davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-06-20
Tokyo Fears Saipan
Will Be Big Base
Could Be Used for Shuttle
Missions Over japan

BY the Associated Press.
Japanese fears that Saipan Island
where American invasion forces are
loW engaging enemy forces, will be
used as base for shuttle bombing
missions over Tokyo by B-29 Super
Fortresses flying from the island tc
China were expressed in a Berlin
broadcast of Tokyo dispatch today
competent japanese sources are
fully conscious of the seriousness OF
the situation, the dispatch said
American heavy bombers, especially
those of the B-29 type operating
from Saipan airbases, would have
no difficulty in launching systematic
attacks on Tokyo, only $500 kilo-
meters 0,550 miles, away.
Contrary to their former attacks
on Japan from Chinese bases, the
American pilots would have the ad-
vantage of having to fly over ground
only while actually dropping their
bombs it continued. The ap-
proach and return flights would be
made across the sea, and thus there
would be no danger from japanese
interceptors. 1t is, moreover, fea-
Slble that American bombers attack
ing Japan proper from Chinese
bases might return to base on Sal
pan, where they could be refuelec
more easily than in China.
In view of these facts, it is safely
assumed that both sides will fight
bitterly for possession of Saipan."
Evening star., 1944-06-20
Yonks on Stricken Lei Baked in Landing
By Dead and Dying CIoqqing Shi p's Ramp

itself seemed calm enough. Other
ships were on the beach and the
area just off the beach was crowded
with craft. AS I was concentrated
on our Bleaching problem, I saw little
of what was happening to others.
The obstacles could be seen
plainly. They were thick over the
whole of the beach, with small
Teller mines attached to most Of
them. Some were submerged. some
half out of water.
The only thing to do was to pick
a likely spot and ram through. The
ship headed in at around IL knots.
The thud of underwater obstacles
could be felt on the bottom and
sides of the ship. AS the bow
grounded, a mine exploded, ripping
hole in the forward part of the
ship.
One ramp went over and a sea-
man went down it to the beach with
heavy line. This line was to as
sist the troops as they Waded ashore
through the waist-deep water.
The soldiers started down the
ramp and troubles began.
The 88s began hitting the ship.
The shells tore into the troop COM
partments. They exploded on the
exposed deck They smashed
through the massed men trying to
get down the ramp. Machine guns
opened up. Men were hit and men
were mutilated. There was no such
thing as a minor wound. When the
shells hit they blew off arms, legs
and heads.
The guns seemed to concentrate
| (See HENDLEY, Page A-5.)
Evening star., 1944-06-20
(See POLITICS, Page AID
Crash Kills 0'Brine,
Endurance Flyer
He and Dole Jackson Set
World Record in 1880
(See POLITICS, Page A-4
BY the Associated Press.

DS the hsSOCidtcu rices'
Ell PASO. Tex, June 20.-Capt.
Forrest E. O'Brine, 48, who teamed
with Dale Jackson to establish a
world endurance flight record in
August, 1880, was killed in the crash
of his two-engined A-26 plane yes
terday at the Ell Paso Municipal Air
port, the 9Th Ferrying Service Sta
ton here announced.
The announcement said Capt.
O'Brine was flying one of the Arny's
new "hot" combat ships on de-
livery fight. 1t cracked up and
burned on the take-off after one en-
gine failed
Capt. O'Brine was rated senior
service pilot in the ferrying division
of the Air Transport Command. As
a former pilot with the Chicago
Southern Airlines he had TOTS nom
military hours of flying time.
The airmans home was in st.
Louis, but his wife was said to be in
Memphis
Capt. OBrine and Mr.. Jackson
set their endurance record of SAT
hours % minutes and 80 seconds
over St. Louis, refueling in the air.
Mr.. Jackson was killed January s,
1892, in a crash at Miami (Fla)
air meet.
The two flyers first endurance.
fight shattered the record of the
Army's Question Mark in 1920,
flown by Maj Carl Spaatz, now 1t.
Gen. Spaatz, commander of the
United States Strategic Air Forces
in Europe, and Capt. Ira c. Eaker.
now lieutenant general command
ing Allied air forces in the Mediter-
ranean. They established the record
that stands in their next attempt.
Evening star., 1944-06-20
Revomping of Cabinet
In Finland Predicted

