The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, April 6, 1944, Page 1

T'HE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE VOL. XLL, NO. 9619. “ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME” MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS JUNEAU, ALASKA, THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1944 P —— PRICE TEN CENT3 — INVAMION ussian Storm SUBURBS OF ODESSA ARE | UNDER FIRE Reds Close in from Three Sides-Merciless Bat- fle in Skala Area MOSCOW, April 6. — Russian storm troops are pushing into the outlying suburbs of Odessa, and the roar of battle echoed throughout the city, as General Malinovsky’s cavalry and light tanks drove on the Black Sea port from three di- rections. Frontline dispatches said advanc- ed positions last night were only | nine miles from the heart of the metropolis, and the right flank of | the Third Army has pushed through the quagmires west of the city lead- | ing to the Odessa-Ovidopol spur | railway, the last remaining escape route to Rumania for the defenders of Odessa. | The dispatches added that even if | (Continued on Page Two0) —————————— The Washington Merry - Go - Round By DREW PEARSON (Lt. Col. Robert S. Allen now on mctive service with the Army.) WASHINGTON—The other day,! big Jim Farley dropped a remark which didn’t attract much public attention, but packed powerful sig- nificance among the politicoes. “I don't discuss politics on business trips,” said Jim when queried by‘ newsmen. This apparently innocent remark meant one of two things—or pro- bably two things wrapped into one. | First, it may be true, as previously | rumored, that the Coca Cola people (for whom Jim works) are getting worried about Jim arousing too| much political animosity. After all, | you can't have too many political | enemies and sell soft drinks at the same time. Second, Jim may be lying low until after the next New York State Democratic meeting, at which time the O'Connells of Al- bany and other Roosevelt forces| threaten to unseat Farley as chair- man of the Democratic State Com- mittee, Real fact, of course, is that hith- erto Jim has been politicking on | just about every trip he has taken, with the exception of that to South America. Jim eats, lives, and breathes politics wherever he goes. And this is the first time he has even pretended to lie low. Despite his pipe-down, however, Roosevelt Democrats in New York are determined to depose Jim ns State chairman. They say it would be absolutely disastrous to let him go: to the Chicago convention as head of the New York delegation and oppose a fourth term. Meanwhile, it has become more and more apparent that Big Jim is the man really behind Harry Woodring, the little gentleman from Kansas whom Roosevelt finally oust- ed as Secretary of War. Harry claims that he has either raised or is pledged $1,060,000 to put a separate Democratic candidate in the field. Politicoes credit Jim Far- ley with having raised the lion’s share, ably assisted by Eugene Stet- son, president of the Guxrancyi Trust Company, who, like Farley's business backers, also hails from Georgia. Note:—Big question in political minds is: If Jim defeats Roosevelu by backing Woodring’s third party, would he accept a Republican re- ward by taking a Cabinet post in a Republican Administration? Some say Jim would do anything to get back at his old friend and boss, the President. BARUCH TURNS CHEEK Gaunt, grey Bernie Baruch, elder statesman of the war administra- - (Continued on Page Four) WEWAK IS NOW BEING WIPED OUT No Fire Even from Anti- -ircraft Defenses when Base Is Bombed: ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN | THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC, April 68.