davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-05
Deferrnent

With the drafting of pre-Pearl Harbor IA
theirs now under way here, the workings of
selective Service have taken on additional in.
terest to many man. Some, because they
are engaged in an activity essential to the
war effort, have been granted deferments so
that time will be available for the training
of someone to take their place when they
are called at later date.
We believe that every man deferred has a
ment on the home front. For, to put it blunt
ly. another man has gone to war for him so
that he may remain home to produce. directly
or otherwise, the equipment and supplies nee
essary to defeat the Axis.
Recently we read letter from a draft
board at Wellsburg W. Va. which offers
plenty of material for thought on this question.
1t states the obligation Of everyone whose
entry into the armed services has been post
poned clearly that we present it in full.
''You are classified in Glass 2B as a nec'
essary man in a critical occupation in an in
dustry essential to the war effort. Someone
went to the Army in your place.
eve have no obligation to lecture you as
to your responsibilities in this time of crisis.
But we feel compelled to point out something
you may not fully realize
"You have been excused from military serv-
ice for the present. So far as We know you
would make a good soldier. There are about
1000 men, many Of them your friends. from
this small county in the armed forces. All
are sworn to obey superior officer and to
defend with their lives the small part OF the
lighting front entrusted to them. Many oil
them are homesick and without money. In
real way they are making our lives more
secure
You have the obligation to prove to the
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-05
Must Be "BlOc" Buster

The Congress Of the United States is made
up, in the main, of hard working, sincere
men who have the best interests Of the ma
ton at heart. During the past decade. Con
gress has been subjected to reprehensible
pressure group attacks.
Organizations representing 'blocs'' OF citi
zens, and protesting to speak for such voting
groups, put pressure on congressman to force
through class legislation
Such practices, unless curbed, will be the
ruination of any country. Organization lead
ership should raise its sights. Congress should
not be subjected 10 high pressure coercion.
Special pleaders for pressure groups have
sought to make this country of special
privileges for minorities at the expense Of
majorities.
If we want to perpetuate our Republic on
the basis OF liberty and opportunity for all.
it is high time that when We go before o,lz
lawmakers with our problems we show more
than a mere desire to feather our own nest
For after all, the best nest feathering each
one of us can do is to help perpetuate Con.
stitutional government in the United States
not government by bloc coercion and vote
control.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-05
Farm Labor Camp

Plans for the re-opening Of the transient
labor Camp at Castle Haynes for its THIRD
year Of operation will be welcome news to
farmers Of New Hanover and Fender counties
OF the farmers many problems, labor is per.
haps the greatest. Arrangements for extra
workers through the camp have been successful
in past seasons and this years operation will
again go toward aueviating the serious short
age.
Adding to a more favorable agricultural
labor picture is the possibility that additional
prisoners of war may be assigned to this
area. While these men would be first employ.
ed in fertilizer, pulpwood and other industries,
they could later be used to help harvest crops.
Already few of the prisoners are being used
in the dairy industry and reports are they are
good workers.
We all know food is as important as guns
in winning the war. The greater consideration
and constructive assistance given the farmer
in helping him solve his problems, especially
those of labor, means that much more in
achieving victory.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-05
Another Phase

The unprecedented flight of a formation of
United States fighter planes from their base
In Britain to Berlin and return-a distance
of more than 1,100 miles-marks the begin.
ming of another important phase Of our air
offensive against Germany.
This demonstration of endurance means that
our heavy bombers will receive greater pro.
lection in their day in and day out hammer ring
Of the eneny's production centers. Il also
means that We are prepared to hurl greater
fighter strength against Hitler's fast weak.
ening force in battles of the sky.
We are in the midst of the most gigantic
campaign that the air ever has known II is
leading to one of the most decisive STAGES q,
the war. It is not an easy offensive Nazi
fighter strength has been estimated at 20Oo
front line planes with the majority conferred
In the west to stand off the Anglo.American
onslaught
Every advantage we can gain at this time
will be felt many fold by the Germans They
are on the inside of vicious circle thai
grows tighter as we pound their plane pro-
duction facilities while knocking their craft
out Of the air. The use e fighters to give
bombers added protection is move tina
will pay dividends in conservation of the
heavier, larger craft while charging the loss
eS of the Germans
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-05
The Road To Destruction

