Altoona Tribune from Altoona, Pennsylvania • Page 1

nn Ai 00 r.n JV Mai wills. (Da mm WEATHER Cloudy and Cool Today and Tomorrow ,200 Big Artilf ces, 300 Planes Jlast German City Nazis Boldly Send Rescue Division, in Daylight And in Full View of Waiting American Guns And Planes, Toward Aachen; Relief Column Shattered I By HOWARD COWAN LONDON' (Thursday) Oct. 12 (AP) Enormous firet raged uncontrolled in the heart of Aachen early today as the doomed German city died the flaming death decreed by, the American First army, whori surrender ultimatum was spurned. A defiant German attempt to reinforce the city in broad daylight resulted in a slaughter from American crossfire and for five hellish hours before dusk last night 300 American fighter-bombers and 2,200 heavy artillery pieces punished the city with an awful avalanche of fire and steel. Field dispatches said there was no power and no water to fight the flames burning in the city where Charlemagne was born, built his palaces, died and MARSHALL AND PATTON MEET IN FRANCE Sen.

Geor3e C. Marshall (right), chief of staf of the U. S. Army, chats with Lt. Gen.

George S. Patton, (left) at Patton's Third Army headquarters somewhere in France on October 9 our ing his tour of forward headquarters of American forces in the European theater. (Ap Wirephoto rom Signal Corps Radiophoto). Red Army Reaches iji. rrussiaii Border was buried.

Terrified civilians and some Nazi troops tried to flee to the safety of American lines. Some got through. Others were shot in the back, by the sprinkling of Himmler's SS storm troopers left behind, to maintain morale. DEATH TRAP This' was the death trap the Germans- earlier in the day tried to pry loose with a rescue division, sent in from the east with orders to squeeze through the narrow, bullet-raked corridor between Wurselen and Haaren. There was no attempt to conceal the desperate, ill-fated maneuver.

The exposed columns, in broad daylight, Instantly came under fire from dive-bombing, niachinegunning Lightnings and Thunderbolts. American gun crews turned their fire Into the Germans. A major battle developed northeast of the blazing city as Yank infantry and armor smashed into the suicidal relief column and artillery and mortars ploughed steel through its ranks at almost point-blank range. AMAZING MdVE It was one of the most amazing moves by the German command since the Allies invaded France Yanks Take 11th Isle of Palau Group Americans Blast Japs Borneo Oil Center For Fifth Time By RAY CRONLV Associated Press War Editor Making their second new landing In the Palaus in three days, American forces increased to 11 their island holding in that group by sweeping unopposed onto tiny Balrakasem islet Tuesday, the navy announced at Pearl Harbor last nliiht (Wednesday). The new landing, extending control over the southern half of bases within 515 miles of the Philippines, followed a Sunday invasion of Garakayo which was secured in 24 hours.

Of the 11 Palau islands in Yank hands, the most important is Pel-eliu which has an air base from which plunes are blasting Nipponese holdings to the north in the same chain. Last night's communique told of a new strike by marine Corsairs at Babelthuap. STILL HOLD OUT Some Japanese still are holding out on Peleliu where, latest reports said, the marines had exploded an ammunition dump. Bairakaseru is a little over nine miles northwest of Peleliu. American airmen, determined to wreck one of Japan's chief sources of aviation gasoline and lubricating oil, were reported by Gen.

Douglas MacArlhur today (Thurs.) to have lashed Ballkpapan on Dutch Borneo for four solid hours. Yank heavy bombers unloaded their explosives on refineries and airdromes in a strike at Balik-papan last giunday night. It was the fifth raid there since Oct. 1 from advanced Allied air- bases in the Southwest Pacific. JAPS NERVOUS The daring venture of an American carrier Jask force that sent waves of planes against- Japanese islands within' 200 miles of the Nippon homeland caused radio Tokyo yesterday to broadcast warnings to the people of the empire that the attacking Yank ships are "still lurking" nearby.

