The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, February 28, 1944, Page 1

THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE VOL. XLI, NO. 9587. “ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME” JUNEAU, ALASKA, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1944 MEMBER ASSO([AT[ D PRESS PRICE TEN CENT. S ARTILLERY DUELS RAGE ON BEACHHEAD Nippon Fortress Bombarded by Famed Benedidline Abbey Bombed and Shelled}l 3 NIPPON Point Barrow Drilling | For Oil Projed Being HeldUp,MavbebyIckes U.S.CRUISER RABAULGIVEN TWO ATTACKS, SHIPS, PLANES Salvo Afler”S;Ivo Hurled| at Installations—Much | Damage Done ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC, Feb. 28. — American warships under the guns of Japan’s vaunted fortress at Rabaul Friday and hurled salvo after salvo at shore installations and heavy and medium bombers followed They dropped 112 tons of bombs. The destroyer group, under Com- mander Edmund B. Taylor, drew sporadic fire from the enemy bat- teries but this fire was quickly si-| lenced by the destroyers. The bombardment caused explo-| sions and resulting fires were vis-) ible far out to sea. The bombers, based in the Sol- omons, came in two waves and (Continued on Page Two) The Washington| Merry - Go-Round By DREW PEARSON (Major Robert 8. Allen on active duty.) weeks ago, a' detail of Seabees from Camp Peary, Va., was ordered to Washington to prepare for a trip to Alaska under Lieutenant W. T.| Foran to open up the Navy's im- | portant oil reserve at Point Bar-! { steamed | once | last | | This is the ancient Benedictine Monastery on top of Mt. C: | Fortresses and then was shelled by American artillerymen as 300 Germans fled {rom the lofty observation | post where they had directed fire against Yank dmlghhn\!. ino which was hombed by waves of Flying REDS BYPASS l'l’wo Things, Both Sad | For Tokyo, Is Vicory 1 STRONG LINE. OF DEFENSE Hitler Orders Troops toDe- | | fend Pskov “To the ; Last Man” ‘ I , | ; 1 MOSCOW, Feb. 28.—Red Army > troops, driving westward u|)onA EgN |Pskov, have outflanked and neu-| Simultaneously, Secretary of the|q)z0q tne powerful German line | Navy Knox wrote a letter to his fellow-Chicagoan and friend, Sec- retary of the Interior Ickes, which said: “Dear Harold: Here it is.” xe “‘;“‘“t”d )‘x"'e"l‘l"“sz“d':c:iid forces, strking down from the north, | the blitz warfare common on land et S kel T o are within 10 miles of the rail hub| fronts. kan oil reserve which had to be |based on the lakes and streams of | !that area, dispatches ‘from th'-, ,|Second Baltic front declared. i The British radio said that Soviet | |of Pskov, and that Hitler ordered| okayed by Ickes as Petroleum Ad-iy;o 0 00ns to hold out there “to the | ministrator for War. 1t an Ordinarily, it would have taken; Popov's forc aftart less than a week for Ickes, who is a fast red-tape cutter, to return the papers to Knox. But nearly three weeks have passed and, as this is written nothing has hap-/ pened. The Seabees have been waiting so long in Washington that their commander told them: “Get back to Camp Parry. There’s no use cooling your heels while this project is being held up by the PAW.” Ickes himself is out of town and no explanation has come from the oil boys working under him . . only significant silence. But here is an interesting fact. The oil men under Ickes are| working on a plan of their own for the Government to pay for drilling jn another part of Alaska . . . the Southwest Peninsula. Part of this property is under lease to American oil companies, includ- ing Standard Oil of California. It also happens that Ickes' Deputy Petroleum Administrator, Ralph Davies, was formerly vice president of Standard of California, and is still drawing almost $50,000 a year, from that company as well as his| Government salary. Standard of California, together| with Tide Water Oil and Union: Oil of California, have already, drilled 16 dusters (dry wells) in the ! Kanatak region of the Southwest| Peninsula, from 1923 to 1938. They| went down 7,596 feet, got nothing| but salt wateny abandoned the at- tempt. It cost a total of $3,000,000. But now, the Government, through Ickes PAW, may finance, new drilling in this same area. Naturally, if oil is found, the leas-l es held by Standard, Tide Wawr, Union and other private compan- ies in that area will increase in| value. Unquestionably, the Government needs oil in* the Alaskan area. Gen- (Continued on Page Four) i General | passing Pshtoshka, 30 miles west ¢!