The Taylor Daily Press from Taylor, Texas • Page 1

fallar g) aito VOL. 119 Only DaUg Newt paper Im WUIIam I Serrino TAYLOR, TEXAS, TUESDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 22, 1945 I'HIUE FI VE CENTS a Yank Reinforcements Hitting Japs 4 Japanese Tired Of War Declares Radio Tokyo By United arrest oi all peace agitators. Radio Tokyo admits for the first japanesc news agency, Domei, time that many Japanese are tired of war and want peace in the Pacific. According to an enemy broad- MURDERED BY civilians are forced to walk past the bodies of 30 Jewish women starved to death by German SS troops In a 300-mile march across Czechoslovakia. (Signal Corps photo from NEA Tclaphoto.) First Army On Way Home For 30 Day Furlough Before Going To Pacific By United Japan's future today now that vealed that the famous American First Army, the first one across the Rhine also will be the first sent to the Pacific.

Washington reveals that the First already is on its way home, for brief furlougiis in this country and then re-equipment and retraining for duty in the Pacific. The vanguard of the First Army, including its commander, General I Hodges, some 25 of his officers is even blacker and 24 GI's, will arrive in Atlanta, it has been re- Georgia, this Thursday. From all indications, the First Army will reach the Pacific in time for the final blows against Japan. As of April 12 there were 16 divisions of roughly 12.000 men each announced as comprising the first army. Thus, unless the strength has increased or decreased since then, approximately 192,000 men would be involved in the transfer.

The army is being redeployed by way of the United States and its personnel will receive 30 day furloughs. The war department statement concerning the first army said: It is being redeployed by way of the United States, and its per- The oldest form of long-distance sonnel will receive furloughs be- transportation in the world, may fore proceeding to the war against become China's salvation in the aopan. "The divisions and army corps WAR COMMENTARY By United Press cast, the Japanese attorney general General Nakano, has called for H. Henderson Phones From New York Today Today, fast on the heels of cable. Mrs.

Jean Henderson talked via long distance telephone to her husband Lt. Col. Harvey Henderson. This morning at 5:30 the call came through, after the colonel had been sitting at a New York phone since 8 last night. He said he hoped to be home by the end of the week.

Yesterday friends told Jean of having heard a radio broadcast naming four liberated officers who had been flown to the States and that Col. Henderson was one of the group. Last night Jean heard a repeat of the story on the 10 news cast. Col. Henderson was reported missing last December.

Mrs. Henderson was later notified by the government of his prisoner of war status, but shte had hetard direct from him until she received the cable yesterday morning. Also awaiting wol. ik arrival is a young son, and his mother who resides in San Antonio. says Nakano met with leading Jap officials and had this to say: growing critical situation of thc war has led to a tendency toward peace agitation and speech on critical matters in a portion of the Then N.ftano is reported to have said, is impossible to repulse lhe enemy outside of Japan if there is no perfect unity within This report of unrest in Japan underscores an an earlier dispatch by the London Daily Express.

II said that Prince Chichibu, the so- called peace-loving brother of Emperor Hirohito. had been release after two years of protective custody. According to the British dispatch, thc Prince had been hiddci away because of his attempts persuade the Emperor, his brother to keep out of war with the United States. Significantly, the story of his release from prison has stirred Japanese diplomatic quarters even more than the news of surrender. Even though this news of growing unrest in Japan still is in the unconfirmed stage, Allied victor ies during the last 24 hours are reason enough why it may be true, in fight for liberation from the ancse.

Jap- rivers are thc arteries of her blood stream. The more modern mediums of transportation, highway and rail, are only capillaries. that fight with the first army against Japan will not necessarily the same as those that fought in Germany. However, enough veteran units and veteran personnel will take the field under Gen. to insure the same vigorous assault against the Japanese For many years, failure Lis a-s made by the first army to develop rail and road Hgainst the Germans, was one of thc causes of her back- "The fighting record of the first wardncss.

She continued to depend army with the proudest in in her rivers for commerce. i allied expeditionary forces. Although the army itself did not en- China is the best-watered coun- ter combat until the invasion of try in the world. She has more rivers, bigger ones, deeper ones and longer ones than any other ings in North Africa, Sicily and comparable area. i Italy.

of the first army parachuted into France before hour the Normandy coast several of its units toefe part in its original land- S. G. Gernert Is Re-elected As TP-L Director S. G. Gernert was re-elected as a director of the Texas Power and Light Company at the annual meeting of thc stockholders of that organization held in Dallas this week.

