i a . t r atii Weather Shower-s, Snow Flurries VOL. LIV No. 128 ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1944_ PRICE FIVE CENTS Allied Air Mi; British Give Gandhi Immediate Release Freedom Granted Indian Nationalist Leader on Grounds of Failing Health By The Associated Press LONDON, May 6, Saturday.-The British Government of India an- nounced today it had decided on the immediate release of Mohandas K. Gandhi, frail and ascetic Indian Nationalist leader imprisoned 21 months ago, on the grounds of failing health. The death in detention of Gandhi, leader of millions in a long struggle for freedom from British domination, would have inspired agitators in all parts of India. The British action today was believed taken to avert conflict at a time when the Allies are fighting the Japanese bitterly on the India- Burma front. The anouncement said: "In view of medical reports df Mr. Gandhi's health, the government of India have decided to release him unconditionally. -- -- This decision has been taken solely rht Rips Invasion Coast, Rail Yards Fliers Blow Up Big Pescara Dam Wal[ of Water Floods German Liiws; (.rcat Acrial Offensive Runs 21 Days By The Associated Press LONDON, May 5.-Hundreds of US. Liberators and Allied planes smashed the French Calais anti-invasion defenses ,and strings of freight cars on rail feeder lines behind it today and Mediterranean bombers in a spectacular stroke cracked the great Pescara Dazn amid German lines in Italy and attacked two Romanian rail centers. Mustang and Kittyhawk fighter-bombers piloted by Americans and Britons hurled the explosives which breached th6 Pescara Dam, about 20 miles inland from the Adriatic coast where the British Eighth Army long has been stalled. A great wall of water released by the blow began flooding over the German defense belt between detailed Ward Inquiry Ordered ByIrate IHo use Vote of 5-1 Cuts Across Party Lines; Proposal Hits FDR By the Associated Press WASHINGTON, May 5.- By a thumping 300 to 60 vote, the House today authorized an investiation of the government's seizure of the la- bor-embattled Montgomery Ward plant in Chicago. A resolution creating a seven-man committee to determine whether President Roosevelt exceeded his au- thority was jammed through with only the staunchest administration supporters in opposition. Party Lines Broken The Republicans voted solidly for the inquiry, which will run concur- rently with another by the Senate already underway. Democratic lines broke and 118 joined the GOP in favor of the probe. Backers of the proposal, drafted by Rep. Dewey (Rep., Ill.), sharply crit- icized the President, the War Labor Board and Attorney-General Biddle. They contended that the war plant is not a war factory and that Biddle's ruling In support of the seizure makes all private property subject to gov- ernment acquisition. Defense Offered for Seizure Administrationists countered that the seizure was sanctioned by the Smith-Connally Anti-Strike Law. As the House voted a group of employes of Montgomery Ward's Springfield, Ill., subsidiary, the Hum- mer Manufacturing Co., were off their jobs and said they would re- main idle "until the company signs a contract or the government takes over the plant." The plant was not involved in the Chicago dispute. Varieties Show Will Be May 20 Second Program Will Feature Professionals After the recent go-ahead by the Board of Regents, a second Victory Varieties program featuring profes- sional talent is being planned for Saturday, May 20, in Hill Auditorium. Dean Joseph A. Bursley announced yesterday. The show will be of the type to which Regent Edmund C. Shields, counsel for the Butterfield Theatres. Inc., objected last month because of competition with local theatres. The Regents, at their meeting April 21, issued a ruling "That the Dean of Students or other proper University authorities be authorized to put on such entertainment as they think best for the advantage of the student body without profit and without fin- ancial responsibility to the Univer- sity." The statement was made after a student committee composed of lead- ers in campus activities, protested cancellation of the Victory Varieties program they had planned on April 22. Youths Gets Ticket For 1938 License onmedical grounds. The release takes place at 8 a.m. (Indian War Stand- ard Time) today." (This is 9:30 p.m. Friday, Eastern War Time.) Sixth Prison Release The 74-year-old Hindu, whose flair for the theatrical carried him through nine fasts since 