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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Jul 04, 1944
Page
2
Washington reports June aircraft production fell 9.5 percent to 8049 planes, the lowest in 10 months. WPB vice chairman Charles E. Wilson says the decline is not alarming, caused by small plane delays and a shorter work month, not manpower or basic issues.
Across Alabama a series of war bond rallies drew participation from Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in Blount county Cleveland, a Camp Sibert chemical show in Cullman, Camp Rucker band in Greenville, and Tuskegee Army air base band at Eutaw and Demopolis. Industrial plants like National Cast Iron Pipe Birmingham and Anniston Manufacturing and Classe Ribbon Works exceeded bonds quotas with strong sales, including Classe Ribbon Works at 6452 dollars over target. Captain Passanante, injured, remains in the Army rising to captain and serving as assistant operations officer at Albany Georgia base.
Normandy battle areas saw clear weather limited to 3 000 feet in places enabling daylight missions. One Fortress group bombed two airfields near Paris while RAF Mosquitos hit German rear lines and Ruhr targets. Overnight raids laid mines in enemy waters with no losses, as German rocket attacks on Southern England continued at a lower level.
Five freight cars and two locomotives derailed when two Kansas City Southern trains collided at the south edge of Anderson Missouri. No injuries reported. U S Highway 71 blocked by a derailed car as wrecking equipment from Pittsburg Kansas and Eas to clear the railroad and highway.
Paris described as a city of terror with house to house manhunts and anti Jewish roundups under German and Vichy control. Refuges report mass arrests in reprisals after Philippe Henriot's assassination and widespread panic across Paris.
Reports from the Pacific and Asia describe MacArthur’s air raids on Manokwari Timor Palau Yap Wewak Rabaul Kavieng and Pompsinzille as Saipan nears its fall with Garapan under threat. Allied forces also capture Ukhrul near Imphal while Stilwell’s troops claim 17 700 Japanese killed in Burma and Chinese forces press Tengchung as German correspondents note shifting Japanese morale.
Theodore Roosevelt McKeldin handed out autographs and pictures to spectators at the $150,000 fire that destroyed Oriole baseball park. He arrived around 5 AM about 40 minutes after the blaze began, continuing to sign for onlookers and promoting his political status.
Allied forces under Lt. Gen. Omar Bradley advance in a rough semi circle from St Lo D Ourville toward Carentan in a campaign aided by artillery barrages and limited air support. German reports claim withdrawals while pointing to deeper penetrations by Allied troops near Cherbourg and La Haye Du Puits.
Rev. Smallwood of Hartselle filled his appointment Sunday at the Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. M. C. Lemley and daughter Grace of Valhermusa visited Mary Lawrence. Audrey Tendrix of U. S. Army spent a furlough with his parents. J. C. Williams Jr. on furlough from Alaska. Miss Marvalene Thomas of Birmingham visited her parents. Miss Lula Williams visiting her parents and brother on furlough. Mrs. W. B. Lemley and daughter Helen were in Huntsville Saturday.
A July 4 explosion at the John B Warreck and Dupont warehouse in Bedford New Hampshire shattered thousands of windows within a 70 mile radius. Seven and a half tons of dynamite detonated under a building leaving a crater. No fatalities. injuries mostly minor. Police and FBI investigators at the scene. Disturbances felt as far as Manchester and near Grenier Field.
Miss Marie Hughes of Union Grove visited Miss Helen Lemley recently. W. C. Williams Jr. of Harrimen Tenn spent Sunday with home folks. Dee Goodson of Ashland spent a few days last week with his sister here. Mr and Mrs E L Thomas received word from their son E L Jr overseas that he is fine. Miss Betty Joe Edwards spent the weekend in Huntsville. Mrs Jack Puckett and sister Betty were in Huntsville shopping Friday. Miss Kathryn Shumake and Helen Lemley attended a dance at Redstone Park Thursday night.
Pvt. J. R. Plemmons formerly of Decatur Boys club is serving with U S Army paratroopers in England. He earned North Alabama flyweight title in Golden Gloves and received a silver coin engraved with England 1944 Bantam Champ, a Red Cross Rainbow Corner medal, and a leather Stars and Stripes Bout Winner belt. His mother received the awards for him yesterday.
Mrs Arthur Callahan and children Rena and Billy visit her sister Mrs Barn Sullivan and family. Jack Byunard family of Texas also present. Lois Lowery now employed at the Decatur Goodyear mill. Berry picking prevalent in the community. Ray Lindsey from Birmingham visited family. Jessie McCaghren called on sister Mrs Minnie Way. Mr Ayamee Waugh of Decatur visited Sunday.
Family guests from Decatur Huntsville Fayetteville and Aniston visit Mrs J A Black and family. Local residents Mr and Mrs Lowell Standridge visit Hartsville. Mrs W L McMeans mourns father death in Rogersville and plans funeral attendance. Soldiers Harmon Brady and Hoyt Holt on furlough return from Alaska to join friends. Ola McDougle visits Decatur.
The report notes Nazi military capability waning under Allied blows with 225,000 killed or captured on the Russian front in twelve days. In Normandy, Canadians advance west of Caen capturing Pes, while American forces push toward La Haye du Puits along a twenty mile front.
Red Star dispatches report Minsk in Russian hands by noon after a night of bloodshed as civilians attacked retreating Germans and seized war materials. In Polotsk and Molodeczno areas Soviet troops push toward Wilno and Mozyr as tanks and machine guns clash on the outskirts. Red Army advances north and west of Petrozavodsk while Rokossovsky’s flank threatens Baranovichi. reports claim 50 places captured near Sortavala and a rapid German retreat across multiple fronts.
A party was held Saturday night at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clark in honor of Junior McCulloch on his fifteenth birthday. Attendees included Nancy Standridge Christine Franks Dorothy Clark Grace Long and many others from the Clark and Standridge families.
In June U S Strategic Air Forces dropped over a ton per minute on enemy targets during the invasion month. The 280000-strong force flew 25600 bomber sorties and 24000 fighter sorties. Eighth Air Force losses reached 225 heavy bombers and 211 fighters. Allied planes shot down 348 German craft and destroyed or damaged thousands of railroad cars and locomotives.
In Jackson on July fourth, Mississippi voters chose three congressmen and a state supreme court justice in the first Democratic primary on a holiday. Secretary of State Walker Wood anticipated a light turnout and noted no organized efforts by Black voters. Representatives Rankin Whitten and Abernathy faced opposition, while four others faced no opposition. Polls opened at 7 a.m. Central War Time in rural areas and 8 a.m. in cities, closing at 6 p.m.
Funeral services set for Wednesday afternoon at Mount Zion church for 93 year old Mrs. Annie H. Alford who died Monday night at her Falkville home. Rev. Thomas Hatchett will officiate with interment in adjacent cemetery Peck Funeral Directors. Survived by 16 nieces and two nephews including Miss Edna McAnear and Mrs. Susie Carroll. Bearers named J P McAnear Will McAnear Frank Marlow L C Drake Lee Brown and Eunice Bridge.
Decatur observed the Fourth of July in a quiet manner with most businesses closed. Police reported good behavior and traffic activity limited with no serious incidents through noon.
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