davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12
Flying Bomb Attacks
On London Increase
Crowds Pack Truins,
SeekineWeek End Respit,
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
LONDON. Aug. 12.-Flying bomb
attacks on London and the South
ern counties increased from mid
night until after dawn today, with
the assaults in the south heavier
than they have been for some time
Some of the robots appeared tc
be coming In on a new route over
the French coast from behind Bou-
logne.
Antiaircraft defenses shot down q
number in the coastal area. One
flaming mass, after being hit over
the sea, crashed into a residential
district. Property was damaged and
a fire started, but only one person
was injured.
Meanwhile London holiday seek
ers crowded station platforms fol
trains to the north and a week end
OF respite from the bombs.
Throngs waiting for THE FLYING
Scotsman gave rail officials their
busiest morning since peacetime
Additional trains were placed on
northbound routes.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12

ing companies in eight States and
the Office Of Defense Transporta-
ton took over at 1901 am. today
Minneapolis became headquarters
for Ellis T. Longenecker ODT high
way transportation director, who will
run the lines for the Government.
He will keep control until a dis
pute between the AFL-Internationa
Brotherhood of Transfers and the
Midwest Operators Association is
settled. The drivers walked out a
week ago after the employers refused
to pay a 7-cents-an-hour wage in
crease ordered by the War Labor
Board.
ODT officials indicated it might
not be feasible to get the trucks
rolling until Monday. But Thoma.
E. Flynn, acting president of the
Transfers Union, said it was in full
accord with the seizure and "oul
men are instructed to return to WORT
at once"
| Mr.. Flynn said truck drivers wht
struck had assured the Army tina,
/
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12
Hoboken Pier Fire
Loss Is in Millions;
Scores Are Injured
New York City Area
Stems BIoze With
Mossed Equipment
By the Associated Press.

HOBOKEN. N. j.. Aug, IA
spectacular fire that followed a
series of thunderous explosions
left a 1,100-foot Hudson River
pier in ruins today. with dam
age estimated at millions of dol
lars.
Flames lowered so feet in the air
and pail of smoke blanketed the
New York City area before massed
fire-fighting equipment brought the
tour-hour blaze under control at
1890 am. !
Scores were injured, none Sc
riously, as the flames ate through
Pier 4, where the famed Leviathan
was loaded in the World War. The
FIRE also damaged two adjacent piers
extensively. All three piers were
used to load ships for the wal
fronts.
Fire broke out anew on the shore
end OF the Pier 4 at 2 am. and
smouldered for hours. although fire.
men were able to conf1ne it to a
small area.
Bursting drums of highly inflam-
mable liquid fed the earlier blaze.
Acting Fire Chief Andrew H. KEEL
Ter said the fire was of undeter-
mined origin and that it began on
barge transferring cargo to a ship.
He said there was no indication of
sabotage.
Fourteen persons were taken to
st. Mary's Hospital for treatment
Of burns and smoke poisoning
while more than so others, including
firemen, were given first aid treat
ment at the scene. Chief Keller
said none was seriously injured.
Three barges and derrick
moored at the pier we're burned, one
of the barges sinking. A Liberty
ship and foreign cargo vessel were
towed to safety in the river, Edward
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12
Nazi Destruction Of Paris
As Reprisa| Act Feared

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON. Aug. 12.-Fear that the
Germans will attempt to destroy
Paris before retreating. in retalia-
ton for the bombing of Berlin, was
expressed today by French official
He also disclosed that Gen.
Charles de Gaulle's French Com
mittee of National Liberation will
delay establishing an administra-
zion in France until it can go back
home" TO the capital The original
plan was to set up Offices in the first
big city liberated. He said the speed
of the Allied advance and a belief
that Paris might be freed within a
few weeks caused the change.
This official observed gloomily that
the Germans would be determined
to exact all possible vengeance
because they would not be likely to
leave intact the capital of country
they consider conquered while their
own Berlin is in ruins"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12
10000 Aussie Girls
Have Married Yonks
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SYDNEY, Australia. Aug. H.
Nearly 10000 Australian girls have
married American servicemen since
early in 1912, and already 1000 of
these war brides and about 200
babies have gone to the United
States.
Another 1874 brides are awaiting
transportation and 1000 others have
applied for permits to enter the
United States.
The largest single contingent
296 wives and u babies-recently
embarked on a prewar American
luxury liner.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12
Roosevelt to Broadcast Report
|OnPocific at 8O'CIock Tonioht
Chooses Bremerton Navy Yord as Place
For First Talk to Nation Since Nomination

