Las Cruces Sun-News from Las Cruces, New Mexico • Page 1

OUR HOMETOWN Las Cruccs is the home of New Alcxico A. and M. College, the of the Mesilla valley, trade 'center for the richest and most thickly populated agricultural area in New Mexico, LasCr vlfl.TM AM HMffNKKT CWff News RIO OKANfil FARMER VW NCWSMPSA SOVffSKM NtW OIBUC THE WEATHER Forecast' Continued mild temperatures this afternoon; slightly warmer tonight. Maximum temperature last 24 hours, 70; minimum, 35; mean, 52.5. KJL.

61--NO. 267 LAS CRUCES. NEW MEXICO, SUNDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 8. 1942 PRICE FIVE CENTS JAPANESE GUNS FIND RANGE ON SINGAPORE By WALLACE PERRY The college year 1931 32's "Greatest Aggie" has become -Las Cruces' first fatal casualty in the new world war.

Thc man who, by vote of A. and students then, was the hero, ten years ago, of Qucsenberry Field so named in honor of Dona Ana county's first victim of World War I now heads that same county's honor roll of those lost on the field of battle in World War n. For Ray McCorkle, one of twins famed then for their prowess on both football field and basketball court, thc war department reports officially, has been killed in action on Bataan peninsula in the Philippine islands. Ray McCorkle was not, primarily, a fighting man. He was a captain in the headquarters and supply division.

But, fighting man or supply officer, cook, ambulance driver or chaplain, they're all fighting 'men on Bataan and behind thc walls of Orrepidor now at a time when the ranks of General Doug- 9 MacArthur's troops have been thinned to the skeleton of a modern army and when thc odds against them, already heavily favoring the invading Japs, are becoming heavier daily through enc- reinforcements and the rav- of the guns they wield. The war department's brief mcs- to Ray McCorkle's widow give any details. But, by coincidence--timed with official reports from the field of fighting his death occurred simultaneously with the great bat- Ua.in which picked Japanese Ta- 10-- crack troops of the Nipponese imperials attempted an assault from behind MacArthur's lines and were repulsed, leaving 30000 of their number dead! It doesn't require any stretch i of imagination, then, to picture Ray McCorkle, 'a borrowed gun in his hand, bayonet fixed, plunging at the opposing lines of bandy- legged ycllcw-mcn on Bataan peninsula, just as be plunged at opposing lines on Quescnberry Field, and forcing payment, from the enemy, of many times the life he finally surrendered. Word of his death is weighted with tragic grief for members of his family; It strikes even into the "family" of my own editorial staff, since his youngest sister now is thc society editor. Yet that gricif must be tempered with a sense of pride in the heroism which accompanied it.

And, if there is comfort in the sympathy of friends, there must be comfort In this particular trag- A. for thc report of Ray Mc- Wkle's death has inspired the sincerest and most widespread sympathy, not only among friends the Mesilln valley but throUgh- New Mexico; th memory of the "Greatest Aggie" of 1831-32 will not be dimmed by the fact that he was the first to give his life for his country with MacArthur's men at Batnan. Mac Arthur-Men Smash Jap Suicide Battalion ram Credit Group Picks Home Economist WICHITA. Kansas, Feb. 7-(Special)--Appointment of Miss Mildred E.

Anderson ns home economist nf the farm credit administration of Wichita in Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado and Now Mexico, is announced by General Agent Jred R. Morrifield. Miss Anderson, as member o( thc Rcneral agent's a will conduct an educational program on the use of credit as it affects thc budget of the farm family. Her activities will be directed mainly to farm families who have membership in national farm loan associations and production credit associations. Much of Miss Anderson's work will be done through home demon stration clubs and organized groups of (arm women, in cooperation with county home demonstration agents.

Principals Favor Six-Day Week in County Schools A six-day week schedule for Dona Ana county schools, with the 1942 fall term beginning Nov. 30 and the school-year ending June 26 of 1943, will be adopted as a means of helping valley cotton planters to solve their picking problem if the views of county principals are accepted by the county school board. That decision was reached at the monthly meeting of principals, held as a dinner, Friday evening, at El Molino. "Purely a War Measure" "It is purely a war measure, and will enable children to assist in farm work, and in thc cotton harvest," J. V.

