North Carolina Newspapers

* s \ - . I ' ‘. <• ~~ F CAST ^ ^ j————— i#~«umutgtatt anting #tar —■ _ _ WILMINGTON, N. C., MONDAY, MARCH 20, 1944 FINAL EDITION ESTABLISHED 1867 Small vessels Score Victory Over U-Boats ,6 NAZI SUBS SUNK Triumph Acclaimed As Modern Battle Of Tra falgar By British LONDON, March 19. — UP) — Five British naval sloops have ,cored the war’s greatest single ‘ trol victory of the battle of the Atlantic by sinking six German U-boats within 20 days, the Ad miralty announced today in ac claiming the triumph as a modern battle of Trafalgar.. Five of the underseas marau (jers were sent to the bottom of the North Atlantic with their en tire crews and the sixth victim’s 51 crewmen were captured before it was sunk by gunfire after hav ing been driven to the surface with depth charges. One Craft Lost Only one of ihe light, speedy craft failed to return from the record cruise — H. M. S. Wood pecker — which foundered in heavy weather after sustaining a torpedo hit. But even that loss was tempered with the announce ment that every member of her crew was saved. The lour surviving sioops re turned to Liverpool recently to a gala and noisy welcome, with bands blaring out the submarine unters' theme song. “A Hunting ,Te Will Go” and to the personal audits of First Lord of the Ad -alty A, V. Alexander. ’ First Lord told the 800 offi ir| men of the victorious ", Magpie, Starling, Wild the ill-fated Woodpeck rs ‘‘was the greatest ever undertaken in escort group.” t About It V’ he said, “you hcord in having — there is no i six German „ example any or« grwff at have from ared as many .u are, in fact, e with as many were, almost, in •afalgar, and pit dly weapons from st more deadly wea other side than was hat time ne, jolly well done. i so much and God bless ; victory in which Hitler lost ntinued on Page Two; Col. If (ILL TAXlGHT BREWS IN SENATE Washington, March 19—m— "ne bitter sectional fued over the neiit of states to levy poll taxes Is an the point of being renewed I in the Senate despite the certain b’ of a filibuster. Advocates of anti-poll tax legis lation — already approved by the House last year 265 to 110—are becoming restive over the delay in Senate action. Cloak-room stra egists for the past week have beer Urging a showdown, which nov\ appears likely within the next fort night. Apparently only a decision by the Democratic Steering Commit tee to read softly in the interesl of keeping some semblance of par ty unity can forestall the move to bring the matter out for its annual airins. At least two sponsors of the bill are known to have discussed "'ith Majority Leader Barkley the lodging of a motion to call the bill before the Senate. Each was impatient of counsel to wait a "bile longer before demanding ac tion. The bill would make it unlawful for any state, municipality or other governmental subdivision to pre vent any person from voting for President. Senator or member ol ibe House on the ground he hac paid a poll tax. Eight South ed states now have poll tax law* ■^Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee. The daaffe of Senator Van Nuys Indiana 7 amocrat who headed thr Sena^ fudicicry Committee, trans Vce crime responsibility lor I'AodBSiij the bill to the new cha - **•*. 8s*ator McCarran (D-Nev) •oth McCarran and Van Nuys vot tc! lor the bill when it was re Ported favorably last November 12 to 6. Proponents of the measure are building their hopes on obtaining cloture — a parliamentary proce dure which limits debate of twe mirds of thj members presenl after piiper notice. Bu1 jealously guard their ’"limited debate, and +o favor the poll ■vely they will 'otur«. •Swallows Return To Cap istranol SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif., March 19 — (JP)— Despite wartime travel difficulties, a flock of swal lows fluttered down on the San Juan Capistrano Mission today, maintaining a strict schedule of their traditional St. Joseph’s Day arrival. As usual, a half dozen advance agents made their appearance yes terday to scout housing conditions. The rest of the travelers showed up at 6:50 this morning, just 10 minutes later than last year. They immediately began to renovate their adobe residences with an, occasional squabble to evict spar row squatters. Legend relates that the swallows have arrived on St. Joseph’s day every year since the Mission was founded by the order of St. Francis in 1776, with only rare infractions of schedule. Guesses have placed their winter quarters in the Aguas calientes region of Mexico, Central America or even Palestine. GOP IS STUDYING REVAMPING PLAN Republicans Act To Streamline, Congres sional Proceedings WASHINGTON, March 19—(J)— An ambitious plan to streamline the cumbersome machinery of Congress is being eyed by the Re publicans, who confidently expect to win control of the House in the November election and are dreaming of a Senate majority. Because a shift from Democra tic to Republican control would