Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

              An Editorial
Gloomy Future for Property Owners as Coal Assessment Case Nears Court
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
The Weather
Moderat*
37TH YEAR, KO. 43—^^ PAGES
WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 1943
PRICE TEN CENTS
f
First round in the shadow-box¬ ing contest betvyven the coal com¬ panies and the county commis- gioner.s' inefficient two-man board of a.'-se.ssors on the valuation of coal for asses.<ment purpcses was staged during the week when, with a show of indignstion, the request of the coal companies for ¦ ^17,200,000 reduction in the assess¬ able valuation of their coal lands was turned down.
At the same time, however, it ws.<i announced that the coal com¬ panies weiv sllowed a reduction of $1,377,006 in the valuation of their properties which, added to other ro' ductions in the county's valuation, reduces the total valuation of the eounty $4,045,000 for taxable pur¬ poses.
Refusal of the assessment do- partmrnt nf the county commis¬ sioners' offlce to approve the appli¬ cation of the coal companies for a reduction of the alarming sum ef $17,200,000 means no mors than the paper on which it was written.
Now   wslt happen.
and ses what will
The suspicious thing about th« refu.oal it that it was made on Tuesday, Aug. 18, which means that the coal companies have until Sept. 17, three days sfter the pri¬ mary election, to appeal from the decision of an assessment office that is, like County Commi.vsioners Lioyd and Ker.steen, under tlie absolute political control of five Court House politicians who are obligated to certain coal eompanies for the scavenger eoal operations in which they are engaged in five aeciurk Oi Vtmiiiiimc.it cot.'. s:es.
What hope have the property owners of Luserne county of win¬ ning the carefully prepared rase of the Glen Alden and I^ehigh Valley
KISKA CAPTURE OPENS GREAT DRiyi IN PACIFIC
73  More Jap Planes Smashed
Litvinov Relieved as Ambassador to U.S.; Moscow Does Not Explain
Won Recognition of Soviets by America; Denounced Japanese After Pearl Harbor
By HARRISON SALISBURY
London,  Sunday, Aug.  22
who was credited witli nego¬ tiating U. S. recognition of the Soviet  regime  10 years
ago, has been reheved of his eoal companies, when our county I duties as Russian ambassador eommisfionrrs have sat idly in to the United States after their comfortable armchairs thejsei'ving almost 22 months in past several years and made no preparations to fight the case? A few weeks sgo they announced in
big headline.^ thst they had en¬ gaged John MaeCartney, engineer in charge of the Coxe coal in- tare.stfi, to prepare data with which to fight the case. Mr. MaeCartney hss yet to state whether or not he will take the case.
that po.st, Moscow announced early today.
The brief announcement broadcast by the Moscow- radio said that Andrei A. Gromyko, counselor and charge d'affaires of tiie Soviet embassy in Washfngton, Kad been appointed by the Pre¬ sidium of the Supreme Coun-
MAXI.\I LITVINOV
if» ju.st a., w,>ll for individual <=*> *« s^^ceed Litvinov
tsxpsyir.< to be prepared for what! The Russian move left the Soviet will verv likely hanpen in this case, i government without a first-line The brilliant staff of attorneys in diplomat in three most Important the emiiloy of the  coal  companies Allied   capitals -Washington,   L^n-
haa been preparing their ca^% for two  year.*   and   it  will   be   fought
don and Ottawa. The   State   Department
declined
slong linps that brought favorable'comment, but it was noted that In deci-'ion.* in Komewhat .similar ca.ses j accordance with diplomatic cuatcm from the Supi-eme Court. Any set ] this government undoubtedly had of live commissioners desiring tu jbeen asked whether Gromyko giw conscientious aervice to thei would be scceptable as amba.ssador taxfiayers   would   have   spent   the and had replied In the affirmative.
past two years in preparing testi¬ mony to prevent a court decision thst will be almost as costly to property owners as the celebrated Fuller decision of some years ago.
