davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
Americans Dem0lish
 Secret China Bases
BY ALBERTRAVENHOLT

Headquarters, 14th Air Force, China, February '. = CUP - Ameri- can airTnen. threatened by Japan csc columns converging from three directions, have abandoned and de- molished the last of their secret east China bases from which they had been fighting & desperate guer- rilla air war 400 miles east of the battle lines, 1t was disclosed today
 Menaced by enemy troops ad- vancing from Hankow, Hengyang and Canton, Major General Claire Chennault's flyers and ground creWmen destroyed bases at Nam yung and Kanchow from which our air power had struck at Japanese supply and combate lines.
 Chennault announced at a press conference the end of this dramatic episode in the 14th's operations.
 Chennault revealed that the American squadrons based at the forward airfields had been supplied completely by transport planes leap- frogging from the Running area over enemy lines and Japanese-held American bases.
 The wlyers and ground crewmen clung precariously to the Namyung and Kanchow fields until the Japan- csc ground forces occupied all the Canton -Hankow railway and moved in on them.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
Jops Bombord Prison Camps About M oniIo
By RALPH TEATSORTH

Manila, Feb. ' - CUPD - Jap aneSe today shelled Santo Tomas and Bilibid internment camps where thousands of Allied civilian in- ternees and prisoners of war are be- ing sheltered.
 Bombardment of the camps con- tinued sporadically throughout the day.
 The internees and prisoners had remained in the two camps pending completion of the mop-up of Jap anese resistance inside the City of Manila.
 In mid-afternoon, the Japanese scored at least four direct hits on the main University building at Santo Tomas. A shell dropped di- rectly in front of the entrance of the main building at Bilibid.
 Santo Tomas was under fire, prob- ably from mortarS, intermittently throughout the day.
 General Douglas MacArthur vis- ited internees at both camps today but escaped enemy fire.
 The internees of Bilibid originally had been evacuated two nights aga when fire swept that portion of the city.
 Fires were burning in Manila near the waterfro1E znd south of the Pasig river.
 Macario Arebejo, Manila realtor, estimated that street battles, fires, and demolitions had caused $2,000,- 100000 damege.
 Thte $500 newly liberated prison CTS at Santo Tomas cheered Mac Arthur on his arrival.
 He was accompanied by an honor guard of about 100 troops of the famed First Cavalry Division, many of whom had stormed Santo Tomas only three days before to free the internees.
 The cavalrymen presented arms as MacArthur drove up in staff car. The general wore khaki with five silver stars in circle on his collar and his gold braided cap of a Philippines filed marshal.
 Entering the lobby of an ancient Santo Tomas university building where American prisoners were housed, Macarthur was warmly embraced by several of the women interneeS.
 MacArthur, who was escorted by Brig. Gen. William 0. Chase, of the First Cavalry, embraced Mrs. Carl Seals, wife of Gen. Seals, who was shot down in q plane attempting to escape Corregidor and is now a prisoner of war
 "Oh, General, I'm so glad to see you and your troops. You and they were magnificent" Mrse. Seals said.
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
De GouIIe's Ideo Opposed

Paris, Feb. 7-(UP)-Strong op- position to Gen. Charles De Gaulle's proposal for French military control of the Rhineland after the war was reported developing in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg to- day.
 Representative of the three small states are expected in Paris shortly to press their demand for an equal share in the postwar occupation of the Rhineland, on the grounds that their interests In the German bor- der district are no less vital than those of France.
 The French Foreign Office, it was learned, is going ahead with it's plans for the Rlineland occupation, despite the fact that De Gaulle was not invited to discuss the question at the Roosevelt Churchill-Stalin conference. The highest govern ment quarters appeared confident that Frances predominant interest in the Rhineland would be recog- nized by the Big Three" and that no attempt would be made tU reach final settlement of the question without French participation.
 The French plan in its present draft envisages separation of the Rhineland and Ruhr from the rest of Germany and their formation into autonomous states; military oc- cupation of both districts, with all the major Allies participating at first and France gradually taking over full responsibility; French an- nexation of the mining area of the Saar Basin, and an inter-Allied commission to supervise the heavy industries of the Ruhr and Rhine- land,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
5th Occupies z M ore Towns

