Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 1

LINCOLN Gurning State Journal "Miles "Hours News" More a 20bo. MONTGOMERY WARD STOCK DAMAGED -A group of unidentified men entered the Montgomery Co. store in Detroit, suburban Dearborn and according to R. L. Estabrock, store -manager, did several thousand dollars damage to the stock.

Picture shows stock from one counter swept into an aisle. The store is one of four where strike has been in progress since Dec. 9. (AP wire photo). Jan.

8 set for hearing on Ward seizure legality Biggest navy still growing 39,971 new ships up total to 61,045 WASHINGTON. (AP). The largest navy in the world, fighting the most extended war in history, now has 1,167 men-ofwar to carry the battle to the enemy. And it is still growing. This was reported by the navy Friday in a review of ship production which showed that in the last year 39,971 new vessels-420 of them fighting ships -joined the fleet, boosting the overall total to 61,045 navy ships of all types.

Much emphasis was placed during upon landing craft and attack, vessels, with construction 37,724 of the little ships used to bater the way for landings on enemy-held shores. The new construction also included, the navy said, 640 patrol boats and mine craft, 630 auxiliaries 557 harbor craft. Indicate Need for Warships. "Important in these statistics," navy reported, "is the slightly decreased emphasis on combat and patrol craft, denoting a levelling off in the need for more warships and escort vessels, and the tremendous increase in landing craft, auxiliary attack See NAVY, Page 2, Col. 3.

Yank planes lash reich Rail and road junctions target LONDON. (UP). A force of more than 1,500 American heavy bombers and fighters lashed for seventh straight day at German rail and road junctions and bridges behind the battlefront and in the Rhineland. The joint American and British around-the-clock heavy bomber offensive went on Friday night, with a great fleet of royal air force raiders sweeping out thru the gathering dusk toward Germany. than 800 Flying Fortresses and Liberators escorted by almost as many Mustang and Thunderbolt fighters hit cogs in the transportation network funand neling also into struck the Ardennes into salient many at the Rhineland town of Bingen, Frankfurt to the east, and Aschaffenburg, 23 miles southeast of Frankfurt.

Hit Junctions. The rail yards at tions of Frankfurt, burg, and Bingen were the targets for heavy blows by the raiders rounding out a full week of, estimated attacks to in have which dropped they were 000 tons of explosives on German transport lines. The British heavy bomber force flying toward the continent as dusk gathered was the sixth armada in action within 40 hours. Berlin acknowledged that allied bombers were over western and southwestern Germany, indicating another smash at the lines behind Marshal Karl von Rundstedt's salient in Belgium and Luxembourg. The nazis also reported that bombers from Italy were flying in over the Alps toward Austria and southern Germany in what appeared to be a two-way drive on the reich's war potential.

faxes hit Bonn British Lancasters, and Haliand Munchen-Gladbach in a strike at German communications centers behind the front. Case may be carried to high court CHICAGO. (AP). Federal Judge Philip L. Sullivan Friday set Jan.

8 for a hearing on the government lawsuit seeking to establish legality of a presidential order under which the army seized Montgomery Ward and company facilities in seven cities Thursday. Meanwhile in Washington Atty. Gen. Francis Biddle predicted the case would be carried either by the government or Sewell Avery, Ward's chairman of the board, to the U. S.

supreme court. Avery contended the executive order and seizure were illegal and could not be accepted or obeyed by Ward's. From the government viewpoint, however, 12,000 employes in the seven cities to work for Uncle Sam Friday. Maj. Gen.

Joseph W. Byron, military manager of Ward's since Thursday, toured part of the main offices Friday and Avery also was in the building, his secretary said, altho reporters did not see him entering his private offices. Avery Not Restricted. Army public relations officers said there were no restrictions on Avery's movements and he was free to carry on activities of the nation's second largest mail order house which were not included in the seizure order. The company operates more than 600 stores and warehouses.