LONDON, June 20 (P).-As the fall
Of Viipuri appeared imminent, a
London News Chronicle correspond
ent with the Russian troops de-
clared today that spearheads of
Marshal Leonid A. Govorov's forces
were fighting in the city's suburbs.
The correspondent said the Rus
slams shortly will be in a position
to dictate terms" to the Firms.
A prediction that the Finnish
cabinet would be revamped came
from the Stockholm newspaper
Svenska Dagbladet, which said Pre-
mier Edwin Linkomies and Finance
Minister Vaino Tanner, the two
men largely responsible for Fin
lands rejection of Soviet armistice
terms three months ago, would re-
tire,
Evening star., 1944-06-20
Individual Bond Sale!
Reach 2O96 Of Quota
With 100000 Boost
Series e Purchases
Are Lifted by $400,000
In New Report

District subscriptions in the
Fifth War Loan Campaign
reached 20 per cent of the SOL, :
000,0 900 individual bond sale goal
today when an additional $780,
900 was reported for yesterdays
sales, raising the individual total
to $12,2O0,O00.
Reports still are unavailable on
corporation purchases, which COM
prise almost 43 per cent of the total
of s107,000,000 sought in the Dis
trict.
Included in today's report was
100000 in series "E" bond pur-
chases, sending that total to ST.
SOC, 900, or 224 per cent of the. $34,-
100000 series "E" quota.
Warning that sales to date fall
below those of the corresponding Pc
riod in the Fourth War Loan drive
John A. Reilly, chairman of the Dis
trict War Finance Committee, urged
volunteers ito 60 after the little
fellows"
Urges Personal Calls.
This campaign cannot be a sue
cess" he declared, unless we round
up the small investors. 1t is mat
ter of doorbell ringing and personal
solicitation. We have no time
to lose if the result of this campaign
is to have maximum morale-build-
ing effect on our fighting forces"
Sales in the national campaign tc
raise $4,000 600, 900 in individual bond
purchases stand at 1854 100000 for
the first week of the drive, IA per
cent of the individual quota. The
overall goal in the national pro-
gram is $l6.000,000 1000.
Victor Borge, comic concert pian-
list, will be featured on tonight's show
at the Army Air Forces Shot From
the Sky exhibit with a presentation
of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue" "
He will be accompanied by the 90
piece Navy School of Music Band.
(See WAR loan pooe AoO
Evening star., 1944-06-20
Changsha Believed
To Have Fallen
$4,000 japanese Destroy
Suburban Defense Works
BY he Associated Press.

SS me associated freSS.
CHUNGKING, June 2O.-Indicat-
Ing that Changsha has fallen, the
Chinese high command said tonight
the situation in the capital of
Human Province was obscure after
destruction of suburban defense
works by more than $4,000 japanese
troops. Radio contact with Chang
sha was broken.
The japanese attacked the sub
urban defenses under a cover of
war planes, the high command said.
(Tokyo radio said earlier that
japanese imperial headquarters
had announced the complete
capture of Changsha Sunday, as
well as the taking of Liling, 40
miles southeast
A Chinese communique announced
today that Gurkha troops anc
kachin levies have captured the
vily-defended japanese strong.
hold at Tiangzup, 40 miles north Of
Myitkyina in the Fort Hertz VALLEY
Of Northern Burma, thus ending 9
six weeks siege.
At the same time, the bulletin
said, Chinese pushing down the Mo-
gaung Valley about 40 miles west
Of Myitkyina have advanced miles
from captured Kamaing. Chinese
troops and Maj. Gen. w. D. A. Len
taigne's Chindit forces, meanwhile
we're reported continuing pressure
against the enemy around Mogaung
No important changes have taken
place in the situation around Myit-
kyina, the bulletin added.
Evening star., 1944-06-20
II. S. Gun Crew
Bags sFnst Robot
Plane in England
81 the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
SUPREME ALLIED HEADQUAR-
TIERS, June 20.-A few seconds
after shooting the last bolt into
place on a 40-millimeter gun des-
tined for Normandy, an alert United
States Army maintenance crew used
the weapon last week to bag what
is thought to be the first pilotless
plane shot down in Southern
England.
A direct hit was scored with the
second round after Capt. Albert
E. Reuning, jackson, Miss, COM
manding officer, spied a projectile
hurting toward the field.
The American 9th Air Force is
producing a new type Of fighter
"aces" who have joined the sky
patrols waiting to shoot down Ger
man rocket bombs.
Mustang Pilot 1t. Lewis Powers
albuquerque, N. Mex, shot down
two and shared another with an
Raj fighter last night in addition
to one he nailed the previous night
1t. Powers sighted the first com.
ing in at about 1000 feet. He divec
on 1t, gave It several bursts ant
watched 1t crash.
Evening star., 1944-06-20

