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78 WILMINGTON. DELAWARE. FRIDAY. MARCH 31. 1944 THIRTY-EIGHT PAGES PRICE THREE CENTS ATTACK AlAU 9 Delaware's Morning Paper First with the Latest News United Press Associated Press International News Service ram MAW DRflfT OF 4-F'S Sofia in Flames After Two Raids By Allied Planes CZERNOWITZ SEIZED BY USSIANS POISED TO INVADE RUMANIA U.

5. BLASTS ISLAND ONLY 460 SEA MILES EAST OF PHILIPPINES TO MM VOTED NEW PACIFIC TARGET Stores Thronged in Rush To Avoid New Excise Tax Enemy Warships Depart as Fliers Sight American Armada Approaching Goal Assault Still Goes On; Occurs as Nimitz, Mac Arthur Airmen Hurl Bombs on Truk 3 pSTokyo KYUSHU 7 sown FORMOSA ft MARIANASJ PHILIPPINES tJSe, 'CUAM Purchases of Handbags, Furs Skyrocket With Luggage Sales Five Times Normal New Prices for Drinks Puzzling Shoppers have' been rushing Wilmington stores to buy up hand'oas-v luggage, furs, cosmetics and other items or. which the new federal excise tax rates will apply starting tomorrow. Executives of women's specialty shops said that handbags are getting the biggest rush in their stores. One ecutive said the shoppers are particularly anxious to obtain leather bags apparently because they "thirs only leather bags are subject to the new tax.

Actually, all hand By W. W. HERCI1ER Associated Press Correspondent LONDON. Friday, March 31 Explosive scarred Sofia was blasted from the air yesterday for the second time in 24 hours by the largest force of heavy bombers ever sent aainst a sirmle target from Mediterranean bases. Both U.

S. Fortresses and Liberators participated In the new assault and reached the Bulgarian capital while it still was smoking from heavy blow Wednesday night by R. A. F. Liberators and Wellingtons.

The attack was directed at Sofia's vital railroad yards through which passes the main line from Berlin to Istanbul, Turkey, and other Balkan However, other targets in the capital also were hit. Meanwhile, a great fleet of R. A. F. heavy bombers, which took more than an hour to cross over Britain's east coast, blasted See AIR RAIDS Page 4 DELAY OF MONTH VOTED FOR FINAL LEVY ESTIMATES House Tax Group Backs Change From Dec.

15 To Jan. 15 Next Year Committee Faces Three Major Problems in Plan To Simplify Procedure By The Associated Press WASHINGTON. March 30 Be cause some 15.000,000 to 20.000.000 taxpayers must now guess at their income before they get it. the House CAROLINE IS feU-r rr K4 7 Vr.iMNFA American battlecraft carried the Pacific tear IX) SO nautical miles west of Truk Wednesday, when a mighty United States task force began an attack on the Palau Islands (indicated by arrow. This island group, containing the Japanese administration center for all the U00 islands in the Carolines, is within 460 nautical miles of the Philippines.

ways and means committee voted an Easter recess in order to work on today to change from December 15 the proposed legislation. Costello to the following January 15 the said it would apply not only to 4-F's final day for filing revised estimates aR" L8 Bnd "-the brackets from which the armed serv-or income. ices are drafting men but also to Chairman Doughton D-NC said non-fathers between 37 and 45 and such a change would provide sub- 4-F's of every age. stantial relief for farmers, the self- while the draft law is sufficiently employed and professional people, broad to permit induction of 4-F's Under the pay-as-you-go law, for a work corps. Army spokesmen declarations of expected income have urged special legislation if this must be filed by single persons with i is to be done.

