davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-05-18
.Japs Sink Hospital Ship
Unmistakab|y Marked
Off Australia Coast
299 Are Lost os Vessel
Goes Down in ; Minutes:
No Warning Given
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
AUSTRALIA, May l8.-The Aus
tralian hospital ship Centaur,
brilliantly lighted and unmis-
takably marked, was torpedoed
and sunk in flames by a Japa-
nese submarine off the coast of
Australia last Friday with a loss
of 299 lives.
No warning whatever was given
The ship capsized and sank within
three minutes.
prime Minister Curtin said at
Canberra that the japanese had
been notified in February of in
tentlon to use the Centaur as
hospital ship and, therefore, were
fully acquainted with the pur-
poses of the Ship
One of IL Nurses Saved.
Sixty-four of the 1863 aboard, in
Guiding only l of II women nurses,
were saved. Forty three of the crew
of 73 and 245 Australian and Brit
ish medical staff men went down,
most of them trapped or a lower
deck of the blazing ship.
There were no Americans aboard
The ship, en- route from Sydney to
New Guinea, carried no patients.
Survivors. crowded on make shift
RATS in waters sWarming with
sharks, were picked up 36 hours
after the Centaur went down.
Gen. Douglas Macarthur ex-
pressed deep revulsion at the limit
less savagery' of the sinking.
The vessel was travelling unes-
corted and was fully illuminate
and marked with the red cross and
complying with all provisions of in
ternational law governing hospital
ships in time of war; the announce
ment from his headquarters said.
The weather was clear and visi-
bility was excellent"
Most of Personnel Asleep.
The torpedo hit at 4:1O am. while
the ship was 40 miles off Brisbane
and most of those aboard were
asleep below decks. The huge red
crosses on it's side had been newly
repainted in Sydney two days be-
fore and survivors said the vessel
was lit up to glory 1t offered a
perfect target for the murderous
attack
Sister Eleanor Savage of Sydney
was the one woman survivor. De-
spite blow in the face which gave
her a black eye. she never COM
planned and survivors said her fer
vent prayers did much to help keep
up morale. 1t was only after the
rescue that she mentioned a side
injury. Doctors found three ribs
broken
Sister Savage said she and her
cabinmate were awakened by ter
(See HOSPITAL SHIP, Page A-14)
Evening star., 1943-05-18
u. S. Soldiers Rest in Graves
In Lovely Africa Arlington

Mateur. The cedars were obtained
the same way. The white paint
used on the stake gate and on stones
around the graves, he said, was like
wise "requisitioned" from a ship in
Bizerte harbor.
No lovelier spot for the long sleep
of these men could be found. Above
it is long. sloping field which looks
like blue carpet of coubrezas, a
Tunisian plant like the morning
glory. All around are ripening wheat
fields and pastures flushed with
gigantic Queen Anne's lace.
At the foot of the graveyard
meanders a quiet, tree shaded brook.
The graves are covered with crushed
white rock and each had either a
white cross or white Star of Israel
with the name tag Of the dead
soldier on it.
In this spot, set aside for dead
Of the 34th Infantry Division, were
buried men from Is States.
The loving care given the new
(see HENRY. Page A-l40
Evening star., 1943-05-18

been killed. A Welsh town, iden-
titled by the German radio as Car
diff, underwent one of the worst
raids since 194l. BY noon the bodies
of several dead had been recovered
and rescuers said it was believed
that at least 20 still were buried
in the wreckage.
French Targets Attacked.
Last nights assaults followed DOW
erful daylight thrusts by American
airmen who dumped 500 tons OF
bombs on three important targets
on the French coast.
Sweeping out in force, United
States heavy and medium bombers
attacked Lorient and the adjacent
U-boat base at Keroman, leaving
the whole water front pockmarked
with bomb bursts, while another
force roared southwark to Bordeaux
in the longest raid made by Ameri-
can bombers from British base.
IA Bombers Were Lost.
Four-engined Liberators carried
out the raid on Bordeaux, winging
some 500 miles to the attack, ex-
ceeding the mileage covered by
American airmen in last Fridays
Kiel raid
Meanwhile, reconnaissance reports
Evening star., 1943-05-18
Rioting Is Reported
In Towns of Ruhr
| After-Dom Break
BY the Associated PresS

