The Daily Telegram from Adrian, Michigan • Page 1

MghtlyWarmer 1 DeUU. OB Two) VOL, 95, NO. 26 ADRIAN, lr PRICE AGENTS Slight Cains Made In Drive On Vital Jap Solomons Air Base PLANES BATTER ENEMY By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ALLIED HEADQUARTERS In The South Pacific, July and flame throwers were hurled Into the battle for Munda today. Behind these 1 dread weapons, American troops crushed forward a. few yards more.

The extent of their gains was not announced. It reported use of flame throwers in the month-old fight for the enemy's important central Solomons airbase. Use of tanks Jiad been attempted before but the rugged terrain deeper in the jun- had stopped them. the armored units were blazing ahead southeast of Mundaj American forces north of the airdrome battered back a Japanese counter-attack. U.

S. navy torpedo and divebombers, covered by Wildcat fighters, struck heavily at coastal positions west of the airdrome where the Japanese still cling to beachheads. Strong formations of the navy's Dauntless and Avenger bombers pounded enemy gun positions around Bairoko harbor 10 miles north of Munda. Americans hold the coast north of Bairoko and the road leading south to Munda. New evidence of the growing Allied aerial might was contained in today's communique from General MacArthur's headquarters Liberators bombers, escorted by a powerful force of fighters, attacked BalJale airdrome in the northern Solomons, causing huge fires Twenty-five Japanese Zeros were in the air over the enemy stronghold but they "avoided 1 the communique said.

11 Barges Destroyed The crippling attack againsi Japanese shipping continued. A1 least 11 barges were destroyed and many others were damaged or destroyed. Seven heavily loaded barges, attempting to run troops and supplies from New Britain. to New Guinea across Vitiaz strait were intercepted and sunk by motor torpedoboats. Four others were destroyed by Martin Marauders in low-level sweeps along the western coast of New Britain.

Sharp fighting continued in the area between Mubo and Salamaua, New Guinea, but: its progress was Hot detailed. 3apanese'dive-bbmb- ers made two futile attacks against American and Australian troops in this sector and six enemy bombers escorted by 19 Zeros, ineffectively bombed and strafed Australian positions near Bena Bena in east- central New Guinea. Allied aircraft dropped 25 tons of demolition bombs in the Bob- dubi and Tambu Bay area of New Guinea but bad weather prevented observation of results. Reconnaissance planes bonibet and strafed enemy installations on Cerani island west of New Guinea and on Unea island north of New Britain. Liquor Cards But No Liquor Ready At Branch Store Permits to purchase liquor are ready at the Adrian state liquo: store for those who applied fo: them several' weeks ago but ni one needs to be in any hurry abou getting them.

Even with a permit no liquor is expected to be avail able for approximately 30 days. Persons calling at the store on South Main Street for their per mit cards must bring with them War Ration Book No. 2 and it to the clerk before the permi can be issued. The state liquor commission this froze all liquor sale? in th state for an indefinite period in preparation for the new rationini program. WHITE YOUTHS CONFESS KILLING NEGRO DURING DETROIT RACE RIOTS 'DETROIT, July 31 Three the four white youths held police in connection with the slay ing of' a negro during the rac riots June 21 have confessed prosecutor William E.

Dowling re ported. Confessions of Aldo Tram, 16 Armendo 20 anc Anthony Saraceno, 18, have solved the slaying of Moses Kiska, 58, shot as he waited for a street car at Mack Avenue and Chene Street, the prosecutor said. Twelve other riot deaths still are listed as unsolved. The riot fatalities totaled 34. Dowling said that formal charge's against the three youths will be withheld until, questioning of the fourth is completed.