BY HOUSE UNIT Action Taken Over Pro test by Stimson; May Also Affect All Men Up To 45-Year Limit McNutt Group Warns Deferments Will be Approved Only Where Jobs are 'Critical; Steel Industry Omitted By The A fziated Press WASKINOVON, Mrch 30 Immediate induction of 4-F's for a special Army works curns waa recommended today by a House military sub-committee. Acting shortly after Secretary of War Stimson had expressed disfavor for the whole Idea, the House group made these formal recommendations: "1. That the War Department accept and use men for special labor duty and that the department publicly so announce. "2. That Selective Service process 4-F's for classification, deferring those then engaged in Industry or agriculture so long as they remain so engaged.

"3. That appropriate legislation be drafted to cover, and supplement if necessary, compliance with the action proposed." Chairman Costello (D-Calif said the House group's recommendations were intended to apply also to the Nnvy. By directing deferment for those engaged in industry or agriculture, the program Is intended to fore a shift of 4-F's Into essential occupations rather than actually to create large labor battalions in the armed services. Foregoes Easter Recess The committee decidpri to foreeo While the proposal for labor battalions was approved by Undersecretary of War Robert Patterson in testimony before the Houee group. Rrimcnn vnt'pH vipnrnm ohiirf.iinss I jt He told a news conference he would reeard such a step a last i resort, but the final decision was i up to Congress and the War De- See DRAFT Page 13 STATES URGED TO BAN DESTRUCTION OF PAPER All Governors to Be Asked to Have Such Lc-ws Passed WASHINGTON.

March 30 (UP Rep. Calvin D. Johnson (R-Ill) today introduced a resolution recommending that the 48 state governors take steps to secure legislation prohibiting willful destruction of waste paper. "Waste paper is the most critical war shortage in America today." Johnson said in a speech prepared for delivery in the House. "The newspaper that you carelessly cast aside could be the medium of preserving or saving the life of your son or the son of your neighbor." Johnson, who said he was sponsoring the drive in cooperation with the WPB salvage division, declared there was a deficit of 2.000.000 tons of waste paper annually needed to produce the 20.000.000 tons of paper products required for war uses.

Campaign for $701 f- Corporation, who have flnr-hand knowledge of the benefits offered in military hospitals by the Red Cross, told of their experience with the organization. Radioman Louis Fournarakis 518 East Fifth Street, wounded in the (Pearl Harbor attack, was at Mare island naval hospital for five months before being discharged. While there, he relates, the Red Cross sup- Se RED CROSS Page 4 Red Army Races Ahead 11 Miles To Southwest; Bid For Balkan Aid Made Nazis Pressed Into Odessa 'Box; 2J000 Trapped, Slain As Rail Line is Cleared By TOM TARBROCGH Associated Press Correspondent LONDON. Friday. i March 31 Battering down the barriers of Hit- ler's cringing satellite states, the Red Arrry yesterday seized Czer- nowitz, German fortress that had guarded the path to Rumania and Hungary, and climbed up the Prut River banks into the Carpathian Mountains to a point only 15 miles from the Hungarian-held corner of Czechoslovakia.

After storming Caernowitz and smashing its large German garrison, the Russians raced on through Storozhints, 11 miles to the southwest. No move beyond the 1941 Soviet borders was reported, although Soviet troops remained poised along the Prut where it forms the Rumanian frontier southeast of Czer-nowitz, and broadened their grip on the north bank. Enhancing a plainly-implied bid to Hungary and Rumania to turn against Hitler or be invaded, the Soviet midnight communique told of surrender by units of both countries' troops and the rout of others. (British press dispatches from Ankara said telephone connections between Turkey and Bucharest again had been interrupted and it was believed martial law had been proclaimed In German-occupied Rumania.) Hungarian Seventh Division regiments, helping the Germans defend Tlumach in the Carpathian foothills, were routed, the communique said, while 300 Hungarians surrendered. On the Ukraine front south and east of Byeltsi, a large detachment of Rumanian cavalry was routed, losing more than 200 horses while a Rumanian infantry company surrendered, the Russians announced.

