davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-13
House Gives
SWplus Bill
Schedule
BATE ON TUESDAY
1easure On Postwar Pay
Sidetracked For Time
Pending Other Vote

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12-
~ The House leadership
gave the go-ahead signal to-
day to surplus property dis
posal legislation, sidetracking
temporarily the George un-
employment rehabilitation
bill passed yesterday by the
Senate.
Three days of debate, starting
Tuesday, were allotted tentative
ly to the surplus property measure
which was approved today by the
House expenditures committee, the
final decision to be. made Monday
by the rules committee.
Chairman Doughton Cd : NC)
meanwhile called meeting of the
Ways Means committee for Tues
day to determine the line of action
on the George measure which the
Senate passed by a S. to 10 vote
after rejecting the revised 'Kilgore
bill calling for unemployment bene-
fits up to $25 weekly.
The committee will decide
whether to divorce from the bill a
provision establishing an office
of war mobilization and reconver.
sion headed by a presidentially-
appointed director at $4,000 a year.
Earlier House plans called for
separate legislation dealing with
creation of an office of reconver-
sion, unemployment compensation
and surplus property disposal.
Chairman Colmer D-Miss) of the
House postwar economic COM
mittee, said he believed the three
point program could be expedited
by leaving in the George bill the
provision setting up the reconver-
sion ma chinery.
A postwar subcommittee headed
by Representative Cooper Cd.
Tenn, has agreed on a separate
bill embodying the main principles
Of the Senate's reconversion pro-
posal. By leaving both subjects in
one bill in the opinion of House
leaders, prediction congress
sional adjournment starting around
September / might be possible.
There was little controversy in
sight on the surplus property bill.
Written by committee headed by
Representative Manasco DALAI
it provides for appointment of a
(Contioued on Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-13
Land Emphasizes
AKA's Importance

Inc AKA type ships being built
a. me North Carolina Shipbuilding
.:.V'npany are the most important
a os being produced for the war
eDort today" Vice Admiral Emory
Iahd chairman of the Mari
une commission, said in a tele-
gram to Captain Roger Williams,
s aeSldent of the shipbuilding COM
panY' yesterday.
Explaining that s'the planned
. .Aiie table of the future prosecu-
~ tvn Of the war is dependent UPON
a'elh' Admiral Land called on
NJ a.e .c(ompany's employees to "stay
wi 'he job and work harder than
ever before"
MS request was interpreted as
nieahlng that every shipbuilde1
l.uS' not only continue on his OIL
h JOB but absenteeism must be
!. 10 minimum if each vessel
10 be delivered on time. The
;alu here mas been engaged or
VIC AKA contracts for the past few
,.Oil'hS and launched its tenth YES
VI ol tins type last Wednesday.
Noi'illal Land telegram fol
iour Shipyard is one of mum
VI winch heretofore has been Sc
l'eo by the Maritime commits
l I,on Tor carrying out the comba
Y0Oeo transport and cargo shil
Si,osiam Certainly there is moth
IS more important in shipbuild
N0h'inued on Page Two; Col. 3
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-13
PILOT KILLED
IN CAR CRASH

Lieutenant John William O'Brien,
%, combat pilot instructor at
Bluethenthal Field, was fatally in
jured about 1890 o'clock yesterday
morning when the 1886 Ford sedan
he was driving crashed into a tele-
phone pole one-tenth of mile
south of Roosevelt Gardens on
Highway III, north.
O'Brien died eight minutes after
he was extricated from the wreck
age, a short while following the
accident, by State Highway Patrol
man J.. L. Flowers.
From skid marks on the road,
Flowers judged that O'Brien was
travelling at so high rate of speed
he was unable to execute curve.
Flowers reported that O'Brien
was travelling north on the high
way, when his tires skidded for
So yards and his car struck the
pole, cutting it off 80 feet from
the ground and completely demol-
ishing the car.
The Ford was wrapped around
the stump of the pole, doors were
torn out on the right side, and the
dash panel was fastened on the
! lieutenant's body; O'Brien was thus
bearing the weight of the front Of
the machine.
Motorists and nearby residents
heard the crash, Flowers said, AND
rushed to the scene When they at
tempted to turn the car from the
body, they we're stopped by 4,OO(
volts of electricity flowing from
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-13