THE tolloWing story 1Das 1Drit-
ten by member OF The Star
staff on military leaUe, COM
nlander OF a Coast Guard
manned Lei destroyed on a Nor
mandy beach on D-day. Un-
loading OF this Lei finally
stopped because the liUing could
not climb ouer the dead piled
before hem)
BY 1T. u. c. COIT HENDLEY, Jr.
United States Coast Guard Reserve.
ON BOARD A NAVY SALVAGE
TUG, French Coast (Delayed -
Taking the beach to the east of the
Carentan estuary was grim affair
for the American troops and the
amphibious craft transporting them
an affair of blood and death This
is the story of one Coast Guard
manned Lei on June 6. the day the
sea borne landings in France began
Going into the beach, this craft
hit mine, careened through a
| tumble Of beach defenses, finally got
her ramps down for the troops tc
| disembark Before the unloading
was completed, a cross fire of Ger
man 88s. machine guns and snipel
fire blew one ramp off, killed Il
men, wounded another 40, and sci
her blazing in three compartments
was commanding officer of that
ship and I want to describe what
happened. without exaggeration. SC
you can know what our soldiers and
Navy beach battalion suffered in
taking that beach and getting il
organized.
Two hours after the original as.
sault was the scheduled time fol
Evening star., 1944-06-20
|'4OInvosionE Ended BeforeNdzi
Could Embark, Churchill Says
Heavy Concentrations Of Ships and Men
Were Ready to Leave, Commons Is Told

II do not quite know what is
meant by setting in motion. Set
ting in motion in the sense of
crossing the Channel, No. but
setting in motion in the sense of
making very heavy concentrations
of troops and ships to cross the
Channel, Yes"
Laborite Emanuel Shinwell then
asked
II suppose he tthe Prime Min
ister) could say that if such an
invasion was made, at any rate it
was unsuccessful"
Mr.. Churchill smiled and an
swered, "Yes."
did any Of this shipping ever
emerge from ports across the Chan
nel?" Maj. Adams pressed.
Not to my belief" the Prime
Minister said. "A great deal of it
was sunk in ports and then they
changed their minds"
Evening star., 1944-06-20
Allies in Northeast India
Advance II Miles in Day

BY the Associated Press.
SOUTHEAST ASIA COMMAND
HEADQUARTERS, Randy, Ceylon,
June 20.-Parallel columns of I'm
perial troops striking south from
Kohima toward Imphal have ad-
vanced II miles, the greatest single
day of progress in the counter
offensive to knock the japanese
from the Northeastern India border
regions, it was announced today.
The plunge narrowed to 20 miles
the gap between forces fighting be-
low Kohima and those advancing
north from Imphal The two
strongpoints are so miles apart.
Headquarters estimated $500 ia
panese have been killed in this
sector.
The southern push seized Mao
Songsamg, brushed the enemy aside
in Tuphema, and continued to lust
west of Maram, Two other towns
were taken.
Evening star., 1944-06-20
BY the Associated Press.

