davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-28
Bv ROBERT MUSEL


United Press Staff Correspondent
LONDON, May H. U.D The
mystery of the Friday night ghost
is beginning to claim some at
tention from Londoners no longer
preoccupied with lodging German
" missiles.
Three expert ghost catchers told
today how they passed a blood
chilling night in a haunted house
and emerged badly shaken after
seeing vase journey across a
room under its own power, feeling
mysterious gusts of wind and hear
ing sounds of scufflng they were
never able to explain.
Their experience took place sew.
eral years ago, but the rush OF
international events has discourage
ed them from speaking OF it pub
licly hitherto. At any rate, it shook
their skephcism regarding physl-
cal phenomena, because they are
unable to explain what they saw
except in terms of a genuine sup
ernatural influence.
All the investigators were high
ly skilled at detecting fraud. One,
Will Galdston, was close frleno
of the master magician, Harry
Houdini and himself created many
Of the illusions Houdini employed.
Another is mystery writer whose
name I agreed to keep secret. The
third, o. M. Rubens, is an au-
thority on such prosaic matters
as taxation and insurance and IS
vice president of the Society OF
Magicians on the side.
Rubens told the story-but only
with the greatest reluctance.
1--WE had advertised for haunt
ed house in which a ghost was Wis
ible and had checked and discarded
hundres of replies" Rubens said.
when we were told about the un-
canny house half an hours drive
from London, we thought it would
be another case in which a loose
roof tile produced a moan when
the wind whistled or IN which a
scraping branch drew a screech
from the drainpipe.
AFTER checking by the local
police station, we found out that
complaints about the house ante
dated the station, which was IS
years old. Then we went to the
local vicar. He said parish records
went back over 10 years and there
always seemed to be something
wrong in the house.
FINALLY we called at the house
itself, a huge place but despite its
size it rented for only II shilling
8 week ($2.40).
1.-THE middle-aged woman liv-
Ing there then showed us bruised
arms and said NATTER f-factly that
they were marks made by the
Rhost last Friday night.
:. ''She said she and her family
were too poor to get a house that
size anywhere else and had to put
up with the inevitable events Of
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-28
NAVY INCREASES
FIGHTING FLEET
Continued from Pare One)

be constructed after June l and
ships are now going down the ways
at the. rate Of 1,0O0,O tons a
month. Some west coast yards
whose contracts are filled already
have shifted to repair work.
Officials estimate that only 49,.
700 OF the 472,350 persons now EN-.
ployed in commission shipyards
will be needed when the yards
Shift to repair work. But there is
every indication that they will be
absorbed by the Nays construc-
ton program.
Naval officials have warned that
some of the carriers now building
are behind schedule because of
manpower shortages. They called
on shipbuilders to redouble their
efforts and said that the carrier
fleet must be increased, and
sooft."
Colncident with announc ement of
the drastic damage suffered by the
U. S. S. Franklin, the Navy said
that the carrier fleet faces 'its
most serious test IS the Pacific war
reaches the principal Japanese is
lands and, in turn, more and more
enemy land-based planes"
Largest of the carriers under
construction are the 45,0OO-tonners
Midway, Coral Sea and Franklin
D. Roosevelt.
Last year the Navy turned out
3,211,5 11 tons, Of new vessels peak
delivery was reached in may when
4,506 craft were delivered. The
Navy said the total for this year
would not be far behind the 1914
figure but that thereafter, the
building program will drou off
sharply.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-28
WARSHIPS TEAM
TO FIGHT JAPS
Continued from Page one)