Hugh B. Cox, assistant to the solicitor general, asked Judge Sullivan for as prompt a hearing as possible on the government petition, filed Thursday, a declaratory judgment on legality of the seizure and an injunction to prevent possible interference by Ward's officials. Cox suppested Jan. 3 for the hearing. Stuart Ball, Ward's counsel, protested that witnesses would have to be brought from afar and the holiday travel problem would be encountered next week.

He suggested Jan. 8. Could Ask Injunction. In agreeing to that date, Judge Sullivan told Cox that if in the meantime the government met interference it could come into See WARDS, Page 2, Col. 4.

Lt. E. Swedberg killed over reich Lieutenant Swedberg. serve, was called into service Feb. 20, 1943 and was graduated as a navigator June 10, 1944.

He went overseas Sept. 11, 1944, assigned to the 14th air force, and began to participate in missions over Germany about Oct. 10, 1944. He was soon to have become squadron lead navigator. Besides his parents he is survived by two sisters, Aurora, and his wife, the former Jeanne Glover, Lincoln.

A memorial service was held at the Evangelical Mission church in Aurora, Lt. Erle V. Swedberg, 23, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Swedberg, Aurora, and 1943 graduate of the University of Nebraska, was killed in action over Germany while serving as navigator on a B-17, Nov.

11, 1944. Details of his death have been received by his wife from the pilot of the plane. Lie tenant Swedberg enlisted in the Lieutenant Swedberg. air corps re- Dec. 3.

Your Paper Boy Speaking I am a young merchant buying papers at wholesale, selling them at retail, earning profits each month after I have collected from customers. I appreciate your promptness in paying for the paper when I call to collect. Thank You for Promptness! JOURNAL CARRIER BOY IN 1881 LINCOLN 1, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1944 FIVE CENTS In west' Japs claim six ships By the Associated Press. The Japanese high command Friday reported a big, heavily guarded convoy of American transports moving westward thru inland Philippine waters and claimed six were sunk in a two-day attack. Unconfirmed Tokyo broadcasts reported a seemingly endless movement of U.S.

transport convoy in and around the Philippines. If only part of them were true it would mean Gen. Douglas MacArthur's troops were heavily reinforced for their I said next Friday's the amphibious convoy enemy consisted operation. communique of 30 transports escorted by more than 20 warships. Japanese planes, the report said, attacked Wednesday and Thursday as it moved thru Mindanao sea from Surigao strait south of Leyte island, perhaps headed for Mindoro within 150 miles of Manila.

Claims More Assaults. Tokyo radio claimed Nipponese air assaults on Mindoro were continuing. But General MacArthur said there was no trace of air, naval or land activity after U.S. PT boats and planes routed a Japanese task foree that erratically shelled the airdrome and lost three destroyers. New major naval-air battles can be expected to develop soon in the western Pacific, said Vice Adm.

Marc A. Mitscher, on his way back from six weeks' vacation to resume command of the See PACIFIC, Page 2, Col. 2. Solons may try reprisal Still oppose cattle ceiling WASHINGTON. (UP).

Senators. from western states hinted Friday they might seek legislative retaliation against the office of price administration if the OPA imposes ceiling prices on live cattle without congressional approval. The OPA A is understood to have recommended a live cattle ceiling and $17.50 addition per hundred 50 pounds an cents per hundredweight to the present (average) subsidy paid packers for. good and choice beef. John J.

Madigan, assistant director of OPA's food price division, has been explaining the OPA's program to cattlemen in Chicago and Kansas City for the past two days. Final ruling on any live ceilings is expected to come from Stabilization Director Fred M. Vinson. Sen. Hugh Butler, said that "if OPA attempts to pull a sharp one and put a ceiling price into effect before congress meets and has a chance to act, they will have a lot of explaining to do when the extension pf the price control program comes up for renewal in the next few months." Butler said the OPA wanted to clamp on live ceilings to buttress several black market cases the agency now has pending before the emergency court of appeals here.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (UP). Midwestern cattlemen voiced indignant opposition to the OPA's proposed cattle price stabilization See CEILINGS, Page 2, Col. 4. Zoo open New Year's City park authorities report that the zoo in Antelope park will be oppen on New.

