davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-05-31
He Reeds The Western News in For
Away Alaskan Army. Post

1t may be true that all of the boys
and girls overseas are not receiving
their Western News, but the above
picture is good proof that Sgt.
Steph Ludvikson has received at
least one copy OF the home town
paper.
Steph sent his sister, Mrs. James
Stephenson of Libby, a snapshot
which we thought would be Of in
terest to local people.
He grew to manhood in Libby and
is well known as a cook affiliated
with the Forest Service here a few
years ago. He is now cooking for the
the officers at his station in the
Aleutians.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-05-31
Coptoin Commendss
Wilton Hewitt

Mrs. Milo Fox, formerly Of Libby,
but now residing at Van Port City,
Ore, recently received q letter OF
high praise from Captain Howard
Smith, commanding officer of her
brother Bill Hewitt, who was killed
in action in the Philippines IN Feb
ruary, 1914. The captains letter
follows.
Dear Mrs. Fox:
You recently received notice from
the War Department that your
brother, William M Hewitt, was
killed in action in the defense of
his country. We know that this sad
news was blow to you and we
wish to express our sincere sympa-
thy to you in your loss.
William was member of my
company and one in whom l could
trust. During the battle of Zig flag
Pass he was messenger for his
platoon in an attack on an enemy
strong point when he was hit by
machine gun fire. His death oc-
Cured instantly.
He is buried in the Olangapo
Armed Forces Cemetery No. l,
Grave 80, Row 2, located on the
Island of Luzon in the Philippines.
The Chaplain conducted the military
funeral and later a memorial serv-
ice was held for him in his regi-
ment.
All the men in the company will
miss William. He was loved by ev-
eryone and they send their regrets
to you. He was a good soldier and
always performed his duty to the
very best of his ability.
With sincere regards to you as
the sister of one who has given his
life for his country, | am
Respectfully yours,
HOWARD A. SMITH,
Capt, Inf Comdg. Co. &C"
Obituary
William M. Hewitt was borr
July %, 1924, at Eureka, Mont He
came to Libby with his parents al
the age Of 4 years, attending the
local schools for a number of years
He joined the 508th Parachute
Infantry, October 10, 1912 ano
trained at Camp Beanding, Fla.
Fort Benning, Ga, Camp Mackall
N. c. In March, l943 he made his
qualifying jump, following which
he had furlough, which he spen
in Libby. Immediately upon return
ing to Florida, he received ar
emergency furlough to attend thu
| funeral Of his mother, Beatrice M
Hewitt.
| Hewitt had further training il
!! Oahu, Hawaii and New Guinea. Hi
landed in the Philippines early il
December, 1914. He was killed Feb
ruary 3, l945.
Preceding him in death were hi
mother, Beatrice M. Hewitt, and
sister, Emogene Mary.
Surviving are his father, Law
renee I. Hewitt, who received tn,
Purple Heart posthumously TO
Bill, one brother, S/Sgt. Edward
Hewitt, with the Air Corps; tw,
sisters, Mrs Bill Fox and Mrs. Mil,
Fox, and two nieces and tW,
nephews
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-05-31
Remember Our
Bond Quota!

Mrs. Jessie Fagerberg, Lincoln
county war finance chairman, re-
ports to us. that excellent work is
being carried on in various parts
of the county We congratulate
Mrs. Helen Laehn, drive chairman
for Troy, who reports $4,000 worth
Of bnEds sold in the first week OF
the Seventh War Loan drive. Sales
in other parts of the county will ap-
pear in next weeks issue of the
Western News.
Remember our goal Our quota
made by the anniversary of D-Day
June 9Th"
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-05-31
"a Seniors
Graduate
Fri. Eve
Commencement Began
Sunday, May 20 with the
Baccalaureate Sermon.
ASA A. WOOD GAVE
THE ADDRESS

