Newspapers / The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, … / May 17, 1945, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
The Alamance Gleaner ? 1 1 VoL LXXI " GRAHAM, N. C., THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1945 * No. 15 ? WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS Extended Allied Control Faces German People; U.S. Shifts to One-FrontWar Against Japanese Released by Western Newspaper Union. ???? (EDITOR'S NOTE: When opinions aro oppressed In those eolnidns. they aro those of Western Newspaper Union's news analysts and not nocessarily of this newspaper.) Numbered in the thousands, New Yorkers gathered*in Times Square to joyously celebrate German capitulation to Allies. V-E: Ends in Schoolhouse Almost six years alter the German army had struck Poland like light ning, inflaming the world in the most destructive war in all history, two' men met in a little red schoolhouse in Reims, France, to bring the Euro pean phase of the conflict to an end. With Germany's mighty wehrmacht lipped apart; with its cities lying in rabble, and with its railroad system a heap of twisted and scorched steel, Col. Gen. Gustav Jodl had eome to offer his country's uncondi tional surrender to the Allies on or der of Fuehrer Karl Doenitz. R was 2:41 o'clock in the morn ing when Lt. Gen. Walter Bedell Ihnith accepted the capitulation on fciialf of the Supreme Allied com mand. Later, the surrender was < ratified by the Russians in Berlin, wife Marshal Gregory Zhukov rep resenting the Reds at his headquar kn in the charred German capital. Nm Delusions Raring levelled western Europe and run deep into Russia before be mg compelled to recoil under the weight of the combined Allied jug gonaut, the Germans suffered no delusions as to the severity of the terms to be imposed. Addressing the German people gfter Fuehrer Karl Doenitz had atdered all the country's armed farces to cease firing, Foreign Minister Count Ludwig Sehwerin ran Krosigk said: "Nobody can he in any doubt that the future win be difficult for each one of us and will exact sacrifices from as in every sphere of life." jurcrticn mg lliai vjex illciny souglll Id Mobilize all of its human, moral and Material resources to help heal the wounds of the war, Von Krosigk said that by following the simple path of justice in both domestic and foreign affairs the country could yet dispel the hatred against it and return to the family of nations. Operating on their own power, without need of direct assistance a# each other, the end of the war baad the U. S., Britain and Rus sia controlling the German territory it was originally planned for them to occupy. In the U. S. zone alone, 400,000 American troops will be re tained to stand watch. From the development of Allied polity, it aprenrs likely that mili tary occu-ation of the country will be extended to permit close si^ervision during the rehabilitation perjod. with control over all phases of'German life. In addition to dismantling war fac tories and maintaining a watchful eye over other heavy industry, the Allies are expected to closely con tra! the press, radio and motion pic tures. Because the country occupied a key spot in the European economy, Germany's civilian manufacturers ?my be allowed to resume large scale production to assure the distri bution of finished goods in surround Mg rural areas. Japs Next For America, the end of hostilities ta Europe means no slackening of the war effort, though the army plans to cut its total strength down to 1,168,000 men from 8,300,000, apd civilian production is scheduled to return to the prewar 1939 level with m a year. Though the army intends to release about Z.SM.SOS men in eluding 1.3M.MS vets with ex tended battle service within one yens of F-E Pay, the navy the fleet will play In Pacifle op erations. In undertaking the gigantic task of moving men and material to the Pacific from the European theater, it is estimated that six months will be required for accomplishing the greater part of the shift. Because of the need of establishing bases and supply facilities in the east for the big push against the Japs, serv ice forces will be among the first shipped through the Suez or Panama canals. Shift of the war from Europe to Asia also will result in. unavoid able delays occasioned by the neces sity of troops to await the arrival of heavy equipment on slow moving cargo ships and the need for re adjustment to new weapons and ac cessories for tropical warfare. Though the army recently an nounced that little retraining of combat troops from Europe would be required for war against the Japs, some specialized instruction will be needed. Because the west coast fronts the Pacific theater, its ports and rail lines