Altoona Tribune from Altoona, Pennsylvania • Page 1

orr THE WEATHER Not quite so warm today, alble thundershowera. Yesterday' Temperatures '43 Blair Traffic Toll '42 99... Accidents ...188 119. Injured .205 7 Dead 26 mm poa- STATE LIBRAnv High Low Education. Harrisbur Pa 7 1 44 VOLUME 87 NO.

166 ALTOONA, THURSdXy MORNING, JULy 15, 194' THREE CENTS iinn1 WW UIMJIMJ WWW WW Mum Martinique Chief Americans Take Declares Oil Transportation Improving U. S. Bombers Blast Nazi Plane Factory iMaxon Quits as OPA Deputy Administrator Declares Agency Is "Bound Up In Legalistic Red Tape;" Assails OPA's 8,000 Prisoners, Advance 15 Miles "Confusion, Indecision and Theorists In Policy-Making Positions" Petroleum War Council Tells How to Eliminate Pleasure Driving Ban U'lSHtX'flTftM 14 Xhe wnole gasolme fuel situation being scrutinized anew. ZTtLZftl view of "new military activities requiring increasing eup-1 drain on oH was emphasized, too, in a white i House conference dealing with; WASHINGTON, July 14 (AP) Lou R. Maxon, dep.

uty administrator of the office of price administration in charge of information, resigned today with a declaration that the agency is "so bound up in legalistic red tape that Houdini himself Couldn't Untangle it." The red-haired Detroit advertising executive, who had been frequently mentioned as a possible manager for OPA, aid he could not accept that job and "cannot continue to Axis On the Run, Defenses Still Paralyzed As Allied Troops Sweep Ahead and Planes and Warships Bomb And Shell German and Italian Forces By DANIEL DE LICE ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN NORTH AFRICA, July 14 (AP) Britain's victorious eighth army tonight bore down on Catania, port city half-way along the eastern Sicilian coast toward the prize of Messina opposite the toe of Italy, and late dispatches said Catania's fall was imminent. entf itqnnAitv" otitic nun, iavr oecreiarv iwiox, planes. 45 of which fell to the Interior Secretary Ickes, Under- deadly Fortress guns over Le secretary of War Patterson and 'Bourget and illacoublay, where Herbert Feis. economic expert in aircraft repair and assembly the state department, were cal ed plants were pounded. to a meeting with President Roose-1 jvelt.

The purpose the Whit'- A Joint communique by the U. House said, was to check up on S' EiShth air f0rce and th8 British the reserves In relation to war set Allied losses at demands and the probable dur-1 eint bombers and four fighters ation of hostilities. I but did not further specify the T3 casualties, Byrnes announcement of the i survey coincided with these other TARGETS IN GERMANY development: 0ther targets in the widespread FARMERS GET FIRST CALL oroer irom me petroleum administration for war that farm ers in all the 48 states be givn I fi, oll lauuing operations, on available gasoline supplies. A similar order had been issued earlier giving preferred status to farmers in the 17 states in the east coast shortage area. 2.

PAW set allowable crude nans for July by mid-western refineries at 1,125,000 barrels a day a reduction of 40,000 barrels a day from June. The agency said the reduction was necessitated by declining cruds production in the attacking Le Bourget and area. Southwestern we, jJ'lWjblay. Eaily but allowed 1.410,000 barrels a dav anilcP0rt claim that more "than 45 i AOA in OPA must not fail. Maxon said in a five-page statement, ana then continued: "But If OPA fails, it will be be- cause of its own internal weak- ness confusion, indecision, com- promise, miles of legislatic red tape, and the presence of theorists in policymaking positions." NEEDS REORGANIZATION Maxon said OPA needed a "drastic reorganization, a strong clear direction, and a liberal transfusion of common horse sense." The job of controlling prices and rationing scarce commodities in a global war is vast enough, he said, "without the infusion of any efforts to remake the American economy at the same time." 1 "There is a strong clique in OPA who believe that the gov-1 ernment should manufacture and distribute all commodities," Maxon said.