—The once heavily gunned Japa- nese air stronghold of Wewak, New Guinea, failed so much as to fire one anti-aircraft gun at big Am- erican bombers which virtually erased its few remaining planes with 206 tons of explosives. Headquarters also report swing- ing punches southeast at Hollandia whose fleet of 288 planes were fin- ished off last Tuesday. Wewak raiders blew up 13 enemy planes on the ground and the re- turning plane pilots reported seeing only two planes left on the ground. Australians are moving on the Nipponese base at Madang, nine miles toward Bogadjim, 20 miles south of Madang. Groggy Rabaul has been bombed again by 110 tons of explosives. S e NEW OFFICERS ARE INSTALLED BY JUNEAU ELKS Elective and appointive officers of Juneau Elks Lodge No. 420, were installed last night by Installing Officer Henry Messerschmidt as- sisted by Grand Esquire Howard E. Simmons. Following the hurry- through business session and then installation, a buffet luncheon was served at 9:30 o’clock. Elective officers inducted into their stations, after being given their charges by Henry Messer- schmidt, were as follows: A. B. (Cot) Hayes, Exalted Ruler. L. J. Holmquist, Esteemed Lead- ing Knight. E. C. Reynolds, Esteemed Loyal Knight. T. N. Cashen, Esteemed Lecturing Knight. H. L. McDonald, Secretary. William Franks, Treasurer. H. M. Porter, Tiler. Ralph Beistline, Trustee. Appointive officers given their charges and installed were: Darrell Naish, Esquire; Vic Power, Chaplain; Lou Hudson, Inner Guard, and James McNaughton, organist. Past Exalted Ruler M. E. Mon- agle reviewed briefly the work cf retiring Exalted Ruler Floyd Fager- son during the past year and then presented him with a wrist watch and heavy gold band, a recognition of his worthy services, a gift from the lodge. The buffet lunch was spread out and served by a new hustling kitchen gang composed of Krause, Andrews, Laughlin and Meacham. Various committees for the year will be announced by Exalted Ruler Hayes at the meeting next Wednes- day. NEWLY ELECTED CITY OFFICIALS TO BE INSTALLED Installation of newly elected city officials will be the main order of business tomorrow night at the City Council meeting scheduled for 3! o'clock in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Taking over their new duties will be Mayor-elect A. B. (Cot) Hayes and Councilmen Don Skuse, Dr. W. |M. Whitehead and Harry Lea. Voters of Juneau are urged to attend the session and help usher into office the officials they chose at Tuesday's city election. — HAINES WOMEN HERE From Haines, Mrs. Ethel Perkins nd Mrs. Mayo V. Raney are guests al ‘.ut the Baranof Hotel. More Troops Are Killed by Allied Bombs! Mistakes ME at Big As- sault on Cassino Re- vealed by Eaker ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN NAPLES, April 6—Lt. Gen. Eaker{ has disclosed that a number of Al- lied soldiers were killed by bombs accidentally dropped far from the target during the great Allied air| assault at Cassino on March 15. The disclosure by the commander‘ of the Allied Mediterranean air| forces came at a press conference, | which discussed many aspects of | the bombing. He declared that while the operation failed to break | the German resistance it “accom- plished all that was expected of it by the air force commanders.” Eaker indicated his belief that’ the outcome should not be constru- ed as reflecting on the potentiali- ties of aerial bombardment, de- claring frankly that air power has its recognized limitations, and it| could not be expected that such an attack could wipe out all resistance. Some of .the bombs missed the target at Cassino and fell wide of the mark because of “mechanical failure.” Eakers..said an.-investigad tion showed that the “bombs be- came dislodged from their racks, and when the bomb doors were opened they became free.” Others were dropped at Venafro, far behind the front, killing a number of Allied troops, as the re- sult of a mistake in target identi- fication, Eaker added. JACK FLETCHER IS NAMED PRESIDENT OF ROTARY CLUB Jack Fletcher, Manager of the Baranof Hotel, will take over July 1 as President of the Juneau Fotary Club it was announced today. Other officers who will serve with Fletcher are Brooks Hanford, Vice- | President; John Young, re-elected tas Secretary; the Rev. Herb Hil- lerman, Treasurer, and Ernie Par- sons, Sergeant-at-Arms. Also to be installed July 1 will be the new members of the Executive Board who were chosen at the last meeting. ———.