The prosecutor said the- three youths told him a "story of cold! i murder" and Lieut. Charles Muckholdt of the police homicide squad, who described the' youths as "typical of young hoodlum gangs," said he had never of a ''homicide so utterly vicious and without provocation." Dowling said that according to the boys' story the youths decided to "go and get some niggers." One had a rifle and as they drove along in a car they saw Kiska -waiting street car zone.Trani, Dowling related, said "give me the and he leaned' out the'car-window and-fired. GROFE, MUSIC STUDENTS, AID X5RCHARDISTS Ferde Gi-ofe (center), Santa Monica, Amer- can composer, picks cherries with National Music camp students at InterJochen, to aid orchardists who are faced with a serious crop loss due to a shortage of labor. With Grofe, who authored the Grand Canyon and Mississippi Suites, are David Barchuk (left), Philadelphia, and Nona Miller Quincy, 111., two college division students who were among more than 50 who volunteered to set aside their instruments and music books to help in the harvest. Grofe is a member of the faculty of the National Music Camp at Interlochen.

MOSCOW, July 31 reinforcements flown to Russia from Germany less than a day before they were thrown into battle oroke before the furious onslaught that brought Red army forces closer to Orel yesterday the front line dispatches said today. At least 4,000 German troops fell before the Russian advance which battered its way for gains -up-to six miles and possession of 20 more villages in the path of the three- pronged drive slowly strangling the the key German base, a Soviet communique said. The Russian reports said that German prisoners taken in the drive declared they had been flown to the front from Stettin day before yesterday. The Russians said'their advance continued in the face of stubborn German resistance which in some cases entailed hand North of Orel 'the 'Russians continued to use. cavalry units which succeeded in.driving German troops out of several villages, the com- munique reported.

In another sector north of Orel it said 800 Germans were killed, nine tanks were disabled arid four destroyed. South of; Orel, Russian troops were -reported to have killed 2,000 Germans, destroyed 16 tanks and captured six others in addition to disabling or capturing a large number of artillery pieces. Reconnaissance activity continued in Belgorod area, where the Russians said Nazi troops launched an attack supported -by mechanized units and planes in one sector but were repulsed. Eight Soviet fighter planes engaged 23 of tlie enemy bringing down four the without loss to themselves, communique added. In the Donets basin area southwest of Voroshilovgrad the Red army hurled back a German assault with heavy losses in Nazi manpower and tpnks, the bulletin said.

Soviet artillery was said to have smashed 52 blockhouses and an ammunition dump on the Lenigrad front and Red army airmen wrecked three German trains and brought down four enemy planes. The bulletin said a reconnaissance group captured a village in a surprise attack on the Kalinin front and in the Barents sea two German patrol boats were sunk by Red army- aircraft A German transport was sunk by a plane attack in the Gulf of Finland, the communiquS said. Put Butter On 'Your List Of Scarce Foods Hundreds of housewives and no husbands charged with bring- ng home the bacon were disap- lointed yesterday on going to re- rigerators of Adrian stores and markets only to. find no butter. While there has been a shortage of butter for the last several weeks, shoppers have to go store to store to obtain a limited amount, there was almost a shutout yesterday.

Thursday's market basket pages of The Telegram contained no jutter ads. Yesterday a single merchant braved a storm of but- er buyers by advertising butter. Today is the last day on which this 'amous spread can get purchased 'or eight ration points plus a cash jThej up tenUoovvC'r: As long-as any butter, at all'could )e obtained the people have thought little about it and said Now they are becofning just a trifle worried with the prospect of less and less throughout the autumn and probably the winter months. With more money in their sockets, the buying power is terrific and there are those who care not what they pay so long, as they their accustomed portion of Jutter. The result is anolhei black market.

But there appears to be hard sledding ahead for the black marketers even, what with the government taking a large share of al available butter. B. F. Beach of the Michigan Producers Dairy Company, in commenting on the situation yesterday were sentenced to be To Be Hanged For Raping Waitress July 31 UP Lawrence Mitchell, 21, of Saginaw, and two other Negro army privates were convicted of raping a 20-year-old white waitress at, Camp 'Claiborne, by a general court martial yesterday and" hanged. The other two men were Richard Phillips Adams, 26, of Columbus and John Walter- Bordenave 30, of New Orleans, La.