But even a favorable derision In thr tlT.2M.WW appeal la not the heaviest Mow tliat will rome to properly nwnera. Reprearnta- Uvtm at Ihe roal companies are so eonfldent of winning their rase, aa a result of Ihe neglect of the county commissioner* to make any preparations to fight It, that they have announced their intention of asking tor a still more startling redurtion o( *!.Vnoo,nOO, making »i2,oon,ooo in all.
Anil they seem perfectly sure of getting it, due, of course, to their knowledge that nothing ha.s Ihtm done by our county commissioners along the lim- of securing te.stimnny that, in cases originating in other anlhrHcite areas, was not lirought tn thc attention of the Supreme Court.
Whnt will be the final result to the financial needs of the schools and cnmmunity wnrk in our mining di.stricts when their coal valuations are leiluced Slinthrr $42,000,000? AVc leave it to the imagination of the officials in charge of local afTairs.
There was no Immedlste explan¬ ation of the change, which came aa a distinct shock in Allied quarters where Litvinov had been highly re¬ garded aa an exponent of close col¬ laboration with the United States and Great Britain. The Russian announcement gave no hint as to whether he was being given an¬ other assignment.
The announcement referred to him as "vice commissar of foreign affairs." which made it appear un- likelv that he was being "purged" by Soviet leaders. Denounced .lapan
, wm
Reynolds Demands Clear-Cut Rule On Father Draft
Washington, Aug. 21. (UP) — Chairman Robert R. Reynolds D., X. C.) of the Senate military af¬ faira committee, proposed tonight that War Manpower Chief Paul V. McXutt and Selective Service Director Lewis B. Hershey be re¬ quired   to   give   the   committee   s
Million
German
Casualties
Russians Report 300,000 Killed. 6,000 Tanks Wrecked In Past 47 Days " "
By BOBEBT Mt'SEL.
London, Sunday, Aug. 12. (UP)— Tho Red Army has killed, wound¬ ed or captured at least 1,000,000 German troops and destroyed more than 6,000 tanks during the paat 47 days on the eastern front where the Russians forged ahead on four sectors Saturday, Moscow ^an¬ nounced today.
More than 300.000 Germans were killed between July S, when the enemy opened his ill-fated offen¬ sive on tho Kursk-Belgorod-Orel salient, and Frldsy, an announce¬ ment by the Soviet Information bureau, broadcaat by the Moscow radio, ssid.
In Doneta Again
Tho Soviet high eommsnd's spe¬ cisl communique, alse broadcast by Moscow, said that in Saturday's flghtlng Soviet troops hsd gone In¬ te sction In the Donets Bssin south¬ west of Voroshilovgrsd for tho first time In weeks, and advanced on the Kharkov, Bryansk snd Spas Dem¬ ensk sectors.
The Russians, who opened their own summer offensive on July 14 and broke the (German drivs, cap¬ tured more than 25,600 Ormans In the 47 days the information bureau said.
'Taking Into eonsideration that German Fascist wounded exceeds killed by two snd one hslf times It can be reckoned that enemy losses between July 5 snd Aug. 20 amount to at least one mlllloo," the bulletin said.
German  equipment  destroyed by the  Red   Arm.v,   the   bulletin   aaid. comprised 4.600 planes; 6,400 tanks: 3.800  guns,   and   more   than   20,000 j lorries. l
Tired Shoes tn SicUy
China's Minister And Stimson Due For Quebec Talks
Events Setting the Stage for Tremendous Drive on Japanese With Naval Power Now Available
This dilapidated pair of shoes worn by a Sicilian boy was msde
from  a discarded automobile  tire.   The shoes are  held   together
by rope and leather laces and are characteristic of tho  footgear
worn by country's Inhabitants.
New Blow at Wewak Takes 6-Day Total To 284
Wreck Planes Sent To Replace Those Blasted Last Week
definite,    once-for-all    statement" Litvinov W..S appointed envoy ex-layout drafting of pre-war fathers. The  Russians   also  captured  8,17
Iraordinary   and   minister   plenipo-1    Reynolds agreed that  the war Is tanks:   1.274  guns:   Including   self
tcntiary to the United Statea on Nov.lfar from won and said he had  no propelled guns, 3.429 machine gunsi""V'"'r:ri.HTi"^'r»nin'„"" i^"".^ ^Tr«"oC   n    Ba-vvnitw varwaan 6, 1941, a short time after the Ger-1 intention   of   Interfering   with   de- and 4.230 lorries | twin-tailed Lightnings In an attack By REYNOLDS PACKABD
man army had .started its abortive i velopment iof an armed force of suf- drivc toward Mo.-iiow. He arrived in  ficient .size to guarantee victory.
