davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28
Is MASSIVE ASSAULTS
Coordinated U. S., British
Attacks Are Takinq
Their Toll

LONDON, Feb. 27. -P)- Ger
many lost more planes last week
in her desperate attempts to stave
off the unprecedented Allied day
and night pre-invasion smashes at
her aircraft production than she
did in the costliest week of the
l94041 battle for Britain.
In IS massive assaults on at least
Is major German aircraft produc-
ion centers since midnight of Feb.
20-five by the British-based AM
erican Eight Air Force, four. BY
the Italy-based American 18th Air
Force and four by the RAF-Allied
airmen knocked 634 enemy planes
from the skies compared with the
Germans heaviest weeks loss Of
491 over Britain.
These and other figures compil-
ed during the weekend luQ after
hlstory's greatest sustained aerial
offensive provided little encour-
agement for an enemy soon faced
with the prospect of operating on
" newly produced planes.
The immensely of the past weeks
operations were reflected in the
fact that reporters were unable to
agree on the total losses, and Lon
don's Sunday papers all carried
different totals.
But a recapitulation of official
communicates shows these results
of the furious air battles accom-
panying the hurting of around 49,
600 tons of bombs on the Reich's
plants:
The American Eighth Air Force
heavy bombers and the American
Ninth and Raj fighters all fly
.ng from British bases destroyed
429 German planes in the air,
with the fighter escort accounting
for ZIG of them.
Allied losses were 156 bombers
and 80 fighters.
The Italy-based 18th American
Air Force in four attacks, three Of
which were coordinated with the
Eighth's operations from Britain,
downed 2O5 German planes while
losing 81 bonbers and five fight
ers.
The RATS four mighty night
blows cost 149 heavy bombers, in
Guiding the record of 70 lost in
the weeks opening attack-the O.
3OO-ton raid on Leipzig shortly
after midnight on Feb. 20.
The figures do not include Ger
man night fighters which may
have been downed in the Raj
raids but never announced, nor the
scores for the 18th Air Force on
the days it attacked targets other
than German production centers.
Continued on Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28

WASHINGTON, Feb. 81. -P)-
MILLIONS of persons now struggling
with complicated income tax re-
turns were given this consolation
today by Chairman Doughton o.
MO- of the House Ways and Means
Committee: This may be the last
tax return they ever will have to
file.
After parting company with
President Roosevelt to steer the
House in overriding the veto OF
the $1,000, 900, 900 new revenue bill,
Doughton assumed leadership in
che drive to simplify tax statutes.
He said today he hoped to see a
sinplification bill approved by his
discriminating committee and pre-
sented for House. consideration
within two weeks.
The measure may provide:
/. Indignation of the victory, nor
nal and surtaxes into one over
all tax base and rate structure,
erasing the necessity of three sep
arate compute ions.
g.. That for most of the approx
mately so, 900, 900 individual income
taxpayers the withholding levy
against wages and salaries will
become the actual, final tax, anc
40 computations and returns vii
be required of those taxpayers al
the year end.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28
REPORT IS MADE
ON DEPARTMENTS
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-4RHA

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-4RHA
Congressional committee reported
today that more than 100000 non
fathers, 18 through % years OF
age, hold industrial or .occupa-
tional deferments from the draft:
This information, said Chairman
Costello D-Calif) of House Mill
tary Subcommittee investigating
deferment policies used for gov
eminent employees, came from Sc
lective Service officials. 1t show
ed that $4,000 men, Is through
81, and 1853, 400 others, % through
Is, hold agricultural deferments
and 1000 in the 10 to Ii age
group, and 227, 100 in the % to
25 bracket, have industrial defer
ments.
Costello declared that it is from
this group that many men should
be taken for the armed services.
He also argued that the Federal
government should set the exam
pie for industry and agriculture
in Tightening up on draft defer
ments in accordance with Presi-
dent Roosevelt's complaint that
deferment policies have been
"overly lenient.
Copies of the Presidents order
for an immediate review of all
occupational deferments were dis
tributed by Selective Service to
all state directors Immediately
after its issuance yesterday, and
are to be transmitted to all local
boards and appeal boards.
The Californian said he believed
the needs of the armed services
could be met if deferments grant
ed to government workers and to
men in industry and agriculture
''are carefully scrutinized" and
those who are not actually con-
tributing fully to the war effort
are denied deferment.
Unless physical standards are
lowered, Selective Service Off
Gals told the committee, only
about 100000 of the younger de-
ferred non-fathers would pass in
duction examinations, leaving a
pool of 100000 available to meet
Continued on Page Four; Col. p
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28
Sector Headquarters
For Defense Command
Established In Raleigh