The date of execution will be announced if the verdict is uphelc by review, of higher military aii thorities and President Roosevelt, Camp'Maxey's public relations office said. Mitchell was pronounced guilty of the act, which the court martial found took place on the reserva tion'May 10, 1942, and Adams and Bordenave were'convicted as ac cessories to the fact" The three, soldiers had been -saved from execution. They were convicted of rape sentenced to'death'by the federal district court at Alexandria, ii July, 1942, but an appeal carried to the U.S. supreme; court-resulted in transfer, of the case to military They were to have been executed 1 NEW TARGET IS HIT BT ALLIED LONDON, July 31 Al- ied rolling a'ir offensive shifted to a new target last night when RAF Bombers blasted at Remscheid, Jerman steel center on the edge if the Ruhr. It was the first raid of the war on Remscheid, which was singled iut for last night's heavy assault after Hamburg had beeii subjected its seventh attack in- a week on Thursday night.

The massive offensive rolled on hroughout daylight today with light-flying formations of 'Allied lombers being shepherded out over the channel by droves of fighters. An almost unbroken rumble of explosions and heavy gunfire reverberated throughout the morning the Folkstone area. The whole northern French coast appeared to in 'a state of eruption and at one time the Boulogne area was particularly noisy. At the same, time Mosquitps and "Anyone who has all the buttei he wants today has than his share." the boys with bulging pocketbooks and it likewise means dealers who have ample supplies when fellow merchants are to supply their customers. Government Takes Half "The government has taken 50 per cent of all the butter manu factured," said Mr.

Beach. "The Michigan Producers Dairy Company has turned over to the government 68 tons of butter in the last four months. That is a-lot butter in so short a period. Al other manufacturers have done likewise. government now has 150,000,000 pounds of butter oh hand and the civilian trade'has no enough take care of regular business.

Michigan': Producers very low. on butter, stocks and wi are limiting purchases to, hal pound per customer at thV retai outlet. "We are one of "the ten larges: manufacturers of butter in the state of Michigan but we- haven' enough to Indicating that'not all the black market blame lies with the little retailer, Mr. Beach pointed out a recent experience. "I tried to buy two carloads -o: butter from Iowa recently," he said.

"Iowa is one of the butter exporting states. I offered the ceiling price but I did not get the butter." Of a dozen leading stores checked yesterday afternoon- only two had butter for sale. None the principal chain stores could supply customers wittf butter. the others called, -one admittee rather hesitatingly that the ston had "butter, "a little." A second boomed out "yes," and the other either said definitely "no" or ex pressed regret at being unable accommodate. AUCTIONS Tuesday.

Aug. 3rd. Livestock Sales, 'Ad rian, Al Llnehan' auctioneer See Adv. on Market Wed. Aug.

4. Farm 'Auction, ,7 mi. wes of Adrian on-M-34. Linehan' Xjnehan Auctioneers. See Adv.

Market page. "Thursday, Aug. Real Estate Auction Manitou Beach. Auction" fee FORCES Germans Hastily Consolidate Positions In Trieste Doorway To Balkans FIRE ON GREEK PATRIOTS MADRID, July 31 (ff) Underground forces of occupied Europe md opponents of pro-German Balkan governments, stirred by Mussolini's ouster ajid the Italian crisis, have grown increasingly restless and some are awaiting orders to erupt against Axis powers, dispatches arid; reports from widely-separated points indicated today. An Indication that -Germany views the Balkan' situation gravely was seen in reports that the Nazis were hastily; consolidating their jositions in Italy's Trieste doorway to' the Balkans, possibly: in fear that Allied push in that direction would -find sympathy from the people of southeastern Europe.

