Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

              A Paper For The Home
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
The Weather
Fair and cool; Monday  fair, wanner.
38TH YEAR, NO. 48 — 48 PAGES
CNITED   rREsa win   X«ws   InTlce
WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1944
PRICE TEN CENTS
V
ALLIES
BELFORTGAP
Reefs Open Great Drive up Danube Canadians Smashing into Calais
Nelson Resigns From WPB
Roosevelt Asks Him To Take Another 'High Post of Major Importance'
Washington, Sept, 30, (UP)— DonaM M. Nelson resigned the chairmanship of the War Produc¬ tion Board today coincident with disclosure that President Roosevelt haa asked him to fill another "high post of major  importance."
Mr. Roosevelt appointed J. A. Krug, acting WPB chairman aince Nelaon left en hia recent trip to China, to the post Nelson had filled aince the creation of WPB five weeks after Pearl  Harbor.
Asked later if he would accept the high post mentioned by Mr. Roosevelt, Nelson replied: "The President said, 'I'm counting on you'." tSmtBj Canlrovany
Nelaon'a raaignatien cam* a few weeks after latamal eentrewray In the ageney was climaxed by the resignation of Bxeeutive Vtca Cliair- man Charles E, Wilson, who charged that membera of Nelaon's atafr were engaged In a campaign to discredit him. The President then assigned Nelson to the Chin¬ ese mission and evidence mounted that he would not return to the WPB.
His letter of resignation kaid he and Maj, Gen. Patrick J. Hurle.v had completed "the first phase" nf the assignment on which the Presi¬ dent sent him to China and that he had returned to make essential arrangements for completing the Job,
It was said Nelson's new assign¬ ment will be announced soon. Some reports have described It as a "rov- inr   Industrial    ambassadorship."
"T am countinK on you to remain In the Kovernment in a hliih post of majqr Importance," Mr. Roose¬ velt wrote Nelaon In accepting his resignation. Needed by Country
The President added that he could not permit Nelaon to leave the government, "no matter how real 3^ur Justification for doing ao" and painted out that the war had net ended either In Europe er the Paciflc.
The President said the results of (Continued on Page A-14)
MacArthur Leads at Newest Invasion Beach
Final Drive Is Opened as Truce Ends
Cannot Last Long; Nazi Officers Ready To Fight to Last But Men Want to Quit
-Gen. Douglas MacArthur and nten wade ashore ahortly after Amcrlcaii troopa ataced a success¬
ful landing on Morotai Island in Halmaheras, Oen. MacArthur will make an Inspection tour of men
and supplies on newly-established beachhead wrested from Jap con¬ trol
4BPSIIIPSSI)flK{<JPeop'« of Dover Leave Caves; TOIfVn CAVQ R 9Q'Q ^ Years of Bombardment End
ALFRED E. SMITH, 70, IN SERIOUS CONDITION
New York, Sept, 30 (UP>—For¬ mer (Governor Alfred E. Smith, 70, Is In serious condition at Rocke¬ feller Institute Hospital, Dr. Ray¬ mond P. Sullivan, his physician, said today,
"His condition Is still hopeful," Sullivan said. "Last night he did not respond to treatments as well as had been expected."
He 'did not describe the nature of Smith's Illness, but said his con¬ dition was not critical and that his familv visited him toda.v.
The former governor entered the hospital early thla month for what was described as a rest.
Allied Headquarters, SiSuthwest Pacific, Sunday, Oct. 1, (UP)—A Navy Catalina bomber destroyed four ships In Darvel Bay, Borneo, ThurHday night In another smaah- Ing individual blow against Japa¬ nese shipping. Gen. Douglas Mac- Arthur announced today.
It was the third time within a week that Allied planes have hit shipping off Borneo In the Makas¬ sar Strait. Lone Navy bombers in far-ranging patrol runs over South' west Pacific shipping routes have compiled an Impressive record of ship destruction  In recent weeks.
The sinking of the four Japanese vessels by the single bomber fol¬ lowed another Navy bomber's feat of destroying a seaplane tender and two destroyer escorts in the Davae Gulf a week ago.
The Catalina caught the enemy #hips alongside a wharf In Darvel Ba,v and explosions and fires re¬ sulting from direct hits destroyed a 4,000-ton freighter-transport and three cargo ships of 1,500 tons each, MacArthur's communique re¬ ported. Six Barges Sunk
Six heavily laden barges in the bay were strafed and sunk in the bomber's attack, a record victory for a single bomber In a single raid.