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, May 18.-Rioting
broke out in industrial Duis-
burg, flooded by waters of the
preached Mohne Dam, the Mo-
rocco radio said today.
The report, heard by Reuters,
quoted well-informed inside
sources and was not confirmed
from any other source.
Flood waters were said to
have inundated shelters of the
city, heavily and repeatedly
battered by the Raj. The
Morocco radio said chaos re-
suited. Rioting occurred in
other Ruhr Valley towns, the
report added.
The Morocco radio said Dort-
mund was threatened with
complete inundation and that
the number of dead and home
less was growing each hour.
Evening star., 1943-05-18
Raj Bombers Attack
Sandman Port and
Airfie|d al A|ghero
Large Fires Left Burning;
Petrol Croft Shoot Down
Two Enemy P'ones
BY he Associated Press.

bS me associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
NORTH AFRICA, May 18.-The
Sandman port and airfield at
Alghero was bombed by Raj
Wellingtons from Africa last
night and large fires were left
burning from bomb bursts on
the targets, an Allied headquar-
ters communique announced to-
day.
otherwise, only routine patrols
were reported from the Mediter-
ranean theater
In one of these patrols an Raj
Beaufghter encountered two enemy
planes and shot down both of them,
the communique said, while two
more enemy planes we're shot down
Sunday night
No Allied aircraft were lost in the
operations, the communique said
Bright moonlight aided the flyers
in bombing Alghero and they did
some straf1ng from as low as 200
feet
Photographs taken during the
Flying Fortress raid on Cagliari,
Sardinia, on May l3, showed freight
yards, gas works, the oil storage
area and dock installations smashed
air spokesmen said.
The Italian communique. recorded
by the Associated Press from the
Rome radio, said the bombing of
Alghero caused the collapse Of some
civilian buildings and resulting vic
Tins"
1t claimed, without Allied con-
flrmation, that italian torpedo
planes in the course of an offensive
reconnaissance fight off the North
African coast sank light cruiser in
Bougie Roadstead and that steam
er of medium tonnage also was sunk
at sea.
Evening star., 1943-05-18
Washington Soldier Held
In Denver Jewe|ry Threat
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
DENVER, May| 18-Police held
one soldier today and sought two
others in connection with the $4,000
robbery of jeWelry store and a
creamery holdup last night.
Officers arrested 21-year-old uni
formed man after a 20-mile auto
mobile chase in which 10 squads OF
police participated and several shots
were fired.
Acting Detective Capt o. A. Carter
said the man identified himself as
Watson Stipp of Lowry Field.
The Lowry Field public relations
office said Stipp, 81, was from WASH
ington, D. C.
Stipp's pockets, Capt. Carter as
serted. contained $500 in currency
and various articles of jewelry.
Evening star., 1943-05-18
British Hammer
Enemy Targets
For Sixth Night
Five Ships in Convoy
OFF Dutch Coast Are
Damaged by Flyers
BY the Associated Press.

LONDON, May 18.-British
bombers, returning again last
night to the air offensive against
Europe, attacked targets in
Southern Germany, fighters
swept Northern France and Bel
gium and coastal aircraft dam
aged five ships in an enemy con-
voy, it was announced today. 1t
was the sixth successive night
foray over the continent.
The coastal command planes at
tackled convoy off the Dutch coast
which was initially attacked by
Beauhghters yesterday. Two of the
supply ships in convoy of eight
merchantmen and three escort YES
sells were left sinking and we're seen
to be abandoned by their crews, it
was stated
Axis radios on the continent be-
gan going from the air this morn
ing, indicating that Allied air
raiders we're continuing to blast
European strongholds by daylight.
First to go silent was that at Calais.
The targets in Germany were not
Immediately named. The new at
tackS were a continuation of the
smashing Allied aerial offensive of
the night before in which two of
Germany's largest dams we're
preached and devastating floods
loosed, and the daylight attack of
bombers yesterday against Lorient.
Bordeaux and the U-boat base of
Keroman.
Aircraft Of the fighter command
on intruder patrols during the night
attacked road and rail communica-
tons and enemy air bases in
Northern France and Belgium. it
was announced
line moonlight channel battle was
the finishing attack of a fight
started IN daylight yesterday with
hlts on escort craft and supply
ships by Beaufighters. A Canadian
squadron then attacked with tor
pedoes.
The ships hit by torpedoes were
described as large merchantmen.
Two coastal command planes. two
fighters and one bomber were re-
ported missing from the nights
operations.
During the night enemy planes
again struck at London. At least
III persons were known to have
Evening star., 1943-05-18
Gas Shortage Stalls
Farm Work in East;
Threat Held Serious
Suspension Of Operations
Facing Thousands in
Maryland and Virginia
BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE. Jr.

