davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20
City Pension Bills Cited At tHearing

Waterbury's pension situation yesterday was discussed pro and con by various groups. and individuals from the city appearing before the Public Personnel Committee of the state legislature at a hearing which failed to get underway until after 5 D. m. and lasted until 7:30 p. m.
 Presented for consideration to the commission were the bills as drawn up by the legislative commission of the city, the group of general en- ployes represented by Attorney John Thoms and the firemen and police men represented by former Lieu tenant Governor William L. Had den.
 Among those present yesterday other than city officials were: c. Arthur DuBois chairman of the commission which drew up one bill, J. Francis Roland representing the teachers association accompanied by other teachers, Fire Marshal Dennis J. Lahey and Police Super intendent Daniel J. Carson accom- panied by Fire Lieutenant William Kinney and Bremen John LaWlor, Joseph Maloney and John J. Cor coran. Also Alderman Richard Ben- sen supporting Attorney Thoms and Aldermen Martin J. Sullivan and Harold Ashley. Local teachers included the Misses Fennessey Canty, Lucy Bowes, Helen Hogan, Frances Grace. Charles Woodlock and others.
 City officials included Mayor John s. Monagan, City Controller Neil F. Maloney. City Budget Di- rector Arnold Fllrlong, City Corpor- ation Counsel Maurice F. Healey.
 The bill as proposed by the com- was supported by MT. Du- Bois and while supported in prin- ciple by administration officials and Attorney Walter Torrance repre- senting the city's Taxpayers Asso- citation the latter both opposed the extent of the yearly payments to be accrued by the city for purposes of the pension obligations called for on an actuarial basis.
 The bill supported by Attorney Thoms in behalf of a group of gen. eral employees calls for somewhat similar contributions by the city and employees but provides for a lower retirement age. Attorney rhomS stressed that the general employees of the city do not enjoy | the security offered to policemen and hremen, the latter by means of |
 (H0ntiniled m paue Al
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20
Japanese Atrocity Stories Not Exaggerations--Halsey

HalSey demanded punishment in payment of "all Japs guilty of war crimes, without respect for rank or high position and singled out Field Marshal Juichi Terauchi and General Tomoyuki Yamashita as deserving of special attention.
 Outlining the military control which he maintained was necessary to handle the Japanese in the post war period, Halsey said a United nations supreme commander with a free hand" should be placed in charge. The commander, he said should have mo interference from outside-meaning, of course, from well-intentioned but misguided civil governments"
 He said we must make the Jap aneSe race powerless, and then keep It powerless." With this in mind. te proposed three restrictions: That no Japanese ship should move without Allied approval, that all Japanese should be stripped of all arms, of any kind, and that ''most industrial should be kept away from them without forcing them into starva- tion."
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20

New York, April 20.-(UP)-Ad- miral William F. Halsey, Jr., com mander of the Third U. s. fleet, today charged the Japanese with vivisection, rape and cannibalism and demanded that after the war, one Japanese officer be put to death in retaliation for every one of "our men" murdered in the Pacific.
 Halsey's plan was presented in a signed article in Golfers magazine. He urged that no peace treaty be signed with the Japanese and that a prolonged armisitce" be sub- stituted. He said his staff joined him in extremely violent hatred" of the Japanese.
 Most of the Japanese atrocity stories you hear about are not ex- aggerations. he said. We have oocumented proof that some of our Marines were vivisected, that some nuns were subjected to 48 hours of continuous rape, and definite signs that the Japs practiced can- nabalism on Guadalcanal and on LAyta."
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20
YonksWithin 80 Of Davao
By DON CASWELL

Manila, April 20-(UP)-An1eri- ! can troops thrust almost unopposed across Mindanao to within 30 miles of the big port of Davao today.
 The drive was moving earlyf'a mile an hour and already had jSe- cured an approximate 400-Square mile bearchhead on the eastern shore of Moro Gulf.
 At the same time other Q. s. troops occupied without opposition Balabac Island, south of American controlled Palawan and only 45 miles from the northern tip of Borneo.
 It. Gen. Robert L. Echelberger's Eighth Army troops met only oc- casional sniper fire as they pushed south along the coast and inland on Mindanao. SouthernmoSt and last major island in the Philippinee not controlled by the Americans.
 In series of shore-to-sh heRD from original landing beachhea@, assault forces pushed IS miles south. ward to capture the towns of Cota. bato and Tamontaka on the north and south shores of the Mindanao river.
 The river positions were quickly consolidated and under a heavy air cover the troops drove 9 miles in- land on both sides of the river to the road junction of Lomopog.
 Gen. Douglas MacArhtur an- nounced that the northern beach, head at Ma1ahapO woc hoiY,oy ro,1sA ly expanded and that its airneld, built by the Americans before the war, already was in operation.
 (Continued on Page 4)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20
BY CLAIRE COX

