davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-02-01
BY BAUKHAGE

Why did the President order the
army to take over the railroads?
You can get seven reasons from
seven different presidential advisors.
won't repeat them. l will name
three.
First. the epitome Of those the po-
litically minded probably gave; it
will be a good thing for 1914. That
is the sum total OF a number Of con-
illusions OF the master minds who
are advising concerning the political
campaign which is ahead Of US.
There are two other reasons which
some of the time-hardened officials
in Washington offer taside from the
threat, real or fancied. TO the war ef-
forO. These officials let the political
stream flow over them. They are
more interested in getting the par
ticular job assigned TO them done
than figuring out its political effects.
Needless to say. they belong to that
large, conscientious army which
most people outside Of Washington
forget exists. an army Of people
wise or unwise in their judgments
but beholden TO no political part,
for their positions.
These are the two probable rea'
sons they offered; first:
The roads we're seized as threat
against other industrialists who
might make trouble In accepting
terms Of future labor wage deci.
sions. such demands for increases
which can't be easily lodged (per.
haps just demands, perhaps not,
depending on who holds the scales).
The second reason offered is this:
Simply because many Of the Pres.
dents present labor advisors have
had little or no experience in labor
relations, in the methods OF labor
leaders.
Misunderstanding
There are number Of signs which
might point to reason one as the one
which turned the scales. but, like
most of the other motivating forces
in many OF the recent labor deci-
sions, they spring from the same
soil as does reason two: misunder-
standing Of the methods of labor
leaders.
You will recall that William
Green, A. F. Of l.. chieftain, when
he made what since seems to have
been an ill-starred attack on the
Marshall statement that threats Of
strikes might prolong the war. stat
ed fatty that the railroad unions had
never intended 10 strike.
That statement isn't questioned in
spite of the angry denials Of the
railroad union leaders. 1t is what
you heard in every railroad office
from every old time councillor and
advisor in Washington before the
roads we're taken over.
Unfortunately, the whole situation
is reminiscent of the conversation
concerning the dog. The dog
growled. The owner said, Don't
be frightened, know he won't bite
you" But" replied his friend,
does the dog know it?"
You see the friend had no under.
standing Of dogs.
II you had slipped into the White
House on a certain day not long
before the deadline for the strike
call Of the so-called recalcitrant I'M
ions (enginemen and firemen. and
conductors) had been reached, you
too might have been alarmed. The
union representatives q am told
we're making noise very much like
a dog that is going to bite.
Now the old timers we're used TO
the noise. But the two gentlemen
upon whom the President leans for
advice in matters Of sterilization
involving wage and price boosts,
Messrs. Byrnes and Vinson. were
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-02-01
$4,000 FIRE sPoILs RECORD

Ell RENO Okla P II this
city OF 10000 hadn't had a disas.
trous blaze two days before Christ.
mas, Il would have ended 1913 with
a trivial fire loss. Just when the
fire chief was preparing a year-end
report showing a fire loss OF only
1890, a blaze in the heart OF the
business district caused damage Of
nearly $4,000.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-02-01

DR.. Clendening will answer
questions of general interest
only, and then only through
his column.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-02-01
BY r. J. SCOTT

TO teach children are not to stare.
not to point. and not to make per.
sonal remarks.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-02-01

One-Minute Test Answers
1. New York and Vermont.
2. The st. Lawrence.
3 Minnesota
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-02-01

Hints on Etlquett
The FIRST rules Of good manners
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-02-01

desire for revenge does not spoil
your happiness. You love your
home and family life. Prevailing
influences strongly favor those in
the service Of their country. engi-
neers. travellers. and those follow.
ing uncommon occupations. de.
spite minor irritations. The child
born on this date will be very de-
termined. self.willed. proud. am
bilious, and given to mystical
and profound studies In which he
or she will excel
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-02-01
oneMinute Test

One-Minute Test
]. Between what two states
does Lake Champlain lie7
2 On what river Is Quebec sit.
mated?
3. The inhabitants Of what state
are called "Gophers"?
Words Of Wisdom
The cynic is one who never sees
q good quality In a man. and never
fails to see bad one. He Is the
human owl. ugiiapt In darkness
and blind TO light. mousing for
verntn, and never seeing noble
game.-H. w Beecher.
Hints on Etlquett
The first rules OF good manners
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-02-01
Your Health
Time Important
in Determining
Operation
BY Logan clendennins. NJ. D.

