Newspapers / Shelby Daily Star (Shelby, … / Feb. 8, 1945, edition 1 / Page 1
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WEATHER Cloudy and cool, showers over east and in mountains today followed by clearing and cooler tonight. Low est temperatures 28-32 in interior. Friday, fair and warmer. Tslxe Schelbe Baily Him CLEVELAND COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1894 TELEPHONES 1100 STATE THEATRE TODAY “One Body Too Many” Starring Jack HALEY — Jean PARKER Also COMEDY — CARTOON VOL. XLIII— 34 ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWS SHELBY, N. C. THURSDAY, FEB. 8, 1945 TELEMAT PICTURES SINGLE COPIES—5c ] SOVIETS SAY DEFENSES BEFORE BERLIN CRUMBLING * * * * * * * * * * * * f# * * * * *.-*.* * * # * ‘Big Three* Meet On Russian Soil; Plan Joint Action In Europe I ***************** ******* . FIRST ARMY CRASHES LAST WESTWALL BARRIERS YANKS CAPTURE SCHMIDT, NEAR ROER DAMS Germans Think Eisenhow er Preparing For Big New Offensive 7-MILE BREACH PARIS, Feb. 8.—(JP)—The American First Army drove clear through the last bar riers of the double Siegfried line 15 miles southeast of Aachen today, captured bloody Schmidt and neared the Roer river dams and reservoirs which had been a major fac tor in checkmating the west ern front offensive last Nov ember. <The German communique said "preparations tor the big Allied attack continue along the Roer. ’ The enemy said a major offensive was imminent with Cologne, the Rhine and industrial Ruhr as ob jectives. American troops outside Duren are 20 miles from Cologne. Capture of the dams might prove the starting signal for the on slaught.! The largest of the dams, the 985-foot thick Schwammenauel. is just over two miles from Schmidt. A combat team of the 78th divis ion reached the northern bank of its vast reservoir. The dam system Is capable of sending an 18-foot wall of water down the 36 miles of the Roer to Roemond. Any troops which had crossed the Roer to the Cologne plain last fall could have been trapped by German-made floods within four hours. Farther south in the 70-mile ac tive front, the Third Army poured through a seven mile breach In the Sigfried line to within a mile and a quarter of the fortress and com munications hub of Pruem, 53 miles southwest of the large Rhine city of Coblenz. In Southern Alsace, Ameri can and French troops stamp ed out ail but a few square miles of the German pocket below Strasbourg. Blodelsheim, nine miles south of Neufbrei sach, was reached and six more miles of the left bank of the Rhine was cleared. Some 12,500 Germans have been ta ken in the pocket. The hard hit westwall appeared to be leaking badly. It has been run through at three places this week by the First and Third arm ies; a 35 mile gap around Aachen was capeured last fall. Although the Siegfried line was backed up a depth of recently dug earthworks and hastily fortified villages, it seemed highly ques tionable whether these improvised defenses could be held after the stronger concrete permanent works gave away. FULL STEAM Gen. Eisenhower was turning his offensive on full steam—aimed at least to the Rhine and likely be See YANKS Page 2 AIR BLOWS MAY BE PRELUDE TO GROUND ATTACK LONDON, Feb. 8.—«P)—German radio warnings to cities all along the western front this morning in dicated Allied planes were continu ing the mass onslaught launched last night by the RAF, perhaps as a prelude to a big new ground offensive. One bomber formation was re ported swinging east over Holland today and the enemy radio said scores of single Allied planes were roaming the sky behind Nazi lines. A force of 700 British heavies last night in full moonlight swoop ed over Nazi troops and equipment concentrations at Kleve and Goch, between the Maas and Rhine riv ers, while a large force of Mos quitos attacked seven key indus trial and communications centers. The attacks were staggered over a two and one-half hour period and kept half of Germany on the alert until after midnight. IN CONFERENCE—The "Big Three”—Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt, are meeting somewhere on Russian soil in the Black Sea area. They have reached “complete agreement” on military prosecution of the war, and are now said to be discussing joint political action in Europe. Airborne Units May Be Used To Leapfrog Rhine WASHINGTON, Feb. 8— VP} — Speculation that Lt. Gen. Lewis H. Brereton's Allied Airborne Army may soon be called upon again to leap-frog the Rhine developed to day as Allied ground forces drove i closer to the river in the Cologne sector. The task of establishing bridge heads across this mighty barrier, preparatory to a sweep Into the heart of Germany, will be one of the greatest confronting Allied commanders once their troops have crashed through the Sieg fried line on a broad front. A logical solution to the prob lem, in the opinion of military ob servers, would be to throw the American-British-Polish air fight ers over the river to seize cross ings for infantry and armored forces. JUNCTION It is considered unlikely, how ever, that the signal for the take off of the paratroopers will be ; given until powerful ground forces j reach a position from which they can advance quickly to a junction with them. Once before, at Arnhem in Holland, the airborne soldiers hnrdled the Rhine only to be forced back when supporting troops were unable to come up quickly enough to anchor the bridgehead they had won. This mistake in timing probably will not be repeated. The Germans, of course, are aware of the threat of Allied aer ial landings and probably have taken measures to thwart them. In* fact, one of the greatest prob lems in such an operation will be the location of an area suitable for the landings. Most of the logical areas behind the Rhine, military experts say, probably are studded with stakes, wires and other obstacles. WHAT’S DOING TODAY 7:00 p.m.