Chicago, April % (UP)-Elmer Bruffy earned his living for 20 years by walking on sharp knives, but his feet got sore. Now he makes a career of hanging himself twice day. His neck feels fine.
 Bruffy Is known to circus goers as "the great Bruffy, only man who can hang himself and survive" His only competitor died of broken neck two years ago.
 After more than 1,00G hangings for the benefit of audiences at the Barnes Brothers Circus, arc count less other hangings for his own amusement" Bruffy, 43, still is sacred stiff" when he goes into his act.
 "Once leave the trapeze, never know what Is going to happen" he said.
 Sometimes I pass out for . few seconds because the moose cuts off the blood supply from my brain. If I ever got stuck, 1t would be the .A~d."
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20
45,000Yonks In New Drive Against Jops
BY FRANK TREMAINE

Guam, April 20.-(UP)-American troops lunged to within three and a half miles north of Naha, Capi- tai of Okinawa, in the most pow erful offensive of the Pacific war today.
 Radio Tokyo said other troops att tempted to land on the south coast of Okinawa about eight miles south east of Mana yesterday from 8 30- ship invasion fleet, including 20 transports and several battieships.
 Such landing would deeply ou = flank Naha, a city of 65,000 and clamp a pincers on its garrison of 6O,0O0.
 Three Army diviSions-posSioly 45 900 men-smashed deep bulges into both Hanks of the Japanese line across southern OkinaWa yes- terday under cover of the great est coordinated ship and artillery bombardment ever given American troops for the size of hte target anywhere in the world.
 Hill Almost Cleared
 Front reports said Americans now were less than 6,200 yards north of Naha and approaching Machinato airf1eld on the west coast and near ing the northern end of Yonabaru airstrip on the east coast.
 A hill overlooking Shuri, two miles inland from Naha, was all but clear ed in the center of the line. The town of Machinato, a mile north of the airfield of the same name, was captured in the initial phases of the offensive yesterday.
 Maj. Gen. John R. Hodge, com- mander of the 24th Army Corps, said his forces had made good gains" in the heart of the enemy's main line of resistance. Key ground had been won, he said.
 It. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner, commander of the 10th Army, said the offensive was going just about as We expected"
 ''The Japs have as well an or ganized line as I have ever heard of anywhere" Buckner said. We all know that we still have to use a bio wtorch and corkscrews to get them out of their caves"
 Tokyo radio said the amphibious forces attempted to land on the southern coast at Chinen and Nina tokawa, 4 1-2 to miles south of but were driven of.
 The enemy report described the invasion force as com- prising 20 transports, two to four
 (Cnntinled on Page Al
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20

Three American divisions already were cutting through the doomed pocket, however, and the complete occupation of the city appeared only a matter of hours.
 At the same time, the Seventh Army's 18th and 14th armored al. visions broke loose on a wide end run southeast and southwest Of Nuremberg on the main roads 70 Munich.
 Late dispatches said both col- umns were 20 to 9 miles beyond Nuremberg, with the 18th armored Division on the southeastern flank only about 70 miles from Munich and 30 miles from the Danubian city of Regensburg.
 The final bloody battle for Nuern- berg was concentrated in a mile- square patch of ruins in the center of the city where the survivors of the Nazi garrison holed up inside 3 walled and moated fortress.
 Ready For Kill
 Giant American field guns blasted a half-dozen holes in the walls and swarms of infantrymen poured in to finish of the trapped enemy.
 Far to the northeast, the U. g. First Army wiped out a similar stubborn pocket in the center Of captured Leipzig. A band of ,150 Nazi Elite Guards who had been firing sporadically from the shelter of the Napoleonic monument fc'' more than 12 hours after the resO of the garrison quit surrendered at 1:30 o'clock this morning.
 With them were 19 Americans, including two war correspondents, who had been captured earlier, in the battle. The war correspondents were not identified immediately.
 Almost 5000 Germans were cap- tured in Liepzig during the last A hours, swelling to 27,627 the number of enemy prisoners taken in the weex-long battle for the city.
 Two Nazi generals also fell into American hands, along with the 1000 anti-aircraft guns that only 8 month ago had made Leipzig the toughest bombing target in the Reich.
 Another strong German force came to grief farther north on the
 (Continlled on Page A)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20
20 Dead In
 Plane Crash