The bid to the foe was clear: Yield or be destroved. The bloodiest single action of the day as described by the Russian communique was annihilation of German groups encircled in the forests east of Mynkovtsy, 28 miles northeast of Kamenets Podolsk. See RrSSIA Page 6 CORP.JRA W.DUTCHER PRISONER OF GERMANS Wife Receives Card Mailed From Camp for Captives of Reich Corp. Ira W. Dutcher, 30.

of 12 South Maryland Avenue. Richardson Park, who was reported missing in the fighting in Italy three weeks ago, is a prisoner of war of the Germans, according to a card received yesterday by his 'ife. The card was the regular form card sent from a prison camp and was signed by Corporal He told his wife he was well and not to worry about him. He said he would like to have some cigarettes, chocolate candy and shaving articles. Corporal Dutcher has been in service two years and has been overseas one year.

He was wounded last Dec. 23 in the fighting near Salerno. Italy, and in his letters to his wife while he was in a hospital he was loud in his praise of the Red Crss for what it does for the injured soldiers. Prior to Joining the Army he was employed by the Sun Oil Company. KANGAROO KEEPS TWINS' BIRTH SECRET 5 MONTHS! Philadelphia Zoo Curator Thinks Animal Set Maternity Record PHILADELPHIA, March 30 (INS) The Philadelphia Zoos Mrs.

Kan-eivett a zoological place In historv when it was discovered i today that she had given birth to twins and had kept it a secret since la November 1 -We rave trade an exhaustive in- Testation nd it is the first time i i ran find that 1 a kangaroo has given birth to more than one babv at a time" Roger Conant. the cuiator declared. The offsorings in her poucn would stm be a secret, if in an angry mo- UK-lit, kicked one of them out on the floor. I Conant explained that a baby kan- garoo, only about one men wng ai birth. makes Its way into the pouch remains IDT wvciai IUUU.ua, i a By LEIF ERICKSOV Associated Press Correspondent V.

S. PACIFIC FLEET HEADQUARTERS. Pearl Harbor, March 30 Powerful American naval forces, believed to include new aircraft carriers, opened up an assault Wednesday on Palau Island within 460 nautical miles of the Philippines, and Japanese warships fled the are rather than offer a fight. Announcing the attack in a com-m unique today. Admiral Chester W.

Nimitz said: -Our attack continues." Admiral Nimitz said Japanese ships were observed fleeing from the Palau area before our fleet units could reach positions." The communique explained that the task force had been sighted enemy planes searching from their bases from the Carolines and New Guinea. Twin Attack on Truk The task force strike against Pflsu occurred on the same day that Liberators of the Seventh Air Force. probably operating from the western Marsha lis, delivered an attack on Truk. And that air attack followed shortly after the first raid of th war on Truk by Liberators from the Southwest Pacific. The fact that Japanese ships fled from Palau is a definite indication that the American task forces probably are of the same overwhelming strength as the aircraft carrier forces which attacked Truk Feb.

16-17 and the Marianas Feb. 22. The communique text: "Strong Pacific fleet forces, at dawa Wednesday, 29th of Match (west longitude date) initiated attacks on Japanese-held Palaa Island. After discovery of the approach of ear forces by enemy planes searching from their bases in the Carolines and New Guinea, their ships were observed fleeing the area before oar units ceaid reach attack positions. Our attacks continue.

No further details are as vet available." The Nimitz communique did not describe the nature of the fore attacking Palau but it is almost certain that it contains several new and large aircraft carriers. It is likely that the Palau attack Is a I heaVy Cr bombing Stroke BUCh See PACIFIC Page U. S. CASUALTIES JUMP TO 173.239 ON MARCH 15 Stimson's Figures Show Increase Of 3.M7 in Week WASHINGTON. March 30 (JP American war casualties showed a sharp increase today when Secretary of War Stimson revealed the total through March 15 to be 173239.

It was an increase of 3.947 over a previous report a week ago. Army casualties totaled 130.619. made up of 22.570 killed. 53.124 wounded. 27.183 missing and 27,743 prisoners.

