davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-04-20

to the Triplett testers which his
outfit uses-because they come from
Bluffton-and the fellows say they
give tip top service in spite of hard
knocks of army life.
You probably didn't know it but
the court of appeals sat unofficially
in Bluffton last Thursday afternoon
when three distinguished jurists,
judges of the court were guests at
the home of Mr.. and Mrs. w. w.
Carder of South Main street. They
were Judge Walter S. Jackson of
Lima, Judge Charles A. Guernsey of
Fostoria and Judge George S. Mid
dleton of Bellefontaine.
Marshall Lee Coon, who also
doubles as Bluffton's dog catcher,
likes cooperation-bu it was carry
ing cooperation a bit too far when
he returned from church Sunday
morning and found stray yelping
canine tied to his clothes line in the
back yard.
Good news in these days of sugar
rationing-the sorghum cane mill of
the late Ed Miller northwest of town
will be operated again this summer.
Following Miller's death, the outfit
was purchased by his brother in law,
Homer Wenger who will move it to
Pandora and put it in operation.
This is the last of number of small
mills operated by early settlers in
this section reminiscent of the days
with bread, butter and sorghum
molasses were included in daily
wintertime meals served on nearly
every farm table.
Cpl. Francis Geiger, son of Mr..
and Mrs. Peter d. Geiger near
Bluffton is stationed on Ascension
Island, that mystery spot in the mid
Atlantic about halfway between the
outward bulge of Brazil and the
downward bulge of Africa. 1t is only
recently that mention of the place
was permitted by censorship regula-
tions as it is an important stopping
off place for air transports.
1t is a British possession and be-
fore the war it was one of the lone
liest and most isolated spots in the
world-not more than one ship
year stopped there.
Now the small island-it measures
roughly five miles by seven-is hum
ming with activity and its airfeld
was built by American engineers
after the British said it couldn't be
done.
The island is of volcanic origin and
has only one tree which the Yanks
have nicknamed "Coconut Grove.
Near this tree is bench which is
dubbed Honeymoon Bench"-but
women on Ascension island are few.
What Geiger's duties are has not
been learned; however it is known
that chemists operate a process for
transforming sea water into drinking
water-and Geiger was a top flight
chemist in civilian life.
In town Tuesday afternoon for the
first time since the holidays was the
venerable Philip Pifer, pioneer of
this section and resident of Orange
township for the past half-century.
Now 88 years of age, he lives alone
and enjoys fair health.
Mrs. Albert Benroth received Tues
day letter written April 8-ten
days ago by her son James Benroth
stationed with an army air unit in
the China, India Burma area. Ten
| days to send a letter halfway
| around the world in the midst of
wartime conditions, censorship and
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-04-20
@WHiTs
SYNOPSIS

CHAPTER l: The story Of the famous
18th and 7th Bombardment Groups. OF
Lieut.. COL Frank Kurtz and his Fortress
crew In the tremendous air campaign
that saved the day for the United Nations
In the Southwest Pacific. Lieut.. Kurtz.
who was pilot of the old Fortress. known
as The Swoose," which escaped from
Clark Field. in the Philippines, tells OF
pedals to the wreck of Old 30. finds eight
OF his crew lying in an irregular line.
CHAPTER III: Lieut. Kurtz tells how
orders TO camoufiage Old 80 were coun.
bombs Then he was ordered to jerk the
bombs. reload with cameras and rush
the camoufage. Preparations made for
shouts. Look at that pretty navy forma-
tion." The navy formation" happens to
be flight of Jap planes.
CHAPTER III: Bombs hit the mess
hall. The Japs move of. They hear
another hum. 'P-40s," they think. but
they prove to be Zeros coming in from
the direction of Correction. The boys
duck back into their foxholes.
CHAPTER w: The pilots are given
their targets and towering above the
group is Colin Kelly, about to head out
on his frs first mission Buzz Wagner is
Lieut.. Russ Church and they bomb a
Jap field Church fails to return The
death of Colin Kelly.
CHAPTER v: Fortresses are kent in
the air TO save them from the Japs.
Through some mistake someone opens
fire on them: Japs begin pnotographing
the place. No longer safe TO sleep in the
barracks. cots ale moved into corn
field. With no fighters left to defend
them, evacuation begins. Lieut. Kurtz
tells of last plane trip out In patched
up plane. Japs land light tanks at Apart.
to return from mission. u. S. forces fee
from Clark Field to Mindanao.
CHAPTER vi: Navigator Harry
Schneider tells of a fight with Zeros In
which Shorty Wheless takes part. He
lands In a rice paddy and is surrounded
by Filipinos. The crew buys an outrigger
they take of for Australia.
CHAPTER VII: Lieut.. Kurtz takes up
the story again. He describes the hot,
dry Christmas day in Australia and how
u. S. hiers spent IL. A report comes in
over CIV radio. 1t was from Schaetzel
saying he'd be In after dark with one
a wreck. Gen. Brereton lands on the
field and the boys are summoned to
meeting.
CHAPTER VIII: U. S. fiiers arrive at
the Dutch field, and shortly after start
on flight for Davao, In the Philippines,
but run short of gas and come home.
Davao. but fail to make target. On third
trip over. Kurtz sees tremendous concen-
tration of ships, makes bomb run. Jap
fighters come UP. Bombs awayt
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-04-20

