Vidette-Messenger of Porter County from Valparaiso, Indiana • 1

VALPARAISO THE HOME -OF VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY THE WEATHER Clear and colder tonight; ibw tonight, 5 above; high 85. A Daily Newspaper For A 11 Porter County VALPARAISO, INDIANA, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1945 VOLUME 18 CNITED PBB8S LASKD WIU PUBLISHED AFTERNOONS BXCEPl SUNDAY FOUR CENTS V. fa C2 'WW 0)r Mm dcksyBridge JdpsBlou) ii Takes Rate It Bid To Outflank Nazi Barrier Heavy Fighting In Frankfurt Suburbs Reported By Moscow. SOVIET FORCES BATTLE TO CROSS ODER RIVER POWERFUL RUSSIAN ARMORED UNITS are reported to be massing along the Oder River east of Berlin in preparation for a smash across the last big barrier before the Gasman capital. Before the German High Command clamped a censorship on news from that sector, Berlin reports said that Red Army forces had reached the Oder on either side of Frankfurt and that assault units had already started to attack Kustrin.

Moscow dispatches stated that their forces had run into thick mine fields in the area. (nrernational) Bill To End Go. Councils Filed by Dems Finds Wife Among 3,700 Civilians Freed Sunday In Manila By Doughboys Eggs Stand On End? He Proves It BY WALTER RUNDLE CHUNGKING, Feb, sat shivering in the unheated office and complained of the cold to Censor Jimmy Wei. "Yes, it's cold Jimmy said, "but this Is the last ay" of winter. Why, this is the day the eggs will stand on end." "This is the day that what?" "The day the eggs will stand on end," Jimmy repeated, pointing to the Chinese calendar on his desk.

"It's the 22nd day of the 12th month of the- Chinese lunar year. At 1 p. m. winter ends and spring begins and from 1 p. m.

for about an hour eggs will stand or end." "What's the gag?" "No gag," Jlmnjy said. "It's an old Chinese tradi'ion that eggs stand on end during the first hour of spring. Come by my house at 1 I did. Jimmy greeted me with a smile and of fresh eggs from the I said. "Go ahead with your-parlor "This Is not a trick and lt can't be done in the parlor," Jimmy replied, "We have to balance them on the ground." "I get lt.

On the grass, I suppose, and I suppose that holds them up." "Nope, not on the grass." "Soft earth then?" "Not soft earth. In fact, the harder the ground is packed the better," Jimmy said. We found a portion of a playground packed Into concrete hardness. "This will do," Jimmy Said and stooped down ind balanced an egg delicately for a moment, then stenped back. The egg remained standing on end.

"But that is the broad end of the egg," I protested. Jimmy set down another, this time on the small It too stood ''You trone.aie said. I took the egg, balanced it gently, then let go. So help me, it re mained standing on end. "I tried another, this time on the small end and it remained standing.

We emptied the basket 22 eggs standing on end like a small field of mushrooms. "What's the explanation?" I asked. Jimmy threw up his hands and said, "it has something to do with moons and tides. I don't know. It works only for an hour or so each year.

It has been listed in Chinese almanacs for three and maybe four thousand years." Gas Coupons Now Issued At So. Bend; Approved Here Effective last week ration coupons for gasoline and for food for Institutional users are being issued from a central office in South Bend, it was learned today. Appr lications are approved at the Porter County War Price and Rationing Board, then mailed to South Bend for final action, after which the coupons are mailed directly to the individual. This procedure cow ers all gasoline rations except those for soldiers, and for special cases, it was learned. It was announced by Orval Burns, rationing chairman, that Mrs.

Gerald Nickerson has taken over as chief clerk, at the local board office, succeeding Clarence Brown who resigned the first of the year for the position as secretary of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Nickerson, who has been employed by the rationing board as clerk for the past two years, has as her new assistant Mrs. Hallie Edge, also a veteran employe at the offices. First Army Cracks Into Second Wall Heavy Barrage Opened Across Roer River, Enemy Reports.

