24 Feb 1945
Page 1
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Newspaper
Monroe Evening Times
Location
Monroe, Wisconsin, United States of America
Date
Feb 24, 1945
Page
1
Liberating forces press through a devastated city as shellfire fans out across medieval masonry. In one hour seven thousand shells cripple a key sector, breaching walls twice amid the most intense Pacific theater bombardment to date.
The Leather D. Smith Shipbuilding Company delivered the 338 foot Somerset to the U S maritime commission, exactly 136 days after keel laying, a claimed record for naval cargo ship construction in Sturgeon Bay.
Private first class Leon Harrington suffered wounds in action with details relayed to his sister Frank Brennan of Monroe. The note confirms ongoing injuries and mentions multiple rounds received over several months.
Reports from Guam describe day five of the Iwo Jima operation with the Fourth and Fifth Marine divisions landing on February 19. By February 23 US forces had raised the flag atop Mt Suribachi and began mopping up while casualties rose to 644 dead and 4168 wounded among Marines, with 1222 Japanese dead confirmed.
Lt Schwarz 27 Freeport was killed January 28 in Burma and was well known to Monroe residents. A War Department telegram notified his parents Mr and Mrs B Leo Swartz of the loss. He served with Co K Illinois National Guard after state militia units were federalized in 1941 and trained as an infantry officer. Surviving besides his widow Eileen Neebel Rockford are his parents and a brother Sgt.
The war brief reports Allied and Soviet forces advancing on multiple fronts. On the western front two American armies push toward the Rhine near Cologne while Canadians threaten the Ruhr valley. Americans widen a Saar bridgehead and strike into Forbach. The Russian front sees Red Army crossing the Neisse and advancing toward Berlin, with Poznan reported fallen. In Italy Americans seize heights near Monte Belvedere as Pacific operations include the Philippines battles and Manila action, with Marines breaching Vistula area lines and island incursions near Bernardino Strait.
The Ninth Army spearheads attack as a small unit led by Lt Roy L Buck Rogers crosses the Roer River in two wooden boats thirty minutes before H hour They clear 500 yards of shore a 200 yard depth perimeter destroy five machine gun nests six automatic positions and kill 18 Germans while none of the Americans are lost The raid begins in a basement of an old German schoolhouse on the west bank and ends with Rogers returning to the cellar amid the darkness
American troops advanced over four miles beyond the Roer river with no German stand evident as the northern end of the Western front drives toward Cologne. Eisenhower called the two army push aimed at destroying the German army west of the Rhine and predicted success. First and Ninth armies reported satisfactory progress with 17 towns overrun and prisoner toll exceeding 1400 as they moved across the Cologne plain.
More than 1,000 U S Eighth air force bombers struck northwest Germany destroying rail yards oil refineries submarine bases and airfields as Allied aerial offensive continued into its twelfth day. U S 15th air force also hit Graz rail yards along the Yugoslav border while targeting communications and fuel facilities.
American forces surge toward Cologne on the Rhine in the first day of a large two army push. They overran towns along the Roer and cleared areas east of the river, with 1,400 prisoners taken and advances up to 12 miles in several sectors. The Ninth, First, and Third armies reported strong German resistance yet continued driving into the Cologne plain with multiple bridgeheads and stalled counterattacks.
General Eisenhower announced the objective of the new offensive is the destruction of the German army on the northern front west of the Rhine opposite the Ruhr. He said liaison with the Soviet and Western fronts has been close and necessary. He noted progress of the American First and Ninth Armies is satisfactory and casualties may be lower than in late 1944. He added that if Germans hold firm, the way to finish them is for Allied and Soviet forces to meet in the center. Lt General Simpson's Ninth Army is under Montgomery for operational coordination.
Elvin Kent a 16 year old high school student stood silent as he was arraigned in justice court on a first degree murder warrant charging that he beat his mother to death on February 15. Justice of the Peace Randall C. Kohler presided in the suburban Bedford township courtroom.
Eastern front shows 32 miles from Zellin. Western front 296 miles from west bank of the Rhine at Emmerich. Italian front 544 miles from the Reno river. Returns a concise assessment of distances reported for each theater.
Soviet forces under Marshal Ivan Sonev engage German lines near Goerlitz southeast of Berlin in a large scale tank battle. Russian attacks threaten Breslau from the south while pushing toward the Neisse river defenses, with Poznan captured to shorten rear communications.
Swedish correspondent Serge Granberg reports Berlin residents address the desperate wartime future with growing self reliance. He notes Goering is visible and not imprisoned, Hitler remains a distant topic, and many families hoard food and clothing despite rationing and air raid losses as daily life tightens and fear grows.
Approximately 6,000 workers at the Ingalls shipyards walked off the job at 9 a m after a union called a strike Sheriff D O Newman was notified that barrooms and beer stands would be closed for the duration of the strike amid local metal trades council orders.
Detroit wartime plant halt at the Dodge main facility as 11 400 workers strike over firing of a sight employes. UAW CIO spokesmen accuse a speed up and demand action as production of B 29 engine parts rockets and anti air craft cannon stops. The strike began yesterday with a call to the army or Mead committee to investigate the Chrysler setup.
Green county explores a new 4-H quality milk program with Charles Buck assisting, alongside state leaders W. W. McNeil Everett Wallenfeldt and Jack Kennan from Madison. Lafayette county agent Gordon Ruehl observed, with full details pending completion of qualifications and record books. County Agent Edwin O. Baker states the aim is to produce the best possible milk for Green county.
U S Pacific Fleet reports heavy bombardment yields slow advance as Marines push from the airdrome. Nimitz notes fierce Japanese artillery and small arms counterattacks. Marines take Mt Suribachi, clearing pillboxes and tunnels while cargo floods in. Over 700 Japanese killed. fight continues across concrete pillboxes and caves.
Green county appoints Miss Kuelling as the new county nurse to take over March 15. Mrs Emil Tschudy resigns March 1 after marrying and moving to Sparta to run the farm at the state children's home. Judge Harold J Lamboley announced the hiring, with the county health committee and board delegates involved in the decision.
United States Commissioner Floyd E. Jenkins ruled that preliminary hearings would be unnecessary for three men held on counterfeit money charges. The suspects are August Sorcey age 39 Yominic Rizzo age 32 of Milwaukee and Martin King age 40, a former Racine county constable.
D. K. Brown of Neenah Paper was named president of the American Paper and Pulp Association. G. Parker of Kimberly-Clark, Neenah, was elected first vice-president in the announced leadership lineup.
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