The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 1

le Pittsbirgk Pre Second Section OpOlTS 29-3J Wanf Ads (COPYRIGHT, 1945, by Pittsburgh Press Co. All Rights Reserved.) WEATHER Fair today. Cloudy and warmer Monday. PRICE 12 CENTS VOLUME 102 PAGES Entered a second-class matter Poetoffice. Pittsburgh PITTSBURGH, SUNDAY, APRIL 5EB JJ(o) Offers to Die in Battle Hannover, Brunswick, Hamburg and Bremen Within Allies' Grasp Jap Position Desperate, New Premier Admits, Shifts High Command Suzuki Installs Cabinet After Delay Caused By Superfort Raid; Calls Situation Crucial WASHINGTON, April 7 (UP) The new Jap premier, Baron Kantaro Suzuki, installed a "battle" cabinet today, changed the army and air commands, and told Japan that the war "warrants not the least bit of optimism whatever for our nation's survival." The final steps in formulating the new cabinet, which succeeds the ousted regime of Ku- War News on Inside Pages Page General pictures Okinawa as new Pearl 13 Chinese thefts of U.

S. supplies hinders war 13 The Week in the War 15 Mayor of captured German town likes Hitler 15 Western Front Map on Page 14. War Map of Europe, Page 1, Section 2. PARIS, April 8 (Sunday) sprinting across the North German plains neared Berlin's outer defense bastions of and Brunswick yesterday. The U.

S. Seventh Army ripped. 3b miles into tne enemy's southern flank in exploding a new offensive toward Munich, birthplace of Nazidom. 8, 1945 7 SECTIONS found in the sincerity shown to the throne by the entire nation. Now, Japanese, and only now is the time for the 100 million people of Japan to rise as one to defend the honorable policy of our nation.

"I am firmly determined to lead the nation, prepared to offer my life itself at the foremost front in this task. "My sincere wish is that you, the entire nation, will do your best to set the august mind of the throne at rest in elevating the fighting power of the nation with the brav ery traditional to our country." Tokyo broadcasts said that at the hour the Jap cabinet was installed at the imperial palace in the pres ence of Emperor Hirohito, the Jap War Department named an overall army command and an overall army air command "in order to strengthen the defense of the Jap anese mainland. Field Marshal General Gen Sugi-yama, war minister" in Koiso's cabinet, and Field Marshal Shunroku (Continued On Page 14, Column 7 173 Planes Blasted In Superfort Raid Fighters Escort B-29s In Attack on Japan BULLETIN WASHINGTON, April 8 (Sunday) (UP) B-29's in substantial force struck at the southernmost tip of Japan yesterday in a new raid on military targets in the Kanoya area early today. GUAM. April 8 (Sundav) (UP) American Superfortresses and escorting Mustang fighter planes destroyed or damaged 173 Jap planes aurmg baturdays attacks against aircraft plants at Tokyo and Na-goya, it was announced today.

More than 400 -29s greatest force ever disDalched from Mari anas bases were jumped by swarms of Jap interceptors who for the first time met U. S. Army fighter plane opposition over the home lsianas. 1 The formations which nnureri tons of bombs on the Mitsubishi aircraft plant at Nagoya and the Naka jima Musashina aircraft engine plant near Tokyo destroyed or damaged 136 Jan fiehters alone at a cost of five Superforts. Enemy planes made as many as 600 separate attacks on the big bombers, indicating there were at least several hundred interceptors in tne area.

Of these, B-29 gunners definitely shot down 64, probably destroyed 31 and damnepri 41 Mustang pilots shot down 21, probably destroyed six and damaged 10. Anti-aircraft fire was intense but photographs revealed the bombs (Continued On Page 6. Column 3) 61, No. 286 Mr. 6 Warms Up As Victory Sets Dingbat Aflame Okey-now-wow shouted Flamethrower Donnie Dingbat, charging into the weather bu reau today behind a spurt of flame and a billow of smoke.

"Well done, my lad," greeted Meteorologist W. S. Brotzman. "I see you're celebrating the big American sea-and-air victory in trie Pacific." The Ding stuck out his chest: "Exactly, Mr. B.

