The Call-Leader from Elwood, Indiana • Page 1

1 Ernie Pyle WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -How should a war correspondent who has been away long time begin his first column after he returns his homeland Frankly, I don't know I can't truthfully say "My. it's wonder. ful to be back." because I haven't a moment 10 sense whether had it's wonderful or not. In my first 48 hours in America got two hours' sleep, sand "No" 324 times.

my pocketbook and caught a bad cold. That pocketbook business incidentall IS sort of dis heartening to guy who returns full of eagerness for his own people. The wallet contained about War $200 and Department all 1. I ERNIE PYLE It had my name and address in at least a dozen times, but it it has not yet been returned. Whoever got it.

if he had a crumb of decency, could certainly send back the papers even if he kept the money. Anybody who wouldn't do that, it seems to me, would make a fine client for some oil -boilers. This thing happened in New York on my first day home. And here I've been ranting for a year about the lowly Arab! Perhaps you who read this column wonder why I came home just at this special time, when events are boiling over in Italy. Well, I mgiht as well tell truthfully.

I knew, of course, that the Italian invasion was com. ing up, but I chose to skip it. I made that decision because. realized, in the middle of Siciyl, that I had been too close to the war for too long. I was fed up.

and bogged down. Of course you say other people are too and they keep going on. But if your job is to write about the war, you're very apt to begin writing unconscious distortions and unwarranted pessimisms when you get too tired. I had come to despise and be revolted by war clear out of any logical proportion. 1 couldn't find the Four- Freedoms among the dead men.

Personal weari. ness became a forest that shut off my view of events about me. I was no longer seeing the little things that you at home want to know about the soldiers. When we fought through Sicily, it was to many of us like seeing the same movie for the fourth time. Battles differ one from another only in their physical environment the emotions of and exhaustion and exaltation and hatred are about the same in all of them.

Through repetition, I had worn clear down to the nub my ability to weigh and describe. You oils water. can't do a painting, when your There in the months and have, years ahead, still a lot of war to be written about. So I decided, all of a sudden one day in Sicily, that you who read and I who write would both benefit in the long run if I came home to refreshen my sagging brain and drooping frame. To put it bluntly, I was just too tired in the head.

So here I am. It has been 15 months since I left America. Things at home have changed a lot in that time, I'm sure. But at first glance 1 there doesn't seem much change. When I rode in from the airport in New York, and checked into the hotel, everything was so perfectly natural that it truly seemed as though I had never been away at all.

It was all so normal, so exactly like what it had been on other returns, that I couldn't realize that now I was going through that beautiful hour that millions of our men overseas spend a good part of their waking hours yearning for and dreaming about. I do hope that when their hour comes, they'll find themselves more capable of enthrallment by it. On the whole, the few little things that struck me the most were normal things that I had thought would be gone by now. I was surprised to find sugar bowls on the tables. We have plenty of sugar in the Army overseas, but we had figured you very short over here.

were And I was astonished at finding the store windows of New York looking so fulls and so beautiful. I'd like to take a pocketful of money and just go on spree, buying every. thing that was smart and it pretty whether I really wanted or not. The decline of traffic on the streets was noticeable; and how much nicer it is too, In fact it's too nice, and I propose to recreate some of our old congestion by getting out my own jalopy and dashing the nonessentially around streets for a month or so. second Well, it's anyway, wonderful to be.

I on thought, home. THE ELWOOD L- ER the Indiana Ohio Weather river Showers early Forecast: tonight; along A home newspaper owned and operated by and for home cooler forenoon. tonight and Thursday people. NUMBER 204 OF OUR FIFTY-THIRD YEAR ELWOOD, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1943 PRICE FOUR CENTS Yanks Hold Salerno Lines Fathers Must Be Drafted, Army Chief Declares President May Suggest Draft Of Labor Army General War Message To Be Read Friday; Tax Needs Considered WASHINGTON, Sept. 15.