leading thereto will handle the bulk of shipments outward, with At lantic and Gulf ports absorbing the excess. Because of the relatively undeveloped nature of the Pacific territories, unloading of and storage of supplies there will constitute a No. 1 problem. Production Plans Although the conflict will be re duced to a single front, war pro duction still will dominate U. S. industry with certain material and manpower controls retained, and ra tioning will be maintained to con tinue to equitably spread short sup plies. Nonetneiess. cutbacks in war contracts will Tree sufficient re sources to permit the gradual resumption of civilian produc tion up to where many items like electrical appliances, wash ing machines, radios and stoves will become available within six months. Other articles like shoes, clothing, lumber and chemicals will remain in tight supply, however, though the gov ernment plans priority assist ance to help these industries in crease their ontput. Because of the need for extensive retooling and readjustment of facili ties, the automobile industry will re quire almost half a year to start civilian production, it was esti mated, and rationing of cars will continue until manufacture reaches about 100,000 a month. With the end of the European war relieving demands of fuel supplies, gasoline rations are scheduled to be increased, with "A" card holders' allotments raised from four to six miles daily. Although more tires will become available, rationing will be retained since demand will far out run supply. Food Needed Meanwhile, heavy domestic de mand and European relief require ments will provide a big market for American food producers. Europe alone will need 12,000,000 tons of imported food in the 12 months beginning in August to im prove diets in liberated areas and prevent starvation In enemy terri tory, the U. S. department of agri culture reported. Though the total could consist largely of wheat, of which this coun try has an abundance, it should in clude substantial quantities of fats, meats, eggs, dairy products and sug ar, USDA said. However, supplies of these products are short in this country, "too. k"' W. ' ?- ' FARM DRAFT: Revision Vetoed Declaring that "I do not believe . . . that ci ogres* intended to en act legislation formulating the na tional policy that agricultural em ployment was more essential than any other type of employment. . . Pres. Harry S. Truman vetoed an amendment to the Selective Serv ice bill under which all essential farm workers would have been de ferred regardless of their relative need by the services. Cause of the effort to secure blanket deferment for essential farm workers because of local boards' interpretations of its provis ions to mean that induction of such employees was permissible if their services were deemed of greater im portance to the military forces, the Tydings amendment thus remains the guiding principle of the farm draft. With Democrats and Republicans alike calling for repassage of the measure over the President's .veto to safeguard 1945 farm production, 185 congressmen voted to carry the bill over the chief executive's head, 57 short of the two-thirds ma jority necessary. LABOR: New Rivalry Rivals at home, the AFL and CIO are shaping as rivals in international labor affairs, with the AFL bucking the CIO's backing of the world trade union congress, which timed its con vention with the San Francisco se curity conference and sought to ob tain the latter's recognition as rep resentative of labor. Claiming that the world trade union congress was dominated by communist elements "who are not free to determine their destiny," the AFL declared "we have declined to identify ourselves with a movement that is inspired by a political philos ophy which is designed to subordi nate and subjugate man and prop erty to the exclusive will of the state." Declaring that the International Federation of Trade Unions was more representative of world labor, the AFL called for a convention of this body to shape future policy upon reorganization of the diSerent mem ber unions wrecked with the Nazi occupation of European countries. Marital Tangle To blond and petite 23-year-old Mr*. Robert A. McDowell of Long Beach, Calif., came one of the war's most ironic exper iences, with the army's reveldlion that her first ? husband, who had been I presumed dead, was 1 found alive five months % after she wedded again. ^ Married to Ll Harold | G. Goadf 27, in April of % 1942, Mrs. McDowell ? was officially apprized of 5 his supposed death last J fall, one year after his bomber plummeted in flames near Burma. In accordance with her first husband?