Back The Attack-Buw War
Bonds and Stamps Regularly.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-04-20
The gallant Dutch are burning up
their BOrneO oil fields.

stare into the windshield, trying to
see how close you were to your wing
man, but there would only be that
fiat white, squeezed tight against
your windshield, snuff1ing every
thing. Then all of sudden, the
wing of the plane ahead would come
surging into view out of that wind
ing sheet, SO terribly big and close
that you would frantically jerk back
all four throttles to cut your power,
and begin fishtaiIing your rudder to
slow the big brute down little,
praying that by this you'd miss
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-04-20

T/Sgt. Racine Warren with the
army signal corps at Camp Cooke,
Calf, home on furlough last week
says he feels special attachment
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-26
New Goals Added to WPB
Dispute muoLuing Nelson

Washington, Aug. 26- China.
bound Donald NJ. Nelson was the
target OF biting new blast today
as evidence multiplied that when
he returns he may not remain long
in his Craftsmanship of the War
Production Board.
The new attack, close on the
heels OF Charles f. Wilson's sharp
criticisms when he resigned as
executive vice chairman, was made
by Rubber Director Bradley Dewey,
saying that remarks Nelson made
about the rubber program consti-
tuted typical Washington sniping."
Dewey was abiding to the WPB
chiefs testimony before the Senate
War Investigating Committee ir
which Nelson, commenting upon
Dewey's decision to retire Sept. l
because the rubber program was
completed, remarked that the tire
program was completed-all but
getting the tires" Dewey said he
never stated the tire producing job
was done, merely that synthetic
rubber plants were producing.
The new storm broke as ]. A.
Krug, assigned by the President
to take Wilson's place while Nelson
is in China, gave pointed indica-
tions that his authority Is much
broader than originally believed.
Krug told reporters that his au-
thority included hiring and firing,
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-26
Flint Aviator
Crashes, Dies

OSCODA-AP-The body OF Har-
ry Cane, Al, Flint. was found In
a wrecked Aegonca cabin plane
Just after 6 p. m. Friday seven
miles northeast OF here by two In
dian boys from the Oscoda Indian
settlement
Cane had been flying alone from
Lost Lake Woods, where his wife
was staying. His watch stopped
at 1905 p. m. leading Sheriff John
F. Moran, OF Iosco County, TO be-
lieve that the plane crashed at
that time.
Moran is conducting An investi-
CATION OF the crash today with
member Of the state aeronautics
board. He was summoned to the
scene OF the accident by the Rev.
John B. Silas. whom the boys noti-
fed after finding the body.
Canes body was taken TO the
Moffatt Funeral Home here last
night, and will be removed today
to the Colds. Dumanois Funeral
Home in Flint.
He leaves his widow, Mrs. Elleta
Cane, two daughters, Elleta and
Loutrella, a brother, Howard H,
Flint, another brother, Elmer, West
Boro, Wis. and two sisters, Mrs.
A. J. Koenig, wife OF the Jackson,
Mich. city manager, and Mrs. A.
Chandler. Sheffield. Ala.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-26

that he was Starting a new. deal
from here on out" that he would
kill any sniping"
Monday the 37-year-old acting
chairman. a WPB power expert and
onetime manager OF power for the
Tennessee Valley Authority, will be
called before the Senate's war prob.
ing group in a closed session to
clear up three points: Q) the ex.
tent to which Krug is in sympathy
with Nelson's fight to get civilian
production going; (2) how Krug in
tends to proceed with putting Mel
sons policies into effect, and (3)
how far he intends to battle opposi-
ton to his course.
Coupled with President Roose-
velts statement at news confer
ence yesterday that he did not know
whether Nelson would return TO the
same Job, Krug's remarks were in
terpreted by some WPB sources as
indicating that the President may
be planning to give him the war
agency's top title eventually, re-
placing Nelson.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-26
Soviiets Seek
Streanlined
PeacePlans

