Lubbock Morning Avalanche from Lubbock, Texas • Page 6

AMERICANS LUBB the Day On the Souik Plains" Year, No. 42 1 0 Pages Today JsTazis Rush In resh Troops Desperate Effort Made To Halt Mighty Allied Blows By WES GALLAGHER Associated Staff Writer ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Algiers, Dec. 28. Ger- flfcrans threw another fresh division into the mud and blood of the Italian front today in a desperate effort to halt relentless Allied attacks which are prying the Nazis loose from their grips on the road to Rome and-on the flaming, flattened port of Ortona on the Adriatic Sea. (Tuesday's German high command communique said Nazi troops had evacuated the ruins of Ortona and had taken up new.

positions northwest of the town after inflicting heavy losses on attacking Canadian forces. Hours afterward there was no confirmation from Allied headquarters.) 9 200,000 Nazii In Fight Soviets Lap Up More Territory Troops Push Near Nazi-Held Zhitomir Sy M. LONG Associated Press Staff Writer LONDON Wednesday," Dec 29 a Ji- week of house-to-house -The Soviet Second Ukrainian fl ghtmg, but were bemg gouged Army, sweeping through 60 more methodically. Ortona is 11 jfrenmunlties in its fast-moving 11165 down the Adriatic coast oifensive, has forced the from th port of Teterev river and captured Koro- 3 1 ob of the Eighth stishev, 16 miles east of Zhitomir, in fierce street fighting and at the same time is pushing -m OUUHIWCDL- liuupa Ul. vrBn ward 'toward the border -of.

Ru- Mark W. Clark's Fifth Army mania, 115 looked down from the last domi- Another Important Russian nat ing heights of the Samucro shock force heat back 18 German mountain range into the streets of counter-attacks and killed more fortified village of San Vit- 1 9flft nn torp. K1Y TTnilpc thah 1,200 Germans as it captured several populated places in north- "proaches ports said the Russians, who were bearing down toward this German, fortress irony the north and five miles away In one sec' tor. Dnieper Bend Area "Par to the south, in the Dnieper bend, more than 33 German tanks and 1,000 men were destroyed after a tense engagement north of Klrovograd in which a German attack with large forces of Infantry and tanks cracked up against a deadly -Russian artillery and mortar The Moscow, midnight commu- nique, recorded by the Soviet monitor from a broadcast, said the Germans were forced to withdraw to their original positions in this In the Kiev area the Soviet of- area hJWICb VJJL fensive, now in its sixth day, has wrested back fully half the ground the Germans had painfully won in six costly weeks of counter-offensive. The Germans were falling back so rapidly they were forced to abandon 76 big guns 10,000 mines, 30,000 shells, nearly a million cartridges and 100 trucks to Russians, who also'took a considerable number of prisoners.

Thirty-six German tanks and self- propelled guns were destroyed and six were captured. Strewn With Nazi Dead Moscow reports said the area wa strewn with German dead and abandoned equipment as the j-vRussians moved to within artillery of the strategic rail junction of Zhitomir. The Moscow daily radio com- munique reported at least two more towns captured to the south (Turn to Page 5, Column 6, Please) Babson's Forecast For 1944 Will Be Given Tomorrow Tomorrow, The Morning Avalanche will present a comprehensive preview of 1944, compiled and written by Roger Babson and his staff at Babson Park, Mass. Bafason, internationally famous over more than "three decades as a business analyst, will give South Plains readers an insight into what the New Year is expected to bring in spheres covering the -war, production, commodities, sales, labor, stocks and bonds. Watch for the Babson in Thursday's Morning Avalanche.

It's another special feature for West Texans! NAZIS' FIGHTERS DWINDLE rrviwrvYvr oo le icrry rouie tx LONDON, Dec. 28. (if, Tne South TOO -r Germans lost 232 of their valu- nip nm Cltles rt command uses in its Trans- RO 5 io 31 Atlanti but the de- against only 69 in 1942 the air partment declared that probably announced t'-miuM Tune In KFYO Station nap's 200.000 men) now are known to be engaged in the fighting across Italy. Yesterday the enemy employed great numbers of flame-throwers all along the Eighth Army front and literally established a wall of fire before Canadian infantry and tanks fighting forward in the northern outskirts of Ortona. An Allied field dispatch said German troops still clung to a few buildings at the city's edge after solid week of house-to-house Army's drive up Italy's east coast.