One of the most pernicious beliefs that has
come out of this war is the idea that since
we have been able to achieve full employ
ment and high wages producing ornaments
there is no excuse for not achieving the same
goals in peacetime by producing a flood Of
automobiles, refrigerators and luxury gadgets
ad inifitum.
When asked the question: Why does it al
ways seem easy to find money to prosecute
a war, and so hard to find it to win the
peace? Dr. Harley L. Lutz, Professor OF Pub
lie Finance, Princeton university, replied:
1.-The peace economy must remain solvent.
A war economy doesn't have to remain SOL
vent, and usually is not solvent When we
get into war we give the government COM
plete dictatorial powers over everybody. It
can conscript labor it can force men to
work; it can set wages; it can confiscate
income and property, it can suspend all rights.
The so-called war prosperity rests on this
foundation of actual, although perhaps not
nominal slavery"
We have consented to these things because
the war must be won at any price. But tax
spending for the mere sake OF spending as
was done during pump-priming days, must
end Normal expenses of government must
be cut to the bone and people must be taught
to save. Either that, or we are on the road
to destruction though we win the war.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-05
PACIFIC CAMPAIGNS
EXPECTED TO BE KEPT
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
CONTINUED from Page One)

foe. Burma presents some OF the
worlds worst invasion terrain
favoring the defenders. Supply
problems are enormous. More
over the dynamic Mountbatten has
had to combat great difficulties,
including lack of aggressiveness
in Indian officialdom, in trying
to obtain support for his projected
operations.
He is also handicapped by what
some authorities regard as an I'M
fortunate division of authority in
the area. Field Marshal Lord Wa
veil, viceroy of India, may exer-
else a check on Mountbatten to
the extent that he controls British
empire forces in India.
Generalissimo Chang Kai-shek
because of his leadership of China
must exercise Independent author
ity on the Chinese side. 1t. Gen.
Joseph Stilwell of the American
Army is in the tight-rope position
of serving two commanders, first
as chief of staff to Chang and
second as member of Mount
batten's staff.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-05

community that this local board was right
in its judgment that your work Is more i'm.
portant for the good Of all men, who like
you. are trying to serve their country. You
can show that they were right or you can
show they made a mistake.
I'VE know at least five boys who have
gone through this Office who will never re-
turn. That we had part in sending them
is serious thought. That someone went in
your place and perhaps will not return should
be a serious thought for you
''Those OF US who cannot do as the 1000
have done can make them and their future
more secure by doing our best work in our
humdrum jobs at typewriter or a Diesel
engine. Maybe We can make our jobs as
important as the soldiers in Algiers. We GER
tainly must try
These thoughts help us get up in the morn.
ing when we don't want to and help us keep
going when we are tired. Let's try to get
others to feel and work that way, too
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-05
|BRICKER RAPS F. R.
i'm WAR VOTE CASE

CHAPEL HILL, March 4.-P)-
Governor John w. Bricker OF Ohio,
candidate for the Republican pres
idential nomination, said here to-
night that "the president him
self has jeopardized the opportu-
nifty and the privilege of the SOL
der to vote in the 1914 elections.
1.-THE states" he said, "are rea-
dy, willing and able to move for
ward Immediately to carry into
effect a practical program OF SOL
der voting
He referred, also, to "the cloak
of secrecy which he said had
been wrapped about the opera
tons of government.
'Let the searching light of pub
licity be turned upon all the OPP
erations of government which mill
tary necessity does not require to
be kept secret" he said.
Bricker, in an address prepared
Tor delivery before the Carolina
political union, non-partisan or
Ran1ZatlOn at tIlS Ol1VSAoA'J "
North Carolina, said that "too Of
ten the judges of the courts in
!nis administration have been ap-
pointed not because of their out
standing legal ability or their qua
nfications as judges but because OF
their political philosophy and ad-
nerence to new deal principles.
Many of our courts have taken as
their guide political standards rath-
er than following the chart and
compass of the constitution and
the laws enacted by the Congress-
'Nowhere has the principle been
more wildly brought before our
people than in the attempt OF the
president to jam through the con-
gress his particular soldiers vote
bill. His unwillingness to counsel
With or accept the judgment OF
led him blindly to charge the con-
The congress of the United states
gress with fraud because OF their
nsistence upon CONSTITUTIONAL
rights of the states to conduct
the elections
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-05
CHRISTIAN LISTS
U. S. TAX CHANGES
CONTINUED from Page One)