Sweetwater, Tex, April 20-UP) Between 20 and 25 passengers aboard twin-engine transport plane were killed today when it crashed and burned three miles south of here.
 Army officials refused at first to release the number of men aboard the plane until an accurate check of the bodies could be made. But local undertakers said that more than 20 bodies" were in Sweetwater funeral parlors.
 The plane, based at Midland army airfield, was enroute to New Jer- sey destination when 1t crashed shortly after $40 a. m. Witnesses said watches of the victims stopped at $40 a. m.
 Col. John Eaton, executive off cer at Avenger field here, and Capt. Edward Schumacher, base surgeon. investigated the crash, but would release no details pending Q check of the planes home base.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20
Kelsey Army
 Bomb Expert

London, April 20-(UP)-Ameri- can Flying Fortresses have launch- ed rocket-propelled bombs against German motor torpedo boat pens on the Dutch coast at least twice it was revealed today.
 A joint communique of the U. S. strategic air forces and the British Admiralty revealed that Rocket bombs were used in attacks against Ijmuiden on Feb. 10 and March IA.
 Like the German V-2, the Rocket travels faster than sound when it is sent down from high flying bomber. It is set so that 1t explodes after its terrific speed sends it deeper into the target.
 The bomb Was designed to penetrate thick layers of concrete and 1t is known that several hit and pierced the massive roofs of the E-boat pens. They are believed to have caused considerable dam age.
 The new weapon is a high ex- plosive bomb of special design WHlCIl lS S1VcI1 u AuCA 8ACdeCA speed by Rocket propulsion than would be attained by gravity alone.
 Air force headquarters also an- nounced that special section of engineering experts and experience ed combat veterans have been col laborating in Rocket bomb experi- ments since 1942.
 They developed. the technique to be used in putting power bombs in operation and other innovations in the U. s. Air Force. Their achieve ments include the development of long range fighters, gas tanks that can be jettisoned, and the conver- sion of lightning fighters planes into high altitude precision bombers.
 They had beeIl commanded by Col Benjamn s. Kelsey, of Water bury, Conn, but now are under the command of Col. Cass s. Hough, Plymouth, Mich.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20
''7he Great Brufy" Enjoys Hanging Self T1uice q Day

Once the unexpected did happen. He fell 60 feet last year when his moose broke. He spentsixweeks in a Syracuse, N. Y, hospital.
 Bruffy falls more than 60 feet with a moose around his neck. He pulls up at the end of each trip with a jerk that over the years has showed his adams apple somewhere in the region of his epiglottis.
 A slight man, who speaks with a southern drawl, Bruffy explained 1t Is all matter of muscle control.
 T started developing my neck muscles about seven years ago by lifting weights in the gym at my home in Waverly. N. Y. I had been walking on razor edge swords, hand saws and axes for 20 years.
 My feet were getting sore. Be- sides I wanted to do something more dangerous.
 Other fellows in this business have done this act, but they hung on to the rope. let loose and take the whole shock"
 AS . hobby, the great Bruffy hsugs himself in his spa.e timA
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20
Meat Subsidy Revision Set

Washington, April 20.-(UP)-The Office of Price Administration is re- vising the meat subsidy program :n an effort to alleviate the Eation- wide shortage. 1t was learned to- day.
 At the same time, it was report cd, the War Food Administration is working out plans to give direct subsidy to cattle feeders.
 Informed sources said the OPA plan would be announced before the end of this week or early next week.
 They said the action was the 6l- rect result of meat industry com plaints that OPA is price liking meat packers out of business or in- tC the black market and, at the same time, making 1t financially un- feasible for cattle feeders to ''manu- fracture hAAf aR tho hnAk"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20
Ross To Join
 rumon Stoff