Americans Hold Heights American troops of Lt. Gen. tore, six miles east of Cassino, and prepared, for another vicious battle to wrest this key point on the Via Casilina from German hands. The village must be taken before Clark's troops can plunge on toward Cassino, which is 70 miles by broad highway from Rome. Southwest of Castel San Vincenzo, near the center of the Italian front, a fierce battle was reported raging for a ridge called Catenella Degli Mainardi.

Other Allied troops seized a height in the Monte Marrone range. French Moroccan troops were reported an important "to which the enemy is clinging tenaciously." (A Broadcast by the German- controlled Fascist radio in Italy reported that 14,000 Italian soldiers now were fighting alongside the Nazis on the Italian front. Iroop Division Is Deep Secret WASHINGTON, Dec. 28. The joint chiefs of staff declared today thst the proportion of American to British troops.

i the forthcoming invasion, of northwestern Europe is "a military secret which the Germans would like to know, but -will not learn from any official source in this country." The British, whose troops already outnumber the Americans in the Mediterranean, are to put in everything they got" for other European opera- Reply To Johnson's Guess part of leaders. this country's military cision was one for military lead- what quantities." FDR Hopes For Early Return Of Rail Systems To Owners Discord Is Very German Weaves Into U. S. Lines "Stinking Drunk' Specific Terms Are Not Set Up Working Conditions Unchanged By WILLIAM T. PEACOCK Asiocieted Prcsi Staff Writer Tuesday, but this action had not Finally, two of the boys went WASHINGTON, Dec.

the smallest noticeable effect on out after the jerry. They found the railroads can be turned rail operations. he was rolling drunk. back to private operation soon was Little In Texas Workers Go Ahead With Regular Jobs (By The Associated Press) The Army quietly took miu. uucj- weie st formal control of Texas railroads that no one fired a shot.

Tuesday, but this action had not Army officers walked into 23 "That kraut was stinking re ssed by President Roosevelt railroad headquarters during the drunk," said Sgt. George Blanton tot a the Army, on his orders, day. There they served formal of "Denison, -Tex. "The its -control to all major day. There they served forniai of "The damndest ex iet i to all i notices that the War department thing I ever saw!" He didn't think camers prepared to was taking over "possession and he was a nrisoner and we cmiirin-r tro trains if nece.

was taking over "possession and he was a prisoner and we couldn't control of the transportation fa- convince him. cilities of the companies." The "He said he was on sentry duty Army men will remain, at the rail with a couple of bottles of vino offices, to act as liaison agents. fc ww agcu.Lb> Wao UCetLy J.OHG- The Eighth Service command in ly out there £0 he killed both bot- Dallas, charged with assuming himself and pretty soon he the roads, explained 1 that would "not surrie direction of the railroads. That will remain in the hands of the current management." Likewise In Other- States The command acted likewise to take over roads in other states Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Arkansas of its territory. rew dissents came from rail men over the President's action, taken last night, in seizing the roads.

Speaker Sam Rayburn (D- Tex)- from his' Bonham home voiced the hope that government operation would be short-lived, as it was in the case of the coal mines. "I think the President did right," he added, "in not waiting until the last minute to insure a continued flow of supplies to our fighting men." That opinion was echoed else(Turn to Page 5, Column 4, Please) Wife Of Former 5MU President Succumbs tions, the "we -DALLAS, Dec. 28 (fl 5 C. are going to put in everything we Selecman, 69, wife of Method- can get there." ist Bishop Selecman of Oklahoma City, died at the Methodist hos- 5 "-j 0.1, hi The statement, issued by the pital here today. Office of War information, plainly rs Selecman had been in fail- was in reply to a report by Sena- ing health for several months but tor Johnson CD-Colo) that the was aole to go for a drive yester- United States would provide 73 dav Thj morning she suffered a per cent and Great Britain 27 per trnV cent of the troops to be -used in the European attack on Germany stroke.

