The Daily Tribune from Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin • Page 1

THE WEATHER For Wisconsin: Cloudy tonight, light rain south portion and light rain or snow north portion early tonight. Freezing temperatures tonight, north and central portion. Local weather facts for 24 hours preceding 7 a. Maximum 55; minimum 28; precipitation .04. MEAN MORjL THAN A 1 GOOD INVESTMENT A CONSTRUCTIVE NEWS PAPER Thfrty-First Year No.

9762. Wisconsin Rapids, Friday, April 20, 1945. Single Copy Five Cents Yanks Fight go) lift ,1 I -i ASK 't i A SPECTRE THAT HAUNTS of Naziland, as the Germans Report Americans Preparing for Final Lunge London (P) DNB, German news agency, reported tonight that Russian forces had reached the town of Hangelsberg, seven miles east of Berlin in the Hangelsberg forest. German broadcasts said the Russians were driving relentlessly with increasing masses of men, tanks and guns in the climactic stage of the bailie for Berlin and were at the gates of the capital. "The double battle for Berlin now has reached the decisive stage," said (he German commentator Max Krull.

"The Americans on the Elbe are regrouping their formations and have received reinforcements. The Russians, on the other hand, have now fully developed their great drives on the Oder and Neisse and are now within the deeply staggered German barrier position at the periphery of the capital, where they arc engaged by German commandos and special formations." It was Krull who said the Russians had reached the town of Hangelsberg. Earlier the German high command announced that the Russians had smashed six miles into Berlin's outer defenses to within 13 miles of the city's limits on the northeast and 15 miles on the east. In a six-mile gain from captured Wriezen, the German war bulletin said, the Russians reached the area of Proetzel and Strenebeck on the northeast. In a similar lunge southwest of Muencheberg tho Russian tanks and infantry were reported to have fought to the area of Templeberg-and Buchholz, 15 miles east of the capital.

y4 1' BERLINER'S SLEEP Gloom darkens Berlin, the heart spectre of Russian vengeance looms ever nearer. unm All mericans a ciraawa Yanks Seize 44th and 45th Philippine Islands DIES ON WEST COAST Pvt. Harland Spry, son of Mrs. Bessie Spry, Nekoosa, died April 16 at Let-terman hospital, San Francisco, Calif. When his mother had last heard from him, he was stationed in the Philippine.

Harland Spry, Nekoosa, Dies In California Pvt. Harland Spry, 20, sonof Mrs. Bessie Spry, Nekoosa, died April 16 at Letterman hospital, San Francisco, of a brain disease, according to a war department tele gram received by the soldier's moth er yesterday. Mrs. Spry had last heard from her son in an April 1 letter, sent from the Philippine islands.

He was an aerial mechanic in the air corps with the Sixth troop carrier. squad ron. Private Spry was born in Ne koosa, September 9, 1924, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Spry.

He received schooling at both Port Ed wards and Nekoosa, graduating from Alexander High in 1942. The Nekoosa youth entered ser vice April 19, 1943, and received his training in Florida, Texas and Mis sissippi. He went overseas to the Philippines last November. His mother received notice of his death exactly two years after his entry into service. In addition to his mother, he is survived by one sister, Yvonne, and three grandparents, Mrs.

Robert Larson of Nekoosa and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Clouse of Loyal. Private Spry's father preceded him in death. Cpl.

Evert Cox Is Prisoner in Germany Cpl. Evert G. Cox, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Cox, Babcock, is now a prisoner of the German government, according to a war department telegram received by the parents this week.

Corporal Cox had previously been reported missing since last December 21. A member of the 106th infantry division, he entered service March 18, 1943 and went overseas last October. His wife and seven months-old daughter reside with his parents at Babcock. FRONTIER CLOSED London (JP) The Swis3 radio said today that the federal council had ordered the eastern and northern frontiers of Switzerland closed to prevent "possible mass attempts of German refugees to enter the country." For Kill in Nuernberg BULLETIN Paris (P) Seventh army Americans captured berg today, squelching all or canized resistance in that hot bed of Nazism, while British tanks ploughed to within a mile of the suburbs of Ham burg, Europe's biggest port. BY JAMES M.

