i .. w lu f..x... .. .... Mli ' LY G L1it 4t ttApiH WEATHER Little change in temperature. Snow flurries. VOL. LV No. 45 ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, FRIDAY, DEC. 29, 1944 PRICE FIVE CENTS Patton Batters Foe Along 35-Mile ;TQc Front ird Stems Reds Fight Into Suburbs Of Budapest Street-by-Street Battle Nears Heart of City By The Associated Press LONDON, Dec. 28-Russian troops captured 12 more eastern suburbs of Budapest today, one of them six miles from the heart of the city, as the other units swept on westward to within 58 mies of the Austrian fron- tier and 92 miles from Vienna, Aus-, trian capital. The Russians were only two miles from the eastern city limits of Buda- pest. As shock troops of two powerful Red armies fought in the streets of the half of Budapest on the west bank of the river and through the eastern suburbs, the others pushed on westward along both sides of the Danube where in curves westward between Hungary and Czechoslova- kia toward Vienna. Marshal Rodion Y. Malinovsky's second Ukraine Army striking north of the Gret River reached the Hron (Garam) River on a 30-mile front from Leva (Levice) dqwn to the Danube, thus reaching points with- in 65 miles east of Bratislava, Slov- ak capital, and 96 miles from Vien- na. Simultaneously, below the river in Hungary, elements of Marshal Feo- dor I. Tolbukhin's third Ukraine army drove 34 miles northwest of Budapest along the main railway to Vienna and captured Tovaros, only 63 miles southeast of Bratislava and 92 miles from Vienna. A total of 3,494 German and Hun- garian prisoners were taken during the day's bloody fighting in Hun- gary and Slovakia, the Moscow com- munique said. On a 80-mile semi-circle around Pest, eastern half of doomed Buda- pest, the Russians closed in steadily against the Germans. B-29 Bases on Saipan Attacked By Jap aPlanes By The Associated Press Japanese bombers flying from their oft-raided base on Iwo Jima in the Volcanos attacked U. S. Super- fortress airfields on Saipan and Tin- ian in the Marianas Tuesday (U. S. time), Ad. Chester W. Nimitz re- ported yesterday. Coming over in two groups of five and two, respectively, the enemy lost two planes and inflicted minor dam- age. It was the second raid on Sai- pan in three days. Iwo Jima Blasted The attack was made the same day that American sea and air units worked over Iwo Jima, 750 miles south of Tokyo, in the 20th consecu- tive daily assault on the enemy air- base island, destroying a Japanese plane in the air and two on the ground and hammering gun posi- tions. Mindoro Island in the Philippines was free for the time being of Jap- anese sea or air attacks, Gen. Doug- las MacArthur reported. The enemy currently had no further opposition to offer after losing three destroyers sunk and a battleship and cruiser hit by U. S. planes and Naval PT Boats in a stab at Theisland Tues- day night. Cleanup Continues The American cleanup of Leyte Island, Philippines, proceeded with the count of 912 more Japanese dead, MacArthur said. Total enemy losses in the campaign on the island, now safe in American hands, to 115,373. American Philippines-based planes hit Japanese airdromes on Negros Island with 69 tons of bombs, and destroyed warehouses at Zamboanga on Mindanao Island. CAMPUS EVENTS Today Prof. Mentor Williams will speak on "What the Big Three Conference Means" at 8:30 p. m. at Hillel Foundation. Dec. 311 New Year's dance from 9 p. m. to midnight in Un- ion. Dow.w iii Deadline for V-Bail com- He's A Man of Few Words ... By The Associated Press Prime Minister Churchill used just two words to comment on a sniper's attempt to shoot him on the steps of the British Embassy in Athens yesterday, the London radio said today. According to the broadcast, heard by CBS, Churchill's comment was: "What cheek!" Allied Forces Reinforced in Serchio Valley German Press Attack On Italian Battlefront ROME, Dec. 28-Strong Allied air and ground forces were thrown into battle today in an effort to halt the German assault on a six-mile front in the Serchio River Valley, where American doughboys have been driv- en from the important road town of Barga in two days of fierce fighting. Nazis Claim Division Routed The Germans declared that the U. S. 92nd Negro Division had been knocked back "some kilometers" by the stubborn