The Morning News from Wilmington, Delaware • Page 1

Latest City Edition Fair and Warmer. (Weather Conditions, Tides. Etc, on Page 19.) Delaware' Morning Paper Firtt with the Latest News United Press Associated Press International News Service VOL, 127 NO. 154 WILMINGTON. DELAWARE, THURSDAY.

JUNE 28, 1945 TWENTY-TWO PACES PRICE THREE CENTS STETTINIUS RESIGNS; 373 DIE ON MITSCHER'S FLAGSHIP GIVEN TOP U. 5. POST IN SECURITY CO UNCIL President to Appoint WFA Blamed i or Losses Totaling 'Many Millions' House Probers Accuse Agency Officials Of lnefficiency and Dereliction While Praising Work of Administrator ml i WASHINGTON. June 27 (JP) A House sub-committee asserted today that mismanagement in the War Food Administration had resulted in -jXw v. food and money losses running into "many millions of dollars.

2, sofs It also accused some WFA officials of giving false information to LUZON RETAKEN IP. 5. TROOPS, M'ARTHUFISAYS 113,593 Counted Dead On Jap Stronghold, Thousands Captured By Victorious Yanks Reports That Allied Ships Are Shelling Balikpapan, Great Borneo Oil Center, Confirmed by Eyewitness By The Associated Press MANILA. Thursday. June 28 Re-eonquest of big Luzon Island, which the Japanese invaded Dec.

10, 1941, and which American forces re invaded last Jan. 9, was announced today by Gen. Douglas MacArthur his biggest single triumph of the Southwest Pacific War. Scattered enemy remnants must be hunted down but organized resistance was crushed in north Luzon, the last Japanese strongpoint, with 113,593 counted dead, other thousands yet to be counted and several thousand taken prisoner. Meanwhile, confirmation of Japanese reports that Allied warships have been hammering Balikpapan, Borneo's great oil refinery center on the southeast coast, came today from an eyewitness a war correspondent for Aneta, The Netherlands news agency.

Valley Conquest Reported Reporting complete conquest of the Cagayan Valley, today's communique added: "The entire island of Luzon, em Congress when it sought to check up In a report on a lengthy investigation much of It conducted undercover an appropriations sub-; committee headed by Representative i Traver (D-Ga) accused WFA of wasteful warehousing practices, poor bookkeeping and inadequate records, lax hiring methods and "inefficiency and dereliction on the part of some officials." Along with its criticism, the committee had words of praise for WFA. It said the agency "has met a national need in a period of extreme emergency and the over-all result! has been one of which the people of the country have the right to bej nrniirf Tt Aln nrni.ofv War lViod i LX "tv ZZT(prI Bill Compromise Refer to Only One Phase Commenting on the report, Jones said the committee charges referred to only one phase of the WFA's food operations the storing and handling of perishable foods in connection with Lend-Lease and farm price support operations. "Naturally, there were some losses, but the over-all losses were less than those which normally occur in regu lar channels of trade," Jones saidj in a statement. "This food had to Be to red, transported and loaded the price control extension ships. During a portion of the time there were great submarine sinkings.

We were frequently met with the choice of whether we would proceed slowly and avoid losses or act quickly and get the food to the bat-tlefronts on time." Jones said it was necessary to meats and route short supplies into handle WFA food with a shortage; legitimate channels, of labor, materials, warehousing and The compromise is subject to ap-transportation. proval by the House and Senate. "We have from time to time been Fal congressional action is expect- before Saturday when the pres- cnticized not storing enough, twk kX ent OPA law expires Both houses Kamikazes Score Two Hits On Carrier; Ship Survives Bunker Hill Crew Fights Fire 4 Hours Until Skipper, in Daring Maneuver, Dumps Flames Into Ocean Off Okinawa food. We have been criticized for storing too much. Between the two, we must have done a pretty good job." In its criticism, the House subcommittee made no attempt to fix on the agency's operations.

FOOD PRICE POWER BY CONFEREE UNIT Voted by Committee Aids New Secretary Agriculture Head Equipped With Authority to Smash Black Markets for Meat By The United Press WASHINGTON. June 27 House- Senate conferees today compro- bill by voting to give Rep. Clinton P. Anderson iD-NM), the "last word" on food prices when he takes office as secretary of agriculture Saturday. They also equipped him with new powers to smash the black market in previously agreed on a one-year extension of OPA.

