La Grande Observer from La Grande, Oregon • Page 1

Yanks Mop Up at Mokmer; Chiang Orders Full Stand By United Press Japanese continued io retreat today beforo strongeallied forces is) Itdia and Burma, although the enemy was reported making a heavy attack on the last Chinese defense linos on the northern edge of Changsha in Honan province. A Chinese spokesman disclosed that the Jnpnnose brought 80,000 men into the assault of Changsha, a key junction on the Clinton- northern edge of the city. A military spokesman said enemy troops were attempting to bieaeh the northern defense line of Changsha, key junction on the Canton-Hankow railway and main Chinese base in Honan province. North of Changsha, Chinese forces attacked furiously at Nun-hsien yesterday, front line dispatches reported. The Japanese resisted in strength and severe fighting was in progress, the dispatches said.

Chiang's order of the day urged overninent and party workers as well as troops defending Chang- sha to do their utmost to repel the enemy attack. Ha said 1'due rewards" would be given those who rendered meritorious service, in defense of Changsha, The Japanese have extended railway traffic on the Pcipingi Hankow railroad to Chengchow, nine miles south of the Yellow river bridge, a Chinese military spokesman said. Chengchow was occupied by the Japanese in April during the Honan province campaign. Sinco thev have rebuilt the line which the Chinese dismantled several years ago. Rails now are laid us far as Sinchong, approximately 30 miles south of Chengchow.

The spokesman said Chinese still held approximately 75 miles of the railway between Yencheng and Minkang and predicted a new Japanese attack to obtain this portion of the line. Hankow railway, although there were no details of the fighting. Allied tank-supported troops made another three-mile advance southward on the Kohima-Imphal highway in India, to reach a point 14 miles below Kohimu. The Japanese were withdrawing steadily from the Kohima area, and also in the Knmaing area of northern Burma. In northwestern Dutch New Guinea, American troops, with aid of tank, artillery and naval fire, were gradually reducing the Japanese forces trapped in caves and cliffs cast of newly-captured Mokmer airdrome.

The United States troops in Aleutians Come Up With A New One; Wind, Snow, Ice, And NowDust AN ADVANCED ALEUTIAN BASE. June 4 (Correct) (UP) The oldtimers around here used to congratulate themselves on having survived everything In the weather man's book wind, snow, ice, rain, and fog. Bui this week the Aleutians came up with a new one and it is a dilly dust storms. What we've got along the Island chain now in the way of dust storms would make the refugees from the Oklahoma dust bowl feel right at home. There is enough real estate in the air 24 hours a day to build a new island chain.

The army ongineers have been engagod for two years here in one of the largest dirt moving operations ever carried out anywhore, but the Williwaws this spring aro ihowing them some new tricks. Jap units at Mokmjr airdrome. Tanks, new in soulhwesi Pacific A Community Newspaper For Every Member of the Family ESTABLISHED 1S96 Weather Temperatures for 24 hour period ending at 7 o.m. today: Maximum 63 Minimum 37 Precipitation 08 Forecast for 26-hour period ending at 10 a. m.

Saturday: Eastorn Orogon Scattered showers, cloudy. mm ranue "9 tio ceo Wallowa Cousfiei LA (JRVNDK. OREfJON. FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 9, 1911 fUlnX Yanks Oaptire TraoiispiDi MP FIVE CENTS Gunfire Breaks Up First Humbert Demonstration Gunman Escapes In Crowd Of Royalists ROME. June 9 (UP) A wild burst of gunfire, apparently aim ed at Crown Prince Humbjrt.

broke up a Royalist demonslra- lion before ihe Quirinal palace today as Marshal Pietro Badoglio ram Nazis Report 250,000 Men Hit With Everything To Isolate Normandy Peninsula taking Mokmer brought their linos wTthin one milo of Borokoe aii field and two miles of the Sor-ido airstrip. Liberators again struck nt Japanese shipping off the northwestern Dutch New Guinea coast and scored two hits near the bow of a heavy enemy cruiser, the third warship hit by allied fliers in the area in four days. CHUNGKING. June 9 (UP) Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek today ordered the defenders of imperiled Changsha to fight to the end against powerful Japanese forces now battling on the BULLETINS ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, NAPLES, June 9 (UP) Alliod fifth army troops have captured the railway ce.itor of Viterbo on the main Rome-FIorenco line. 45 miles north of the Italian capital, 11 was announced today.