Boyd, chairman of the investigation committee reported. Thc plan was selected (from among four alternatives, after discussion in be-: tween principals and their teach-1 crs. "Teachers arc not reversing their well known attitude toward child labor, but they recognize conditions that exist," Mr. Boyd said. Stive Cutton ami Schools (tnl.lt "Every year a minority of the children arc kept out of school in the fall to pick cotton.

On account of the labor shortage last fall, thc number of children picking and the correspondingly decreased school attendance, waa greater than in former years. "The prospects for more labor shortage in 1942, together with worse economic conditions of thc laboring: people in this section, indicate that schools will give way to cotton picking next season. "Children who are free during the summer and early fall may participate in raising war gardens." Thc measure is now scheduled to go before thc county school board for consideration. SI 00 Day Into Defense. County Supt.

E. C. Engler reported Friday night that county schools have sold 52,240 in defense stamps since they went on sale in schools, which is a little over $100 a day, average. Dona Ana, Miguel and Mesilla Park have each passed the $300 mark, Mr. Engler said.

Other business of the evening; was a discussion by M. Mitchell, federal civil service employe, of thc federal credit union; Dona Ana principals decided to organize a teachers' branch of the credit union here. Is 11) Whitney, principal at Anthony, is recovering from pneumonia; Mr. Whitney is president of the Dona Ana County Educational Assn. C.

W. Clark, chairman, presided at last night's meeting'. Mrs. Alice Thomas was a special guest. Others attending were Mmcs.

Mildred Smith, Thelma Thalman, Elizabeth Miller, Marguerite Wood, Clem Russell, Geneve'ra Hursh, Kathryn Griffin, Coral Duggan, Pearl Crosset, Ed Engler. Clark, Haskcl Smith, George Bcrrier, Fusion Stevens, J. V. Boyd, Wm. Farrls, Waldo Depenbrink, John DUterline and Harold Jeffers.

GENERAL AT 36 GermansTurnon iATORNADO? Reds as Supply Lines Shortened Promoted to a brigiidici 4 Captain Laurence' Kuter, 36, above, thus becomes the youngest general in the army. Brig. Gen. Kuter is shown in Washington. Survey Reveals Seed Available For SXP Wool Men Would End Farm Benefit Payments AbBUQUHRQUE, Feb.

7 Drastic curtailment of govern- mcnt non defense spending, including payments to farmers an that spent for conservation work was recommended by the New Mexico Wool Growers as it ended itn annual convention here. Mcmbeni by resolution called for abolishing for thc duration payments for AAA compliance, thc jagriculturnl conservation program and thc soil conservation service. They also recommended all branches of government practice economies and called for the government to purchase the entire clip during thc war. Floyd Lee, San Miguel, was elected president of the association for thc 12th consecutive year. County Agent John L.

Augustine, announced Saturday that a special committee appointed by the department of agriculture to make a survey of SXP seed stocks has found that it is apparent that there is sufficient seed to plant the acreage of this variety of cotton requested by the government, provided it meets the standards of purity and germination set by the department. The committee found that practically all registered and certified SXP seed has been purchased by growers, and in order to plant the increased acreage goal set by the government, it will be necessary to uso some gin-run seed. Tost Gin-Run Seed A process is being worked out whereby gin-run can be sufficiently cleaned to meet $ie emergency requirements, Mr. Augustine said. Germination tests arc now being run on gin-run seed and farmers are cautioned to buy only seed that has been tested and tagged.

This gin-run seed will be designated as emergency planting seed and will bear thc signature of one of the agents of the department who approves thc seed. These agents are R. V. Miller, state department of agriculture for Texas; Clayborn Wayne, extension agronomist OC A. and M.

College, and B. JU Arizona extension agronomist, of Tuscan. Survey on Hand The committee met in Donn Ann- El Paso counties and inspected all available seed stocks now held at the oil mills. The committee stated that thc department of a i Is considering a base price of $80 per ton for the gin-run seed. AAA representatives from New Mexico mid Texas have been working with the committee, and arrangements are being made to tag and make available only seed that is acceptable to the A'AA.

Farmers will bn required to ftlc the tags from their planting seed which has been approved by a state or federal agency, With their county committee, in order to qualify under the AAA program. Land Bank President To Talk Loans Here C. Graves Shtill, president of the federal land bank of Wichita, Kansas, lias accepted an invitation to addres.i the tin mini meeting of the Mcfiilln Farm IJORII Feb. 21 W. P.

