Abilene Reporter-News from Abilene, Texas • Page 4

PAGE FOUR Tune In on KRBC THE ABrLENE REPORTER-TOWS ft- Bridge Scaling Scary Thing Tuesday Morning, October 5, I94J Foblllhcd Utlij Onre on Sunfiaj kj tha Kr.TORIEK CO Cr.fmd it Fteoad MHltr Oct. 4. I9C6. Ablltct. ur.Jli lit A(t ol 5.

lubicrlpilos RIKA-- Bj ted i Cvtr.Lcs tr-d Sucfiay. SOC Morale! tvtnlnfc S'-indiy, By ittfl Wist tnd fualtr r.v«ulr.g aai S'jndiy. i aoaia. Olhar ralej oo Member of AiKrlftttV TrtH Any ecrosccui upon Hit taincirr, mod. log or reputation of i percn.

firm cr corporation cilcrl CEy occur fn CCI dJ.Vmrj Of THE REPORTER- KEWS will be Ilidly corrected UPDD btlat fcrouBht to thi atur.iica cl Thi are r.ct rttponllbll for copy trpoxriphicil errcn 6r any errori a a occur cVhrr a to cornel la ntil a It li brovitn 10 thtlr imntlon. AU id'frlllliii craeu accepted ea bts'j In West Texas The Texas SPUR of Spur turns up the meanest man: The meanest person we have heard of lately is the coyote who stole thp money out of the "Kitty" box at the Palace theater some time last week. These funds are being collected to purchase cigarettes for men in service. There were several dollars in the box, according to J. D.

McCain, theater manager, anci we just want to remind the person who took it that any one who would stood to such a dastardly deed, rates about as high in this community as the Japs who Stabbed us in the back at Pearl Harbor. A good "horse whipping" is the punishment one man who has a son in the service, would mete out to the culprit if he is caught. The Stamford AMERICAN defines the freedom of the press: Just what is your idea of the meaning of the term "freedom of the Is it something for the special benefit of newspaper editors and owners? Too many Americans probably have that confused idea. Maybe it arises from the fact that the newspapers have to do most of the fighting to prevent encroachments upon that freedom. Actually, "freedom of the press" is a right of the people instead of a privilege of the newspapers.

It is the right of the people to know what is happening that will affect their welfare, whether at home or abroad. It is the right of the American people to know what their governments, local, state and national, are doing. You would be surprised how natural it is, even in this country, for governing bodies and officials, high and low, to gel the idea thai it is best for the people not to know all of their official actions. There cannot be a free people without a free press. Neither can a people be enslaved so long as there is a free press.

Before tyrants can set up dictatorships, they must abolish freedom pf the press as was done in Italy, Germany and the other parts of the earth where people who were once free have lost their liberty. The Rising Star RECORD reflects a coming event: All Eastland county boys having registered Hereford or Jersey cattle, or swine who are interested in showing at the West Texas Livestock Show, should be i ting their animals for the show which is to be held at Abilene, on November 2, 3, 4, and 5. The 4-H Club boys, FFA boys, and breeders of Eastland county are expected to make a creditable exhibit at this show. Merkel MAIL: A supervisor is to be elected in each sub-division of the Middle Clear Fork Soil Conservation district on Tuesday, Oct. 5.

The election for the Merkel sub-division, which is No. 3, will be held at 8 p. m. at the Lions hall. Election places will also be named in the other sub-divisions: Willow Creek, Stifh, Wylie and Elmdale.

Each land-owner in the sub-division is entitled to one vote. The Merkel sub-division lies between the Merkel-'Abilene highway and Highway 158. Comer Haynes is now serving the'jMerkel subdivision as supervisor. The way it seems to the Hamlin HERALD: We see where old Mussolini has had an operation to correct his liver. We have known all the time that the old buzzard had a bad liver.

He is like some other old guys, when they act crazy-like, better look into the liver. Sometimes we think the liver has about as much to do with the way some folks talk and act as the brain does. The Rotan ADVANCE reports on the weather- This particular spot of the world is still dry. We have had it week of cloudy, and sometimes foggy, weather, but except for a shower Wednesday morning the most moisture we got during the week was a little thunder in the south. The shower Wednesday morning was encouraging, in that it showed there was still moisture in clouds and increased the hope that we would have rain some time.