For the last month she and her husband maintained an vjci ill all cm Senator Wheeler (D-Mont) de- ment here where Mrs. Selecman clared the high percentage of could be near her relatives while American troops involved would ner husband attended to his be a "tremendous gamble" on the church office duties. 1 1 ecman was president of rn Methodist university wunbuciii university Wheeler implied criticism was he re until his elevation in 1938 in turn answered by other sena- to the bishopric in the Oklahoma tors who agreed in comment that City area, which included Okla- wnatever the proportion, the de- homa and Arkansas. They married at Plattonburg A Caw j.4icj UGH au "if i nn th UStm IR said MO April 27 1899 wller he was men who to his first pulpit duties guide tne invasion to decide what Funeral services will be held to Where a ta 1 4 ark dS church here at 4 p. m.

Thursday. Tiny Atlantic Island Key To U. S. Ferrying Success TrASHTArnTi-iv in Dec. 28.

pin point of land in the South Atlantic less than 33 square miles in area, was disclosed by the Army today as one of the most vital spots in Allied starte- gy. It has served as a funnel for shipping 5,000 planes to Africa. The War department lifted the veil of secrecy from the role, played by Tiny Ascension island, a dot on the plane ferrv route between Ascension is onlv one stop on no basa has such strategic signif icance. It was announced last April that Lockheed Lightning P-38X single 1340 Kilocyde, to the wars their ov.n Ascension the key. said, was one of the main gateways through which the U.

S. increasingly heavy air pow- uu 10 ouy up er so important in driving the the current large supply was ori- AXIS out ol North Africa and ginated by a congressional group forcing the surrender of Italy" Wideawake (Turn to Page 5, Column 2, Please) Consideration of field on Ascension uii ascension was started 3 A X-S Stations Go Off uij me asrport was flown by Major William N. Vickers of the Air Trans- Ascension, the War department I lington, Va, Tex now a res ui: WITH THE FIFTH ARMY IN ITALY, Dec. 28. a lull in the battle for San.

Pietro, doughboys saw a' single German come weaving toward their foxholes and they were so amazed for company. It was pretty lone- bur boys were Germans too. Each time we tell him he's a prisoner he roars with laughter and says it a good joke. But after a while' he began to. think he'd been arrested for drunkenness.

"The next morning, when he sobered up, he. realized-what had happened and-he really was a sad Ration Value Of Ham Up A Point WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 Fresh ham was boosted one point per pound in ration value today and other meat items in general were left unchanged for January in the face, of a congressional move to.take pork off the ration list entirely for a time to clear a market glut. The Office of Price administration, in announcing next month's few changes in meat and fat values, reported that movement fresh hams has increased considerably since validation of spare stamp No. I in.

ration book 4 for five points on pork. For that reason the current difference between ration point ot fresh and smoked hams was eliminated. General Deduction Seen Because of overcrowded cold storage facilities, another general reduction of meat point values had been considered "a possibility. Such a slash recently was applied to pork items to "move a record production into consumption. Movement of some processed foods out of storage, however, is expected to provide additional space for meat.

That movement at the same time increases the likelihood of a reduction in processed food values for January, which OPA wlil announce later this week. The meat order, boosting whole or half fresh hams to five points a pound instead of the current four points, left butter at present point value of 16 the per minor changes i ellaneous A few were made in items, with cheeses unchanged. Point-Free Perk Plan Th? move to make pork point- free for ten days to two weeks and permit housewives to buy up ineni ot Army- engineers moved in A and started working day an night Suggesting Raid volcani rock cind LONDON, Wednesday, Dec. 29 EW -zi rn pTng wL neS eSSemia Shi Thc ations werc 3o Fan! 4 6d th I Luxembourg, Friesland, Bremen i- on German-held Europe. The stations were located at I Friesland, Bremen, to the project 6 C3lais Pan Ililversum Lille.

The first plane to "land on the PIONEER DIES PLAINVIEW, Dec. 28 y. Buchanan, 37, pioneer pbins- man and former Fort Worth rcsi- rient, died today. His widow and tion hospital three children survive. use essary.

