davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26
Death Summons
Dan ". West,
Valley Pioneer
By MARGUERITE BROOKS

Dan w. West, sf3, fiery politician,
staunch old-lino Republican, asses
sor- collector of Imperial county,
farmer, Farm Bureau director, and
Imperial Valley pioneer, died late
Sunday in a Brawley hospital.
His valiant fight against heart
ailment with which he first was
stricken several years ago was lost,
his frienos believe, when he learned
that his wife had died February 13.
Mrs. West Was critically i'll in Mon
rovia when West suffered heart
attack January n. His condition
was so grave at the time his wife
died that his physician ordered that
nothing be said to him about it.
However, he learned of it last week
and the shock was so great that he
lost consciousness. He died at 2:3)
pm. Sunday without ever having
regainec consciousness.
The funeral will be held in Impe-
rial Valley but the hour and place
had not been determined Monday.
PENNSYLVANIA NATIVE
West was born in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, May 25, 1873 and
when six years of age his parents
took him to Arcadia, Kansas, where
he lived until he was grown.
He first visited Imperial Valley
in 1904. He liked the place SO well
and was so confident of its future
that he went back to Kansas, wound
up his affairs there, and returned
in 1906 to make his home in the
valley.
The Wiests settled on a ranch in
the northern part of the valley and
the West district was named for
West. He kept the ranch until his
death.
West was one of the most color
full characters in Imperial Valley,
forever undaunted in his homespun
Americanism and a man who al
ways spoke his mind" in political
matters. He devoted much of his
time to fighting for the rights of
farmers because, he said many
times, 1.-THE hope of the republic
lies in the hancs of the farmers of
America, the only men in the ma
Continued on Pg. 6, Gel. 81
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26
ArInored Russian
Forces Sweep
Near Baltic Port

LONDON, Feb. 26. CUP)-Soviet
armored forces pushed to within 60
miles or less of the Baltic Monday
in a powerful drive to split Ger
many's northern defenses.
Tanks and infantry struck out
through Pomerania for the Baltic
after preaching the Nazi line based
on the Danzig-Stettin railway at a
point midway between those two
big seaports.
A thrust to the sea in this area
would slice off The northeastern tip
of Germany, along with the Polish
corridor and the free state CT Dan
zig. Tens of thousands of German
troops in the area would be cut off
from all escape except by sea.
AERIAL RESERVES
On the Berlin front, the Germans
appeared to have thrown in their
aerial reserves in an attempt to
break up Soviet preparations for a
frontal assault on the capital from
their bridgeheads on the Oder, 30
odd miles to the east.
The army organ Red Star said
German and Soviet fighter planes
were engaged in major battles over
the bridgeheads, as we'll as deep
over rear areas on both sides. The
Nazi attacks appeared designed to
threw Soviet offensive plans off
schedule and gain time for the Ger
man command to complete Berlin S
defenreS.
Red Star said Soviet fighters and
anti-aircraft batteries were taking
a heavy toll of the enemv planes.
Continued on Page 6, Col. q
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26
BY WILLIAM B. DICKINSON

MANILA, Feb. 26. CUP)-Trapped
Japanese in Manila ignored a sur
render ultimatum Monday an d
American troops Immediately began
an annihilation drive against the
enemy remnants holding out in
three government buildings.
The final assault on the last en-
emy pocket in the capital came as
other American forces pushed into
the foothills of the Sierra Madres
mountains east of Manila in an at
tack on the 25-mile lcng Kobayashi
line.
FACE CERTAIN DOOM
An estimated 1000 fanatical Japa-
nese, believed commanded by Rear
Admiral Iwabuchi, were lodged in
the three buildings and faced GER
tain doom.
They had been given three choices
in the ltimatum-suicide, a fight
to death or honorable surrender.
Their only reply was sniper fire
while the edict was being read over
the public address system.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26
Leaders Survey
MeIoIund Plans

