ug t t '4 ain :. Weather Cooler VOL. LIII, No. 35-S ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, SATURDAY, AUG. 14, 1943 PRICE FIVE CENTS Soviets Drive Within Mile of Kharkov * * * * * * * * * * * * * 4: *1- * * * Allied Troops Smash Through Randazzo Bridgehead At Messina Falls in Drive Germans Hasten Retreat Across Northern Straits As Defenses Crumble ByThe Associated Press ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN NORTH AFRICA, Aug. 13-Hard- driving Allied troops today stormed and captured Randazzo pivotal Axis stronghold in the heart of the north- est Sicily front, after U. S. soldiers had smashed through a desperate German rearguard in violent hand- to-hand fighting. The middle of the fast-diminish- Axis defense lines on the Messina bridgehead suffered total collapse as the American Seventh Army lunged into the highland town from the west and north, followed by British troops smashing up from the south. Grmans Face Capture Although most of the German de- fenders tried to struggle eastward to the coast in the vicinity of Taormina, ace German grenadiers, in big num- bers, were believed to be facing cap- $ure in the area. At the same time, British troops menaced the Toar- inina area as they thundered up from the south along the coast on the other side of Mount Etna. All along a 20-mile road from Ran- dazao to Taormina, the Germans were in frenzied flight, with Allied troops at their heels. The Americans reached the ruined city's edge by nightfall yesterday. The German rearguard engaged them and after a hand-to-hand fight the Yanks rushed into the shell-and Bomb-torn town at 9:35 a.m. (3:35 a.m. EWT) today. Communications Are Smashed The conquest of Randazzo was lik- ened to the capture of Tunis in the African campaign because it smashed open the few remaining communica- tion lines available to the Axis forces and threw the Germans back toward their final narrow peninsular foot- hold in Sicily opposite the toe of the, Italian boot.j At the same time U.S. and British troops were pushing hard upon the German flanks within 30 miles of Messina at some coastal points. By squads, platoons and companies the prisoners straggled in, boosting to more than 130,000 the total cap- tured during the five-week-old Sici- lian campaign. Allied gains contracted the front to a length of 30 miles. U.S. Cracks' Down on State Liquor lHouse LANSING, Aug. 13.- (A)- The alcohol tax division of the U.S.s Treasury cracked down today on the1 Michigan Liquor Control Commis- sion, closing its main warehouse herea for a period of hours pending com-I pletion of arrangements for a rec-1 ord-keeping system satisfactory to the federal government. Chairman R. Glen Dunn of the commission said the controversy was settled after an enforced three-hour1 closure of the warehouse, and that he expected there would be no fur- ther trouble. The tax division acted after months of negotiation in which it sought to induce the commission to maintain records which would enable federal operatives to trace liquor shipments to the vendors, it said. Dunn said a dispute with the divi- sion concerning settlement of a $15,-' 000 liquor floor tax claim apparently was not involved in the dispute. The" liquor control commission has dis- claimed liability for paying the tax, contending the liquor was in transit when the tax became effective in October, 1942. The vendors to whom Rome bombed forSecond Time Following RAF Assault on Berlin GemnVcix Reds Report .... . .... . ' :464.4 A dvance on' v By E. C. DANIEL Associated Press Correspondent LONDON, Aug. 14, Saturday.- Hundreds of U.S. planes bombed Rome again yesterday after a Brit- ish night assault on Berlin and the heaviest RAF attack yet made on Milan and Turin in northern Italy, and Swiss dispatches early today indicated that northern Italy may be under attack once more by the RAF. A Reuters report from Zurich this morning said an alert had been sounded in western Switzer- land-usually an indication that northern Italy is being bombed. Rome Railways Bombed Yesterday, waves of African- based Flying Fortresses, Mitchells and Marauders showered bombs on the San Lorenzo and Littorio rail- way yards in Rome, the same tar- gets which were partially wrecked July 19 by 500 American planes. Italians Shout To Pope for Peace Terms LONDON, Aug. 14, Saturday-(P) -The Vatican radio said today in a broadcast heard by the Daily Telegraph that residents of Rome had the permission of Pope Pius XII to seek refuge in the Vatican City during future night air raid alerts. AT THE SWISS-ITALIAN FRON- TIER, Aug. 13.