davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31

tured Giles when his boat tied up
at Angel Island in the San Francis
co bay.
In addition to his mail robbery
conviction. Giles also was Sentenc-
ed to life imprisonment for murder
in Oregon in 1919. He escaped from
the Salem. Ore prison in 1884 and
was sentenced to AlcatraZ in 1885
for postal robbery and assault COM
mitted at Salt Lake City.
Several OF the long term convicts
on Alcatraz have attempted to reach
shore. mile and a quarter across
swiftly flowing tides at the closest
point, but prison officials have fail
cd to recapture only two.
They were Ralph Roe and Theo-
dOre Coe, Oklahoma bad men who
attempted TO swim the current Dec
l6, 1897 Officials are certain they
drowned. but various rumors have
persisted that they succeeded in
fleeing the escape proof" prison
alive
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
|. A. Rent Control
Agent Faces
Fund Theft Count

LOS ANGELES, July 81. CUPp --
The federal bureau Of investigation
Tuesday announced arrest of an Of
flcial on charges of diverting gov
ernment money for his own use.
Special agent Richard B. Hood
said his men held Paul Russell
Sparks, At, North Hollywood, COM
modify supervisor in charge of the
rent control section of the Los An
geleS office of OPA.
Sparks, a well known real estate
man employed by OPA since 1912,
manipulated records to convert to
his own use certified checks received
from landlords to cover overcharges
in rent paid by tenants, Hood
charged
Sparks. who assertedly used the
alias OF IS. P. Russell" had mulcted
the government of 1000 since his
OPA employment, Hood said.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
Chicago Company
Buys Big Plant
At Plaster City
Sweeping Expansion
Program Announced
With Higher Payroll

Announcement was made
Tuesday Of the purchase Of
the Pacific Portland Cement
Company's gypsum plant at
Plaster City by the United States
Gypsum company with headquarters
in Chicago.
With the announcement OF the
change in ownership was coupled
plans for expansion Of the $4,000, 900
properties, including plant and
quarry operations.
Already operating the largest
quarry in the United States, located
26 miles north of Plaster City in
the Fish mountain range, the new
owners rapidly will open quarrieS
located through an intensive, pro-
longed survey completed just prior
to taking over the plant. The pur-
chase negotiations were completed
July 27
PAYROLL TO DOUBLE
The current payroll in all depart
ments of the industry is $4,000 an
nually, spread over u months of
steady employment. Under the ex-
pansion plans of the Chicago firm,
this will be doubled as increased
output develops.
Included in the transfer are the
plant and site, consisting of 500 ac-
res. all rail lines and approximately
5000 acres of quarry properties, all
lying within Imperial county.
At present the Plaster City plant
is producing wall plasters. casting
plasters, agricultural gypsum and
crushed gypsum rock. 1t is expected
an early announcement will be made
from the Chicago offices of ex-
panded items of production.
Representing the purchasing firm.
T. c. Quackenboss is spending some
time in the valley He heads the
general production department.
According to the official an
nOuncement of the change in own
erShip, all operations will continue
and under the direction of Allen
Moore, works manager, who has
been in charge at Plaster City the
last two years.
STARTED IN 1920
The Plaster City industry was
started in 1920 by the then Imperial
Gypsum & Oil company. A num-
ber of Imperial county people were
interested in the original company
The industry was operated and
built up to considerable size In
/ 1923 the Pacific Portland company
purchased the entire business and
steadily has increased holdings
throughout the valley and expanded
! the plant mill to the point where it
is one Of the outstanding produc-
| ton plants in Southern California.
/ The United States Gypsum COM
pany operates a large plant at Mid
land, in eastern Riverside county.
( While no official announcement
has been made it is expected that
officials from Chicago will arrive
presently for a full tour of the
properties when further expansion
plans likely will be made public.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
Part of HoId-Up
Cash Located

BURBANK. Cal, July 81. tUPl-
Approximately $4,000 III silver Of the
S111,3C0 stolen from two Hollywood
State bank messengers by two arm
ed bandits yesterday, has been re
covered from a West Los Angeles
garage on property y. 4 bank en-
ploye, police said Tuesday.
Federal Bureau Of Investigation
agents said a boy named 'Abalar"
led them to the garage cache. ~but
agents refused to give his full name
Two guns believed to be those us
ed in the holdup were found in the
garage cache with the money, Off
GERS disclosed. as well as clothing
and the MP" armbarI worn by
one of the bandits.
Meanwhile police and other Off
GERS continued their hunt for the
two youthful bandits. one dressed
as a military policeman, who rob
bed the two bank messengers Mon
day.
Other developments are expected
to break mOmentarily," one official
said
The victims. who escaped after
they were bound and left on a de-
serted road. walked for two hours
to report the payroll robbery, big
gest in recent years here.
The two bandits apparently made
a clean getaway with six bags hold
ing S108.300 in currency and $4,000
in silver. The messengers were de-
litering the money to a checkcaSh-
ing agency near the LOckheed Air
craft Corp. plant
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31