} | Novosokolmiki and 40 miles east of the Latvian frontier, are reported to have broken the Lekikaya River, line just northwest of Pushtoshka, a Pravda dispatch said. | They also left behind them to the | Inortheast a water line of numero rivers and ponds where the Naz !hoped to check the Soviet advance. |'The Germans are not attempting to break off contact or reorganize | their defenses, Pravda said, but the |Russians are harassing them con-| stantly, defeating Nazi efforts tu | disengage. | The advance is facilitated by th(‘ icomplete clearing of the Dno-No |osokolniki Raiiroad, main lateral line of communication just behind! the front. | e OREGON STATERS JUST NOSE OUT | WASH. STATERS | CORVALLIS Oregon, Feb. 28—/ |The Oregon State Beavers defeated | |the Washington Staters last Satur- day night 55 to 54. | Oregon Staters led 28 to 23 at| |half time. They took the lead and |held it throughout the game. Washington State committed 21 Jpersonal fouls and the Beavers| ‘obliged by missing 16 resultant gift‘ | tosses. Washington State and Idaho are| now tied in the cellar spot. | DUBLIN—To prevent the break- |ing up of family life Eire author- lities have decreed that a man wish- |ing to leave the country must have |written consent of his wife and vice versa. | 0f U. By NED NORDNESS WASHINGTON, Feb. 28. — The smashingly suecessful method of | attack used by the Nawy in knock- ing out the Japanese out of their best bases in the Marshalls means two things—both sad—for Tokyo. 1—~The Navy now has massed in the Pacific a fleet of such striking power that it now can, for probably |the first time since war began, mount offensives against key points of Japan's empire that before were considered months and years away 2.—The Navy can adopt bold tac- i tics that at times will approximate Here are some figures that il- lustrate the amazing comeback of the Navy: On December 7, 1941, we had 344 warships, including 17 battleships and seven carriers. By January 1, 1943, the number went up to 419, and by last November, this number had doubled. National Capifa "Mayor' fo Have New §. in Marshails Aireraft carrier power in the same period increased {rom seven to 56 knewn craft (including escort car- riers). Our naval forces now consist of 14,000 ships of all types, including auxiliaries, and 27,000 planes. s, of course, are di- s serving in several theatres of action. It is generally known, however, that the Pacific floats our greatest armada. And the reported two million tons of fight- ing ships that ground the Marshall defenses into nothingness provides more proof than the enemy prob- ably wants that the Pacifie fleet is new ready to go. The Navy's present offensive pow- er being what it is, there no longer is need to strike fast and then hide, as was the practice after Pearl Harbor At the start of the Solomon Is- lands offensive, for example, ships ! (Continued on age Two) lo HeIpOuI Mlsmanagmg COMPROMISE VOTE BILL GIVEN KAYO Would Afffects States with No Absentee Voting Regulations WASHINGTON, Feb 28.—Senate conferees have rejected the House | sponsored service vote compromise bill, and considered instead the | proposal of the constitutionality of |the Administration’s Federal war ballov. plan being tested in the Unit- |ed States Supreme Court. The House compromise offer would have retained the Federal absentee ballot only in, the States with no absentee voting law or those who certify the Federal ballot is accept- jable under the State laws. It was rejected, Senator Green, chairman of the Senate conferees' said, because “it wouldn't enable anyone any time to vote.” |and BY JACK STINNETT WASHINGTON, Feb. 28—Well, it's happened again. The capital of the United States is changirg “mayors” or perhaps I should say “co-mayors.” Sen. Pat McCarran, of Nevada, is quitting his job as chairman of the Senate Judiciary, Committee, vacated by the death of Sen. Frederick Van Nuys. This is, of course, in line with the Congressional policy of no member ever holding chairman- ps of two committees. The mem- bors of both chambers hasten to throw off the burden of helping to manage the nafional capital. I'm waiting for the day when some Senator says he can't take the Dis- trict committee chairmanship be- cause he's chairman of the library committee, or some House member turns it down for chairmanship of the' committee on disposition of exe- |cutive papers. The point is that there are no votes in the District of Columbin no member of Congress c win an iota on polling day by cit- ing his record as chairman of the district committee. Don't blame the | members of Congress. The fault is the voting public’s, which apparent- lcantinued on Page Two) {in the Ame {naval base at Truk on February 16 |wiother this has been done }eux\livr Istudy of photographs resulted in a ships reported sunk are SHIPS SUNK, TRUKATTACK Revised FigufeS Issued by Navy is considering the poaslhflily m. Nimilz PEARL HARBOR, Feb. 28.