North Carolina Newspapers

WEATHER Fair and mild in west portion, clearing and slightly cooler in east today, preceded by showers on coast this morning. Tonight, fair and cooler. The shelby Baily . Hiar CLEVELAND COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1894 TELEPHONES 1100 STATE THEATRE TODAY "PRACTICALLY YOURS" — ADDED ATTRACTION — Hijjhlijrht in the Career of the Late President Franklin D. Roosevelt VOL. XLIII-93 ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWS SHELBY, N. C. WEDNESD’Y, APR. 18, 1945 TELEMAT PICTURES SINGLE COPIES—6c U. S. Heavy Bombers Batter Traunstein, In Berchtesgaden Sector GERMANS SAY BATTLE ON EAST FRONT AT CLIMAX » DEFENSE LINES 18 MILES AWAY SAID BREACHED — Third Offensive Begun On 17 Mile Front Along Oder River REPORT UNCONFIRMED Bv Richard Kasishke LONDON. April 18.—(/P)— j Herman broadcasts declared today the battle for the east ern approaches to Berlin had j “reached its climax.” with Russians breaching defense . lines only 18 or 20 miles from 1 the capital, and that the Sov iets had launched a third of fensive south of Stettin aim- > ed at linking with the Allies I on the north German plain.. Front dispatches to Moscow as serted the Russians could see Ber lin burning, but did not yet speci fy that any offensive was under way. Nine Russian armies are smash-1 lntt toward Berlin, the Germans ■ said, conceding Red army gains | through the strong Hedgehog po-: I ait ions in the blazing arc east and northeast of the bomb-shat- i tered city. i The enemy declared Stalin had j thrown in a third offensive on a 17-mile Oder river front south of Stettin, intending to slice in be tween that Baltic port and Berlin, and Join the western Allies north and west of Berlin. This drive has assumed great dimensions, the Germans also declared Marshal Ivan Konev's offensive across the Neisse southeast of Berlin on a 33-mlle front still was driving westward. Moscow has not con firmed any of the three enemy See DEFENSE Page 2 2,280 ENEMY PLANESBAGGED Number Represents Toll Of Japanese Planes In Last Month By AL DOPKING GUAM, April 18. —</P)— More than 2,280 Japanese planes—a size able chunk of the Nipponese air force—were destroyed by American and British carrier planes and an tiaircraft gunners In the last month In support of the Okinawa inva sion. This staggering toll was an nounced by Adm. Chester W. Nlmlts today amid Increasing indications that Japan’s fierce air attacks on the American in vasion armada off Okinawa heavily drained the enemy’s supply of plane sand pilots. The planes were knocked out of enemy air fleets attacking the Americans on and off Okinawa, and also In U. S. and British car rier raids on the Ryukyus and the Japanese main islands. Pilots from Vice Adm. Marc A. Mitscher’S fast carrier force shot down the greatest number—1,600. Land-based aircraft, anti-aircraft guns and planes flying from escort carriers accounted for 600. British carrier planes covering the south ern flank wiped out 80. DAILY AVERAGE Destruction of the Japanese air force thus averaged 76 planes a day from March 18 through April 17. This toll does not include planes shot down by Superfortresses or by escorting Mustangs from Iwo Jima. In one recent Tokyo raid, B-29 gunners alone shot down or damaged 136 aircraft and escort ing fighters added 37. Japanese planes hit the Okinawa area heavily again on Monday, striking in 10 waves between 9 and 10:30 a.m. at least 10 of the at tackers were demolished in suicidal attempts. Sixty-two were shot down in combat and 38 fell to antiair craft fire. B-29s and Mustangs sweeping airfields on Kyushu, southernmost of Japan's mainland islands, yes . See 2,280 Page 2 V TRUMAN CHOOSES HIM LOAN ADMINISTRATOR — John W. Snyder <above', vice president of the First National Bank of St. Louis, has been appointed by Pres ident Truman to be Federal Loan Administrator. The appointment must be’ approved by the Senate. Snyder, warm personal friend of Truman for 25 years, succeeds Fred M. Vinson who has been made di rector of War Mobilization and Reconversion.