By DON CASWELL
Allied Headquarters, Australia, Sunday, Aug. 22. (UP)—An Ameri¬ can air fleet struck snother devas¬ tating blow at waning Japanese air power in New Guinea yester¬ day, shooting down at least 39 and possibly 44 enemy planes In combat and destroying snother 34 on the ground, an Allied communi¬ que announced today.
American Billy Mitchell medium bombers   teamed   with   the   deadly
By JOHN A. REKHMANN
Quebec. Aug. 21 (l]P)^A triumphant announcenent that Allied forces have retaken Kiska Island, from which th* Japanese fled without a fight, came today from thc Qnohcc conference where still greater Pacific operations arc being planned.
A joint statement by President Roosevelt and Canadiaa Prime Minister W. L. MacKenzie King disclosed the Kiaka operation which dislodged thc enemy from his last toehold in the Western Hemisphere.
A few hours later, Whlta Houss Secretsry Stephen T. Barly an¬ nounced that Chinese Foreign Minister T; V. Soeng and Socrotarjr at War Henry L. Stimson ars coming here, presumably in eonnectloo wtth military decisions thst Mr. Roosevelt aad Prime Ministsr WinatMi Churchill have reached.
Early also reveealed thst Brig. Gen. WiUiam J. Donovan, director of the    affice    of    strategic   services | ——————^^——^^^
which compiles Information on con-jeffectlvo was the softening up pro- ditiona In enemy countries, is sl-!cess that by the time tho oeeupa- ready here. jtlon   force   landed   not   a   single
While the Klska occupation took en'my g"n was flred to stop them. plsce on Aug. IS, two dsys before Germany In a broadcast from the conference here sctually got'Beriin on May 19 said: "No one under way, it was still regarded ss can Imagine the flghtlng to be a part of the maater plan which I expected if the Americana attempt Is being evolved to carry the war to invade Kiska." steadily closer to Japan. The new development was rsport-
BlMted Stronghold led  here  to  presage  an  early  full
Interpreted here aa setting the "•ress conference on Paciflc matters stage for an overwhelming Allied to which, it was understood, China's aerial  and   naval   offensive   in   the leader.  Generalissimo  Chlsnk  Kal-
loads squarely among planes park- on the enemy airdrome and atarted ^     _        _ _      _   _ _
IIIILK"¦¦":,'^^!!I'''"**"*  •'¦?»";»• [FaVmc°thVt'e°r'"throperitio"n  hsd'Shek.  will   be "invited.   Top"rink. »»,  .,. «,— ._ •    .   bttn   planned   long   ago   when,   in 'ng    represenUtives    of    Australia
ths    face    of    stubborn    defense, I ¦'"' New Zealand will also attend. American   troops   had   forced   thel't was  understood. Jspanese out of nearby Attu.  They     Any   such   meeting   could   confl- were then able to bomb snd blast, dently be  predicted to involve th*
greatest   employment    of   surplus
light bombers were among the de stroyed   aircraft,   many   of  which had been rendered unusable in the previous raids. 284 Planes In • Days
In six days of Allied attacks on the strong military  Kiska Installa
Wewak airdromes, at least 284 and tions   snd   the   lO.noo   troops   esti-
(Contlnued on Page A-14) imated    to    have   been   there.    So
Luftwaffe Has to Fight To Aid Retreat in Italy
Washington on Dec. 7, a few hours i Conflicting Stories before Japan'a attack on Pearl Har-j
hor and wa.s at luncheon with ment from Hershey and the next Joseph E. Davie.i former American {day we hear that McNutt has ssid ambassador to Rus.sia, when newsman entirely different thing," he of the attack was received. added.   "I   believe   that   they   will
At that time, he dcnoiim-cd Japan *i"^'o to make one  Important deci- as  one  of ths  "common  gangster"!*'""  °^ exactly what  fathers  they nations   along   with   Germany   and'"'*"  have  to  take." Italy.     Thereafter,   he   followed   a!    The    War    Manpower   Commls- pollcv of close co-operation with the sion's    latest     pronouncement    on
Germana  Report Big  Drive
Allied   Headquarters.   North   Af-
..o...   _       J L "o   confirmstion    to   German    re^
But   one   day  we  have a  state- ports  that  the  Russians  were  at