mean an automatic reorganization members said the Senate Minority Steering Committee probably will order a full investigation of the possibilities of junking dormant committees and outmoded proce dures. Chairman Taft (R-Ohio) said he thought the Republicans might have a chance next January to sweep away some of the cobwebs which have gathered on the legis lative machine and Senator Dana her (R-Conn) envisioned the re form opportunity as “just around the corner.” ^Individuai-Snembers -ot Congress nave been talking a long time about modernizing a legislative process that is built primarily around seniority. But seniority—custom that ele vates legislators to chairmanships on the basis of their length of service—always has been an in surmountable obstacle. Committee heads are jealous of the prestige, patronage and added accommoda tions that go with a chairmanship. Usually they won’t vote to abol ish any committee for fear the ax next might fall on theirs. Also those who are immediately in line for chairmanships are loath to see eliminated a committee on which they have spent years working to ward the top. Two streamlining proposals now are before the Senate Rules Com mittee, offered by Senators La Follette (Prog-Wis) and Maloney (D-Conn) but the Republicans are likely to write their own. (Continued on Page Two; Col. 7) rM ■ i > Mt. Vesuvius Erupts, Wiping Out A Part Of Scenic Railway NAPLES, March 19._0t>>—1„ the worst eruption since 1905, Mt. Vesuvius sent three big streams of smoking lava roll ing several miles down its slopes today, wiping out 100 feet of its famed, scenic rail road. There was speculation to night that some of the villag ers living on the mountain’s south slopes might be evacuat ed if the action continues. The lava was still slowly des cending the slopes this after noon, with the stream on the southern slope the fartherest advanced and within two miles of the village of Bosco Tre case. Thousands Of Soviet Troops Smash Across Dniester foto Rumania On 31 Mile Fi «,rJlt t. Nazi Fc\4Jv§ Are Surrendering At Cassiifis ARE TAKEN Shells \>ent Screaming Into A Hotel, Which Is Re sistance Center ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Na ples, March 19.—(A1)—Flying For tresses and Liberators of the U. S. 15th Air Force winged their way across the Alps today and attack ed the important Klagenfurt air drome and war factories outside Graz in Austria. Other heavy bombers blasted German-held railway yards and installations at Knln, in Yugosla via. Graz is 90 miles southwest of Vienna and Klagenfurt is 60 miles southwest of Graz. Knin is 70 miles southwest of Banja Luka and a few miles inland from the Dalma tian coast. Nazis Surrendering WITH THE FIFTH ARMY AT CASSINO, March 19.—(A>)—Lai re numbers of Germans surrendered in Cassino late today and more prisoners were coming as Allied tanks ploughed through rubble of the town to within 30 yards of the Continental Hotel, the chief cen ter of resistance. The tanks pumped shells into the lobby where two German tanks were parked for the purpose of lobbing missiles into the ranks of attacking New Zealanders, and one of the enemy tanks already had been knocked out of action. It was the biggest bag of pris oners taken in a single day since the latest battle for Cassino open ed with an historic roar of 1.400 tons of bombs last Wednesday, and seemed to indicate, that the struggle had taken a fresh turn in favor of Allied arms. Headquarters disclosed that Al lied airmen had destroyed 130 Nazi planes aloft and aground Sat urday in massive blows centered by an American scouring of five air bases in northeastern Italy. Today’s communique said the Fifth Army had occupied all of the town “except the extreme western tip.” The Continental Hotel, which A (Continued on Page Two; Col. 8) _17 DURHAM STRIKERS READY FOR WORK DURHAM, March 20 —(£>)— To morrow, for the first time in al most a month, cigarettes will be gin to flow from the machines of the Durham plant of the Am erican Tobacco Company, as the 2,400 employes of that firm — on strike for over three weeks—be gin to trek back to their jobs. President G. T. Dunn of Local No. 183 of the International To bacco Workers Union of America disclosed tonight that a concilia tor from (lie Federal government is expected in Durham tomorrow to begin a settlement of the bitter dispute between the workers and the company. Dunn voiced the opinion tonight that the case involving the Dur ham controversy may be in the hands of the National War Labor Board in Washington by this week end, or the early part of next week. This will occur, he said, if the WLB keeps its promise to grant the local dispute a proirity hear ing. In the meantime the Durham branch of the tobacco firm is re ported in complete readiness for its re-opening tomorrow, inasmuch as several hundred workers of the company returned to their jobs Saturday to make preparations for the resumption of work Glad To Be Home Among the 663 