Mr. Roosevelt was not specific at his press-radio conference, however, as to the surrender conditions. He was asked if the carriers would be restored to private man- INQTON ifoncd' colontls 'In '(he Armr to administer seren rejioru Inlo irhlch hive divided for ror- trnment operation. The mtn, prcjfdenti leaflini railroads, are: Eaiicru z. Williamson.

New York Central Alleghenj lon R. While, Baltimore and Ohio. rofahontai rtgian, at Roanoke, 3. Norfolk and Western. Southeastern- rttion: -Ernest K.

NoHli. Southern Railway. tr Il0n Budd, Burllnrlon. Norlhwejlern rejion Charles E. Denner, Northern Southwestern region Lewis W.

Baldwin, Union Pacific. agement if the three operating brotherhoods which had not done so agreed to arbitration of their wage dispute. The-question v.as too iffy, he replied. "Will the government keep the railroads for the duration of the (Turn 10 Page 5, Column 7, Please) Nod From Spain Said Given Italy Regime (By The Associated Press) A Berlin broadcast said last night that Spain had recognized Benito Mussolini's Fascist republican government, the Nazi- puppet organization set up after Italy capitulated to the Allies. The Spanish embassy in Washington, however, said it could not confirm the broadcast.

Quoting a Transocean propaganda agency dispatch from Rome, the Berlin station said the news was given front-page play by Rome newspapers. II Messagero was reported to have stated: "Spain has recognized the government of the socialist Italian republic as the only legitimate government of Italy. The enemy's (Allied) maneuvers are thus clearly frustrated." The gesture by Generalissimo Francisco Franco was described as a local consequence of "the friendship between the two countries which was cemented by the participation of Italian volunteers in the Spanish civil war." Violent Fighting Is Reported In Bosnia LONDON, Dec. 28. I7P) German forces have bean thrown back in one section of Croatia by the Yugoslav Partisan Army, and in Bosnia fighting has turned especially violent as German reserves stream up to the front, Marshal Josip Broz' headquarters announced today.

German propaganda, now acknowledging the major nature of this action on the Balkan front, claimed through the Nazi-controlled Hungarian news agency that four fun Yugoslav brigades nunv tle about Samaritza in Croatia. DIES ON MANEUVERS WITH THE SECOND ARMY ON MANEUVERS SOMEWHERE IN TENNESSEE, Dee. 28 fjpy Private Bcnito member of a field artillery battalion, died yesterday at a field evacuation hospital. His father is Antonio Castillo of El Paso. Marines On Edge Of Gloucester Airdrome 37 Jap Planes Downed In Nip Air Raids At Arawe ADVANCED New Guinea, United States Marines invading Cape Gloucester, New Britain, are within a mile and a half of the enemy airdrome.

Gen. Douglas MacArtHur's com- munique said today. Thirty-seven Japanese planes were downed in heavy enemy raids on the Sixth Army's positions at Arawe 60 miles southeast of Cape Gloucester. The enemy again attacked outposts there, but were repulsed as they were in previous attacks Sunday morning. The enemy showed fighting energy in opposition to the Marine landing forces at Cape Gloucester, setting off four stiff counter-attacks against the Leathernecks east of the Cape.

All were beaten back, the communique said. Prims Objective The airdrome at Cape Gloucester is the prime objective of the Leathernecks who established beachheads i-ier in Sunday's landings. Target Hill, a 450-foot elevation, fell to the Marines shortly after the landing, and this position is being used by Marine artillery to pound the enemy positions on and near the airdrome. Tanks and bombing planes aided the Marines in a two-mile advance from the beachheads toward the airdrome. The stiffening enemy opposi- Ma J- en.

James H. DoolitUe, tion in the Cape Gloucester area, whose Strategic airforce slammed at the northwest tip of New Brit- a Sate across the enemy's supply ain, and repeated attacks against routes and smashed his bases be- the Army invaders at Arawe on him ma.ke Tunisia.a trap the southwest coast, indicated that Nazi armies, is taking over the fight for possession of the dll 'ection of American airforces in western end nf this wViinK Britain as the time for cross-channel invasion approaches. The assignment was announced by President Roosevelt todoy along with other major shifts in the high command, including assignment of Lt. Gen. Jacob L.

western end of this island which is so vital to Japanese defense may yet turn into bitter jungle fighting. Much Equipment The Marines have captured much enemy equipment in their advance at Cape Gloucester, but American casualties have been light, communique Whi'e all eyes have' been centered on the invasion of New Britain, the Australians have been progressing in their ground action on the Huon peninsula, New Guinea. The communique said they captured key point in the Ramu valley, 35 miles south ot the enemy base at Madang, on -the coast was not success there was ach'ievecT. after the Aussies laid down a heavy artillery barrage. Naval Craft Join Fight Light naval craft guns joined with Army anti-aircraft units and air fighters in repelling the latest Japanese aerial assault at Arawe.

