The Bakersfield Californian from Bakersfield, California • Page 1

PANICKY TOKYO AFLAME AFTER BLAST BY 1500 NAVY PLANES THE WEATHER Temperature High yesterday. Low today 38 Rainfall FeaBon (Airport) 4.59 Year ago (Airport) Reason (Land Company) 5..17 Year ago (Land Company) 3.41 ForecBdt Clear skies today and tonight with light local froota; partly cloudy Saturday. Electrical Workers Approve Strike Vote See Page 9 Vol. 57 TWO SECTIONS BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1945 16 PAGES No. 172 Red Troops Surround Bresjau Two Armies Strike in Concerted Assault; Near Berlin, Spree LONDON, P'eb.

16. troops have completely surrounded Breslau, Moscow announced tonight. LONDON, Feb. 16. The Russian army newspaper Red Star reported today that Russian spearheads "striking at the very heart of Germany were nearing Berlin's suburban villas and the river Spree.

Two Red armies were grinding away the defenses east and southeast of Berlin hi a concerted assault that appeared to be the first phase of the showdown battle for the capital. The Nazis reported that they had blocked a thrust against Cottbus, turntable of the defense network southeast of Berlin only 48 miles from the capital. Marshal Ivan S. Konev's Army was closing on Cottbus in a lightning drive that had turned the Oder river line before ttMfcapltal. The Russians have captured Crossen, German hinge-point on the south bank of the Oder 67 miles southeast of Berlin, a German commentator announced'tonight.

His flank shielded by Konev's push into Brandenburg province southeast of Berlin, Marshal Gregory K. Zhukov now was ready for the payoff drive against the 1 'city from his Oder valley positions 30-odd miles to the east. Two-Way Attack The signal for the two-way attack on Berlin's near defenses was suggested by a Red Star dispatch which said: "Only a little distance is left to the banks of the Spree and Berlin's suburban villas. The air is saturated with the odor of hot gunpowder. The German land is burning and smoking.

The smoke from fires and explosives darkens the" horizon. The terrain and weather favor the enemy, who never fought so stubbornly or so desperately as now that Continued on Page Four Pearson Sues Pegler for $25,000 Libel NEW YORK. Feb. 16. Drew Pearson, Washington columnist and news broadcaster, sued Columnist Westbrook Pegler fop $25,000 in a libel action filed today in New York county Supreme Court.

The Bell Syndicate, distributors of Pearson's "Washington Merry-Go-Round," also asked $25,000, alleging that Pegler injured Pear- eon's "name, fame and credit as a news reporter" in a syndicated column January 30. Index to Advertisers Page Abrams, Dr. R. 8 Arvin Theater 10 Beardsley Dance 10 Bender Drilling Co 6 Booth's 2, 3 Boynton Brothers 10 Brock's 3 Citizens Laundry 12 City Poultry Market 7 Colonial Inn 10 Cornish Laboratories 2 Culliton, John 12 Dotty Dean Shop 7 Eastern 6 El Tejon Drug Store 8 Fairfax Grange 10 Flickinger-Digier .........15 Foursquare Church 3 Fox Theaters 10 Globe Drug Store 6 Goodrich, F. Stores 10 Granada Imperial Floor 12 Ivors Furniture 12 Karpe, A.

8 La Granada ........10 Lawson's 4 Lim, T-. 12 Minnesota Mutual 15 Montgomery Ward 7 National Dollar 6 Nile Kiddie Show 10 Phillips Music Co 2 Rialto Theater River Theater San, Joaquin Grain 3 Sears Roebuck 5 Sherrys Liquor Stores 2 Southern Kitchen Taft Refrigeration and Electric Union Avenue 10 Union Cemetery 15 Drug Virginia Theater io Welll's 8 Wildlife Exhibit 10 Wills. Bob RENDEZVOUS is a prewar view of Alexander Square in Berlin, where Russian and American armies plan to meet. Russians today are bearing down on Berlin's Spree river defenses from the southeast as battle trends indicate that the rendezvous may not be too far distant. FRENCH ASK BIG THREE TO CLARIFY STATUS AT CONCLAVES, IN PEACE QUESTION WHETHER COUNTRY WILL BE ON EQUAL BASIS IN MILITARY OCCUPATION OF GERMANY PARIS, Feb.