Of the latter. 1.675 have been reported by enemy sources as havi1In8 dled ln prison. moeUy In Japanese-occupied territory. The total for the Navy. Marines nd io.voi uuro, xujf tm wounded, B.138 missing and 4.421 prisoners.

Of the total, the Navy had 28,043. the Marines 14.123 and tha Coast Guard 454. or 53.124 Army wounded. 27.29- "turned to duty. Secretary Stimson said.

Index of the News WAK TRUK GILBERT 7 IS 'Rabaul SOLOMON ELLICEJ IS. IS. CHURCHILL WINS CONFIDENCE VOTE BY BIG MAJORITY Victory by 425 to 23 Is Best Strength He Has Shown Since Jan. '42 Members and Press Resent Manner in Which Prime Minister Forced the Issue By JAMES M. LONG Associated Press Correspondent LONDON, March 30 Stocky, scrappy Prime Minister Churchill pulled a rebellious House of Com mons firmly into line today, and won a 425-LO-23 vote of confidence his strongest showing since January, 1942 and served plain notice that he intended to run Britain's wartime program, both domestic and foreign, entirely or not at all.

Thus the House showed its solidarity behind the Churchill leadership on the eve of the planned in vasion of Western Europe even though, as many members put it, thev had to eat their own wnrrt I they had to eat their own words. and "vote against something we were really for." Churchill had staked his government's existence vn a demand that the House kill an amendment to an education bill providing equal pay for men and women teachers, a comparatively minor domestic issue which the Government had opposed, but which had been passed in committee. 117 to 116. Silent. but smiling proudly, Churchill strode from the historic chamber to ringing cheers after the overwhelming vote for the Government was announced.

A majority of London's morning newspapers chided Churchill in editorial cartoons. Typically the Daily Herald's car toon pictured a gun-packing Prime a Minister marching an Amazon-sized midget groom labelled "MP" down i See CHt'RCHILL Page ALL G.I. DIARIES ORDERED TURNED IN FOR DURATION Rule Inrd Part of Pre-Invasion Censorship Tightening LONDON. March 30 cVPi An order calling in all diaries kept by Allied soldiers ln European theatre of operations was issued tonight by the censor's office in a pre-Wetern Front tightening of the rules. The diaries will be stored by the chief base censor for the duration of the war.

They were called in. an official said, because it has been found that men in combat "have a habit of keeping diaries in their pockets where they are liable to be captured by the enemy." The information written in them sometimes is of military value. The new security rules aUo ban correspondence with lonely heart clubs back home, and indulging in chain letters and round-robin i COUNCIL FAVORS NAMING NEGROES TO FIRE BUREAU They Would Replace Men Lost in Draft, Avoid Closing Station Directors of Public Safety Asked to Give Them Chance To Qualify for Positions 4 move to appoint Negroes to the Bureau of Fire, which lost seven men in the draft this month and is faced with the possibility of closing another fire station, was started by City Council last night. There are four Negro members of the Bureau of Police. Clerk of Council Homer C.

Simmons was instructed to write to the directors of Public Safety to the effect that Council believes that Negroes should be given the opportunity to qualify for positions in the bureau. The motion by Councilman John O. Hopkins, Sixth Ward, came at the close of a general discussion of the effect of the draft on the Fire Bureau personnel which included a statement by Leo J. Dugan, Second Ward, that present conditions were leading to "an emergency." Closing of Station Discussed Both Mr. Dugan and Albert W.

Strawbridge. Twelfth Ward, stated that some of the retired executives and members' of: the bureau would be glad to "cooperate if the proper authorities in the department would talk to them." Opening the discussion, Martin J. Walsh, Tenth Ward, said that he had heard that another fire station, the second, would have to be closed because of the drafting of seven members of the bureau. Mr. I Walsh, a member of Council's Pub- lie Safety Committee, asked if this! were true.

In the absence of Harvey Y. Wood. Seventh Ward, chairman of the committee. Fred Brown, Second Ward, said he had not heard of the closing of another house. He stated, however, that It was See COUNCIL Page 4 OPA CAR PARKED 4 HOURS WITH MOTOR RUNNING One of Those Thirijr' Agent Says; Sets Parking Ticket CHICAGO, March 30 (IMS) Scores of gasoline hungry pedestrians paused at the curb to witness the marvel.

It was a parked automobile, empty and the motor running. The motor was running at 11 a. and St was still running at 3 p. m. The mystery was partially explained today.

Thtf car belonged to Henry Rosenthal, a commodity investigator in the legal enforcement division of the Office of Price Ad- ministration. He said it was "just one of those He had expected to return 10 tne car sooner. Another observer was Patrolman James Kelie He had no power to enforce gas-saving regulations, he could issue a ticket for parking lour hours in a no-parking tone. and he did. MATERMTT WARDS REOPEN board of trustee of the Delaware Hospital at their meeting yesterday announced inai tne matenu-y pediatric departments, which have uil v.

ouiw imuwi nrwn bags, purses, pocketboors. wallets 5 billfolds and key cases are subject to a 20 per cent tax starting tomor row. Dealers pointed out that the rush to buy handbags and luggage, which is another fast-seller now may be attributed to the fact that these articles are getting the highest tax boost, since they have no excise tax at all. Other items being raised I to 20 per cent, are now subject to a 10 ner cent tax. Furs are greatly In demand, and second only to handbags in buying interest, the women's shops said.

One official estimated sales in furs and handbags at double the normal volume. Another said there was no doubt that the tax was the cause of the buying since many fur buyers are mentioning the tax increase, to make sure they have completed their purchases before the effective date. A manager of a luggage department declared that sales are five times the normal rate for this time of year. He said the new tax is an imposition on service men and their families who. he explained, are the principal buyers of luggage this year.

He pointed out that service men and their families and friends are directly affected also by the inclusion of toilet cases and kits in the luggage classification. Sewing kits, money belts, and shoe shine kits, however, are not included, he said. Cosmetics counters also reported Increased activity from tax-conscious buyers. Although Jewelry is also subject to a tax increase, stores reported no rush at Jewelry counters although the usual Easter buying of costume jewelry is going on. Liquor dealers said there Is no rush to stock up on their wares and pointed out that some of the more desired items are not obtainable in quantity.

While the stores were anticipating the new tax with increased business in most of the affected lines, the tap room proprietors were wondering how to tack the new tax onto drink prices. One manager explained that single drinks of the more potent beverages will be subject to an added tax of two, three or four cents, depending on the volume. For example, the new tax on a drink of one to one and three-quarters ounce of a liquor of 80 or higher proof is three cents. Tavern keepers, however, are reluctant to depart from the custom of keeping their prices in multiples of five. They believe the customers don't want to bother with pennies, and furthermore, most cash registers at bars don't have provision for pennies they can ring up multiples of five only.

Several bar managers said they are not yet sure what the price of a drink will be tomorrow. One suggested that five cent increase be put on the drink prices of whiskey, brandy, gin and other high-alcoholic items, and that no increase be made in the price of a glass of beer or wine. He said this would work out so that the proprietors would just about be recompensed for the new taxes without getting into penny complications. It was admitted, however, that the suggestion would not be in accord with OPA pricing regulations. DRAFT PAPERS ISSUED FOR BRITISH STRIKERS Government to Send 25.00 Apprentices Into Armed Forres LONDON.

March 30 (V-With more than 115.000 workmen idle in a series of spreading strikes, the British Government cracked down today by issuing military draft papers for 25.000 apprentices striking at north ern shipyards. The Government asserted their walkout to gain exemption from pos- sible drafting into jobs at coal mines voided their military deferment as essential workers. The strikes spread to three more -I- coal pits today, raising to about i 000 the number of miners who have waiseo out oi joos at su pits Yorkshire in a dispute over a 40- I ciit, uvniu.iuu ui lor ti cH hfwn 1 i ENEMY INVASION OE INDIA HALTED IN FOUR SECTORS StilweU's Chinese Shut Trap on 2,000 Japs In Mo gating Valley Allies Ambush Foe North Of Imphal, Force Tunnel On Akyab Road; Chutists Score By JAMES E. BROWN International News Service Correspondent NEW DELHI. March 30 The Japanese invasion of northeast India was checked in four sectors today with heavy losses added to at least 2.500 Japs previouslv killed since the enemy launched his drive central Burma, Simultaneously.

