24 Apr 1944
Page 1
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Newspaper
Washington Evening Journal
Location
Washington, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Apr 24, 1944
Page
1
A column notes air strikes closing in on Hollandia air base as Allied forces press toward the area. Meanwhile in Iowa Ottumwa faces rising Mississippi River levels with 11 feet 10 inches observed and a crest expected at 12 feet. Floodwaters spill onto Lowlands near Black Hawk road with one family evacuating.
Gerhardt Bakkum, 30, an Oliver Co employee from Mitchell, fell from a 15 foot stair outside a drug store in Char ter City early Sunday. He died from a broken back and leg. The railing top stood three feet high. Bakkum lived on a farm six miles away.
Deputy sheriffs learned Sheriff Paul Applegate was returning from Waynesville Missouri with Robert Bowman Jr and Darrell Crangle Jr both of Knoxville. They escaped Marion county jail on April 12 after sawing bars of their cells. They had been arrested a day or so earlier. Deputies had not heard details of the recapture.
A sixth star is added to the service flag at Mr. and Mrs. James Graves home. Charles Graves, former F. W. Woolworth manager in Rice Lake Wisconsin, was inducted into the Navy on April 12. His wife Loretta Davis of Cherokee and their three children plan to reside here during his service. A sister Gertrude, WAVES seaman first class in San Diego, and First Lieutenant Douglas Graves in Aberdeen Maryland, and Second Lieutenant Bob Graves in San Francisco are also in military service. Brother Tengine John Graves has been in England for months. Jimmy Graves, a state second class carpenter with the sea bees, serves in the Aleutians.
The War Food Administration halted all sales of corn in 125 midwestern counties except to government buyers, urgent need for 86,005,000 bushels for war product plants. Effective at midnight for about 600 days, CCC acts as government purchasing agent. War Production Board and War Department join WEA in urging farmers to sell to the government. Movement from farms and elevators in designated counties to CCC purchases is restricted. feeders may apply to AAA committees for relief.
Des Moines reports the Iowa farm price index at 188 up one point as hog, beef cattle prices rise, soybeans and barley boost grain index to 197. Eggs drop with high production, dairy products unchanged. Corn on farms at 293,552,900 bushels as of April 1 1944, stock low since 1928, with 192 million bushels disappeared since Jan 1 1944 due to livestock feed demand and war needs.
Allied night bombers struck supply ports and railroad targets in central and northern Italy, hitting Parma yards on the Turin Bologna line and harbor facilities at Genoa San Stefano and Piombino. In Sicily, Cassino and Rome sectors saw heavy artillery exchanges while land fronts saw no major action.
U S forces near the Philippines after a triple landings drive 500 miles toward Hollandia in Dutch New Guinea. McArthur's invasion isolates the Japanese 18th army of about 69 000, with Tadji airstrips secured and Australian Warhawks poised for use.
Admiral Ernest J. King, chief of naval operations, announced a faster war tempo with 20 battleships and over 60 aircraft carriers active. He reported encirclement of Germany in sight and penetration of Japan’s defenses, while cautioning that long, tough roads remain before victory.
Allied forces broke the siege of Kohima after clearing a 30 mile corridor between the encircled city and Dinapur on the Assam Bengal railway. The breakthrough follows a push to reopen the highway as the war moves toward relief of the besieged town.
Chicago April 24 employees of Montgomery Ward and Co who have been on strike since April 12 voted to return to work on their regular shifts starting at 11 pm today.
Mrs. Lola Oldaker Coffey of Iowa City is named state mother of Iowa for 1944 by the American Mothers Committee of the Golden Rule Foundation. She is 63, born in Greene Township, and previously editor of the Wellman Advance. Coffey supports nine college graduates in her family, working printing and domestic duties to fund education.
Skunk River and Crooked Creek overflow near Coppock after a 0.75 inch rainfall. The river rose 1.08 feet to 17.52 feet with rapid further increases expected. Farmers move equipment and livestock to higher ground while oats in bottom lands face possible replanting. No losses or accidents reported.
County ministers group favors opening churches on invasion day to allow people to pray and seek divine guidance. Rev George Kerr announced Washington United Presbyterian would open its doors. Meeting included Rev Ivan Riess and Rev H W Munster with plans for May 22 at the Y to discuss missions.
April precipitation reached 6.15 inches in the first three weeks as of today with 1.38 inches from Saturday night. More rain continued this morning though light, and a new record for April 1944 is possible if the wet spell lasts. A Sunday shower delivered 0 inches in 16 minutes with wind and thunder. Sunday was the warmest day so far with 73 degrees, while Saturday reached 63. The night brought a chill as April turned cooler.
Allied air forces sent about 1,000 heavy bombers to Friedrichshafen and Munich targets in Germany as the second week of the pre invasion assault opened. The raids aimed at aircraft plants and airfields while reports said a two way bombardment also hit Romania.
Helsinki reports the Finnish government and parliament reject Soviet peace proposals as harmful to Finland’s independence. The communique says the terms would burden the Finnish people and block amicable lasting relations between Finland and the Soviet Union.
Crooked creek southwest of town forms a lake in low lands but roads remain passable. Skunk river near Brighton threatens to overflow Sandy Hrook area with potential flood damage if rain continues. April rainfall doubles March and exceeds winter totals, replenishing drought. Oats sowing delayed, oats crop prospects poor, farmers shift to more soybeans.
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