Thorpe, secretary-treasurer, announced Saturday lhal Mr. Shull would address the luembers the Temple of Agriculture on Qriggfl avenue. By ASSOCIATED PRESS The Russians Saturday night reported that their armie were meeting steadily stiffen ing Nazi resistance, appearing that the Germans had reached well-supplied fortified base from which they planned, to launch their spring offensive The Russians acknowledged German counter-attacks on the central front, where Ber lin claimed two Soviet divis ions wiped out. Claim Germans Trapped The Russian armies were report ed to have trapped a German hold out garrison at Razhev, 100 mile west of Moscow both Mos cow and Berlin chronicled heavy new losses along the wintry front The British radio said there was heavy fighting both east and west of Razhev and declared the Rus sians arc encircling the city. In its claim of the destruction of two Russian divisions, Hitler headquarters claimed 18,000 Red solc'iers had been killed in two weeks of fighting.

Jittery Over Norway Nazi authorities were said -lo be jittery over reports from Stock holm that Premier Churchill was laying plans big scale land ing operations on thc Norwegian coast and hoped for support of the United States fleet in thc maneuver. There has been campn "IH London for thc creation nf another European front to stall the threateing spring offensive against the Russians. Report Three Generals Slain A Renters recording of thc Rome radio said three German generals --Prottwita. Sommcrinan and Filkoff had been killed in action in Africa. On that front, Axis troops urday were reported to have readied El Gazala, 40 miles west of To- hruk, and to have captured AasiK, 250 miles from the Egyptian border.

The British reported there "no change in the land on the Libyan front, indicating the imperials now were holding their own against the columns of Gen. Erwin Rommel. A tornado? No. The plume in the sky over thc municipal air- pan at Kansas City, Is the frozen trail left army pur- suit'-plime. The picture, strangely enough, was taken minutes after the plane passed over the airport.

Condensed moisture from exhausts of the plane wits fru7.cn into a i ulouil. Army Air Force To Be Expanded To Two Million Start Survey on Cruces Airport The Civil Aeronautics A i today is ready to start preliminary surveys for Las Cruces 1 proposed ftew airport. Robl. Strong, head of the surveying crow, arrived Saturday from CAA's Fort Worth office and completed plars for making the survey by employing two engineering students at A. and M.

College as his helpers. Contour maps, he said, will hi completed by Friday and sent to the district offices in Kort Worth; then, if they're acceptable, plans and specifications will be drafted. Mr. Strong; is a New Mexican --born in Raton and a former student at A. and M.

College here. He studied in high school at Raton under Wm. B. O'Donncll. now dean of students at A.

and M. Co! lege, and was a freshman in engineering here during thc schoo. year He is a nephew Miss Veda Strong, extension honn management specialist. WASHINGTON. 7 Tin- war a today a rrd that the army "air force i he expanded to a i i officers and men this year find "double a later." No definite 1 time plac- ed on the expansion to a i I Thc answer came back in per- RCM-m-H An, i Norts t(I you.

Joe." Simultaneously, Present Rooso- I Cft roim ordered his a vHt issued an executive order call- 1( (1 Invaders Refuse To Surrender as Guns Slash Ranks By CLARK LEE I MACARTHUR'S FORCE ON WESTERN BATAAN PENINSULA, Feb. 7-(AP)--American and Filipino troops annihilated the main force of a Japanese suicide battalion of 300 picked soldiers who landed from the sea sometime ago. American tanks paved the way for the final mopping-up. mowing down trees with gunfire and smashing underbrush, then blasting the Japanese out of their fox-hole trenches. Aimed ai Supply Sabotage The Japanese landed behind the American left flank, apparently a i i to rut communications sabotage A few surviving Japanese fled to the edge of a cliff s'oping town I'd the sea; there they were cornered.

i llrig. Gen. Clinton Pierce, I was cm the corpse-strewn a i halticgrnund when the i a shots were i.ircd, driving the last stubborn Japs from their hiding places into thi? brush a few yards from China sra. Whrrp Mi-il Musi Kill A i a and l-'ilipmo i i i men followed The fighting was typical of bitter warfare waged in the jungle areas nf liataan where thn ground is contested inch by Inch, where men must kill or. be The Japanese continued their futile resistance to the end, with a tenjiiMousness which the relentless forward surge of the Americans i a overcame.

MrssHgc In Kmprror One prJHOiu'r carried this message addressed to the emperor of a a surrounded by enemy, hemming whether our fiin-es rilu colloi't e.noilgli strength to hold mil. Our unit suffered l.W casual tics, n-duc- iiig righting strength such position pornrlmis. Amm i i fooil HUppHoH Thin morning, dipt. C. A.

