26 Jan 1944
Page 1
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This newspaper page contains 28 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Athens Messenger
Location
Athens, Ohio, United States of America
Date
Jan 26, 1944
Page
1
Allied raids press Japanese losses toward 400 planes for January after a bombing of Rabaul cost the enemy 54 to 69 aircraft. Japanese shipping takes a hard hit as 17 ships sunk in December off the East China coast, totaling 9,900 tons.
Moscow reports the northern offensive has cut two main rail lines west and south of Leningrad isolating about 250,000 Nazi troops from direct contact with the German army.
Price Administrator Bowles outlined a ration outlook for February noting less meat with higher point values and no change in pork. Butter rises in importance with no sugar, shoe, tire or gasoline allowance changes. Fewer used tires and limited civilian oil may occur if consumption stays high.
Allied forces report heavy raids against Tokyo districts and Nagoya as Nippon defenses crumble. In Burma and the Pacific, air battles yield substantial Japanese losses around Rabaul and Lakunai, with Allied planes claiming over 300 Japanese aircraft destroyed at Rabaul since January.
Washington enters Briggs forgery case with a notable lineup of witnesses. Harry Hopkins and Harold L. Ickes are among those likely to recount their private testimony to the grand jury that indicted Briggs yesterday as the court prepares to hear the case.
Fragmentary wartime ad voice shows a buyer seeking a war bond by selling a Pearl Drum Outfit and other items. The piece mentions a wife divorcing her husband to fund savings and hints at word of mouth ads and a caller named Chuck Finsterwald. Potential readers are urged to purchase bonds through the ad.
Argentina severed diplomatic ties with Germany and Japan, the last of 21 American republics to do so, after late night government discussions under President Pedro Ramirez. Police arrested numerous alleged espionage ring members as passports for German and Japanese ambassadors were ordered canceled.
Ohio Governor John W. Bricker announced a state treasury surplus of 74 million dollars aimed at postwar projects. He noted 20 million had been earmarked for welfare building expansion and urged road building expansion through private contractors to boost the highway arterial system after the war. The disclosure came during a Ohio Good Roads Federation meeting where officers were re elected.
Cleveland industrialist Robert A. Weaver said Wendell L. Willkie could seek Republican convention delegates in several Northern Ohio districts. Weaver reported Willkie may clash with Gov. John W. Bricker in Cleveland Youngstown Akron Oberlin Toledo and other northern areas after recent talks in New York.
Big blond Bob Hanson, the Allied South Pacific front’s hottest fighter pilot, shot three more Japanese planes over New Britain, bringing his tally to 14 with a goal of about one per day this past week. Capt. Harold Spears of Ironton Ohio, a former Ohio University student, claimed one confirmed victory and another probable, reaching 10 definite wins in his career.
A low base bid of 1 138 000 for construction of three additional buildings and enlargement of one at the Chillicothe Veterans Hospital was submitted by Peaker Associates of Cincinnati. Five women employees of a northwest side war plant died in a fire that trapped them as flames engulfed a one story building.
Columbus report details a third distribution of 2,876,958 from 1943 automobile license revenues to cities, counties and townships. Highway Director Hal G. Sours notes total apportioned for street and road maintenance now 18,043,774 with earlier distributions: 8,953,902 in May and 5,332,914 in August. An extra 880,000 from the five per cent equalization fund was shared on October 28, each county getting 10,000.
German controlled Paris radio claims Allied air raids killed 15 000 Parisians, wounded 20 000 and left over a million homeless up to January 23, according to a broadcast recorded by the Associated Press.
Chicago based American Dairy Association officials warn ongoing drought in the Midwest and dust storms in western plains threaten future civilian food supply. Manager Owen M. Richards notes dwindling food reserves and reliance on a single year's production, urging policy changes to prevent shortages of bread and other wheat products.
Wartime planning measures under a 1944 program set minimum government support levels for producer prices across more than 30 farm commodities. Marvin Jones announced slight increases for corn wheat cotton peanuts soybeans flaxseed sugar beets sugar cane sweet potatoes barley and grain sorghum. Hog prices will be reduced starting next October.
National production, started before Pearl Harbor as a defense effort and later the war effort, has leveled off near last month’s output with no overall increase planned for this year. Major shifts in emphasis will occur.
President Roosevelt criticized a Senate passed bill to govern absentee soldier voting, calling it meaningless and a fraud. He urged legislation that would implement a national system with aerial ballot delivery to posts worldwide and rapid ballot distribution to armed forces and merchant marine.
In Cincinnati the Rev J Hugh O Donnell C S C president of the University of Notre Dame told the Medivalist Society that divorce is the top blockbuster undermining America. He also blamed birth control biased age shifts, women in war work sabotaging home life, godlessness in education and jurisprudence, and modern state ism pushing federal handouts and legislation.
The War Department is spending 27.378 billion dollars less this fiscal year than it had counted on. The savings in funds already appropriated for the year ending June 30 will be placed in the budget bureau reserve.
Secretary Hull announced that the Soviet government rejected the United States offer to use its good offices to restore diplomatic relations between Poland and Russia. Meanwhile Soviet forces report advances from Leningrad toward Krasnogvardeisk and Novgorod, with heavy German losses and a captured German military train.
President Roosevelt awarded General Douglas MacArthur the Distinguished Service Medal for successes in New Guinea and New Britain on the Southwest Pacific. The DSM is his third such award after World War I and after five years as chief of staff.
A special House committee charged the National War Labor Board with constitutional harm by enforcing union membership clauses in contracts. The report says the board claims power to fix future wages, back wages, and compel union membership, undermining judicial review and private enterprise. It cites 5 of 7 members endorsing the findings and notes a wartime rise in strikes.
A January heat wave pushed temps to record highs in Ohio with readings in Cincinnati Springfield Columbus Toledo Cleveland and Dayton. Forecasters expect occasional rain today tonight and tomorrow to relieve near drought conditions affecting winter wheat. Dr. H C Ramsower notes early rain would materially aid the damaged crop.
Walter W. Law of New Haven confessed to the murder of Rose Brancato a 28 year old New Haven Journal Courier reporter who disappeared on July 5 last year and was later found slain his signed confession followed 48 hours of questioning according to Police Captain Raymond F. Egan and Detective Sergeant Howard O. Young, with details still withheld.
A Senate subcommittee pressed for more data on the health and efficiency of the nation's 15 million white collar workers amid mixed reports on wartime living costs. Chairman Pepper noted testimony claiming state county and municipal workers earn about 125 dollars monthly even with officials' salaries included.
The Defense Housing Corporation offered for sale the Crescent Gardens at Massillon Ohio comprising 200 houses as part of 2,811 houses and 5,617 apartments nationwide. The government has over 71 million invested in these properties and seeks to exit wartime emergency ventures.
German defenses stiffened along the Cassino front as American troops pressed through minefields just south of Rome. The shift in enemy strength signaled a climactic phase of the Rome campaign may be about to unfold.
Allied dispatches report three hospital ships were bombed by German planes in Anzio Bay, with the Leinster identifying the St. David as sunk. Front lines near Rome show advances toward Velletri, Gensano, and Albano as heavy fighting continues and Allied air forces hit bridges and roads in the region.
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