an adjustment on tie return by
taking credit for whatever tax
they have already paid manufac-
turers covering their stock on
hand at the time OF the effective
date Of the new tax; to this ques.
ton Deputy Christman stated that
no credit will be permitted under
the law.
The old rate on jewelry, furs,
and toilet articles, as will be re.
membered, was 10 per cent Of the
sale price. On and after April /,
this rate will move to 20 per cent.
The exception to this new rate is
in the sale Of watches and alarm
clocks. The new rate does not
apply on watches selling at a re.
tail price Of $65 or less, or alarm
clocks selling for S. or less. In
the event of such sales Of the
price named, such tax will re.
main at the old rate. There will
be no tax attached to sales Of sill.
yer plated silverware made after
April /, 1914. The tax on fur will
apply to the fair retail market
value of the garment made from
hides or pelts furnished by the
customer.
There will be an increase in the
rates Of tax on admissions, per.
manent use of lease Of boxes OF
seats, sales of tickets outside Of
box offices, cabarets, roof gar
dens. etc, dues or membership
fees or initiation fees. The old
rate on admissions to any place
was one cent of each ten cents OF
fraction thereof. The new rate eff.
fective April l is one cent on each
five cents or a major fraction
thereof. Cabarets or roof gardens
moves from the five per cent
rate to a rate of thirty per cent
of the price paid for food, drinks,
ETC., purchased in such place. The
rate on dues, membership fees,
initiation fees moves from eleven
per cent to twenty per cent.
Under the new rates the first
returns of course will be prepared
during the month of May, cover
ing such tax collected during the
month Of April, and each month
thereafter in accordance with the
old plan.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-05
German Morale

Since the tide Of war started running against
the Nazis, we have been getting variety OIL
solemn and authoritative statements on the
subject of German civilian morale They have
come from people who had been in Germany
after the war started, people who had iveo
there earlier, people who had taken a Cooks
tour of the Rhine country back in the TWEEN
ties, or from folks who were just self-con
fessed experts in human nature or confessed
to an uncanny intuition.
They have assured us that the German peo
pie had caught paranoia from their fuehrer
and that it was spreading in epidemic proper.
tons. We have been told that they could only
hold up while they were winning. and that
when they felt the weight of Allied bombs
their propag anda-built belief in invincibility
would collapse, and they would 20 entirely
to pot.
Well, these things may all come to pass
but they haven't yet. And the latest story
out of Germany, from a readily believable
source, makes it appear that they won't ir
the immediate future
This latest story is the composite opinion
OF some 600 Americans, diplomats, newspa.
permen, Red Cross workers, and others, who
recently reached Spain in prisoner exchange
after 10 months in Germany They emphati.
ally state that they saw no sign of an inter.
nal collapse such as took place in 1913
The bombings and the steady chain Of de.
feats in Russia they report, have only served
to stiffen morale. Before that, one of tho
journalists in the group reported, ut seemed
as if the mass of the German people did not
have war on their hands"
Their report indicates that the average Ger.
man is either extremely stoical or extremely
confident. 1t may be that he has been so
stuffed with assurances of certain victory,
sweetened by early Nazi triumphs and later
distortion of fact, that he is only now begin.
ming to realize the seriousness of his plight,
This news is a little disquieting, for most
OF us have INDUCED in wishful thinking about
a crackup in the Nazi home 'front.' Coupled
with Prime Minister Churchilps rather gloomy
summation Of the Nazi ground forces strength
in his latest speech, it makes it appear that
Mr.. Baruch's ''X Day" of German collapse
may be a long way off,
Perhaps this is another pessimistic story
that Allied authorities have been Directing to
But if it is true we should know it here at
home, and plan and act accordingly. Surely
and eventually we shall beat Germany but
it appears that it is going to take consider.
able doing.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-05
CAPTAIN BRAGAW
KILLED IN ACTION
CONTINUED from Page One)

