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VOL. LIV No. 64 ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, THURSDAY, JAN. 27, 1944
PRICE FIVE CENTS
Allied Torpedo Planes Sink
Congressmen Fume at FDR's
11 Jap Ships
,
Sustained Air
Vlessage
{I
Federal Vote
BillDemanded
By President
Bid for Fourth Term
Seen in Request for
Servicemen's Ballot
By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt, demanding a federal
ballot for the armed forces, today.
branded an alternative state ballot
plan as a fraud, and a Republican
Senator quickly rapped back that the
President is trying to corral the sol-
dier vote for a fourth term.
The Roosevelt message to Congress
raised the controversy to fever heat.
The "fourth term" charge was made
by Senator Taft (Rep., O.) who as-
serted the Administration hopes to
line up 10 million American soldiers
at the polls "in much the same man-
ner we used to see WPA workers lined
up at the polls."
Senator Lucas (Dem. ,Ill.), an Ad-
ministration supporter, retorted that
the "whole trend" of Taft's speech
"is one of fear of what the soldiers
will do."
State Ballot Impossible
The President took the position
that the state ballot plan presented
so many. difficulties that most mem-
bers of the armed forces would be
unable to vote.
The Senate already -was debating
a federal ballot bill, as a -substitute
for the state ballot measure it had
previously passed, when it received
the President's message demanding
"adequate legislation."
Martin Makes Gesture
There were indications, too, of some
shift of sentiment toward a federal
ballot. Many backers of the state
ballot idea were indignant, however,
over the whole tone of the President's
message.
In the House, Republican Leader
Martin of Massachusetts asked im-
mediate action on the very Senate
bill the President had denounced. His
move was purely a gesture, however,
as the parliamentary situation was
such that, under House rules, his
motion could not be considered.
A rgentina Halts
Relations with
Germans, Japs
Boucher, Straub Named
Union President, Secretary
Appointees Succeed Crawford, Dotterer,
To Direct Program During Coming Year
r)
Direct Hit
on JapPlane
Axis
With
High
Diplomats Linked
Espionage Ring;
Society Involved
By The Associated Press
BUENOS AIRES, Jan. 26.-Argen-
tina junked her zealously-guarded,
traditional policy of neutrality to-
day, breaking her relations with Ger-
many and Japan in a sudden. diplo-
matic reversal that snapped the Axis'
last formal ties with the American
continents.
The reason for the action, an of-
ficial communique said, was discov-
ery of an extensive espionage net-
work tracing directly to the German
and Japanese diplomats operating
under cover of their legal immunity.
"No Excuse for Spies"
President Gen. Pedro Pablo Ram-
irez, in a broadcast over a national
radio hookup a short time after
signing the decree, declared:
"In the face of the seriousness of
the facts that (the espionage) is in-
juring Argentine feeling, it is inad-
missable to allow the presence among
us of diplomatic representatives of
Germany and Japan.
"There are not excuses or possible
explanations to justify the actions
and plans of those who, within the
republc or in relation with her, are
working against national sovereign-
ty. >
Many Arrested
The full story of the spy ring, when
revealed, is expected to be sensation-
al,'possibly shaking the very founda-
tions of Argentine high society, Many
persons of high standing were under
stood to be implicated and numerous
arrests were being made as police set
out to round up everyone involved.
Only a situation of gravest import
could have caused Argentine to take
such a step as breaking off diplomat-
ic relations-which she never had
done in her modern history.
For two years Argentina had re-
sisted every effort to bring her into
the fold with the 20 other American
republics, all of whom had broken
their ties with the Axis.
Roy Boucher, '45, has been ap-
pointed Union president and Rupert
Straub, '44E, recording secretary,
Dean Joseph Bursley announced last
night.
Boucher and Straub are succeed-
ing Bunny Crawford, '44, president,
and Chuck Dotterer, '44, secretary,
who have held office since May.
Headed Social Committee
Boucher, a member of Phi Delta
Theta, has had wide experience
within the Union organization. Be-
ginning as a tryout, he worked suc-
cessively on such projects as coke
bars, guide service, football ticket
resale and orientation of freshman
men. He was appointed with Tom
Coulter to take complete charge of
the orientation program for the
spring semester of 1943. Boucher has
also-had experience on several dance
committees.
He is a member of Phi Eta Sigma,
honorary freshman scholastic fra-
ternity, Kappa Phi Sigma, honorary
speech fraternity, and holds a var-
sity letter in tennis. Boucher comes
from Catasaupua, Pa.