There was no American confirmation of Japanese-expressed fears, in a domestic broadcast recorded by FCC, that American carriers are lingering in the waters immediately south of the Rising Sun homeland. The people were told "We must not be caught off guard." The Japanese said 400 American carrier planes, flying in four waves hit the Ryukyu islands Monday. While radio Tokyo claimed damage was "slight," Adm. Chester W. I Nimitz earlier reported the Ameri can naval fliers sunk or damaged 58 ships, rangring from destroyers to 6mall craft, shot down 14 intercepting planes and destroyed 75 on the ground.

Tokyo said the American objective in hitting the Ryukyus, between southern Japan-proper and Formosa, was to threaten communication lines between the Japanese mainland and southern regions. It added Nippon forces in the Ryukyu region were "filled with a burning fiehting spirit to inflict an iron blow on the enemy's head." Admiral Nimitz also reported complete capture of Garakayo island, in the Palaus. within two days after Yank soldiers landed there. The de eloping American campaign on the southern and eastern flanks of the Philippines brought further Invasion indications as Sergio Osmena, president of the left Washington. Presumably he was headed for the Southwest Pacific to join Ger.

Douglas MacArthur when his forces move into those islands. The news from China war fronts was meager. There was no official word about the' situation in the Kweilin and Foochow sectors The Japanese were last reported stalled 25 miles from Kweilin, Kwangsi provincial capital and key of China's southern defenses. The Japanese claimed capture of Foochow a week ago but the Chinese have insisted fighting continued in the port city's northern Fuburbs. In the Foochow sector 'he Japanese objective is to erect defense bases against expected American landings on the China coast The Chinesexhigh command reported a Japanese advance toward Kweiping.

a highway terminal in Kwangsi province 70 miles south-cast of Liuchow. Two Japanese spearheads were said to have reached points six miles northeast end 12 miles southeast of the city. In Chungking a Chinese cabinet stressing the inade- quary of war supplies reaching China because of transportation I difficulties reiterated the Chinese if a for aid He said "Help China and you heip the Allied cause. De pite reverses China is still In the ring. She may be down but she is not out and she never will ery Roosevelt Says 'Poland Must Be Again a Great Nation' WASHINGTON, Oct.

11 UP) President Roosevelt said tonight Poland must be "reconstituted as a great nation," and told a group of Polish-American leaders that "world opinion is going to back up that The White House issued an exchange of remarks between Mr. Roosevelt and the leaders of the Polish American congress several hours after the eongress delegates presented him a memorial urging that Poland's territorial integrity be preserved. "You and I are all agreed that Poland must be reconstituted as a great nation," the President told the head of the Polish American congress, Charles Rozmarek of Chicago. "Of he continued, "we should all bear in mind that no body here has accurate informa tion about everything that is go- "The broad objective which we all seek is excellent. I am certain that world opinion is going to back up that objective not only to reconstitute Poland as a strong nation, but also as a representative and peace-loving nation." The White House statement of Rozmarek's remarks said he told the President that the Polish Americans are anxious to know whether Mr.

Roosevelt is prepared "by all means at your disposal to insist upon and to de-(Continued on Page 8. Col. 5) French Charge Atj0CltieS at fTI WO J-OWUS By The Associated Press French radio stations reported yesterday that two more towns had fallen victims of Nazi atrocities, the Paris radio charging that German (Elite Guard) troops had massacred all but 10 of the 520 inhabitants of Com-blanchien and the Brazzavile station alleging that 120 Frenchmen had been hanged in Tulle in southern France. Both broadcasts were reported by federal communications commission monitors. The Paris broadcast said six German soldiers clashed with some of their own comrades in Comblanchien and shots were fired.