-Re- have t¢ be submitted to Secretary vising the figures upward, the Navy jof Interior Harold L. Ickes who is |exploratory work soon, the Navy !Department disclosed, however, that any plan of opening the field will !said 23 Japanese ships were sunk.|glso PAW. uk, and 11 dnmflxed‘ Neither the Navy Department or can attack on Japan's|ime mterior Department could say six probably 3“,;’.) BT it more than the Navy's| RePresentative Norrls Poulson, of S e he Naw's | Galifornia, who urged the opening abulation, although a 8- | ¢y, point Barrow field, said the tender, previously listed as “ has been‘ removed from the l‘Lm is being held up tn a “top ne sunk, new lis Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, in a| release to the newspapers, said a vision of the previous figures in| reporting the sinking of 19 \’l\r‘ln)! essels. Although four additional sunken | ships are in the new list, they are not identified but the Navy spokes- | man indicated no plane carriers are | included. - o TOKYOSAYS | FOURU.S. SHORTAGE SHIPS SUNK REPORTED MANPOWER Sea Forces NAZI UNITS SHELLED BY | i ! Umvmm('m official,” and expressed the belief that Ickes is the officiul German Attempts fo Infil- Representative Poulson said he frafe Near Ca”o(e'o believed Ickes favored drilling in | southwest Alaska rathej than Point | Are Repu]sed Barrow and said that “oil men| Flying Prospedor Is Predicled Affer War; Instruments in (ockpll Claims Aircraft Carrier and. Commlssmn Rules Out| Three Warships Sent | |owering of Physical Down, RecentAtfack | Standards for Army Fent; Ten 38, — A WASHINGTQN, Feb. 2. — The ::S:: 3;(’2:?‘;‘5(_:"a::u':;”;l:te " manpower shortage in the armed cmn“m“ B ohree b warships | #eTVices, which President Roosevelt % >YP% has called “grave,” must be made| ;‘;';;:dbz::kl_,:;:_sul“.”} 2,}”"‘ Masiang up from farily men and others, a The clmmt o ‘wx’llm‘uv pecial medical commission report- . ed to the White House, and not by ! confirmation - 4 lowering physical standards. T bw"dm\' Wi Fagard st hic The commission was created on 10 carn'n, .«ml 4whl bultlflsmps‘ hl‘()l\' thal a relaxation nl induc Mo: ot three other American War- tion requirements, especially for 3 limited service might delay ‘the| MOost PrO- grafting of fathers and others with dependents, but the commission re- {ported that existing stapdards conld not be reduced “without impairing the efficiency” ¢i tiic armed sex vices, and that no more limited ser- vice inductions are needed. The report will be sent to Con- |gress tomorrow, and follows the | publication Saturday of the mem- orandum from the President sent to manpower officials saying the nation’s manpower pool is “danger- ously depleted.” By liberal deferments, he said, the| deflcl' should be made up out of| those occupationial deferments, es- pecially of the younger classes. A| mlew of this group was ordered last nlghv. | 1 | Tokyo any Allied bably aircraft carriers.” The communique that was broad- cast also asserted ] another car- rvier was damaged by Japan naval| units that carried out attacks on the American task forces - CHAPLIN TO GOONTRIAL | MARCH 21 ST - oo - | Comedian Pleads Innocent| EXE( AGENUES on Two Counts, Mann | ‘ Ad Violaton - | TO BE BROUGHT LOS ANGEL:E; Calif., Feb zsvv—‘ UNDER (ONGRESSI Charlie Chaplain pleaded innocent | to two counts on Mann Act viola-| tion. ‘The comedian’s pleas were spoken in a loud and firm voice. They fol- | lowed a ruling by District Judge J.| WASHINGTON. Feb 28 The ! Senate Appropriations Subcommit- {te has vote unanimously to abolish the President’s Fair Employment F. O'Connor rejecting the domurrer!pmcuus Committee and bring other by the actor’s counsel to the grand executive agencies un der closer jury indictments and motion w'“#:fly‘?‘gfia;"‘:;esi“ i b quash the charges | L Al Trial was set to start March 21, ‘%‘t‘:z"; B‘;(‘)‘o";fi o i:’(”e:e";;“d':’z‘(" ¥ e lent of- THREE DIVORCES E | fices appropriation bill effective July 2 A el B ‘1. It would prohibit the transfer P | of funds to agencies a year or more old which were not authorized di- rectly by Congress R FUR BUYER m:m, Ernest Spink, fur buyer, is here from New York City. He is a guest | HERE The following divorces have been granted in the U. S. District Court Emma Brown Sandman from David G. Sandman: LeRoy Herrington from Elaine Herrington and Ger-| ‘trude Hoguewood from Orlive Hogue- 1 I wood, at the Baranof, | struments in the cockpit will be used SCALES T0 BE TAKENUPNOW | aska will be discussed at a four-day | George Noble, agree the possibilities of the south- west section do not compare with the Point Barrow field and if Ickes is holding up the project he will he smoked out because Point Barrow is more promising.” ALLTED HEADQUARTERS IN NAPLES, Feb. 28.