Imperial Valleys need for an
agricultural college and increase Of
service and facilities at the Melo-
land experiment station Monday
were shown Dean C. B. Hutchinson
of the college of agriculture, Univer-
sity of California, and director of
extension stations
Dean Hutchinson was accompani-
ed to Imperial Valley by James
Corley, comptroller of the college Of
agriculture.
The two university officials came
to Imperial Valley to get first hand
picture of the station, its important
part in the development of agri-
culture in southwestern United
States, the general future in the
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26

valley so they better will under
stand the valleys request for funds
to finance the college and the i'm
provements recommended.
Dean Hutchinson and Corley par
ticularly were interested in recon-
mendation prepared and submitted
to them by the Meloland group,
valley residents who for many years
have made special study of the
station and its accomplishments,
and planned for it's future.
First phase of the tour of the
visitors was in charge of Argyle
McLachlan, Fred Gunterman, John
Kubler, Alex Meyer and Roy Breed
love. The group was to, be joined
later by other valley residents,
farmers and officials.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26
Last Of MuniIu
Jups Doomed

When the deadline passed at
daybreak, American guns opened
fire and the troops prepared fer an
assault on the buildings to clean out
the last resistance in Manila.
With the city virtually clear.
other American troops resumed
their drive toward Luzon's eastern
coast with an Offensive against the
Kobayashi line.
SPEED ATTACK
Units Of the First Cavalry and
Sixth Infantry Divisions were at
tacking the Japanese line frcm Tay-
tay, two miles north of Laguna bay.
to Norzagaray, 10 miles northeast
of Manila.
At tie same time, the 18th Air
borne Division continued its rapid
drive southwark along the west
coast of Laguna bay and crossed
the Juan river, Is miles below Mum
tinlupa. The thrust brought the air.
borne units within five miles of Los
Banos, where another sensational
liberation of Allied internees was
carried out Friday.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26
Detroit Strikers
Stop War Output

ers (CIO) ano company repreSen-
tatives to appear Monday for "a
show-cause hearing. Union spokes-
men said they might call mass
meeting of the 10000 strikers to re-
port the WLB hearing. The walkout
began Friday as protest against the
firing of seven men whom the COM
pany accused of loafing.
Shutdown of the Dodge main plant
already had caused a 80 per cent
ls,yoff at the Dodge truck factory,
the company said, with $50 men sent
home because of lack of parts. The
strike might affect all 13 Chrysler
plants, a company spokesman said,
including the big Dodge plant at
Chicago where 10000 are employ
ed.
International UAW-CIO officers
have ordered the strikers back to
work, but their demands have been
ignored by membership of local 3.
The strikers charged that the
company provoked the strike by a
speedup SO that it could prepare
for postwar production of automo-
biles.
The company denied the charge
and said the discharged men had
Jagged far behind a normal piece
rate of production in B-23 engine
parts.
GARY, Ind, Feb. 26 tUP)-A
strike of approximately 450 work.
ers at the coke plant of the Carnegie
Illinois Steel Corp, Monday threat
ened to shut off the citys supply of
cooking gas and halt work in several
war plants.
City officials said there was only
three day reserve of cooking gas
in tanks.
The walkout originated on the
early morning shift Sunday, union
leaders said. when four employees
left their jobs to protest the dis
missal of a fellow worker.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26

DETROIT, Feb. 26. (UP)
Maintenance men and pow
erhouse employees Monday
Joined the strikers at the
Chrysler corporations Dodge
main plant, completely halt
ing production of guns,
tanks, BIO engine parts, and
rockets.
The War Labor board ordered
officers Of the United Auto Work
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26
County Officers
Probe Two Fires

Officers Monday were investigat-
ing two fires which occurred at the
same time in the early morning
hours
A house burned a mile south of
the West store in the northern part
of the valley and large hay stack
three miles south on the same road,
Sheriff Robert w. Ware was inform
ed by residents of the area.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26
u. s. Charts Economic Plan
At Mexico City Por|ey

