The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, August 4, 1944, Page 1

| L 1 VOL. XLIL, NO. 9721. “ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME” JUNEAU, ALASKA, FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 1944 THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE = MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS PRICE TEN CENTS AMERICANS SWEEP ON Russian Hosts Keeping Up Swift Advance RED ARMIES PUSHING ON ALL AREAS Reported Within 51 Miles of German-Silesia- Siege at Warsaw BULLETIN — LONDON, Aug. 4.—1It is reported here that 200,- 000 Germans have surrendered in Estonia. MOSCOW, Aug. 4—Russian hosts which smashed the German-Vistula River line have advanced swiftly to within 91 miles of German-Silesia and other Red Army groups in the north shelled towns and villages inside East Prussia from positions | three miles from the frontier. Another triumph in the Carpath- ians carried the Red Army within five miles of Czechoslovakia after | chasing the Germans out of Jabon- kow, a short distance from the crest of Uzol Pass, through whichthe | Russians advanced into Hungary in the First World War. The Russian forces have moved to within 58 miles of Krakow, fifth | largest city in Old Poland, a diffi- cult hill country. Official sources are silent on the siege of Warsaw, but the army group pulled up just east of the Polish captal. . - Russian tanks are patrolling the | shores of the Gulf of Riga to pre- “ vent escape of German divisions trapped in that area. All along the 1,000-mile front from the Carpathians to the Baltic, the | Germans are rolling up reserves. BOMBERS IN BIG BLAST ONGERMANY LONDON, Aug. 4. — More than 1200 U. S. heavy bombers attacked a variety of targets in Germany, including the Pennemunde experi- mental station, wheer the enemy develops flying bombs and rockets. About a thousand fighters accom- panied the bombers. Other targets included the Kiel oil refinery, the Bremen fighter parts® plant, and the airfield at Anklam, 47 miles northwest, and the Stettin aircraft assembly plant at Vrostock in the Baltic, miles northeast of Berlin. DEWEY PREDICTS NATL. DISASTER AFTER CONFLICTS| ST. LOUIS, Aug. 4—Six Repub-| lican Governors will be charged with the handling of war related prob- | lems on the home *front that now | invited a “national disaster,” Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, Presidential nominee, stated. This came out of the conference that started here| between the Republican Governors and Gov. Dewey. The Governors are to prepare a major campaign document and are | working behind closed doors toward a unanimous agreement. Dewey described “friction” be- tween the local and Federal govern- ments and asserted that “present listlessness and negligence was due to lack of leadership in Washington that would invite national disaster at the conclusion of our two major conflicts.” UNITY ACHIEVED ST. LOUIS, Mo., Aug. 4—Twenty- six Republican Governors, asserting “unity of thought has been achiev-; ed,” will end the conference to- night. Gov. Dewey asserted that failure of President Roosevelt to exchange views with State Executives has “produced costly misunderstanding.” A formal statement for postwar simplication and reduction of taxes has been drafted. 110| (ydoidal Propulsion Revealed by Inventor Who Is Now in Juneau Cycloidal Propulsion! To the layman these words have little signtficance. But to the scientists and to op- eratives of Military Intelligence throughout the whole world they are lof paramount importance—and be- |hind these words lurks profound mystery—sabotage, criminal syndi- calism and shades of international intrigue. Governments, both friendly and unfriendly, have vied with one an- other, by foul means and fair, for the sole right of acquisition of one of the greatest inventions to emerge into profound prominence during this war. Yesterday afternoon Prof. F. K. Kirsten, professor of aeronautical engineering at the University of Washington, one of the foremost inventors in the United States, told an Empire reporter the story of cycloidal propulsion. “Turned Down” Thé reporter listened with rapt attentign and with sheer amazement as he listened to the sixty-year-old, bespeckled, gray-haired’distinguish- ed inventor