NEW YORK, Feb. 27. - R) -
1t. Gen. George Grunert, COM
handing general of the Eastern
Defense Command, announced to-
day the establishment of two Sec
tor headquarters to supervise Ar.
my coastal operations, replacing
the four-sector system.
He said the northeastern sector
would be commanded by Maj.
Gen. Kenneth T. Blood, with head
quarters at Boston, Mass; and
the southeastern sector by Maj.
Gen. John L. Homer, with head
quarters at (The Raleigh Building)
Raleigh, N. c.
General Grunert said the north
eastern sector would includ, New
England and eastern Long Island,
end the southeastern, the remain
der. of the Atlantic seaboard.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28
MAZ7 FIGHTER PLANE LOSSES REACH
3 MEWPEAK; 634 ARE D0WNED IN WEEK;
= sl2ABALZ POUNDED BY S. WARSHZPS
Ramirez Followers Say Army Ready
To Stage New Revolt In Argentina

Shortly thereafter
Gen. Juan Pistarini, minister of
public works, returned to the pres
idential house with draft "dele-
eating" the presidential powers to
Farrell.
Ramirez signed the instrument,
according to this source, under
the threat of dire consequences
and in the belief it was the only
way to avoid major battle.
Well-informed travellers report
ed that the present situation in
Argentina is one which cannot
prevail. This is not a government.
It does not have the mentality OF
a government"
This aforementioned informant
said that strong forces of the
army, including groups of impor-
tant officers, are waiting for Ra-
mirez to give the word for an
uprising. This would not be diff
cult because Ramirez is not in
communicate although he is not
allowed to leave his house.
The informant said a majority
of troops in provincial garrisons
outside of Buenos Aires would
be with the president as well as
many younger officers.
He added Col. Eduardo Avalos,
who has been tower of strength
for Peron in the past because OF
his command of troops at the mill
tary headquarters at Campo De
Mayo, had been removed from
command and now sis not allow
ed to enter Government House. "
This source asserted that Avalos
as well as Presidential Secretary
Enrique Gonzalez, Foreign Minis
ter Alberto Gilbert, Col. Emilio
Ramirez, Buenos Aires police
chief and Gen. Garcia Tunon ask.
ed for retirement as result OF
Continued on Page Four; Col. b
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28
ESCAPING GAS IS
FATAL TO YOUTH
Billy Venters, Star-News
Carrier, Credited With
Saving 4 Lives

Billy Venters, Ssar-NeWs car
,is- of Audubon, discovered a gas
ppe leakage that caused the death
Of one person and overcame four
al 16S Colonial Village Sunday
n,2n.
Wan the County Patrolmen ar
rived they found all occupants of
the house asleep. Leroy Blake, of
Route /, was dead Mr.. and Mrs.
join Freshwater, Lewis Fresh
water and Henry Switzerland were
administered artificial respiration
and first aid by the patrolmen
and two Wilmington polieer:;en,
before being carried to James
Walker Memorial hospital.
Authorities stated that the gas
was cut off from pipes leading
into the house and was escaping
from the meter under the struc-
ture The cause of the escaping
gas has not been discovered.
Hospital authorities said Sunday
night that the conditions of Mrs.
F7eshWater. Lewis Freshwater
ana Henry Switzerland were sat
lsfactory' Mr.. FreshWater's con-
di-ion was termed as "only fair"
Leroy Blake, Is, is survived by
his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. L. R.
Blake; one sister, Elsie Blake;
and one brother, Eugene Blake;
all Of Middle Sound
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27-tR-A
challenge to President Roosevelt
authority to create semi-perma-
nent Federal agencies without re-
sort to congressional appropria-
tions will be laid before a Senate
appropriations subcommittee to-
morrow.
Senator Russell D-Ga) said he
would ask for action then on a
proposed amendment to the indie
pendent offices appropriations bill
which would prohibit the transfer
of funds to any executive agency
that had been in existence for IL
months without having been dl-
rectly authorized by Congress.
The Russell amendment, prepar-
ed but not acted upon before Con-
gress explosively OVERRIDE the tax
bill veto. may serve to indicate
how deeply runs the feeling OF re-
volt among legislators against
what some of them have termed
Presidential usurpation of Con-
gressional authority.
Russell told a reporter his p:l-
mary objective is ito stop the
executive department from legls-
lating."
81 want to stop this practice
of creating agencies that Congress
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28
900 RED PLANES
RAID HELSINKI