The enemy force of 50 divebombers and fight- CTurn to Page 5, Column 3, Please) Devotion Of All Rail Men Asked WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 Secretary of War Stimson government operator of the railroads, called tonight for "the full devotion" of all railroad workers and promised the least possible interference with normal rail operations. In a speech broadcast over major networks, Stimson said that government seizure of the carriers was necessary in order that Germany and Japan should not be handed a "great military victory" that would have from stoppage of railroad opt-'ra lions. "There will be no alteration in schedules, in service or in personnel because of the change." h-j declared. "The same men will operate the trains, the yards, the shops, the stations, and all other installations in.

precisely the same way as before, Cooperation "In the weeks that He ahead there must be cooperation, confidence and mutual helpfulness. The people of the nation. will except nothing less. Above "all, there must be such an overriding sense of loyalty and devotion that the mounting power of our military operation will not fa'uer on the road to its final victory." The secretary explained that the War department had no "pri- function of the railroads. "The armed forces cannot dis Doolittle Gets Post In Britain General Will Head American Airforce WASHINGTON.

Dec. 28. Devers, former American commander in the European theater, as commander of American forrcs 'in the terranaan area and 'deputy to Sir Henry Mailiand Wilson. over-all commander' there. May Be Taclical Boss The President announced only that Doolittle had been shifted to head tha 8th Ajrforee there.

But with American strategic bombing of Germany from- Britain or 'any other, assigned to Lt. command in the invasion from Britain in the hands of Air Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder, the prospect that Doolittle's chief assignment might be the tactical task of hammering out an invasion road barely ahead of the landing barges and holding an air umbrella over them. Speculation on the Tactical command- for the cross-channel drive, however, had centered principally on Maj. Gen. Lewis H.

Brereton, recently relieved from command of the 9th Air force in N.orth Africa. The Doolittle appointment still could leave the Tactical post to Brereton or someone else, with Doolittle handling more generalized Baker Succeeds Tedder Lt. Gen. Ira Eaker, whom Doo- liltle succeeds in command of the Eighth Airforce, will become Allied, air commander in the Mediterranean, succeeding Tedder who left that job for the general invasion air command under Gen. Dwight D.

Eisenhower. The President announced that Maj. Gen. Nathan Twining will command the American 15th Air Secret Weapons Push Japs Back Knox Reveals Loss Of Two Warships By HAMILTON W. FARON Associated Press Staff Writer WASHINGTON, Dec.

can secret weapons, plus world's largest fleet of aircraft carriers, are driving the Japanese back from bases captured in the enemy's initial lunge out into the Pacific. was disclosed today by Secretary of the Navy Knox who revealed at the same time that an American destroyer was sunk and, a small coastal transport damaged by enemy bombs Sunday in the invasion of Cape Glousecter on New Britain island. That landing is part ot the campaign to knock out Rabaul, Japanese key base in the South Pacific. Not Indentified 1 The destroyer was not identified nor was Knox able to give the number ot casualties. The sinking of the destroyer brought to 134 the number of American naval craft lost since the war started.

Knox provided little information the secret weapon or weapons which he said the NaVy has developed during the last year and put into service against the Nazis and the Japanese. "In the field of new weapons, or secret weapons," he said in reviewing the "the Navy-has by no means been idle. The Japanese especially have felt the sting of weapons which although greatly improved, nevertheless are conventional types. Japanese' and Nazi alike, however, also have felt destruction wrought by weapons not known to them, and will continue to do so." ExpansioSn Of Fleet In discussing expansion of tha the largest in the Knox said that carriers, including escorts, now total "six' times-'as many commission as there'were when the Japanese attacked Pearl force in the Mediterranean. Asked about reports that Lt.