A Cairo broadcast' said last night that Axis troops had Greek patriots protesting German orders assigning Bulgarian troops to Greek garrison points. There were numerous victims, s'aid the broadcast which was recorded by the OWL' Widespread strikes and violent street demonstrations were touched off, the radio report A Berlin broadcast quoted an Athens dispatch as saying that German occupation troops had been removed from many Greek cities because they were needed elsewhere -due to "military necessity" and increased Greek guerrilla activity. Spanish correspondents in Vichy eported the Communist threat liere was growing, according to authorities. Inasmuch as he Vichy regime calls -any Anti- activity "communistic" these eports were interpreted as refer- ing to all underground groups, rrespective of their political ten- lencies. Clash in Paris One dispatch from Vichy report- a clash in Paris Wednesday be- ween 100 Communists and French 'eterans from the German front Russia.

"Police witnessed the attack but did nothing," the dis- latch said and added: "There were asualties on both sides." The dispatch said also that there have been continuous attacks by underground groups against occupation authorities thrpughpu 3. Britain And? Russia Close Harmony In Dealing With Italy ields arid railway-targets in sweeps over France and Holland, the.air ministry communique disclosed. Fifteen bombers and two fighters are missing from the night's attacks. Remscheid is the center for the manufacture of machine and precision tools vital to Gerriian mun- tions production. The specific target, of the big jombers' heavy attack was the Alexanderwerk A.

G. which covers 75 acres with special shops 'build- ng machinery for the chemical industry and the manufacture of motor parts and sriiall arms. There are, also 25 smaller factories in the cily, mostly engaged tool making and extensive railway repair shops. Await-Byrnes's Gasoline Report WASHINGTON, July 31 report from War Mobilization-Director James F. Byrnes was awaited today for an expected change in the gasoline rationing setup.

Motorists, meanwhile, can expect no change in their allotments for at least a week or more. Officials at the Office of Price Administration, who have indicated an easing of restrictions, said yesterday they would make no-announcement until Byrnes submits his recommendations. Secretary Ickes, the petroleum administrator, Prentiss M. Brown, OPA administrator, have indicated recently that the outlook for more gasoline supplies was encouraging. Brown said he hoped to lift the eastern pleasure' driving ban, and Ickes declared gasoline supplies to the east were.

being increased. -From' Bern, reports of serious rumblings in Vichy-dominated France. The Zurich newspaper, Weltwoche, as erted that France's secret army numbers at least 250,000 'obsessed with a burning hatred of the occupying forces of the Vichy regime." The Bucharest correspondent Phalange newspaper, Arriba, re "that which the chancel dries cannot settle, will be settled by the war ap preaches its crisis of liberation." a Spanish corres" pondent said Nazi authorities ari veil aware that "the -process be by-Mussolini is not. In the Balkans proper, patrio guerrilla bands were- watching Italian occupational troops; read; seize any arms they might leavi called home, and Bulgarian (Turn to UNREST Page 6) Number Of Arrests For Counterfeiting Off 50 Per Cent WASHINGTON, July 31 (if) The "treasury" pointed today to a 50 per cent reduction in the number last year'as an indication that its secret-service division is approaching its goal of exterminating the bogus money racket. But while agents up only 159 persons for' passing spurious coins and currency' in the 12 months ended June 30, in comparison with 317 such arrests to the preceding fiscal year, two new wrinkles in the' counterfeiting game made ari appearance! Aimed at defrauding' stamp col lectors, one involved the printing of an unauthorized S.

postage free-for the armed and the other "bogus overprints and perforations on'genuine post age and internal -revenue stamp to them appear'-as rarities. The department pointed "know your money 1 campaign a factor to. curbing counterfeiting and 'said a similar "know, your endorser" drive Js encounterini success in preventing chect cases 5 f-tSu BRITISH, AMERICANS, ADVANCE IN SICILY ALLIED HEADQUARTERS In 'orth Africa, July the ritish' Eighth Army and the American Seventh Army have made good progress on the north and east sectors of the Sicilian ront, allied headquarters an- ounced today as allied naval orces swept Italian coastal-waters nd allied aircraft laid down a eavy offensive against Italy's mainland airdromes. Very heavy casualties were in- icted by the Americans and Brith, the communique said. The Americans captured more ban 500 Germans among nearly ,000 new prisoners'in the north- rn sector.