unfold the tragedy of his tireless efforts to interest the United States Government to adopt one of the greatest inventions of our time—“cycloidal propulsion”— only to be “turned down’ because “we could not get to the ‘right party’ in the vast maze of depart- ments in the Army and Navy de- partments in Washington.” Bitter and bleak days followed as he was again and again given the “cold shoulder” by Army and Navy officials. But this writer better let the inventor tell his own story. Development Starts “Back in 1920,” began Professor Kirsten, “my partner, W. E. Boeing SUICIDE ATTACKS BY JAPS Hundreds Killed by U. S. Véteran Jungle Fight- ers in Escape Try GENERAL HEADQUARTERS SOUTHWEST PACIFIC, Aug. 4— Veteran Anderican jungle fgihters have thrown back four more Jap- anese suicide attacks in the Aitape area in British New Guinea, and after eleven hours of fierce fight- ing left the battlefield littered with enemy dead. The trapped Japs made desper- ate attempts to break the American ring, hurling wave after wave in the Afua sector on the left flank of the Americans on the Driniu- mor River. Over 3,000 dead have been count- ed in the juugle area since the attempts to escape began on July 12. Unquestionably the Japs appear to be shooting the works. BIG TIME AT USO TONIGHT A big birthday party is to be celebrated at the USO tonight. It ir the first anniversary of the ar- rival of the M. P. unit stationed at Duck Creek, and all members of the USO staff ahd the GSO girls will be on hand for a big time. ‘The affair begins at 9:30 o’clock and Director Zach Gordon says there are to be great doings, eter- tainment, etc. - DL ICRERA £ HERE FROM SITKA Nester Laako is here from Sitka (the . latter of the Boeing Aircraft Corporation) formed the Kirsten- Boeing Engineering Company with headquarters at Seattle, Washing- earnest in the development of the cycloidal propulsion system. Later Mr. Boeing dropped and I was quite broke. “Time passed, and finally T was able to obtain patents in every country in the world. In 1924 I went to Germany, to Berlin to push the patents through the Berlin Pat- ent Office. United States Army and our Navy. and evitably approach the ‘wrong peo- ple! bureaus. Austrians Wideawake “Finally the Austrian firm of FVclth-Schneider, realizing the pos- | sibilities of this system, spent mil- |lions of marks to develop it and with great success.” At this juncture of the interview, Professor Kirsten, pointed ouf that he had maintained his American patents on the new invention and that later Germany had tried to ,enter the American market with | their propellers and found that they were in conflict with my patent Tights. ™ < “Later,” he continued, “Germany asked me to sell out my patent rights. Both Boeing and I refused, | but made them a compromise and | offered them (this was during 1934- 135) an option to manufacture the prolellers in America provided they pay up royalties.” The speaker pointed out that “shortly before the war, the Ham- burg-American Line launched a 2,- 000-passenger liner, using the new type of propeller. Used On E-Boats . “Not very many weeks ago,” said the inventor. “I found out through various channels that the E-boats, used by Germany in thé English Channel, were using the same type of propeller. I recently saw the photograph of a large German cruiser ‘whlch was Rlso equipped with the same type.” He asserted that “at the present time we are intensely active to focus the attention of the American Gov- ernment in the most significant development which undoubtedly will start a new era in marine and aerial navigation.” Two weeks ago, Professor Kirsten visited Washington and interviewed the technical staff of the U. 8. Army |in order to furnish drawings and designs for the first cyclodial ship in America. Success at last! Now for alft explanation of “cy- cloidal propulsion.” ‘This new invention — & propeller “that is not a screw propeller and which does not operate on a hori- zontal but on a vertical shaft. What are the advantages of this newly developed propeller?