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 26.
(UP)-The United States
presented to the Interameri-
can Conference Monday a 10
point economic charter of
the Americas" 1t is designed
to protect the" natural right"
of the peoples of the Ameri-
cas- to live decently.
The economic charter was one of
eight resolutions presented to the
steering committee Monday. The
others concerned elimination of sub
versive activities. wartime trade
controls, cooperation in health, sani-
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26
Mother. 3 Children
Perish in Fire

SAN MIGUEL, Cal, Feb. 26. CUP)
An oil lamp left burning while the
family slept was believed Monday
to have caused fire that killed a
mother and her three children.
Mrs. Ollie Jane Atkins, 26, her
children, Mary Lou, 8; James Cecil,
6, and Doylin, 4, were burned to
death late Saturday night.
Their home, on the Henry Won
Dollen ranch, was discovered in
flames by neighbor. Leroy Stew
art. He awakened Mr.. and Mrs. Won
Dollen, whose ranch hcme was 800
yards from the Atkins house.
The father, Wilbert Atkins, was
working on ranch 10 miles away
at the time of the fire.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26

tation and food programs, social
questions, social security, admission
and surrender of war criminals, and
maintenance of internal economies
of the American republics.
The objectives of the economic
charter are: continued mobilization
of economic resources until total
victory; orderly transition from war
to peacetime conditions; and a con-
structive basis for sound economic
development after the war.
The charter would pledge the Am
ericas to the following principles In
attaining those detectives:
l. Rising levels of living.
2. Equal access to trade and raw
materials of the world.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26
Milk Deliveries
To Be Increased

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 26. CUP)-
Milk distributors will be permitted
to boost their deliveries by the
equivalent of two million quarts CT
milk month beginning March l,
Martin Blank, of the War Food Ad-
ministration, announced Monday.
The extra allotment is expected
to cover districts where shortages
have been most acute. The new order
provides for a five per cent step-up
in milk deliveries and ten per cent
increase in cream for civilians.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26
Points Boosted
On Margarine,
And Shortcomings

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26. CUP)-
Housewives found higher ration
values on margarine, lard, shcrten-
ing and cooking oils when they went
out to do their shopping Monday.
Because of tight supply situa-
ton, the Office of Price Admins
tration ordered these increases over
the week end:
Margarine-Frcm three red points
pound to five.
Lard, shortening, salad and cook
ing oils-From two points a pound
to four.
Butter was not affected. 1t re-
mains at "a points pound.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26
Weather Bureau
Closes Office

Frost or no frost, Weatherman Roy
Simpson declared Monday, there will
be no more official weather fore
casts issued in Imperial valley this
season.
Simpson said he must collect the
temperature recording machines
scattered from Indio to Yuma, pack
them, and wind up his affairs for
the season. He remained in the
valley later than he expected be-
cause of the recent cold weather.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26
1000 Planes Blast Berlin:
Center Of Tokyo AfIame
Great Flames Mark Path of yanks
Terrific Aerial Onslaught;
Hirohi+o's Palace Probably Hit

GUAM, Feb. 26 (UP)-Much of the center of Tokyo
was believed in flaming ruins Monday following Sunday IS
record onetwo air assault by than 200 Supeforresses
and 1000 carrier planes.
Some fires may be smoulderng Emperor Hirohitos
palace grounds Bombs fell the stables bureau of the
Imperial household ministry the palace grounds as
we'll Omiya palace residence of the emperors
mother, mile and half away, Tokyo said.
(The American broadcasting station in Europe said
about 25G00 square yards in the heart of Tokyo was in
flames following the double raid NBC monitors reported
BBC heard by Blue Network said part of the Imperial
guards barracks demolished by bomb which fell in
the a1aC,n ctS\
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26
Chinese Retake
j. 5. Airfield

CHUNGKING, Feb. 26. CUP) -
Chinese troops have recaptured the
former American air base at Sui
chwan in western Kiangsi province,
a communique said Monday.
The Suichwan field fell into Jap
anese hands few weeks ago dur
ing the enemy advance into south
western China.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26

Radio Tokyo said enemy night
bombers' following up the daylight
raids crossed the Japanese coast in
the direction of the capital at 8
pm. Sunday (Tokyo time), but did
not say whether they had dropped
any bombs.
1t was expected that planes from
Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher'S
task force So, the worlds greatest
concentration of aircraft carriers,
would send the attack into second
DAY Monday
However, there was no word to
this effect from either Pacific fleet
headquarters or radio Tokyo up to
mid-morning.
At least 1e00-and probably more
tons of demolition and fire bomt I
were cascaded on Tokyo in the twin
raids yesterday. Together, they
constituted the heaviest assault ever
made on Tokyo, one twice as heavy
as the heaviest German raid ever
made on London during the height
of the 1940-41 blitz and approach
ing in weight those now being made
on Germany by the Allies.
HIT MAIN STREET
Crewmen who manned the great
est armada of B-29s ever sent aloft
said they laid their bombs fright
down the main street" of Tokyo
The capital must be burning fur
iously," they said on their return.
The B-29s did most of their bomb
ing with precision instruments
through clouds that obscured the
ground. No fighters and only light
anti-aircraft fire was encountered.
All returned safely.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26

3. Reduction OF trade barriers,
4. Elimination OF cartels which
restrict international trade.
5. Elimination of economic nation
alism.
6. Just and equitable treatment for
foreign enterprise and capital.
Z. Endorsement OF financial and
agricultural proposals agreed TO at
Breton Woods and Hot Springs.
8. Promotion Of private enterprise.
8. International action TO facilitate
distribution OF production surpluses.
10. Appropriate steps to assure
that workers OF the Americas VII
have working conditions which were
Continued on Pg. 8. Col. 81
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26

herded by 700 strafng fighters cascaded great
weight of explosives and fire bombs three big railway
stations the heart of Berlin.
18th Straight Day of Aerial Attacks
This the 4th straight day of record aerial offens
i've against Germany The Berlin blow struck in sup
port of the Red army 1t designed to disrupt
ncatons vital to the German troops in the front lines
30-odd miles from Berlin.
The great air fleet pounded Berlin for hour in what
Nazi propagandists called terror attack
The Royal air force joined in the daylight offensive
against the Reich big force of Lancaster bombers
Ruhr industrial center of Dortmund.
Aimed at BerLin's Transport Centers
The American onslaught aimed primarily at Ber-
Inns rail yards, the of all German transport.
The attack directly in support of the Red army
forces massed along the Oder river line 3Oodd miles
of Berlin.
Berlins railway lines considered vital to the Naz
armies braced east III the capital again tie oncomng
Soviets Virtually all the supplies and troops moved
other sectors the eastern front pass through Berlin
The size of the radng fleet indicated Mondays attack
probably heavier than the last big American
heavies dropped about $500 tons of explosives the city
RAF Mosquito bombers rocked Berlin with two-ton
block busters last night for the sixth straight night The
air ministry said che Mosquitoes had dropped 400 tons of
explosives on the capital in the past week
Erfurt, Manz and Bremen alse attacked by the
RA Sunday night.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26
SeIective Service Boards
Call in 30-33 yeur-OIds

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26. begin drafting large num-
(UP)-Loca draft boards ber of the 100000 deferred
under order Monday to in the 3O-33 year age
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26
y AMBllNe
EpoRTER