Handled Ticket Sales
Straub has served as a Union try-
out two and one-half semesters and
as a member of the Executive Coun-
cil three semesters. During the last
semester of his sophomore year he
was chairman of the Organizations
Committee and handled the book
exchange, textbook lending library
and elections. Last summer Straub
was made chairman of the House
Committee and has been ticket
chairman for the Summer Prom,
Fall Prom and the annual Union
Formal.
Straub is a member of Delta Upsi-
lon and has held the offices of social
chairman, secretary and president in
the fraternity. Born in California,
his home is now in Detroit, where
National 1News
In .brief ..
he graduated from Mackenzie High
School. He is a member of Michi-
gamua.
Prior to their appointments last
night as Union president and secre-
tary, Boucher and Straub were co-
chairmen of the War Activities Com-
mittee.
Harmon Fails To
Arrive; Elyse Calls
Although he indicated he would
be home yesterday, Lt. Tom Har-
mon did not arrive e Ann Arbor,
and his parents increased their
waiting vigil by another day.
Elyse Knox, oft-quoted Holly-
wood sweetheart of Harmon's,
phoned his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Louis Harmon, last night and was
"disappointed" that he hadn't ar-
rived.
Harmon's father said that "we
sure expect him any time now, but
can't say definitely."
Russians Take
Railway Hub in
Northern Drive
Reds Kill 40,000 Nazis
On Leningrad Offensive
By The Associated Press
LONDON, Jan. 26-Russian troops
captured the massively-fortified rail-
way hub of Kresnogvardeisk, 30 miles
southeast of Leningrad, today on the
13th day of their big northern of-
fensive, and announced that more
than 40,000 Germans had been killed
and ten Nazi infantry divisions rout-
ed on the Leningrad front alone.
The capture of Krasnogvardeisk,
controlling the rail. lines to Estonia
and Latvia, was announced in a spe-
cial order of the day from Premier
Marshal Joseph Stalin after a night
assault and a street-by-street battle
finished off the strong German gar-
rison. A4victory salute of 12 salvoes
from 124 Moscow guns was ordered
in celebration.
The Russian announcement of
German casualties, made in the Mos-
cow daily communique recorded by
the Soviet Monitor, added 20,000
killed to previously announced totals
for the Leningrad offensive and
brought to 55,000 the number of
Germanskwhich the Russians have
counted killed.
Sellars To Talk
On Nationalism
"Can National Sovereignty Be Li-
mited?" will be the topic of a panel
discussion at 7:30 p.m. today in
Room 318 in the Union.
Sponsored by the Post-War Coun-
cil, this panel is one of a series deal-
ing with subjects pertinent to post-
war problems.eFaculty members ap-
pearing on the panel will be Prof.
Roy Sellars of the philosophy depart-
ment, Prof. George Kiss of the geo-
graphy department and Prof. John
Shepard of the psychology depart-
ment.
The following topics will be dis-
cussed by the students and profes-
sors: 1)-Distinction between Na-
tional Sovereignty and Nationalism;
2)-Extent to which war has intensi-
fied Nationalism; and 3)-Signifi-
cance of those facts in potential
post-war co-operation.
As a Jap plane, furns fiercely on a flight strip at the Japanese air
base at Alexishafen on the northern coast of New Guinea, a Mitchell
medium bomber of the Fifth Air Force swoops low to drop its bombs
on the base.
JUNE IN JANUARY:
Spring Breezes Hit Campus as
Mercury Soars to 64 Degrees
POLITELY BUT FIRMLY:
Soviets Reject A merican Offer
To Ease Polish-Red Situation
t )
By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26. - Soviet
Russia politely but firmly rejected
today an offer by the United States
to. try to get Moscow and the :Polish
government-in-exile at London on
speaking terms again.
The Russians do not feel, their re-
ply said, that the situation has yet
ripened to a point where the good
offices of the United States could be
used to advantage.
Secretary of State Hull who dis-
closed the Russian response at a press
conference, apparently. had been
hopeful that the offer would be ac-
cepted.
What conditions the Russians3
have in mind was not made known.
However, they recently have been
British Bomb
French Coast
bitterly critical of the Polish gov-
ernment, and it was considered
possible that they are determined
not to deal with it, at least as pres-
ently constituted.
Whether Russia's rejection of the
American offer widens the diplomatic
gap within the United Nations re-
mains to be seen, but State Depart-
ment officials did not appear agitat-
ed over the reply.