PARIS, Feb. 5 (UP) American First Army troops cracked Into the second wall of the Siegfried line fortifications below Aachen today. Enemy reports said powerful allied forces to the north were moving up for an imminent offeasive co ordinated with the Red Army drive on German broadcasts, all unconfirmed thus far by allied spokesmen or front dispatches, said the U. S. Ninth and British second armies had opened a heavy barrage across the Roer river between Jul-lch and Duren.

15 miles northesat of Aachen. The shelling, Berlin said, was believed to be the "overture" to a new offensive on that front. The nazis also predicted new allied attacks on the northern wing of the British second army on the Maas (Meuse) river front between Rermond and Nijmegen. Farrfo the south, American and French troops stepped up their nutcracker offensive against the shrinking. German pocket west of the Rhine around Alsace.

Field dispatches said the nazis were In full retreat across the Rhine, fleeing through an eight-mile corridor below Colmaf under a storm of bombs and' shells. More than 2.500 pocketed Germans surrendered there in the last 36 "hours. On the American first army front, doughboys of the U. S. 9th and 78th divisions rolled up gains of as much as five miles against spotty German resistance yesterday, pushing rapidly through the relatively open area between the first and second fortified belts of the Siegfried, line.

The 78th, holding the northern wing of the first army offensive iront, advanced about 21, miles from the Kesternich area "north- 'east of Monschau to captured Ruhrberg. The ninth division pulled out ahead of the 78th with a five-mile advance that carried up the southern end of Lake Urft, two miles southeast of Ruhrberg, where the Americans captured Einduhr and drew within yards' of a big tJam controlling the levil of the Roer river to the north. Wollseif-en and Morsbach, two miles below Einruhr, also were taken by the first division. There was no confirmation of field reports that" the ninth division's advance had carried clear through the second belt of the Siegfried line covering the southern flank of the Cologne plain. At many points on the, first army front, as well as on Lt.

Gen. George S. Patton's Third army line to the south, there were signs of a general- German withdrawal from at least th outer works of the west wall. Road To Berlin (BY UNITED PRESS) The shortest roads to Berlin from advanced allied lines: Eastern front 32 miles (from point on Oder northwest of capital, by German report). Western Front 296 miles (from point southeast of Nijmegen).

Italy 530 miles (from point north of Ravenna). (EDITOR'S NOTE United Press War Correspondent Frank Hewlett, then Marfila Bureau manager, parted with his wife, Virginia, on New Year's eve of 1942 to go to Bataan with Gen. Douglas MacArthur. She remained in a Manila hospital as a nurse. Hewlett was the last correspondent to leave Bataan.

Trod-ding the "road back" from Australia with MacArthur, Hewlett accompanied the first Cavalry division in record dash into the Santo Tomas concentration camp in Manila Saturday. In the following dispatch, he describes the rescue of the internees of the camp and- his reunion with his wife.) Death 3 In Oil Death struck thrice in Kouts Sunday, claiming the lives of two of its pioneer citizens, and of a 4-year-old girl. Henry J. Folcom, 80, a life 1 long resident of Porter county, died at 1:35 a. m.

Sunday at his home In KouU. He was born In Hebron on May 19, a son of Andrew and El-mina Folsom. On March 30, 1884. he was married to Alice Allenbrand, who died on March 11, 1940. To this union were born three children, Clayton, who died in Infancy; Florence, who died in 1917, and Harry, of Kouts, who survives.

On November 25, 1942, hfa. was married to Rebecca J. Mockler, of Valparaiso', who with the son; five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Two grandsons, Dee and Kenneth, are serving overseas. He also leaves owe brother.

S. P. Folcom. of Hebron; two half brothers, Joliet Foley, Valparaiso, and Owen Foley, of Vancouver, and one half sister. Mrs.

of El Reno, Okla For many years the decedent was engaged in farming south of Kouts, but retired a few years ago and moved to Kouts. He was a member of the Kouts Christian church Memorial services will be held at 2:30 p. m. Tuesday at the Christian church, Kouts, Rev. J.