1C. French government announced today that had asked America, Britain and Russia for ''indispensable clarification" of the Crimea conference communique. An official announcement said the request was made in notes presented yrne'sFrneh ambassadors lie governments to which they are accredited. The notes were upproved by the cabinet which met this morn- ng, with General Charles de Gaulle presiding. The chief points on which clarification was asked were understood be: 1.

Whether France will take part the San Francisco conference on the same- basis as the Big other words, as an "invit- ng" rather than "invited" party. 2. France will have the tatus of full equality with the Big 'hree in the military occupation of ermany and on the control commis- ion in Berlin. 3. Whether France will be invited sit with the representatives of he Big Three at.

any conference to lelimit the zones of occupation. Authorized French sources said would accept an invitation San Francisco only on a basis of ull equality with the Big Three. 'hey also said France would accept 10 delineation of zones of occupa- ion in which she had not been con- ulted previously and fully. AWAIT FRENCH APPROVAL ON VOTING PROCEDURE Only approval France was leeded today for world-wide publica- ibn of the proposed voting formula' or the United Nations council. The by President Roosevelt and accepted by the Big Three it referred to China and france last Monday for approval.

They were also asked to be spon- ors, with the Big Three, of the Jnited Nations conference in San April 25. China immediately approved the 'oting formula and agreed to be a onference sponsor. France has not answered yet. The French cabinet is supposed to consider the ques- ion at a today. The state department has more or ess confirmed that the formula fol- ows the lines of a solution offered at Dumbarton Oaks last summer by he British.

Consequently it is expected that the formula will be in his pattern: Decisions would be by simple ma- ority vote of the ll-nation council Continued on Page Four Decree Puts Reich Under Martial Law MILITARY TRIAL SET FOR ALL EVADING DUTIES TO COMMUNITY Feb. 16. all Germany was placed under virtual martial law today by a sweeping decree calling for military trial of "whoever tries to evade his duties toward the community." Civilians who show "cowardice" will be subject to the death penalty in the "Reich's defense areas threatened by the enemy." The order one of the most drastic decrees ever Issued by the Germans in their effort to bring every man, woman and child into their struggle. It was issued, Berlin said, on orders from Adolf Hitler and with the agreement of Heinrich Himmler. State General Fund Exceeds $82,726,268 SACRAMENTO, Feb.

16! state general fund cash excess of $82,726,268 as of January 31 was reported today by State Controller Harry B. Riley. Riley said the cash excess was considerably less than the $110,031,707 reported for the comparable 1944 date but was up from December 31, 1944, figure of $74,235,228. Riley reported state general fund revenues during the seven months starting July 1, 1944, as $140,237,963, down $5,085,498 from the comparable 1943 period. George Bill Passes, 'Clearing Way for Vote on Wallace By FRANCIS WASHINGTON, Feb.

16. louse passed and sent to President Roosevelt today legislation intended clear the way for Henry A. Vallace to become secretary of a rimmed-down commerce department. Passage came by an overwhelming after Democrats narrowly urned back, 204 to 196, a Republican effort to send the Senate-paused George bill back to the House bank- ng committee. This would have shelved the bill nd Wallace opponents hoped, result outright rejection of the former by forcing the Senate vote on his confirmation as not jnly commerce secretary but head of he Reconstruction Finance Corporation.

Wallace supporters also beat off wo other attempts to alter the measure. An amendment, which would have repealed the President's wartime power to reshuffle federal agencies, was ruled out on a parliamentary technicality. Republicans also failed on the same technicality to gala consideration of an amendment revising the M. LE MAY export-import bank board to deny the commerce secretary a seat. The final vote remained in doubt.