drive, which evidently was aimed at the vital Allied supply port of Livorno (Leghorn) 33 miles away. Field Marshal Albert Kesselring's forces hit through flatlands and mountains on both sides of the Ser- chio in the first action of any im- portance in the Fifth Army's west coast sector in several weeks. The Allies tactical air forces hurl- ed the full fury of their bombs, can- non and machineguns against the attacking enemy, with well over 1,000 warplanes participating in headlong strikes against troop con- centrations, and occupied buildings and road junctions n the battle area. Germans Still Pressing Despite the furious ground and air resistance, Allied headquarters an- nounced that the German attack still was being pressed "with determina- tion" and had forced Allied troops to make a "further slight with- drawal," including the surrender of Barga. To the east British Eighth Army troops pushing north along the Senio River slashed into German defenses at Alfansine, nine miles northwest of Ravenna. Enemy strongpoints were being mopped up all the way from captured Faenza on the Bologna- Rimini highway to Bagnacavallo, 10 miles to the northeast. Gallup Explains Errors in Poll Says 'PAC Did a Job With Migrnt Workers WASHINGTON. Dec. 28-(P)-Dr George Gallup told House investigat- ors today that he reported less Roo- sevelt strength early in the 1944 campaign than his own figures show- ed, because he underestimated the total vote. When registration figures showed the probability of a heavy vote Dr. Gallup said he added two percentage points to Roosevelt's column, but Thomas E. Dewey's strength increas- ed in the ballot samplings about that time so he wound up with this pre- diction on the civilian popular vote: Roosevelt 51.5 per cent; Dewey 49.5. Even that slight margin, he said, was enough to indicate a Democrat- ic landslide. The polls failed to take fully into account the vote of the migrant war workers, Dr. Gallup testified, adding: "The PAC really did a job in those states" where the number of indu- strial workers increased for this year's election. V-Ball, Board Petitions Are Due Saturday Election To Be Held Jan. 5 To Fill Posts Petitions for positions with the V-Ball committees and the Board in Control of Student Publications are due tomorrow noon in the student offices of the Union. Any junior or senior who satisfies the University eligibility qualifica- tions may turn in a petition for the dance committees. Petitions should contain at least 15 supporting signa- tures and if possible a brief outline of any plans the aspirant has for the coming between-semester dance. The dance committees will help to choose and secure an orchestra for the event, furnish decorations, provide favors, set the price of ad- mission, and in general direct the danec proceedings. Committee members will be chosen in the all- campus election a week from to- day. The V-Ball, inaugurated immedi- ately preceding the spring semester in 1943, is a wartime economy com- bining two annual spring dances- the J-Hop and Senior Prom. It was held last year at the Intramural Sports Building and featured the music of Les Brown and Fletcher Henderson. Any student not now associated with any student publication is eli- gible to file a petition for a position on the Board in Control. The peti- tion must contain a statement of qualifications and must be signed in longhand Churchill, Eden To Recommend Greek Regenc & W ATHENS, Dec. 28 - VP) - Prime Minister Churchill and Foreign Sec- retary Anthony Eden left for Lon- don today to recommend to King George II, exiled Greek monarch, that he consent to the immediate es- tablishment of a regency in Greece as the first essential step toward solution of the country's political problems. A statement issued by the British ambassador here tonight said that the Archbishop of Athens, acting as chairman of the peace conference which began two days ago at Chur- chill's request, had told Churchill and Eden there was an "overwhelm- ing desire for an immediate estab- lishment of a regency." (A London dispatch said King George of Greece was holding long conferences with his advisors at a London hotel. The feeling persisted in Greek circles there that the King still opposed a regency.) Fighting continued, meantime, be- tween British troops and the