"They are using the war as a means of furthering their reform ideas and will continue to use honest men in OPA as a front for their efforts. this group Isn't curbed, we are going te lose a good slice of the very freedom we are fighting for. I cannot subscribe to their obvious efforts to force radical and dangerous concepts on the public under the excuse of wartime needs." Price Administrator Prentiss Brown did not make any corn- ment immediately on Mason's! charges. Maxon had cleared out ma ueieu before the statement was issued to newspapermen by his secre-1 tary. Maxon reportedly desired a free hand to clean house in OPA and i the veto authority over price and ration policies.

Dave Murphy Honored at Army Camp Dave Murphy, former manager of the State theatre, now a private in the army training for officers' candidate school at Aberdeen Proving Ground. was singu larly honored last night by Metro- I 28th Division Veterans Open Convention Five Hundred Expected To Attend Three-Day Sessions Five hundred veteran of the Twenty-eighth Division, of Pennsylvania, who served in the First World War, are expected here today to attend the thirteenth annual national convention and reunion of the organization. Fifty units, representing various sections of the country, will send delegations. The divisional units are scattered all over the United States from Maine to California and from Florida to Minnesota. A few officers and delegates, including National Comma i Lambert J.

Sullenberger. of caster. arrived yesterday and registered at the Penn Alto hotel which will be the official convention headquarters for the three-day session beginning this afternoon and ending Saturday. GOVERNOR TO SPEAK' The annual banquet will be held Friday night at the Penn Alto hotel and delegates, and members of the Ladies' Auxiliary also meeting here, will be honored by Governor Edward Martin, former commander of the division at the start of the present war, and who will be the principal speaker. The governor yesterday wired his acceptance of the invitation to be guest speaker.

Governor Martin served with the division in the first World War as well as with the 10th Pennsylvania infantry on the Mexican border and in the Spanish-American war. The 10th Pennsylvania infantry became the 110th Infantry in tlie First World War. Another, biji' will be Judge Sweeney of Delaware county. Preceding the banquet Friday night will be a short parade in which not only the Twenty-eighth veterans will take part but various civic and military organizations of this city and vicinity. 1,300 NOW IN SERVICE Commander Sullenberger yesterday revealed that over 1.300 former Twenty-eighth division men are now in the armed forces, the majority of these veterans serving as officers of various ranks.

CANDIDATE It seemed a little early yesterday to discuss division candidates but it was said that A. H. Manion, of Pittsburg, is a candidate for the next national commander and appears to have a good chance of election according to reports from various sections of the country leaching headquarters. So far, the reports indicated there does not appear much opposition to hU candidacy. There was no report on candidates for other offices but today will probably see a lot of booms for various places way.

Registration of delegates will begin at 9 o'clock this morning and at 3 o'clock this afternoon the first business session will be held at the American Legion hall. PARADE Altoona post, No. 21, host to the convention, is hoping that ail organizations which participated in the Flag day parade will turn out in the procession Friday night. It will be reviewed by Governor Martin, former commander of the division, and other notables. The Pennsylvania guard, the United Spanish War Veterans and Pennsylvania railroad auxiliary police and band will be the line.

Other organizations are requested to notify Chief Marshal James Armstrong and his aides. Raymond Decker, Clarance Mock and Roy Rothrock, whether they will parade. The parade will form at the Cricket field at 7:30 clock and move over a short route as follows: Seventh street to Chestnut avenue, to Eleventh street, to Eleventh avenue, to Sixteenth street, to Twelfth avenue, to Twelfth street, to City hall, wher-the governor will deliver a short address from the City hall step3. At 8 p. m.

a memorial will held at the V. F. W. home, followed by entertainment with the V. F.

po.t as h.irt to the visitors. Among impotent business to come before the convention will be a new constitution and by-laws which, if passed as expected, will modrrnize the whole structure of the division and give thi officers and members an opportunity to met present day condi tior.a. A. H. Mir.

ion. western vict-eommander. Pittsbuig. declares in connection with the new constitution and hy-law that they will Vmden the scope of and- more impoitnt. will pr-tCoatiaeed raze C.L Yank Fliers Shoot Down 51 German Planes in I Great Air Assault By E.