Thursday morning it is still cloudy and there is.good prospects for rain, sand storm or hot wind. Jayton CHRONICLE: One who owns only a small share of the United States of America is far "wealthier than he would be if he owned all of Gjcrmany. In America you work as freemen, in Germany you work as slaves; in America you sleep in peace and security, in Germany you retire to an underground shelter with the fear of a block bursting bomb falling on before morning and blowing you and yours into eternal oblivion. Its wonderful to be an American and own just a small part of God's most blessed land: War item gleaned from the Haskell FREE PRESS- Profits of 56,800 from Army Post Exchanges in Africa ate being used to provide religious equipment for the arrays five permanent chapels there, the War Department has reported. The money, spent by American fighting men on soft drinks, candy and cigarettes in the overseas PX s.

is buying ce organs, hymnals, bibles and other religious supplies for all denominations. Aspermont STAR: The Star editor has been asked to give his opinion on the drafting of fathers. Well. first, before some one gels any ideas to the contra rv will say that the local board of Terry county, in' Brownfield. Tex.

has our ''pedigree" on record in'their files; when in their judgment comes our time to go. we are ready. Like thousands of others, many of whnru are already in the service, we do no! want to scn-r in the Armed Forces, but we know for sure some one must do it, and if one shirks his duly, then that forc-s some one else to take his place. Stanlon REPORTER: A Net Milhollon, living on her ranch at the east edge of town heard her chickens roosting in a tree, making an awful racket about 7 clock Wednesday morning. She grabbed her shotgun and out to the roost she went.

She found a big silting on a limb as wise as could be. Aunt Xct took bead and pulled the trigger and down came the bird that measured 4 fed ind 3 inches from lip to tip of wing. Editor's Note: Here Is another of ihe Ernie Pyle columns from past years which iv-f are reprinting during Ernie's vacation. This one tvas written In 1930. By KtiME PYLR SAN FRANCISCO Construction engineers arc great fellows, and they ore smart.

They know all a stresses and strains. YOU admire them a i great deal while filling around a table looking al their But Just wait till you are 750 feet up In thin standing rigid and paralyzed In rickety Ittiie kcagc, suspended, by A piece PVLE of wire, At that moment you wish all coiiitruclion engineers were in hell, and you know very well dial, figures figures, a one-inch steel Isn't strong enough 10 support big guy llfce you who weighs 115 pounds. On the soulh shore there Is a little frame building which serves as field offices for the a Golden Gate bridge. We went in there to get our safely helmets. When we came out you couldn't see any bridge at all.

the log tvas so thick. "Well, we'll go up anyway." the bridge man said. "Maybe it won't be so thick uj) above." We walked out the temporary pier, under Ihe bridge to the immense south tower, thrca blocks out In the water. We got into a wire cage, and started up. Now let tell you about this cage.

It's like an elevator, except that it doesn't up rnythlng No shaft at all. It just goes tip through empty air, like a bucket on the end a the top o. the ride is nearly 200 feet higher than the Washington Monument! As long as we were in the fog I was al! right, because I couldn't see. But pretty soon we came out above It, then Die closed in over me. We went up and up and up.

TJie fog slid of bridge and shores mid city widened out us. I A I THE WORST The elevator ocean la swing up and down. I knew what that was Instantly. It was (he cable fraying, and only a strand or two was left holding us. Oh lor the safety of an airplane At two places on Ihe way up passed little shelves where tlie elevator sometimes stops to let workmen When you come to one of these shelves the top of Hit.

elevator hits It, and the cage bumps and Jlgglrs around; honestly H's enough to make a man want to lie down on the floor and cry. Finally you're up there. Then you have to step acrots an open elide of skyabout a fool wide wide enough to fall through, all right,) and then climb a steel ladder for 20 feet, then across a catwalk, and up another ladder 15 fret, and then you're out on lop of (he world. Oh God, who ever talked me Into coming up here? The (pp of the tower Is as big as. eight or ten rooms.