Thousands of tractors and
other farm equipment remained
idle today in the East because
of low stocks of gasoline, despite
Fuel Administrator Ickes' order
last Friday giving farmers the
same preference as the Army
and Navy in purchasing fuel, it
was learned today.
The shortage was seen as the most
critical threat to the farm program
to date.
Unless allotments of gasoline come
through within the next 48 hours
hundreds of farmers in Maryland
and Virginia will be forced to sus-
pend operations, a check by The
Star disclosed
An official of the War Food Ad-
ministration likewise reported the
situation bad in New Jersey and
Long Island and added that COM
plants had been received from New
York State and Pennsylvania.
Most critical sections in Maryland
appeared to be centered on the rich
(See GASOLINE, Page A-l4)
Evening star., 1943-05-18
Grid Championship Race
For Armed Forces Urqed

By the Associated Press.
Representative Monroney. Demo-
crst. of Oklahoma today proposed
A national service teams football
championship for the 1943 season.
IF the War Department would
sanction it and select the men to
arrange the schedules and so forth,
it could be handled nicely" Mr.
Monroney told a reporter. Most
of the athletic brains in the coun-
try are in service schools now, there
would be no difficulty in outfltting
the teams, and the games could be
played in nearby college fields"
There would be approximately 200
teams available for eliminations
based on a regional arrangement
with the regional winners going into
the final rounds during November,
he said.
Some large colleges and univer-
sites already have announced that
football would be dropped next fall
because of shortage of players.
Evening star., 1943-05-18
House Group Hears Complaints
Of 100000 Small Businesses
Spokesman Tell of Hordships Suffered
Under Price Control and Rotionino

to provide $l77,355 900 for the Office
of Price Administration during the
fiscal year 1914. Congress provided
$12O,0O0,000 for the agency for the
current year ending June 30.
Speaker Rayburn was informed
by the Budget Bureau that the in
creased amount was needed to pro-
vide IAN adequate staff of specialists
in price control, rationing and rent
control"
Mr.. Patman said OPA "regula-
tions have been issued without the
consent of the governed. despite the
fact that the Price Control Act pro-
vides for industry consultation be-
fore issuing regulations. He added
that without the continued services
Of the 1,770,000 retailers in the coun-
try, "the home front will crumble. g"
The chairman charged that re
(See OPA, Page A-14)
Evening star., 1943-05-18
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
An idea that a senatorial ap-
peal to beat Japan first" may
have been suggested during con-
ferences with United States
military leaders was expressed
on Capitol Hill today in the wake
of a three-hOur Senate row over
dlverting American military
might to the Pacific.
Senator Chandler, Democrat, of
Kentucky, who started the wrangle
with warnings that if Germany is
beaten first the United States may
count on little or no help from Brit
ain or Russia to whip the Nipponese
acknowledged himself that he was
"encouraged to make the speech"
The Kentuckian declined to say
from what source the encouragement
came, but he expressed belief that a
decision may be forthcoming soon
from the Roosevelt Churchill war
conferences pointing to a powerful
American offensive against Japan.
In the Senate. Senator Chandler
said his previous appeal for full
Evening star., 1943-05-18

BY the Associated Press.
Complaints of 100000 small
businessmen concerning OPA
regulations came in for an air
ing today before the House
Small Business Committee.
Spokesman for 10 retail organiza-
tions representing the merchants
started presenting testimony during
a tWo-day session which seeks to
remove some hardships small bus-
ness says it has suffered under price
control and rationing regulations.
In a statement to the committee
before the hearing. Chairman Pat
man said today and tomorrow we
hope to find some relief from all of
these trying problems and inequal-
tiles which have arisen ="
While Mr. Patman was attacking
OPA procedures. President Roose-
velt yesterday was asking Congress
Evening star., 1943-05-18
Food Farley May Set
Pattern for Others
On Postwar Plans
Conference to Weigh
Adjustment Of Surp|uses
To Redistribution
BY GOULD LINCOLN,


HOT SPRINGS. Va, May 18.-
The Representatives of 43 ma
tions today are resurrecting the
ways of peace in these green
hills of Virginia. They have met
to come to some agreement, if
they can. on plans looking to an
improved and continuous supply
of food for the world, after
peace returns.
The United Nations Conference
on Food and Agriculture-to give
the meeting it's official title-was ini-
tiated by the United States Gov
ernment. AS was expected, the
heads of the delegations, meeting
as an executive committee. today
will recommend the selection of
Judge Marvin Jones, chairman of
the United States delegation, to be
president of the conference. This
selection will be ratified formally
at the opening session of the con-
ference at 9 pm. tonight.
Pattern for Other Conferences.
This is the first international
conference of major size and i'm
portance on postwar planning. 1t
Is expected to be both a forerunner
and a model for other conferences
to come, dealing probably with eco
nomic problems and with the ques-
tion of money and stabilized cur
rencies. Its measure of success and
its manner of procedure, therefore,
will be of considerable Importance.
The conference will tackle the
problems of food and agriculture
along the following lines:
l. To ascertain the facts about
the needs of the peoples of the
world for food and other essential
agricultural products.
2. To discover, if possible, how
excessive accumulations of certain
agricultural products-surpluses so
called-may be made to meet con-
(Coo EOOn Dono cN
Evening star., 1943-05-18
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

