This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 21 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Mar 23, 1944
Page
1
Washington reports indicate strained hopes for Finland’s armistice with Russia. Hull says talks not definitively ended, keeping open a possible diplomatic break with Helsinki. US policy hinges on Finland quitting Germany and avoiding a broader shift in wartime alignments.
Allied headquarters report Fifth Army repeatedly repelled German attacks on Cassino positions as air strikes hit supply lines in Northern Italy. New Zealanders fought near Cassino, while German counterattacks on Hill 193 failed, leaving prisoners. Rail targets included Verona Bologna Rimini and bridges at Poggibonsi Arezzo Popoli. Seven enemy planes were destroyed. four Allied planes lost.
Washington reports the aviation industry urges continued draft deferments for skilled workers. A survey shows 27.4 percent of engineers in aircraft design are under 27 and 55.5 percent under 30, excluding 4-F. James P. Murray of the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce sent the data to Gen. Arnold, Adm. McCain, and Charles Wilson of the Aircraft Production Board.
Senator McKellar’s bid to tighten control of TVA was narrowed to a single item requiring TVA to place its about 70 million dollar annual revenues in the Treasury and seek direct annual appropriations. The senate panel withdrew most amendments, restoring funding for Watts Bar unit, Fort Loudoun dam, and Sheffield plant expansions, while keeping a separate revenue transfer proposal for vote.
Washington reports casualties of American forces since the war began total 168,292. Army losses amount to 126,193 with 21,737 killed, 50,363 wounded, 36,747 missing, 27,346 prisoners. Navy and Marines total 42,099 with 17,887 killed, 10,754 wounded, 9,036 missing, 4,422 prisoners. Missing numbers rise as World War II data show two to three week reporting lags.
The 1944 list of qualified voters for Morgan County will be published Friday in The Decatur Daily. It is about the average size, containing between 8 000 and 9 000 names and requiring five to six pages for publication.
ERNIE PYLE reports from the allied beach head in Italy about sailors aboard an LST. They share a soldier’s outlook, discussing home and travel plans while recalling Sicily Salerno and Anzio. Despite danger they live fairly comfortably with hot baths magazines candy and decent meals.
American sailors praise Indian troops and the LST ships. They note the flat bottomed vessels roll easily in calm sea, with a six second round trip roll. In heavy seas the bow appears to twist like a monster turning its head. The ship seems to inch forward over sand bars, section by section.
The LST has handled every cargo type from fuel to shells and carried soldiers of many nationalities. It mentions a shipload of fused shells as the most dangerous cargo and notes continued content from the wartime report.
Five convicts tunneled out of Draper prison near Speigner Alabama during a heavy rain. Two were wounded and caught in a hail of shotgun fire while two others escaped over the fence but were later recaptured. The fifth remained in the yard as guards closed in. A sixth escaped Kilby prison earlier and was recaptured. The remaining five fugitives were still at large.
London reports the RAF dropped over 3,360 tons on Frankfurt last night, the heaviest single target load. American bombers joined in raids across Western Germany, hitting Brunswick, Welz, Achmer, Handorf, and Berlin, with 33 aircraft missing in night operations.
Washington March 23 The House foreign affairs committee unanimously approved an amendment to extend lend-lease for a year beyond June 30. The measure reserves to Congress, not the President, final authority in negotiating settlements for war materiel aid.
Washington March 23. For the fourth straight day President Roosevelt stayed away from his office. The White House said his head cold was decidedly better and that he would work from the residence. If he wished to see anyone they would be called in.
Allied troops converge on Japanese forces crossing from Burma into India as clashes widen along the Burma front. Gen Sir Claude Auchinleck says the border crossing is not yet a serious threat. Japan aims at Imphal to divert Allied forces and ease pressure on the Arakan front.
Montgomery reports rivers rising after heavy rains. E O Emigh of the Weather Bureau warns no serious flood stages are expected. Alabama river at Montgomery 27 feet, may reach 37 by Friday night. Wetumpka 37 feet by noon Friday. Millstead 30 feet crest Friday morning. Selma 29.8 feet rising to 40 by Saturday morning, flooding low land near the Cahaba river mouth.
The War Production Board Army and Navy will not recommend industrial deferments for men under 26 unless their work is in a critical, urgently needed program. A draft policy letter by C E Wilson emphasizes invasion weapon production and defines steps for handling young workers in key projects.
British Prime Minister Churchill indicates renewed allied talks on applying the Atlantic Charter. He avoids firm commitments on self-determination across nations, saying the charter expresses spirit and purpose but implies no pact with enemies. Critics in Parliament warn of potential conflicts as some nations demand clarity.
London report says Hitler aims to kidnap Romania’s government as Hungary’s Regent Horthy and Premier Antonescu are summoned. German denial follows claims of prisoner holding and a peace overture toward the Soviet. Tito rumored to have contact with Hungarian forces as Berlin presses Balkan moves.
Soviet forces pushed toward Nikolaev and besieged Pervomaisk as German lines falter. Malinovsky’s army advances on Nikolaev from Bogravlensk, while Rodion Malinovsky drives toward the Southern Bug and Dniester fronts. Zhukov’s Ukrainian army moves toward Lwow with heavy German losses reported.
Washington March 23 A $16 000 000 000 goal has been fixed for the fifth war loan Morgenthau disclosed today to correct an unauthorized impression that the goal would be 14 000 000 000 He said the drive will open in early June and that a full announcement on date and securities type would be made next week
In Oklahoma City a district court jury returned with a verdict but did not specify the sentence location. The foreman explained that no one on the jury could spell penitentiary, so they left it blank, joking they were unsure how to spell it.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.