davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-08-26
Urged TO Mail
Christmas Gifts
At Once

Forrest De Rosia, local postmas-
ter has received word from the As
sistant Postmaster General that par
GELS for prisoners of war and CT
william internees, in the Philippines
and elsewhere in the Far East for
dispatch by the exchange ship
Gripsholm expected to sail about
September l from New York,
should be mailed Immediately.
The lot of our prisoners of war
and the civilian internees is most
difficult at best and the parcels
ship Gripsholm may be the only bit
they will receive from the exchange
ship Gripsholm may be the only Bit
of Christmas cheer that they will
receive this Christmas.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-08-26
Saws j. 5
Soldiers
Are Best

Lieut.. Karl O. Knudson writes
from the McCloskey General Hos
pital, Temple. Texas, and gives a
phase of army life that is interest
ing. Lieut.. Knudson writes, in part:
McCloskey General Hospital is a
convalescent hospital and was con-
structed primarily for convalescent
patients from overseas, Attu and
the Tunisian campaign in Africa.
There are several officers in our
ward who saw action in the various
theatres of operations, they have
received crippling wounds. How
ever, their morale is high and they
are anxious for more action.
We have one officer who was
formerly in the merchant marine,
and he survived three torpedoings
while at sea. He transferred into the
infantry and was then severely
wounded by shrapnel IN the lunlss
ian campaign A gratifying under
tone runs throughout these officers
accounts of their experiences and
that is the fact that the U. S. troops
are still the best id men, bar
none.
When one takes into considera-
ton the fact that we have a young
army compared with the veterans
of the Axis, who have now been
fighting for almost four years, il
is indeed remarkable. Our men all
have that wonderful capacity of be
ing able to think and act for them
selves instead of the blind, blum
dering dependency that character
ICES the Axis soldiers.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-08-26
INTRODUCING MISS
BETTY WOOD

The Western News wishes to an
nounce that Miss Betty Wood has
accepted a position with this news
paper. Until her departure to come
to Libby to visit her aunt, Mrs. E. P,
Woodwork, Miss Wood was en-
ployed in newspaper work for the
Mankato (Minn) Free Press. She
will be employed in a similar ca
pacity and in reportorial work for
the Western News. We know she
will have the cordial cooperation Of
the public in her work in Libby.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-08-26
Libby Union Will
Sponsor Labor
Day Dance

Because Of war conditions the
usual annual Labor Day celebration
will be dispensed with this fall
states Abner Role, president OF The
Lumber and SaWmill Workers local
Union. However, the Union will
sponsor a dance in honor Of the day
but will hold it on the Saturday
night preceding Labor Day in order
to better accommodate night crews
working at the saWmill The dance
will be held at Cedar Greek Satur-
day night, Sept. 4. Proceeds will be
used to buy cigarettes for the boys
in the armed forces.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-08-26

records at Farragut revealed that
Deiters was born in Sioux City Ia,
January IL, 1903 and he is sur
vived by his wife, Ellen, who re-
sides in Storm Lake, Ia. He had
been employed as cook in Chicago.
The Farragut naval station sent
an ambulance Wednesday to claim
the BODY.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-08-26
Infant Dies

Ronald Lee Phillips, infant son
of Mr.. and Mrs Sam Phillips, died
in the Libby hospital August 20.
He was born in Lone Pine, Mont,
July 5 and was buried in Dayton
Lake, Mont. He is survived by two
brothers and two sisters.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-08-26
Soldier Visits Here

K. Y. Noble, young soldier in
the army air corps, stopped in Libby
Monday on his way to his home in
Standpoint. He is radio mechanic
in the air corps and became ac.
quainted with LIE Roy Gamache, a
Libby boy who is in the same
branch of the service. He speaks
very highly of LIE Roy and says he
is making fine progress.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-08-26

