iieĀ° Itfrtr 4 atil We.ather lv Cloudy VOL. LIV No. 116 ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1944 PRICE FIVE CENTS Japs Leave Two New Britain Coast Bases Russians Capture Odessa, Drive Deep into Rumania Reds Smash Toward Vital, Ploesti Fields German Defenses in Crimea Cracked by Fresh Soviet Army By The Associated Press LONDON, April 10.-The Russians captured the big Black Sea port of Odessa today, stabbed 50 miles inside Romania with the capture of 180 more villages in a headlong drive to- ward the Ploesti oil fields and, in a new offensive by a fresh Soviet army, cracked German defenses at the top of the Crimeand peninsula where per- haps 100,000 Axis troops have been bottled up since last November, Mos- cow announced tonight. Iflict 6,500 Casualties. At least 5,500 Germans were killed and 1,000 captured in two days in the Crimean attack by Gen. Feodor I. Tolbukhin's Fourth Ukraine Army, the bulletin said. The capture of Odessa by Gen. Ro- dion Y. Malinovsky's Third Ukraine Army of Stalingrad veterans avenged one of the bitterest Rusian defeats of the war.'It was a sudden victory which found the Germans fleeing ra- ther than risk a siege, and Premier- Marshal Stalin said it cracked Axis defenses guarding the route "to the central districts h of Romania." In northeastern Romania Marshal Ivan S. Konev's Army rolled onward, seizing 150 towns on his upper wing and 30 more on his southern flank. Suceava, one of Bucovina's largest cities 50, miles west of the Prut river frontier, ' fell to the upper Russian arm, and tho rail station of Targu- Frumos, 27 miles westof Iasi and 160 miles northeast of the Ploesti oil wells, was overrun by the lower Sovi- et group. Nazis Last Stand in Russia Gen. Tolbukhin's fourth army emerged once more to lead the Soviet attack on the Crimea, the last major chunk of Russian territory stil jheld by the Germans in lowerRussia. The bulletin announced simultan- eous attacks on the Perekop Isthmus at the northwestern corner Iofthe peninsula and the Sivash Bay on the Northeast. The Russians broke through heavi- ly-fortified enemy defenses in the Perekop area and struck 12.4 miles southward through Armyansk and other villages to reach the Ishuny area at the base of the Perekop Isth- mus, said the bulletin, recorded by Yank A ircraft Pounds French-Belgian Coast By The Associated Press LONDON, April 10.-Diversified American bomber and fighter forma- tions up to 1,500 strong blasted targets along the French-Belgian coast and in the French interior today in operations which saw the U.S. Ninth Air Force's Marauder medium bombers drop their greatest bomb load, more than 1,000 tons. It was announced that approximately 600 fighter-escorted Marauders delivered .a blow which was "the greatest the Ninth ever has thrown against the enemy in a single day, dropping more than 1,000 tons of bombs." Two bombers were lost, while escorting fighters destroyed five enemy planes. The principal target of the Marauders was the Namur railway yards, 35 miles southeast of Brussels. Returning pilots-reported seeing strings of Congressional Ledger Filled By The Associated Press WASHINGTON, April 10.-Three majors pieces of war-related legisla- tion, dealing with the homefront, aid to the Allies and veterans benefits, were docketed by Capitol Hill leaders today on a "must" list for clearance before Congress can recess for the national political conventions. The legislation, embracing issues certain to play a part in this year's political campaigns, would: 1. Prolong the life of the Wartime Price Control and Economic Stabili- zation Acts. The OPA law expires June 30, but a continuation is expect- ed. The Congressional fight will spin about proposed amendments. 2. Extend lend lease for another year. 3. Establish a "GI Bill of Rights" for benefits to veterans of this war. There appeared considerable con- fidence that essential legislation can be disposed of by June 15. Mexican Tries To Assassinate Avila Camacho By The Associated Press MEXICO CITY, April 10.