LONDON. June 9 (UP) Tho Paris radio reported today that people fleeing from the baltlo zone in France were meeting endless columns of Gorman motorized units. WITH ADVANCE NINTH AIR UNIT IN FRANCE, Juno 8 (UP) U. S. ninth air force ongincors bulldozors, graders, and other hcBvy equipment forward through a rain of German gunfire, already have established tho first American omergency landi.ig strip in Franco.

WASHINGTON, Juno 9 (UPI President Roosevolt, announc ing alliod plans for carina for European war refugees, said to- So- BULLETIN'S Page (I 9 ALLIED SUPREME HEADQUARTERS, London. June (UP) American troops striking out from their Normandy peninsula beachhead have captured the transport huh of St. Mere Egli.se and today were striking northward beyond it within less than 20 miles of Cherbourg, one of the best ports in northwestern France. On the opposite United States flank advanced elements captured the historic village of Kormigny, eight miles west-northwest of Ilayeux, in push that promised a. junction of the American and Ilritish pockets on the Normandy const.

Nazi broadcasts meanwhile said the allies had landed 18 divisions nearly 250,000 men in Normandy and were throwing everything they had into efforts to slice off the Cherbourg peninsula at its Curentan-Lossay base. turned over the government of liberated Italy lo a new regime headed by Ivanoe Bonomi, 71- year-old Italian underground loader. Humbert, to whom King Victor Emmtinucl delegated all his royaj 4, powers 111 teT the liberation of Home last Sunday, was making one of his first format appear Promoted LONDON. June 9 (UP) Major Jimmy Stewart, former Hollywood film star, has been prcmoted to the rank of lieutenant in the U. S.

army air forces, it was announced today. Stewart, who is serving as operations officer for an 81h air force liberator bomber group, has flown 14 combat missions and holds the distinguished flying cross end the air medal with oak leaf cluster. Nazis Attempt To Stem Tide Of Italy Retreat ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Naples, June (UP) Germany's armies were in full retreat across the Italian peninsula from the Adriatic to the Tyrrhenian sou, almost 51) miles above Rome today, but front dispatches indi-lal-d Ihe nazi high command was struggling reorganize and turn on the pursuing allies. Waves of allied bombers and fighters strafed German troop and transport columns from dawn to mid-afternoon today and re-See KKACM Page (i IfPy move forward against Great Sky Fleet Smashes Munich Industries Raiders Hit 500 Miles From South Italy ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Naples, June 9 (UP) A great sky fleet of 500 io 750 fighter-escorted American Flying Fortresses and Liberators slashed through strong nazi fighter opposition to bomb the Munich area of southern Germany today in the first Italian-based raid of the war on that industrial and communications center. Striking more than 500 miles across the Alps from their bases in southern Italy, the giant Amorr ican raiders cascaded a great weight of explosives and fire bombs through a heavy overcast blanketing the city.

A powerful escort of Mustang. Lightning, and Thunderbolt fighters, numbering perhaps 500, fought off nazi fighters that bat-tlcd the formations across Austria and the southern rcich. Munich has been pounded rc-neatedlv bv British-hased bom- bing fleets, but until today it i had been considered beyond the effective range of the mediterranean-based American heavies. 'American Armed Force Leaders In Conference WASHINGTON, June (UP) President Roosevelt today announced the arrival in UnHcui of Gen. George C.

Marshall, aimy chief-of-staff; Admiral Krnest J. King, commander of the L'niled States fleet, and Gen. H. H. Arnold, commander of the army air forces.

They art the three top American armed service command-ts. "They went to While House Secretary Stephen T. Ear-ly said, "to attend a previously scheduled meeting the combined chiefs-of-staff there which was planned to take place as soon r.s possible after D-day. Marshall, King and Arnold held a lengthy conference with Mr. Roosevelt last Tuesday about 12 hours after American.

British and Canadian forces went ashore in France. Sub Successes Slww Increase WASHINGTON. June 0 (UP) Ican submarine successes in the i Pacific, particularly during the I last six months, was credited by v.n naw iwiav to "an exp-'i'i- mental program of great impoit-; ance" carried out by Vice Ad-: miral Charles A. Lockwood. Lockwoud is commander of submarines in the Pacific fleet and at 53 is the youngest vice i admiral in the navy.

REORGANIZED PORTLAND. June 9 (UP) Plans for Portland's postwar participation in foreign traiie-! were under way today following 'organization of the Cohirrr.a River Foreign Trade. Association. 'a revival of the di-tman: Ti.v. Association.

Will Visit WASHINGTON. June 9 (UP) Prosido.it Roosovoll today disclosod that ho is ox peeling a visit from Gon. Charles do Gaulo some lime boforo' mid-July. Do Gaule, hoad of the Fronch national commit-loo of liberation, is in London now for conferences with Primo Minister Churchill. Ho has son! word lo Mr.

