Y 4iQ tW Daa11 Weather Showers VOL. LiV No. 136 ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1944 PRICE FIVE CENTS French, Yanks Snash Nazi Gustav Line First Big Chinese Offensive in Seven Years IsOpened 4' - - ___ ___ ______~~~ ______ ______ Salween Is Crossed at Many Points 20,000 Troops Aim At Burma Junction By The Associated Press CHUNGKING, May 15.-More than 20,000 Chinese troops have plunged across the Saween River in Western Yunnan Province at a dozen points, the Chinese High Command announc- ed today, opening China's first real offensive in seven years of war with the objective a junction with Lt. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell's troops about 150 miles away in northern Burma Casualties on both sides were heavy along the 131-mile front as. the Chi- nese, achieving an extraordinary de- gree of surprise, forced a wide enemy deployment. Chinese Aided by Americans The Chinese were aided by a unique Amnerican military organization, a "Y Force," in the powerful drive or- dered by Generalissimo Chiang Kai- Shek to break Japan's blockade. Ul- timate objective of the offensive is to slash through upper Burma, join with Stilwell's Chinese and connect the Burma roads with the two-lane Ledo Highway which Stilwell has built to his front in Maguang Valley. The Chinese used American-made pneumatic rafts to cross the river at strategic ferry points. Under Amer- ican guidance, Chinese engineers had rehearsed the crossings with the Y .Force, organized a year ago on Stil- well's orders. The offensive had the strong sup- port of Sky Dragons of Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault's 14th Air Force, which bombed and strafed enemy po- sitions over a wide area' Japs Break Through Loyang At the same time, in Honan Prov- ince to the north, the Chinese com- munique said that Japanese troops which had broken through into Loy- ang at three points had been anni- hilated, as defenders battled desper- ately to save the key city from cap- ture. In that sector also, Chennault's air force was active in support of the Chinese. The communique indicated that Chinese forces in southern Honan still were astride the Peiping-Hankow railway! At Suiping, 110 miles south of Chenghsien, after reopening a gap in the Japanese hold on the line. Youths Admit Stealing Bikes, Cars Last Week Probate Judge Jay G. Pray yester- day waived jurisdiction in the ,ase of two Ann Arbor juveniles who ad- mittedly stole two automobiles, three bicycles and committed six minor burglaries within the last week. Arraignment is expected today in municipal court on charges of break- ing and entering at night. Stolen Car Crashes The two youths, Daniel E. Basom, 1107 S. State St., and Donald Schady, 1447 Washington Hts., both 16 years old, were arrested Sunday when a stolen car they were driving crashed near the city limits on South State. The youths, both wards of the Michigan Children's Institute, were first apprehended after breaking and entering a gasoline station at 1346 N. Main last Tuesday, and were sched- uled to go before Judge Pray for a hearing May 17. Their career of reported burglaries began last Tuesday, according to po- lice, when they broke into the Foster School on Huron Drive. Thursday they stole two bicycles, rode to the Delhi School on South Maple Rd., and took about $50 in war stamps, Lt. Erwin Klager of the Sheriff's office said. Rob Gas Station They then rode to Dexter where they discarded one bicycle for an- other, broke into the Devine Gasoline Station there, and stole small change from the station's till. Friday, enroute to Ypsilanti, they rifled a barbershop in suburban Ann Arbor. They stole a car in Ypsilanti American Bombers, Fighters Raid France By The Associated Press LONDON, May 15.-Unhampered by the German Air Force, small for mations of American heavy and med- ium bombers blasted Hitler's sprawl- ing coastal defense system today, carrying the pre-invasion air offens- ive into the 31st consecutive day. A German raid on south England last night killed a half dozen per- sons. At least 15 of the attackers were reported shot down. Approximately 250 Flying Fortres- ses and Liberators and an additional force of Thunderbolts and fighter- bombers bombarded objectives in northern France while A-20 light bombers drove clear to the Paris area and hit an airfield near the badly battered Creil railroad yards. Mar- auders bombed a railroad yard also. The Vichy radio said the Lille and Valenciennes areas, much pounded districts, were hit. No Bombers Lost Not a bomber was lost of those in- volved in the operations-nor in the far-flung RAF night bombing attacks a few hours before. British Mosquito bombers hit Cologne last night and unspecified military objectives in France, Belgium and Holland. One escort plane was missing to- day. The Paris radio went off the air Adult Education Conference To Convene Today 3,300 Foremen Now in Third Week of Strike President Alexander G. Ruthven's address on "Adult Education" will be one of the highlights of the 12th annual convention of the Adult Edu- cational Institute at 11 today in the Rackham Building. In conjunction with Dr. Ruthven's talk will be a movie