D. BALL LONDON, July 14 Flying Fortresses and swarms of lesser American and British planes darkened the French skies today with bombing attacks on an aircraft factory and park at the great Le Bourget airport In the Faris suburbs and four other German installations. 1. Rl i1 daylight attacks which followed 'a heavy RAF raid on the strategic notr west Germany last night, were airfields at Amiens-Glisy, Abbeville and Tricqueville. Boston and Typhoon bombers hit Abbeville and Tricqueville, and the Fortresses attacked the other three places.

"Bombing results -were good at all three targets," the communique said of the Fortress raids on Le Bourget. Villacoublay and Amiens-Glisy. "Fighter opposition was encountered particularly by forma- 6ter. were destroyed by the forts." THUNDERBOLTS IN ACTION American Thunderbolt fighters, heaviest in the world, escorted one Foitress formation and destroyed three Focke-Wulfs. RAF, dominion and Allied fighters accompanying other bombers destroyed another three.

It was the first operation by the Eigiith air force's big bombers in four days, and their third during July. For a vibrating hour, the Allied planes streamed across the southeast coast rousing Englishmen from their breakfast tables to watch the procession. They rose from bases scattered up and down Britain to shower explosives steel on the German occupants of France, providing the French with an ironic Bastille day. Second Lieut. David H.

Davis of Scranton. said the target "stood out like a sore thumb" when clouds cleared as the formation neared. "I could see our bom'03 dropping perfect center, pock-marking landing stripe with crat-(ContiBued on Page 5, Col. 6) Candidates File Petitions Candidates for the General election in November are now filing their petitions at the county commissioners' office at the court house. Emery A.

Woods, of this city, employed at the P. R. R. shops, yesterday filed for the office of city council as a Republican. Others who have filed to date are: Alderman: Charles K.

Kimes. Ninth ward, Altoona. Constable: P. Z. Imler, Blair township; Thomas Corbo.

Fourth ward, Hollidaysburg; Blair B. Helsel, Second ward. Hollidaysburg; Joseph C. Beegle. Rep, Newry; D.

D. Moses. Rep Newry; J. O. Keohart, Seventh ward, Altoona; Harold McGunlgal, Sixth ward, Hollidaysburg; Fred Hugar, 13 ward, Juniata; Don E.

Wertz. 11 ward. Altona; Sila E. Huston. 13 ward, Altoona: Albert F.

Burkhart, Rep, Sixth ward, Altoona; Maurice. T. Epler. Seventh ward, Bell wood; Jesse C. Grazier, Seventh ward.

Tyrone; John F. Gillmac, Rep, Eighth ward. Altoona; Henry Boldt, First ward, Altoona. High constable. John Moses.

Newry. School director- Pius M. Beegle, Newry; Herbert Cassldy, Newry; Edmund Beegle. Newry. Justice of the peace: John N.

ooo: jonn ponton, U. S. Air Force Hurled at Japs In China Area CHUNGKING. July 14 The full force of American air strength in China has been hurled against Japanese river and port installations In a seven-day assault, shipping facilities In the Hongay-Canipha port area, used for fueling ships plying between Japan and the southwest Fa- otic, have been blasted in one of the heaviest blows of the war against enemy shipping in this theatre, It was announced tonight A communique from Lieut. Gen.

Joseph E. SiillweU'a headquarters. describing the non-stop aerial op eratious which ranged from the Yangtze river front to French Indochina, said that B-2, B-2os and P-40s- of the U. S. 14th air force shared in the devastating missions, which left 15 Japanese ships destroyed or damaged in the Canton area alone.

SINK THREE SHIPS Two waves of Liberator bomb- ers staged the raid on the Hon- gay-Campha port area two days ago, when they sank three ves- aeerelratin 11000 tnns Tn addition they de3troved the main power plant at Hongay. 30 miles northeast of Haiphong and strafed the docks, railways, shops and coal dumps at Campha port Col. Eugene H. Beebe, of Moscow, Idaho, the group commander, described this operation as a "huge success." The Honguy-Campha port rail on July 12 climaxed four days of bombing of the Indo-China area along the gulf on Tonking. dui-ing which 132.000 pounds of explosives were dropped.

