The Tribune from San Luis Obispo, California • 1

Arsenio New Chairman SLO Red Cross Chapter At the annual banquet meeting of the San Luis Obispo chapter American Red Cross held at the Andrews hotel latt night Joseph Arsenio was elected unanimously to serve as t)ie 1945 chapter chairman A XL Brazil retiring chairman who presided at the meet-Ing'was named to head the 1945 Soviet Drive Forces Nazis To Weaken Western Defense Silesia Base Captured on Oder River LONDON Jan 24 Marshal Stalin announced today that he had hurled a Sixth Russian army into hit unprecedented offensive paced by assault forces now storming Poznan Konlgsber and Oder river defenael Ine Marshal Rodion Second Ukrainian army eztended the offensive front another 100 miles southward into Hungary with an attack along the Hun garian-Slovak frontier which broke through on a 25-mlle front and carried westward 12 miles Swinging forward In tins with Gen Ivan forces la Slovakia and lower Poland Malta- County Men In the Fight William Jones S-8gt William Jones son of Mm Mary Williams of rural San Luis Obispo has been promoted to his present rank somewhere In the Pacific according to official word from the district headquarters in Los Angeles Jones Is with the Second Marine regiment and Is a veteran of some of the Moodiest and most bitter fighting of the Pacific war He saw action on Tarawa Saipan and Tinian California 40th pivision Spearheads Luzon Advance GENERAL HEADQUARTERS LUZON Jan 24 (UP) Japanese forces fywe abandoned new well-prepared defenses in the hills northwest of Bamban 53 miles from Manila and the fall of that last bastion shielding Clark Field appeared imminent today Maj Gen Oscar 14th Corps already may he within 50 air miles of Manila at a point east of Bambai Concepcion 53 miles northwest of the capital and six and a half miles northeast of Bamban waa overrun yesterday United Press War CbrrespoLdent Frank Hewlett reported from the front that the 40th (California) Fear Grips Germany By ROBERT DOWSON FASTEST AMBULANCE The fastest am-F-S8 with belly fuel tanks modified to carry personnel demonstrated at 7th AAF headquarters Pacific ocean The Utter (above) Is poshed Into- the container' and the Utter fastens on hooks Inside the tank The tatt section Is locked In place when patient Is secure Below a passenger resting on mats looks through the plexiglass nose Tank Is equipped wltfe two portholes alrvents and set of earphones A similar tank Is fastened on other side of cockpit (AAF photo) or Irwin A MeMath Irwin A MeMath US Navy a former resident of San Luis Obispo where he was employed by the Pacific Gas and Electric company has been promoted to the rating of warrant officer His wife and daughter Marivee are living with his mother Mm White In Atascadero at the present time Friends wishing to write to M0-Math may obtain his address from his mother Dean Berquist Sgt Dean Berquist 21 1156 street is an armorer with a heavy bombardment group of the 15th AAF in Italy which has been given the blue battle stream-(Tura to Page Eight) Pfc Baker Killed in Action Pfc ISdward Baker husband of Mm Peart Baker 1540 Second street has been killed In action according to a War department' telegram received Saturday by his widow It reads as follows: The Secretary of War asks that I aasure you of his deep sympathy In the loss of your husband Pfc Edward Baker Report received states that he died SO December on Peleliu Island as result of wounds received in action Confirming letter follows" Pfc and Mm Baker were married here in February 1944 He left here in April and was shipped from the United States In May Since then he had seen much combat service He was awarded a letter of commendation Tor bravery in on Angaur Island on Sept 17 and 18 Mm Baker had just received a letter from her husband telling about their Christmas celebration on Peleliu Island It was written four days before his death He la also survived by his mother Mm' Lena Black Greenbrier Ark a aister Mm James Mason Kg Spring Ttat and his mother-in-law Mm E2ma Brown with whom his wife lives 6:30 Masonic Dinner club Masonic Temple 7 Upholstery class Junior high schooL 7 Spanish class Junior High school DAV and auxiliary Veterans halL 7:80 Field Hospital and Ambulance corps Elks hall Neighbors of Woodcraft WOW hall 8 Pythian Slsiter WOW halL 8 Knights of Columbus Mission bw 8 IClng David lodge No 209 Masonic Temple LONDON Jan 24 Moscow broadcasts today reported mass evacuations of Germans from Silesia northeastern Germany and western Poland and said unrest In the ranks of the Volkasturm led to clashes with Elite Guard units A ihrili discord of propaganda broadcasts clogged the European air waves some of them reporting that panic had broken out In Berlin and that the Germans had begun to dig trenches around their caoltaL decisive bottle In the it is approaching a cllmaz ir more rapidly" -the Nazi Transoeetn- News Agency qboted a German high command source "It hae assumed a ferocity and violence which cannot possibly be surpassed" The often Inaccurate Paris radio said without giving its source that the Germans were ringing Berlin with trenches in apparent