1918, was imprisoned for the sixth time in August, 1942, after political activity which the British regarded as hampering In- dia's resistance to Japan. He was confined in the Aga Khan's ornate palace at Poona near Bombay. Early this April it was announced Gandhi was suffering from malaria and was weak, and in the following weeks he grew worse. Five days ago he was said to be improving, and it was announced no further bulletins would be issued unless necessary, but two days later the Bombay govern- ment said 1his improvement was not fully maintained and that a further examination was being made by spe- cialists. Allies Launch Attack on Japs Ino East India By the Associated Press Launching of a general Allied of- fensive against the Japanese in the Kohima sector of eastern India and the trapping of a Nippon garrison in northern Burma were officially an- nounced late Friday. On the other wing of the Pacific- Asiatic war theatre, American planes hammered Japanese island pbsitions, including a major naval base in the Kuriles. In India strong British and In- dian forces in the Kohima area start- ed a general drive against the in- vaders and were making satisfactory progress. American-trained Chinese troops of the Stilwell command drove through and beyond the town of In- kangahtawng, northern Burma. They outflankedthe enemy and trapped a Japanese garrison of undetermined size. Two Detroit Area Strikes Continue DETROIT, May 5.-(A)--Some 14,- 000 workers in the Ford Motor Co. of Canada, Ltd., plant at Windsor re- mained on strike today, pending re- ceipt of a settlement proposal from the national Wartime Labor Rela- tions Board, and striking foremen in several Detroit plants voted to con- tinue their walkout which company officials have estimated cut war pro- duction in half. FAR PACIFIC SUNSET-Aboard a fighting ship somewhere in distant Pacific waters, a U.S. Coast Guardsman stands watch as the sun sinks to the horizon. ALL-STAR PERFORMANCE: Admra Ko1a Three Met StarsI Youth Chors Japanese Fleet To Highlight Today's Concerts Chief, Is Killed Genia Nemenoff and Pierre Lubo- shutz, the Festival Youth Chorus and Bidu Sayao will be featured in the two May Festival concerts to be held at 2:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. today in Hill Auditorium. Saul Caston, Hari McDonald and Marguerite Hood will be guest con- ductors in the afternoon concert. Concerto To Be Played McDonald's "Concerto for Two Pi- anos" will be played for the first time in Ann Arbor by duo-pianists Genia Nemenoff and Pierre Luboshutz. The Philadelphia Orchestra will open the program with Hander's "Water Music Suite." Also included in the program will be "Songs of the Two Americas" arranged by Eric De- Lamarter and sung by the Festival Youth Chorus under the direction of Marguerite Hood. Bidu Sayao, Brazilian soprano, will be the soloist in the second concert. 'I r Simpifited T ax Bdill Approved WASHINGTON, May 5.- (/P)- Spurred by the national outcry against the intricacy and confusion of wartime taxation, the House passed unanimously today a bill de- signed to relieve some 30,000,000 of the 50,000,000 taxpayers of the neces- sity of computing income tax returns. The vote was 358 to 0, the first time in the memory of House veter- ans that a tax bill passed without a dissenting voice. This action shuttled the tax sim- plification legislation to the Senate, where chairman George (Dem., Ga.) of the Finance Committee predicted early approval. Generally the bill would levy a somewhat larger tax against single persons and couples without children, while the load would be lightened for taxpayers with large families. Sayao, who is the only South Ameri- can on the roster of the Metropolitan Opera, has sung at the White 'House! and at the Presidential Palace in Rio. Her numbers will include: "Reve- nez, Revenez, Amour" by Lully, "Ser- pina's Aria" from "Serva Padrona" SeCcon Commander Lost in Action in Year;' Toyoda Will Succeed By the Associated Press NEW YORK, May 5. - Admiral' by Pergolesi, "Deh Vieni" from "Mar- Mineichi Koga, commander of the riage of Figaro" by Mozart, and "Una combined Japanese fleet, was killed Voce Poco Fa" from "Barber of in action on an undisclosed front in S r B r March-the second Japanese fleet' ? eville' by Rossini. Caston To Conduct The Philadelphia Orchestra, which will be conducted by Saul Caston, will conclude the program with Tschaikovsky's "Symphony No. 6 in B Minor." Sayao made her New York debut in the title role of Debussy's "Blessed