WASHINGTON, July 81.
(UP) - Brig. Gen. Elliott
Roosevelt, second son Of the
late President, will doff his
uniform August Is and return to
civilian status with the army's
thanks for his "efficient' service
The date of his discharge was
announced by the war department
Monday night in a statement deny
ing any connection between his re
lease and recent publicity over GER
tain loans which he repeatedly neg
otiated while his father was in the
White House.
The department said the 34-year-
old officers application for dis
charge. and the decision to grant
it, were made before the loan con-
troversy began.
mo information regarding these
matters was in the possession Of the
war department at the time the re-
quest was authorized" the state
ment emphasized.
Young Roosevelt'S financial af-
fairs have been under congressional
study for several weeks as result
of reports that he had negotiated
several large loans which were later
settled for fraction Of the money
involved There have been publish
ed suggestions that top army Off
cials advised him to quit as result
of the publicity.
According to the war department,
however, Roosevelt filed his dis
charge application on Nav II
whereas the first public disclosure
of his controversial loan operations
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
Valley Receives
LiqE1t Rainfall

Once again for July the Valley
atmosphere reached the point of
saturation in humidity Which in
ordinary layman's talk spells the
four-letter word-rain. And so for
the second time this month there
was what weather technicianS term
showing" Tuesday forenoon.
Not enough drops to move up on
the measuring stick far enough to
fractioniZe an inch, the standard for
rain measurements.
On downtown Ell Centro streets
sufficient moisture was precipitated
to render the pavement slick. Re-
ports from over the valley indicate
fall from a trace to measurable"
fall
For a while early in the morning
the old Indian sign was creeping
over the vallev-"clOudy all around
and pouring down in the middle 8"
But the heavy clouds gradually
were disSipated as the sun mounted
and it all Simmered down to the
light shower.
So far this year the total precipi-
tatlon in the Valley stands at 10
inch. Of this total, January account
ed for ST. Nav and June were zeros
For the period in 1914 the total was
Is. The 32-year average for the
January-July period is 1877
In the Colorado river area immed-
lately east of the Valley q severe
electric storm made a quick visit
Monday night.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
100000 Civilians
Get Escape Chance
Leaflets Scattered Broadcast Before
Air Armada Starts Fiery Attacks;
Destroyers Shell Town in Bold Move

GUAM, July 81 (UP)--American Superfortresses have
dropped leaflets - japanese cities, warning their
citizens they the B-29 death list and must
in the face of promised fire bombmgs
The cities have combined population of 100000 and
the second group be warned in advance by the 10Th
Air Force in four days Six of the IL originally warned
already haI4 been attacked
The grim message from Mai. Gen. Curtis f. LeMay fol
lowed daring predawn surface bombardment of Shl-
mtzu 100 miles southwest of Tokyo by dearoyers OF the
Third Fleet carrying the sea-ar offensive into its twenty
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31

vasion without the knowledge of the
old marshal.
Weygand told a story Of Frances
downfall that was studded with
these highlights:
The Americans would have paid
dearly" for the invasion of North
Africa without the French COOPER
alton for which the armistice OPEN
ed the way.
Petain. using the armistice terms
as an argument, refused a Nazi III
timatum on June 16, 1910, demand
ing that France hand over certain
bases.
Weygand himself was solely re-
sponSible for declaring Paris an
open city.
Petain's first step in connection
with the armistice was to say that
France never would surrender her
fleet.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
f. {. Man Killed
When Auto
Crashes Truck

James f. Russell A, was killed
instantly at $3.50 pm. Monday when
his car crashed into the rear of a
truck driven by Lorenzo Apostle,
Filipino, who was cited by highway
patrol officers for driving without
lights
The accident took place two and
one quarter miles south of highway
80 as Russell was driving north on
highway Ill. No passengers were in
either vehicle
A native of BemuS, Texas, Russell
had resided in Imperial Valley for
Is years, and had been employed
by the Scheniman paper company
as salesman the past l9 years. He
made his home at 473 He'll with his
wife Anna Mae and a daughter
Robbie Jean.
Other surviving relatives are his
parents, Mr. and Mrs j. Russell, of
Alvarado; four sisters and two
, irctffers all of Dallas, Texas.
Funeral arrangements are pend
ing at the Lemons Wiley mortuary
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
Worker Deorth
flinders War