Graduation week began Sunday,
May 20, with baccalaureate serv-
ices held in the junior high audi
forum. A good crowd was in at
tendance.
Stressing the necessity of keep
ing law and order spiritually as
well as in other ways, the Rev.
Father John O'Malley, ST. Joseph's
Catholic church, Libby, addressed
members of the Libby high school
graduating class at their baccalaur-
cate service last Sunday evening
in the junior high auditorium.
Father O'Malleys sermon was we'll
accepted by his student and adult
congregation.
Other features of baccaleaureate
services were the invocation and
benediction by the Rev. Clayton
Shotwell First Presbyterian
church, Libby; musical numbers by
the Lbs girls chorus under the d.
rection of Bert Skakoon, and pro-
cessional and occasional by the
Lbs string ensemble, accompanied
by Patricia GooselaW.
Supt. A. A. Wood, retiring head
of Libby schools urged the "a grad
yates of the class of 1945 to make
full use of their talents, and to be
ready to assume the responsible
ties which will be thrust upon them
Mr. Woods plea was made in the
commencement address at the exer-
cises held Friday evening, May rs,
in the junior high school auditor
ium, before capacity audience.
In addition to the featured speak
er, the graduation exercises saw
the awarding of diplomas to the
senior graduates by Walter c. Zol-
lars, chairman of the board Of
school trustees; a valedictory adj
dress by James Roberts, a saluta-
tory by Germaine Schlumm, pre-
sentation Of the class by H. S. Hep
ner, high school principal; presen-
tation Of the senior class gift by
James Roberts, president invocs-
ton and benediction by the Rev.
Clayton ShotWell; presentation of
awards and honors; violin solo
by Bert Skakoon, and a musical
number by the Lbs girls chorus.
The professional and occasional
were played by the schools string
ensemble,
Included in the honors awarded
were scholarships from the Univer-
sity of Montana, and Carroll Col
lege for James Roberts, class vale
dictorian He also received the
Readers Digest subscription award
and the $3.50 Joughin pioneer award
for senior boys.
Germaine Schlumm, salutatorium
was awarded a scholarship from
Great Falls college. Florence Fen
messy was awarded the $3.50 Jough-
in pioneer award for senior girls
and also IL awards for war bond
sales. Other awards included ath-
letic letters for John Solem, Gene
Huchala, Jim Roberts, and Glen
Leckrone, Jr,; war bond award tc
Frankleen Warner who also re-
ceived an Il" for directing ticket
sales for student activities. Earline
McCrory, Nadine Whitefield. and
Joy North also received IL" awards
for activity ticket sales. Dorothy
Ledum was awarded school letter
for having served as president d
the student council. Awards fol
service in the Pep Band were re.
ported as having been given to Mar.
celia Dolezal, Janith Lee Har
CONTINUED on page eight
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-05-31
Libby Honored
Soldier Dead
Yesterday

a SOlemnity, more marked than
is usually displayed at the annual
Memorial Services, prevailed yes
terday as the veterans of the Amer
lean Legion and Foreign Wars and
the auxiliary held services at
the the Libby monument and ceme-
terry for the departed, before large
gathering.
While the veterans stood at at
tention in the cemetery before the
Unknown Soldiers plot, those as
sembled sang the national anthem,
under the leadership Of Mrs. Oliver
Phillips. J. A. Krall, Legion Chap
lain, offered the prayer. which has
followed by the singing Of My
Buddy by the American Legion
Auxiliary.
Mrs. Oliver Phillips, speaker of
the day, brought comfort to those
who have lost loved ones in the
presentg as well as past conflicts,
with few Well-chosen words. She
said, Memorial Day has come into
its place as part Of American lives.
The year 1945 marks the 18th year
of observance of Memariol Day
when we pay honor, tribute and re-
spect to those who have fought for
our freedom, democracy and safety
The speaker went on to say that
Love, respect and honor Of the
/ dead have taken root in the depths
of our hearts and souls" and that
/ the most worthy gift we can give
i fhnrn 1nrs0rfnl &c Love Fry
! them.
Mrs. Phillips brought to mind that
in this way we honor members Of
4 the Civil, Confederate and Spanish
American Wars, as well as those OF
the First and Second World Wars
who sacrificed their lives in order
that tyranny, oppression and in
equality should be ended, not only
for us, but the rest of the worlc
as well.
In simple, thoughtful words, Mrs
Phillips brought relief to those
who are grieved by the loss Of theil
loved ones, in assuring them that
the departed are not dead to us
but only asleep. That we are ever
conscious of their presence and the
clasp of their hand, feeling Of
nearness, although we cannot heal
or see them, and we know they
have become glorified in their di
vinity AS the flowers go to sleep
and the grasses 60 to sleep, so oul
dead soldiers have gone to sleep Il
await the resurrection.
Many are the sleeping ground.
of our loved ones, Hawaii, NORTH
Africa, Guadalcanal, Germany, anc
elsewhere, the speaker reminded
us. But no matter where they
sleep, that spot shall forever b.
a part Of America. She concluded
with, "All is eternal life; there i
no death"
Placing of the wreath on tn.
Unknown Soldiers plot by tn,
Commander of the Legion, was fol
lowed by the singing of "Neare
My God to Thee The benedicitiol
was pronounced by the v. F. w
Chaplain, Walter collars, afte
which the Salute was given by tn,
Legion Firing Squad. Taps wer,
sounded by June Baney and ANN
ROnnlng.
A noticeable feature observed il
the services this year, was the pres
ence Of servicemen from the pres
ent war, who assisted the veteran
of former wars in their ritualisti
services.
Others participating in the par
ade were the Girl and Boy Scout
; and a number of school children.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-05-31
LIBBY SCHOOL CHILDREN
PURCHASE OVER $1,000
IN WAR STMPS AND BOUDS

