Waste Paper Is A Critical War Materlal—save Yours For T1
Jaycees Sunday
WEATHER
North Carolina—Pair and colder
today and tonight with tempera
tures tonight 22-26, and 26-32.
Saturday partly cloudy and slight
ly warmer.
I Tshe Sphkihy Bang Him
STATE THEATRE TODAY
JON HALL In
"THE INVISIBLE MAN'S
REVENGE"
Also News, 3 Stooges Comedy
CLEVELAND COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1894
TELEPHONES 1100
VOL. XLIII-5
ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWS
SHELBY, N. C.
FRIDAY, JAN. 5, 1945
TELEMAT PICTURES
SINGLE COPIES—5c
RUSSIANS HOLD
» GRIMLY ABOVE
BUDAPEST
German Drive Seeks To
Liberate Nazis Trapped
Within City
streetW-street
By DANIEL DE LUCE
MOSCOW, Jan. 5.—(/P)—
Russian forces were reported
grimly holding off German
attacks supported by hun
dreds of planes today in the
Soviet-held corridor, once 30
miles deep, northwest of be
leaguered Budapest.
The German panzer thrust down
from the Danube, west of the big
Danube bend, entered its third day.
It appeared daringly designed to
liberate remnants of nine Nazi di
visions trapped in the Hungarian
capital.
Inside Budapest Russian storm
forces for the eighth day gained
more ground and now have occu
pied -,M00 city blocks since the ini
tial attack last Friday, a Soviet
communique said.
The German counter-offen
sive northwest of the city was
fed by panser and air force re
serves brought directly from the
Reich, the Russians said, and
they were flung into battle in a
desperate bid to break the So
viet siege line clamped around
the capital.
The Russians asserted they had
knocked out more than 100 tanks
tn two days in the corridor about
30 miles southeast of Komarom.
WAVES OF TANKS
A Red Star frontline dispatch said
waves of German tanks beat
against Russian defenses in the
Vertes hills and along the right
bank of the Danube. Nazi forma
See RUSSIANS Page 2
60 JAP SHIPS
SUNK IN RAIDS
Luzon Attacks In First
Three Days Of 1945
Took Heavy Toll
GENERAL MacARTHUR’S
HEADQUARTERS. PHILIPPIN
ES. Jan. 5.—MV— Heightened Am
erican air assaults on Luzon, main
island of the Philippines, sank or
badly damaged 60 ships the first
three days of 1945 and raised havoc
with Japanese planes at Clark
Field, 75 miles northwest of Ma
nila, headquarters reported today.
Gen. Douglas MacArthur
announced the sinking or
damaging of 35 ships at Ma
nila Bay and in Lingayen Gulf,
150 miles to the north, on
Tuesday and Wednesday. On
New Year’s day 25 ships were
sunk or damaged In the same
areas
Besides the 25 freighters and
transports, aggregating 57,000 tons,
listed in MacArthur’s latest bag,
American aircraft also accounted
for a seaplane carrier, three naval
escorts, a coastal vessel and five
luggers sunk or severely damaged.
Liberators returned to Clark
Field to wipe out 20 planes caught
in dispersal areas. No intercep
tors were encountered on this lat
est expedition.
JAP ATTACKS
Fresh Japanese air attacks hit
Mindoro island, where American
troop landings this week have been
effected. The enemy planes struck
airfield and shipping installations
See 60 SHIPS Page 2
SENATOR HOEY BREAKS TRADITIOJV—North Carolina's new Demo
cratic senator, Clyde R. Hoey, who was sworn in at the opening of the
79th Congress, broke tradition by disregarding a senate rule which does
not permit flowers to be brought into the senate chamber. Hoey displays
the flower in his coat lapel.
Legislature Votes
To Continue Bonus
Both Branches Get Bills For Amendment To Grant
Women Equal Rights
RALEIGH, Jan. 5.—(/P)—The legislature voted today to
continue the war bonus for teachers and state employes for
another six months and both branches received bills pro
viding for a vote on a proposed constitutional amendment
to allow women equal rights, including jury service.