The plane was damaged, appar¬ ently by anti-aircraft flre, but re¬ turned safely to base.
Air   patrols   off   northern   Min¬ danao forced a coastal vessel on a reef   where   it   was   subsequently broken up, the communique said. (Continued  on  Page A-H)
OPA Will Decide Today On Rationing of Coffee
Washington, Sept, 30 (UP)—The Office of Price Administration to¬ night denied wide-spread rumors that coffee ia to be restored im¬ mediately to the rationing list, but announced that a decision on the subject will be known "within 24 hours."
In a special statement, OPA dis¬ closed that coffee rationing plans already have been formulated and dispatched  to   field   offires.
OPA officials returned to their desks tonight, however, to Issue the special statement to spike per¬ sistent rumors that coffee would go back on the ration list at 12 midnight tonight. The officials also said that an "unauthorired an-
In Today's /aaue
(lasslfled   	
Kdltnrial  ,.. 	
Movirt    	
Social     „	
Sports    _.,.„„..„,._„....
 A—21
 C—J
 A—20
 B—«
 B—I
B—S  A—tt
nouncement" to that effect had leaked from a regional office.
"Government agencies have been working with coffee producing countries to Increase shipments to the United States," OPA stated. "If these steps fall, rationing may be necessary, and against that possi¬ bility we have prepared a ration plan and sent it to our field offices, and that accounts for the un¬ authorized announcement from an OPA field office.
"We hope to avoid rationing, but we will know within 24 hours whether It will be  necessary."
OPA blamed a drop in the na¬ tion's coffee stocks In August and September on "speculative ex¬ porters" who were alles;ed to have withheld coffee from the market.
The agency said that stocks of green coffee In the U. S. In Junc were at the highest levels since the end of rationing in July, 194.1. Stocks arc still 3^ per cent above the   levels   when   rationing   ended
Dover, Sept. 30. (UP)—^The booming Toice of Mayor J. R. Cairns ecliocd tiirough the danii caves under Shalccepear Cliff at 10 a. m. today and told the people of Dover to gather their bedding and return to their homes—for England's famous "Hellalire Comer," was free after four years of bombardment from German long-range guns.
Assuming the role of town crier, Cairns passed on the news over loudspeakers which penetrated the under¬ ground corridors—to many a youngster his home as long as he could remember.
"I have received official information that all long- range guns on the other side of the channel now have been captured," the mayor's voice, tenm with emotion, announced. *
From the white-chalk catacombs came a steady stream of people, cheering and singing.
1^300 Bombers in 14fh Day Of Raids on Oil, Roils
Pound Communications Bacl( of Nijmegen; Luftwaffe Stays Away
By DOL'OALD WEBNER
Allied Supreme Headquarters, Liondon, Sunday, Oct 1, (UP)— About 1,300 U.S. and RAF heavy bombers attacked freight yards and .lynthetic oil plants In five western German cities yesterday in the 14th day of continual attacks on war in- duftries and German front line communications.
At the same time, observers esti¬ mated that Allied planes had dropped about 100,000 tons of bombs on targets in Germany from Kiel lo Stuttgart during September. Luftwaffe Falls to Attack
Some 800 American Fortresses and Liberators, unmolested by Ger¬ man fighters which were in the air but did not attack, bombed the im¬ portant Munster-Hamm-Blelefeld rail triangle behind the German front east of Nijmegen. Seven hundred fighter planes accompanied the American armada, but like¬ wise reported no combat with the enemy.
Ten American bombers were lost, apparently to anti-aircraft fire, and no fighters. One RAF bomber was missing from strong forces of Hali- taxes and Lancastcrs which at¬ tacked synthetic oil plants at the neighbor cities of Bottrop and Sterkrade northwest of Essen In the upper Ruhr.
The German tactics of avoiding combat were in direct contrast to their fierce assaults on American daylight bomber formations Wed¬ nesdav and Thursday, when 91 bombers were lost in battles over CJermanv. Hit 40 Industrial Cities
Observers pointed out that dur¬ ing September, Allied airmen blast¬ ed more than 40 major industrial cities of western Orman.v, extend¬ ing tn B 400-mile long belt from and there Is a four months supply 1 close to Denmark, across the Ruhr on hand, OPA said. 1        (Continued on Page A-14)
SOVIET SHIPS USING PORT IN U.S. TERRITORY
Seattle. Sept. 80, (UP)—The Soviet government is using a naval base in United States territory as a rendesvous port for transship¬ ment of cargoes and refueling of Russian warships, the Post Intel¬ ligences said In a copyright story today.
