The Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune from Muscatine, Iowa • Page 1

"WIATHtK Muscatine Xot quite so cool tonight and Sunday forenoon. Iowa Warmer tonight, considerably warmer by Sunday noon. River stage 5.4; fall 0.1. MUSCATINE POET CITY OF THE CORN BELT THE MUSCATINE JOURNAL 1 PRICE FIVE CENTS NO. 227 AND NEWS-TRIBUNE MUSCATINE, IOWA, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25.

1943 ASSOCIATED PRESS and NEA SERVICE EIGHT PAGES ESTABLISHED 1840 Nazi Troops Leave Smolensk fifth Army Takes Hill Bases At Naples Planes Blast Russ Views 'Foes Fleeing 12f stwa Corsica Trap Plan Sought (By NOLAXD XORGAARD) Allied Headqu a in North Africa Lt. f-en. Mark W. Clark's American Fifth army has fought its way onto hills looking- down on the plain of Naples in a furious day and night offen- 've supported by heavy ar- Ilery barrages and resisted by German tanks as well as strong gun emplacements, Allied headquarters stated Meanwhile, Allied shot down 19 Junkors-52 transports in another sweep against the hard-pressed enemy's air-evacuation movement from Corsica French patriots and ref liars and American rangers ere pressing him into a tight corner. Down Evacuation Planes I At 10 more of the es'acua- I ver frankness.

Washington The U. S. senate which will write America's ticket in the po'stwar world took on this apparent attitude today: Let's find out what Moscow thinks and wants before deciding on a definite international setup for maintaining the peace. This interest in Russia's views was heightened by the arrival of Admiral WilliEm H. Standley, who is believed to be ready to resign as ambassador to the U.

S. S. R. He had a at to taJk it over with Secretary of State Hull today. Seeks Views of Allies.

As Standley returned to the capital, these facts stood out: 1. A strong trend developed in the senate foreign relations committee to delay action on any declaration of postwar policies until the views O'f both England and Russia have been sounded out, fully and publicly. Chairman Connally indicated belief that "intemperate" debate now would strain relations by its tion planes were damaged in the air battle off historic ifJba in which RAF Beaufighters laid siege to the German-held tip of the island and trapped the nazi air fleets just as (hey did off Tunisia and Sicily. The planes were crowded with and key men. Allied reports said two of the seven other air transports shot down the day before had 100 men crammed into them.

Struggling forward over terrain so difficult that pack mules 2. Appointment of a new ambassador to Russia, possibly lend- lease expert W. Averell Harriman, WES in the wind, along with selection of an envoy to join the foreign ministers of Britain and Russia in a momentous meeting at Moscow soon. This meeting is intended to pave the way for a conference of Marshal Stalin, Prime Minister Churchill and REINFORCEMENTS COME ASHORE AT SALERNO V. troops marching up to join in Hie attack on the Germans pass a fellow soldier rcturnin ff from the battle on a ftrefcher Coast the men ashore in Corporation Tax Boost Pondered In Revenue Hunt President Roosevelt.

Secretary Hull himself wants to go but is yearly total. concerned about the physical rigors of such a trip. Apposed by Ball. In the words of the headquart- spokesman the Allied troops could watch ''our air forces knocking hell out of enemy communications in the area below." Artillery Duel Rages Reports from the front said the f-hole rugged mountain area north and northeast of Salerno was brilliantly lighted throughout the night by the flashes of a terrific artillery duel hundreds of Allied and postwar aims clearer. This seemed to be the tack the senate would follow for the present, though some members disagreed with it 1 notably Ball who declared: "What we need is a clear declaration of American foreign policy that will help the Moscow conference accomplish some results." between The senate's attitude quashed German any expectations of action soon "Clark, who appeared to have been swinging somewhat eastward "from his previous hard course due north of Salerno in a drive to outflank Naples, now seemed to be thrusting forward jljjth Vesuvius as a beacon, and a breakthrough in the mountain area appeared possible at anytime.