Rome, Feb. - (U.P.) = Fifth Army troops occupied Monte Bono and Renaiao on their west flank east of the Serchio river, and strengthened their position south of Bologna with a limited advance northeast of Castel Vecchio as &C., tivity increased all along the lino today.
 Fighting continued on the right flank as Fifth Army units battled to hold positions won in early stages Of an attack launched Monday.
 The Germans shelled the Liverg- nano area south of Bologna with more than 400 rounds of artillery and 200 rounds of mortar fire M c period of two hours and 70 minutes.
 Aggressive patrolling continued on the Eighth Army front in the Adria- tic coastal sector.
 Several mortar and artillery duels were fought across the Senio river.
 Esctorted medium bombers, att tacking Brenner Route targets in northern Italy, encountered their heaviest opposition in two monthE when a group of 50 German fighters rose to challenge them. Three Mes.. serschmitt 109s were destroyed and one damaged.
 Despite the opposition and poor weather the bombers scored hits on three railroad bridges and rail yard south of Trento. The Mediter- ranean Allied Air Force reported two planes missing from 700 sorties.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
Resignation Of PierIot Antici poted

Brussels, Feb. 7-CUP)-Premier Hubert Pierlot announced in the Chamber of Deputies today that his government could not continue un- der present conditions and that he would submit his resignation to Regent Prince Charles.
 Interrrupting a debate in the chamber, which had been expected to overthrow Pierlot's coalition gov- ernment, the Premier said
 q see that it is very clear now that it is not necessary to continue in these conditions. I shall go to see the Regent and he can reach his own conclusions"
 Thus PierlotS government, which came to power shortly before the German invasion In May, 1940, pre- pared for a formal fall-five months after it returned to the Belgian capital.
 It fell from power amid criticism from Socialists that 1t had failed to succeed with a single relief measure, principally the distribu- tion of food and fuel, or effect a re- construction program.
 Pierlot had told the chamber yes- terday that the Allies had appreci- ated Belgium's needs but the failure to provide the necessary supplies was on account of the military situa- tion, particulrly the unforeseen Ar dennes unter-offensive."
 Following Pierlot's statement to- day, the chember recessed without continuing debate. No further ses- sion was scheduled immediately.
 It appeared that Belgium would have more difficulty than antici- pated in forming a new government The senate voted this morning to accept new government, com- prising Socialists, Catholics and Liberals.
 The body, however, failed to men tion Communists. It was known that the Socialists in their plans for a cabinet to succeed' Pierlot had in- cluded at least two Communist members.
 Pierlot's cabinet consisted of six Catholics. five Socialists, four Iib- erals and two Independents.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
Thoms Hits Labor Bill

Hartford, Conn.,, Feb. 7,-UP)- The legislatures labor committee was preparing a report today on a bill, sponsored by the CIO and Con- necticut Federation of Labor, set ting up a state labor relations act which proponents declared would protest some 250,000 workers not now covered by the national act.
 The bill, one of the major pieces of labor legislation before the 1945 general assembly, proposes three member board representing the pub lie, labor and industry, with the public member as chairman at ar. annual salary of $7,00O. The meas ure provides for collective bargain ing as the accepted means of elim> mating industrial unrest. sets up methods of conducting bargaining elections and defines unfair labor practices.
 Opposing the bill were the Manu- lecturers Association of Connecti- cut, the Connecticut Laundry Own CTS Association, the Hartford Re- tail Board of Trade and Empire Laundries of Hartford, who feared that "basis inequities' Of the fed eral act would be frozen into the state law"
 John D. Thoms, Waterbury repre- senting the Connecticut Laundry Owners. argued at a public hearing late yesterday that the bill might force many small businesses out of operation. The small businessman, he said, was the forgotten man who is asking no more laws and regulations than are necessary"
 William A. Dover of the Board of Trade contended that the acr
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
New Nimitz Site Secret

Advanced Pacific Fleet Headquar- ters, Feb 7.-(UP)-(via Navy radio)-Fleet Adm. Chester w. Nimitz and the plans and operations elements of his Pacific Ocean areas staff have been moved to advanced headquarters of this forward area, the exact location of which is still secret, it was announced officially today.
 The announcement said that Vice Adm. 0. H. Morris, chief of staff, and Rear Adm. Forrest Sherman, deputy chief of staff, were with NimitZ.
 "The transfer of personnel and equipment to advanced headquarters was made without incident by sur face units of the fleet and by naval aircraft" the Navy disclosed.
 Nimitz's transfer to this base deep in the western Pacific served to en- phasize the growing momentum of the war against Japan which now has carried the United States to the point where attacks on the inner ring of Jap defenses, the AsiatiC mainland and the homeland itself can be expected with increasing force and frequency.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
  Scores Hit

