; j1 p It-i itfq an 4~ aiIp April Foul VOL. LIV No. 108 ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 1944 PRICE FIVE CENTS President Lets Soldier Bill Become Law ' * Russians Capture Ohakov Reds Slash Main Nazi Escape Route By The Associated Press LONDON, March 31. - Russian troops hurling huge German forces back into the bottleneck of Odessa on the Black Sea today captured the Na- zi stronghold of Ochakov, 38 miles east of the big port, and to the west slashed the main Axis escape route into Rumania by cutting the Odessa-, Kishinev-Iasi railroad, Moscow an- nounced tonight. Far to the northwest the Russians were reported within 12 miles of the Hungarian and north Rumanian frontiers in the Carpathian Moun- tains, and attacking at Stanislau in the southeastern corner of old Po- land, but the Moscow Daily Bulletin did not give any fresh details of that push. Eastern Rumania Threatened The Russians also were poised on an 85-mile section of the east bank of the Prut river for a smash into eastern Rumania, but there was no official Soviet indication that the Red Army yet had crossed the river although Berlin again told of a Rus- sian attack "in the direction of Iasi, Rumanian rail hub seven miles be- yond the Prut." The Russians first reached the Prut near Iasi last Sunday, but since then Marshal Ivan S. Konev's second front army has sent his troops south- ward in Bessarabia toward the Ru- nianian coastal plains instead of crossing the Prut and encountering the Carpathian Mountain barrier to the west. May -Attack dessa Premier-Marshal Joseph Stalin in an Order of the Day told of the fall of Ochakov, commanding the en- trance to the Dnieper and Bug estu- aries emptying into the Black Sea. That stroke may foreshadow Soviet amphibious operations against Odes- sa, the former Soviet Black Sea fleet naval base which the Russians lost in 1941 after a two-months' siege. Reds Win Jap Oil Rights on Sakhalin Island By The Associated Press MOSCOW, March 31.-The Soviet Union in what may be its biggest diplomatic victory of the war has forced Japan to surrender coal and oil concessions on Sakhalin Island, north of Japan, which still had 26 years to run, it was announced today. In an agreement signed in Moscow yesterday, the Russians won an im- mediate return of the rights to these resources, granted to Japan in 1925 for a 45-year term. The Russians on their part have agreed to furnish Japan 50,000 tons of oil a year for five years beginning after the war. The upper half of Sakhalin Island, which lies off Siberia, is Soviet terri- tory, the southern half Japanese. ' The new protocol is considered by diplomatic circles in Moscow to be a great contribution to the war which the United States and Britain are waging against Japan. The Japanese rely on northern Sakhalin for oil and coal vital to their Pacific war, and with this shut-down Tokyo is regard- ed as suffering a staggering blow. Three-Car Crack-up injures Two Severely Abram A. James, Associate Super-j visor in Physical Education at the University, and his wife were severe- ly injured yesterday in a three car accident at the corner of Packard and Stadium Streets in which three other people were bruised, it was re- vealed by police sources. The accident occurred when a truck from Pontiac going west on Stadium Street bumped into a car containing Mr. James,.his wife and Miss Miley. After the truck struck this car, the driver lost control and hit a car driven by George Muellec of Bowling ~Green, Ohio. The truck from Pontiac containing Candidates for Senior Offices Are Announced The students whose names will appear on ballots in the campus elec- tions Wednesday were announced yesterday by J. Joseph Linker, presi- dent of the Men's Judiciary Council. Union vice-president candidates from the Engine School will be Karl Brenkert, Jr., '44E, and David Stew- art Christie, ASUNR, and from the combined schools, Ace Cory, USMCR, Dave Strack, USMCR, and Harvey Frank, '45. . Candidates for Engine School sen- ior class officials will be John C. DeBoerand Alvin C. Beck. The one who receives the higher number of votes will become president and the other secretary-treasurer. On the ballot in the election for senior officers of the Literary College will be Miriam Dalby, Dorothy Dar- nell, Lucy Chase Wright, Geraldine Stadelman and Warren Dalby. The officers to be elected will be presi- dent, vice-president, secretary and treasurer. Nominations are still open for sen- ior class officers. Petitions contain- ing 25 signatures and a list of quali- fications are due at 5 p.m. Monday in the student offices at the Union. Labor Disputesl Halt Production DETROIT, March 31.