The -unconditional surrender of he islands of Favignana, Levanzo nd Marettimo was reported. The three islands form a riangle off the west coast of Sicily, th3 most westerly being Marettimo, which is 25 miles from allied- ccupied Trapani. American returned to lie suburbs.of Rome to pulverize lie Practica di Mare airport 11 miles south of the capital, and Fly- ng Fortresses, returning to the mainland for another of their ledge-hammer blows, attacked Grottaglie- airport near Taranto on he Italian heel, allied headquar- ers announced. Warhawks in a savage fight over Sardinia shot- to pieces a forma- ion of German and Italian fight- rs, destroying 21 out of about 35. 'he Axis air force reeled under the opsided.

score 26 -Axis planes ost to one allied plane missing for the day. American and-British warships weeping the Italian coastal waters jin defiance of guns, sank one'merchantman and irobably an enemy motor torpedo boat and three heavily armed ighters, it was officially announced. Allied cruisers and destroyers on Wednesday night. bombarded" important railway- bridges near Locri, 20 miles from Cape Spartivento on the under side- of: the Italian toe. officiallannouricementsjdis- FRENCH ARMED FORGES UNIFIED ALGIERS, July 31 Unifica tion of the French armed force under Gen.

Giraud as commande chief was. announced officially today, together with the appoint ment of Gen. 'De Gaulle as perma nent president of the newly Committee Of National Defense. Spurred by the imminent col of Italy, the French Nationa Committee Of Liberation unifiec all the fighting forces of the em pire under General Giraud.and ap pointed General De Gaulle to hea the new Comriiittee Of National Defense. General Paul Gentilhomme 'eteran De Gaullist military lead er, be appointed to the nev office of war.

minister. By solving the eight-months-ol dispute, between Giraud: and Gaulle over the command French strength and har monizing all elements of trie.em pire, the French committee': pre sented a united front to the Unit ed States -and, Britain -in seekin recognition among united na lions. BULLETIN NBWDEtHI, India, July 31 States four-engined bomb ers raided the Andaman islands, 300 miles southwest of Rangoon on Thursday bombing a 300-foo steamer at Chatham island and set ting alt a tremendous explosio which destroyed many communique announced 'today. A ship -near Ross islan also was strafed a naval ves sel of the same size was damagec by gunfire south of Fort Blair. CHUNGKING, July SI Taiku wharf area at Japanese- occupied Hongkong was smashec with many direct hits Wednesda; and followed np the nex day with a heavy bombing of docks, shops, drydocks and.

other shippini facilities on the Kowloon side bt th harbor, S. communique an nouriced today. In orth Africa, July 30 old. man's eyes were dark id pleading. He had taken off his straw hat nd was standing on the white- ot street in Palermo in front; of building guarded by a tall Ameran soldier.

He spoke rapidly in alian. Then he stopped and his yes anxiously; searched the sol- er's face. The soldier shook his "No compree. Pop," he said. From the inside of the building bellowed: "What's going out there?" VThere's an old guy trying to ell me something but I can't sav- what he wants," the guard said.

Je's a nice old guy, too." Other, voices heavy with sleep murmured "can the gab." The oldiers were dog tired. The guard looked at the old lan old man's eyes hopeful. The soldier whis- ered, "You wait a second, ay right got an idea." He slipped inside the doorway and stood for a moment until his yes were accustomed to the cool arkness of the rooni. Then pick- ng his way carefully between ows of men stretched on the stone oor he tiptoed over to the ex- reme corner. There he bent down and shook' one of the sleeping Tony," he whispered.