Roosevolt, tho prosidont told his nows conference today, asking if Mr. Roosovolt would recoive him if ho visitod Washington. Wheat Crop For Year Estimated By Department WASHINGTON, Juno 9 (UPI Tho department of agriculture eitimiitod today that this yoar'r. ciop of both wintor and sprlnq whoat will total 1.034.765,000 bushols. This would bo nearly 200.000,-See MILLION I'ae-.

ft the vacations for patients at MeCaw hospital which an' sponsored by the unit. Other speakeis during the nil-ly were Judge J. Green, A. K. Parker, Carl Herrmann, S.

II. Ilurleigh, Stanley Mills and Henry Hess, each of whom stressed the importance of the bond cainp.figii, urging everyone to purchase as many bonds as is humanly possible'. Emphasis was put on the bonds of smaller denomination, and how they really comprise the bulk of the purchases. The program was interspersed with numbers by the Walla Walla air base band, who also aceornpanii-d the majorettes of Lo Grande high school who presented a twirling ml. Members of the La Grande Neighborhood club prepared and served a six o'clock banquet to Ihe band veterans, campaign uficials and a few town's Views Battle June 9 (UP) A dispatch from Normandy said today that Lt.

Gen. Omar N. Bradley, commander of United Stales ground forces in France, went ashore yesterday to get a first -Kind picture of conditions in the invasion Slips Away HOLLYVOOD. June 9 (UP) Music Master Kay Kyser ani his beautiful vocalist, cover-girl) Ann Carroll, who slipped away yesterday to an undisclosed destination after their Las Vegas, Nev marriage, tcday planned to combine a longer honeymoon with Kay-ser's next overseas entertainment tour. Prisoner Caught After Wild Ride SALEM, June (UP) Warren J.

Best, an inmate of the penitentiary here, today was back in prison after a wild ride in a stolen car that he took yes terday at the gates of the prison. Best was captured by state Mice several from here late yesterday after an 85-mile an hour chase. He escaped from I gun-gang crew just outside the Penitentiary walls. HOURS LIMITED SALEM, June 9 (UP) Emergency overtime work by women is not justified by present "nditions, Attorney General George confirming 10 hours a o'sy or 60 hours fek work limita'ii-n provjon Pt the siaibHaw. the war ie; not Present an under pulsions fit 'J the Newer d.

(J ejMISSi ft The invasion was described at headquarters as "making satisfactory progress' despite stiffened German resistance into which both sides were throwing an increasing weight of armor. A spokesman at Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's headquarters re- WASHINGTON, June 9 (UP) Picsident Roosevolt told his news conference today that the invasion of Europa is making slow progress, but he added, it is progress. vealed that operations generally "continue satisfactorily, with the beachheads enlarging" on the fourth day of the allied invasion of northwestern France.

The Germans reported that a great naval armada of several hundred vessels sailed eastward past Cherbourg toward the assault area early today, evidently to take powerful reinforcements into the beachheads. Nazi reports also said an armored spearhead was approaching St. Lo. 20 miles southwest of Hav- eux and half way across the peninsula, and the Germans might be forced to abandon Cherbourg in the face of the developing allied drive to isolate S--n YANKS Pago 0 completed 25 missions over Gcr Air Medal with four Oak Leaf ctfic he flew morn than 50 combat missions which totaled 450 combat hours. Major Slack estimated that he had flown 52.500 miles on Underground Head Named Premier Of Italy Led Government Before Iteign Of Mussolini ROME, Juno 9 (UP) Icaroe Bonomi, 71, underground loador Bnd a pro-Mussolini premlor of Italy, was appointed today to replace Marshal Piolro Badoglio as premier of liberated Italy.

Badoglio declined the task of forming new cabinet, and Crown Prince Humbert, in his new capacity as lieutenant general of Italy, named Bonomi premier on the unanimous recommendation of the Italian committee of national liberation, tin official communique announced. The committee, consisting of political leaders from Naples, Salerno, and Rome, met last night under the chairmanship of Badoglio. Bonomi was prcsirtcnl of the Rome committee of national liberation, which directed underground resistance din ing the German occupation of the Italian capital. He previously bad been piemier of Italy from July 1021 to February and also hud nerved in the preceding Giolitti cabinet as war minister. When Mussolini a in into power years ago, Bonomi retired from polities and earned on bis profession as a lawyer.