-Presi- dent Manuel Avila Camacho was fired upon today by a uniformed officer of his palace staff, but the chief exe- cutive escaped with a bullet hole in has coat and himself captured the as-j sailant. Published reports identified the of- ficer as Lt. Jose Antonio Lama Ro- jas, 30. It was officially announced1 that "several documents from Nazi' sources were found on his person." Former President Ortiz Rubio was among many who called on the chief executive this afternoon to express regrets over the shooting and to con- gratulate him on having escaped in- jury. Specific cause for the attack on the president, who assumed office Dec. 1, 1940, was not immediately announced. Vichy Says Allies Reinforce A nzio LONDON, April 11, Tuesday- (AP)--The German controlled Vichy radio said today that new Ameri- can reinforcements had been lan- ded at the Fifth Army's Anzio beachhead below Rome and de- clared another Allied offensive in this sector seemed imminent. -cars and sheds blasted. and big fires started. Yanks Attack Daily Heavy U.S. Flying Fortresses and Liberators also took part in the day's widespread raids, the third major op- eration by the Americans in as many days. The blows were coordinated closely with similar forays by Brit- ish bombers last night. Tonight this latest phase of the aerial battle of Europe was contin- uing. In the late English dusk two more strong bomber formations were seen sweeping across Dover Strait toward northern France. Widespread French Targets Hit American Liberators and Fortresses in today's daylight operations bomb- ed those much-pounded "military ob- jectives" in the Pas de Calais area; aircraft repair works at Evere and Vilvorde and the airfield at Mels- broek near Brussels; a plane factory at Bourges, 115 miles south of Paris and an airfield at Orleans, 60 miles south of Paris. Other targets were the Hasselt railway yards due east of Brussels which were strafed by Mustang fighters. Marauder mediums and Thunderbolts fighter-bobmers had hit them Saturday. American losses for the day were four fighters and three bombers. GERMAN PRISONERS FOLLOW HOBBIES-During off-duty hours, German prisoners of war at Fort Custer follow hobbies of painting, carving, wood working and model building, for which scrap lumber is used. This is the hobby shop inside the Fort Custer compound. List of Essential Occupations To .fe Made Public WASHINGTON, April 10.- (IP)- Selective Service Director Hershey said tonight a list of those occupa- tions which would entitle men under 26 in key jobs to draft deferment would be made public tomorrow. The deferment list was reported by the Washington Post to include: High octane aviation gasoline, rub- ber-principally synthetic produc- tion, lardling craft and other special vessels, combat aircraft, medical and dental students actually taking pro- fessional courses, transportation, se- cret munitions and secret chemical projects. Padgett Trial IS Postponed Chenot To Hear Case on Mondav The retrial of the Padgett murder case, originally scheduled for today, has been postponed until 9:30 a.m. Monday because Walter M. Nelson, attorney for William H. Padgett, de- fendant in the case, is currently in New York on other business. Circuit Judge James E. Chenot of Wayne County, special judge for the trial, deferred court proceedings until the later date upon hearing that Nelson could be in court for only onej day this week. As the case will un- doubtedly require several days for completion, Judge Chenot did not SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER: Speech Department Presents Goldsmith Comedy Tomorrow Oliver Go1ds mit h's ever - popular comedy of rural England will be the first offering of the Play ProductionI for the spring term when the speech the Soviet monitor broadcast. from a Moscow U' Grad Given Soldier's Medal Sgt. Trian Radul, who attended the University in 1940-41, has been awarded The Soldier's Medal for dis- posing of a live hand-grenade that was accidentally dropped in a sand- bag bulwark among a group of sol- diers. The award was made at an AAF fighter station in England at a cere- mony before the soldier's assembled squadron. In making the presenta- tion, Col. Robert Humphreyes quoted from the official citation saying that the award was "for heroism display- ed at. a Fighter Station in England on Nov. 13, 1943." Sgt. Radul is from Detroit and has been serving as a small arms in- structor in the European Theatre of Operations since Nov., 1942. was seen last semester in "Comed;.' of Errors," "It's Up to You" and "Brief Music." Tickets for the show will be on sale all week at the Lydia Mendelssohn boxoffice. Hours today will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 to 5 p.i. Wednesday through Saturday the boxoffice will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 to 8:30 p.m. Prices have increased 20 per- cent as a result of the new federal law. All men in the play will be portray- ed by women. The hero of the com- edy, Charles Marlow, will be present- ed by Patricia Meikle. Zeta Bar - bour, the well-known Dromioaof "Comedy of Errors," will portray Tony Lumpkin. Jean Westerman will be George Hastings and Barbara, Greenberg will be seen as Sir Charles. Feminine leads are Marilyn Mayer as Kate Hardcastle and Catherne, Bronson as Constance Neville. Others in the cast include Margaret