plane had inquired of La- Guard ia field by radio a few minutes before for instructions on landing conditions at Newark. Suddenly scattered observers near the Empire state tower heard the deep-throated roar of its motors. It was flying in the overcast at about 1,000 feet and headed straight for the fog-hidden skyscraper. A moment later it struck the north side of the building, be tween the 78th and 79th floods, pentrating with such force one motor drove straight through the building to land on the roof of the 12-story Waldorf Building adjoining it on 33rd street. Only the fact that the disaster occurred on a Saturday. morning when many Empire State offices are closed kept down the toll of dead and iniurcd. Casualties among pedestrians outside the building were reduced occause midtown streets are not crowd ed on Saturdays as they arc dur ing the wek, and rain and driz zle, held down the number out of doors. The B-25 was believed to have carried its normal crew of five, all of whom were instantly kill ed. The force of the impact and explosion was such that many of the bodies were blown to bits. F HAVANA. July 28 (U.R) The Spanish embassy In downtown Havana was stoned today by a crowd demonstrating against the government of Generalissimo Francisco Franco and Spain's new minister to Washington. Manuel Aznar. POWER SITES ENTHUSE Portland, Ore., July 28 U.R) Members of a sub-committee of the house rivers and harbors committee touring the Columbia River area here today said they were enthused over the potential power of the Columbia Ri"er and the mineral and agricultural products of Us basin. M United Prets UNITED NATIONS CHnRTR,o9T02 Nation First to Sign Pledge to Enforce Peace John son Absent. Washington. July 28 (U.R) The senate today overwhelming ly ratified the United Nation's charter, thus pledging this coun try's participation for the first time in an international organiza tion to enforce peace. The vote for approval, far greater than the necessary two thirds majority, was 89 to 2. Sen- Cordon and Morse voted approval. The senate's action made the United States which 25 years ago refused to join the League of Nations the first of the Big Five countries to ratify the new and stronger league. The United States, leader in the long campaign to bring this peace organization into exist ence, is now pledged to lend her influence and her armed might to the elimination of aggression throughout the world from now on. President Truman in a mes sage from Potsdam expressed his pleasure over the vote. The only negative votes were cast by Republican Sens. Wil liam Langer, N. D., and Henrik Shipstead, Minn. Fifty-three Democrats, 35 Republicans and one Progressive voted approval. - Shipstead did not explain his vote, but Langer' in an address Just before the roll call said he Believed the charter "is fraught with danger to the people." The vote was in strange con trast to the ill-starred votes cast for the League of Nations coven ant 26 and 25 years ago. On none, of the three ballots taken then was a two-thirds vote even approached- , Sen. Hiram Johnson, R-, Calif., who voted against the league a quarter of a century ago, was too ill to appear today. But it was announced that his negative vote had been paired with those for ratification. The senate reached a vote just six days after debate had started on the charter formulated and signed by the 50 United Nations at San Francisco on June 26 after nine weeks of effort. Berlin, July 28 (U.R Prime Minister Clement Attlee return ed to Potsdam today from his election victory in Britaiif and entered immediately into a night session with President Truman. Marshal Josef Stalin and all the Big Three foreign secretaries and heads of the armed services The announcement that the meeting was in session stated significantly that the chief del egates were joined In the discus sions by their foreign secretaries I and the chiefs of their armed services. An American announcement, meanwhile, disclosed that Secre tary of the Navy James V. For restal had arrived In Potsdam from Washington and had dined with President Truman tonight previous to the opening of the session. It was assumed by official sources that the Big Three also would hold a Sunday session similar to their meeting last Sunday. Court Grants Wife Gen. Rilea Divorce Salem, Ore., July 28 (U.R) The Marion county circuit court has granted a divorce to Mrs. Marian A. Rilca, wife of Brig Gen. Thomas A. Rilca. adjutant general of the Oregon National Guard. Mrs. Rilca charged de sertion and was given custody of their child. A petition for dis missal of the action which was entered by the general was not granted by the court. Gen. Rilea recently