The spokesman said '-the tempo of the battle will increase tomendousiy" once the Allies fPive the enemy onto the plains below. An indication that the Germans despaired of ever being able to establish a strong defensive line across the whole Italian pen- which would enable them tvj retain possession of Naples, was seen in the fact that the British Eighth army advanced 15 miles up the Adriatic coast from Bari to the outskirts of the town of Molfetta without encountering feemy resistance. Casualties Heavy. The advance ol the fifth army officially described as "several miles," put Allied forces astride on the house-adopted Fulbright resolution which called upon congress to record that the U. S.

favored postwar collaboration with other nations to stamp out aggression. (Continued On Page 2.) Firemen Of Nine Towns Quell Ohio Gasoline Blaze Ashland, (JP) from nine cities brought under control burning gasoline that surged from two derailed tank cars, flowed into storm sewers, destroyed a rubber company and railroad facilities, and threatened many homes in this north central Otto city of 15,000. was no immediate estimate of the loss. The fire started late Friday night when two derailed tank cars in an Erie railroad freight train exploded and set eight other ablaze. Blazing gasoline poured into the streets and storm sewers.

Police Sergeant L. V. Young said flames quickly destroyed the nearby Eagle Rubber the Ene's passenger depot and freight two restaurant buildings and parked automobiles. Flaming fuel swept along an east side creek and a Y. M.

C. A. athletic club. I Navy's Drydock At Pearl Harbor Ready For Use Pearl Harbor (JP) The navy has a new drydock, built in less than a third the normal peace time schedule and capable of handling the navy's biggest ships, built or building. Adm.

Chester W. Nimitz, commander-in-chief of the Pacific fleet, termed it a m.agnifice'nt achievement of construction. Rear Adm. William R. Furlong, commandant of the Pearl Harbor navy yard said the dock, dedicated Friday, would play an important part in winning the Pacific war.

terned. Washington An increase in corporation taxes of 10 percentage points was reported under discussion today as congressional fiscal experts began casting about for new ways of boosting federal, revenues toward a $50,000,000,000 Urged by the treasury to put $12,000,000.000 in additional taxes on top of the $38,000,000,000 now collected annually, the house ways and means committee will go" tt work Oct. 4 on a now revenui bill amid signs of stiffening congressional resistance to any spec tacular increases in levies affect ing the common man. The business tax increase, along with boosts in individual imports was reported to have been broached when the senate finance committee informally canvassed revenue sources Friday. Members said that suggestion: included a possible rise from to 50 per cent in the comb ne normal and surtax rate on coi- porations, as well as an increase Jn wage and salary'withholding" from 20 to 30 per cent.

The latter would be accompanied by inauguration of a "refundable" levy increasing the individual income tax take. While it was emphasized these suggestions were only tentative mere was 'immediate evidence that any proposals for laree on business or find rough going ahead in congress. U. S. Bests Enemies in Arms Output London Donald M.

Nelson, U. S. war production board chairman, told the -the Axis as night, that Uriited States war industry soon' would be completing one military plane every five minutes. Nelson, speaking at Seven American Planes Forced Down In Russia Moscow Seven American planes landed on Soviet territory Kamchatka on Sept. 12.

date of the last bombing of the Japanese Kunle islands, it was announced today. The announcement said the planes and crews had been in- Finschhafen Field Won; Australians Storm Town (By BOB EXJNSON). Allied Headquarters in Southwest the The Fin- schhafen airfield has been wrested from the Japanese, giving Douglas MacArthur a New Guinea base for his planes 75 mijes from the enemy's strategically important bastion of New Britain. Australians who landed from the sea in the face of mortar and machinegun fire six moles north of Finschhafen Wednesday captured the field and now are within three-quarters of a mile of the town, headquarters reported today. The impending capture of Fin- schhafen would add 60 more miles of shoreline that between Fin- schhafen and Lae to the New Guinea, coastal region under Allied control.

165 Mijes to Gasmata. From Finschhafen's airfield, unserviceable recently to the Japanese because of Allied air poundings, it is an 85 mile flight to the enemy airdrome of Cape Gloucester and 165 miles' to the Gas- mata -airdrome New Britain bases guarding the way up that crescent-shaped island to Rabaul, a stronghold with three airdromes and a harbor capable of accommodating a good sized fleet. Capture of the Salamaua airdrome Sept. 11 and the Lae air base Sept. 16, has been followed quickly by increased fighter and attack plane activity over New Britain.

Today's communique reported that fighters, identified by a spokesman as P-40s, dive-bombed installations on the tiny island of Gasmata. Wide Area Bombed. Beauforts, medium bombers, set supply dumps afire and exploded ammunition in the Kimbe Bay region, which is 150 miles from Rabaul and slightly more than 250 miles from Lae-Salamaua. Long range fighters previously have moved into this sector. In other' air activity reported today, Mitchells swung inland along the Markham valley beyond positions seized by paratroopers Sept.