BABIES AND children do not
often need surgery, fortunately.
The most important decision to
make is not so much whether an
operation should be done as when.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-02-01
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

S. B.-What is the value Of
colonic irrigation? They are rec
commended for the treatment and
prevention of innumerable dis
eases. .-
Answer:-They are not good for
anything, and if used regularly
sooner or later make a complete
invalid of anyone.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-18
TRUk BLASTED BY U. $. FORCES Great Carrier Team Strikes Jap Fort; Roosevelt Denies Knowledge Of Blow
1 ,0OO American Soldiers Drown In Worst Troop Disaster Of War

Washington, February 18. = (UP) = The good fortune which faithfully accom- panied American soldiers to France in the last war, and to dozens of far-flung en- barkation ports in this one, deserted a shipload of U. S. troops for a fateful moment "on an undisclosed date" in European waters.
 Result: 1000 men lost in the worst disaster of its kind in U. &. military history.
 The War Department announced the tragedy in a 90-word statement yesterday.
 It happened at night in heavy sea and was due to enemy action. !" The ship, carrying American sol- diers "in substantial numbers" sank rapidly, the announcement said. Rescue efforts resulted in the saving of about as many men as were lost.
 Because there Is reason to be- ueve the enemy does not know the magnitude of his success on this occasion, ''the date is withheld".
 The fact the enemy did not know of 1t indicated strongly that the attacking vessel, had itself been sunk by other Allied ships.
 The announcement gave no other details, not even the name of the ship. It left 1t to the public's imag- nation to picture the shock, the horror, the awful suddennesS with which death struck.
 The only comparable disaster of this war was announced year ago February 20. The Navy then dis closed that more than' $50 civilians and Army, Navy and Marine Corps personnel were lost when two me- dium-sized passenger-cargo ships were torpedoed and sunk in the North Atlantic four days apart.
 Thus far in this war, the United States has lost 12 transports - not counting the latest victim but in all of the previous instances the loss of life was relatively light.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-18
NAz| SHOCK Q
 TROOPS TAKE I U. $. LICKING

Allied H e a dquarters, Naples, February IS. = (UP) = Allied land and air forces chopped down attacking German shock troops by the hundreds on the Anzio Beachhead today, as front dispatches indicated that American troops in the Cas- sino sector had launched a major assault to break open the southern front and re- lieve the enbattled beach, head.
 Covered by the greatest aerial concentration ever thrown into action over Italy, grim American and British infantrymen filtered the beachhead with enemy dead, holding stubbornly to every foot of their line.
 Allied tanks and tank destroyers backed up the foot soldiers closely, meeting the smashing every German armed thrust, while the big field guns of the 5th Army spewed tons of high explosives into the enemy rear lines.
 AS the second battle of the Anzio beachhead roared into its third day, the German onslaught showed no signs of slackening. The wearied Nazis, battered necessarily by a storm of bombs and shells, threw themselves gain and again at the Allied lines, needless of their swiftly mounting losses.
 After AS hours of the bitterest fighting of the Italian campaign, the German attack unfolded as an all-out blow to split the Anglo American lines along the Aprilia- Anzio road and break the beach, head in two.
 Offensive Resumed
 Meanwhile, 1t appeared that American troops had resumed their offensive on the main 5th Army front at Casino and were striking in full strength to break open the Nazi southern front and join forces with the embattled defenders of the beachhead.
 United Press War Correspondent James E. Roper reported from the Casino front that American artil- lery, 'as thick as trees," ripped the German Notifications on Mount Casino with a murderous barrage that sent shells screaming against the enemy at the rate of nearly five second.
 From eleven o'clock last night until the early morning hours today, the big field guns set the Rapido valley af1ame with some 50,000 shells.
 At the height of the barrage.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-18
Cardinal Reps Morals Lupse