for the Americans held by the Jap
anese. The Government is doing its
utmost to prosecute the war against
Japan to successful conclusion
as victory offers the best hope for
the rescue of all those held by the
enemy.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-08-26
Seeks Release
Of War
III wi
Prisoners
Senator Murray Active
In Work to Aid Men
Held By Japanese.
VICTORY OFFERS BEST
HOPE FOR RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D. C.-Numerous
letters addressed to Senator James
E. Murray from citizens of Mon
tana express growing concern at
the fate of Americans who are held
prisoners in the Philippines or in
Japan. For some months Senator
Murray has been seeking to obtain
action from the State Department
and the War Department on pro-
gram of repatriation of these cltl-
zens. The State Department has CIV
en- every possible cooperation and is
working through the American Red
Cross in attempting to supply med
icine and necessary food, but the
difficulties appear almost insur-
mountable
Senator Murray today received
the following letter from Robert A.
Lovett acting secretary of war with
reference to prisoners held by the
Japanese:
Dear Senator Murray:
This is with reference to your
efforts concerning the plight Of our
soldiers and civilians who are pris-
enefs of war of the japanese.
Since the fall of the Philippines,
the State Department has been
making consistent and untiring eff
forts to provide relief for American
nationals in the custody of the Jap
anese. Except in one instance .ast
year these efforts have not been
successful.
While the japanese Government
participated in the drafting of the
Geneva Convention of 1929, it failed
to join the other nations in the fl
nal ratification of this treaty The
Japanese government after our en-
trance into the war, in response to
an inquiry, intimated that 1t would
observe the provisions Of the &C.
neva Convention, but that it cid
not feel bound to conform thereto
THE State Department is in ,un-
slant negotiation with the several
neutral agencies endeavoring to
reach some understanding with the
japanese government. Until these
negotiations are completed it is inn
possible to send medical supplies
and food to those persons being neld
as prisoners or to effect any form
of repatriation. In view@of the attn
tude of the Japanese, it has been
extremely difficult for the United
States and the neutral agencies to
obtain any authentic information
with respect to these prisoners.
Early in May of this year The
Japanese government began report
ing, through the International Red
Cross, deaths among the prisoners
of war. The Japanese, except in a
few cases, have failed to give the
date of death of the individuals re-
ported Consequently, the War De
partment is unable to ascertain
whether the deaths that have been
announced recently occurred over
the entire period of captivity or are
of recent occurrence.
you may assure Mrs. Thate that
the War Department appreciates the
gravity Of the situation and is ex-
erting every effort to alleviate the
plight of all American nationals
who are in the hands Of the Jap
anese
Sincerely yours,
Signed ROBERT A. HoVFEFFfF
Acting Secretary of War
The barbarous nature of the jap
anese Deople does not lend itself
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-08-26
Sincerely yours.
Signed R0BERRF A. HoVEFsFfff5
Acting Secretary of War.

The barbarous nature of the Jap
anese people does not lend itself
to the threats of retaliation as the
japanese have no concern what
ever as to the fate of their nation
ais that fall into the hands of the
American government. The best tes-
timony to that effect is the univer-
sal choice of death rather than sur
render on the part Of Japanese
soldiers. Threats Of retaliation
would only give the Japanese rea-
son to be more barbarous and in
human in their treatment of tee
Americans held by them.
Senator Murray announces that
he will continue to- do his utmost
through the Red Cross, the State
Department and every possible
channel to obtain better conditions
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-08-26

Following is a letter direct from
the fighting front in Sicily. 1t was
written to this newspaper by Sill
Sacco, former Western News en-
ployee, and gives his reactions as
the American forces embarked and
got ready for the invasion of Sicily
and later tells of the first landing
operations. Sacco writes, in part, as
follows.
Evening star., 1943-09-28
Stanton Tells CAB
Short Range Air HauIs
Offer Possibilities
~ the Associated Press.

s3BS the ASSoc1ated Press.
Charles I. Stanton, civil aeronau-
tics administrator, said today that
short distance travel hardly has
been touched by air transport and
forecast that new type airplane
may be developed to handle such
business.
His statement was submitted at
10 Civil Aeronautics Board hearing
9on expansion programs of domestic
airlines. Feeder and pickup serv-
4 ice to connect smaller cities with
trunk airlines will be investigated
by the board without inquiring into
the merits OF any one proposal.
4 Mr.. Stanton, first witness at the
4 hearing, also stressed the opportuni-
ties Of developing air freight and
4 urged that all first-class mail be
transported by airplane.
There Is no alternative to the
4 development of the short distance
travel market as means of ex-
I panding air transport" he said.
TT is my opinion that the main
1cost difnculties revolve around the
4 efhciency of the aircraft designed
11or short-range air service.
4 He suggested the possibility of de-
5veloping q plane for this type Of
4 service which would have top ef-
3hciency at low attitudes, short range
4 OF perhaps 800 miles, inclusive OF
reserve fuel, short takeon and land
4 Ing runs. high maneuvcrability on
4 the ground, lower cruising speeds
q than those of long-ranRe planes,
<raaller pay loads. light weight and
xdaptabiltty to cross-wind landings
Evening star., 1943-09-28