LONDON, June 20. Prime
Minister Churchill told the House
of Commons today that a Ger
man attempt to invade Britain
in 1910 had been smashed before
heavy concentrations of ships
and troops were able to leave
continental ports.
Mr.. Churchill's statement came in
response to a series of questions
from the floor by Maj. Vyvyan
Adams, who asked the Prime Minis
ter if he could give the House details
of a reported Nazi invasion attempt.
Mr.. Churchill first said he had
nothing to add to the governments
previous noncommittal replies, but
when Maj. Adams asked whether
1.-The enemy set in motion the appa-
ratus of seaborne INVASION" the
Prime Minister said:
Evening star., 1944-06-20
Submarine Grayback
Listed by Navy asLost,
24th Since War BEGAN
Comdr. John A. Moore
Was Skipper Of Croft,
Presumably in Pocific
BY the Associated Press.


Loss of the submarine Gray
back, presumably in operations
against the japanese in the Far
Pacific, was announced today by
the Navy.
The 1,475-ton submersible carried
an estimated personnel OF 65 officers
and men.
She was commanded by Comdr
John Anderson Moore, Lowell, Ariz
who is listed as missing in action
Comdr. Moore's wife, Mrs. Virginia
S. Moore, lives in Memphis, Tenn
Comdr. Moore was on duty in the
Bureau Of Navigation here In 1910
The loss Of the Grayback, officially
listed as overdue and presumed lost
brings to "A the number Of Amer
lean submarines missing since De
cember 7, 1941. OF that total, two
were sunk In the Atlantic Ocear,
during training and other maneu-
vers and one was destroyed to pre-
vent capture. The others all are
listed as overdue from patrol and
presumed lost.
The Navy never tells where SUBJ
marines operated on their last wal
patrols. However, most action by
American submersibles has been in
the Pacific, many of them operat-
ing along Japan's shorelines against
enemy shipping.
Against the total of "a submarines
lost since the war started, the SUBJ
mersibles have built up record o1
758 Japanese ships sunk, probably
sunk or damaged. The total in
cludes GOT definitely sent to the
bottom.
Among the enemy vessels &C.
counted for by subs are number oi
warships, although the submersibles
activities have been directed princi.
pally against enemy supply lines fol
Japanese garrisons in the Pacific
The subs have been credited by
Admiral Ernest King, commander ir
chief of the United States Fleet
with operations that could determine
the course of the war in the Pacific
The Grayback, built by the Elec.
trio Boat Co. at Groton, Conn, wa.
commissioned in 1941. She wa!
chriStened by Mrs. Wilson Brown
wife of Rear Admiral Brown, nava
aide to President Roosevelt.
Comdr. Moore, "a, native o1
Brownwod, Tex, had taken sub
marine warfare deep into enemy
territory and was officially credited
with the sinking of an auxiliary
cruiser and two freighters. He re.
ceived the Navy Cross for heroisn
in the action.
Evening star., 1944-06-20
Fall Of EIba Weaken,
Nazi Position in Italy;
Allies Enter Peruqia
Mojor Communications
Center Is IS Miles
North of Rome
pictures on Page A-2.J
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ROME, June 20.-Allied forces
pressing northward on the Ital-
ian mainland have entered Peru
gia, major communications CEN
ter u miles airline southeast of
Florence and IS miles north OF
Rome, after the German position
in the north had been weakened
by the conquest of Elba by
French Colonial troops.
The French crushed the last stub
born resistance on Eba yesterday.
The swift campaign netted 1900
prisoners, all but a small portion OF
the enemy garrison.
Organized resistance on Elba COL
lapsed with the capture of Porto
Longone, on the eastern shore. The
garrison of about 300 there surrend-
cred. Large quantities of materieI
were abandoned by the enemy.
Spotty Resistance.
Perugia was entered by 9th Army
troops, which were encounterine
spotty resistance today. On both
sides of the city, however, Allied
troops advanced considerable dis
tance, an Allied communique said
Despite rain which interfered with
the movement of troops and trans.
port, the 9th Army advansed al