The soldier's eyes opened. What's up? What's 'happenin; There's an old guy out there that something -and I thought maybe you could talk to him on ccbunt you can speak this lingo." A few. minutes; later -Private 'oriy Calato of San. Francisco was the old man's arins arid the old nan was crying and laughing and the soldier on both cheeks vhile the bewildered guard and ther! soldiers watched with mazemenf; "He's my granddad," said Pri- ate Calato, "my dad was born ver here and so when Gramp saw the American army in Palermo he igured i surely be along j'and coastal f6rces '5jff: tlie of Sicily asi. the' allied blockade closed in'on the Germans and Ital- ans still fighting at the eastern Sicilian tip.

(Turn to SICILY Page 10) WLB REFUSES REQUEST FOR PAY BOOST WASHINGTON, July 31; Ruling that a general increase could be granted under its wage stabilization policy, the War Labor Board has denied a reques 'or a pay boost to more than 1,000, 000 shipyard workers. The board recommended, howev er, a study of the wage rates am iob classifications in trie shipyan ndustry. The review, would be conducted either by the Shipbuild ng Stabilization Committee of tin War- Production Board or thi kVLB Shipbuilding Commission. The Metal Trades Department AFL asked'for a general wage increase for the workers requested nine per cent raise and a pay ment of 5.83; per cent of a year' wages to meet higher living costs Shipyard workers were given wage boost of rime to 13 per cen per hour in May, 1942, in the Gulf coast area and eight cents an hour the Atlantic coast, Great Lake and Pacific-coast zones. CHENNATTLT REPORTS U.

S. 14th -Ii China, July 30 (Delayed) jor Gen. Claire Chennault, review ing of the 14th Aii Force for the week' ending mid night, July at-a press'con ference today that 61 enem planes-were'destroyed in the air seven on the ground, 47 were pro destroyed in-the air and fiv on tlie ground, seven wer damaged in the air. American losses total five plane destroyed, four pilots of whic bailed out to safety. One pilot an his are missing.

Chennault also said that th 14th Air Force- had destroyed dur ing the month of July, seven ene my ships, totalling 34,000 tons an had badly damaged four totalin 25,000 tons. Gasoline Tax Collections Off LANSING, July 31 tary of State Herman H. Digna reported today that gasoline ta. collections, indicative 'of'Michigan motorists' driving habits, hav slumped 26.5 per cent-in the firs, seven months oi'this year ed with Dignan said in. were 14.3 per cent below the month a year ago.

'However, that th rate, of decrease, was slackenin each month and that if the'curren trend.continues collections.may to tal about $1,000,000 more Reunion In Sicily HAVE THE APPROVAL OFALLTHREEPOIRS British Cabinet Ordered To Stand by for Any End Developments By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LONDON, July United Great Britain Soviet Russia are acting in close harmony in dealing with the Italian, situation it was.learned today, arid.it can be presumed that any armistice terms laid down for Italy- would carry the of all three powers. This manifestation of unity became known as Minister Winston Churchill ordered "Can you nd, Tony come the outside guard a seer asked. Allied Prime Promises Faster Mail Service For Soldiers Overseas CHICAGO, July 31 All let-! ers to and from the nation's oldiers overseas will be given peedier delivery within the next ew months, says Maj. Gen. Harold George, commanding officers of he Air Transport Command.

The ATC, before the end of 1943, vill. be carrying all the first class mail and from every theater of iperations, Gen. George said, ad- ing "this will tremendously speed up communications between our ighting men and their families and friends at home." He said- currently the transport command is carrying about 50 per cent of the mail, the rest going by boat. With all air-mail service, he explained, it will be possible to have weekly round-trip mail ser- all, British cabinet members arid heads of the fighting services to stand by over the week-end -for any possible developments in connection with the Italian crisis. Other Allied governments were also being kept informed of developments.

