Newspapers / The Shelby daily star. / April 17, 1945, edition 1 / Page 1
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WEATHER Showers and thundershowers, not quite so warm today, followed by cloudy and cooler tonight, showers on coast this evening, Wednesday partly cloudy and mild. The Hhelhy Baily Stett CLEVELAND COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1894 TELEPHONES 1100 STATE THEATRE TODAY "PRACTICALLY YOURS" — ADDED ATTRACTION — Highlight in the Career of the Late President Franklin D. Roosevelt VOL. XLIII— 92 ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWS SHELBY, N. C. TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 1945 TELEMAT PICTURES SINGLE COPIES—6c HEAVY GERMAN ATTACK ON BRIDGEHEAD REPULSED OFFENSIVE SAID LAUNCHED ACROSSNEISSE One Rumor Says Red Par atroopers Landed 23 Miles From Berlin SOVIETS KEEP SILENT LONDON, April 17.—(tP)— The Russians have torn open sectors of the German front east of Berlin and Marshal Ivan Konev’s First Ukrainian army has launched another powerful offensive across the Neisse in a drive to link up with the U. S. Third Army, the German radio announced .today. Earlier the Germans said Soviet airborne troops had landed less than 23 miles from the Reich cap ital. Transocean said a clean break through by the Russians toward Berlin had been prevented. “At some points the front was torn open, but later these points were sealed off and some of them narrowed." the propa ganda agency added. The German high command imposed a security silence on naming places of details on the Berlin front, the agency said, indicating the situation was considered critical. The German communique said Konev was attacking along a 33 mile front from Forst to Rothen burg, near the Saxony border. Saying sections of the Berlin front had been ripped open, the German command declared they were “closed again in fierce coun terattacks." ACROSS NEISSE The Germans said Konev sent his forces across the Neisse at two points. At the southern end of his | attack front, the enemy declared, Konev plunged to Neisky, 48 miles j northeast of Dresden and 75 miles from the U. S. Third army van guard attacking toward that great city. On the northern end. Konev l •truck forward 2 1-2 miles from Muskau at the Neisse toward! Spremberg, 15 miles farther west. on the Spree river. Spremberg is * 46 miles northeast of Dresden, ami 76 miles from the U. S. First army | at Wurzen. Niesky is eight miles from the See OFFENSIVE Page 2 British Bigwigs Join U. S. Service Men In Memorial LONDON, April 17 —A somber king and queen of Britain and a prime minister who wept for an old friend joined American service men and women today in a 40-minute tribute to President Roosevelt in battle-scarred St. Paul's Cathedral. Princess Elizabeth, heir pre sumptive to the throne, accom panied King George and Queen Elizabeth. With Prime Minister Churchill, who proudly called himself "President Roosevelt’s Lieutenant”, was his daughter, Sarah. The high and the humble were in the gathering of 2,200 which filled the cathedral. Other thous ands stood in the streets in the warm spring sunshine. They wait ed outside during the ceremony, and watched the dignitaries file from the church as St. Paul’s bells tolled the requiem. TWO-FOLD The dean of the cathedral said in his introduction that the cere mony was twofold In its nature: A tribute to the services which President Roosevelt “gave to the welfare and peace not only of his own people, but of all the peoples of the world” and a prayer that “the great causes for which Frank lin Delano Roosevelt labored may be brought to fruition for the last ing benefit of all the nations of the world.” With the exception of the Intro duction it was a regular anglican service. U. S. Ambassador .John G. Winant read a lesson from the Book of Revelations of those who See BRITISH Page 3 i Doughboys Push For Conquest Of Ie Island By Leif Erickson GUAM, April 17.