Libby school children purchased
S8,655.42 in war stamps and bonds
during the past year, according to a
report made by Mrs. Wayne Shan
ahan, high school instructor, in
charge Of bond sales.
Word from Minnie Mae Erickson,
education chairman of the Montana
war finance committee, Helena, re-
ported that the bond sales in Libby
schools compare very favorably
!, with sales in other school systems
the same size as Libby.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-05-31
LIST Lbs VALEDICTORIANS
THROUGH THE YEARS

An error occurred in the list of
valedictorians of the Libby High
School as printed in the special
Senior edition Of the Tamarack. The
correct list according to Supt. A. A.
Wood is given below.
l945 James Roberts
1914 Margaret Maize
1943 Daisy Hunter
I 1912 Betty Mae Warrington
| 1871 Raymond Erickson
1910 Gloria Mortensen
1889 Sarah Hunter
1888 Ruth Holiday
1887 Marie Kuiawa
1886 Mary Margaret Gildea
1885 Dorothy Zawadke
1884 Lamar Rowland
1888 Joseph Fennessy
1882 Elmira (Carter) Vinion
1881 Winogene Wood
1880 Elizabeth Martin
1929 Catherine Gaines
1923 Gertrude ZaWadke
| 1927 John Curtis
1925 Helen E. Rowe
1925 Myrtle Rand
| 1924 Blanche Davidson
/ 1923 Genevieve Brouillard
Before 1923-RecOrds incomplete
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-05-31

HELENA, May 30-Lumber will
remain in tight supply at least dur
ing the next four or five months,
]. G. Skaaren, Regional Manager,
Lumber Division, WPB, Minneapo-
lis, announced today.
"WPB's two-fold problem OF
maintaining war production and at
the same time providing for partial
reconversion is particularly diff
cult in the case Of lumber" said
Mr.. Skaaren. Decline in military de-
mand for lumber will be felt at a
later date than decline in military
demand for many other war mate
rails
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-05-31

1t. Leo Collar, who was born
and raised in Eureka and Rexford,
was one of the first to 60 into serv-
ice in that area. 1t. Collar, over
seas for 80 months, has served in
Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and
Germany, and hopes to be able to
come home soon, as he is anxious
to 60 to Alaska, where his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Collar, are now
living
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-05-31
WARNS PUBLIC AGAINST
MOLESTING FISH TRAPS

George Ripley, foreman Of the
State Fish Hatchery, has been busy
installing rough fish traps in Lower
Thompson lake for fish food. This
is also for stream and lake improve
ment
Mr.. Ripley warns against the
public's molesting Of these fish
traps as the work is carried on at
considerable cost, and any molesta-
ton is cause for court action, he
saws.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-05-31

Louis Beasley, who serves with
the Merchant Marines on a tank
er, recently met his brother, Rom
aid, in the Hawaiian Islands. Rom
aid is second class petty officer in
the Navy and is stationed on the
Islands. This is the third time the
brothers have met when Louis has
stopped at the islands.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-05-31

Mrs. Alice Farris returned to
Libby Friday evening accompanied
by her son and his wife, Mr., and
Mrs. Mark Farris. Mrs. Farris has
spent the winter on the coast. Mr..
and Mrs. Mark Farris went on to
Helena Saturday.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-05-31

Miss Eileen Kujawa, student nurse
at. the Sacred Heart Hospital, Spo-
kane, visited with her parents, Mr..
and Mrs. Joe Kujawa few days
last week when enroute to visit her
sister, Mrs. Edward Mares of Great
Falls.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-05-31

Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Luke an
nounce the birth of daughter, Di-
ana Lee, born Friday at Whitefish.
She weighed six pounds at birth.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-05-31
ADDITIONAL FISHING DATA

In order to remove some confu-
sion regarding the fishing seasons
in several of the county's lakes, the
following information is given:
Schoolhouse Lake, the Thompson
Lakes, Loon Lake near Happy's
Inn and Loon Lake at the head of
Pipe Creek, as well as Tom Pool
Lake on Pipe Creek, in addition to
being open for winter fishing, are
also open for fishing during the
regular fishing season which be-
gan May 20
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-05-31