Damage to corn, tobacco and
cotton crops in New Hanover,
Brunswick, Onslow and ,Pender
counties from the tropical
storm the night of August l
was estimated yesterday at ap-
prox1niately 81, 1869, 612 by Farm
Agent R, W., Gaiphin.
New Hanover's crop loss was
placed at $25, 424.55 after final
tabulations were made.
After inspections throughout
the counties and. from reports
submitted by farmers in the
section, .Galphin declared great
est damage occurred to the corn
crop, with about IS per cent
loss in each county.
Tobacco, which was hit in
spotted areas, received about a
Is per cent loss, and damage
to cotton, from bolles being
blown from the bushes, reach
ed about 10 per cent loss.
Truck crops were least des-
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-13
SCHOOLS OPEN
SEPTEMBER Is

New Hanover county schools will
open September 10, barring serious
rise in the number of infantile pa
ralysis cases here and subsequent
action by the Board of Health, it
was announced yesterday by J. W..
Grise, assistant superintendent of
schools.
Grise said the Board of Educa-
ton has formally acceded to the
request of the Board of Health in
postponing opening of the schools
from September 4to September 10.
Letters to teachers and principals
of the county system went forward
yesterday, including the following
information:
Principals of white schools and
the three city Negro schools should
report for work Monday morning,
September II at their school.
"All transfer and irregular pu-
pills see principals of school they
are to attend this year September
II through September Is.
Meeting of white principals
Tuesday, September u at 1000 a.
m. at Isaac Bear School.
| Meeting of Negro principals
Tuesday, September IL at 800 r. m.
at Williston Industrial School.
Registration of new pupils Fri
day, September IS, 900 am. te
IL o'clock.
"a countrywide meeting fol-
white teachers will be held Friday
pm, September Is at 3 o'clock ir
the New Hanover High School au
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-13
SOUTHERN FRANCE
HIT BY BOMBERS

ROME, Aug. 12-R}-Allied air
might was thrown against the
southern approaches to Hitler's
crumbling European fortress to-
day for the second time within "a
hours, with $50 U. S. heavy bomb
ers scourging German military de-
lenses along the southern coast OF
France.
There was feeling among the
public that momentous develop
ments in the Mediterranean were
impending as high american mill
tary figures arrived to join Prime
Minister Churchill, who already is
in Rome. The arrival of Churchill
alone was interpreted by Popolo,
organ of the Christion Democrat
party, as sign of the importance
the Italian theater of war may
assume in the near future
It was announced that Robert P.
Patterson, undesecretary of War
and 1t. Gen Brehon S. Somervell,
commander of U. S. Army Service
Forces, had arrived to inspect
military installations in the Med.
iterranean theater.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-13
ACL Troop Trains Stopped By Boys; ,,
Judge Saws Parents Face Indictment

has been one of a large group
of boys trespassing on rail-
road property.
"These children endanger
their own lives and cause a
slow down in troop move
ments which is a direct vio-
lation of Federal law.
"Your child and his beha-
vior is your responsibility.
When you permit him to ex-
pose himself to dangers and
violation of the law you are
neglecting your responsibility.
This court warns you that
any future instances of tres
passing or hindering of rail
road movements in which your
child is involved will result in
your being indicted for neg
lect and contributing to juve-
nile delinquency. Yours very
(Contitued on Page Two; Col. !
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-13

Mrs. Layton disclosed. Rail
road authorities have been
most forbearing,. but now the
situation is so serious this
court is forced to move to
stop it,
Mrs. Layton reported that
engineers must slow down or
bring their trains to, a stop,
while attempt is made to
clear the tracks of the young
sters. They are afraid to go
ahead, ;, and their schedules
suffer for the delay" she COM
mented.
"This has been happening
every day. Not only are the
boys holding up troop trains,
but they are facing dangerous
injury" Mrs. Layton said.
The following letter is being
sent to parents of the young
sters: 4..
Dear Parent, 1t has come
to our attention that your son
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-13
Flames Damage
.Coney Islands
Famed Luna Park

NEW YORK, Aug, 12-tRN
A spectacular blaze which
burst out suddenly this after
noon, while thousands Of New
Workers seeking relief from
hot weather thronged the area,
destroyed half of Luna Park,
Coney Islands famed amuse-
ment center.
Despite the crowds in the
park and nearby, police said
no one was seriously injured.
Starting in a washroom of
the dragons Gorge" scenic
railway, tn e blaze spread
swiftly through the parks
flimsy structures, and leveled
Is buildings and concessions,
including the Mile skychas-
err roller-coaster. the opera
house and shooting gallery.
The fire was brought under
control in about two and a half
hours.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-13
DEFENSE NEEDS
GIVEN STRESS
FDR Says United Nations
Must Prepare Barriers
Against Japanese
B RE M TON, Wash,

