davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06
Battle Entering Final Hours As Enemy Offers Spasmodic Resistance
BY BRUCE W. MUNN

Paris, March 6. - (UP) --. American First Army forces drove into the walled center of Cologne barely a mile from the wrecked Rhine bridges today and the fall of the great Cathedral City ap" peared imminent.
 A doomed German rears guard still offered spaSmodic resistance in the streets of the burning city, but field dispatches and roundabout Berlin reports indicated strongly that the battle was entering its final hours.
 One-third to half the city vas in American hands before midday, and armored and infantry columns Of three U. s. First Army Divisions were closing in with increasing speed from the northwest, west and southwest.
 Twenty-four hours after their en- try into the city's outskirts, the Tanks were at or beyond the ancient wall ringing the fortified center of Cologne. Fires and explosions shook the inner citadel, indicating the lc- maining Germans were putting tho torch to their last Strongholds and preparing to flee across the river.
 Stockholm press dispatches from Berlin said the Germans themselves were conceding defeat in the l2-day battle of the Rhineland.
 The Dagens Nyheter's Berlin core respondent, quoting NaN military sources, said the German high con- mand had ordered a general retreat to loosen our armies from the Rhine and take advantage of aM elastic defense deep in the HinterA land behind the river"
 Only a few major bridgeheadS will be held until the radical retreat movement has been completed" the dispatch said.
 Bridgehead CollapSing
 The Nazis potentially strongest bridgehead at Cologne already was coliapsing under the terrific pres sure of It. Gen. Courtney H. Hodges U. s. First Army forces.
 Advancing through dense pail of smoke and flame mushrooming out from the center of the stricken city, armored and infantry elements of three American First Army divisions were more than a mile inside Col ogne at daybreak and advancing steadily against sporadic opposition. All the northwestern, western and southwestern perimeter of the city was in American hands and the way was open for a smashing thrust to the banks of the Rhine, less than two miles ahead of the converginG Tank spearheads.
 American dive-bomber pilots wh0
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06
Churchill Visits "Ike"
 In Germany
By CLINTON B. CONGER

Juelich, Germany, March 3-'(UP) Prime Minister Churchill paid his first wartime visit to Germany to- day.
 He wanted to board a tank and ride right up to the Rhine at Duess- eldorf. but adverse military counsel prevailed.
 Gondon announced Churchill's $ visit to the western front today af- ter his return. He conferred with Dwight D. Eisenhower and other Allied commanders. London dis patches said he was believed to have discussed plans for the Allied drive across the Rhine and into the heart of Germany
 Churchill inspected the Siegfried Qualifications near Aachen and the Juelich Citadel. He sprinkled the dragons teeth of the westwall lib- orally with the ashes of his cigar.
 Accompanying the Prime Min ister were Marshal Sir Alan Brooke, chief of the Imperial General staff; Marshal Sir Edward l.. Montgom- cry, commander Of the Fist Army group; and It. Gen. William IF. Simpson, chief of the U. s. Ninth Army.
 These generals were responsible for Churchill's safety.
 They declined his Suggestion-to make a rank understatement of it. that he carry on to the Rhine be- fore Dusseldorf. where the Ninth Army only now is consolidating its positions in the NeusS area.
 After a long ride on clear, cold day, Churchill and his military es- cort examined the Siegfried Drag on's teeth and expressed their opin- ion of the line that didn't hold, In- evitably the question of hanging out washing came up. the visitors were understood to have expressed their regret at failing to bring along their washing.
 Churchill was uniformed as a full Colonel of ihe Fifth battalion, Sus- sex regiment. Montgomery wore a jacket of paratrooper cut.
 Churchills car rolled unheralded through Aachen. Dozens of German civilians joined the GI's in staring. Most of the troops snapped sud- denly to salute when they saw the
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06
COL OGNE FALL NOW IMM|N |
 SovietS Open B0nnbardment On Stettin
CHEMN|Tz HIT
 AGAIN BY RAT PLANE ARMADA