WASHINGTON, July 81. CUPl-A
special congressional committee re-
ported Tuesday that repaired war
ships are leaving west coast Ship
yards without the latest and best
equipment because of shortage of
skilled help.
Rep. John j. Sparkman Cd, Ala
bama, head of the special house
military affairs investigating
committee, said that in some cases
ships were sent back to sea with
out being adequately repaired"
, But more Often," he said, 1T is
without the latest and best equip
ment that is available but is not put
on because of a shortage Of skilled
labor"
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31

The committee placed part of the
blame on the army.
1T is apparent that the war de-
partment, under the cloak of mill
tary necessity. has not cooperated
sufficiently with war activities and
other governmental agencies in
these areas the report said.
In one case. the report said,
large carrier was scheduled to leave
a shipyard on a certain date. When
the time came for that ship to leave
although it was in condition to
fight, all betterments were not COM
pleted, and it was able to put into
the air only 80 per cent instead of
100 per cent OF its plane capacity
within given time" the report
said.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
Weysond Pleads
For Petuin =

PARIS, July 81 CUP)-Gen. Max
ime Weygand defended Marshal
Henri Philippe Petain Tuesday as
a faithful guardian Of Frances in
terests and negotiator Of an newt
able armistice which made possible
the relatively bloodless American in
yaSion of North Africa.
Weygand, generalssimo of French
forces in the debacle of 1910. told
a tense and eager high court jury
that Petain in November, 1912, sent
repeated messages to Admiral Jean
Darlan ordering the cessation Of
French hostilities against the Amer
leans.
The old and ailing general, fresh
from long imprisonment in Ger
many, testified at Petain's treason
trial that Pierre Laval ordered the
French to resist the American in
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
Garland Has Eye
On Governorship

SACRAMENTO, July 81 (UP) =
Gordon Garland, state director of
motor vehicles. Tuesday disclosed he
is considering running for one of
several political offices in next years
elections.
Garland said his political plans
depend on Gov Earl Warren's po-
litical decisions. If the governor
does not run for reelection Garland
said Il wouldn't say would not be
a candidate for governor" He said
he also had been asked to consider
competing for U. S. senator and for
membership on the state board OF
equalization.
He made it clear however, that
he will support Warren if he runs
for reelection and would not make
any decision until the governor has
made final plans.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
Press DePIores
War

SAN FRANCISCO, July 81. CUPb
Tokyo newspapers complained bit
terly Tuesday about the hardshipS
Of war at home and eXhOrted the
government and people to redouble
their efforts despite "incessant bonn
bardment and carrier plane bomb
ingS"
Tokyo radio recorded by United
Press, San Francisco, said Japan'S
leading newspapers had reacted
very strongly" to the 3rd Fleet at
tackS.
Mainichi admitted editOrially that
the japanese people had not been
prepared pSychologically for battles
in their own front yard
The initial victories more or less
dimmed the sense of trials, which
began with the beginning Of the Pa
eific war four years ago. Frankly,
the japanese people have never con-
ceived the war as anything but bat
ties abroad.
The ChineSe-JapaneSe and the
RuSso-Japanese wars, the Manchur-
ian and China incidents and even
the first half of the Pacific war all
had their theaters of fighting out
side our sacred homeland"
The newspaper pointed out that
the japanese fighting services here
tofOre had made it possible to win
the victors. laurels without bringing
the war and devastation to our
mainland"
But this foolish notion that war
is physically remote and foreign was
utterly destroyed by the most un-
fortunate military circumstances of
today
The wars decision must be
fought right here on the japanese
soil and in the japanese home wa
ters. Our navy tried SO hard to keep
the enemy from within range of our
shores. but the enemy is right here,
knocking hard and even more
harder.
The war to crush the enemy has
just begun and 1t is for us now to
do or die as a nation"
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
Citrus Growers
Seek Way to
Move Heavy Crop