has been hospital ized after three years of duly In the South Tacific. EDFORD Full Leased Wire MEDFORD, OREGON, SUNDAY, JULY 29, 'File and Forgef With Adm. Halsey's Third Fleet off Japan, July 28 (U.R) Triumphant Carrier pi lots of Adm. William F. (Bull) Halsey's mighty Third fleet roared into Kure naval base todav for their third strike of the week at the remnants of the Imperial Japanese fleet, leaving the harbor covered with burning ships. A new day of destruction for the Nipponese navy brought this estimate of its fu ture from hard-headed pilots: "File and Forget." ATTLEE CABINET SWORN IN, FIGHT London, July 28 (U.R) Prime Minister Clement Atllee and his six ministers were sworn into office today and Attlee an nounced immediately that the labor party will go ahead with its progressive program despite any opposition. Attlee's statement was made before a meeting of the 393 newly elected labor members of parliament at Beaver Hall. "Our honeymoon will be a short one and then make no mistake about it the fighting will start," he said. "We now have the clearest mandate from the people and we are going straight ahead. There will be no 'pussyfooting' and the battle will be a tough one." The labor party's progressive program as outlined jn campaign speeches calls for nationalization of mining Industries, steel, trans port and electric power. The London Daily Mall's poli tical correspondent said that Churchill would take an active role as leader of the consercativc opposition in the house of com mons. Churchill did not plan to retire from politics as has been suggested, it was said. Churchill plans to take a short rest in the. country during par liament's summer recess begin ning late In August, the Mall re ported. When he returns ne win start work on his memoirs. E New York, July 28 (U.R) Brig. Gen. C. P. Kane, army air force officer in charge of In uActinatinff tho crash of a Mit chell bomber into the Empire State building said today that a preliminary survey showed no indications of "any mechanical failure in the air crati Other pilots in the past have thrrntftniv1 thn world's tallest building- In March, 1944, three navy ferry command pilots new circles around tho tower In an aerial game of follow the leader. The Empire State building Is a landmark for pilots so much so that army authorities feared it would serve as a guide to in coming enemy bombers should New York ever be bombed. ARRESTS, 494,744 San Francisco, July 28 U.R) Because war Is fought on a 24 hour a day basis and because the federal bureau of investigation and other local law enforcement agencies have remained on the job, a total of more than 494. 774 selective service act viola tors have been apprehended and the cases marked "closed", Nat J. L. Pieper. special agent in charge of the local FBI office announced today. . caught between the time the act Thee 494.774 violators wer 1945, Pieper said. During that was put into force and May 31 time. 12.559 cases resulted in convictions with tcntenccs total ing 32,406 years, four months and 23 days, and fines aggregat ing SI, 038.481. As sidelight, 24.442 fugitives from Justice were taken into custody during the drive, Pieper declared. APPEASEMENT OF ARGENTINA NAZ E Senators Declare in Broad cast "No Peace Until Bush League Axis Ended." Washington, July 28 (U.R) Two senators tonight accused the state department of appeas ing Fascist elements in Spain and Argentina and called for immediate measures short of force against the government in those countries. In the wake of a denunciation of Franco Spain by the victori ous British labor party, the sen ators demanded economic sanc tions and severance of diplomat ic relations by the United States as first steps toward aiding Span ish and Argentine democratic forces. The senators were the liberal minded, relatively youthful Josehp H. Ball, R., Minn., and Warren G. Magnuson, D., Wash. "Total victory in this war will not be achieved until the Fascist governments of Spain and Ar gentina have been repleced by democratic Ball said on NBC's weekly foreign policy radio forum. "They are as much a part of the Axis as was Musso lini's government." Magnuson agreed that the Spanish and Argentine govern ments must go if the allies arc to win the peace. "I think that this bush league Axis "ought to be cleaned up now," he said. G.I. FRAULEIN FACE T Berlin, July 27 (U.R) There is no need for the folks at home to worry about GI Joe bringing home a fraulcin as a bride. It isn't possible at least not legally. A ranking military govern ment officer disclosed today that any marriage between an Amer ican soldier and a German girl would be considered a form of fraternization still punishable by