—(£>)— ; American doughboys pressed ! today for quick conquest of Ie island, only three miles west j of Okinaw;-, so its three-run way airfield could be put into operation for stepped - up 1 bombing of the Japanese homeland. Ie is 980 air miles from Tokyo, nicely within range of B-24 Lib erator bombers. Until a few days ago, the Japanese had used Ie's strate gic airfield for persistent but unsuccessful aerial assaults up on the Okinawa invasion forces. Then they crossed it with trenches, to make the strips unusable if captured. Latest of the enemy’s desperate aerial attacks—mounted from the northern Ryukyus and Kyushu— j cost them 368 warplanes anil in | creased losses for the I<%rch 18 April 16 period to 1,674 in the Ryukyus-Kyushu area. These as saults were directed at Vice Adm. Marc A. Mitscher’s fast carrier task force as well as the Okinawa invasion forces. Mitschers carrier pilots raided the northern Ryukyus Thursday through Saturday and struck Kyu shu airfields and installations Sun day and Monday, Fleet Adm. Ches ter W. Nlmitz said in today's com munique, confirming earlier Tokyo radio reports. JAPANESE CLAIM The Japanese Dome! news agen ■ cy today made the unconfirmed claim that Okinawa-based fighters and bombers struck Japanese air bases on Osumi peninsula on the southern extremity of Kyushu, on Monday. Mitscher’s pilots and carrier force gunners destroyed 186 Ja See DOUGHBOYS Page 2 SHELBY TO GET NEW ICE PLANT Blue Ridge Products Com pany Gets WPB Approval For Machinery ' I ■ Operation of a new ice plant in Shelby will begin in June or July if the plans made by officials of the Blue Ridge Products com pany are carried out, it was learn ed this morning. WPB approval has already been obtained for securing the necessary machinery and equipment which will be installed in the old Shelby Ice and Fuel building, now owned by the Blue Ridge Products com pany. This building is located on Westdale street. TO SURFACE STREET The Shelby aldermen agreed last night to top surface Westdale street from the Southern railroad to Pere street, a distance of 300 feet which will pass the platform of the new ice plant. The city fathers agreed to this improvement after an appearance before them of a delegation of property owners along that street. The delegation was headed by L. L. Taylor of Rutherfordton, presi dent of the Blue Ridge Products company, Carr Mull, local manager for that company and Carl Thomp son, also a property owner along this street. The city bears one-third of the cost of this topsurfacing and the property owners two-thirds. WOULD CURB RAIDS* Superforts Blast Airfields On Kyushu Island Today By ELMONT WAITE GUAM, April 17. — (^)— Six se parate groups of Superfortresses blasted enemy airfields on Kyushu island today with the avowed pur pose of neutralizing southern Jap anese bases which have been hurl ing suicide planes against American naval and land forces around Oki nawa for a week. It was the third day of American ai rraids on Kyushu airdromes, 325 miles north of Okinawa. Carrier aircraft destroyed 109 Nipponese planes and damaged 60 In sorties over Kyushu Sunday and Monday, contributing a total of 1,874 Nipponese aircraft destroyed In a month around Kyushu and the Ryukyu Islands. Many of them were downed 'In suicide attacks. Mustang fighters from Iwo Jima also raided Kyushu yesterday. Today’s blow was struck by “a large task force” of B-29s against six airfields, five of them on southern Kyushu. It was the fourth Superfortress blow against Japan’s southernmost home island in three weeks. The Japanese Dome! news agency said "some 80” Superforts raided See 8UPERFORIS Page 2 PRESIDENT TRUMAN DELIVERS FIRST ADDRESS—President Harry S. Truman, standing before the microphones, outlines his plans for finishing the war and winning the peace in his first address to Congress since taking office shortly after President Roosevelt died April 12. He is speaking to a joint session of the House and Senate in the House chamber. Behind him sit Senator Kenneth Mckellar (left), Democrat of Tennessee, and President Pro-Tern of the Senate, and House Speaker Sam Rayburn (right), Democrat of Texas.—(AP Wirephoto). Yanks Meet Bitter Fight Below Bologna Terrain Heayily Mined, Advances Measured By Yards; Resistance Expected By Maurice Moran ROME, April 17.