prepared by the Army Bureau of CurrentdAffairs, which will show the work of this educational bureau of the British Army in promoting a better under - standing of Rall aspects of the war. Also included, in the opening ses- sion will be a panel discussion on minority groups, led by Dr. Edward W. Blakeman, University counselor in religious education, and a talk by Lt. James Griffith, a patient at the Percy Jones Hospital of Battle Creek, concerning "What the Man in Com- bat Is Thinking." The meetings Wednesday will be featured by Gov. Harry F. Kelly, who will talk at 11 on ."The Education of the Returning Veteran." Dr. Eugene B. Elliott, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, will address the session on the last day of the confer- ence Thursday. The Institute will also present a film, written by Eric Knight shortly before his death, dealing with the problems of price, production and distribution. A panel discussion of the post-war labor and employment situation will be held Thursday. Another discus- sion, led by Professor Preston W. Slosson of the history department, will concern "A-Foreign Policy for the United States." All meetings will be held in the Rackham Building, and general ses- sions will convene at 9 and 2 daily. at 8.12p.m., indicating a possible late daylight attack. Outside that activity-with the Mediterranean air force diverted to close support of the new ground cam- paign in Italy-the great north-south Allied air offensive which started April 7 was virtually at a standstill. It was an ominous hiatus for the Germans. Lull Before Storm The lull is similar to that which hung over Russia's armies in the last few weeks and which no one doubts is merely a period of massing forces for the next, and possibly greatest, effort of the war German airmen who raided south- ern England last night, evidently sought to smoke out invasion prep-' arations as well as to bomb. Al- though the German force may have been several hundred planes, the bombing was called disproportionate- ly small, indicating a number of them were on reconnaissance. It was later announced that Thun- derbolts had dive-bombed an airfield at Gael, 25 miles west of Rennes. Vitor yVariety Tickets Are Now on Sale Headlining the farewell appear- ance of Bill Sawyer and his orchestra, the second Victory Varieties show will get under way at 8 p.m. Satur- day on the stage of Hill Auditorium with six professional acts and the 50- member University Women's Glee Club. Tickets for the sparkling .hour- and-a-half of entertainment are now on sale at the Union, League, "U" Hall and East and West Quadrangles. Sawyer is now in Chicago working on a government music project and will return to Ann Arborespecially for the Victory Varieties program. Leading the list of well-known pro- fessional night club and theatre tal- ent to appear before students, towns- people and servicemen, is Len'g Gale who does impressions of famous per- sonages. Also appearing on a fast- moving show are Ed Ford and his performing dog Whitey, the Whirling Spinners who are expert roller skat- ing stars, Del Gosno billed as the king of balance, The Rockets who are boy and girl acrobats and the hand- balaning Carltons. Packard Plants Remain Closed DETROIT, May 15- (')- T e plant of the big Packard Motor Car Company remained closed today and war production in a dozen otheGr fat- tories in the Detroit area was affected in varying degrees as approximately s,30g foremen continued a strike begun more than three weeks ago. Tworminor disturbances marked the strike today as the executive board of the Independent Foreman's Association of America met to con- sider actionon a War Labor Board order that the foremen be sent back to work. The foremen's officials were reported divided on a proposal that a return to work be ordered and their demands for recognition be left to the WLB. Marcantonio Anti-Poll Tax Bill Is Shelved Cloture Petiton Meets Defeat by 44 to 36 Senate Roll Cal Vote By The Associated Press WASHINGTON, May 15.- The Senate shelved the controversial an- tilpoll tax bill today after opponents rolled up a 44 to 36 majority against a cloture petition designed to fore- stall a filibuster by southern Demo- crats. The roll call, taken before packed galleries, ended prospects for a vote on the bill itself, and many of its Roll Call on Invoking Cloture FOR THE PETITION (36):. DEMOCRATS - Barkley, Clark (Mo.); Downey, Green, Gauffey, Jackson, Johnson (Colo.); Kilgore, Lucas, Maloney, Mead, Murdock, Pepper, Thomas (Utah); Tunnell, Wagner, Walsh (Mass.) REPUBLICANS - Bal, Brooks, Burton, Capper, Cordon, Danaher, Davis, Ferguson, Gurny, Langer, Reed, Reveromb, Taft, Van- denberg, Weeks,, Wherry, Wiley, Wilson. PROGRESSIVE-LaFollette AGAINST THE PETITION (44): DEMOCRATS-Baily, Bankhead, Bilbo, Byrd, Caraway, Chandler, Chavez, Con- naiy, Eastland, Ellender, George, Gerry, Gillette, Hatch, Hayden, Hill, Maybank, McCarran, McClellan, McFarland, McKellar, O'Daniel, O'Mahoney, Overton, Radcliffe, Russell, Smith, Stewart, Tydings, Walsh (N.J.); Wheeler. REPUBLICANS--Aiken, Brewster, Bridges, Buck, Bushfield, Hawkes, Millikin, Moore, Nye, Robertson, Shipstead, Thomas (Ida.); White. supporters joined in a subsequent 41 to 35 decision to displace it with another measure. The second vote came on a motion by Senator Clark (Dem., Mo.) to take up a bill to provide artificial limbs and other appliances for disabled veterans. Under the rules, the House-ap- proved bill outlawing the poll tax as a requirement for voting for federal officers in eight southern states, may be called up later in the session. Berlin Warns German People Of D-Day Perils By The Associated Press LONDON, May 1.