—<AP Wirephoto). DICK LEGRAND HEADS JAYCEES Organization Completes Successful Year; Of ficers Elected Dick LeGrand was elected presi dent of the junior chamber of commerce Monday night at the regular dinner meeting of the Jay cees at Hotel Charles. He will suc ceed Doris Bolt, who served as president during the past year. Other officers elected at this meeting were Charles Oehler as first vice president, R. K. Wilson as second vice president, Roy Lee Con nor as treasurer, Howard Rollins as secretary, Wayne Hoyle, John Ed Queen, Ervin Anthony, and Neil Wilson were elected as new direc tors to serve two year terms and J. E. Noggle was elected as a di rector to fill R. K. Wilson’s unex pired term of one year. The direc tors who still have another year to serve are Howard Caveny. J. P. Smith and Gordon Chambers. The junior chamber of com merce has just completed one See DICK LeGRAND Page 2 Japs Claim Thirteen U. S. Vessels Sunk SAN FRANCISCO, April 18—f^P) —A. Japanese imperial communi que claimed today that nine U. S. warships and four transports were sunk Monday and Tuesday by Nipponese suicide plane. attacks near Okinawa. Simultaneously Tokyo radio as serted an American submarine was sunk in the western Pacific by Japanese patrol units. Neither dis patch, both recorded by the Fed eral Communications Commission, had Allied confirmation. The communique listed the as sertedly sunken warships as five aircraft carriers, a battleship, two battleships or cruisers, and one cruiser. Friends Think Truman Will Run His Own Show WASHINGTON, April 18—W— President Truman intends to run his own show. He will take ad vice from friends. But he will make the decisions. That was the interpretation Washington put today on several separate actions in which the new President displayed a firmness not surprising to those who knew him on Capitol Hill. 1. He definitely overruled the high command on a matter that, had more domestic than military significance in nominating Lt. Generals George Smith Patton, Jr., and Courtney Hicks Hodges to four-star rank. 2. He picked John W. Snyder, St. Louis banker and a friend of 25 years standing, as federal loan administrator. Washington had understood that President Roose velt was planning to shift budget Director Harold D. Smith to this post. TART ANSWER 3. He told his news conferehce rather tartly yesterday that, of course. Foreign Commisar Molo See FRIENDS Page 3 t ERNIE PYLE IS DEAD: ! . Japanese Machinegun Bullets Claim Life Of Famed Correspondent By Leif Erickson GUAM, April 18.—(/P)—Ernie Pyle, the GI’s columnist, was killed today by Japanese machinegun ambush on Ie Jima, 10-square-mile island just west of Okinawa. Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz’ headquarters said Pyle was killed instantly by a surprise machinegun attack at 10:15 A. M. on the southern side of the island, while ob serving the advance of 10th army troops who had invaded the island Monday. Pyle when hit was standing with a regimental com manding officer of headquarters troops when a Japanese machinegun opened fire. The commanding general of the Ie Jima Invasion troops officially reported Pyle’s death as follows: “I regret to report that War Correspondent Ernie Pyle who made such great contribution to the morale of our foot soldiers was killed in battle on Ie Jima today.” In Washington his death was announced by Secretary of the Navy Forrestal and President Tru man issued a statement of con dolence. “The nation is quickly sad dened again by the death of Ernie Pyle,” Mr. Truman said. “No man in this war has so well told the story of the Amer ican fighting man as American fighting men wanted it told, x x x He deserves the grati tude of all his countrymen." Forrestal said Pyle was killed instantly by Japanese machine gun fire while standing beside a regi mental commanding officer. (Because Okinawa is 14 hours ahead of Washington time, it was Tuesday in Washington but Wed nesday, April 18, on Ie Jima when Pyle died.) The secretary’s statement said: "With deep regret the navy an See PYLE’S DEATH Page 2 Airdromes On Jap Mainland Bombed Around 150 B-29's, Flying From Marianas Bases, Wreck Enemy Runways By Elmont Waite GUAM, April 18.—(JP)—Superfortresses delivered an other heavy bombing on six principal airdromes on the southernmost Japanese mainland island of Kyushu today— even before another large force had returned from the same targets. Probably around 150 B-29s, fly ing from Marianas bases, again wrecked buildings and cratered runways of airfields from which Japanese planes have attacked American forces on and around Okinawa, 325 miles to the south. Six task groups of B-29s took off for the mission while six earlier ones were winging their way back. The attacks, 17 hours apart, supplemented carrier plane strikes against Kyushu Sunday and Monday. It was the fourth assault with in five days on the Japanese homeland. The Tokyo area, in cluding Kawasaki, was hit by Su perfortresses Sunday and Mon day, and photographs revealed to day that eight and one-tenth square miles of industrial district were burned out in the Monday raid. ACRES DEVASTATED In the three latest fire raids on the Nipponese capital, 32 7/10 square miles, or 20,850 acres, of urban industrial and commercial Tokyo has been devastated. Results of yesterday’s and to day’s high level demolition as saults on Kyushu were not dis closed immediately. Bombing was See AIRDROMES Page 2 ALLIED GAINS IN ITALY SLOW By LYNN HEINZERLING ROME. April 18.