Mr. Gernert has served as a director for a number of years and his re-election to thc place attests to thc fine way in which he has discharged bis duties. Chinese Forces Reopen Port Of Foochow By United Press Chinese forces arc reported to have reopened the river port of Foochow to thc east China sea. The Chinese central news agency says five steamers already are on route to a town 40 miles upstream from Foochow. With Foochow cleared to the Japan is faced with the threat of American landings on thc east China coast, something about which Tokyo has been talking for months.

The most logical direction any such landing would come from is directly east of Foochow, across the China -sea, where American 10th Army troops have punched through sections of thc Jap defense line in southern Okinawa. Americans Battling To Surround Shuri; Casualties Mount Hy United Press GUAM, May American troops have been thrown into the battle for key stronghold in the Japanese defenses on Okinawa. And Vice-Admiral Richmond Turner, commander of United States amphibious forces for the invasion, predicts that Okinawa will be captured in the comparatively near future. Meanwhile. American reinforcements are hitting the Jap defenses before Shuri head on.

On either side, doughboys and marines who already have outflanked the city are battling to join forces behind WAR gains on Okinawa envelope Shuri from three sides with the 96th sweep across from Conical llill and the 1st advance from Dakeshi. The 6th Marines holding Sugar Loaf Hill are now in position for a flank attack on either Naha or I Shuri. (NEA Telephoto.) British And Americans Begin Moving Through Lines In Italy Parents Told W. Leshikar Liberated But there is one important point 1 concerning these rivers that turns them to the advantage of China and her armies, and that proved a disadvantage to the Japanese. On all other continents of the world, the predominant river beds run north and south.

Mississippi and Missouri rivers South Amazon; Rhine, Elbe. Vistula and Volga, and Egypt's Nile are examples. But look at China. Her rivers do not run north and south. They run predominantly east and west.

Her greatest the Yangtze and the Yellow rivers, flow eastward from the inner reaches of the continent to the sea. Her smaller rivers are no exception. This was a disadvantage to the Japanese who flooded down into China from the north. They had a poor rail and road system to follow because China had never developed thern. And the rivers, running at right angles to the Japanese course of conquest, provided constant barriers to the enemy.

But the same token, they will work to the advantage of the Allies, fcr our course of reconquest SB Ho- XKN go SIX German frontier broke through the Siegfried line, seized and estab- (See NO. page six! "We had some news this morning that made us very happy," said Willie Leshikar Sr. today, introducing the news that their son Willie Leshikar Jr. had been liberated. The glad news came through thc local Red Cross at the instructions of thc War Department.

Cpl. Leshikar had been prisoner of thc German government 27 months, since February 14. 1943. He was captured during the Tunisian campaign. A check of Press files revealed that Cpl.

Leshikar is the fifth prisoner war from this area to be reported liberated, leaving approximately 15 in the ETO still to be heard from. ON THE HOME FRONT By Uniled Press British and American troops have begun moving through the vugoslav positions above Trieste northeastern Italy. Supreme Meditearranean Com- mander Sir Harold Alexander has ordered the Western Allies to start occupying strategic positions in the disputed area. The Doughboys and Tommies arc infiltrating Yugoslav lines and taking possession of numerous mountain peaks and other key points which Marshal Tito's men left unguarded. In most cases the British Americans are taking roads and trails not held by the Yugoslavs, so that (here will be no cause for friction.

But. should the two groups meet, diplomacy and friendship will be the watchword. Expects Showdown Nonetheless, Marshal Alexander expects the action to bring a show- 3EK No. SIX on page SIX War Department Reveals Jap Plan To Attack U. S.

With Balloon Bombs WASHINGTON, May 22 (U.R) War Department says, and it adds: Japan has been sporadically at- chances that any given place tacking the western United States would be hit by these attacks is mainland for the past several one manv months with balloon-borne bombs. Apparently the balloons are This was revealed this afternoon loosed to drift with wind currents by the War Department. The an- toward this continent, in the hope nouncement said no property dam- that they will be carried over the age has resulted from the attacks. United States. The War Department has one These balloons are grey, white word for the Japanese attempt to or greenish-blue paper, about 33 wit hmo-range destruction upon feet in the War Dethe United States.