Thus, the assembly carnea oui
one of Governor Cherry’s recom
mendations which he made yes
terday in his inaugural address.
The bonus expired January 1 and
today’s action would continue it
through this fiscal year. Reps.
Pearsall of Nash, Stone of Rock
ingham and Hatch of Wake in
troduced the measure. Pearsall
said R. G. Peyton, assistant direc
tor of the budget, told him the
cost would be approximately $?,
496,773. The measure was intro
duced in • the Senate by Price of
Rockingham.
Senator Price and Reps. Loftin
of Buncombe, Harris of North
hampton and Mrs. Cover of Chero
kee introduced the measure pro
viding for a constitutional amend
ment. The wording of the docu
ment would be changed from
“men” and “male” to “persons.”
The measure went to the commit
tees on constitutional amend
ments.
It followed wide public discus
sion of a recent Supreme court
See LEGISLATURE Page 2
Paul Webb, Sr., In
Critical Condition
Paul Webb, sr., a leading citizen
and pioneer druggist here who has
been extremely ill for several
weeks, was transferred from his
N. Morgan street home to Shelby
hospital this morning where his
condition is regarded critical.
4-f’s And Non-Essential
Workers Flock To War Jobs
'
WASHINGTON, Jan, 5. -W—
4-F’s and non-essential workers,
spurred by talk of stringent new
manpower controls, were reported
today applying for war work by the
thousands.
Employment agencies clocked
the heaviest stream of job appli
cants In months as labor and farm
spokesmen continued to blast War
Mobllizer James F. Byrnes’ latest
manpower recommendations.
“Serious” and “acute” manpower
shortages nevertheless still were
reported In some states by war
manpower commission officials.
Counter proposals to Byrnes’
threat to draft 4-Fs for war jobs
and his order to screen young farm
workers for possible military serv
ice came from senate and house
members and others.
COUNTERPROPOSALS
Some examples:
Senator Kilgore (D-WVA)—That
4-Fs be put In uniform to replace
thousands of civilian army and
navy employes to halt what he
called “a wasting of manpower.”
Rep. Arnold (R-Mo)—That Se
lective Service comb "offices and
desk Jobs” rather than look to
See 4-F’s Pare * ■>
AKYAB FALLS
TO ALLIES
Important' Japanese Sup
ply Base Captured By
Seaborne Forces
SOUTHEAST ASIA COMMAND
HEADQUARTERS, Kandy, Ceylon,
Jan 5. —UP)— The city of Akyab,
third largest port of Burma and
for two years an important Japan
ese supply base, has fallen to
British and Indian seaborne forces,
Allied headquarters announced to
day.
A communique said the attackers
had swarmed ashore on Akyab Is
land—on which the city is situated
—early Wednesday morning with
out encountering any opposition.
“The island is firmly in our
hands,” the bulletin declared.
PRIME OBJECTIVE ,
Akyab, which has a normal popu
lation of about 40,000 and is situated
at the mouth of the Kaladan river
on the Burmese west coast, has
been a prime objective of the Al
lied drive in southwest Burma. The
Japanese were reported to have had
about 1,000 troops on the island
See AKYAB Page 2
V-2 Rocket Fire On
London Stepped Up
LONDON, Jan. 5.— f/P) —V-2
rocket fire on London has been
stepped up during the last 24
hours, the German high command
announced today.
The German broadcast gave no
indication of the number of pro
jectiles launched against Britain,
and a British communique sale
only that “there has been enemy
air activity directed against south
ern England x x x damage and
casualties were reported.
Recently when a V-2 rocket
struck a block of apartments in
southern England searchlights,
cranes, dogs and sound detectors
were used by rescuers.
At least three persons were kill
ed and a number were injured, but
two infants were taken from the
debris apparently unharmed.