There are little shops and control houses, and men in helmets are sitliing around eating lunch. The view is wonderful, if you dare look. The fog Is vanishing now, and the whole immense bridge is there below you. in both direction, and there is (he Golden Gate with 111- ile ships going through it, under (he bridge, anrt over yonder Is Sausalito and back here in San Francisco, and out there the ocean. Around the edge of the top Is a strong wooden railing.

Sense tells me I could pound on It al! day with a sledge and not make a dont. And yet I know that if I lean on It. as the bridge man is doing, It will collapse. Furthermore, I know that if I should stumble I wouldn't fall to the floor. No, I'd fall up about five feet, and then out about five 1 feet over the rail, and then 750 feel down.

That's the nay I fall at the top of a high tower, consequently, I stayed about six feel from the edge, with one arm wrapped around a doorway lo one of the control houses. III: 1)10 AM, KIGI1T The bridge man said was do- Ing all i He SAid a lot of people kept their eyes shut all the way up In the elevator. And a lot of them back out when the elevator stops. They just can't step across that foot of oiwn space. And others go on up, and then get si scared they lie down on the floor and Him white and sweat and tremble.

The bridge man said I was doing all right. I was very careful, however, to step rhythmically and like a cat, so as not to set up any vibration that would collapse the tower. bridge It was built so that an eaithquake wouldn't collapse 11, you never can teil. The bridge man asked If I wanted to walk down the catwalk which runs beneath the- tivo cables from the lower clear tiosvn to the bridge floor in the center. I sure wotlld have liked to.

but unfortunately I had an appointment willi my music teacher and wail. So we climbed down the ladders, and waited for the cage, and went swinging and Jciking down lo sea level again, me getting braver with every foot of descent. There was a fellow In workmen's clothes on the elevator. i said lo him. "How long did It take you to get used to these high places ile said.

"When I sinrled I was on the graveyard shift, from midnight till 8. It was so dark I couldn't see what was under me. By the time it got daylight I was all right. But was so damn glad to get a Job I'd of dumb the Eiffel Tbwer." Personally, I would joyously starve to death before I'd work one hour at the top of the Golden Gate bridge. Or any other bridge more than ten feet high.

Steel Industry Scrap'Happy WASHINGTO.V-The War Production Board has just launched a new drive lor iron and sttel scrap, but the drive Is imperilled by the apathy of the steel industry itself. Last year industry, worried threw everything into 'the drive, spending a total of il.800,000 for advertising, for speakers, and for the traveling expenses of school children who had won the right lo cluster. Liberty ships. This year, the industry Is not putttn; up a penny. It would seem to be gambling on a quick end of the war, in which case there would be a sudden drop In teh demand for steel and in the price of scrap.

the industry got caught with heavy inventories of scha'p, (here would be big financial loss. Whatever lire reason. WPS officials complain that they are not getting the necessary cooperation from the sleel industry. The steel toys admit there is a threatened shortage of scrap, with requirement of 15 million tons for the last half ol this year and an Inventory of only about 5 million tons. And there is no question that the production of munitions, merchant ships, and naval ships is far greater than last year.

FA'lhermore. shipments of iron ore have fallen off this year by 8 million tons, due to ice and the month-late opening of Great Lakes navigation last spring. Result of all these factors that at a time when the demand for steel is at record levels, some of the nation's open hjarth sleel mills may have lo shut down for lack scrap--unless the scrap drive really goes places. -Note: War and Navy Departments are ler.dlng their trucks and men to help gather scrap In localities where local manpower and trucking are Inadequate. Here are two recent developments MERRY-GO-ROUND 1 0 i A In the giant tire insurance lobby Ib persuade Congress to exempt, insurance from the anti-trust laws; (1) the lobby Ls getting more intense: 12) there seems to be some mystery as to what congressmen are really behind the bill.

On the House side, of the Capita the bill exempting insurance companies from the anil-trust aut was introduced by able Representative Francis Walter. Democrat of Pennsylvania. But when a httli U. S. official went to see Walter and ssk- ed him if he realized the the insurance bill.