Year's day, and that visitors will be welcomed. Push nazis back McAuliffe Bastogne chief Was acting commander of 101st BY EDWARD D. BALL. BASTOGNE. (AP).

Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe was disclosed Friday as the leader of the gallant Bastogne garrison of almost 10,000 men--the commander who said "Nuts" to the German demand that he surrender. McAuliffe was serving as acting commander of the 101st airborne division, which was encircled seven days in this Belgian road hub together with elements of the Ninth and Tenth armored divisions.

The 101st's regular commander, Maj. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor, was in Washington when his division was hurled against the Germans in the Belgian bulge, as a stopgap measure. Taylor flew to France and jeeped into Bastogne with the spearhead force of the fourth armored division, one of the units of Lt.

Gen. George S. Patton's Third army which broke the Bastogne siege. Made Way Thru Enemy. Taylor arrived in Belgium Dec.

26, made his way thru enemy lines and reached Bastogne early Dec. 27. Armored elements and stragglers from various infantry units were hemmed in the town along with the 101st. Patton used the veteran Fourth armored division and units of the 80th and 26th infantry divisions to smash the encirclement of Bastogne. Other Third army units which were trapped with the 101st airborne division in Bastogne were from the Ninth and Tenth armored divisions.

Two Third army divisions, the Fourth and Fifth infantry divisions, were disclosed to be fighting the Germans in the area northeast of the city of Luxembourg. Troops of the 101st "Screaming Eagle" division had been rushed into Bastogne by trucks just before the German encirclement was completed. The hard fighting youths, who participated in airborne operations in Normandy and Holland, See' BASTOGNE, Page 2, Col. 2. Elgin general aided Bastogne By the Associated Press.

The 80th division commanded by Maj. Gen. Horace L. McBride, Elgin, played heroic part in the relief of Bastogne, dispatches from that embattled city disclosed Friday. The 80th, called the "Blue Ridge" division, entered Bastogne from the south, and first contact with the Bastogne forces was made by the division's 318th regiment commanded by Col.

Lansing McVickar of Cold Spring Harbor, Me. The first actual lineup with the pocketed units was made by a doughboy patrol led by Lt. Walter P. Carr, Hot Springs, Ark. He wormed his way thru the German line without once being challenged and reached an outpost held by 101st airborne engineers.

"Never before have men fought like these boys," said one 101st division officer. His praise was echoed by Lt. Col. Harry E. Brown, Fourth armored staff officer from Indianapolis, who said "the 80th's doughboys really did themselves proud.

You can't say too much for them." Previously, the 80th had a part in fashioning the Falaise-Argentan trap which destroyed the bulk of the German Seventh army, slashed across the Seine, Marne and, Meuse rivers and threw the first bridgehead across the Moselle. FIRE TOPPLES BUILDING- by stored chemicals, flames toppled the upper walls of this building in Kansas $2,390,000 wholesale district fire. Firemen from two cities who fought the blaze estimated the flames shot 200 feet skyward at their height. (AP. wirephoto).

3rd army hammers at bulge PARIS. (AP). American armored troops have thrown the western tip of German spearheads back 10 miles and advanced to the outskirts of the picturesque town of Rochefort, field reports said Friday. Field Marshal von Rundstedt's troops were reported digging in at the western end of their sallent while his armor drew back and U. S.