court martial. The non-frater nization ban was lifted only enough to permit soldiers to talk and walk with Germans in pub lic places, but certainly not enough to marry them. Other regulations would pre vent soldiers from plunging in to matrimony in Germany. The prospective bridegroom would have to obtain permission from his commanding officer- Foreign wives of all U. S- soldiers must file requests through the consul ates In their countries to come to America. And there are no American consulates In Ger many. Reliable sources the G.l.'s themselves figure about 95 per cent of the American troops in Berlin have fraternized with the Germans since the ban was eased two weeks ago. It is probably easier to find a girl friend In Berlin than most anywhere else, because of a population of nearly 3,500.000, there are more than 2.000,000 women. BEND AREAS CLOSED Bcni, Ore., July 28 (U.R) Two additional areas in the Up per Deschutes Basin have been closed because of increased fire hazards, peschutes National For est officials disclosed today. SIX MONTHS MORE Montgomery, Ala , July 28 (U.R) Lt. Gen. Holland M (Howlin' Mad) Smith, former commandant of the murine corps forces- In the Pacific, predicted today that the Japanese will "fold up" within six months. ITALY ASKS REPATRIATION Rome, July 28 (U.R) T h e Italian cabinet decided today to ask the Allies formally for re patriation of Italian war prison ers or for their liberation ae free workers, 1945. Pacific Developments '! l U. S. S. R. i 1 " I I I-jL Jt ,-vr.m;ii, TTr" Chinese clei MONGOLIA ' . , il (Ts. air C CWCorjmu.i(i 1 AhSkKAIDO haMnMiW Imove toward Nanking I tff l-fcpi open I ui'ivli.CC- 1"P"'Yti 0tton orreeiree CHINA I KOREA tovjrfen yj $uyrJr ". ..v.v-.v.-Noiilimg tygftfMar r. , s. :Ss?Sfc"i feM KYUSHU 104 Jap veuefi r--2lM'i X Chine wreclied in May I Chinese imoih olU L"'1mi SmOKINAWA Woaaido io-Kruihu eVeiin, jfoift '.-f v-.f eethew J jee-oir ottoca lo rail escape north Jfkweiliii rf ft . "'iniih Jap naif; """"V-CSiiLr VFOKMOSA c'uinino Superfort ,W-Mr-VPTiei Ke I ""'"v' continue on9o?wL C?HA'NAN ) I MARIANAS IS. CafftiAKV X Oooitrte. Ilh AAf AV--"1 MemloTRrv chief, errirei el 'GUAM I. .,.VP"jf , VO fl Okinawa; ,t tOOO kill 2000 Japs f Soo VoTne tunneu" ! ' iwm UaPl tranti lot Mxnelime in Augirtl V:3:is..'c'eoip J iNoinJ'r.r-ettp, j ' TAcntt TeUphoto) Smashing air ana fleet bomBardment of Japan homeland, Tokyo open agitation for peace and Allies surrender ultimatum highlight war In Pa cific past week. In China, K well In battle continues, Jap open offensive to widen neck of corridor in Uuyang area. PETAIN WILLING COLLABORATOR; IN TERRORIST PLOT . Paris, July 28 (U.R) Witnes ses against Marshal Henri Phi lippe Petain linked his name to day with the revolutionary plans of the Cagoule, French right wing terrorist organization, and charged that he collaborated without compulsion with Nazi Germany after coming to power in 1940. Albert LaMarre, French diplo mat and member of the Madrid embassy, said that early in Sep tember. 1939. Petain aave him a letter from Maj. Loustancau Lacau, suggesting mai i-eiain form a French government with support of Lacau and his follow ers. LaMarre. the 12th witness against Petain, said that in the second fortnight of September. 1939, the month that the second World War began, Petain gave him a letter signed by Lacau which "said In substance, 'I've seen Laval. He thinks things cannot go on like this. I suggest you form a government in which he will take all tho dirty work off your shoulders.' "Petain appeared to have giv- tl.i. K miatntrf. And PCOfTl- cil iiic una u; cd very much annoyed when r handed it back. Me maae na ture which I interpreted as a sign to keep my mouth shut, LaMarre testified. On cross-examination, how ever, LaMarre testified that when he handed the letter back to Petain, the marshal demarked "What an idiot that Loustanrau Lacau is." As LaMarre left the stand and walked past the de fendant, Petain mumbled loud enough to be heard by persons near him "A thoroughly useless piece of testimony." REAL WORK BILL Washington. July 28 (U.R) Four Republican senators an nounced today that they will support the so-called full em ployment bill, but added that they will seek revisions to make it "More than the expression of a high and laudable social Ideal." The senators were Wayne Morse, Ore., George Aiken, Vt., Charles W. Tobey, N- H, and William Langer, N. D. One of their proposed amend ments would direct the secretary of agriculture to develop a pro gram giving agricultural areas "equality" with all other areas in meeting "the basic needs" of nuhlie roads, communications, electrification, health facilities, education, housing and