The men from a nearby armored train held the villagers responsible, threw Incendiary grenades Into th houses and machinegunned those who tried to escape. The date of the massacre was not given. The mass hanging at Tulle on June 9, the Brazzaville broadcast said, occurred because the commander of the German Das Reich division was angered when trie residents gave a tumultous welcome to French Maquk units which had passed through thres days earlier. "The 1t continued, "organized a spectacle. They chose a large rock at a tree in the marketplace and brought the ropes there.

The German officers Installed themselves on the terrace of a cafe and began to drink. The ceremony lasted long time. There were 12C Frenchmen to banK. moving troops in broad daylight ing on in Poland. Even as and under direct observation President of the United States, against deadly American land and i with access to all of the informa-air power.

The Germans appear- I tion which is available, am not ed to number about one division fully informed of the whole (possibly 10,000 men). story X. Vol. 88 No. 243 Thursday, Two Teams Over.

Top in Chest Drive Pound of Butter and T-Bone Steak Are 'Hare' Prizes to Chairmen Two teams in the War Fund and Community Chest drive went over the top and received unique prizes, it wag announced at the noon report luncheon which also featured an address by Attorney Robert Haberstroh. Two waiters escorted by police officers delivered the awards which Chairman E. H. Werner had previously promised would be "priceless." A pound of butter wag presented to Mrs. Leo Mc-Conville, chairman of team No.

100, Twelfth ward division, the first women's team over the top. i A t-bone steak was awarded to I George Thompson, chairman of team No. 6. industrial and com- i mercial division, the first men's team to meet its quota. GENEROSITY NEEDED ''We can say that our armed forces and those civilians in need of aid should receive all possible help," declared Attorney Haber- stroh, "but when it conies to reaching into our own pockets real generosity is needed.

"If the armed forces could bring to the people an understanding of the magnitude of this campaign, everyone would contribute to his utmost ability. It is the responsibility of the solicitors to impress upon the people the need and value of this cam-laign. "Consider the sacrifices nf giving to this campaign; then consider the sacrifices the armed forces are making, and compare the two. You have done a splen did job so far and you must con- tinue your efforts until the end of the campaign. I am confident I 'hat with your enthusiasm this I campaign cannot help succeeding.

Ur. Haberstroh concluded. Chairman Werner announced Mr. Haberstroh had doubled his contribution of last January that the W. M.

C. A. has jone over the top. He then introduced two members of the armed forces who were guests at the luncheon meeting, which was held at the Penn Alto hotel, Sgf. Josephine Rothermel and Sgt.

Tohn Wilson. AVAR VETERAN I'RESENT The Kiwanis club which met with the campaigners yesterday I was welcomed by Chairman Werner. Earl Dickey, president of the club, introduced a guest of the Kiwanians, Cpl. Harlan Briggs, veteran of Guadalcanal. Tarawa, and Saipan.

Father Francis McN'elis, Holy liosary Catholic church, gave the invocation, and the Rev. W. L. Crowding pronounced the benediction. With $42,678 reported yesterday, lie grand total has now reached 119,011 in the campaign's drive -or $238,500.

Including the $13,975 reported yesterday, advanced gifts now total $32,950. Reports of the different division? follow. Industrial and commercial divi-ion reported $1,207 yesterday in'th a total i.f $15,250 to date; Public service division reported on Page 8, nl til Gallitzin Child Struck Bv Truck A Gallitzin child was admitted Mercv hospital yesterday afternoon, having suffered severe Ifg cuts when. she was struck by a truck in the borough. Donna Gerlana, 10.

of 159 liam street. Gallitzin. was struck by a truck operated by Bernard Iiilly of Tunnel The Eirl a taken to a physician's office, and he had her sent to Mercy hospital. Donna suffered puncture wounds on the outside and inside of the rht leg Chief of puiii'fc i-iui jc Mirier, is ir. the which happened in Gaii tzin.

Others treated at Mercy hospital dispensary included: Baer. "J1-. of 917 Miin street. Lilly fell nd cut her (Loiitinurd on 8, 1 October 12, 1944 Four Cents WOUNDED Pfc. Ray J.