————— FROM PRINCE RUPERT Louise Carnahan and Flora Tum- ilson have registered at the Baranof Hotel, from Prince Rupert. ———e———— SNIDER AT BARANOF Arriving from Skagway, E. H. Snider is at the Baranof Hotel. el —— COMES TO JUNEAU Coming to Juneau from Skagway, Dorothy M. Fowler is at the Bar- anof. e POLICE COURT FINES The following were fined in City Police Court this morning: Mrs. Betty Marie Heler, $35 and 20 days (time suspended on good behavior), disorderly conduct; Frank Mercer, 16 days in jail on a drunkenness charge. | —————————— FROM WHITEHORSE Mr. and Mrs. Jack LeBeau, here from Whitehorse, are at the Baran- of Hotel. .- HAVE NAMES CHANGED In the -District Court yesterday afternoon, = Hazel Richards was granted the right to change her name to Helen Moberly and her daughter’s name from Clarice Rich- ards to Clarice. Moberly.' e William Kruhm, a guest at the Baranof Hotel, is here from Fair- banks. ———————— The William J. Wallace family, here from Skagway, are staying at the Baranof Hotel. —ellr———— Registered from 8S8kagway, Mae ito dads. |JUNEAU'S NEW | Father's Day Is Designated As June 18 NEW YORK, April 6—The Na- tional Father's Day Committee, an- ncunces Sunday, June 18, has been designated as Father’s Day. In con- junction with the Treasury Depart- ment, the Committee said it spon- sors a Father Bond Drive and all will be urged to buy and give bonds | | . CITY OFFICERS CHAMBER GUESTS JAPS SEIZE 15 MILES OF INDIA FRONT Ambushes Laid by Allied Troops Account for Jap Casualties BULLETIN—The British ra- dio tonight said troops of the Seventh Indian Division have fought their way through the Japs and have reached Imphal after 21 days of action in which A. B. “Cot” Hayes, Juneau's may=- | or-elect, told members of the Cham- | ber of Commerce this noon that his | ticket is for a better Juneau, that | generally the march toward this goal | will come only from teamwork among all groups. “We have heard many times in the past,” he said, “where perhaps labor wants something, or business | wants something, or the government | wants something. We're going to do our utmost to get something for all by working together.” He said that ball games are won /by teamwork and a better Juneau will be attained by teamwork. He said that the vote on the milk ques- tion showed that the “people are determined to govern themselves” and he thought this was a very good sign. He congratulated hi§ opporients, also present, on thei# icampaign and said that the votes vai cast for them showed that they were | able and qualified men. Herb Waugh, defeated Independ- ent candidate for Mayor, congratu- lated Hayes and the new Council- | men-elect and said, “I feel very sure that they will give the people of Juneau a very efficient administra- | tion.” Eddie Neilsen, also defeated In-| dependent candidate for the Coun- | cil, was introduced, as were Coun- cilmen-elect Don Skuse and Dr. William M. Whitehead. Dean C. E. Rice was welcomed | back and gave an entertaining talk | on his trip. Most amusing thing he saw outside, he said, was the style of women’s hats for this year. Hel thought the war might have some- thing to do about it. Sgt. Norman Banfield, former member, Juneau attorney now with the Army, was given a welcome. new member. Guests included Les- lie Yaw of the Sheldon Jackson School, Sitka, and U. S. Attorney Lynn Gemmill of Juneau. BIG CONVENTIO MAY HIT JUNEAU SOON AFTER WAR Frank Dufresne, of the Fish and Wildlife Service, had welcome news for Juneau today when he an- nounced that the Outdoor Writers of America, organization with be- tween 500 and 600 members, plans to hold a meeting in Juneau as soon as the war is over. This would mean between 400 and 600 men, all writers, not only would | bring to Juneau the biggest thing