Boston, Feb. 18.-(UP)--Williarn Cardinal O'Connell, archbishop of Boston and dean of the Catholic hierarchy in America, believes that juvenile delinquency is not only the result of parental neglect but is part of a determined and carefully planned campaign" to undermine Christian loyalty.
 In strongly worded pastoral let ter to be read Sunday at Masses throughout he diocese, Cardinal O'Connell laments the fact that "Our young people have become adept pupils in the school of vice until now juvenile delinquency has reached its highest rate in the hiS- tory of the nation"
 Christians, he said, face not mere 1y a chance series of assaults on faith and morals, but a campaign planned ''by men who would under mine the loyalty even of those still faithful to the teachings of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ" The campaign may take the form of an ''insidious attack against the home and the sanctity of family life," or against the supreme authority of the church." the cardinal stated.
 The cardinals letter said in part:
 We are living in critical times. Not only is the wholesome life of our nation threatened by a crucial war, but our individual spiritual lives are menaced on every side by forces which seek the destruction not only of Christianity but of all
 fHoO,f3vn,,aIl .va TannA A
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-18
War Contracts Here Ordered Cancelled

Cancellation of fuse contracts at the Scov1n Mtg. to. and Chase Brass & Copper Co, viii be made shortly and workers will be dismiss ed to take jobs in other urgent war production, it was reliably reported today. Company officials today said no definite notice on changes has been given, but it was indicated ac- tion may follow shortly.
 One source reported that cancella- tion of fuse contract at the Scovill company may affect approximately 800 employees, with some of them to be absorbed in other departments of the concern and others to be dis charged and channeled to other con- cerns. Similar fuses are made by the Chase company and 1t is believed similar contractual and personnel changes will follow.
 The anticipated dismissal will come in the midst of efforts by the War Manpower Commission to find additional help for the urgent ball. bearing production in Bristol and it is believed many of the men workers discharged here will be absorbed im- mediately by the New Departure concern in Bristol. Women who will be dismissed here will be shifted to the D. s. Rubber Company in Naug- atuck, according to present indica- tions.
 No official notification has been received as yet by either the D. s. Employment service or by the two manufacturing concerns on the scope of the reported changes of- ficiaIs stated. Miss Edna Harmon. assistant manager of the USES said no official notification has been re- ceived by her office.
 L. P. SperTys executtve vice-pres- ident of the ec0Fill Mfg. Go, ieslled the following statement: We have "14. .I|
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-18
News Writer
 Tells Of Truk

Washington. Feb. Is. ..-(UP) Junius B. Wood, veteran foreign correspondent and probably the only American newspaperman to visit the Japanese naval base at Truk, said today an invasion of the strong enemy citadel may prove the most daring venture of the war"
 He visited Truk, which was bombed by the American naval forces on "wednesday, shortly after it and the other islands in the Caroline group were mandated to Japan un- der the Versailles Treaty. He made the inspection at the invitation of the Japanese Imperial navy.
 Truk, Wood said in a special analysis for the United Press, pre- sents problems which never have been faced nj @ land-Sea engage ment.
 Tt is not single isle but 8 scat tering of a score of volcanic isles of varying size and height, all sur- rounded by coral reef, fougohly 30 miles in diameter. It is much like the fortified outer ramparts of a cluster of mutually defensive n- ner forts.
 officers who carefully plan our army and navy operations know all this. But probably few other per- sons realize that occupying this citadel of Japan's Pacific defenseS promises to be tougher job than any which have bene carried through so successfully thus far. It may well prove the most daring venture of the war"
 The geological formation of Truk, Wood said, probably is not dupli- cated by any other ''so-called island in the seven seas - iti is an answer to a Navy Ordnance Corps dream.
 fN0sa%a,nsro<a o,@ nnOa Al
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-18
Red x Works 

Washington. Feb. 1S - U.P) = The American Red Cr0ss said to- day that it has spared and will continue to spare no effort to ef- feet Japan's full compliance with the prisoners of war convention and to establish a regular T oute for shipment of supplies to prisoners of war and internes in the Far East. ["
 The statement was in reply to a charge by Dr. V. H. Spensley that definite lack of cooperation with Japan" on the part of the American Red Cross was responsible for de- lay in delivery of relief to Amer ican prisoners held by Japan.
 Thus far the Japanese have re- fused to make the necessary ar- arrangements for transshipping the supplies from vladivostok, the Red Cross said.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-18
OnIooker Tells or Fight On Nazis Mount Cassino
An Observation Post Overlooking