What's more I'm carrying a torch for our good ol' Yanks. Man, if I could only pitch a little of this flame into those Japs myself." "Well, be careful where you point that torch, son," replied Brotzy hastily. "Or I'll be a living symbol of today's weather." "It wouldn't be fair and warmer?" guessed Dingbat. "It would," said Mr. B.

Mine Dispute May End Monday Operators and UMW Predict Agreement WASHINGTON, April 7 (UP) The soft coal mine wage dispute will be ended Monday, both sides predicted tonight. Operators and miners said they expect to solve their own wage-hour problems without drastic Government intervention by signing a new two-year contract. It would replace the one which expired April 1. The new contract, removing the threat of nationwide Government seizure of mines, will provide substantial pay increases for miners but will not, it was understood, include the 10-cents-a-ton royalty originally asked by the United Mine Workers. $1.25 Increase Expected The consensus among miner and operator sources was that the wage increases probably would amount to about $1.25 a day for each miner.

Operators estimated that such an increase, it approved oy tne Government, would add a maxi mum of about 150 dollars a year to the cost of soft coal production. Presumably this increased cost would be reflected in higher consumer coal prices. Chairman Confident The first indication that oper ators and miners were getting together after a five-week stalemate, was given by Ezra Van Horn, chairman of the joint wage conference. At a time when everybody thought the disputants were about to throw the case into the War Labor Board's lap and ask for a Government-dictated settlement, Mr. Van Horn announced that "we believe an agreement will be reached and a contract signed" Monday.

The Labor Department certified (Continued On Page 6, Column 5) Armstrong Tunnels To Be Closed Tomorrow Traffic through the Armstrong Tunnels from Second Ave. to Forbes St. will be closed tomorrow for spring cleaning. City Works Director Frank Roessing said that from 7 a. m.

to 4 p. m. traffic will be detoured by way of Second Ave. and Forbes St. both to and from Downtown.

The giant strides carried the Allies in the north to within 133 miles of Berlin and to Within 85 miles of isolating Denmark. The fall of the four large northern cities, with a total peacetime population of 2,696,000, appeared imminent as Lt. Gen. William H. Simpson's American Ninth Army and Lt.

Gen. Miles C. Dempsey's British Second drove toward and beyond them against slight and disintegrating opposition. One British column racing up the west side of the Weser was only 15 miles from Bremen and 54 miles from Hamburg. Another which crossed the Weser three days ago was ramming a deep weage oetween Bremen and Hannover in what Berlin said was a drive for the Baltic, 85 miles to the northwest, to cut off Denmark.

The Americans were 25 miles past the shattered Weser River line at a point a scant nine miles southeast of Hannover and 25 miles west of the great aircraft center of Brunswick. The Ninth Army joined the race for Berlin with a vengeance and was only seven miles farther from the tyjtf (UP) Three Allied armies Hamburg, Hannover, Bremen II. S. Fliers Bag 87 Nazi Planes Germans Hurl Fighters Against Raiders LONDON, April 7 (UP) Amer ican bombers and fighters shot down at least 87 German planes today as the crippled Nazi Air Force sought to stop crushing raids on their dwindling air bases in Northern Germany. More than 1300 Flying Fortresses and Liberator bombers, escorted by 850 fighters, hit four German airfields and the Nazi Air Force rose in its greatest numbers in three months to meet the American challenge.

At least 11 of the destroyed Ger man planes were jet-propelled. 25 U. S. Planes Missing Twenty-two U. S.

bombers and three fighters were missing from the day's operations. The Nazi fighters swarmed up in strength in the Hamburg area and flew "like fanatics," returning American pilots reported. Mustang pilots said the enemy attacked in formations of up to 30 planes. Bombers dumped their loads on Kohlenbissen and Kaltenkirchen airfields, an oil storage depot at Bitzacker, an ordnance depot at Gustrow and plants at Duneberg and Krummel. Hit Rail Yards Other formations hit the rail yards at Lueneberg and Neumuns-ter, bombing by instrument.

