davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Nazis Lose II $50 in Oder Trap;
Macarthur Closing In on Manila
Belgium Cleared
Of Enemy; CoImor
In AIsuce Freed
MAP on Page A-4.)
By the Associated Press

pS tut ASSOClaleQ fTeSS.
PARIS, Feb. 3. - American
troops thrust miles deeper into
Germany today to within a mile
of a break through the perma-
nent Notifications of the Sieg-
fried Line and pushed the last
Germans off Belgian soil.
United States 1st Army spear
heads were II miles inside the
western border of the Reich and 81
miles from the Rhine, while the
French 1st Army and its American
reinforcements in Alsace liberated
the city of Colmar and carved a
smile slice off the German salient
in that province.
Meanwhile, on the eastern front
Soviet troops killed or captured
17,450 Germans trapped near the
Oder River and moved in swiftly on
kustrin and Frankfurt, last major
bastions, about 40 miles east of
refugee packed Berlin which was
hammered by more than 1000
American heavy bombers.
Temporary Fortifications Beyond.
American troops penetration of
the West Walls double belt of de-
fenses would not open the way COM
pletely for the continuing 1st Army
advance, as the Germans feverishly
have been throwing up temporary
Notifications farther back.
First Army doughboys liberated
Krewinkel, last German held town
in the eastern tip of Belgium, late
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Rodio Programs, Pe. Gil
Complete Index, Pg. Az
The End, the End Nozi Cries
On Berlin Rudio as Bombs Fall
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, Feb. 3.-DNB, the
official German news agency,
mysteriously signalled the words
"Schluss. Schluss (the end. the
end)" tonight in the middle of
one OF its regular broadcasts
after a smashing daylight raid
by American bombers on Berlin.
The words "Schluss, Schluss" were
recorded on machipes in the Asso-
|ciated Press listening post where
Germans news transmissions fare
picked up. The teleprinters are
operated by radio signals from Ger
man transmission stations, presum-
ably located in Berlin.
"Schluss" sometimes is used by
German broadcasters to indicate the
end OF a Transmission period, but
never before, Associated Press lis
teners said, has it been interjected
during q transmission.
The DNB transmission had been
interrupted BY the daylight raid on
Berlin and had been J1mbled when
Evening star., 1945-02-04

broadcaSts were resumed, but when
"Schluss' came. transmitting facili-
ties appeared to be operating salts
factcrily and the signals came
clearly.
In q message headed For Nauen
"a German short wave station)
Only" the DNB European service
transmitted market reports from
Berlin" in English tonight. The
listeners said this also was unprece-
dented and that the market reports
always before had been. in German.
Broadcasts from Moscow said to-
day that panic reigned In many
parts of Germany. The press and
radio OF the Reich, obviouslystrying
to bolster home-front morale against
an Allied demand for immediate
surrender which may come from the
Big Three meeting of President
Roosevelt, Mr.. Churchill and Pre-
mier Stain, cried. Remember 1918. .
Reports from neutral countries
said Berlin, still jammed with refu-
gees. was threatened with famine
because Of the influx from the east
and the loss Of food stocks ii terri
tory taken BY the Russians.
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Allied Grand Council
Believed on Program
OF Big ; Conference
Blocking Disoereemenfs
On European Policy Seen
As Aim Of Organization
By the Associated Press.