B R E M Err TON, = Wash,
Aug. .@12 o. President
Roosevelt came home, from a
15-day inspection of the Pa
cific war zone tonight to de-
clare t h e United Nations
must prepare permanent de-
lenses against any future ag-
gressions by the Japanese.
THE word and the honor. of. ia
pan cannot be trusted he declar
ed. .-.-r' 81. t,..s- 49,, =, %
The President came into dock al
this huge Navy yard about pm
Pacific War Time), ending a war
tour. that began when he left the
Marine base at San Diego, Calf.
on July, 81. = day. after his
fourth-term nomination by the De
mocrats.
During his absence he visited
Pearl 'Harbor, where he conferred
with the war chiefs of the Pacific
and inspected military bases ir
the Aleutians.
He brought laugh when he sale
he played hockey near Juneau
Alaska, long enough to sneak il
three hours of fishing. The result
One halibut and one founder.
Permanent Pacific defenses mus
be obtained, Mr.. Roosevelt said
to protect this hemisphere from
Alaska to Chile. 1t is important
ne added. that we have permanent
bases nearer to Japan. -
I'VE have no desire to ask fol
any possessions of the United Ma
tions,' he said, "but the Unitee
Nations who are working so vel
with us in the winning Of the wal
will, l am confident be glad tt
join with us in protecting agains
aggression and in machinery tt
prevent aggression.
with them and with their help
I am sure that we can agree com
pletely so that Central and South
America will be as safe against at
tack from the South, Pacific a!
North America is going to be from
the North Pacific itself. -
AS for japan, the President said
cit, is an unfortunate fact tina
years of proof must pass before
we can trust Japan and before we
can classify Japan as member
of the society of nations which
seek permanent peace and whose
word we can take
The. President said that during
his absence-he left Washington
July 13-he kept in close touch with
developments in the capital ano
on all war fronts. But he didn't Of
fer a guess on the wars end.
Sailors, workers and guests who
TANNED the dockside of the Puget
Continued on Page Eight; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-13
Seaman Kills
Trio On High Seas

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. PIP
A terrifying story of murder
on the high seas was related
by the crew of an American
ship that locked here today,
with three of it's hands slain
and three wounded by another
crewman who later took his
own life.
Federal Bureau of Investiga-
ton agents were told that the
Sayings occurred early on the
morning of July II, off the
west coast of Africa.
Joseph Beegle, crew men,
Der, said he was awakened by
screams and saw another sea-
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-13

man, Andre Pono, bending over
the bunk of FREDERICK GonzaI-
ez, a shipmate. Then, he said,
Gonzalez fell from his bunk
dead of stab wounds.
Beegle said he grabbed for
Pono, but missed him, and
Pono fled from the cabin. On
the deck, Thomas R. Beltram,
another seaman, joined the
chase.
Suddenly, Beeg1e, said, Pono
turned and stabbed him and
severely wounded Beltram and
Jose Omega, who joined in the
Continued on Page Two. Col. 2
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-13

man East Prussia.
In the north three other powerful
Soviet armies frightened their trap
on possibly 100000 German troops
pinned against the Baltic sea, and
one of these Red armies suddenly
dashed out westward toward Lie
paja, west Latvian port, and to-
ward Memel, German seaport at
the northern tip of German East
Prussia.
A Moscow communique announc-
ed the capture of 610 towns and
villages, more than half of them by
the adjoining armies of General
Zakharov and Marshal .Konstantin
K. Rokossovsky First White Rus
sian troops.
The latter army was within four
miles of the Warsaw-Bialystok rail
way on a broad front between
the besieged Polish capital and be-
yond the Bug river as the Russians
wheeled toward East Prussia.
Driving northwest along both
sides of the Bialystok-Lyck railway
leading to East Prussia's south
eastern corner, Zakharov's troops
captured. Klewyanka, only seven
miles east of the railway where it
crosses the Biebraz river. Klewyan-
Continued on Page Two; Col. A.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-13
Galphin Says Four County
Crop Damages 5000, 612