|
1000 yards beyond the city on the
eastern coast, moving into chain
of hills protecting the Chinen pc
ninsula to the south.
The Asato river had ragged over
| it's banks and washed out three
of the four bridges thrown across
by Marine engineers to carry
tanks and heavy equipment into
ruined Naha, western anchor of
the japanese line.
Fields and roads were flooded.
Front dispatches said roads were
deep under water and were mark
ed by posts to outline their loca-
ton. In one sector, three inches
of rain was recorded in is hours.
The warships coordinated their
Smelling with attacks by Okinawa-
based and carrier aircraft on the
concentration of enemy troops
south of the fortress city of Shuri.
"A considerable number" were de-
stroyed, the communique said.
It was not clear whether the
enemy force was moving north or
south. Apparently however, the
Japs are about ready to abandon
the outer Shuri fortification under
constant rain of American ar
tillery fire.
The screaming shells from the
ships added to the crash of bombs
and rockets from the combat air
patrols which poured down in the
center of the enemy troops ap-
parently killing them by the hun.
dreds, though no exact figures
were disclosed.
The drive south of Yonabaru
was formed-one arm battling to-
ward the Chinen peninsula, the
other aiming south and west in an
apparent move to envelop Shuri.
Shuri already was under heavy
pressure from three divisions
which have clamped virtual
pincers around the town.
bath Regiment of the 9TH Di-
vision stormed southwark up a
sheer 300 foot cliff overlooking the
vital peninsula. The Doughboys
crawled up the muddy slopes, so
slick that many were literally
washed backward by torrential
cascades. In some places the cliff
was weakly defended, the Jcps
apparently considering it impreg.
nable. .t.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-28
CRISIS GRIPS
SYRIAN SECTOR
CONTINUED from Page One)

areas of control and the Syrians
in their piled sandbags around win
dows and doorways in all princi-
pal buildings and mounted light
guns behind them.
Syrians were flocking to the
colors. Streams of volunteers were
being issued uniforms in the mush-
rooming national guard. and the
streets Of Damascus were filled
with recruits still unarmed.
Syrian police kept isolated incl
dents from exploding into major
clashes, blocking crowds off from
streets down whic hmoved patrols
Of Senegeales troopers, whose arri-
val in the Levant states precipi-
tated the crisis.
In Cairo Abdul Rahman- Azzam
Bey, secretary general of the Arab
league, said the Senagalese had
cut communications between large
towns while French warplanes flew
low across the countryside, fright
ening the populace.
Azzam Bey said the situation
steadily was growing worse in both
Syria and Lebanon, that machine
guns were being mounted on house.
tops and armored cars were de-
ployed in the public squares.
He told correspondents that the
Egyptian Prime Minister expected
to make statement on the ques-
ton in Parliament Monday, and
the Arab league expected to meet
in Cairo to deal with the crisis.
The Syrian parliament heard
fiery speeches demanding that the
government act, calling for a last
ditch fight against the French, and
urging the Allies to come to the aid
of the Levantines.
The Parliament in secret ses-
sion was reported discussing COM
munication from the British gov
eminent handed to the Syrian for
eign minister Friday by the Bri-
fish charge d'affaires.
Beyrouth, capital Of Lebanon,
last was reported quiet.
In Syria the police charged that
they had found French order
detailing instructions for Selling
Damascus. The French officially
declared the document a forgery.
No mention was made in Par
Lament Of this, but there was plen-
ty said about the French.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-28
CHINESE RETAKE
PORT OF MANNING
CONTINUED from Page One)

CONTINUED from Page One1
way was the main Japanese route
for the movement of troops and
supplies and had been lately i'm
proved.
BY their own admission, the jap
anese were planning to build rail-
road from Liuchow to Indo-China
so as to bring closer the realiza-
ton of their Wanted project of
rail communications between Sing
apore and Tokyo, by way Of Man.
churia.
1t was not known whether the
line had been completed, but the
plans called for it to run within
10 miles of Yungning on the op.
posite bank of the 81 river. The
Japanese still controlled ci--
cuitous highway route to Indo-
China running along the 81 rivers
south bank.
The Chinese command reported
that the Japanese Friday started
drive southwark from Wenchow,
on the Chekiang coast 230 miles
south Of Shanghai between Shang-
hal and Foochow.
The objective of the Japanese
thrust was not known. Some
Chungking observers believed it
might be diversionary move pre-
saying a Japanese abandonment of
Wenchow, which with Foochow,
would be a potential death trap
for japanese coastal forces in the
event of an American invasion.
The Japanese were engaged by
Chinese forces south of Winchow
and reports indicated that the
Chinese were moving in toward
that treaty port from the west
and had made considerable prog.
ress.''
While Chinese in Yungning dis.
rupted enemy communications with
Indo-China, other troops of Chang
Kai-Shek's army smashed against
the west flank of the Japanese ov.
erland corridor at points all along
a 900-mile front.
North of Yungning, gains were
reported toward Liuchow, and
farther north, a Chinese column
drove within eight and a half
miles northwest Of Shaoyang.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-28
Obituaries
WILLIAM L. TURNER