preparation for a last ditch defense A Brussels broadcast quoted Swedish reports that the evacuation of Berlin was going on A Moscow broadcast Immediately following a free German committee appeal for an uprising In Germany said Mg scale evacuations from Silesia Pomerania and the border area of Poind were under way with the people "being driven on foot toward the Interior of "In central the broadcast added have been reported between SS units and Volkasturm men whose wives and children were being evacuated A brier flurry of optimism In German press and radio comment yesterday was dampened by the chief spokesman Lt Gen Kurt Ditt-mar who warned the public that the Russian Invasion sweep has not been halted and that there Is no Immediate Indication where or when It will stop At the same time Dittmar brushed aside propaganda claims of Mg successes In the west with the assertion that Marshal Karl von counter drive Into the Ardennes was only a "local "Many an unlimitedly grave situation will still have to be Dittmar said In com mentlng cm the Russian offensive Dittmar aaknowledged that the German' Army was not prepared for the five-army offensive In the east but he denied that the Nazis were panicked by the speed of the Soviet advance War Fund drive for 940700 Dr Ben Loveall was chairman of the nominating committee while Mrs Margaret Cbnyer served vice-chairman Other Chapter officers were retained by unanimous vote In the positions they have occupied during the previous year with Rev Geoffrey CL Hin-shelwood continuing as vice-chairman Mrs Haines as secretary and CL Teach as treasurer Mrs Pearl Walker chapter's new execuUve secretary was Introduced by Brazil Knows Value The real highlight of the evening came with the introduction of LI Charles Bates USNR whose combat experiences In the Pacific gave graphic recognition to the tremendous job which the American Red Cross is performing li that theater Lt Bates is a survivor of a destroyer which was hit and sunk during 'an attack by Japanese torpedo and dive bombers and spent three days adrift In the open sea before rescued He holds the Silver Star and the Purple Heart among other decorations gained In battle He is now on the Navy's recuperative list and Is stationed at Treasure Island Hewett Reynolds chairman of the Santa Barbara War Fund spoke of the 'Importance of a Successful basing his- remarks upon several years experience a drive bead for Santa Bar- bara Reports of activity conducted by the chapter during 1944 were submitted by the various chairmen led by Teach who gave the financial report followed by Km- Davis Volunteer Special Services Mrs Helen Hath way Home Nursing Gamp and Hospital committee Miss Margaret Chase Home Service Mrs Pearl CL Hull Home Service secretary Junior Red Cross Mrs Helen Fisher Chairmen Named Also named the meeting last night were the service chairmen with several new departments added to the activities with those appointed automatically becoming members of the board of directors Receiving the appointments were Miss Margaret Chase Camp and Hospital Mrs Mercer Nursing Activity Miss Eva Main First Aid and Water Safety Mr Russell Hoyt Home and Farm Acident Prevention Mrs Davis Vdunteer Special Services Miss Rowena Taylor Nutrition Mra Helen Fisher Junior Red Cross Public Information Sgt John Barber Homer Service Mrs Mary Thrailkill Disaster Prepar-ednes Tony Sebastian and War Fund chairman A Brazil Fifteen members-at-large were appointed McClure Mrs diaries Teaah Miss Helen Ballard Sam Cbull Alvin Rhodes Mrs John Hanson Miss Christine Zoffman Mm Margaret Cby-ner Robinson Mm Dunne Mm Virginia Wohlgemuth Mm Charles Kinkel A1 Lovell Jack Gooding and Mm Edwards Special guests were Mm Apperson San Simeon Mr and Mm Mark Waltz Cambria Dr and Mm EL Harris Halcyon and Miss Ruth Pasko Morro Bay Many groups were represented at the meeting with Ed Boyle present as Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Ralph Wilson director County el-fare and Dr and Mm Harry Bauer General Hospital Entertainment was furnished by a trio composed of Lucian Morrison violinist Mm Dorothy Thompson pianist and Carl I Loveland cellist Screams Bring Police to Aid A 21-year-okl San Luis Obispo girl was seized by a Camp San Luis Obispo soldier last night at 11 o'clock near Broad and Pacific streets as she was returning home from the local USO it was revealed 4y police tdday The young woman whose screams for help brought the police to her rescue received bruises on the neck where he attempted to choke her The soldier ran but later was apprehended by military police from the camp ILPn searched the neighborhood for the soldier described by the girl and within a few minutes found him In a near-by creek bed Where he had hidden The attacker was being held in custody of military officials at Ckmp San Luis Obispo today The girl told police that she had just stepped off the bus at a earner near her home and had gone only a few feet when she crabbed from behind LONDON Jan 24 Mar-StaUa announced tonight that the Red army hod captured Oppeln SUealan stronghold ea the Oder Stella also announced the capture of Rawlcz 145 