LONG Faris (P) Americans of the Seventh army fought for the kill in the heart of Nuern berg today after crashing through the old walls surrounding the trapped Nazis, and British tanks struck to within a mile of the suburbs of Hamburg, within point blank artillery range. ihe French first army stabbed 50 miles southeast of Strasbourg to Rottweil, 14 miles from the Danube and 33 from Lake Constance, western limit of the Nazi national re doubt in southern Germany. The Foilus were 25 miles north of Switzerland. The whole Allied right flank including the French and the American Seventh and Third armies was clamping down on the mountainous Nazi lair. where Hitler was believed ob serving a gloomy 56th birth day anniversary.

Stuttgart like Nuernberg a Nazi lulgnmage city was enclosed on three sides. The French advances ranged up to 23 miles and carried to within 65 of Austria and 120 of Italy's northern Alpine frontier. The Seventh army penetrated the wall during the night and closed into the center of the city for the kill. American and French troops moving in a wide circle around Stuttgart, another Nazi rallying point, captured Reutlingen 18 miles to the south. Three Miles from Asch Third army elements inside Czechoslovakia, within three miles iof Asch, were a bare 55 miles from purging Russian lines and gravely threatening the last important German arsenal in the Pilsen-Frague region, 65 to 87 miles distant.

"The decision is very near," said Hitler's propaganda chief, Faul Joseph Goebbels, declaring that See WESTERN FRONT Page 7 OPA Benefits All, Kiwanis Club is Told Declaring that the OFA has done much to keep the cost of living clown and as a result has been bene ficial to all consumers, Lloyd G. Andrews, enforcement attorney for the Green Bay district of the OPA, spoke at the regular weekly meeting of the Kiwanis club at the Youth lodge on Lake Wazeecha last even ing. The speaker, presented by Don Wirth, program chairman, said that the annual average market basket cost for a family of three cost $458 in 1943 and only $416 in 1944, showing that OFA price controls had ac complished a reduction. He told of reference of complaints to the enforcement branch by local boards, by national headquarters and by competing merchants. The t- ai l.

lauer casea, ne Biiiu, are uiuruugii- ly screened because many times the complaints are made for purely personal reasons. He said that the enforcement branch was most reasonable in cases of unintentional violations of the regulations, but exceptionally severe in cases involving so-called "chiselers." Attorney Andrews discussed the various penalties which OPA is empowered to ask in the courts. These are the injunctions, the triple damage assessments and the business suspensions. Under the damage assessments in 1944 he said the OPA collected more than 25 million dollars. Hold Everything "I'll be glad when I don't have to include 'more gasoline for Dad every, night 1ST BY ttFH SfBVtcr WC.

Ira U. PIT firr. -3U iwo towns named Buchholi on the outskirts of Berlin caused temporary confusion in reports of the Russian successes. One it seven miles north-northeast of the capital, but the context of the German communique indicated the other Buchholz was meant Southeast of the capital, Marshal Ivan Konev's First Ukrainian army scored a similar success, pushing-forward 16 miles from captured Cottbus on the Spree, and breaking into Calau, 43 miles from Berlin and 59 miles from American First army siege lines at Wurtzen. Farther south, German broadcasts said, Konev's forces had rolled even deeper toward the American lines, reaching Hoyerswerda, 55 miles or less from a union with General Eisenhower's forces.

Menace Bernau The wedge driven to Proetzel menaced Bernau, four miles north-cast of the capital, as well as Wer-neuchen, eight miles northeast and Strausberg, 10 east of the city. The Germans' central reserves have now been thrown into the "murderous battle at the gates of Berlin," said the enemy radio accounts. Konev's campaign southeast of Berlin broke throuirh the Snree river defenses as well as the Niesse line farther east and outflanked the Spree wald, a region of lakes and forests along the Spree which had promised to be the most formidable defenses of the capital in that direction. At Calau the Russians were only about four miles from Adolf Hitler's last north-south autobahn the one running from Berlin to Dresden and the mountain strongholds of Bohemia and Bavaria and only 12 miles northeast of Fin-sterwalde," a junction on one of the last two main railways running sonth from Berlin. However, the line, veering southeast through HoyerRwerda and Bautzen, may already have been cut.