(U.P.)Under-Secretary of War Patterson thinks Americans should be drafted for war work on the home front as well as on the battiefront. He came out flatly today for naticnal service act to recruit industrial manpower and help bring the war to a quick conclusion. Patterson pointed out that there is a shortage of workers in the aircraft industry which is reduc. ing plane production. Rather it means the voiuntary methods of directing workers to war industries have not been successful.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15. (U.P) -The Army laid its cards on the table this morning at a Senate military affairs committee hearing on the issue of drafting fathers. Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Joseph McNarney told the committee that war plans outlined at the Quebec conference wilL quire an army of 7,700,000 men. That does not include Navy men, Coastguards, or Marines.

the first McNarney was Army man to testify on the reopened hearings on the Wheeler bill, which would prohibit the drafting of fathers. And he warned that, said: "Any curtailment, reduction, or postponement, will necessitate a change" in the conduct of the war. The collapse of Italy, said Narney, does not affect the figures decided upon by the Army as necessary for the successful See PRESIDENT MAY, Page 1 6 William Benton Succumbs Tuesday William Thomas Benton, age 73, died at 2:30 o'clock, Tuesday afternoon, at the home of his son, Miles Benton, five miles northwest of Summitville, where he had resided for the past fitteen years. His wife, Mrs. Dora Benton, preceded him in death ten years ago Mr.

Benton was born in Scott county, Virginia, the son of Abison and Mary Benton. He later moved to Anderson, and was employed at the Ames Tool and Shovel Works for 32 years. The body was taken to the Copher Fesler Funeral Home, Summitville, and will be return ed to the residence of the son at noon today. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock with the Rev. Don Jennings officiating.

Burial will be in West Maplewood cemetery in Anderson. Surviving besides the son at whose home he died, are a daughter, Mrs. Clara Watkins of Anderson, and dren. William D. Wickard Succumbs Early Today William D.

Wickard William D. Wickard, 73, active in civic and political affairs of this city for many years, suecumber at 2:25 o'clock morning at his home, 1615 North street. Death resulted from the complications of age, following an illness of several months. Mr. Wickard served as City Street Commissioner, under the administration of former Mayor Orla Wann, from 1934 to 1938 He retired farmer, and a member of the Baptist church, at Connersville.

He had been a resident of the community most of his life, his parents removing to a farm near this city when ne was fifteen years of age. The son of George and Mary Wickard, the deceased was born at Connersville, on October 27. 1869. His parents removed to a farm in this community in 1884. and Mr.

Wickard was united in marriage on August 14, 1892, to Joanna Shickley. The couple See WICKARD, Page 6 Friday Is Designated As "Back Salerno" Day Elwood has chalked up only $44,000 towards its $220,000 Third War Loan goal, Bond Chairman King Leeson announced today, as the city prepared to join the nation in a "Back Salerno" day des-, Enrollments In Schools Increase Despite the fact that several the community's youths have entered into the armed services their country, the first day en. rollment figures in the Elwood public schools, Junior High, Senior High School shows an in. crease of 11 students over the first day enrollees in 1942. C.

Superintendent of Schools, C. there were 1855 student enrollments on the first day of the 1943 fall semester, as compared to a total of 1844 in 1942. The comparative figures of each school for 1942 and 1943 are: School 1942 1943 Central Grades 282 281 Edgewood $178 196 Linwood 286 309 Osborn ,115 110 Washington 115 118 Junior High .312 324 Senior High .:556 517 Totals 1844 1855 -BUY WAR STAMPS ORDER PLANE BOOST LOS ANGELES, Sept. 15. (UP) West coast plane plants have been ordered to boost production 28 percent before the first of next year.

This is reported by President Claude Ryan of the Aircraft War Production Council. Ryan says the government has promised to exert every effort to see that the plants get needed manpower. He adds that member companies of the council will require 30,000 additional employees. The panies are Boeing, ConsolidatedVultee, Douglas, Lockheel, North American, Northrop, Ryan and Vega. Elwood Men, Women In The Services Sgt.

Calvin J. Clark from Salem, Oregon, is visiting in Elwood with. his brother Sid Clark and with other relatives and friends. Robert Ormsby, son of Mrs. Carrie Ormsby of 1816 North street, and stationed somewhere (in mother, North Africa informing has her written that his he had been promoted to 'the rank of Sergeant.

Bob states that he is fine: Leonard C. Merida, Seaman First Class of the U. S. Merchant Marines, who has been spending a two weeks leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs.

