The Rhinelander Daily News from Rhinelander, Wisconsin • Page 1

Yanks Smash Jap in Battle Of Left Flank By SPENCER DAVIS GEN. MACARTHUR'S HEADQUARTERS, Luzon, Jan. 20 Lieut. Gen. Walter Krueger is winning the important battle of the left flank.

His Sixth Army is smashing Japanese tanks, silencing artillery concealed in caves and going after enemy soldiers in 10-foot-deep holes with flamethrowers. It is the first real fight since the Yanks landed at Lingayen gulf Jan. 9. Twenty Japanese tanks been knbcked Out and 60' ese of them troops from Manchuria in a three day period along the left flank. That flank juts into the hilly, eastern side of Pangasinan province.

The broader it gets the more effectively it isolates Japanese forces on the north around Baguio, Philippines summer capital, from other enemy forces on the south fending Manila. Significantly, since the fighting flared up on the left flank, there has been scarcely any official word of a further push in strength southward by Yank columns last ed approaching Tarlac, 65 airline miles from Manila." Series of Small Engagements. The battle of the left flank is not a continuous engagement of massed forces but rather a scatter- BHINELANDEft, SATtfRtfAY PAGES tODAY PRICE FIVE extras FR Takes Presidential Oath on "Back Porch' WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 President Roosevelt began, another four years in the White House today, and, in a sternly simple dedicated the nation to achieving "total victory in war 1 and "a durable peace." Against a background of wintery white and under leaden skies, Mr. Roosevelt solemnly rested his hand on an ancient family Bible and repeated after Chief Justice Stone the oath that made him America's first fourth-term president.

From the South Portico of the White House, which he himself selected for the scene of the third i wartime inauguration in history, i the President surveyed a hushed clashes. The Americans are linking up a solid line along the Manila-Baguio road in a 30-mile stretch from near Rosario on ttie north to the Agno river on me south near Villasis. From north to south in that area, today's communique and Associated Press field dispatches reported: The Japanese threw night counter-attacks at Yanks in the outskirts of Rosario after a push east from coastal Damortis. The ponese were repulsed but artillery duels are continuing. Four miles southeast, Yank columns moving north on the Manila- Baguio highway which leads in behind Rosario captured Sison.

Ambush Fails. 4 Further southeast down the highway past where one stiff engagement of iihe left flank battle was Japanese tried an ambush at Binalonan. Yank 105 mm. guns, destroyed JO slush and snow. Around him were members of his family, high dignitaries of government.

Truman Takes Oath. Not since Lincoln's day had Washington seen a wartime inauguration. Gone were the glitter and fanfare, keying the.event_to the times, spectators were limited to five or six thousand guests, mostly government officials or Democratic party executives. were packed onto the spacious south lawn. Other Washingtonians had a remote view-of the proceedings from beyond the black iron White House fence.

Harry S. Truman, former Missouri senator, was sworn in as vice-president just before Mr. Roosevelt, i Henry A. Wallace gave the oath to Truman, and thereby bowed out of that office. But the ritual itself remained untouched: A prayer.

The oath of office for Vice-President-Elect Harry S. Truman. A presidential hand on a yellowing, 259-year-old family Bible, opened to the "faith, hope and charity" passage. Chief Justice Stone administering, the President repeating, a 37 word oath. An inaugural address.

A benediction. The national anthem. Luncheon for 1,500. Religious services preceded the inauguration, again in accordance with custom'. Familiar hymns," familiar biblical quotations filled the White House East room.

There were prayers for our-President and our country from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. There were special prayers for victory, for "all in the service of the United Nations" and even for our enemies. The hours following the inayg- -'were. reserved, bazookas knocked -out thePother two. On down the highway past Urdaneta, where a 24-hour won by the Americans earlier in the week, Japanese resistance dis- appeared as a motorized unit of Yanks sped through Villasis to the Agno river and there seized a foot bridge, partially wrecked.