——A sharp increase in fighting during the past two days along the headwaters of the Moletta River, southwest of Car- !yoceto, is announced, as artillery Friateee) dueling rose in intensity along the Read today’s Washington |Anzio battlefront, Allied headquart- Merry-Go-Round for more par- |°'S announces. 4 3 | British troops have stormed and this oil situation. captured two buildings the Ger- z mans had converted into strong points. Comparative quiet has existed . heretofore along the Moletta River | which empties into the sea 11 miles above Anzio. Simultaheously with the increase in artillery fire, an American cruiser, |standing in close to shore, poured shells into the German .positions yesterday. Persistent German efforts to in- iltrate through the ravines south o( Carroceto have been frustrated by American arNlery repulsed two German attacks on the will be r;:pl]aced '\1":0 the presgnt Cassino front. war by airplanes whose cockpit in- Unoft! , 15 is_reported, ad- :'fl';‘;h""“’:;e‘:_"‘]‘:fl‘;“‘ MBS Rl e ditiomxms have been landed on This prediction is made by Hans Ithe Anzio beachhead and fortified positions havé been wedged into a Lundberg, of Toronto, one of the gepih of seven and orfe- hnlr miles world's foremost pioneers in geo- BRI ety s physical, magnetic and electrical prospecting methods. He made this statement at the American msnum- of Mining Engineers. Lundberg said the airplane pros- | pector will not be expected to locate the exact spot of a deposit of gold, liron or other minerals but the in- cators will locate the site, or close (Ross SEAS to it, the formations of minerals, also their wealth | e No details about the flying pros- I_argesf Commgem of US pv.cuns, instrument can be given out | T E ' l d 2 'at this time because of their mili- I tary possibilities, but Lundberg made oops ver 0 Land In a plea that mining schools prepare England Rea(h Po" BRITISH POH.I F'tb 28—A con-. {voy, hauling one of the greatest umninuema of United Siates troops after the war to train young men ' in practical prospecting rather than 'ever to cross the Atlantic, has ar- {rived in England, thusands of rein- spending their time hl theories. ALASKA wAGE !forcements to Gen. Dwight D. Els- enhower’s invasion army massing in the British Isles. It is not permitted to reveal the Axm'l number of troops landed but are highly trained, ready for u)mbal The eonvoy came over without a ‘aingle attack by an enemy U-boat. | The Americans brought their own lequipment' fincluding the newest ticulars on to record anomalies of unseen min- 1 formation in the earth. Indi-/ ‘Heanngs in Seattle S]a” weapons avallable for combt. | Twelfth Regional War Labor Board, will preside at the l\eurmg | |Question of Government brfli;m';“u';'I:‘J."J&L;‘“S?“‘Q:;:Z",.i’é1 Looms When Allies Reach Rome 'working conditions in Alaskan in-| {dustries suffering from labor short- | gt NAPLES, Feb. 28.—Marshal Pietro The meeting is attended by Alas-|Badoglio, asserting “It was I who ka industrialists, representatives of | dumped out Pascism,” today declared theDepartments of Labor. of 'the firmly jn an interview that he in- {United States and Canada, Road|lehded to stey - power with his et i othar & ; present government until King Vit- K ek 9 oncerned | (4o Emanuele “finds a better one.d while Prime Minister Winston Chur- The chairman said committees | oni sqiq the Allies would reconsider the situation after the armies reach Rome. on wage rates and uniform employ- ment will be appointed to report on the final day of the meet. Badoglio was asked, “Who will be in Rome?” and immedaitely answer- GOVERNOR S LETTER |ed “nobody else. "The Marshal said: Gov. Gruening, under date of|"If His Majesty founds a political Fl-bruurv 21, sent the following let- government after we get there I'll . get out. If he does not, then I'll stay.” Today on Govt. Proj- eds i in Parhcular SEATTLE, Feb. 28.—Proposals as' to equalizing wage scales, hours and other working conditions on govern- ment construction projects in Al- conference, starting here today. Dr. Chairman of the rf‘.mmnuul on Page Three)