Persons familiar with the text of
the note, which was not given out,
said it was written in a tone of warm
See RUSSIA, p. 6
*, * *
Russians Put
Blame on Nazis
SMOLENSK, U.S.S.R., Jan. 26.-
(A)-A special Soviet Commission in-
vestigating the mysterious slaying of
11,000 Polish war prisoners in Katyn
forest announced its conclusion to-
day that the victims were slain as a
"provocation" by the Germans in
August and September of 1941, and
not by the Russians in March and
April of 1940 as charged by Berlin.
The Commission took American
and British correspondents to the
ghastly graves on goat hills in the
forest ten miles from Smolensk and
producedevidence which it called
indisputable proof of German guilt in
the crime, one of the major myster-
ies of the war and an important in-
ternational political issue.
It was because the Polish govern-
ment in London took up Berlin's
charge, and asked the International
By The Associated Press
Mustering-Out Pay O.K.'d
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.- Con-
gress voted a $3,000,000,000 pot of
gold today for veterans of this war,
to be paid out in amounts ranging
from $100 to $300 each upon honor-
able discharge. House and Senate
quickly approved the mustering-out
pay legislation drawn up ina con-
ference committee of both branches,
the Senate acting last and relaying
the measure to the White House for
the President's signature.
Rubber Outlook Good
DETROIT, Jan. 26.- Most of
the synthetic rubber problems have
been solved, although some pro-
duction difficulties are yet to be
overcome, L. D. Tompkins, deputy
national rubber administrator,
said in an address today before the
National Automobile Dealers Asso-
ciatio..
Tompkins, who is also vice-pres-
ident of the United States Rubber
Co., took an optimistic view of the
tire and rubber outlook for the
year ahead, but declined to pre-
dict when the rationing of tires
might be lifted.
* * *
Post-War Group Created
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.- The
House created today an 18-member
post-war economic policy and plan-
ning committee as a step toward "a
stable economy and a just peace"
with emphasis on private enterprise
for economic development.
"The poor lilacs are going to get
all confused because of this weather,";
commented a bewildered coed yester-
day, as she sweltered in yesterday's}
June heat, because she refused to dis-
card her fur coat.
"If this 64 degree weather keepst
up," announced another, "I am going
to put my winter clothes in storage
and fool that old weather man." "If
you do-you'll be sorry," wisecracked
her companion.
The remark of her companion is
substantiated by the comment of Dr.,
Ralph Belknap, associate professor,
of geology, who stated, "It is a safe,
guess to say that we will still have
snow this wonter. It won't, however,
equal last year's snowfall."-
Yesterday's temperaturedof 64 de-
grees is the highest recorded at the
Comedy Tickets
To Go on Sale
Children's Theatre To
Give 'Mr. Dooley, Jr.'
Reserved seats for "Mr. Dooley,
Jr.," a children's play to be presented
at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday
by the Children's Theatre of the
speech department in the Lydia
Mendelssohn Theatre, will be placed
on sale today in the theatre box
office.
"Mr. Dooley, Jr." is a comedy cen-
tering about the ownership of a dog
and the scenes are laid in a pet shop
and in the home of Janie and Tom-
my. These two children become cap-
tivated by Mr. Dooley's canine
charms and overcome amazing ob-
stacles in order to possess the puppy.
Written by Jane Lewin and Rose
Franken, the comedy has much of
the same sprightliness and comedy
found in Rose Franken's "Claudia"
and "Another Language."
Cast in the title role of "Mr. Doo-
ley, Jr." is Fletcher Baskerville I,
official canine mascot of Co. C. Sup-
porting roles will be played by Maida
Stienberg, Marjorie Leete, Thelma
Davis, Catherine Bronson, Carol
Cothran, Jean Christian, Jean Loree,
Doris Coleman and Barbara White.
observatory for the past 34 years.
The nearest. high temperature to that
was in January of 1916, , when the
thermometer read 62.6 degrees. The
highest temperature for Januaryy
1943, was 44.7.
Although the temperature for De-
cember 1943, and January 1944, is,
unusual, the precipitation for those
months is also the lowest since 1909,
being 0.49 inches for December and
0.03 for January.
While the inhabitants of Ann Ar-
bor were pulling their spring clothes
out of the moth balls, the people of
California were looking for more
clothes to put on, for in California it
is colder than usual.
In Douglas, Ariz., on the Mexican
border, the weather, just to be dif-
ferent, caused the people to shiver in
that city's first snow storm in two
years.
In Detroit, meterologist Clarence J.
Root declared that not only was yes-
terday the warmest Jan. 26 on record,
but also that if Detroit gets through
the remainder of this week without
snow, the month of January will set
a 50-year mark there.
cU' Staff Aids
War Bond Drive
Reach One Third of
$160,000 Loan Goal
An audit taken at the close of sales
yesterday showed that a total of
$55,275 worth of war bonds have been
purchased by members of the Uni-
versity staff in the first week of the
Fourth War Loan drive.