STOCKHOLM, Feb. 27.-(R-Six
hundred Russian bombers SUBJ
iected He1sinki to devastating
12-hour raid last night and early
today, wrecking much of the Fin
nish capital.
It was easily the heaviest attack
Helsinki ever has suffered. Ulea-
borg (Oulu) in northern Finland,
also was bombed, and there were
alarms in such scattered cities as
Kotka, Turku and Tornea. The
Finnish communique which off
cially numbered the raiders at
900, said IL were shot down. The
German high command, taking Of
fetal cognizance of the attack,
claimed in its communique that 13
were shot down.
(The Moscow radio said in a
Sunday night broadcast that three
Russian planes failed to return tc
their bases from the "massed
raid on war industry detectives of
the town Of Helsinki."
Declaring the raid lasted 1C
hours, the broadcast, recorded in
London by the Soviet monitor, said
large groups Of Russian planes
bombed a railway junction, arms
dumps, military barracks and
plants in the Finnish capital. The
broadcast said ''dozens of fires
flared up which spread throughout
the town."
(Smoke rose to a height of al.
most 10000 feet, said the Moscow
CONTINUED on Pare Two: Col. a.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28

into a Ver1ta Die fortress.
A headquarters spokesman de-
clared more than $4,000 Germans
have been captured so far in the
Italian campaign. This followed
Saturdays announcement that the
Nazis had suffered $1,000 casual
ties in attacks on the Anzio beach
head, including 2,816 prisoners,
and had temporarily been thrown
on the defensive in that hard
fought sector.
Intense artillery and mortar Are
still roared over the Anzio area.
Allied forces beat back a German
patrol neaS Cisterna and the Ger
mans again tried to infiltrate po-
sitions south of Carroceto, head
quarters said.
German Sunday commune
que broadcast by Berlin declared
several enemy attacks collapsed
in concentrated German defense
fire" on this invasion front.
ObVlouoly oCChllIS W Coultel al
lied disclosures that the Germans
had met a smashing defeat at Ar
zio, the Germans said 5,721 AL
lied prisoners had been taken be-
tween Jan. "a and Feb. "a, with
212 Allied tanks destroyed, 81 dis
abled and five captured.
Another German broadcast said
the Allies had landed more rein
forcements Friday and Saturday,
and were fortifying river beds, "a
vines. husbands and forests into
"the character of a fortress" with
positions echeloned z IL miles
deep.
(TArksvar4L ~
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28
!, MEET DISASTER
srts Show Nips Lost
3 Ships At Truk In
stead OF Only 10
By REMBERT JAMES
Associated Press War Writer

k1SSUC1dGCu l. 1CSS wal
From the Marshalls to Rabaul
the Japanese met new reverses
yesterday while the United States
Navy disclosed that the blow a
Truk was more damaging to ia
pan even than at first believed.
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz said
new Photographic information
showed that the enemy lost %
ships sunk, six probably sunk and
II damaged in the February IL
and II attack on Truk.
The original figures of enemy
losses were 10 ships sunk, and sew
en- probably sunk. None was al
first reported damaged.
The commander in chief of the
United States Pacific fleet also
reported new and effective all
strikes against the Marshalls and
at widespread Pacific points.
There was still no additional
word from the powerful American
fleet units that were. last report.
ed making heavy air attacks or
Japanese bases in the Marianas
less than 1,400 miles from Tokyo,
on February %.
From General Douglas MacAr.
thurs headquarters came new in
dications that Japan's SouthWes
Pacific air force has reached such
low ebb that it must be care
fully boarded, if it is not already
reduced to utter helplessness.
A communique said that for the
fifth straight day Rabaul had
been attacked from the air with
out single japanese plane rising
to intercept, and that the anti
aircraft fire was getting weaker.
Ships and planes hammered Ra'
baul, silencing shore batteries and
slashing installations. American
destroyers sank two cargo vessels
and two coastal ships off New
Ireland. Two-engined Mitchell
bombers pounded japanese air
dromes on the Admiralty islands
without opposition. On the New
Guinea coast, the strong enemy
base at Wewak was given a heavy
blasting by planes. Even here
there was no enemy air opposi.
ton.
1t was the second naval Smelling
of Rabaul in 10 days. The earlier
one, on February 10, caused heavy
damage to airfields and installa
lions, and to the waterfront al
Simpson Harbor. In the second
attack, American naval vessels
Continued on Page Two; Col. p
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28
TROOPS REPORTED
EERINC GERMANS