Damozel" which she sang with the New York Philharmonic Symphony, Toscanini conducting.3 Speaks Five Languages She has sung'such famous soprano roles as Manon, as Violetta in "La Traviata," Zerlina in "Don Giovan- ni," and Mimi in "La Boheme." In addition to her native Portu- chief to die in action within a year -and has been succeeded by the col- orless Admiral Soemu Toyoda, the Tokyo High Command announced today. Koga Dies on Post An Imperial headquarters com- munique recorded by U.S. govern- ment monitors said that Koga had "died at his post in March of this year while directing operations from an airplane at the front." It bore a striking similarity to the Tokyo communique of May 21, 1943, announcing the death of the former fleet chief, boastful Isoroku Yama- moto. in a warplane the previous April. Pescara and Ortona. Yanks Hit Rail Yards At the same time American heavy bombers, striking into Romania hit rail yards at the oil center of Ploesti and at Turnu-Severin near the Dan- ube "iron gate" on the 21st straight day of the two-way pre-invasion sky offensive which is softening up the Atlantic wall and giving direct sup- port to the Red Army in the east. Italy-based American bomber fleets also struck Podgorica, Yugoslavia, where a big German garrison is lo- cated. No British Planes Lost Not a single British-based plane was lost in four sharp cross-channel punches packed into the four hours before 9:30 a.m., after which a gale halted the systematic destruction of LONDON, May 5.- (') - The Germans were reported tonight to have sent 20,000 reinforcements in- to restive Denmark and 30,000 into Norway in a new series of anti- invasion moves ranging along al- most the entire western front. Germany's bristling coastal defenses and supporting traffic arteries. Four German fighters were destroyed by Canadian Spitfire pilots. The Allies have attacked over 100 Axis rail junctions in a little more than two months, ripping out great sections of "second front" trackage, wrecking rolling stock and destroy- ing repair shops so vital to Ger- many's over-worked transport sys- tem which is about to face its great- est test. ' - - - Production of Rocket Weapon being Rushed WASHINGTON, May 5.-(AP)-Mil- itary plans for rush production of newly-developed, highly-secret roc- ket weapons were revealed today, and Congressional leaders promised speedy action to provide the neces- sary funds. A House naval committee report said the armed forces plan to spend $35,000,0000 for expdnded manufac- ture of the weapons because of "great demand" for them. No Details Available No details about the guns or their method of operation were contained in the report. The committee recommended ap- propriation of $65,000,000 for naval ordnance and included a statement from the Navy that $15,000,00 would be used along with $20,000,000 al- ready set aside by the Army for the rocket weapons. Guns Being Used Navy Department officials said there was nothing they could say about rocket guns beyond the state- ment at a press conference recently by Rear Admiral George F. Hussey, Jr., Naval Bureau of Ordnance chief, that "we are using rocket guns." Likewise, an Army spokesman said no further information was available there except the previously-announc- ed use of the famed "bazooka" gun, which is rocket-propelled. Russian Naval, Air Units Sink Five Axis Ships Red Army Amasses Troops Near Kowel; 310 Germans Killed By the Associated Press LONDON, May 6, Saturday-The Soviet high command announced last night that Russian naval and air units had sunk five more Axis ships near besieged Sevastopol in the Crimea, and the Germans declared the Red Army had deployed men and equipment "on an enormous scale" in old Poland for a new smash on the main invasion path to Berlin. Reds Amass Troops Berlin reports relayed through Stockholm said the ReddArmy had amassed huge numbers of troops in the vicinity of Kowel, 170 miles southeast of Warsaw in Poland, and also near Kolomyja, 30 miles south- east of Stanislawow near the old Czech border. A midnight Soviet bulletin said 310 Germans had been killed in a two- hour battle yesterday southeast of Stanislawow and that 600 Hungar- ians had surrendered in the last ten days. Struggles Significant While this fighting was only of a local nature, a Russian Tass Agency j military commentator said these sec- tional struggles which have been proceeding ever since mid-April were significant because of strategic rail- ways in that part of former Poland. The broadcast