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Newspaper
Bath Independent
Location
Bath, Maine, United States of America
Date
Oct 05, 1944
Page
2
A Bath citizen urges a fall city cleanup and strict enforcement against littering. The letter calls for arrest and penalties for discarding waste on streets, lanes, and sidewalks, citing Paris as a model where littering leads to magistrate appearances and clean streets.
Alfred E. Smith has died at a New York City hospital. Born on New York City’s East Side he rose to governor and to Democratic presidential candidate. He was renowned for public service and devotion to his wife, with a life marked by Americanism and political appeal across parties.
The city announces a bid invitation for building a health plant to address a public health menace. The notice notes the project could have progressed earlier in better weather, but now proceeds despite delays as Bath proceeds with planning.
A heated push centers on building an incinerator with proponents urging faster action and opponents warning of health and environmental risks. The debate draws in local officials, residents, and business groups as a majority opinion remains unsettled.
The piece stresses Fire Prevention Week from October 8 to 14 and urges nationwide public participation. It warns that accidental fires have damaged the war effort by destroying camouflage, railroad gear, paper mills, rubber products, ordnance depots, lumber yards, and food supplies. It cites lack of sprinklers, alarms, watchmen, supervision, and safe building practices as key failures.
Morse High School class of 1944 sends graduates to many institutions. Betty Anderson attends Chamberlain School in Boston. Germaine Bonney to Farming ton Normal. Judith Denison to Denison University. Robert Dolan to Bowdoin College. Iris Gardner to Framingham Normal. Jean Gowdey to University of Maine. Jean Hackett to Central Maine General Hospital in Lewiston. Aucrey Hill to Lasell Junior College. Linna Marie to Purdue and Oberlin University. Muriel Raynes to Nev. Deaconess Hospital in Boston. Marguerite Rines to Mercy Hospital in Portland. Gertrude Simpson to Maine General Hospital in Portland. others to University of Maine, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, and Pierce Secretarial School in Boston.
The 460 million acre commercial forest divides into 202,097,000 owned by private industrial operators and 138,812,009 by farmers, totaling 340,909,000 privately held acres. Public ownership accounts for 120,000,000 acres, with some lands in national and state forests. Private owners shoulder future growth, while a stockpile of 1,700 billion board feet of saw timber exists and more growth in smaller trees is anticipated. The 1936-38 USFS survey estimated the forest yields 11% billion cubic feet annually.
British conversion turns United States made meat boxes into rockets. The strong pulp-based boxes resist breaking and can even support a jump without damage, highlighting their suitability as improvised rocket material amid wartime shortages.
A cautionary note warns that gasoline has no safe use in the home and should not be used for cleaning. It also urges careful handling of kerosene to prevent accidents and fires within living spaces.
An Eighth Air Force B-24 Liberator squadron led by Maj. Herman A. Laubrich bombed 20 German and 34 occupied Europe targets without loss from May 12 to July 18. S/Sgt. Arthur G. Bryant of Bath Maine earned the Distinguished and Outstanding Duty citation from Maj. Gen. Kepner. The group praised for combat performance and for 54 missions without loss, plus heavy bomber dispatch leadership.
Private Almon T. Haley of Woolwich Maine is cited by his 88th Infantry Division regiment and awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for combat on the Fifth Army front in Italy. The badge features a silver rifle on infantry blue within a silver wreath. Pvt Joseph Swanton has transferred to Sioux Falls Radio School for six months training. Ensign Francis S. Perry, U S Navy, arrived for a 21 day furlough to visit his mother and will report to the Naval Air Station at Jacksonville after.
Staff Sergeant F. E. Bronson of 67 Chestnut Street Bath served as a bombardier with the 12th Air Force B 26 Marauder group. He helped strike German beach defenses in Southern France and flew softening up missions over the region before and during the August invasion. The group has fought in Sicily Pantalenia Salerno and Anzio and completed 350 missions.
The AAF Training Command at Hondo Texas awarded wings to many newly qualified combat navigators after 18 weeks of training. The slogan Well find the way marks their role to guide bombers in mission destruction. Among the honorees is Flight Officer George A Sarkis, son of Mrs. Sadie Sarkis of 677 High street Bath.
Pfc. Seldon L. Dow of 696 Washington Street serves as an ammo bearer with his regiment as Fifth Army troops engage in rugged mountain fighting in Italy. His unit has faced harsh combat in the Italian theater.
Cyril R. Grant of Bath receives high commendation from Air Service Command Depot England for helping shatter production records repairing aircraft propellers. He and fellow mechanics repaired the largest number of prop blades since operations began in England, hailed as a knockout blow against Germany. Grant, formerly a machinist at Bath Iron Works, joined the Air Forces in September 1942 and served with the Fifth Army in Italy.