Col. Adam E. Potts, Camp Davis
t.ommander, has severely rebuked
a0opS Of his command for jeering
oFFnan prisoners of war, which
dfe nterned on the Carolina Beach
''da South of here, the Camp Da-
" says.
C0l. Potts. the paper says, has
pOlAted out to the soldiers at Da-
W. IN mat 1t is a violation of the
neAe'a Convention to taunt pris-
uaefs Of war, The article, on the
noN' page of this weeks issue,
duo'eS Article Two of the Geneva
eonVehtlon, relative to the treat
lent Of prisoners of war.
Inc story adds: as
The reported practises have
leeh most frequent among men
rr'sSlas the stockade in conveys,
l lo5, Potts said he was informed.
. "a have also been assert
~ 10 nave resorted to derisive
Conduct.
disciplinary action will be tax
, AL against !: offenders who try to
Initiate and degrade prisoners. 1t
w.; unworthy of the American sol
NV. 70 condone such. action" the
Eyer ~, quotes Col. Potts as saying.
0iioef an editorial headed "Gen:
'On'lnued on Page -Four; Col. ~
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28
FDR's Authority Making
MISUNDERSTANDING

knows nothing about and of keep
ing them alive by transferring
funds to them from the appropria-
lions of other bureaus" he ex-
planned.
Russell said he had inserted the
IL months provision in the amend
ment because of the possibility
that war emergencies might ne
cessitate the speedy formation by
the executive of some temporary
bureaus.
"But certainly after the agen-
cies have been in existence for
IL months" he said, "the execu-
tive can come to Congress for a
direct appropriation for them so
that Congress will know what they
are doing"
Russell said that thus far the
committee has been unable to OBJ
tain from the Budget Bureau a
list of agencies which fall in this
category.
He said, however, he was In
formed that the Presidents Fair
Employment Practices Commit
tee, which has been subjected to
an investigation by a special House
committee, would be included. 1t
is charged with the job of pre-
venting discrimination in war jobs
on account of race, creed or color.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28
S0vIETS, POLES
STILL FAR APART

LONDON, Feb. 27-REThe Rus
SLAMS and the Polish government
in London appeared as far apart
as ever in their boundary dispute
today, with last weeks slight
hopes for improvement fading
fast.
Moscow reports said the new
Soviet-sponsored national coun-
Gil in Poland" had opened nego-
tiations with the Soviet Ukrainians
on the basis of the Curzon Line
as future Russian-P Polish boun-
Diary, but the Polish exile regime
here continued adament in it's re-
fusal to accept this line as a flu
ture national border.
News of the negotiations was
carried in the Moscow-published
Volna Polska, mouthpiece of the
Union of Polish Patriots.
The Poles in London said they
had informant that the new ma
Continued on Page Two; Col. s.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28
BIG U. S. CONVOY
SAFE IN ENGLAND
Bv JOHN A. MOROsO, 3rd

BRITISH PORT, Feb. 2.-tP'
A convoy hauling one OF the
greatest contingents of United
States troops ever to cross the
Atlantic has arrived in England
with thousands of reinforcements
for Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower S
invasion army massing IN the
British isles.
It is not permitted to reveal the
exact number of troops that land
ed. but all are highly trained Tor
combat.
(This dispatch was heavily cen
sored)
We came over without a single
attack from enemy U-boats. A Sc
ries of severe storms caused some
seasickness among the troops. Inc
Americans brought their own
equipment, including all the new
est weapons available forcombat.
The troops were rapidly dispers'
ed among American bases scat
tered from one end of these is
lands to the other.
They included armored and me.
chanized groups and specialist
units of many types. Many land
and carrier-based fighter planes
were aboard.
Naval officials on both sides OF
the Atlantic expressed amazement
at the recent lack of submarine
attacks. Apparently the Germans
have few U-boats to repel the in
Continued on Page Four; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28
POPULATION HERE
IS SET AT Sl,&5

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-(R -
Distribution of War Ration Book
Four now totals 1913, 760,419, the
Office of Price Administration dis
closed today in making public a
tabulation showing the number Of
books issued in each county
throughout the country. Distribu-
ton of the book began October 1e,
1913.
The tabulation for North Caro-
lima. in which 3,423, 100 books were
distributed, includes New Hanov-
err county - 1925; Bladen - 25,-
233-- Brunswick - 1888; Colura-
bus - 1928; and Fender - 49,
212
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28

