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_ FORECAST ^ — gir1- Utlmtngtim iMnntutg Star | ’EEr UlLi——: ^ __WILMINGTON, N. C., FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 1944 FINAL EDITION ESTABLISHED H Superforts T b Jap Homelan ★ ★ ★ ★ ^ -i. -L. Jl x -- Great Planl Blast Citu Mammoth New B-29 Flying Fortresses bard Nipponese Mainland After L Flight From China-India-Burma A WASHINGTON, June 15.—<#)—America’s ne fortresses bombed Japan’s homeland today and tl radio, acknowledging attacks, said industrial areas _1 Oh ttt A VA hit A" ■ ■ ■ 1-1 ' ■ IA11U MliiiilVlIVUbiU I' w *** In Congress, Rep. Starnes (D Ala) told his colleagues he had information there was “great de struction’’ in Tokyo. There was no confirmation of Starnes’ report from the War Department which did not disclose targets. Moji is a city on Kyushu, souther most of the main Japanese islands Shimonoseki is on Honshu island just across a strait from Kyushu. They are about 500 miles, airline, from Tokyo. An Imperial Japanese communi que estimated the number of raid ing planes at 20 and made the usual claims that they were intercepted and “repulsed.” It said several were shot down and Domel, Jap anese news agency, said six were shot down. The Japanese said both B-29 Superfortresses and B-24 Libera tors were among the American planes. Here, the only official informa tion available late tonight was that attacks were carried out by B-29’s flying from bases in the China India-Burma theater. The War department disclosed at 1:39 p. m., eastern war tim§, that the long-secret flying giants had gone into action. The an nouncement said: “B-29 Superfortresses of the United States Army air forces 20th bomber command ’‘bombed Japan today.” To this was added some time later that the planes flew to the attack from the China-India-Burma meaier. Then Rep Starnes (D-Ala) arose in the House to tell his colleagues that the target of the raid was Tokyo proper. A good source in formed him, he said, that a large number of American planes were causing “great destruction” in Tokyo. It was the second American bombing of Japan, but the first announcement of action by the B 29’s. House and Senate sessions were halted for announcement of the news. Senator Pepper (D-Fla) told his colleagues he .was “sure the heart-felt thanks of Congress and the country go out’’ to those who made the attack possible. Rep. Mahon (D-Tex) said the news in dicated the wisdom of Congress in furnishing funds for the giant bombers. Rep. Manasco (D-Ala) said the War department advised him the B-29’s “bombed several large cities” on the mainland of Japan but there was no information yet on the results. Manasco said the assumption (Continued on Page Three; Col. 1) -V Roosevelt Announces Postwar Peace Plan WASHINGTON, June 15—</D—An American plan to keep the post war world at peace through an in ternational organization — backed by the arms of peaceful nations if necessary—was made public by President Roosevelt today' after a year and a half of Allied discus sions. ajuj duuumbUduun dims, act out in a White House statement: 1. An organization, composed of all “peace-loving” nations, to keep world stability. 2. A world council, elected an nually by the participating nations, to settle international disputes. It would include “the four major na tions” (presumably the United States, Great Britain, Russia and China) and "a suitable number of other nations.” 3. An international court to handle justifiable disputes. 4. The maintenance of sufficient armed strength by the individaul nations to put down, by joint ac tion, any future aggressions. -—V ABANDON TOWN IRUN, Spain, June 15.—(A*)—Re liable reports reaching this town on the French border tonight said that the French underground "Maquis”, after capturing the Gascony town of Tarbes Sunday, abandoned it Wednesday night, taking with them 300 German pris oners and leaving in ruins the ar senal, railway yards, the .Hispano Suiza Airplane Motor Factory and a truck factory. i V v NORMANDY D MAKES PRO American Troops At German Li On Peninsu ■ ' . 1V. ^a SUPREME HEA TERS ALLIED TIONARY FORCE June 16. — (/P) — troops slashing from Carentan on front have read ground within six m Haye du Puits, jund last German-held way lifeline to the Cherbourg, and wil miles of the seconc tion point of St. Comte in what was described today as progress.” In the developing c off and capture the peninsula, similar stea' were reported in a mi munique from suprem ters for a less cle thrust through the 1< tween the Vire and southeast of Carentan x ilia auvautc aimed towards St. Jet on the highway linking Carentan. Extent of tl not disclosed officially peared probable that ready had been cut miles west of Lison. On the extreme right Allies’ beachhead in American capture of village of Quineville ar ing territory was decl; provided “a valuable from the beaches.’’ On the eastern, or the beachhead, held and Canadian forces, man armored counter, repulsed with what communique called “ loss to the enemy.” These were the pri in the tenth day of tl vasion of France, wh offensive all along lines father force and ground or repell the f peated enemy counte Right around the irr starting on the norl was the battle siluatio vasion went into its el Quineville: Americai (Continued on Page E -V De Gaulle Admin French Civilie LONDON, June 15 Charles De Gaulle at day that he had left for administration of ban affairs during his Normandy beachhead suggested an effort t the chief difficulty American-French relat A communique iss the French press sen sizing the “atmosphere fervor” with which it Gaulle was received ir rated towns Wednesd gave directions “re sumption of civil ad organization of supplie relief.” McArthur’s Boml Blast Japs ADVANCED ALLI1 QUARTERS. New Gui June 16 —I/O— Americ unloaded the heaviest tack of the war on Ti Caroline islands naval quarters announced to The planes dropped bombs on the atoll dui raids June 12 and 13. T ed building™ and shot intercepting Zeros in b Ion and Eten island*. New Pacific Islan vaded - *r---—___4__ Yank Iroops Hit Saipan Under Fire make good progress Heavy Fighting Raging As Japanese Strive To Oust Invaders WASHINGTON, June 15.— (#>)—American invaders of Saipan, strategic Pacific is land in the Marianas only 1, 500 miles southeast of Tokyo, have secured beachheads and are making “good progress” in the face of artillery and tank fire, Admiral Chester \y. Nimitz announced tonight. “In general fighting is heavy but good progress is being made against well organized defenses,” Nimitz said. The text of his communique, No. 50 of Pacific fleet headquarters: “Assault troops have secured beachheads on Saipan island and are advancing inland against ar tillery, mortar and mashine gun firp ' Virtually all heavy coastal ar> anti-aircraft batteries on the is lands were knocked out by naval gun fire and bombing. Our troops have captured Agingan Point. In the town of Charan Kanoa, brisk fehting is continuing. "The enemy has attempted sev eral counter attacks with tanks. These attacks have been broken up by our troops with the support of ships and aircraft. "In general, fighting is heavy but good progress is being made against well organized defenses.” Agingan Point is on the south western tip of the island. Charan Kanoa is one of the few sizeable communities on the island. The assault on Saipan, Japanese air and naval base, was launch ed Wednesdy morning after inten sive preparatory bombing and bombardment of it and neighboring Japanese defense points. Disclosure of the landing came only two hours after the War de partment announced bombardment of Japan today by B-29 Superfort resses in the first operational ac tion of the newest and most formid able of the army’s bombing planes. Little information was giv en on the attack and targets were not disclosed. In an earlier communique dis closing the Saipan invasion was being carried out successfully, Ni mitz reported ‘‘assault troops have effected landings.” He added that troops still are swarming onto the island in face of strong opposition from Japanese garrisons there. Warships have their big guns turned on Saipan, pounding at Jap anese pill boxes and other posi tions. Aircraft from big carriers also are participating, with fighter planes flying low over the advanc ing waves of troops to strafe the enemy and bombers are dropping their riparilv loads on fortified Jap ar.ese positions. _ No indication was given by Ni mitl of the type of opposition be ing met in the landing operations. However, he said that a strong defense was being put »p by the Japanese forces. The beginning of the invasion fol lowed five days of battering ac tion by planes and warships to sof ten up the enemy positions. Air craft initially carried out the job of pounding the Marianas defenses from the air, hitting not only Sai pan, but adjoining Tinia, Rota, and (Continued on Page Eight; Col. 6) -V Democrats Pick Kerr As Keynote Speaker CHICAGO, June 15.—t®—Gov, Robert S. Kerr of Oklahoma, an advocate of a fourth term f°i President Roosevelt, was selected today as the keynoter for the Dem ocratic national convention open ing here July 19. The choice was made by th< Party’s convention arrangement! committee but recommendation o. 8 Permanent chairman for the con clave was deferred until later. -V JAP HOMELAND UNSAFE Washington, June is. — <■*■> Secretary of War Stimson said to day that the air attack on Japar is the beginning of another phr*' °f our war in the Pacific and th*i no corner of the Japanese home isnd "is now safe from attack.” Beachhead ‘Saturday Night’ --- 1 ■■ .