Washington, April 20. - (UP)- President Truman announced to- day that Charles G. Ross, 59-year- old Washington correspondent for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, will become his press secretary c.l May IS.
 When MT. Truman first took of- flee 1t was announced that J. Leon- ard Reinsch, managing director of three radio stations owned by James M. Cox, would act as secre- tary in charge of press and radio affairs.
 The President explained at a special news conference today that Cox had telegraphed him, making a special appeal that Reinsch be allowed to return to his post with the Cox stations because of the ur- gent need of his technical knowl- edge.
 The President said that after re- ceiving the appeal from Cox he called in Ross, a friend since they went to high school together, and asked him to take the post. Ross agreed, sayiag he would be, avail able on May IS after he reports the United Nations Conference in San FranciSco.
 MT. Truman said he was making the announcement today because he had Charlie" go 8 little senti- mental last night and together called up their old school teacher, Miss Matilda. Brown, at Independ- ence, Mo-, and also called some of Ross family. So the President
 (Continued on Page 9
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20
Charlie Chaplin
 Planning Appeal

Hollywood, April 20 - (U.Po - Joan Barry's paternity suit against Charlie Chaplin, which already has been aired twice in court, appeared headed for the courts again today when the principals in the case an- nounced that they were contem- plating appeals.
 Chaplin, unhappy over 8 jurys decision that he is the father of Miss Barry's 18-months-old daugh- ter, Carol Ann, said he would ap- peal the verdict. If the appeal was denied, he said he would ask to have the ruling set aside.
 Miss Barry, unhappy because Superior Court Judge Clarence L. Kincaid awarded her only $75 weekly for the support of Carol Ann, said her Attorney Joseph Scott was considering asking the court for more money.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20
No SoIutes For Hitler

London, April 20-(UP)-Adolf Hitler, the defeated dictator, passed his 56th and probably last, birthday today.
 There was no celebration in his dying empire tur the most hunted man in history. The only victory salutes came from the guns of AL lied armies closing in on him from east and west.
 Berlin, where in Hitler's heyday the red flags with the black swas- tikas flew and his storm troopers paraded, echoed with the artillery of the oncoming Red army, report ed only seven miles away.
 The German radio, which once boomed Hitler's birthday speeches from Berlin, had only news of fresh defeats to offer. There was no in- dication the Fuehrer would make birthday broadcast, although Swiss report said 21 Gauleiters had asked Goebbels last week to per- suade Hitler to speak for the sake of morale.
 The same dispatch, quoting Munich source, said Goebbels and Himmler had refused to act on tie matter.
 The Fuehrer was believed to be at his mountain retreat at Berchtes- gaden, planning a twilight of the Gods finale to his career of cor- quest. Some recent reports have suggested Hitler still was in Berlin, but few believed he would remain that close to the Red Army if he could help it.
 A Zurich dispatch, quoting a Ger man diplomat who supposedly left Berlin last week, said the reich capital had been stripped for its capture.
 Hitler thanked the gauleiter of
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20
Poles Seat Again Asked By Russians
BY PHIL ATJLT

London, April 20-(UP)-Moscow informally renewed its demand fol inclusion of the Soviet-supported Polish provisional government in the San Francisco conference today despite second refusal by the United States.
 President Boleslaw Bierut, Premier Edward Osubka- -Morawski and other members of the provisional govern ment arrived in Moscow last night, presumably to be on hand for con- ferenceS with Russian leaders on the bid to attend the world security meeting.
 A Soviet radio commentator said in a broadcast from Moscow that Russia continues to insist on its proposal that representatives of the Polish provisional government, as it stands, must be invited to the conference" unless the proposed coalition regime has been completed prior to the opening date.
 The commentator maintained that the provisional government actual ly holds power throughout the whole of Polish territory and enjoys the support of the Polish people,
 Failure of the United States and Britain to invite the government to San Francisco caused great indig- nation in Poland, the commentator said.
 Both the United States and Bri- tain have stood by the Crimea de- cision, also agreed to at the time by Russia, that only a coalition gov- ernment of national unity should be asked to the conference.
 Bierut said in an interview with the Soviet Tass News Agency that he and other members of the War saw government had gone to Mos COW ito express on behalf of the millions of Polish people our desire to guarantee a lasting peace"
 Osubka- a-Morawski also said the most important task at hand was "a wise and stable peace among na- tions."
 The Warsaw government indirect ly laid claim last night to a 50 to 1855 -mile-strip of southeastern Ger many, including the entire industrial and mineral rich Silesian Basin.
 frout1p,,a-l o,, Daon Al
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20