The Democratic majority barely squeaked through by 10 votes Thursday. The count was 202 to 192 as solid Republican ranks and a flying squadron of southern Democrats forced a test on the Senate-passed George bill, attempting to sweep the measure off the floor without further ado. Southerners Split A shift of six votes would have thrown Wallace's future into further confusion. Antl administration southerners were split yesterday. But Representative Rankln who.usually spearheads the anti-administration coalition, predicted a sufficient number would swing over later to shelve the bill.

On the other hand, Representative Ramspeck Democratic whip, said the would bold to save the bill. The Senate bill, authored by Senator George rips the multibillion dollar Reconatructlon Finance Corporation (RFC) out of the com- Continued on four Allies Hold 20 Miles on Rhine Canadian First Army Drives On Through Storms of Nazi Fire By Associated Frew PARIS, Feb. Canadian First Army, aimed toward the heart of the industrial Ruhr, thrust almost a mile deeper into the lower Rhine valley of northwest Germany through storms of heavy artillery and mortar fire thrown by an ever-increasing flood of enemy reserves. The Canadians held 20 miles of the south bank of the flooded Rhine from the Nijmegen sector to opposite Emmerich but made no threats at crossing the wide waterway. They stormed and captured water- hemmed Huisberden, 4 miles east of Kleve and 1'J from the Ruhr gateway city of Wesel.

Scots, Britons and Welshmen under General Henry Crerar's command inched toward the defense key stones of Goch and Calcar in the cen ter of the bulging 20-mile front. One front dispatch said the British em plre troops spread out. south of Moy land, indicating an advance into the area-'jeeS from 'Calcar. Scots swinging down the highway from Kleve moved to within 1000 yards of Moyland. Other'troops closed slowly toward Goch from three, directions and were within eiasy artillery range.

Goch and Calcar both are Important military highway hubs. The Germans committed elements of an eighth division to the critical northern front, the Eighth Parachute Division. Three other parachute, two infantry and two tank divisions have been Identified. Prisoners totaled G700 for the offensive. Gains at Prucm The American Third Army carved out half-mile gains in the Pruem sector, slowly reducing German fortifications.

The Seventh Army in north- Continued on Page Four A. Slayer Gets Stay of Execution SACRAMENTO. Feb. 16. CD- William Leva Hough, convicted Los Angeles slayer, won a new stay of execution from his death sentence today from Governor Wan-en.

Hough was doomed to die tomorrow in San Quentin prison's gas chamber, but the governor extended the execution date to May IS at the request of Chief Justice Phil S. Gibson of the State Supreme Court. Hough, convicted In Los Angeles In August of 1942 of the murder of ils divorced wife, Inez, and her friend, Frederick Culp, received a previous reprieve so he could apply for a writ of error before Superior Judge William R. McKey of Los Angeles county, Britons Claw Bomb Rubble With Hands LONDON, Feb. 16.

and women clawed away tons of rubble ay hand after a German V-bomb exploded and trapped a number of persons under demolished buildings in southern England recently. Rescue workers brought up steam shovels and bulldozers but dared not use them for fear of injuring those trapped by the blast. Frantically digging volunteers recovered a number of bodies and rescued several injured. Among the dead were three generations of one children, their mother and their grandmother. Southern England was under attack again last night and a com- munique reported additional casualties and damage.

LAS HES TOKYO EXPECTS IWO LANDING Tokyo radio said Friday that the carrier' attack on Tokyo and the bombardment of Iwo Jima in the Volcano islands, 750 miles south' of the enemy capital, "may be a prelude to an American landing on Iwo." DRAFTED LNDEB NEW ORDER WASHINGTON, Feb. The army in a few days will begin training the first of men inducted for Industrial duties under the recent' limited "work or fight" order. The men were ordered Into service by draft boards because they left essential Jobs for which they had been granted de- Giant U. S. Fleet Hunts Fight Off Japan; Luzon Japs Trapped MacArthur's Men.Foi Plan to Turn Tide of Battle at Manila MANILA, Feb.

