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

I} &} VOL. XLIL, NO. 9638. 3 HE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE “ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME” UNEAU, ALASKA, FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1944 MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS PRICE TEN CENT. g NAVY SECRETARY KNOX DIES SUDDENLY INVASION RAIDS HIT AIRDROMES Big Fleet Gafl_h;ring atEng- lish Ports for Assault on Europe - LONDON, April 28. — American heavy and medium bombers blasted Nazi air pases over a wide area of France on :ne heels of the 3,500 ton Royal A Force assault by night on Friedrichshafen and rail- yard in France and Belgium. The blows carried into the four- teenth straight day the - grinding pre-invasion air offensive which has hurled 65,000 tons of explosives on Europe since April 15. Up to 250 Fortresses, winging out (Continued on Page Two) The Washingion Merry - Go- Round By DREW PEARSO! (Lt. Col. Robert 8, Allen fiow on sctive service Senatorial gentieman from Tennes- see, has been famous for two things —his temper and his patronage. When it comes to temper, the Senator from Tennessee surpasses any other man on Capitol Hill. Most of his colleagues remain in awe of McKelar's lashing tongue,| some in fear. They remember the occasion when McKellar pulled a knife, and charged a colleague on the Senate floor, until he was dis- armed. They also know the ven-; geance McKellar can wreak on any| colleague who opposes him. For mei gentleman from Tennessee is acting chairman of the powerful Appro- priations Committee, where he z:mnl kill the pet projects of Senators who oppose him. Probably it is partly the fear of McKellar’s hill-billy vengeance that has caused the Tennesseean to win; the first important round of his: battle to turn the Tennessee Valley Authority into a McKellar empire. Ickes Charges [HOMESTEAD Three Officials As Olflgl Tune New York Mayor, Govern- ors Bricker, Edge Accus- ed of Wrong Thinking WASHINGTON, April 28—Inter- jor Secretary Harold L. Ickes ac- cuses Mayor LaGuardia of New York City, and two Republican Governors, John E. Bricker of Ohio, and Walter Edge of New Jersey, with “racial discrimination” on the question of resettlement of Japanese-Americans. Ickes said they expressed belief that law abiding Japanese in thie country are not entitled to the same privileges as non-Japanese. Ickes said these opinions “seem ominously out of tune with the na- tion fighting for principles of de- mocracy and freedom.” —e————— HOLLANDIA CAMPAIGN ADVANCED ALLIED HEAD- QUARTERS IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC, April 28—The invasion forces have closed the Hollandia campaign which lasted six days, by capturing the third Japanese air- field and putting the three into im- mediate operation and within bomb- ing range of the Philippines, also the end of Japanese resistance in that sector. The undertaking entailed leap- frogging 500 miles of the New Guinea coast under guns of the powerful naval armada and sending of thousands of soldiers sloshing through the muddy jungle terrain. Light feints of the Japanese are believed to indicate the enemy sent troops to other sections. The last main Hollandia airfield fell as the last pincer was closed. Australian forces moved north from Madang, which was captured Tuesady, to take Alexishafen, which also has a large airdrome. FACTS ARE DEMANDED Servicemen Must Be Given "Bitter as Well as Sweef’ Knowledge of Alaska WASHINGTON, April 28. - The House Committee on Appropriations told Interior Department officials that they didn’t want Alaska held out as a “land of the proverbial milk and honey,” but wanted service men who want to settle there given the bitter facts with the sweet. Rep. Johnson, Oklahoma Demo- crat, chairman of the subcommittee holding hearings on the annual Interior Department bill, listened as B. W. Thoron, Director of Terri- tories and Island Possessions, told that the department is getting 200 letters a month from service men, inquiring about the possibilities of homesteading on land in the Ter- ritory after the war, and insisted {that a definite statement be made about the possibilities, Thoron said. “We are not holding it out as an ideal place. We are saying there is land there good agriculturally, but they must realize when they go there that it is frontier country with communication and transportation problems. “No one should go. there who is not ready to face the problems of developing a homestead in an iso- lated section and no one should go who doesn’t have a certain amount of capital to carry him