LOS ANGELES, July 81 CUPD -
Spokesman for major southwest
citrus growers Tuesday sought tenn
pOrary suspension Of price ceilings
to aid market of the largest Cali
fornia- Arizona orange crop in his
tory. valued at nearly $250.00O 900.
Railway car and labor shortages
plus a freak development in this
years 77,000-car crop of Southern
Valencia oranges were explained be-
fore OPA and department of agri-
culture representatives.
Normally. it was pointed out, small
oranges constitute about so per cent
of the crop, but this year approx
mately 80 per cent are of the smaller
variety. Military requirements take
half of the large crop, leaving only
small portion of large. readily
marketable oranges, it was said
A recent price fall in small
oranges resulted in the east when
peaches and other fruits came to
, the market after 4 late harvest.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
IL MORE JAP CITIES GET BOMB WARNINGS
Rock Convict
Almost Escapes

SAN FRANCISCO, July 81. CUP)
A Salt Lake City mail robber,
John x. Giles, who attempted to
escape from the federal prison on
Rocky Alcatraz Island in San Fran
cisco bay Tuesday, was recaptured
aboard boat about to leave for
the mainland. police reported Tues
day.
The capture of the 5O-year-old
convict was announced a few min
utes after prison officials had
sought the aid of police in a man.
hunt for one of the few men to at
tempt escape from The Rock"
Giles crawled under the dock
where he was working and went
aboard an army boat tied up there
Al It 80 am A count of prison
inmates was made as the boat pull
ed away A few minutes after the
boat left AlCatraz Giles was missed.
An associate warden chased the
ship in a small launch and recap
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
Big Three Near
Final Session:
Stain Falls III
Attlee Plans Return
For Parliament
Opening on Wednesday
Ry MERRIAIAN SMITH

POTSDAM, July 81. (UP)
The Big Thre-a were expect
ed to hold what may be their
final conference Tuesday
after a tWo-day delay caused by a
slight illness of Premier Stain.
"A London dispatch said Prime
Minister Attlee was expected to re-
turn to London III time for the
opening Of the new parliament We'd
nesday and might arrive in the
British capital Tuesday night
Stain was confined to his Berlin
quarters Sunday and Monday by his
physician for what was described rs
4 Slight mdispo ;ition' presumably
& slight cold or Indigestion.
There was no explanation why
official 5pokeSmen told newSmen
that the three leaders were continu-
ing to meet during the period while
Stain was unable to attend the SeS-
siOnS
Soviet Foreign COmmiSsar V. M
Molotov met with President Tru-
man and Prime Minister Attlee on
behalf Of Stain Sunday.
Mol0toy also conferred with u. S.
Secretary Of State James f. Byrne5
and British Foreign Secretary Ern-
est Beyin both Sunday and Mon
dav.
The conference originally was
scheduled to have ended Monday
with an important communiQue, but
Stalin'S illness prolonged it through
Tuesday and possibly Wednesday.
Although delay first was disclosed
Monday night. heavy censorship at
thc top mode, : major mystery out
of it by banning all mention of the
reason for the interruption.
1t was believed that the three
chiefs of state will have major de-
clsiOns to make on explosive prob
lens relating to the japanese war
end occupation Of Europe.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31

second DAY.
Warned to eVaCuate in the face Of
the dreaded fire bombs were the
citizens Of Hakodate, on ,Hokkaido;
Kurume. on KyuShu; and Mito,
Hachioji, Maebashi, Toyama, Naga-
Okla, NishinOmiya- -Mikage. Maiuru,
Otsu, Fukuyama. and Nagano, on
the main island of Honshu.
OF these, Hakodate, Kurume,
Nagaoke and NishinOmiya- -MiAage
were warned for the second time.
CITIES DEVASTATED
The Honshu cities OF TSu, Aomori,
Ichinomiya, Ogaki and Ujiyamada
and UWijima on Shikoku were de-
vastated Satur!a day, 81 hours after
the original leaflet announcement
Koriyama, on HOnShu, was the llth
city first named
Destruction " ire OI the IL
doomed cities would cost Japan an
other group of her important mid
dle-siZed rail CenterS. ports and
manufacturing cities, filled with air
plane. steel, aluminium, precision in
Strument, chemical and naval ord
nance works.
Already SO home island cities have
been fired and largely destroyed by
the rampaging B-29S.
Carriers Of the fleets famed Task
Force 38 went under another secuT-
ity blackout off the burning Japa-
nese coast in preparation for new
blows. Their planes had destroyed
or damaged no fewer than 90 ships
and 1873 planes Monday alone III
sweeps from Tokyo to Kobe
Radio Tokyo said the task force
included at least ii carriers and was
believed cruising off the IZu penin-
Sula on the east coast of HOnShu
1t estimated 1000 Allied planes at
tackled the central HOnshu area dur
ing a 13-hour npriod Monday.
MAKE NIGHT RAID
Other carrier and land based
planes raided HonShu during the
night, Tokyo said. Ten or more
carrier aircraft hit airfields on To-
kyO bay, single SuperfOrtresSeS and
LiberatOrS flew over YOkoSuka and
other planes appeared over the Shi-
ZuOka prefecture coast, the broad
cast said
Nimitz' communiques, coupled
with similaT announcements from
Gen. Douglas MacArthur's Far
Eastern forces, revealed that ~
Continued on Page 6, Column y
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
Spoin's Expulsion Order
Speeds Laval To Fate