16. Documents showing that large Japanese force expectet to turn the tide of the Luzon campaign at Manila came to light today as the cornerec remnant of that outsmarted garrison fought with new fury in its blazing south Manila trap. General Douglas MucArthur, announcing a deepei penetration of liutuuii peninsula, a 112-ton bombing of Corregidor and the steady reduction of "the enemy's final pocket" in the rubble of the once-proud capital, disclosed nlso the seizure of the Nipponese documents. These indicated that the enemy "contemplated a major and successful defense of Manila." MacArthur reported the Japanese, prior to his Luzon landing, had a jerrbon of: more -men In Manila of guns mines, pillboxes and fortifications expecting an attack from the south and from Manila bay. "The enemy apparently hoped to hold Manila and Manila bay, thus making tills the turning point of the Luzon campaign," MacArthur said.

"These plans were defeated by the of the envelopment by our 'orces and the dislocation and unbalance caused by our unanticipated advance and the attack from north and east." 10,000 Manned Defenses Staff officers of the Fourteenth Army Corps estimated that perhaps .0,000 Japanese originally manned he masterfully devised defenses of south Manila. Several thousand may be left In he thick-walled Intramuros district, along the bay shore just south of the river mouth, and in the cent Ermita and Maiate districts. These Japanese, confined to an area about GOOD yards by 1500 yards, opened up at dawn yesterday with Continued on Page Four Lend-lease Cargo Bolsters Red Drive WASHINGTON, Feb. 16. Flussia's winter drive into Germany, Admiral Emory S.

Land informed Congress today, was bolstered by 3,447,000 tons of lend-lease cargo shipped during the last six months of 1944. Urging extension of the lend-lease irogram for another year beyond Its June 30 expiration date, tho head of the War Shipping Administration the House foreign affairs committee the shipments to Russia were 'substantially in excess" of earlfer joals. They included, he said, urgently needed foodstuffs for the Red armies, munitions, equipment for Soviet war industries, railway equipment and motor trucks. Fifth Army Retreats on Tyrrhenian Coast ROME, Feb. 16.

'Iflh Army troops in the Tyrrhen- an coastal sector were disclosed by he Allied command today to have made further withdrawals following German infiltrations In positions at Jon to Canala. Headquarters of Lieutenant-General Mark W. Clark said enemy pres- ure on Monte Canala, 4 miles inland nd the same distance southeast of "caused our troops to with- Iraw to the southern nlopes of this eature." "These are the positions held prior the recent attack by our forces the coastal sector," it was added. Allies to Deal With German Chieftains WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.

Ufh- The Allies are expected to deal with German field the Nazi government nor the Wehrmacht'e the hour comes or imposing unconditional surrender erms on the beaten enemy. This was suggested in competent quarters today as the answer to one big question arising out of the Yalta onference announcement. 1800 Allies Die When Jap Prison Ship Sunk (Copyright, 1SM5. It is now possible to disclose that nearly 1800 Allied mostly perished when a rat-trap Japanese prison ship was sunk by a submarine last October 24. Only five survivors have been accounted for in the months since the tragedy occurred in the China sea.

It was the second Japanese shipload of prisoners to suffer a doom unwittingly inflicted by an Allied submarine. In' the two tragedies, a total of nearly 2500 Americana, many of them already near death after months in Philippine prison camps, apparently were drowned or killed. Another Sinking The first sinking, previously reported, occurred September 7 off the northwestern coast oC Mindanao. Of 750 American prisoners being transferred from tho Philippines, 83 survived. They got ashore and were hidden by Filipino by United Tress) guerrillas until United States forces could rescue them.