Mr.. and Mrs. S. A. Rasmussen
had as guests last week Mr.. and
Mrs. R. S. Fields and family of
Somers. Mrs. Fields and Mrs. Ras-
mussen are sisters.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-05-31

Continued on page 81
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-05-31
LUMBER CONTINUES MOST
CRITICAL ITEM

Before 1923-Records incomplete
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1945-04-30
Reds FIoy
Uncle Sam
BY M. S. HANDLER

Moscow, April 80. = (UP) - Col.
Gen. F. I. Golikov, president Of the
Soviet Repatriation Commission,
charged the United and Britain to-
day with maltreating Soviet pris-
oners and otherwise violating the
Yalta Repatriation agreement.
He also said in an interview with
the Soviet News Agency Tass that
the Red Army has liberated more
than 200,0 900 non-Russian Allied
war ard civilian prisoners from the
Germans.
OF these, he said, 64,188 already
have been repatriated. All Ameri-
cans and British have been repa-
triated with the exception of few
groups Of sick and wounded, he
said.
Whereas Russia has observed all
obligations undertaken in the re-
patriation agreement signed by the
big Three" at Yalta, he said, the
United States and Britain have vio-
lated the agreement and rnaltreated
Russian prisoners in England and
Egypt.
OF 100000 Soviet prisoners lib
Grated, he said, 100000 already
have been repartiated, largely from
the former occupied areas of Russia
itself, Finland, Poland, Romania,
Hungary and Yugoslavia.
The Americans and British liber-
ated 10000 Soviet prisoners ex-
Guiding those freed in the last few
weeks, he said, but only $4,000 have
been returned to Russia.
I'm England, France, Italy, the
United States and Egypt" he said,
There are still many thousands
compelled to wait many months be-
fore being allowed to return home"
According to the dispatch, Coli
kov specifically accused the United
States acd Britain Of transferring
some Russian prisoners liberated
CONTINUED on Page ~
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1945-04-30
Reds Enter
With Tanks
BY ROBERT MUSEL

London, April 30-(UP)-Red army
tanks broke into the Tiergarten,
fortified core of the last eight
square-mile pocket of resistance in
Berlin, and both the Russians and
Nazis said the Climax of the historic
battle was at hand today.
A Moscow dispatch forecast that
Marshal Stain will have his great
est symbolic victory of the war-the
capture Of Berlin-to present to the
Russian people for their May day
celebration.
"This is the climax in the battle
Of Berlin" United Press cores
pondent reported from Moscow.
"While the Moscow garrison par
AIDES before Marshal Stain in Red
Square tomorrow, 1t Is very probable
that his Berlin armies will overrun
the last fanatical holdouts."
The Nazi controlled Oslo radio
admitted that Russian tanks broke
into the Tiergarten, Bsrlin's Cen
trail park, where the NaziS were re-
puted to have built a massive fort
around which the last battle in the
capital appeared to be raging.
Planes Hit Pillboxes
I'm some quarters where the Ger
mans have particularly strong pill
boxes and bunker positions" Oslo
said, Soviet tanks had to withdraw
and wait for their planes and artil-
lery to crush German resistance.
This was particularly the case in
the Tiergarten."
The Hamburg radio said the bat
tie for Berlin, "the battle for the
destiny of the entire continent, now
has reached its climax"
Soviet dispatches delayed far be-
hind the course Of the battle said
that already the west and south dis
tricts of Berlin were cleared, and
that the fighting had washed be-
yond the Anhalter station to the
Tiergarten and Reichstag areas.
German broadcasts admitted Sow
let shock troops also had broken
through to the Lustgarten court
yard fronting the old royal palace,
the Berlin cathedral and the OLD
museum at the eastern end OF the
Inter Den Linden.
The decimated SIS garrison was IN
its "last throes of resistance" MOS
cow said. Most OF its artillery was
gone and its hold on the center OF
the doomed capital was shrinking
hourly.
Hitler Dying Or Dead
William Gord Haw Haw) joyce
broadcasting over the North Ger
man radio, said Adolf Hitler stu
was directing the defense OF Berlin
from an underground citadel. But
other continental reports said Hitler
CONTINUED on fage ~
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1945-04-30
Kyushu Bases
Hit By Forts
By FRANK TREMAINE

