davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-07-08
Chinese Occupy Town
North Of Hengyang
Jops Reported Leaving
South China Area
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHUNGKING, July 8.-Chinese
troops have won the first important
victory in their counterattacks
against the secondary japanese
front north of Hengyang, occupying
the town of Liling, 80 miles northeast
of the rail junction, the high COM
mand announced tonight. In the
Hengyang area itself, rumors reach
Ing this capital said Japanese forces
which laid siege for II days were
withdrawing.
Confirmation of the latter report
was lacking from Hengyang, where
the Chinese yesterday were reported
by the high command to have
broken the siege in a sudden stab
from the southwest.
1t was not known whether the
Japanese were regrouping their
forces for a fresh assault down the
Canton-Hankow railway or whether
they were abandoning that portion
OF their ambitious project as too
costly in view of the vulnerability
OF their long supply lines.
Chungklng sources at the same
time received with reserve and even
extreme skepticism another rumor
that the Russians were massing
troops on the Manchurian border,
and that the Japanese consequently
we're re-transferring some of the di-
visions went deep into China from
those areas.
Evening star., 1944-07-08
Jap Civilians on Soipon Stream to U. S. Lines
For Refuge, but Trapped Soldiers Fight On

no gunf1re was directed, elsewhere
the remnants of the islands de-
Tenders attempted a hopeless, des-
perate counterattack reminiscent OF
the Attu and Maxim fighting.
Hundreds of Japanese soldiers
died in an assault against American
Army lines. Japs who managed to
penetrate the lines were mopped up
in the canef1elds and bitches of the
western coast.
From a mountain observation
post I watched United States tanks
and infantry flush Japanese infil-
traitors from field cover like quail
Watching through field glasses ]
could see the sun CLINT on long jap
bayonets as enemy soldiers broke
for new cover-and then see rifles
spin away as American sharpshoot-
ers nailed them ION the wing"
More marine forces pushing along
the rolling hills and sharp ravines
which extend from Mount Tapot-
chau all the way to the north end
of the island were moving steadily
forward, digging Japs out of caves
which still honeycomb the high
ground Of this rugged island.
From a series Of forward observa-
ton points, 1t is possible to see the
Marpd Point airstrip, which has beer
Evening star., 1944-07-08
1000 Reported Slain
In Greek Village in
Reprisa| by Nazis
Town Then Sold to Have
Been Burned as Revenge
For Killing of Soldiers
BY the Associated Press,

~ N''N
IZMIR. Turkey. July 7 de-
layed,.-Copies of a Greek pup
pet government communique
which reached here today said
the Nazis on June 10 slaughtered
more than 1000 residents of the
Greek village of Distomo in a
cold -blooded reprisal comparable
to that carried out at the Czech
slovak town of Lidice.
The communique said that not
even babies in arms were spared
and the massacre was crowned by
the burning of the village, familiar
to many American tourists.
The killing was carried out by
the Nazis as revenge for the death
of 80 German soldiers in a battle
with the Fam and Andarts re-
sistance groups near the village.
Distomo is IS miles northwest OF
Athens and 10 miles southeast Of
Delphi in region which figured
prominently in ancient Greek my
thology.
Delphi was the headquarters Of
the Grecian cult of Apollo and the
oracle there influenced the history
of noble houses and entire nations in
ancient times.
The London radio, in broadcast
recorded by CHS, said the Germans
also have wiped out a village in the
vicinity of Limoges in France "in a
manner which recalls the tragedy of
Lidice."
The broadcast said that only 100
OF the 1900 inha bitants of the viii
lage' remained alive after the Ger
mans finished. 1t said that people
who took refuge in the village
church were locked in and burned
alive"
When four German soldiers were
killed in clashes with the villagers
the Germans first demanded the
surrender of the patriots and then
prepared to kill so hostages when
there was no response, the broadcast
said. 1t added, The patriots replied
with another attack on the Ger
mans, who then destroyed the entire
village" Limoges is ITO miles north
east of Bordeaux.
Evening star., 1944-07-08
Truman Report Calls
For Speedy Action
On Reconversion
Rops Delays in Carrying
Out Nelson PIun for
Civilian Production
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