Amendments Rejected The conferees rejected a House amendment which would have made Anderson "food czar" with final would have guaranteed farmers price ceilings on any agricultural commodity high enough to reflect production costs plus a "reasonable The conferees eliminated the House Dirksen amendment which would have subjected OPA regulations to court review but accepted the Senate Wiley amendment prohibiting the agency from making any firm absorb increased costs growing out of higher c. o. d. fees. The conferees decided to re-enact and broaden a food pricing provision of the present act which many Congressmen contend has been ignored by OPA and the Office of Economic Stabilization.

The original version provided that no price regulation could be enacted by the OPA administrator or "any other person" without prior approval of the secretary of agriculture. As redrafted, it provides that no person can order any price regulation without the secretary's "written approval." The conferees strengthened An derson's hand in dealing with the meat black market by adopting a I See ANDERSON Page 12 yn AND ON GIVEN Photo above shows smoke billow ing from the V. S. S. Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier, after it was hit twice within 30 seconds by two Jap suicide planes Map XI, leaving 392 dead or missing and 264 wounded.

Picture to the right shows smoke still rising from, a gaping hole torn on the flight deck by a bomb. U. S. TASK FORCE RAKES JAP CONVOY IN SEA OF OKHOTSK Three Enemy Vessels Sunk in First Yank Penetration of Area Navy Reveals Total of 9,731 Losses' in Ryukyus, Boosting Okinawa Cost to 46,31 9 By The Associated Press GUAM, Thursday, June 28 Pene trating the Okhotsk Sea, west of the KurUes, forthe first announced time of the Pacific war, a light naval task force of the North Pacific Fleet sank or damaged a small Japanese con voy in a daylight attack Monday, The action was disclosed in Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz' com.

munique today. Three Japanese ships were sunk. one probably was sunk and one small vessel was damaged in the engagement, fought west of the Kuriles island of Harumukotan. The North Pacific task force, pre sumably composed of cruisers and destroyers, crossed through the Kurile Island chain for the first sweep into the Sea of Okhotsk, which lies between the Russian-held Kamchatka Peninsula and the Siberian mainland on the west. Few details of this sweep were re ported, but the task force objective presumably was to intercept a Japanese supply convoy running from the homeland to the fog-bound Kuriles bases.

Harumukotan is about 60 miles south of Paramushiro, northernmost of the Kuriles and is the sec-ong island south of Paramushiro. The fact the task force dared a penetration into the Okhotsk Sea in daylight indicates that Japanese air cover, based in the Kuriles, has been reduced sharply. Navy Lists Casualties Meanwhile, it was revealed that Pacific Fleet casualties from March 18 through June 20 were 9,731, bring ing the total cost of the seizure of Okinawa and all associated naval operations to 46,319. Of the total, 11.897. Navy person nel, soldiers and Marines were killed or missing.

Japanese casualties in ground ac tion were 111,351, including 9,498 prisoners. An estimated 3,500 more were killed in the battle of the In land Sea March 18-19 included in the Navy casualty period and more than 4.000 Japanese pilots were shot down in assaults on American forces. Today's communique raised Navy casualty figures to 4,907 killed or missing and 4,824 wounded in all Pacific Fleet activities associated with the Okinawa invasion. Naval losses included approximately .1.000 killed, missing or See CONVOY Page 19 Lid1." to ac'C SUt coed si SITSTSt made it impossible-but contended StSt aI a sampling of warehouse operatiorisi ri 8 alone "justifies the feeling that it jX was the rry-has been considerable, probably 1 By The Associated Press WASHINGTON, June 27 Japanese suicide planes scored two direct bomb hits on the carrier Bunker Hill, causing 656 casualties, but the flagship of Vice-Admiral Marc A. Mitscher survived four hours of flaming death and will fight again.

The Navy disclosed today that the Bunker Hill, despite losses of 373 dead. 19 missing and 264 wounded in the tragic episode off Okinawa New Secretary Of State Next We ek; May Name Byrnes Retiring Aide WillNot Go With Truman To Big Three Parley, Executive Reveals By The United Press INDEPENDENCE. Mo, June 27 President Truman today revealed had accepted the resignation of Edward R. Stettinius as Secretary of State and had appointed him to the all-important post of this nation's representative on the United Nations council. Mr.

Truman made the announcement at a press conference in his home town after flying here from the San Francisop conference, which he addressed at its closing session last night. The Chief Executive said Stettinius' title will be representative of the United Nations, American member of the security- council and chairman of the United States delegation in the general assembly when the organization is formed. Names Successor Next Week Mr. Truman also announced he would nominate a successor to Stettinius next Monday or Tuesday. Every indication here was that the new secretary would be James F.