LONDON. Feb. 3.-The victory
and peace deliberations of the
Allied big three are believed here
to include creation of a grand
conciliation council to settle po-
litical and economic problems
and prevent disagreement among
the Allies On European policy
The urgency for such Organization
has been underlined by admitted
policy disagreements between Brit
ain and the United States on Greece
and Italy and the separate views Of
the Soviet Union and the British
and Americans on the Polish oues-
ton.
Whether this organization will be
called the grand conciliation coun-
clip or by another name was not
known, but it's creation was con-
sidered certain in informed London
quarters.
In this connection, the Big Three
also are reported considering a pro-
posal for quarterly meeting of
their foreign ministers to effect
closer liason.
Eden Proposed Meeting.
Such meetings were proposed by
Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden
in Commons last December when
Anglo-American relations were at
their lowest point of the war.
The grand council idea is more
significant from the American
viewpoint, since both Secretary of
State Stettinius and Presidential
Adviser Harry Hopkins recently
have made it clear that the United
States intends to take a firm hand
in European affairs.
Its creation would 60 a long way
toward turning the United Nations
partnership into bulwark for
peace, most diplomatic sources
agreed.
It also would be a step toward
solution of one of the major prob
(See BIG THREE. Page A-5)
Evening star., 1945-02-04
(See WESTERN FRONT, Page A-4)
7 Yanks Get 5 Years
Al Black Market Trial
BY the Associated Press.

os thc ASsOSAotco flSsS
PARIS, Feb. 3.-Two soldiers con-
victed of conspiracy to defraud the
United States were sentenced to IS
years at hard labor and dishonor-
ably discharged from the Army to-
day by court martial trying the
railway battalion black market
cases.
Two others were given 20 and q
year sentences and the last two in
the six-man group drew five years
each after they asked the court to
give them a chance to re-establish
themselves as good soldiers.
The heaviest sentences of IS
years were given to Sergt. John
Tielemans. Glendale, N. Y, and
Nicholas j. Tanella, technician, fifth
grade, Brooklyn, who repudiated on
the witness stand signed statements
allegedly admitting black market
sales OF large quantities of cigar
cites.
Pvt. Stanley Moreschi, Chicago
was sentenced to Is years and Ber
Hefter, technician, fifth grade, Los
Angeles, Calf, to 20 years.
The two remaining defendants
testified they were guilty of wrong
fully disposing of Government,
property-several cases of Army ra-
tions from a supply train-but asked
the court to give them another
chance.
They were Pvt. Oscar T. Koehn
Elyria, Ohio, and Pvt. Henry r
Zywiecki. Sommerville, Mass. They
drew dve-year sentences.
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Fire Drives Out AWOL Soldier
Hiding Under Club IS Months

and remained in hiding under the
club until routed out by the fire
November Is, l944). He claimed to
have had about $500 on his person
at the time he went AWOL but had
only 81 when apprehended.
Ills physical appearance sup
ported his claim OF having remained
in hiding. His hair was uncut, he
had grown a short beard. although
he shaved several times during the
period, and he had obtained a
change Of clothing. Where he OBJ
tanned his food during the period
has not been determined. Bembnow-
ski asserted he bought food in the
service club but this has not been
confirmed !"
The Army explained that there
was . large number of military
personnel in training at Camp
Stewart, with considerable turn
over, q fact which would have made
1t easier for Bembnowsh to leave
his hiding place occasionally with
out encollntering anyone who would
recognize him"
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Chinese Admit Loss
|0f Suichwan 10 Japs
B, the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CHUNGKING. Feb. 3.-The Chi
|nese high command acknowledged
tonight that the Japanese driving
against air bases east of their cor
ridor across China had reached and
taken their first objective, Suich-
wan, half way between Hong Kong
and Hangkow.
The Chinese said fighting con-
tinued south of Suichwan, where
bases OF the United States l4th
Air Force were destroyed and aban-
doned January "a.
The enemy drive. in that area Is
designed to protect Japanese rail
communications from Hong Kong
to Manchuria and Korea.
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Picture on Page A-7.)
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ATLANTA, Feb. 3.-The Army's
4th Service Command told tonight
the story Of Pennsylvania private
who went AWOL in the late summel
of 1943 and spent is months hiding
underneath a service club at his
camp until fire destroyed the build-
ing and brought about his capture
The announcement identified the
soldier as Henry Bembnpwski of
Beaver Falls, Pa. who was assigned
to an antiaircraft battalion at Camp
Stewart. Ca. when he disappeared
about August Is, 1943. The Army
said he was now under treatment at
an unnamed regional hospital while
. military board determines his
mental md physical fitness
From information given BY the
soldier" the Army said. 1T appears
Bembnowsh hid under the service
club altar I dance Ia August, 1913,
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Berlin Rocked by Biggest Raid
AS 4 900 Planes Hit Reich
1000 Flying Fortresses, 900 Fighters
Join in Attack on Nozi CopitoI