—Regular meeting of Kiwanis club. 7:00 p.m. — C.A.P. members meet at armory. FRIDAY 12:30 p.m.—Rotary club meets at Hotel Charles. 7:30 p.m.—Called meeting of Cleveland Lodge 202 A.F. & A. M. at Masonic Temple for work In third degree. Only The Heroic Survive Horrors Of Battlefield TEMPLE, Tex., Feb. 8.— UP) — Pvt. William H. Edwards’ foot was blown of* and he was crying for water, but the three Germans Ig nored his pleas. They wired ex plosives to his body, and left him —a human booby trap. ' Edwards told his strange story today at McCloskey General Hospi tal here . . . How his right foot had been blown off by a mine . . . How the Germans fastened the explosives to him . . . How he knew that if he moved he was doomed ... Or if help came when he was unconscious, he and his Fighting Rages Across Pasig River Great Fires, Set By Japanese Suicide Squads, Still Burn In Heart Of City MANILA, feb. 8.-—{#*)—The broad Pasig river,, its bridges blown up by a desperate foe, was the front line to day in the heart of Manila—a heart torn by sporadic house to-house fighting, exploding shells and great fires set by Japanese suicide squads. The sprawled and blackened bodies of slain Japanese, among 48,000 enemy casualties so far ac counted for on Luzon, dotted scenes of Wanton destruction in the liberated sector north of the river. South of it, demolition groups started more fires. The liberating Yanks, whose Luzon casualties total 7,076, are superior in armored might and have a monopoly in air and naval sup port but desire to save as much as possible of this pearl of the Orient. Artillery duelled across the Pasig, a river varying from 200 to 300 yards in width. The screaming shells otogPie Nip ponese tore holes iit^Mlldings at Santo Tomas ODverslty. They wounded soldvs there and also some of the m?re than 3,000 internees who hfil under gone three years of Imprison ment prior to being reached Saturday night by the first Yanks to enter the city. The first cavalry and 37th in fantry divisions have won all the city north of the Pasg, including the Escalota business district where the enemy devastated a square mile area of office buildings and other non-military structures by firing gasoline drums and touch ing off explosives. } IN STRENGTH Japanese still operated In strength south of the J||ver. Some American troops also Were on the south bank but the deduction of four big bridges delayed a crossing in strength. The fate of these Japanese was sealed by the presence of the U. S. 11th airborne division below them. See FIGHTING Page 2 4,500 Rescued From Nazi Death Camp LONDON, Feb. 8—(A*)—The Red Army has rescued 4,500 persons held in a Nazi death camp at Brzescze, 35 miles southwest of Krakow, the Moscow radio said today. The broadcast said the camp had four gas chambers and 12 in cinerators. rescuers would be Jcaied. And he lay there'for hours between American and German lines in the Huertgen Forest, under a constant artillery bar rage. German 88 shell frag ments hit his left leg as he waited. It all started simply enough, Private Edwards said today. This member of the Fourth Infantry di vision, who has a wife and six children in Hayti, Mo., had be gun what was to have been a 40 See ONLY Page 2 CASUALTIES TOTAL 764,584 Army's Losses Since Be ginning Of War 676,796, Navy's 87,788 WASHINGTON, Feb. 8. — UP)— American combat casualties since the beginning of the war have reaohed 764,584, the Army and Navy disclosed today. Secretary of War Stlmson placed the army’s losses at 676,796 while the Navy listed its total as 87,788. This represented an overall in crease of 27,242 since last week’s report. Stimson said the army casualties represented a compilation of in dividual names received in Wash ington through Jan. 28 and reflected battle developments at the end of December and the beginning of January. The secretary said 865,000 Ger mans have been taken prisoner on the western front since the inva sion last June. BREAKDOWN A breakdown on the army’s cas ualties and corresponding figures for last week follows: Killed 130,266 and 121,676; wounded 396,176 and 379,638; missing 91,476 and 91,573; prisoners 58,878 and 57,533. Stimson told a news conference that 4,522 of those killed previously had been listed as missing but now have been declared dead. He also disclosed that 191,439 of the wound ed have returned to duty. Similar figures on the Navy breakdown; Killed 33,192 and 32, B89; wounded 40,248 and 39,807; missing 9,873 and 9,750; prisoners 4,475. A decraese in the latter cate gory reflects transfers to other classifications. German Prisoners Hanged Another For Disloyalty LETHBRIDGE, Alta., Feb. 8. — (/P)—German prisoners of war erect ed a crude scaffold in a Madiclne Hat camp In July, 1943, and hanged a fellow prisoner they accused of making derogatory remarks about Hitler, the Lethbridge Herald said today. The inmates used planks and timber found at their barracks and improvised the noose from electric wire, the newspaper report ed, saying the death could only now be disclosed with Canadian censorship approval. Another pris oner found dead at the ca ip last year evidently had been strangled, the Herald said. FINAL BLOWS AGAINST REICH ARE OUTLINED Plan Calls For Active U. S. Participation In Euro pean Affairs MILITARYTALKS FIRST MOSCOW, Feb. 8.