American repatri ates brought back to the U. S. on the exchange ship Gripsholm is Douglas C. MacArthur, nephew of the general. He was a secretary at our Vichy embassy. With him is his dog ‘‘Mike.” U. S. CAN’T FEED ALL ITS ALLIES Food Chief Issues Report Showing Outlook For Nation And Friends WASHINGTON, March 19—W— War Food Administrator Marvin Jones said today the nation, will be able to meet essential military and civilian food needs, but warn, ed that it cannot be expected to carry the load of post-war relief feeding. In a “balance sheet” report on food, prepared at the request of War Mobilization Director James F. Byrnes, Jones made this fore cast of civilian supplies for 1944: “While supplies of some foods will be less than would be needed with unrestricted demand, other foods will be available in ample supply so that every one can have enough good and nutritious food to satisfy his needs.” As to supplies beyond military and civilian requirements, the re port said: “Foods available in the United States for export constitute only (Continued on Page Four; Col. 3) LONERGAN EAGER FOR NEW TRIAL NEW YORK, March 19.— W Wayne Lonergan, whose trial for the murder of his heiress wife, Patricia, will resume tomorrow, was reported today by his attor ney to be in ‘pretty good spirits” and eager for proceedings to get underway. The attorney, Edward V. Broder ick, visited the 26-year-old defend ant for two hours today in Tombs Prison. Later he told newsmen that the defense was ready for the resumption of trial. Lonergan also was interviewed for the second time by Dr. Thom as S. Cusack, a psychiatrist, at the request of Broderick and with court permission. __ Allies In Cassino After Record Bombing An Allied all-out drive on Rome has started after our bombers destroyed Cassino with more than 2,500 tins of bombs dropped in the most concentrated aerial assault in history. This record weight in exposives was concentrated in about one square mile. Heavy guns finished the job, then ground troopsmoved in. While this was going on, RAF planes struck the Nazis at our Anzio beachhead. 2-rTons Of Bombs Each Minute Are Being Dropped On Hitler’s Europe ' --—---4r _ Three Heavy Air Blows Are Dealt Continent In ......iess Than 24 Hours LONDON, March 19—(JP)—Amer ican and British bombers prose cuting a two-tons-a-minute offen sive around the clock from both Britain and Italy dealt Germar Europe three heavy blows in less than 24 hours today. U. S. Flying Fortresses plung ed through a heavy barrage at dusk today to give the Pas de Calais coast of France one of its worst poundings while 15th Air Force Fortresses and Liberators from Italy attacked the important Klagenfurt airdrome and war plants outside Graz, Austria. These blows followed an overnight as sault by more than 1,000 RAF heavy bombers on the chemical center of Frankfurt, Germany, ex plosives factories at Bergerac, France, and other targets. For good measure, the Ameri can heavy bombers from Italy also attacked railway yards aH Knin, Yugoslavia, today, while medium bombers raced across the Channel from England for their third straight day of attacks along the west coast of the continent. The RAF announced loss of 22 bombers. Total American losses were not announced at once, but only one bomber failed to return from the Pas de Calais raid. Without any confirmation, the German radio said 20 four-engin ed American bombers were shot down,in the Austrian attack. It was the fifth consecutive day of the heavy aerial onset. In the five days, in more than 10 000 sor ties—the majority of them by hea (Continued on Page Two; Col. 2) -V DEATH OF JONES WON’T BE PROBED WHITEVILLE, March 19,-Coro ner H. Hugh Nance, of Cerro Gor do, today announced that he would not hold an inquest into the death of John Paul Jones, 44, skidder foreman of Sledge and Sons’ Lum ber company at Brunswick, who was killed Thursday night when he fell 90 feet from the top of a water tank. Coroner Nance, who investigated the accident, said that Jones, whose home was at Bennettsville, S. C., got up a two-dollar bet with J. F. Jacobs, of Brunswick as to the height of the water tank. To settle the bet, Jones started climb ing to the top of the tank with a steel tape in his hands. Almost to the top, the steel tape, dangling below him, was blown against high voltage wires. The current was enough to cause death Coroner Nance stated. He was thrown 90 feet to the ground, and died instantly. He was badly man gled by the impact, it was said. The body was returned to Ben aettesville for burial. The Coroner said that he did not deem an in juest necessary, since there were tour witnesses to the accident. k American Troops Finish Conquest Of Admiralties By nEONARD MILLIMAN Asseiated Press War Editor LORNGAU, Japanese Head quurte; in the Admrialty Islands, was cstured Saturday by Ameri can tops, climaxing a lightning four-da invasion of Manus is land. “Thii completes the occupation of all tal areas