La Grande Observer from La Grande, Oregon • Page 1

0 0 000 Community Newspaper For Every Member of the Family La Grand EVENING "Observer HUB OF NORTHEASTERN OREGON Vales cad Welleve Covaties VOLUME 40, NUMBER 300 LA GRANDE, OREGON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 17, 1942 FIVE CENTS BRITISH ARMY CUTS AFRIKA KORPS IN TWO Germans Facing Worst Situation Since First War Brilliant Flanking Movement by Eighth Army Splits Weary Axis Forces Along Path of Disastrous Desert Flight LONDON, Dec. 17 (UP) The British Eighth army, executing a brilliant flanking movement, has cut the retreating Afrika Korps in half about 60 miles west of El Agheila, and British experts said today that Marshal Erwin Rommel's forces were in the worst plight of any Germany army since 1918. The blow fell on the weary, yesterday at the little town of Sirte. Advanced units of Gen. REDS PUSH ON IN BLIZZARDS AGAINST NAZIS Five Towns Taken In Rzhev Area; Enemy Slain MOSCOW, Dec.

17 (UP) The Red army driving ahead through blizzards and waistdeep snow, captured five towns west of Rzhev. on the central front, today, killed 2,000 Germans and destroyed 24 tanks. Dispatches said that where the weather permitted Soviet Stormovik planes ruled the air, hedgehopping over German lines in two or three-yard ceilings. German prisoners said the Nazis didn't have enough planes left to support their infantry. Germans Quit In their other offensive, the Russians surged forward southwest of Stalingrad, took a number of fortified points and killed 400 Germans.

Panicky, the Germans threw down their arms and retreated. BULLETIN BLYTHE, Dec. 17 (UP) -An army plane reportedly carrying six or eight men crashed and burned near here late last night. MEAT QUOTAS CUT FOR 1943 CIVILIAN USE Part of '43 Quota Released Early In Some Areas WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 UP) -Price Administrator Leon Henderson today authorized meat packers to begin deliveries of 1943 quotas on Dec.

20 to meet severe shortages that have developed in several localities. The order, issued at the direction of Food Administrator Claude Wickard, provides also for a 13 per cent reduction in civilian meat deliveries during the first quarter of next year, compared with last -quarter 1942 quotas. Wickard said sharply increased military and lend-lease needs for meat make it necessary to reduce average per capita civilian consumption from pounds to two pounds and three ounces a week. Deliveries made during the MEAT See Page 6 Railroadman Is Taken by Death Clarence I. Hazen, 52, a retired railroad agent who resided at 1608 avenue, died at 11 p.

m. Wednesday in a local hospital, following a long illness. He was born April 25, 1890, at Sand River, Michigan. He took up residence in La Grande in March 1941, after retiring from his work because of his health. Prior to that he was Union Pacific agent in Elgin for 23 years and at Wallowa for three years.

Survivors include his wife, Rose: two daughters, Mrs. Agnes Lassley of Portland and Mrs. Rose Marie Stroeber of Elgin; one brother, Ezra; one grandson; four nieces and four nephews. Rosary will held at 7:30 o'clock Friday evening at the Snodgrass Funeral Home, and funeral will be at 9 a. m.

Saturday at the Catholic church, with Father Michael J. McMahon officiating. Burial will be at the Olney cemetery at Pendleton. DARLAN GIVEN AUTHORITY BY BRITISH DEAL Admiral Leader in Fact of French In N. Africa LONDON, Dec.

17 (UP) A Daily Mail Madrid dispatch reported today that Great Britain had reached a working agreement with Admiral Jean Francois Darlan which would recognize him as leader in fact of the French in Africa. The agreement does not give Darlan permanent recognition. the dispatch said but subord. inates everything to the common allied purpose of organizing French Africa. The agreement was reached largely, through the aid of command- Gen.