London, March 6. - (UP) - More than HOO RAF planes bombed Germany last night, most of them hitting the key railway and defense hub of Chemnitz in an oblit- teration raid.
 Chemnitz, 38 miles south west of Dresden, was de- Scribed by the air ministry as essential for the defense of eastern Germany" against the Red Army.
 Though ChemnitE had been bomb- ed repeatedly by Allied air arma- das, including an American forma- ton yesterday, .he new attack was ordered because the city still was not devastated to the exent of smouldering Dresden, the ministry said
 A small force of mosquitoes simul taneously bombed Berlin for the i4th straight night, while other bolhbers attacked a synthetic oil plant.
 An air ministry announcement of the Chemnitz raid said 1t was heavy and concentrated. The airmen dropped their bombs through clouds over the city. Big fires glowed through the clouds after the first wave of bombers struck.
 Other raiders carried out hea- " attack on a synthetic oil plant at Bohhen, south of Leipzig. The RAP made nuisance stabs at Berlin, Mannheim and Gelsenkirchen.
 Move than 1900 RAF planes were engaged in the night operations and an attack yesterday afternoon on a Benzol plant near 0esenkir- che. Thirty-three bombers were missing, but some were believed safe on the continent.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06
Decision For Cop Reserved

Decision was reserved by the state supreme court of errors in Hartford today on a motion of Francis Zukauskas. condemned slayer of Mrs. Stephanie PlungiS, for state funds, to take an appeal to the high court.
 Oral arguments were presented by Public Defender Edward T. Car mody and Defense Attorney w. w. Gager in behalf of the convicted man at a session which lasted q half an hour. States Attorney Will liam B. Fitzgerald, who prosecuted the first degree murder charge against the former supernumerary policeman, stated briefly he approved the motion and asked that 1t be granted.
 Richard H. Phillips, official re- porter for the court, said the jurists may hand down a memorandum on the motion or else may certify their decision to the New Haven county clerk in Waterbury. An early de- cision is anticipated in view of the limited time the defense has for completing the appeal. Defense at- torneys have indicated they can not complete 1t until the matter of fundC is settled.
 On February l6 Judge Frank P. McEvoy, Judge John H. King, and Judge Howard Alcorn, who pre- sided at the superior court trial. denied a defense motion for use of state funds to take the appeal The defense then took the matter of funds directly to the Hartford court.
 Tn today's motion the defense asked the supreme court to instruct the lower court to permit the appeal to be taken at the expense of the state.
 The latest motion was accom- panied by stipulation by the prose- cution and defense that Zukauskas is entirely without funds to pay for the appeal.
 At the hearing in superior court States Attorney Fitzgerald asserted public confidence in the administra- ton of justice would be best be served If the use of state funds were permitted. Arguments at to- days hearing were reported to be similar to those presented at the
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06
Gas Pipe Changes
 Urged By Mahaney

Rep. Daniel J. Mahaney (D), Waterbury, today prepared for presentation to the committee of the General Assembly on public utilities bill calling for specific pipe and valve construction to pre- vent gas leakage from mains.
 Representative Mahaney's bill is designed to offset the mortal dang CTS represented by leaking mains which has already caused the death of one local resident as well as num- erous others throughout the state, including the local representatives brother.
 The bill, as presented by the rep resentative, follows:
 All gas service connections shall be made with swing connection at or near the front of the tapping on main street The swing joint shall be made at least two feet of a.a. lead, or with wrought iron pipe and galvanized fittings, but in either case swing of two feet shall be provided.
 From the tapipng in main a nip- pie and tee shall be provided. The top of the tee shall be plugged. In the center opening of the tee a sec ton of pipe two feet long. of lead or wrought iron, shall be placed at right angles with the tapping. At the end of this section of the pipe place an elbow and a six inch nipple and elbow return with sec ton of pipe to form circuit. Then start the service from the end Of the circuit. In no case shall street tee be used at the point of tapping on the main"
 Representative Mahaney's late brother, William Mahaney, was a victim some years ago of a leaking gas main which resulted in his death. On February 9 this year Albert II. Gaess. Country Club Road, was overcome and died while sleep ing in bed as result of gas seepage from a leaking main located just (Continued on Page O
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06
2,O5O Dead On Two Isle
BY FRANK TREMAINE