+ There is o vibration of ‘the ship; consequently her presence cannot be detected by the delicate listening devices of a ship against rolling. The rudder and the complicated machinery is completely eliminated. No Signals erate at constant speed at all times, consequently no signals are required to the engine room. The ship is instantly controlled in all of its movements from the bridge. From “full power ahead to full power astern” is accomplished in two sec- onds time, and it has been found that a ship thus equipped may be stopped from full speed in half of its length. It has been found that the ef- ficiency of the propulsion system is far superior to that of the screw propeller, and it is estimated that on marine installations 30 per cent of the fuel oil may be saved for the same performance. The Government, said Prof. Kir- sten, “is favorably impressed with the proposals. Blue prints of the new system have been submitted for approval and we are awaiting final orders for production.” ‘The inventor will leave Seattle early next week to consult with yand a guest at the Gastineau Hotel. | government officials in Washington, ton, and we began to go to work in | I tried to interest the | I experienced political hard luck | it seemed like I would in- | in the various government submarine. Further, it stabilizes the i | ‘The engine and the propeller op- AARMY TAKES OVER LINES, ~ STRIKE CITY 'Bands of Strikers Threaten | Tram Operators in * Philadelphia BULLETIN — PHILADEL- PHIA, Aug. 4.—At noon today, five hours after the Army had issued an order for back* to work, only 14 trains were in con- tinuous operation on the Market | Street I compared to the normal rate of a train every two min- | utes. | It is also reported here that | Attorney General Biddle has ordered an immediate investi- gation to determine if the strike is in violation of the Federal law. PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 4—Bands of strikers have threatened violenee to operators attempting to restere | service of the paralyzed transporta- tion system, | The Army, which seized the lines | last night, announced that persons, | apparently with enemy sympathies, | prevented, resumption of service. trolleys, busses, subways, and ele- | vated lines,” said Major General | Philip Hayes, Commanding General of the Third Service Command. After only a few lines made a run, hundreds of thousands were strand- ed and vital war production was curtailed. Allies Take Largest City, North Burma Bloody Twmonih Siege Ends in Victory for Am- erican, Chinese Troops SOUTHEAST ASIA COMMAND HEADQUARTERS AT KANDY, Aug. 4. — American and Imperial Chinese forces have captured Myitk- yina, major Jap base in North Bu- ma, after a bitter bloody siege begun on May 17. At least 3,000 Japs were slain in the two and a half months fighting. Last remnants of the garrison were either killed or captured in the final mopup of this largest city in northern Burma which gives the Allies control of two important air- fields! SOMERVELL CALLS INVESTIGATION ON | HIWAY MATERIAL WASHINGTON, Aug. 4. — Lieut. Gen. Somervell, commanding the Army Service Forces, has ordered an investigation of reports that valu- (able army equipment and supplies tare being destroyed along the. Al- aska Highway. Reports from the Canadian House of Commons that huge medical stores as well as other supplies and | equipment have been destroyed at| U. 8. Army camps which have been "closed along the highway, prompted | Somervell’s order for an investiga- | tion. | A report to Washington by the] Northwest Service Command, in| charge of the highway, on the dis- | posal of equipment and supplies used by Army Engineers during the construction of the road, is being| studied by the Canadian and U. S. governments, but the engineers’ in- structions, meanwhile, are to salvage all usable material as the camps are dismantled. —_— e —— BUY WAR BONDS s b { ! New clashes of whites and negroes [ g and one shooting are reported. F “Protection is being provided on . s 1 FLIES T0 WAR FRONT Eisenhower Visits Bradley | on Dusty Road as Bat- fle Roars On By HOWARD COWAN ALLIED ADVANCE COMMAND POST IN FRANCE, Aug. 4. — The Supreme Commander of the Allied, Armies squatted in the dusty grass of a Normandy roadside yesterday, received and shouted details of the great offensive that a few hours |earlier steamrollered into Brittany. | Gen. Dwight D. Eisephower, Su-—l preme Commander, and Lt. Gen. Omar Bradley, Commander of the American