26 Dec 1944
Page 1
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 27 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Athens Messenger
Location
Athens, Ohio, United States of America
Date
Dec 26, 1944
Page
1
Paris dispatch reports an American general predicting Feb trials will reveal extensive black market activity by U S service members. He cites tanks with no fuel and soldiers selling gasoline by the gallon, noting hundreds of thousands of gallons lost weekly and shipments fueling brothels and private homes.
General Douglas MacArthur announced a decisive end to the Leyte Island battle after a double amphibious Christmas Day strike and overland pushes. He cited massive Japanese losses including 113,221 killed or wounded and 41 ships sunk, with American casualties at 11,217 and 2,623 killed.
In Columbus Georgia 42 year old Joseph E Mayo was shot four times during a family Christmas dinner. His father in law 55 year old S W Noles a preacher was arrested on a murder warrant. Mayo's wife and six children watched as the violence unfolded. The Mayo family had been living with the grandparents since September amid an estranged arrangement.
The Brewing Corp of America announces a $250,000 fund to research new foods from spent brewers' yeast. A special food products division will be created under Carlings Inc to study and develop such foods.
New York police report Oscar H. Gropper, 57, head of Gropper Inc., jumped from his ninth floor hotel suite after notes blaming thefts for ruining him. A secretary, Madeline Dunni an, 22, was accused on Dec 3 of stealing between $30,000 and $40,000 and is jailed for grand larceny.
In Athens Prime Minister Churchill arrived with Anthony Eden and held talks with Field Marshal Alexander Harold MacMillan and Greek Premier George Papandreou. A conference was planned to unify Greek opinion and end three weeks of fratricidal fighting between ELAS rebels and government forces with British support. Archbishop Damaskinos to preside.
Washington announces a tighter broader rationing plan as butter rises to 24 points a pound and many red blue stamps are cancelled. Canned vegetables and sugar stamps face new rules with the 8 percent of meats moving to 1 ration point. OPA promises ample food while lawmakers blame administration delays and lack of a food czar for shortages.
A cold front returns near zero temperatures across Ohio after a foggy Christmas Day. Snowfall of eight inches in Toledo and four inches in Cleveland worsens ice glazed roads and prompts officials to urge minimal driving. A dozen violent deaths were recorded over the Christmas weekend as drivers face hazardous conditions.
United States reports say P 51s of the 14th Air Force destroyed four percent of Japanese aircraft, sank a large tanker, and probably four other vessels in raids on Tsiwan airfield, Shantung, and Hong Kong harbor. Norway's prime minister Nygaardsvold urged Allied invasion from the west and asked Norwegians to damage German targets and hinder the war effort.
Karl Beck aged 47 pleaded innocent to 48 first degree murder counts in the slaying of Bernie Beel aged 44 several weeks ago. Beck, arrested last week in Cleveland where he worked at a war plant, is held without bond for grand jury action. Beel was a busline operator found slain on a back road.
A Japanese Imperial communique reports Nipponese planes bombed the American B 29 base on Saipan on Christmas night causing fires and explosions at seven points.
Private Robert Mackall, whose two brothers died serving in World War II, told his mother Mrs. Alda Mackall Newton by phone from Camp Atterbury that he has been reassigned from the European front and will be home. Also, gasoline ration coupons B-4 C-4 and the fourth quarter T expire December 31 per the OPA announcement.
Cold weather was expected to slow rising waters of the Allegheny Monongahela and Ohio rivers before flood stage. A thaw from a steady rain and heavy snow ended with rain turning to snow. Creeks overflowed and hindered highways isolating some communities.
A ton of dynamite was discovered today near the Grand Bretagne Hotel in Athens just off street car lines. The explosive was found by a British patrol. Greek government officials were present at the scene.
At Papago Park war prisoner camp near Phoenix a few hundred Nazi prisoners staged a celebration after Western Front victories. Six escapees, all submarine officers, were recaptured. Lt. Col Jurgen Wattenberg led the group. Escapees reportedly slipped a double wire fence during a rainstorm as guards used force to end the demonstration.
In Van Nuys, Mrs. James H. Fisher learned she was the mother of Charles F. McGuire, a Seabee petty officer wounded in the Marshall Islands. After 23 years of correspondence, they met during a 72 hour hospital leave, reuniting at Christmas. The boy had been adopted out in infancy in Detroit.
The Associated Press survey shows 332 violent deaths during the Christmas holiday period, about the same as 1943. Highway accidents caused most fatalities with 198 deaths, California leading with 237, followed by Pennsylvania 97 and New York 22, plus miscellaneous, fires, and weather-related deaths.
The OPA announced sharper civilian tire quotas due to military needs. Passenger tires drop to 1.8 million units in January from 2 million, small truck and bus tires to 216 thousand from 260 thousand, heavy truck and bus tires to 116 thousand from 120 thousand. Former Senator Blair Lee cited as context in Washington.
In Harrisburg area a Army transport aircraft from Jacksonville crashed on Roundtop Mountain near New Cumberland killing ten soldiers and injuring 17. Names withheld until kin notified. A Navy transport plane crashed near Indianapolis killing five and injuring two after over shooting a runway in fog.
Washington reports that veterans buying homes under the G I Bill will not need 29 percent in unborrowed funds. OPA rent rules set a 20 percent unborrowed funds payment to prevent eviction for occupancy by a purchaser. The adjustment was set aside today for GI purchases.
Allied and German forces clash as Von Rundstedt joins a massive bulge 40 miles deep into Belgium and 35 miles wide aimed toward the Meuse River. American units defend Bastogne as German armor advances, while air power claims dozens of enemy vehicles and planes.
Soviet forces reach the western city limits of Budapest in a 15 mile advance. Encirclement of the capital is reported near complete with German and Hungarian units trapped. Soviet artillery targets two enemy airports while westward operations push toward Vienna and Bratislava.
Emperor Hirohito address to the Diet signals a reinforced war stance as the war situation worsens. He commends the army and navy for destroying the enemy and calls ministers to submit budget and military expenditure plans for 1945.
Washington reports the OPA issued price ceilings on several frozen fruits vegetables and berries effective Jan 2. Officials say consumer impact will be limited with most items holding near last year’s levels. Frozen strawberries ceilings rise about two cents a pound while others fall roughly half a cent.
New Orleans police report fresh clues in the case of an attractive red haired woman found dead in a hotel room bathroom. Jolson, 36, in Beverly Hills recovering from malaria. coroner says death might be suffocation under water and possibly homicide pending analysis of room glass. Two other obituaries note Charles Narrance and George Rudie Jr.
William T. Cronk aged T1 died Monday evening in the Athens County Home. Survived by son Robert Cronk of Youngstown, three sisters Mrs Emma Verity Athens, Mrs Blanche Yoder Youngstown, Mrs Adda McClain Middletown, and brother Addison Cronk Middletown. Funeral Wednesday at 1 PM at Dovier and Ferguson Funeral Home with burial in Greenlawn Cemetery, Nelsonville.
Athens County Selective Service Board No 1 seeks Cecil F P Tucker also listed as Ceci Preston Tucker at 279 Highland Ave whose mail was returned. Anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts is asked to notify the board office.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.