News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 1

Thomat A. Edison Said: Thr la on It on. port Mjtn i and SO million people going to fiud it out." FIR1 JPKE Netci-PretM 9Phom Nnrt Dpirtal a 4 Mmtbtag. Ctnatetlra Jrt Printing VOL. LVIV.

NO. 150, 59th Year. FORT MYERS, FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 16, 1943 FIVE CENTS A COPY MEW i Dorothy Thompson to Wed News About Service Men Stimson Declares Southwest Pacific Will Get Planes Allies Seize More Captives In N. Africa Montgomery Checked by Strong IVazi Artillery Kill Planes Continue To Hatter Foe New Revenue Board Urged In Legislature Would Consolidate all Tax Collections in One Department; Central Time Approved Assures Enough IF. S.

Power to Counter Raids as Japs Mass Fleet Jti i ill- i 1 1, ni ii if. Mi Holds the Tip 3 A mm Twice-wed Dorothy Thompson, newspaper columnist, holds a light for the tigaret of Maxim Wopf. Cmech painter and refugee from Prague, whom she will marry in June at her Harnard, Vt home. Miss Thompson and Novelist Sinclair Lewis were divorced in January, 1942. 1 1 Killed in Trainer Plane Crash at Buckingham Field Cinema Cowgirl it' V.

1 I.J hi f. Teddi movie new-comer, goes for western garb, and appropriately so, for her father is Harry Sherman, veteran Hollywood western films producer. AFL Denounces Mr. Roosevelt's Hold the Hank Injustice Seen for 17,000 Cases Pending Ilef ore Labor Board WASHINGTON, April 15-fP) AFL members of the war labor board today asserted that the president's hold-tlie-lino executive order is a "flagrant violation" of the no-slrikc agreement 3-d they believe it is "neither fuui1d 'construction nor workable In practice." They issued their statements in a special concurring opinion in the case of the Universal Atlas Cement company in which the board unanimously trimmed a recommended wage increase, refusing to allow-any pay raise for the correction of inequalities on grounds that the executive order prohibited it. In explanation of their votes, the AFL members said that the executive, order gave them no other choice but that it did not mean they agreed with the executive order.

"To The contrary." they said, "the labor members believe that a literal interpretation and application of the order will mark manifest injustices upon American labor and industry and be deterimental to the war effort." The president's order, issued a week ago, forbade general wafce increases except under the Little Steel formula or in cases where existing rates are substandard. The Little Steel formula allows a 15 per cent increase above the level of Jan. 1, 1941, to compensate for increased living costs. The expression from the AFL board members highlighted mounting labor protests against the executive order. Nearly 150 telegrams of protest came to the board from local unions of the CIO, the great majority of them from the United Auto Workers.

In general they insisted that all the cases on Continued on Page Two It's 'Line's Busy' As 'Usual Again It was "number, pleastf?" and "line's busy" as usual on the telephone switchboard yesterday with all the girls on the job and no fur ther rumblings of discontent. Miss Dorothea Johnson, who has acted as spokesman for the operators throughout negotiations for more pay, said last night that none of the girls hod left the company and that no walkout was expected. Although some of the girls disputed the 14 to 9 vote by which a wage agreement was reported to have been approved in a secret ballot by the 23 operators, there was no demand for a recount as final arrangements were made yesterday to submit the matter to federal authorities who must assent to the increases before they can become effective. R. W.

Goodrick, federal labor conciliator, prepared to leave for Washington this morning by plane. He said that the company's pro-posel to increase pay scales had been sent to the Atlanta office by mail and that it would not be necessary for J. S. Gillentine, president of the company, to go to Atlanta at this time. lie said that it would be two or three weeks before any decision could be expected.

"i 1 i I i i A I I i Mr. and Mrs. Fred Davis of North Fort Myers received word yesterday that their son Twitty Davis was a prisoner of war of the Japanese in the Philippines. This was welcome word because he had been missing almost a year and they had about Riven up hope. The message from the war department to Mr.

and Mrs. Davis said that their son was "reported a prisoner of war of the Japanese government in the Philippines. Letter follows." Just a year ago, May 7, they received word that their son was "missing in action" during the terrible days of Bataan. Mr, and Mrs. Davis moved here several years ago.