The story of the second sinking was told to tlie United Press by Sergeant Avcry 13. Wither, of Navarino, Wis. Tliero were 1800 prisoners jammed into the prison ship's stinking holds. to reach China. Stories Similar Stories of tho two sinkings are similar in one grim respect.

In botli instances tlie Japanese at sea matched the bestiality of Japanese ashore. In neither sinking could the Allied submarine which fired the fatal torpedo have known what kind of cargo the target ship was carry- Ing. Through the submarine's periscope It must have looked like a legitimate and desirable target. The submarines were not identified. The sinkings occurred, however, In areas where United States submarines frequently operated.

RAID INTERRUPTS MYOJMERT REPORTER DESCRIBES BEGINNING OF ATTACK By WILLIAM F. TVREE ADMIRAL. NIMITZ'S HEADQUARTERS, Guam, Feb. 16. It was 7:50 m.

at advance headquarters here on Japan's doorsteps. Tokyo blared concert music over a radio in a press room. Outside, the American flag was raised In the sunlight to the accompaniment of a marine bugle whoso notes echoed over tho mountains. The clock ticked on. It reached 7:55 a.

m. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz sat quietly In his headquarters. Perhaps he was thinking of that day three years ago when he came to still- smouldering Pearl Harbor to assume command of the battered Pacific fleet. Nfmitiz'H Pledge Possibly he was recalling the pledge he made that day as he stood on the deck of a have just assumed a great responsibility and obligation which I shall do my utmost to discharge." The clock ticked on.

Its hands reached toward 8 a. m. Suddenly the concert music on radio Tokyo stopped. Chimes sounded. Then the radio went silent.

The attack had bcK.un! It was 7 a. m. in Tokyo and the hour for which Nimitz had waited ever since that day he took command of the Pacific fleet had arrived. His carrier planes at that moment were attacking Tokyo In mammoth strength, returning many- fold the visit to Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Nimitz could not hide bis satisfaction when, minutes later, he formally announced the raid.

"This operation," he said in his Continued on Pace Four Tokyo Calm During Raid, Says Radio CITIZENS GO ABOUT WORK AS FIGHTS RAGE, STATES BROADCAST By United Press The residents of Japan's according to radio Tokyo (call letters J-O-A-K), remained "unperturbed and completely calm" during tho American carrier raid Friday. "As soon as the air raid alarm was sounded, all citizens of Tokyo calmly dressed themselves in 'fighting togs' while war workers hurriedly partook of their breakfast and rushed out to their factories and downtown offices," the broadcast, recorded by United Press at San Francisco, said. Tokyoltes were afforded a "very fine view" of dogfights in the skies, the broadcast stated, adding: "At the sight of our gallant airmen who patrolled the skies In the cold, freezing air, all citizens felt relieved and grateful to them." The broadcast asserted the Americans "purposely chose the rush hour for the raid so as to interrupt our production activities. However, they failed in this since most of our workers had already arrived at their posts when the first raid siren sounded." During the raid, the broadcast said, production of planes and ships "continued as usual." NAZI SUBS Sl'NK LONDON, Feb. 16.

Two German submarines were destroyed and three Nazi planes shot down recently during an attack on an important Allied convoy to Russia which was frustrated by combined air and sea action, the admiralty announced today. Carrier Raid Lasts Nine Hours; Ships Bombardjwo Jima By DOPKINO UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET HEADQUARTERS, GUAM, Saturday, Feb. 27. OP) Smoke columns 7000 feet high plumed over the Tokyo- Yokohama area today marking targets blasted by more than 1500 American carrier planes in yesterday's daring strike at the heart of Japan. Returning fliers who rode B-29s over the targets while the navy HellcntH and Avengers spit bombs and bullets at the panic-stricken NO HELP FROM TOKYO By United While swarms of American carrier pianos pressed home a massive attack against Tokyo, Japan today nerved notice to her armies in China and In the" Bypassed coin- bat areas of the Pacific that they must prepare to operate without help from the homeland, Melbourne radio reported.