The second line, running throagh Jueterbog, Elsterwefda and Dresden, is 15 miles farther west. Restaurant, Tavern Owners at Meeting About 70 restaurant and tavern operators attended a meeting yesterday afternoon at city hall where Fred Haigh, price specialist from the Green Bay office, explained the ceiling price regulations regarding foodstuffs and beverages, W. Fred Bushnell, chief clerk of the local price and rationing board, reported today. Mr. Haigh said that in many cases operators are being asked to re-file ceiling prices as many of the triplicate filings were not in agreement with the prices filed by the establishments during the base period April 10, 1943.

"We are unable to do anything about those who are using smaller glasses," Mr. Haigh stated, "but any boosting of prices can be stopped." Hajipy Birthday I London (. V) Adolf Hitler reached his 56th birthday today without the fanfare of past years. Where Hitler was and what he was doing was a mystery. The only hope held out to Nazi followers was the broadcast declaration by the German DNB news agency that "there will never be a German nation without the aims which have been set by Hitler." The Tokyo radio quoted Japanese Gen.

Sabada as saying that the whole Japanese nation congratulated Hitler today. Sabada declared Hitler faced a fearful crisis, but would never be defeated. 1 I MAY NEED FAR LARGER ARMY OF OCCUPATION BY WES GALLAGHER Magdeburg, Germany (JP) A far greater army of occupation may be necessary in Germany than originally planned in view of the problems experienced to date. Even with the vast number of Allied troops now in Germany, the job of administering the territory already overrun is proving much more difficult than anticipated. Germany now is a festering sore in the heart of Europe, housing a mass of misery unheard of in modern history.

Twelve years of Nazism and brutality are bearing a cancerous fruit which can mean nothing but years of trouble ahead. No one knows this better than Hitler, and he has the organization ready to help make the trouble the newly-formed Werewolves. Bradley Statement (One reason why a larger army of occupation may be needed is suggested by a statement made yesterday by Gen. Omar N. Brad-iey, 12th army group commander.

my opinion," he said, "when he (the enemy) did not quit last fall, after we had proved to him that he was licked, it was clear that we would not be through until we had occupied of There are not nearly enough military government teams at hand. Civil law broke down in most towns when the Nazis departed, for they held all key jobs. The Germans left behind often try to solve the problem of law and order as did their predecessors by force unless Allied troops are at hand to keep them in hand. Troops Can't Be Spared And troops cannot be spared for this job. "There is widespread looting, not only by the slave laborers but also by Germans trying to get their hands on extra food and clothing for the dark days ahead.

There is not enough food to feed them. So they forage and wander up and down the highways. Life is worth nothing. People die on the road, in barns, in the fields, in jails, abandoned warehouses, ev erywhere. No one bothers to bury them.

No one knows who they are, Every type of disease, particular ly typhus, is being carried by these nomads. All wanderers by no means are men. There are thousands of wonv en, mostly girls brought into Ger many as workers. They usually form into gangs and plunder so they can eat. Lewis Wants All or Nothing from WLB Washington (JP) John L.

Lewis has asked the war labor board to approve all or nothing in his new contract with the ration's soft coal operators, it was learned today. Signed April 11 after 41 days of negotiations, the contract must be passed upon by WLB as a first step before it can become effective. spot the 77th infantry division lost a buddy Ernie Pyle 18- April, A white cross was painted on the casket, and near it rested a floral piece made of local greenery and a sheaf of grain which was fashioned by Sgt. Irvin Steifel of Camden, N.J. One of Ernie's dogtags was nailed to the top end of the casket.

