Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (May 31, 1945)
VOL. NO. LX! PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1945 NO. 43 Cass County Sales of War Bonds Still Far From Quota Assigned G Q 1 The Cass county quota of rOUD 10 tJlUuV $758,000.00 in bonds in the Sev- m m enth War Loan Drive Li far from rlans for ihe ;ng ,Treac!;efld- t0rd includ; ing May 28, 194o the sum of llfl T1 $222,142.00 had been subscribed IfliddUUil IvtVCI BY UNITED PRESS Offi cials of the Missouri Valley De velopment Association marked time today, awaiting action among governors of 10 states in naming four persons to represent the area on the Missouri basin inter agency committee. Original plans called for two such appointees. It was learned, however, that the number had been doubled to give the states equal representation with federal agencies. National departments repre sented on the committee are the War Department Engineering Corps, Department of the Inter ior Agriculture Department and the Federal Power Commission. States from which the local spokesmen will be chosen include Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minneso ta, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North and South Dakota and Wy oming. Gov. M. Q. Sharpe, South Da kota, chairman of the Missouri River States committee, was authorized by a majority of the affected states to make the ap pointments. He reportedly is in communication with the other executives, asking their wishes in the matter. The inter-agency committee was formed March 29 to "coordinate the planning, construction and administration of the basin's multiple-purpoee development pro gram." Maj. Gen. Thomas M. Robins, Washington, army engin eer serving as acting chairman, informea the governors early this month of the committee's forma tion and asked that their appoin tees be named. The development association, which favors the Pick-Sloane act and strenuously opposes a Mis souri Valley Authority, welcomed the inter-agency group with open arms. "This is the essence of coord r ination and ioope) ation and should be hailed by all citizens of the valley, who are truly in terested in development, as the most progressive step taken in 25 years," John B. Quinn, Lin coln, Neb., executive director, said. An MVA, Quinn said, would be directed by three presidential appointees. Under the inter-agency committee plan, he added, four men from the affected area would serve as a link between the federal agencies and the people of the basin. Gov. Dwight Griswold, Nebras ka, is in accord with the commit tee, feeling it will "serve the purpose for which it was intend ed and North Dakota's Gov. Fred G. Aandahl predicted it would streamline activities of the agencies and states involved. A small group, he said, could con vene more often and thus cope more efficiently with problems which might arise. Other governors declined to comment. Journal Want Ads For Results Cass County Bond-O-Meter LATEST SALES YET TO BE EEPOET SOLD $758,000 1 I NONE 660,000 550,000 440,000 330,000 220,000 110,000 NONE $ 98,000 208,000 318,000 428,000 538,000 648,000 758,000 r 1 or approximately 30 of the quota. In commenting on this per centage Cass county chairman, Walter H. Smith, said: ''We of this county appreciate that a big job still remains to be done. The executive committee. chairman and solicitors are doing their best to contact each individual but many will be missed. We urge that everyone avails himself of the opportunity to make his purchase at his bank or post office in this county. Let's keep on buying bonds till it's over, over there, and buy now for the mighty Sev enth!" Up to and including May 30, 1945 the following cities and precincts have reported to the county chairman and have author ized the release for publication: Cities and Villages Eagle ? 725.00 Greenwood 6,937.50 Louisville 17,670.25 Murray Union 15,893.75 4,775.00 Precincts Tfprton Greenwood 656.25 625.00 1 Salt Creek 6,450.00 Stove Creek 987.50 Weeping Water 10,531.25 Mt. Pleasant 806.25 Plattsmouth - 10,825.00 Liberty 7,350.00 Center 1,968.75 The chairmen and solicitors of many cities and precincts have sold thousands of dollars of bonds but are net as yet in a position to report to the county chairman. As soon as these re ports are received, they will be released for publication. Life Resident Of Cass County Dies Thursday Mrs. Martha M. Wetenkamp, 82, and life-long resident of Plattsmouth, died at 4:25 a. m. Thursday at the Hall Convales cent Home in Omaha. Mrs. Wet enkamp had been in failing health for some time. She was born in Cass county on January 27, 1863 and was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam uel Barker. In March 1892 she was married to William Weten kamp, following the death of her husband, Edward Howard. Wet enkamp died in August 1904. Before she was confined to her home because of illness, Mrs. Wet enkamp was active in the organ izations of the First Methodist church. She is survived by two sons, Roy