I on    the   Dagna   airdrome   in    the
Wewak  area of northeastern New,  ,       .        „,,,,•,.    aiu  j w     i. The special communication  gave|Guinea,  where  the Japanese  have t'¦'''»• "^"K' ^l- < UP)-Allied bombers
been trying desperately to reinforce their badly-wrecked air force. Continue to Belnforce
"The enemy  continues  to  fly  in escape sir   reinforcements   from   his   ad- nhelled
naval power now available to tb* Allies by the reopening of th* Mediterranean, the conquest of tk* U-boat and the speeding up of eon« struction both of naval and mer¬ chant types. Strangling Japan
The Kiska operation was Inter¬ preted by observers here as a viil» dication of Allied military "timing Wellingtons hit Villa Literno last and planning" which apparently 'night. Fourteen enemy fighters has caught the Japanese short- were  shot  down  In   fierce combat.' handed.  'There  was a  growing  be-
tacking along a 1.000-mlle front from Finland to Rostov. It re¬ ported that on the Kharkov sector, where the Russians are seeking to snap the jaws of s trap on a 13- mlle escape corridor the Germans still have open southwest of the city, Soviet troops continued over coming enemy resistance and coun
boats    from    Sicily the    west    coast    of
jaccnt    supporting    bases    to    thej Italian   mainland   for   the   second Wewak system of airdromes," said  time    In    two    days,    it    waa   an the announcement irom Oen. Doug-  nounced     today. las MacArthur's headquarters. |    j„   ^  ^^.^J^^   follow-up   of  Thurs
Going North by Sea I hcf  that  Japan   may  be  strangled
British   warships,   keeping   close ;to » '"""g* «xt»nt by naval and air
the west coast, caught the! "P'rations which will seek out and
_..         iracuation flotilla off Scalea I destroy   the   Japanese   navy,   and
and ' and U. S. naval formations set large I thereby   cut   the   supply   lines   on the I fires at Gioia Tauro in their second! which Japan must depend for sus-
cut   three   trunk   rail  lines  out   of Naplea Friday In their pre-lnvaalon
offensive  against  Italian   transport! vigil cn —         —„   .
iwhile  Allied  Warships  sank  »even  enemy evacuation flotilla off ScaleaiOe'foy   tne
taining her elongated military op¬ erations.
bombardment of that target.
Enemy communications in aouth ern Italy had been ao disorganized!    The Joint statement of Mr. Roose- by bombings that remnants of the velt and MacKenzie King explained
American government  and  became drafting     of     pre-Pearl     Harbor iterattacka    and    occupied
This   effort   to   restore   hia   air day's   shattering    raid   on   Foggia <^*''>""n   Sicilian   army  were  with-[that the assault on the barren, fog.
extremely popular in Washinglon.  , fathera,  made  Friday,  was that  It Earlier.this summer, he returned,is   now  "statistically  certain"   that to  Moscow,   osten.slbly   to   make  a local hoards will have to start in- (Continued  on   Page  A-3t '        (Continued on  Page A-14)
more   settlements. was   not   specified. On   the   Bryansk   sector   to   the! (Continued on Page A-]4>
It will make little difTerence to the coal companies how long th'e litigation last..'. If they win in the end, and we do not .see how they can lo.sr as a reault of the negli¬ gence of coal politicians in power at the Court House, anothvr series
of   the   kind  of   refund   payments   ^^ mM •    a m    ma mass   es       ^ ^
that recently came to an end will Qy^f KlSKO  5   HOUrS   While   f fOOpS  PoUrod AshOrO
several strength   in   New Guinea  Is  being !„pHr the east coast, waves of Billy
Their   location j nu"''''<l ^y """ continuous assault Mitchells    and   Marauder   medium
I on his bases and the Wewak area bombers  carried   the  air   offensive
again   has   become   the   scene   of  to   the   western   side   of   Italy   by
j flerce  combat." iday.   battering   Aversa   anrt   Bene-
The Mitchells placed  their bomb vcnto,   while   RAF   and   Canadian
(Continued on Page A-14)
(Continued on  Page A-14)
They Couldn't Find a Ja&^ ^"¦""¦"'^y
begin.