Carl Merida of 121 South A street, returned I to Norfolk, where he is stationed. Russians Seize Rail Center; Drive On Kiev Moscow Silent On Fall Of Bryansk; Mop Up Remnants LONDON, Sept. 15, (UP) Premier Stalin has announced the capture of Nezhin, an important rail center on the northeastfern approaches of Kiev. The seizure of the town by Russian troops was revealed in a special der of the day issued by Stalin. According to the order, Nezhin fell after two days of heavy fighting.

As yet, however, there's no official word from the Soviet concering the fall of Bryansk which the Germans announced yesterday. However, unofficial front dispatches have reported that Red Army troops have occupied the western part of the city. Mop Up South of Kahkmach, the Soviets are mopping up remnants of four German infantry divisions Several thousand Germans have been killed and huge store of ammunition captured. At the southern end of the line, Russian troops have driven 16 miles souihwest of Mariupol to capture Yalta, on the coast of the sea of Aozv. The ground forces have 'been supported by a surprise landing of Russian sailors.

The seamen landed behind the retreating Germans and attacked ammunition trains. More than 600 Nazis were killed and much materiel was taken including one and one half million shells. At the other end of the line, two Rusian forces are reported to have stormed into Bryansk, while a third force drove through to cut off the Nazis retreating toward Roslavl. The Russians are expected to push through Bryansk and on toward I miles to the northwest on the road to Smolensk. -BUY WAR STAMPS- "Bike" Parking Draws Police Ire occurred to the car.

-BUY WAR BONDS Duck Creek Farm Bureau To Meet The Duck Creek Township Farm Bureau will meet Friday evening at the Reeder school 8 o'clock, Mrs. Clair Meyer, Social and Education Leader, announced today. Hobart Jones, new assistant county agent, will be the guest speaker. He will use as his topic, Winners "Timely the Topics." in August Cake Contest will be- given their awards. Members of the Jolly Maids 4-H Club are asked to be in attendance to, receive premiums for their placing in the County 4-H Club Fair.

Also movies of the county fair will be shown at this time, and two other short movies of interest. A full attendance of members is urged at this meeting. frafirms A warning was issued today possible by Police Chief Jose Hickey Pur- to youthful "bike" riders, regerd. ing the wan' carelessness in parking their bicycles on the $10,000 00 sidewlaks ness district 1,000 throughout the busi500 of the city. 1,000 Numerous complaints have 1.000 been received by the police partment, stating that it is tically impossible in several locations for pedestrians to get through the bicycles parked upon the sidewalk.

Chief Hickey stated that the sidewalk in front of the Western Union Company's office and the Vogue Theater were two sites that seem to be unusually attractive as parking announcement sites for bicyelces. C. Just what means 'that the polagricul- ice department will take to remprison- edy the situation is still undeterencamp- mined. One accident was reported to available com- police, with the car of William Galbreath, 2423 South street. 600 involved in accident at 5:45 to the this morning.

There were no juries, but a considerable amount the of the of damage was reported to have be Bombardier Credited With 11 Enemy Craft Here's the score for an Elwood bombardier who h'. just returned to the city after serving 16 months in North Africa, China and India: Five Jap Zero plane: Three submarines. One enemy cruiser. Two Italian fighter planes. The youth who has been officially credited with destroying these enemy craft is Staff Sergeant William Heater, a native of Elwood who is now visiting his sister Mrs.

Richard Sanders, and brother James Heater, residinp at 703 South 28th st. Three times wounded in action, Sergeant Heater is modest and unassuming about the part he has played in the overseas fighting. But his citations and awards speak for themselves. Included are the Purple Heart, The Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. Just 25 years old, Sergeant Heater has served in the Army for four years, enlisting in 1939.

His 16 months of action include two months 'in' Palestine when Germany's Marshal Rommel See BOMBARDIER, Page 6 Public Asked To Save Electricity through its Director of War Utilities, has asked the Indiana General Service Company to cooperate in a voluntary program to conserve fuel, manpower, equipment, and critical material according to an announcement by Mr. R. F. Mullin, District Manager. "This program is not necessitated by any shortage in the electricity supply in the area served by this company or in the nation as a whole." said Mr.