Walter admitted he knew little about it. "I was helping out Halton replied the popular Pennsylvanian. "He wanled me to introduce it." This has pointed the finger at Texas' Representative Sumnere. head of the Judiciary Committee, as a backstage leader of the insurance forces. Sumners, a the Judiciary Committee, as a backstage leader of the insurance committee supported Congressman Cox in his fight with the Federal Comnnmica- Uoas Commission--shortly after which Cox bowed to public pressure and resigned.

The Insurance lobby is sure to have a lot of other friends in Con- for lot of Congressmen operate insurance offices. Amonj them are Congressmen D'Alefandro of Maryland and Plceser of MU- souri. the a having already made himself heard with Ihe Jus- lice Department. Meanwhile, the National Board of Fire Underwriters has prepared a long statement which it circulating to Congressmen emphasizing states rights for insurance companies. Meanwhile also, it has leaked.out (hat the fire Insurance companies approached the life insurance companies asking them to participate in the lobby, but the life Insurance companies declined.

CHAFF Representative Jim McGranery of Pennsylvania was paid an unusual tribute hy the Senate when he resigned from Congress' to become Assisiant to the Attorney Genera! Chairman Fred Van Nu'ys waived the cuslomary procedure of ling nomination to subcommittee for investigation, ar.d the rule, requiring a seven-day lapse before confirmation by the Senate also was waived. Aggressive Representative George Bender of Ohio, who used to be one of the most volatile GOp critics of Ihe Administration, now has a liberal voting record few New Dealers can match since the 78th session began. Visiting Flooridians call on Senator Claude Pepper of Florida, Instead of ineffectual Senator Charles Andrews, when they want something done in Washington. A conscientious worker for his State. Pepper treats everybody alike, from afflu- tnt business men to job-seekers.

IN UNIFORMS LT. W. W. PERCIFULL Bronffi LT. C.

V. WEBB Balllnitr LT, J. W. OBB Odeist B. I.EVERETT LT.

C. A. WHIITINGTON LT. R. L.

LANDTROOP A i Abilene LT. J. F. SCOTT Brownwood Several Central West Texans were among young fliers graduated from advanced flying schools ol the Southwest, last week. Classes completed work at Altus and Frederick in Oklahoma, Aloe, Brooks, Lub'Dock, Blackland, Pampa, Moore, Foster, Hltngton-and Eagle Pass, In Te.vas.

Included among the graduates, nil becoming lieutenants, were: Bill J. Leverett. Rout" 3. Abilene. Altus field; Charles A.

Whlttington, 18l south 13th, Brooks field: Cecil R. Brown. Houte 2. Big Spring. Aloe field; Wayman W.

Pcrclftlll, Bronle, Eagle Pass field; Thomas H. Williams, Hamlin. Brooks; Armando Baumann, Loraine. Fosler field; Perry G. Johnson, Midland.

Foster; John w. OIT, Odessa, Pampa field; Ravmond L. Landlroop, Ranger, Frederick field; Scott H. Trail. Scurry.

Brooks; Robert D. Moser, Stephenvillc, Blackland field; Garlyn O. Hoffman, Talpa, Foster; James F. Scott, Route 2. Brownwood.

Moore and Charles V. Webb, Ballinger, Brooks. LT. o. o.

HOFFMAN Talpa LT. C. K. BROWK Big Spring The lights usually don't go mil in his office until 8 or 9 o'clock at night. 1 MEAD'S DETOUR Lanky Senator Jim Mead of New- York got "lost" from the rest of the parly In Ihe Southwest Pacific while touring the battle fronts wUh the Senate globe-girdling committee, but me experience gave him a firsthand view of the grim drama of war that his companions missed.

Mead left MacArthur's headquar- lers for a quick flight Jo a nearby island to visit with doughboys from Buffalo, his home town. Due to bad weather conditions, his return flight was delayed and flic other four Senators continued on their lour without him. Mcart had to hitch- hop In three different planes before he finally caught up with his colleagues In Australia. He will never forget the last hop. It WHS made from an island fn the Southwest theatre In a cargo plane.