And when this part of thr pro¬ gram la placed In effert we heal- tate to predict what will happen tn tha finances ef Wllkes-Barre, Kingston, Nanticoke, Newport township, Hnnover township, Wllkes-Barre township and Plains.
Property owners then will come to a realization of the stifT price they mu."-! pay for not placing men in charRc of thc county commis sinncr.s olTice who do nnt know what it means to pay real estate taxes.
In Today'a laaue
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Frank H. Bartholomew, Pacific , the war against Japan. There la no division vice president of the | fighting as our troops—by the thou- Unlted Press and a veteran of war sands- leap from landing craft onto
coverage in the Pacific, flew over Kiska as American and Canadian troops poured ashore from landing craft for a "bloodless" occupation of the atrategic Island. His dis¬ patch   which   follows   Is   the   first
the narrow Bering Sea  beaches st Broad Beach, at Bamboo Bay and at Quisling Cove.   Broad Beach, In¬ cidentally, is badly-misnamed. Not a Jap In Sight The men fan out rapidly in single
written from the Klska area aince  fji, formations over the Tundra and
American-Canadian  conquest,
By FRANK H. RARTH0L03IEW
Aboard a United States naval patrol bomber over Kiska Island Aug. 16. (Delayed)—The Stars and'dra
toward the highlands.    Every van-i**'°w*<J tage point and  lookout of value is
I immediately occupied.
I    We have flown over and between ships, ovcr the mountains and tun
The   capture   of   Klska,   which'Washington,  London   and  Ottawa, gave    the    whole    chain    of    thej First belief was that the move re-
Aleutian Islands to the Allies, was fleeted displeasure st the failure to f.     .    . V »./v« made without the slightest opposi-1 have    the    second    front    opened,
iwea   Japanese   strength   at   ".aOO ^1^^^, j,,j,ygh It was an achievement, though It also waa possible Litvinov •"•"• which   once   was   counted    as    de-Ms needed In Moscow aa conferences
The will or ability of the Japan-| manding a high price.    The move [with the Allies seem certain, eaa to resist apparently wss broken!opened   many   possibilities   and   It
Well, Don't This Beat Hell', Say Americans on Empty Kiska
RuBsel Annabel, Vnited Press war oorrrnpondent In Alaaka, landed with the American- Canadian acoutinx party which firat hit the shore* of Klska at Bamboo Bay. In the following dispatch Annabel telU of the sur¬ prise of the line omer* and men when they met no Japanese re¬ sistance.
States blockade Is still a myatary, but it wss evident that the Klsks Japs were unwilling to share th* ifste of the Japs at Attu. wher* I hard-hitting American troops in 13 dsys wiped out the garrison almost , to the last man.