The strength and ferocity of today's interception tended to bear out recent predictions from West ern Front correspondents tnat tne Germans were ready to attempt an all-out desperation challenge with every remaining plane in a final counterblow. Italy-based heavy bombers also were out over Hitler's crumbling empire. The bombers attacked six points on minor rail routes xp. Austria. The railways have become important to the Germans recently since the Russians cut the main line from Vienna south.

Hitler's Plan For Last Stand In Alps Revealed Curt Riess, former Berlin editor, has returned to the Reich to gain valuable information from secret sources. In his first story from inside unoccupied Germany, he reveals the hitherto secret "Plan Hitler's blueprint for continued resistance in the Bavarian Alps. Read this exclusive first-hand report on Page 1, Section 2 Hne 'Holiday' Hurts Strikes Slash Steel Output 30,000 Tons Fuel Shortage Shuts 10 Rolling Mills On The Coal Front Strike costs million tons 2 NAM assails royalty 2 'Miners won't talk 2 Actual loss of steel as a re suit of coal strikes will soar to more than 30,000 tons by tonight. Paralyzing effects of the mine walkouts have spread throughout steel mills, shutting down blast furnaces, ''open hearths and rolling mills. While some improvement was noted in blast furnace operation, less of fuel forced down 10 rolling mills in the district.

Eight of the mills are at plants of the Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corp. They include two plate mills at the Homestead Works, three finishing mills at the Clairton Works, two finishing mills at the Edgar Thomson Works and one finishing mill at Duquesne. Coke, Fuel Shut Off Also closed were the No. 2 seamless pipe mill and a skelp mill at the National Works of the National Tube Co. The mills were shut down as a result of curtailment of the giant Clairton By-Product Coke Works to 48 per cent of capacity.

This shut off coke and fuel gas supplies to "the affected plants. Still down were 37 open hearth furnaces at the Homestead, Clairton and Duquesne plants. Also idle were six or seven Bessemer converters. J. L.

Threatened A slight increase in beehive coke production yesterday enabled U. S. Steel subsidiaries to continue to operate four blast furnaces that were scheduled to be banked. Twelve blast furnaces have been taken out of production for lack coke. Carnecie-Illinois is losing about 10,000 tons of steel a day from idle open hearths and Bessemers, spokesman said.

Curtailment of coke and gas production at the Clairton byproduct plant reportedly has caused a drop of 20 to 30 per cent in operations of Monongahela Valley plants. The Jones Laughlin Steel Corp. reported that production is being maintained, but that cut-backs will be necessary if the coal strikes continue into this week. U.S. S.Birmingham Returns to Action SAN FRANCISCO, April 7 (UP) The 12th Naval District disclosed today that the U.

S. S. Birmingham a lieht cruiser, has returned in action in the Pacific after undergoing extensive damage re-nairc ATI modernization. The Birmingham was standing by the doomed light carrier Princeton in sr. Oct.

24 off the Philippines when the Princeton's magazine blew up. The cruiser suffered 649 more than one-third of whom were killed instantly. Pope Gains Strength ROME, April 7 Vatican officials said today that Pope Pius, fmm influenza, is re- gaining his former strength. Important Features On Inside Pages 21 12 25 2 32-41 31 32 24 19 20 32 21 28 Army News Around Town Book Reviews Casualty List Classified Ads Crossword Puzzle Death Notices Editorial Page Food News Financial Page Obituaries Home Front Column Radio Programs Sports News Theaters-Movies 29-31 26-27 32 16-17 Veterans News Women's-Society Press Telephones Ark COurt 4900 ILJI I IWVJ COurt 7200 Carrier Force Sinks Tokyo's Largest Ship 8 Others Blasted; 403 Planes Destroyed Pacific War Map, Page 13. Map of Okinawa, Page 14.

GUAM, April 8 (Sunday) (UP) American carrier planes wiped out approximately one quarter of Japan's remaining naval strength Saturday by sinking the battleship Yamato, most powerful warship left to the enemy, and destroying or damaging eight other war vessels off the southern tip of Japan. In addition, the Japs lost 403 planes in two days of frantic and largely unsuccessful attacks on the American invasion forces on Okinawa and in nearby waters. Adm. Chester W. Nimitz revealed in a communique that 12 of a small group of enemy planes attacking U.