Mul. lin. "In its appeal to all electric customers, electricity, urging the them WPB not states to that in the electric industry the installed generating capacity. together with capacity now under construction, is ample to meet all foreseeable electric needs. But, they point out, it is essential to save the electricity so as to reduce directly or indirectly the demands See PUBLIC ASKED, Page 2 Lt.

James Bell Guest Of Kiwanis WAR STAMPS Rosary Society Will Meet This Evening Lieutenant James H. Bell, who has just returned to this city on leave, will be the guest speaker at the regular dinner eting of the Kiwanis Club at the Hotel Sidwell, Thursday evening. The meeting is scheduled to get under way at 6:15 o'clock. Lieut. Bell is back in the city, following three months of action as a naval aviator, on Guadalcanal Island, the South Pacitic war zone.

His stories regarding some of his experiences should provide an interesting evening for the members in attendance. Lieut. Bell, who 1s honeymooning here with his Mrs. Denise Jeanne Surmagne Bell. is the son of Mr.

and Mrs. Arthur Bell, 1521 North A street. Palmer Davis, program chairman for this month, requests that a large attendance of members be represented. The Rosary Society of St. Joseph's church are requested to meet at the Copher Funeral Home this evening at 8 o'clock to recite the rosary for the late Mary C.

Magers. All members are requested to be WAR STAMPS Youth Recreation Council To Meet A called meeting of the Youth Recreation Council and their Board of Directors will be held at the Elwood Public Library this evening at 7 o'clock, it was announced today by President Arthur G. VonDielingen. Any persons interested in recreational facilities for the youth of the city are invited to attend. Germans Throw Everything In Battle British 8th Races Up Coast To Back Up Valiant Yanks By United Press The smoke is slowly clearing from the flaming Salerno battlefront -and the Allies are still there.

A titanic battle is raging from one end of the 24-mile beachhead to the other. It's a see-saw fight with no permanent positions and no rest for either side. But although General Clark's men have yielded some ground, they've consolidated the ragged ends of their line. And now the Allies are on the attack, backed up by a thunderous air and naval barrage. British and American reinforcements still are pouring into the embattled beachhead.

General Clark says we must hold the line, and the Fifth Army, to a man, is fighting magnificently againat odds that might have licked far more experienced, soldiers, Now there is a report that Staff Sergeant William Heater An Elwood youth who has made the enemy pay dearly ignated by the Treasury Depart. ment for this Friday. Mr. Leeson pointed out that sales must spurt considerable during the next two weeks if the city is to achieve its quota, and every citizen to "fire his shot at the enemy forces with the purchase of additional war bonds and stamps." "Big Money" Day Designating Friday for effort and tribute to of battling on the Italian Treasury sent a telegram of finance chairmen in each saying: and, "American fighting one boys of at the this I battles of the war. Salerno be as bitter as ChateauThe entire nation has its ears and hearts on those Americans in the Salerno Back Salerno push the Germans' is to be battle cry on the war front." Mr.

Leeson listed contributions by individuals, ternal groups, and business and urged every group to follow their example. chases included: Lodge and members Duckcreek Store Goodyear Service Goodrich Store Morris Store Fred Wolf. -BUY WAR STAMPS War Prisoners For Farm Work According to made yesterday by Walter Haynes. Madison county ture agent, German war ers, from the temporary ment near this city, are for work on farms in the munity. It is estimated that about prisoners were brought encampment from Fort ridge, at the request War Manpower Commission eviate an alleged labor in canning plants in Madison Tipton counties.

Some farmers are said experiencing a labor shortage cause many young men ed on the farms have returned school. In a movement to aid farmers the prisoner labor been made available, it was ed. Provisions require prisoners must be taken in of ten under supervision. desiring to use the prisoners asked to contact the county tension office. -BUY WAR STAMPS- L.C.B.A.

Lodge To Give Tribute special Americans coast, the to war state moment bloodiest Thierry eyes, brave! sector. back Friday's bond outstanding to alshortage and to be beemploy- to these has statthat the groups Farmers are ex- All members of the L. C. B. lodge are requested to meet thin, evening at 8 o'elc: at the Copher Fesler Funeral Home to give tribute the late member Mrs.