It says the plan partment said. carry a few i small bombs suspended beneath The Japanese balloons cannot be controlled by their- launchers, the SSK Ho. on SIX WASHINGTON. May 22 (U.R) A move began in Congress today to pay back Americans who lost property abroad during thc war. Republican Representative Bertrand Gearhart of California says he will introduce a bill this week providing that enemy properly in this country used to pay back Americans.

Gearhart says enemy property and frozen assets should be sold to the highest bidder. The fund obtained from the sales would be used to compensate Americans who lost property abroad. There now is $232.000.000 worth of enemy property in the country, year. Large Amount oi Farm Machinery Shipped Abroad WASHINGTON. May 22 (U.R) Foreign Economic Administration officials say farm machinery valued at more than $12.000.000 has gone from American factories to farms during the past And the Treasury Department has $400.000.000 worth of other frozen assets of German, Italian and Japanese nationals.

This own gold pile has gone down during the war. The lat Every ton of farm machinery exported will produce between seven and eight tons of food during the first year of use. However, the exported equipment amounted to less than two est Treasury statement shows that cent of the total United States gold assets 'in the United States production. have shrunk some $2.500,000.000 -----------since November. 1941.

The gold still is physically in this i LJ country. But it is slated for foreign I 1 nations who have built up credit here through the sale of imported goods. BRITISH SINK FIVE JAPANESE PATROL CRAFT CALCUTTA. Mav 22. (U.R)—A communique from Calcutta says a British armored launch sank five patrol craft loaded with Japanese on the Kokkowa River, 20 miles northwest of Rangoon.

Arrives From Pacific Area Mrs. E. R. Todd, in response to a phone call from Milano Junction yesterday morning was down at the station yesterday afternoon for a brief visit with her son Technical Sergeant Russell Todd as the Missouri-Pacific train made its in Taylor. Russell is returning to the States 'after twenty seven months in the Southwest Pacific and after a few Mopping up operations are re- days at Fort Sam Houston he will ported continuing over the whole area.

The communique also says Japanese forces are counterattacking British positions without success on the Mowchi road east of Toun- goo, be home on furlough. Mrs. Todd Iwent to San Antonio today to be him. The daughter and sister in the family, 2nd Lt. Mary Todd.

Army I Nurses Corps, is at Camp Clai- La. BRITISH CRISIS MAYDELAY BIG 3 MEETING LONDON. May 22. (U.R)—The latest on the British cabinet crisis is that it may deiay any Big Three meeting until late July or early August. Officials close to Prime Minister Churchill say lhe British leader probably will ci.il for his cabinet's resignation soon and it is believed he also will ask the King to dissolve Parliament and set in motion lhe machinery for an election in six weeks.

Churchill is said to feel that, despite the urgent problems confronting the Ailies. he now must wait for a new vote of support before he can meet with President Truman and Marshal Stalin. Observers agree that the uncertainty of internal politics already is affecting her dealings with other governments. The cabinet crisis came to a head less than 24 hours ago when the Labor Party refused to continue i in Churchill's coalition government until the end of the Pacific war. The Laborites denounce Churchill's plans for an immediate election, but they say they still prefer it to an election postponed until Japan's defeat With the first Truman-Churchill- Stalin meeting facing almost cer- ain delay, the Allied trouble spots in Europe and the Middle-East have assumed new importance.

THREE SENATORS TO CONFER WITH EISENHOWER PARIS, May 22. (U.R) -Three United States Senators wiii confer with General Eisenhower in Reims today. Senator Burton Wheeler of Montana, Albert Hawkes of New Jersey, and Owen Brewster of Maine are touring Germany, Norway and Italy to find out what the Army is doing with The Congressmen say they may the Buchenwald and Dachau concentration camps. Sen. Wheeler says these camps are horrible ex-? amplcs of German brutality.

But Wheeler adds. maintain that this is no surprise. All war is 8300 MINERS STRIKING IN WEST VIRGINIA FAIRMONT, W. May 22. (U.R) Many of the big coal mines in northern West Virginia still are shut down, although a back-to- work movement is underway.