S. Forces Saturday off Okinawa a follow-up of Friday's big assault were shot down to add to the earlier bag of 391 Jap aircraft. 3 U. S. Destroyers Sunk The Americans lost seven planes in the attack on the enemy fleet; they lost three destroyers sunk and several other destroyers and smaller crart damaged in the Jap air attacks around Okinawa, The Japs were trying desperately to interfere with the Okinawa invasion which put American ground troops within less than 400 miles of the Jap mainland.

But Adm. Nimitz announced that the Ameri can advances on Okinawa continued. At Washington, a Navy spokes man said that what remains ot the Jap fleet is a "not-so-powerful task force which could be easily handled" by any one of the major task forces of the mammoth U. S. Pacific Fleet.

He said "it looks like a good 25 per cent of the remaining naval Jap combat force" was wiped out. Sighted by Planes Adm. Nimitz said the Jap Fleet was sign ted eany today Dy wavy search planes. It had left the Japanese Inland Sea, where American bombers riddled naval hideouts last month, and headed into the East China Sea, passing south of Kyushu. Vice Adm.

Marc A. Mitscher started a fast carrier task force in that direction. At midday, his planes struck. About 50 miles southwest of Kyushu, southernmost of the main Jap islands, they sank the Yamato with at least eight torpedoes and eight heavy bombs; a light cruiser of the 6000-ton Agano class, a smaller cruiser or heavy destroyer, and three destroyers. Three Left Burning Three other destroyers were left burning, and Adm.

Nimitz' communique said that only about three destroyers escaped. All enemy ships were strafed heavily with rockets and machine guns. The naval spokesman at Washington said he believed the number of Jap destroyers in the task force may have been over-estimated in the excitement of battle, because the Japs probably didn't have that many destroyers to spare for screening a task force. After the terrific losses they had taken over Okinawa, the Japs could muster no planes to protect the task force. They put up a (Continued On Page 14, Column 6) this district has been singled fices or local offices are involved in the black market operations." "It seems to be it can't go on so openly without OPA havmg knowl edge of it, to say the least," he added.

Senatoi Wheeler said he is con vinced that "we ought to take in vestigation and enforcement of black markets out of the hands of the OPA and turn it over to the Fpi." He also urged that the Senate committee come here this week to conduct an investigation. That would be all right with Alvln J. Williams, 'district director of the OPA. we welcome any assistance or investigation," he said. "We win (Continued On Page 6, Column 4) Art Treasures, 100 Tons of Bullion Found German Trove Stored In Salt Mine By ROBERT C.

RICHARDS United Press Staff Writer WITH 90TH INFANTRY DIVI SION, Merkers, Germany, April 7 American soldiers found a vast treasure trove said to include the entire German gold reserve in a salt mine today. Fritz Vieche, an official of the Reichsbank, was on guard. He said the sub terranean vaults con tained ap proximately 100 tons of gold bul lion, two million dollars in U. S. Col.

Russell currency, a 100 million francs in French currency, 110,000 British pounds, four million Norwegian crowns, and lesser amounts in other currencies. A U. S. Treasury spokesman at Washington said the bullion would be worth about 100 million dollars. Lt.

Col. William I. Russell, of Chevy Chase, Military Gov ernment officer attached to the 90th, said there was "absolutely no reason to doubt any of Vieche's statements because he is under no pressure and has nothing to gain by lying." The salt mine also sheltered a priceless art collection. The gold and currency were stored in a room 2100 feet under the ground. Priceless Art Collection "The gold was brought from Berlin by train, starting Feb.

11, and later all the rest of the treasures was brought in," Vieche said. "Later when the Berlin printing presses were all destroyed by bombing, we attempted to return the paper currency back to the capital. "However, because of blown bridges and the fact that American armor moved so swiftly, we were unable to escape with the paper currency." The Third Army tonight issued an official statement that there was "no certification yet on the captured German gold bullion because no American actually has seen it. However, there is no question whatsoever that paper currency and art treasures are stored inside the mine." Vault Doors Clamped It was some time before the American Doughboys got into the underground vault because the Germans had clamped the doors closed. Capt.