Their son never made his home here. Mr. Davis is employed by the Lee county electrical cooperative. fa fa pro. William A.

"Shanky" Hunter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nat II. Hunter, has completed his basic training at Miutnl Beach and Is now stationed at Buckney field, Denver, Col. Charles A.

Varner, petty officer 1c iu the. Seabees, spent yesterday In Fort Myers looking after property interests. He will go to Jacksonville today to join Mrs. Varner, who is attending an O. E.

S. convention there. Charlie is stationed at Camp Endieolt, Providence, R. I. Pa Pa pa Ellsworth Heusted, graduate of Fort Myers high school and former football player on the Green Wave team when it was first organized, Is now serving with the merchant marines on the S.

Shooting Star. Ellsworth has been in several South American countries and in England. Ills wife and two daughters make their home at Madison, 111., but plan to go to New York in June, Now York being Mr. Ileusted's home port. Fn 1st Lt.

Wellington V. Heusted, better known here as Victor, is a brother of Ellsworth, lie also was graduated from' Fort Myers high and from the University of Florida. Victor graduated from ft. O. T.

C. as a second lieutenant and for several years attended summer military camps. For the past year he has been a civil engi neer. wfh tlje MiSnotfrf state joadj department. In the fan of 2 he was called into service and was stationed at Camp Clahborne, La.

When last heard from Lt. Heusted had been ordered to overseas duty, destination unknown. His wife and son make their home in Joplin, Mo. Both young men are sons of Mrs. V.

Heusted who resides with her daughter, Mrs. J. N. Blount of Ft. Lauderdale, and the late Mr.

Heusted. They are nephews of Mr. and Mrs. McLeod Heusted of Fort Myers, ft-it Ps Frank Cleveland sends over copy of letter from a service friend overseas who complied with the censorship a follows: "I'm not where I whs when you last heard from me, for alter leaving where we were we left for here, and not hearing that Continued on Page Six! 18 as Voting" Age Advances in House TALLAHASSEE, April 15 (IP) The house constitutional amendments committee today gave a favorable report to a proposal that the age for voting in Florida be lowered from 21 to 18. If the measure clears both branches of the legislature it will be on the ballot for ratification or rejection in the general election of 1944.

Rep. Thomas of Escambia, one of the bill's sponsors, told the committee "if 18-year-olds are old enough to fight for democracy and thousands of them die they are old enough to have a voice in it." Rep. Jenkins of Alachua county argues, however, that it would "lay the way open to spreaders of radicalism and long-haired reformers who would mislead those who have not had enough experience and are likely to be impressed by a pretty picture. "I favor letting1 those vote who serve their country in the war, but we can't write it that way." Several school teachers and college students spoke in favor of the proposal. A house judicial committee sent to the house calendar a bill giving county judges authority to issue delayed birth certificates after fact-finding hearings on petitions by persons for whom no birth records are available.

The certificate issued by the judge would become part of the bureau of vital statistics records and have the effect of an official document. The judge would be allowed to charge a $3.50 fee for considering the applicant's petition and holding the hearing. The measure was drawn by members of the committee as a substitute for half a dozen other bills which sought to accomplish the game general purpose. OWI Declares America's Food Situation Serious See Continuous Shortage; Good Cooking Urged On Housewives WASHINGTON, April 15 L1W The office of war information tonight said American civilians this year face various shortages either occasionally severe or con tinuous in a "serious food situation." The OWI said this is the general prospect governed many factors not completely predictable for the year on the homo front: Move fod produced than record-breaking 1042 but let i it for civilian consumption. This is the picture: "Conservatively and roughly estimated, and assuming average weather, civilians will have about three percent more food than in the pre-war years but about six percent less than in 1942, There will be little fancy food but there will be enough of it if it is fairly shared and conserved." The report, months in preparation, asserted its purpose was neither to alarm nor reassure." It added: "The food situation is not entirely predictable.

Requirements vary from time to time. Supplies at any given place at any given time depend on varying factors. Production depends on weather and other fluctuating influences. The result is constant change. American civilians, therefore, must expect inconveniences from time to time and understanding of this fact is most important in comprehending the food situation." Elmer Davis, OWI director, told a press conference yesterday the food report had been held up since January.

He explained: "There were differences between two Bov-ernment (agriculture department) agencies over what were the facts." Recently, he said, he had held it up so additional facts 'could be inserted. As originally written the report was part of a sharp- controversy within the OWI itself, according to staff members of the agency. Fifteen of them who recently resigned issued a statement today say-t Continued on Page Three NORTH AFRICA, April 15 ff) British and French troops in hand-to-hand fighting have seized two valuable stretches of high ground and 000 more prisoners along the axis Tunisian giege line to lMost the allied toll of enemy captives to more than 30,000 in less than four weeks, the high command announced today. Allied airmen also punched ad ditional holes in the enemy sky armor yesterday, destroying 21 planes at a cost of eight allied air craft, and raining tons of explosives on the still strong Tunisian- bicilian network of fields. This powerful air offensive has destroyed 459 planes in combat since the Mareth offensive March 20, compared with 152 allied aircraft missing.

Officers also estimated that 150 or more German and Italian planes have been de stroyed aground during a systema tic pounding of axis air terminals. Austrian Surrender British first army infantry stormed and captured Djebel Ang, a mountain top eight miles above Medjez-El-Bab and SO miles west of Tunis yesterday, routing strongly-entrenched German and Aust rian Alpine troops of whom 200 surrendered. These enemy troops were dug in, us are other axis troops holding the mountain approaches to Tunis and Bizerte, for a fierce siege warfare. Their removal from a high ground between Medjez-El-Bab and Mateur would facilitate a direct highway drive on Tunis by K. A.

N. Anderson's first army. On the southwestern rim of the axis lines French Moroccan Gou-miers seized Djebel Sefsouf, a hill line seven miles above the village of Karahoun. A French communique said 400 enemy troops, mostly Italians, were captured while a German infantry company which cboseto fijht xt mitwas annihilated. The captured Sefsouf peak is on the western flank of the siege lino running 25 miles west of Enfidaville on the coast, and Gen.

Sir Bernard L. Montgomery's British eighth army is prob-injsr axis strongpoints between Sefsouf and the coast. General Montgomery apparently still was bringing up his heavy artillery and reinforcements for a powerful effort to turn the enemy's coastal Hank. Montgomery Stalled Field dispatches said that Montgomery's eighth army, which advanced 200 miles from Gabes to the Enfidaville sector, at present was held up by heavy enemy artillery entrenched in the mountains 50 miles below Tunis. While Montgomery prepared his next blow on land the allied air arm continued its heavy assaults against axis Tunisian airdromes, of which 15 still exist, and I Continued on Page TwoJ CHAIN THEATER TAX TALLAHASSEE, April 15(yP) A chain theater tax ranging from $150 to $1,500 depending upon the size of the chain was proposed by Senator Johnson of Brooksville.

He est imated it would raise for old age pensions and aid to dependent children. Beginning at $150 for a single theater the scale of license would go up to $300 on each theater in chains of five or more and then graduate up to $1,500 on each theater in chains of 50 or more. region. The Habaul raiders caused large explosions and fires on the Lakunai airdrome at Rabaul. General MacArthur's spokesman disclosed today that the United States air and ground forces have sustained a total of 4,319 casualties dead, missing in action or wounded in the New Guinea cam-paign through March 31.

Of this figure, 2,175 were listed as killed or missing in action "under conditions presuming death." The air-force casualties represent a large proportion of these totals since the airmen were the first to see action in the New Guinea theater and waged a fight for many months he-fore American infantry engaged the enemy. The convoy landing attempt at Wewak evidently is part of a general increase of Japanese offensive plans which within the past few days included great daylight air raids on Port Moresby and Milne bay in New Guinea. TALLAHASSEE, Apr. 15 P) Consolidation of public tax collections into a new state department of revenue was proposed for Florida today by Hep, Joe Jenkins of Alachua. He introduced In the house a bill that would take from Comptroller J.

M. Lee and other state officers and commissions virtually all their present authority in collecting excise taxes and licenses. At the same time, Jenkins put in a bill to establish a state department of investigation, combining in it the work of the state department of public safety, the weights inspection division of the state road department, the beverage department and the license inspection by the motor vehicle department. He estimated savings of $200,000 to 250,000 a year would result if the two bills become laws. KstabliNli Cent tal Time The house passed, 4 8 to 3U, a bill to establish central standard time as the base time throughout Florida, going back one hour from the eastern standard base now effective east of the Apala-chicola river.

Now it goes to the senate. Without floor oppositonf the senate approved 25 to 8, a bill by Senator Sheldon of Tampa outlawing fraternities, sororities and other secret societies in the public high schools. It put on the calendar for later action a series of bills by the public health, military, temperance, and public welfare committees that would set up strict laws aguiust prostitution and the spread of venereal diseases. Eleven citrus industry bills making minor changes in the citrus com mission Jaws cleared the senate unanimously and went hot ere ii.4uin bills already have been, offered. New Revenue Department Jenkins' bill creating the state department of revenue would have a revenue commission composed of the governor, the comptroller, the attorney general, the secretary of state, the commissioner of agriculture, the state treasurer and tho superintendent of public instruction.

The commission would employ a state revenue commissioner salary $5,000 to $7,500 annually with power to hire necessary deputies, auditors, and other workers, with a merit system protecting them In their Jobs. Into this department, would be placed the authority and responsibility for collecting intangibles taxes, Inheritance tax, documentary stamp taxes, gasoline, automobile utilities, Insurance, beverage, railroad and telegraph, racing, occupational licenses, and all other privilege, use, and license taxes" except the board of administraton, the state game and fresh water fish commission, and the board of eolith Continued on Page Six Youthful Killer Smirks at Inquest PITTSBURGH, April 15 (P) The anguished father of a four-year-old girl who was raped and slain made an impassioned plea for tho death of a neighbor youth accused of the crime today, after a coroner reprimanded the youth for grinning at an inquest. The coroner's jury, upon hearing testimony that Earl Perry, 17. strangled and buried curly-haired Thereat Williams in the cellar of his home last week, recommended that he be held for the grand jury on a murder charge. Adolph Williams, telling the jury how he dug up the body of his daughter, cried out: "May God strike him dead for hurting by little one.

I trusted him and I treated him for 11 years like one of my own. He used to eat with us when he didn't like what they had in their own home, I want the law to give him the worst punishment so others like him can't hurt innocent children and bring grief and heartaches to their, parents." Perry, a candy factory worker, sat grinning and smirking during the hearing, bringing the rebuke from Coroner William D. McClelland: "This is no laughing matter." The weeping father, a mail truck driver, testified. "I started to dig in the cellar dirt with my own hands. I dug up some newspapers and then I came to something which I thought was a little ball.

It was the palm of her little hand. WASHINGTON, April, 15 UP) Planes enough to "counter" Japan's stepped-up air attack in the southwest Pacilic will be forthcoming, Secretary of War Stimson assured his weekly press conference today. "We will keep our American and Australian fliers supplied with sufficient planes not only to replace our losses but to build up our aircraft to counter the increasing enemy air strength," he said. "The needs of the southwest Pacific are being kept constantly in mind and there will he a constantly increasing flow of military supplies, particularly aircraft, to that theater." The war secretary spoke in direct answer to the rising clamor from Australian public officials and others for more help to beat off the Japanese attacks and retain the hard-won allied air initiative in the Australian-Solomon3 theater. General MacArthur lent powerful support to that plea in his recent state-, ment warning of the gravity of the situation, and his high ranking; officers, Australian and American, have followed up.

Immense Jap Resources President Manuel L. Quezon, refugee chief executive of the Philippines, added his voice to the concert during the day in formal statement expressing serious concern 'over reported Japanese air concentrations "near Australia. "Japan must not be allowed to make further gains," he said. "She must not be granted time to devote all her energies to consolidating and mastering the immense natural resources now available to her resources greater even than those available to Hitler." Dr. H.

V. Evatt Australian minister of external affairs, now in Washington on an official renewed hi dea for. more and prompt, "air mlp. -4Tie-ga-a hint, too, of the actual size of the 'southwest Pacific airforce that has scored smashing victories against tremendous odds. "In the magnificent battle of the Bismarck sea the Japanese tried in vain to screen their ships wjth 150 Zero fighters, Dr.

Evatt said. "A fighter screen, mark you, of greater numerical strength than our entire bomber, fighter and reconnaissance force there assembled to smash the convoy. The heaviest attack yet made on Rabaul by the SWPA "has consisted of 37 aircraft. The greatest weight of bombs we have dropped in any one raid has been 80 tons not very much compared with the 1,000 tons dropped with such regu--larity on German cities night after night." Stimson made no direct reference to the MacArthur He commented, however, that "vigorous public officials in the war areas would be remiss in their duties" if they failed to press demands for Continued on Page TwoJ Moonshine Still Found at Bay shore Authorities hert- confiscated the first moonshine whiskey still in more than a year the first since sugar went under rationing. Officers found the still In a creek swamp just northeast of Hayshore on a tip-off.

The operator wasn't there and officers didn't wait for him because they left too many tell-tale sIrus beating the bush for the still. The still was the 50-gallou gasoline drum variety and empty syrup caus showed that the operator had been using molasses to ferment his mash with sugar Tbe syrup was a commercial brand bought from a grocery store. A federal officer, state beverage men and sheriff's deputies were in on the raid. The federal man was Miller. With him was R.

Smith, state beverage officer who travels with him. State beverage men stationed here who aided were Irving Harris and N. L. Hales. Deputies who aided were rover Moore and Abe Skinner, THE WEATHER In Fort Mjers yesterday (April 13): High 84.

low 57. Forecast: Warmer. Tides at Fort ileftch: High Low AM. P.M. A.M.

t.M. Fri. 12:2 3: IT :02 Sat. 6:20 12:16 Sun risM 7:01, m-U 1M. Moo rises 4:33 p.

nw s1 4:32 a. m. German commanuer h0 faces a 'Dunkirk' evacuation on the Bi-zerte-Tunis tip of Tunisia is Colonel-General von Arnim. above. Kommclg retreating forces are merging with hi.

New Hospital To Boast Fine Operating Room Ketter Than Many in Kig Cities; New Services Are Planned The new hospital will boast one of the finest operating rooms to be found anywhere and in addition will provide two new services which the present hospital was never able to provide. Everyone interested is invited to inspect the new hospital and the new services Sunday ufternorn frultit 8 tr 6 o'clock. The new operating room is a gift from R. DeMillv Brown, a winter visitor with a home on McGregor boulevard and who is retired vice president of the Corn Exchange Bank and Trust company of New York. "I don't know of a better operating room anywhere," said Mrs.

Eva Ransom, hospital superintendent, yesterday. "Many of the larger hospitals in big cities do not have an operating room nearly so up-to-date." The room has green tile floor and walls, the latest model operating table, a treatment chair, special lighting and many new surgical instruments. The two new services are a la fall Continued on Page Six Meat in Icehouse Confiscated, Burned City authorities yesterday Confiscated and burned a batch of meat seized at the Palm City icehouse after condemning It as unfit for human consumption. This action was ordered by Mayor Sam Fitzsinimons who directed that in the future all places where meat is stored are to be inspected regularly. City Sanitary Inspector V.

Bryant carried out the mayor's orders, aided by Policeman Doug Bartleson. Part of the meat was the carcass of a beef which had been badly bruised before butchering. Chief Chai-rey Moore, said that apparently the beer was one that was hauled alive in a truck with othor cattle before butchering and that it had been thrown and badly trampled. This left the meat in a bruised condition so that despite being placed in cold storage it deteriorated rapidly. The meat came from the II.