—.. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander, washes sine dust off his face before lunching in Normandy. He had just vis ited a beachhead airfield where big transports filled with wounded were taking off in clouds of dust. Signal Corps radiophoto. (Int.) Big Night Raiders Strike At France SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED EXPEDI TIONARY FORCE, Friday, June 16.—{IP)—Continuing the around-the-clock aerial punishment of Nazi targets in France, a tremendous force of RAF bombers thundered across the channel during the night in a spectacular sequel to widespread daylight operations in which 5,000 planes, including 1,300 U. S. heavy bombers, took part. The RAF armada making the latest assault on the Germans’ in vasion defenses was so large it took an hour and a half to pass across England’s southern coast. The roar of engines was as great as Wednesday night when 1,100 RAF planes delivered the heav iest aerial bombardment in history against Le Havre and other points on the French coast. After the first, big RAF night raiders had passed out of view last night flashes and explosions in the direction of Boulogne indicated that another vital Nazi port on the French coast was getting a blast ing. Squadrons of RAF fighters were believed to have escorted the bombers, for they began circling over the southeast coast shortly be fore the British heavyweights ap peared in the sky. While many of the bombers re turned quickly from their mission to the Boulogne area, others were believed to have headed much deeper into Nazi territory. The raid was made in the face of threatening weather— with wind blowing stronger, considerable cloud and the prospect of rain. -V Westbrook Endorsed For State Office Norwood S. Westbrook, recently reelected commander of Wilming ton Post No. 10, American Legion, has been endorsed by the post for the office of state vice commander it was announced last night. Commander Westbrook will head the local delegation to the state convention to be held in Asheville June 18-20.. Qther delegates from Wilmington who will attend are: X K Hollir, W. L Farmer, E.L. Bell, N. C. King, N. B. Register, p,T*. Boone, W J. Riley, E. F. ■ Troy, Theodore Webb, W. F. t Hayes, W. K. Rhodes, and F. A. , Scroggs. Japanese Troons ; Encircle Changsha E CHUNGKING, June 15. — m — Japanese troops have crossed the Liuyang river, last line of defense before Changsha, by-passed the city on the east and then slashed ' westward toward the Siang river ' to cut off the southward line oi 1 retreat for the besieged defend - ers, the Chinese high command t indicated tonight. Changsha lies on the east bank of the Siang. TIDEWATER GETS NATION .AWARD RALEIGH, June 15. —(£>)— Four North Carolina concerns have been selected by the U. S. Office of Civ ilian Defense to receive the Nation al Security award for maintenance of a superior standard of plant protection and security, R. L. Mc Millan, state OCD director, said to day. The firms designated to receive the award are th&Carolina Power and Light Company; the Tidewater Power Company, Wilmington, the Carolina Container Co., of High Point, and the Tomlinson Furniture company of High\ Point. The High Point firms will re ceive the award at ceremonies in the Junior high school at 8 p.m., June 23. The Tidewater Company will be honored at ceremonies in the New Hanover County court house June 21, and the Carolina Power and Light Company’s pres entation will be made June 22 in the Wake County courthouse. The only previous National Se curity award presented to a North Carolina firm went to the National Munititons Corporation at Carr boro. -V INFANTRY DAY OBSERVED FORT BRAGG, June 15.—(•£>>— This huge army post paid tribute today to the American infantrymen as it joined with other military establishments in observing the nation’s first infantry day. House Bill Gives Army 49 Billion NAVY GETS LARGE SUM 'Hitler Doom’ Measure Speedily Approved At Capital WASHINGTON, June 15.— (TP)—Spurred by news of- the Superfortress bombing of Japan, the House unanimous ly passed a $49,109,002,795 “Hitler doom” bill for the army today and sent it to the Senate. At the same time the Senate completed legislative approval of history’s biggest Navy appropria tion — $27,569,000,000 in cash and $5,000,000,000 in contract authoriza tions — and sped it to the White House. Senator' Overton (D- La.) estimated this would keep Ameri ca’s big sea force steaming full speed even though tne war lasts longer than is expected. The largest allotment in the army supply measure, $12,610,200,000, was earmarked for the air forces, whose big B-29 bombers may have been over the Japanese homeland even as the House acted. A roll call vote followed demands that never again should “impractiial, idealistii, suiridal piftif isn't” be allowed to gain a foothold in this country.’’ Rep. Snyder (D.-Pa.) told the House that the big bill was the “Hitler Doom” bill. It carries $15,436,031,795 in new funds for the fiscal year starting July 1 and $33,672,071,000 left over from the $74,211,249,961 appropriat ed for the current year. It raises to an estimated $390,000,000,000 war and defense obligations voted since July 1, 1940. Termingthe June 6 invasion of Europe the first round in the eight to exterminate the Axis, Smyder, chairman of the appropriations subcommitee said: “The diy of the last round we just cannot predict, but we can fervently hope that it will come be fore the snow flies again. It is the hope of our military leadership that Germany will be out of the war before another year begins.” Speaking against complacency after the war, Rep. Starnes (D. Ala.) a member of Snyder's com mitte,e declared: “There must be no more Pearl Harbors. We cannot gamble our birthright upon treaties and oceans.” -V Reds’ Northern Drive Sweeps On Viipuri LONDON, June 15.—W—The Rus sians’ drive for possession of Fin land advanced farther up the Karelian Isthmus today with Gen. Leonid A. Govorov’s troops cap turing 17 more fortified Finnish strongpoints along the bloody road to Viipuri, Moscow announced to night. The Finns, taking advantage of every natural obstacle and fighting from strongly-entrenched perman ent defense positions, were said to have resisted fiercely but vainly. Moscow said Govorov’s army in six days of battle had now ad vanced 25 miles through the first and second Finnish defense zones and widened the breach to 47 miles. First Photo Of ‘Black Widow* This unusual view of the “Black Widow,” P-61, one of the first ever published, was taken from the rear at Hawthorne, Cal., where these deadly night fighters are built. Now in action against the .ene my overseas, the “Widow” is literally a flying gun platform and is said to be the largest and most powerful pursuit plane ever built. The slim, twin fuselages behind the motors make the plane look like a P-38, but the cockpit fuselage resembles that of a bomber. The craft is equipped with Hamilton four-blade propellers; other details are secret. (International). Allied Iroops seize Large Italian Towns ROME, June 15.—</P)—Bursting through another line of defenses hastily thrown up by the retreating Germans beyond Rome, Allied forces have captured the large Italian towns of Orvietc, Aquila and Narni in a general advance and were fighting tonight in the outskirts of the import ant industrial and communications center of Terni, 45 miles _xi. _ e xi * j t x nvi in ui me vajjiiai. American troops shoving up the Tyrrhenian coast captured Magli ano and threatened Bengodi, only 14 miles from Grosseto, after hav ing seized vist quantities of Nazi food supplies at Orbetello. They had entirely cleared lateral High way 74, running inland from the coast past the northern shore of Lake Bolsena. Eighth army columns, now car rying the brunt of the inland ad-, vance, fought their way into Orvi eto, 57 miles northwest of Rome; Narni, 41 miles due north of the capital, and Aquila, 54 miles to the northeast, above Avezzano. Lt. Gen. Sir Oliver Leese’s forces were checked temporarily on the out skirts of Terni by blown bridges and a stiff German counterattack. It was reported that fresh Ger man divisions had reached Italy, but Allied forces driving north and northwestward from Rome still were encountering onsy rearguard elements of the shattered 14th Ar my. The pursuing Allies continued to capture sizable groups of prisoners, one American unit bagging 300 in the past 24 hours. At several points the Germans resorted to the use of cavalry to check Allied van guards, and the accurate and hea vy fire of their mobile artillery played a big part in slowing the advance of the Fifth and Eighth armies in recent days. Today’s Allied communique said the enemy’s stiffened resistance “has been at least temporarily overcome,” and that “important gains have been made all along the front.” Two - ton blockbuster bombs were rained on rallyards at Nis, Yugoslavia, last night by RAF Lib erators, Halifaxes and Wellingtons, following a heavy daylight assault on central European oil installa tions. The Mediterranean air for ces flew some 2,000 sorties yes terday, destroying 18 enemy planes and losing a like number. Not a German craft was sighted over the Italian battle area. -V TWIN CITY STORE BURNS WINSTON-SALEM, June 15—iff) —The Anchor company, mid-town department store, was damaged by fire in the basement and part of