17 Jan 1944
Page 1
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 19 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Monroe News Star
Location
Monroe, Louisiana, United States of America
Date
Jan 17, 1944
Page
1
An unfinished report describes President Roosevelt proposing compulsory civilian service as part of a draft plan. It outlines potential effects on labor unions, business, and war production, noting unions could be controlled like Mussolini state unions and that no clear stance on mandatory union membership was given.
A powerful earthquake that struck San Juan, Argentina, killed between 1400 and 1600 people and left 90 percent of buildings destroyed. Moises Rudman, reaching Mendoza, described instant darkness and massed survivors in open spaces as troops and aid workers recover bodies and hospitals strain under injuries. President Pedro Ramirez convened an emergency cabinet and planned a train inspection tour to assess the damage. Other cities mobilized, with schools turned into temporary hospitals and medical supplies rushed to Mendoza 75 miles away.
At a London suburban station two passenger trains collided killing nine people and injuring about 30, including three American airmen. The Norwich Express rear coach telescoped the Yarmouth train, with many troops on leave among the casualties. Father George Fressanges died of his injuries in the morning.
Salvador C. Saiz 20 of Lockport Louisiana was held in 5000 bail by Essex County Grand Jury in Lynn Massachusetts after Judge Ralph W. Reeve found him probably guilty of assault with intent to rape a Malden woman following a Melrose club dance. The court refused military transfer for court martial citing prior assault arrests. Complainant Miss Alice Ayer 27 provided details to police.
Audiences are urged to submit photos of every man and woman from Ouachita Parish in military service for the Service Men's Edition. The News-Star and Morning World emphasize early submission and warn the edition will be incomplete without contributions.
The United States informs Moscow of willingness to work toward normalizing Russo Polish relations amid ongoing border dispute talks and Polish-German tensions. Moscow cites Polish rejection of negotiations and revisits Katyn grave accusations while announcing a state commission investigating wartime killings.
U S Marines seized Hill 666 near Bergen Bay western New Britain after a battle described as among the bloodiest in the southwest Pacific. Australian forces pressed along northeast New Guinea toward Madang as Allied bombers hit Rabaul ships from Bougainville airfields.
Washington reports the United States plans to release Grover Cleveland Bergdoll from Fort Leavenworth. Bergdoll, famed WWI draft dodger from a Philadelphia family, will gain freedom on an undisclosed date after serving in prison. He fled in 1917, was captured in Philadelphia, escaped en route to Maryland, married a German official’s daughter, and surrendered in 1939. His indictments were dropped by a Philadelphia court in 1941. His wife and six children live on a Downingtown farm.
Lieutenant Jack W. Watson Jabovey of Indianapolis piloted his Flying Fortress back alive from a 30 mile front attack in Italy. He previously gained fame for a daring stadium buzz, later rebuked by Mayor LaGuardia but forgiven after this latest feat.
In New Orleans on January 17 an estimated 400000 voters were expected to back eight candidates in the Louisiana Democratic gubernatorial primary. Independent and regular factions contested the outcome, with James Morrison promising a tide that would topple the political machines of Governor Sam Jones and New Orleans Mayor Robert Maestri.
The Americans Federation of Labor executive council begins a two week winter session in Miami with focus on unemployment, mine workers readmission request, and wage and price controls, as major issues for the nine month old UMWA debate.
American and French forces along a widened Fifth Army front push toward Cassino crossing the Rapido river and testing the Gustav line as Mt Trocchio falls. French troops advance in the Apennines reaching upper Rapido while air forces strike the Messerschmitt plant at Klagenfurt, Austria.
President Roosevelt could face Republican and Democratic opposition if Congress does not enact national service by July. Hearings begin Wednesday as supporters warn the issue could loom in the presidential campaign. Senator Ferguson of Michigan doubts a labor draft solves wartime strikes and predicts partisan blame if action is delayed.
Moscow reports a major Red Army drive north of Nevel and toward Rovne in old Poland. Vatutin’s First Ukraine army says 100,000 Germans killed and 7,000 captured in three weeks as forces push 55 miles into Poland and seize key rail lines. White Russia advances include crossing the Ippa river and nearing the Polish border.
British ambassador Lord Halifax dismissed Pravda and Cairo reports that two English officials met with German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop to seek a separate peace. He called the story untrue and warned against believing such dispatches. Moscow Pravda meanwhile cited a Cairo report claiming the meeting produced results.
Louisiana tax receipts for 1943 totaled 78,086,436 dollars, up 6.26 million from 1942. Gasoline taxes fell despite remaining large, while severance and income taxes posted gains, and war emergency sales taxes rose as collections partly covered the prior year.
Eisenhower reports advanced pre invasion preparations in Britain as Wilson signals possible southern France push. Bradley becomes senior American general under Eisenhower while Montgomer y leads British forces. Wilson pledges to strike wherever opportunity arises and to coordinate with de Gaulle. He notes hope for finishing the war this year but warns it remains uncertain.
Polls open at 6 am Tuesday for the Democratic primary with Ouachita parish races drawing local focus. Candidates compete for state senate, house seats, sheriff, coroner, assessor, and multiple police juries across Ouachita and neighboring parishes.
Vivian Della Chie, famed lyric soprano wired from Birmingham, cannot arrive in time for tonight’s 8:15 concert at Ouachita Parish High School auditorium. Monroe Civic Music Association president A B Clark announced the event must be cancelled.
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.