Newspapers / Shelby Daily Star (Shelby, … / Jan. 24, 1945, edition 1 / Page 1
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1 WEATHER North Carollna^-Falr and mild to day, tonight and Thursday. The Hhelhy Baily Him« - State Theatre Today - “And Now Tomorrow* Starring Alan LADD — Loretta YOUNG NEWS — MUSICAL CLEVELAND COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1894 TELEPHONES 1100 VOL. XLIII-21 ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWS SHELBY, N. C. WEDNESD’Y, JAN. 24, 1945 TELEMAT PICTURES SINGLE COPIES—6c I Russians Massing Along 1 50 Miles Of Oder River, Crossing Is Unconfirmed By The Associated Press LONDON, Jan. 24.—Russian troops battled today through the streets of the prize Silesian cities of Oppeln and Gleiwitz and hacked out advances near Brieg and Cosel, Oder river towns above and below Oppeln, a late Moscow dispatch declared. This direct Associated Press dispatch written at 5 P. M. (10 A. M., EWT) said “there were no indications yet that Marshal Ivan Konev’s men has crossed the frozen Oder.” An earlier Reuters dispatch from Moscow, however, said Konev’s men had “established at least one bridgehead across the Oder,” last great natural barrier protecting the heart of Germany, presumably near Brieg. Brieg lies on the west bank of the Oder midway be tween Oppeln and Breslau on the river to the northwest, and Cosel is 27 miles below Oppeln. The Germans threw People's army troops into battles to stop the Soviet push on Breslau but the Russians were massing along 50 miles of the Oder and heavily shelling a wide area on the west bank of that last natural defense of the heart of Oermany. In East Prussia, Marshal Kon stantin K. Rokossovsky’s army battered in the outer perimeter, of the defense sone guarding El bing on the Baltic coast, whose fall would slice the Junkers prov — lnce off from Germany. An unconfirmed report said Konigsberg had been entered by other Russians sweeping In from the east. One of the Red army’s sternest battles appeared loom ing in Poland in the Posnan area where Marshal Gregory Zhukov fought on the direct t line to Berlin, a Moscow dis patch said. Posnan is 137 See RUSSIA Page 2 > Yanks Only 10 Miles From Clark Field Front Lino Nooring Prized Airstrips; Griswold's Men Neoring Bambon By RICHARD BERGHOLZ GENERAL MacARTHUR’S HEADQUARTERS, Luzon, Jan. 24.—(,/P)—Yank patrols operated today near Clark Field whose 13 highly-prized airstrips are less than 10 miles be yond the front lines of the Manila-bound 14th army corps.’ U.S., BRITISH AGENTSSLAIN Nazis Report 18 Agents, Caught In Slovakia, Executed LONDON, Jan. 24 —(A*>— The Germans announced today the execution of 18 '‘Anglo-American” agents charged with being sent in to Slovakia to carry out sabotage. Transocean, Nazi news agency, said in a Berlin broadcast that the men were captured in the rear of the German front. "They were sentenced to death i by a military tribunal and exe cuted by shooting,” the broadcast Eald. Text of the German statement as broadcast by transocean said: “Eighteen British and American secret agents, led by the American Green and the British Bhmer, who passed himself off as a ma jor, have been captured in the rear of the German front on Slo vak soil. "Interrogation showed they had been given the task of organizing sabotage in Slovakia and engaging in economic and political espion age in the Anglo-American inter ests. “When caught the agents were wearing civilian dress. “They were sentenced to death by a military tribunal and exe cuted by shooting.” MaJ. Gen. Oscar W. Griswolds columns took cover at times while enemy artillery positions were si lenced on the approaches to Bam ban town, already smoking from American air and field gun at tacks. Six miles beyond Bamban is the maze of runways, hangar shops and barracks which constitute one of Luzon's biggest military prizes. Spencer Davis, Associated Press war correspondent with the 40th division, said in a field dispatch that "waves of American infantry men" were moving cautiously across vegetable' fields toward Bamban. He said the Yanks crossed “the small stream sonth of Ca pas" and then “sped” south. Inasmuch as the stream is less than four miles from Bamban, the suggested columns may be at the town’s outskirts. The Japanese may make their first stand along the natural de fense line of the