McDonald, United States Marine corps, son of Mrs. Clara McDonald. Claysburg, R. D. 1, was listed as wounded yesterday by the navy department.

He was previously reported a3 missing. September 23, 1941 George Parros. Killed in Italy Sept. 21 Sgt. George Parros.

son of Mr. and Mi's. Cal Parros. 1517 Nineteenth street, was reported killed in action in Italy, September 21, Recording to a telegram received by his wife, Mrs. Bernice IHon-kus) Parros, 2746 Penn avenue, Pittsburg.

The telegram, sent by Adjutant Gen. J. A. Ulio, read: "The secretary of war. desires me to express his deep regret that your husband.

Sgt. George Parros. was killed in action September 21, in Italy. A letter will follow." Sgt. Parros entered the service February 13, 1943.

while a student in Altoona High school. He trained with the infantry at Fort George Meade. Shreveport, and Camp Howze. returning to Fort George Meade for oversea assignment. last letter was received September 8.

He left this country about six months ago. Before going overseas he was employed by the Crucible Steel company at Pittsburg. July 28. 1942. he was united in marriage with Miss Bernice Hon-kus.

daughter tf Mr. and Mrs. Frank Honkus. Numine, Pa. Sgt.

Parros was born May 21, 1924. Surviving are his parents, his wife, a year-old daughter, Lenore. two brothers and a sister. G. M.

2 Dean, stationed in Florida; Sic James, Boston, and Rita, at home. Shroyer Hits New Deal Link To Communists President Roosevelt is indispen-sible to the Communists, but not to the preservation of American democracy, said John Shroyev, state secretary of highways, at an enthusiastic and largely attended Republican meeting at the courthouse. Hollidaysbur? last evening. The meeting, held in court room No. 1.

was in charge of County Chairman Percy Patterson, and was opened with" singing "America," led by J. Calvin Lang, accompanied Mrs. Lang, and followed by the pledge to the flag A fervent invocation was given by Rev T. Stacy Capers, of the Holli-daysburg Presbyterian church. The vice chairman.

Mrs. Mitchell MacCartnoy told what an important part womn play in elections and asked them to help in every way at the coming election and uiged them to join the dollar certificate campaign. A number of office holders and candidates were presented, including Mayor Brumbaugh of Altoona. County Commissioners Milton S. Emeigh and Herbert S.

Bolger. Prothonotary John B. Elliott, and John Rorer and Carl Kubler of Il'irpishiirg Short taits weie en by Isr.iei 5. ar.d Raymond Soiienberger and Congressman D. Emmert Brumbaugh.

Two sones were sune by Mr. Lanz, in which the awembledge joined, after which a timely (ontinard Tage 8, tol. 5) 1 I -A H-iuiiai Three Raids Net One Slot Machine In connection with the investigation into the jury bribery case which developed at the trial of former Mayor Charles E. Rhodes, Pvt. James Kane of the Pennsylvania State Police announced last night that the state police and two deputy sheriffs made simultaneous raids at the residence of Harry Wolfberg and at the Red Rock Beverage company and J.

I company. One slot machine of the 5-centj type was confiscated at the Diin- ning warehouse and nothing was found at either the Red Rock Beverage company or at Wolf-1 berg's, Avalon road, Juniata Gap. Deputy Sheriff Paul Reed and Deputy Sheriff John Liebegott and state police raided the three places simultaneously at 4 40 oVloek last evening. Wolfberg is charged with giv-; ing $100 in cash to one of the jurors impaneled for the trial of former Mayor Rhodes who was indicted on two counts for mis-! behavior in office, for having fail- ed to make returns in writing of slot machines confiscated in 1940 and 1942. Bernard Wayne, who has been charged with accessory before the fact in the jury bribery case, having accompanied Wolfberg to the home of a second juror, gave a signed statement to District I Attorney J.