along its front in the face of re-
sistance at key points.
The 5th Army advanced more
than 9 miles north of Grosetto, some
% miles beyond Orbetello.
Perugia, 14th century city and 8
provincial capital with population
of $500, has been more troublesome
to Allied forces in Italy than any
other town north of Rome.
Nazi Casualties Heavy.
The villages of Ripa and Civitella
d'Arno, northeast of Perugia, were
captured by troops of an Indian di-
vision and considerable casualties
were inflicted on the Germans when
they attempted a counterattack.
Farther west British troops
reached the southern shore of Lake
Trasimeno and approached the roac
along its western shore.
Citta Della Pieve, where the Ger.
mans had offered strong resistance
for two days, was by-passed by 8tf
Army troops, who headed for Sar
Litardo to the northwest.
Evening star., 1944-06-20
300 Jap Planes
bagged;; Saiipan
AirfieId Seized
Enemy Claims 300
Planes, BottIeship
And Two Cruisers
(Picture on Page A-3.)
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PACIFIC FLEET HEADQUAR-
TERS, Pearl Harbor, June 90
American carrier pilots and war
ship guns have destroyed an esti-
mated 300 japanese planes of
Saipan to win the biggest Pacific
air battle since Midway, while
a land surge captured a vital
airstrip and sealed off the south
ern end of the island.
In a battle lasting several hours
the offshore task force smashed q
sustained japanese aerial assault
Sunday. Admiral Chester w. Nimitz
said first information reported only
one American vessel damaged.
Qmperial Japanese headquar-
ters declared, without confirma-
ton, that 300 American planes
were destroyed and battleship,
two cruisers. destroyer and one
submarine were sunk during the
battle. A broadcast enemy COM
munique also said japanese air
men were still attacking the
American ships.
(This claim may have been a
follow-up to a Tokyo broadcast
promising that the Japanese
navy in the near future will win
a great naval victory in the
Central Pacif1c.')
Seabees Prepare Airstrip.
With the land battle still raging
to their north and southwest, Sea.
bees began preparing the newly
captured Aslito airstrip, on Saipan':
southern coast-the first American
air base within Japan's Centra
Pacific middle defense arc. It's cap.
tllre climaxes the long drive toward
air bases strategically dominating
the oceanic approaches to Tokyo.
Pushing through tangled cant
fields and swanps, American ma.
rir1eS and Army troops travered the
island on 4 wide front to reach
Magicienne Bay on the east coast
3la miles from the western landing
beach. In this 1h-mile advance
since Friday some japanese force.
were cut off in Nafutan Point, Sal
pans southeastern extremity.
Guam and Rota Strafed.
The Japanese aerial thrust-their
biggest since Midway - included
some planes apparently based on
distant carriers and using nearby
shore bases for shuttle landings, the
United States communique said.
1t added that systematic Ameri-
can bombing and strafing of air.
fields on Guam and Rota sharply
limited" the effectiveness of the
japanese shuttle land fields. Desig.
nation of these two islands, approx
imately 100 miles south of Saipan
indicated enemy carriers were some
distance from the Marianas.
American forces hold a 5-mile-
long coastal strip on the western
shore line, where they have expand.
ed from their original beachhead al
Agingan Point.
Evening star., 1944-06-20
Nozis Reported Shipping
Poison Gas to East Front
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, June 20. - Radio
France at Algiers said today in a
broadcast to French areas that the
Germans had transported large
quantities of poison gas from Ger
many into Hungary with view tc
using it against the Soviet Army
from whom they dread a new and
powerful offensive
The broadcast, reported by United
States Government monitors, saii
the information had been received
from the Balkans via Ankara. 1t
added that a German official pa
per" on June 2 had published de
tailed instructions concerning the
transport and handling of poison
gases"
Evening star., 1944-06-20