Byrnes, the President's old friend and former Supreme Court justice. The President revealed the text of a letter he bad sent to Stettinius, in which he said he had asked him to remain at his post despite a prof fered resignation on the day fol lowing the death of Mr. Roosevelt, in order to carry out the work for peace then under way. The President requested Stettinius to serve as his personal representa tive in working with members of the preparatory commission pending ratification, of the charter. Will Not Attend "Big 3 Stettinius was scheduled originally to go to the Big Three meeting; next month with the President, but Mr.

Truman said today, that Stettinius himself had requested that -he remain behind. The President said he had agreed reluctantly to Stettinius request. The President said he would be accompanied to that Big Three meeting by all the persons that could be helpful to him, including Byrnes, Harry L. Hopkins, Joseph E. Da vies and Admiral William D.

Leahy, chief of staff to the President. He avoided a direct answer, how-" ever, when it came to saying some thing definite about the new Secretary of State. Under questioning, he said it would not be some one now in the government. That would fit Byrnes because he resigned last year as director of war mobilization. Asked flatly whether the new secretary would be Byrnes, the Presi dent said he would not that question at this time.

When some one wanted to know whether Stettinius had accepted hi new post, the President replied quickly that certainly he had accepted, that it was the highest post in the gift of the government. Reveal Parley Date The President disclosed, too, that he will announce the date of the See STETTEXItS Page 19 LIEUT. F. J. SCHWIND HURT IN PLANE CRASH Parents Leave for Lincoln, Neb, Where Pilot is Stationed Lieut.

Francis J. Schwind. 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.

C. Schwind. Emerson Road and Hawthorne Drive, Brandywine- Hills, was critically injured in ah airplane crash, according to a telegram received by his parents. Lieutenant Schwind, a pilot in the Army Air Force, was stationed at Lincoln, Neb. His parents left for there last night.

A graduate of the Pierre S. du-Pont High School, class of January, 1943, he entered the Air Force immediately after graduation. A brother, Lieut. J. C.

Schwind, U. S. N. is stationed in New York city. He also has two sisters, Mrs.

Madeline Grothenn and Miss Eleanor Schwind. No details of the accident were given in the telegram. STALIN GENERALISSIMO LONDON, June 27 (U.PJ Marshal Josef Stalin was named generalissimo of the Soviej Union today for his "exceptionally outstanding service to the country in the leadership of all the armed forces of the state during the war," Moscow radio announced. Index of the News Amusements I 15 Bill Cunningham fi Births 4 Classified I 2-21 Comics ,18 Deaths I 4 Editorial i Financial 19 Marqui Childi 6 Obituaries 4 Radio 14 Society News 8 16-17-18 and Resort News 18-11 West brook Pegler 6 With the Service Men 10 Woman's Page 14 j. IRON SHOT WINS GEORGETOWN 'CAP, $10,000 'CHASE Winner Pays $25 for $2 In Thrilling Victory; Rouge Dragon Places Gallorette, Delaware Run at Elpis Clash In Oaks to Be Stanton Today Iron Shot, an 8-year-old gray gelding owned by Miss Ella Widener of Philadelphia, thrilled a throng of 13,165 at Delaware Park yesterday when he raced to a surprising half length triumph in the seventh running of the Georgetown Steeplechase Handicap.

Ridden by Sid O'Neill who put up a very strong finish to earn the decision, Iron Shot reached the final line with that narrow margin over Rouge Dragon, owned by Moe A. Cushman and favorite in the field of eight. Six lengths back, Kent Miller's Elkridge took third honors half a length before W. H. Lipscomb's Mercator, which was coupled with Rouge Dragon in the betting.

Shot Neglected The fine crowd backed this entry into 3 to' 2 favoritism while Iron Shot was decidedly neglected by the fans and the few who fancied his chances, collected $25 for each $2. Iron Shot, under 150 pounds, received nine pounds from each of his two nearest rivals in the Georgetown. He was timed in 3:50 3-5 which was considerably slower than the record for the distance of 3:42 3-5, set by Mandingham in the 1941 renewal of the same fixture. There was only one real mishap in the race, "Royal Archer losing his rider Scott Riles at the eleventh fence. Floating Isle made a bad landing at the second obstacle and never quite recovered.