—(iT*)—Fifth Army troops fought through bitterly defended and heavily mined areas south of Bologna today, measuring their advances by yards in the second day of the general allied offensive to drive the Ger maps irom Italy. Toward the west coast, Lt. Gen. Lucian K. Truscott’s men gained 1,000 to 2,500 yards, but on his army’s right flank advances were limited by interlacing enemy de fenses and closely coordinated ene my small arms and mortar fire. But Truscott, declaring "this army is fit and ready to fight,” said such resistance had been expected because the Gemrifis still are es timated to I ave' 25 divisions in Italy. “By attacking, we are prevent ing the Germans from pulling out at the last mjnute to other fronts,” said Truscott. The Eighth army, which already was driving up the Pb valley in its phase of the offensive before the Fifth army jumped to the at tack yesterday, now has taken a total of 6,000 prisoners since be ginning its advance April 9. BRIDGEHEAD A Gurka brigade of the Eighth army consolidated a bridgehead See YANKS Page 2 Hitler Visits Berlin STOCKHOLM, April 17— VP) — Two Swedish travelers who arriv ed in Malmo today from Germany said Hitler visited Berlin over the week end and was still in the imperilled capital on Monday. The Fuehrer was reported to have landed secretly at Rangsdorf airfield outside Berlin. 1,013 German Planes Bagged In Raid Monday By HENRY B. JAMESON LONDON, April 17 — (/P) — American bombers and fighters ripped into Southern Germany again today as a final tabula tion showed a total of 1,013 German planes were destroyed yesterday by AUied pilots dur ing a record assault on Nazi air fields. The new figures boosted the tally of enemy aircraft knock ed out on the ground and in the air by Allied pilots in the last 10 days to 2,480 — which represents about half of the estimated reserve strength of the luftwaffe at the time of the Rhine crossing. In the first 16 days of April at least 3,121 German planes have been destroyed. Air Force officials worked all night checking and recheck ing the record smashing claims turned in by fighter pilots—727 by pilots of the V. S. Eighth Air Force. All claims were verified by combat films. (Cameras on fighter planes are synchron ized to the guns). RAIN IS GREAT HEIP FOR FARMS Rain which fell last night and this morning was just what the farmers had ordered. It will be worth thousands of dollars to ag riculture in Cleveland county. Few farmers had planted their cotton and many were waiting on just such a season as dropped into their laps. This rain will also be -a, great help to the filling out of the grain crops, the farmers say. They only hope it will be followed by a fairly dry May which is always a boon to wheat, oats and other grain crops Vf C. LANE PFC. LANE IS WAR PRISONER Card Received From Him, Dated Jan. 30; Missing Since Jan. 22 Pfc. William Y. Lane, husband of Mrs. Artha W. Lane of 017 Lo gan St., who has been reported missing in action in France since January 22, has notified his wife that he is a prisoner of war of the German Government. The card received by Mrs. Lane was dated January 30 and was printed in German, but Pfc. Lane signed the card in his own hand writing. Mrs. Lane had some diffi culty finding someone to translate the card for her. but finally secured the service of John Phifer, who was born in Germany, but has lived here many years. Mr. Phifer has been an American citizen for about flf See PFC. LANE Page 2 Week-Day Holiday Closing Schedule (As furnished by Shelby Mer chants association. Published for the convenience of the pub lic). Wednesday: Closing at noon: Retail stores* (grocery, depart ment, furniture, etc., barber and beauty shops). Thursday: Closing at noon: Banks, Building and Loans, Fi nancial institutions, profession al offices. Saturday: Closing at noon Courthouse; Ration board at 12:30; auto parts places and repair garages (not service sta tions) at 1 p.m. i TRUMAN WORKS ON PROBLEMS OF CONFERENCE Sets Sails For Enlightened Leadership