nllpa southeast of Berlin and ivachen-berg 24 miles north-northwest of Breslau forces captured the fortified border towns of Jolevatapolea and Rozsnyo respectively 45 and 88 miles west of Kassa Berlin 156 Miles To the north other Russian forces were bettering the Oder defenses along a broad front and fighting Into Poznan Polish bastion 186 miles east of Berlin and the Efest Prussian capital of Konlgsberg The German high command acknowledging wholesale setbacks from end to end of the biasing eastern front said that the "decisive was nearing a climax and had reached a pitch of ferocity and violence "which cannot possibly be Nazi military spokesmen confirming Moscow reports that Poznan was under assault said two columns of Marshal Gregory Kr Zhukov's army were storming the city from the east and south The tenor of the comment and a high command admission of "embittered fighting there Indicated the fall was Imminent Konlgsberg Attack Soviet field dispatches reported the attack on Konlgsberg and said that other Russian forces pushing up through the western belt of East Prussia were within 15 miles of ElMng the fall of which would slam the door on some 200000 Neal troops In the province On the other wing of the fast shifting eastern front Marshal Ivan 8 First Ukrainian Army massed on the east bank of the Oder southeast of the Silesian capital of Breslau opened a shattering bombardment of German defenses scrota the river and closed against a number of key towns In the industrial "Ruhr of the "The battle of SIleala swiftly neared a decision aa Konev already entrenched on the Oder along a broad front fanned hie forces out north and south end reached points 10 to 15 miles from Breslau11 a Moscow dispatch reported "The Germans ere reported mobilizing every able bodies man woman and child to fight with a fanaticism unparalleled for the Germans In a desperate attempt to defer If not avert the doom of the feat Important The Germans were reported from Moscow to have laid waste the Silesian towns and villages marked for seizure by the Red Bolstering Moscow reports that the Soviet trap waa dosing on East Prussia the German command said that In the western end of the province Marshal Konstantin Rokosaovskya forces beat down stubborn resistance and advanced to the area of Elb-tag Mg transport junction In the PARIS Jan 24 (UP) American forces plunged forward toward the German Siegfried positions Oast of the almost vanished Ardennes bulge today amid gathering signs that the Germans were hastily drawing strength from the western front to meet the crisis In the east The American advance was rolling steadily and ahead of the ground forces 8 tactical air forces struck at fresh Nazi convoys moving east Reporta came from several sectors of the front indicating that the fighting In the west 'was be-ng affected by the German efforts to bolster the lines shattered by the Red Army In the east Along the British-held Dutch a front correspondents reported two German divisions definitely had been pulled out of the line and sent east British and American tactical air forces reported heavy movement of German military traffic on the lines leading away from the Ruhr Trains Bombed The American tactical air force reported it had destroyed 70 more German vehicles in strikes against the Nazi rear line thus far today Tim British reported they had hit more than 160 German tralxto In 48 hours many of them loaded with troops and war materials However there was little change In the grim character of ground fighting The American Seventh Armored Division with the assistance of the 508th Infantry of the 82nd Airborne Division shoved -east of recaptured St Vith in a push to drive the Nazis back Into their Siegfried positions from which they launched the Ardennes drive Detf -16 Third Army forces moved up In gains of one and two miles and along about half the Ardennes sector the lines were virtually where they had been before Field Marshal Karl von Rundstedt attacked The extent of the forces being pulled out of the western front by the Germans was not yet certain One front report suggested that the German Sixth Panzer Army was being sent east hurriedly Another speculated that the Fifth Panzer Army also waa headed that way 'These two armies were the spearhead of von Rundstedt's Ardennes forces French Gains The French First offensive on both aides of the Colmar pocket registered continuing gains which it was believed may force the Germans to relax their (Turn to page eight) B-29s Blast Iwo Island' PEARL HARBOR Jan 24 015 B-29 Super-Fortresses turned their attention from the Japanese homeland temporarily today for another heavy attack on military installations on Iwo stepping stone island half way from Sal-pan to Tokyo Twice before Marianas-based Super-Fortresses have hit Iwo 750 miles southeast of Tokyo both times in conjunction with Liberators and a naval task force There waa no Immediate indication whether surface vessels and other bombers joined In today's hrnnhiwlmimt Iwo In the Volcano group la the main enemy air base athwart the Super-FortTess route to Tokyo JNagoya and Osaka and aerv both as a