Guam, March 6. - CUP) - U. s. Marines were massing strength tc- day for an all-out assault to split and annihilate the last thousands of Japanese in northern Two.
 How many Japanese remained to oppose the American push was not known definitely. A total of l2864 enemy dead had been counted by 6 D. m. Saturday. but field dispatches estimated that at least three-quart- CTS of the original garrison of 10000 had been wiped out.
 American dead for the first l3 days-through Saturday-of the bloodies campaign of the Pacific war totalled 2.O50.
 GA Japanese communique broad- cast by Tokyo radio claimed about 20. 900 Marines had been killed or wounded and 250 American tanks either stranded or set afire" in the battle of Two.
 Improved wind and weather con- ditions speeded preparations for the
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06
Marines Mass Strength For
 Drive On Two
By IT. ID. QUIGG

Manila, March 6-(UP)-Six Jap- anese divisions-possibly 100000 men--have been destroyed on Lu- zon and American forces ringing the remaining trapped groups were slowly closing in today for the kill.
 Only four of It. Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita's original garrison of 10 divisions were left on Luzon and they were split up Into three firm ly encircled pockets.
 Gen. Douglas MacArthur's Amer ican troops and Filipino guerrillas were reducing the Japanese points of resistance on the ground, while land and air forces maintained a strong blockade of possible enemy escape routes from the island
 The Japanese, facing almost cer. tain disaster, were holed out in the Zambales mountains in southwest ern Luzon; the southeastern section of the island below Manila and in the northeastern corner.
 With many of the islands below Luzon already occupied by Amer. ican forces, MacArthur's regular troops were steadily crushing the two southern pockets and probing into the north while Filipino guer- rillas were adding to the squeeze from recently cleared Ilicos Norte Province in the northwestern cor ner of the island.
 MacArthur personally described the position of the Japanese forces on Luzon as critical"
 "The equivalent of six divisions with supporting elements" he said have been destroyed together with the main supply depots. holding great quantities of ordnance, muni-
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06
Operators To Answer Lewis On Royalties
By CHARLES IT. MERROLD

Washington. March 6 tUP)-Thc nation may learn today if John L.. Lewis will take his United Mine Workers out on a wartime strike to win a l0-cent a ton royalty on all soft coal mined in the country.
 Soft coal operators promised to give Lewis a formal reply today on his royalty demand, and a spokes- man said it would require the mine chief to tip his hand" on a strike call.
 The operators either will reject the demand outright or accept 1t on conditions that would sharply limit Lewis contemplated use of the accumulated royalties. The next move will be up to Lewis.
 If the operators are convinced a strike will come over the issue, they expect to notify the government promptly to prevent interruption of soft coal production. This would technically clear the way for the government to step into the dis pute. Lewis already has requested that his 100000 miners be boiled March p to see if they want to strike if their demands are not met.
 The present two year contract be- tween the UNIV and the industry expires March 3l--four days after the requested strike poll.
 The operators decided to make final reply on the rayolty after tht 1 first secret negotiating sessions yes terday. Lewis, who wants the royalty to finance disqualification and other aid to his miners, urged acceptance of the demand ito combat Com munism." The UNIV chief warned that if the industry failed to make such provisions for its employees. the government may do it on scale which would endanger free enter prise.
 Charles O'Neill. president of the Central Pennsylvania producers as- sociation, indicated in statement that the answer would be one of two things. He said first that the Lewis proposal had no place in the joint wage conference but added that "any plan of insurance and
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06
MotherIess Kids
 End Lone Journey

Long Beach, Cal, March 6 -UP)-TwO m0therleSs chil- dren were set today for the last lap of a long journey from India to Connecticut.
 The girls, Veronica Belcher, 2 l-2, and Eleanor Austen, 15 months, are the Stepldaughter and daughter of Sgt. James r. Austen, American soldier sta tioned in India.
 Their mother died when Eleanor was born. Austen has been In the army all his adult life, has no real home, but asked for--and received--per- mission to bring the girls to America.
 Mary McGcOch, HoOstick Falls, N. Y., Red Cross worker, was leaving India after two years service and volunteered to help Austen escort the two children across the Pacific. They arrived here yesterday.
 Austen now plans tO have Miss McGeOch take the girls to a New Britain, Conn.,, home as soon as transportation iS available. He hopes he can be stationed near them.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06
(By United Press)