along the tourist line the city has ever seen, but if favorably impressed would be able to spread the word to all who seek outdoor recreation after the war. The Chamber is organizing to fol- low the matter through. ARMY BUILDING DESTROYED IN FIERCE BLAZE SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 6. —A second warehouse fire in five days destroyed the Army Building on the South Embarcadero water- front and the estimated loss will run into the thousands of dollars. Three alarms were sounded and firemen battled the flames, fed by baled cotton and drums of oil, for three hours and prevented spread- ing to adjacent wharves and ware- Naugle and Ethel Johnston are guests at the Baranof Hotel. house buildings not yet completed which are to cost $800,00. Bill Walker was welcomed as a |’ 'MAUNDY THURSDAY. 1,800 enemy casualties have been inflicted. This radio was received by both the CBS and NBC, which said part of the action was along 10 miles of the Imphal Highway which the Japs two weeks ago asserted they had cut the Indian Divi- sien to pieces. OF HITLER'S FORTRESS NEARS Onward Presidentia Dewey’ FAIRBANKS ELECTS NEW CITY COUNCIL FAIRBANKS, Alaska, April 6.— Dr. H. G. Hughes, dentist, was re- elected Mayor in Tuesday's polling | without dpposition, and an entire- ly new council was chosen as no retiring councilmen sought reelec- tion. The new council, two year term, are as follows: Kenneth A. Murray, insurance man, who received 434 votes; W. K. (Bud) Foster, radio station manager and newscaster, 1419; Mrs. Sylvia Ringstad, apart- ment owner, 341. T. §. Batchelder, carpenter, was unopposed for the one year term, unexpired. ‘'NEW DELHI, April 6.—Jap forc-| es are continuing to exert pressure all along the Assam front north of Imphal, but Allied troops have in- flicted casualties on the enemy by ambushes laid along the road north, and south of Imphal, Lord Mount- batten’s headquarters said. { In northern Burma the Chinese forces are reported driving the en- emy steadily southward in the up-| pér Mogaung Valley, and are- ad«| ncing on the village of Wakawng. | The bulletin also said 24 planes were destroyed in an air Comman- do attack against Aungban airfield in central Burma on Tuesday. | In the Assam offensive the Japs have seized 15 miles of the Imphal Koima Highway, and are now threatening Dimapur, 80 miles away on the Bengal Assam Railway. It is disclosed that American trans-| portation troops are operating and | maintaining this railway, having| taken it over March 1 for the pur- pose of pushing maximum supplies %o the Burma and China fronts. | ———————— 33 PASSENGERS, - WESTWARD TRIP A steamer arrived from the South | yesterday afternoon .and two pas- sengers were booked for Juneau.| They were Chesley R. Moody and | Robert Moody. The following passengers were aboard the vessel when it sailed for | the Westward — Mary Schultze, | Helen Watkins, O. B. Godfrey, Mrs. | Art Pritchett, Mrs. Cecil Plahn, Maj. | Bnodgrass, George Anderson, Elnora | Conrad, Patricia Hamersley, Thomas | Scott, Eugene Stout, Carl Roberts, Norbert R. Puurala, Harry I. Neil- son, R. Peterson, F. Mercer. Alex Mizezoff, C. B. Finnigan, Mrs. Glenn Metcalfe and infant, Myrtle Chicken, G. S. Newhouse, Arthur Libby, Lt. Mclsaac, J. E. Stevens, Fred Emerson, William R. Nichols, Robert O. Swizdal, M." M, Thompson, Ed Smither, A. L. Car- ter, Mrs. W. B. Snodgrass, and Mas- ter B. Snodgrass. PREREREPES S £ | CEREMONY WILL BE OBSERVED TONIGHT Tonight at 6:15 the Scottish Rite| Chapter of Rose Croix will observe the Maundy Thursday ceremonial of extinguishing the seven symbolic lights, to be followed by the tradi- tional supper. All 18th degree Scot- tish Rite Masons are expected to attend this meeting. The relighting ceremonies take place at 2 p.m. Easter Sunday | at the Scottish Rite Temple and will be open to the publie. LONG BEACH, Calif., April 6— The Sixth Ferrying Greup, brist- ling with former Major Leaguc stars, blanked Los Angeles yester- day afternoon