warning post and aa nest for Intercepting fighters Japanese bombers alto have made hit-run raids from Iwo on the The new attack was announced In a brief bulletin from the War department In Washington which promised details later The raid followed by leas than 24 hours an attack on the main Japanese aircraft center of Nagoya hY Maj Gen Curtis Marianas-based 21st Bomber Command Returning pilots reported they met their heaviest fighter opposition yet over Japan- at Nagoya with as many as 100 planes attacking some formations At least one B-29 was lost and a War department communique said 15 enemy aircraft ven shot down IS probably destroyed and 54 damaged TTie Japanese acknowledged the loss of onj yaix planes The 40th htome station la Camp 8an Lula Obispo In yean before the war the 40th was the California National Guard and trained at the local camp which before Its ea- largement in 1941 wae called Camp Merriam The division was stationed at the camp when little more than lt was little more than a quagmire and soldiers of the 49th were almost outnumbered by the carpenters and workmen hulldlng the new eamp division waa closing in late yesterday on both Bamban and the Barn-ban airfield three miles northeast of the town and the first of the Clark Field airstrips Batteries Silenced Japanese opposition to the frontal advance on Bamban stiffened yesterday afternoon Hewlett said but dual purpose anti-aircraft-anti-tank guns silenced enemy batteries and moat enemy snipers soon afterward fell back farther south The abandonment of defense positions completed only a few months ago northwest of Bamban was taken as a sign that he will not attempt a strong stand even at the Bamban river which bisects the Luzon plain a mile south of the town Hewlett said American engineers with bulldozers scrapers and other equipment were awaiting the capture of the Bamban airstrip eagerly With hundreds of acres of dispersal area the field offers unlimited possibilities' for aerial support of (Turn to Page Eight) 41 Locomotives in One Day CHUNGKING Jan 24 Mustang fighter planes of Maj Gen Claire 14th US Air Force rolled up their biggest single day bag of Japanese locomotives yesterday when they destroyed 41 In missions around TMnan Peiping Tientsin and Tehfasen lt waa officially announced today added to the toll by destroying a fully-loaded enemy troop train by bombing and strafing three miles south of Kwelyi in central China Fifty Japanese soldiers were killed At Yuankiang on Tung Ting lake northwest of Changsha other Warhawk fighters bombed factory and dock areas killing enemy troops and destroying supplies The docks were heavily damaged Total loss for the day waa two planes Jones Favors WASHINGTON Jan 24 Retiring -Secretary of Commerce Jease Jones testifying in favor of legislation to curb the powers of his designated successor Henry A Wallace said today that the loan administrator he a man of proven and round business Jones made a public appearance a jammed Senate caucus room before the Senate Commerce committee to state his reasons for believing the former vice president la not qualified to succeed him as head of the multi? MlUon-dollar fending agencies Wallace win he given a rebuttal opportunity tomorrow Jones gave his views on a MU by Sen Walter George Ga which would remove from the Commerce department all control over the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and its affiliated agencies Reminding the committee that the RFC conducts "the' most gi Fund to Provide Community Loans For Servicemen Letters of solicitation for money to be placed in a Veterans Service Cbuncil revolving fund were sent out today to the San Lula Obispo War Cheat civic fraternal social service and veterans organizations according to Fisher chairman of the finance committee of the VSC This money will he used as a loan fund for honorably discharged servicemen or women who are contributing to the welfare of the community A full investigation by the Veteran's Service Officer or appointed administrator will be made Into the case of each applicant who must show evidence that local employment has been obtained or assured and that he or she has established and malntalna a local residence Basic provisions of the loans are as follows: No loan shall exceed 950 or be granted-for a period of more than 90 days al loans shall bear a service charge of two per cent of the total to be deducted from the principal at the source and on the date of negotiations all loans shall be secured by a promissory note executed at the time the loan la made and to become payable after date thereof the committee may use any process of law deemed advisable to recover moneys due and owing to the fund which remain unpaid after demand for payment Although no solicitations will be (Turn to Page Eight) being man before Loan The principle personal in this stands Is the do his country min-nteman States committee and to toe me pay roll throughout Klrtland the payroll civilian OMs- finance that on civil-payrolls Allies Set Trap For Jap Armies Caught in Burma MYITKYINA Burma Jan 24 (UR) British commandos pushing inland after a new amphibious