—(IP)— The “Big Three” are meeting on Russian soil, press and radio announced today. The news was a prime topic of conversation in Moscow, but the official announcement came too late for comment by the Morning Press. (Announcements in Wash ington and London said the meeting was being held in the Black Sea area. The Black Sea touches Russian soil over a wide area circling from the Prut estuary to eastern Turk ey. One of the principal Rus sian cities in the Black Sea area is Odessa). _ WASHINGTON, Feb. 8—bP)— Big Three plans for joint political ; action in Europe are expected here within the week. Calling for active American participation in European set tlements, they will mark the beginning of a new peflbd in United States foreign policy. The plans are being worked out by President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill and Premier Stalin at an historic conference now believed to be at least half finished somewhere in the Black sea area. The meeting is on Russian soil, possibly in the Crimea in order to allow Stalin to continue his close supervision of the Red Army invasion of Germany. A joint announcement late yes terday, evidently direct from the conference, was released in Lon don and Moscow as well as at the White House. This finally put the open secret of the meeting offi cially on the records and confirm ed the fact that political problems of Europe are a prime concern of the meeting. Actually the discussions have See FINAL Page 2 OFFENSIVE IN ITALY STALLED Doughboys Up Against Heavily Defended Enemy Positions By NOLAND NORGAARD ROME, Reb. 8. —(/P>— The limit ed offensive of American Fifth army troops in the mountains southeast of Bologna was stalled today against strongly fortified and heavily defended enemy positions, the Allied high command announc ed. The doughboys were halted after forcing their way forward up to 600 yards in two days of bitter fighting in weather con ditions made difficult by a sud den thaw in the Apennines mountains. Attacking troops gained the crest of one ridge but were forced to dig 1:- and were engaged against counter attacking Nazi troops yes terday. German resistance to the attack, which opened Mo n d a y, was prompt and vigorous and included artillery support. RESISTANCE Enemy resistance stiffened also in llw Serchio valley, where the village of Colie whs taken. Fifth army units lost some ground a mile north of Castel Vecchio but regained it in a new thrust and beat off several enemy counterat tacks. A report from headquarters of Lt. Gen. Lucian K. Truscott, Jr„ com mander of the Fifth army, sa* the American attack reached the base of Orbega ridge nine miles south See OFFENSIVE Page 2 HOW RUSSIANS THREATEN BERLIN—The shaded arrows on this nap indicate major Qwksian drives threatening Berlin—one, an assault f)n dWerfses ea&t of the city; the other, a thrust through Silesia where Red Army troops have crossed the Oder on a wide front, rhe black arrows and heavy line indicate action and the battle front ocation officially reported by Moscow. Bills Would Amend Motor Vehicles Law Drivers Involved In Accidents Would Be Required To Make Financial Settlement RALEIGH, Feb. 8.—(/P)—Bills to amend the motor ve hicles law and to provide a financial responsibility law cov ering accidents were introduced today by Rep. Bridger of Bladen, chairman of the house roads committee. ivuvcio mvuivcu ah attiucato it suiting in damages of at least $25 would be required to make proper and acceptable financial settlement, If to blame for tl?e mishap, or face revocation of car and driver’s li cense until such payment is made. Such accidents would have to be reported within 2^ hours. Violation of the law also woerid be punishable with fines of from $25 to $500, or imprisonment of from two to 60 days. Other bills would allow transfer of for hire platds; impose a $10 license fee on motorcycles with any type of body; allow transfer of (arm truck license plates; provide application of the laws governing revenue collections to the motor vehicles department; provide for the printing of empty and gross li cense weights on tjoe side of trucks; provide for the cancellation of tit les erroneously Issued; prevent wil ful display of expired license plates; provide for empty maximum weights of 22,500 pounds for buses. SIGN PAPERS Another measure would allow the assistant commissioner of motor See BILLS Page 2 England Again Under Buzz Bomb Attack LONDON, Feb. 