5. The bombers dropped many tons of explosives and fired 41,000 rounds of ammunition at Japanese trying a back door escape from, the debacle at Lae. The Mitchells roamed as far as Ragitsuma, 80 miles northwest of Lae, without spotting an enemy plane. Rumania to Seek Peace, Spain Hears Madrid -IJP) Reports, some government, asserted that American war production this year would be at least one and one- half- times the combnied output Germany'and Japan. Next year, he promised, it probably will be twice as great.

Expressing belief his figures would interest the Germans as well as his immediate audience, Wilson said the United States alone produced 110,000 war planes since Jan. 1942, and that the production curve is still rising. In that same period, America produced 60,000 tanks, 53,000 scout cars and carriers and 1,100,000 trucks and trailers, Nelson said, as well as more than 21,000,000 deadweight tons of merchant vessels and 3,000,000 displacement tons of naval vessels. Enough artillery and ammunition has been produced in the United States to "let us fire 2,000 shots at every Axis soldier," disclosed. he Jacob Lamb, 67, Lifelong County Resident, Dies Jacob D.

-Lamb, 67, a life resident of Muscatine county, died at 4-10 a. m. today at Bellevue hospital after an illness of about three months. His home was at 518 Miles avenue. The son of Sawyer and Harriet Dusk Lamb, he was born on March 17, 1876.

He married Minnie Seay on June 20, 1899, in Muscatine. He was a member of the Bethel A. M. E. church, Pearl City No.

39, Masonic lodge, and was a charter member of Martha chapter No. 27, O. E. S. He served as treasurer of the latter two organizations.

For 24 years he was employed at Roach and Mussers. Surviving are sons, Henry Lamb and Harvey J. Lamb, joth of Muscatine, Clifton Jamb, professor at Johnson C. Smith college, Charlotte, N. one daughter, Mrs.

Mildred Fuller, Chicago, six grandchildren, and two nieces, and Hazel Lee, both of Muscatine. He was preceded in death by his wife, one daugnter, three brothers and two sisters. The body is at the Fairbanks Tuneral Home, but will be returned to the home on Miles avenue at 10 a. m. Monday, then will be -eturned to the funeral home for services at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon.

The Rev. A. R. Parks of Rapids, will be in charge. Oklahoma Solon Warns OPA May Bring "Revolt" (By ERNEST B.

VACCARO). Sen. Thomas, democrat, of Oklahoma, warned the Office of Price Administration today that there would be a "revolt" against the democrats in 1944 unless OPA officials abandoned practices "contrary to the American way of life." I "I can not believe that your administration desires to make the Office of Price Administrator so unpopular, oppressive and ridiculous as to cause the people of the country to revolt almost solidly at the election to be held in 1944," Thomas wrote Chester Bowles, OPA general manager. "I have spant two months in Oklahoma, and the wave of resentment there is almost universal against the practices which are considered entirely unnecessary and contrary to the American of life." Thomas said a doctor (Otis BaiT) of Cherokee, wrote him of having been accused of driving his automobile to Colorado on a fishing trip when he had "not been in Colorado for 20 years." Upon such a showing, Thomas asserted, the complaint was dismissed. The doctor was told that all evidence in the case "was confidential because the OPA had set it up in that manner." "No doubt you know that in some of the states the citizens have already practically repealed the price control law, for the reason that the citizens of such states act exactly as if no such law existed," Thomas said in his letter.

Asserting he voted against passage of the price control law for fear of such consequences, senator declared further that the voters "are unwilling to discriminate" and am being criticized for what is happening exactly as though I were the actual administrator of the law." clearly of German origin circulated here today that representatives of the Rumanian government ar-e negotiating with Allied representatives at Ankara, Turkey, for an armistice. The Rumanians first ttempted, i the reports said, to omit the Russians and negotiate only with the western powers, but, failing in this, agree'd to meet the tri-power representatives. There was no indication of the progress of the rumored meetings, but Balkan representatives here feel -that such conferences might be linked with Budapest reports of growing tension between Rumania and Hungary over Transylvania, northern Rumanian area ceded to Hungary under Axis pressure. Envoy Expected. (CBS recorded a London broadcast of a report from Istanbul today "that a Bulgarian envoy is expected there soon to seek a basis for Turkish intervention with the Allies on Bulgaria's behalf.