James McNamara, of Los Angeles, was the first to enter. "Gee. I never saw so much money in my life than when I walked into the room and saw those bags stacked up against the wall," he said. The storage vaults are so deep, the trip down in an elevator takes two or three minutes. The statues and paintings were in wooden cases with Vienna, Brussels or Paris stamped on them suggesting some may contain stolen art, though the German civil servants said it all belonged to Germany before the war.

Originals of Masters Dr. P. O. Rave, curator of Ger man state museums and assistant director of the National Art Gal-(Continued On Page 14, Column 5) (UP) The salary of Harry to President Roosevelt, has $15,000 a salary "commen- of the President's emergency fund from which at least one other White House adviser Judge Samuel Rosenman has been paid since moving into the White House. Mr.

Daniels said Mr. Hopkins has been paid from the emergency fund since assuming his adviser's role because he took over the job in the "emergency period" that has existed since the war. Mr. Daniels was asked whether Mr. Hopkins' 50 per cent salary boost was compatible with the "Little Steel" formula's ceiling of 15 per cent on wage increases.

He replied that the "Little Steel" formula didn't seem to him to fig ure into tne situation. Mr. Hopkins increased salary. Mr. Daniels said, "seems commensurate with his responsibilities.

niaki Koiso, were delayed by an attack of American B-29 Superfortresses upon Tokyo, Jap broadcasts admitted. Suzuki's inaugural statement, was the most pessimistic utterance to date from a high Jap official. Suzuki called on all persons to support the Emperor, and offered to die in battle himself if necessary. The enemy has now. firmly established themselves on our home land," said Suzuki, referring to the American invasion of Okinawa Island, less than 400 miles from the home island of Kyushu.

"The present war, which is fought for the very existence of our em pire, has come to the most important crucial stage, which warrants not the least bit of optimism whatever for our nation's survival. If the situation continues like this, the basis of our nation's existence might be threatened. "The resisting power to destroy the arch enemy and thereby protect our own fatherland can only be Reds Push 2 Miles Inside Vienna Austrian Capital Two-Thirds Encircled LONDON, April 8 (UP' The Red Army stormed 18 miles to the Danube northwest of Vienna yesterday. encircling two-thirds of the Aus trian Capital and putting the last German escape roads under short- range artillery fire. Other Russian troops battled into the city streets from the south.

Marshal Feodor I. Tolbukhin's Third Ukrainian Army captured the riverside suburb of Klosterneuberg, one mile from the Vienna limits and left only a 13-mile gap between its spearheads at the Danube on both sides of Vienna, which lies almost entirely on the south bank. I 2 Miles Inside Vienna Street fighting broke out in the shell-shaken Austrian capital as other Third Ukrainian Army units entered the main city from the south, a Moscow communique announced. Berlin admitted a penetration of two miles inside Vienna to the edge of Simmering, the city's gas and electric power station four miles southeast of St. Stephen's cathedral in the city's center.

Berlin also reported that the Russians threw several bridgeheads across the Morava-Danube confluence 19 miles east of Vienna in a drive to cut across the German garrison's last escape lines and complete the encirclement. The battle for Vienna, a metropolis of almost two million popula tion, entered the climatic phase as German commentators vowed that it would be defended street by street. Vienna-Munich Line Cut Driving around the west side of the city, Tolbukhin's troops first swung out four miles to Bressbaum. eight miles west of Vienna, and cut the Vienna-Linz-Munich trunk railroad at that point, then cut back northeast in a 14-mile dash to the river. The drive also severed the Vienna -Prague railroad, four major highways and numerous lesser roads.

With other Russians standing on the Danube at the southeastern edge of Vienna, the Germans' only chance of escape was across the five Danube bridges along the intervening gap. None of the escape routes was more than six miles from Soviet guns and it appeared the Germans (Continued On Page 14, Column 5) Science Fair Winners Named The Junior Science Fair at the Buhl Planetarium, now open to the public, is the biggest and best yet. Don't miss this chance to see what the young scientists of today are doing. For the names of this year's prize winners, turn to Page 32, Section 2 rubbled capital than Lt. Gen.