ground forces, had to shout to be heard above the din, while low flying planes zoomed to landings in a nearby airfield, and heavily laden trucks rumbled through clouds of dust. | The two Commanders chewed on !stems of grass and discussed the continued drive Eisenhower hopped on a fast plane late yesterday afternoon and \skipped across the channel with an |acrobatic escort of “four playful Spitfires to get last-minute reports from Bradley., Later Gen. Sir Ber- |nard Montgomery, his Field Com- \mander, and scores of GIs threw jstartled salutes at the four starred General on the roadside huddle. Stage fright was finally overcome sufficiently to get short snorter |autographs. Eisenhower kidded | Bradley, helping in the work. More than 50 autographs were made, then Eisenhower climbed into his plane and returned to his head- |quarters in England in time for |dinner last night. ... 'GERMANS ADMIT ROMMEL INJURED LONDON, Aug. 4—A DNB dis- pateh, broadcast from Berlin. con- firmed that Pield Marshal Erwin Rommel was injured in an Allied air attack in France, July 17, but said he escaped brain concussion. His condition is satisfactory and “his life not endangered.” The German broadcast declared that this is the first German con- firmation of reports, received in| front line dispatches from Nor- mandy, that Rommel has been in- jured. The broadcast said he was| hurt while driving his car. RIDING TANKS AS WAR-CHARIOTS, British infantrymen were starting for the front beyond Caen when this picture was made in Normandy. German resistance in that vital sector was being battered by relentless pounding from the air and from heavy guns as Gen. Montgomery’s ground forces entered Troarn and con- .tinued the drive toward Paris. British official photo, Voer's Right Shown Up in Letters Sent fo , | . Members of Congress 1S IMMINENT By JACK STINNETT WASHINGTON, ‘Aug. 4.—Prob- ably never before have the good iously that old gag line: your Congressman.” taking a holiday in order to get in a little campaigning doesn't seem eifher. Those skeleton office staffs plugging away on the Hill these hot summer days aré piling up enough unfinished business out of the daily mail bags to last most of the members all winter. Take the mail piled up by Rep. |Alvin E. O'Konski (R-Wis.) a fresh- |man. You would hardlly think he "had time to get acquainted: with his constituents, much less establish himsel on a you-write-me-and-I'll- write-you basis. However, in 18 months, O’Kon- ski has received more than 16,000 letters, telegrams and posteards, and personally has taken care of more than 15,000 of them. As a matter of fact, Mr. O’Kon- ski takes pride in the fact that he personally answers even the postcards.. If he develops into an Andy May, Robert L. Douhton, Martin Dies or any of the other Congressmen whose jobs in the House often place them on a hot ‘spot, that's one little source of pride Mr. OKonski will have to forego. The mail they receive fre- !quently gets completely out of hand. About 90 per cent of every Con- gressman’s mail is of the will-you- (Continued on Page Two) THOMAS JUDSON IN JUNEAU FROM . SOUTH PACIFIC | Thomas Judson, son of Mrs. Fred Schindler, has returned home from ‘;the South Pacific for a two weeks' visit with his mother, and sister, Mrs. H. M, Hcllman, and brother, |Art Judson. 1 Judson a slipfitter, first class, enlisted. in the Navy three years ago at San Diego. After receiving his training he was sent out on |active duty to Australia, French Caledonia, the Marshalls, the Sol- omons, and the Hebrides. This is his first trip home since his en- (listment. His brother, Charles Everett Jud- {son, who is a radio technieian_ first class in the Coast Guard, is also home on a special furlough for the occasion. He s stationed in Alaska and, until recently, in Ju- ‘nesu. -, — | BEZ IN TOWN Nick Bez, of Todd, is in town people of ‘the land Lukkn"!r‘sflh'T '''' 'Irwps‘flm'in’ou 4 *'Write | The mere fact that Congress is| to ' make much difference, | | { _Unteruational) | ALLIED ENTRY IN FLORENCE Germans F;flfllg Back as Strategic City BULLETIN — ROME, Aug. 4 The Eighth Army has reached Florence, and South African troops have gained the outskirts while patrols, working forward, found five or six bridges across the Arno River and within