Hartford, Conn, Feb. 7-(UP)- Senate Democratic Leader Leon RiS CasSi said today that general opin- ion seemed to be favorable" to the governors suggestion that Admiral Thomas c. Hart be appointed to fill the U. s. Senate vacancy.
 The Senate will act tomorrow on House-approved bill giving the governor authority to appoint the naval officer, and little or no oppo- sition was anticipated.
 RiS CaSSi, however, said he had received telegrams and telephone calls from persons who had read that Rep. Clare Boothe Luce had proposed Harts name to the gover- nor and persuaded the officer to accept the appointment.
 "These protests" said Ris Cassi, were from people who wanted to make sure that Admiral Hart did not express the same attitude on international problems and the peace as Mrs. Luce"
 In New York, Mrs. Luce admitted urging Admiral Hart's appointment, but she denied published reports she had made "deal" with Hart to withdraw In 1946 that she might run for the post.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
Gofmonn Attacks Voticon's Policy

Moscow, Feb. 7-(UP)-Konstan- tin Gofmann, political commenta- tor of Red Star, the Red Army newspaper, charged today that the Vatican Hong before the war con- ducted a pro-Nazi policy" despite the persecution of Catholics in Germany.
 Gofmann, in one of the increas- ingly frequent attacks on Vatican policy to appear in the Soviet press said that the Vatican had done its utmost to preserve the Musso- lini regime"
 When that faxed" he said, the Vatican began to utilize all the subtleties of it's jesuitical experience to safeguard the heritage of Fas- cism and prevent the democratiza- ton of Italy.
 Tn this connection the Vatican aims go far beyond the Appenine Peninsula. It is trying to establish precedents for Germany, Austria, Hungary and Poland"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
Fe1u Auto Batteries Left;
 Many Cars Going Off Road

uses of the metal and battery manu- lecturers were limited to making 75 per cent of their output in 1944, when essential civilian needs were barely met.
 There was virtually no reserve of storage batteries. They cannot be Stockpiled because of their rapid rate of deterioration.
 The office of defense transporta- ton, which is responsible for main taining highway traffic, estimated that civilian storage battery require ments this year will amount to 19,- 100000 units. The present outlook indicates that nowhere that amount can be made this year.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
Horbor Fire
 Toll Now 19

New York, Feb. 7-<UP)-The death toll of Mondays harbor fire, the most spectacular disaster in this area since the Black Tom explosion of World War I, stood at 19 today, with IS to 20 still missing from the crews of the thre ships involved and "A still hospitalized from burns and shock.
 At federal investigation into pos sible criminal negligence yesterday, Richmond county district attorney Farrel M. Kane disclosed that the Panamanian tanker Pan-Clio had a licensed Sandy Hook-New York pilot aboard when she rammed the oil tanker Spring Hill.
 The impact reportedly touched off the explosion that set the tankers cargo of 8O,OOO drums of high octane gasoline afire and left her black ened hulk.
 The victims included Merchant Mariners, Naval Armed Guard and crewmen from the Norwegian Tank CT Vivi, burned as she attempted to make a getaway from the Spring Hill area.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
City Surplus Quite Large

The city's 1944 surplus will likely be as large If not larger than the 1943 surplus of $673.346 it was re- ported today to the Democrat, Off, ficials are said to forsee unexpend- ed balances of $306,0 for the past year and the difference, not yet &C., tually, determined made up of over collection of taxes.
 The l945 budget of $6,541 803 is predicated upon use of an estimated $4O2, ,225 of the 1914 surplus
 The 1943 surplus was made up of $365, 811 in uncollected uneXpended balances and $307 ,535 in over-collec- tions. It is estimated that the 1914 collections will be high.
 Differences remaining in the sur plus after the estimated amount has been established as part of the budget will likely be accredited to the postwar fund.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
Ex-:Cop Describes
 Sordid Experience
(By ANNE ZEMAITIS)