-(P)-Labor disputes halted production of two war products in Detroit plants today. The Gyro Compass Division at Chrysler Corporation's Dodge main plant was closed after a company spokesman said two balancers were sent home for refusal to do work as- signed them and 35 others walked out in sympathy, causing 475 em- ployes to become idle. Several thousand employes en- gaged in production of ball turrets at the Briggs Manufacturing Com- pany's Outer Drive plant remained idle for a second day, with company and union spokesmen disagreeing on the reason. Tryouts Invited to Union Staff Banquet All tryouts are invited to the Union Staff Banquet at 12:15 p.m. today in the Anderson Room of the Union. Ray Boucher will act as toast- master and Rupert Straub will pre- sent an outline of future Union ac- tivities. Dean Joseph Bursley and the Union vice-presidents will attend, as well as the Union Board of Direct- ors, the Executive Council and the Union staff. 15 tons of merchandise was set on fire, but the local Fire Department quickly extinguished it. According to Dr. Karl G. Malcolm of St. Joseph's Hospital, Mr. James suffered a compound fracture in his left arm and chest injuries. His wife received a compound fracture in the left leg. The other three suffered minor bruises. The triple car accident held up traffic for more than two hours. RAF Suffers Record Loss Of 94 Planes New Type of 'Scare Crow Rocket' Used To Rip Nazi Targets By The Associated Press LONDON, March 31.-The RAF suffered a record loss of 94 planes last night as its heavy bombers fought grimly, through the greatest Nazi fighter force ever seen by Brit- ish pilots and a determined ground- defense which included a new type of "scare crow rocket," to rip Nuern- berg and other Reich targets. While the cost was the greatest ev- er sustained by the Allies for a single' operation, March remained a month of victory for British and American air power. It was reliably estimated that the RAF made 6,500 bomberE sorties (individual flights) over Ger- many in March with a loss of 4.6 per1 cent of the force sent out.1 Battle Rages Three Hours Nor were the Germans able to turnl back this latest thrust of the bigI British Lancasters and Halifaxes in a three-hour pitched battle which raged alternately through clouds and bright patches of moonlight. The official description of the raid' as in "very great strength" suggest-t ed that in the neighborhood of 2,240 short tons of bombs were dropped by a force of probably 1,000 four-engin-1 ed bombers on that southern Ger- man transport center and Nazi con- gress sity which now is about the size of Cincinnati. 0. The British announcement of the loss of 94 planes contrasted with the claim of the German DNB agency which said 141 bombers were des- troyed. U.S.Warships Carry War to Palaui Islands By The Associated PressF U.S. PACIFIC FLEET HEAD-. QUARTERS, PEARL HARBOR,X March 31.-A challenging force of American warships, so powerful that it frightened a section of the Japan- ese fleet, has carried the war to thej Palau Islands, Japan's important na- val base far on the way back to the Philippines. Warned by enemy scout planes of the approach of the armada, Nippon-j ese ships fled before the United States combat vessels could get into position for the attack at the far western side of the Caroline Islands.t Adm. Chester W. Nimitz announc-s ed the new fleet action last night int a terse communique. He gave no de-X tails but stated significantly, "Our attacks continued." Radio silencef cloaks .operations of this kind until the forces involved have completedt their mission and returned to safert THE AMERICAN SOLDIER-above, seriously wounded in the Burma campaign, is being helped into a stretcher. He is but one of the millions of men and women in service overseas who are being deprived of their right to vote by the states'-rights service law. INVASION OF INDIA: Japs Enter Maui pur Plain; British Abandon Burma base By The Associated Press hr Palel 24 miles southeast NEW DELHI, March 31.-Japan- f mal.erPa 4 ie ese forces invading India along a A Japanese patrol, operating well front of nearly Z00 miles have thrust ahead of the enemy force thrusting into the vital Manipur plain above in from the southeast, was reported Imphal and have forced the British to have reached within a dozen miles to abandon Tiddim, their forward of Imphal. base 100 miles below Imphal in Bur- The Japanese-dominated Singapore ma, it was disclosed today, but Gen.rThe Japanesem ated n he Sir Claude J. E. Auchinleck, Allied i'adio claimed Japanese7 captured the SirClade . E Auhineck AliedMashan road junction between .Im- commander in India, declared there phal and Kohima, "virtually isolat- was no cause for alarm. ing" the British-Indian Fourth Army. Auchinleck Confident two that they have come up against Red our prepared defenses and met seri-I ous opposition on our part," Auchin- leck assured the Indian legislature. "I am convinced that the security of * Assam( province in northeast India) ica never has been in danger, let alone I o a rv the security of India. ,t n "The opinion expressed in an Am- Washtenaw County passed the erican paper that the fall of Imphal $100,000 mark with -flying colors, would be of little importance is er- Charles Henderson, chairman of the roneous. Our commanders have no Washtenaw County Red Cross Drive, intention that Imphal should fall into reported yesterday as total returns the enemy's hands." reached a new high of $101,521.99, of A communique from Admiral Lord which $66, 234. 