Nipponese capital said that aside from other damage, scored of enemy planes were caught on the ground. The raid lasted more than nine hours while the greatest naval armada ever assembled challenged the Japanese fleet within 300 miles of Nippon's shores. (Carrier attacks cf this type usually last for two or three days. The power of the American force indicated this pattern would be followed again at Tokyo.) Protecting Vice-Admiral Mare A. Mltscher's carrier forces, battleships, cruisers and destroyers of Admiral Raymond A.

Spruance's Fifth Fleet spread out in a 200-mile column In Japanese waters, daring the enemy fleet to come out. Seven hundred miles to the south another task force, which Tokyo laid was comprised of more than 30 warships, including battleships and carriers, shelled Iwo Jima in co-ordination with land-based bombers which have been attacking the island outpost dally for more than two A Japanese imperial communique reported that "carrier-based planes of a powerful enemy task force which appeared in the seas adjacent to our shores" attacked in and around Tokyo in successive Continued on Fuse Four Now Is Time for Nip Fleet to Fight, Says Navy Man WASHINGTON, Feb. 16. naval spokesman said today "now is the time" for the Japanese fleet to meet the challenge of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance's mighty force hurling its alrpower against the enemy's homeland.

Voicing confidence that Spruance's 'orces are more than a match for anything the'Japanese are capable of bringing out, the spokesman told reporters the navy has a "pretty good idea" where the entire Nipponese fleet la, "Preaumably it was being held for defense of the homeland, and now Is time." he asserted. "It Is going be interesting to see if the Japanese fleet will come out now or not." Capable of Lauding Speculation that the operations were preliminary to a landing of mich-bombarded Iwo Jima In the brought only a terse comment that the navy is capable of ef- 'ectlng a landing anywhere. The spokrainan said there is no doubt that the navy has complete control of the seas, adding that remnants of the Japanese fleet iver came out that assurance will be confirmed. The enemy fleet, will be eliminated "just as quick as it I takes to sink them." Itudiu Silence i The spokesman said full details of the operations have not been received because Spruanco "will not break radio silence so long as he thinks there is a good chance he has not been discovered." Another example of the navy's overwhelming power, he said, is emphasized by the fact that simultaneous operations were going on in the Tokyo area, in bombardment of Iwo Jima by surface units and in operations against tho fortress island of Corregidor at the mouth of Manila bay. The type of operations against Corregidor, whether surface or by air, was not disclosed.

"We have two good teams available and there is no question Admiral Spruance would welcome the emergence of everything the Japanese could assemble," the spokesman asserted. He added that carrier based bombers are capable 6f doing tremendous damage to the concentrated industrial areas and other military targets In the Japanese islands because of their relatively low flying tactics as compared with high altitude pattern bombing by heavy four-englned craft. Italy Polish Forces Back London Stand ROME, Feb. 16. fighting with the Fifteenth Army group in Italy backed up the Polish government in London today in refusing to recognize the Big Three's solution of the Polish problem.

In an order of the day to hia Second Polish Corps, Lieutenant-General Wladislaw Anders, tho commander, said: "We don't recognize and shall never recognize unilateral decisions. Nobody and nothing can deviate the Polish nation or us, her soldiers, from the chosen road of honor and the struggle for unadulterated independence and unadulterated democracy." The Second Polish Corps Is the largest army unit formed under the direction of the exile government, which would be dissolved in a broadened provisional government under tho Crimean declaration. Sailor's Body Found on College Campus BERKELEY, E'eb. 18. and navy authorities today sought to identify a young man dressed in regulation blues whose stabbed and decomposed body was found in a remote section of the University of California campus last night.

Police said the man's throat bad been deeply Biased. A name sewed inside hia blouse bore tht name "Gerard Smith," who 4 believed to be from Boise, Idaho. who was reported missing Camp Shoemaker hospital uary 15. Navy authorities however, that enlisted men change parts of their refused to make positive Idtab Won. bodjr 10 or mow..