Washington with the President July
13 did not go with him to the
Aleutians.
The fact the President had gone
from his three-day Hawaiian in.
spection on north to Alaska to look
over the Aleutians became public
light night with the release of de-
layed dispatches dated a week age
yesterday.
Norman Bell Associated Press
correspondent at an Aleutian Island
base. quoted Mr.. Roosevelt as say
ing he was thrilled and gratifled by
his visit there, which. like Pearl
Harbor. saw him for the first time
since the war began.
Apparently Mr.. Roosevelt's reac-
ton to the Aleutian developments
was Identical to the enthusiasm with
which he viewed the land sea and
air fighting might at Hawaii.
Aleutian Visit Just Vacation.
Secret Service men told Mr.. Bell
the Presidents Aleutian visit was
just a vacation. but that was not
the case in Honolulu, where Mr..
Roosevelt went through a series of
intensive military conferences.
Throughout his Pacific tour, the
President kept publicly away from
fourth-term politics, which reached
a midsummer climax at Chicago
where the Democrats renominated
him-after he had left Washington
to begin his inspection and talks.
Mr.. Roosevelt said he had received
a nice telegram from Senator Tru-
man of Missouri, his vice presidential
running mate. but otherwise he
talked no politics with reporters.
In his acceptance speech, broad
cast from San Diego, he said he
would be too busy this year to cam
paign in the usual political sense.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12
Peace Government
Observation-Disclosures
Formed in Romania
Premier Antonescu Held
Powerless to Interfere
In Move to Surrender
BY the Associated Press.

ISTANBUL, Aug. II 'Delayed>
,-Romanian political leader.
under Juliu MANU-, peasan'
party chief, have formed a pro.
visional peace government, &C.
cording to information obtained
today from source in close con
tact with Bucharest.
The peace movement was declared
solidifying with the full knowledg,
of Premier Marshal Ion Antonescu
who was represented as powerless Il
interfere.
The British radio last night
broadcast an unconflrmed Bern
report that Antonescu had re-
signed)
The political chieftains, meeting
regularly in Bucharest, are in con.
tact with former Romanian Min.
listers to Moscow and Berlin who
are slated for posts in the surrender
government. according to this source
who cannot be identified by name
Four parties were reported repre-.
sented.
Program Mapped.
The party leaders are trying tc
arrive now at a form of succession
TO the present government" the
source said. His information was
that AntoneScu would be asked tc
step down into the position of army
chief of staff.
The aim of the party leaders was
said to be program acceptable tt
all major parties in Romania fol
an armistice and peace with Russia
Britain and the United States. This
has been virtually accomplished, il
was asserted. This was the iriforma-
ton from Bucharest:
At present, the proposed replace.
ment government includes Commu.
nists, Socialists, Liberals and mem.
bers of the Peasant parties.
The aged Manu-, an advocate be.
fore the war of settling Romaniai
differences with Russia is the guild
ing spirit and slated for the pre-.
miership.
The Communists are represented
by Basile Constantinescu, an las
man in his late 40s who in the pas
was imprisoned as a Communist
and Victor Patrascanu of a Ro.
manian literary family.
Socialists Represented.
Representing the Socialists ar,
Titel Petrescu, a lawyer in his so!
who is former minister of justice
and another lawyer named Siana.
Dinu Batianu, 10 years old, ant
his nephew, George Batianu, rep.
resent the Liberal party.
These are the main figures withir
the country.
In Switzerland are Grigore CAT.
encu, the former Foreign Minister
and last Romanian Minister to Mos.
cow, and Raoul Bossy, until a veal
ago Romanian Minister to Berlin
were believed in touch with Allied
representatives in Switzerland. One
possible Romanian-Soviet contact
would be through the Romanian
Minister to Ankara, George Cret-
ziano.
The peace group, according to this
report. Is ready to sacrifice Bessa-
rabia to the Russians in return fol
peace.
This source declared also that the
Germans are definitely withdraw
ing their air forces from the Bucha-
rest and Ploesti areas, and have
moved four divisions to the War
saw front from IaA.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12
Nazi Flank |mperi|ed
In Red Push Toward
Masurian Lakes
Germons Shifting
Armored Forces to
Meet New Danger
BY the Associated Press.