Tomorrow-Capt.J ]. r. McWhirt's
story.
Evening star., 1943-09-28

would be marked Glass B If it failed
to measure up to one or more of
five definitions in the bill, relating
to construction of floors, walls, light
ing, ventilation and other facilities.
An establishment graded Class G
could only continue to operate for
three months from passage Of the
bill.
Schwartz Speaks.
Speaking for the United Federal
Workers of America, Daniel H.
Schwartz, pointed out that 100000
persons eat daily in cafeterias in
Government buildings. District Of
ficials said at a previous hearing
they may only go on Federal prop
erty to make inspections when in
vited.
Following up the testimony OF
other District officials that the bill
is unnecessary, Commissioner Young
said 1--WE want the best for Washing
ton in the protection of health"
but said 1t seemed to him it would
be better to make whatever changes
are needed in the municipal regula-
tions than to have the rules written
into an act of Congress.
The Board Of Directors of the
Washington Restaurant Association
informed the subcommittee that
since the last hearing they have gons
on record in support of the present
District code and regard the bill q
q step backward.
Evening star., 1943-09-28

plosions started a fire and a lot OF
smoke.
AS we pulled away we gave them
good target and the pompoms
were both firing at us. That must
have made McNutt mad because he
went out, made a circle, came back
and strafed her again from stern
to bow. One ack ack gun was going
this time. She was burning like the
devil now and she seemed to be
stopped in the water.
Strafed Sinking Ship.
There was another boat lying on
her side-looked like a destroyer.
We went over and strafed her.
There were so many Japs in the
water 1t was like the pepper on your
egg. Every time Capt. McNutt would
bank I would strafe them.
I had almost given up looking for
Zeros. The air was full of planes
but they were all ours. We were
scared of running into one another
more than anything else.
Then I looked around and saw
one B-25 60 into a big cargo vessel
that rolled over and sank in a few
Evening star., 1943-09-28
Senate Group Votes
10 Urge SimpIified
Restaurant Code
Revised McCurron Bill
Would Provide Grading
By Commissioners

A Senate subcommittee today
voted to recommend simplifled
version of the McCarran restaurant
bill, directing the Commissioners to
grade all eating places and directing
the United States Public Health
Service to inspect all lunchrooms in
Federal buildings in Washington.
Action came quickly after a public
hearing, at which District officials
again cited the similarity of the bill
to the present regulations, except
for the grading system and the
penalty for violations.
While the subcommittee decided
against attempting to write the de-
tailed regulations into an act OF
Congress, Chairman Overton an
nounced the substitute bill will be
accompanied by report suggesting
that the Commissioners make GER
tain detailed changes in the present
code.
Three Requirements Set.
In the substitute, however, Con-
gress will be writing into law only
these three basic requirements:
/. A direction to the Commission
ers to adopt a grading system.
2. An increase in the penalty fol
violations Of the restaurant code
from $500 to not to exceed $1,000.
3. The requirement that eatins
places on Government property be
inspected by the United States Pub
lie Health Service and required tc
conform to the District sanitary
standards.
The original McCarran bill speci-
fed three grades, A, B and C, but
the subcommittee bill will leave the
number and details to be worked out
by the Commissioners.
West Argues.
The subcommittee apparently was
impressed by the argument of As
sistant Corporation Counsel Vernon
E. West that II Congress wrote the
details of the restaurant code into a
statute it would be difficult for the
Commissioners to make necessary
amendments to meet changing con-
ditions without frequently coming
back to Congress.
The subcommittee decision must
be acted on by the entire District
Committee before the bill is pre-
sented in the Senate.
The main feature of the bill, not
covered by existing regulations, is
the proposed grading of eating
places as A, B or G. All establish
ments would be subject to basic san
itary requirements, but q restaurant
Evening star., 1943-09-28
Army Releases
Vinson's Aide
|As sOverweight

Discharged from the Army after
one month of service-most of it in
Fort Custer Hospital-300- pound
Edward F. Prichard, who once
dubbed himself a barrel" is back
in Washington with the opportu-
nifty, If he wants it, of returning to
his former post as key assistant to
Economic Sterilization Director
Fred M. Vinson.
1t was his weight that caused his
discharge from the Army. Mr.,
Prichard told friends, adding that
ne has not made up his mind yet
what he will do next.
A Harvard law school graduate
Mr.. Prichard joined the ONCE of
Economic Sterilization when it was
headed by War Mobilization Director
James F. Byrnes and remained
under Mr.. Vinson. He came to
Washington as a law clerk in the
Office of Justice Frankfurter. Later
he was with the Justice Department
WPB and finally OES.
Evening star., 1943-09-28
Germon PotroI Vessel
Blown Up Near lie Hovre
Ry IN. A.xoc,.,.a pr...