social security. Cribune United Preit Full AUiei Stat ttrmt to end Pacific war; Jopan rtftct thm WAR BULLETINS Chungking, July 28 (U.R) Chinese troops have liberated the huge former United States air bate city of Kweilin and to the north have killed hundreds of routed Japanese in a steel trap, front dispatches said to day. In one of China's most powerful offensives. Gener alissimo Chiang Kai-Shek's armies alto scored overwhelm ing gains on four widely-scattered fronts. ' Wathinglon. July 28 (U.R) Military control was re moved today from civilian travel to any part of Europe except Germany, Austria and Italy. TO SHUFFLE OFF Washington, July 28 (U.R) The United States told the Japa nese people tonight that if they surrender now they will win "Freedom they have never en Joyed under the domination of their military oppressors." Navy Capt. E. M. Zachnrlas, official spokesman of the U S. government, said In an Office of War Information broadcast that "One simple decision" by the Japanese people will save their homeland for A sovereign existence under a peacefully In clined and responsible govern ment." Zacharlas said the recent Pols dam proclamation gave Japan the choice between lifo and death. He addressed his remarks to the people as well as "their self-willed militariastic leaders." Under the mounting fury of combined sea and air bombard ment, he said, "No longer can the leaders of Japan keep the truth of Japan s defeat from their people" But what the Japanese people have felt thus far, he continued is "Only the prologue to the great drama of total war " F E Portland, Ore., July 28 'U.R) Two of the navy s famed hos pltal ships, the U. S. S. Solace and Samaritan, whose crosses of mercy stood off the beaches of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, returned here today for extensive over hauling after 19 months In the Pacific war zone. Both vessels, known through out the navy as the "Workhone" hospital ships, docked simultane ously after returning more than 800 Okinawa battle casualties to San Francisco. Leaied Wiri NO. 108. L Flames, Worst Modern Times, Spreads Huge Backfire Started Three Perish. Portland, Ore.. July 28 (U.R) Western Oregon fire fighters received slight encouragement trnight as winds lessened and humidity rose, although the Til lamook fire was still raging out of control. The chief fire dispatcher in dicated lines were holding to night and a continued improve ment in fire weather might give weary crews the upper hand. Portland, Ore., July 28 (U.R) One of the worst forest fires in the modern history of the Paci fic Northwest roared out of con trol in Western Oregon tonight. New fires were breaking oul on so many fronts, fanned by stiff winds, that fire officials varied on estimates of the burn ed area. It was bounded by a perimeter of 250,000 acres, indi cating the total was far above the 100.000 mark of the past few days, and probably approaching or past the 200,000 mark. The fire lies between Portland and the coast, mainly in Tilla mook county, site of the all- tice record fire of 1933, when 240,000 acres were burned. More than 2000 civilians, soldiers and sailors were or. the fire lines. Three lives have been lost and crew retreated ln many cases where, stoutly-held fire lines were crossed by new outbreaks . Crews were winning a fight to save the Consolidated Timber Company's plant near Glen wood, where 150 workers have used firehoses to keep the mill wet and operating. Stimson's camp near the base line guard station was endangered. One arm of the fire r,aceu north Into Clatsop county and the southern and eastern fronts pread 25 miles south, In Wath inglon county. A huge backfore operation was being readied in southern Tillamook county in an effort to block off the flames. Western Oregon was covered by a pall of smoke which often ogscurcd the sun. The towns of Forest Grove and Hillsboro had their water supplies threatened. State Forester Ncls Rogers termed the fire situation "defin itely bad" and said only rain would end the threat of wider damage. The first stages of the fire were In second growth and underbrush on the scene of the 1933 and 1939 burns. Later, much green timber has been consumed. Several logging camps, considerable logging equipment and isolated buildings have burned. Elsewhere In the northwest, most fires were under control. A new 500 acre outbreak was re ported In northern Idaho near Bonner's Ferry. Savage Bleie Checked Fire which broke out of con trol again Friday afternoon on Fielder mountain, north of the Savage Creek dam, burned over nwi aHHitinrml few acres before being surrounded laic Friday night by State Forest FatroinK-n and army ground forces from r-am.. Whlin A total of about eight to nine thousands acres have been burned over oy me blaze now, according to forest patrol headquarters. Redwood City, Calif., July 28 (U.R) A rehabilitated Warren K. Billings, convicted partner o." the late Tom Mooney In tho 1916 San Francisco Preparedness Day parade bombing, today request ed a pardon from Gov. Earl Warren. Bulletin COAST Portland 9 12 2 Seattle .'