A. Henderson ranch near Buckingham. that the meat was spoilins, Mr. Henderson promptly told Mr. Bryant to destroy it.

The meat was consigned to Tom Forehand, operator of a small store near Tice, who had not yet claimed It. Mr. Bryant also seized and burned three other pieces of meat at the Palm City plant, meat left there so long that It had attained an odor. There were no tags on this meat and nobody seemed to kouw to whom it belonged, Mr. Bryant, said.

"I have ordered Mr. Bryant to make regular Inspections of all place3 where meat is kept," said Mayor Fitzsimmons yesterday. "It ia true that we have no ordinance providing authority for meat Inspection but we do have authority to safeguard public health, I directed Bryant to act as he would in an emergency," Ship Was Returning From Routine Hop To Beach Kleven nun were killed instantly late yesterday afternoon at nuckinghani when twin-engined advanced trainins plane crashed on the gunnery school field. The plane was returning to Buckingham after a routine gun nery mission over the range just Off Fort Myers Beach. "The plane burst into flames at a point only a few hundred feet from the airplane parking area.

None of the other planes was damaged in any way, however. All of the bodies were recovered soon alter the accident and taken to the hospital for Identification. The cause of the acci- ft has not been determined. An UtVtigaUng board has been ap pointed by the commanding officer, Col. I).

V. Jenkins. The dead and their next of kin are: 2nd Lt. Ivy N. Gardner, 25, pilot.

Son of Mrs. J. K. Gardner of 917 Hice Street, Little Rock, Ark. Staff Sgt.

Merman L. Eversole, 23, crew chief. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kversoie of 330 North Street, Wytheville, Va.

Pfc. Raymond W. Urande, 27, armament man. Brother, William Reid Urande, 525 Quintana Place, N. Washington, D.

C. Pvt. Robert M. t'larkson, 20, armament man. Son of and Continued on fage Two 330,000 in Bonds Sold Yesterday Bond sales rung the bell again yesterday for a new record for the month with 130,318.50 sold during the day.

Thin brought the total so far this month to 380..25. Chairman Fred Mellor pointed out. however, that the month is already half gone and Lee county is still Cur fiidil its quota of $465,000. The two banks sold $28,400 worth of bonds yesterday. The postoffice sold another $1,918.50.

Mr. Mellor's figures on sales are not fully complete since all places where bonds are sold have not reported. To get total sales he is writing ull small postofflces In the county. chant vessels and three warships was sighted by our reconnaissance approaching Wewak," said today's noon communique. "Our heavy bombers immediately moved to the attack and at dusk struck in the approaches to the harbor.

Iu a series of mast-height attacks, three of the vessels were heavily hit. An 8,000 ton cargo ship was observed rapidly listing with a heavy oil slick on the water; another ton vessel was seen to be slow, ly sinking by the "tern and the third vessel of 5,000 tons was forced to shore and beached. We are continuing the attack." Other allied heavy bombers attacked the airdrome at Rabual, New Britain, some 500 miles northeast of Port Moresby. Rabaul is not only a big airplane but also a large shipping base of the Japanese. A spokesman for Gen.

Goug-laa MacArthur said yesterday that the enemy has a concentration of 250,000 tons of shipping in the Mac Arthur7 Big Bombers Strike Japanese Convoy Off New Guinea AUSTRALIAN II. Friday, April 10 LP) A strong Japanese attempt to supply and man their base at Wewak, on the north coast of New Guinea, now is under attack by Gen. Douglas MacArthur's bombers. Today's communique disclosed that an enemy convoy of six merchant vessels and three warships was sighted approaching Wewak and were immediately bombed, three of the merchantmen being hit heavily. An 8,000 ton ship was observed sinking at the stern, another listed rapidly, leaving an oil slick and a 5,000 ton ship was forced ashore and beached.

Wewak is some 450 miles northwest of the allied base of Port Moresby. Indications have accumulated recently that the Japanese, after losing heavily in attempts to supply their Huon gulf bases of Lae and Salamaua directly by ship, have, turned to Wewak, unloading the supplies there for overland transportation by way of Madang. "An enemy convoy of six mer.