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON. Sept. 28.-One heavily
armed German patrol ship was
blown up, another was left blazing
and third was badly damaged In a
sharp encounter with British light
naval craft OF LIE Havre, France,
yesterday. the Admiralty announced
today.
The communique said the British
ships took the Nazis completely by
surprise and closed in at short range
to fire torpedoes and guns.
All British ships returned safely
to harbor and only one British on
Ger was wounded In the engagement,
the bulletin said.
Evening star., 1943-09-28

big. We were flying so low our prop
was digging in the water.
The ack-ack guns on the cruisers
were trained on the boys upstairs
but there was lot of machine gun
fire at us. The warship had two
turrets with big guns sticking out,
but we came in so fast they were
not pointed at us.
Saw Men Jumping.
I saw men dropping over the side.
don't know whether it was our
bullets or panic. A lot of them had
on white shirts and blue pants. Some
had on jungle camoufiage clothes.
Others were naked to the waist.
Sergt. Forrest 0. Sampson of
Marionville, Mo-, the radio-gunner,
was lying fat on his stomach looking
out the hole in the floor. He called
UP that we had dropped two of our
five 500-pound bombs. Then he
shouted, "a direct hit!"
remember saying, 'Tallyho, Nc
Mutt, you did all the good"
Our pilot was Capt. Donald M.
McNutt of Chicago.
Capt. McNutt nosed the plane up
Just then and I got a good look at
the destroyer as it fell behind us.
The bomb had hit right in the mid
die and as watched the whole CUTS
Of the ship blew right straight up
into the air 200 feet.
The ship rolled over on her side
towards us with the masts and
stacks about 10 feet over the water.
1t didn't sink.
Right then a Zero came spinning
down and hit the water about $50
feet away from us at O'clock That
Is, she hit directly to the right of
/. our plane. Dead ahead of the plane
is called IL o'clock.
r I could see, as she came down,
that she had part of wing and
. part of a tail knocked off. She was
burning and I couldn't see whether
the pilot was in it or not. The
vreckage spread fame all over the
water.
I saw a cruiser about half mile
away at 8 o'clock. Somebody up
stairs dropped bombs on it and she
blew up.
Then we started run on cargo
ship. This one had two pom-poms
or automatic antiaircraft guns. Nc
Mutt knocked most of the Nips down
with his strafing fire because I could
ssee them hitting the deck. Sampson,
looking through the hole in the floor,
said one OF our bombs hit her near
>the waterline in the middle and one
Ion one end Of the ship. The ex-
Evening star., 1943-09-28

moments. One end went up into
the air carrying a lot of water with
it that cascaded from her keel as
she slid down under.
Fires? Good Lord, there were fires
and black smoke everywhere. I
counted seven or eight fires burn
ing as we went away from the con-
voy.
Roger, Roger, going home" Capt.
McNutt called over the interphone.
Roger" in the airman's language
means okay.
One Plane Crashes.
We all got back all right to our
strip at Seventeen Mile, or Wagila,
except for one plane. That one had
Its hydraulic system shot out and
the pilot made a crash landing at
Seven Mile. He overshot the field
and the plane cracked up, killing the
tail gunner and severely injuring the
pilot, the co-pilot and others of the
crew.
The tail gunner was the personnel
clerk of the squadron. 1t was the
first mission the kid had been on.
He was always kicking at being
stuck with paper work and finally
got them to let him 60 on the next
mission, which turned out to be Bis
marck Sea. It was his last one.
In the afternoon I went out with
1t. Edward T. Solomon as pilot. He
is a bloodthirsty little pilot. We saw
two ships listing badly and a lot of
Japs in the water. There were a
lot of pieces of planes in the water,
too.
We could see lot of empty cloth
ing floating around and there was a
lot of blood. There was lot of
talk about the sharks holding con-
vention in Huon Gulf, but II you
pinned me down on 1T would have
to say that didn't see a shark.
The pilots had all the fun that
afternoon. We had no fighter cover
and had to be on the lookout for
Zeros. I didn't see one.
We got back all right and for days
we didn't talk about anything else
except when we were sleeping or
eating. I was plenty hungry. We
had beans that night. I can still
remember them.
Tomorrow-Capt. J. r. McWhirt's
Evening star., 1943-09-28
lsiHRstioniinq
&Remiinder5@ q