William L. Turner, 40, Of 101i
South Second street, died at 9 p
m. Yesterday at Rocky Mount.
He is survived by his mother
Mrs. L. r. Frost, ST., of Whining.
ton; two sisters, Mrs. M. T. Ma
son, ST., Of Wilmington, and Mrs
H. Gam, of Wilmington; and
brother, A. j. Merritt, of Dallas
Texas.
Funeral services will be held al
2::3o p. m. today at the Yopp flu
neral home with the Rev. Clarence
Baker, officiating. Burial viii be
in the Bellevue cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be c. A
Camus, Billy Mason, Carl Mason
John Swart, Robert Hales ant
Norman Waters.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-28

ard had done hopeless bunRlinr
job in his previous contact with
REA and that nearly all Of his
activities are POLITICAL"
'Why palm off this incompetent
administrator upon the hundreds
Of poor farmers who have protest
ed, by letter and telegram, that
they don't want Mr.. Wickard to
be in charge OF REA?" he asked
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-28
PRESIDENT HITS
SNAC ON CHANGES
Continued from Page One)

other agencies, it exempts from
change the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation, which congress took
out of the Department of Com.
merce before Secretary Henry Wal.
lace was confirmed.
1t removes the 1889 exemption
granted the National Labor Rela-
tons board in evident preparation
for executive consolidation OF
NLRB and other independent Ia
Dor agencies with the labor depart
ment.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-28
SENATOR ATTACKS
0PA MANAGEMENT
CONTINUED from Page One)

IF OPA doesn't change it's price
policy, we will. OPA has gotten
bigger than anybody-bigger even
than the Government. OPA has
got to be taken down peg
Renewal of the act without re.
strictions was recommended by 20
national organizations who also
asked that more money be pro-
vided to fight the food black mar
ket. They include the CLIO, the
ALL, the National Farmers USion
and National Consumers League.
Sen. Henrik Shipstead, Jr., (R-
Minn.), meanwhile started a cam.
paign to defeat the nomination of
retiring Secretary of Agriculture
Claude A. Wickard as Rural Elec-
trification Administrator.
He said in statement that Wick
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-28
SHOWDOWN LIMITED
ON VETO RIGHTS
Confined from Page one)

talking of giving reassurances that
the veto will be used only in rare
instances and that the authority
won't be abused. Also they report
edly favor 4 statement that no ma
ton would be forbidden to bring
complaints Of threats to peace.
The whole problem ultVaately
will be thrsshed out in one of the
conference committees, where a
two-thirds ballot will be required
on decisions. The dispute $ may
simmer d6y6n to the point where
small counties will be told insist
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-28
MILITARY MEAT NEEDS

The Office of War Information
makes this official statement:
"Now, the Battle Of Japan
must be lOon.
1.-THE pipe lines to the Pa
cifc are ta0ice as long as they
are to Europe and they must
be kept flled-euery day.
"Billions Of pounds of
meat must be constantly in
transit to Pacific bases. Ade-
quafe reserves must be kept
on hand in all supply depots.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-28
BUILDING STRIKE
THREATENS n. Y.
Continued from Page One)

CONTINUED from Page pne)
the executive board would set q
strike date.
LaGuardia said, 1--WE have had
two such threats previously during
my time as mayor. Both were set
tied and 1 hope there will be set
Element of this threat.
Gas far as dwellings and inter-
ruptions of service are concerned,
the threats involve the health and
life of residents. In 1896, l issued an
emergency proclamation stating
that discontinuance of elevator
service in buildings of more than
six stories was a menace to life
and health"
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-28

"Men are r1ouing to the
Pacific in rapidly increasing
numbers and they must be
follosOed by enormous guam
titles of meat as well as tanks
and rockets, n,ortars and
shells.
6 "Also, troops in Europe
tuill get more fresh meats and
hot kitchen-prepared meals.
"V-E Day does not mean
a reduction in the Army's
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES"
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-28

