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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Oct 29, 1944
Page
1
The Morgan County area reports a dry weather outlook with a high of 70 and low of 36. The county census shows 29,058 bales of 1944 cotton ginned before Oct 18, up from 28,009 in 1943. Local church services proceed with alternate pastors due to absences. Army personnel news includes several wounded in action and completed overseas service, while residents note family visits and farm incidents.
General MacArthur announced higher Japanese naval losses in the Philippines and said his fighters damaged a destroyer near Cebu. He reported 40 enemy warships sunk or damaged across three battles, including a major tally in Surigao Gulf where 16 ships were sunk. His forces advanced on Leyte as Filipino children returned to reopened schools amid liberated areas and airfields. Eleven enemy destroyers were blamed on the same action, with other ships sunk or damaged in Samar and Formosa battles. MacArthur’s figures, while provisional, anticipate further revisions.
London dispatchs report forty thousand Germans scrambling to cross the Maas and Waal as Canadian and British forces smash western Holland defenses. The 50 mile frontline from the sea to S Hertogenbosch collapses, Bergen Op Zoom abandoned, and Antwerp port access increasingly limited by German batteries at Vlissingen. US First Army patrols probe toward Cologne, Dusseldorf, and Duren while fighter bombers hit rail routes as the lull on the front nears end.
President Roosevelt spoke at Soldier Field in Chicago to about 110,000 inside and 150,000 outside, outlining a 60,000,000 postwar job program and vowing to lift wage price and production controls. He defended his campaign stance and directed jabs at the fourth term opposition while stressing high wages and productive industry.
October 29 to November 4 marks Girl Scout Week as Decatur Girl Scouts join national efforts to aid hospitals. About 140 local scouts will serve as hostesses and prepare tray favors at General Hospital and nearby military hospitals under the steering committee led by Mrs. E M Chenault. The program emphasizes service to health and community, with seven troops already registered.
Radio police patrol system is being used in Decatur for the first time after tests on Friday and Saturday proved satisfactory though the antenna remains to be installed. Water tower in Delano Park tested water and police cars are being equipped with sending and receiving sets. desk sergeants urge to be in operation and will be stationed at Boe.
In Berens county a total of 29387.87 has gone toward a 41500 goal leaving 12112.13. Co chairs Rankin and Crow vow to raise the difference. Decatur shows $9000 short of 34000. ten of 22 communities reported and outside Decatur $4179.70 of 7500. Priceville gave 226.45 Center Grove 28 of 50. Limestone has 8000 of 13000 raised with six beats still to hear. Henderson reports 2429.20 of 5061.70 for Mt. Int, Flat Rock, Moulton, Oakville Caddo and others.
Soviet forces report broad offensive across Latvia aiming to wipe out German pockets along the Baltic Sea. Berlin claims Russians pierced Liepaja area with 100,000 Germans encircled in Courland while a separate advance nears Split. Slovak patriots retreat from Ban ska Bystrica as Czechoslovak communique notes battles in the mountains.
Rushton, president of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, will address Rotary Kiwanis Lions and Civitan clubs Monday night at Road School at seven. It is the final inter club meeting of four this year. W J Duncan Jr chairs the program with C A Bailey and S T ee assisting.
Chief Gunner's Mate Clark L. Zeiders recounts the Princeton's destruction after a Japanese air attack. Survivors details include the first bomb strike, explosions tearing the flight deck, and the ship succumbing to fire and damage over hours.
Gov Thomas E Dewey assailed President Roosevelts wartime record and accused the Democrats of failing to offer constructive future plans He told a Utica crowd he would not use the presidency to claim personal or political credit for Americans wartime sacrifices and achievements The remark targeted Roosevelts Philadelphia address and played to a station crowd during his Albany return trip
A Japanese radio broadcast claimed the Philippines campaign grew dire for Japan as American reinforcements arrived in Leyte gulf. It noted U S transports reported by the FCC and said airfields in Tacloban and Dulag were restored while more airstrips were sought. The Nippon outlet claimed about 300 American planes raided unknown targets in the Philippines.
General Joseph W. Stilwell was removed from his China Burma India command and to receive a new and important assignment the War Department said. The China command goes to Albert Wedemeyer while Sultan takes India Burma duties. Stilwell’s exact position remains undisclosed.
Alabama State Guard seeks recruits in a Monday drive at City Hall with City Clerk Joe M. Pettey accepting applications all day and armory signups in the evening. Captain Tom Harrison leads the effort as volunteers and guardsmen assemble from 2:30 to six o clock.
Tokyo radio said five American task forces operate in the Philippines area and that the entire Pacific fleet may be moving against Nippon. The claim cited steep Japanese losses in the Philippines and noted US and Allied air and naval actions, with figures listing 40 ships sunk or damaged and multiple carrier, battleship, cruiser, and destroyer losses.
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