Calvin Lang. yes- terday morning concerning the 75 slot machines which he had sold to Pliil Swan for $25, who in turn sold them to Harry Goldberg for scrap nd which have been im- pounded as evidence in the case. All of the 75 machines, with the exception of one, had been re-! duced to junk, and that one is said to have had a handle already broken when Sheriff John Har- vey arrived at the junk yard. VV'axjie, an insurance agent, who has admitted accompanying Wolfberg from the Venetian Gardens to the home of a juror and in-i troducing the two men. sold the machines within an" hour after! Judge George G.

Patterson re-i vealed jury bribery in the case of Rhodes, Friday morning. Wayne's home searched by tate police as reported in yes- terday's Tribune and 36 machines were found concealed in the attic i and i ellar together with a large quantity of slot machine parts and punch boards. None was confiscated since they were the non pay-off type machines. These oan be used as gambling devices only if their owners pay off in cash. Because none of the machines was found in actual operation, they are not listed as gambling devices for the present The statement received yesterday, signed by Wayne and witnessed by his attorney, informed the district attorneyi that Wayne had obtained the machines from Abraham Goldsmith but gave no date for the transaction.

According to his statement Wayne firet tried to sell the machines to the Abelson Junk yard but they could not agree on terms. Wayae stated that he was anxi-! ous to dispose of the machines because the owner of the garage here they were stored at 2227 1 Beale avenue wanted to use the building for coal storage. Wayns then contacted Liike Siii nd gave the latter the keys to the garage to inspect the machines, Sill, according to Wayne, was to i.ntimiFd On lie I'nl. 1) By W. W.

ItERCHKR LOXDO.V, Thursday, Oct. 12 (IP) The Red army roared up to the East Prussian border west of Kaunas yesterday, isolated the great Baltic port of Memel, and on the southern front with the aid of Romanian troops captured Szeged, second largest city in Hungary, and Cluj, capital of Transylvania. In a day of glittering successes for Soviet arms, Marshal Tfto announced that the Russians and his Yugoslav Partisan troops also had surrounded Yugoslavia's capital city of Belgrade, but this was not confirmed by the Russian communique, which inexplicably was nut broadcast until well after midnight. A Russian column reached the northeastern approaches to Belgrade a week ago but apparently it was decided not to risk wrecking the city by frontal assault. The German radio acknowledged that Gen.

Ivan C. Bagramian's First Baltic army had entirely encircled Memel, port and chief city of Memelland. The Russians, already within nine miles of the city and cptting a steel arc around it. did not confirm that they actually had reached the sea on both sides, but said they edged closer on the southeast and extended northward towards Liepaja the corridor to the sea they had hammered home on Tuesday, isolating 100.000 to 150,000 Germans remaining in northwest Lithuania and southwest Latvia. Szeged is 95 miles southeast of Budapest, and although Russian troops already were only 47 miles (Continued on Page ol.

5) 2,300,000 Soldier Votes May Be Cast NEW YORK, Oct. 11 (fl Well over 4,300,000 men and women in the armed forces have applied for absentee ballots and the best estimates of state election officials indicate that more than of the ballots will be cast in tne November 7 election. In the 18 states which have kept a record of thera, more than G. I. ballots already have oeen marked and returned.

The pei-centage of servicemen and women who have cast the ballots they requestednor received without askingranges from 5 per cent in Wisconsin to around 50 per cent in Ohio. These figures, gathered in a nationwide survey by tl.e Associated Press, reflect the eoMier vote picture as of Oct. 3, slightly more than a month before the general election. The exact number of military ballots cast may r.ever be known, since many states do not count them separately. Similarly, thousands oaf ballots are reaching local and county officials in each day's mail and jtate officials have no record of theni.

The situation in slates where figures or ciose estimates ere available. New York, with its vital 47 electoral votes, has received soldier votes from the 589.054 f'niitinaxl Pas Col. S) Showdown On Polish Issue Planned LONDON. (Thursday) Oct. 12 -uPJ-Marshal Stalin and Prime Minister.