CroniP, South Carolina, with one iii it bloody sling, shouted in fog-lmrn voice: "Surrender, yon we've got you i Hnrks to Bulleth; l)l 'PAWNEE BILL' Hatch Youths Jailed On Fight at Church Two young men, Kpifanio Rives and Dimetrco Chlvarria of Rincon, were committed to the county Jail Saturday to serve ft sentence of 22 to '2, i daya for aflsnuR and buttery, by Judge Clear of Match. into active military service all organized army reserve units not now nn active duty. The reservists called nre mostly selective sprvice I minces or national guardsmen who were released last, fall a having served more than year. Ciiduts Become Pilots In the aviation expansion, department officials said a of cadets now in West Point would be graduated as-pilots. It is part n' the expansion plan by President Roosevelt calling for the construction of planes in 1942 and 1043.

Irrigation Waier In City's Ditches I i a i water Inul oil into L.as ditclio.s Saturday, for the first time this year, It will available for watering Inwns find gardens in town today, N. B. Phillips, i i of the irrigation district, sstld. Mr. Phillips said that, nfti-r one more lapse of two or Hirer Irrigation water prnimbly will be available in town every week-end.

Thr gave further signs that fanaticism fades under fire. When grenades exploded near urm, we could hear fobbing and a i thr mar; many ed i to the bullets which killed them. Rule Eager Job Unconstitutional Feb. attorney Roncral's office 33 Perish as Sub Sinks After Crash WASHINGTON, Keb. 7 The two boys pleaded guilty to The navy announced today a 11 charge of assault battery when they reportedly beat up a man who endeavored to quiet them outside of a building In Hutch where a church service was being held.

A fine of $10 and court costs was assessed which the boys will serve out in the county Jail- Deputy Mitchell of Hatch mode thc arrcnt and tranaported the prisoners to Utn Crucen the a i S-2I collided with an unnamed vessel on thc night of 24. and sunk off Panama with a loss of all hut three. A Icnsl men are believed to have perished in the. accident. The survivors.

Unit. Karl Hawk, commanding officer, Lieut. R. N. Ward and seaman, wore thrown from the bridge by the collision wbllp.Ungaged In surface operations.

The tntlny held Ihnt it is violation of the New Mexico constitution Tor a irnrpnriilinn commissioner to work regular rallroud employ. Ast. Ally. Gen. Howard Hcmk said Commissioner Henry KiiRer Klvlsed him lie would roalRli either its ri.rpornlion commissioner or a a for thc Southern Pad- Questioned at TllB home at Tli- Eager mid he hud ed to his Job with thc railway "lempornHly" when the national emergency arosfi, In an umlerslancliiiR with the attorney general that employment would lie legal.

The Issue' was raised anew this week when the S. auditing department at El Pino said he now Is on as "regular employe." i i i i i i i i of Ilie i'ld ami a a circus showman, Mnj. (ionlon W. Llllie. known a.s "Pawnee Bill," i.s dead at S2.

Lillic. last surviving leader i.it' Ilie Oklahoma boomers. Retirement Plea Raises Issue of Disaster trials WAiSHINCTON. I Vb. 7 Requests from MiiJ.

On. a C. Short A i i Uuxhuiul K. K'immel. rninmiindiTS.

respectively, nf mid navy fmres in the I'earl a area lit. Ihe outbreak nf Anu-riai's part in war, i today, rained Ihe probability of an imiiU'd- a derision nu they should stmiit i a a.s a result of Ihe Hiiibor di.sii.slt.-r. Cp l-n-sUlcnl Moth aiv i "dcrelk'- tion dl" It was believed a derisinn mi i a i be left to President Itoosevelt. Si-cn-hirii-s Kimx and Henry S. Hliin.son of tin- and navy depart i guvi- no i whether i requests would be a i i i i was c-omn wilder- in- chief of tin- Pin-irk and H.

as lull a i a and Short wa.s a temporary i a genenil in command of the a a i i a department W'lu-ri the a tl lu-lt occiirml. Uolh wen- relieved n-'" lire. 17. Xmv In I'. S.