K. Warmer, of Hammond, officiating Burial will be in Graceland cemetery, Valparaiso. Friends may call at. the Kosanke funeral home iri Kouts this evening from 7 'o'clock and up until time of services. Henry Emil Pietsch; 73, died on Sunday at 11:45 p.

m. at his home in Kouts. He was born near Wana-tah on March 30, 1871, a son of Charles and Caroline (Benkie) Bfetsc.ii. He was married on Nov. 17, 1897, at LaPorte, to Helen Miller, who preceded him in death together with, one son.

He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church near Wanatah, Surviving are two sons, Leonard, of Gary, and Petty Officer Alden Pietsch, U. S. Navy; four daughters, Mrs. Dionysia Diakis, Gary; Mrs. Leona Allen, Gary; Mrs.

Dorothy Brust, Maiden, and Mrs. Rachel Damulikus, Chicago; 12 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; two brothers. Otto and Theodore Pietsch, of Kouts. and two sisters, Mrs. Ida Zanger.

of Wanatah, and Mrs. Emma Tmmblee. of South Bend. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a. m.

Wednesday at Kosanke Brothers' funeral home. Kouts, Rev. Aaron Egli officiating. Burial will be in Graceland cemetery, west of Kouts. Friends may call at the Kosanke Brothers funeral home Tuesday night from 7 to 9 o'clock.

Sandra Kay Bransford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bransford, of Kouts, died at 5:30 p. m. Sunday at -the family home after an illness of lukemla.

She had been ill since Dec. 10. She was born in Holy Family hospital, LaPorte, on July 11, 1941, and lived in Kouts all her life. Surviving are her parents; "an Infant brother, Jack Richard, born Saturday; her maternal grandparents, and Mrs. Emmett Muncie, her paternal grandparents, Mr.

and Mrs. Carl Bransford, of North Judson, Contir.ued on page 2. column 6 Hitler was reported'to have become dreamy and apathetic, finding it difficult to Other nazi leaders were said to have difficulty in. getting him to work on necessary speeches. It was said Hitler refused to go to his Berchtesgaden headquarters after the July attack because of a morbid fear that the, allies would send agents to assassinate him there, despite elaborate precautions to prevent any unauthorized person from' entering the grounds.

The three Jesuit priests, whose nationality was hot revealed, made their way from Salzburg to Trieste where they obtained a small boat, smuggled themselves into an allied-controlled part of Italy and then walked to Vatican City, informants said. North Half Of City Held By Americans 3,700 Half-Starved Prisoners Are Freed At Santo Tomas Camp. FRANCIS MCCARTHY MANILA, Feb. 5. (UP) Avenging American troops seized -control of virtually all the northern half of burning, starving Manila after ireeing 3,700 imprisoned American and allied civilians and capturing the presidential palace.

The First Cavalry and 37th Infantry divisions stabbed into the heart of the Philippines capital from the east and north and rapidly were mopping up the last enemy pockets north of the Pasig river, which bisects the cityu South of the 200 to 300-yard-wide river, several thousand crack Japanese marines were blasting and burning docks, warehouses, bridges and WASHINGTON, Feb. 5. (UP) Names of American internees rescued in Manila will be transmitted to Washington by the Army and released here by the War department as rapidly as they can be compiled. No names had been received up to noon today, and the War department doubted that any would be received until tomorrow or later, due to the time required for making: up the list in Manila. It was expected that the process of transmitting, the names from Manila to Washington would necessarily extend over several days.

other vital installations preparatory to what may into, a last-man stand in the southern half of the capital. Gen. Douglas MacArthur at last reports was watting impatiently in the northern suburbs for the bridging of one last river for a triumphal entry into the city he Was forced to abandon to its fate three years, one month and three days ago. (A CBS broadcast from Luzon said President Sergio Osmena and resident Commissioner Gen. Carlos P.

Romulo landed at a Luzon airport from Washington today and headed south to join MacArthur in his return to Manila.) (Radio Tokyo conceded shortly after 3 a. m. today that the Americans had entered Manila from the north and east in forces outnumbering the Japanese garrison). (A Japanese Domei broadcast said American troops had landed Jan. 18 on Kolo island, largest of the Sulu group in the southwest Philippines midway between Mindanao and Borneo, With a force of 3,000 troops and more than 10 tanks).