91 came from the city Louis Mountbatten's headquarters of Ann Arbor. disclosed that one Japanese invasion University women have now out- column had broken through to the stripped all other campus groups in main highway running from Imphal their drive, turning in $3,678.68, with: to Kohima, 60 miles to the north, reports yet to be tabulated from 15{ and had damaged a bridge before be- campus residences, Marjorie Hall, wo- ing driven back. Another enemy: men's chairman, announced. Uni- party was reported north of Kohima, versity faculty niembers have con-, striking toward the main Allied sup- tributed $3,527.85 to date, and Uni- ply system serving the Burma front. versity men have collected more than Japanese pressure also remained $1,550, although the total amount has - --- #not been i'egistered with Red Cross FDR Withholds Signature on Ballot I- Askis for Amending Legislation Io Ease Restriction on Federal Measure By The Associated Press WASHINGTON, March 31.-President Roosevelt, advising Congress he was letting the Service Vote Bill become law without his signature, asked today for amending legislation to ease restrictions on use of a federal ballot. In a 1,200-word message, he told the legislators he thought the "right" of servicemen and women to use a federal ballot, if they failed to receive state ballots, was "largely nullified" by conditions attached in the service vote law. "No state, or federal red tape," he added, "should take from our folk in the service their right to vote." Congressional reaction to the President's request varied, but the tone of his message brought generally favorable comment. It was sharply restrained by comparison with the message he sent to the Capitol when the Student Support Needed R ATHER than incur the wrath of a rebellious Congress, President Roosevelt last night let the states'-rights soldier vote bill become law without his signature, and sent a carefully worded message to both houses requesting amendment to the legislation. In view of the vitriolic reaction to his recent veto of the tax bill, the President had no choice but to let the bill go through. Had he vetoed it, the coalition of reactionary Republicans and Southern Democrats would have garnered enough support to pass the bill over his veto and thus widen still further the rift between the Adinis- tration and Congress. Senators Green and Lucas, co-sponsors of the original bill, have already promised introduction of an amendment that, it is hoped, will nullify the crippling aspects of the new law. Write to Green and Lucas. Write to your own Congressmen. Let them know that although the farcical measure has become law, American citizens will not be satisfied until an amendment has been passed that will guarantee every serviceman and woman their vote regardless' of state action on the bill.--The Senior Editors bill was pending and which called proposals for state ballots a "fraud" on those in the services. Senators Green (Dem.. R.I.) and Lucas (Dem., Ill.) announced they would introduce legislation in line with the President's proposal. Friday midnight was the deadline for Mr. Roosevelt to veto the bill, sign it or let it become law without his signature. The bill restricts use of a federal ballot, allowing votes for President, Vice-President and members of Congress, to servicemen and women over- seas and only in event: 1. Application is made for a state ballot by Sept. 1 and one is not received by Oct. 1. 2. The governor of the state where the federal ballot is to be cast certifies it is authorized by state law. Specifically, Mr. Roosevelt asked for an amendment "so as to authorize all servicemen and women, who have not received their state ballots by an appropriate date, whether or not they have formally applied for them, to use the federal ballot without prior express authorization by the states." Yanks Hit Truk, ICincinnati Girls WA Win - - CO. A MEN TO SING: Soldier Choir Will Appear with Civic Orchestra Sundo Plan Is Offered To Get 4-F's In. War Effort By The Associated Press WASHINGTON, March 31.