Joseph StilweU's Chinese forces in north Burma closed a death trap around two makeshift, enemy battalions, comprising some 2,000 troops of the 18th Division, with the surprise capture of La ban in the Mo-gaung Valley. The enemy's rear bases were fur. ther disrupted, a communique from Lord Louis Mountbatten's Southeast Asia headquarters revealed, when a glider-transported Allied air com mando force, uncorking another brilliant swoop in upper Burma, wrecked the Jap headquarters at Monyin, 80 miles southwest of the vital rail head of Myitkyina. On the Arakan front adjoining the Bay of Bengal coast of west Burma still another Allied success was achieved when tank-led British troops blasted their way through the western tunnel on the Maung-daw-Buthedaung road to pass another milestone in the grinding drive toward the port of Akyab. The Jap invasion of India suffered its worst setback to date when Allied artillery and dive bombers executed a spectacular ambuscade of what waa officially described as a "strong" enemy column thrusting through the Somn "Hills northeast of Imphal capital of the Indian state of Manipur.

Mountbatten's communique, indi- eating the main British and Indian defense forces now have reached the scenes of bat-tie, said the Jap column "was caught in the open in small valley yesterday and engaged by both Allied artillery and aircraft." "The Japanese suffered heavy casualties." said the bulletin. It estimated that since their offensive in central Burma toward India was launched about a fortnight ago "the Japane." have tost 2.500 killed." (The Tokyo radio. recorded bv N. B. C.

Thursday night, claimed the Japs -control the entire mountain region surrounding the Imphal plateau and are fully prepared for a decisive battle The Jap force that was ambushed See BI R.MA Page wage or salary above $2,700 and married couples above $3,500, and by persons with income over $100 from sources other than wage or salary. The first estimate, with at least a one-fourth tax payment, is due by March 15 of each year (delayed until April 15 this yean, with such taxpayers permitted to file revised estimates on June 15, September 15 and December 15. Today's action, if made law by Congress, would move the final date from December 15 to the following January 15. Face Three Major Problems The guessing procedure is designed to put on a current payment basis those taxpayers whose approximate total tax is not taken by the 20 per cent withholding levy. Three knotty problems arose today as the House ways and means committee sought to simplify the nation's income tax laws affecting 50.000.000 taxpayers.

They are: 1. What to do about exemptions, for dependents who themselves earn some money. 2. How to eliminate some of the guess work for a large number of taxpayers who must estimate their income, under the pay-as-you-go plan, before they get it. 3.

Whether to allov reductions in the withholdings from wages and salaries of persons who declare they intend to make substantial contri- See TAXES Pago 6 $95,096 NEEDED TO MEET RED CROSS GOAL IN DRIVE $605,903 Received in 000; Veterans Tell How Organization Brought Them Comforts of Home Pages Amusements it Births 4 Classified 33-34-2S Comics 37 Deaths 4 Editorials Ernie Pyle a Financial Jj Hunting and Fishing 24 Jack Stinnett Marquis Childs Obituaries 4 Radio 31 Society News 28-27 Sports 28-29-M-31 With the Service Men 37 Woman 'f Page 22 Urging that everv Delawarean ive to the American Red Cross in the final push of the War Fund drive. C. W. Baker, campaign chairman, reported yesterday that the Delaware chapter haa less than $100,000 to subscribe to realize its goal of $701,000. The total yesterday stood at Adding their pleas to that of Mr.

icemen, now employed by the Dravo 1 i nt cx: iau irmn iww mnW'Hl hp th TVnn NOW.