ed vigorously against his expulsion.
He and his wife spent an uneasy
night on a couch i'll a hangar at
the airfield after their plane devel-
oped mechanical trouble as it was
about TO take off Monday.
Laval was under indictment III
France on a charge of high treason
and also was wanted as a witness
III the trial of former Vichy chief
of state, Marshal Henri Philippe Pc
tain
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
= AMBlIpG
Needle In HayStaCk-

Needle In HayStack-
There were some hurried calls to
the FL Centre police department.
the sheriffS office end even the
FBI offices Monday morning ar
ound 10 am. The calls came from
the Bank Of America and the Sc
curity First National bank. First
one would call. then the other. Each
time a bunch Of sleuths would reach
one Of the banks, Il call would come
fom the other.
Finally it all rounded itself out.
Boo Smith. manager OF United
Artists theatre, known for his get
tine around fast. was the object Of
the calls He is 4 frequent caller at
both banks. Always acted regular.
But Monday. it seems Bob was hoy
ering around tellerS receiving win
Continued on Page 6. Column e.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31

northern Italy to permit the French
to make arrangements to- bring him
back to France with the maximum
possible security against aSsassina-
tom
The plane was the same German
junkers in which Laval arrived in
Spain in the closing days of the
European war. Two German air
men piloted the plane and Laval
was accompanied by his wife.
Up to the last minute, he protest
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
Senator Sees Jap
War Over Soon

INDIANAPOLIS, July 81. CUP)-
Senator Homer r. Capehart (RD,
Indiana. Tuesday predicted the end
of the war with Japan within 60
days.
He said that Russia would "join
us in the Pacific by September l If
the Japanese haven't surrendered by
that time" Capehart said his pre-
dictions were only personal obSer-
vations,"
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
Executive Resigns
Railway Post

OMAHA. Neb., July 81. up
Paul Rigdon, vice president in
charge of operations of the Union
Pacific railroad, has resigned, ac-
cOrding to brief announcement is
sued Tuesday at the railroads head
quarters.
No reason for the resignation was
given in the 33-word announcement.
Rigdon had been employed by th,-
system for approximately 40 years
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
Hearings Slated
On Car Theft

Oscar GonaZles was arraigned in
}. E. Simpsons Justice court Mon
day on car theft complaint signed
by Capt. James E. Verdieck, sta
toned at the Ell Centre marine base.
Preliminary hearing is set for p.
m. Friday when Gonzales appears
for hearing on a similar charge
signed by Ray Hill.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
5000 laps Killed
On Burma Front

CALCUTTA, July 81 (UPD-More
than 5000 japanese troops have been
killed and almost 600 captured in
heavy fighting between Burma S
Neutrality-suspicious. road and the
Sittang river, the Southeast Asia
Command announced Tuesday.
The Japanese are fighting fanat-
ically to escape eastward into Thai
land, but Allied forces have caught
them in a crosSfire and never have
relaxed their pressure, the commun-
ique said.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
Wine Theft Case
Awaits Trial

Dudley Meadow, 81, was bound
over to superior court when he ap-
peared Tuesday before Justice of the
Peace j. E. Simpson for preliminary
nearing in connection with a case
OF wine, allegedly taken July "a
from the Pacific Freight Lines Of
flee.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31

nation that there was no require
ment for his services in the Pacific
which could not be filled by an
other available and qualified Off
GER"
Young Roosevelt entered the ar
my in October, 1910, with the rank
Of captain.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
Stolen Car Found
In San lieqo

Minus gasoline but in good con-
dition Oran Houck's black Plym-
outh coupe was recovered in San
Diego Monday night after the I'M
perial county Sheriff's office sent
out broadcast on the car reported
stolen from Seeley the night before.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-07-31
Elliott Roosevelt Ends
Army Service August IS

was made in June. 1t repeatedly in
vOlved a 100000 loan which later
was settled for $4,000.
The statement said the discharge
application had been studied in the
light Of Roosevelt's long and eff
cient service in the European the
ater." 1t was granted upon determi-