in an exhibition game, 7-0. Ray Pitte, former Yank hurler, held the Angels to five scat-! tered hits. will The defeated candidates and votes polled were Mort Cass, grocer, 279; Howard Heman, machinist, 235; Ro- bert McCombe, trucker, 180; Albert C. Muldoon, bar owner, 91. John B. Hall, Fourth District Court Clerk, was elected, unopposed, for his fourth term on the School Board. There were 720 votes cast in the election. NOME, Alaska, April 8-—Mayor Edward Anderson and all munici- pal officials were reelected in last Tuesday's voting. The voting was as follows: For Mayor—Anderson, 208, S. David Maxon 8, J. Raymond Smith, | 20, Luther Dunbar and Guy Mish each one. For Council, three to be elected— Robert Baldwin 237, Hugh Gab- bard 72, Keith Hedreen 74, Audrey Henderson 20, Ralpr Kitchmiller 235, Joseph Mullines 39, Peter L. Reader 174, Grady Robinette 18. City Clerk—Carrie McLain, 2BD,I City Attorney—C. C. Tanner, 285. City Treasurer—Harry Gabrielson 284. . School Board—Nels Strand, 191; | Lester Bronson, 112. Ordinance No. 301, vacating cer- tain streets and alleys in the north-| eastern section of the city, for 209, against, 26. KLAWOCK ELECTION KLAWOCK, Alaska, April 6. — Frank Peratrovich was reelected mayor Tuesday by the small mar- gin of 14 votes over his opponent, George Demmert. The following councilmen were elected: John Peratrovich, Nick eratrovich, Robert J. Peratrovich, Jr., William E. Smith, Alfred E. Widmark and Charles Williams. e i Martha Society To Install at Friday Meefing The Martha Society will hold its regular business meeting on Friday, April 7 in the church parlors, when |created 17th Naval Distriet, and; the pastor will install the following new officers for the new church year: Mrs, Clarence E. Warfleld, tained at dinner last evening. In| president; Mrs. George Rice, first addition to Admiral Whiting, other| vice-president; Mrs. Josephine Boyd, second vice-president; Mrs. T. A. Morgan, BSecretary, and Mrs. Burrass Smith, treasurer. ——————— STOCK O_IIQMIONS NEW YORK, April 6.—Closing quotation of Alaska Juneau mine stock today is 6%, American Can 88%, Anaconda 26%, Bethlehem Steel 58%, Curtiss Wright 5%, In- |ternational Harvester 71%, Kenne- cott 31%, North American Aviation 8%, New York Central 18%, North- | ern Pacific United States Steel 52. 15%, Dow, Jones averages today are Territory of the Pish and Wildlite as follows: industrials 138.95, rails Service, returned late yesterday on 39.40, utilities 22.91. ——————— Troops are Pressing Willkie Withdraws as . | (andidate; s SIockflB_oosIed OMAHA, April 6. — Wendell L. Willkie, who falled to gain a single pledged’ delegate in Tuesday's Wis- consin primary election, announced last night his withdrawal as a can- didate for the Republican nomina- tion for President and called on his friends to “desist any activity to that end.” In an abrupt and dramatic an- nouncement at the conclusion of a speech here last night on “For- eign Policy,” Willkie told a crowd of 3,000 he is quitting as a can- didate for the GOP nomination, as- serting that “it is obvious I cannot be nominated.” In the entirely unexepcted state- | ment, Willkie described it as “some- think quite persénal, something per- haps not of much importance,” and urged his friends to “desist in any activity” toward the nomination. Crowd Is Puzzled The decision to quit the race is attributed to Willkie's fallure to win a single delegate in the Tues- day Wisconsin primary. The crowd, apparently not im- mediately sensing the real signifi- vigorously applauded Willkie. Willkie. smilingly shook hands with the logal political leadgrs and the crowd with.puzaled ex- pressions on their faces, Many were obviously astonished ‘at hearing Willkle declare he is stepping out on the quickening contest of the Nation's highest political office. Wwillkie and his party left Omaha on a late train last night for New York, where he is scheduled to ar- rive tomorrow. | DEWEY NOT TALKING | WASHINGTON, April 6.