E. Howard, Murray, William S. Wetenkamp, Platts mouth, one daughter, Mrs. Lydia Wiles, Weeping Water, three bro thers, William, Rayner, Colo., Edgar, Perry, Okla., Horatio. Holdrege, and two sisters, Mrs. Rose Howard, Ravenna, and Mrs. Nettie Meisinger, Omaha. She also had 12 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Several brothers and sisters preceded her in death. Services will be held at 2 p. m. Sunday at the First Methodist church with Rev. T. Porter Ben nett officiating. Burial will be at the Eight-Mile Grove Ceme tery. Funeral services will be arang ed at the Caldwell Funeral Home. Former Speaker Dies At Nelson NELSON, Neb., UR Former Sen. George W. Jackson, 87, who served in the state legislature 19-13-17, died at the home of his daughter here last night. Jackson was speaker of the house during his three terms in the two-house legislature. He al so served for 22 years on the state fair board, 1911-33, and was secretary of the group from 1925-33. He was survived by a son, Earl, Dalalas, Tex., and a daughter, Mrs. Fred Kelly, Nelson. Cotton is used for 11,000 dif ferent items by the armed force3. John Slatinsky Is Home From Service Wednesday noon John Slatin sky, gunner's mate third class of the U. S. coast guard arrived home after a tour of duty in the Pacific that has covered the past twenty months: John has just returned from the midst of the activities in the south Pacific where he has been engaged in five of the American invasions of the Jap held terri tory. Prior to coming on home by plane he visited at Los Angeles and while there had the pleas ure of meeting up with Milton (Mike) Allen, an old school friend from home, as well as John Royer, both of the boys being in the naval service. At Los Angeles John was also a guest at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bull, former residents of Plattsmouth, for a short time. Memorial Service Held At Oak Hill Cemetery The memorial day of 1945 found the weather conditions ideal and from early in the morning the city was filled with the former residenters and memberss of their families coming in to join in the oDservance. The cemetery was beautiful in the extreme with the abundant rainfall keeping all grass green and fresh, that with the lavL-h floral offerings placed over the cemetery made a scene of great beauty. The cemetery board that has labored so long and hard in the past few years in the improvement program certainly are to be con gratulated on the fine appearance j of the last resting places and James Quinette, the superintend ent of the cemetery deserves a great deal of praise for the fine way that the cemetery had been cared for in the past season. The program of the day open ed at 10 o'clock and was in charge of Dr. P. T. Heineman, the commander of the Hugh J. Kearns post of the American Legion, with Dr. Leonard Fitch as the chairman in charge of ar ranging the details. At the Grand Army of the Re public plot in the older portion of Oak Hill cemetery the program was opened with the presentation of the colors, the pledge of alleg iance to the flag was led by Will iam Edwards of the Boy Scouts. Dr. Leonard Fitch gave very ap propriate remarks honoring the civil war veterans that are at rest in the local cemetery and had their part in the building of the great west of the nation that they had saved. The wreath of memory was placed by Albert Ol son, adjutant of the local Legion post. Fred Herbster and George Conis served as the color guard fcr the ceremony. At the American Legion plat in the west addition of the ceme tery the members of the group joined in the singing of one verse of ''America" as a fitting opening with invocation being of fered by Rev. J. W. Taenzler. The roll call of the departed veterans of World War I and II was given by Dr. Heineman. The address of the day was by Rev. J. W. Taenzler, pastor of the First Christian church as follows: WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON AGAIN ALL OVER THE WORLD "Once more we have come a round the calender to that day recognized in our beloved land, as Decoration Day. Just last Sun day in most of our churches throu ghout this nation we observed Memorial Sunday. These are two very important words that when we lose them from our language, we are the losers. It is essential to the well being of every indiv idual and to every nation, looking back over history with the great est respect to decorate the graves of heroic forefathers, and estab lish a lasting memorial. These days have several interests to most American citizens. "We sing the Hymn 'Faith of Our Fathers Living Still." We re call the many joys we have ex perienced in life with those of our loved ones and friends who have journeyed out from this Continued on Page 4. Frank Smith Quits As Editor Because of Failing Health Fr2nk H. Smith, editor of The Daily Journal since 1930 and an almost continuous employe of the newspaper since 1902, has re signed because of ill health and plans to enter the veterans' hos pital at Lincoln soon. He will be succeeded temporar- JOAN TUCKER EATON ily as editor by Mrs. Joan Tucker Eaton, of Fremont, who arrived in Plattsmouth Wednesday. In failing health for more than a year, Smith plans ts continue at his defk until Satur day. Meanwhile, he will intro duce Mrs. Eaton to Plattsmouth citizens and acquaint her with the sources of news. Smith joined The Journal staff as a printers' devil in 1902. He learned the printers' trade and become a compositor in the news paper shop. In 1913, Smith was moved "up front" and assigned to a reporter's beat. It was while he was busy gath ering news for The Journal that World War I arrived and Smith, as a member of the national" guard, was quick to get into the conflict. He served in France with the AEF during more than two years of service. After receiving his honorable discharge in 1919, he returned to his Journal typewriter. In 1930, was promoted to the editorship. During his many years in Platts mouth, Smith has been prominent in civic and political affairs. He served as the first command er of the Hugh J. Kearns post of the American Legion and also is a member of the Legion's fun organization, Forty and Eight. He has served the chamber of com merce as a director and, at pres ent, is chairman of the city demo cratic committee. His home here is at Hotel Platt?mouth. Mrs. Eaton, wife of a navy chaplain, Olney E. Eaton, now stationed at Williamsburg, Pa., is a graduate of Midland col lege at Fremont and has been employed in recent months by the Fremont Guide and Trib une. Before her marriage last De cember, Mrs. Eaton served as field secretary at Midland and previously had been employed in the publicity office of the Illin ois Institute of Technology. Dur ing her student days, she was edi tor fo the Fremont high school Rustler and later was assistant editor of the Midland newspaper and annual, and assistant direct or of publicity. Her home in Plattsmouth will be with Mr. and Mrs. G. K. Het rick, on North Third. Helen Bengen Strain Writes From South Mrs. Helen Bengen Strain who is making her home in the south, write to old friends in this city that her husband, who is a mem ber of the Marines, in service at Okinawa where he has been in some of the stiff battles of the caampaign. She also writes that her broth er, Sgt. Russell Bengen who was returned from overseas some time ago, is now located in South Car olina, awaiting a further assign ment. Mrs. Strain states that her mother, Mrs. Irene Munson, is now located at Tallahassee, Flor ida, and is feeling fine. You cen visit China, Egypt, Hol land, Ireland, Italy, Palestine, and Turkey and never leave Texas towns. W :Jlg.MMsyf 1 : - i -v XL- I -IT J "St i .w -A..-.x:..-. i Eugene Schmader At The Great Lakes Mr. and Mrs. Geroge Schmader of near Manley were in the city Wednesday for a short time to visit with the relatives. They have received word from their son, Eugene, who joined the LT. S. navy a short time ago, that he was now at the Great Lakes, Illinois, training station and re ceiving his basic instructions. Eugene states that he is feel ing fine and getting acquainted with the fellow trainees from all sections of the country. Eugene is a graduate of the Weeping Water high school the class of 1945. Violent Deaths Form Aftermath of The Holiday At least 40 violent deaths were counted today as an aftermath to the nation's holiday honoring its herores felled in battle. Of this number, traffic casual- i ,. in compared to a death toll of 50 forecast by the national safety council. ine councils iigui,! compiled on the basis of past ex Terlence, include those persons ter of their injuries. Preliminary reports from L'ni tpH Pn"!! hnrean; throuchoiit the country listed, in addition to tra- j Che?ter Wtz aTld Gen- Dou" ffic deaths, seven drownings,! MacArthur had contributed th stunning, two shnotinirs. greatly to the c.nange for the bet- two chemical explosion casualt ies and 13 miscellaneous deaths. Pennsylvania, reporting eight deaths, had the largest holiday toll. Three brothers were fatally j "'S1U LI1C11 aim i burned when their car was struck !for Protecting the dynamo and by the Pennsylvaniz Railroad's j citadel of their war effort" he crack liberty limited passenger ! sa train outside Pittsburgh, two oth-1 The panese withdrawals in ers died in automobile collisions,! Chir,a were accelerated, he said, and three miscellaneous were listed. deaths Michigan ranked second with ! six deaths, including one traffic accident, one drowning, two stab bing?, a shootinr and a fatality caused by a fall. In Ohio, two persons died as a result of an explosion in a Mariet ta chemical factory. New York and Minnesota re corded three holiday deaths each. In addition to Ohio, California Illinois, Iowa, Washington and Wisconsin all listed two fatalities. One Memorial day death each was reported in Georgia, Kansas, Massachuetts, Minnesota, Miss ouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina and Tennesee. Softball Leaguers To Work Thursday Seven soft ball teams and pos sibly one more will form the city Soft Ball League this sunwner, County Judge Paul E. Fauquet announced Thursday. Jack Berlett has been named manager of the league. At 7:30 p. m. Thursday play ers and managers will report to the school athletic field to work on the diamond. Judge Fauquet asked that workers bring ham mers, and work tools. The seven teams which have already joined the league are EREX, Norfolk Packing, Platts mouth Creamery, Holy Rosary church, Eagles, Ford Motor and the Farmers. Plattsmouth To Serve Canteen Now that hospital trains pass through Omaha and many return ing service men pause at the Can teen, a piece of home made pie, cake, etc., really gives them a foretaste of heme. Many friends from Plattsmouth give a man in uniform that thrill, when they send home made bakery to the Service Mens' Canteen. Saturday is Plattsmouth day at the Canteen. Send whatever you bake wrapped in a paper box and send it to St. John's Hall before Saturday noon. The sugar and shortening used w?ill be supplied you upon receipt of your contri bution. If unable to deliver, call 580, and a Boy Scout will call. Money should be left at Gobel man's Paint Store. The money will be spent in buying fruit, and sandwiches. Over a thousand sandwiches are sent every first Saturday of the month. Marines Plant Stars and Stripes oh Shuri Castle Ex-Jap Headquarters Allies Taking Offensive In China Sector CHUNGKING, (U.P.) Lt. Gen. Albert C. Wedemeyer, Command.) in'er of U. S. Forces in China, saidio. today that tne allies were passing from the delensive to tne olten- sive in China. "We now are on the upgrade,'' He told a press conference. "I cm very optimistic over future military developments in China, i Even as he spoke, Chinese for ! ces seized control of possibly 10 miles of the Japanese lifeline corridor across China. Still greater victories appear ed imminent. The Japanese were J The grand opening of the Keen reported to have fired and aban-'time Klub for boys and girls 13 u"ucu l"c -6- entral .;cnow ana j,iucneng in tne c F"- , i nnrr-iAnr ! Wedemever told hU r-re cotJ - , - - . ference that ThQ I irinn oca i-v - X abandon the whole corridor link-:wul el,i,n; u xi T.-, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore. Wedemeyer said Pacific opera tions by the forces under Admiral I ter in China. ''The Japanese appear committ ed to a policy on the Asiatic Main land and the homeland of redis- ! , . , : r . . by their discovery thst they could not accompli.sh the pupose of their April drive to widen the corridor and take American airbases with out excessive costs. The problem of supply still re mains one of the greatest in the theater, Wedemyer said, pointing out the difficulty of distribution to the fronts even after the sup plies are delivered at Kunming. Wedemeyer stressed that the Chinese communications, rough! Janet Tiekotter. The Eagles Hall terrain and limited bridges madeiras donated to the young people it impossible to use heavy artill- ery. "Commanders in the European' theater would be astounded at the little artillery support given," he said. "Here we have to improvise air support and mortars.'' He credited improved morale and fighting spirit among Chinese troops to better food and pay, American advice and evacuation of the wounded. Nocturnal Adoration Nocturnal Adoration will begin at the Church of the Holy Rosary at 7:30 this evening. The church will be open all night for those who wish to come ''to watch and pray." If possible come, lest you might hear the rebuke once given, "Could you not have watched one hour with Me.'' Confessions in preparation for First Friday Hclv Communion will be heard immediately after the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 7:30. Holy Mass will be offered at 6:30 tomorrow morning. Ik-: r , ilQIi . -el b LtSa.. ---.. SSyj I,, .1 mi Mini i - , PRESIDENT RECEIVES GIFT Representing the "Heart of Kansas City" Lions club, Kansas City, Mo., Robert Moore presents a fountain pen desk set to President Truman, long a member of the organization. (NEA Telephoto) Pfc McFarland Is Home From West Camp Pfc. Alfred McFarland, who has been stationed at Camp Call en, California, arrived in the city Thursday morning for a furlough for a few days. Pfc. McFarland is one of the four brothers, all in the armed j t f th bei Hfi wUI vJsit here with hh wif e , and nis parents, Mr. and Mrs Georre McFarland. j Grand Opening of rr tfl 1 1661101116 ilJUb Set For Friday to 19 years old will be at 8:30 Friday at the Eagles Hall, Father Tuchek announced Thursday. The iieo Kaven s orcnestra w;u piay and the Campfire Girls under the Jrentinn of Mrs. Henry Donat cnai V1 snacK TJ., - TV. 1.