Guam, April 30-(UP)-Avenging
Superfortresses today blasted the
Kyushu bases Of Japan's suicide
planes, one of which crashed into
and badly damaged the Navy hos
pital ship comfort Saturday night.
Twenty-nine persons were killed,
80 wounded seriously and one was
missing after the enemy plane hit
the helpless and brilliantly Lighted
hospital ship south of Okinawa.
communique announced.
A dispatch from Vice Admiral
Richmond Kelley Turner's flagship
off Okinawa said there was no doubt
the attack was deliberate.
Some 200 B-29s participated in
today's raids on Japan. Though the
majority concentrated on the sui
cide-plane bases on Kyushu for the
Fifth straight day, some bombed the
Tachikawa Army arsenal, "a miles
west of Tokyo.
"a Tokyo broadcast reported by
the FEC said 100 Mustang fighters
escorted 100 MB-29s in raid on air
installations near Tachikawa today.
The American announcement OF the
raid did not mention any fighter
planes participating)
Despite the consistent American
raids on Kyushu. the Japanese
managed to hurl 200 planes aaginst
the U. S. forces around Okinawa
Saturday night and Sunday, caus-
ing some damage to light fleet units.
Continued on Page ~
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1945-04-30
TO
ALL 3 DEEMED
LIKELY REPLY
BY PHIL AULT

London, April 81. = CUP
- A neutral intermediary
was reported en- route back
to Stockholm today with
Heinrich Himler's reply to
Allied demands that Ger
many surrender to Russia as
we'll as to the United States
and Britain.
Most sources believed that
if Himmler actually has sent
a reply, it will be a decision to
surrender Germany uncon-
ditionally to all three coun-
tries.
They commended that he would not
have made the surrender offer to
the United States and Britain alone
in the first place If he had not been
convinced of the utter hopelessness
of Germany's position.
The Evening News political cor
respondent said Prime Minister
Churchill was understood to have
returned to London from the coun-
try early today. The war cabinet
will consider Himmler's reply as
soon as it is received, the dispatch
said.
Bernadotte Intermediary
Stockholm dispatches said the in
termediary, Count Folke Bernadot-
tie, Director of the Swedish Red
Gross, met Himmler Sunday morn
ing somewhere in Denmark. He was
expected to leave Copenhagen for
Stockholm sometime today, the dis
patches said.
With Germany tottering on the
brink of total collapse, rumors Of
developments within the shaken
country and her still-occupied
neighbors came thick and fast from
continental sources.
All unconfirmed and many Of
them conflicting, they included:
/. Adolf Hitler is mad, dying or
already dead.
2. German anti-NaM partisans
kidnapped Foreign Minister Joach-
i'm Won Ribbentrop.
3. German sailors mutinied at
Continued on Page D
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1945-04-30
Marines Porents
Perish In BloZe

Plymouth, Mass, April 30-UP)-
The parents and sister Of a U. 8.
Marine now serving on Two Jima
persisted In a fire.
Victims Of the blaze yesterday
were Adam w. Gascoyne, 46, his
wife Caroline. AZ, and their 11-year-
old daughter Albina. They were
trapped by flames that swept their
two-story wooden house in North
Plymouth.
A son-in-Iaw and daughter, Sgt.
and Mrs. Kenneth Davis, escaped
by leaping from a second-f floor win
dow.
the dead couples only ron, Cpl.
John Gascoyne, is serving on Two
JiFna. sss
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1945-04-30
Washington
Still Jumpy

Washington, April 30-(UP)-The
capital awaited further news on the
reported German surrender bid to-
day.
Since Saturday nights premature
peace celebration, there had been no
sign that any big developments were
imminent.
Routine activity was reported
Sunday at the state, war and navy
departments. There was a mild
furry OF excitement when President
Truman visited the White House
after attending services at Foundry
Methodist Church
However the President spent only
Is minutes at the White House, and
it has not been made known wheth-
err there was any significance In his
visit.
There has been no word of any
kind on Stockholm reports that a
Swedish Red Cross official, Count
Folke Bernadotte, was in contact
with Gestapo Chief Heinrich Him
mler for the second time in connec-
ton with Nazi attempts to negoti-
ate surrender.
Nevertheless the capital S
jumpy.
Reports from many quarters, in
Guiding the official Soviet News
Agency, Tass, indicated that negoti-
atoms were taking place between
the Allies and someone in Germany.
II such negotiations were taking
place their completion-and SUISSE
quent announcement to a waiting
world-obviously depen ded on
whether the German negotiations
were willing to meet Allied terms,
which meant including Russia in
the surrender offer, and also on
whether the Allies believed whoever
was doing the dickering was In a
position actually to bring about an
end to German resistance.