* wish that?"if anything should happen to me, go ahead and get married and be taken care of?she then seas wedded to Ensign Rob ert A. McDowell in De cember. Declaring Lt, Goad "the man rve always loved," Mrs. McDowell decided to return to him. In seeking an annulment from u. McuowcU, she taia f m sur? he'U understand. He's a grand person." POSTWAR POLAND: No. 1 Problem Big Three negotiations for the i creation of a democratic postwar Polish government became further complicated with the Russian admis sion that Moscow holding 16 repre sentatives of the Polish government in-exile in London on charges of sabotage behind Red army lines aft er guaranteeing them safe conduct to discuss reorganization of the pres ent Warsaw government. Coming like a bombshell in the midst of the San Francisco postwar security conference, news of Mos cow's action led U. S. Secretary of State Stettinius and British Foreign Minister Eden to demand an imme diate explanation from Soviet For eign Commissar Molotov. Said he: "You'll have to wait until their trial for their details. Anyway, the mat ter is of little importance." Presumably called to Moscow to confer on the inclusion of various democratic elements into the pro communist Warsaw government in accordance with an agreement reached at Yalta by the Big Three, the 16 individuals were leaders of the London exiles' underground forces. Relations between Moscow and the London exiles have been strained ever since the latter asked for an investigation of German charges that the Russians bad slain 30,000 Polish army officers. I.jfc., ? ... Mrs. MeDswell Ml L4. Gss4 Notes of an Innocent Bystander: The Wireless: Radio's coverage of the San Francisconfab is all aces. The news analysts are turning the pockets of their minds inside out and presenting perplexing peace prob lems with admirable clarity. They are driving home the issues which will affect every American home. . . . Nothing more soothing than the Nazi shortwavers' blah-by-blah de scription of Verminy's dying gasps. ... Commentator Baukhage's adroit delivery packs a wallop. His recent radio report of FDR's interment landed in the Congressional Record. . . . Rita Hayworth's quip-bandying with Cholly McCarthy kept the chuck les rolling at a swift pace. . . . Talk about crimson faces. A current best seller moans that America is skid ding into "collectivism." The tome's author appeared, on the Chi. Round Table and was asked to give a clear definition of "collectivism." He flunked the query. Memos for a Scrapbook: In a lit erary weekly John Mason Brown has embroidered a delightful bit of literary lace: "Praise has never made anyone unhappy. We like it even when we do not believe it. We tire of it only when it is bestowed too long on other people. It is mu sic we do not object to having played offstage. Although it may shame our consciences and insult our minds, it does no damage to our ears." Between the Book Ends: Top-flight reporter Ira Wolfert has captured the sordid tragedy, flaming courage and shining hopes of the current struggle via "American Guerrilla in the Philippines" (Simon It Schuster). This slam-bang chronicle of Lt. I. D. Richardson's exploits creates a spir itual glow. . . . Most timely is A. E. Kahn and Michael Sayers' "The Plot Against the Peace" (Dial Press). Here are the names of the fascist peace-wreckers and their battle strategy. . . . Morris L. Ernst's "The Best Is Yet" offers a sizzling series of essays. His most crushing hay makers land on the few presstitutes in our midst. Such "journalists" can cover their depravity with lofty rhetoric, but they can't hide their shame. Quotation Marksmanship: A. Ward: Let us all be happy and live within our means, even if we have to borrow money to do it with. . . . R. C. Sherrif: The telephone be gan calling out like a spoiled child, and he hurried off to soothe it. . . . Dorothy Parker: She said her words with every courtesy to each of them, as if she respected language. . . . The Jergens Journal: And so I re main Your New York Correspond ent who, in this babble of tongues, just found out that Eden means gar den, Molotov means hammer, Stalin means steel and Truman?means business. Stalingrad rocked under a mur derous barrage. Late one night, a creaking ferryboat, piloted by a wheezened old boatman, was smashed by a shell. The old man and a young lieutenant aboard were thrown into the river. The heavily packed soldier started to go down. . . . "Here," shouted the old man, "take this life preserver," and looped it over the officer's shoulder. The lieutenant tried to push it away. . . . "Stop, you fool," screamed the boatman. "I'm old?my arm is missing. I'm through. But you're young and can fight. Take the pre server. Hold Stalingrad!" Just another unsung, unknown hero in the fight for Decency. Counter-A ttack: Little Inna Bentago is ? six-year old orphan. Her father?killed at the front. Her mother?by a Nazi bomb. ... On Red Army Day all the other children in her kindergar ten class were busy writing letters to their fathers or brothers. Inna came sobbing to Natasha Zemskaya, her teacher. "I have no Daddy and no one to write to." Natasha com forted the child and told her to write to LL Alexander Kuksenok. . . . Little Inna laboriously poured her heart into a scrawling letter. Soon she received an answer. "Don't you , cry, little Inna," wrote the lieuten- | ant. "From now on I'm your broth er. I am sending you a little gift. Be a good girl. Love, Alex." ... 