Honore Giraud, ing the French African fighting forces, the dispatch said. Aims Piedged Radio Morocco reported that Darlan, following up his statement renouncing political ambition said in a speech at Bone yesterday: "Prospects of the French empire are bright for liberation of ADMIRAL See Page 6 New Battleships Ready to Assist American Fleet WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (UP) -Two more battleships-the Indiana and Alabama -should be commissioned or joining the fleet in the near future as a result of the speedup in fiting out warships after they have been launched. The Indiana was launched nearly 13 months ago and may even now be in commission. The Alabama went down the ways 10 months ago.

If the navy maintains its pace of a year from launching to commissioning for battleships, she should raise her commission pennant before February. Undersecretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal revealed WARSHIPS See Page 6 retreating Germans and Italians Wadi Matratin on the gulf of Sir. Bernard L. Montgomery's Eighth army, swinging around the German flank, reached the town and then raced south to cut off the path of the enemy retreat.

Part of the Afrika Korps straggled on toward Tripoli. The other part, including armored units, was trapped in a 20-mile area just east of Wadi Matratin and was fighting to break through the suffered heavy casualties and continue to be severely mauled," said a Middle Eastern command communique in describing the action. (The German high command communique did not concede that part of the Afrika Korps was trapped, but did admit that Rommel's forces continued their retreat westward.) Military experts, estimating Rommel's prospects, said they were the worst of any German army since the allies smashed the western front in the world war. They pointed out that if tho Eighth army keeps the trap clamped around the portion of the Afrika Korps near Wadi Matratin, Rommel may be reduced to 15,000 first line fighters. They will be under air attack and land pursuit on the road to Tripoli.

Military men said Montgomery's latest victory would ease the job of the allied army in Tunisia. Had Rommel removed his Afrika Korps out of Libya and AFRIKA See Page 6 British lines. Casualties Heavy "Enemy troops already have Evening Observer War News Map of Today's Action Coleridge THE SOLOMON ISLANDS Miles Ole vuge 1. Florida 10 An SANTA CRUZ Savo L. Santa Cruz ISLANDS THE BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO 500 C.

and Cristobal Vanikoro San Utupus EASTERN NEW GUINEA Sealark Henderson Channel Airfield Copyright by C. S. HAMMOND N. Y. Tiaro Bay, Bay ande SCALE OF MILES Aola Torres let 100 150 250 Equator A Tangarare A Bole BANKS LOO Vanua Lave Beaufort Sugur Kaukau Bay Canal Miles C.

Hunter C. Cumberland A Aurora -C 250 L'ECHIQUIER Guadalcanal Kiakum Espiritu Santo Pentecost IS. C. Henslow C. 2 Ambrym Mussan I.

Hermit Is. ADMIRALTY IS (St. Mathias 1 I. Sandwich l. Port Nares Harboun Strait 00 Bay Isabel New Hanover 3 stumboldt Matalanem: aVanimo 500 Miles 500 Miles Fromanga Kavieng Aitape SCHOUTEN New Ireland 1.4° Hollandia Purdy a Lihur 15.

4 Futuna GUINEA BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO Duke Muliama 20 Goren Go tifu Aneityum I. N. or Kaker Vita I Gazelle Bourall ISLANDS l. New Caledonia 8 Open St George (Tanu la. Noumea BOy Unmen Pines Pen Kimbe Bay Carolaf 165 170.

Madang Vitiaz Str. Umboil Queen Britain Bay Kieta St 200 Miles Bougainville Landen Har. Montague Gazelle Har. Choiseul I. A Huon Shortland cg Miles Bulolo, Salamaua Har.

Treneury 1.3 tambare Hay 250 Miles Vella Lavella Santa Isabel Ward Hunt Kia Kumasi 1 PORRIAND GROUP Ganongs Georgia 1 New Mitralabe Gona Buna Acland Bay I Rotiana Maroon Lagoon STunnibuti Gulf of Papua Mutamadau Rendove Coleridge Malaita D' Murua or Woodlark I Russell Florida Port Moresby Henderson Airfield 8 1 Zaire Torres Str. I. Beagle A Miles C. Prince a Wales Moresby 7505 San Cristobal S4a. Ame gor Her, Cape Callone I.