was with General Mark Clark S
Fifth Army as it invaded Italy at
Salerno several months ago.
One Of the rarest Of military
honors was conferred on him when
he was promoted to the rank Of
Captain on the field of battle in
December Of last year. He was
wounded on Christmas Day, and
after seven days rest returned to
the front. He was prominently
mentioned in dispatches from the
battle front for his consistently
gallant leadership and the devo-
ton of his men to him.
Captain Bragaw was born in
Chocowinity, October II, 1914, the
eldest son Of Mrs. Helen Bragaw
and the la tie Colonel Henry
Churchill Bragaw. He graduated
from Washington, N, c. High
school, and from State College in
1888. At State, he was business
manager of the yearbook, editor
of the N. c. State Agriculturist,
vice-president of the student ag-
ricultural fair, member of Alpha
Zeta, Scabbard and Blade, chair
man of the Foresters' Rolleo, Sec
rotary of Golden Chain, and vice
president of the Forestry club. He
was listed in the national Who S
Who in American Colleges" in
recognition of hiS student leader
ship.
Captain Bragaw accepted the
Orion position from Mr.. and Mrs.
Lawrence Sprunt of Wilmington
soon after graduation. He re-
manned for four years. He was
charter member of the national
Unknown Washington Field muse
UNI, known as 1.-THE Bug House. "
For one summer, he studied at
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-05
AMERICAN FORTRESSES|
STAGE THEIR FIRST
RAID AGAINST BERLIN
CONTINUED from Page One)


secret, but when the story is told
in it's entirety it undoubtedly will
be one of the epics Of the war.
The formation which hit the
capital was led by 1t. Col. Harry
G. Murnford Of San Jose, Calf,
who marshaled his units together
when the big fleet split up over
Germany and formed an attack
ing group that determined te
press on to Berlin in spite o.
weather or resistance.
II figured that until receive
a recall I would not abandon the
effort to reach the target so long
as it looked at all possible" he
explained upon his return.
The fliers reached their objec.
tive and tensed for the bomb rur
through heavy flax as the Luft'
waffe's small but dangerous fight
er force swept in t ogive battle
Focke Wulfs and Messer.
scmiits Tipped out of the clouds
in twos, threes, and fives and at
tackled head-on in a desperate eft
fort to break up the unprecedent
ed daylight invasion which pres
aged demolition of the small is
lands of life in the sea of ruins
below.
In scores of gun-turrets Ameri
can boys set loose the lethal rivet
ing-clatter of their 50-calibre
machine guns. One German wen
down, victim of a Fortress gun
ner, and another dropped seconds
later in the fire of a Mustang.
Through monentary breaks ir
the clouds the filters saw their
bombs 60 crashing into the build,
ings of Berlin, blanketed in heavy
snow.
The weather was so thick, how.
ever, that as the bombers turned
away from the target they be.
came separated from their escort
and flew for NOR ethan two hours
alone.
Back-slapping jubilation pre-.
vailed at the English bases as the
big planes numbered back to the
ground. Many were punctured
time and again by flax, but in
spite of the historic and dangerous
mission that had been undertaken,
the losses were relatively light
There was no disclosure as to how
many Of the IA missing bombers
were lost in the attack on Berlin
The German radio acknow.
lodged that the Berlin area had
been attacked-only hours after
Lightning fighters of the U. S.
Air Force had reached the capital
in their first penetration at such
distance-but the broadcast as.
serted no bombs had fallen on the
city itself. The wording limited at
possible quibbling over the 10.
cation of Berlin's boundaries.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-05
Smithsonian Institute, Washington

Smithsonian Institute, Washington,
D. c.
Surviving, in addition to his
mother, are four sisters: Mrs. E.
G. Madison of New Orleans. La. :;
Mrs. a * Lane of Carolina
Beach; Mrs. Clifford Kelly OF
Lansdowney, Pa; and Mrs. Will
liam Studdart, of New Bern. His
younger brother, Aviation Cadet
William Bragaw, will complete his
training with. the Navy Air Corps
at Pensacola, Fla, this month.
Captain Bragaw was a member
of st. Peters Parish, Washington.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-05
ATTACKS REPULSED
IN ANzl0 SECTOR
Continued from Page ora