Two freighters were sunk on the flrstj day out. Dosh Named Baaemaster trucker at Altoona. For a number of years he alternated between trucker and loader and November 16. 1930, he became an usher In the the local station. On November 7, 1931.

he became assistant baggage-master. Tomorrow he takes over the main job. Announcement of the appoint- ments was made by Superinten-j dent H. G. Hostetter yesterday.

Tj, Cans lo Be Collected Totlav Collection of tin cans will be made today in Altoona by the city highway department and in Holll-daysburg by a committee of which J. Joe Kabeila is chairman. The city highway forces will start their roi'nis of collection at 7 a. m. and three railroad freight carloa ls Is the goal set for collection.

The usual garbage collection will be made on today's route, which embraces the west side ter-ritoiy. Sixteenth to Sixtieth streets. Flattened tin cans to be i I i Henri Hoppenot (above) of the French military mission In Washington, has been appointed by the French Committee of National Liberation as French high commissioner on the island of Martinique. Hoppenot succeeds Admiral Georges Robert. Civilians To Get Less Canned Goods WASHINGTON.

July 14 )- Civilians will have to get along with slightly fewer commercially canned vegetables, fruits and fruit juices in the next 12 months, the war food administration decided today, but there were reports of a possible increase in the meat ration. The meat increase, backed by a group of officials in the office of price administration, faces many obstacles, however, end there Ss assuranve yet that can be carried out. In another food-farming development, a governmental advisory committee declared that the parity principle of farm prices a keystone Of government agricultural programs for a number of years is artificial and Is hindering development of a balanced wartime food production program. The Wf'A announced allocation to civilians of 70 per cent of the prospective supply of canned vegetables and 53 per cent of the canned fruits and juices for the next 12 months. The remainder will go to the armed forces, lend-lease and othet- governmental needs.

The quantity available to civilians was estimated at 213,000,000 casea compared with 278,000.000 in 1942, and an average of 225,000.000 in th 1935-39 period. Officials anticipated that many households will have considerable supplies of home-canned vegetables and fruits to augment the canned goods available in stores. D. C. Sp3aker, unofficial authority, said the plan for increased meat rations involves, first of all, getting farmers to send more livestock to the markets, something the hackers believe can be done by putting price ceilings on live hogs and cattle.

"The idea," he explained, "is that farmers are holding back livestock from the market in expectation of higher prices and the establishment of price ceilings would remove this speculative incentive." Postoffice Delivers Most Of No. 3 Ration Books The last of the No. 3 food ration books are dribbling through the Altoona post office according to Postmaster Paul V. Tillard. Practically all have been delivered and few more are expected.

A considerable number of people carelessly filled out their applications and these were returned. Accordingly no ration books have been or can be issued at present Next month applications can be made at local ration boards and in course of time those who failed to get their No. 3 books will get them after their applications have gone through the proper routine. The postoffice department h.s nothing to do with the issuing of any ration books Mr. Tillard said.

It simply acted as a delivery medium and did a good job too, he added. Any Kind of Paper Would Do! SANTA FE. N. July 14 CP) Joseph A. Bursey.

tourist bureau director, haa been mighty proud of those many requests for information received from Nigerli. Bntish West Africa. That is until today, when he opened Nigerian reqeust No. 69. "But if literature isn't avail-' able.

send wall paper," concluded the letter, In the southwest, a powerful force of Americans, which already has taken more than 8.000 prisoners, scored a 15-cnile advance on the left flank, captured two more key airdromes, and etruck inland toward Caltagirone, southwestern gateway to the Catania plain which it was believed the Eighth army already has reached on the east. 'HANGING ON THE ROPES' More than 12.000 prisoners altogether have been captured on Sicily, it was announced tonight and on the fifth day of the campaign Axis defenses appeared to be still paralyzed. In the words of one military observer here: "The Axis is hanging on the ropes." Paul Kern Lee, Associated Press correspondent with the British fleet, writing from aboard a British cruiser in Catania bay, said the German Hermann Goering division was defending the Catania plains. Allied warships shelling, the villages of Lentini and Car-tentinl on the road to Catania, Lee said, reporting a stubborn core of Axis resistance around the villages. Dispatches from other sources said the British may have already taken Lentini.