6 Gulf of York Carpentaria Pen. 2 Rennell I. 1459 Longitude East of Gre-prich 1555. Help Prevent Tuberculosis By Buying Seals for '42 COLLEGE HERE WILL EDUCATE SERVICE MEN Broader Officer's Training Course Program Eyed Eastern Oregon College of Education will participate in a broad program for utilizing college and university facilities to give specialized training 10 young men in the armed services, as announced today by Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson and Secretary of Navy Frank Knox, through United Press.

"Based upon a study of the complete instructions on the revised army and navy officer reserve programs for college students, which were sent me earlier on a confidential basis, the following points seem clear as they pertain to Eastern Oregon college, Dr. Roben J. Maaske, E. O. C.

E. president, said today: "1. College students not yet 18 years old may now enroll in V-1, navy officer reserve program at E. O. C.

until next March 15. "2. High school senior students under 18 years may now enroll in V-1, navy officer reserve program, upon approval of their high school record by the college registrar here and subject to completion of the senior year's work in high school. One year of special college work at E. O.

C. E. is assured for such students, on duty, in uniform, with pay, before further assignment for specialized work. "3. Students enlisted in the army enlisted reserve corps (only a few at EOCE) will be called at the end of the winter quarter or shortly before to active duty and, after a period of basic training, will be assigned to specialized courses in selected institutions.

"4. Students enlisted in V-1, V-5 or V-7, navy reserve proEASTERN See Page 6 Jap Ruler Gives New Guinea Army Last Stand Rule GENERAL MacARTHUR'S HEADQUARTERS. Australia, Dec. 17 (UP)-Allied forces in eastern New Guinea increased pressure today in what was left of the Buna front, wherethe Japanese defenders were under direct orders from Emperor Hirohito to resist to the last man. The heaviest fighting was reported, in the daily communique, in the immediate Buna area, just south of the government station.

Allied bomber and fighter planes continued their blasting of Japanese positions from Cape Endaiadere, about three miles east of captured Buna, all the way up the coast to the Hambare Estuary 40 miles northwest of Gona. Orders from "Heaven" An explanation of the fanatical Japanese resistance in the BunaGona area, where the ratio of enemy dead to enemy prisoners was 40 to one, came in the interrogation of a 24-year-old lance corporal of Japanese mountain artillery, captured recently. This prisoner said the defender's had been told that Emperor Hirohito wanted Buna defended to the last man. There were indications that the emperor had issued an imperial rescript, which to his subjects is the equivalent of an order from their sun god inasmuch as the emperor in addition to his position as temporal ruler is a descendent of the sun. Season Tickets For Basketball Given Good Sale Wednesday morning's intensive drive for sale of season basketball tickets to Eastern Oregon College of Education games was a resounding success, according to R.

F. Ball, chamber of commerce secretary, who reported that the morning's results bettered the entire 1941 campaign. Sales continued today, and a total of $350 is the goal set for the drive. The chamber secretary paid high compliment to, Claude Berry, chairman, and his sale committee for "really getting out and carrying the ball in this effort." 93 Punishment Tailormade To Fit Case LOS ANGELES, Dec. 17 (UP) A school teacher here, Winifred Hunt, was short cf cash when found guilty of a minor traffic violation.

Judge Leonard Kauffman sentenced her to write "I will obey all traffic laws" 100 times on a blackboard. BESTIAL NAZI POLICY RAPPED United Nations in Condemnation of Jew Slaughter WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (UP) -Eleven of the United Nations and the French national committee today condemned Germanys "bestial policy" of Jewish extermination and resolved that those responsible for such crimes shall not escape retribution. The statement was endorsed by the Belgian, Czechoslovak, Greek, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norwegian, Polish, Soviet, United Kingdom, United States, and Jugoslav governments the Fighting French. Other United Nations are expected to subscribe to it later.