left- wing ELAS, and before he left Ath- ens Churchill watched the beginning of cleaning-up operations by Tom- mies and tanks in the central part of the capital. Smith Enters Race For Local Alderman A petition to enter the race for alderman in the sixth ward on the Republican ticket was filed yesterday by Shirley W. Smith, University vice- president and secretary in charge of business and finance. Prof. Edward L. Eriksin, professor of engineering mechanics and chair- man of the Department of engineer- ing Mechanics, has filed a petition to run for the Democratic nomina- tion for alderman in the seventh ward. - . Mechelenf fletr ISttaro. { '1 I Rhine IR " "Leuv~n COLOGN BRUSSELS ( \\AN ANTWERPAAC N *DUREN/ / BELGIUM LIEGEWedn 0N IL Roer R"> Ole Iiue Oug ee 'i Mvonschau NAMUR Huy \Ambleve R t1) ยข Charleroi t1 tMavelt edy\ 7~l DiCn ney , o .th >Mache +Manhay ..,+/v 'Stae rman Give? CelleRo ahe o che rum* ) J' esse R. ))(.j\ t'OGERMANY, St Huber\ 'Bastogne / Chaumon ladle, +bugfr L bramont 's~th MoeleR Mez~res~E~$ ~ '~ schdorf M I~ Me0ees EANR is7Echrernach FR NE TRIER RANCE LUX(EMBOURG ( M arrcout LMen 0 ~~20 howle STATUTE MILLS !dMyafne. - Soot R' illngern ItI kJ., l1/ Winter Offensive 1,000 Prisoners Taken, Heavy Losses Inflicted on German Northwestern Tip By The Associated Press PARIS, Friday, Dec. 29-Deep hacked by lightning blows along a 35- mile front from the U. S. Third Army under Lt. Gen. George S. Patton, toughest and most ruthless of the American field commanders, the German winter offensive appeared today to have had its back broken. The German radio announced that Field Marshal Von Rundstedt's western and southern spearheads had been withdrawn "according to plan" as the result of furious counterattacks by both the American First and Third Armies from the North, West and South. YANKS PENETRATE SALIENT-American troops have driven a deep salient into German lines, but the exact lcoation of the push was not disclosed. Supreme headquarters announced earlier that a German armored thrust toward the Meuse River had been checked at Celles and Ciney and the Germans rolled back.- Arrows show centers of action indicated by field dispatches. American tanks, it was announced, burst deep into the German bulge to relieve the Campus, Defying Traditionl, To Celebrate New Year's Twice Tradition will be no guide for those University students contemplating ringing in the New Year this year for a special New Year's celebration dance Saturday night at the Union and a fun packed evening Sunday at' the League have set the stage for Ann Arbor's first double new year cele- bration in history. Union To Sponsor War Council Sets 'Early Eve' Dance Fun-Packed Party By The Associated Press WESTERN FRONT-Patton's Third believed to have broken back of German offensive and is battering enemy back on 35-mile front in what may be decisive bat- tle of war. RUSSIAN FRONT-Reds cap- ture 12 more eastern suburbs of Budapest. PACIFIC FRONT-Iwo Jima based Jap bombers hit airfields on Saipan and Tinian. Cleanup of Leyte continues. BEASTS OF BERLIN: v z t 1 A r i 1 In what will probably be the "only activity of its kind in the nation," the campus will ring in the New Year at 11 p.m. tomorrow night-25 hours earlier than last year - during the course of a special New Year's dance which will be held at the Union. Jimmy Strauss, De'troit society band leader, and his orchestra will be the musical hosts for the evening with dancing scheduled to run from 9 p.m. to midnight. With no late coed permission and since Saturday is the only night most servicemen on campus have late hours, this dance will be "a real New Year's celebration," in the words of the chairman, Joe Milillo. Students will be asked to "just for- get a day in their lives" to permit a real New Year's Eve atmosphere to invade the Rainbow Room. Confetti, paper hats, noise makers and six hundred lusty lungs will complete the illusion at 11 p.m. This will be the third wartime New Year's Eve the campus has spent in Ann Arbor since the University switched to the speeded academic program. Informality'has been thel keynote for all affairs., Japs Intimate High Earthquake Damage By The Associated Press An indication that heavy damage may have been caused in Japan by the Dec. 7 earthquake, although Jap- anese broadcasts previously had giv- en no such impression, came from the Tokyo radio today. A broadcast recorded by FCC said the Japanese government had de- cided to grant "total exemption or postponement" of income and house taxes to corporations and individu- als "who suffered losses" in the "fire and tidal waves resulting from the quake." For those who like to celebrate their New Year's Eve on the day marked on the calendar, the Wom- en's War Council has arranged a spe- cial celebration party for Sunday night at the League. Comedy, vaudeville, dancing, mov- ies, games and a general atmosphere of gayety will add to the fun of new yea.