through the development period.” GEORGE BROS. FARM TURNED OVER FOR VICTORY GARDENS Of interest to Juneau gardners is the announcement that the George Brothers farm at Salmon Creek has been turned over for Vic- | tory Garden assignments, with the main part of tne ground having al- ready been plotted into twenty-one separate garden spots. Each plot is on the average of 1,- 400 square feet and nine plots have already been ascigned. All persons interested in obtaining dhe of the sections of ground are requestéd to Liberty Ship WASHINGTON, April 28. — The War Shipping Administration an- nounces the Navy Department has informed it that the Liberty ship | John Straub, reported to have brok- ien its back at'sea and sinking off Sanak Island on the coast of Alaska {on April 19 with the loss of 65 men, was actually destroyed “as the result of a violent explosion of an un- | determined origin. Her cargo was highly inflammable, consisting of high octaine gasoline and oil.” The ship was bound for the Alaska | theatre of war. | The War Shipping Administra- | tion said the statement was based To Sink Off Alaska Coast John Straub on interviews of Navy men with the 15 survivors. : “The survivors reported the first blast was apparently followed by others and were accompanied by brilliant flashes and white flames rolling up in celors and smoke.” The survivors unanimously re- ported that faulty construction was not a factor in the sinking. As a matter of fact, the sea was smooth, the night was clear with a light breeze. The official investiga- tion thus far is not conclusive as to whether the explosions were in- ternal or external, leading some to the theory the ship might have struck a floating mine. JAP INVADERS| DRIVEN FROM STRONGHOLDS | SOUTHEAST ASIA HEAD- QUARTERS AT KANDY, Ceylon, April 28.—A tank-supported British battalion, lashing out west of the Allied base at Kohima, have driven the Jap invaders from several strong points in northern India, Mbuntbat- ten’s headquarters announces, ‘The bulletin added that _the Allies are making steady pr in a “very difficult country, across the hills along the Sumprabum-Myitk- | yina road.” . | Stilwell's Chinese troops have in- | creased attacks at Tiangzup, 45 road miles north of Myitkyina, the most {important Jap base on the Burma Road. Thousand Plane Raids " AreNotUncommonon Padifie, Detlaris Gafes HUTCHINSON, Kansas, April 28, —Artemus Gates, Assigtant Secre- ry of the Navy, ' disolosed . .that raids in the Pacific,” at the gradu- ation of the Air Crew at the Navy’s’ big new operational bage, Gates said: “I do not think the public realizes that we have been having 1,000 plane raids in the Pa-| cific. We are bulldinig all the time and 1,000 plane raids are not un- common.” 1 Gates would not elaborate on his’ brief statement. STATEHOOD FOR ALASKA ASKED, 'WOMEN'S CLUBS, ST. LOUIS, April 28.—The Gener- al Federation of Women's Clubs adopted a resolution asking Con- gress to speed legislation to make ! Alaska the forty-ninth state. The resolution was introduced by Mrs. Mildred R. Hermann of Juneau. SEIZURE OF M-W PLANT! OUTRAGEOUS Senator Bymélls for All Facis-Dewey Says It's Unamerican WASHINGTON, April 28 — Sern-| ator Harry Flood Byrd said he has’ called on the War Labor Board for| an explanation of its action in or-| dering ‘Montgomery Ward to extend' the expired contract with the CIO union and the company’s refusal to comply which led to the seizure of the Chicago plant by Federal offic- ials and the Army. “From the accounts in the news-| papers on the incident of the Gov- ernment’s seizure of the plant, it appears to be an outrageous abuse of power,” said Senator Byrd. i ‘The Senator also told reporters he had asked Montgomery Ward to furnish him a statement of the company's viewpoint so it could be placed in the Congressional Record. Representative Charles 8. Dewey, Illinois Reublican, complained of what he called a “high-handed un- american procedure” taken by the Government, and he demands a, Congressional investigation. , WASHII ,"April 28.—A resolution proposing an investiga- tion of the Government's seizure of | | | FRANK KNOX of the Prsident, is unconstitutional. The firm’s counsel also stressed the contention the firm is not engaged in war production. Judge Holly ordered further hear- ings and after listening to the ar- guments of the firm’'s counsel and Attorney General on Monday, he said he will probably render his de- cision Tuesday. TOBINHITS RECORD BY N0 HITTER BOSTON, Mass, April 28.—Jim Nazis Are Ready to Blast Holland Dikes Violent Explosion (aused ATTACK OF HEART CAUSE OF PASSING High Official’s Death Leaves Big Gap in War Cabinet 3 w.