Bamban river, last barrier to Clark Field. That is at a point 58 miles south of the Jan. 9 landing by five Yank divi sions and other elements along Lingayen Gulf, and well over half way to Manila. Tuesday Griswold’s men slowed their big southward push while they fanned out around burned and captured Capas. One force swung nine miles west through hill country and occupied deserted Camp O’Donnell to which the Japanese had put the torch. The doughboys came upon plots overrun with waist-high wild grass, except where flames had swept, containing the graves of at least 4,000 Filipinos and scores of Amer icans: These soldiers, whose heroic See YANKS Page * Armed Forces War Reports Boost Service Legislation By WILLIAM F. ARBOGAST WASHINGTON, Jan. 24.—</P)— Heads of the armed forces made a secret war report to congress to day, and backers promptly claim ed a big boost for national service legislation. The meeting, an annual event started last year, was attended by most members who heard talks by Gen. George C. Marshall, Admiral Ernest J. King, War Secretary Stlmson and Navy Secretary For restal. Speaker Rayburn told reporters after the three-hour session in the congressional library auditorium the meeting was bound to have a "considerable psychological effect” on the current drive for “work flght-or-Jail” legislation. NOT MENTIONED According to those attending none of the speakers mentioned the legislation. But Representative Wadsworth (R-NY), one of the leading advocates of national serv ice proposals, said "It didn't hurt.” Wadsworth and others said the talks dealt primarily with the prog , See ARMED Page l PFC. WILLIE D. GRIFFIN 2 CASUALTIES ARE REPORTED Sgt. Bonnie Wright Dies Of Wounds; Pfc. Grif fin Missing Casualty massages received to day reveal that one Cleveland county boy Is reported missing and one previously reported ser iously wounded has died of his wounds. Both casualty reports some from the battlefields in Bel gium. Pfc. Willie G. Griffin, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Griffin of route 2, Shelby, has been report ed missing in action since Jan uary 6. In Belgium, according to word yeedlvad Imr* Urn War de partment by his parents today. Pfc. Griffin entered the Army in November, 1942, and received his infantry training at Camp Adair, Oregon, before going overseas. Staff Sgt. Bonnie G. Wright, who was reported seriously woun ded, in a telegram received from the War department only yester day, has died from the wounds received in action in Belgium, Jan. 3, according to the message re ceived today by his parents. Sgt. Wright is a son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Wright of route 5, Shelby and the husband of Mrs. Thelma Glover Wright. He had been serving in the Armed forces since February, 1942. Fifth Army Meets Strong Nazi Defenses ROME, Jan* 34. —<AV- Ameri can Fifth arnu'1' patrols, Increasing their activity JLs, snow ceased fall ing on the XlUlfin front, have bumped up against strong German defenses, particularly south of Bologna, Allied headquarters an nounced today. The German air force, which appeared again on the Italian front yesterday, hit at supply arteries for the Fifth army lines in front of Bologna. No damage or casualties were reported. Farther east on the Eighth army sector enemy patrols continued ac tive on the Senio river. One enemy raiding party hit twice at Eighth 'army outposts on the south bank of the Verto canal, southeast of Al fonslne, but was beaten back each time by tanks, artillery and mortar fire. The Fifth army patrols thrust to within eight and a half miles of Bologna on highway 65 at Bar chetta, where they met heavy ene my fire. Similar resistance was en countered at Casa Nuovo, nine miles south of the gateway city to the Po valley. The Germans were reported car rying out wholesale demolition in the entire area at their stronghold of Alfonsine. WHAT’$ fiOING 7:00 p. m.—Crusade for Christ meeting at Central Methodist church. S 7:00 p. m.—Officers and teachers of First Baptist Sun day school meet at church. 7:30 p. m. — Presbyterians hold prayer service at church. 7:45 p. m.—Mid-week pray er and praise service at First Baptist church. THURSDAY 7:00 p. m.—Kiwanis club holds regular meeting at Charles hotel. 7:30 p. m.—C. A. P. members meet at armory. NEW SENATORS BACK PEACE ORGANIZATION 16 "Freshmen" Pledge Support To Movement For World Peace HOEY AMONG GROUP By The Associated Press WASHINGTON, Jan. 24.— (fP)—Sixteen new members of the United States Senate ad vised President Roosevelt to day that they will back for mation of a United Nations organization t o preserve world peace. The 10 new Democratic and six new Republican members got to gether on their own initiative and sent their assurance in a letter to the White House. Wishing Mr. Roosevelt success in conferences with Marshal Sta lin and Prime Minister Churchill, the freshmen senators said: “We believe this govern t ment should use all reason able means to assure our Al lies and the other nations of the world that we intend to share in the direction of and the responsibility for the, set tlement of this war and the maintenance of peace.” They suggested further that “an agreement among the major Al lies be concluded as soon as pos sible, to demilitarize Germany and to keep it demilitarized.” PARTICIPATE “We . believe,” they said, “that this government should, -as soon as possible, arrange to participate affirmatively In all decisions af fecting the establishment of law and order in the liberated or ene my countries.” It was learned that Senators Pulbright (D-Ark) and Smith (R NJ) were leaders in formulating the letter to the White House. In the last congress Fulbright, then a member of the House, sponsor ed a resolution favoring creation of international machinery with the power to maintain “lasting peace.” Other signers were — among the Democrats—Briggs of Mis souri, Hoey of North Carolina, McMahon of Connecticut, Mitchell of Washington, My ers of Pennsylvania and Tay lor of Idaho. Republican signers in addition to Smith were Capehart of Indi ana, Donnell of Missouri, Hick enlooper of Iowa, Morse of Oregon and Saltonstall of Massachusetts. In addition, Senators Magnuson See NEW SENATORS Page 2 Allied Roadblock Is Jap Death Mill MYITKYINA, BURMA, Jan. 24 —(A>)—A roadblock established by Americans of the “Mars Task Force” on the old Burma road about 80 miles north of Lashio has become a.Japanese death mill. The enemy for the sixth straight day sent small forces up a steep hill against the strong American position today. Scores of Japanese died along the mountain slopes in persistent attempts to dislodge the American infantry and artillery units ufider Brig. Gen. John P. Willey of Hampton, Va. Up to yesterday the artillery ambush had killed more than 350 Japanese who were retreating southward. WILLIS McMURRY . HORACE EASOM IWOJIMAHIT BY SUPERFORTS WASHINGTON, Jan. 24—</P) — Superfortresses attacked military installations on the the Japanese island of Iwo t Jima today. An Island in the Volcano group, Iwo Jima is about mid way between the Marianas bases of the 21st bomber com mand and Japan. From its air srtips the Japanese fre quently sent fighters to inter cept Japan-bound B-29s. On a recent broadcast the Japanese openly speculated that Iwo Jima may be invaded. The War department bulle tin announcing the strike by Maj. Gen. Curtis E. Le May’s bombers did not provide addi tional details; a communique on the mission will be issued whep details are available. Today’s raid reflected the stepped-up tempo of 21st bom ber command operations, fol lowing on the heels of yester day’s attack on factories at Nagoya. Some PP X-29s in four formations encountered fierce Japanese air resistance. In hitting the Japanese home island of Honshu one Super fort was lost. 1,118 OPA CASES RALEIGH. — yp)— The enforce ment division of the Raleigh di strict OPA handled 1,118 cases in 1944, with treble damage and vo luntary contributions totaling $119,184.64 being paid to the U. S. treasurer for overcharges. During the year there were 129 criminal prosecutions, 263 suspension orders for violation of rationing regula tions, and 55 injunctions. Another School Bill Hits Legislative Hopper Today RALEIGH, Jan. 24.