-1,, v -1 i i i .on .111 1 -1 iV- o a nc muu m uiuse m ii.ou p. m. The first of its kind in Platts mouth, the committee urges that all young people take an active jpart in the Klnb. Admission is by membership card, and those who have not purchased cards by Friday may buy them between eight and eight-thirty Friday morning at the Eagles Hall. Stu dents who do not expect to stay in Plattsmouth during the sum mer will be charged 25 cents at the opening Friday night. The host and hostess committee for the opening of the Klub will be Mr. and Mrs. Milo Price, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Tritsh, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Smith and Judge and Mrs. Paul Fauquet. Mrs. Doris Pierce, assistant recreation direc tor from Lincoln will attend the Kecntime Klub and will have charge of part of the entertain ment. A committee decorating Eagles Hall on Thursday Mary Lou Becker, Mary the was Lou i Walling, Joan Gradoville, and j for the Klub. Victory Garden Committees Meet LINCOLN, Neb., 0J.R) Rep resentatives of victory garden committees in Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska will meet at Omaha June 4 to discuss ways of driving home the necessity for producing and con serving more food in victory gar dens. Paul Stark, former governor of Missouri appointed by President Truman to direct food administra tion work for the agrciulture de partment, will attend the meet ing as its principal speaker. Weather Forecast High .SO. Low 67. Nebraska Forecast Partly cloudy scattered showers east and cen tral portion today, and in most ; parts of state tonight, and south and east portions Friday. Warmer today. High middle to upper 80's. Somewhat cooler Friday west and north portion. Low tonight 50-55 iwest, 55-60 east. GUAM U.R) Two Ameri can divisions in houthern Okin awa today drove within a mile of a junction below newly-conquered Shuri that may trap thousands of Japanese troops. Radio Tokyo conceded that its main defense line has col lapsed and said the critical stage in the sixty-one day battle for Okinawa was imminent. In Shuri itself, marines of the 1st division raised the Stars and Stripes over 15th century Shuri catle, shell-pocked former Jap anese army headquarters at 1:45 P. M. yesterday. Brig. Gen. Pedro del Valle, commander of the 1st division said his marines now control the whole of the ruined city of Shuri, "though actual physical occupa tion" had not been completed. Japanese suicide squads still clung to strong positions north west, north, east and southeast of Shuri, but the 77th division collapsed the northeastern defen ses and plunged ahead to within a few hundred yards of a junc tion with the marines at Shuri castle. A junction of the 77th divis ion and 1ft marines would en circle the Japanese still holding out on Wana ridge, northwest of Shuri and other enemy units north of the city. The second larger encircle ment was being forced by the 6th marine and 7th army divis ions in the Kokuba river valley more than a mile south of Shuri. The marines, driving southeast from captured Naha on the west coast, were less than 2,000 yards from a junction with the 7th division slashing across Okinawa from the east coast last night. A link-up of these forces would trap all remaining enemy forces in the Shuri area. Most cf the 25,000 to 30,000 Japanese still surviving on Okin awa had taken up new positions in the hills south of the Kokuba valley. Psychological warfare experts broadcast appeals over loud speak ers to them to surrender, but they reported with heavy machine gun fire. Elements of the 7th division striking down the east coast were some 3 miles south of the cap tured port of Yonabaru and could see the south coast in the distance two miles away. Patrols thrust a mile and one half further south and returned after meeting only light enemy fire. Radio Tokyo said the front on southern Okinawa had collapsed from a signle line into "plural lines with opposing forces locked in heaviest fightng at a number of points in the rear of each opposing unit." Tokyo said the development was "serious" and warned that the critical stage in the battle was near. Two more light American war ships were damaged by suicide planes Tuesday. Adverse weath er reduced the scale of the at tacks, however, Eight enemy planes were shot down. American carrier planes struck back at Japanese bases in the Sakishima and Amami islands south and north respectively of Okinawa the same day. A front dispatch from United Press War Correspondent Edward Thomas said the marines who took ancient Shuri castle yesterday found it a booby-trapped pile cf rubble swarming with flies and mosquitoes. Its massive underground cav erns, where the Japanese held out for a month against air, sea and land bombardment and ceaseless frontal attacks had been sealed. In the courtyard, marines found two huge bonfires still smoulder-' ing. Presumably containing Jap anese military documents, they had been ignited only a few hours before the marines entered the castle grounds. Del Valle said he still could not account for the way in which his First Division marines had slogged nearly 2,000 yards in three hours through mud Bom times up to their hips to teach the castle f-rora the west. Catfish is the most widely used fish in Texas.