- frolickers from 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at the League where all facili- ties will be in full swing. Favorite records will furnish music in the ballroom where a coke bar twill be run by Assembly. Panhellenic will cooperate in making arrangements for the ballroom. Margaret Lauben- gayer and Florine Wilkins will direct the plans. A student-talent floorshow will be given at 11:15 p.m. and will continue until midnight. Ellenor Mellert, Lady Magician, will perform several acts. Dancers Beverly Wittan and Dorothy Murzek will do solo and team acts. Comedy will be provided in the form of the Alpha Chi Omega skit, "I Walked Home from the Buggy Ride." Members of the Women's Glee Club will sing. The League grillroom will be open jduring the evening and will be ap- propriately decorated for the New' Year's festivities. Dean of Women Alice Lloyd, her assistant, Mis Maiy C. Bromage, and Miss Ethel MacCot - mick, director of coed undergraduate activities, will head the serving staff in the grillroom. They will be assist- ed by directors of coed residences. "The Scarlet Pimpernel," starring Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon will be shown at 8:30 p.m. and at 11:15 p.m. in the Lydia Mendelssohn Theater. Those attending the first showing will be able to take part in; the midnight celebration in the ball-; room. Other forms of entertainment wili be sponsored by the Union Executive Council. Two rooms will be equipped with various types of games. General admission tickets will admit everyoie to all activities in the League. U. S. '44 Deficit Is 52Billion WASHINGTON, Dec. 28-(P)-In 1944 the United States government collected more, spent more, and bor- rowed more money than in any pre- vious year of its history. Uncle Sam established new world records which may stand up a long U.S. To Protest Nazi Disregard Of War Rules By The Associated Press WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 - The United States, in angry helplessness,1 is preparing to protest the shootingr of American soldiers captured by the Germans during their forward rush into Belgium. The State Department is gather- ing from the War Department evi- dence which will form the basis of the protest. The information and+ the warning that German authori- ties will be held responsible when the day of reckoning comes will then be transmitted to Berlin through Swiss diplomats. But there is little expectation that this gesture will accomplish any positive results. Among mili- tary men there is a growing con- viction that the German high com- mand has thrown the rules of war completely out the window. The evidences are cited to support this conclusion. One is the shoot- ing of prisoners, particularly by Von Rundstedt's leading armored ele- ments. Apparently they had ordersc not to bother with prisoners since that would have slowed up their ad- vance. The other is the use of a "spy" force, trained saboteurs and assassins dressed as American soldiers .and equipped with American munitions. Both the shooting of prisoners and the assignment of men to fight in the uniform of the enemy are con- trary to the basic rules of war. The belief is now pretty firmly fixed here that the Germans will stop at nothing to gain their objec- tives. It is said they have forsaken all hope of retaining any of the outside world's good will or respect which might modify the treatment accorded them. It is assumed that the attitude of the Army leadership has come to be about the same as that of the Nazi party leadership whose record for atrocities goes back far beyond the start of the war. BULLETIN i DETROIT, Dec. 29-()-At least one person was killed and several injured late last