The Escanaba Daily Press from Escanaba, Michigan • Page 1

THE ESC ANABA DAILY PRESS VOL. XXXIV NO. 118 (U pper eninsula eading ewspaper ESCANABA, MICHIGAN. WEDNESDAY, 1942 (A ssociated ress eased Wres ews ervice (12 PAGES) NAZIS GAIN 50 HILES CAUCASUS NAVY FIGHTER PILOTS SCORE AGAINST JAPS ONE SQUADRON BAGS 54 ENEMY PLANES, MAYBE 18 MORE Washington, Aug. 4 frie squadron of Navy fighter pilots was credited officially todav with having shot down 54 Japanese planes and probably shot down 18 others to help win the great air- sea battles of Coral Sea and Midway.

The squadron lost only four planes, tw'o to enemy fighters and two ran out of gas. In reporting the pcore the Navy said that it was made In four in the Coral Sea and three at and called these most decisive series of Individual aircraft actions in the war to Fast Zeros Downed Among the enemy planes reported as certainly shot down were at least 22 Japanese planes, long regarded by tan military and naval authorities as the best fighter. The Zero Is lighter, more maneuverable and has a faster climb than the American planes brought against It, but the American planes have more armour protection and fire power. In a sense, therefore, the single fighting record was regarded In naval circles here as one reason of the relative merits of the Japanese craft and Its Grumman opposition as well as of the combat skill of Japanese and American pilots. After participating in the Coral Spa battle the fighter pilots wprp transferred to the aircraft carrier Yorktown where they formed fighting squadron number three under the leadership of Lieutenant Commander John S.

Thach. 37. of Fordyce, one of the most noted squadron Wins Nary Cross It was his squadron which last February brought down 16 of 18 Jab bombers attacking an American carrier in the western Pacific. He won the Navy cross for that victory and one of his pilots, Lieutenant (now Lieutenant Commander) Edward won the congressional medal of honor for single-handedly getting five of the 16 planes. The Navy gave this account of the exploits of the fighter pilot group: In the Coral Sea battle they shot down 28 Japanese planes, 14 of which were fighters.

They probably bagged seven other planes but confirmation of these was not complete. They lost no planes to the enemy but two ran out of gas and were lost at sea. All three of the Midway actions, a month later, occurred on the same day, June 4. In the first of these, six fighters from squadron three were assigned to escort a torpedo plane squadron for an attack on a Jap carrier. They were intercepted by 20 Japanese In the resulting combat the Japs lost eight fighters certainly, and probably several others, while only two U.

S. planes were lost. Yorktown Disabled In the second Midway action involving squadron three, the Japs made a dive-bombing attack on the Yorktown (which was eventually put out of action) with 18 bombers protected by 18 fighters. Squadron three planes challenged the enemy and broke up their assault the Navy said, that only four planes dropped bombs. In the third action of the day, 18 enemy torpedo bombers and 18 fighters made another attack on the Yorktown and again squadron three went to work with such effectiveness that only five enemy planes got through to their objective.

The Navy said that in(Continued on Two) Weather (linrM O. I Waatfecr Bmn) U. A. W. Meets In Chicago SAGINAW BAY BOAT TRAGEDY IS DESCRIBED BAY CITY WOMAN.

23, SWIMS 7 MILES; 12 MISSING Merger Of AFL AndCIONearer President It. J. Thomas opening United Automobile Workers' (CIO) convention in Chicago where resolutions calling for unity between AFL and CIO were given favorable consideration in interest of wartime unity. (NEA Telephoto) SECRECY KEPT BY PARLIAMENT Plans for More Aid to Russia Believed Up for Discussion BY DREW MIDDLETON London. Aug.

4, held an unheralded secret session today in which the government may have dealt with thp implications of the Russian military position and British plans to give further aid the Russians. There was no inkling of what was discussed or of why the reversal from the government stand taken last week when Sir Stafford Cripps told commons that the government had regarding a second front but that there would be no secret session to discuss those intentions or other matters. closed session called without previous notice wThen Cripps, lord privy seal and government spokesman in the house, announced that a private statement would be made by Clement R. Attlee, Dominions secretary and deputy prime minister. After Attlee gave his statement, commons in public session opened the way for American military courts throughout the British Isles by passing the States of America (visiting forces) The unprecedented measure placing the American forces in Britain outside the jurisdiction of British courts went to the king for assent after sharp criticism was voiced by a few members.