Sturgeon eggs are used in max
ing caviar. One large female stur-
geon may furnish caviar valued at
500.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-28

The first bulbs Edison used for
his laboratory experiments were
free-b1oWn by shilled artisans.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-02
Wolfpack Eleven Starts
Drill With Twelve Vets

RALEIGH, May I IN IN. c.
State Colleges Wolfpack, bolster
ed by twelve veterans from last
years squad including nine letter.
men, launched spring grid prac.
tice today.
End Coach Star Wood, handling
the grid duties while head Coach
Beattie Feathers rounds out the
baseball season, ran the prospects
through loosening-up drills and ex-
planned fundamentals of the game.
Feathers will being his football
players in from baseball warfare
on May IL, and then the entire
squad will practice until May 20,
the end of the spring school term.
Regular practice sessions will get
underway about the first Of August.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-02
cats WILL PLAY
WHlTEVlLLE Nine

Fresh from their first victory OF
the season. New Hanover High S
diamondmen will attempt to cut a
second victory notch in their win
stick when they journey to Write
vile this afternoon to encounter
the Whiteville High horsehiders.
The Locals, who turned back
Goldsboro, 30, in the nightcap OF
doubleheader, were handed their
first defeat of the season in their
opener with Whiteville here On
March 81, 8-3
The Columbus county aggrega-
ton is led at bat by Catcher Hooks,
who managed to get on base five
times in five trips to the plate IN
the last -Whiteville fracas. He
collected two singles. walk, and
a double; getting on the other time
ON fielder's choice.
The Wildcats have shown steady
improvement since the beginning
of the season, being led in the inn
provement field by Billy Hsrdison,
who hurled four-hit ball against
the Earthquakes Monday.
Hardison or Rogers will prob
ably get the nod to start off the
mound duties for the Hanoverians;
probably Hardison because Of his
win over the 'Quakes.
Hacksaw futile or Levy Heath
will start off behind the plate one
relieving the other before the
game is over.
Coach Don Freeman's Jay-vees
set something for their elders to
shoot at yesterday; they COPIED
their second victory of the season
by whaling the Hallsboro nine,
1877. w. A. Brown turned in six
hit performance, punc'uating it
with a circuit clout in the fourth.
Brown was especially anxious 10
defeat the Hallsboro team, as they
had edged him out, rs. in a
twelve inning tilt at Hallsboro last
week. Williams, who was given
credit for the victory in his previ-
Gus fracas with the Hanoverians,
is slated to handle the hill for
Whiteville.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-02
CATCHER COOPER
SWORN into NAVY

ST. LOUIS, May 1-lR-Walker
Cooper, great catcher and team
captain of the World Champion St.
Louis Cardinals, was indicted into
the Navy today at jefferson Bar.
racks and is headed for Great
Lakes Qll.) Naval Training Sta.
ton.
At Great Lakes, Bob Teller, for
mer Cleveland ace, has assembled
one of the finest service teams il
the country, loaded with former
major league stars. Cooper S
choice probably won't be bad news
to the 'Fireball King" who pitch
ed to Walker during one exhibition
tour.
The husky Cardinal star has been
the mainstay of three champion
ship teams in St. Louis. In all
three years he hsa been oversha-
doWed individually for most val
liable player" honors. First it was
his big brother Morton, then out
fielder Stan Musial and last year
Shortstop Marty Marion. But there
has been little doubt among close
observers of the club that cooper
was major factor in guiding war
time pitchers past the 100-victory
mark in all three years.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-02
Chandler Plans To Take
Baseball To The Country

ST. LOUIS, May ;1-tR-Sen. A.
B. Happy Chandler who has only
to sign his contract to become the
nations new Baseball Commissions
er disclosed today his plans for
carrying baseball black to the
country to capitalize on ''the ire
mendous sports boom we will have
after the war"
In his first press conference
since his election to the Commits
sioner's post a week ago he as
serted baseball has two immediate
responsibilities:
l. We must provide some place
for basebalFs war veterans to
play. We are obliged to find jobs
for them"
2. Thousands of players have
been wounded and will need re-
facilitating and they ought to be
able to see baseball games.
Chambers proposal is to locate
leagues in the vicinity Of Govern
ment hospitals and in high schools
and colleges.
Well have lots of opportunities
to discover new baseball talent, .
he .aid.
Chandler was here to attend the
American League pennant raising
ceremonies of the St. Louis Browns
which was rained out.
AS to basebalIs present status,
Chandler said he talked with Pres
ident Truman a few days ago
just before leaving Washington and
Il came away with the impress
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-02
WLB Renews Efforts
To Stop Coal Strike
Continued from Page One) a