State Guardsmen were alerted for flood duty in the Cincinnati area Tuesday as the Ohio river, fed by overnight rains, rose nearly two feet.
 The river rose to GA feet at 6 a. m.
 Army engineers called on volun- teers to help sandbag Mill Creek barrier dam protecting Cincinnatfs industries from Ohio backwater.
 A three-inch rainfall poured into the southern Ohio river reaches and more rain was forecast.
 Water seeped around the Mil Creek barrier and backed the creek out of its banks in the industrial ized section of the city.
 Heavy rains fell throughout the upper WaterAhed of the Ohio and its
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06
State Guardsnen Alerted For Flood Duty As Ohio Riuer Rises 7iUo Feet

Wheeling. W. Va. and Bellaire were cut off from their johs by food disrupted transportation,
 Boston. March 6. - (UPl -- New England rivers will rise as result Of the rain predicted for today and to- morrow but will not reach flood level. the U, s, Weather Bureau re- ported tday,
 Officials said the Connecticut river was expected to rise from four to five feet, but that the rise on the Merrimack river would be negll, gible Snow piled at the source ol the river Is expected to absorb the rain. making a very slight yun-0tt,
 The Weather Bureau predicted rain ending this evening, but Fe- suming late tonight and continuing through most of Wednesday
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06
F TANK ARMIES
 STUDPOWERFUL
 DRIVE ON CITY
BY ROBERT MUsEL

London, March 6. -- (UP)
 A German military spokes- man said today that the Red Army had speared to the net work of Baltic lagoons at the mouth of the Oder north of Stettin, big port already un- der artillery fire and threat ened by a Soviet frontal push.
 The Nazis said Marshal Gregory K. Zhukov's right ding had swung westward to the area of Cammin, on the waters of the Stettiner Hoff into which the Oder de- pouches. Cannon is 36 miles north of Stettin and four miles south of the Baltic proper.
 The reported Soviet advance forged a big assault arc against the lower Oder before Stettin. So- viet forces now had reached the Oder and the water at its mouth on both sides of Stettin, and were closing against broad stretch of the river in between.
 Berlin said zhukov had thrown two tank armies into the drive OF Stettin and was pounding the big port with artillery.
 Berlin and Zhukov also had con- centrated five infantry armies aud two tank armies in the Oder vanCy 30-odd miles east of Berlin. The Germans predicted that the frontal push against the capital would be- gin as soon as Zhukov's Hanks arc secured.
 A blazing battle in the Baltic coastal area rapidly was clearing the right flank of zhukov's First White Russian Army. The Ger man defenders pinned against the Baltic in shrinking pockets were be- ing reduced and the drive on Stettin was overrunning the lower Oder Valley east of the river.
 The German high command cast veil of loose generalities over the battle of Pomerania northeast of Berlin It conceded that the Rus sians were attacking on a broad front and had scored minor pene- | trationS."
 Zhukov swung the entire north- ern half of his First Russian Army north and west toward Stettin and the Oder Estuary. Soviet vanguards | (Continued on Page 4)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06

principal tributaries. The rainfall fell in the Pennsylvania watershed, poured into the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers.
 Where the two converge to form the Ohio at Pittsburgh's golden tri- angle, crest of 27 feet, two feet over flood stage. was forecast for early. Wednesday.
 With the Ohio out of its banks from Pittsburgh to Louisville, Ky, and rain falling steadily, veteran river observers refused to estimate possible crests,
 Colder weather. snow and more rain were forecasts for the Ohio Valley Tuesday,
 The Ohio went a foot over stage at Marietta, O.
 Miners and war industry workers in the industrial area around
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06
Tovern Operators Accepting Curfew
By United Press

War Mobilizer James F. Byrnes' curfew order caused the usual mourning around the brass rail. but most tavern operators accepted the midnight closing philosophically-- with cheaters strictly in the minor ity-a United Press seurvey showed today.
 Minor infringements were report- ed In almost every large city, but violations usually resulted from confusion about the curfew's appli- cakion, Most offenders were let oil with warning not to let t happen again. .-.-.,-~a---.tuvve$. .pAuataumin~r.~
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06
The Weather