The most likely theory st presMit
is thst the Japanese navy and air
force admitted they were unabl* t*
by   the   terrific   bom'bardmenta   of'was certain that Great Britain and i    The Soviet communique made the | By BISSELL ANNABEL jcome to the aid of the Kiska fore*
Aug. 2, 3 and 4   when 153 tons of!the   United   States   were   making greatest   claim   of   the   war.    The      Bamboo    Bay.    Kiska,   Aug.    16 ""d    consequently    the    Japanos*
high   explo."ve  Vere   hurled   from readv    for    a    tremendous    drive Reds  reported  that  in the past   .7j (Delayed)      (UP.-American     and -rm.v craftily aucceeded In rriovlng
the air on the penned-ln  foe 'asainst the Japanese. I'iay" « million German troops had Canadian scouts  entered the  main I'he Kiska troops to sea In barg**
... H ¦"   u       !"«:. Bgni I- ^^^^   killed,  wounded  or   captured.! Japanese  garrison on  Kiska  today ""<!«'¦ cover of fog in a rendesvous
Aerial  reconnalsssnce on  Aug. 4     j^ the New Guinea area, Ameri-1 In   addition.   6.(X)0   German   tanks'and   discovered   that   the   bombed "''''> submarines or surfacs craft
stroved IB hnilHi n I"""" airmen struck again at Wewalc were reported destroyed.    The Ger- and    shell-torn    encampment    had "Don't Thla Beat Hell"
and »iic hi.ri-« u "^f'»!,"" ^"'"'i^" with    devastating    result.^.    Planes mans  countered with a claim that been evacuated by the enemy. i    At anv rate, the Japanese appear
' \.^S    6,' ""J* .'''isent In to replace those wiped out 15,000    Russian    tanks    had    been     The penetration of the main  en-  to   have   vanished   as   swiftly   and
camp.   Six   nore   barracks ,^,^  ^^^^^  ...^re caught  In  the  air wrecked.
anese
were >howed destroyed at the sub-
and around the i.sland for five jnarme
Stripes fly below us over Kiska hours and have not aeen a Jap. and once more the Aleutians are | Radioman Robert W. Field of again American from end to end.! Stockton, Cal.. hears field head- The victory was bloodless. The (quarters brlow reporting that no enemy appears to have vanished in enemy contact has been made any- the night. where.
A shoreward sweep of American It is beLoming increasingly evl- and Canadian troopa la taking place!dent that the main enemy force hss below us from the greatest armada I fled before our invading arm.v. Pre- of naval vessels avor assembled lnl viouslj; (air intelllgenc* reports had
land   on   the   ground  and   at   least
as   swiftly campment   followed   the  action   of, mysteriously   as   they   arrived   14
ko..    ...u .. .1.     '«nu   Uil   I..C   R."....-  «....   - .-     „        .    , ,.,,,,.,...  other scouting units, which yester-; months ago. This bloodless victory
base,   where   sevcri   other,„  ^^.^^e  destroyed.    Japanese  air-     Reports from Italy Indicated that day entered the Gertrude Cove gar-  is  the  easiest  conquest  Americans —„_....„ ....„ «ere wrecked. Ipower  in  that  area  has  sustained ^y\e^   results   were   coming   from rison and had nothing but "a ghost yet have made In the Pacific War.
The    Japanese    had    abandoned g crippling blow and Is forcing thc 'he  aerial   attack   and   naval   bom-Vnnip" on their hands. i    American officers and men wer*
seven    anti-aircraft   positions,   de- retreat   of   ground   troops   in   the  hardmcnts   of   ItaMau    roada   and Search  Even Volcano beginning to appreciate this  ss th*
stroyed   plane  revetments  and   de-;salamaua area. JrWh. Fleeing Germans were forcedj    Patrols have covered the greater disappointment of not meeting the
supply   of   oil   drums. I to   move   northward   by   sea   and: part of the island, making a minute enemy waa wearing off
Japanese   radio   ststlons   on'    From   Ru.ssia   came    news    that some of the ships were being sunk, search of the bleak  tenain     Theyi    During   the   first  48  hours Kluka  had   disappeared.  Only   two .Maxim Litvinov had been  relieved Then,   to   protect   them,   the   Luft- even  penetrated  the weirdly-smok-  the landings, the mo't common barges   remained   of   ths   18   orig- of his duties as amba.uadnr tn the waffe   was   forced   to   go   Into   fur-! Ing regions of Kiska Volcano. pressions   we;e'   "Well
inally  spotted  off  Klska.  Clearirg United  States,  leaving   the Soviets,ther    action    and    more    German!    Wliere the enemy force went and. beat   hell"   and jOontlnued en Pag* A-10), .^ without   a   firat-Un*   diplomat   In planes were shot down. [ how It slipped through th* United can't believe If
pleted Both
don't "Brother,   X
this