—(fP)—Another school bill hit the legislative hopper today, this one to provide for the employ ment of principals for 10 months instead of the present nine. It was introduced by Senator Mntheny of Rutherford, who al ready has sent up several dealing with teachers and principals. Un der the measure today, the State Board of Education would deter mine how much of the extra month would be spent by the prin cipals before and after the open ing of school terms. A similar measure was intro duced in the house by McDonald of Polk and Powers of Rutherford. Senator Gay of Northamp ton introduced a bill increasing the pay of the governor’s pri vate secretary from $4,800 to $5,000 a year. Reports that such a measure would be In troduced have been current since John Harden left his post as news editor of the Greens boro Daily News to become pri vate secretary to Governor Cherry. A measure by Senator Little of Anson would presume persons miss ing in war action to be dead af ter two years instead of seven. The aimed services pay insurance to See ANOTHER Page l J. W. GARDNER DRIVE LEADERS — Three co chairmen named today by Mai A. Spangler, sr., general chairman, to direct separate phases of the Red Cross War Fund drive opening March 1 are Willis McMurry, co chairman for the city of Shelby; Horace Easom, co-chairman for rural areas; J. W. Gardner, co chairman for the industrial divis ion. NAMELEADERS WAR FUND DRIVE Easom Directs Rural, Wil lis McMurry City, J. W. Gardner Industrial Three co-chairmen for the an nuaMted C?^ Tf»)fl Call arid War Fund drive were announced today by Mai A. Spangler, sr., general chairman. of the campaign which will be conducted in March. The trio named today are: Willis McMurry who will direct solicitation in the city. Horace Easom who has agreed to direct the campaign in rural Cleveland, excepting Number Four township, which conducts its cam paign through its own separate .ped Cross unit. 0- J. W. “Decker” Gardner who will direct the industrial phase of the campaign. Additional chairmen to handle the business district and the la dies division will be announced in the next few days as the organi zation is completed, Chairman Spangler said. He added that no one asked to serve had refused and he said he feels the enthusiastic support already evident assures success of the drive despite the enlarged quota certain to be ask ed to meet expanding needs and services of the Red Cross here and abroad. LEAR DEPUTY COMMANDER New Assignment Is Ad ministrative, Unconnect ed With Campaign PARIS, Jan. 24. —()P)— Lt. Gen. Ben Lear has been appointed de puty commander in the European theater charged fclth administra tive matters of United States troops, supreme headquarters an nounced today. Lear’s new assignment pertains purely to American administration and is not connected with the di rection of the campaign, which is on an Allied basis. He had been ill command of U. S. Army ground forces. He was ap pointed to that post in July, 1944, succeeding Lt. Gotti Lesley McNair, who was killed in action. In Washington Lear’s new as signment revived speculation that Gen. Joseph W. , (Vinegar Joe) Stilwell may beijiamed ground forces chief, at Mist temporarily. Stilwell, currently the only four star general without a specific as signment, was recalled last Octo ber as commander of U. S. forces in Asia. The War Department said then he would get an important job but subsequently has declined comment. While Stilwell has won most at tention in the field, he also has held army teaching assignments that would qualify him as ground -force commander—a post largely devoted to troop training. He has served as an instructor at West Point, as an instructor and assistant executive at the infantry school at Port Benning, Ga., and with the organized reserves. Allied Airmen Blast Packed Troop Trains By The Associated Press PARIS, Jan. 24.—(/P)—Allied warplanes blasted anew today at a great exodus of German troops and tanks mov ing northeast by rail and road from the flattened Ardennes salient of the western front toward the convulsed Russian battlefields. The mystery move still lacked official clarification, AP Correspondent Roger D. Green reported from the northern part of the western front. The American First and Third armies hammered through thick snowfields against the slender strip of Bel gium and Luxembourg still in German hands. Weather prevented all but scattered flights in the cen ter, but in the north, RAF Spitfires and Tempests bombed and shot up scores of packed troop trains with rockets, can nons and machineguns. The Britons, too, flew in wretched weather. I — The trains presumably were load ed with a large part of the panzer forces which bore the brunt of Field Marshal von Rundstedt’s broken pre-Christmas