Washington. Aug. GINS A
sharp difference OF view has de.
veloped in the Dumbarton Oaks
conference, II was revealed today,
over retaining in the new security
organization the non-political func.
tons OF the old League OF Nations.
such as control of disease, narcot.
les. and white slavery.
A proposal has been advanced
by Russia which would elimina e
these functions from the organiza.
ton.
Though the veil OF secrecy still
shrouded the conference, IL was
learned that the Soviets are insist.
ing on a streamlined organization
which will concentrate on the main
task OF preserving peace. Other
activities are characterized as sup
erfluous functions"
A spokesman for the Soviets de-
clared:
The future international securi-
ty organization must concentrate
all its energy and a'tention on the
consideration of such problems as
have a direct relationship to the
peaceful resolutions OF information
al conflicts.
1T will be much easier 10 observe
the success or failure Of an organi-
cation for security II II is not burd-
ened with an endless number OF
sunarfluOua functions
Strong opposition TO the Soviet
proposal has developed from the
American delegation at Dumbarton
Oaks. The United States Govern
ment though not a member OF the
League, has officially participated
in the non-political activities, and
values them highly.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-26
Paper Drive
u Tons

The current Waste Paper Sal
wage Drive came to a successful
conclusion with a total OF 20 tons
OF scrap paper needed in the war
effort.
r. Clyde Ford, commissioner, and
]. p. Warren. chairman OF the Yp-
SLANT District, emphasize how urg.
entity waste paper is needed for
the war effort. The campaign
which has just been completed ex.
ceeded our highest expectations, :"
they said. I'VE must continue 10
save and conserve all paper and
make the next drive even more sue.
cessful."
The Boy Scout Troops 81, 80 and
81. played a major part in the
drive. going with the trucks to load
the paper bundles and dump them
at the scrap center. The boys OF
these troops are commended by
the commissioner and chairman for
the interest and enthusiasm which
they gave TO the paper pickup.
Trucks to transport the waste Ia.
per were contributed by the city
Engineering department through
T. Fred Older. Erwin Schill, chair
man OF the Salvage Board, helped
orflanize the drive.
After the door-to-door collection
the paper was delivered 10 John
Hertzberger. who transported II TO
the paper mill.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-26

Rites Today

Ann Arbor, Mich, Aug. 26-AP
Film Actress Elyse Knox and 1t.
Tom Harmon, Army flier and for
mer All-America halfback at the
University OF Michigan, were to
speak their marriage vows in ST.
Mary's student chapel today. The
Rev. Frank ]. McPhillips, chaplain
and old friend OF the Harmon fam
lily, was TO perform the ceremony
at 10 a. m.
Five hundred guests were ex.
pected to crowd the chapel which
Harmon attended as a student to
witness the marriage OF the former
football star and the movie star
let.
Blonde Miss Knox's gown OF
white silk was made from the para
chute Harmon Used when his nlane
cracked up in China last October.
It was OF old.fashioned design, with
high neck and hustle. White silk
cord from the seams OF the chute
constituted the trimming. The
brides head-dress and full-length
veil were OF tulle.
The brides attendants we're Mrs.
Bertram Jensen and Mrs. Frank
Considine Of Gary, Ind, sisters Of
Harmon, and Miss Rosemary Flynn
OF Fort Erie, Ont. Their gowns
were OF American Beauty taffeta.
The bridegroom was attended by
his brother Harold, OF Akron, Ohio,
The wedding party also included
TOMS blocking teammate. 1t. q.
g. Forest Evashevski, 1t. Bob
Barnes, Detroit, and Sgt. Russell o.
Brien, Ann Arbor.
Toms parents home on Vine
wood Ave. was chosen as the scene
OF a reception from 2 to 5 p. m.
After the ceremony Harmon and
his bride were to return to Van
Mugs, Calf, where he is a flying
Instructor.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-26
Senate Votes
For Boardon
War Surplus