8—(/P)—German V-weapon attacks on southern England caused additional casual ties and damage during the 24 hours ending at dawn this morn ing, the air ministry announced today. SCOUTS WILL TAKE CHARGE Pete Frazier Will Succeed Harry Woodson As May or For 12 Hours Shelby’s Boy Scouts will take control of the county and city gov ernment early Saturday morning and continue their administration throughout the day. They will man every public office within the gift of the people for this one day and will take over the reigns of the municipal government, succeeding Mayor Harry Woodson for 12 hours. He will have on his staff a compe tent personnel, from other city scout troops. Scouts from the Shelby city area are being used entirely on account of the fact that the county schools operate on Saturday and to use county scouts would interfere with school work. COUNTY OFFICES The staff of county officers has been selected as follows: Clerk of court, Jack Patterson, troop 6, Lily Mill: county treasurer, Buck Proc tor, Troop 8, Cleveland Cloth Mill; county auditor, Junior Horton, Troop 7, Second Baptist church; See SCOUTS Page 2 Meeting Of Government Heads Was War’s Worst Kept Secret By DOUGLAS B, CORNELL WASHINGTON, Pfeb. 0— (£*) — The capital claaeed the Big Three fleeting today as one the war’s most poorly guarded lecrets—and wondered when all the facts will be out. Legislators, however, generally applauded the fact that President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Church ill and Premier Stalin were con ferring. They hinted that they ex pected a report on the meeting when the chief executive returns. Chairman Connally (D-Tex.) of the foreign relations committee said he will make a statement him self on “the entire foreign situa tion” then. As for the secrecy—or rather lack of it — six weeks before the president and his staff left people who weren’t supposed to know did know the departure date and the approximate area in which tne conference would be held. Yet tight restrictions were clamped on the American press. Censorship on grounds of se curity forbade factual or spe See MEETING Page BERLIN REPORTS SEVEN RUSSIAN BRIDGEHEADS Defense Troops Massed In German Capital; Refu gees Jam Roads goebbeiThas FLED LONDON, Feb. 8.—f/P)— The Moscow radio said today the “Oder line had been pierc ed and Berlin in panic is wit nessing the crumbling of the last obstacle in its forefield.’’ A prior broadcast by an American chain commentator said Marshal Stalin’s capital was hourly expecting an of ficial announcement that the first white Russian army had smashed across the river in force, “signifying the com plete breakdown of the Oder line.” Berlin accounts said the Russians had hammered out seven bridgeheads on the Ber lin front, one of them 30 miles northeast of the capital, and a dozen others along 185 miles of the river from Ratibor in Silesia to Gruenberg, 50 miles southeast of Frankfurt. The Moscow radio said Heinrich Himmler had mased SS troops in the capital. Roads south and west of Berlin were reported jammed with the traffic of refugees in flight. While Marshal Stalin had not I confirmed the breaking of the Oder line on the Berlin front, Soviet advices said Marshal Gre gory Zhukov’s massed artillery was pounding at the weakest link of the capital's defense, the low western bank of the Oder between Kues trin and Stettin, where it runs northeast of Berlin. Berlin said one bridgehead was at Goeritz, 5 1-2 miles south of Kuestrin and 41 miles east of Ber lin. The broadcast from Moscow said Himmler had been' entrusted with the defense of Berlin and a de See BERLIN Page Z Enemy Expects | Invasion Of China Coast CHUNGKING, Feb. 8.—C/P)—Lt. I Gen. Albert C. Wedemeyer said to | day that the American success on Luzon Island came more swiftly than Japanese expected and had caused the enemy to accelerate preparations to meet an Ameri can landing in China. The Japanese hope to estab lish a deep belt in Asia to meet this contingency, the com mander of U. S. army forces in China told correspondents. ] ‘Everything they do in China i is based in strategic defensive con siderations,” he declared, "but this does not preclude the possibility of limited offensives.” SHUTTLE BOMBING Asked if he envisaged shuttle bombing between the Philippines and China Wedemeyer countered, "the Japanese do." Chinese forces have checked a Japanese drive on Tayu, impor tant Wolfram mining center in southern Kiangsi province, but heavy fighting continues six miles to the south, the Chinese high command announced today. Another enemy column was striking southward in Kiangsi from the town of Kanhsien and by Monday had forced a cross ing of the Kan river, two and one-half miles from the city. The high command also made belated announcement of a Japan ese drive eastward from Lokchong, in Kwantung 150 miles north of Canton. Advancing from Lok i cnong on Jan. 28, the enemy oc cupied Yanfa, 25 miles distant, on Feb. 1, but the Chinese recaptured it the next day. Fighting was said ' to be continuing in that area.
Shelby Daily Star (Shelby, N.C.)
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Feb. 8, 1945, edition 1
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