«amnomr April 28.—Secre- tary of Navy Frank Knox, 70, died suddenly at 1 o'clock this afternoon (EWT) at his home as the result of _|an attack of the heart. The Secre- tary became ill last week. ‘The death was announced by | Acting Secretary of Navy James V. Forrestal over the Navy's loud speaker system and he asked all Department emnployees, many of iwhom were at lunch in cafeterias, to pause in activities out of respect |to Knox. Knox was stricken with a “gastro |intestinal upset” while attending the funeral last woek of John A. Mueh- ling, his business partner for the past 40 years, in Manchester, New Hampshire. He returned to his office Tuesday morning but about two hours later became {1l snd went home. The Sec- retary suffered a severe heart at- tack and retired to bed in the ar™ ternoon, Acting” Secretaty following the death of Knox, the first of the President’s Cahinet members to die the Montgomery-Ward plant &t pyuin” o the Boston Braves yester-|Since Secretary of Navy Swanson ' Chicago was rushed through the g, pyjeq the first mo-hit no-run in July, 1039. Rules Committee of the House and sideration. Representative Cox of Georgia crats and coauthors of the Smith Connaliy Act in handling labor dis- | mittee members to obtain right of way for consideration of the reso-, lution offered by Dewey. The latter | was the first witness and declared | the seizure was a “highhanded un-| American procedure. The hearing! was opened over the objection of Chairman Sabath who said it was; not necessaryfor an investigation | “when a tiing 1§ going to reach thé| game in the major leagues since gers. Only two Dodgers reached eighth frame. Tobin held the Giants to three and Smith of Virginia, both Demo- hits on April 19 and the Phillies to| one hit on April 23, Tobin, who is 32, a righthander, putes, joined ‘the Republican Com- features a flutter ball and he lobbed | this past the Dodgers seemingly with ease. GAMES THURSDAY Pacific Coast League San Francisco - Hollywood, post- poned. Sacramento 4; Seittle 2. Oakland 4; Los Angeles 3. Portland 5; San Diego 3. President Ronsevelt still vacation- sent to the floor for immediate con- 1949 gefeating the Brooklyn Dod- Ing in the south, was kept advised of the sudden change in the condi- It was an uproarious session In finy pay) Waner being walked in [tion of Knox and was then notified which a bloc of Democrats joined the yecond and ninth innings. To- of his Secretar's death. the Republicans to force immediate pin glso accounted for one of his| |action of the Rules Committee for team’'s own runs, a homer in the| |the investigation. ol At the death bed were Mrs. Knox, Assistant Becretary of Navy Ralph Bard, Mrs. Berd, Assistant Secre- tary of Treasury John L. Sullivan, Jr, Dr. Fred Bushmeyer, pastor of the Mt. Pleasant Congregational; John F. O'Keefe and Capt. Lyjan 8. Perry, aide to Becretary Knox. As a republican newspaper pub- Ilisher who had fought President |Franklin D. Roosevelt on almost every domestic issue, Frank Knox cabinet in 1940 because he belleved the European war was 'wrecking America’s isolationism and he pas- sionately ‘wanted the United States agreed to become a membpr of his Gen. las MacArthur said Jap- . The D Do s Pl call SEad. Gieestia nyithe O 4| hamburger stand and peanut ven-| National League fo get ToRy. @ NG, 75-year-old Tennesseean, during the past several years, has seen to it that members of his own anese at Hollandia fled inland and all organized resistance has ceased. Indian Affairs in the Federal Build- ing. Public Letter of: - dor.” [ New York-Philadelphia, postpon- Representatives Cox and Allen d: Despite the anguish of mun-' purists, the 66-year-old Knox, who had been the GOP Vice-Presidential RELAXATION OF When all of the plots have been | assigned, other suitable ground will! be plotted for assignments as need-]l |immediately retorted that “it they, Chicago-Pittsburgh, postponed. family got lush rewards from the can take a store building, then they 8St. Louls 3; Cincinnati 2. patronage gravy. Highest paid of nominee in 1936, became Secretary of the Navy and Henry L. Stimson, Thanks Released Brooklyn 0; Boston 2. them is brother Hugh C. McKellar, who draws down $7,000 a year as postmaster at Memphis. Another brother, Don McKellar, is the Senator’s secretary in Wash- ington and draws from the taxpay- ers the not insignificant salary of $4,500 a year. Finally, Mrs. Don McKellar is also on the public payroll, drawing $2,800 as an assistant clerk of the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, of which McKellar is chairman. (McKellar