— (jP) —Polish troops of the eighth army, sweep ing up the Po valley, advanced to day to within ten miles of Bologna, major German base in northern Italy. Fifth army forces also fought slowly closer to the big Italian art and industrial center from the south, battering their way through enemy troops entrenched in scores of caves, tunnels and pillboxes along the mountain highway from Flor ence. Other eighth army forces have advanced beyond Argenta on the extreme right, cutting the Germans off from this strongpoint in the Argenta gap, the key to Ferrara See ALLIED Page 2 WHAT’S DOING TODAY 6:30 p.m. — Cleveland and Rutherford county schoolmas ters clubs hold joint meeting at Hotel Charles. 7:00 p.m.—Sunday school of 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. THURSDAY 7:00 p.m. — Kiwanis club meets at Hotel Charles. 7:30 p.m.—C. A. P. members meet at armory. 8:00 pjn.—Capping exercis es for nurses aides at hospi tal nurses home. 8:00 p.m.—Workers confer ence of officers and teachers of Presbyterian church at the church. RAIL TARGETS IN GERMANY ARE BATIERED _ | Berlin Pounded By Coordi nated Double Blow From East, West CONCENTRATED RAID LONDON, April 18.—f/P)— j U. S. heavy bombers today | battered railyards at Traun-; stein in southeastern Ger-' many less than 25 miles from ! Hitler’s mountain stronghold I at Berchtsegaden. The force hitting Traunstein was part of a fleet of more than 750 Flying Fortresses and Liberators which attacked 10 rail objectives in southern Germany and western Czechoslovakia. Another target was Rosen heim, just north of the Austrian border and within 40 miles of Berchtesgaden. Rocket-firing American Thun derbolts based in Italy at tacked Berchtesgaden itself last j I See RAIL Page 2 i NINE MAJOR Bv EDWARD J. DENNEHY LONDON, April 18, — (IP)— Es tablishment of nine major fighting zones where Germany's remaining forces plan to carry on the war to the bitter end, even though geo graphically isolated, was announc ed today by Max Krull, DNB com mentator. “The organic structure of the German front has ceased to exist,” said Krull. “The terms west front and east front have lost their mean ing.” He declared that the “newly Ger man-formed fighting zones” all were “self-contained in an opera tional sense.” IN POCKETS His statement, implying an im minent junction of the Russian and American armies, represent ed enemy acknowledgement of a belief expressed on the Allied side for some time—that the European war eventually would devolve into fighting in a number of isolated pockets. Two of the zones he mentioned —the Ruhr and the Dutch front— already are definite pockets. Allied troops are steadily whittling down each and taking out numbers of prisoners. Another was Fortress Bavaria,; including Hitler’s mountain hideout at Berchtesgaden. By many ac counts, the Germans have hauled vast quantities of supplies into this region and have built the strongest kind of fortifications. BATTLE ZONES ROBERT GIDNEY GIDNEY HEADS LIONS PROJECT Officers Elected For Lions Fresh Air Camp, Inc.; Plans Made Robert Gidney was elected pres ident of Shelby I,ions Fresh Air : Camp, Inc., at an organization meeting of the board of directors held last night. At this meeting plans were completed for the camping program for deserving boys of Cleveland county between 9 and 14 years of age. Other officers chosen by the di rectors were: W. P. Biggerstaff, vice president; Jesse E. Bridges, treasurer; and R. T. LeGrand, jr., secretary. Other members of the board are: J. Lowery Austell, B. G. Season, C. Doris Bolt, C. C. Horn, W. W. Morris, H. C. Thompson, Floyd Willis and Parris Yelton. The organization received its charter several weeks ago from Secretary of State Thad Eure. Lion J. G. Hagaman will serve as camp director with his official staff to be announced at a later date. The camp will be conducted from July 2 through July 14 un der careful supervision. CAMP SITE Reservation has already been made for the camping site at the Kings Mountain battleground park and selection of the happy and de serving youngsters who will be giv en this two-weeks encampment is now being made with the coopera tion and assistance of the local welfare department. The estimated cost of sending a boy to camp for two weeks is $15. The project which is under the sponsorship of the Shelby See GIDNEY Page 2 30TH DIVISION YANKS BLAST WAY THROUGH GERMANv t» S. Ninth Army tanks, carrying .mil Division Yanks, smash their way through the town of Born. Germany. about 22 miles from Magdeburg. Smoke from burning buildings darkens the sky. The town was raptured and the. Yanks advanced across the Elbe river, last water barrier before Berlin. The road sien points to Magdeburg. 