*
Reds Recognize Polish
Government At Lublin
LONDON, Jan. 5.—(/P)—Russia today announced recog
nition of the Polish Provisional government of Lublin, mak
ing a clean break with the Polish Government-In-Exile in
London, which still is recognized by the United States and
.Britain.
Bringing to a head one of the
thorniest questions facing the im
pending big three parley, the broad
cast announcement came within
four days of the joint announce
ment by the United States and
Britain that they stood by the
London Polish government.
Leaders of the Polish peasant
party in London had sensed a
possibility that Moscow would
announce recognition of the
Lublin government before the
Roosevelt - Churchill - Stalin
meeting. They charged that if
Russia acted before that meet
ing it would be an attempt to
present the other two powers
with a “fait accompli.”
Russia broke relations with the
London Polish government April
26, 1943, in a dispute over the re
ported discovery of graves of thou
sands of Polish officers in the
Smolensk forests. Russia accused
the Germans of executing the Poles,
but the London Polish government
requested that the International
Red Cross make an investigation.
Moscow’s recognition of the Lub
lin group made no reference to the
rival London government. The an
nouncement said:
“On Jan. 4 the Soviet govern
ment was officially informed by
the Provisional National govern
ment of the Polish Republic that
according to a decision of the Pol
ish National council, the oPlish
committee of National Liberation
has been reorganized into the
Provisional National Government
of Poland.
“The Provisional Government of
Poland proposed to the Soviet
government the establishment of
diplomatic relations with Demo
cratic Poland, decided to recognize
the Provisional National govern
ment of the Polish Republic and
to exchange ambassadors.
“The presidium of the Supreme
See REDS Page 2
PARTISANS CROSS
AUSTRIAN BORDER
LONDON, Jan. 5.—(/P)—Yugoslav
partisan forces have crossed the
Austrian border and are menacing
a German arc between Klagenfurt
and Graz, Marshal Tito announced
today.
In a broadcast communique heard
in London, Tito said the partisans
had cut the Maridor-Graz railway
line “in many places,” apparently
in the areas of Wildon, Leibnitz
and Ehrenhausen.
In addition, the announcement
said, the rail line from Maridor to
Dravograd, paralleling the border
just inside Yugoslavia, was destroy
ed “over a long stretch.” This line
crosses the border less than 10 miles
west of Dravograd and leads thence
to Klagenfurt.
Graz lies 26 miles inside Aus
tria opposite the junction of the
Yugoslav, Hungarian and Austrian
borders. Klakenfurt, 63 miles to the
southwest, is 13 miles from the
frontier.
U.S. STANDS BY
POLISH EXILE
GOVERNMENT
Had Received Advance
Notice Of Soviet Action
Toward Lublin
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.— UP) —
The United States today reiterat
ed its recognition of the Polish
exile government despite Russian
recognition of the new Polish re
gime at Lublin as a “provisional
government.”
The state department announced
in reply to inquiries that it had
received advance notice from the
Russian government of the Soviet
action.
Asked for additional comment, a
department spokesman referred to
a statement issued by Secretary of
State Stettinius last Monday and
said there was nothing to add to
it.
In that statement Stettinius as
serted :
“This government continues to
maintain formal diplomatic rela
tions with the Polish government
in exile in London.”
Soviet Ambassador Gromyko call
ed at the state department at 4
p.m., yesterday but officials de
clined to say whether he then
brought the advance notice of to
day’s action in Moscow.
ITAUANFRONT
IS ST1LLFLUID
ROME, Jan. 5.—UP)—Canadian
troops have advanced against
strong enemy counterattacks along
the road east of Alfonsine to
within a mile and one-half of San
Alberto, eight miles south of Ra
venna in the Adriatic coastal sec
tor of the Italian front. Allied
headquarters announced today.