The bill provides that American soldier defendants shall be tried henceforth by their own military courts. Fire Sweeps Circus Tent; Menagerie Loss $200,000 LOWER MICHIGAN: Not much change in UPPER MICHIGAN: Somewhat warmer northeast and central portions Wednesday. High Low ESCAXABA 70 JS2 Cleveland, Aug. 4, terror of the jungle, swept the Ringling circus menauerie today, killing two score animals, but tonight the big top and the midway carried on with all their bright lights and glittering colors. The flames hroke out at noon today in the menagerie tent, just as the hands were gathering for lunch.

There were 18 cages and rows of tethered beasts. Big John Saho, the menagerie superintendent shouted and the animal men came running. In 15 agonizing minutes the tent had burned, cages were charred, the screams of caged had heralded their fierce death, and the rout of elephants, zebras and camels had subsided to a tense quiet. STATE PAYROLL RULEJDISPUTED Civil Service Action Stirs Controversy In Lansing Dr. J.

J. Henderson, the circus veterinarian, turning with a grimace from the quivering body of a camel which had Just been destroyed by a merciful shot, counted the loss. So did big John, nervously bowsing the removal of a charred wagon. John Ringing North heard their reports, and said that upwards of two score animals were dead. may have to be destroyed.

There is a puma that is he said. A few minutes later a shot ended the pumas li North tentatively estimated the loss at $200,000. He said a fire officer had told him he believed sparks from a train, passing by on the lakefront, had started the blaze. The animals killed by fire or destroyed by the guns of quickly gathering police and coast guardsmen included two elephants. 10 camels, eight zebras, five lions, two tigers, three deer, two Indian donkeys, two brindle gnus, two giraffes, and the puma.

The performing animals, the big top, the horses and the gorillas Gargantua and Toto were unharmed. Fed by straw and sawdust, and spreading like a flash across the Standish, Mich Aug. 4, 23-year-old Citv woman, her inns and rubbed raw by strips of a life belt, recounted today how she swam seven miles to shore when a cruiser on which she and 12 others were aboard foundered Sunday in SaKl- naw Ray. Apparently lone survivor, Mrs. Dorothy Repkie the first detailed account of the tragedy which occurred when the boat, a convorted tug.

struck a rocky reef and began to list, finally sizing. From a bed at the home of her mother. Mrs Jessie Trovlnger, in Ray City, Mrs. Repkie told how of her six month-old son kept her t-olng as struggled, exhausted and numb, toward shore. Body Found alone knows how I made it," she declared.

Even as she told her story searchers brought word that the body of her husband, Louis. 2. who accompanied her on the fishing trip, had been found, his life jacket still around him. Her hushand's body was one of eight recovered by coast guardsmen and Sheriff officers who searched tfye bay by boat and plane. The, others were those of Cecil Day; 4 5-year old Arenac liveryman and pilot of the boat; John! Zatnetzer.

4 2. Bay City, genefal manager of the Ray Manufacturing company, and his wife. Ola. 37; Raymond Badour, 33, Au Crcs, and hi" wife, mother of four children; William Hatcher, 32, of Kawkawlin, and his wife, Martha. 27.

uh mh I ik Bout Still unaccounted for are Kti- gene Sauve, 27, and his wife. Fern, 21, of Kawkawlln; aud Abraham La Rean, 32, and his wife, Dorothy, 2H, of Ray City. The boat, submerged eight and one-half miles southeast of Point Au (ires, was located by airplane and towed this afternoon to the Fast Tawas coast guard station. It was completely wrecked. Mrs.

Repkie said that an hour after the boat had capsized die, her husband and Mrs. Radour set out for shore. led the three of us for awhile and 1 finally noticed that Louis was becoming she related. 1 swam back to him and asked him to grab hold of the shoulder strap on my life belt. Rut he told me to go on.

that It would only hinder Thought of Baby She said that shortly afterwards ago, Aug. 4 American Federation of and the Congress of Industrial Organizations agreed today to consider merging their forces in one huge unit at a historic peace parley. A conference to study steps to close the seven-year gap between them and to bring approxIniAtely 1 1.000.000 workers tinder a standard became assured when AFL President William Green an- nonuced the standing MILEAGE CHECK PLAN PROPOSED Allocation of i i ng May He Tried to Save Rubber Washington. Aug. 4 As an alternative to nation-wide gasoline rationing to save rubber, the war production board was reported today to be considering a spppdometer-check tng plan to Simultaneously a high official of the offlro of price administration said fuel oil rationing in the east was a possibility" unless other drastic steps were taken.