Gen. George S. Patton will get a new invasion post, Mr. Roosevelt repjit-o that bis name was not on the list he had before him and advised reporters not to do much guessing on that point. Patton has been under wraps since criticism arose over his action in striking and upbraiding a battle-fatigue patient ip a Sicilian hospital, but there hgrs some discussion of possibility that he might draw leading role in the European invasion.

Two Killed, 27 Hurt In Gas Still Blast PORT ARTHUR, Dec. 28. Two men were killed and 27 injured, three seriously, here today in the explosion of a Texaco high octane gasoline still. iiiicni. iiau nu pn- The dead were Ivlorris L.

Smith, mary concern" in the continued 32 Port Arthur, and R. T. Dow- fitnft fit A 1 Au .1 den, 31 Nederland. The unit, in operation several (Turn to Page 5. Column" 5.

Please) Spending Winter At Front? Better Preserve Good Cave By KENNETH L. DIXON Associated! Staff Writer THE ITALIAN FRONT, Dec. 21 you're planning to spend the winter on the front, what you need is a good cave. Of course, you don't just go out and pick one from the nearest real estate agency. It's a come, first served basis, and the planned to spend the winter a little stubborn about giving up iheir caves.

Even when they do, there aren't nearly enough to go around, and thousands ot soldiers up here have never spent a single night inside a cave. is a community cave high on the hiHsidc. About £0 oTficcrs sleep here, mo5t of them liaison men between the command post and the front. They've covered the mouth of the cave with canvas shelter halves which keep out the weather and hide the candle glow Cots and Vied roils are scattered all over the sandy floor; there Is a poker game going on in the back, a quiz contest in progress along one siric, and a lot of eiiys lying around reading or writing letters home. It's dr3" and cheerful, safe and even the constant sound oC nearby guns seems distant and muffled.

Outside it's cold and bleak and I raining and you never knew a shell fragment might rip a hole in your tent and let the rain in. only trouble is that it's a terrific grind to gcrt up here. (Turn to Page 5, Column 3, Please.) total more than' 42 Aboard those carriers, Knox "the most powerful car- wnrM aS A flg planes in world. Also, he said, the Navy's an- arm now has in service "a powerful new dive the Helldiver, which the Navy- eported yesterday had come ub all expectation in its first large to Page 3, Column 1, Please) Subs Get Dozen More Jap Ships "WASHINGTON, Dec. 28; United States submarines sunk a dozen more enemy surface vessels, including one destroyer, "somewhere in the Pacific." The Navy reported the sinking today in a communique which, folloxving custom, did not disclose where the submarines operated.

Besides the destrpyer, the'sub- marines sent down two large one large freighter, two medium transports and six medium freighters. Total Now S36 The sinkings brought to 536 the number of Japanese ships sunk, probably sunk or damaged sinca the war started. This total 386 ships definletly sunk. The largest sinking report in recent months gave emphasis to a recent statement by Secretary Knox that the submarines on their lonely patrols through the far Pacific are doing "an excellent job." No details were disclosed on the sinkings "somewhere in the Pacific." All of the ships sunk were in the category ot vessels used to carry men and materials to the far- flung Japanese bases. Presumably the destroyer was on convoy duty.

Delivery Rules Are Meaning less To Her BALTIMORE. Dec! 28. Baltimore merchant told today of a woman who wanted a jar of pickles delivered to a diitant suburban address, was told one item couldn't be delivered, and ordered five. The catch: When the pickles arrived, she sent four jars back with the driver. The Weather WEST TEXAS: Partly cloudy Wednesday anci Thursday, warmer Thursday and in Panhandle and South Plains Wednesday afternoon.

Wednesday. Partly cloudy Thursday and warmer. r.OCAC TEMPF.RATCBE3 Rtttlinpi recorded by West Tesii GM eompanv during hours): m. IT m. w.

sa rn. 19 m. 19 m. i(j ws. is m.

is m. m. 51 Jfi 1 p. m. V- to.

53 3 p. m. 35 P. tn. 35 P- m.

55 p. ra. m. 32 P. m.

m. 55 JHr i.