The chaplain spoke simply of the cheer the little reporter had given those at home, and that "we pray God will bless him doubly our comrade, Ernie Pyle." It seemed that Ernie was staying as close in death as he did in life to America's doughboy, for the small wooden casket was lowered into a row containing 14 other graves. Awarded Clapper Memorial Ernie Pyle had been designated for the second successive year to receive the Pvaymond Clapper Memorial award for war correspondence, national headquarters of Sigma Delta Chi, professional journalistic fraternity, announced today, in Chicago. Ordinarily this and six other awards made annually in various fields of journalism by the fraternity are announced and presented in May. The others will be announced as usual. John S.

Knight, publisher of the Knight newspapers, speaking for the committee of awards, said the Clapper award went to Pyle "for human interest, down-to-earth reporting of the war. More than any other reporter, Tyle had the gift of bring ing the horrors and realities of war close to home. His articles have been magnificent." jo. apata BY SPENCER DAVIS Manila (JP) American doughboys seized the 44th and islands of their Philippines invasion Wednesday. Capture of one, Hala-bac, put them only 45 miles north of Borneo.

Seizure of the other, tiny Carabao in Manila bay, wiped out a troublesome force of 300 to 500 Japanese troops. Elsewhere in the Philippines, Gen. Douglas MacArthur said in today's communique: Japanese counterattacked fiercely with tanks in the Baguio sector of north Luzon but were repulsed. Advance On Mindanao Doughboys on Mindanao advanced 22 miles from their new beachheads, moving within 52 air miles of Davao, a major port of the Philippines. Aerial units destroyed a troop-laden transport, four freighters, seven coastal vessels and a lugger in sweeps from the Netherlands East Indies to the China coast.

Formosa was heavily bombed. The unopposed Balabnc landing, by elements of Maj. Gen. Jens A. Does's 41st division, gave the United States a second strategic jump off place for possible amphibious against ml-rich Borneo.

The 41st seized Tawilawi island, 30 miles east of Borneo, April 2. Near Borneo With American forces thus poised on two islands near Borneo, Mac-Arthur announced that "the enemy's oil supply from this (Netherlands East Indies) area has ceased." He presumably referred to the aerial blockade Philippines-based aircraft have established. Doughboys from Brig. Gen. William Chase's 38th division took little Carabao island in Manila bay after a naval bombardment drove an estimated 300 to 500 Japanese underground.

Engineers trapped the enemy troops in their hideouts by sealing off their cave and tunnel entrances. Maj. Gen. Percy W. Clarkson's 33rd division reported an increase in Japanese artillery fire from Baguio.

a mm Over 2,000 Planes Bomb MainRaihvays London (JP) More than 2,000 American warplanes spread out over almost the entire length of unoc cupied Germany today, bombing mainline railways ahead of Allied armies from the outskirts of Berlin southward to Prague and Munich. The Eighth air force dispatched 800 heavy bombers and 800 fighters on a morning sweep and medium bombers and divebombers of the U. S. Ninth air force had completed more than 400 sorties before noon. The day operations followed another double night raid on Berlin by RAF Mosquitos.

In Italy American Liberators and Flying Fortresses attacked highway bridges over the Adige river, a possible defense line for the Gentians north of the Po river. The heavy bombers also attacked points on the iirenner pass line. A formation of fiOO Britain-based U. S. Hying Fortresses attacked seven railroad towns in a 35-inile arc around Berlin.

Two groups of bombers that blasted targets at Seddin and Wus tr rniark, both within 15 miles of the devastated capital, encountered only light antiaircraft fire and no trace of opposition by the German air force. Approximately 200 U. S. Eighth air force Liberators flew south and bombed four other communications centers in southern Germany, and Czechoslovakia. Sgt.

Gail Omholt, Formerly of Rudolph, Is Killed in Action Staff Sgt. Gail Omholt, 20, of Whitewater, was killed in action in Germany on March 30, according to word received by relatives here. The Omholt family formerly resided at Rudolph, where Gail attended high school. His mother, Mrs. Silas Omholt, his wife and small daughter, two sisters and a brother, Mrs.