Limitation of gasoline deliveries as far west as the Mis-; slsstppl was under consideration, he said, to freo tank cars for hauling petroleum east, Officials who would not permit use of their names said the age rationing" proposal before WPR called for the registration of every and the allocation of a specified number of miles to each through of necessity" issued to drivers. canvas and the big painted wag ons, the flames seared the caged see her husband or Mrs. Radour because of the Yesterday Atlanta 94 Marquette 62 Bismarck 82Memphis 95 Boston 8 Buffalo 74 8 0 79New Orleans 8 Cincinnati 88 New York Pittsburgh 83 Duluth 75 St. 83 Gr. Rapids Soo.

Mich 7 Houghton 70 Washington, 89 Typewriter Firms Ordered To Halt Production Oct. 31 Washington, Aug. 4 war production board today ordered manufacture of typewriters stopped October 31, except for a small number to be produced for the government by ihe Woodstock Typewriter company. Production of portable typewriters was shut off July 31. Under order, production by the major typewriter companies between July 1 and October 31 is limited to i 2 Vi per cent of total number of standard typewriters billed by them to customers last year.

The government now Is allocating new typewriters, all of which are reserved for the army, navy, and maritime commission. Coastguards Sent To Fight Fire On Bois Blanc Island Mackinac Island. Aug. 4 jp Guardsmen from the Mackinac Island station responded tonight to a call for aid In fighting a forest fire in the dry timber on Bois Blanc Island, about a mile from Mackinac. Dense billows of smoke from Rois Rlanc were observed by the Coast Guard here in midafternoon.

The call for aid. relayed from a Coast Guard lighthouse on Bois Blanc which guides water traffic through the straits, followed within a short time. Fire wardens reported to Coast Guard station 7 that blaze appeared to be under control. Lansing. Aug.

4. agreement permitting the state budget department to veto pay raises for state employes has been dropped by the civil service department and has created a controversy among state officials, it developed today. According to an official who refused permission to use his name. Governor Van Wagoner has demanded the department return to the agreement, reached at a conference in his office after Budget Director Leo J. Nowieki complained that departmental budgets were being upset by pay raises the civil service department authorized without regard to the availabilitv of funds.

The informant said Chairman George J. Burke of the civil service commission told the governor the situation would be reviewed at a future meeting of the commission. The official said Thomas J. Wilson, state civil service director, defended abrogation of the agreement on the grounds that the budget office wag slow to return requests for pay increases That. Nowieki denied, asserting necessary time elapsed for the budget department to consult with department heads and work out means of meeting pay proposed.

German Planes Raid Southern England London, Wednesday. Aug. 5 night raiders dropped high explosive bombs at one point In southern England early today. During Tuesday Nazi raiders damaged two English towns in scattered attacks, and British Spitfire fighter-bombers struck swiftly at the Calais area of occupied France. Many Nazi planes were heard over one town thi? morning headinc in a northwesterly direction, and in Sotuh ales numerous anti-aircraft guns in action.

beasts, terrified the rows of elephants and zebras, and defied the flailing shovels and buckets of mechanical crews, a few performers and trainers, the circus firemen and the city's police and firo men. When it was time for the afternoon show, North announced the circus would have to miss one performance, but would go on as usual tonight. Replacement of the animals, difficult even in peacetime, will be attempted with the help of zoos. It was the second misfortune for the circus within a year. Last fall 11 elephants were poisoned.

It also was the big show's most serious fire since 1916, when 84 horses were lout in five minutes at Huntsville, Ala. peace committee was ready to meet a similar group appointed by CIO President Philip The AFL chief reported the date and site of the meeting would be fixed by members of the committees, expressed the hope that the negotiations would be finished this fall and stated he was confident conferees will bo able to reach a settlement fair to all Murray. In a letter to Green last Sunday, advised that had named a committee to discuss "possible establishment of oraanlc unity he- tween our (Ireon regarded the note as the CIO's acceptance" of the suKgestlon last May that parleys be resumed. Green told reporters he believed President Roosevelt was interested in a reunion of the labor bodies. If the AFL.

claiming fi.000,000 members, and the CIO. claiming 5,000.000 adherents, reunite, It would raise the question of what. If anything, John L. Lewis would do. Lewis, head of the United Mine Workers, bolted the AFL In 1935 and set up the CIO.