(British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden read the allied statement in the house of commons at London and the Moscow radio broadcast it as from the Russian BESTIAL See Page 6 Eight Counties To Be Represented at Agents' Meet Here Representatives of county agents' offices of eight Eastern Oregon counties will convene in La Grande tomorrow for a twoday meeting. Neither R. W. Schaad, county agent, nor Cal Monroe, assistant county agent, could be contacted today for details. It was reported that Schaad was attending a creamery meeting in Union day, and that Monroe was out on a field trip.

City Commissioners Overrule Police BEER LICENSE APPROVED The city commission last night approved the application for a beer license made by Wimpy's tavern in the name of Harry and Inez Rippey. This same application, which had previously been filed by F. M. Rippey, was withdrawn before the commission ers were told by Hugh E. Brady, meeting I last week.

CommissionLa Grande attorney, that F. M. Ripey was leaving La Grande to go into defense work, and that the business would be operated solely by his brother and sisterin-law, Harry and Inez Rippey. Brady also vouched for the character of F. M.

Rippey, who served under Brady in the marine corps during the last war. Police Overruled Chief of Police S. A. Weagel had not recommended the approval of the Rippey license to the commission, and Commissioner B. A.

Van Wormer objected that the custom of following the police department's recommendation had been followed so long that it had virtually become law. He yielded, later, however, when Commissioner T. H. Gaither suggested that the commission be more strict in the future, and refuse to approve applications of beer taverns which had been closed for violation of the laws governing them. This suggestion was not put into the form of a motion, but will probably receive the commission's attention in the near future, it was indicated.

The commission approved without discussion applications for the renewal of beer and wine licenses for the Elk's club, Bernice Turner and B. E. Shafer, M. M. Christensen, Ed Klassert and Judd Smith, Carl E.

Baum, (The Stockman), and Judd Charles Smith (The Nook). Service License Asked The application of Glen H. McDermott for a service license, a package class A license, and restaurant license for the Stein club, the Fireside club and the Green Parrot restaurant, was then considered by the commission. YEAR-END See Page 6 JAPS OCCUPY CHINESE TOWN Enemy Pours Down Yangtze; Burma Drive Starts CHUNGKING, Dec. 17 (UP)A Chinese communique announced today that three Japanese columns driving down from the north have occupied the town of Hosueh on the Yangtze river in southeastern Shansi province after several days of heavy fighting.

The enemy suffered heavy carualties, the communique said, but continued to advance southward. More in Burma Meanwhile, a Chinese military spokesman reported that the Japanese were pouring new troops, including paratroopers, into Burma. Whole Fleet of Jap Zeros Are Blasted Flying Fortresses Victorious Over Crack Nip Fighters; Japanese Ship Hit in New Georgia WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (UP)-An entire flight of 12 Japanese Zero fighters was shot down by a group of army Flying Fortresses near New Georgia Island in the Solomons, the navy disclosed today. Navy dive bombers damaged the Munda area of New Georgia.

The communique reported that counter with the Zeros but its crew an enmy destroyer or cruiser in one fortress was lost in the enwas saved. One dive bomber failed to return from the Munda attack, which was directed against shipping and shore installations. Both actions occurred on Wednesday (island time). New Base Used The fact that the Zeros were 8 land type indicated that they probably were operating from the new Japanese air base tablished at Munda, 150 miles northwest of Guadalcanal. The latest attack on the Munda area was the sixth consecutive one directed at smashing the air base.

As a result of the two engagements reported today by the navy, Japanese ship casualties in the Solomons area were increased to 142-53 sunk TWELVE See Page 6 Union Resident Dies Wednesday Mrs. Josephine Clay, 73, Union housewife, died at 6 o'clock Wednesday evening at a local hospital, after a long illness. She was born October 6, 1869, in Iowa, but had resided in Union county for 40 years. Survivors include her husband, Albert, and other relatives. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.

m. Saturday at the Snodgrass Funeral Home in La Grande. Burial will be in the family plot in the Masonic cemetery. Shopping Day till Christmas A half a dozen days to shop! That's all! It brings a scare! But if you'll hop right to it you Will have some time to spare..