Hamilton, Shirley Rosen, Priscilla Alden, Gloria McClure, Mary Jane Janiga, Jean Loree, Florence Under- wood, Phyllis Heller, Onnolee Ander- son and Claire Meisels. Director of the comedy is Valentine Windts and settings are designed by Herbert Philippi. Performances will be given at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, with a special matinee at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. wish to interrupt the proceedings once it started. The case, involving the fatal shoot- ing of a police officer during an attempted robbery of a clothing store in Ann Arbor in 1935, willbe prose- cuted by Prosecuting Attorney Fran- cis W. Karman and Special Prosecu- tor' Albert J. Rapp. Rapp was prose- cuting attorney at the originalptrial and conviction of Padgett and also handled the appeal by Padgett to the Supreme Court for a retrial. In. granting the retrial, the Court ad- vised that Rapp be retained by the state as special prosecutor. The presence of Judge Chenot at the retrial is due to the fact that Washtenaw County Circuit Judge George E. Sample was accused of influencing the jury in the original trial. Fight Rages For Kohima NEW DELHI, April 10.-(I)-Hard fighting was in progress today for Kohima, Allied strdnghold 35 miles from the Bengal-Assam railroad in eastern India, after defending British and Indian troops hurled back a strong Japanese attack that pene- trated the town's outer ring of forti- fications, Allied headquarters an- nounced. Fifty dead Japanese were counted on the battlefield and others were taken prisoner. A communique said the enemy penetration was "elimi- nated." Kohima, 60 miles north of the principal Allied base of Imphal. FDR Goes South For Needed Rest WASHINGTON, April 10. - (R) -President Roosevelt has gone south for a much needed rest in the sunshine and White House announcement of the fact today apparently dispelled reports that the chief executive was planning a meeting with Prime Minister Churchill in the immediate future. The burst of official publicity on the chief executive's trip, when virtually every move he has made in wartime has been guarded with utmost secrecy, occasioned more comment than did the trip itself. New Program Series To Open In JAG School A series of classes in contract ter- mination, to be attended by approxi- mately 50 officers each, will begin on or about May 1 at the Judge Ad- vocate General's School, Col. Edward H. Young, commandant, announced. It is contemplated that approxi- mately 200 commissioned officers from the various services will be as- signed for training here and there- after to organizations conducting contract termination negotiations. The course will be about 30 days in length. Specifications for the officers to be selected to attend the course are be- ing fixed by the Judge Advocate Gen- eral's Department in cooperation with the Readjustment Division, ASF, and the course of study is to be coordin- ated by the Judge Advocate Gener- al's Office with Maj. Gen. Lucius D. Clay, Director of Material, ASF, as well as with the Readjustment Divi- sion. Rhumor Has It' Will Be Given Nips Are in 'Full Retreat' On Rabaul j o1od on Cape Hoskins, Gasmata Abandoned By Imperial Troops By The Associated Press ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, South- west Pacific, April 11, Tuesday.-By- passed Japanese troops have aband- oned Gasmata, their air and supply base on the south-central New Brit- ain coast, as well as Cape Hoskins on the north-central coast, and are in "full retreat" for a final stand at badly-bombed Rabaul at the northwest tip of the island, Gen. Douglas MacArthur announced to- day. An estimated 40,000 Japanese were left virtually trapped on this north- eastern half as American patrols op- erating toward Cape Hoskins and Gasmata encountered no resistance. Enemy forces in falling back on Rabaul left 232 prisoners and aband- oned 4,679 dead since the Allies launched their New Britain campaign Dec. 15 last with a landing at Arawe, followed in 11 days by an assault on Cape Gloucester. In addition. a MacArthur spokes- man estimated another 5,000 of the New Britain Japanese force of about 50,000 have been lost through wounds, starvation and disease. The Japanese positions have been by-passed by American holdings on western New Britain, in New Guinea and on the Admiralty and St. Mat- thias Islands in the Bismarck Sea. Their supply lines thus were severed. Allied patrols have met no resis- tance at Gasmata or at Cape Hos- kins, supply and refuelling base on the north coasts of New Britain, since mid-March as the Japanese fell back on badly-bombed Rabaul at the northeast tip.. In a continuation of bombing op- erations Allied