landing below Akyab threatened today to cut off thousands of Japanese on the Arakan cohst while the American Mara task force trapped hundreds of other enemy troops in east Burma by severing the old Burma road near Hosi 35 miles southwest of Wanting A southeast Aria communique disclosed that the commandoes landed without opposition in the Kangaw area 85 miles southeast of Akyab Tuesday and had driven within one mile of the Taungup-Yohaung road the only escape route for Japanese troops concentrated in the and southern Kaladan areas Amphibious Jump The landing was an amphibious jump from the Myebon peninsula which was invaded several weeks ago and followed shortly after another landing to the south on Ram-ree Island where British tanks had driven four miles inland In eastern Burma the American troops were reported to be battling strong Japanese attempts to break the block on the old Burma road which secured the recently-cleared Burma-Ledo road to the north The Mam force under command of Brig Gen John Willey of San Antonio Tex was disclosed to have marched 500 miles for the operation its first on the Burma road in almost three years Its activity was "blacked during the last month while a specially trained penetration force moved Into position to cut the road Retreat Blocked The road Mock cut the retreat route of an estimated 600 Japanese troops caught In a triangle farmed by the Burma and Bhamo toads Artillery commanding the road was set up aeven days ago and troops on either ride had kept in continuous contact for the last six days before the road was cut yesterday One Japanese group of 800 marching down the road was pin-printed by artillery yesterday and was believed exterminated The Japanese faced with the necessity of breaking the Mock if they are to get heavy equipment through have put the Mam positions under constant night attack RADIUM IN RUBBISH LOWELL Mass Jan 24 UI9 Street department crews' poked and sifted tons af assorted rubbish in the municipal dump today searching for -95000 worth of radium that an inexperienced St hospital employe tossed into a wastebasket 4- i to s' War Bond Purchases Slump Wallace Curb gantic business enterprise or aeries of business enterpriese that the world has ever Jones said it affects the entire economy of the nation Without mentioning Wallace In the 540-word prepared statement with which he opened hie testimony Jones asserted: "Certainly the RFC should not be placed under the supervision of any man willing to jeopardise the country's future with untried ideas and idealistic There was no question however that he would apply such a description to Wallace the Idol of the New Deal Democratic left wing seems to me that the paramount Issue before this committee In congideratlon of the resolution offered by Senator George" he said Is not the location of the powers which the Congress 1 from time to time delegated to the RFCL hut In the proper character of thfelr War hand buying in San Luis Obispo county for January reached only 22 per cent of the $287800 quota or a total of 964122 purchased In bonds placing the county second from the bottom among 11 southern California counties as of January 15 Dr Howard Klrtland county war bond chairman said today Tbs average for the 11 counties was 41 per cent of their quotas he disclosed Dr Klrtland emphasized the need for building up payroll deductions in busmeasee throughout the county He said that although payroll deductions at first were limited to firms employing at least 50 persona businesses employing only two persons are now urged to join the payroll deduction plan Elvery firm that has become Inactive recently in following out the payroll deduction plan was urged by A Wood cnairiMfi of the payroll deduction committee to check over their organisation and bring the deductions up to date- AU organizations and Individuals reached ftfanoet 17 per cent "i throughout the nation are urged to take the minute pledge to raise bond salea opening of the Seventh War drive Dr Klrtland said pledge follows: "Because I believe In the of freedom and liberty because 1 believe country and for what It and because I believe It duty of every citizen to full share to keep ear free I take this oath ae a of the United Treasury War Finance to promote the sale retention of war boadt beat of my ability so help God" In urging 10 per cent deductions for war bonds the county Dr printed to the success of deduction plan among employes at Camp San Luis albj EL Wheeler war bond officer reports deductions for war bonds at the post Baltic coastal area and gateway for any evacuation of the battered defenders to the -sat Black Market Meat Recovered by FBI SAN FRANCISCO Jan 24 JU While the San FTandaco bay area faced Its wont meat shortage In history Nat I fleperi Tiiirf of the regional FBZ office announced today that agents and police have arrested aeven persona connection with dlcgod Mack market operations touting 918000 He said the arrests were msda last night and that those Involved well be charged with conspiracy to defraud the Government since the all of which was recovered was destined for ths armed farces A.