1 Each week Alex wrote to his newly adopted sister. . . . Suddenly the let ters stopped. After several weeks, Inna received a note. It was signed by a hundred soldiers and said: "Alex has been killed, but do not feel bad. His last wish was for all at us tp become your brothers. So now you have a very large family, a hundred brothers. Be a^good girl and write to ue. Love... On May 22 We Celebrate National Maritime Day To Honor the Men of Our Merchant Marine and Their Great Contribution to Winning the War OUR MERCHANT SHIPS DELIVER THE GOODS ( Width ?( flow lines on this msp indicates relative density of outbound trafllc in the various services, but the lines do not represent actual ship routes.?(D. S. Maritime Commission Photod OJ?C<UillU 0\/VriA naiwni Released by Western Newspaper Union. FOR the last 12 years we have celebrated National Maritime Day annually on May 22 but never before has the day had more significance than it has this year. With Germany conquered and the United Nations ready to give Japan the knock-out punch, we can now see the dawn of peace not far ahead. And when the final history of World War II is written, high on the list of those who contributed most to victory will be written the names of the men of the United States merchant marine. T7? !1 it '1 ?? A r or li was mey, vne seamen" of our peacetime merchant ma rine, augmented by more than 190,000 landlubbers ? former grocery .clerks, shoe salesmen, office clerks, truck drivers, etc. ? who VOLUNTEERED for duty with the United States mar itime service, manned more than 4,000 ships in our Victory Fleet, and as "partners in every invasion and source of supply for every attack," they deliv ered the supplies for 10,000,000 men overseas which made those invasions and attacks possible. That is why National Maritime Day has a special meaning this year and why all Americans will be proud to heed the proclamation of the President of the United States, dis play their flags on May 22 and with special programs honor the war- i cargo-carrying seamen of our mer- , chant marine. When the Japs made their sneak : attack at Pearl Harbor and imme- ; diately afterwards Germany de clared war on the United States, the oernn-ioKyo axis leu reasonaDiy certain that they could win the war before Uncle Sam could muster his full strength to save England and Russia from defeat, much less go over to the offensive from the de fensive. To make the weight of his armed might felt, Uncle Sam must have ships, more ships and still more ships in order to transport his fighting men to the battle fronts. Never did the enemy dream that Uncle Sam could raise his cargo tonnage from 11,000,000 deadweight tons to 43,000,000 tons in three years nor train the men to sail this giant fleet. Never did they dream that he could ship war materials at the ?rate of 8,000 tons an hour, 24 hours a day, 305 days a year. And yet that is exactly what Uncle Sam has done ?Uncle Sam and his sons in the merchant marine. Here, in brief, is how the giant task was accom plished : The merchant marine act, creat ing the maritime commission, was passed by congress in 1838 when the threat of war in Europe was "a cloud on the horizon, no larger than a man's hand." In 1939 the first of a modern fleet of cargo ahips was delivered, and when 1940 ended 40 of these were at Work, delivering the lend-lease shipments which were helping keep our future Allies in the fight. By the time of Pearl Harbor 50 more had been added and shortly afterward the first Liberty ship was delivered for war service. Early the next year the President directed the commission to build 8,000,000 deadweight tons during 1942. That goal was exceeded. Then the accel eration of shipbuilding really began. Sixteen million tons was the mark set for 1943. More than 19,000,000 tons were delivered. By the time we were back in the Philippines more than 4,000 cargo ahips built in the wartime period in United States shipyards were at work for the United Nations. But providing vessels for carrying supplies was not Uncle Sam's only achievement as the No. 1 shipbuild er of the- world. With 