The Truman War Investigat-
ing Committee of the Senate
today urged that the program of
Chairman Donald M. Nelson of
the War Production Board for a
gradual resumption of civilian
production be put in effect
forthwith" and expressed grave
concern over delays that already
have taken place in carrying out
the policy.
A statement issued by Chairman
Truman declared that resumption O,
peacetime production in areas where
there is no manpower shortage has
been opposed by some selfish busi
ness groups that want to see theil
competitors kept idle until they fin
ish their war contracts"
Opposition has come also from
Army and Navy representatives who
the committee stated. want to Gre
ate a surplus of manpower with the
hope that the consequent pressure
on unemployed workers would result
IN some Of them shifting to occupa-
tions or areas in which there is still
a manpower shortage"
The committee pointed out that
Mr.. Nelson on June 10 outlined to
the group plan for specific action
in preparation for industrial recon-
version. including revocation of re-
strictions on the use of aluminium
and magnesium and promised that
the program would be put into effect
July l. Since then, Mr.. Nelson be-
came seriously i'll and the plan
begged down in controversy among
war agency officials.
Using the Brewster Aeronautical
Evening star., 1944-07-08
Russians Press
.ThreeDriivesdt
.Heartof Wi|no
Reds Within Sight
Of City, Gateway
To East Prussia
BY the Associated Press.


MOSCOW, July 8.-Gen Ivan
Cherniakhovsky today aimed
three strong spearheads of cav
airy and tanks at the heart OF
Wilno (Vilna), while inside the
city its German garrison gath
cred for the defense of the gate
way to East Prussia, less than
100 miles away.
Front dispatches said the bright
golden domes OF the ancient cathe.
drals of st. StanislaW and St. Mich
olas glistened in the bright sun
standing on the knot of hills that
make up Wilno, within sight of the
Red Army drawing up on the city's
border-and perhaps by now in
side it.
The Red armies have advanced III
miles in II days
CA Transocean broadcast from
Berlin today said the Germans
had abandoned Baranowicze in
old Poland, ITO miles southeast of
Wllno. The Russians themselves
said they were within 4 miles of
the city limits of this town con-
trolling the railways and high
ways to Poland and Germany.
Baranowicze is $50 miles from
Berlin and 400 miles from once
besieged Moscow.
NaziS Claim RepulSe of Attacks.
CDNB. German news agency,
quoted Col Ernest Won Hammer,
a NaZl commentator, as saying
that up to last night Nazi troops
managed to repulse all Soviet at
tacks on Wilno, or hold them on
the city's outskirts.
"a German report said the
Nazis were Withdrawing to the
Bug River west of Kowel at the
south end of the 350-mile long
fighting front. shortening their
defense line along the natural
barrier guarding the approaches
to Warsaw
Northeast Of Wilno Russian COL
umns captured the village of KEN
elishki, only 10 miles from the i'm
portant railway which runs between
Wilno and Daugavpils CDvinsky).
OF the three Russian drives on
Wilno one came from the direc-
ton OF captured Bistritza, % miles
to the northeast. Here the Russians
have crossed the River Viliya, the
last natural barrier before the
Lithuanian capital.
The second rolled down the
Minsk-Wilno railway from the vi.
clnity of captured Ostrovets, q
miles to the east. and had liberated
Gudogaie, about 5 miles southeast
of Ostrovets.
The third was down the Minsk.
Wilno highway from the direction o1
captured Oshmyana, 20 miles to the
southeast.
Still stunned from the blows re.
ceived in the powerful Red Army
Evening star., 1944-07-08
barkIey Is Expected
To Make Fourth-Term
Nomination Address
Speech Would Be Hailed
As Full Reconciliation
After Tax Bill breok
' the Associated Press.