There have been reports that I.owls. at odds with Murray, would withdraw his union from the (MO. Green asserted re-establlshment of unity between the CIO and AFL would be the "greatest single contribution" both could to success of the war effort." He added: will eliminate division, discord and Jurisdictional strife. It will expedite war production. It will permit labor to speak with a single and more effective voice, both In protecting the social and Industrial Interests of workers today and when world peace Is finally negotiated." The AFL and CIO engaged In peace parleys In 1 937 and 1339, were broken off WPR held Its weekly session The task of attempting to remove all the obstacle! on the road to unity will bo In tho hands of tho negotiating committees Representing the CIO will be Murray; R.

J. Thomas, president of the United Automobile Workers; and Julius Fmspak of the United Elec- jtrlcal Radio and Machine Workers, Three vice presidents will for the AFL. They are Harrv Mates of Rrlcklayers 1'nlon, Danlej Tobin of the Teamsters Union and William LI Hutcheson of the today and Chairman Donald M.l Nelson said as he entered the ses- sion that the board had before It an alternative plan as a substl-1 tute for country-wide rationing of1 motor fuel. When tho meeting broke up, however. Nelson reported merely that "a decision will be made shortly on a savings in OPA officials made It plain, however, that they still considered gasoline rationing on a na- tlon-wido basis to be the only foolproof method of keeping all rubber-borne vehicles on the road until sufficient synthetic rubber Union comes In to provide tlreg for cl vlHans.

high waves. "I started to swim back toward where I thought they were." she continued. I see either of them or the boat and 1 didn't know what to do. I remem Churchill-Stalin Meeting Reported By Berlin Newsmen New York, Aug 4. Opt Following up Its unsupported story of last Saturday about "unconfirmed rumors of a Churchill Stalin meeting, German propaganda interpreted today's secret session of the Rrltlsh parliament as Indirect confirmation that the British NAZI SABOTEUR CASE REVIEWED Roosevelt Expects to Act On V'erdict By End of Week home to our baby so I struck out for shore again.

"It was cold and my started to knot up. My hands were (Continued on Page Two) gandhi avors APPEASING JAPS Rubber Ruling May C00peratiOn With Tokyo Hamper Michigan In chanted By Share-Ride Program Great Britain Lansing, Aug. 4 ------------authorities today were notified by Maxwell Halsey, Michigan coordinator of war transportation that a new rubber ruling may hamper I III bered then that and i-w prime minister had been In Russia said before that we had to (p geveral nothing seeped out thus far on the contents of the statement (deputy prime minister! Attlee the German transocean agency said, Is believed In London quarters that this statement dealt exclusively with latest Journey and his negotiations with Fitness Director Quits; Rival Detroit Program Is Blamed Lansing, Aug 4 ing the resignation of witt H. Merriam as the service In accept- Mrs. De- chalrman of corps fit- the share-the-ride program.

The criticism, Halsey said, originated with Wayne county officials who said yesterday they feared rlde-Bwapplng would be checked by a federal directive limiting new tires and retreads to only one car in a group of ride sharers. "The ruling Is being Interpreted variously by different people," Halsey said, we have appealed to Washington to clear the matter up and protect the swap-ride program. We at that all cars lu war plants be eligible for new tires or retreads." New Delhi. Aug. 4 Rritish government charged today that the great majority of the All- I India congress working committee are appeasers of Japan and that the nationalist leader Mohandas Gandhi favors prompt negotiations with Japan for the pend- ent India he seeks to establish The government cited documents seized in a raid on the All- India congress party's headquar- ters at Allahabad, lu particular ness program.

Governor Van Wagoner said today he would appoint a successor I can find White House I the right person." regret that circumstances beyond the control of either of us have forced your decision," the governor wrote Mrs. Merriam. Mrs. Marriam resigned yesterday. asserting her program was being duplicated by one sponsored by the Detroit city recreation department and directed by Mrs.

Walter Hair. Washington. Aug. 4 President Roosevelt said today that he was making a careful review of the voluminous evidence presented in the trial of eight alleged Nazi who were landed on American shore from Nazi U- boats. A record of the trial before a military commission of seven generals Is a long one, Mr.

Roosevelt told a press conference. It Is Impossible. he said, to devote a major portion of his time to the task Nevertheless, he expected to complete the task w'lthln two or three davs. When that been done, it will devolve upon Mr. Roosevelt, as tho sole reviewing official, to affirm or to change the verdict and sentence reached by the mission.