offensive in the Ardennes. The enemy continu ed to move in broad daylight de spite the wholesale carnage and wreckage inflicted by Allied planes. Up and down the three main railroads from Dusseldorf to Hannover, the RAF spread its fresh destruction and beat off feeble German aerial attempts to protect the trains. Hannov er is about 335 miles from the nearest Russians charging across Western Poland. Roads and rails were clogged; the Germans moved by day as well as night despite Allied air blows which in 48 hours up to today cost them 4,706 trucks, 207 tanks and hundreds of railcars and loco motives. British pilots alone at tacked 165 packed eastbound troop trains on three lines between Dus seldorf and Hannover. Pilots said trains moving toward the western front were empty. Indications were that the Ger mans were withdrawing large ar mored forces from the west, a front dispatch from the general area of Field Marshal Montgom ery’s headquarters said. The Germans held a scant 200 square miles in the Ardennes, half See ALLIED Page * LABOR SECRETARY: Frances Perkins Resigns, Re-accepts FDR Refuses To Accept Resignation, Reappoints Her To Fourth Term Cabinet By HAROLD W. WARD WASHINGTON, Jan. 24.—P)—President Roosevelt has redesignated Frances Perkins as Secretary of Labor in his fourth term cabinet, after declining to accept her resig nation. It was learned authoritatively today Miss Perkins had intended her resignation—submitted as a formality—to "stick” and that she had been preparing to leave Washington after the inaugura tion. Mr. Roosevelt rejected the resig nation orally last Saturday—inau guration day — and followed through with a letter. Miss Perkins, who served as New York State Labor commissioner for 13 years before her appoint ment to the cabinet in 1933, has been under fire throughout much of her stay in Washington. Difficulty of selecting a candi date from the ranks of labor who would be acceptable to both the AFL and CIO has been generally given as the reason for her long tenure in the face of an often expressed desire to quit. Question For Churchill LONDON, Jan. 24— (/P)—Prime Minister Churchill will be asked in commons tomorrow whether, if Germany resorts to the use of poi son gas, the allies "are prepared with sufficient machines and gas immediately to deluge Germany in the same manner.” LIONS DISCUSS CAMP FOR BOYS Further groundwork for one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by the local Lions club, sponsorship of a fresh air camp for a selected group of Shel by boys, was laid at last night's meeting of the club when addi tional committees were assigned to work on the project. Worth Morris was in charge of last night's program which was featured by a review of Lion*’ ac complishments as well as by con sideration of plans for the new undertaking. President R. J. Rucker presided. Rev. W. P. Biggerstaff, who heads the committee which Is di recting plans for the fresh air camp said that the camp site had already been engaged at Camp York near the Kings Mountain battleground and that the camp would be held the first two weeks in July. He declared that this effort by See LIONS Page Z Retreating Germans May Be Set For Stand Inside Reich By JUDSON O’QUINN LONDON, Jan. 24.—ffl—While the Red army’s swi't advances have resulted in a great upswing of op timism here, the possibility is not being overlooked that the retreat ing Germans may be extricating large numbers of troops for a des perate stand inside the reich in the hope of prolonging the war. Speculation along these lines is heightened by the absence of of ficia1 Russian reports of over whelming enemy casualties—a fact suggesting that the Germans may be withdrawing under Soviet pres sure in accordance with a well conceived strategic plan. This is not necessarily so. It may be that the Russians, intent upon cutting the enemy to pieces with their armored columns, are not stopping to mop up pockets hope lessly cut off by their swift advance or to total up casualties. ' FEW TRAPPED Yet, there have been no official Moscow reports of the entrapment of large German forces. The only total on German losses announced See RETREATING Pa*# t
Shelby Daily Star (Shelby, N.C.)
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Jan. 24, 1945, edition 1
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