Mary Catherine Magers. Bulletins LONDON Adell Hitter in trying to puff the deflated shape of Benito Mussolini. Axis reports say the former Dictator now is Supreme Head of a new Fascist government in Italy. Just three days ago the Germans claimed that they rescued Mussolini from an on. The enemy broadcast has a new name for the one-time Duce's party Republican Fascist.

NEW YORK- The London ra. dio, heard in New York, says eight Italian merchant ships have arrived a Cyprus port. The ships sailed from the Dodecanese islands. LONDON-Swedish reports to London tell of great Allied naval activity off Palestine and Syria. This has aroused ulation that the British Ninth Army is getting set for invasion -perhaps of the Balkans.

CAIRO Major General Ralph Broyce has taken over mand of the American Army forces in the Middle East. He replaces Major General Lewis H. Brereton left for what is referred. to as an important, but naspecified signment in another theater. ALLIED HEADUARTERS South Pacific Allied trbops are about to deliver the knock.

out punch to the Jap garrison at Lea, New Guinea. American and Australian forces have penetrated the enemy's defenses on two sides. -BUY WAR BUNDS- Local Soldier Hurt In Mishap Pvt. Joseph Clark. son of Mr.

and Mrs. J. C. Clark, residing at the Callaway Hotel, is reported to be in an improved condition, following injuries received in a col. lision in which he was involved in Camp Charlestown, Virginia, last week.

Pvt. Clark was injured the army jeep he was driving, collided with another jeep, throwing Pvt. Clark's vehicle against cement post. The local youth susattained five fractures of the skull, a broken jaw. and a broken nose in the mishap, Two bones had to be removed from the youth's nose.

His father returned this morn. ing where from He Camp Charlestown, had visited his son the past few days. He reported ed that youth's condition was now believed to be out of danger and was improving. Put. Clark entered the United States Armv on A April 8.

1943. BUY WAR STAMPS Nearly one-tenth of the population of the United States were patients in hospitals at some point in 1942. The units of the British Eighth Army already have landed in the Salerno area and have rushed I into the front ranks. The main body of General Montgomery's Army has raced 30 miles up the Italian west coast, and now is within 70 miles of the beachhead. With this threat on their flanks, the Germans are throwing their heaviest tank power into wave after wave of attacks.

It has been revealed that five enemy divisions are being used, but even the Berlin radio admits that the Allied line is holding. Nazi broadcasts boasted yesterday that Clark's men were evacuating. and they painted a ture of a disorganized retreat. But today the Berlin radio climbed way down and said the evacuation seems to have been called offthat an endless shelling from Al. lied warships bolstered the Fifth Army's stand.

Good Air Support Clark also got tremendous support from the air. The greatest operation in Allied historv flung two thousand sorties at the Nazi lines yesterdav. The air assaut continues, with the Allies using every plone in the Mediterranean arsenal. Even giant Flying Portresses are droning close to the ground in direct support of the British and American troops. From this entire fleet, not one Allied plane was lost yesterday.

and apparently the Nazi air arm already has been withered. For few enemy warplanes were in the air vesterday, and our pilots were able to bag only six of them. But it's a constant uphill fight for our men. The Germans are still: entrenched in their mountain gun positions, and they're See GERMANS, Page 1 Walter C. Haynes Addresses Group John E.

Bell, Seaman First Class, of Tacoma, Washington is leaving there to spend a twenty day leave in Elwood with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Boll. of 1320 North street, cording to word received here, today. Technical Sergeant Bobby Kurtz.

has returned to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, after wife. spending Bobby a furlough Kurtz in with his Curtisville and with other relatives in Elwood. Cpl. Marion Bucel, wife and baby have returned to Denver, Colorado following a visit with their parents, Mr. and Mrs.

MarSee IN THE SERVICES, A joint meeting of the Boone, and VanBuren township Farm Bureau groups was held last evening in the Center School ing, northeast of the city. Walter C. Haynes, Madison county agriculture agent, was the guest speaker at the meeting, using, as the subject of his address, "Food." Two short moving picture films, of interest to the members, were shown as part of the evening's program. Members of the 4-H Club were in charge of the meeting, with approximately 50 members in attendance. At the close of the business session, watermelons were served to the group, with remainder of the evening spent in social entertainment The next monthly meeting of the group will be held at the Summitville High School, on October 12.

The meeting will start lat 8 p.m..