MOSCOW, Aug. 1.-Two So
Wet armies, moving through $50
captured settlements over a 100
mile front, advanced on the
Masurian Lakes country of East
Prussia today in a maneuver
which seriously endangered the
Germans entire left flank.
Marshal konstantin K. Rokossov-
sky's troops driving northward from
positions northeast of Warsaw and
Gen. Zakharovs forces striking out
from west and northwest of Bialy-
stok toward the World War battle
| theater in East Prussia were apply
ing severe pressure on the Germans.
The Germans, who had massed
reserves of armor in the East Prus-
sia-Lithuanian frontier, began a
! feverish shifting to meet the mt "
danger.
Counterattacks Repulsed.
Dispatches from the area north
west of Blalystok to the army news
paper Red Star said the Rus
slams beat back-often in hand-to-
hand clashes-initial counterattacks
launched by the reserves Ten to
II counterbloWs were hurled against
separate sectors, but these were said
TO have slackened with the enemy
retreating westward
This. is difficult country for tanks
and Russian infantry largely is win
ming the battle, marching ever closer
to East Prussia.
Two swift-f1oWing deep rivers
were the scene of today's hot battle
ground south of the Masurian
Lakes-the Bug, where it falls into
the Vistula north of Warsaw, and
the Biebrza, tributary of the
Narew west and northwest of
Bialystok.
There were no indications that
the Russians have crossed either
river. but if not these operations are
in the offing.
| Called Great Maneuyer.
This smash into the Germans
left flank stands out as one of the
best maneuvers of the war. A blow
was thrown in after the enemy had
been forced to move his main de-
Tense to the East -Lith-
uanian frontier.
Sensational news poured in from
the Estonian front as Gen. Ivan
Maslennikov followed up his break
through southwest of Pskov and
penetrated deep in the enemy
rear" a Red Star dispatch said.
Correspondents said the Germans
threw in a new division in the
region of captured Petseri and that
it received one of the worst beat
ings of the campaign.
THE Hitlerites who resisted were
exterminated and the rest capitu-
lated" Red Star said. That, &C
cording to the count OF captured
German generals. left 20 more divi-
sions in the Battles. Perhaps $780,
900 enemy troops faced destruction.
15-to-20- Mile Advance.
The Red Army advanced IS to 20
miles through its 45-mile-wide gap
on the Estonian front and today
was in a position to strike south
westward at Riga and move north
ward on Tallinn.
The capture Of $50 settlements
northwest and west of Bialystok put
the Soviets in some places 10 miles
southeast and east of the Prussian
border and 20 miles from Lyck, in
the Masurian Lake region.
The push northeast OF Warsaw
which swept in 100 settlements and
(see RUSSIA, Page AID
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12
Channel Clash Reported

LONDON. Aug. II (P.-The Ger
man radio today said Nazi patrol
boats sank one British motor tor
pedo boat and damaged several 9TH
ers in morning clash in the Eng
lish Channel. There was no Allied
confirmation. The broadcast assert
ed the British MTBs were with a
numerically superior force which in
f1icted no losses on the Germans.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12
Red Cross Names Lund
As Regional Director

Otto S. Lund, manager of the
District of Columbia Chapter, Amer
lean Red Cross, today was named q
regional director in the Eastern area
office OF the Red Cross, with head
quarters in Alexandria. Va. He will
be succeeded by Nat Wilson, man.
ager of the Southeastern area of the
national organization at Atlanta, Ga
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12
Loire Drive and Heavy Air Raids
Open Threat to Southern France;
Nazis Withdraw From Florence
Ancient Italian
City Spared From
Rovoges Of War
BY the Associated Press.