is stronger in regard to patronage than any other Senator, since he's not only' chairman of the Post Office Com- mittee, but also acting chairman of the Appropriations Committee as the result of Senator Glass's illness.) MORE McKELLAR GRAVY Not content with his gravy grab, however, McKellar now has one of the biggest patronage schemes in the U.S.A. awaiting approval by the House of Representatives. He bull-dozed through the Senate oviso Jn the Tennessee Valley opriations nill whereby all TVA oyees paid more than $4,500 a ‘Would be subjected to Senate confirmation. This is just another way of say- ing that McKellap himself hence- forth would pick all TVA officials drawing: more than $4,500 a year— if the bill finally receives House blessing. ‘The power of Senate confirma- tion is tremendous and gives a Sen- ator from the State affected the virtual veto of any appointee to whom he may have personal ob- Jections. Other Senators don’t es- pecially inquire what those objec- — (Continued on Page Four) RED ARMY IS PRESSING ON IN RUMANIA LONDON, April 28.—The Russian army is pressing a determined of- fensive with powerful tank support- ed forces north of the Rumanian city of Iasi, and fierce battles are \raging in the area for the second [successive day, a Rumanian com- munique said. The bulletin, broadcast from Bu- charest, said that local Russian penetrations “have been sealed off or reduced by counterattacks.” Moscow made no mention of such an offensive although the Soviet communique announced some 400 Germans were killed as Red Army troops repulsed an enemy thrust southeast of Starislaw in the Car- pathian foothills, The Russian communique said that no important changes had oc- curred on any of the fronts. ONE FLIGHT FOR ALASKA COASTAL ‘The Alaska Coastal Airlines had only one.flight today. A plane left Juneau this afternoon carrying Hans Floe to Hawk Inlet and E. J. Rockne and M. I. Rockne to Excur- sion Inlet. ed, Mr. Geeslin announced. MRS. WILBUR BURFORD, NORMA TEEUIIGHAM Mrs. Wilbur Burford and Miss Nerma Burford sailed for the South | this morning enroute to Bellingham, where Miss Burford will enter busi- ness school while her mother attends to business matters in connection with property in that city. Mrs. Burford will return to Juneau within two months, while her daugh- ter is éxpected to remain South for about six months, Prior to her departure, Miss Bur- ford was the incentive for several informal parties. CHARLES FORWARD IN FROM EDNA BAY Charles H. Forward, Administra- tive Assistant for the Forest Service, arrived from Edna Bay on the For- ester and will spend two weeks here before returning to the logging project. ————e——— HENRY BOLES HERE Henry Boles has arrived in Jun- eau and is registered at the Ju- neau Hotel. , ———————— HERE FROM OKLAHOMA A. G. Graham has arrived in Ju- neau from Paulhuska, Oklahoma, and is registered gt the Juneau Ho- tel. ———eo—— Neil Pyers, a guest at the Gastin- eau Hotel, arrived last night from Hawk Inlet. By Rev. Baranoff ! The Rev. and Mrs. M. A, Baranoff, | who have been in Juneau for the | past two years, are leaving within the next day or so to return to St. Paul Island in the Pribilofs, from which they were evacuated, together with the Native Aleuts, at the time of the Jap invasion of the outer islands. The following letter, expressing the thanks of the appreciation of the popular couple to the many friends they have made here, and for the support they have received, is in the nature of a farewell: Upon this, the eve of our de- parture from Juneau, Mrs. Baranoff and I wish to bid farewell to our many friends and thank them for their kindness and amity to us. We carry with us to the Pribilof Islands the feeling that we leave here an enduring spirit of love and welcome which supporfed and enriched us after our evacuation from the isl- { ands, and which will follow us upon our return there. Our hearts are too full for proper expression of gratitude for the many | acts' of generosity and- hospitality which have been extended to us, but we hereby offer our thanks and enduring friendship to all of you. — e oo — HERE FROM SCHOOL AT WHITE MOUNTAIN John E. Paden, principal for the White Mountain Vocational School, located near Nome, has arrived here for a conference with Office of In- dian Affairs officials. Before re- STEEL FORMULA RECOMMENDED WASHINGTON, April 29. — The abandonment of Federal wage con- trols over incomes up to $150 a month for single workers and $200 for family heads was urged by a special Senate committee, which pictured ' 20,000,000 persons of the white colllar and low income groups