in the Admiral ties,” tneral Douglas MacArthur said toy in announcing the ac tion. Paraushiro island, Japan’s first d»nse against invasion from the noj, was bombed for the third sicessive day by the Navy’s Aleutiabased Venturas. Japase troops in considerable force ossed the Chindwin river in sev«l places, apparently pre paring Dr a major offensive to ward t central Burmese-Indian border, Hukhg valley of North Central Burmalras reported ‘‘completely cleared” of enemy troops. Allied units pushed from three directions toward Myitkyina, north Burma nerve center of Japanese wedged between Chinabound armaments stacked in India and the only road leading to China. Tokyo issued a cooperate-or starve ultimatum to Hongkong residents in an indirect admission that shipping losses make it diff cult to supply the little island off the China coast. After April 15 rice will be sup plied only to persons the invaders consider essential to maintaining the fortress and war industry. Hong Kong is to become “self sufficient,” a step which Tokyo radio said “contains epoch-mak ing significance from tile stand point of military necessity.” In daily central Pacific raids. American bombers hit Kusaie and Ponape, Caroline island stepping stones toward Truk, and three by passed atolls in the Marshalls. FLA'EXEMPTION SLLS TREASURY WASNGTON. March 19 —l/P— You’realy worth a $500 tax ex emption the new simplified tax bill benes law— But :is the jobless brother-in law wl lives with you, also the 19-yeapld daughter in college, and thaaby. The Jvision for a flat $500 ex empticper person — wiping out a host complex dependency al lowance — was disclosed today as theb. 1 point which sold the Treasu on taking over the tax calculag headache for 30,000, 000 taiyers. With it the Treasury said it couldnbegin to do the job. Undi the proposed act, tax payergith wage and salary in comesdow $5,000 a year would file a iple “information return”, and tttntemal Bureau would do the reif the figuring. The March 15 cho of the remaining 20,000, 000 taayers would be eased drasticy. Thosvho have had more than a peeit the legislation, drafted by thHouse Ways and Means say tlflat per capita exemption will cplify a host of questions conceng marital dependency status Thriseparate exemptions now apply $500 for a single person, $l,200>r a married couple or head a family (excluding one depent) and $350 for each ”al lowab dependent. The stream lined 1 would iliminate the need ■ a legalistic analysis to detene the proper tax credit. Sinrly, the bill no longer woulcequire a legal difinition of dttdency, since it presumes everyrson to be worth a $500 exerrdn and Uncle Sam (Conted on Page Four; Col. 2) COUNTY IS TOPS IN LIQUOR SALES New Hanover county once again has led all North Carolina last month in sales of liquor, accord ing to a report issued by the State ABC Board, which revealed that sales in this county totaled $182, 200.85 for February. Total state sales were $1,356, 925.80, or $496,062.95 more than in January. Next to New Hanover was Dur ham (Durham) county, with $165. 878.95, followed by Wake (Raleigh) county with $122,304.60. Cumber land (Fayetteville) county was fourth with $118,579.05. Chairman Carl Williamson said the increase was due to an in crease in the per-person quota of liquor. February coupons were worth a full pint, while January coupons allowed only a half-pint. Sales by counties: Beaufort, $24,660.90; Bertie. $28, (Continued on Page Four; Col. 2) At Least 440 German Planes Were Destroyed During The Past Week LONDON, March 19.—Iff)— At' least 440 German planes were put out of action in the air and on the ground against the loss of 195 Allied aircraft during the week beginning Monday, March 13, and extend ing through last night’s opera tions, a compilation from Al lied announcements disclosed tonight. This better than two-to-one superiority was run up by Al lied air fleets operating from Britain, in the Mediterranean theater and in the Middle East. ★ - 'Om I 40 lTOWNS capture Russians Are In Hot Pur suit Of German-Ruma nian Legions LONDON, Monday, March 20— (JP)—Thousands of Russian troops smashed into pre-war Rumania on a 31-mile front yesterday, cross ing the Dniester River and cap turing 40 Bessarabian villages in hot pursuit of German-Rumanian legions so shattered that they left bridges intact, Moscow announced early today. The Russians were cutting down Germans and Rumanians by the thousands, Moscow said, blocking their escape routes, hurling them into the broad Dniester to die, and capturing great quantities of German tanks, guns, and other equipment. Huge German forces falling back in the Odessa sector, far to the southeast, appeared to face a ma jor disaster as the Russians pour ing into Bessarabia headed for the Danube estuary in an effort to block their retreat into lower Ru mania. Other Soviet units attack ing down the railway from Novo Ukrainka steadily herded the Ger mans back toward the Black Sea port