Hen Psychology
Every time eggs get high said
Jack Caradine, who fancieS himself
as a chicken fancier, "the hens
stop laying"
"I'hat isn't it, jack" protested
Mrs. Lottie Mason, who is chicken
fancier anc can prove Vt. when the
hens stop laying the eggs get high"
That's right, Jack, even the CPA
can't control hen. Efforts of the
bright boys in the CPA have failed
when it comes to getting hen to
change her laying season. Hens, my
dear Jack, are rugged individualistS.
If it weren't for the hens, Dear
Public, the OPA could do every
thing.
Wrong Bait
Speaking of hens, you should see
The splendid nests Jerry DeBose
built in his revamped hen house
near Ell Centre.
Those nests are so tempting and
luxurious that Rudolph Miller's hens
scorn the Miller hen house and go
across the street to lay their eggs
in the DeBose hennery.
The trouble with you Is, Rudolph,
you don't use the right kind of lure.
Brain Storm
Interested onlookers at Fifth anc
(COntinued on Page 6, Col, g.
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26
American Pilots Drop 1850 Tons
Of Explosives and 100000
|ncendiary Missiles on Targets

LONDON, Feb 26. (UP)-Amost 1000 American
planes dropped than 1850 tons of high explosive
bombs and at least 100000 ncendiares Berlin Monday
in the greatest daylight raid of the the German cap
tai.
Upwards of 1900 Flying FOrtresses and Lberators shep
herded by 700 trafing fighters cascaded great
weight of explosives and fire bombs three big railway
tatio tbob boort of Por1ip
Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-26
WEATHER

Maximum Sun. 81, minimum Mon.
36; noon Mon. n, mo humid. read.)
5 pm. Sun. IS, (no humid. rcad.) /;
no reading at am. Mon.
Detroit evening times., 1945-04-01

because Of the speed OF our sd-
vance and the lack Of resistance
Task Force Brown, commanded
by 1t Col John { Brown OF
Grand Rapids. Mich Is doing the
front running for the seventh
Armored Division.
The current problem Brown
said. is to keep the boys from
stopping and taking a shot ai
Germans Sull manning gun posi-
tionS along the roads
Browns column oNcrran Ger
man convoy 30 miles long UaHc
up for the most part oF horse
drawn and WoOd-burninc vehicles
and shot II up in no time. The
prisoners said wcarily.
Everything is chaos and con-
fusion. There il no point in
No one is going To-,
either"
Detroit evening times., 1945-04-01
German Oil, Rails
Hit for 47th Day
Berlin Again Lashed
by BIockbuster Raid

LONDON. March 81 INS)-
More than 1900 American Flying
FortreSses and Liberator bomb
erS. escorted by $50 Mustang and
Thunderbolt fighters today blasted
German industrial and communi-
cations targets IN the 41th day
of the tremendous Allied airway
against the Reich.
The bomberS hit a synthetic oil
plant at ZeitZ, railyardS at Halle
and railyards and industrial tar
gets at Brunswick and Branden-
burg
Strong forces Of Raj Lancas-
terS and HahfaXeS escorted by
Mustangs attacked the Blohm
and VosS shipbuilding yards at
Hamburg.
The German radio warned AT
the same time that a bomber for
nation was approaching from the
south toward Bavaria. indicating
another two-Way attack
Berlin had been subjected dur
ing the night 10 another assault
by blockbuster laden Mosquitoes
Detroit evening times., 1945-04-01
Jdps Attacking
ldohokoW CITY

NEW YORK. March 81 GNS)--
The japanese Domei agency said
today-that japanese forces driving
10 clear the area west of Peiping-
Hankow Railway in China Hupeh
Province "at the present time arc
attacking the city Of Laohokow
after Seizing the former American
air base outside the city on Tues
day.
According TO an announcement
by the high command yesterday
the Laohokow airfield was evaCu-
ated by the Fourteenth American
Air Force on Monday
Todays Domei dispatch. re-,
corded. by the FEC. said that
"ferct~hand-to-hand fighting hac
preceded japanese seizure of the
airheld,
Detroit evening times., 1945-04-01
, Won Wieeand Says:
Diplomatic Report
Bares Red Intrigue
Romanian Armistice Breached
Many Times, Pressure Used
BY KARL II. Won WIEGAND
Dean OF American Foreign Correspondents
Nriil.n IArre.sl, ior ihs Hsarsl NsvsPaeera