—A Pres- |idential nornination, without strings, hangs enticingly close before Gov. Thomas E. Dewey as Willkie quit the Republican race. Characteristically, Gov. Dewey, in Albany, busied himself with a stack of legislative bills and sald nothing about his future plans. His silence, as well as some of his backers, it is said, might maintain right up to ! convention. Baltimore’s Republican Mayor | Theodore McKeldin declared’ that Dewey is the “one hundred percent |candidate.” He sald Dewey recently gave him the impression, that if he | was proferred the presidential nom- ination and became the standard bearer of the GOP, he did not want his selection to be from any indi- {vidual or any single element of the Party or with any strings attached. Dinner Given in Honor of Admiral F. Whiting, Staff To honor Rear Admiral F. E. M. Whiting, commander of the newly various members of his staff, Gov. and Mrs. Ernest Gruening enter- honored guests included Comdr, J. | Simpson MacKinnon, Capt. McLane, Lt. Comdr. Hartnett, Lt. Comdr. McHugh, Lt. Jack G. McBride, Lt. Gillesple, Lt. Lance Hendrickson, and Mr. Howard Lyng of Nome. Following the dinner, approxi: |mately 30 guests called, and the evening was spent in dancing. * ] 'INSPECTION TRIP BY FISH, WILDLIFE HEAD Sitka and Pelican, Frank W. Hynes, head of the regional office in the the Fisheries vessel Bluewing. cance of the brief announcement,| the time of the June nominating; Back from an inspection trip: to DATE IS SET FOR ENTERING WEST EUROPE Time Ta bI:Ts Reported Worked Out-Growing Tensengs_ Noficed WITH THE UNITED STATES ARMY SOMEWHERE IN BRI- TAIN, April 6—The day is set for the Allied western invasion and the time table is worked oul to the minutest detall. Only a few ranking officers know the dale however but top flight Comman- ders in talks with officers and men are being amazingly frank in some respects even to the extent of tell- ing the troops a job has been cul out for them. Among the American troops who will participate in the initial as- sault on Hitler's fortress, a growing tenseness is noticed. INVASION COAST BOMBED LONDON, April 6.—American Li- berators bombed the invasion coast of France today, striking the Pas de Calais area for the second con- secutive day, under escort of Thun- derbolts. No aircraft was lost in the operations and the raiding fleet encouniered_only, menger 8k 40 | i A few hours earlier RAF bombers, flying for the first time this week, returned from blasting German air- craft and repair plants at Tolouse, France, less than 50 miles from Spain. The German Frankfurt radio warned of “enemy bombers flying to- ward southeast Germany,” possib- ly foretelling penetration of the Reich by Italy based bombers of the Fifteenth Air Force,around trip flight of at least 1,000 miles. Sub- sequent reports reveal that Berlin and Munich were bombed as well as Rumania’s Ploest! Ofl Fields. Berlin late today claimed 52 An:- erican bombers were lost. Eight Fighters of the U. S. Eighth Alr Force failed to returm from yesterday's operations over Germany. 'EXPLOSION AT NAVAL STATION KILLS 5 PERSONS HASTINGS, Nebraska, April 6.— An explosion at the Hastings Naval Ammunition Depot early today kill- ed three persons and five others are missing and “presumed to bo dead.” vy The explosion occurred in a rail= road box car and was followed by & iblast from a shed filled with mines and depth charges. ' Capt, D. F. Patterson, Com- mander of the depot said 35 per: sons sustained injuries but only {minor damage, estimated at $50,000 |was done to' the station | Al of the dead were civilian d pot employees as are those in, The explosion shattered in about 20 stores and was also % 4 10 miles away B The cause of the blasts are | known. : HULLTO TAIK ON | Making the trip with Hynes wereing, April In from Punter, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Scudder and H. J. Purness, ment made & Charles Anderson are at the of Hotel, Service, Baran- also with the PFish and Wildlifc be held at in Douglas: