davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15
Chinese Hit
kAtJops

Chungking, May 15-(UP)-Coun-
ter-attacking Chinese troops surged
back across the Pieping- Hankow
railway at four points in central
Honan province, a communique said
today, while an outnumbered Chi
nese garrison was reported holding
out against Japanese armored forces
storming Loyang from all sides.
The communique said Chinese
forces fought the enemy to a
standstill" on a 60-mile stretch o
the railway that the Japanese con-
quered last week after whirlwind
three-week offensive aimed at re-
opening direct railway communica-
lions between their southern and
central China armies.
One wing of the attacking Chinese
force completely routed the enemy
from Suiping Saturday morning
after several days of fighting in
which the Japanese lost heavily, and
encircled the enemy garrison in the
nearby railway town of Chmnatien.
Suiping is about ITO miles south
of .Chenghsien and Chumatien
about 1919 miles further south.
Heavy fighting was reported con-
tinuing in both sectors, as well as
around Minkiang and Changtaik-
wan, IS and As miles south Of Chu-
matien, respectively. Both of the
latter towns were reported under de
rect assault by the onrushing Chi
nese an dthe cofmunique said much
progress" was being made.
Front dispatches limited at the
imminent fall of Loyang, on the
Lunghai railway line that parallels
the Yellow river in northwestern
Honan, despite strong aerial support
provided the encircled garrison by
American and Chinese flyers.
Chungking Spokesman admitted
that fighting was underway at the
AZ
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15
NEGLIGENCE IN
BENRUS CO.'S
FIRE TRAGEDY

Although negligence on the part
Of Benrls Watch Co. officials led
to the flash explosion which claim
ed the life Of Chester Podsiadlik
20, IS Albert Place on March 1, II
does not fall within the provision
Of any criminal statute, finding
by Coroner Stephen A. Homick de-
clared today.
The finding recommended that
the statutes relating to the use OF
inflammables In factories be amend
ed so as to "incline an employer tc
exercise a degree Of care common
surate to the dangers involved"
Podsiadlik, and his brother Theo-
dore, the finding relates, who were
employed In the screw machine de-
partment of the Benrus Co. plant
on Cherry avenue. were preparing
to empty the contents Of a used
quart can of cleaning fluid into a
drum on the evening Of Feb. 80
when suddenly a flash Of fire oc-
cured followed by burst Of flames
and an explosion.
The clothing OF both men caught
fire. While the brother successful
ly extinguished the flames on his
person, Chester ran aflame down
six flights Of stairs, and into the
yard while the fire burned itself
out.
Investigation revealed" the
finding states, that the fire was
caused by static electricity. gener-
ated by a six inch overhead belt
and prcpelling motor, igniting the
fumes or vapor Of the solvent"
1.-THE solvent used in this depart
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15

Kentiand. Ind, May i5.-(UP)-
(uP)-deorge AIDE. 7e-year old
HoosleF humoriEt and author Of
Fables In Slang" suffered two more
heart attacks yesterday and his con-
dltion Is very grave" James Rath-
burn. q close friend and business
associate. reported today.
AIDE has relapeed into q coma a.
his Brook. Ind. home with q TEN.
perature Of 100 degrees. RathbuTn
reported. AIDE has not been COM
plstely yell for several years. He
suffered hla first heart attack May 8.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15
Soviet Steps
UpAir Raids;
By HARRISON SALISBURY

UNITED Press staff Correspondent
Moscow, May is - (U.P) The
Red Air Force, striking deep into
enemy territory, hammered Ger
man rail and military concentra-
lions along a 600-mile front in what
appeared today to be a prelude to a
new Russian drive to the west.
Long-range Soviet bombers struck
at the fortress city of Brest Laitovsk
in pre-war Poland, the rail juno
ton OF PolotSk in northwestern
White Russia and the nearly-encir-
cled Estonian stronghold of Narvo.
A communique said the bombers,
in their third successive night at
tack on German installations be-
hind the eastern front, started more
than SIS explosions and fires among
trop concentrations, railways and
military depots.
The heaviest attack was more on
Brest Litovsk, where the planes
bombed the principal railway sta
ton and raked military trains and
motorized columns on nearby high
ways with machine-gun and cannon
fire.
While there was no mention OF
any enemy opposition to the raids,
1t was announced that two Russian
planes were lost in the attacks.
Soviet naval planes and warships
carried out heavy assaults on enemy
shipping in the Black Sea and the
Gulf OF Finland. with the COM
bned forces sinking a total OF ~
enemy vessels, including three trans
ports.
Two of the transports. totaling
5000 tons. and seven other vessels
were sunk of the Romanian coast.
although II was not disclosed whe-
tier the ships were carrying any
enemy eyacuees from the crimea.
CONTINUED on Tage ~
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15
Sinos Stage Major
Drive In ~ Burma

Chungking, May 15.-(UP)-A
two-way offensive aimed at clearing
the Japanese from northern Burma
and reopening Chinas lifeline to
India was in full swing today as a
powerful American-trainer and
equipped Chinese expeditionary force
burst across the Salween river on
| a 100-mile front and drove westward
to within % miles of the Burma
| frontier.
Striking through the mountain
Gus gorges north and south of the
old Burma road, under cover of a
fierce American aerial barrage, Gen.
eraliSsimo Chang Kai-shek's forces
knitted deep into the japanese posi-
tons west of the Salween at a
dozen widely separated points.
The surprise blow met little or no
opposition in its initial stages, but
the Japanese reorganized swiftly
and a conlmunique said bloody
fighting was in progress all along
the front, with both sides suffer-
ing heavily.
Chang Kai-shek's sudden often
sive was timed to coincide with the
final stages of wo-pronged Allied
attack on the Japanese strongholds
in the Mogaung valley of northern
Burma, more than 100 miles to the
rest.
Chungking spokesman said the
new offensive was intended to join
forces with 1t. Gen. Joseph w.
Stilwells Chinese and American
units in the Mogaung valley and
with other Allied units engaging the
Japanese in the Mogaung- Myitkyina
area.
Strong Forces
Strong Chinese forces cross the
Salween river last Wednesday night
in rubber boats and empty oil
drums, and other units followed
on Thursday and Friday nights,
meeting little resistance from the
surprised enemy.
United Press War Correspondent
Albert Rayenholt reported the new
front that American engineers were
aiding the Chinese and that the ex-
peditionary force was well equipped
with American heavy artillery. u. S.
army artillery and medical officers
also are operating with Chang Kali
shek's troops. Ravenhol tsaid.
He reported that the Chinese
armies were driving on four major
Japanese defense positions guard
ing the Burma frontier, with the
CONTINUED on Page a
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15
CONN FIFTH
LOAN QUOTA:
442 MILLION

Connecticut has been asked to
raise $442 million Of the nations
$l6 billion quota for the Fifth War
Loan, June IL to July 8, the United
States Treasury announced today.
This amount is $16,ooo,0o0 more
than the states Fourth War Loan
quota Of $426, 900 900.
AS yet no official figure has been
released for Waterbury and its sur
rounding area. 1t is expected how
ever, that the overall quota for the
city will exceed the 4th War Loan
goal by few million. However the
''E" bond quota may be raised some
million. The city'S quota during
the last drive was $14 ,462 900 as an
overall quota and $4,878,000 as an
"E" quota.
Eugene E. Wilson, state chairman
of the Connecticut War Finance
Committee, pointed out that as in
previous War Loans the overall
quota for each state has been
broken down into two categories
He described Connecticut's goal for
individuals as $124,000,000 and that
for corporate investors as l8,00o,-
600.
OF the goal set for individual War
Bond purchases So, 100000 is in
Series E Bonds and $4,000, 900 in
Series r and G. bonds and other
securities. The E Bond goal shows
an increase of 100000 over the
$50 ,000, 900 of the Fourth War Loan.
There is a decrease of $4,000 900
in the quota set for purchase Of
F and G bonds and other securities
by individuals in the Fourth War
Loan, but in order to meet the $62,-
900, 900 goal for this group of secur-
tiles In the Fifth War Loan an in
crease of $27,598,000 over the $34,-
1000 raised in January and Feb
ruary must be realized.
Corporate investors oversubscribed
their $500, 100000 quota for the
Fourth War Loan by almost $40, 1000
600 and their goal for the Fifth War
Loan has been increased by $4,000
600 to the $4,000, 900 mark. No
breakdown of quota into quotas for
corporations, insurance companies,
Continued on Page ~
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15
Rocket Guns
ShotterJ ops
BY WILLIAM B. DICKINSON
United Press War CORRESPONDENT


UNITED Press War Correspondent
Allied Headquarters. Southwest
Pacific, May 15-CUP)-American
fighter planes and dive-bombers,
using a new type Of rocket gun in
the Pacific for the first time, de-
stroyed 40 Japanese barges at Ra-
baul, New Britain, to shatter a pos
sible enemy attempt to evacuate
men or bring in supplies to the iso-
lated base, it was disclosed today.
Although detaoils of the rocket
weapon were not revealed, it was
believed the guns resembling ba-
zookas were mounted in groups of
three under each wing. 1t was re-
ported several weeks ago that So
demonstrated aircraft had tried the
new rocket guns.
Speedy fighter planes from the
18th Army Air Force joined with
dauntless diye-bombers in smashing
the enemy barges at Simpson Har-
Dor and Kerayia Bay to deliver one
Of the most damaging attacks on
japanese light shipping in two
months.
The raid, which occurred last Fri
day-the 9th day of attacks on RAJ
banl since Feb. 3-was coupled with
a 40-ton bombing assault by me-
dlum and light bombers on Tobera
airfield and gun positions at the
air and sea-blockade base.
The aerial offensive also brought
new attacks along the northern New
Guinea coast from the by-passed
Wewak- Hansa area In the east 70
Geelyink Bay In the west.
American troops meanwhile. con-
tinued TO mop up the HOllandia and
Aitape areas, killing an additional
70 japanese and capturing 80
more. TO bring the number OF enc
saaN AaaA "a a kakaf Af 4 HAA
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15
BY ROBERT DOws0N

lUniled Press Staff Correspondent
London. May 10. - (uPe - sgeds
ish sources estimated today that
1900 900 American and other Allied
troops were poised In Britain Tor
the impending invasion Of western
Europe. and a German war minis
try spokesman warned that para
troops May attempt q landing IN
Germany itself.
The Germans betrayed their In
creaalng anIety over the immineiice
Of the opening Of q western front
by sending the largest number OF
Reconnaissance planes IN recent
weeks over south and southwest
England last night IN an attempt
70 spy out Allied preparatioEb.
A German DfB Agency Dispatch
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15
j, 500, 900 Allied Troops Reported To
Be Poised In Britain For Lnuasion

said strong formations Of heavy
bomberS" ralded the port OF bristol
IN southwest England.
Fifteen OF the enemy planes were
shot down. II over England and the
other by an Allied intruder" air.
craft over occupied territory. Bombs
weFe dropped 81 scattered points N
England, causing some damage ana
G smaller number Of casualties.
A Stockholm dispatch 70 the Lon
don Daily EpFeks said Swedish ex.
perts estimated the Allies would In
vade Europe with 100 divisions -
I 500. 900 men-and g landing ar
mazda worth $500. o0o. 900. supported
b. $500 planes.
The Stockholm newspaper Nor
gentidnlngen estimated that the
Allies also have another 100 diyis-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15

ions available In North Africa. Corr
Sica and Sardinia for operations
against southern Europe.
IN reporting q German war min
IstFy spokesman's warning that
Allied paFatroops may descend on
Reich soil. the London Daily Mail
quoted Morgentidnlgen as recalling
that the Danish Peninsula and the
flat Moorlands around the Elbe and
WeseF rivers in northwest Germany
offer the shortest road 10 Berlin. !"
Neutral correspondents In Ber-
Nm said an unexplained wave OF In
vaEion tension gripped the Ger
man capital over the weekend and
attrihnted & 10 -some mysterious
but startling piece Of information
regarding Allied plans which was
supposed 70 have reached Berlin
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15
Gustav Line, Main Defense Belt
Barring Rome Roads Preached
BY REYNOLDS PACKARD

BY REYNOLDS PACKARD
UNITED Press War Correspondent
Allied HI a quarters,
Naples, May Is. - CUP -
French troops have smashed
a three-miIe wide breach in
the Gustav Line athwart the
road to Rome to set the pace
for Allied gains wrestling
eight more strategic towns
from the hard fighting Ger
mans, it was revealed today.
Allied H e a d quarters,
Naples, May 16. - CUP -
The Fifth Army has preached
Germany'S Gustav Line, the
main defense belt barring the
roads to Rome, and cleared
the enemy from 80 square
miles of mountains and val
leys( Allied headquarters an
nOunced today in reporting
the capture Of eight more
towns.
French troops Of the Fifth
Army made a Significant
breach" in the Gustav Line
with the capture of the Ger
man headquarters town of
Ausonia, five miles west Of
Mt. Maio and nine miles in
land, and five other villages
yesterday, General Sir Har-
old r. L. G. Alexander report
ed in his communique on the
fourth day of the about Ital-
ian offensive.
The fall of AuSonia ex-
tended the Allied bridgehead
across the Garigliano river to
some nine miles and COM
pleted the rupture of the
enemy'S lateral supply road
from Casino to Forrnia on
the Tyrrhenian Sea coast.
Some five miles south of Ausonia,
American elements of the Fifth
army also cut across the Casino
Formia road and drove on another
21s miles to lay siege to Spigno after
capturing the crossroads town Of
Santa Maria Infante and nearby
San Pedro.
Together, the Americans an6
French Of the Fifth army captured
nine more hills, while the Eighth
army sent scores OF tanks across tn,
Rapido River over new bridges ant
deepened its bridgehead in the Lirs
Valley below Casino to 1000 yards
more than mile--in a drive that
raised thanking threat to Casino
itself.
More than 1000 prisoners have
been captured. including 1900 mem.
bers of the list German infantr,
divisions, reformed after beinl
nearly wiped out in the battle o;
Stalingrad.
"a German communicate said Axi:
troops had "disengaged themselves
toward prepared positions few Kill
ometers farther west" after bitter
fighting, in which it claimed the
Allies had lost so tanks south Of
Casino itself.l
The Franco-American advances Oh
(H0Hftnnad nm pa0a ~
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15
BY VIRGIL PINKLEY

London, May Is. - CUP - The
best trained and finest equipped
military forces in Americas history
are ready and eager to take on the
job of crashing the German walls
somewhere in Europe shortly.
United Press War Correspondents
who have been assigned to the pre-
invasion coverage of various units
compiled their report. Speaking for
myself, never before have seen SOL
diers and sailors so well drilled and
armed, and I have observed all OF
the European and Mediterranean
campaigns of the past 10 years.
There is so much of everything
that III staggers belief. There are
acres Of tanks and armored cars.
There are single piles OF shells, am
munition and bombs which the main
tent of the worlds biggest circus
would cover only partially. There
are vast underground storehouses
containing millions of shells, gaso-
line drums ard tons of explosives.
Rows of anti-tank guns lire the
parks. The rows OF l05 nm. guns
and long range Long Toms" seem
to stretch to the horizon.
I walked for two hours along
country roads, both sides OF which
were banked with shells. neatly
piled and covered, There were
parking lots packed with trucks ey-
tending almost out OF sight. was
told that every division would go
into battle with several thousand
trucks to bring up the $50 tons OF
ammunition and 200 tons Of gaso-
line, grease and oil II is expected
10 consume daily.
Everywhere one travels In England
he meets mechanical troops and
paFatroopers,
Itching "a Go
The American troops are itching
CONTINUED on Page u
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15

between Saturday and Sunday
morning"
A Zurich dispatch 10 the London
Daily Telegraph said the first men
ton In German communiques Of Al
lied aerial Invasion" preparations
had been interpreted In some Ger
man circles as a sign that the OPEN
ing OF a western front was almost
immediate"
1t. Gen. Sir Charles Lloyd. COM
mander OF the London district OF
the Home Guard. issued Q special
order OF the day warning that great
events are facing you" - presum.
ably q warning that Home Guards
may be eaI1eA upon 20 defeat Ger
man counter-invasion Of Britain.
Continued On Paap A
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15
Best Trained Forces
Ready For Big Job

Editors Note: - American men
are ready for their supreme test.
This is the message of United
Press War Correspondents in Eng
land who have been covering
their activities at the pre-invas-
ion training and assembly bases.
Their reports on the various units
have been compiled in the follow
ing dispatch by Virgil Pinkley,
United Press vice president and
European general manager.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15
Former W.P.'s
Dig Mammoth
Victory Garden

Boston, May iS-lUP)- in
perhaps the first project Of Us
kind within the limits Of an
American city, . group Of for.
meF Italian var prisoners are
busliy ~ work In Franklin
Park on . mammoth yietoTy
garden.
Supervised by officers NJ.
taehed 10 the Boston part Of
embaFkati0n. these Italians
who were taken prisoner prior
% the eapitnIatiOn Of their
government wear u. y. ARM
uniforms and work wlth0u
guards under the direction .oI
their former Italian Officers.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15
ENEMY CLEARED FROM 80 SQUARE MILES
Bombers Open 9Th Week Of
Pre-Invasion Softening Up
By WALTER CRoNKITE

UNITED Press War Correspondent
London, May is. - (UP)
= Flying Fortresses and Lib
orators opened the fifth week
81 the pre-invasion assault
on Europe today with an
unchallenged attack on the
German rocket gun coast of
France while other Allied,
blanketed targets behind
the West Wall. =.
The longest weather enforced lull
of the months day and night Often
sive was broken by minor sorties
Z late yesterday, and British Mosquito
bombers followed through with a
block buster jab at Cologne, indus
trial capital Of the Rhineland.
The Germans sent the biggest
squadrons Of scout planes In recent
weeks over south and southwest Eng
land during the night in an appar-
ent effort to spy out Allied invasion
preparations. Fifteen were shot
down. Berlin said strong forma-
ton" attacked Bristol.
About 200 fortresses and Liberators
headed the cloud-cramped parade of
heavy, medium and light bombers
over the continent by daylight. All
bombers returned safely and one
fighter Of the escort Of like size was
missing.
The heavy bomber crewmen re-
ported an 'eight-tenths" cloud
cover over the Pas De Calais coastal
strip Of France. The weather was
even worse inland, with tempera-
lures at 10000 feet ranging down to
20 below zero.
The fortress and Liberator for.
nation saw no German fighters and
encountered light anti-aircraft fire.
Secret overcast bombing devices en-
abled the heavyweights to put their
bomke on the targets.
The daylight offensive was re-
sumed after quiet Sunday enforc-
ed by weather which prevented air
activity except minor f1ghter-bomber
sweeps late in the day.
Marauders
Marauder medium bombers and
other Allied aircraft also snuttled
back and forth across the English
channel and Straits Of Dover in
clearing skies that held promise the
Allied offensive soon would be back
in high gear.
The Marauders, accompanied by
light havoc bombers and American
and Allied fighters, attack an I'M
identified railway yard in northern
France and the Creil airf1eld, Is
miles north Of Paris.
Swift. twin-engined Raj Mos
quitoes dropped scores Of block bust
ers and hundreds Of fire bombs on
Cologne. capital Of Germany's
Rhineland industrial area and ore
of the principal railway centers
Continued on Page -
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15