Francis Zukauskas today in su- perior court admitted he emptied loaded gun at Mrs. Stephanie Plungis as they drove along Brad ley avenue the night of Nov. 1, and in a shaky voice told of his muddled mind and the sordid events that followed the crime.
 Openly describing the murder scene, Zukauskas obviously tried to show he was crazed with rage and fear and did not know what he was doing.
 States Attorney William B. Fftz- gerald started cross examination of the accused early in the morn ing, after Defense Attorney Ed ward T. Carmody drew the admiS- sions from ZukauskaS.
 An unruly crowd of spectators began to gather at the courthouse at o'clock this morning, and stampeded toward the courtroom when the doors were opened at 9:30. Women ran for seats, yelling, showing, pushing, and it was only a matter of seconds before the limited number of chairs were oc- cupied.
 T don't know what happened to me-" the accused stated when he described to Carmody the shooting on Bradley avenue.
 He said that after he went into his home on Alder street after first wounding Mrs. Plungis with bullets from a revolver, his mind was a muddle. T was going around the house and saying I don't know why I did it. kept pounding my head"
 After his wife, Mrs. Edna Zukaus- kas, stopped the bleeding from Mrs. Plungis shoulders, they went back to the car and started to drive to a hospital, he said. Mrs. Plungis ob- jected, however, and asked to be taken first to her mothers house on Arnold street, off Bradley ave- nue.
 "She talked in low voice to me. She swore at me. She swung at me and said ...... oh, 1 forget what she said guess she re- marked something about breaking up my home. After she spit at me After that don't know what hap pened. I fired at her again"
 Mrs. Zukauskas, whose loyalty to- ward her husband has passed the most rigorous tests, sat near the prisoners pen and quietly wept as Zukauskas narrated the Storq. Po- licewoman Mary Norgren brought her glass of water, and tried to comfort her.
 Do you know how many times
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
French Indo-Chino Attacked By Forts

Washington, Feb. 7-(UP)-B-29 Ouperfortresses from India bombed Japanese military installations in 1hailand and French Indo-China in simultaneous daylight raids today.
 Specific targets were not announc- ed immediately, but they may have been the transportation center of Bangkok, capital of Thailand, and either Hanoi, the capital, or the Sai- gon naval base in Indo- China.
 The attacks came as the Japanese feverishly reinforced and fortified the China coast against expected American landings.
 Army Liberators from the Marian as bombed Japanese bases in the Bonin and Volcano Islands Sunday and Monday, Pacific fleet com- munique said. Storage and barracks areas were hit at Haha, $50 miles south of Tokyo, while air installa- tions were believed the target in raids on Two, another 100 miles to the south.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
3 PittsfieId Women Die

Pittsfleld, Me, Feb. '. (UP)-Three women were burned to death and 20 others fled to safety early today when fire following an explosion swept the Earl Hodgkins & Sons Yarn Mill.
 Victims were Mrs. Blanche Hunter. 50, Mrs. Irene Emery, 20, and Mrs. Ernest Small, 50, all employed on the third shift of the mill that is operating 24 hours. Two of the bodies were recovered.
 Deputy Sheriff Ralph Gianchette said that the blaze apparently start ed from an explosion shortly be- fore dawn and raced through the small plant.
 Before firemen could reach the scene, he said, the plant was 8 roar
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
NEW OFFENSIVE
 ACROSSNAz|
 FRONT STARTS
BY BOYD ID. LEWIS

Paris, February '. = (UP) - Four divisions of the American Third Army late today were reported making "good progress" in a new of- fensive launched across the German frontier from Lux embough on a 22-mile front.
 It. Gen. George s. Patton'S troops, plunging across the Our and Sure rivers, were reported steadily deepening their penetrations of Ger many against stiffening re- SiStance.
 North of the new offensive front other units of the Third Army cap" tured three towns in drivD through the eastern crust of the Siegfried Line on a 1,000-yard from three miles northwest of Pruem.
 Veteran shock troops of foul American Divisions opened the at tack between one and three a. m this morning, crossing the Our an1 Sure rivers in rubber assault boats at seven points under heavy rifle and machine gun fire from the op pOsite shore.
 Nazi troops holding the river liner that form Germanys frontier with Luxembourg were overwhelmed H. the first onruSh, and field dispatches indicated that American tanks were moving across behind the infantry spearheads to support the offensive.
 The new drive brought Germany's buckling Siegfried Line under direct assault by the American Third and First Armies all along a 70-mile front extending northward from the Echternach area to the headwaters of the Roer river.
 It came as German military spokesmen were trumpeting anxious warnings of an imminent full-scale offensive by the American Ninth and British Second Armies n1asse6 along the Roer river east and north east of Aachen.
 Wall Preached
 It. Gen. George s. Paton's Third Army forces already had preached the Siegfried wall at one point above the new attack front, and the First Army farther to the north was blowing slowly through stiff
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07