27 kilometers to the south east..* The famous 30th (Old Hickory* Division is composed largely of troops from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.—(AP Wirephoto from Signal Corps Radiophotot. Bitter Battles Rage Inside German Cities Of Leipzig, Nuernberg Bv James M. Long PARIS, April IS.—(/P)—Tank-riding U. S. Third Army infantrymen invaded Czechoslovakia today, hisecting Ger many with a plunge into the Sudetenland, which Hitler an nexed to the Reich after Munich in 1938. As Lt. Gen. George S. Patton’s troops crossed the Czechoslovak frontier, the First Army stormed to withir 4,000 yards of the center of surrounded Leipzig and the Seventh Army cleared half the Nazi city of Nuernberg. All along the front, Gen. Eisenhower’s armies were gathering strength for the final drive eastward to meet the Russians. The Ruhr triumph assumed proportions of the great est victory of the war, even more costly to. the Germans than the defeat at Stalingrad. Already 309,484 prisoners have been taken from the industrial trap and 40,000 more were expected to surrender tonay. The Germans lost 330.000 in kill ed and captured alone three years ago at Stalingrad in one of his tory's decisive battles. The Allies may have as many as 359.000 pris oners from the Ruhr by night, an annihilation pocket in which the enemy also lost countless dead. The Ninth army captured Mag deburg (334.358) securing a firm anchor on the Elbe river opposite Berlin. The industrial and commer cial center was the 20th largest citv of Germany before bombs and shells reduced it to the smoking ruins which the Hell on Wheels i Second Armored) and Old Hick ory (30th i divisions captured. Farther northwest, British tanks swept forward on a 40-mile front! to within 18 miles of Hamburg anc 12 of Harburg, which lies acros; the Elbe south of the great port The British reached to withir eight miles of the lower Elbe anc drove into the outskirts of Lune burg, a city of 30,000, against scat tered resistance. CONTACT STILL The halving of Germany was of more geographical than immediate military importance, because the enemy still has circuitous contact between north and south Germany through the mountains of Checho slovakia. Censors would pass only the bare report that Czechoslovakia wae en See BITTER Page 2 Americans Fighting In City Of Baguio More Than 7,000 Filipino Civilians Rescued; Four Miles From Heart Of City By Fred Hampson MANILA, April 18.—(/P)—American soldiers fought in ! side the Japanese stronghold of Baguio today as Gen. Douglas 1 MacArthur announced the rescue of more than 7,000 civilians j from the once gay, attractive summer capital of the Philip 1 - pines. From a line on the northwest outskirts, four miles from the cen ter of the ruined city, Doughboys of Maj. Gen. Percy W. Clarkson’s 33rd division encountered heavy fire from guns dominating this ap proach. The battle increased in intensitv as the Japanese indicated they in tended to defend their mountain citadel to the limit. Other units were moving in See AMERICANS Page 3 Reds Within Eyesight Of Burning Berlin MOSCOW, April 18 — OP)— Red army dispatches from the Oder front today, declared Soviet troops were within eyesight of burning Berlin. But neither these dispatches nor official announcements specifical ly said that the Russians were on the move toward the Nazi capi tal. Divisions massed “near Berlin,” a dispatch to Red Star declared, carry victory banners which they intend on Stalin's orders to nail to flagpoles in Berlin. Front dispatches also declared Soviet units in Czechoslovakia had sighted the ancient battlefield of Austerlitz in their push toward Burenn and Prague. BELOW BRUENN Austerlitz is 12 miles southeast of Bruenn. One dispatch from the Berlin front said a divisional commander told his adjutant, "let's go see the work of our Allies.” The group then went up a steep, half-ruined staircase, it continued. "There, dancing on the horizon, was red flame and the sky was like a nervous tick often winking with the golden sports of anti aircraft bursts.” "Look,” the divisional comman der said, “there Berlin burns. We see it with our naked eyes." Soviet veterans, the dispatch added, carried banners stating "Banner of victory. Death to the German invaders. This erected In Berlin hv the famous 'X* infantry' regiment of the heroic X’ guard division." New successes were reported in Austria and Czechoslovak!*.