-The German people were warned today by the Berlin radio that not merely the "Atlantic Wall" but points far inland would fall under Allied attack in the very first phase of invasion. This was the gloomy prediction: "Wh'n the battle starts, fighting will not; be limited to divisions onl the Atlantic Wall or to points under the main attack, but small waves will reach far beyond them. Then Ger- many will be called upon to stand her greatest and most dangerous test." Nazi propagandists in occupied ter- ritory took a similar tone as, for example, this utterance from Philippe Henriot of the French Propaganda Ministry : "The last breathing spaces before the invasion has arrived. We cannot give you any last minute instructions on how to behave or where to seek shelter, as we do not know where the main Allied blow will fall." ITALY S5 _s- Alfedena (- A boneA SSlNO' nafro -Z. ant LCervaro --Angel - p co o- - _ Panaccgnnn EspeRoasec- a Albontto fo' . trIa Santa Mari G-ate r . - _ - = - Pnaccan- -m\ r Tesa_ - = G o-# ,--Fit-%- ALLIES CONTINUE DRIVE IN ITALY-Allied troops (arrows) were reported gaining at points indicated on map. German concentrations at Itri were shelled by warships. Black line is approximate front. 'OVER THE HUMP': Four States Assure Roosevelt Of Enough Convention Votes By The Associated Press The drive to assure President Roosevelt of more than enough con- vention votes for a fourth term nomi- nation rolls "over the hump" today despite his silence on whether he will accept. Warren Has 50 Votes Democrats in four states--Cali- fornia, New Jersey, Delaware and Montana-are expected to name del- egations largely favoring the Presi- dent's renomination. The four states have a total convention vote of 104, and Mr. Roosevelt needed only a few of those for a first ballot nominating majority of 589. California's 50 "favorite son" votes will put Gov. Earl Warren in third place in the Republican convention sweepstakes, which Gov. Thomas E. Dewey is leading by a wide margin with 268 pledged and claimed dele- gates. In second place is Gov. John W. Bricker of Ohio, with 56. Primary Results Given Here is the day's primary and con- vention picture by states: California --Democrats elect 52 delegates favor- China Based Planes In Range of Japan NEW YORK, May 15.-()-Estab- lishment of a powerful U.S. Army air base at Suichwan, Kiangsi province, China-from which heavy bombers might attack Formosa, the Philip- pines and parts of Japan's home is- lands-was indicated by a Tokyo an- nouncement tonight of a Japanese raid on the field May 12. The announcement, without con- firmation from Allied quarters, took the form of an imperial headquarters communique broadcast by the Tokyo radio. It said, "The main enemy force in the base was wiped out." ing a Roosevelt-Wallace ticket. They also nominate candidates for the Senate seat now held by Sheridan Downey and for 23 House seats. Re- publicans choose 50 delegates nom- inally pledged to Governor Warren, and also nominate for the Senate and House posts. New Jersey-Democrats name 34 delegates, with only four candidates entered against a fourth term slate, Republicans elect 35 delegates from a field of 13 openly favoring Dewey and a party-backed uninstructed group that Gov. Walter E. Edge said was "going to push" for Dewey's nomination. Montana-Democrats elect ten del- egates, Republicans eight. Delaware-Democrats name eight delegates, the Republicans already have chosen nine who favor Dewey. Ceiling Placed On Employment DETROIT, May 15.-(AP)-Approx- imately 1,000 firms and about 800,000 workers are affected by a War Man- power Commission order, effective to- day, placing a ceiling upon male em- ployment in the Detroit area. Affected immediately are all em- ployers of 200 or more persons, on July 1 the ceilings will apply to firms employing 50 or more persons and thus affect more than 1,200,000 work- ers. The ceilings will be set at the max- imum number of workers employed in the payroll period nearest to May 1. It is stipulated, however, that re- ductions where necessary, must be made through normal losses, no worker to be discharged, laid off or graded down. Breakthrough Near Cassino Is Imminent Fifth, Eighth Army Troops Push On By The Associated Press ALLIED. HEADQUARTERS IN NAPLES, May 15.