| BY the Associated Press
ROME, Aug. 12.-The Ger.
mans withdrew all their forces
from Florence today and the
ancient cradle of Italian art anc
culture was spared from the
ravages of battle.
Allied troops, who have refrainec
from firing on the northern part Of
the city lying beyond the Arno River
remained on the south bank of the
stream, but officers of the Alice
Military Government crossed ovel
to assist the hungry civilian popula-
ton.
1t was apparent, an official an
nouncement said, that the Germans
withdrew the bulk of their forces
during the night to the north of the
Mugnone Canal, v I'll flows through
the northern outskirts.
The British 9th Army, bringing uI
its lines on the west for a crossing
Of the Arno and an assault on the
German Gothic Line beyond
reached number of villages west
and northwest of Empoli against
Stlf1ening German resistance.
InfiltratiOn by Shippers.
An official source said Col, Fuchs
who was the German garrison COM
mander at Florence. had fighting
under him parachutistS, engineers
and various Fascist squads organ
lied by the notorious Pavolini'
| (Alessandro Pavolini. Mussolinis
minister of culture) who infiltrateo
into houses south of the river as
snipers.
The Allied command announced
that 1t now was possible for the
Allies to help civilians in the north
ern part of the city who under the
Germans had been short of food
water and medical supplies.
Some snipers still were being en-
countered inside the city.
The Germans have been pushed
back from 500 TO 1000 yards or
| both sides OF Fibbiana, between EN-.
poll and Montelupo, headquarters
said.
Allied Withdrawal.
German Smelling caused the Allie.
TO withdraw half mile to the
southwest of San Colombano.
In the Polish sector near the Adri.
attic the Germans have Withdrawn
over the CeSano River below Pesaro
On the left, advance Polish ele.
ments have reached points 2 mile.
east and northeast of Castelleone d
Suasa. Forward troops faced heav,
enemy shellfire. Polish troops hav,
reached a lateral road l mile be
yond the river.
| Rain slowed road movements ant
hampered other activity on tn,
5th Army front. where patrols wer,
unable to make contact with tn,
enemy.
Churchill in Italy.
| Meanwhile Allied headouarter,
announced the arrival of Prim,
Minister Churchill in Italy on hi:
first trip to this war theater. Tht
purpose of the trip or how long hi
would stay was not disclosed.
Earlier this week, Mr.. Churchill
visited the Normandy beachhead ir
France.
The Prime Minister'S visit to Ital,
gave the Germans a new case of hit.
ters-this time bringing Nazi pre-.
dictions that the Allies are on thu
verge of new invasion of Europe
The Germans have been forecastins
repeatedly Allied landings on the
Ligurian coast of North Italy or ir
Southern France.
In London officials were noncom.
initial but it was noted the Prime
Mir rs trip followed closely that
OF = x George VI.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12
Heat Sends AL Smith
To Hospital for Rest

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. Aug. 12.-Forme,
Gov. Alfred E. Smith is in st. Vim
cents Hospital here for few days
rest, his physician, DR.. Raymond
Sullivan. said today. a
He just didn't feel 50 we'll be-
cause of the heat" DR.. Sullivan said
1t will do him good to get a rest
for a few days"
Mr.. Smith, 10 years old, entered
the hospital Thursday, DR.. Sullivan
said.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12
BULLETINS
EqIin Field Bomb Kills 4

ELGIN FIELD, Fla. P.-
Maj. Edward Doherty, base in
telligence officer, said today
that "a augmentation bomb
which fell accidentally" from
\ plane killed four persons
and injured five others at the
little community of Alaqua,
near the edge Of Elgin Fields
bombing range, last night. All
of the victims were of the
same family.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12
SomeveH in Italy

ROME R.-Undersecretary
Of War Patterson and 1t. Gen.
Breh0n B. Somervell, head of
the Army Service Forces, have
arrived In Italy to inspect
military installations in the
Mediterranean theater, it was
announced today.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12
Germans Throw
Bulk of Forces
Into Cuen Area
MAP on Page Az
BY the Associated Press