troyed, Galphin explained, be-
cause butter beans is the only
: prevalent vegetable being
grown nowadays.
In releasing the combined es-
Inmates of damage, the farm
agent reported that corn loss
for the four counties was $780,
279. so. Tobacco, with $646, 768.-
so damage, was hardest hit be-
cause of present gathering of
the crop for selling. The cotton
. crop damage was least, with
$22,564 reported.
Most damage to New Han
over crops was reported for
corn, with $22, 095. 50 estimated.
y Tobacco damage was $3,138,
and cotton was $191.
In further breakdown, Bruins
wick county losses were totaled
at 1886. 942, with individual
losses as followes: $164, 319 for
Continued ON Page Eight: Col. 4
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-13
Nazii Troops
Pulled @ ut
Of Florence
ENEMY FLEES in DARK
German Forces Withdraw
After Weeks Stand
On Amos Banks

ROME, Aug. l2-(P)-The
Germans have pulled out of
Florence, releasing Italy's
most beautiful city from a
wise in which it had been
clutched for a week as con-
tending armies stood on OPP
nosite banks of the Arno riv-
er. which runs through it.
German withdrawal made I'm
der cover of darkness permitted
officers of the Allied Military Gov
eminent to enter the main part of
tbe citv north of the Arno today to
assist the stricken population.
There we're no official reports that
the Eighth army had yet crossed
the stream.
The Germans withdrew north of
the Mugnone canal, which skirts
the northern edge of the city, but
some snipers were left behind. :.
In the modern suburbs on the
eastern extremity of the city, where
wide streets separate apartment
houses, there was nlachinegun fire
from German parachute troops sta
toned on roofs.
Neither army shelled Florence,
and only its rail yards and install
lations in the immediate vicinity
were bombed. There were machine
gun duels across the Arno, but
these caused little or no damage.
First reports from officers cross
ing the Arno indicated the situa-
ton of the population was even
worse than had been believed.
Food, water and medical supplies
were short, and the entire male
population - except for Fascist
combatants-had been confined to
their homes by the Germans.
While it was too early to fully
assess Florence's priceless art
treasures and monuments, they ap-
parently were virtually intact ex-
cept for the bridges across the
Ano. There was known to have
been some looting.
Of Florence's famous bridges.
only its most noted one of Ponte
Vecchio is intact. This one was
merely blocked by. wrecking of
buildings at both ends.
An official report failed to saw
whether AMG officials had been
able to verify that the Germans
had carried out demolitions in the
northern part of the city.
Action along the Arno west of
Florence. where the eighth army
Is bringing up its forces to attempt
crossing, was confined largely to
patrols.
On the Adriatic front. the Ger
mans lave withdrawn across the
CeSano river from Monte Porto to
Inc coast. a distance of more than
seven miles and the Poles threw
brldgehead across the stream
two miles from the sea.
German prisoner, reporting on
'ne tenacious fighting in Italy.
sdlo officers were advising the
troops they must fight to the death
against the Eighth Army Indian
iofceS because the Indians kill all
prisoners.
Tam closed down on the Fifth
army sector at the opposite end of
une front, and there was only patrol
scuoh and scattered artillery and
Small arms fire.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-13
SECRECY CLOAKS ENClRCLLNG
OF GERMANS WEST OF PARIS;
ROOSEVELT BACK IN STATES
NEWS WITHHELD
AS PRECAUTI0N
Allies Continuing Sweep
On Other Main Fronts;
Nazis Counterattack