by the ASSOCIATED Press.
Senator Barkley of Kentucky
who angrily but temporarily re-
signed as Senate majority leader
after a spectacular row with
President Roosevelt last Febru-
ary, probably will nominate the
Chief Executive for a fourth
term.
Widespread acceptance of the view
that the Kentuckian thus would seal
completely his personal reconcilia-
ton with Mr.. Roosevelt highlighted
today's political developments which
centered chiefly about the Nations
Capital.
And there was fresh speculation In
Washington over Vice President
Walace's chances of denomination
He will make radio address from
Seattle tomorrow night, presumably
to report on his trip to China and
Siberia.
Also drawing the interest of DO
lltlcal observers was the disclosure
that there may be precedent for ex-
clusion of delegates who declare that
they will not abide by convention
decisions. The Democratic delegate
situation in Texas and Mississippi
(See POLITICS, Page A-7)
Evening star., 1944-07-08
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Twentieth Air Force Super
Fortresses hit five enemy targets
in their second strategic mission
against the japanese, three of
them on the enemy's home is
land of Kyushu and two in
China, a communique reported
today.
The communique, summarizing
the results of the new attack by the
B-29s, which returned to their bases
without loss, said the targets were
Sasebo, big naval base; war plants
at Yawata, Japan's Pittsburgh, ''
and Omura. both on Kyushu, and
Laoyao. a shipping port on the China
coast north Of Hangchow, and Han
kow. 450 miles inland on the Yangtze
River.
/ The targets in China are regarded
as important to the enemy's extend
ed supply lines for his ground troops
push against the Chinese on the
Evening star., 1944-07-08
1900 Flee Forest Fire
In Quebec Province
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
VAL DOR, Quebec, July 8.-Fif-
teen hundred residents Of three
Quebec mining communities found
refuge today in Senneterre and
Rouyn after raging forest fires,
worst in the province since May.
1943. destroyed one town and roared
perilously close to the other two.
One woman was believed to have
lost her life.
The fires, whipped by a high wind,
wiped out the town of Pascalis
after its population Of from 600 to
700 had been brought to safety, and
the flames still were roaring today
as Perron, adjoining Pascalis, with
a population Of 800, evacuated its
citizens.
Evening star., 1944-07-08
'DeGauI|eSees
Roosevelt for
Last Talk TODAY
May Reach Accord
On Interim Role
Of Free France
BY JOSEPH H. BAIRD.

President Roosevelt and Gen.
Charles de Gaulle met at noon
today for their final official con-
ference. From it is expected to
emerge an agreement for the in
term administration of liberated
French territory and a basis Of
collaboration on war and post
war problems.
1t was the French generals third
visit to the White House. Shortly
after Gen. de Gaulle's arrival Thurs.
day afternoon. he called on Mr.,
Roosevelt socially. Yesterday the
two had an hour long official con-
versation
White House sources said it was
not yet determined whether today's
conference would be followed by a
public statement.
Greets French Colony.
Before going to the White House.
Gen. de Gaulle received nearly 400
members of the French COLONY hero
and American friends of France, or
ganlzed in France Forever" at the
home Of the official delegate of tho
French Committee of National Lib
Grafton, Henri Hoppenot, 1929 Mas
sachusetts avenue NV.
After being introduced by NJ
Hoppenot, Gen. de Gaulle thanked
the Washington chapter of France
Forever which he said was one Of
the strongest in the Nation, for its
aid to France.
/ am moved by your sympathy
Tor France at a grave moment in
her history when some thought that
all was lost he said. "All is not lost.
thanks to the ardor of people like
YOU
Helps Maintain Friendship.
I France Forever" has helped
maintain the honor of France and
French-American friendship, hs
added.
/ After the White House conference.
Gen. de Gaulle planned to enter
tain few French and American
officials at a luncheon at Blair
House and then spend the afternoon
resting.
Tomorrow at noon Gen. de Gaulls
will entertain the French missions
here at luncheon at the delega-
ton, followed by a dinner at the
same place tomorrow night for
American officials.
Monday morning he will hold a
press conference at which he is eX-
pected to summarize his impressions
and accomplishments here, leaving
at noon by plane for New York City,
where he will hold a reception at
the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel for the
French colony there. On Tuesday
he will fly to Canada for brief
visit. returning to Algiers from
/ there.
Creates Goodwill Here.
The general impression here Is
that although Gen. de Gaulle will
not go home with papers recognizing
him as head of the provisional gov
ernment Of France-a possibility
ruled out from the beginning
mission here is being successful in
fCee m CATJY = r 49,
Evening star., 1944-07-08