Mercator, Rouge Dragon, Bill Coffman and Elkridge were well bunched in the early stages of the race as Iron Shot lay in fifth posi- tion. After a mile. Iron Shot began See RACES Page 16 YANKS OCCUPY SIX ISLES OF NORTHERN MARIANAS amounting to many millions cf dol lars." Colonel Olmstead Rapped The report singled out for crit-1 icism Ralph w. Olm stead, an Army officer who was di rector of food distribution in WFA itntil a few months ago. "Obviously," it said, "Colonel Olmstead's position in the broad food-handling picture is such as to preclude the dodging of responsibility by laying the blame on a lesser official under his jurisdiction." The committee served advance notice on Rep.

Clinton P. Anderson (D-NM), who will become secretary of agriculture next month, that it wants periodic reports from him on progress he has made on "remedial measures." It implied that WFA appropriations may be reduced as a result of the probe. The report said WFA officials told Congress losses on an egg support- price program would amount to $5,800,000 while committee investigators fixed the loss at more than $11,500,000. Information given Congress, it said, is completely inaccurate and See WFA Page 4 bracing 40,420 square miles, is now liberated." The Americans have made a juncture in the valley of northern Luzon "securing the entire length" and climaxing a campaign of 28 days. The once powerful Japanese force In the 200-mile long valley has been driven into the mountains to the east and west, cut off from all supplies.

Heavy Casualties Inflicted Heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy, MacArthur placing these at 113,593 dead. He said the graves of many more thousands of Nipponese troops had been located but uncounted. "Except for isolated operations, this closes the major phase of the northern Luzon campaign," the com munique reported, "one of the most Bavage and bitterly fought in Amer. lean history." The only other enemy forces of consequence in the Philippines are on Mindanao, southernmost island. and they are scattered and growing! increasingly disorganized.

3,793 Americans Dead In addition to the listed enemy dead several thousand were taken prisoner. Announced American losses were 3,793 dead, 34 missing and 11,351 wounded. Enemy losses throughout the archipelago already far exceed 400,000. In Cagayan, Robert S. Beightler's 37th Ohio Infantry Di vision sprinted the last 11 miles northward along highway five, with tanks in the lead, to effect a juncture with Joseph M.

See LUZON Page 19 SPEAKER'S SUCCESSION CLEARS FIRST HURDLE House Judiciary Votes Office Next In Line to Vice-President WASHINGTON, June 27 (U.PJ President Truman's proposed change In the presidential line of succession cleared its first congressional hurdle today when the House judiciary com mittee approved a bill to make the House speaker, instead of the Secre tary of State, next in line to tfte Vice-President. The bill was introduced two days ago by Committee Chairman Hatton Sumners, (D-Tex, in response to Mr. Truman's recommendation. It was approved 10-to-9 after a one hour session. Under ttie measure, the House speaker and then the president of the Senate would succeed to the presidency if something should happen to both the President and Vice-President.

QUAKE RECORDED WESTON, June 27 JPi Earth tremors in the ocean at a point southwest of Mexico City and about z.ooO miles from Boston were recorded at 9 a. m. today by the Weston College seismograph station. Delaware's Box Score in E-Bonds State's goal: $10,000,000 bonds sold to date: 6,553,000 You oro tavttod to tho Marksman's Club rang soar Fan-knnt tonight at 7 o'clock, to Xos Booglo domonstrato tho ox-port uh of small arms. No ad-miisioa is ehargod.

Later you can buy extra bonds to back tb mmn who or taing thM arms in actual bottle action. VETERAN EDITOR WRITES BOOK ON OLD WILMINGTON May 11, is home under her own power for repairs at the Puget Sound Navy Yard. A daring maneuver which literally flung the fire from her hangar deck capped the heroic efforts of her crew and assisting ships to conquer the flames. Three hours after the attack, firefighters were still waging a nip and tuck battle in the flaming deck. Water Causes List Tons of poured on countless thousands of gallons of flaming oil and gasoline, were forcing the firefighters back against the bulkhead.

The sheer weight of the water was causing a six degree list in the ship. Below decks men were dying from heat and suffocation. The cruiser Wilkes-Barre, a member of the task group, had come alongside, placing her bow hard against the Bunker Hill's starboard quarter," to add her hose to the firefighting. With the Wilkes-Barre at her side, the Bunker Hill went into a wide, 70 degree turn at 2H degree rudder. In turn'ng, the Navy account saia, she shifted the load of water across the ship and "dumped the heart of the roaring inferno on her hangar desk out into the sea.