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-06

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-18
RITES FRIDAY FOR MRS. J. (. M'CRATH
Mother of New Haven Priest Taught School for
 Several Years

Mrs, Agnes (Brennan) McGrath, wife of James 0. McGrath, 92 Hins- dale avenue, died last night at her nome. She was the mother of Rev. James F. McGrath, assistant pas tor of St. Donato's church, New Haven.
 Born January 28, 1889, in Water bury, the daughter of the late Law renee and Bridget Brennan, she was graduated in 1907 from Notre Dame and taught in the Waterbury schools. After she attended the Fannie A. Smith Froebel kindergal- ten school in Bridgeport, she taught in schools in that city.
 She was a sister of the late Mrs Julia (Brennan) McLarney, well known harpist; of the late Dr. John E. Brennan of New Milford and of the late Joseph A. Brennan insurance agent and sportsman.
 Surviving besides her husband and her son, are daughter, Miss Gertrude A. McGrath of Water bury; a brother, James F. Bren- nan of Everett, Mass, and several nieces and nephews.
 The funeral will be held Friday at 9:15 o'clock from the Mulville funeral home, 270 West Main street to the Church of the Sacred Heart for a solemn high Mass of requiem at 10. Burial will be in Calvary cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home tonight from ' to 10 o'clock and tomorrow from 2 to 10 D. m.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-18
Court Orders Woman
 To Pay Own Counsel
Defendant in Withdrawal Action Denied Order for Pay-
 ment of Lawyer, Court Costs; Suit Unusual
(NEA Telephoto)

ted for decision and judgment en- tered. There was no Jurisdiction remaining to grant the motion since the proceeding of which it was an incident was ended" the jurist states in his memorandum.
 Judge Cornell states that when suit is withdrawn by the plain tiff before the commencement of a hearing on the merits, it seems to pass into state of suspended anil nation from which it may be re- called only by gesture of such plain tiff.
 The action on which the decision was based had been filed February 20, 1943. Charges of cruelty and mis- conduct were made by the plain tiff, who also asked for custody of the couples two children. On Co., tober 26, 1914 the plaintiff filed an- other suit, alleging cruelty only and making no claim for custody of the children. The couple was married February II, 1926.
 An allowance to defend the sec- ond action was granted to Mrs. Vernale by Judge Robert L. Nun ger, November IT. The plaintiff at that time was ordered to pay $25 within two weeks and $25 before trial. She also was allowed $15 weekly as alimony and support pending trial.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-18
Assessor's Bill May
 Be Adopted Shortly
Au Opposition Recently Voiced Reported Withdrawn;
 Chief Assessor, Two Deputies Provided For

firm of George B. Horan and O.. who was hired by the city to under take the revaluation of all city prop erty at a cost estimated at S70.0O0.
 The bill is comparable to one entired by Republican interests two years ago, which, though passed, was subsequently, vetoed by the governor. The previous bill called for appointment of the chief as- seSsor by thet wo-third majority vote; otherwise its features were the same as the current bill. The former was opposed, at that time, by administration authorities on the basis it violated home-rule.
 When vetoing the bill the gov- ernor suggested 8 survey of the city assessment rates which was un- dertaken by Walter w. Walsh, state tax commissioner who recommended the revaluation procedure. The Horan firm then was retained by the city to undertake the program Since then the revised present bill was introduced intot he legislative hopper.
 According to terms of the bill If passed, the chief assessor is to be appointed within three months fol. lowing passage. The two deputie: are to be appointed on or before Jan. l, 1946 while the members O: the board of tax review will be appointed following the exnirafior; of the elective terms of the pres. ent board members, due next Janu. ary.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-18
ROBINSON TRIAL
 PROCEEDING HERE

Trial continued in superior court today before Judge John A. Cornell and jury int he $7,000 civil ac- tion brought by Minerva Buck of Cheshire, as administrative of the estate of her father, Lorenz Buck, against her brother-in-law, stephen w. Robinson of Waterbury.
 The litigation is based on a $5,- 900 insurance policy issued by the Prudential Insurance Co.,, to the late MT. Buck. The plaintiff claims proceeds were intended for the es- tate, and alleges the defendant frau- dulently obtained a signature which made him beneficiary to the insure ance policy.