MONTEv1DEO, Uruguay, Feb.
7-lR-A majority of the officers
and armed forces of Argentina
favor Gen. Pedro Ramirez and
only are awaiting word from him
to rise up-at the risk of blood
shetland place him back in the
presidential office he was forced
to hand over to Gen. Edelmiro
J. Farrell, reliable travellers from
Buenos Aires declared today.
An informant in close contact
with Ramirez said the officers
had been assembling during the
past few days and might decide
later today to place Ramirez back
in the presidents seat which
Vice-President Farrell now occu-
pies.
He said that Ramirez was CO.
creed into turning over his pow
ers to Farrell and now is vir-
tually prisoner in his own home.
This informant, whose connec-
IlOllo Will al SCIltlllC al NY I'll C1CS
are close, declared that the Sec
rotary of Labor and Welfare, Col.
Juan Peron, who engineered the
coup against Ramirez the night of
Feb. "a, is the undisputed strong
man of the present Argentine gov
eminent and Farrell is his pup
pet"
His story, which was confirmed
by other reliable sources, said
Ramirez was visited suddenly by
group of nationalist generals
when they learned his plan to
name former Foreign Minister
Alberto Gilbert minister of war
and former Presidential Secretary
Enrique Gonzalez minister of in
terror.
Ramirez was led to believe the
majority of the army was behind
Peron at that moment. The pres
ident wanted to avoid bloodshed
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28
oPA Tells Grocers
Basic Regulations
Being Consolidated

~, NEW YORK, Feb. 27.-P-
he corner grocer's lot should
pe happier one, come Au-
Jean F. Carroll of Washing
Will ID. c., who heads the food
price division of the OPA, told
a., wartime conference of the
o United Independent Retail Gro
sefs and Food Dealers Asso-
lauoh, Inc, today that the
more than 100 OPA basic reg
ated.
r. IN about six months, said
Iafroil, the list of rules will
ue boiled down to rs or 30 at
the most.
lie said the wordage of the
a a regulations would be re-
auced by between go and 10
Der cent.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28
RUSSIANS PRESS
DRIVE ON PSK0V
Railway Station Only Is
Miles From City Is
Captured

LONDON, Feb. N.-R)-Rus-
sian forces driving hard on Pskov
announced tonight capture Of a
railway station 10 miles due north
of that key city in tae northern
defenses of the Germans and lib
Grafton of more than 210 towns
and villages in great arc swing
ing from point just above Pskov
to about 100 miles southeast.
On the central front, northwest
and west of Lutsk, deep inside old
Poland, a German counter-attack
against Russian positions on the
west bank of the Styr river was
repulsed with heavy Nazi losses
and new Russian gains, the Soviet
midnight communique announced.
In the far south, in the lower
end of the Dnieper river, anoth-
er Russian advance resulted in
capture of district center south
of Apostolovo in the Nikolaev area
the communique added.
The northern offensive line with
today's announced gains now
takes the form of gigantic sickle
with the handle running south
ward from the Gulf of Finland
near Narva, along the eastern
banks of Lakes Peipus and Pskov
to Maslobotitsy, 10 miles north of
the city of Pskov, then the blade
swinging southeastward to point
so miles west of Kholn, and south.
westward to the newly-capured
rail station of Pusoshka, 80 miles
west of Novosokohiki.
From previously announced DO
CONTINUED on Page Two: Col. A.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28
Mother OF Two Sets
OF Twins Gives Birth
To z Girls, One Boy

PITTSBURGH, Feb. ~. up
James Healy, already the
father of two sets Of twins,
could only gasp today when the
nurse who found him pacing the
waiting room at St. Joseph's
hospital told him his wife, Rose
Marie, had just given birth to
triplets, two girls and a boy.
The girls weighed 4 pounds,
l ounce and 5 pounds, and 8
ounces, and the boy 6 pounds
l ounce. All apparently are in
good health.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28

and so resigned in letter to the
supreme court.
This resignation, however, was
not handed to the supreme court,
for it was feared this would lay
the Argentine government open to
by other American
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-28
Army TroopsRepel
Two German Attacks

St ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Naples, Feb. 27.-QF9-
Fifth Army troops the Casino front have repealed two
light German thrusts headquarters announced today,
while German broadcasts reported Allied attacks from the
Anzo beachhead which declared to have been turned