"Men with lips too burned to cheer rushed forward with their hose," the Navy related. "Fresh air whipped across the deck at their backs, forcing the heavy smoke of burning oil and gas away from them. New life breathed through the ship. Men who were lying on blistering hot decks below knew, even as they drew their first breath of fresh air, that some miracle had saved them. See BUNKER HILL Page 4 WOMAN SERIOUSLY HURT WHEW STRUCK BY COACH Mrs.

Mary Sheppard Suffers Possible Fractured Skull and Jaw Mrs. Mary Sheppard, 53. of 931 Vandever Avenue, was seriously injured yesterday afternoon when she was struck by a trolley coaoii at Vandever Avenue and Thatcher Street. She suffered a possible fractured skull and jaw, bruises of the body and internal injuries. She was taken to the Delaware Hospital by the county ambulance Her condition last night was reported critical.

Police said Mrs. Sheppard was crossing Vandever Avenue and had stepped off the southwest corner when the accident occurred. Paul Motto, 23, of 1608 Rodney Street, operator of the coach, swerved the coach in attempt to avoid striking her. Motto was arrested by Patrolmen Gerald Albence and George Bernard ion a charge of assault and battery. END TO PHONE TAX FOR GI'S IS URGED Sojourners Also Seek Special Reduced Rates for Calls By Returning Service Men A movement to ask a rate reduction in toll telephone calls made by returning service men and to have the tax on the calls ended by the federal government was started here last night by the DuPont Chapter, No.

78, National Sojourners. Members of the chapter, at their last meeting until September, approved a motion ordering the chapter to prepare a resolution to be sent to the national executive committee of the National Sojourners at Washington. The resolution will request that the executive committee petition the government for an immediate end of the tax, amounting to- 20 per cent, on toll calls made by returning veterans. It will ask, also, that special rates be made available by the telephone companies involved. The average cost of a veteran's call, one of the first things that many of the servicemen want to do when they return, is J2.50, of which See SOJOURNERS Page 2 from $5,000 bonds to $25 bonds, making Delaware's total in bonds $6,553,000.

Mrs. Samuel Dillon and her staff, who sold bonds the greater majority of the day, sold. standing room when all seats were gone. "The Strollers," an orchestra made up of six Coast Guardsmen from Philadelphia, which was introduced by William B. Jameson of the War Finance Committee, gave a special concert before the presentation of the film, which featured Humphrey Bogart.

They were Musician Second Class George Paranick, Musician Second i See BONDS Page 20 COMBAT INFANTRY BAND TO PLAY FOR BOND DRIVE Advertising Club Arranges Concert in Rodney' Square Next Tuesday; $1,806,000 Sales Mark Movie Premiere On Sale Tomorrow; Grier Completes 60 Years With News-Journal Saturday By DOROTHY E. MOWBRAY For members of the older generation who wish to dream of days gone by, and for those of this age who desire to know more about Wilmington and its growth, "This Was Wilmington," written by A. O. H. Grier, is a fountain of knowledge.

On Saturday Mr. Grier will complete 60 years of service with the News-Journal Papers. The book is a collection of reminiscences based on his observations of the city and; its environs since 1875. Most 01 the articles have appeared on the edi. to rial page of the Journal-Every All reveal Wilmington as it Only One Pistol Cartridge Fired Evening in the past 10 years, but In Unique Operation have been placed in the proper GUAM.

Thursday, June 28 INS) classification in the book to make United States forces, expending even and interesting reading, only a single pistol cartridge, havej Running the gamut of life, en-occupied six islands of the northern tertainment, politics, education, and Marianas group. (religion, much of which the present Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz' I generation will remember, the book headquarters today announced the; is steeped in memories, all seeming-unique operation was earned out bylly accurate, and some, very hu- The Combat Infantry Band, composed of 56 veterans from overseas, will present a 7th War Loan concert in Rodney Square next Tuesday evening from 8 to 10 o'clock under the sponsorship of the Wilmington Advertising Club. About 2,000 chairs will be set up in the Square, directly in front of the Public Building. These reserved seats will be given every one who purchases a war bond specifically for the occasion.

Fifty members of the Ad Club will act as ushers. At the Warner Theatre war bend oremier of "Conflict" held last night, $1,806,000 in bonds was sold, ranging A O. H. Grier one destroyer -escort and two foot-long I which landed two was 50 years ago. and personalities platoons of Negro infantrymen.

and localities are described with The troops were accompanied by'equal vividness. The book is ciaus, president of the News-Journal company, contains the following Sport Travel There have been few longer See GRIER Page 9 volunteer native guides, most of whom were former residents ot the islands. jtional in that it is representative of any city oi nan a century ago. i The preface, written by Henry T..