Third army troops ad-' vanced up to three miles Friday in a squeeze from the south. Less than 17 miles separated the First and Third armies at the Bastogne neck of the salient where a junction would catch von Rundstedt's advanced ele- Fricke lauds Omaha step Wonderful for people there' By the Associated Press. Charles B. Fricke, director and former president of Consumers Public Power district at Columbus, Friday said Consumers "is very happy" that Nebraska Power company of Omaha has been sold to a non-profit group which intends to make the utilpublic property. know that it will be a wonderful thing for the people of Omaha," Fricke said in a statement.

"Of course, they are much up in the air because they do not know the facts but in such a complicated deal it is not so easy for the average layman to grasp its true worth or significance. "It is unfortunate that Mayor Dan Butler takes such a very obstinate stand. He showed his ignorance of financing of utilities when he appealed to the SEC and FPC the deal. Most bonding concerns would not enter into 'such a transaction without having the deal pass the scrutiny of these two organizations; and, had he -known anything about public utility financeing, he would not have wasted his time on them. "Mayor Butler says the price is too high, but Mayor Butler has See FRICKE, Page 2, Col.

3. Reds drive on Austria 2 armies move up Danube valley LONDON. (UP). Russian armies struck up the Danube valley toward Austria on a 90 mile front Friday far beyond Budapest, where the trapped German garrison blew up all the Danube bridges and were burning whole sections of the city as they fell back. Soviet front dispatches reported the razing of Budapest said the area around the royal palace was engulfed in smoke and flame, the city hall had been blown up, and streets adjoining parliament buildings were dynamited.

Savage Battles. The Hungarian capital was reported swamped by one of the most violent holocausts of the war in the east as Russian besiegers and German-Hungarian defenders battled savagely thru the streets, on the rooftops, and in the cellars. Moscow relayed front reports that German SS regiments trapped in Budapest were carrying out the systematic destruction of public buildings as they retreated toward the center of the city under the crushing blows of red army assault units smashing in from all directions. They scattered mines in all the See RUSSIA, Page 2, Col. 3.

The Weather Lincoln: Partly cloudy to fair with lowest temperature near 25 night. Saturday increasing cloudiness, highest temperature near 30 followed by colder Saturday afternoon or night. Nebraska: Fair Friday night with little temperature change, lowest 10-15 in extreme east to 25-30 in southeast portion. Saturday partly cloudy, somewhat colder. Kansas: Partly cloudy Friday night and Saturday, little temperature change Friday night, lowest 15 in northwest to 30 in southeast portion.

Somewhat colder In west portion Saturday. LINCOLN TEMPERATURES. (Official U. S. Weather Bureau Readings.) 8:30 D.

4. .32 3:30 .31 4:30 p. 0. 32 4:30 31 5:30 p. 5:30 .31 6:30 p.

.31 6:30 32 7:30 7:80 32 8:30 .30 8:30 82 9:30 p. .30 9:30 .32 10:30 .30 10:30 11:30 .30 11:30 85 12:30 .30 12:30 p. 36 1:30 ....30 1:30 p. 36 2:30 m. .30 2:30 p.

37 High temperatures a year ago 38, low 18. Sun rises 8:51 a. sets 6:08 p. -m. Weather readings for 24 hours ending at 6:30 a.

m. Bitmarek .28 6 New York. ..36 18 Chadron ...43 Platte. .40 30 Chicago ...20 13 Omaha .28 26 Denver .49 28 Rapid City. .36 21 Des Moines.

.24 21 St. Louis. .27 25 Grand Island. .33 29 Sioux City Kansas Valentine .87 25 ments in a noose. Driven Back 10 Miles.

AP Correspondent Hal Boyle B-29 BURNS AFTER JAP ATTACK ON SAIPAN- American B-29 Superfortress burns on Saipan in the Marianas, after Jap planes strafed the airfield. (AP wirephoto). Lincoln safest city of size in nation for past 11 months Launch new Athens drive British-Greek forces co-operate ATHENS. (UP). British and Greek troops launched a threepronged offensive against rebel forces in southeast Athens at dawn Friday, and four hours later the was reported going "according to plan." (Prime Minister Churchill and in Britain Friday from" the conForeign Secretary arrived ferences in Greece.) The offensive opened the second phase of a campaign to clear all southern Athens of left E.