of Odessa, a Soviet com munique announced. In old Poland the Russians also lashed out to topple Kremenets, hilltop fortress 70 miles northeast of Lwow, and swept on to take one village only 60 miles from Lwow. “The offensive of the Soviet units,” said the broadcast-bulletin telling of the Dniester crossing, “was so vigorous and shattering that in a number of places the Germans had no time even to de stroy bridges. The enemy was pressed back to the river and suf fered enormous losses.” The capture of Kremenets, hill top fortress 70 miles northeast of Lwow, vital Axis communications center in pre-war Poland, was among the important victories of the day. Its fall was announced in an order of the day by Premier Marshall Stalin, and the following communique said 40 other villages were swept up by Marshal Greg ory K. Zhukov’s First Ukraine Ar my fanning out north of embattled Tarnopol. But the greatest strategic stroke for the Russians, both militarily and politically, was the success ful crossing of the Dniester near Yampol, and the overland strike toward Bucharest, capital of the Axis-Allied but wavering Ruman ia. Bucharest is less than 270 miles from the advancing Red army, and the vital Ploesti oil fields are less than 250 miles away. The broadcast communique, rec orded by the Soviet monitor, also announced that the Second Ukraine Army under Marshal Ivan S Ko nev now held a 62-mile stretch of the east bank of the Dniester, were fighting in the outskirts of Mogi lev-Podolski, east bank rail bridge head 31 miles northwest of Yam pol, and were menacing another Axis retreat route across the Dniester—the Slobodzeya-Balti line to the southeast. -V Finnish Government Is Reported Ready To Move Its Records STOCKHOLM, March 19—OH— Finnish government ministries are packing their records for move ment to the north to a prearrang ed temporary capital, persons re turning from Helsinki said today. Helsinki was said to be a city without children, because they had been removed to the country. Army Proposes To Tell Wounded Men of Battles During Which They Fell WASHINGTON, March 19—(/T>)_ The Army proposes to tell the wounded soldier what happened the battle during which he fell. The decision to issue, primarily for the benefit of wounded sol diers, a series of official accounts of the campaigns and battle of American forces is the result of a visit by General George C. Mrr shall, Army chief of staff, to wounded men in hospitals. “In the thick of battle, the sol dier is busy doing his job,” Mar shall said in a foreward for the first of the series, on the Bizerte campaign. . . . He does not have time to survey a campaign frrm a foxhole. If he should be wound ed and removed behind the lines, he may have even less opportunity to learn what place he and hi unit had in the larger fight.” White House Reveals Sentiments Of Governors Regarding Vote Bill WASHINGTON, March 19—(ff>) —The White House tonight made public the replies of 42 governors to President Roosevelt’s inquiry whether their state will accept Federal ballots from the armed forces, but gave no intimation whether the President will approve or veto the service vote bill now on his desk. ■{ of the governors said their state laws will permit the use of Federal ballots, but one of those attached significant reservations. Of the others 13 indicated no action is planned to validate Fed eral ballots. Several of the gov ernors said they would recom mend state laws to conform with the Federal act if Mr. Roosevelt signs the service vote bill. The White House released all the state replies which had been received up to 3:15 p.m. today. They showed that Federal bal lots can be accepted now in Cali fornia, Maryland, North Caroli- a, Florida, Alabama, Washington and Kansas. But the governor of Alabama said they would be acceptable only if the Federal service vote bill is constitutional—many Southern Congressmen contend it is not. The governor of Washington said he didn’t believe it would be neces sary for him to certify validity of Federal ballots because of lib eral state election laws. Under the bill the governor must make the certification or the ballots can’t be counted. No replies had been received late this afternoon from South Carolina, Tennessee. Michigan, Texas, Wyoming or Oregon. The President asked the gover nors to tell him whether Federal ballots could be used. He sent tele grams a few hours after Congress passed the compromise service vote bill which authorizes Federal absentee ballots for overseas vot ers only if state law permits their use and if the serviceman has tried and failed to get a state absentee ballot. Mr. Eoosevelt indicated some time ago his action on the bill would rest on his decision whe ther the new act would provide more or fewer service votes than would a 1942 statute which waives poll tax payments and local reg istration as armed service voting qualifications, but leaves it up to the states to provide the ballots.