the object OF frantic night aerial
activity for three days. 1t is be-
tlieved the Japs were trying des-
perately to land at least one or two
planes there to remove high
ranking officers.
Another enemy escape effort was
foiled when barges launched from
the northwest coast, apparently in
the hope Of sneaking in darkness
to nearby Tinian Island, were
blown from the water by American
artillery fire. The barges moved out
from the island while American
ships were blacked out by an enemy
raid. but were discovered before they
could get far from shore.
(American forces now hold all
but 4 square miles of Saipan.
Admiral Chester w Nimitz re-
ported in a communique that 200
Japs were foiled in an attempt
to steal away at nightD
American Army and marine unit,
thus far have buried 8,914 Japa-
nese soldiers. Many other bodie.
are still inside caves or strewr
through the rocky cliffs and jungles
Marine units pushing toward Marp
Point are still encountering stronf
(See sAIPAN, Page A-2)
Evening star., 1944-07-08
Hy the Associated Press.

AT THE GERMAN FRONTIER
July 8.-Germany's military
leaders have been holding the
most serious discussions with
Adolf Hitler on the Reich's criti-
cal military situation, and a
complete revision of defense
plans may be made before the
end of the month.
The conferences with Hitler, re.
ported through trustworthy inform
ants, began early this week. They
were said to be comparable with the
Kaiser's famous Grand Council ir
August, 1918, when it was decided
the war could not be won, but thai
all was not yet lost and that bitter
fighting might yet bring an accept
able peace.
The major point of debate among
eastern, western and Italian front
commanders of German forces is
reported to concern their varying
requirements and whether 1t would
be best to withdraw from Norway
and the Balkans to avoid the risk
of losing noW-idle troops who might
better be concentrated for the home
land defense.
No final decision apparently has
been reached, but information con-
sidered trustworthy indicated these
were the developments:
l. Marshal Erwin Rommel won q
point in his demands to throw more
forces into the Normandy front for
the rest of this month in a drive
to inf1ict the heaviest possible losses
on the Allies.
| 2. Marshal Karl Rudolf Gerd Won
Rundstet, German commander in
the west, stepped out as the first
error man" in the invasion because
he refused to throw every avail
able force against the Normandy
beachhead at the beginning
! g. The necessity of maintaining
crack divisions on the western front
makes it extremely difficult to
throw fresh troops into the eastern
Evening star., 1944-07-08
Col. Elliott Roosevelt
Denies He Is Enoooed
~ the Associated Press.


LONDON, July 8.-Col. Elliott
Roosevelt denied through an Army
associate today that he was engaged
to Capt. Ruth Briggs of the Wom-
ans Army Corp or that he was
planning to become engaged to her
or any one else.
Dispatches from the United States
earlier In the week quoted relatives
Of Capt. Briggs as confirming a re-
port of their engagement.
An officer friend of the President's IS
son said the latter had requested
that the denial be given to the press
Capt. Briggs Office said she would
not be available for comment today
Capt. Briggs later joined in a de-
MAJ OF the reported engagement,
friends"
Evening star., 1944-07-08
American Infantry .
Takes Key Points
On Way 10 Leghorn
Towns Of Rosienono
And CosteIIino Captured
After 3-Doy Bottle
BY the Associated Press.