the ship to hit the beach. On board
was mixed group of Navy and
Army men whose job was to get
the beach cleared of obstacles,
mark beach exits and handle the
unloading of the amphibious craft
as they came into the beach.
Approaching the beach from the
transport area no sign of trouble
was seen. There were flashes from
the warships, ferreting out gun
emplacements. There were the
usual black puffs of shellfire on
the waters edge itself. The beach
Evening star., 1944-06-20
Reds Pouring Shells
Into Port Of Viipuri
From 9 Miles Away
Reports Reaching Swedish
Source Soy Firms
Have Yielded City
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
MOSCOW, June 20.-Big guns
of the Red Army, only 9 miles
from the Finnish seaport of Viii
puri, poured salvo after salvc
into it's outskirts today.
(Reports reaching a reliable
Swedish source said today that
the Firms have yielded Viipuri
to the Russian Army.)
Izvestia's Correspondent Ivan Os-
sipov said the speed of the remark
able" offensive was increasing.
Maj. Nikolai Shvankov, the Rec
Star correspondent, declared costa
defenses of the Films along the Gull
Of Viipuri have collapsed and Soviet
sailors are threatening to cut ofl
large numbers OF the enemy In
little peninsulas south of the city.
Outside Viipuri the Russians de-
feated the 18th and 10th Finnish
Infantry Brigades, q fresh cavalry
unit and a crack Finnish yellow
Regiment"
There were no indications in
Moscow that the Firms are seeking
to reopen peace negotiations. The
general view is that soon the Red
Army will be at the 1910 Russo
Finnish treaty frontier, which Is
16 miles beyond Viipuri
A Red Fleet dispatch said Rus
sian ships are pounding Finnish
craft in the Gulf of Viipuri and
the Gulf of Finland, sinking two
transports totaling $4,000 tons. In
Viipuri Gulf two other Finnish
transports were sunk, in addition
to smaller craft. Heavy ships oi
the Baltic Fleet are moving ur
the Gulf of Finland and addine
their weight to the assault on the
citv
Evening star., 1944-06-20
Navy Abondons Plans
To Refit Normundie
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, June 20.-The Navy
says plans to refit the former French
luxury liner Normandie have been
Cancelled because of a shortage o1
manpower and critical materials.
The ocean giant, which burned
and rolled on her side here in Feb
ruary, 1912, was raised at a cost o1
SO, 3,750,000 last fall and was toweo
to the Todd shipyard in Brooklyn
The cancellation announcement was
made yesterday by the Navy De-
| partment.
Evening star., 1944-06-20
Nozi Big Guns Open Up
Across Dover Strait
" the Associated Press.

BY The Associated Press.
LONDON, June 20.-German big
guns in the Cape Gris-Nez area on
the French coast opened up shortly
after 2 a m. today and for Is minutes
hurled shells across Dover Strait.
Later the German radio said the
Nazi batteries had shelled several
large Allied ships in the strait and
had forced them to fee.
Evening star., 1944-06-20
1,5OO j. ). Bombers
Hit Robot Plane Base,
And Targets in Reich
: Oil Refineries, Aircraft
Plants and Tank Depot
Attacked by Air Fleet
By the Associated Press.

SUPREME ALLIED HEAD
QUARTERS, June 20.-More
than 1900 American heavy
bombers, possibly the greatest
force in history, today simul-
taneously attacked rocket bomb
platforms in the Pas-de-Calais
and an array of objectives in
Central Germany ranging from
oil refineries to airplane and
tank plants.
The giant armada at least equaled
that sent out last Wednesday to at
tack French airfields, bridges and
the Emmerich oil refinery in Ger
many.
With its big fighter escort, the
entire fleet totaled upward OF 1000
planes.
Oil Plants Attacked.
The heavy bombers blasted syn
thetic oil plants and oil refineries
around Hanover, Hamburg, Magde-
burg and Politz. tank depot near
Magdeburg, and an airplane wing
repair and parts plant near Bruins
wick.
The Germans reported the Amer
lean air fleet was attacked by large
formations OF fighters and that
heavy air battles were fought.
Stockholm reported 81 of the
heavy bombers today made forced
landings in Sweden, the greatest
number to land in that neutral
country in a single day.
Sixteen came down at Bulltofta
Airport at Malmo, on the southern