. 6 11 2 Cohen, Tislng and Adams; Pi.llca, Elliott, Carpenter and Finley- Los Angeles . - 3 12 3 Hollywood 5 1 1 Woodcnd, Mcrkle (4), Lam mers (8) and Krcttnor, Brenner (4); Kimball and Krause. National Pittsburgh 000 000 000 3 1 St. Louis 000 101 OOx 2 7 1 Gables, Gcrheauser and Lopez, Salkcld; Barrett and O Dca. ,1, PLANES TOLL OF HALSLTSATTACK Enemy Fleet No Longer Exists Supply Lines Crushed Inland Sea Raided. Guam, Sunday, July 29 (U.R) U. S. Third Fleet Carrier planes ruling the skies over Jap an sank or damaged 15 more ships, including nine warships, destroyed or damaged 150 planes and hsaped new disaster on the enemy's shattered navy in yes terday's third day of destructive attacks on the inland sea. The figures for yesterday's assault, still incomplete, raised Japanese losses to 1,078 planes destroyed or damaged and 740 ships sunk or damaged, includ ing 47 warships, since Adm. Wil liam F. Halsey's mightiest fleet in history opened its bold air sea bombardments of Japan on July 10. Fleet dispatches said that to all intents and purposes the Jap anese fleet no longer existed. One United Press correspondent reported trom a warship that "if the Japanese don't give up soon they will not have enough ships to carry their envoys to the peace conference." Keep Bombing Promise A few hours before Adm. Chester W. Nimitz announced the results of the third strike against the Inland Sea in five days by . more than disclosed that 550 to 600 Superfortresses heaped 3, 500 tons of bombs on six Jap anese cities early today. All of the cities were on the 11-city "death list" issued by the Amer ican commanders less than 24 hours previously. As the Carrier Planes . and Superfortresses worked over tha Japanese homeland in a continu ation of a 20-doy assault that has seen almost 40,000 tons of bombs and shells dropped. Gen. Doug las MacArthur announced a crushing blow against the en-' emy's ocean supply lanes. MacArthur's bombers caught three convoys near enemy shores on Thursday, sending nine ships to- the ' bottom' and sinking or damaging 62 others, half of them laden with troops. Nimitz listed damage inflicted only by American fliers in yes terday's Inland Sea attacks. Re ports from the British fleet still were not available. Completing the neutralization of Japan's main battle fleet in the third attack on Its Inland Sea hideout in five days, tho Americans sank three subma rines, and damaged four de stroyers, two destroyer escorts, two medium freighter-transports, three small freighters and an un identified vessel. No Battleships Left Tho battleships Haruna and Ise, damaged In last Tuesday's and Wednesday's attacks, wero hit anew and left burning. Re connaissance reports showed that the battleship Hyuga, heavi ly damaged on Tuesday, was now resting at the bottom of the Inland Sea, its decks under wa. ter. A fourth Japanese battle ship, the Naguto, was damaged heavily at Yokosuka on July 18 and thus Japan, as far as was known, had no seaworthy battle ships left. The cruisers Aoba, Tone ana Oyodo, also previously damaged, were left burning and the escort carrier Kaiyo was hit again. Nimitz' war bulletin did not disclose whether the fleet was striking anew at the Inland Sea or another part of Japan today. It was probable, however, the attacks were about to bo resumed for dispatches reported that the warships had refueled and taken or thousands of tons of ammuni tion at sea In the greatest sea going transfer of supplies in his tory Editorial Demands Sen. Johnson's Scalp Pasadena, Cat., July 28 (U.R) The Pasadena Independent, In dependent dally, tomorrow will ask editorially that Sen. Hiram Johnson be replaced with a scna tor "who more adequately rep resents the sentiments and poli tical beliefs and desires of tho state's citizenry." In a front page editorial, tha Independent charged Johnson, whose negative voto against tha World Charter today was paired with an affirmative vote, was j carrying on a personal grudga fight In his opposition ana was In no way expressing the senti ment and will of h! constit uency. COMICS END FUED Hollywood, July 28 (U.R) Film and radio comedians Bud Abbott and Lou Costcllo hava patched up their three-month-old fued and have decided to continue their nine-year comedy partnership. Joo Glaston, their agent, said today, , -