Moscow dispatches and variou& broadcaSts from the Russian capital contained guarded but unmistak- able reports that Zhukov had stormed beyond the Oder and achieved at least temporary suc- cesses in mailing down bridge heads.
 One broadcast from Moscow by an American correspondent said two Red armies stood poised to leap upon Berlin. The last na- tural barrier before Berlin and central Germany, the Oder, has be enstormed and captured. Tho situation this morning is altogether too wildly promising for specula- tion.'
 Serious Position
 Another said the position of the Germans had really become serious to the point of desperation" and 'it now looks as though the drive for the German capital is really on."
 The German high commands only reference to the situation before Berlin in its daily war communique said that "on the Oder front the enemy was able to widen slightly his bridgeheads north of Ratibor, at Brieg, and at Kuestrin."
 Red Star, the Soviet army organ, published dispatches describing the battle of the Oder and said editori- ally:
 "Surpassing all precedents and possibilities in modern campaigns. the Red army's pres ~">~ not only is weakening, but is gaining strength daily. It's objective, the completA desctruction of Nazi Germany, is very near"
 Soviet dispatches said Zkukovs vanguard had hurled the Oder in the Frankfurt area and was on 8 broad highway leading like an arrow to the heart of Berlin"
 The Moscow radio described a Red army surge across the Oder on a broad front in Silesia and added:
 Similar scenes will come to light as soon as the story of Zkukov's crossing of the Oder can be told. This is all can say now about zhukov's spectacular battle raging this very minute. Fighting Is now going on in the fortified forefield of Berlin"
 The German radio said yesterday that Zhukov's First White Russian Army had seized four bridgeheads across the Oder B to A miles east of Berlin in the general area of
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
BY JOSEPH LATIN

Washington, Feb. 7--(UP)-Gov- ernment officials were seriously con- cerned today over shortage of automobile storage batteries which may force cars and trucks off the highways at a progressively higher rate.
 One official said it was the great est menace to maintenance of the country's highway transportation system.
 The battery problem stems direct- ly from increased military require ments and a shortage of lead. The war production board in the past week sharply curtailed non-essential
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
FORTRESS ISLE OFCORREG|DOR
 TRAP SAY LAPS
BY FRANCIS MCCARTHY

Manila, February 7.-CUP) American troops fought fire and the Japanes s e through the streets of burn ing Manila today in the final tragic act of the capitals liberation.
 (Radio Tokyo said Ameri- can warships joined in the battle Monday and Tuesday with a violent two-day bonn- bardment of the island fort ress of Corregidor, at the mouth of Manila Bay.)
 (The report followed speculation that a landing on Corregidor might be undertaken to unlock Manila Bay to American shipping. Tokyo suggested also that the warshlps might be planning to force the strait north of Corregidor to reach Manila itself where, the enemy said, American troops have fallen into most clever and well-prepareo trap.~
 (The New Delhi radio quoted Tokyo as saying that American troops have landed on Bohol Island, midway between Leyte and Cebu ln the South Central Philipppineso
 Several thousand Japanese, scat- tered in isolated pockets through out Manila, were dying in welter of flame and gunfire. The enemy apparently was determined to gut the city before surrender1ng It to Gen Douglas MacArthur's liberat- ing Army.
 The cornered enemy blasted and burned everything about them ill frenzy of senseless destruction that began at sundown Monday, after they had blown up most of the water pumping stations to hamper effective fire fighting,
 FilipinOs Roasted
 Whole areas of the city were en- gulfed in roaring sea of fire .Ss the flames spread from the down. town business section into the north ern districts, roasting Filipino civil- ians and Japanese suicide squads alike.
 The confgration mushroomed from block to block throughout Monday night and on into daylight Tuesday, fed by exploding gasoline
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