ROME, July 8.-The viciously
defended towns of Rosignano
and Castellina. on west coast
highways to Livorno ueghorn)
and Pisa have been captured by
American infantrymen after
three days Of bitter street fight
ing, Allied headquarters an
nounced today.
The ooughboys drove the enemy
from both Rosignano, 13 miles below
Livorno, and Castellina, 6 miles te
the east, late yesterday.
The enemy fought TO the las,
house" headquarters officer said
(The Italian resistance COM
munique was quoted by the Lon
don radio today as saying that
street fighting was raging in
Livorno and that "all the Fascist
chiefs have left the town." The
bulletin was recorded by CBS.)
So rugged was the German de.
fense that the 5th Army was forced
to expend 81 AT rounds OF artillery
in one 24-hour period. At Rosignanc
the Americans threw back at least
three strongly launched counter
attacks.
Key Points in Outer Defenses.
The two towns were key points OF
the Nazi outer defense line before
Lvorno. Volterra. inland to the
east, remained as the sole anchor of
the current defense line still in
enemy hands.
The fall of Castellina will allow a
thanking movement toward Livorno
from inland while other forces push
directly northward along the coastal
plain.
French troops OF the 5th Army
also moved forward through the
mountains to the east, sweeping
through Cole di Val d'Elsa and
fighting their way to less than
miles from Poggibonsi, AZ miles east
of Livorno and only 81 miles south
|of Florence. In their advance the
French destroyed two of six Tiger
tanks which sought to block their
path.
Strongly co ordinated German
(See ITALY, Page A-4.)
Evening star., 1944-07-08
Blood Donor Center
Fails to Meet Quote,
Red Cross Reports

The District Red Cross blood
donor center, 81 Louisiana ave-
nue. NV, is falling short of its
4,0O0-pint weekly quota.
Mrs. Loretta J. Bickford, d.
rector Of the center, said can
celed and broken appointments
accounted for the shortage, al
though there also has been a
gradual decrease in the num-
ber of appointments made re-
Gently.
The quota was short $50 pints
Of blood last week, but probably
will do better this week, she
reported, with AT giving blood
on July 4.
Evening star., 1944-07-08
All Bps Safe After Bombino
3 Cities in Japan 2in China
Domoee to Yowoto Arms Works Admitted
By Foe; Flyers Met Light Opposition

Changsha -Hengyang route. Supplies
for the enemy armies presumably
would come to great extent
through those cities. with Hankow
shipping war supplies up the navi-
gable Yangtze River to the japanese
columns.
(After at first denying that the
American attack had hit any of
the objectives, the Tokyo radio
said in a broadcast recorded by
the Associated Press today that
some damage was caused to the
Yawata arms works, which seem
to have been the enemy's main
objective.
c'Some fires broke out in the
Yawata port area which were.
however, soon brought under
control'D
The Super Fortresses encountered
only very weak fighter opposition
and light antiaircraft fire.
The communique said that ar
See CTTpEp E0pTDFCC D.
Evening star., 1944-07-08

ly afterwards two more quarts. The
normal human body contains five
quarts. In addition during and
after the operation he got II quarts
OF blood plasma to counteract the
shock. When he reached the oper-
tsee PLAsMA, Pfge A-l3
Evening star., 1944-07-08