Washington. Aug. 26-AP-Talk
OF a mid-September recess OF Con-
gress until after the Novembe
election revived today after the
Senate's comparatively swift pass
age OF bill creating an eight-mem-
Der board to direct surplus war
goods disposal.
Congressman, eager TO 20 back
home and put In soma campaign
ing were hopeful the Senate and
House could all In the remaining
gaps OF an overall reconversion
program In time for a recess start
ing about Sept. Is. Others doubt
ed that the program could be com
pleted before Oct. I.
Two big hurdles remained. The
House still must pass the Senate
approved George bill dealing with
unemployment compensation for
war workers who lose their Jobs
during reconverslon. And Senate
and House conferees must recon-
cile differences between the Sepa-
rate property disposal bills passed
by the two houses.
The House starts debate on the
unemployment compensation bill
Tuesday, with a sharp fight expect
ed over tho action OF the Ways and
Means Committee in striking out
a Senate provision bringing $500
900 federal employees under state
unemployment compensation pro
grams.
Conferees will start work early
next week on House-Senate differ
ences in surplus property legisla-
ton.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-26
American Forces But $50
Miles South of Germany;
Siegfried Line Bolstered
aps Unable
to Supply
TuR
(By the Assoclated Pressl

(By the Associated Press)
To the tune OF a smashingly-ef.
fective shipping attack by Allied
planes off the Nipponese headquar-
ters at Manado Celebes, the Japa-
nese acknowledged today that they
have been forced to leave their
once-powerful Central Carolines
garrison at Truk almost completely
TO its own resources.
Gen. Douglas Macarthur an
nounced that Mitchell medium
bombers. attacking at mast height
of Celebes Thursday, sank five
medium-sized freighter-transports.
left a light cruiser listing and burn
ing. damaged two other cargo ships
and strafed 40 luggers and barges,
without interception or loss.
Meanwhile. the Tokyo radio.
speaking frankly OF the frequent
Allied raids upon the Carolines. said
the Japanese trapped on Truk have
had to reclaim wastelands ito es.
tablish self.sufiiciency OF food q" The
broadcast added that exhaustion
OF our pilots and the loss OF air
craft are unacceptable"
Disclose Raids
Macarthur and his partner, Adm.
Chester w. Nimitz. disclosed air
raids upon Two Jima in the Volcano
Islands $50 miles south OF Tokyo.
Pagan and Agiguan in the Mari
anas, Palau and Ponape in the Car.
olines, Wake, Halmahera and many
another enemy target:
In China's western Yunnan prov.
ince. Chinese troops captured the
larger part OF Tengchung outside
the ancient walls OF the Japanese
stronghold, repulsing an enemy
counterattack.
The Japanese launched new
drive northward from Suiki on the
neck OF the Luichow Peninsula on
the south China coast opposite Hal.
nan Island. The Chinese command
said that, In heavy fighting both
sides suffered considerable losses.
Enemy success here could neutral
ize the defensive power OF Kweilin,
provincial capital OF Kwangsi.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-26
GERMAN STAND AT SOMME, MARINE LIKELY

% He will have established a
barrier across the northern tip o.
France. (2) He will be guarding the
Pas de Calais coast which lies on
the narrowest part OF the English
Channel-an easy mark for inva.
sion from Britain unless strongly
defended. t3) He will be protecting
the launching fields OF the robot.
bombs which are doing such terri
bic damage In London and In other
parts OF southeastern England.
Ultimately the Nazi marshal will
have 10 continue his flight from
the Somme 10 his own frontiers.
This will mean complete abandon
ment o; the entire coastline, throw
ing open 10 the Allies such ports as
Calais .Boulogne and Dunkerque.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-26
BY DEWITT MACKENZIE
A..n.InA NL-.nN


For the second time within a few
days Allied air observers report
that Field Marshal Won Kluge,
German commander-in-ch in
France, is carrying out movements
above the Seine indicating he's
preparing to make his next stand
along a line based on those his.
toric battle-barriers. the Somme
and the Marine Rivers.
The corollary to this, OF course.
is that a heavy Nazi withdrawal IL
in the making from the Seine and
from the Channel coast immediate.
ly above the mouth Of that river.
The Hitherto position along the
Seine no longer Is tenable.
This report makes sense because
as I've previously pointed out, Won
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-26
Patton Armored Forces Below
Paris Constitute Threat

Of the report which the newspaper
said was based on Information
from Germany.
The Somme stretches right
across the great natural highway
which long has played an important,
part in the fate Of many nations by
providing an invasion route land
an avenue OF escapeJ between nor.
thern France and Germany by way
OF Belgium. So long as Won Kluge
can hold the line OF the Somme he
will be rendering a triple service 10
his desperate Fuehrer IN this 81 az
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-26