About 8.300 miners at 23 mines are idle as a result of the walkout of mine foremen who are striking for company recognition of their union. The Regional Solid Fuels Administration says production is suffering a loss of some 63,000 tons of coal a day. THREE DETROIT WAR PUNTS IDLE DETROIT. May 22 (U.R)—Produc­ tion has come to a standstill at three Detroit war plants with the walk-out of more 6,000 workers. Some 4500 employees at the diesel engine division of General Motors have refused to heed a union order to return to their jobs.

They walked out in a protest against tie dismissal of a blind err luyuc who, the company claims, could not maintain production standards. The strike at the Fruehauf Trailer Company is entering its ninth day. More than 4500 won'ters have demanded that union stewards be paid for the time they use in settling employee grievances. At the Timken-Detroit Axel Company another 500 workers are idle as the result of a classification dispute. Alva Shavers Recommended For Chairmanship Of OPA Board In Williamson County Alva Shavers, better known as Lone Star Gas to Cleburne.

to the people of Taylor the transfer to become effective and Williamson County, was June 1. Mr. Smith has served in recommended to the San Antonio the capacity of chairman of the Office of Price Administration as board for two years, succeeding the man best lilted to over W. B. Howard who resigned a few the chairmanship of the county months after rationing was insti- OPA board, vacancy occasioned tuted.

by the transfer of H. V. Smith. i Mr. Shavers until recently owned Mr.

Shavers, who was given this and operated the Alcove Cafe here vote of confidence by members of in Taylor. He is well known the OPA board and its various throughout the county. He has panels at a meeting Monday after- been serving as chairman of the noon, is expected to be approved restaurant advisory panel of the by the district office in San An- OPA board and in such capacity tonio in the near future, and upon has become familiar with the approval, will take over the duties work of the general board, of the office. I Mr. Smith was given a standing The change in chairmen comes vote of appreciation for effi- about as a result of the transfer cient service by the board mem- of H.

V- Smith manager of the bers, the town and clone the trap on the stubborn Jap defenders. The Japanese forces in Shuri are holding onto their caves, and pillboxes until they are killed by bayonet and grenade or driven out by flaming oil. Several times during the night, Japanese troops, wearing the uniforms of dead marines and using captured American weapons, staged banzai charges against the American lines. American casualties are mounting steadily. Resistance Still Stiff Maj.

Gen. Andrew D. 77th division launched its surprise at' not long after Mbjr Shepherd. sixth division marines had fought off the Naha counterattack by 400 to 600 Japanese. Half of the attackers were killed and the rest driven back by the leathcrnerfe veterans, Thc 77th attack In darkness was the most spectacular push.

The doughboys were met by intense small arms fire. After daylight, the Japanese counterattacked. trying to drive the Yanks back out of Taira. But the assault was repulsed and infantry pushed on south from the village toward Shuri. communique did not state how close this put the forward elements to that (keystone of the southern line.

The are meeting equally stiff resistance in their attack against the east coast stronghold of Yonabaru. The doughboys have opened a power drive down the east coast which threatens to outflank Yonabaru. At the other end of thc island, leathernecks of the Sixth Division finally have made good a position had won and lost 10 different times. An official communique says the marines are on Sugar Loaf Hill to stay, after taking it 11 times in all. Sugar I oae Hill is northeast of (he ruined island capital of Naha.

U. S. Fleet Attacked The Japanese still are trying to drive away the naval ships supplying the troops ashore on Okinawa. Thirty-five Japanese p'anes attacked the fleet off Okinawa in a new i raid. Five hits were scored on light warships and 26 of the attackers were shut down.

While the Japanese are throwing their dwindling air might against 1 the unit- of Okinawa American naval planes are continuing their raids on Japanese shipping. The vital Japanese lifeline between Japan proper and the empire is under constant attack. Admiral Nimitz says navy bombers have sunk or damaged vessels totalling 168.000 tons in Japanese and Korean waters in the past 51 days. SOLDIERS JOIN FIGHT AGAINST FOREST FIRE ROSWELL. N.

May 22. Roswell Army Air Field soldiers have joined forest rangers and civilians to combat a raging forest fire. The fire started Sunday and swept through forestland, destroying thousands of acres of timber. It got oth of control as a 40-mile an hour wind fanned the flames. TEXAS WEATHER East Texas: Cloudy along the oast, partly cloudy in interior this afternoon and tonight.

Not quite so warm in southeast. Wednesday partly cloudy. Warmer in west and extreme north portions. West Texas: Fair this afternoon, tonight and Wednesday. Warmtf tonight..