19 Dec 1944
Page 1
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Newspaper
Washington Evening Journal
Location
Washington, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Dec 19, 1944
Page
1
A column notes two fires in St. Ansgar Iowa that wiped out four local businesses. Early Monday a blaze at 5 30 a m leveled Joe Groth s Jacek Sprat grocery and the Arthur Mulier cafe in a double building owned by J Brooks. The second fire struck Sunday afternoon destroying the adjoining structures.
Coroner Bb. J. Stone reported Mrs Margaret Weingarth 92 and her daughter Mrs Saloma Wolf 72 died of natural causes after their Bedford residence was found Sunday. Mrs Wolf likely died of a heart attack, her body on the floor. Mrs Weingarth was in bed, exposure believed to follow.
North English high school senior Rita Te Tedrow aged 17 died in Marengo hospital from injuries after a two mile south of here crash. Dean Patterson aged 22 from Wellman also killed when a pickup carrying four youths overturned after returning from a dance.
Des Moines Iowa Republican presidential electors searched state offices on Monday to find a substitute elector from the second congressional district after Charles Benson of Elkader could not attend due to road conditions. They feared John Strohm, State Fire Marshal, resided in Clinton in Bla der’s district and certified him to cast the vote for Dewey and Bricker.
The 1944 Iowa corn crop was declared the state’s best ever and set a national all time record. Production reached 607,608,000 bushels after upward revisions lowered 1943 figures and moisture adjustments reduced estimates, yielding 54 bushels per acre versus 66.5 last year. The larger acreage pushed the total above 1942 by about two million bushels.
Paul Guy 42 Milo restaurant owner pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the Des Moines deaths of two girls and injury to a third. He received an indeterminate sentence up to eight years, a $100 fine plus costs, six month license suspension, and parole to the Warren county sheriff. The parole followed recommendations from the girls’ parents and the injured teen’s guardians. District Judge O Franklin presided with County Attorney Francis Kubte involved.
CHICAGO Dec 19 The Montgomery Ward Company faced imminent government seizure of properties in seven cities as it refused to fully follow the war labor board directive. Ward met the minimum wage for Detroit stores but rejected other WLB demands. In Washington the WLB rejected Ward retroactivity for Detroit and ordered action back to December 7, 1942.
Funeral services for Mrs Frank Beitel of Santa Monica California will be held tomorrow there. Her death occurred Saturday night after a long illness following a stroke of paralysis over a year ago. She is survived by her husband. The Beitel home has been in Santa Monica many years. He is brother of Mrs R E Brinning off Washington.
The county treasurer received a Des Moines consignment of 6250 windshield stickers for the county. By yesterday 1589 licenses had been issued and 370 trucks licensed for next year. About 1000 to 1734 licensees who paid on time did not receive stickers yet, and must visit the treasurer's office. Last year at this time, 1822 car licenses and 314 trucks were issued. Farmers trailers also numbered 700 to 900.
County Treasurer W. E. Howell reports 1944 tax collections exceed the assigned amount. Assessments set at 770 840.43. taxes collected total 771 771.02 due to delinquent year collections and unusually high current payments. Real estate personal property and moneys and credits are included. not counting special assessments. This may be a Washington county first.
The report notes temperatures last night and this morning were 20 degrees above zero, compared with nine below the previous night, signaling a sharp swing in conditions.
Soviet reports indicate the Budapest Vienna rail corridor is under heavy artillery fire with Red Army pincers 15 miles apart closing in from the east. Moscow broadcasts claim German and Hungarian troops are encircled with barriers along new defenses while advances push into southern Slovakia toward Kassa. A separate claim of Budapest breakthrough is considered dubious.
Tokyo reported China-based B-29s attacked Omura on Kyushu with 20 to 40 planes, hitting industrial targets and causing slight damage. Earlier Saipan-based flights ignited fires at the Mitsubishi Kokuki plant in Nagoya, visible from 70 miles, as air raids intensified against Japan.
The Methodist choir opened Christmas music programs with The Babe of Bethlehem by Hamblen in a full church. Mrs Sorden directed a 60-voice choir with Edna Klein at the organ, featuring solos by Mile Sorden Kitma Rice Herbert Osincup Julia Zeck and Mrs IF Beege plus a Girls ensemble and men's chorus. Dr Fred B Miller shared remarks on the Christmas message.
Relayed radio report states the second Ukrainian army has reached the suburban town of Rakospalota, about one mile northeast of Pest, indicating movement toward the Hungarian capital.
Washington column argues the Sixth War Loan must be oversubscribed beyond prior drives. It stresses timely support is essential to fund combat, prevent enemy gains, and hasten victory in Europe and Asia, urging bipartisan unity and urgent public sacrifice. It calls enlightened self interest to back stronger bond sales to reduce bloodshed and restore solvency.
Allied air fleets claim 94 ships and 451 planes destroyed or damaged in 72 hours as Luzon strikes intensify. Manila residents expect American invasion forces to land soon after Mindoro gains. Dunckel’s forces encircle Japanese pockets on Mindoro while Leyte pushes toward Valencia and Ormoc corridor.
The Christmas mail surge at the Washington postoffice nears records as carriers make only one trip daily in residential areas due to heavy workload. On peak day 19,000 letters were processed, the most since Postmaster M C DeLong took office, with 12,000 to 15,090 in other recent days. Extra staff assisted parcel post and insurance, but late incoming mail from trains and star routes caused delays.
Lord Templewood declared in Parliament that Spain was morally occupied by Germany for most of the past five years. He detailed Nazi Gestapo surveillance during his tenure as British ambassador to Madrid, noting agents watched him from a neighboring house.
Joan Bregant aged 75, noted for traveling with his wife in the Council Bluffs area, died Monday in a local hospital from pneumonia. The couple attracted attention with a home built to suit their stature and Bregant was a familiar sight driving a small car in the city.
Funeral services for Jennie Pearl Hennon were held yesterday afternoon at the L A Jones funeral home. Rev Arthur Peters of West Chester conducted the services. Pallbearers were Rollie Joiner, George Breistenboeh, Glen Martin, Ray Wells, Tan Farris and Ed Hotle. Burial was in Elm Grove cemetery.
Massed American tanks guns and men moved up to meet German armored columns in Belgium as Hodges first army lines stabilized along the northern 70 mile front. Allied air and ground forces pressed Nazism from Trier to Gdynia amid news blackouts and heavy fighting.
A marriage license was secured yesterday at the courthouse by Mark G. Campbell of Ainsworth and Wilma Thompson of Washington.
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