Foreign Minister Anthony Eden summoned their representatives into conference shortly; after the two early morning sessions yesterday of the British war cabinet. How closely the Allies were working together indicated by; the speed with which Moscow: backed up President, Roosevelt's warning to neutral nations not to give refuge to Mussolini or any, other war criminal. From the Russian capital, too, came the disclosure that Great Britain had sent a similar warning to neutral 'countries, even before it was officially; announced in London. It was 'pointed out that the three the United States, Great Britain, and are pledged to achieve unconditional surrender and the specific terms of any capi- tulation would be laid down with full regard for the military requirements of the Allies. These, presumably, include a joint agreement as to the best methods of using Italy's surrender'to strike at the -major Axis power-Germahjv early-cabinet meeting- created of excitement iriiLondoit and there was a feeling that big news-was about to break either a sudden capitulation by Italy or a possible new invasion blow.

This feeling was bolstered by a Vatican city report broadcast bv radio Algiers that Luigi Cardinal Maglioni, papal secretary of state, had spent yesterday in almost tinuous consultation with diplomats of countries accredited to the Holy See. The general view in London was that Italy is as good as knocked out of the war already, and one London newspaper, the Daily Mirror, carried a banner headline saying, "Italy may be out of the war tomorrow." (Turn to ITALY Page 10) the or between and Australia points. "This will boost United similar States distant the soldiers' morale 1,000 per cent," Gen. George- said. "We have seen how they vould rather get letters than eat." Gen.

George who was here for the dedication of the Chicago Douglas aircraft plant yesterday, said the ATC was able to take on added load because of its rapid expansion in the last year. EXPECTS END OF MEAT SHORTAGE WASHINGTON, July 31 Record livestock production. indicates a.speedy end to the current meat shortage, tlie Bureau of Agricultural Economics says. The bureau reported that unusually large supplies of livestock will ae available for slaughter during the remainder of this year and in 1944. "The extent to which these mar- ketings will show up in regular commercial channels is still uncertain," the bureau said, "but with livestock numbers and production at their: present record level and beginning to outrun total feed resources, expanded marketings in the near future appear fairly certain." The report said the 1943 hog production will be the'largest on New Construction In June Declines WASHINGTON, July 31 The Commerce Department reported today that volume of new construction in June declined more than 50 per cent below the August, 1942, peak of $1,486,000,000, adding that further sharp declines can be anticipated "as the transition from production of plant to production of material becomes more pronounced." June volume of $722,000,000 brought the total for the first six months of this year to a 24 per cent drop under the corresponding period of 1942 and 40 per cent under the last six months of last year, the department said.

Military and naval construction and publicly-financed industrial building aggregated $3,097,000,000 in the first half of 1943, a decline of six per cent from the corresponding period in 1942. and 44 per cent under the second half. Those two categories, however, still constituted 61 per cent of all construction activity: in June, although the department noted that non-farm residential building continued its rise of recent months to account for 21 per cent, of the total. Privately financed construction also continued to increase, rising from low of less than-14 per cent of all building in February of this year to ,20 per cent of the total in June. TO BID FOR JAIL LOS 31 city officials of Harvard, want their jail they'll have to bid for it-in a war- bond auction today.

For Robert Pinckney, 16, who bought -the jail at a tax sale, has arrived and says he's putting it under the hammer to help raise funds" for the cruiser S. S. Los Angeles. Pinckney, a-high school senior, said he bought four lots in. Harvard, a town of 865 population, at a city tax, sale for how surprised-the city fathers were to learn included there STRIKE CONTINUES DETROIT, July 31 unauthorized strike of more than 2,000 employees of the Ford Motor Company's Highland Park, plant continued today, halting production, of medium tanks for the army.

Coinpany spokesmen 'said the walkout yesterday followed discharge of Automobile Workers (Clb) committeeman after an altercation; over reclassification of. a worker. Day and afternoon shift workers reported on the job, the spokesman said, but left after a short time. Approximately 75 per cent of the day shift reported at tha plant this morning, they, said, bat left a-.