SUPREME ALLIED HEAD
QUARTERS, Aug. 12.-American
troops and Allied planes today
opened a tWo-Way threat to
Southern France, and the Allies
in Normandy frightened the huge
Caen pocket into which the Ger
mans were reported throwing
the bulk of their west wall forces
American columns speared 10
miles across the Loire into South
ern France as tactical and heavy
vital German targets on the Med
1terranean coast.
In 48 hours up to Thursday mid
night, the Americans took more than
10000 prisoners.
Supreme headquarters kept silent
again today on the mileage rolled
up by the American columns re-
ported driving north, east and south
OF LIE Mans, and headquarters said
no word was given out because the
oSIhiullo "CiC will uSS VI
as to the exact direction of these
drives and did not know which
thrusts were feints. The COM
munique did not even mention the
sectors east and north of LIE Mans.
Americans Closing Trap.
Latest reports had the Americans
closing trap on 100000 Germans
in Normandy by the sudden drive
north from LIE Mans.
The Berlin radio said the
Americans had reached Alencon
Yesterday and pushed on several
miles north. This, following re-
ports of a tank attack on the
town, indicated advanced forces
had bypassed it.
The same broadcast admitted
Nazi evacuation of the towns of
Mortain and Sourdeval in the
pocket to the west. where the
Germans had mounted fierce
armored assaults seeking to split
the Allied armies
A front line dispatch said the
Germans were putting up stiff re-
sistance to their drive. which is
saving In behind the Germans in
the Caen area.
Fifteenth Airforce heavy bombers,
numbering more than $50, delivered
a heavy attack on the enemy in
stallations today, following up yes
terday's attack by the tactical air
force.
THE Berlin radio said this arm
already had driven through AL
encon. 30 miles north of LIE Mans
and south of the Canadian LIST
Armys battle positions before
FalaiSe)
Installations Blasted.
The break south of the Loire was
timed with bomb-rain along more
than 40 miles of the French and
Italian Rivieras by the Italy-based
planes striking at pillboxes, gun
emplacements and radio stations of
enemy coastal defenses. This blow
was reminiscent of preinvasion air
raids on the French Channel area
1t. Gen. Omar N. Bradley's drive
across the Loire had great implica-
tons, but the possibilities of the
Allies course in this area may not
be speculated on at present.
1t was the first sign, however,
that the Allies did not intend to
base their southern flank on the
Loire River, stretching inland from
the base of Brittany almost to
Paris, but were starting to bite a
chunk out of huge and thinly de-
Tended Southern France-an area
roughly four times that of the
Northwest Seine-Loire corner which
they now dominate.
The best information is that
Marshal Johannes Blaskowitz.
guarding Southern France now has
considerably less than 10 divisions.
When the Americans approached
the Loire, Spanish reports said a
large portion of Marshal Blaskowitz's
tSee FRANCE, Page Al
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12
Willkie Flies Here

NEW YORK, Aug. IL F.-Wen-
dell L. Willkie and group of COM
panions left La Guardia Airport to-
day for Washington aboard . Pan
American Anyways executive plane.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12
By HOWARD FLIEGER.

PRESIDENT PAYS surprise visit to
Aleutian base. Story on Page AS
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12

(See FIRE, Page A-10.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12

tSee STRIKES, Page A-2D
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12

(See FRANCE, Page A-4D
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-12

e RECONVERSION, Page AID
Evening star., 1944-05-14

and dispersion. The part that dis
penSeS is 100 per cent perfect, but
the accumulation angle still has one
little bug in it, which minor de-
ficiency I'm working on. No rain,
no accumulation!
Have nailed, wired or hung as
sorted pieces of metal and wood to
the edges Of our tent in such a way
that the drippings all head in one
general direction-toward my reser-
Volr, which consists of several So
gallon drums perched on a niche we
dug into our honey little cliff, a few
feet below our apartment
Another man made a niche that
serves as combination laundry and
shower room. We made a moon
light requisition for hunk of pipe
and valve to complete our system
from the drums to shower. This
outfit is foolproof-no moving parts
to wear out and nothing necessary
for successful operation but the law
OF gravity and, naturally, a little
| rain.
When the rains come we're forced
to stay inside. The water runs down
this mountain just as if it had some
place to go, sweeping all in it's path
right along with it. Takes a man
right of his feet-GI shoes and all.
Great Falls Is just a dribble COM
pared TO the local cataract
Evening star., 1944-05-14
Berens on so Missions
Against Japanese Bases

1ech. Sergt. Frederick w. Berens
Jr., 324 East-West highway, Chew
Chase, Md, has participated in 5o
combat strikes against enemv
Strongholds in the South Pacific AZ
raalo operator gunner on a Billv
Mitchell medium bomber, a 18th
AAF dispatch states.
Sergt. Berens arrived in the 18th
AAF area soon after he experienced
his first thrill as a combat radio
operator, when, in the initial flight
from California to Hickman Field
Hawaii, the bomber ran out of pas
a few hundred miles from it's desti-
nation. Sergt. Berens, the dispatch
said, gave proof of his deliberate
coolness under an emergency bv
Keeping in constant comm,lnica-
tlon with the base until the plane
settled in the water.
Ihe time the crew had to drift
IN the Pacific was shortened be-
cause of the exactness of Sergt.
Berens' message, it was reported.
After a three-week rest on WAIKIKI
Beach, the crew was flown to their
advanced base by Air Transport
Command, where they were assigned
to another Billy Mitchell bomber,
the first of its type in the area.
Sergt. Berens, who enlisted in the
air force in July, 1912, one month
after graduation from Augusta
Military Academy, Va, now holds
the Air Medal and four oak leaf
clusters.