Canned and Frozen Foods, Etc
Blue coupons In Ration Book No.
2: U, v. and w good now and
will not expire until ostober 20.
Meats, Fats, Etc.-Red coupons in
Ration Book No. 2: x, Y and 2
valid now and will remain through
next Saturday October ~.
Brown stamps In Ration Book
No. 8: A and B stamps valid
through october 2; G stamps
good through October 80. Cd
stamps will be good October
through October 800.
War Ration Book No. 3-Civilians
who have not received these new
books should apply to local ration
boards. Book is already In use.
Sugar--Coupon No. IA in Book No.
! good for pounds through Oc-
tober 81.
Gasoline-Holders Of old-type B and
C coupons Chose In books num-
bered SGT. 527A, 528 and 528A)
may still exchange them for new
type coupons at their neighbor-
hood ration board.
Review Of B and g rations by
local ration boards, has been or
dered by regional OPA, in effort
to eliminate any part of these
allowances not essential.
Forms for A book -holders to use
in applying for new books now be-
ing mailed to motorists. Appl-
cations should be filled out and
returned to local boards immedi-
ately, accompanied by back cover
OF present A book and latest tire
inspection record.
Shoes Stamp No. 18 In book No.
good for one pair for an indefinite
time.
Stoves-An new domestic cooking
and heating stoves designed to
burn coal, wood, oil or gas are
now rationed.
Evening star., 1943-09-28
BISMARCK SEA VICTORY
Gunner in Maj. Lorner's Squadron
Tells How Bombs Ripped Jap Ships

Deck strafng NTH the conperging fire of toroard ma
chine guns contributed great deal to the fact that OF
ne planes skipping bombs at the japanese conDoy
IN the battle OF Bismarck Sea knocked don bv anti
aircraft IRE This is brought out by the observation of Sergt
Gunner s. Speedy NeDeH OF Eustis, Fla Sergt
ipns tnrret In OF the B-25s in Mai Larners
squadron He could look out of the glass DOME from
MS guns project and the every direction
except directly under his plane Serg the
ttrgntshed Fuino Cross
Evening star., 1943-09-28
CHAPTER x.
by sEKGT. S. p. NEWELL,
Az Told to
GEORGE KENNEDY,
49, nA2 rxr-xl

Star Stan Writer
We didn't like Larner at first. But
We liked him when we saw the way
he fiew in combat. He was always
first to the target. And he didn't
dawdle around after. He always
started straight for home. That's
what we liked about him.
Scatter out and pick your boats"
he told his pilots over the radio as
we came in on the Japanese convoy.
We had been flying in two VS., but
those formations ended when we
slid down on the ships.
From my turret I was looking at
all that ack-ack the ships ahead
were throwing up in the air. My
assignment was to be on the look
out for Zeros above I did see one
with a P-3S on his tail. When
looked back they were gone and
that's the last I saw of him.
There was cruiser right ahead
Of us. They say they were all de-
stroyers but this baby sure looked
Evening star., 1943-10-10
Luncheon Wednesday WiHOpen
Concert Subscription Drive

Newcomers, who now are so inn
portant part of life in the Ma
tional Capital, are adding the
National Symphony Orchestra
to their interests since adopting
Washington as home-for the
duration at least. Mrs. Merritt
Kirk Ruddock has accepted the
responsibility of chairman of the
Newcomers Committee. Mrs.
Peter Belin is head of the COM
mittee for the Wednesday eve
ming subscription series and has
gathered a number of other neW-
comers to assist her.
Mrs. Ruddock has lived In
Washington only a short time,
since Mr.. Ruddock, a private in
the Army on duty with the Office
of Strategic Services, came here
for station. But this is not the
first time she has lived here, nor
the first war which brought her
here. Her father, Col. Richard
Kimball, was on duty here during
the Great War and she attended
the Potomac School at that time.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ruddock are liv-
ing at 2514 East place in George
town and she is working very
hard toward the goal of selling
all of the $500 seats in Constitu-
tion Hall for the Wednesday eve
ming subscription series of con-
certs by the National Symphony
Orchestra.
Mrs. George Alfred Lincoln,
wife Of Col. Lincoln, who recently