TUNISIAN FRONT, May 18.-Al-
moSt in the center of titanic
amphitheater formed by brown
capped mountains sleep the Ameri-
cans killed in the battle for Mateur.
The burial company commanded
by 1t. John A. Long of Petersburg,
Va, believes that all the bodies now
have been collected and given tenn
porary resting places in barbed-wire
enclosed graveyards which already
look like permanent fixtures of the
countryside.
On each grave in one of these
cemeteries today red geranium
had been planted and was being
tenderly watered by soldiers. On
two of the graves were red lilies
while at the four corners of the
cemetery were tall cedars.
These geranium plants, the cor
poral in charge said, had been OBJ
tanned by moonlight requisitioning"
on the gardens Of villas around
Evening star., 1943-05-18
|ckes Reported
Ready TO Offer
Coal Formula
But WLB May Ban
Intervention; Lewis
Extends Truce
BY The Associated Press.

DS tie hSSOCldLcu Press.
Signs that a strong rivalry has
sprung up over who should set
tie the soft coal wage dispute
developed today as new crisis
was averted on the eve of an
other threatened work Stoppage.
Repeatedly ready to negotiate be-
tween the United Mine Workers and
the operators was Secretary of the
Interior IckeS. to whom-in his ca
pacity as boss of the Government
operated mines-UMW President
John L Lewis wired that the two
week truce which would have ended
at midnight tonight would be ex-
tended until May 81.
However. the War Labor Board,
which yesterday charged Mr. Lewis
with challenging the sovereignty of
the United States in wartime and
giving aid and comfort to the en-
emv, left no doubt that it still SON.
sidered itself the only agency of the
Govermnet' authorized to handle
the case, despite the fact that Mr..
Lewis has refused to deal with it.
Ickes Prepares Formula.
From highly placed sources came
reports that Mr. Ickes had prepared
a formula which he believed would
be acceptable to both sides. and was
ready to propose it. providing the
board would let him step in. But
the WLB was said to be sticking to
the stand expressed by Wayne
Morse. public representative, who
said the operation of the mines un-
der the custody of the Department
of the Interior, through its chief.
Mr.. 1ckes. does not have any bear
ing upon the dispute
Mr.. Ickes' office still said the WLB
has jurisdiction but it was indi-
Gated the Secretary was seeking
some means of holding conferences
between the minrs and operators.
Some members of the board were
reported ready to resign If Mr.
LeWis-Who has charged the WLB
with prejudice-were permitted to
bypass the board. through inter-
vention of Mr.. Ickes or any one else
1t was in response to Mr.. Ickes'
wire for assurance that there would
be no Walkout that Mr.. Lewis mes
aged last night from New York
that I'VE are requesting our mem
bership to continue at work under
the existing retroactive extension
agreement until midnight, May 81"
Relief Voiced in Coal Areas.
Expressions of relief were re-
| ported from the coal fields where
preparations were being completed
| for the shutting down of virtually
all of the country's 5000 soft coal
pits
But the miners made it clear that
they still stood behind Mr.. Lewis
and their demands for 81 a day
wage raise. portal-to-p pay
and other concessions in any new
contract.
Mr.. Ickes sent this message to
Lewis:
Since I have been charged with
the responsibility of operating the
coal mines of the country, and hav-
ing further in mind that since taking
over the mines the employees are now
working for the Government, l
would appreciate your giving me as
surance that members of the UNIV
will continue to work without inter-
ruption at midnight tomorrow,
May l8. l express the hope that by
this action the way will be opened
! for immediate collective bargaining
! conferences
| The reply of the miners read:
The United Mine Workers An
thracite Tri-District Scale Commit
tee and the Bituminous Appalachian
(See COAL paoe AN
Evening star., 1943-05-18
By the Associated Press.