the first floor shortly after noon today, but firemen said they did not believe the damage would exceed the $18,000 loss to the firm in a fi^e February 20. WAR BOND SHOW ATTRACTS CROWD A packed house viewed the Camp Davis radio broadcast and variety show at Thalian Hall last night which climaxed the fourth day of the Fifth War Loan drive in Wil mington and New Hanover county. Sales continued heavy yesterday according to reports. City Chair man J. G. Thornton announced war bond sales in the county and city during the first two days of the drive totaled $875,199. First day sales were tabulated at $500,000 and Tuesday’s sales were reported as $375,199- The grand tptal was for all divisions of bonds against the quota of $5,707,000 set for New Hanover county. Today at 10:30 a. m., the women’s division of the Fifth War Loan committee will hold a meeting in the assembly room of the Cham ber of Commerce. Mrs. L W. Preston, director, stated that plans will be made whereby women will solicit ^full war bond sales by all retail "stores in town. The ma jority of the stores are participat ing in the campaign to have each employe sell at least $300 in bonds, but it is the goal of war bond of ficials to have the participation of every store. The weekly camp radio broad cast at Thalian Hall last night, ‘Pass in Review,” featured the Sad Sack and the Sarge, the singing of T-4 John Nooney and Pvt. Patsy Norris. Pvt. Abe Moss’ violin rendition of ‘Intermezzo” be gan the broadcast over WMFD from Thalian Hall at 7:30. During the half-hour preceeding the broad cast, Pvt- Arnie Sultan and Pvt. Jack Whalen, comedy duet of the Pup Tent Players, offered several comedy numbers. ‘Furlough Fun,” variety show with a cast of 42, followed the broadcast, carrying out the theme of a group of soldiers and Wacs, formerly school-day chums, who meet in New York canteen, and then go to a night club where vari ous members of the cast presented a floor show. B-29SuperfortressesRated_GreatestPlaneIn World By JAMES J. STREBIG Associated Press Aviation Editor WASHINGTON, June 15—«P) —The Boeing B-29 Superfor tress is a global warplane backed by global authority and the ‘greatest production pro gram in history. The War' Department today released much of the hitherto restricted information about the four-engined war" machine which has had more advance notice than any other military airplane. Disclosed along with details of the plane was the formation of the 20th air force, an orga nization headed by Gen. H. H. Arnold, commanding gen eral of the army air forces, and operating around the world with authority stemming fc directly from the joint chiefs of staff. The 20th was set up to em ploy the B-29’s particular capacities. It has no other air craft, and no other air force has any of the B-29’s. Thus the Superfortress will be direeted from Washington by the joint chiefs of staff. Also disclosed was the extent of the production program for the B-29, an industrial plan in volving billions of dollars and reaching into virtually every manufacturing center in America. Five great airframe factories are turning out the giant bomber on assembly lines; another huge factory building sub-assemblies ranks as a prime contractor, and an other plant constructed to build the engines is the largest single factory unit in the world. Production of other types of aircraft has been stopped in some plants so that facilities and manpower can be used in making R-29 sufcvassemblies. The number of sub-contractors runs into the hundreds. The B-29 is described briefly as a bombtr that flies fourth er and higher with a greater load than any other plane. Actual performance figures are secret, as with all warplanes, but this much descriptive data has been released: The plane has a wing spread of 141.2 feet and a fuselage 98 feet long. Its single dorsal fin, resembling the tail of the B-17 Flying Fortress, stands 27 feet high. The fuselage is cylindri ' h cal, the round nose reaching well forward of the narrow wing. It is a mid-wing design compared with the B-17’s low wing and the high or shoulder wing of the B-24 Liberator. The power, previously an nounced, thnnprisea four Wright cyclone engines of 2, 200 horsepower each, these being the same as the engines which pulled the Lockheed Constellation across the coun try in record transport psane tiime. The B-29 also has a tri cycle landing gear with double' wheels. The Superfortress wing is an entirely new one, described by Boeing engineers as the “most efficient wing ever devised.” (Continued on Page Three; Col. 2)
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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June 16, 1944, edition 1
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