Aline Coulton, Gloria and Garth Omholt, all reside at Whitewater. Sergeant Omholt is a nephew of Mrs. William Piltz, Oscar and Lawrence Omholt, all of Wisconsin Rapids. ASKS PENSION BOOST Washington Rep. Stevenson (R-Wis.) introduced a bill in congress yesterday calling for an increase in pensions of veterans of the Spanish-American war, the Philippine insurrection and the China relief expedition.

she thought her husband would have wished. Because of military security, they have been unable to communicate with her since their father's death. Mrs. Roosevelt planned to leave today for New York city, stay in her apartment there until Sunday and then go to Hyde Park. Meantime the Roosevelts' daughter, Anna, Mrs.

John Boettiger, will move from the White House, probably to a Washington hotel. Her husband, a lieutenant colonel, is stationed here. Their five-year old son, Johnny, is seriously ill with a throat infection. Despite the task of moving and her grief, Mrs. Roosevelt found time yesterday to invite members of her news conference group to say farewell.

She gave them tea for Hhe last time in the state dining room of the White House. Smilingly she said that henceforth she'll be a competitor in trying to get interviews too, rive on BY AL DOPKING Guam (IP) A powerful Ameri can offensive, supported by terrific naval and artillery shelling, was un der way in full fury today against elaborate Japanese defenses across southern Okinawa. Three U.S. divisions possibly troops were hammering fiercely-defended enemy positions along a four-mile battlefront before the cap ital city of Naha. Breaking a 13-day virtual deadlock in the south, Yanks of the 7th, 27th and 96th army divisions launched their all-out push early yesterday and by noon had scored gains of 500 to 800 yards on both flanks.

The advance was slowed in the center. The Tenth army's big push pitted the greatest American offensive force ever employed against a single sector in the Pacific war against the best defended Japanese line ever yet encountered. Vicious Fighting The Japanese were fighting back viciously from interlocking trench and pillbox systems, blockhouses, caves and other extensive dug-in positions typical of Nipponese warfare. The extremely rough terrain was well suited for defensive tactics. Adm.

Chester W. Nimitz' communique today said the offensive followed "one of the largest bombardments ever made in support of amphibious troops." Hours before the big drive started, battleships, cruisers and other fleet units, marine and army artillery and rocket-firing marine planes poured thousands of tons of shells and bombs into the enemy's deep line of defenses. Despite the concentration of Am erican power, field officers acknowledged it would be a tough and slow job to knock out enemy strong points and smash segments of the fortified line. They looked lor no mmediate breakthrough or swift advance. First gains included capture ofj Machinato village on the west coast, Estimate GO.00O Troops The bulk of a Japanese Okinawa garrison estimatea at more man 00,000 troops likely has been committed to the defense of the south i a ern sector.

Naha, with a population of fifi.000, is four miles from the fighting front. The nearby Naha See OKINAWA Page 7 City Truck Driver Fined in Accident For Lack of Permit Wayne Worden, 29, 840 First street north, who was involved in a collision between a city truck and a Green Bay and Western "speed car" in which three men were injured April 11, pleaded guilty yesterday of operating the truck without a driver's license and was fined $10 and costs of $7.13 in justice court of Marjorie Jacobson. Worden was arrested by city po lice after investigation of the accident, which took place as Worden was about to cross the tracks while going north on Seventeenth avenue. The "speed car" was towing two trailers carrying 27 men and was traveling east. According to Police Chief R.

J. Exner, Wordens' driver's license was revoked eight years ago when he was convicted on a reckless driving charge, and it was never reinstated. Worden has been employed by the city since December 8, 1944, as a painter, and had been driving the truck quite steadily since, that time. 'Comrade' Ernie Pyle Buried On le With Military Honors BRETTON WOODS IS ENDORSED Washington (SP) The Eretton Woods international monetary agreements were endorsed today by Edward A. O'Neal, president of the American Farm Bureau federation.