Second Lieut William J Kerwin of 31 Shaw Street earned the Combat Infantry Badge as part of a special honor guard from a Replacement Depot unit. He has served seven years in Panama North Africa and Italy and is a Morse High School graduate.
The article notes a furlough rotation plan and visits by servicemen at Bead 55 Shepard Street. It highlights S/Sgt McDonald with ten months service in Europe, and covers pilots in training at Maxwell Field Alabama including Flight Officer Eben J. Haskell. It also details Navy volunteers aiding tomato packing for the armed forces, and honors Lt Edward R. Hanson with an Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal for combat missions. It mentions family notes from Bath and surrounding communities, and returns of Albert H. Desmond and others stationed at Norman, Oklahoma or Belgium in service.
South End P T A met at Weeks Street school to plan a fall season with a Red and Gun Club supper on Oct 12 at Washington street rooms. Oct 17 will feature a teachers reception, with Mrs. Bowker as program chair. Plans include Christmas sale, library fund, magazine subscriptions, and a dish shower for the school building.
Burlap can be dyed successfully by applying two or three thin coats of glue size to fill fibers and prevent dye from striking through the finish, ensuring an even coloration.
Hyde Auxiliary and Hyde Camp committees hosted a reception with Mrs Jennie Miller as chairwoman and Maurice J Warner as Hyde Camp chair. Department officers attended and a large group spoke or contributed, including Charles York and Charles C Webster. General dancing followed, and Bath officials welcomed guests with an address by Stanley Hunter.
Raymond Jones fourteen and Joseph Hibbs fourteen were in a collision at Middle and Winter streets Monday at 1 20 PM. Jones suffered a deep head wound possible fractured nose and skull Hibbs received several bruises. Hibbs was on the handlebars of Jones bicycle which struck a car driven east on Winter street by Victor E Hagan of Georgetown Police said the brakes on the bicycle failed No charges were filed against the car operator.
The Lionesses club meets Thursday at 7 pm at Witch Spring Inn for dinner and a business meeting on issues for the coming year. A social hour follows. Mrs Scott Morse coordinates transportation for members needing a ride to the inn.
Robinhood Brownies opened fall activities at the First Baptist vestry led by Mrs J Russell Grant and Mrs Elton Pinkham. New members joined, some girls moved to Scout Troops, and plans for hikes, a Halloween party, costumes, and the Scotland based project International Friendship were outlined.
A second induction service for the Women’s Army Corps was held at City Hall auditorium Friday afternoon. Inductees Charlotte M. Coombs and Dorothy E. Clukey, both locals, were led by 1st Lt. Helen L. Pease. Coombs is Morse High School ’42, with brother Sgt. Edmund L. Coombs in the South Pacific. Clukey’s brother Pvt. Warren A. Foss also serves in the South Pacific.
Sebasco Lodge closed for the season last Wednesday after its busiest year. Opened June 23, the Cushman family served guests with high grade service despite scarce staff and supply challenges. Many guests are already booked for next season.
Detailed rationing guidance covers Meats and Fats Blue and Red stamps, Processed Foods, Sugar, Gasoline, Fuel Oil, and Shoes. It notes stamp validity dates from Oct 1, 1944, with indeterminate or specific expiry, coupon exchanges for invalidated coupons, and new A book introductions starting Oct 2 1944.
The Independent, by order of the Board of Health, reports two cases of infantile paralysis. Both children were sent to Portland for treatment and those exposed are located and monitored. If the disease shows further development, immediate steps will be taken to prevent spread, though no emergency is anticipated.
The Lioness club directors met with President Mrs Alexander MacDonald at her home 1177 High Street to discuss plans for the year. The first regular Fall meeting is set for October 5 at seven with a dinner at Witch Spring Inn. Transportation requests go to Mrs Scott Morse. Entertainment committee includes Mrs Arthur Bowker Mrs Archibald M Main and Mrs Ivan A Trueworthy.
Major Brister of the Salvation Army calls the city to participate in the annual fund drive. The army needs volunteers to canvas neighborhoods and requests contributions from all who can assist. The effort supports ongoing work and fundraising across the community.
Puzzle page lists across and down clues with many numbers and fragments, including a cryptogram at the end. It features topics from geography, languages, foods, and common objects, plus a quoted aphorism. The cryptogram reads RFZOU OTRFZOK PTOD MFZID BWKFR NDQBZOY RT PT-NTKODNY and a Seneca quote REFLECT THAT A FRIEND MAY BE MADE OUT OF AN ENEMY.
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