Any announcemt. the president said will come from the KEY JUNCTION OF RAIL LINE MENACED OUTFLANKING MOVE THREATENS REDS ON DON RIVER BY EDDY GILMORE Moscow, Wednesday, Aug. 5 German troops have made another 50-mile advance in the Caucasus to threathen Tikhoretsk, an important junction on the Soviet railway system, and also have gained in the Don river elbow northwest of Stalingrad, the Russians announced early today. Driving southwest of Salsk along the Stalingrad- Krasnodar railway, the Nazis have reached Kelaya Glina, and their apparent goal is Tikhoretsk, another 50 miles away. Railways Endangered Seizure of Tikhoretsk would outflank the Russian army still fighting the Nazis at Kuschevka, 50 miles to the north, and enable the Germans to control large segments of Russian railways in the western Caucasus.

German reserves succeeded la punching a hole in Soviet positions In the Don river elbow soma 80 northwest of Stalingrad. the Kletskaya and south of the midnight com- munlquo troops repulsed many enemy attacks and inflicted many blows on the enemy. in a large populated plaro has In (or several days. In one sector tha of our unit attacking enemy infantry crushed with their 270 German and men. Germans threw in many reserves and only at the coat or heavy losses pressed back what our Mwhsnlttil Might Prevails The push to Relaya Glina represents a 125-mile thrust into tha Caucasus by the Nazi salient which crossed the Don near Nl- kolaevsk.

bridged the Manych river to reach Salsk. then turned southwestward toward Tikhor- etsk, the Kushchevka tha bulletin said, German fascist troops continuously attack our defense Most of the attacks are repulsed. In one sector only the enemy succeeded in pushing Cossack cavalrymen equipped with modern weapons were in tha thick of the Caucasian fight, but tho tone of the Russian que made It only too evident that the German mechanized might was telling in most sectors except perhaps at Tsimlyansk. All attempts to cross the stream In the Kletskaya region were declared repulsed and on the lower Don near Tsimlyansk German which poured across bridgeheads apparently were contained In a pocket on the south bank. Match for Hitler The gallant of whom had grandsons at the front yielding ground in their beiovfd homeland only after strewing the freshly harvested steppes around Salsk with fascist dead, but courage and stoic disregard for death was hardly a match for the mechanized might of Hitler.

Of the Salsk fighting, 100 (Continued on Paga Two) original draft of a resolution put forward by Gandhi advocating riamplOn I OUZtl 10 that Indians wage a campaign of I. DriiHHiii In lAlkp civil disobedience to win lmmedl IJTOUntU Iff ate freedom from British rule. Ishyerning. Mich Aug 4 Gandhi admitted the substance The body of Rudolph Koskl. of the charges, but said he had u.

junior lu the Champlou high taken his position for bargaining tthool. recovered this after- purposes. noon irotn i.ake Ruth, Baraga Huch a resolution was evantu- county, in which he drowned ally adop'ed by the woiklng com- motorboat In which he mittee and is to be voted upon by pa8Mnier upended last 1 the party In a momentous meeting i this Friday, but the approved though announcer on the resolution, supported f' said 1 Pandit Jswaharlal Neh- save. technical rea- ru. emitted references advocating by hanging onto the overturned 4 direct cooperation with Japan.

until help arrived Beyond that Mr. Roosevelt preferred to Indulge in no discussion of the case. He declined to say whether the commission had Imposed a sentence upon the eight men. ItLiril RADIOS STILLKD Loudon, Wednesday, Aug 5. German radio stations went off the air last night, indicatinE British air raids, al- closing i was President to Veto Grain Rubber Bill Washington, Aug.

4, (Jp) President Roosevelt disclosed today that be hoped to send congress a message by Thursday vetoing a measure to establish a separate government agency to make rubber from grain. While it is generally expected that he will take occasion to deal at some length with problems arising from the rubber shortage. Mr. Roosevelt remarked that he did not think any human being in the country could make an exposition of the rubber situation fhare are m.inv more experts on rubber than are varieties iof pickles, he asserted. Today's News Highlights IX and Mrs.

Fred Knauf of Bark River journey to Pennsylvania to erect marker on mountain top where flyer-son was killed. Page 12. A ABA Wall Street Journal plan for building ore dock here. Paga 7. wiU play tonight at Ludingtoa park.

Page 6. CAMERA week's question. What ara you doing to help in the war Page 12. INCENDIARIES Water jet will extinguish fire bombs. Page 3.

LICKY of names announced of people receiving tires and tubes during month of July. Page 3..