| downed in combat near Berlin and
IA others were destroyed on the
ground.
Weather was good for bombing,
and for the first time in the war.
there was no German air opposi-
ton over the Reich capital. What
dogflghts there were occurred as
Mustangs and Thunderbolt pilots
carried out sweeps over scattered
areas some distance from the city.
At the same time planes of the
American continent based 1st Tacti-
cal Air Force blasted rail targets
east of the Rhine and north Of
Alsace. German military movements
between the Siegfried Line and far
ther north were battered by 461
flghterbombers and $50 medium and
light bombers of the 9th Air Force.
Two fighterbombers were lost while
this large force hit bridges, made "a
cuts in vital Nal rail lines and de-
stroyed So railway cars and 81 trucks.
The British End Tactical Air Force
sent out 500 bombers and fighter
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Three Children Die in Fire
Al Eastporf (Md.) Home
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ANNAPOLIS, Nd, Feb. 3.-Three
children burned to death today in
10 fire in frame bungalow at nearby
Eastport, when their mother left
the house for a short time.
The victims, children of Mr.. and
Mrs. Thomas Bassford, were Elsie
4; Thomas, 3, and George R.,
months old.
Police said the fire was caused
by an overheated wood stove in the
kitchen.
Mrs. Bassford had gone to her
mothers home. about IS yards from
the bungalow. to do some washing,
and when she turned around she
saw the bungalow in flames. Police
removed the bodies Of the children
Evening star., 1945-02-04

front dispatch reported In clearing
the Germans from the 3-mile by
3-mile area held by the Germans
east and northeast of ST. With, the
Americans seized three other towns
carliere in the day.
(The Berlin radio said that
despite thaws, Gen. Eisenhower
was making frantic prepara-
tions" behind the lines for a big
push from the west, with no
effort to keep it secret.')
Two of 1t. Gen. Courtney H.
Hodges 1st Army divisions were rip
ping the vitals from German de-
fenses due east of Monschau and Is
miles southeast of Aachen over
rough, river-cut terrain where, if
anywhere, the Germans. should be
expected to attempt a stand.
Now the veteran I'd Division, IL
miles deep into Germany, was en-
tirely through the first belt of de-
fenses, had surged across open coun-
try and seized the village of Brons-
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Two-Thirds Of Senator!
Reported as Fayorinq
Axis Disarming paets
Newspaper Says Poll
Shows Support for
Unprecedented Action
By the Associated Press.

NEW YORK, Feb. 3.-The New
York Times. in a special Wash
ipgton dispatch by James B.
Reston, says that more than two
thirds of the members of the
Senate have indicated in the last
two weeks that they would favor
the PRONUNCIATION of treaties
among the major United Nations
to keep Germany and Japan per-
manently demilitarized."
The paper said its chief Washing
ton correspondent asked the Sena-
tors the following question:
do you favor Senator vanden-
berg's proposal which is, in effect,
that the United States negotiate at
once treaty with Great Britain,
France and Soviet Russia to keep
Germany demilitarized, and a SINH
lar treaty with Great Britain,
France, China and perhaps others
to keep Japan demilitarized, these
treaties to be unconditional and to
precede the formation of an inter-
national postwar security league?"
Fifty members replied that they
did," the Times says. Another 13
said they would favor such a pro-
posal if it were supper ed by the
administration and Ave others said
they would do so provided such
action would not interfere with the
successful prosecution OF the war or
the creation OF an effective inter-
national security organization.
"Of the 81 members OF the Sem
ate who responded verbally or in
writing to the Times question. 63,
or one less than the necessary two
(See SENATOR'S Paua A-31
Evening star., 1945-02-04
By the Associated Press.

