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Newspaper
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Location
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States of America
Date
May 17, 1942
Page
1
The President frees Earl Browder after fraudulently obtaining passports saying he has been punished enough and may be eligible for parole. The piece notes the call for Republican and old-line Democrat leaders to be considered as national unity moves unfold and questions the broader war plant cancellation warning.
Allied air forces report success at Lae New Guinea destroying eight enemy bombers and damaging targets. Russian forces claim major gains around Kharkov with heavy tank action and encirclement attempts threatening German strongholds. In Burma Chinese defenders repel three Japanese crossings at the Salween and recapture Mongaing while Akyab near the Indian frontier sees British air raids.
The piece blasts officials for extreme policy reversals overestimating gains and overshooting targets by about 200 percent. It argues that while some error is expected in a large emergency, such misjudgments hamper efforts, especially since potential production by mid 1943 remains massive.
The committee approves a plan to require married couples to file joint income tax returns in the future. The issue has sparked heated debate amid unclear public understanding and strong opposition from many opponents who argue against pooling all family income for taxation.
The article laments a WPB ban on new air conditioning installations and worries it could lead to curtailment of existing units. It questions whether those who recently invested in cooling will be forced back to uncomfortable, sweaty quarters and disrupted routines.
Washington reports Director Joseph B. Eastman of the Office of Defense Transportation says if tires are requisitioned during the rubber shortage the government will offer fair compensation. He notes President Roosevelt has authority over rubber traffic and other wartime transport means and argues for clear power to requisition tires and vehicles if needed. Decisions will follow careful consideration.
An overcast day saw sun hidden once more with a high reading at 3 pm. The thermometer peaked at 64 degrees before falling to 58 by 11 pm as clouds persisted.
Writer recounts five months in Nazi controlled Europe and the dramatic crossing into neutral territory. The account notes train improvements, a French coast mock battle, and the Bidassoa river moment as guards are left behind. It details Germany's declaration of war on the United States on December 11, 1941 and the arrival of correspondents in Lisbon.
London AP reports Nazi occupation authorities in the Netherlands imprisoned former Dutch officers and cadets previously on parole. The move, described as a precaution against anti Nazi actions, targets those tied to the Dutch military amid rising hostility toward Germany.
Lisbon dispatch reports German conditions worsening under winter strain with meat shortages and labor gaps despite wartime absorption of workers. The piece notes Hitler’s war stance against the United States, internal doubt among Nazi leadership, and continued propaganda efforts as the war drags into spring.
In Rome, an Italian observer notes growing disillusionment with fascism and the war against the United States. He cites apathy, food shortages, and uncertain future for the regime while suggesting many Italians might welcome an Allied invasion to end German control, despite no anti American demonstrations having been reported.
American newspapermen freed from internment in Axis countries arrive in Lisbon on Saturday night and begin dispatches. The reports mark their first communications since Germany declared war on the United States. They are being exchanged for Axis diplomats and journalists.
A health camp lists 200 children marked for medical screening and care. Organizers prepare venues, volunteers coordinate transportation and outreach to ensure all participants receive needed services. An intake desk will verify ages and eligibility as nurses schedule checkups.
Cedar Rapids urges voters to register by Friday for the June 1 general state primary and airport bond election. To be eligible, residents must live in Iowa six months and Cedar Rapids 60 days, register at city hall clerk Maude Krebs's office on the third floor. The office will operate 8 am to 5 pm through Friday with noon to 1 pm lunch hours to accommodate workers.
Earl Browder, freed from the Atlanta federal penitentiary by Roosevelt’s commutation, urged national unity for victory in the war. Senators and representatives voiced mixed reactions, with some criticizing the decision and others defending the mercy or deeming the term served. Browder planned to head to New York, noting his pleased reaction to the clemency.
Public Health Nursing association committee members divide duties for Camp Good Health to supervise over 200 physically handicapped children this June 8 start. They pledge careful oversight, nourishment plans, and safeguards to ensure safe vacation for all campers.
A lanky mongrel and a low-slung cocker spaniel roam Chinook porches and raid milk bottles. The big dog upsets the containers while the small one nips at caps, both lapping up the milk in a curious pairing.
The United War Fund campaign begins in Cedar Rapids on a one time drive to raise 50000 between May 20 and May chairman China Inc Navy Relief society Y M C A Prisoners Relief. The War Appeals Coordinating committee will approve one agency per country and one for US Army and Navy. Residents will be approached once for contributions to war relief agencies.
A 13 year old Mrs Calvin G Kreiser from Elizabeth Pennsylvania has a six pound baby boy with her husband working at a shoe factory. The incident highlights ongoing teen pregnancy issues in the area.
Washington reports a joint army navy review covering the first five months of the war. It states Japanese individual fighters are weaker than expected and foresees defeat when battles are fought on more equal terms. It highlights Bataan and Corregidor defenders and notes the meager daily rations they endured.
WAAC Director Oveta Culp Hobby says new women’s army auxiliary corps members will range from junior misses to plus sized, may wear makeup in moderation and tint nails inconspicuously. They must salute, serve wherever duty calls, and generally comport themselves as armed forces members. Any infractions of the rules will be addressed.
Washington AP reports the Navy on Saturday created the office of assistant chief of naval operations for air and assigned Rear Admiral John H Towers to the post, reflecting air power's growing role in sea warfare.
A WPB spokesman said virtually all war plant contracts not in production by mid 1943 will be canceled, with about two thirds of approved or under contract plants abandoned. The plan shifts to raw material limits, focusing on arms and munitions while delaying or downsizing steel intensive sites.
New Orleans AP Leon Henderson told the National Conference of Social Work there that no curtailment of civilian flour and bread use was planned. He noted improvements in fresh fruit and vegetables and sugar in pork supply, urged tolerance as essential costs are adjusted, and warned that living costs would shift between income brackets.
Robert Koontz sued for divorce claiming his wife’s 23 cats left him unfed and ignored. He described his wife as a war veteran’s widow with a numerology focus and said she married him without divorcing her first husband.
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