There were three others aboard-the pilot, a doctor and a wounded American airman who was being flown to a hospital in Australia. The flyer had been shot up during raid on the Japs in New 'Guinea, but he gamely nude the best of the situation. "We were flying In a bad storm." sajs Mead, "but that spunky young American didn't seem to mind It as much as the rest of us." hope I get well soon. Senator, so I can go back with my gang and plaster some more of those Jap -so's," the flier told Mead. "Please tell the folks back home that we're in this thing pitching, all of us.

and that wete going (o It through." Mead and his four companions lilt II off excellently with MacArlhur. They had had some misgivings aboul how MacArthur would react lo their "investigation" of the Soulhwtit Iheatrc. but the general was surprisingly cordial. One thing Ibe committee was particularly interested in was hospital for U. S.

troops. MacArthttr saw (o It that they were given a full picture of (his and everything else that Ihcy wished to study. On Ihclr departure. MacArthur declared that it had afforded him "a great pleasure to meet you gentlemen, as nell us an Inspiration me and those serving under ir.r to know thnt the Senate Is keeping in close conUct with our operations CGopjright. 1513.

by Unilcd FcaUiri Syndicate, Inc.) A lull of. uncertain duration In heavy fighting both in Italy and Russia seems Indicated although on both fronU the Nazis are slill in relreat. This does nol mean there is lack of major movements now. On the contrary, in Italy bolh Ihe Fifth Army in the west and Eighth Army in the east are moving up swiftly against Nazi rearguard resistance, probing (or indi LT. T.

H. WILLIAMS Hamlin INTERPRETING THE WAR NEWS DUE L. SIMPSON KM. I. cations of the line along which the enemy proposes to make his next formidable stand.

In Russia red forces are apparently thrusting at the narrow sector thCiGcrmans still hold fast of the Dnieper between Orsha Lcev. That east bank footing covers the vital.crossings of (he Dnieper Ballinger Private On Missing List WASHINGTON. Oct 4 -IUP)- The War department announced today the names of 400 United Stales soldiers lining In action In the Asialic. European. North African.

Pacific and Southwest Pacific areas. The Included 11 Tesans: Lewis Explains Use of Gasoline ALEXANDRIA. Oct. 4 --(UP) John L. Lcivis.

president of the United Mine Workers, has given "a thoroughly satisfactory explanation" regarding his use of gasoline coupons on a trip to Springfield. lasl August, local ration board Clerk J. s. Doiiglns said today. The matter has been completely cleared up, Douglas said, by Lewis' response to the board's latest request for an explanation of the Irlp.

during which Ihe president Msitta his molher In Springfield. above Ihe marshes of the on the west bank. It appears possible (hat heavy Nazi forces havs been thrown In here to hold the Russians at arms' length from the river. "FKE railroad running laterally to the west bank, feeding whole German Dnieper central front, lies within gun range of the higher east bank all way-from Orsha to Zholbim dlslance oi nearly 100 miles. The Sozh river, rising southeast ol OrshA and roughly paralleling the Dnie- per southward until it flows into the larger stream at Loev.

affords a possible Nazi outer defense line for (lie Dnieper front in that sector. There has been no indication that the Russians have yet crossed the Eozh except for an unconfirmed report last week that they were approaching Zholbin. Early fall rains obviously Impeding the Russian attempt to reach the Dnieper along iU whole length and particularly In the cenl- er above Kiev and below Orshn. The threats lo Orsha, to Mogilev, to Zhlobln and lo (he Gomel crossing below them are very grave, however, ar.rt stubborn Nazi resistance indicates recognition of the vital importance of that segment to any hope of holding the Dnieper blod wall' front at all. OSCOW'S silence as to develop- 1 ments of the last few days In that area further demonstrates the fote of the Dnieper defense line may be immediately at stake there.

Tor winter freeze-ups which harden roads and fields for maneuver- ing will soon be at hand In Central White Russia and from ihers all the way north to Ihe BMIic. In Italj-, the Allied march on Rome is In full Mvir.g as the Nazis give ground grudgingly but fust enough to avoid entrapment. Art- vices from Allied headquarters Indicate that there is no expectation ot more than a delaying stand expecl- I. cd now short of the Rome-Chletl line. Some Allied commentalors already apprehensive thai Rome, may be deslined to know the grim fale lhat overtook Naples.

Even Ihe Rome-Chleii line is regarded as vulnerable by milUary experts who tme closely studied Italian Icirtln maps..