Quoting Rep, Warren G. Mag- nusson, D.,Wash., a member of the House naval committee, the news¬ paper ssid operations have been conducted secretly at the port for more than 15 months. Magnuson told the newspaper that Secretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal confirmed for him reports he had recently heard regarding operation of the base under Lend-Lease agreements.
Magnusson said the Soviet leases port facilities from an American company for $400 a monti
By BRL'CE W. MVSK
Allied Supreme Headquarters, London, Sunday, Oct, 1, (UP) Canadian troops smashed Into Calais yesterday in a final assault begun after the conclusion of a 24-hour truce during which 20,000 civillana trudged from the bomb- torn port, leaving behind 4,000 Germans ordered to fight to the last man and cartridge.
Covered by a tremendous air and artillery barrage, the Canadians launched the attack promptly at noon when the truce expired. Barly this morning headquarters announced the Canadians had penetrated into Calais and that enemy resistance was not expected to last much longer, German prisoners were reported streaming into the Canadian linaa by the hundreds, A Btrmnge Ckeno
The truce waa arranged Friday between the CJerman commander, Ck>l, Schroeder, and a British gen¬ eral, beside a demolished bridge eight miles from C^alaia. The colonel, newly arrived at Calais, was surrounded by a staff of smartly-uniformed officers. One bad a wooden leg; another an arm missing: a third an ear disfigured from battle burns,
'This ts like something out of Alice in Wonderland," 0>1. Schroe¬ der said, as he saluted the British general,
"I wish you to know that I have received orders from my fuehrer to fight to the last man and that is what I intend to do. The sole reason for guggesting this truce is to find a way of evacuating the civilian population."
The truce was agreed upon,
Aa the meeting broke up, the British general said:
"Well, colonel, 1 hope you will enjoy tomorrow's bombardment."
Schroeder  smiled,   shrugged   bis shoulders   and   replied:   "C'est   la guerre." Pttitnl Line of Befugeea
A few minutes later the evaeua' tion began. Front dispatches said that during the night and early Saturday morning 20,000 civilians left Calais, Many were wounded. Behind they left shattered holies. The long, pathetic lino of men, wo¬ men and children carrying house¬ hold treasures stretched five miles down the Calals-Ardres road. Many shoved pushcarts laden with beds, dishes, pots and pans.
Orman drivers brought them to the village of Lcs Atteques, three miles southeast of Calais. There they were turned over to the Cana¬ dians. Some German drivers re¬ fused to return to Calais despite the fact they were under orders to do so. The Canadians were not permitted to take them as prison¬ ers because of the truce. Germans Want to Quit
United Press War Correspondent Wlttiam A. Wilson reported from Les Atteques that two Germans who spoke EnRliah told him: "We have been waiting three weeks for a chance to get away—we are not going back now. Ninety per cent of the men In the Calais garrison (Continued  on  Page  A-14)
Yugoslavia Invaded; Witti Budapest, Vienna In Path of Offensive
On Classic Route to Germany; Link With Allies to Seal Balkans; Warsaw Fight Raging; Islands Off Estonia Under Amphibious Attack
By ROBERT Mt'SEL
London, Sunday, Oct. 1. (UP)—Russian troops, forcing the mighty Danube River along an 85-mlle front at the Iron Gate loop, have invaded Yugoslavia in a great offensive apparently aimed at freeing the capital citv of Belgrade and opening the Danube Valley route to Budapest and Vienna, Moscow revealed last night.
The Red Army crossed the river border from Romania south and southwest of the Iron Gate gateway city of Turno-Severin with the permission of Marshal Tito, commander of the Yugoslav Army of Liberation, whose forces already were battling the Germans In the environs of the Yugoslav capital.
The historic invasion presaged a major Junction between the Red Army and Tito's guerrilla army, following a meeting between pa¬ trols of both forces a few days ago. First objective of the great drive apparently was to cut the Athens
lopped off the 255-square-mlle fin¬ ger of Serbia In the sharply loop¬ ing Danube below Turno-Severin and made advances up to 10 miles inside Yugoslav territory. German Force Endreled
The   German   force   holding   the rocky   Iron   Gate   Gorge   and   en- Berlin'railroad" t"hrough"'the"cias'sTcJ''*"'^'',«<i  'n   "'« *^°wn  of  Sip was Vardar   River   invasion    route    to^ ""'"''¦''''"'    *"''   **'"   ""•"     ""¦•i""
War  Snmmary
WESTERN FRONT—The American 7th Ai-m.v was fighting in the Belfort Gap dooi-wa.v to Gennan.v, apparently keeping: the Germans off balance as the Allies nia.ss for a knockout blow. Heaviest air preparation since D-day was under way.