Cleanup of the entire area was expected shortly, Lee said. YANKS MEET OPPOSITION The American middle column, headed toward Caltagirone, last was reported only a few miles from there, fighting a German unit at Niscemi. The Americans were meeting the most opposition and capturing the most prisoners. British troops, and the Canadians attached to the Eighth army, were reported within 15 miles of Catania during the afternoon after a swift 20-mile advance from fallen Augusta, whose port was found to be serviceable. A Reuters correspondent in ft dispatch from Sicily said the invasion had become "a pursuit of an almost non-resisting enemy," and was ahead of schedule in the race i the eastern coast The British were moving along a road which curves inland toward Lentini and may already have taken the city.

Catania la 35 miles i above Augusta along this winding route. (An Algiers radio broadcast re-i corded by the Associated Press said the British already had driven a wedge into Catania's defenses.) More than one-third of Sicily's east roast already was in Allied hands, the Canadians virtually had destroyed an entire Italian division and captured its commander, and Allied naval and air power dominated the sea and sky In the methodical sweep toward Messina, on the northeastern tip of the island only two mile across from the Italian mainland. The Messina strait already had been penetrated by Allied torpedo crewmen who drove two Italian torpedo boats ashore in flames, and damaged a third in a daring thrust Monday night. ON SCHEDULE Conquest of the eastern side of Sicily would seal off the big island and set the stage for another Axis Cap Bon disaster. Evidently that was the plan of Gen.

Dwight D. Eisenhower's troops, whose Invasion thus far has been carried out on time virtually every detail Catania's airport was blasted by Allied warships yesterday, and If the enemy Is going to make a decisive stand anywhere this area it must be done on the plain below the city before the Allies topple that communications cen- ter whence important roads lead into the interior. Allied warships sped up and down the 150-mile curving roastline now firmly held by the land troop. Their heavy I artillery swfcrled shoreward to pick off Axis defense points. American naval units facilitated new drives by the Seventh American army under Lieut Gen.

George S. Patton, Jr. The Americans captured airdromes at Comiso, six miles west of Ragusa, and at Ponte Olivo, nine miles inland from Gela. These are two of the enemy's most Important bases, and Allied airmen already are operating from at least three others. Plunging west and north from Licata, the Americans overran Palma anj Naro, the latter only 12 miles from Agrigento where the Axis was said to have concentrated heavy forces for a counterattack.

Hundreds of prisoners were swept up in this 15-mile drive. Porto Empedocle, on the coast three miles below Agrigento, also was among the targets pounded by American warships. Once the eastern, coast is the Allied armies would turn Westward away from Italy and torottle the remainder of the Axis forces on the 10.000-square-mile island which would serve as a base to invade Italy or reduce the mainland through aerial attack. For the first time today's communique mentioned enemy submarine efforts to check the thousands of ships supplying the Sicilian armies. "Counter measures have been highly successful and dishearten ing to the the bulletin added.

Major Gilbert Resigns From Draft Board Altoona draft board No. 3 and numerous other organizations in the city, county and state have received resignations from Major Levi Gilbert, who is now at Fort Custer, taking special training in the special reserve service of the army. The Altoona school board is awaiting the reaction of Major Gilbert to the opinion of its solicitors concerning his status as city school superintendent. The opinion was mailed to him following the special board meeting held Monday evening. Major Gilbert has served as a member of the selective service board No.

3 at the Miller school building since its organization. A successor to Major Gilbert will be appointed by the stat selective board director, Lieutenant Colonel George H. Hafer. Other organizations from which Major Gilbert has resigned follow: President of the Blair-Bedford council, Boy Scouts of America; chairman of education group, city civilian defense council; vice president and trustee, Altoona Community Chest, member of the (Contineed en Pace 5, Col. 1) Henry J.

Spitz Struck by Auto Henry J. Spitz, 57, of 1303 Twenty-first avenue, was admitted to the Mercy hospital yesterday afternoon after being struck by an automobile driven by Ray McCon-nell, Altoona R. D. 2. in the Mill Run section, at Broad avenue and Twenty-fifth street around 2:45 o'clock.