(The Berlin radio, reporting on Axis activity in the Balkans, said an Albanian national com- mittea had been formed 1 in that former kingdom to replace the Italian government there "after the treason of Badoglio and the flight of the Albanian prime minister." Germany, it said, has recognized the committee. (Mustafa Merlika Kruja, an Albanian who had spent considerable time in Italy prior to the Italian invasion, was named premier of the Italian-dominated government in 1941. The Berlin radio's reference to the "flight of the Albanian prime minister" presumably referred to him.) To Accept Terms. The reports said that Rumania first sounded out the Allies for an armistice shortly after Benito ouster as Italian premier, and again sought an armistice conference immediately after the Italian capitulation. Although reconciled to unconditional surrender, the Rumanians were said to be mainly concerned over the method of surrender and the fate of Transylvania.

Earlier reports had told of Rumanian German friction over Rumania's insistence on moving her reserves toward the Hungarian frontier instead of replacing her heavy losses on the Russian front. The reports said further that near-panic was aroused among Budapest government and military leaders when they heard of the Rumanian armistice feelers and that Hungarian contacts with United Nations representatives may have been made also. Patriots Nazi Terror In Messenia Sector Russians Drive Germans From Two-Thirds of Land Once Taken by Invaders (By JAMES M. LONG) A The Ger man high command an- German troops have evacuated Smolensk, greatest nazi base on the Russian central front for more than two years. On the basis of the German announcement the Ked army has won one of its greatest victories of the war Evacuation of the city, 210 miles northeast of ed Kiev and 230 miles west of Moscow, was announced in a communique broadcast by DNB and recorded by the Assoc no Abandonment of Roslavl, rail town 65 miles southeast of Smolensk was also reported in the communique Evacuation Quickened Col.

Ernst Von Hammer, military correspondent of the nazi international information bureau with the German armies on the eastern front said in a dispatch broadcast by DNB that evacuation measures had been started three weeks ago and that it was quickened during the past few days while German rearguards fought a successful defense battle. Von Hammer said that the Germans had successfully removed all their war plants to the west, while the communique declared that they had destroyed all military installations in the the general front sector city. "In Cairo Greek sources said today, that many Germans were being found slain in Mes- senia province as Greek patriots fought a reign oE terror instigated by the nazis soon after they replaced Italian occupation troops' in Greece. Actual Needs to Set Pace In Munitions Production west of the railway junction of Unecha and south of Smolensk violent defense fighting took place and is still going on," the communique added. The German war bulletin said that nazi columns were attacking in the Lake Ladoga region in the Leningrad salient and baM repulsed Soviet tank-supported counter-attacks on the Murmansk sector in the far north.

Strong Russian attacks on German bridegheads on the eastern bank of the middle Dnieper river weye hurled back with heavy tank losses, the communique asserted, and Soviet columns operating north of Cherkasi were smashed, it was claimed. Disastrous Defeat The fall of Smolensk was regarded here as one of the most disastrous defeats suffered by German forces in the current Russian offensive. Berlin said Smolensk's evacuation was completed early today and that covering forces blew up bridges and important crossroads after the last German transport had left the city. In the nine months since a badgered Red army threw back the Germans from Stalingrad, the Russians have atcomplished two thirds of their task of hurling the invaders from Soviet soil. Hitler's steadily retreating forces have now given up all but about 230,000 of the 700,000 square miles of Soviet territory they held at the height of their successes, and hold only about three per cent of Russia's 8,800,000 square-mile area.

Even in its easternmost penetration at Stalingrad the Germans occupied only about nine per cent of that vast nation. Since then the Red army has driven them westward 650 miles and now stand a bare 150 miles from the old Polish border. Another 150-mile retreat would place the Germans on the "Rib- bentrop-Molotov" line, the springboard of Hitler's invasion of Russia on June 6, 1941. Kiev Fall Imminent The fall of Kiev also appeared imminent. The charging Red troops there were separated only by the breadth of the Dnieper 'Washington Actual strategic needs, as determined by a joint army-navy committee in the light of battlefront reports, hereafter will be the yardstick for war industry production.