attacked American posiHon
the Cisterna-Montelio ROAD Il a 1
were , thrown back by heavv 5 1aey
1ery fire and lost three tay w aftll'
round 70 Carroceto the British ', srn.. A
ed back two strong MAJ smash.
testing their positions. TnfiI patrols
attempts in the Molet4a r;I.a alton
were served in the same way urea
Praise Liberators
Ground forces in the bescbb..,
had enthusiastic praise todsr .-s ID.
the work of American Liber..a .'s
and fortresses which held ~ "a s'OFs
in check Thursday. Their vie ae Nazis
bombing caused eavy accurate
and spread confusion ar 9pSual'ies
tions. e0Acentra.
An Allied headquarters ,0,,.
man disclosed more than 2 mn SPokes'
oners have been taken b y,'g wi pris'
les since they landed j, ~ ~ me Al
oeacnhead Jan. %. The % A ile Anzio
learned that the highly to 7ll+ies ;, also
mann Goering Panzer diviS iu her.
me 7l5th infantry were I nSas ana
the Germans in their his 9's ~ by
On the beachhead last weeI, Guack
ftitioY1 To +broo H.. NNh ii adj.
identified. ''''o0Sly
On 1? the main Fifth Army from.
continued rains deepened the - m,,5
and brought streams to new f 71od
heights while many mountsin a rtUoo
u the Eighth Army line rem en- Sr,,s
snoWbound. -'-'''lea
On the Eighth Army front Pr.
'lsh and Canadian patrols wero
active. Indian forces beat bscl,
one small enemy attack '0'N
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-05
fEEDV GARDENS
with Complete Plant Food

Think Of gardening as q
manufacturing process ond YOU
ore on the road TO better yields
dnd finer quulitY vegetoblas
Good seed produce fine plo1s
But plonts can not produce
high quality vegetables if they
ore not supplied with all Of the
many raw materials they re.
quire from the soil.
To be sure your vegetables
ore rich in minerals. feed your
garden with VlGORO VIC
TORY GARDEN FERTILIZER It
is the complete plant food that
supplies vegetables with ali Of
the mony food elements they
require for finest growth and
top yields. Buy your needs now!
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-05
LEPKE, ACCOMPLICES
EXECUTED in N. Y.
Continued from Page One)

Lepke's wife, Betty, gave this
statement to reporters at a restau-
rant within the prisons shadow.
saying it was from her husband:
II am anxious to have it clearly
understood that did not offer to
talk and give information in ex-
change for any promise of COM
mutation of my death sentence
(for the 1896 murder of Joseph Ro-
sen in BROOKLYN.
II did not ask for that. I insist
that I am not guilty of the Rosen
murder, that the witnesses against
me lied and that I did not receive
a fair trial.
-Four out of seven judges of the
IN. Y. State) court of appeals
thought Weiss, Capone and 1 were
not guilty. Judge Harlan w. Rip
pey said we were not given a re-
mote outside chance of any fair
consideration of our defense by the
jury and that the evidence wasn't
enough to submit to the jury.
THE one and only thing 1 have
asked for is to have a commission
appointed to examine the facts in
the Rosen case. If that examina-
ton does not show I am not guilty
I am willing to 60 to the chair re-
gardless of what information
have given or can give"
(The court of appeals affirmed
the conviction of Lepke, Capone
and Weiss for the Rosen murder
by four to three decision, chief
judge Irving Lehman writing the
majority opinion and Judge Rip
pey the minority opinion.)
At Albany earlier in the day
Charles D. Breitel, counsel to
Dewey, said no testimony or state
ments by Lephe have been re-
ceived or are expected" by Dew
ey's office.
Contrary to published reports"
said Breitel, there have been no
communications between anyone in
the executive offices and Buchal-
ter"
The New York Daily News said
last Thursday tepke had made a
statement through which he hoped
to escape the chair.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-05
PLEA REJECTED

WASHINGTON, March 4. Up -
The Supreme Court struck down
for the second time today an at.
tempt by Louis depke) Bulchalter
to escape the electric chair through
appeal to the highest tribunal.
Less than an hour after they re-
ceived it, the justices rejected a
plea from the condemned head of
Murder, Inc, that he was improp-
erly released from federal custody
to be put in the shadow of the
chair in New York's Sing Sing pris-
on.
No reason was given. None is
customary in handling such petit
tons. Justices Murphy and Jack
son took no part in the brief deli
peration. Each was head of the
justice Department at time when
federal authorities were looking in
TO other activities of the New York
gangster.