The 3,700 American and allied civilian internees were rescued by a mecha'nized flying column of the First Cavalry division at the Santo Tomas university concentration camp in the heart of Manila Saturday night after a spectacular 100-mile advance in 36 hours. Virtually all of the buildings in the camp area, including the infamous, ancient Bilibid prison, had been cleared of Japanese by last night. The Americans fought literally from room to room for some of the buildings. Brig. Gen.

William C. Chase of Baltimore, who i the rescuing "flying wedge," said the (Continued on page 2. column 3) Mrs. Ruge Hopes Son Among Those Freed In Manila Capture of part of Manila by General Douglas MacArthur's forces is exciting news to Mrs. Marx Ruge, 309 Washington street, Valparaiso, whose son, U.

S. Marine Major Robert F. Ruge, is believed to be a Japanese prisoner in the Manila According to a card received by Mrs. Ruge last April 29, Major Ruge was confined in the Bilibid prison, an old Spanish bastile on the outskirts of Manila, by the Japs into a prison camp. Whether Major Ruge has been moved from this camp to another on the island or transferred to Japan is not known.

The Valparaiso man, a. graduate of TJ. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, was made a prisoner when the American forces on Corregidor capitulated to superior Japanese forces on May 6, 1942. LONDON, Feb.

5. (UP) Marshal Ivan S. Konev's Red army wa reported by the Germans today to have launched a new offensive from a bridgehead across the Oder some 200 miles southeast of Berlin, in an apparent bid to outflank this last natural barrier before the capital. The German high command said powerful Russian forces had lashed out westward from a springboard in the Breig area of the Oder's west bank midway between Breslau and Oppeln, and violent fighting was going on in the heart of Silesia. The nazis also acknowledged officially that Marshal Gregory K.

Zhukov's army had clamped strong assault arcs against Frankfurt and Kustrin, twin bastions of the Oder defenses east of Berlin. Moscow broadcasts and dispatches said the soviet vanguard was "about 30" miles from Berlin, that Frankfurt end Kustrin were "closely invested," and that heavy fighting was going on in the eastern suburbs of Frankfurt. "The Red army now has crashed into Germany along a iront of 360 miles, although steadily mounting resistance and a thaw which has turned the fields into bogs has slowed the soviet advance," one Moscow broadcast said. Jt With a (lOO-mne" stretch" Oder line under assault and soviet forces reported battling for a river crossing 32 miles northeast of the capital, Konev's forces were said by the nazi command to hate ripped into the Stlesian defenses beyond the- Oder in strong fore "On both sides of Brieg," a Ger-" man communique said, "the enemy from his brideghead on the Oder launched attacks supported by trong forces. Heavy fighting Is in progress here." A supplementary report by Ernst Von Hammer, nazi military commentator, said Knoev's forces had reached the area of Grottkau, 12 miles beyond the Oder, the same distance south of Brieg, and 33 mjles south-southeast of Breslau.

A successful drive by Koner from the general area of Breslau, coupled with a likely swing to the northwest, would flank the Oder defenses, and either roll them up or neutralize them, posing a direct threat to Berlin in case the Oder line should hold against the frontal onrush of Zhukov's "Against the defense ring in front of Frankfurt as well as against Kustrin and Poznan, the Soviets are continuing their violent attacks without any success worth mentioning," the German high command reported. The bracketing of Frankfurt and Kustrin with- Poznan was significant, inasmuch as the Polish fortress city long has been under siege and isolated beyond hope of belief by Zhukov's sweep to the approaches of Brlin. Striking for a quick breakthrough into the Brandenburg plain -that would lay Berlin open" to 'attack from all sides, soviet armored formations were ranging up and down the east bank of the Oder, chopping away the enemy's communications and slaughtering thousands of hastily-mobilized nazi reserves. The soviet early morning communique reported that about 10.000 Germans were killed or captured all along the eastern front yesterday, most of them In a series of swaying battles before the twin Oder strongholds of Frankfurt and Kustrin. 23 miles east and 38 miles east-northeast of Berlin.