George i S. Patton's Third Army armor which was 126 miles to the southwest, on the Thuringian Plains. The American First Army slashed across the Weser northeast of Kas-sel, putting four Allied armies over that river for tne marcn on tne Elbe, Berlin's last natural defense line in the west. Gen. Patch Gets Going Lt.

Gen. Alexander M. Patch's Seventh Army got into the race in the south by bursting 36 miles southeastward to seize the town of Crailsheim, 95 miles northwest of Munich and 42 miles from the headwaters of the Danube River gateway to Adolf Hitler's inner citadel in the Bavatian Alps. The advance, which put the Seventh 48 miles southwest of the Nasi shrine center of Nuernberg, was made by the 10th Armored Division. Dispatches said an air attack last week had destroyed a munitions dump at Nuernberg, causing an acute shortage of ammunition on that sector of the front, possibly explaining the sudden Nazi collapse in an area where they had been fighting the hardest in the west.

In the north, Gen. Patch's forces almost surrounded the great ball bearing center of Schweinfurt as it drove toward a junction with Gen. Patton's southern flank. The 12th Armored Division, in a 12-mile advance, pushed within nine miles southwest of Schweinfurt while the 45th Infantry Division captured Hausen, four miles northeast of the city. Aim to Join Reds A high First Army officer said that with the shattering of the Weser River line, the Germans had no chance of establishing a cohe sive front in the west.

He said the Elbe River, which flows within 45 miles of Berlin, was next on the Allied timetable and "the biggest thing now is to drive across Ger many and join hands with the Rus sians, cutting Germany in half." The Third Army tanks, which have driven 235 miles into Ger many, strengthened their flanks while infantry mopping up behind encountered fierce resistance and lost ground at points east of Kas sel. The Sixth Armored Division, striking eight miles north of Muehl-hausen, reached the Keula area, on the south slopes of the Harz Mountains 62 miles west of Halle and 132 miles from, Berlin. Model in Trap Field dispatches revealed that one of Germany's top military men Field Marshal Walther von Model, one-time Nazi commander in the west was trapped in the encircled Ruhr. He was at his post at the head of Army Group comprising the Fifth Panzer and 15th Armies when Lt. Gen.

Courtney H. Hodges' American First Army and the Ninth snapped oft the Ruhr. Model presumably could escape by plane if he chose. Field headquarters estimated that German combat infantry and armored units in the pocket numbered 30,000 to 40,000 troops. Including labor, anti aircraft and service troops the.to- Continued On Page 14, Column 1) Hopkins' Salary Increased 50 Per Cent to $75,000 Raise, Granted Last July, 'Commensurate With His Duties White House Says City Gaining Reputation For Blackest Black Market Wheeler's Charge of Ration Stamp Selling Is Second Time Pittsburgh Has Been Singled Out Pittsburgh is gaining a national reputation as one of the biggest black market centers in the country.

WASHINGTON, April 7 L. Hopkins, intimate adviser been boosted from $10,000 to surate with his duties" the White House said today. Mr. Hopkins' raise was given him last July 11, but it first came to light in a dispatch published by The Chicago Tribune today. Press Secretary Jonathan Daniels said the one-time Works Progress Ad-m i i stration chief had been raised to the salary level of a Cabinet member because "he is, Mr.

Hopkins as you know, handling many important matters for the President." Mr, Hopkins salary comes out Twice within two weeks out before the Senate food invest! gating committee for the operations of racketeers who go about their illegal business practically unmolested. The latest blast came from Senator Burton K. Wheeler who told the committee that racket rings are selling red points here at $6 a thousand. A local government official, who insisted on anonymity, said the price is $4 a thousand points and that the business is "substantial." Other sources put the price lower. The Montana senator said that black markets are operating so "openly and brazenly" in New York and Pittsburgh that only two con clusions are possible: "Either there is inefficiency to the OPA local of-J Other, 5.