The names of an estimated 5000
casualties of the last four weeks
of the Tunisian campaign are ex-
pected to be added officially to the
total Of more than 10000 American
battle casualties of the first II
months of the war.
Ofncers, counting the reports Of
soldiers killed, wounded and missing
in the last months successful drive
against the Germans in Tunisia,
said indications pointed to a total
Of approximately 5000 casualties
for the month.
The Navy. meanwhile. has an
nounced q total of 1885 casualties
since the beginning of the war in
the Navy. Marine Corps and Coast
Guard, Of whom 7,218 were killed,
1858 wounded and 12,054 missing.
Army casualties reported through
May Z totaled 56,942, Of which COTS
were killed, 12,277 wounded, 4,345
missing and 1924 reported pris-
Evening star., 1943-05-18
Windsors Are in City
For Overnight Stay

BY the Associated Press.
The Duke and Duchess of Windsor
arrived today from New York for an
overnight stay at the British EN-
bassy.
A spokesman said that it was
probable that the former King of
England would see Prime Minister
Winston Churchill, who is a White
House guest, sometime before the
Duke leaves tomorrow night for
New York.
The Duke is here on government
business of the Bahamas, of which
he is Governor General, and will
consult with British and American
government officials. the spokesman
said.
Evening star., 1943-05-18
Nuzis Decree Death
For Dutch Strikers
BY the Associated Pres,


LONDON, May 16.-Aneta. Meth
erlands news agency. reported to-
day that new decree imposing the
death penalty for strikes or slow
downs had been issued by Arthur
Seysz-Inquart, German commission
er for Occupied Holland.
The news agency explained that
in disorders early this month, fol-
lowing on the order for reintern-
ment of 100000 ex-servicemen, a
number of Dutchmen were executed
for fomenting or participating in
strikes, the executions being car
ried out under special provisions of
| police martial law
The new decree. it said, makes
strikes or slow-downs punishable by
death regardless of whether police
! martial law" Is in effect.
Evening star., 1943-05-18
Mackenzie King Arrives
Here for Conferences

BY the Associated Press.
Prime Minister W. L. Mackenzie
King of Canada arrived today for
conferences with Prime Minister
Churchill and President Roosevelt.
Protocol officials from the Stata
Department, Leighton Mccarthy,
Canadian Minister to Washington,
and the army, navy and air chiefs
on the Canadian Joint Military
Commission welcomed him at the
station.
Asked about his plans and the
length of his stay, Mr.. Mackenzie
King replied, Il told them in Otta-
wa I would have nothing to say until
I got back"
Evening star., 1943-05-18
Churchill 10 Speak
In House Chamber
BY the Associated Press,

BY the Associated Press.
Prime Minister Churchill's speech
to joint session of Congress tomor-
row will be delivered in the House
chamber at about 1890 pm, House
officials said today.
British sources said the Prime
Minister will speak from notes, prob
ably for about 20 minutes. as he did
on the occasion Of his fiiEt address
to Congress on December 26, l94l.
Evening star., 1943-05-18
Refrigerator Ship Sunk
In Atlantic, Nuzis Claim
BY the Associated Press,

BY the Associated Press.
The German high command made
the wholly unconflrmed claim to-
day that submarines had sunk eight
vessels totaling 10000 tons in the
North Atlantic.
Broadcast by the Berlin radio and
heard by the Associated Press, the
communique said one victim was a
12.000-ton refrigerator ship laden
with meat for England. The SUBJ
marines, said to have been hunting
singly rather than in wolf packs,
were declared to have shot down
three multi -engined bombers.
Evening star., 1943-05-18
Oumonsky Named Soviet
Minister to Mexico

BY the Associated Press.
MOSCOW, May 18.-Constantine
A. Oumansky. former Soviet AM
bassador to the United States. has
been named Minister to Mexico, it
was announced today.
Alexeievitch Fediushine, whom
Mr.. Oumansky succeeds, asked to be
recalled for reasons Of health, the
announcement said. Mr.. Oumansky
has held an office in the Soviet
Foreign ONCE since leaving the
Washington post. now held by
Maxim Litvinon.
Evening star., 1943-05-18

(See RAIDS, Page A-14.)
Evening star., 1943-05-18

(See GASOLINE, Page ALA
Evening star., 1943-05-18

(See HOSPITAL SHIP, Page ALA.
Evening star., 1943-05-18

(See OPA, Page A-14.)
Evening star., 1943-05-18

(See FOOD, Page A-6.)
Evening star., 1943-05-18

Late news and sports are covered on
Pages TX and 2-X of this edition of
The Star, supplementing the news of
the regular home delivered edition.
Evening star., 1943-05-18

(See HENRY. Page A-l40