bombers silenced 13 heavy guns at Hansa Bay, New Gui- nea, and heavily hit Wewak to the north as Catalinas attacked Japanese shipping at Woleai atoll in the Caro- line Islands. Sororities Are Recognized at Panhel Parade'. The presentation of awards for scholarship and outstanding partici- pation in war activities highlighted the "Panhellenic Parade" program, sponsored by Panhellenic Products, Inc., which was held at 7:30 p.m. yesterday in the Rackham "broad- casting" studios. Panhellenic Night took the form of a radio broadcast summing up the activities of all the sororities for the past year. Mistress of ceremonies for the program was Peg Lauben- gayer, '45, general chairman for the occasion. Winner of the scholarship cup was Alpha Epsilon Phi with a house av- erage of 2.79. Runner-up for the award was Delta Gamma with a 2.73 average. Registrar Ira Smith made the presentation following a short speech. Dean Lloyd Presents Award Dean Alice Lloyd presented the war activities award. Alpha Delta Pi re- ceived the plaque, having amassed a total of 2,43734 hours for a total of 34 women. Those recognized for being the most active in war activities in divid- ually were the following: senior, Jo Ann Peterson, Alpha Phi, associate sports editor of The Daily, with 65712 hours; junior, Jane Farrant, Alpha Phi, managing editor of The Daily, 890 hours; sophomore, Jennie Fitch, Pi Beta Phi, junior editoi' on The Daily, with 506 hours. Runners-up for individual partici- pation were: senior, Margaret Whip- ple Delta Gamma; junior, Louise Comins, Sigma Delta Tau; and Bev- erly Wittan, Sigma Delta Tau. Ball Committee Gives Skit Other guest speakers for the pro- gram were Mary June Hastreiter, '44, president of Panhellenic who acted as president of Panhellenic Products, Inc.; Sue Wood Hogg, '44, rushing secretary for the group; Nancy Hat- tersley, '44, president of the WAA. The Panhellenic Ball Committee presented a short skit to introduce I their forthcoming event. The Tanna BLANCHE HOLPAR-to play lead tonight. department presents "She Stoops To Sonquer" at 8:30 p.m. tomorrow in the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. Featured in the role of Mr. Hard- castle will be Blanche Holpar, who On May 25', 26 'Rumor Has It,' Co. D's original musical comedy, will be presented May 25, 26 in the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, it was announced yesterday by Pfc. Arty Fischer director of the AMERICA AS SEEN BY REPRESENTATIVES OF FIVE NATIONS: Foreign Students Discuss Weaknesses in U. g N' L1 . l , i17 l.lT l .{ V l V ll show. There will be.a general rehearsal Iat seven p.m. today in the USO ball- room. Pfc. Fischer said that it is very important that all persons connected S ICY;with the show attend the rehearsal Poli_ anti be on time. The music and lyrics for the show have been completed. Special chorus, n saved herself." "Enter- dancing and singing rehearsals will ar for economic reasons is. be held soon. By BARBARA HERRINTON Editor's Note. The following article is the summary of comments Wade yesterday by a group of foreign students who prefer to remain anonymous. The attitude of these students from five different countries shows that they have a great deal of respect and admiration for the Untied states. They do, however, see a number of weaknesses here. "I see no hope for the future of the Negro in the United States," a foreign student on campus said yesterday. All students in the group interviewed agreed that they were shocked to fourth suggested that if Americans want to accomplish something they should go ahead and do it and not make it a matter of expediency. "Unless you read the papers, you don't know there's a war going on," one stated. It was immediately point- ed out by another, however, that most Americans probably have friends or relatives in service and that, there- fore .thev feel the war keenly. Some other quickly answered that "strikes must not be prevented. La- bor must always have freedom." "Strikes," a third added, "cannot be prevented and they depend on how the government handles the problem." One of them said that the workers must be cared for toj advance the economic condition of the country. Most of them said hasn't eve ing the wE not to be condemned," another add- ed, "for economy and freedom are inseparable. And the background of the United States is economic free- dom. Her fault, however, is unpre- paredness." "Might is right," one of them said. "If England can hold a colony, why couldn't Germany." A student from Nazis Shell Alliedl Troops i Cassino ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, NA- PLES, April 10.-(OP)-Allied troops in Cassino have been subjected to vio-