SUPREME HEADQUAR-
ALLIED EXPED1-
TIONARY FORCE, Sunday,
Aug. 13-(P- The Allies,
with official mystery cloak
ing the American swing
around the left flank of the
|half-encircled German Sew
enth army in northwestern
France, pounded forw ard
slowly at five points in the
bulge between Mortain and
Caen yesterday and Ameri-
can armor pushed toward
southern France we'll below
the Loire to the portentious
accompaniment of b ON b
bursts on the Mediterranean
coast.
One German salient six miles
wide and four miles deep was rub
bed out by coordinated British
Canadian drives below Caen.
The Germans, reversing their
previous withdrawal tactics, hurl-
ed all available reinforcements in
to the Normandy bulge which Am
erican, British and Canadian
troops were battering from three
sides.
The vast regions of France below
the broad Loire river already had
been penetrated by American
ground forces which stabbed more
than 10 miles southwark after lib
Grating Nantes.
But Lack of news concerning
that front and on activity beyond
LIE Mans on the Paris road
place which the Americans had
passed four days previously -
reachedthe proportions of a COM
plete blackout. Dispatches from the
front were heavily censored, and
at the late night headquarters
press conference there was no
word of developments.
The speed, extent and detectives
of the American drives so befuddl-
ed the Germans that the Allies rig
idly continued the four-day clamp :
down on word progress, announc.
ing, "the situation must remain OBJ
scure purely for security reasons.
1t asked public patience "be-
cause on secrecy depends he sue
cess of the Allied plan and the
lives of American, British, Canad-
ian and other Allied soldiers"
On the remainder of the active
front, the British driving four
miles east of Thury-Harcourt,
reached Fresney-Le-Vieux and link
ed up with Canadians who pushed
down from Bretteville-
This gave the British control Of
the n-Thury highway.
The Canadians took the road
junction town of Barbery and adj
vanced mile and a half south
ward to Bots Halbout.
These drives eliminated the Ger
man silent between the Lie and
Orne river Whether any stable
German were trapped in the area
was not disclosed.
East of Bretteville, across the
Caen-F 'alaiseroad, the Canadians
advanced a little over half-mile
in the St. Sylvan area against
fierce opposition.
Southwest of Thury, the British
cptured St. Pierre La Vielle and
pressed on southwark Sithin thres
miles north of Conde-sur-Noieau,
an anchor point of German posi-
tons west of the Orne.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-13
Red ArnieSC Continue
East PruSSian Drive

LONDON, Sunday, Aug. 13-(H-Gen G. F. Zakaha-
rows second White Russian army yesterday smashed six
miles through strong German Notifications northeast
Warsaw and reached the Berrza river Marshes big
obstacle separating the Russians from the famous first
world battle-ground of the Masurian lakes inside Ger
Evening star., 1944-06-20

some armies of Europe. A record
tells us that the Duke of Burgundy
had 1000 soldiers who carried hand
cannon in 1411.
One trouble about the hand can
non was the fact that it kicked"
too much. A soldier had a hard time
holding it in his hands when the
gunpowder exploded.
To take care of that trouble, an
inventor made a stock to be placed
behind the barrel. This stock was
of wood. It could be fitted to the
shoulder. and the shoulder took the
kick" when the weapon was fred.
Thus muskets of a sort were made.
They came to be common weapons
of foot soldiers In Europe.
The name ''harquebus" or "ar-
-quebus" was used for musket in
France. 80 10.
The musket may be classed as an
ancestor of the rifle. Yet the true
rife has grooves inside the barrel.
When grooves are made in the bar
rel, we say that it has been "rifled."
Spiral grooves give bullet a turn
ing motion which carries 1t better
toward its mark.
Rifles were first made about 400
years ago. For a long time they
were used only for hunting and for
shooting at targets. They they
came on the battlefield.
Evening star., 1944-06-20
Take Ny Word for 1t
BY FRANK COLBY.

nCduC1S SUGHCIs
From F. p, Houston: Thanks for
telling the world about having q
temperature" Now if you'll set
doctors and nurses right on this:
He's going to be operated in the
morning" life will be far sweeter.
Doctors are a law unto themselves,
but even they cannot operate" q
human being.
Answer:
Physicians and nurses have prated:
"The patient will be operated"
But this kind Of lingo
Is nonsense, by jingo,
For man Is born, not fabricated.
No cogwheels or springs In his
tummy:
No changing his oil when its
gummy.
No doctor alive, sir,
Shall into me dive. sir,
With plies and wrenches, Lor
lummy!
From Grant Fisk, East Hickory,
Pa: Perhaps it would be of in
terest to your readers to know the
origin of the word "hieroglyphics."
An ancient cliff dweller, who ran
a primitive store in his cave, wanted
a sign chiseled over the door. A
neighbor knew an Irishman named
.O'Glifflcs who was an expert stone
cutter. Said the neighbor to the
storekeeper, why don't you hire
'O'Glifics?" (P. S. I do not advise
you to publish this. 1t might end
your literary career)
Thanks to Leonard Huber, To-
ledo, and Frank Hall Childs. Pa
cific Palisades, for the origin of the
name Put-in-Bay, Ohio, mentioned
recently in this column: During the
War of 1872, Commodore Oliver
Hazard Perry defeated the British
fleet on Lake Erie. Following the
action, he caused his ships to put
in at a certain nameless bay so
that the wounded might be cared
for and the damaged ships repaired.
Released by the Bell Syndicate, Incl