FOUND GUILTY CHICAGO, June il (UP) Mans Max Haupt was found guilty today of treason in harboring his son, Herbert, who jas oxornlr-i fjermao spy. of equipment, repairs and replacement of personnel, the crews of the ships did all their repair work, look care of their guns, loading, and checking of bomb. A career was made, he said, of bombing Kiska where the were "holed In." He, more than the other speakers, stressed the necessity for more and better equipment for a successful conclusion of the present war. Sgl. Edward W.

Martens of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, tail-gun-ni-r on a bomber, whose exploits have earned for him the Distinguished Plying Cross and the Air Medal with Six Leaf Clusters, is credited, with downing three nazi planes. He told of the famous raids on the Ploesti oil fields and of missions over Italy, Sicily and the Balkans. Mrs H. It. Hagsdale, head of the camp and hospital unit in La Grande, spoke on the work done by the group, and told of ances in the capital since he fled to escape the German occupation forces last September.

He had Just stepped out on a palace balcony to wave to some 5,001) a 1 1st demonstrators gathered in the piazza quirinalo when the revolver shots rang out. Police searched the crowd and in the confusion, arrested the wrong man. The gunman escaped. First reports from eyewitnesses indicated the man was attempting to stage a counter-demonstration against Humbert, but it was not clear whether he actually had fired nt Ihe prince. The gunfire followed disclosure that Humbert had appointed Bonomi premier of liberated Italy lo succeed Badoglio, who had refused flatly to undertake the task of forming a new cabinet acceptance to all political elements.

Oregon Minerals Show Promise PORTLAND, June 9 (UP) F. W. Libbey, acting head of the slate department of geology and minerals, announced today that his office hiiK made an extensive examination of various deposits from ancient lake beds in Lake county and if satisfactory results are shown, the area may be developed commercially. Previous analysis found considerable deposits of sodium pot ash, and other substances of the sodium salt family, Libbey said, end experiments now going on are for the purpose of determining Ihe extent of the deposits and the quality. About 10O Nazi Divisions In France ZURICH, June I) (UP) Of Germany's total of 300 operative divisions only about 100, averaging 11,000 men each, are available for fighting against the invasion of France, informed sources estimated today.

The territory from North Cape to the Pyrenees was reported divided into defense zones with two in France and one each in Holland, DenS.irk, northwest Germany, and Norway, each un-' dor separate command. Fifty-two of the best divisions were said to be stationed in France. Distribution of others was said to be: 14 in Belgium, eight In Holland, six in Denmark, (i)ight in Slirway, (Jnd 10 inside "Invest in the Invasion" is Veterans' Message at Bond Rally "Invest in the This was the message brought to Union county by global i war veterans last night and put into words by Captain Daiiol of Portland, who spent 25 months in overseas duty with the army engineers, was the first of the speakers to relate his combat experiences at the rally. He told in detail of a group of 27 engineers who proceeded lo an advanced point to build a road into the jungle, and how all but seven were killed shortly after landing, and now, three of that small group became mentally deranged, during the battle. He described various ruses used by the Japs in their warfare, and of the invasion money for the state of California and for Australia found in the pock-els of the dead enemy.

TSgt. Hudson V. Sahroian of San Mateo, California, who fur II months was stationed in the Aleutians, was with the first heavy bomber group to participate in that area. Sergeant Sahroian, wOjiior of the Air Medal and) Oak Leaf Cluster, related how. fur laelr 0 F.

Stevens of Chicago, who has many and holds tne ut i ana cluster. Emphasis on necessary equip-iment. and what the lack of it iin a crucial moment can mean, (was the point stressed by each iof the five returned veterans 'h' spoke at the bond rally I which officially opened the Fifth War Loan campaign at school auditorium. A parade including the veter- local cadets, nurse corps, Walla airbast; band, and led by LcRoy Darling and five majorettes from La Grande high school, preceded the- rally, i The first veteran of World War II to Ik- introduced at the was Major Morris Slack, -year old pilot from Riverside. (.

V. rnia. who was awarded Star. Distinguished F. r.c Cr.us Purple subor.t.-i-'iii'the southPa- rescue missions.

II was on the last of these missions that his Liberator bomber developed engine trouble and croshed lo the sea, with loss of eight of the crew of ten. Major Slack, badly wounded, spent 72 hours in a life raft before being r- trued by navy mosquito boats. Declining to speak of his experiences before the audience at the rally, he, earlier in the evening, told of the remarkable rvscue work done by both' the army and navy; find related the attempts of navy pilots lo res-cur him. Corporal Eldun L. rWuIman 0 the rc(e)i.

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