27 Dec 1944
Page 1
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Newspaper
Somerset Daily American
Location
Somerset, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Date
Dec 27, 1944
Page
1
As of December 20, 1944, four Somerset banks showed higher demand and savings totals than 1943, with demand accounts at a gain of 1,428,564 and savings up 526,075. Local stores reported 5 to 20 percent increases despite limited merchandise, driven by practical gifts and rising wages.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Allentown, suffered extensive damage in a fire described as the work of a maniac. Monsignor Fink estimated losses well over 40 000 dollars as sacred vessels, carvings, and two altars were ruined. Altar chapels on two floors burned while records and carvings from 1869 were saved by volunteers. Masses will be held in the school auditorium.
Lt. Gen. Alexander M. Patch commends the Seventh Army divisions for outstanding achievement in the Vosges winter line breakthrough. The Third, 45th, and 36th divisions are highlighted for their performance.
Sub freezing temperatures checked rising rivers threatening a Pittsburgh flood. Western counties received more snow while coal mines along the Monongahela closed as high water slowed barges. An accident heavy snow and fires followed. Warren residents faced impassable roads and a 79 year old man died shoveling snow.
Philip Mancuso 27, central figure in Philadelphia's draft case, ordered to report for physical examination at an induction center in Philadelphia Local Board No. 1. His case timeline includes a 1942 appeal, reclassification from 3-A to 1-A, a federal stay and ruling, and a later induction notice leading to a five year jail sentence.
A broad strike was called by United Retail Wholesale and Department Store Employees in Kansas City after a meeting led by CIO organizer Edward Chevlin. The walkout targets Ward retail stores and mail order houses, amid wartime labor orders and a nationwide union effort to comply with war labor policies.
In Phoenix on December 26 a 200 foot tunnel bored through rock enabled 25 naval officers and men to escape from the Papago Park POW camp. Twelve were officers, thirteen enlisted. most headed toward Mexico amid rain and patrols. Lt Col Jurgen Wattenberg led the group. six were recaptured.
The thermometer fell steadily on Tuesday from 12 above at 5:30 p.m. to 2 degrees below by midnight as colder weather set in. Snow and ice covered pavements making walking hazardous while few cars were on highways due to deep ruts. Borough workers cleared snow while highways dried and bus travel returned toward normal.
In Paris on December 26 eight members of the Bong-la Fonte gang convicted of collaborating with the Gestapo will be executed by firing squad early tomorrow. A ninth man received a late reprieve for fighting the Germans after his Gestapo activity.
In Athens a secret conference with Churchill and Eden aimed to end Greek political violence. ELAS delegates entered after a dynamite find near the Grand Bretagne, as Churchill urged elections by secret ballot under Scobie's terms amid heightened security and mixed crowds.
Washington reports B 29s of the 21st bomber command bombed Tokio industrial targets in a daylight raid. General Arnold said operation reports would come from Brigadier General Hansell as the fifth air strike on the Japanese capital.
The U S army investigates mail theft tied to black market activity after locating 28 pouches and 56 sacks of mail plus government property in an abandoned army truck at a civilian home in Nantes area. Recovered items include 4950 cigarette cartons 150 gallons of gasoline 2000 empty cans and army tires food and clothing.
Allied dispatch reports the Red Army completed the encirclement of Budapest driving two miles inside the city from the west. Tolbukhin and Malinovsky’s units seized multiple suburbs and towns as German and Hungarian forces, estimated at 100,000, face certain defeat. The offensive targets Bratislava and Vienna with deep penetration along the Danube.
From Saipan General Hansell reports B 29s dropped over 3,000,000 pounds of bombs on Honshu in 30 days. Hatsonoki and Kokuki plants damaged. Mitsubishi plants in Nagoya hit. two B 29s lost over target, others at sea.
British planes from aircraft carriers attacked Japanese targets in Sumatra on December 20, hitting jetties warehouses and railyards on the east coast. Avenger aircraft set fire to oil and gasoline tanks at Belawan harbor while Hellcats and Corsairs bombed airfields around Sabang and the Delewehewe anchorage amid poor visibility.
Canadian British and New Zealand troops moved toward the Senio river line on the Adriatic front after capturing Rosetta, 19 miles northwest of Ravenna. Germans pushed from Lamone line positions east of the Canale naviglio were cleared, with snow and freezing weather slowing Fifth Army operations near Bologna.
American and British bombers attacked Soblenz, St Vith, and Clark field Manila, dropping 44 tons of bombs. U S Eighth Air Force reported 150 heavy bombers and 300 escort fighters, while Manila raids destroyed Japanese air power and sank two freighters as Leyte cleanup continued.
Japanese planes raided Saipan in the Marianas between December 16 and 25 in an attempt to cripple the base used by U S Superfortresses. Three Nipponese planes were shot down by American fighters and a fourth by anti aircraft fire. One American plane was destroyed on the ground and several others damaged. Six men were injured in the bombing. The raid was carried out from Iwo Jima or Marcus Island with plans to slow U S raids on Japan. Liberators bombed Iwo Jima on December 24 for the 18th straight day of air assault.
Norwegian Prime Minister Johan Nygaardsvold called for an immediate Allied invasion of Norway from the west to halt Hitler and save the country. He urged Norwegians to hinder the German north garrison and warned that any escape to the south would prolong the war. He said Norway cannot act alone and appealed for Allied support to strike now.
The Homer Lutheran church near Ralphton cancels its December 29 Christmas program due to bad weather.
Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal announced that the United States achieved the second phase of the Philippines campaign, focusing on land-based air battles after driving the Japanese fleet from the area. He cited Leyte fall and Madura landings as concrete signs of continued offensive success, while noting undisclosed damage to Japanese forces to avoid revealing ship losses.
reports say von Rundstedt's assault, now involving two to three German armies, pushes within four miles of the Meuse south of Namur and eight miles from the French frontier. American forces at Bastogne struggle under heavy pressure while Allied air power harasses enemy armor and troops. Lupe Velez to be buried in Mexico City tomorrow per actors union.
Maryland sees fair but cold Wednesday with a milder but frosty night. Thursday turns cloudy and warmer with rain in the west and freezing in the mountains, spreading eastward in the afternoon. Pennsylvania factors show very cold Wednesday, then rain or freezing rain in places with warmer Thursday. West Virginia expected increasing clouds, cold Wednesday with rain or freezing rain to snow by night, followed by warmer Thursday.
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