by Inc Associated PfesS.
LONDON, Sunday, Feb. A.
Nearly 1000 Allied Warplanes
pounded German installations
yesterday, Berlin itself being
rocked by the most concentrated
assault ever made on the Ger
man capital.
In a wild, 45-minute period, more
than 1000 United States 9th Air
Force Flying Fortresses, escorted by
more than 900 fighters, blasted
Berlin. They were in sight of Mar
shal Gregory K. Zhukov's Russian
assault against the Oder River
line 80 to 40 miles to the east as
they poured some 5000 tons of high
explosives and fire bombs on mill
tary targets in the refugee-packed
city.
This raid and a diversionary stab
at the oil center of Magdeburg by
400 United States Liberators cost
the Americans 35 bombers and five
fighters missing, communique said.
Twenty-one Luftwaffe planes were
Evening star., 1945-02-04
| Rankin Offers New
Proposal 10 Block
Wallace Nomination
Plon to Reqommit
George Bill Threatens
StoIemote in Congress
BY GOULD LINCOLN.

In the latest move to defeat
the nomination of former Vice
President Wallace to be Secre-
tary of Commerce. Representa-
tive Rankin. Democrat. of Mis-
sissippi yesterday proposed that
the George bill divorcing the
Reconstruction Finance Corp
and its subsidiaries from the
Commerce Department be held
in the House Banking Commit.
tee until the Senate has voteC
on the Wallace nomination.
To accomplish this, Mr. Rankin
plans to move to recommit the bill
if and when it is reported by the
Banking Committee.
Should such a motion prevail, q
stalemate over confirmation of Mr.
WALLACE would develop between the
two houses of Congress.
Senate Majority Leader Barkley
has given notice he will not bring
the nomination to a vote until the
House has passed the George bill.
Storm Cellar for Many.
There is a feeling that this
(George) bill ought to remain in the
House Banking Committee until the
Senate votes on the Wallace nomi-
nation" Mr.. Rankin said. Many
members feel this is just storm
cellar in which certain Senators
hope to escape the righteous wrath
of an outraged public opinion.
"If it is dangerous to turn the
Department of Commerce with the
RFC over to Mr.. Wallace, it is just
as dangerous to turn the depart
ment over to him without the RFC
I'VE all remember when Herbert
Hoover took the Department OF
Commerce without the RFC and
nominated himself President of the
United States"
Mr.. Rankin's final sentence was
aimed at the declared intention oi
some of Mr.. Wallace's supporters
to win for him the Democratic nomi-
nation for President in 1948.
That a revolt In the House, par
ticipated in by Republicans and
anti Wallace Democrats against
Mr.. Wallace's nomination is get
ting well under way seemed clear
last night.
New Opportunity for House.
As things have shaped up, this
is the first time the House has had
an opportunity to take part in the
disposition Of . presidential nomi-
nation and the chamber apparently
Intends IN make the most of the
opportunity
A coalition Of anti Wallace Demo-
fSan WALLACE pauo A1AA
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Reds, Nearing Oder
5trongho|ds, Battle
Fierce Resistance
8 Miles Coined in Push
On Frankfurt, Kustrin;
H,450 Nozis Wiped Out
BY the Associated Press