Mr. Spitz suffered a deep laceration over the right eye that required Ave sutures to close, also brush burns of the nose, right and left temple, chin and right elbow. I According to McConnell. he was driving east on Broad avenue and he said Spitx stepped off the curb i and was struck before the car i cou'd be brought to a stop. Mr.

Spitz is a barber at 100 Thirteenth aUeeU increase of 63.000 daily over June, i S. The petroleum industry war council said In a state-(Contiaoed oa Pige 5, Cel. 4) Mobilization Is Urged For Home Front WASHINGTON, July 14 JPh-Government administrators of war production, information, food, and economic stabilization joined today in a call for full mobilization of the voice of American business behind a campaign to keep the home front abreast of military offensives. Speakers on a broadcast inaugurating a drive by the war advertising council for war message advertising were Donald M. Nelson, chairman of the war production board.

Elmer Davis, director of the office of war information, Marvin Jones, war food administrator; and Fred M. Vinson, economic stabilization director. The speeches were heard over the National Broadcasting company network. Nelson reported a half-billion dollar failure to meet war production goals in June, which he charged in part to public complacency. He warned of a "staggering job ahead" If tne deficit is to be made up.

Davis, director of the OWI. asserted that the people will "respond magnificently" If the know "what Is expected of them, and why, and believe that it makes sense." Jones declared his full faith In the "judgment and patriotism of Americans" and said it was imperative that they be told "the real facts about food supplies and feod requirements." He asked business aid In advising tbe public about the "national ain" of waste which he said poured 30 pounds of food a year per person into peacetime garbage paila for a total of almost 40000,000,000 pounds 'enough to supply a large army." Vinson reported a rise of 7.8 per cent in the cost of living between May, and May, 1943, compared with 12 per cent In the preceding year. George Stevenson Heads Senate Commission HARRISBURG. July 14 A 'legislative research group, the local government commission, set up its organization, with election of Senator George B. Stevenson of Clinton as chairman to replace Senator Charles R.

Mallery of Blair countr, The commission decided 'j meet September 22, and draft Its i Goldwyn Mayer at an outdoor Charles G. Dosh, long time theatre at camp during the course worker at the Altoona passenger of an entertainment presented by station and at present assistant the soldiers, and attended by more baggage master is to be promoted than 3.000 soldiers and their wives tomorrow to the position of bag-and sweethearts. gage master. He will succeed W. Mr.

Murphy received MGM's G- Johnson, present baggagemas-placque for his "outstanding con- ter- vho also win be appointed to-tribution to motion picture show- morrow to station agent at Maple-manship" while manager of the ton- between Huntingdon and State. I Iunt Union. The award wa the result of I iIr- Dos'i wa born at Carlisle, Mr. Murphy's having received Fa-' and entered the Pennsylvania MGM's sixth Honor Roll button, service October 11. 1911, as a presented to theatre manaeers for extraordinary motion picture exploitation.

Those who receive six buttons are presented with the placque. Mr. Murphy is the first theatre man in the service to receive this Continued en Face i. Col, Z) Heavy Norm I Sweeps Over City The heavy electric and thundei- sturm that passed over the city i last evening seemed to center its full force in the eastern part jf i Altoona. Juni.ita.

Greenwood and on down Logan valley to Tyrone. Four trees were blown down, thiee In the city and one Greenwood. One of the trees was blown down in front 609 Fifth street. Junir.U. one in front of SOS's Second street, another or.

Fourth street between Fourth and Fifth avenues A large oak tree was blown down in Greenwood. The Bell Telephone system repotted that minor wire trouble waa experienced in the East Altoona section but nothing serious. Penn Edison Light and Poer company night employes stated they knew of no trouble with the'r lines In any part of the city or county. i 1 placed where the garbage is usu-i Proram to eloped for pre- Duffy, Rep Frankstown placed and resident of both fnttion legislative ship; Edgar McKinney. Rep, Beli- jcit'-s are asked to put them out earh WEAK SIMMS DIAMONDS AND IOU VEAB THE FINEST 4.