Churchill have arranged 'to bring together leaders of two rival Polish factions for a showdown conference. The Moscow radio announced early today leaders of the Polish National Liberation committee were already in the Soviet capital and Premier Stanislaw Mikolajczyk of the exiled London government is ready to fly there. The Moscow broadcast, recorded here by the Soviet monitor, said that the chairmen of the Soviet backed Polish National Council and the National Liberation committee were accompanied by Col. Gen. Rola-Zymierski, com-mandei-in-chief of their armed forces.

Thus the stage was being set for the two rival Polish factions to sit down at the conference table with Stalin and Churchill serving as intermediaries to settle their dispute the toughest diplomatic headache facing the United Nations. By EDDY GILMORE MOSCOW, Oct. 11 (Discussions of the problems of peace and plans for bringing the war in Europe to a steedy close went forward in Moscow today in an atmosphere of warm Allied friendship and cooperation sparked by Premier Marshal Stalin. Foreign Ministers Anthony Eden and Vyachesiav Molotov met after luncheon today following a meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 o'clock last night, and a British spokesman said the separate staffs were working "very hard" at the moment. S.

ambassador W. Averell Harriman and Maj. Gen. J. Russell Deane, chief of the U.

S. military mission, were hosts at a luncheon for the Britiftt- military staffs, including Field Marshal Sir Alar. Francis Brooke, chief of the imperial general staff; Gen. Sir Hastings L. Tsmay, chief of staff to Prime Minister Churchill, and" It.

Gen. Brocas Burrows, chief of (Continued on Page ft. Col. 7) Germans Still Fighting Strongly in Italy ROME. Oct.

11 Wet and mud.ly American troop) prodded the stubborn German south of Bologna today, but the enemy was far from being out of the hills before that big communications center and there were no signs that the -Germans were ready write off Italy in their campaign book. The Americans reached the southern outskirts of the town of Llvergnano, 11 miles south of Bologna on highway 65, but a new hill loomed beyond and tht Germans were sitting on it. well entrenched. It wis the same story with the British troops, both with the Fifth snd Eighth armies: small gain scored here and there, then new mud and new hills. 1123 ELEVENTH AVE.

"Obviously the enemy is trying to make a Cjissino out of Aachen and stave off the Americans as long as possible in carrying out the fuehrer's orders to fight to the death in protection of reich soil," said Don Whitehead of the Associated Press, a witness of the desperate maneuver. OPEN FIRE Promptly at noon, an hour and 10 minutes after expiration of th9 Allied ultimatum to the German commander of Aachen to surrender, hundreds of American big guns began throwing shells into historic Aachen and dive bombers began shattering and burning its ancient -buildings. lonigm Aacnen was siowiy tan- ing apart under the terrific bom bardment as the shells marched across its length and breadth and. high explosive and fire bombs raked it from end to end. At times the German city was completely i blanketed with smoke.

It was the "ruthless" destruction promised in the American ultimatum. In the midst of the thunderous shelling and bombing American observers were astonished to see enemy columns moving along leading to Aachen in the vicinity of Merzbrueck and Hostenrath. Artillery immediately was turned on the Nazis and dive bombers, which had Just loosed their bombs on Aachen, dived in and strafed the column. As a result of the unexpected enemy movement, Lt. Gen.

Courtney Hodges' troops did not move against the Aachen defenses immediately at any point, but concentrated on keeping the Nazi re-K'natinnrd on Pace Col Flying Bomhs Still Bombing England LONDON. Oct. 11 Southern England suffered one of its steadiest poundings from flying bombs in months tonight when the Germans made three attacks within a few hours. The first attack occurred before dusk and the others followed at about 90 minute intervals Each raid encountered terrific antiaircraft fire and the guns scored successes but some missiles exploded inland. The attacks followed Tuesday's letpite.

the first in six nights. i 1 WEAR SIMMS DIAMONDS AND VOL' WEAR THE FIXES.