- French and American troops shredded the lower half of the Germans' Gustav Line today and a breakthrough by the British Eighth Army appeared immi- nent in the heavily-defended sector below Cassino. Gustav Line Penetrated Fanning out through 60 square miles of rugged tableland and flat river valleys 'which they controlled after fierce fighting since the push opened Thursday night, Fifth and Eighth Army troops slugged doggedly forward to new positions. "Torn to shreds" was AP Corre- spondent Edward Kennedy's descrip- tion of the left flank of the Nazi line in a dispatch from the field. Penetration of the Gustav Line de- veloped into what was reported offi- cially as a "significant breach," but beyond it and up the Liri Valley lead- ing to the Hitler Line the way is studded with anti-tank positions and the Germans still hold commanding ground north of this valley. Germans Withdrawing (Gen. Alphonse Juin announced in a telegram to Gen. Charles DeGaulle at Algiers that his French Epedi- tionary Corps had entered San Geor- gio in the Liri Valley, seized a domi- nating ridge to the south and cap- tured Corino in a general advance against the Germans, who were re- treating in, disorder. He said the French had taken 1,000 prisoners, 30 of them officers, with the number of captives mounted steadily.) Heavy fighting progressed in the Spigno area, with the French again in the thick of it. The Americans, after occupying Santa Maria Infante, pressed toward the strong point at Spigno, and at sundown the Germans were reported withdrawing from sev- eral areas. Soviet Airmen Attack German Transportation By The Associated Press LONDON, May 16, Tuesday.-Pow- erful aerial attacks on German land and sea transportation by Soviet air- men were announced last night by the Russian High Command, which said there were "four essential changes" on the long eastern land front. The midnight communique, re- corded by the Soviet monitor from a broadcast, said an enemy convoy of 41 ships was caught in the Norwe-, gian port of Kirkenes Sunday night by Red airmen and that three trans- ports totalling 19,000 tons, a self- propelled barge, an auXiliary vessel and a patrol cutter were sunk. Three Transports Set Afire In addition, the communique said, three Nazi transports were set afire and one was beached. Other trans- ports and escort vessels were re- ported damaged. Attacking Nazi rail concentrations in old Poland, in the vicinity of Lwow, Soviet airmen started fires and explosions among German military trains and supply depots at Rava- ruskaya, Stry, Dvinsk, Ukhno and Dobrozin, the high command said. 19 Nazi Tanks Destroyed The Russian communique said 19 German tanks were'destroyed and 33 enemy air planes brought down eith- er in combat or by anti-aircraft fire on all fronts yesterday. A supplement issued early today intimated the Germans were putting up a dogged fight to two secondary battle areas-southeast of Stanis- lawow, in old Poland, and northwest of Tirasqol on the lower Dnestr. Dr. Han To Talk to Lawyers in Detroit The legal system of China in both occupied and unoccupied China is the topic of a talk by Dr. Wie Wen Han of the Chinese Embassy to be given today at a luncheon meeting of the Detroit Chapter of the Nation- al Lawyers Guild in the Book-Cadillac NO PEACE IN WORLD WITHOUT JUSTICE: Dr. Ojike Discusses Future of British Dependency, Nigeria By BARBARA HERRINTON Stating that there can be no peace in the world until justice is done to all, Dr. Mbonu Ojike of Nigeria dis- cussed in an interview yesterday his country's struggles for freedom. He also mentioned the condi- tions existing in the rest of the Dark Continent and he predicted that there will be a revolution in South Africa within the next five and a book which he is preparing, he said, are attempts to interpret Afri- can culture to the American people and to cement understanding be- tween these two countries. "Before the British came into Nigeria," he stated, "the people there were harmonious, contented and ruled themselves. As for tribal warfare, isn't the war between Ger- many and England tribal warfare? I say there must be peace between England and Germany before there -- ..... n" ~. n 1 which he regarded as a constitution. "So we really have no constitution," he added. And of the members of the Legislative Council, he said, that 19 are British and 11 are Nigerian. He stated that the many Niger- ian labor unions becamt unified and formed the Nigerian Congress of Labor Unions after an outstand- ing labor leader was imprisoned by the government. This Congress, he said, is seeking representation on the Legislative Council. T~ Pnlained that the West.African tions. "We rely on three countries," he stated, "the Soviet Union, China and the United States, to help us." Dr. Ojike said that he believed they would be granted dominion status, but that for Nigeria, that is second choice. "We want independence. As long as the Nigerian government is under any other dominion than Ni- gerian, I'll have no part of it. We are capable of ruling ourselves and want to do so." He stated that Nigeria is now third in importance and pnopula- nation of Britain and no one can say whether or not we are just in fighting by her side:" "Britain," he said, "is not inter- ested in the basic needs of our people. They want to use the peo- ple as laborers and at menial posts and she even makes it difficult for students to go abroad to study. For the last 30 years," he continued, "Britain has ruled the world. They rule your country. And they can keep Nigeria and India from pro- gressing"