Soviet communique said, "Aircraft of the fleet dealt per- sistent blows at transports and other enemy vessels by day and by night" and stated that besides the five transports which were sunk five barges and a patrol launch were de- stroyed in the combined air and sea action and many other enemy ves- sels were damaged. Famous Negro Poet To pea MYDA, IRA Sponsors Langston Hughes' Talk Langston Hughes, noted Negro poet and author, will speak at 8 p.m. Tues- day in Lane Hall on "Problems of Discrimination in the Post-War World." Jointly sponsored by Inter-Racial Association and Michigan Youth for Democratic Action, Hughes' lecture will be open to the public. A twenty- five cent admission charge will be payable at the door. Mr. Hughes has won a national and international reputation as an au- thor, poet, playwright and publisher of songs. "13 Against the Odds" a book of Negro biographies, contains a discussion of his work. Besides writing poetry, Mr. Hughes has published many songs, such as "Freedom Road," "Songs to the Dark Virgin," and various concert num- bers I guese and Spanish, she speaks Italian Yamamoto, who once boasted that and French fluently and her "Ameri- he would dictate the peace terms in can" is progressing rapidly. the White House, was known as the man who torpedoed the London Naval "T Conference in 1934 and planned the S on U jHoft sneak attack on Pear'l Harbor.- Tok- Second Uninn2 'o'a"mb'Tk yo indicated last year that he died F rmT-aspectacular death "on the very Ffront lines in the south," in the midst of a naval engagement. All Ti(' cis Sohl Ot[ Site of Death Not Told .l k, uExactly where Admiral Koga met O() Couples To A leui his death was not disclosed in today's communique. However', on March 29 Under a spring canopy of yellow, powerful American Naval forces made white and green streamers. 350 a surprise attack on Palau Island, couples will dance to the music of within 460 nautical miles of the Phil- ippines. and a large force of Japan- Bill Sawyer and his orchestra at the ese warships was reported to have second annual Union Spring Formal fled the area at the time. to be held from 9 p.m. to midnight - ~ today in the Union "Rainbow" Ball- .k room. Stating that the committee had For German Trade AID FOR WAR INJURED: Speech Rehab~liiat~i* S * To Be Offered This Summer A graduate seminar in speech re- habilitation for the war injured will be offered by the speech department from July 10 to Aug. 10 during the Summer Session, Prof. G. D. Dens- more, department cnairman, an- nounced yesterday. The course is designed to give qualified graduate students and tea- chers of speech who expect to par- ticipate in the Army rehabilitation n-iram a hackarmAI nf npeialized of neurology; Dr. John W. Kemper, professor of dentistry and consulting dental surgeon to the University Hos- pital; Dr. James H. Maxwell, asso- ciate professor of otolaryngology; Dr. Max Peet, professor of surgery; Dr. Leon H. Strong, assistant professor of anatomy, and Dr. Raymond W. Waggoner, professor of psychiatry and director of tle Department- of Psychiatry. Speech department staff members received requests for more tickets, Don Larson, publicity chairman, an- WASHINGTON, May 5.--UP)-The nounced yesterday that all the tickets United States has extended to Switz- have been sold and no more will be erland its drive to halt supplies issued. r'eaching the Nazi war machine from Sawyer has promised many new neutral countries. arrangements of popular pieces with Negotiations now are in progress in Judy Ward and Billy Layton carrying London between Swiss and American the vocals. Dwight Daily has also representatives looking toward sharp arranged. a special song which will cuts in Swiss exports to Germany of be presented at the dance., h ball bearings, chronometers, fuses and precision instruments. Heading the committee in charge of the affair is Dick Chenoweth. Jim C Plate took charge of the ticket salesI CITY'S A NSWER T( while Tom Bliska planned the decora- tions. Bill Wood is chairman of the { floor committee and Bob Gaukler and -ud en s Bob Lindsay are in charge of the 800 St -d 'n'- band committee and program com- mittee respectively. Bob Precious in- Ann Arbor's answer to the pressing vited the chaperons and Don Larson Anl Arbo nwer tobhem tsi I ,- , --4 ijvenile delinquency problem took t t O DELINQUINCY: Open Wolverine Youth Center G , ., representing Ann Arbor's three high srh nnl Tnivri- T-Tigh. Ann Ar hnri mented A. L. Stickney, secretary of the local YMCA.