The Germans threw in veteran
troops and brought up Tiger and
Panther tanks in a series of fierce
counterthrusts all of which were
repulsed as the Canadians drove
forward. Heavy losses were in
flicted on the Nazis, the com
munique said.
Further west good progress was
reported north of the captured
Boiogna-Rlmini highway town of
Faenza, where other Eighth army
troops have greatly reduced a Ger
man pocket east of the Senio riv
er.
FRENCH, ITALIAN SITUATIONS;
Message To Congress Will
Deal With Foreign Policy
umi. o.— —
President Roosevelt said today his
message to congress tomorrow would
deal among other things with for
eign policy and manpower.
The chief executive indicated at
his news conference that he might
touch upon the subject of more
materials for the French in his
state of the union message to the
new congress.
He said he would go on the air
tomorrow night for a half-hour
broadcast summary of the 8.000
word document.
The hour has not yet been set,
but a White House secretary said
sometime between 9:30 and 10:30
p.m., EWT, would be preferred.
ITALIAN QUESTION
In connection with his foreign
policy discussions today, the presi
dent said in a reply to questions
that a new program for feeding
Italy had been agreed upon and
that more food is going in there.
He could not estimate the in
crease in pounds but said there •
were mure caiunes m uie new
shipments.
He said shipping still is a very
great problem in feeding the Ital
ians.
Told that some people believe the
Italian armistice terms should be
made public on the ground that
military considerations are no long
er a factor for continued secrecy,
the president said military people
on the spot still consider this fac
tor important.
Some people in this country, he
added, seem to know more than
they do.
A compresensive discussion of
foreign affairs is anticipated in
the president’s message.
FRENCH
Asked whether General Charles
de Gaulle had been told that the
French would get more .materials,
the chief executive advised his
questioner to wait until tomorrow
when his message is sent to con
See MESSAGE Fage 2
HITLER SURVEYS WAR DAMAGE—Sad-faced Adolf Hitler surveys
war damage in an undisclosed town in company with a group of Nazi
officers. The men with him were not identified. It was not known when
the picture was made. It is a scene from a German film captured by the
U. S. Army Signal Corps on the western front.
Gen. Montgomery In
Charge U. S. Armies
Heads All Forces On North Flank Since Start Of
Allied Counterdrive
PARIS, Jan. 5.—(/P)—Field Marshal Sir Bernard L.
Montgomery has been in charge of all forces on the north
flank of the German bulge since the start of the winter
counteroffensive, supreme headquarters announced today.
These forces include the U. S. First and Ninth Armies.
Lt. Gen. Omar N. Bradley, com- j
mander of the 12th Army group,
has been in charge of the southern
flank where the U. S. Third army
is operating, Bradley's group form
erly included the First and Ninth |
GENERAL MONTGOMERY
armies. (In Washington President
Roosevelt said not all but a major
portion of the First army had been
turned over to Montgomery.)
The official announcement from
supreme headquarters said:
“When the German penetration
through the Ardennes created two
fronts, one substantially facing north
and the other south, by instant
agreement of all concerned that
portion of the front facing south
was placed under the command of
Field Marshal Montgomery and
that facing north under the com
mand of General Bradley.”
WHAT’S DOING
TODAY
7:30 p. m. — Call communi
cation of Cleveland lodge 202
A. F. & A. M. for installation
of officers, blue lodge room in
Masonic Temple.
7:30» p. m.—Young Adult
fellowship supper at Central
Methodist. church.
7:30 p. m.— Double header
basketball game at Shelby
high school gym between
Shelby and Cliffside.
- >
WARD HANDLED
WITHIN THE LAW
Gen. Byron Answers Com
pany's Accusation Of
"Traspassing"
CHICAGO, Jan. 5.—UP)—The war
department is operating tlie seized
Montgomery Ward and company
properties in seven cities in “strict
conformity with the law,’’ says
Maj. Gen. Joseph W. Byron, mili
tary manager.