An Observation Post Overlooking Casino, Italy, Feb. 1e-(UP)- Massed American artillery lighted up the entire Rapido valley for hours early today with a barrage which sent shells ripping into Ger man positions on Mount Casino al the rate of nearly i've second.
 Guns of every size, emplanted be- hind the valley as thick as trees, hurled some 5000 rounds at the enemy, most of the shells landing on the mountain, although sOmG 1Ooped over it, and others hit the town of Casino itself.
 shortly after the barrage began at ae o'clock last night, could zee sheII fragments hurled through the air. siIhouetted against oster sheII-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-18
Staraya Russa Surrenders
 To Reds In Big Reverse

London, February 18. = (UP) = The German army today acknowledged the loss of Staraya Russa, turntable base of the northern front below Lake linen, in a smashing reverse closely fol- lowing the capture or killing of 63,000 Nazi troops en- circled in the Ukraine.
 The Berlin radio reported that Staraya Russa and its bristling sys- tenn of hedgehog Notifications, one of the most formidable on the eastern front, has been evacuated in 8 major retreat described char acteristically as 8 shortening of the front"
 At the same time the Nad propa- gandists seeking to ease the blow of the Ukrainian disaster, denied a Soviet announcement that the Ger man army trapped west of Cher kasi had been annihilated.
 Significantly admitting the Uk- rianian entrapment for the first time two weeks after the eact, Ber- lin claimed that General Fritz Won Mannstein had re-established com- munication with the enveloped Nazis whom Premier Josef Stalin had reported wiped out with the slaughter of 52,OOO men and capture of 1000 more.
 The loss of Staraya Russa, key stone of the German defenses on a 2OO-mile front betweeny Jake linen and Vitebsk, all but collpleted the collapse of the Naz line in the north. the upper end of which was wrecked by the Red Army's Lenin- grad offensive carrying into Estonia and to the approaches of PsKov.
 The Nazis said that fin order to shorten the front systematically and gain further operational re- serves, the locality of Staraya Russa was evacuated last night by Ger man troops"
 An military installations in the heavily fortified area below Lake linen were destroyed, Berlin re-
 1c6ntfnusd on Pare ll
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-18
Wallace Reports Mid West Opposed To Fourth Tern,

Washington, Feb. IS - UP) - Vice President Henry A. Wallace, back from trans continental re- nomination campaign trip. reports that the midwest is the most dangerous hazard to President Roosevelt's fourth term reelection.
 But, he told press conference questioners here, sentiment is im- proving and he is convinced the inl- pr0vement will be such that MT. Roosevelt win win again next Mo- veniber.
 His report on midwest sentiment substantially confirmed some more independent estimates Of the eltlla- ton there, but the contention that Santiwa1t it sHlrslze t1ck toward
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-18

The task force resumed radio silence after flashing word that it had begun the assault Wednesday dawn, but Admiral Chester ". Nimitz's announcement that several hundred" di1e bombers, torpedo bombers and fighters were participat- ing was taken as "a certain in. dication that heavy damage was inflicted on Japan'S big geSt base outside home waters.
 Reconnaissance phot0-I graphs taken by two Marine Liberator bombers on FebrIl~ ary 4 in the first Allied flight ever made over Truk showed at least 25 warships, inclnd- ing two aircraft carriers, numerous ugnCer WaTSn4pS and supply ships, in the huge lagoon
 Washington, February 18. -
 (UP) = President Roosevelt saz4
 today that he didn't know azzyv
 thing about Japanese reports
 which indicated that Amexicau
 forces have landed on Truk.
 He told his radio and press coza~
 ference that he had no late in-
 formation on the powerful Amers
 ican task forces attack on the Japanese baSti0n.
 Though NimitZ's commimiQue Te. ferred only to the 'commencementn of the attack, there was no confir~ nation that it continued for moro than one day at the longest. n also was doubted here that the bombing and strafing raids were supplemented by any naval b0nl~ bardment, since such action would Continued on Page D
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-18
Subsidy Bill
 Moy Meet Veto