4,000 cargo ships under the war shipping admin istration and the antisubmarine campaign of the American and Brit ish navy steadily cutting down the loss of shipping by U-boat attack, the maritime commission was able to turn its facilities more to con struction of military types of craft. In the specialized island warfare against the Japanese the joint chiefs of staff found need for new kinds of vessels. So, with the cooperation of the maritime commission, the United States navy developed a spe cial type of combat cargo and com bat transport ship for fighting in the Pacific. These types were built on the com mission's Victory or C-type hulls. The Victory ship, a modern coun terpart of the Liberty, but turbine propelled and SO per cent faster than the earlier model, has replaced the Liberty construction in some yards. More than 360 of the new models nave Deen Duut since tne nrst de livery in February, 1944, and about one-third of them are now trans ports, combat vessels and other military types. Just as important, if not more so, is the service of these vessels in landing on the invasion beaches I the supplies which our fighting men < must have. For instance EVERY soldier who landed on the beaches of Normandy. Leyte and I wo had to have t to IS tons of equipment land with him and in combat he needs an additional 2 tons of sup plies each month. Without those sup plies he would soon be as helpless as he would be if deprived of his Garand rifle or any other weapon. Incidentally, one of the breathtak ing innovations of this war was the creation of artificial harbors on the Normandy coast to permit unload ing of troops and supplies for the invasion of France. Thirty-two ob solete or badly damaged vessels ware sunk to form breakwaters, buttressed by concrete piers con structed especially for the purpose in England and towed across the channel by tugs. One thousand mer chant seamen volunteered for the task. The artificial harbors replaced some of the advantages of lbs natural lactuuei destroyed by the Germans and gave the Allies the choice of landing beaches. Such, in brief, is the story of Uncle Sam's achievement in provid ing the "bridge of ships" over which has passed and still is passing his armed might to help win the final victory over the forces of evil that would enslave the world. But this is only a part of the story. Millions of tons of ships may be built but they are useless unless there are men to sail them. How were these men provided? Every cargo vessel that comes into service requires 40 to 60 men for its crew. The Waf Shipping administration, charged with train ing and recruiting seamen, has ex panded the merchant marine cadet corps for the training of ships' of ficers, the maritime service for training and upgrading seamen and the recruitment and manning organ ization for procurement of experi enced seamen. The training organization of WSA trained and graduated 11,300 men for ships' officers and trained or up graded 76,400 seamen in 1044. The recruitment and manning organiza tion, supplementing efforts of oper ating companies and maritime unions to procure crews, recruited 30,000 experienced seamen from shorn jobs in 1944. Since its estab lishment in 1938 all branches of the War Shipping administration (the United States maritime service, the merchant marine cadet corps, and the state maritime academies) have fe trained more than 190,000 Americans as officers and sgamen to man our wartime merchant fleet. These 190,000 Americans who vol unteered their service to their coun try are civilians and have no mili tary status. But they have heroically risked their lives just as much as have our soldiers, sailors, marines and coastguardsmen who have met the enemy in mortal combat on land, on sea and in the air. Despite the fact that improvement in meth ods of protecting Allied convoys and of curbing the submarine menace had greatly reduced the hazards ot sailing in 1944, the fact remains that up to April, 194S, the merchant, marine has suffered 6,057 casualties ?5,522 dead and missing and 53S prisoners of war. And it is signifi cant too that the merchant marine distinguished service medal, award ed for outstanding acts of heroism by merchant seamen, has been pre sented to more than 100 of these merchant seamen for action after September 1, 1939. All of which are reasons?though there are many, many more why all Americans should join in honoring these valiant fighters lor freedom on National Maritime Day. May H - i Amphibious alligator tank la towered over the side of a navy ship. M helped in successful invasion of Iwo Jima.?<U. S. Navy Photo.)
The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 17, 1945, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75