living now “between subsistence and privation.” ‘The subcommittee, headed by Senator Claude Pepper, of Florida, recommended that the War Labor Board relax the Little Steel Formula to allow employers to raise the sal- arles up ‘to those levels without ‘WLB approval. The group asked for increased funds for the OPA to enforce more rigid price controls toscheck “the present inflationary trend.” STOCK QUOTATIONS NEW YORK, April 28. — Closing quotation of Alaska Juneau mine stock today is 5%, American Can 84%, Anaconda 25%, Beech Aircraft 8%, Bethlehem Steel 58'%, Curtiss- Wright 5%, International Harvester 69%, Kennecott 31, North American Aviation 8%, United States Steel 51%, Pound $4.04. Dow, Jones averages today are as follows: Industrials, 136.21; rails, 38.88; industrials, 22.48. -, — — can take your home and is there; any law or constitutional power <.ri a special emergency power exist- Resolution Changed The resoiution eliminated the words “with a view of determining| autherity in law of such seizure and | whether an opinion by the Attorney | General rendered in connection with | such a seizure disposes of adequate grounds reaching a conclusion such a séizure was authorized by law.”, Chairman Sabath said: “I do not, know when the resolution will come up in the House. I'll consult the speaker and by that time I think everything will be settled.” i LEGAL FIGHT STARTS | CHICAGO, Ill, April 28—Mont- gomery, Ward began the legal fight against the Government’s control of its Chicago facilities shortly after two of the firm's top executives of the board, Chairman Sewell Avery and President Clement Ryan were barred froma their office by Wayne Taylor, Under Becrtary of Com-| merce and Federal operating mana- ger of the properties. Soldiers patrolling the buildings' were ordered to keep the two offi- cials out on the grounds they “re-| fused to cooperate with the Govern- ment.” | Company Counsel asked Federal| Judge William Holly to dismiss the injunction obtained last night by Attorney General Biddle restrain- ing the firm executives from inter-| CHARLES ENNIS HERE Charles Ennis has arrived here turning to the school, Mr. Paden will vacation Wriefly in the States. fering with Government operation. The legal attack is based in part ing to take over private property?’ 7 American League Philadelphia-New York, postpon- Detrolt 2; Chicago 0. Boston-Washington, postponed. Cleveland 1; St. Louis 5. STANDING OF CLUBS Pacific Coast League Won Lost 12 6 5 6 11 8 . 9 9 9 10 8 10 Pect. 867 847 579 500 Ban Francisco . Los Angeles San Diego Portland Beattle Hollywood Oakland - 12 Sacramento 5 1 National League Won Lost 1 A4 358 313 Pet. 833 *750 150 571 429 New York St. Louis Cincinnati Philadelphia Brooklyn Pittsburgh Boston Chicago American “ coawhwwn 143 Pet. 1.000 = & 8t. Louis Philadelphia Boston il New York ... Detroit Washington Chicago ........ Cleveland . - e POLICE COURT FINES ‘The following were fined Ini City Police Court this morning: Paul Kinch, $25, disorderly conduct; Al- den Andrews,” $25, drunk and dis- See a8 U T RER RRRA H LT from Whitehorse and is registered on the contention the seizure of the orderly, and Ollie Koskey, $25, at the Gastineau Hotel. properties, in keeping with the order and disorderly. 44 cabinet veteran of two earlier Re- publican administrations, was made Secretary of War for the second time in his ‘life. Read Out of G.OP. Hardly were the appointments an- nounced when the Republican Na- tional Committee, meeting to or- ganize the 1940 campaign, read the two men out of the party with the assertion they conld no longer speak as Republicans. From some Demo- crats, as well as Republicans arose 'criés of “political maneuver” and “coalition government.” | But the President and his new | Secretaries denied any reasons ex- cept service to the country in a darkening "hour, Neither of the two Colonels, as they were called in their first world war days, partici- pated in the President’s successfu! third term campaign. For both there was work of feverish urgency to be done—materially and psychological- ly the nation must be prepared for war. 1‘ Knox, who always considered one of the Secretary’s main jobs to be | super-salesmanship for the . Navy, began to spend considerable time '500 before Naval committees of Con- gress and public meetings. He called for bigger and better fleets, always hammering on the idea that the Navy was the first line of defense. A Prophetic Warning He backed the Selective Service to Britain, called up naval and marine reserves as fast as they could be taken and sought tire- {lessly to prod the peace-loving,