At the same time, Treasury Secretary Morgenthau declared that adoption of the Bretton Woods program would "provide the necessary setting for a large expansion in our foreign trade." O'Neal told the hou.e banking committee considerinjr the Bretton Woods agreements that the proposed bank for reconstruction aid and the international fund for stabilization of currency "are a necessary part of international cooperation and domestic economy." "We must diligently seek methods of international cooperation which will lessen the likelihood of repeating the catastrophe in which we are now engaged," he said. Eighth Army Marches Ahead On Italian Front Rome (JP) Eighth army troops, in an advance of three miles, have captured Portomaggiore, 12 miles southeast of the To valley city of Ferrara, allied headquarters announced today. Portoverrara, a small town just east of Portomaggiore, was also taken as the British pushed forward after storming the Argcnta gap Nazi defenses. Fifth army forces were reported advancing slowly along Highway 05, between Florence and Bologna, and nearing Pianora, just south of Bologna. Gains ranged up to several thousand yards.

West of the highway Fifth army troops captured Mount Sanichelc, about eight and a half miles southwest of Bologna. In the west coastal sector, Fifth army troops were within eight miles of the big port of Laspezia. Reelect Heads of Trees for Tomorrow Merrill JP) Officers and directors of Trees for Tomorrow, Inc, were reelected at the organization's annual meeting this week. Folke Becker, Rhinelander, was reelected president; S. B.

llugge, Tomahawk, first vice president; M. N. Merrill, second vice president and executive secretary; and E. B. Hurst, Wisconsin Rapids, member of the executive committee.

Directors in addition to the officers are: Stanton Mead, Wisconsin Rapids; A. J. Schierl, Stevens Point; N. S. Stone, Mosinee; S.

Dickinson, Tomahawk; Robert Caldwell, Rhinelander; and D. Cv Everest, Harold C. Collins and E. E. Zahn, all of C.

J. McLaren, Tomahawk, was named alternate director, 'Moving Dayf for Roosevelt Family at Executive Mansion BY GRANT MacDONALD Ie Island (51) Machineguns beat a sharp tattoo and mortars barked at the front only a short dis tance ahead today as little Ernie Pyle, the doughboy's reporter, was laid to rest with military honors, Battle-grimed Yanks stood at at tention as services were said for the columnist who was struck down by Japanese macmnegun fire Wednes day. Attending the funeral on this tiny island near Okinawa were Maj. Gen. Andrew D.

Bruce, 77th division commander, Lt. Col. Joseph B. Coolidge of Helena, who was with Pyle when he was killed. Returned To War When the service was concluded Gen.

Bruce drove off in his jeep to a command post, and Yank infantrymen slogged on up to the front. Services were conducted in the 77th division cemetery by Chaplain N. B. Saucier, former pastor of a Coffeyville, church. Solemn G.M.I?, holding pistols at the ready and retaining their helmets on order of Gen.

Bruce who feared possible sniper fire, heard Chaplain Saucier recite the funeral prayer. The surrounding seemed fitting for Ernie, who had seen action on so many battlefronts. Even the funeral party, on the way to the cemetery, had to duck mortar shell. In Wooden Casket Pyle's remains are in a wooden casket handmade by Cpl. Landon Seidler of Richmond, Va.

Seidler also fashioned a wooden plaque to be placed at the spot where the columnist sa killed. It reads; "At this BY EDITH GAYLORD Washington (JP) The Franklin D. Roosevelt family is moving out of the White House today to make way for tho presidential family of Harry S. Truman. In the four days after the burial of her distinguished husband, Mrs.

Roosevelt managed to sort, pack and clear out all of their personal and historical belongings accumulated during 12 years in the executive mansion. Packing and shipping was complicated, Mrs. Roosevelt said, by the fact that Mr. Roosevelt's will listed hundreds of objects to be given as remembrances to relatives and friends. She spent a large part of those four days telephoning to find out their choices of the gifts named.

As for her two youngest sons, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and John Roosevelt, both naval officers on duty in the Pacific, Mrs. Roosevelt suid she must choose for them as.