of drivers and trucks In the collection yesterday were! indi'iui Steel, VanNess Electric, Wittenberg Son, Ruggles Pontiac, McGill Mfg. Chevrolet Sales, Valparaiso Feed Store, Coash Son, Valpo Tire vtaret, Les Large, and a city truck Bob Pease, scoutmaster, and yi erai scouts of the Crocker ir 9 Drought in a trucklotd of Chairman Buffington said the file of the next drive is rt for a il 18, and he orged -airrtiitiT a Valparaiso to start stTlr IU eiout material that toos i wij la helping to wla the war. Rodeo Cash Target of Court Suit An echo of the successful promotion of a rodeo, show staged at Porter' county fair grounds last' October 15 was heard today when suit for an accounting was filed in Porter superior court. Plaintiff in the action is the Midwestern Saddle Bridle Association, and defendants are Leon Henry and Mrs. Laura Koski.

In the suit, filed by Attorney Ira C. Tilton for the plaintiff, title to $1,000 on deposit in the First State Bank of Valparaiso is sought. The bank is made a party defendant to the action. The plaintiff association its officers contend the defendants refuse to turn over proceeds from the rodeo show to the treasurer of the Midwestern Saddle Bridle Association, Inc. The suit seeks to have the court issue an order transferring the money to the credit of the plaintiff.

It is averred George Grundell. present treasurer," conceived the idea of holding the rodeo and communicated it to Dr. E. H. Miller.

When the question of liability In connection with the show came up, Leon Henry, then chairman, and Koski treasurer, refused to go ahead and offered to resign their posts. The promotion, then went forward after Dr. Miller guaranteed any loss up to $500, the complaint avers. The show is said to have' realized, a profit of $1,371.28, which after deduction of state and federal taxes, left a net profit of $1,000. On Nov 16, .1944, following the rodeo, a permanent organization was formed with Vernon Piper, president: Dr.

E. H. Miller, first vice-president; Oscar Raza, Hobart. second vice-president; Thelma Muster, secretary, and George Grundell, treasurer. Get Auto Tags Now To Avoid Rush Is Advice Only 2,400 automobile license plates for 1945 have been sold by the Porter county license branch, E.

A. LaCount, license branch said today. As March 1 is the deadline for plates, LaCount urges that motor vehicle owners get them now to avoid a last-minute rush. He announced he will visit various towns In the county beginning Tuesday. The schedule follows: Crisman schol, Feb.

6 and 13; Garyton school, Feb. 20: Chesfer ton Tribune office. Feb. 7, 14 and i 21; Kouts town hall, Feb. 6 and 13: Alyea's garage, Hebron, Feb.

9, 16 and 23. Hours are from 7 to 9 m. All persons are urged to bring tax receipts. Where owners nave nut received applications from the state they may bring titles. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb.

democratic minority-sponsored measure was proposed in' the Indiana senate today to abolish all county councils and set up county budget boards In their stead. Each budget board would consist of two ex-officlo members the treasurer and auditor and three res-dent freeholders appointed by the circuit court judge. Elective officers would receive no salary, while appointive members would be paid $20 annually for an annual meeting to be held in September. Minority Floor Leader Walter Vermillion, Anderson, and Senator John Kendall, Danville, introduced "the measure during a deluge of 28 other bills and two resolutions. Sponsors said the bill resulted from a long dispute between Marion county council members and county commissioners.

However, the terms of the bill included all 92 counties, each of which has a seven-member council.1 elected every four years. The bill provides that the three appointive members to the county budget board serve terms of one year: No county council would be abolished until its present term expired After receiving the new bills, the senate recessed to 1:30 p. m. Another measure, introduced by Senator Hoyt Moore, Indianapolis, would prohibit township 'Continued on page 2. column Mrs.