-Selec- tive Service suggested to 4a Congres- sional committee today that publicity be used to induce 4-F's to "do their patriotic duty" in war industry. The idea was advanced by Col. Francis V. Keesling, legislative rep- resentative of the draft headquar- ters, at a meeting of the House Mili- tary Subcommittee on deferments. Keesling outlined this possible pro- cedure: Local draft boards comb their lists of 4-F's, those deferred for physical defects, and find out how many can hold down war production jobs. List hem publicly, with a star beside the names of those who "do their patriot- c duty" by taking a job in an essen- ial plant. The government's Inter-Agency committee could get a plant-by- plant survey of just how many of hese 4-F's are needed in specific obs, 4e said. Then the draft boards could channel them into those jobs n their home towns. Tn+agvat.8 mwith this . Rn ntxr. Headquarters. Stockwell Hall led all women's res- idences with a total contribution of $501.01, 100 per cent returns. Mo- sher Hall contributed $309.75, Jor- dan $258 and Martha Cook $208.50 to lead the dormitories. Delta Gamma, with a contribution of $143.50, Kappa Alpha Theta, $89.- 90, and Delta Delta Delta, $89, were the greatest contributors among the sororities, while Colvin and Pray houses topped the league house fig- ures with contributions of $48 and $35, respectively. waters. The forces which struck Wednes- day at Palau, where the enemy has at least five bases for land or sea r V planes and a naval base, referred to as the Japanese Singapore, presum- ably included large, new carriers such d a com- as were used against Truk and the southern Mariana Islands in Feb- the city- ruary. Jministra- 1 Recrea- + and cer- Ford Rej ects Bnr dof I Fires Started in Eten; Eauripik Isles Struck By The Associated Press ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, in the SOUTHWEST PACIFIC, April 1, Saturday.-Gen. Douglas MacArthur bombers had again hit the Japanese today announced South Pacific bases at Truk and Woleia Islands in the Carolines, for the second visits to these enemy bastions. Liberator heavy bombers started fires in fuel stores on Dublon Island in the Truk atoll, the communique said. In the previous raid on Truk Wednesday, the bombers centered their attack on Eten Island in the group.r Allied night raiders also hit Eauri- pik Islands, sixty miles southwest of Waleai Island, which naval Catalina bombers hit last Wednesday. Speech Contest Taking both first and second pla- ces, Our Lady of Cincinnati College, Cincinnati, walked off with top hon- ors in the sixth region National Dis- cussion Contest on Inter-American Affairs held at 8 p.m. yesterday in the Rackham Amphitheatre. Miss Mary Burns, who spoke on "The Role of Communications in Inter-American Relations," won first place. She receives a $500 scholar- ship for travel and study in Mexico this summer and will go to Washing- ton, D.C. to participate in the na- tional finals on Pan-American Day, April 13. Second place went to Betty Ann Geers, who spoke on "New Hemis- phere Organizations for Inter-Amer- ican Cooperation." The Cincinnati Sschoolwas the only institution rep- resented by two speakers. The eight contestants, represent- ing colleges and universities in Mich- igan, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsyl- vania, also took part in a round table discussion on inter-American rela- tions at 2 p.m. yesterday. Judges based their decisions on both partici- pation in the discussion and the seven-minute prepared speeches giv- en in the evening session. Judges were Prof. Arthur S. Aiton, Prof. G. E. Densmore and Prof. Louis M. Eich of the University and Prof. Carroll P. Lahman, Albion College, and Prof. F. B. McKay, Michigan State Normal College. IStomp Will Be Held Today at Union Servicemen and coeds are invited to the G-I Stomo from 3 to 5 n.m. ;, 4 's ; The Soldier Choir of Company A will be the guest artists of the Ann Arbor Civic Orchestra in a program at 4:15 p. m. tomorrow. The Choir, composed of 40 voices under the direction of Cpl. Joseph M. Running, will present a program of acapella selections. The orches- tra will accompany the chorus in one has very nearly approache plete symphony. The orchestra is one of wide activities under the ad tion of the Department of tion, drawing recognition tain support from both the Education and the City Par ment for its service to the co in music. The nroaram tomorrow u I t i t G c t j i By DORIS PETERSON Two teen aged Warren Township youths were arrested Thursday by a Calhoun County Deputy for stealing four cars during the first lap of an attempted Rocky Mountain camping trip. The youths, aged 14 and 15, had started out on one bicycle equipped with a bow and arrow, an axe, camp- ing equipment and a compass. The boys had intended pushing the bike im hill and coasting down. 4 RAINY WEATHER: Boys Arrested for Stealing IFour Cars on Camping TriLp from, they turned the car around and started driving west. The car broke down so they "bor- rowed" another. They took this car out of a man's garage,ddriving past his window. They had petted the big, vicious dog in the back yard so that he wouldn't bark. The second car which they had taken at Pontiac and Seven Mile ran out of gas in Albion, so the boys ,icked up a coupe. After they had k Depart- ommunity i< heing Union Demand$ DETROIT, March 31.- (AP) -A TUninn dnmand that theF ord Motor