night when a Cle- veland to Detroit train of the New York Central Railroad was derail- ed after hitting a stalled auto at a grade crossing in suburban Tren- ton. Eyewitnesses said the engine and tender of the train had overturned in a gully, while eight passenger cars had been -derailed, but not overturned. The baggage car caught fire and one baggageman suffered severe burns. All available ambulances and fire department crews were rushed to the scene. Spokesmen for the railroad at Detroit said they had no informa- Forward elements of the German northwestern tip were cut off from their main body by Americans in that sector, where 1,000 prisoners were taken and heavy losses inflicted. Long lines of prisoners also were being, marched down roads on the Third Army front, where Patton was personally shouting orders to his soldiers as he directed the battle. Hammering gains up to 16 miles in six days through the wooded hills of Belgium and northern Luxem- bourg, Patton's powerful mobile ar- my, punching up from the south, res- cued the heroic American garrison at Bastogne and to the east beat back the German wave after it had swept to within 13 miles of Luxem- bourg's capital. The hard-driving Patton, Amer- ica's No. 1 tank general, was given the job of stemming the enemy's surprise offensive three days after Von Rundstedt struck Dec. 16 and tonight, Associated Press correspond- ent Hawkins declared, it appeared the back of the German drive was broken. U. S. First Attacks Simultaneously, the U. S. First Army hit back savagely from the north, carving out gains of almost a U. S. Losses Increase WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 -()- Casualties in the armed forces in- creased 65,973 during the two weeks ending Dec. 14, boosting the total losses to 628,441, the Army and Navy reported today. The Army's killed, wounded, miss- ing and taken prisoner accounted for 547,823 of the total, an increase of 63,866. These figures, however, do not include the losses in the current German counteroffensive which Sec- retary of War Stimson said have been "severe." mile and a half in the northwest cor- ner of the German salient pointed toward the fortress of Liege and the Allied feeder highways to the port of Antwerp. These twin developments, fraught with peril for the German plan to split the Allied armies and slash across their lifelines, presumably were up to noon yesterday, and sub- sequent developments shrouded in a security blackout may have marked up more gains. One thing was clear. Today, the 13th since the Germans rolled out of the Reich and through the thin- held American lines in the Ardenmies, was the first that no enemy gains were reported. Nazis Being Driven Back Onthe contrary, the three Ger- man armies committed to the winter offensive were either being held or driven back along the entire 200- mile perimeter of its salient in west- ern Belgium and northern Luxem- bourg. Associated Press correspondent Ed- ward D. Ball said that Patton, the slashing hero of the Sicily blitz and the race across France, swung into action immediately after being hand- ed the fateful task of stemming the German offensive. Stimson Sees Hard Fighting WASHINGTON, Dec. 28-(P)-Sec- retary Stimson, though describing the present situation on the Euro- pean front as "critical," expressed confidence today that the Germans will eventually reap "disastrous con- sequences" from their gambling counteroffensive. "War is not an easy game to play and you can't always win every bat- tle," the War Secretary told a news conference, "But I am confident that ON POSTWAR MILITARY TRAINING:, Educators Endorse Comproise Plan Michigan educational leaders yesterday voted to support a program of postwar military preparedness that would combine both military training and education at the concluding session of the Conference on Higher Education held at the Union. The resolution favored this form over the currently discussed pro- posal of 12 months of continuous military service and is similar to a plan discussed by President Alexander G. Ruthven in a Daily interview two vide the country with a new set of moral values. Frank X. Martel, president of De- troit and Wayne County Federation of Labor, stated that the need for an economy of plenty for the mas-' ses of people must be recognized, to