Khnnie! is ''XI and Short i.s ftl. The normal i men I 1 for Mirvk-e men IK 'H but there urc special provisions for a ret i bcfcre ivnrhuig a age, Until moil stayed in a a i i fur some time al'h-r tii'-v UTIV relieved of i before the board of i i hel'nrc i to i Imnie.s in thi.s i i now is in San Kram-isrn; in a a i Enemy Aliens Barred From Arizona Areas WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 In an extension of enemy alien control measures Ally. Oen. KnincU HI'l- dle designated tft local arcu.s In Arizona as "prohibited" a Vvb.

Aliens who are Germans, I a i a of Japanese will he excluded from these local areas surround broadcasting plants, reservoirs and ncvoral damn. Syndicate Promotes Mexican Roads, Rails MIOXK'O CITY. 1 A WIO.OOO syndicate i i 'iy A i i i a i i i i i i i the i deh-nsc project of i i 1 .000 miles "I i a and 1,000 of a i a lin en inMt-xico, John A. Hastings, lender of the sjinl today. The i i i i i i i fnvored by United Stairs i i a authorities a defense aid, includes i from a a a a a and i Lower a i i a and Texas, an well n.s a i i Mexico City toward I Guatemala hor- ler.

The rails lor i of the Kiinsiis-Clty-Mexk'o and Orient railway, betwoen i a a Sinalnn, i line Dn- rango and MiUfunoros In Nucvo iinolhci- between Mexico City and Tiunptro, and extensive rrron- dltioninK nn the Tehuntppw Inthuma rallvvfiy. Burma Road End Under Terrific Bombardment By ASSOCIATED PRESS The end of nine weeks warfare in the southwest Pacific found the United Nations continuing clef ensive fighting on the sprawling, 5,000 mile fronts with the initiative remaining with the Japanese on each. Japanese bombers swept over Rangoon early Sunday and subjected that terminus of Burma Road to the heaviest raid of the war. They attacked in waves for 'three hours, concentrating on the airdrome north of Rangoon. The city also was bombed heavily.

Cllns Kind Singapore Kangc Japanese guns found the range or Singapore i itsi'lf, adding to the din of aerial bombardment. Tin- first barrage caused little damage, hut appeared preliminary lo an all out assault on the Island. blasted small Invasion-type boats on the strait of during the Jap bombardment. Tcsl Pluming Oil IterriiMi? The small hnnt sortie was believed In he a i to test the plir- pnrteil a a of naming oil which Vk-hy radio said the British had devised, involving pouring a of callous of nil into strait i I i of it i i ii crossing were a ed. During Hiirma Road bombings, A i authorities estimated ancse warplnnc losses nt 122 planes, compared with five defense planes inst a'ml one The new raids were fought off "jy American and British fliers.

Itcjeels Agltilinldn Plrji In the Philippines, Japanese he: 11 a i concealed on the a shore of a i a bay. violently shelled three American i in the bay, but little damage Douglas a A turned an appeal from the aged Kdipino rebel leader of -10 years ago, i i Agninaldo, for surrender to the i him a i i i Quisling. Dnleli Deny A i i a i Iii I Dutch East Indies, count i an assertion of the German radio a the Japanese had "vir- a a i i a Ihe Dutch fleet in an attack Feb. in Java sea. Nl'jl said the "fleet Is absolutely i a at sea, and ready ac- hon." The Dutch acknowledged that I i Japs had won control of most ol A i island, site of tile Indies second a a base, but reported the sinking of a cruiser ami transport and hits on a cruiser and submarine.

Claim II. S. ('rulsiT Ounmgeil The Japanese claimed damaging bcyoild repair, a United States light cruiser ami a Dutch cruiser. Neither claim was i i by A i a i i A United States i i i said that eight American P-40's a a a larger scpindron of Japanese i and numbers nt a i Dutch East Indies, and shot down three. One U.

S. plane was lost, one. missing. In i a Tokyo claimed that 10.1100 Chinese were In a province. Anii-Brilish Rials In Spanish Morocco TANtJIKIl, Monie.co.

Ki-h. 7 Rioting ugninst Mr it isli biHine-w concerns flared i '21 hours a 25 pcr- believed to have boon killed In a tlmt bomb explosion. Thr ugttin (ocussed at- i i on the ridicule north Afrloi. Arabs and Spaniards joined In the demonstration, Wolf I'ncli in Vtdlc Kl. PASO.

Feb. 7 A lobo wolf pack is running In the valley iu-nr White Spur, H. Cordcll, (Mull district farmer, reported today. Oordcll snld he in a canyon niMr Spur. sii.spi-cleil Hint they were bended for valley kill gont.s and chickens..