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Newspaper
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Location
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Jan 02, 1944
Page
1
Harry Boyd reflects on the challenge of writing New Year remarks amid noisy bustle and a morgue quiet office. He muses improvisation, skims headlines for inspiration, and notes self explanatory items like a Polish border approach and Aleutian activity lack substance.
A wartime column reflects on the high casualties from air attacks over France after Pearl Harbor. The writer notes recurring tragedy and fatigue with repeating pleas, acknowledging the sorrow without repeating prior phrasing.
The piece notes a high ranking figure in US and UN councils, possibly General Marshall, suggesting threats of railroad and steel strikes could shift the war’s end by about six months. The column questions whether war strategy was fully explored with union leaders before action.
A mailed reader defends the New York Times against criticism and questions the writer's choice of phrasing. The note asks, for whom do I sacrifice, and ponders why the author courts these jams rather than focusing on sound English.
U S Marines widened Cape Gloucester defenses on New Britain and repelled a counter attack as Allied air power hit Rabaul Madang and surrounding targets. Allied raids in Madang area dropped 253 tons of bombs while Rabaul suffered heavy losses. over 1 000 Japanese dead were counted in the Gloucester area with many more likely evacuated.
Allied Headquarters in Algiers reports King Victor Emanuel appealing to the Italian people on New Year’s Day to unite around his throne and set aside past political differences amid strong opposition.
New York United Press dispatches by Boyd Lewis will begin Monday in Cedar Rapids detailing the leaders chosen to command American forces in the invasion of Germany. The first profile covers Sir Arthur Tedder, deputy to General Eisenhower.
Washington reports show Congress members and labor leaders clash over blame for a railroad crisis and its wartime impact. Some say labor strife aids the enemy, while top labor figures dispute that claim. One senator and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen push differing views on responsibility and gains from strike threats.
The Office of Price Administration validated spare stamp two in war ration book four for five points of fresh pork from Sunday to Saturday. Smoked and cured pork like ham and bacon are excluded. This marks the second pork bonus after supply rose. Sausages join the fresh pork category during the bonus period.
Edward F. Stegen said the 10 day point perk ends Saturday night and reduces spoilage danger. Omaha stores reported record sales with strong turnout. Milwaukee Baraboo Green Bay Springfield Duluth and Fargo also showed notable gains amid the program.
London reports Lt. Gen. Ira C. Eaker announced that the Britain based U S Eighth Air Force destroyed about 4100 German fighter planes in 1943 and dropped 55000 tons of bombs with under 4 percent losses. The unit showcased a cloud bombing method and logged a record 12000 tons in December across 10 raids.
Soviet forces hammered along a 200 mile front west and southwest of Kiev pushing to within about 27 miles of the prewar Polish border and overrunning hundreds of settlements. Vatutin’s First Ukrainian army seized rail junctions near Belokorovichi and Koltski as the drive neared the old border while other groups advanced toward Vinnitsa and Berdichev reducing the Nazi hold on the Dnieper bend. The Nevel front sent the westward push to 28 towns in two days, and Moscow reported 78 German tanks destroyed or disabled and eight planes shot down. The German position near Kiev was deteriorating as massed German reinforcements arrived to try slowing the Soviet offensive.
Allied invasion command presses ahead during the holiday with air support plans ready for launch against western Europe. Generals and officers, including Lt. Gen. Carl A. Spaatz, coordinate strategic bombing and troop air operations as Belgian premier Pierlot predicts liberation within months.
In NYT magazine, Wendell Willkie claims U S leadership vanished morally economically and politically, allowing Stalin to lead. He faults FDR for not forging political and economic bases for global cooperation and trade, notes concern over Russia’s plans in Finland Poland and smaller states.
The War Food Administration extended the dairy subsidy through January with higher minimums to offset a corn price rise. National rates rise to 40 cents per hundred pounds for fluid milk and 5.1 cents per pound for butterfat, with regional increases in several western and midwestern states. Cheese subsidy also expected to continue with announcements next week.
The destroyer Perkins was sunk in a collision off New Guinea on November 29. Navy officials announced that next of kin of casualties in the APC 21 will be notified as soon as possible.
Washington AP report notes Army airmen carried out three attacks on Japanese bases in the Marshall Islands Thursday without interception or resistance. Details on targets and results were scarce, but operations proceeded as part of ongoing air campaign in the Pacific.
Four inmates escaped from the Anamosa reformatory at 2 40 pm on New Year s Day overpowered guards two hostages were seized Deputy Warden L J Womachka and Captain Beam were taken in the prison carryall and driven out through the east gate The escape followed a fight with crude knives and a blackjack and the inmates fled toward Davenport with guards pursuing by road and river bridges The men are John Bryl Ralph Cassidy Steve Ratcliff and Frank Brown all long termers serving rob bery sentences with aggravated factors or car theft Brown had a Missouri prison sentence and the group used holiday grounds freedom to flee The hunt focused around Davenport Iowa with state patrol cars deployed and bridges blocked The four were described as tall and of varying weights with these details Bryl 6 2 157 Cassidy 5 10 174 Ratcliff 5 7 139 Brown 5 8 126 The group stopped at a farm near Bennett before releasing the two officers and taking clothing and supplies The men indicated they were tired of prison life and planned to head toward Davenport.
Scores of American soldiers led by Lt. Gen. Jacob L. Devers attended noon services at St. Pauls Cathedral in London to mark the first day of the new year.
Washington report states the War Food administration will release about 440000 cases of pork and beans for civilian consumption. The stock comes from reserves set aside by packers to meet potential war needs.
Saturday brought warm weather as eastern Iowans began New Year visits. Temperatures started at 18 above zero at 9:45 am, rose through the day, and remained above zero by evening, encouraging many to greet friends and relatives.
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