sin, including the largest
crude distillation plant in
Austria, and bombed the Vez-
prem airdrome in Romania
today.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 8.-American
heavy bomber fleets smashed at
Nazi flying bomb launching sites
and other planes hit out in
slashing support of Normandy
of1ensives today on the heels OF
an Raj strike with 6-ton block
busters at a huge cave-protected
robot bomb supply depot in
France.
Night-f1ying British Lancasters
searched out the depot, located in
great limestone caves of St. Leu
Esserent, 80 miles north of Paris
and up to 500 Flying Fortresses and
Liberators hammered at launching
platforms by daylight this morning
in heightening air blows against
this grim German weapon.
The American heavy bombers
protected by some $50 fighters, WIS.,
ually bombed at least seven launch
ing sites, and hit other targets in
France. American Marauders led
the tactical blows at Nazi positions
on the Normandy battlefront.
Robot Depot Blasted.
The Air Ministry termed the robot
supply depot one of the Germans
largest, and disclosed it first was hit
July 4 by Lancasters Juggling 10000
pound bombs. Photographs showed
at least one Of these huge missiles
went straight through hill above
the caves and exploded in a cave-in
below. Earth subsidized over an area
$40 by 300 feet. indicating masses o1
dirt and rock had collapsed into the
storage cave.
mat bomb hail also caused heavy
damage to roads and rail line.
leading to the caves, but German
workers were rushed in to repair
damage. So Lancasters struck again
last night to undo their construction
The depot. attacked in face OF
heavy ground and air defenses, was
one of several Raj night targets
Other Lancasters hammered the
Vaires railway yards on Paris out
skirts, and Mosquitoes dumped 1000
pound blockbusters on Berlin and .
synthetic oil plant in the Ruhr
Thirty-four British bombers were
| lost. only one falling At Vaires.
Earlier. the Raj struck hard al
German troop, tank, and gun con.
(see AERIAL. Page A-7.)
Evening star., 1944-07-08
MAP on Page A-7.)

By the Associated Press
SUPREME ALLIED HEAD
QUARTERS, July S.-Britis
tanks and bayonets spearhead-
ing a powerful new offensive
against Caen, today smashed
within little more than a halt
mile Of the heart of that German
anchor in Eastern Normandy
and six towns fell to British
Canadian forces which broke
Through the crust of Caen's
major outer defenses."
simultaneously. American often
sives captured St. Jean de Dave in
the center of the Normandy front
and won square miles of hard
fought ground near the western
hinge of the Nazi defensive line
at La Haye du Puts.
Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery
sent his offensive forward before
dawn under a canopy of a blasting
artillery barrage and planes, and
cracked through lines termed bv
headquarters as more heavily held
than any attacked in this war.
Six Towns Engulfed.
Six stubbornly- defended towns in
an arc north of Caen-the bastion
barring the road to Paris-were en-
eulfed in the first few hours. and
front dispatch said tanks had
thrust within 1000 yards of the
center of the city of 81 900 popula-
ton. Herouville, 2 miles to the
northwest, was taken and vanguards
pushed on a little closer to Caen
as f1amethroWers cleaned out pill
boxes.
The offensive hitting on front
nearly 5 miles wide has broken
through the crust of Caen's major
outer defenses.' British staff officer
IN the field declared, and the ad-
vance is going very satisfactorily.
Americans to the west expanded
their push in the center Of the line
The twin Allied offensives were gain
ing ground against vigorous Nazi
resistance
Associated Press CORRESPONDENT
Don Whitehead reported the cap
ture OF st. Jean In a dispa tch from
the scene and said American dough-
boys had reached solid fighting
ground after push through marsh
lands east of st. Jean across the
Wire River and across the Wire ct
Taute Canal to the north.
Lateral Road Is Cut.
BY noon they had straddled the
road running from st. Jean to St
Lo. miles to the south, and had cut
the lateral east-west road just south
OF ST. Jean.
American tanks were thrown into
the assault across the river and the
canal
German defenses at Galamanche
La Blade and Lebisey, from 2 to 3
miles directly north of Caen, fell
quickly after Gen Montgomery
loosed his attack with typical
Monty barrage.
Fleets of fighter and medium
bombers pounded German defenses
ahead of the advancing troops as
(See INVASION, Page A-7.)