EXTRA EXTRA Alabama Limestone County's Oldest And Best Read Newspaper Sixty-Four Years Service To This Territory And Keep Em ESTABLISHED 1880 ATHENS ALABAMA TUESDAY MAY 8 1945 VOLUME 64 NUMBER 18 WON BY ALLIES OVER Official By Truman J SWEEPING CHANGES NOW EXPECTED ON Radical changes in the front are now expected following with Federal machinery to be set in motion at once to restore at least limited supplies of most goods within six months and the hope of a prewar volume in a year The office of War Mobilization and Reconversion prepared to sue a sweeping change of front plans for reconversion rationing manpower price and wage controls for the war Among restrictions which are expected to go out are the brownout of unnecessary ing the midnight curfew and the horse racing ban It is also predicted that line rationing will be eased up in the next 30 to 90 days tires will be more plentiful and rationing of all scarce items will ease up Most authorities believe that shoes clothing textiles lumber and some chemicals may be even scarcer for many months to come SCHOOLS TO CLOSE TODAY AT NOON City schools of Athens will close today Tuesday at noon in bration of it was an- this morning following the official announcement by Pre- sident Truman ANNOUNCES SURRENDER Gen Dwight who announced the capitulation of Monday morning at Central War Time His an- was later officially confirmed by President Truman MOST BUSINESS HOUSES WELL CLOSE TODAY The majority of business houses in the of Athens closed their doors morning following an- by President Truman of Germany's unconditional render A check wed that ly all businesses were closed at and those still open were preparing to close their doors EXTRA EDITION This extra edition of The Alabama Courier is brought to you after months of planning and preparation in order that we may render the est service to that area in which our paper culates In addition to the news of the end of war in Europe this issue brings you many worthwhile messages from our We urge you to read them and buckle down for continued operation until Total Victory is achieved To these advertisers who have made this sue possible and to our loyal staff of workers in the shop and office go our thanks LONG MAY IT WAVE Arrival of brings a joyful feeling to all of us It that the killing lot our men and boys will cease 90 far as Germany is concerned and we should be glad But must all remember that Victory in Europe does not mean that the day of final celebration is here Victory for peace and civilization will not be complete throughout the world until Japan has been brought to her feet and conquered as Nazi Germany has been conquered Until that day we must continue to work fight and pray without any so that no lives will be lost which can be saved by efforts on the home front It is the hope of all our great leaders that Americans will keep within certain bounds in celebrating That a new resolution to continue the fight will be made by all and that a measure of prayer wiH be a big part of the celebration The messages brought to you by the firms represented in this Extra Edition of The Alabama Courier are called to your attention They contain many thought provoking statements and if oar people win adopt the spirit contained in final day of Victory LT G AKTH FREED L-t Winston S Garth Jr who has been a prisoner of the Ger mans for about two years has been freed according to tion received by his wife the former Marion Hoover of boro Ky A cable from a Red Cross er Mid I saw Winston today he is weH and alright wall be home soon He sends all his love to you Elizabeth Mrs Garth received this mation last Thursday and called Mr and Mrs W S Garth parents of U Garth Over Land Of The Free And The Home Of The Brave Union Services To Be Held At p m county residents will take part in a Union Service to bfe held at the Methodist church from eight to nine o'clock in the evening following official announcement of If the announcement is officially made before seven p m the services will follow that evening at eight o'clock If the ment conies later than seven p m the services will be held on the following evening All are urged to attend this service The program is as follows First Methodist Church Union Service 8 to t p m Presiding G E Prelude Call To Worship Hymn 489 Congregation Standing Prayer Rev J A Smoake Anthem Choir Responsive Reading Page 561 Second Reading Hymn 72 Thanksgiving Hymn 77 Praise Hymn Prayer Congregation Standing T Waites Congregation Standing F A Hoffman Seated Dr B R Hymn 1 t 4 Congregation Standing Rev J A President Gives Waiting Nation Official Proclamation As It Is Also Announced In Other Capitals MAKES PLEA FOR AMERICAN PEOPLE TO CONTINUE WORKING FOR COMPLETE VICTORY ON EASTERN FRONT Final and unconditional surrender of the German forces was announced this morning Tuesday May at eight o'clock by President Harry S Truman following ten days of rumor and false alarms heralding the end of the European conflict The President that this is a solemn but glorious hour and his joy was dimmed only by the feet that Franklin D Roosevelt had not lived to see this day He warned that though victory was won in the West that the East is still in bondage and said that if he could give a single watchword it would be work work and more work The President continued tel call upon every American to stick to his job until final victory is won The President said that he had been informed by General hower that the final and unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany was now a reality the actual signing of the surrender having place at on May 7th In the formal proclamation by the president he set aside day May IS m a Day of Prayer aad that jota te day of which he Mid shoald he to tlie memory of those who have made the sacrifice Germany's new leader Admiral Karl an Germans wooM lay their anus hi and farther stated that The Nari party hM German State Germany's final capitulation followed many rumors during the past few days Early Monday it was announced over the radio that General Dwight D Eisenhower's headquarters had the terms of Germany's unconditional surrender at a m French time Central War Time in a little ret school where he had maintained his headquarters This report was not confirmed officially but it was announced that any official word would come from the White House Also the rumors that Germany had surrendered un- conditionally was the radio broadcast Sunday quoting Grand Aim Karl Doenitz who succeeded Hitler as the German Fuehrer who issued the official Crews of all ships flying the German flag both and merchant ships are to cease all military in and waters affected by the cease-fire They are not to thair or to render them unserviceable by to oft board