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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Jul 04, 1944
Page
1
Cloudy night and Wednesday with scattered afternoon thunder showers. High 86, low 63, rainfall .95 inch. Cotton market closed for Fourth of July. Local notes report naval aviation training completion, military transfers, ambulance moves, births, hospital patients, and community events at Decatur General hospital and nearby towns.
Russian armies advance from Minsk toward East Prussia while Gen Cherniakhovsky and Rokossovsky close in on Polotsk. Thousands of German troops are captured as the Red Army drives toward Latvia Lithuania and Lithuania with rail junctions at Daugavpils Wilno and Warsaw in reach.
Ada Mote, sister in law of Joseph Leon Mote, reacts with tears when her brother in law, long believed dead, reappears after being missing for about 15 years. W B Glass and other relatives learn of his whereabouts and letters reach Oklahoma seeking any information to assist.
First Lieut John E. Matthews of Decatur participated in bombing support of the Normandy landings on June 6 as a B 24 Liberator pilot. An Eighth Air Force Liberator station in England released the notice and a photograph shows him before earning his wings.
Campaign to reach fifth war bond quota continues as leaders hope Friday Camp Libert show will boost sales. Officials warn stronger E bond purchases are needed to avoid first quota shortfall in the war effort.
Bibb and Henry counties announced they had exceeded their E bond and total quotas in the We Backed The Invasion parade. Bibb sold 133 000 in E bonds and 248 000 total against quotas 126 000 and 221 000. Henry sold 161 874 in E bonds and 597 948 total against 143 000 and 293 000.
The Chinese high command said Japanese forces used mustard gas to assault Hengyang but Chinese troops held the strategic railway city. About 2,000 Japanese were reported dead as fighting continued. Allied forces widened operations in the Pacific with new strikes on Bonin Islands and Iwo Jima, while Nogmfoor island fell to Sixth Army Troops with minimal American losses.
British imperial troops have captured Ukhrul in Manipur hills west of the Chindwin and north of Imphal after rain swept village fighting. Allied reports said American forces in North Burma destroyed a Japanese party attempting to reach Myitkyina airfield. Mountbatten HQ noted Chinese troops repulsed three attacks near Myitkyina and Allied artillery shelled Japanese positions near Bishenpur.
Allied forces push across Italy with Americans nearing Livorno and the Eighth Army advancing to Arezzo. The 442nd faces the 34th Infantry as Cascia D Elsa falls north of Cecina, while Siena and Arezzo areas see continued French and British actions and heavy fighting with German forces.
California Governor Earl Warren said GOP victory in November looks good if they fight as they should. He described the Dewey Bricker ticket as a good combination and spoke after a Chicago trip. Warren and his family were greeted at the train by state officials and relatives.
Two Bowman Field Army officers face a year’s promotion suspension after a general court martial found violations of low flying rules. Lt. Roger M. Lewellan of Corning Iowa was fined 2000 dollars, and 2d Lt. John E. Mortimore of San Francisco was fined 1500 dollars. Mortimore allegedly flew under 500 feet en route to Kansas City on June 10 and under 1000 feet over Corning Iowa, violating rules requiring over 1500 feet over congested areas and flight distance limits.
Up to 500 American heavy bombers from Italy attacked Romanian oil targets for a second day. British forces struck German airfields in France. Refineries at Brasov and Pitesti were targets, with Bra sov refinery set ablaze.
Washington reports that military and naval glider unit personnel will not receive the planned pay rise until President Roosevelt issues an executive order defining terms. The bill authorizes up to 50 dollars per month for enlisted and 100 dollars for officers and warrants for those in regular glider flights. airborne infantry inclusion awaits the order.
London reports describe a field day for British civilians, mainly children, as U S Army discard piles of boxes, lifebelts, helmets and clothing before D Day. Public scavenging surged at dumps as trucks unloaded, with children in helmets rushing supplies amid rationing.
Russian forces smash through German defenses around Minsk in a vast operation of more than a million troops. The victory opens a path toward Warsaw and Berlin, with heavy progress already made and the Normandy campaign advancing to break out from Cherbourg.
Allied troops on July 4 drive toward La Haye Du Puits and Caen. Canadian forces capture Carpiquet air field and advance about 11 miles on a 21/2 mile front. British and American units take ground west of Carpiquet and near La Haye Du Puits as the Cherbourg peninsula battle tightens.
On July 4 in St Sauveur le Vicomte France American forces marked Independence Day with a dawn launch and a noon bombardment. The artillery flash lit the sky as shells targeted German positions in a major collective assault.
Canadian Press dispatch by Ross Munro notes this was the first major Canadian action since mid June and a notable breakthrough into Carpiquet near Caen. British Canadian offensive pinches the German defense, while American columns converge on La Haye Du Puits from three directions and reach high ground.
Canadian infantry with tanks pierced German lines at Carpiquet, advancing at dawn and capturing the hangars south of the town. By noon only scattered Nazi holdouts remained in the southern hangars as Montgomery’s offensive pressed toward Caen and the Odon river.
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