Condon Dies Sunday Mrs. Emma Louise Catherine Condon, 58, wife of Erwin H. Condon, died -at 10:30 p. m. Sunday at the family home, 353 Lincolnway, after a one and one half years' illness.

The decedent was born In Center township south of Valparaiso on July 14, 1886, a daughter of John D. Lemster and Margaret' (Martin) Lemster. All of her life was spent in Valparaiso vicinity with exception of two. years' residence in South Bend. On Octqber she was married in Valparaiso to Erwin H.

Condon. To this union was born one son, Robert John, who died in infancy in 1915. Surviving besides the husband are one sister, Mrs. Anna Detlefs and" one brother, William Lemster, both of Valparaiso. She was a member of the Im-manuel Lutheran church and was active inRed Cross workup until her Illness.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p. m. Wednesday at the Bartholomew chapel on Washington street, Rev. Armin C. Oldsen of the Im-manuel Lutheran church officiat-in.

Burial will be hi Graceland cemetery. Friend may call at the Bartholomew chapel Tuesday afternoon from 2 p. m. to 9:30 p. and on Wednesday from 9 a.

m. to 1:30 p. m. By FRANK HEWLETT MANILA, Feb. 3 (Delayed) "(UP) Some 3,700 thin, hungry allied" civilians, 2,500 of them Americans, cried a hysterical welcome to liberating American troops at Santa Tomas university internment camp tonight.

Among them was my wife, Virginia, from whom I parted on New Year's eve of 1942 to go to Bataan with Gen. Douglas MacArthur. She insisted on staying behind in Manila as a nurse in Santa. Catalina hospital. I found her there today, recovering' from a nervous breakdown Doctors said she would have fully recovered now if she had had sufficient good food.

Though never a big girl, her weight has -dropped to 80 pounds, but I found her in excellent spirits. A little girl, who answered the question which was foremost in my mind, told me where I could find my wife and kindly offered to accompany me to the hospital where Mrs. Hewlett was held. It was a reunion after years about which I do not want to The other patients, nurses and doctors and my old friend, Father James J. Hurley of Boston, shared our joy.

Americans here have suffered terribly since last June when the Japanese forbade them to pur chase food from the outside. Conditions have been especially bad in the last two months. The ration has not been more than 700 calories a day. The Japanese were routed quickly from most of the buildings in the camp area, but still were holding out in the former education building of Santo Tomas university late tonight with-nearly 300 American, Dutch and British internees as semi-hostages. Troops of Brig.

Gen. William C. Chase's mechanized flying column surrounded the building, but hesitated to use machine-guns or other automatic weapons for fear of hitting the civilians. The civilians, nonetheless, shouted encouragement and advice from the windows of the besieged building. They included many women and children (Hewlett, in a' later dispatch said a "truce was arranged under which the 221 internees were released unhirmed and the Japanese force of 65 men under Colonel (Continued on page 2, column" 6' Hitler Hides In Austria, Priests Say At Vatican Scouts Collect 41,000 Pounds of Waste Paper CATICAN'CITY, Feb.

5 (UP) Adolf Hitler is hiding' in a small monastery at the outskirts of Salzburg, Austria, reliable Vatican sources said today. The report was said to have been brought here several days ago by three Jesuit priests, who were turned out of the monastery -when it was taken over as a secret headquarters for the fuehrer shortly after lhe abortive attempt on his life last July. The informants said the Jesuits reported they personally had seen Hitler walking in the monastery gardens Several times. They said a large wound the left side of hi? scalp had not healed but that he wore only light bandage as doctors hoped the air and sun would effect a cure. Valparaiso Boy Scouts, combing the city 'over icy streets Sunday, collected 41,000 pounds of paper, 880 pounds of rags and 650 oounds of iron, donated by the Fop'e of Valparaiso in response to the government appeal for more md more waste paper in the war effort.

W. E. Buffington, chairman of the drive, said the slippery roads and walks proved no great handicap to the troops as they scored the city from 2 to 6 p. m. Several homes in Valparaiso gave up 300 to 500 pounds of paper to help swell the total, Buffington said.

Firms who donated the services.