T. A. S. troops. Southwest Athens already has been cleared virtually up to Omonoias square and by dusk, 'the British hoped to hold half the entire capital.

Attacking at 7 a. one British prong drove toward the stadium area of southeast Athens, another British column pushed into the cemetery south of the stadium and a Greek force advanced from the east. The Greeks had gained 1,000 yards against stiff resistance by 8:30 a. m. mortars, artillery and tanks supported the offensive.

Spitfires buzzed overhead at rooftop level, spotting enemy movements. Ardittos Hill Bombed. Ardittos hill, a gray-green mound directly behind the glistening white marble stadium, was half hidden in the morning mist, but British mortar bombs glowed orange thru the haze as they burst on the slopes, a scant 1,200 yards from government headquarters in the Great Bratain hotel. E.L.A.S. troops attacked Likivittos hill in northeast Athens at 3 m.

under cover of darkness, but were beaten back by British artillery and newly-formed Greek national guard battalions. E.L.A.S. units also sent an armored car into the Omonoias square area during the night, the first time they have used armor, but a British-manned Sherman tank reportedly, knocked it During the nearly three weeks of fighting, it was revealed, British and Greek government forces have taken 7,500 prisoners. 'County must pay fair premium' A county official required to give surety bond may select, the company from which the bond is purchased and the county is required to pay the premium providing it is a fair and reasonable one Asst. Atty.

Gen. Robert A. Nelson said Friday in an opinion to Co. Atty. Max Towle.

Harry Spencer, Lancaster county judge-elect, filed his bond with the county board of commissioners but they declined to pay the premium on the grounds that it was too high. Towle was asked by the commissioners if they were required to pay the premium and he referred the question to the attorney general. Nelson said that the county is required to pay the premium but that he was not ruling that the county is required to pay more than a fair and reasonable price. Index Mere Mention. 4 From The Morning' A Women's News 5 Editorials 0 Sports Markets 8 Radio 8 Want Ads 9 Comics 10 The National safety council has announced in Chicago, that Lincoln was the safety city of its size in the nation, from the standpoint of traffic death, during the first 11 months of 1944, ranking first in the 50,000 to 100,000 population group, Lincoln had 0.9 deaths for each 10,000 registered vehicles and 2.8 deaths for each 100,000 population.

Chief of Police Joe Carroll gave all credit to car drivers and pedestrians of Lincoln for the city's top safety record. "It goes without saying that without the almost 100 percent co-operation on the part of Lincoln drivers and pedestrians, we could not have established this fine showing," he said. indicate how to Lincoln the Without figures, available to second best safety city stands, the chief was unable to determine influence of the one traffic fatality in December. The 12th month is not included in the announcement. "We very much regret the one fatality during the current month," he said.

"But even counting this, we have still reached an all-time low fatality mark for Lincoln with but three deaths. Perhaps we are still high among all cities of our class after counting the December death. It is possible that some of the other cities experienced like misfortune during December." Police Worked Hard. Mayor Marti paid the police department high compliment when he said: "I am extremely glad to have this recognition come to Lincoln. The police department has worked hard on a safety campaign.

I'm glad this proved SO successful. Our citizens, too, have contributed much to a fine rcord." Like Chief Carroll, Public Safety Director Venner handed the lion's share of credit to the public when he said: "I am definitely proud of this rating. The public is to be congratulated for such fine co-operation with the traffic division of the police department. All we can do is make studies and set up regulations. Observance is up to the public and the public has done fine job." Change meeting date of Platte valley meeting Representatives of all platted Valley projects will meet at 10 a.

m. Friday, Jan. 5, in Kearney, instead of at the time originally according to E. P. Ryan, secretary of the Nebraska Mid-State Public Power and Irrigation district.

said American armored forces, hitting von. Rundstedt's offensive on the nose, had driven his forward elements back 10 miles and thrown them across the Lesse and Homme rivers. Roger D. Green, AP correspondent with British forces, added that the Americans had entered Rochefort's outskirts on the east bank of the Homme by 10 a. m.