the city destroyed. ROME, Aug. 4—Allfed entry into Florence appeared imminent as the Germans are falling back before un- | relenting pressure from New Zea- land and South African, troops. Ger- | mans on the run race through Flor- ence, their guns flashing from the | peaks which rise behind the beau- tiful Tuscan city. They departed ( ! last night from the ridges south of the eity. Some Allied troops are less than three miles away, the German com- munique said. Troops ‘“detached themselves toward the narrow bridgehead immediately south of Florence,” it was declared, without confirmation. Allied artillery fire is today di- | rected on the city. (COAST GUARD CELEBRATING 154 BIRTHDAY Record of Wht Boys Have Done s Briefly | Given ‘The Coast Gui is today cele- }brating its 154th anniversary, and nighlights of what has been donej in the past and present are given) as follows: First service to send ships into Alaskan water., | First service to have contact wlmi the enemy in the present war. Coast Guardsmen seized German |radio installations in Greenland. | First service to capture an enemy ship in World War IIL | Pirst service to capture enemy| | prisoners. | First on the invasion benchheuds} of World War II in Qlgiers, Casa- |blanca, Gela, Ricata, Attu, Am-| |chitkd, Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Bou- gainville, Cape: Gloucester, the |Gilberts, Tulgi, Makin Island, Eni-| | | | | | wetok, the Marianas, and the beaches of Normandy. | At Cape Gloucester in New Brit- = T0 TWO PORT — NET BEING SPREAD IN - NORMANDY Wideni ng—,—lenglhening Tide Sweeping Over Sections in France BULLETIN — SUPREME ||..HEADQUARTERS ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCES, Aug. 4~—The Americans are believed tonight to have swept close to St Nazaire, virtualy completing a cuteff on the Brest Peninsula. They are be- lieved well advanced beyond any points this far officially disclosed. Also on the Orne River, the Germans lashed out in a series of tank attacks, forcing the British to fall back more than 2,000 yards. American forces are reported ta have advanced in rapid strides and are within two miles of Evran, SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCES, Aug. 4—American ar- mor and infantry, spreading a widening and lengthening tide over Normandy, have reached within 42 St. Nazaire on the Loire, to cut off most of the peninsula, and while bursting through the coun- try 20 miles south of Rennes, the Americans also spread 27 miles west of that rafl highway and hub center ‘of Brittany. Advances wera also made in the direction of Brest. ¥ X Fighting rages in the streets of Rennes leading to the heart of the city now encircled, but a fanatic German- garrison is trying to hold out. & The Berlin radio broadcasts ai communique from the German Hight Command, stating the Americans “are engaging the German base garrison in Rennes after a break- through into Brittany.” 2% i MARINES ADVANCE ON GUAM American Flag Is Formally; Raised on Tinian Island by U. S. Forces UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET HEADQUARTERS IN PEARL HARBOR, Aug. 4—A two- mile advance Wednesday of the American troops on Guam against increasing enemy resistance in the rough wooded terrain is announced by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. ‘This placed the reconquerors of |Guam well up on the third island of the southernmost Marianas group and gave them control of the important road junction to the north ridge. The Yanks are advancing under continuous support of the carrier- based aircraft planes that flew low over enemy fortifications and stor- age areas on the northern end of the island. * Admiral Nimitz also reports the American flag has been raised for- mally over Tinian Island, 125 miles north of Guam. Scattered remnants of the garrison there are being flushed from caves and dug- outs. The enemy dead on the island is officially given as 5,000. Four thousand ecivilians have been in. terned. . -, RUTH BERTHOLL LEAVES Ruth Bertholl, who has been em» lamn, six of the first seven LSTs to hit the beach were skippered ployed at the B. M. Behrends Bank for some time, left today for Seattle and a guest at the Baranof Hotel, 'and manned Ly Coast Guardsmen. to enter a business college there,