Washington, Feb. IS. (UP)-1AA bill to kill the administrators food subsidy program went to the White House today and President Roose. welt was expected to bounce 1t back to Congress with stinging veto which in all likelihood will be nlzs tained.
 There were reports that he might also disapprove the new $2,315, ,zo0. Y 900 tax bill but some congressional leaders expected him to sign that measure. They suggested the pTeSi~ dent might use his veto message uz1 the subsidy bill to announce siszlsa tllre of the tax measure and 6e< plore its small yield -less then S quarter of the $l0,500. .O00, 900 ile ha asked for a ''real:stic'' tax pR0a
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-18
(Continued on Page D
Doughboys
 Fiqht GomeIy
Rv REYNOLDS PACKARD


 United Press War COrresp0ndent)
 On the Anzio Beachhead Front, Feb. l7.-(UP)-Hard-bitten Ameri- can doughboys, willing to stand their aROund and fight tanks with ma- ehineguns, are helping to thwart Marshal Albert .Kesselring's drive to push the Allied beachhead force into the Tyfrhenian Sea.
 They're men like Pfc. Charles PorteuS and his machinegun crew, who held their emplacement and moved down the German infantry until their gun was knocked out. Then they got another gun and went back to the battle.
 Porteus halls from Brooklyn and told me he worked night shift in a New York City bank before the war. He's working both day and night shifts out here on the firing line, along with his crew: Pvts. Chester Smith, Thomaston, Ga, John Wor- ley, Windsor, H., and Oscar Tink- ham, Athens, o.
 There's nothing unusual about these boys. They're typical of the beachhead heroes who are taking the. smelling and shooting without letup and keeping the Germans from pushing through to the sea. That's why want to tell their story.
 'The Jerries came at us with everything they had" Porteus said. we were firing at tanks with our machine guns.
 'Their tanks lowered above us like skyscrapers that moved.
 First the Germans were in front of us. then alongside us and soma of our machinegun nests were gone. We stuck there firing and moving down their, infantry.
 '"They were shooting our boys down. too"
 fflnNefneaaA asa 0nOa A
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-18
Japanese Conuoy Smacked
 By Allied Airn1en m Pacific

Allied Headquarters, South west Pacific, February 18.- (UP) = Allied airmen who intercepted a Japanese con- voy attempting to supply and reinforce beleaguered enemy forces in the Bismarck Archi- pelago destroyed or severely damaged six of the ships and may have wrecked the entire convoy dispatches indicated today.
 Heavy and Medium bombers caught the convoy off MuSsau Is- lands, in the St. Matthias group off Northern New Ireland, and, ir, running battle Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, blasted five freighters, totalling 18,500 tonsh and an eseorting destroyer. ---e,.,,
 A communique said Allied planes ''are continuing the attack" and a spokesman added that while re- ports of the battle were fragmen- tary, possibly all the ships were sunk" The size of the convoy was not given.
 The enemy ships apparently were attempting to bring supplies to nearby Kavieng, big Japanese base which was attacked again by Allied flyers in increasingly heavy assaults on enemy installations throughout the Southwest Pacific.
 Beside the destruction rained on the convoy, Allied planes wrecked 10 barges and destroyed at least GA planes, shooting down 38, and pos sibly five others, in aerial combat.
 The heaviest raid was two-day attack Monday and Tuesday on the Japanese stronghold of Rabaul, New Britain, where Allied airmen dropped 221 tons of explosives, shot down IS Intercepting fighters and destroyed 26 other planes on the ground.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-18

After 90 minutes of smelling, how ever, the smoke was so thick that it was difficult to identify indiyid- ual explosions. But the light from them. seeping through the smoke, gave the whole mountain a weird. luminous glow.
 Watching from a hilltop on the American side of the Rapido river in freezing temperatures, I saw shells hitting the slopes of the mount sometimes at the rate of % a second each burst sending up a blob of crimson flame.
 For three weeks American artll- lerymen have been ranging in' on Mount Casslz1n. co the crew of each og the hundreds Of guns kneW
 gConslnuSd on EHSe a