The joint attack on material and manpower waste was announced Friday by James F. Byrnes, wai- mobilization director, at the Whit'e House. He made known that the survey committee, ordered by President Roosevelt, already lias been put to work by -the joint (army and navy) chiefs of staff. Two men each from the army and navy make up the committee. "With critical shortages injnaii- power and material, we must see that we produce only what we need and that the waste, unavoidably present in war, is kept to a- minimum," said a statement from the president, made public Byrnes.

Stress Manpower Shifts. The war mobilization director also recalled the overfilled military warehouses with which this nation ended the last war and said the constant adjustment -of production to military msnts would be designed to avoid Burial will be Greenwood repetition, insofar as possible. ci Savings of cash as well as'labor I fewer men. and materials are expected through cuts in manufacture of certain munitions: as the shifting battle scene cuts the need for them or swings emphasis to other weapons. No big increases in supplies for civilians are expected from the close g-earing ol war production to fighting front requirements, though there may be more of some small items.

Byrnes cited as an example a supply of barbed wire formerly reserved for possible military use in this country but now freed for sale. Alter Profit Plan. The home front war chief said the question how to shift labor from one area End one job to another was one which "will have to be studied more and more from now on." He expressed confidence that the bulk of the shifts could be accomplished by present means, when the matter of National Service legislation was brought up. Another manpower saving device to be emphasized hereafter, Byrnes said, is the incentive or man-hour contract under which the contractor shares with the government any' saving below, a "target price." He said the cost- plus contract left little incentive for employers to do a job with (Continued On Page CoafMineTlast Kills Fourteen In Pennsylvania Minersville, 3 men were dead today and nine others injured, one of them seriously, as the result of an explosion that ripped through the fifth level of the Moffett Schrader coal mine, 1,200 feet below the surface, at nearby Forrestville, late Friday. Weeping wives and mothers saw the shattered bodies of four of their menfolk brought to the surface at 10 o'clock Friday night.

Mine officials, who said there was no indication as to the cause of the blast, reported 10 other bodies still underground. Seven of these were identified, while three others were literally torn to bits by the force of the blast. The period of waiting- was lengthened for relatives at the mine shaft when all rescue operations were ordered stopped Friday night by Richard Maize, state secretary of mines, who said deadly black damp gas was spreading through the entire fifth levej, endangering the lives of rescue workers. Beaverbrook Returns to War Cabinet (By ERNEST AGNEW) London Lord Beaverbrook came back into the British cabinet today after an absence of 20 months in a shuffle designed to strengthen the government for the direction of post-war planning. The newspaper publisher, one of the most viciferous critics of the government since he left his post as minister of aircraft production almost two years ago after a disagreement over the scope of his position, returned as Lord privy seal but without membership in Prime Minister Winston Churchill's war cabinet.

As general utility minister he will assist Churc'nill with special administrative work and preside over a of governmental committees concerned with both war and postwar organization. Anderson Succeds Wood The appointment of Beaverbrook was the only one announced by No. 10 Downing street which occasioned any surprise. One of the major changes was the selection of Sir John Anderson, 61, former lord president of the council, for the post of chancellor of the exchequer to succeed the late Sir Kingsley Wood, who died Tuesday. Sir Kingsley was not a member of the war cabinet but Sir John will retain his post on that select board.

Richard Law, 42, was moved up from undersecretary of the foreign office to minister of state and will be given the responsibility for foreign office work concerned with post-war planning. Law led the British delegation at the United Nations food conference at Hot Springs, last spring. Three other changes were involved in the shuffle. Viscount Cranborne becomes secretary of state for dominion affairs and retains his post as leader of the house of lords. Maj.

Clement Attlee assumes the office of lord president of the council and continues as deputy prime minister. R. G. Casey, who has been minister of state, now becomes minister of state resident in the Middle East. Popular In Washington The Canadian-born Beaverbrook, often called "Britain's Little Beaver," is popular in Washington and Moscow.

He has held five government posts in Churchill's administration minister of production in 1940-41, minister of state for a few weeks in 1942, minister of supply in 1941-42 and then for a brief period, minister of production. When he retired from the last post he gave ill health as his reason. One of the chief differences between Beaverbropk and the government was his insistence upon a land attack on western Europe. At one time his demands' were so insistent that he was criticized in the house of Lords for trying to force the government's hand. He sharply on April 20 when he said that he was satisfied with the government's policy.

Helped the Yanks drive through the jungles of Guadalcanal Your war bonds bought the tanks and planes used to beat the Japs Back the Attack W.th Wa,.