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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Dec 18, 1944
Page
1
Colder conditions expected across Alabama with cloudy northern areas late today and fair but colder conditions in the south. Tonight's lows near 32 in the north and 26 to 30 in the extreme north portion reflect a sharp winter air mass across the state.
Secretary of State Stettinius said the United States would have no objection to future frontiers of Poland if the United Nations agreed. He indicated acceptance of Curzon line as Poland’s eastern border, urged a friendly conference, and pledged aid for Poland's postwar rehabilitation and border adjustments.
Secretary Stettinius said the United States would accept future frontier agreements if all United Nations involved, including Poland, agreed. The remarks came as the Senate prepared to debate six presidential appointees to the State Department amid labor disputes with Montgomery Ward over wartime strikes and directives.
A brief electrical storm struck Camp Campbell Tennessee injuring two soldiers and tearing up the floor of a gate house. The public relations office released the report detailing the incident.
Detroit dispatch reports a GI Santa Claus materialized as a parachute delivery when a seven foot nylon chute containing a camera two prayer books and a note was found near the De Quin home. The note from Jim to his wife Barbara identified the sender as Pfc Wesley De Quin overseas for over a year. Army authorities will retain the parachute and turn the gifts over to Mrs De Quin as the Army investigates the unusual Christmas gift drop.
British forces launched a full scale operation against ELAS units in Athens and captured the stronghold on the road to Kalamaki airport as fighting intensified after Lt. Gen. Scobie rejected EAM peace proposals. Prison and RAF targets were attacked while neutrality assertions were reiterated by the American spokesman.
Prof Wesley S Krogdahl of the University of South Carolina says a rare Venus eclipse will be visible tonight across Texas to the Carolinas if skies are clear. The event should begin around 9 p m and last until the moon sets, offering observers a view of the moon passing between Earth and Venus.
A U S Army artillery observation battalion detail recalls being ambushed by a German armor column near a road junction. About 150 captured Americans were herded into an open field and gunned down as German troops fired into the group with pistols and machine guns after disarming them. Survivors describe forced standing for an hour before mass fire, amid war trauma and shelling from Tigers and armored cars.
American B 29s raid Nagoya and Hankow as Mindoro advances press toward Leyte. Allied forces push toward Valencia and Suzuki’s 35th Army in fierce Philippine fighting while analysts doubt a quick end to the war in 1945.
American forces tighten hold on Mindoro with beachhead nine miles inland and airstrips readied for day and night fighters. Leyte advances push toward a junction with Mindoro forces as 581 enemy planes are destroyed in four days. Major Richard Bong adds his 39th victory amid heavy fighting on the Philippine fronts.
London reports a massive Allied air assault with 1100 heavy bombers and fighters targeting Cologne Mainz and Comblenz to sever Nazi rail links. American Fortresses dropped 2000 tons amid cloud cover while losses included two RAF fighters and 31 U.S. planes missing as air battles erupted along European front lines.
The first step toward a post-war American Legion home was completed with a $4,000 land purchase south of the city line from Leda B Almon wife of Probate Judge Clifton Almon. Onnaire Almon donated $1,000, reducing the actual price to $3,000. The tract runs from south of the city line to the county school barn and across from the Beeline highway to the old highway. Post Commander Sam ee ppeaoe notes plans for grounds are not fixed, with possible use as a baseball park or other facilities.
Morgan county must boost war bond purchases to reach the Victory quota by year end. Sixth War Loan Series E sales stand at 441,543.75 dollars while the quota is 791,000. Total bond investments reach 1,392,319 with overall sales at 1,833,862.75 dollars.
A fire in the city laboratory wing caused extensive damage to the facility but officials report vital statistical records in an undamaged wing. Nine companies responded to the alarm and the cause remains undetermined.
A small fire from a defective flue caused slight damage to G L Ford’s two story frame apartment at 332 Sherman Street. Four families lived there. occupants fled in bathrobes and pajamas with belongings as Decatur firefighters extinguished the blaze around noon. No injuries reported.
Washington reports the War Labor Board faces intensified pressure as Montgomery Ward and the government prepare for potential expansive presidential seizure. A midnight deadline looms for compliance in seven cities. Ward ads argue the closed shop conflicts with liberty, while the court says WLB orders are advisory. Davis says Ward’s chairman Sewell Avery misstates wage issues.
Soviet forces stormed toward Budapest from positions near the city while Red Army units reached the Slovak border northeast of Budapest. Pravda claimed German divisions tied up in the east rival Latin Allied numbers as the drive expanded into eastern Slovakia with towns like Suza falling and Pazstto taken.
Mrs. Franklin D Roosevelt expects to meet her son Elliott Roosevelt’s bride actress Faye Emerson at the White House today. It will be their first meeting and the First Lady did not say how long the couple would stay in Washington. No social events have been arranged for the pair.
The war front reports a major German push along the U S first army line in the Rhineland to hinder an early Roer crossing at Duren. Eisenhower may launch another push toward the Roer as Von Rundstedt seeks to disrupt the Allied drive. The Germans, short on planes and fuel, show increased air use and persistent as the Cologne plain defense tightens near Aachen and Duren.
Lt Gen Courtney Hodges U S First Army counterattacked German infantry and armor in Belgium and Luxembourg in a fierce battle described as decisive. British Spitfires and Tempests aided Allied air forces while Germany deployed new weapons and parachutists. 9th Tactical Air Command tallies show 129 German planes shot down in 24 hours as Lt Gen Simpson lauded Allied defense against heavy Luftwaffe activity.
Berlin says German forces crossed northern Luxembourg on a broad front nearing the neutral border. Eindhoven radio ceased abruptly without explanation. Berlin claims fast units and armored groups moved into the Malmedy area as heavy fighting occurred in towns, with some U S tanks reportedly wiped out.
German forces claim overrun of American positions from Luxembourg to high marshland along a twenty mile front. The action stretches from Borgen to Malmedy as German leaders withhold full details while reporting a strong counteroffensive. American units including the Texas and 78th divisions faced the assault as Luftwaffe and armor support surged in winter operations.
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