In a statement answering a com
pany accusation yesterday that the
army was "trespassing” and ex
ceeding President Roosevelt’s “il
legal order of seizure,” Byron said
"The integrity of the United States
is pledged to the protection of the
legal rights of all parties in this
matter.
Byron’s statement followed the
company’s disclosure of a letter
sent by H. L. Pearson, vice presi
dent and treasurer, to Byron which
charged the army personnel with
“trespassing” against Ward’s prop
erties and “interference with
See WARD Page 2
NAZI ATTACK
ON SOUTH SIDE
GROWS IN FURY
Germans 15 Miles Inside
France In Drive On
U. S. Seventh
BRADLEY MOVED
PARIS. Jan. 5.—<7P)—Vet
eran British infantry and
armor thrown into the Belg
ian bulge counterattack by
Field Marshal Sir Bernard L.
Montgomery, commanding all
Allied forces on the north
side of the salient, has gain
ed up to 2,000 yards all along
its front.
This was disclosed at su
preme headquarters today
along with the fact that the
U. S. First and Ninth Armies
have been under Montgom
ery’s command since Dec. 20,
when the Germans were
threatening to break the Al
lies’ western front forces in
half.
While the British gained on the
north today, the German attack
into northeastern Prance against
the U. S. Seventh army developed
into a full offensive with a drive
forword for two more miles south
east of Bitche—close to 15 miles
inside France and withiij 12 miles
of the Saverne gap, the key to
Strasbourg.
Lt. Gen. Omar N. Bradley,
American commander of the
12th army group, was disclosed
in charge of all Allied forces on
See NAZI Page 2
SECRECY HIDES
FORMOSA RAIDS
Radio Blackout Suggests
1 Action May Be Contin
uing Third Day
—
By The Associated Press
U. S. PACIFIC FLEET HEAD
j QUARTERS, PEARL HARBOR,
Jan. 5.—The crushing might of U.
S. Third Fleet Aircraft carriers,
whose deep penetration of enemy
waters has Japan warning of ma
jor war developments, may have
fallen for the third straight dav
on Formosa and the Ryukyus.
An ominous radio blackout to
day by the fleet strongly suggest
ed that possibility.
Hitting two strongholds at once,
indicating even greater striking
power than that loosed on sepa
rate days against the same tar
| gets last October, the carrier
planes struck Tuesday and Wed
nesday U. S. date for sure.
That much, but little more, was
confirmed yesterday by Adm.
Chester W. Nimitz in a communi
que which said the details '‘are not
yet available.”
CONTINUING
That phraseology often covers a
continuing operation.
(The circumstances surround
ing the present attacks are such
that the most concentrated air
craft carrier blows of the Pacific
| war may well be in progress.
I (Last October, when the way
was cleared for reinvasion of the
Philippines, the carriers had the
added responsibility of knocking
out the enemy airforce in the
See SECRECY Page t
FULL-SCALE RAID:
Northern Flank Of Bulge
Battered By Allied Bombs
LONDON, Jan. 5.—Allied i
bombers blasted a communications |
center on the northern flank oi
the German bulge In Belgium and !
raked Nazi positions behind the
front In a full-scale assault to
ddy.
Holland-based Mitchells and
Bostons of Field Marshal Sir Ber- !
nard L. Montgomery's air force —
the RAF Second tactical—raided;
a concentration of German ma
terial near Si. Vith before noon. |
Huge formations nf l'. S.
Eighth air fnrro Fn-ing For
tresses and Liberators jabbed
at rail anil road centers de- $
spite thick clouds which ub
scored targets.
Shortly after noon a new wave
of heavies, probably British Lan
casters or Halil axes, was reported
heading toward the Reich before ,
the American raiders returned
from their mission. }
DAY AND NIGHT , j
The tremendous daylight activ
ity by bomber fleets followed two
night raids on Berlin and a sur
prise blow on Mari troops en
See NORTHERN Fage *