MADRID, Spain, March 2S-Marshal Stain and
his totalitarian Communist Soviet government will
tolerate no interference by America or Britain in
Soviet Russa's front yard'-meaning ROmania,
Bulgaria, Estonia Latvia and Lithuania-any more
than America would tolerate Russian interference
in Cuba, Mexico and Central America.
That say reports in certain diplomatic circles
is the present state of mind in the Kremlin after
the request of the American government for con-
ference on the situation in Romania
Detroit evening times., 1945-04-01
10 JAP SHIPS SUNK

In the northern sector. the First
Corps seized Galiano, nine miles
from the coast, and drove three
miles TO the southeast on the
Naguillan-Baguio road
Heavy and medium bombers
continued naturalization raids.
They caSCaded more than 800 tons
Of bombs on LegaSpl, Luzon,
wrecking enemy defenSeS and set
ting large fires and explosions
Medium bomberS maintained the
blockade of southern approaches
10 Japan, sinking 10 vessels, in
Guiding two dcstroyerS, of the
French 1ndo-ChIna coast Five
were merchant ships totallng
1900 tons, Macarthur said
Detroit evening times., 1945-04-01
Interest Laqs
In Election
Only 2o0lo Expected
TO Cast Vote Monday
By FRANK MORRIS

Although some of the most i'm
portant state and county offices
are al stake. only 20 per cent Of
Michigan'S voters viii 90 10 the
polls Monday in one of the most
costly elections Of all time.
Each ballot viii cost taxpayers
well over 81.
Secretary Of State Herman Dig
nan Said fewer than 400 600 bal
lots would bee east. and OF this
total only about l25 600 would be
IN Wayne County Last Novem-
ber. more than 2250000 voters
iamned the polls
Oakley T.. DlSiin, city election
commissioner pointed out that
state election laws require that
The polls operate on Central War
Time. now The official time OF
Michigan. That viii mean that,
by city clocks. polls will open al
S a. IN. instead ol Z a m. and close
AT 9 p. m. instead of 3 p. m.
The complete slate:
COUNTY AUDITOR James
y. Frlel CD and Archie Lead
better tRl
CIRCUIT IUD G. f - Judge
John V. Brennan ana John r.
Monaghan
RECORDERS COURT
Judges Pau + krauSe and Ger
aid w. Groat. opposed by
Charles BowleS and John +.
Sweeny.
COMMON PLEAS COURT
Judges Thomas kenney and
David c VokeS opposed by
Robert NJ. Gillespie and Robert
J. Teagan.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Or. Burt r Shurly and A.
Douglas Jameson, incumbents.
opposed by Victor g. Rcuther
and Robert G. Foster
LEGISLATURE William NJ.
DonnellN CD and John Talbot
(R) tto fill vacancy.
SUPREME COURT Justices
Raymond w Starr and Walter
II. North. incumbents, opposed
by Herman Dehnke, Harrisville,
and w. Leo Catalan, Wyan-
dotte.
STATE HIGHWAY COM
MISSIONER - { mmisSioner
Charles NJ. ZiegIer tR). opposed
by George A. Dlngman Cd, De-
trolt
STATE SUPERINTENDENT
OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION -
Eugene B Elliott tR), incum-
bent opposed by r.. Burr Sher-'
wood ID
REGENTS or THE L. OF NJ.
Otto r. Eckert of Lansing
and Charles 5. Kennedy. De
trolt Republicans, and Edward
NJ Welch, Detroit, and J. Wal
ter Orr. Fenton. Democrats.
STATE BOARD OF EDUCA-
TION-CharIeS G. Burns,
Crosse Pointe CR), and Carl O.
Smith. Detroit tDD.
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
Melville 3 Mcpherson, Low
ell. and Forest II. AkerS. De-
troit. Republican incumbentS.
opposed by George Caball. Zee
land, and Frank J. Wiegand,
Detroit Democrats.
AS in the primary the city vii
use 20 voting machines eXperi.
mentally in 20 precincts.