The German n1gh command, acks nowledging widespread reverses in the concentric Notifications in front of Berlin, said frankly that the situation has deteriorated."
 Other Nazi broadcasts reported Soviet tanks and infantry were mov- ing directly against Berlin between Muencheberg and Wriezen. Their center had reached Strausberg, nine miles from the capital, and the low CT wing was at Hangelsberg, seven miles from Berlin.
 Moscow dispatches, following up the First Soviet high command confirmation of the showdown of- fensive On broad Berlin front, re- ported that the Russians had brok- en across the Spree river and were closing against Dresden.
 It was in that region that, &C., cording to Moscow dispatch, out riders of It. Gen. George s. Pat toms U. s. Third Army and Marshal Ivan s. Konev's First Ukrainian army, probably have met.
 Today's Nazi communique said that another breach had been torn Tn the southeastern wing of Berlin'S outer defenseS. It said the Russians crashed through south of Cottbus, 5S miles from Berlin. and broke into Calau, 48 miles due south of the capital. Vetschau, five miles north east of Calau, also was reached.
 Fluctuations Checked
 The Nazi command claimed that in the Goerlitz-Bautze -Weisse- wasser penetration south of Cottbus the Russians were checked, but ack- knowledged heavy Russian attacks on either side of Spremberg.
 The German high commands ac- counting of the battle before Berlin was heavy with gloom. On either side of Frankfurt, it said, the "gal- lantly fighting German divisions scored full defensive successes"
 But on the vital Muenchceberg- WrieZen sector where the frontal assault against Berlin was being Russians had advanced. The high pushed, the Germans admitted the NSAAAAAA@AA0 oo40 b11C 1LcQ EIIIlY reached the area of Templeberg, four miles south of Muencheberg, and Buchholz, three miles farther southwest. Other reports of ad- vances to Hangelsberg and Straus- berg superseded the communique.
 The Wriezen wing of Berlin,s de- lenses also had fallen back. The Nazi command said Soviet reserves and tanks pushed to Sternbeck, seven miles southwest of Wriezen, and Protzel, two and a half miles southwest of Sternbeck. The German communique said 226 | Russian tanks were knocked out | yesterday before Berlin.
 The First Moscow reports after the Soviet high commands confir- nation of the great offensive said Berlin was being invested from three directions and that Russian guns were hammering the city,s inner defenses.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20
YugosIovs Nab Port Of Bokar
By United Press

Yugoslav troops have captured the Yugoslav port of Bakar, only four miles southeast of the Italian border city of Plume, Yugoslav communique announced today.
 The communique, broadcast by the new Yugoslav telegram service and recorded by the FCC, also re- ported bitter fighting" for Kral- jevica, four miles south of Bakar.
 Some 600 enemy officers have been killed and 280 captured in the invasion of Kirk Island, opposite Bakar, the communique said.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20
Boy Stote Couple
 Believe in Miracles

Webster, Mass, April 2O.- (UP)-Three months ago, the War Department reported that Pvt. Leo V. Descelles of Web- ster was missing in action i'm Germany.
 Descelles' parents were amazed yesterday when he walked into his home, his jaw swathed in bandages.
 Shortly after the welcome home celebration got underway, another War Department tele- gram arrived informing MT. and Mrs. Descelles that their son had been liberated from a prison camp and was remover ing from bullet wound in the jaw.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20
Foron Nominated By President Trumon

Plainville, April 20.-Nomination of William J. Foran to succeed J. T. Mccarthy, resigned postmaster, was sent to the Senate yesterday by President Truman. It was the only Connecticut nomination on . long Nd SlElAaAA&kAA-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20
Mistaken Lipstiek
 Nets Wife Beutinq
from NEA Radiotelephoto.

Manchester, N. H., April 20. -(UP)-When Carl l.. Cu- chette of Manchester came home from work at a canning factory, his wife mistook a to- mato soup stain on his shirt sleeve for the mark left by an- other woman's lipstick.
 As result of the argument that followed, Cuchette was hailed into municipal court yes- terday where he pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife and paid $5 fine.