RUSSIA—Red Army opens third front against Hungary with powerful thrust into Cai-patho- Ukraine.
ITALY—German counter-attack forces British Eighth Army to withdraw from bridgehead across Fium- icino River in Adriatic sector but further inland American troops repulse similar attack at Mount Battaglia.
AIR WAR—RAF Mosquito bombers attack Rliineland city of Karsruhe near northeast tip of France. Heavies hammer rails and oil.
PACIFIC—American invasion forces extend conque.sts to eight Palau Islands; Allied boinlbers push cam¬ paign against shippini: in Philippine area.
southern Germany—an action that would isolate German forces in the southern Balkans, May link with AUlea
Ths offensive also paved the way for a link between the Red Army and the Anglo-American invaders of Albania and southern Yugo¬ slavia, who were reported fight¬ ing 275 milea  to the southeast.
Coincident with the invasion of Yugoslavia which followed by one day the first Red Army smash in Czechoslovakia, Beriin broadcasts yesterday expressed concern over the possibility of a great Soviet offensive   against   Blast   Prussia,
Moscow's supplementary war bul¬ letin early today reported patrol attacks on Nazi positions before the Lithuanian border of Bast Prussia northwest of Mariampolc. Soviet bontbers also were blasting Orman positions between East Prussia and Warsaw, hammering an airdrome at CJIechanow and a tank plant at Przasnysz.
In the first Initial thrust across the Danube Friday. Russian troops
encircled, and the first Russian successes ensured Soviet posses¬ sion of the pass whose capture will permit other Soviet forces to sweep along the northern bank of the Danube to envelop Belgrade from the north.
Thoso troopa who croaaad to the south bank of the river caytuted 20 towns. The Germans had re¬ ported earlier that, prior to croM* ing the river, the Russians' had outflanked the Iron Gate to the north  and  captured Orsova.
The Red Army was 88 miles east of Belgrade at Mlroc where it was on the same southern bank of the river as the Yugoslav capital. No major obstacles stood In the way for an advance along the south bank of the river to seize the city. Twenty-nine miles due south of Turnu-Severin, Ruaslan forces that forced the Danube four miles north of the junction of the Yugoslav, Romanian and Bulgarian borders, seized the town of Radujevac and advanced seven miles inland to capture Negotin. Negotin is the terminus of a (Continued  on   Page  A-3) I
New Attack Keeps Nazis Off Balance
Eisenhower Masses Forces of Allies For Knockout Blow; Planes Paving Way
By PHIL AULT
Allied Supreme Headquar* ters, London, Sunday, Oct 1. (UP)—Berlin reported Sat* urday that strong Allied armored forces had crossed the southern spur of the Vosges Mountains and poured into the Belfort Gap, heading for Bavaria, while .lOO miles to the north. American airborne forces battled to within five miles of the West wall's anchor at Cleve.
Supporting the latter drive, a specially picked force of 36 B-26 Marauder bombers blast* ed German communications. Arnhem in Holland, where British parachutists wrote history last week, and re¬ turned without loss.
Canadian troops battled into the inner city of Calais following a 24-hour truce re¬ quested by the Germans dur* ing which 20,000 of the city's civilians were removed, but otherwise there was little news as ihe battle for western Europe reached an ominoui
The resumption ef the Can* adians' attack waa supported by Typhoon dive-bombers and c«?.cr planes as well as a crashing bar¬ rage of artillery. Although in¬ structed by Adolf Hitler to fieht to the last man, hundreds of tha estimated 4,000-man garrison In C^alais began filing out to be taken prisoner. Like D-Day Preparation
The Allies launched a aeriei of hard-hitting but limited atUcks be¬ tween the Belfort and Cleve flanka of the front for the stated purpose of keeping extreme pressure on the Germans while Gen. Dwight D. Elsenhower's armies mass supplies (Continued  on   Page  A-3)
AUIES LINKING EAST-SOUTH FRONTS
COAUTION OPERATIONS FORCING NAZIS OUTOFBAIKANS
i