| LONDON, Sunday, Feb. 4.-Tht
Red Army, closing swiftly or
Frankfurt and Kustrip, last Odel
River strongaolds 38 and 40 miles
from bomb-shattered Berlin, yes
terday reached the marshes Dor.
dering that last natural barrier
to the Axis capital and killed O,
icaptured 17.450 trapped Ger.
mans, Moscow announced last
night.
Advancing up to 8 miles agains,
fierce resistance by heavy enemy
reinforcements hurled into the
flaming struggle, Soviet tanks push
ed through Sonnenburg, mile.
southeast of Kustrin, and alse
seized Reopen, 10 miles east ol
F'rankfurt's east bank suburb Of
Damn
| Captured Sonnenburg is Al miles
east of Berlin. the closest the Rus
slams officially have placed theil
troops, but the Germans said that
Kustrin, 40 miles northeast of Ber-
lin, was the~scene of furious COM
bat, with the Russians attacking
the garrison from four directions
and trying an effective forcing OF
the Oder near that town.
Crossing Declared Wiped Out.
Soviet shock troops made one
crossing of the Oder near Kustrin
but were wiped out, Berlin said
Nazi reports said the Russians were
attacking Kustrin from the north
west, northeast, east and south
One new Soviet attack in the
southern suburbs. presumably made
by the units that took Sonnenburg
was beaten off during the day
Berlin said.
North of the Warthe River the
Russians seiged Vietz, II mile.
northeast of Kustrin, in an 8-mile
tWo-day advance down the high
way and railway from Landsberg
Moscow did not announce any
further progress by Russian units
fighting toward Stettin, Baltic por,
70 miles northeast of Berlin. The
Russians on Friday were reported
within So miles of Stettin, and a
Russian German-language broad
cast yesterday had placed them only
II miles from their goal.
Nazis Reported Fleeing Stettin.
| The capture of Stettin would cut
OF a 1880 square-mile section OF
Pomerania, the Polish corridor and
Danzig. There were unconfirmed
reports that German ships already
had fled Settin and put into
Copenhagen in Denmark.
Farther east other Soviet. troops
were attacking toward the Baltic
coast in similar effort to split
up Pomerania and lessen the
threat of German flanking attack
on the central salient pointed at
Berlin.
Advancing on 32-mile front
on both sides of imperilled Deutsch-
krone. big 12-way German COM
munications center, the Russians
-
Evening star., 1945-02-04
B Bulletin
2Convicts Recoptured

Walter E. Waston, %, and
Joseph Isenberg, %, two Of
three c0nvicts who attacked
= deputy marshal and es-,
capped from prison van at
the entrance of District Jail
Wednesday, were arrested yes
terday by 1t. Joseph Shimon,
Of the United. States At
torney's Office, police report
ed early today. The third
man, still at large, is Elmer
Norton.
Early Story on Page B-l.
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Soldier Sentenced to Die

CAMP ROBERTS, Calf, Feb.
R.-Pvt. Henry Weber was SEN
fenced Friday by general court
martial to BE- hanged after being
convicted under the Gath article OF
war, which concerns assaulting or
wilfully disobeying superior ofiicer.
The sentence Is not Anal until re-
viewed BY tha commanding general
land the War Department.
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Yonk Roiding Berlin
Caught Glimpse of
East Front Bottle
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
HEADQUARTERS, UNITED
STATES STRATEGIC AIR
FORCES IN EUROPE, Feb.
"a United States 9Th Air
Force fighter pilot became the
western Allies first eyewitness
of the great battle of the east
ern front today while he was
flying escort in today's bomber
attack in Berlin.
1t. Col. Russell Gustke, Min
neapolis, Mimi, flying his Mus
tang 5 miles above the Ger
man capital. glanced eastward
through the cloudless air, saw
the Oder River 30 miles away
and caught a glimpse Of the
fighting between the German
and Russian forces along its
hanks.
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Great Many Killed
In Berlin Air Raid,
Correspondent Says
Ey the Associated Press.