SKINNER Term. Register New. Glasses
Start July sen. Phene a-e552. Post
ssnlag College eg Commerce.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15

CONTINUED on Page u
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15

CONTINUED on Page -
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15

CONTINUED on Page q
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15

Continued on Page A.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15

Continued on Page .
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15
Marauders

Continued on Page -
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15

CONTINUED on rage ~
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-15

Continued on Page -
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-02-04
45}RD BN. TAKES
SCRAP AT DAVIS

CAMP DAVIS, Feb. 8. - The
453rd Bn. trounced the 444th Bn.,
42-17, last night in Farnsworth
Hall. and by so doing tied Btry
A, AAS, for first place in Camp
Davis Northern hoop circuit. Fol-
lowing this contest the 363rd brush
ed aside it's runner-up rival, the
61st Brigade, and the 1929 triumph
solidified the 363rd hold on South
ern league supremacy.
After gaining a slim 8-6 opening
lead the 453rd put on the heat in
The second period as each player
came through with a scoring ef-
fort to establish a 20-10 halftime
margin. The winners continued to
stymie the 444th offensive in the
second half. Meanwhile Thomas
center, notched six field goals and
his 10 points were high for the
Tray. Wallace and Adams proved
valuable aides. Hunter was the los
ers' ace with slight support from
Max and Noviello.
Using two full teams in the late
court clash the 363rd dominated the
entire first half during which an
overwhelming 27-5 advantage was
registered. The 61st Brigade could
not keep pace with the steady flow
OF requirements and almost every
time the 363rd took possession a
tWo-polnter was Melted.
Both teams were off the beam
insofar as third-quarter scoring
went. The 363rd added two bas-
kets while the Brigade outfit made
three double-deckers as the score
board showed a BILL bulge for the
363rd. 1t was here that suddenly
inspired 61st Brigade changed what
had been a one-sided affair into
a keen tussle. With Decker, CEN
ter, getting underneath for four
field goals, and Graham, Wilson,
and Kelly chipping in their share,
the Brigade drew up to within six
points Of their foes. However but
little time remained and in the
closing moments the 363rd tackled
On a basket to clinch the honors
for the evening. Kindsvater, Sharp
Rittenhouse, Shilling, Ficke, anc
O'Malley took equal billing in this
third successive triumph for the
S63rd.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-02-04
BY BILL McILWAIN

A three-bout boxing program al
Camp Davis last night met with
the wholehearty approval of the
900 soldiers present.
The first fistic action on the pro.
gram was battle between Sgt.
Norman johnson, 140, of Bat. A,
247th. S. L. b. and Cpl. Johnnie
Lupancis, 14O, of the Bat. o, IA
School. Johnson took the fight on a
close decision.
The first round battling was
slightly dominated by Lupancis.
In the second heat the blond John
son shoop Lupancis with three
crashing let's and then went into
a crouch that confused Lupancis
considerably. The third and final
round of the affray was extremely
close. with Johnson winning it as
ne continued in his clever crouch.
The second scrap on the show
pitted Cpl. Johnnie McGuirk, 1913,
of Bat. c, 247th. F. L. Bn. against
Sgt. Lee Ouijada, 1870, or Bat. B,
138th. McGuirk, veteran ringman
from Connecticut, was the victor,
but the game Ouijada forced him
t. 60 all out to win.
McGuirk opened up the initial
heat by throwing long sweeping
rights, while his Mexican oppo-
iaent chose to do his beak busting