Thursday. Rochefort is a tourist center dating from medieval times and is miles north of the famous Han Grottos, where the Lesse river flows thru a series of subterranean chambers. United Press correspondents with both the First and Ninth American armies reported that the build-up for a possible new breakthru attempt had been observed and U. S. commanders were on the alert.

Reduce Salient Width. By pounding on both sides of the nazi salient the Americans had reduced its width at the narrowest point to less than 15 miles and were hammering hard in an effort to trap the. nazi See GERMANY, Page 2, Col. 1. Fresh snow in Lincoln melts Fresh snow which was on the ground when Lincoln awoke Friday morning had melted by noon, as the thermometer climbed above freezing with a simulated spring atmosphere under cloudy skies.

In the rest of the state. colder weather was moving in. Altho many highways over the were slippery, authorities in Lincoln said none was blocked. New snow measured an inch at Hebron, Fremont, Nelson, Superior; a half inch at Auburn, Fairmont, Geneva, Hastings, McCook, Sutton and Wymore, and a fourth inch at Beatrice, Humboldt, Valparaiso and Wilber. Omaha had about a half inch, and Norfolk and Lincoln reported a trace.

Scottsbluff reported 1 2-5 inches, and Grand Island a light flurry. Temperature at Chadron fell to 10 at mid-morning after reaching a low of 12 during the 24 hours ending early Friday. Other mid-morning readings included Grand Island 33, North Platte 28, and Omaha 31. Ranges included: Valentine 37-45, Omaha 28-26, North Platte 40-30, Burwell 33- 27, Sidney 39-8, Chadron 42-12, Grand Island 32-29, Scottsbluff 29-11, Hayes Center 41-27, Big Springs 41-14, Overton 33-27, Ainsworth 35-23. Good skating for week end seen Park Superintendent Fred Goebel chuckled Friday as he prophesied good skating over the holiday week end.

Ice, he said, excellent at all pdaces tho bit off prime at Belmont. The city offers a number of excellent skating opportunities such as the two big surfaces in Oak Creek park, the pioneer of them all, 14th and Lake; Havelock, Sawyer-Snell, College View, Havelock and Belmont. Airminded Nebraskans make progress in year past, 25 more airports picked. By the Associated Press. Airminded Nebraskans saw in 1944 swift forward steps to that postwar day when air travel may take its place beside the family automobile.

Despite wartime restrictions, 25 additional airports were designated by the Nebraska aeronautics commission during 1944, bringing the total to 41. Three cities voted bond issues aggregating $48,000 for airports and four others set aside surplus funds for the purpose. These figures do not include 52 cities which have begun necessary preliminaries for bringing the world's air travel to their doors. Has 32 Class I Ports. Nebraska's complement of airports now includes 32 class I ports, suitable for private flying; five class II airports, suitable for use in feeder line systems; one class III airport which will accommodate present day twoengine planes; and three class IV airports which are big enough to take care of modern fourengine planes.

In addition some army air fields may be turned over to civilian use after the war. Army installations are located at Ainsworth, Alliance, Bruning, Fair-, mont, Fort Crook (Omaha), Grand Island, Harvard, Kearney, Scottsbluff, Scribner, Lincoln and McCook. Meanwhile an aggressive civil air patrol wing reported the most useful year of its brief existence. Biggest single airport project to be completed during 1944 was Norfolk's half dollar class municipal field with its two runways, each 150 feet wide, its full acre of airplane parking space and its $80,000 drainage system. Earlier in October the stateSee AIRPORTS, Page 2, Col..