Southwest of the shell-shattered Urdaneta, American infantrymen moving into Cabaruan hills have an enemy force between tWo ridges. Flamethrowers are being pointed down 10-foot-deep holes, reaching even the Japanese hiding in lateral tunnels, In those hills, seizure of tne town of Caba- ruan gave the doughboys a fine ar- It'tillery elevation. Japs Hide Behind Curtain. Japanese appear to be fighting hardest for Rosario. (George Thomas Folster, NBC correspondent, said an artillery has been in progress there for 'five days with the Japanese using everything up to 12-inch guns.

enemy has dreamed up some ingenious camouflage tricks," Folster reported, "which include a regular theater curtain which 'wthey hang at the mouths of caves, lifting in order to fire, then dropping back in place to hide their Mndian Congress Committee Meets CHICAGO, Jan. 20 Problems -festive" 1 specia 'gUests had invitations. to a buffet WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 Franklin D. Roosevelt began his fourth presidential term today with a pledge that "we shall work for a just and durable psace as today we Work and fight for a total victory in war." "We can and we will achieve such a peace," Mr Roosevelt said after taking the oath in an unprecedented ceremony on the south portico of the White House.

Before him the smallest inaugural cirowd in years had scuffed a light snow off the White House lawn. About him on the portico were gathered the government's top the new vice president, Harry Truman of Missouri. Praying to God for vision to see the way that leads to a better life and world peace, the President said. "We shall strive for perfection. We shall not achieve it immediately but we still shall strive.

We may make they must never be mistakes which result from faintness of heart or abandonment of moral principle." The text of probably the shortest inaugural address in history: Chief Justice, Mr. Vice-Presi- Executive Urges U.S. to lead World In Free News Swap NEW YORK, Jan. 20 (XP) Kent Cooper, executive director of the Associated Press, today urged the United States to lead the world in the free exchange of information and said he hoped "the President himself will be its chief advocate." "The United States gave to the world the-ideal that news must be Undiluted and must flow freely; without interference by ment," Cooper said. "If we can maintain our own record in this regard during the whole War We shall be, more than ever, the one nation fortified to champion full exchange of news at the peace table." In an address for delivery over the Blue network (3:20 p.

m. EWT) during an intermission of the Metropolitan opera victory rally, Cooper said he believed pur government "could profitably give evidence of less distrust of its people even in wartime. "We are indeed having a taste of government power over news right now as a necessary war he said. "For one, I do not like so" I be- much of it. But realization of how friends: You "will understand and, lieve, agree with my wish that the jt works here in war in: 'orm of this inauguration be simple and its words brief.

'Period of. Supreme Test. 1 We 'Americans of today, together with our Allies, are passing through a period of supreme test. It is a test of our courage of our resolve of our wisdom of our essential decency. If we meet that successfully and we shall perform a service of historic importance which men and women and children will honor throughout all time.

1 As I stand here today, having taken the solemn oath of office in the presence of my fellow countrymen in the presence of bur God I know that it is America's purpose that we shall not fail. In the days and in the years that are to come we shall work for a Just and durable peace as today we work and fight for total victory in war. We can and we will achieve such a peace. We shall strive for perfection. We shall not achieve it immediately but we still shall strive.

We may Jnake mistakes-r-but they must nev- be mistakes which result from of principle. 'Always Upward I remember that my old schoolmaster said, in days that seemed luncheon at the White House. A thousand had bids to a late after- a as mark out to us the to be for Mr. Roosevelt. He termed it "a day of solemn import." To members of the electoral college, Republicans and Democrats untroubled: in life will not always run smoothly.

Sometimes we will be rising toward the heights then all will seem to reverse it- alike hTdeclared in a metsaKe last jself and start downward. The great cuiKii, nt, cLet-idreu in a message 13SI; AT. i rememb the trend of civilization itself is forever upward; that a line drawn through the middle of the peaks and valleys of the centuries always has an upward trend." Our constitution of was not a perfect instrument; it is not per- fact yet. But it provided firm base on which all manner of men, of all races and colors ancj creeds, could build our solid structure of democracy. Learning to Be World Citizens.

Today in this year of war, 1945, we have learned a fear- and' proposed congressional action were the principal matters of business ready for discussion today by the executive committee of the Na- Congress of American Indians. Among items for consideration by the committee are the improvement of Administration of Indian affairs, creation of a special commission or for the purpose of settling flkor adjusting the Indian claims against the United States, and perfecting of the congress as a media to express Indian thought. Also slated for discussion was the recent congressional committee report ref lating to Indian administration and conditions. N. B.

Johnson of Claremore, president of the congress which was organized at the constitutional convention of Indians at Denver last November, said it A represented 54 Indian tribes with a of 4,000. Weather Forecast tor Wisconsin: Cloudy with little change in temperature through Sunday. Temperatures yesterday ranged from a maximum of 26 degrees to a rainuniun ot and were foliowed by a low of 21 degrees last night. The temperature was the srnje at 8 o'clock this moroiog, and at 10 o'clock was 82 degrees. The prevailing wind is from the southwest.

WeftUief Year Maxi- 37; njjninjwn, 5j wo precipitation. night that Americans should "be grateful that the orderly processes of democracy still dominate our national life," that "in the midst of global war it has been possible to hold our normal elections." For one day, an American President was able to cast aside a few of his responsibilities as a world leader, to take the starring role in a drama at home. Imprint of War. Yet the inauguration itself bore an unmistakeable imprint of war. The solemnity was.

there. But the overtone of the parades, the stage props were gone. The hundreds of thousands of spectators were missing. Five ois six thousand selected guests had cards allowing them to enter the White House grounds. It was standing room only for all of them, with a tarpaulin under foot for those up it was standing room on the portico, too, for the cabinet, supreme court, chiefs of the armed services and the Mexican ambassador, who is dean of the diplomatic corps.

It was the President's idea that the ceremony be held on his "back porch." And he discarded the traditional top hat, cutaway and striped trousers for a business suit. Mrs. Roosevelt's inaugural dress was of Potomac Navy blue'trimmed in a lighter Capitol blue. For the reception later on, she selected a floor-length gown of Mayflower mauve, Her husband probably would call it pink. The chief executive, his sixty- third birthday only 10 days off, faced four more arduous years in office with assurances from his physician that he is in fine physical shape.

SERVICES INCLUDE PRAYER FOR ENEMY WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (ff) A prayer "for our enemies" was said in the White House today. A part of the religious services in the East Room preceding the fourth term oath-taking by President Roosevelt, it follows: "Most loving father, who by thy son Jesus Christ has taught us to love our enemies and to pray for them; we beseech thee, give to those who are now our enemies the light of thy holy spirit. Grant that they and we, being enlightened in conscience and cleansed from every sin, may know and do thy will, and so be changed from foes to friends united in thy service, through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen." The prayer was written by the late Archbishop of Canterbury, William temple.

Sailor Survives Sinking SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 20 Robert W. Sieber of Glenbeaulah, was one of the survivors of the torpedoed liberty ship jJobn A. Johnson Navy announced last night. Sieber was a wjger abjparql the shjjp.

ful them. we shall profit by We have learned that we cannot live alone, at peace; that our own well-being is dependent on the well-being of other nations far away. We have learned that we See "Inauguration," Page 2. peace servo its highest' purpose by giving us an idea of how it worlds in other countries all the time." He said certain practices were being employed here, under the guise of censorship, "to suppress, minimize or retard news of vrar that to the average American no not make 1 "It has occurred to me," he said, "that the phrase 'military security' has too often been a cloak to hide the bad guesses, oiva distrust of people, or a weak reason for doubt? ing their national integrity. "As a result when things go badly for the military effort, the blameless people find themselves blamed for not being excited about the news of reverses that was unr Reds Within 214 Miles of Berlin; British Cross Maas, Widen Front in North Americans Fail To Stem Nazi Drive On Strasbourg By JAMES M.

LONG PARIS, Jan. 20 British troops jumped the Maas (Meuse) river below Roermond unopposed flast night, widening the Second jArmy's push in the Dutch pan- ihandlc which is forcing the Germans back on the Roer river line miles west of Dusseldorf. At the southern end of the west- rn front, Americans fought up to linked in a solid brideghead over the Rhine one ipoint only seven miles above Stras- ''bourg. Just below the British operations, U. S.

First and Third Army troops jdrove in upon St. Vith, highway jslronghold in the diminishing Bel- bXilge, and advanced north of jcaptured Diekirch, 30 miles to the south in Luxembourg. British assault troops crossing the Maas by boat seized Stevenswecrt, seven miles southwest of Roermond, without opposition. The crossing added about two miles to the seven- mile assault arc of white-camouflaged ta'nks and troops bulging into German lines within eight to 10 miles of the Roer river. A 'though Stevensweert had been Victory Ship Named For Appleton PORTLAND, Jan.

20 The S. Appleton Victory, named for the city of Appleton, yesterday became the 400th ship to be launched by Henry J. Kaiser's Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation since operations began at the yards in 1941, The vessel was christened by Mrs. John Goodland, wife of the mayor of Appleton: Mayor Goodland spoke. Milwaukee Attorney Is Treasury Counsel WASHINGTON, Jan.

20 Lehman C. Aarons of Milwaukea was named assistant general counsel ol the Treasury department yesterday by Secretary Henry Morgenthau. Aarons served on the treasury general counsel staff from 1934 to 1938, when he resigned to practice law in Milwaukee. He returned to the treasury temporarily in June, 1940, to assist in organization of the foreign funds control work. i warrantedly withheld from them 'abandoned, it was still too early yeste: failed last to tell whether the enemy was beginning a general withdrawal from 'the tip of his salient between Roer- and Gilenkirchen in Germany, a front dispatch said.

British troops advanced up to 1,500 yards in mop-up operations, and pushed beyond Hongen, a mile from the German-Dutch frontier. Strengthening Bridgehead. Farther north, Qerman Zetten, six miles north of Nijinegen and four miles below Arnheny but Allied counter-attacks drove them for too long a Highway Employes Fired for Striking SPARTA, Jan. 20 conferring with the Monroe highway committee and CommisjJ sioner Charles Dwyer, District A at the 'employes report for work -Wednesday were "no longer working for the department." Approximately 30 men were involved, Dwyer said, about 1,6 of whom called at the highway office for their pay yesterday. Dwyer added that men desiring to return to their jobs would be in- terviqwed.

OPA Orders Reduction On Meat Cuts WASHINGTON, 20 i Whether he was pulling the' tanks Smoked pork loins and loirt cutsl ack or repair, or racing to hurl will cost one to two cents a less at retail beginning Jan. 26. The OPA, announcing this today, said the reduction was ordered because, processors have been smoking "unusually large" numbers of loins as a result of a price advantage heretofore. The agency also filed retail cents- per-pound price ceilings for kosher and non-kosher corned peef briskets. 'These will result, it said, in a national average reduction of at least 10 cents a pound, with the cut ranging from 30 to 50 cents in some cases.

The Germans apparently were strengthening armored forces pouted into the Rhine bridgehead above Strasbourg. At least six pontoon bridges been thrown over the river. Field Marshal Karl von Rund- stedt had pulled virtually his whole tank force out of the western front battleline except for this northeastern corner of France. Snowstorms screened the movement. Has Higher Priority Than Vets them into a battle for Strasbourg, Alsatian capital, was a question.

German attempts to edge closer to Strasbourg's northern outskirts were broken up, although patrols had advanced to within six miles of the city. German forces below Strasbourg are but 10 miles away. Capture Heights Near St. Vith. An American counter-attack smashed a German bridgehead flung over the Zorn.

river nine miles north of Strasbourg. But the Germans repulsed U. S. infantrymen attempting to slash back into Sessenheim, in the Nazis' Rhine bridgehead 17 miles northeast of Strasbourg. The U.

S. First Army had compressed an arc within four miles of St. Vith and taken all commanding heights on the north and west. Five more towns fell nor th west and southwest of that bastion. In Luxembourg, the Third Army's Fifth infantry gained half a mile above Diekirch, carrying to within three miles of the German frontier stronghold of Vianden.

It knocked back three German counterattacks, one in battalion strength with tank support, at nearby Bastendorf, which still had not been cleared of the enemy. Day's Bag 440 Prisoners. The 80th infantry cleared a wood nine miles northwest of Diekirch. In 24 hours the Third Army took I another 440 prisoners, for a total since Dec. 16 of 17,466.

Farther south between the Moselle and the 'Saar rivers, the 94th Division held newly-won ppsi? tions in the Tettingen area against repeated Nazi counter-attacks. i American fire stopped a German attempt in two to three company i strength to widen their Rhine bridgehead at Rohrwiller, three miles west of the Rhine 14 miles 'above Strasbourg. The Nazis with' drew, leaving 60 dead in the streets. To the north the N.azis renewed their assault with armor and inr fantry at Hatten, in the old Maginot line eight miles south of the border. For the llth day they iwere beaten back.

Two German attacks in the Bitche salient of the northern Vosges far- jthev west were repulsed. 27-Ounce Baby Moler, 41 Los Angeles, reporter, interviews "Blaze," huge mastilf sent by Col. PUptt Booseveit to his wife the former, Faye which accoroiog several servieenjeja's story, traveled on priority rating, them fc-om Array cargo plane at (NBA MILWAUKEE, Jaai. 20 Keith Allen Larson, who weighed 27 ounces at birth Wednesday, was reported "doing well" in an incu- at St. Joseph's Hospital last despite the loss of five ounces.

Th.e child, third smallest baby born School Children Aid Lincoln County in Post-War Survey MERRILL, Jan. 20 by than. 1,400 rural school children, Lincoln county has solved the problem of obtaining information for post-war plans, including the location of farming opportunities for returned war veterans and industrial workers. So complete is the survey made by the rural school children under direction of a county post-war planning committee that planners in other parts of the 'country have inquired about it. When results have been compiled, Lincoln county planners will know the number and location of farm employment, leasing and ownership opportunities for returning veterans and war workers, the types of extension service desired from the University of Wisconsin for farm improvement, and needs of farmers for building construction and machinery, household equipment and community improvement.

The program began. when mem- of the county agricultural committee, the county agent and other A i "qrm leaoers were asked fo serye rural sub-committee of a postwar, planning group. Among those interested in the program were Nellie Evjue, county superintendent of schools. County Agent Gus Sell and Ted Lokemoen, secretary of the county chamber of commerce. The three leaders organized district meetings for county teachers to explain the survey plan.

Teachers received blanks and explanatory letters for their pupils to take home and to leave at neighboring homes where there were no children. The pupils returned completed blanks to their teachers who sent them to the county agent's office for tabulation. Farmers were asked what they felt their communities would need in the way of post-war roads, telephone and electric service, school improvement, farmers' clubs, 4-H and homemaker groups and farm evening schools. They also checked prob- kms on which they wished literature or help from the state agricultural extension service. Other information sought included facts on current farm production and future expectations, necessary building and repairs to farm and plants and homes, the number of farm families before the war and the number expected to return to the farm, factors which determine the farmer's selection of his trading centers and the amount of buying from mail order houses.

Prizes were offered to schools which interested the most families in completing the survey. All children of the top-ranking school were admitted free to a movie, while second and third prizes were a voU ley ball and a kitten ball. Collation to Seek Re-election MADISON, Jan. 20 Callahan, state superintendent of public instruction since 1921, today announced he will seek re-election for another four-year term at the spring election April 5. Callahan observed his 79th birthday Dec.

16. "I have decided that I have a patriotic as well as civil responsibility to stipk to the job until we see this slate of confusion through to an acceptable conclusion," he said in announcing his candidacy. Manpower Officials Advised How to Effect New Order CHICAGO, Jan. 20 William H. Spencer, regional war manpower director, yesterday told state and ai'ca officials they must continue to "sell" war jobs to applicants calling at United States Employment Service offices "regardless of any discussion now being held in Washington on the subject of manpower controls." Soviet Spear Cuts Within 62 Miles Of Gulf of Danzig BULLETIN.

LONDON, Jan. 20 (ff) The Moscow radio announced today that Soviet Russia had signed armistice terms with the new Hungarian Provisional government. LONDON, Jan. 20 Russians, driving to cut off East Prussia, have penetrated within 62 miles of the Gulf of Danzig in the Junkers province and have smashed to within 214 miles of Berlin in the southwest, the German com- munique disclosed today. The Germans told of fierce battling against a rolling Red Army tide of 3,000,000 men everywhere along a blazing front as Moscow broadcasts indicated a fresh series of victory announcements might be forthcoming tonight from the Kremlin.

Marshal Ivan Konev's First Ukrainian armor reached the area of Kspno (Kemper) in a 20 mile advance from Wielun northwest of captured 'Krakow. German home The officials were called to- Chi-, guard battalions, the Volkssturm, cago to be informed on methods and procedures to carry out the regional order issued Thursday by Spencer, cutting employment ceilings of employers of ten or more workers engaged in unclassified activities in group one and group two labor market areas in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Spencer stressed, the following points of order in-emphasizing that labor and management officials must be fully, informed of its established employment ceilings can be effected by the employer in two equal installments, on Feb. 15 and March 15." 2. Employers are required to release only w.orkers who are' qualified and can be placed by the USES immediately in suitable critical war jobs.

3. No worker released will be counted in the employer's "quota" without approval of his release by the WMC area director. 4. The released employe will be counted in the employer's "quota" if placed in a war job. 5.

A worker selected for referral to a war job will not be. required to leave his employer until he can be sure of immediate placement with his new employer. 6. No worker will be compelled to accept a job if in so doing undue hardship would result. 7.

The WMC area director will not credit the employer with any worker who is released without written guarantee of his seniority rights and that other privileges maintained by the company are protected. Spencer said the order contained provisions to approve or disapprove the last point and added' that he felt labor officials would approve Hearings on State Budget Scheduled MADISON, Jan. 20 Hearings on Gov, Goodland's 19451947 budget bill totalling $83,157,527, the largest in Wisconsin history, will be held by the joint finance committee of the legislaure beginning at 2:30 p. m. next Wednesday.

The hearings scheduled for next week are the first of the 1945 session, which convened Jan. 10. get hearings this year are mately a month earlier in starring than during the 1943 session. The Senate' judiciary committee also will meet at 2 p. m.

Wednesday to hear two joint re'solutiQns to amend the state constitution. One would abolish the office of justice of the peace in Milwaukee county and the other would permit state development of an aeronautical program. were battling to stop the smash along the upper Silesian border, Berlin said. Kepno is only nine miles from the frontier and 38 miles northeast of Breslau, the chief industrial center of German Silesia. Only 204 miles lie between Kepno and Berlin.

Reds Score New Breakthroughs. Northwest of Warsaw, Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky's Second White Russian Army reached or crossed the southwestern border of East Prussia on a 35-mile front and stabbed to Gilgenburg, 62 miles from hej Danzig. "Creamed Hell Out of Jap B-29 Crews Declare B-29 BASE, Saipan, Jan. 20 Superfortress pilots and crews reported jubilantly today that "we really creamed hell" out of Japan's big aircraft engine factory near Kobe yesterday. Brig.

Gen. Emmett O'DonnelJ, of Jamaica, N. who went along on the mission was inclined to await pictorial evidence but said it seemed to have been one of the best strikes ever made by the 2lst Bomber Command. A large force of the B-29s bombed the Kawasaki aircraft plant at shi near Kobe, The fliers said both the aerial and Milwaukee county was born pre- anti-aircraft opposition was meager. maturely.

The parents are Mr. aAd All the got back alter bomb- Mi's, Chester Larson. ing from a iQwer altitude than usual, The fliers saw bombs burst on the target and throw up clouds of smoke. "Everything went fine," reported Maj. Robert Sewell, Philadelphia.

"We plastered hejl out of it. We could see great areas of smoke, debris or dust and I think we really creamed hell out of it." Lieut. Barton Young, Fort Wprth. agreed "most of the bombs hit in there pretty well." Lieutenant Young praised the ability of Lieut. John Qasterson, of Indianapolis, navigator of his plane which led the way up a peninsula and then turned south instead pf following the previous customary course to Nogoys.

"Fighter oppostion was very lijgbt because they didn't expect us," said Young. also burg, eight miles inside East "Prussia, and-Chorzelle-on the East Prussian-Polish border, the Germans announced. In the center of the blazing front' Marshal Gregory K. Zhukov's First White Russian Army was pouring toward the Polish corridor between the Vistula and Warta (Warthe) in new breakthroughs, and the'Ger- mans said fighting was raging against the onrushing line of Red Army tanks. The Russians had reached the area of Plock, Vistula river fortress 125 miles from Pomerania.

The Russians were 238 miles from Berlin in this sector, Three Million Reds Engaged. Moscow announced officially last night that Marshal Ivan S. Konev's troops captured the town of Praszka, on the industrial-rich Silesian frontier, climaxing a day of unprecedented developments that saw the fall of Lodz, Poland's second city, and Krakow, former capital. At least 3,000,000 Red Army troops are now committed to power drives towards German soil. The Russians scored their greatest gains of the war with the capture of 2,750 towns and villages, ripping through collapsing German lines from the Baltic to Budapest.

In rapid-fire orders of the day Marshal Stalin disclosed that the Third White Russian Army opened a new offensive in East Prussia with a 27-mile breakthrough in five days, while still another Russian Army plunged ahead 50 miles in the Carpathian region in southern Poland- Early today DNB, the official German news agency, declared that the present Rusisan winter offensive "will decide the fate of it has outreached anything hitherto known." There was no indication that the Germans would be able to salvage their disintegrating forces for a stand anywhere short of the homeland. Brewers to Douse Illuminated Signs MILWAUKEE, Jan. 20 Illuminated beer signs that grace the fronts of thousands of taverns in Wisconsin will be darkened immediately under plans announced today by Laurence A. Miller, executive secr-stary of the Wisconsin State Brewers' Association. In a letter to all state brewers Miller said that the directors of ihe association had recommended unanimously that Wisconsin brewers discontinue at once the illumination of all signs under their control.

Miller said that the board favored taking such action now rather than wait until the War Production Board's order to turn off display signs became effective Feb. 1. The government has moved to turn out advertising signs as a conserving measure. Veteran Milwaukee Merchant Dies Jfea. 20 Charles J.

Stiunpt veteran merchant, died last njkbi At pM time his firm operated lix clothing stores in one in Chicago. establishments were iu a downtown MilMramJj.ee.