For Dur able Peace NEWS CONFERENCE Rv Jack Bell WASHINGTON, April 17— (/P)—Harry S. Truman set out today to try to provide the enlightened leadership he said is needed to fashion a durable peace. Off to a roundly-applauded start on the gigantic tasks of the presidency, Mr. Truman tackled at once the manifold problems inherent in the forthcoming United Nations conference at San Francisco. He arranged, too, to meet re porters (at 10:30 a.m. EWT) Tor his first news conference. Up at an hour made habit ual by his Missouri farm boy training, Mr. Truman sched uled a busy day which will end when he speaks to members of the armed forces at 10 p.m. (EWT). His brief broadcast will be beamed all over the world and will be carried by all networks at home. The chief executive delayed a conference with legislative leaders until later in the week. But he WASHINGTON. April 17. — lAPy^President -Truman told a news conference today he will be very happy to meet the heads of the other Big Five Allied powers as soon as possible. summoned the American delegat es to the San Francisco confer ence for a talk with him at 9 a.m. (EWT) tomorrow. This is an almost unheard-of hour for offi cial Washington gatherings, but it is in line with the President's arrival at his office before 8 yes terday. Mr. Truman was expected to sandwich into today's' schedule brief conferences with Anthony Eden, British foreign minister, Secretary of State Stettinius and others. As soon as he finds time, he probably will motor to the nearby Bethesda, Md., naval hospital for See TRUMAN Page 2 WHAT’S DOING \oDAY 7:00 p.m..—Cleveland Scout ers club meets with Shelby Mill I troop No. 3, at Shelby mill club house. 7:15 p.m.—Executive board of Piedmont Boy Scout council meets at Hotel Charles. 7:30 p.m.-rjFresbyterian forum meets at l?ome of Mrs. C. B. Alexander. \ 8:00 p.m.—General meeting of W.O.W. at Woman’s club house. WEDNESDAY 6:30 p.m. — Cleveland and Rutherford county schoolmas ters clubs hold joint meeting at Hotel Charles. 7:00 p.m.—Sunday school of- i ficers and teachers of First Baptist church meet at the church. 7:30 p.m.—Presbyterian pray er meeting. 7:45 p.m.—Mid-week prayer and praise service at First Baptist church. 8:00 p.m.—Fellowship hour at Central Methodist church. I.T. GEN. PATTON RECOMMENDED FOR PROMOTION Lt. Gen. Patton, Lt. Gen. Hodges Nominated For Full Generals WASHINGTON. April 17 —<JP) — President Truman today nominat ed George Smith Patton, jr., and Courtney Hicks Hodges to be full generals. Patton commands the Third army and Hodges the First army in the fighting in Nazi Germany. They are under the direction of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Allied commander in chief. The president also sent to the senate the nominations of * nine major generals to be lieutenant generals. They are: Joseph L. Collins, Oscar W. Griswold, Lucius D. Clay, Geoffrey Keyes, Edmund B. Greggory, Wal ton Harris Walker, Levin H. Campbell, Wade H. Haislip, and Eugene Reybold. The president's elevation of Pat ton and Hodges to four star rank was in line with suggestions made by members of the senate military committee that the active field See RECOMMENDED Page 2 FOUR OBJECT TO RE-ROUTING In response to complaints lodg ed by property owners in the Mooresboro vicinity about the pro posed re-routing of state highway 74 around Mooresboro, a hearing has been set for the commissioners room at the courthouse Thursday morning at 11 o'clock. Sitting with the .county commis sioners for this hearing will be T. Max Watson, of Forest City, state highway commissioner for this dis trict and Hugh Noell, district high way engineer. Four property owners have ob jected to the proposed re-routing of the highway as shown by a map which has been posted in the court house on the ground that it serious ly damages their property. It is not planned to reconstruct this high way until after the war. Those who have so far registered their complaints are Mrs. Mary Lucas, Joe Humphries, L. U. Rol lins and a Mr. Whitaker. MONUMENT TO ROOSEVELT: Lend-Lease Extension Bill Is Signed By New President WASHINGTON, April 17. — <#>)— I President Truman signed the lend-I lease extension bill today. In a statement the President de clared the measure a "mighty in strument for victory” and one of the “growing monuments to the boldness, imagination and effective statesmanship of Franklin Roose velt.” “Lend-Lease.” he said, "will be carried on until the unconditional < surrender or rompleted defeat of Germany and Japan." The signing was witnessed by Secretary of State Stettimus, Chairman Connally (D-Tex) of the senate foreign relations committee, Senator Vandenberg (R-Michi, Chairman Bloom iD-NY> of the house foreign affairs committee, and Rep. F't'-'n (R-NJ). The bill, extending lend-lease aid to the United Nations an additional 12 months from June 30. was sign ed after the President had confer red briefly with delegates to the forthcoming United Nations con ference at San Francisco. Stettinius and the congressional delegates remained over to watch Mr. Truman approve the lend See LEND-LEASE Page 2 NINTH ARMY HOLDS GROUND BEYOND ELBE Third Army Captures Plauen; 6 Miles From Czech Border JOB HALF FINISHED Bv James M. Long PARIS, April 17.—(JP)— The Germans launched a heavy attack today on tht Ninth Army's Elbe bridge head pointing towards Beri lin, but the Americans beal off the attack without losing ground. To the south, the Thin Army captured the big Sax any rail center of Plauen, ii effect bisecting Germany, an< beat down the last six miles to the Czechoslovak border. More than naif of Germany wa conquered. 101.000 square mile under Allied and Russian banner •md 84.000 square miles remaining tf the Germans. j The Germans attacked Lt. Gen William H. Simpson’s five-mil deep Elbe bridgehead in the Barb; sector 52 miles southwest of Berlii with 2.000 infantrymen and 3 tanks. The Second armored am Third infantry divisions beat bad the Germans—drawn from Berlii ! and the eastern front—inflictini serious losses and destroying 15 t i 20 of the tanks, i In the center of the westeri front. First army troops crashet | through a crumpled belt of 1,00 levelled antiaircraft guns to with i in sight of the ruined towers o Leipzig. Germany's fifth city. Ger man military mental cases and uni formed Nazi women auxiliarie were among the captured gunner! The First army knocked out 32 flak guns, bringing the total fo four days to 732. The Indian Head <2ndt divisio: cleared Ranstadt, a suburb less tha; five miles west of Leipzig prope: The Ninth armored division wheel ed into a giant circle around th See NINTH ARMY Page 2 Formal V-E Day| May Be Weeks, Months Away LONDON, April 17 — </p)— statement by Gen. Eisenhowd that there will be no announce ment of V-E day “until all portant enemy pockets on ti western front have been wip out” indicated today that the foJ mal end of the war in Europe msf be weeks, if not months, away. The Allied supreme com mander told a group of Ameri-1 ran radio correspondents who visited an advanced command I post yesterday that the warl in Europe probably will not! end until Allied troops have! occupied the Reich complete-1 lv. Reiterating his belief that the| would not be a formal Gere surrender, Eisenhower added: "Nazi units, including divisio corps, armies and finally ar groups will give up separately they exhaust their ammunititj and gasoliine, or find themselv hopelessly trapped by Allied eij circlement.” DEATH STAND Eisenhower's statement migl mean that no V-E day proclamj tion will be issued until after Adq Hitler and his fanatical Nazi horts are rooted from their mou tain redoubt in Bavaria into whid they are reportedly streaming f| a death stand. Military men have estimat| See FORMAL Page « Bulletin U. S. NINTH ARMY O? THE ELBE, Germany, April ll —i;P)—Reports from the Ruha pocket said tonight that Field Marshal Walthcr von Modell commander of the annihilat German Fifth Panzer and 15th armies, had committ suicide. His body has n«t been found The Ninth a»d First amsie already have captured ?fi3,0 Germans from the pocket.
April 17, 1945, edition 1
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