Ey the Associated Press.
STOCKHOLM. Sunday, Feb.
4.-"Berlin had its hardest trial
of the war Saturday when
American bombers with "enor-
nous fighter cover" attacked
the capital city, a correspond
ent for the Dagens Nyheter
reported.
Details of the raid could not
be disclosed, but the CORE
spondent, Ivar Westerlund -
who was bombed out himself
said "a great many persons
were killed, particularly because
Of so many refugees in the city"
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Mrs. Won Elm Killed

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. tPl.-
Mrs. George Won Elm, 43, wife of
the former national open golf
champion, was instantly killed to-
day in a fall from the seventh
floor of hospital. Her physician
said she was suffering from a
nervous disorder. Won Elm works
in a Burbank, Calf, war plant.
Evening star., 1945-02-04

Eighteen additional men from
the District area last night Uere
reported killed in this 1Udr. The
War Department list OF killed
contained 29 District area
names, the largest number for
any one day so far in the Uar.
Stories of some OF the men in
todays list Were printed in The
Star at the time their families
,Uere notified by the Army. See
"On the Honor Roll" page Az.
Evening star., 1945-02-04
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
COLUMBUS. Ohio, Feb. s.
Gov. Frank J. Lausche prescribed
today a five-day week to rescue
Ohio from its greatest fuel fam
Inc and he found cooperation
across the State.
The Governor suggested, in a
proclamation issued from d State
capitol which had heat in one ONCE
oniy-his own-that Monday would
Be the better day to close and Ohio
retail merchants went along with
that day generally. Some chose
wednesday and few wondered why
they should close at all because they
had coal.
The 'holiday-affecting all normal
activities except war industries and
essential public institutions and
facilities-will continue until April
l unless, the Governor smiled wanly.
Divine Providence should step in
with warm weather and do away
with the best laid plans. Then. of
course, every one could forget the
whole business since there would be
plenty of coal and gas for all.
Drafted by Emergency Council.
The proclamation was based on
recommendations drafted by the
Governors Emergency Council after
long sessions and called upon the
various cities to make their own ar
Irangements to put the holiday into
effect. There is no way Gov. Lausche
could enforce such a program, but
he appealed for cooperation and
said he felt sure it would be forth
coming.
People must realize, he said, that
supplies of coal and gas virtually are
exhausted. Indeed, they are ex-
hausted in some communities. Hun
dreds of war plants, including some
|of the largest in the State and Ma
ton, have closed because of lack of
gas. Homes in some cities actually
are cold, their coal bins empty.
Snow, ice and bitter cold have as
sailed the State for two months now
the longest sustained attack in IS
|years-and to fight it OF Ohioans
have used more fuel than ever be-
fore, and all the while the incoming
supply dwindled lower and lower be-
cause of railroad tie-ups, inability to
mine, lack of manpower and the
tremendous drain on gas supplies by
war plants.
All State Oflces Closed.
All governmental 5ofaces in the
State were closed sand cold today
in compliance with Gov. Lausche's
request that they take three-day
holiday this week end. They will
remain closed Monday, as will vir-
tually all schools. All his staff
save his executive secretary, were
dismissed, even the telephone OPP
orator. and the Governor took all
incoming calls himself. There were
plenty, and all seemed to stem froml
the fuel crisis.
George Sheridan, executive Sec
retary of the, Ohio Retail Dealers
Association. said some cities already
had notified him their stores would
close Monday, while others will de-
eide in meetings next week.
Gov. Lausche turned to the Army
for equipment to clear away high
ways that have been blocked for
weeks by drifts. Col. G. L. Hall,
Ohio River division engineer, said
that equipment sent recently into
the Erie, Pa, region would be trans
ferred to Ohio.
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Ohio Governor Asks
5-Day Week 10 Meet
Greatest Fuel Famine
RetoiI Merchants Join
Move for Conservation;
Cities Urged to Assist

IMPROVEMENT NOTED as result
OF Governments fuel conservation
measures. Page AS
Evening star., 1945-02-04

(See AERIAL, Page A-l0)
Evening star., 1945-02-04

(See RUSSIA. Page Al
Evening star., 1945-02-04

tSee MANPOWER, Page A-5.)
Evening star., 1945-02-04

tSee WALLACE, Page A-14.)
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Weather Forecast

Sunny, warmer today. Cloudy. mild
tomorrow; rain In late afternoon or
evening
Evening star., 1945-02-04

(See PHILIPPINES, Page A-30