Sales Slowed Down
This figure represents a little more
than one-third of the. University's
goal of $160,000, leaving $104,725 to
be collected during the next three
weeks of the campaign. The Fourth
War Loan drive ends officially Feb.
15, but all bonds purchased through-
out January and February will be
added in the totals.
An audit made at noon last Friday
showed a total of $41,150 in the first
three days of the campaign. In com-
parison with the latest figures yes-
terday, sales slowed up considerably
during the last four days.
JGP Brings in $13,775
R. Gordon Griffith, chairman of
the University bond committee ex-
pressed disappointment at the de-
cline in purchases. However, he said
that experience in the first three
OffensePoints
fo Rabaul Fall
24 Nip Planes Bagged
Brings January Total
Enemy Losses to 350
By The Associated Press
Eleven Japanese ships were sunk
nd five others damaged by Allied
ombers in the southwest Pacific
and off the Asiatic coast Monday,
Allied communiques reported today.
The biggest toll was taken at
Rabaul, whose harbor is lined with
the hulls of bomb-shattered ships.
American dive bombers sweeping
ver masthead high sank five cargo
ships and a tanker, and damaged two
thers so badly their crews beached
them.
The raiders, following up two air
strikes Sunday at that Japanese air
and shipping fortress on northeast-
ern New Britain, shot down 24 of 60
enemy fighters and probably bagged
two others while suffering "extra-
ordinarily light losses."
350 Planes Downed
Headquarters reported the attack
today.
The Monday bag of enemy planes
made more than 90 Nipponese air-
craft shotrout of the sky over Rabaul
in three days.
Enemy losses so far this month in
planes certainly downed, probably
downed, destroyed on the ground
and damaged exceed 350.
The torpedo bombers, escorted by
fighters, flew to Rabaul from Solo-
mons bases and swept down on
Simpson Harbor and Keravia Bay at
midday as low as the masts of 'the
ships.
Oil Tanker Sunk
An oil tanker, in addition to the
five cargo ships, was sunk.
Today's communique also reported
another in the recent series of air
attacks on' the 'Admirty s and s
northwest of Rabaul ding Ih a
small freighter was destroyed by fire
and eight parked Japanese planes
were wrecked. The raid, which cost
three Allied planes, was concentrated
on the Momote and Lorengau air-
dromes.
Allied strategy of drawing Japa-
nese air strength to Rabaul and then
destroying it was emphasized today
by the double-barreled attack on
that strategic New Britain base last
Sunday.
Gen. MacArthur.
Awarded DSM
ADVANCED ALLIED HEAD-
QUARTERS, New Guinea, Jan. 26-
(IP)-Gen. Douglas MacArthur2re-
ceived his third distinguished service
medal today, his 64th birthday anni-
versary,
The medal, awarded by President
Roosevelt "for exceptionally dis-
tinguished service as supreme com-
mander of Allied forces in the south-
west Pacific since March, 1942," was
presented on the President's behalf
by Maj.-Gen. Richard J. Marshall,
deputy chief of staf.
General MacArthur received his
first DSM during World War I. The
second was awarded later, in peace-
time, following his five years as
chief of staff of the United States
Army.
Yanks Recross
Rapido River
In Cassino Area
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Al-
giers, Jan. 26. - (A') - Slashing back
across the Rapido River in the Cas-
sino area, American troops have es-
tablished a firm new bridgehead on
the west bank of that .swift, little
stream and are plunging resolutely
ahead over thickly-sowed minefields
and under heavy German artillery,
mortar and machinegun fire, it was
announced officially today.
The second Yank crossing of the
Rapido came as Nazi commanders-
fully aware at least of. the threat of
Allied landsings made south of Rome
five days ago- pulled away part of
the great strength they had as-
sembled opposite the main Fifth
Army front and sent crack units
ru'shing northward to opposite the
Secret
Hit in
Installations Are
4-Day Blasting
LONDON, Jan. 26.--()-The aer-
ial pounding of Hitler's fortifications
guarding the shortest invasion route
to western Europe rolled through its
fourth straight day today with me-
dium, light, and fighter-bombers
striking at secret military installa -
tions in northern France.
The daylight operations, beginning
soon after dawn, followed attacks by
RAF night raiders on undisclosed ob-
jectives in northern France, and a
double-barrelled assault yesterday on
WE LOST OUR PANTS:
Style- Wise Thief Strips Coed House
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