Kluge may be expected to give bat.
tie at least along the Somme unless
his forces are in utter rout. He nat.
urally would hold on the Marine
too, II possible, but his ability 10
make much OF a showing there Is
questionable in view OF the threat
presented by General Patton's arm
ored forces below Paris
The Stockholm newspaper Dag.
ems Nyheter published report to-
day that Won Kluge had been killed.
There was no confirmation in eth.
er Allied or Axis official quarters
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-26
Strikers DEFY
Leaders

Detroit, Aug. 26-AP- Striking en-
ployes OF the Ford Motor Co.'S
Highland Park plant defied the
back-to.work orders OF their high
union leaders today and Ford of-
ficials said that only a negligible
number passed through picket
line which marched past the
plants main gate.
A company spokesman said there
was little likelihood that opera
lions at the plant, which manufac-
lures parts for Pratt and Whitney
aircraft motors and small as3emb-
lies for bombers, could be contlnu-
ed through the day. But well
stagger along as long as possible,
he added.
The Highland Park Ford plant
normally employs about 5000 men
AMI women on three shifts. Few
OF the 1000 employees on the night
shift reported after day.shift work
ers. members OF local 400, United
Automobile Workers (CIO) strucd
charging the company with ignor-
ing seniority rules and refusing to
pa required wage increases
Strikers boos and catcalls at a
mass meeting OF an estimated SO
last night drowned out the voice or
Richard Leonard, TAW interna-
tional regional director. when he
asked for a return to work.
Please, men and women" Leon.
ard asked return 10 your Jobs for
the sake OF the union. the United
States Government and yourselves.
Preserve the no.strike pledge for
the sake Of your country and the
union
The meeting voted 10 continue
the strike when Herbert Hind.
marsh. local 400 president, asked
for a ballot on the issue.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-26
Pearl Harbor AnsUer Demanded

Seattle, Aug. 26-AP-A report
that Saburo Kurusu, Japanese
peace envoy to Washington before
Pearl Harbor. was responsible for
the United States fleet being In
the harbor when the Japs struck
and for the withdrawal OF air pa
trolls before the attack was dis
closed last night by Rep. Warren
G. Magnuson (D-Wash). who said
the report should be either official
ly denied or confirmed.
"The story is" Magnuson said
in a telephoned statement to the
Post-Intelligencer, that the Japs
contrived to have our fleet bottled
up in Pearl Harbor where 1t easily
could be dealt a death blow"
Magnuson said he mad heard the
report both on the Pacific Coast
and in Washington that Kurusu
had protested that American naval
operations in the Pacific were Civ
ing militarists in Japan reason for
blocking his (Kurusu's) peace eff
forts, and that Kurusu obtained cur
tailment of both sea and surface pa
trolls during the peace" talks.
Should be Answered
Il do not know whether this
story. is true or false, and l don't
venture to speak for or against it,"
Magnuson continued, but I do
think the charge should be answer
ed promptly in Washington.
The report on the West Coast,
and I've heard 1t in Washington,
too, Is that Kimmel adm. Husband
f. Kimmel was instructed to draw
in the fleet, curtail air patrols and
do everything else possible to dis
pei the notion that America was
about to attack Japan. The report
is that Kimmel was instructed to
take all measures necessary to in
sure that the Japanese consulate
at Honolulu would report to the Jap
anese government that the fleet did
not contemplate any immediate ac-
ton, which $50 the story goes
why some shore leaves were grant
ed.
Transcends Party
Although | am a Democrat, this
report and this situation transcends
purely party considerations and
II the story Is true. some Of this
heat certainly should be taken OF
Admiral Kimmel and General Short
lit. Gen. Walter c. Short. Army
commander in Hawaii at the time
OF Pearl .Harbor). On the other
hand, IL It is not true, then the re-
port should be promptly scotched
by an immediate and official denial
here in Washington. The circula-
ton OF such reports as this is not
healthy.
mot only are these renorts not
healthy. but they cause a lot OF ILL
founded rumors concerning the
operation OF the Navy prior to
Pearl Harbor."
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-26
Rise Sharpest in
Washtenaw Area

Washington. Aug cap The
Census Bureau reported Friday that
the Detroit-Willow Run area had
added 200,561. or So per cent. 70 its
population since 1910. The greater
part OF the increase was outside
Detroit proper, and pWashtenaw
County had the sharpest rise, 3lS
per cent.
a sample survey taken last June
listed 2,65s,70O persons in the en-
tire area, which consists OF Wayne.
Oakland, Washtenaw and Macomb
Counties. Detroit's population was
1,e53905. an increase OF 30,i53.
or 19 per cent
Elsewhere the rise was l2S7l5,
'or19.1 per cent.