compliance with any board order
would have to depend upon action
of the tri-district scale committee
of 40, also in New York.
Anthracite operations were re-
ported completely suspended in
Pennsylvania today with 100000
tons Of production already lost,
while contract negotiations in New
York between operators and John
L. Lewis United Mine Workers
were deadlocked.
The hard coal workers quit work
with the expiration of their con.
tract last midnight, disregarding a
War Labor Board order to continue
work under the old terms until a
new agreement is reached
Soft coal stoppages also were re.
ported in Western Pennsylvania,
Ohio and West Virginia, despite
final Government approval Of a
new bituninous contract giving the
average miner a pay increase Of
ISL cents day.
1ckes seized 235 biturninous
mines on April 10, on the order Of
the late President Roosevelt. te
assure continued production of Goa
for war-vital steel. A few hours
later, the union and operators
agreed upon the new contract
which received final approval yes
terday with Davis sanction of in,
creases in coal prices to meet the
higher mine labor costs.
Ickes said today after a White
House call on President Truman:
"I'll take over the bituminous
mines as fast as they go out. I'm
ready to take over the anthracite
mines"
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-02
one LEGGED VET
ASSERTS AMBITION
TO PLAY FOOTBALL
Former Penn State Block.
ing Back Wants To
Return To Grid

STATE COLLEGE. Pa, May l..
-eP-A one-legged Army sergeant
may be playing football for Pen
nsylvania State college this fall.
Sgt. Johnny Schroyer, who lost
his right leg in a German prison
camp but not his ambition to re-
turn to the gridiron, wants to get
pack into the game.
There's one thing SUE" Coach
Bob Higgins said today, HE has
the coach roofing for him.
Johnny recently wrote Higgins
from Atlantic City's English Gen.
eral hospital:
What are my chances of play
ing football again? I love the
game too much to give 1T up with
out try.
Commenting that he hopes all
my future players possess as much
courage as schroyer, Higgins
said:
Il don't know too much about
artificial limbs but if the Army
does good job in fitting him with
one and Johnny can accommodate
himself quickly, he may play foot.
ball again.
Johnny was blocking back
when he last played for me in l94z
but apparently he is willing to re.
turn to the line when he rejoins the
squad. Our inside tackle doesn'1
run very much so that may be the
spot for him to try
The sergeant, native Of Con-
nellsville Pa) and former higr
school running mate of Notre
Danes Johnny Lujack. says ne is
in condition noW-all he needs is
the new leg.
He was wounded at Anzio; cap
tured by the Germans and re.
patriated after his leg was am.
putated.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-02

FIRST Armored Division, he knows
what ne is talking about when dis
cuSSlng what convalescent soldiers
want, and he's sold on the P. C.
A. plan.
It's the best for the purpose I've
heard Of" he said, referring to the
pros project to provide golf facili-
ties for all service hospitals.
I'm sure that eight out of 10
service men would rather see a
sports event than any other form
OF entertainment, and facilities for
disabled vets to play golf them
selves or watch exhibitions would
be fine. I think baseball could lay
out diamonds on hospital grounds
ana bring teams for exhibition
games, too. About rs per cent of
the patients would be able to get
out to the games some way"
The captain, home on leave, says
schools are beina conducted in
Rome to develop instructors,
coaches and officials for the extern
slve sports program which will fol-
low We Day, and he hopes to take
championship service teams on
tours of the different European
countries. He had much to do with
the Italian tours of Joe Louis and
Billy Conn, and took the Fifth Ar
my team to the Oran tournament,
where it lost only one bout.
He doesn't say much about all
those rainboWs across his chest.
but with quite little urging will
admit he got nine citations, and
the medals and stars include the
British Military Cross and the
French Croix de Guerre, as we'll
as the Purple Heart He's. we'll,
he's a young fellow you feel quite
proud to know.