-(P)-Thousands of Italians clustered around Pope Pius XII today andshouted to him for peace when the Pontiff visited the bombed areas of Rome after the sec- ond American air attack, it was learned here tonight. Other reports said that residents of Milan--the target of an RAF at- tack early this morning-had dem- onstrated later against the govern- ment of Marshal Pietro Badoglio and its failure to get out of the war. Turin also was bombed. Stefani, the Italian News Agency, said in a Rome dispatch that the Pope was the object of tumultous manifestations U.S. Chiefs To Confer on War Staff Heads Arrive In Quebec for Parley QUEBEC, Aug. 13.-UP)--American chiefs of staff arrived here tonight, and their presence suggested that momentous war conferences between President Roosevelt and Prime Min- ister Churchill of Britain soon would begin. Their arrival gave a new spark of life to Allied war talks which had been lagging perceptibly since Churchill left here Wednesday night and turned up the next morning in the United States. The surveys of the war situation around the world between the Ameri- cans and their "opposite numbers" of the British armed services and those to be conducted by the President and Prime Minister may bring into exist- ence the final decisions on tactics and strategy needed to crack open Hitler's European stronghold and to bring the war closer to the islands of Japan. * * * Reds To Know Parley Results WASHINGTON, Aug. 13.-1/2- There may be no Russians sitting in on the Roosevelt-Churchill conferen- ces but Secretary of State Hull indi- cated today that they would be told of what goes on. Replying to reporters who sought confirmation of the Tass (official Soviet) News Agency report that no Russian representative had been in- Again the fliers struck just be- fore noon after minute instruc- tions to avoid religious or cultural targets in the city which is the seat of the Roman Catholic church. More than 500 Tons Dropped Some of the lighter bombers skimmed in at low levels, low enough to pour tracers into the smoking rail establishments which form strategic bottlenecks for. war supplies to German and Italian troops in Sicily and southern Italy. The weight of explosives was said at Allied headquarters in North Africa to exceed 500 tons. There were no American losses. The Rome radio said Pope Pius XII, who also is bishop of Rome, visited the bombed areas after the raiders left.. A suggestion that the Allied aer- ial offensive had extended into vir- gin territory came late today from Smolensk the Berlin radio. This report said 'enemy planes' flew over southwest Hungary. No bombs were reported to have fallen. Italy Will Be Seared The new attack, coupled with the unprecedented smashes at tur- bulent Milan and Turin in the north, was interpreted as an Allied demonstration to the Badoglio gov- ernment that Italy indeed would be ."seared, scarred and blackened from end to end" as Prime Minister Churchill promised, if she did not surrender and oust the Germans. The Air Ministry said that more than 1,120 tons of bombs were dropped on Milan alone last night and that the attack in the north was "in greater strength than ever before." Seven bombers which soared across the Alps from Britain were lost of the mighty armada of probably 1,000 raiding planes. -Associated Press Photo American infantrymen, who made an amphibious landing behind the German lines on the north coast of Sicily, examine a German jeep. Shot while trying to escape, the dead German driver lies on the road. FOUR TO THREE GALLONS: OPA Slashes Gasoline Coupon Values in Midwest,_Southwest WASHINGTON, Aug. 13.- (P)- The Office of Price Administration tonight slashed the value of gasoline coupons in the midwest and south- west from 4 to 3 gallons, expressed a "hope" that the northeastern pleas- ure driving ban can be lifted Sept. 1, and a "further hope" that the east coast's meager gas rations may be increased "later in September." The ration reduction in thecmid- west and southwest will become effective at 12:01 a.m. Monday, it was announced by Chester Bowles, acting price administrator. Concerning the ban on pleasure driving in 12 northeastern states, Bowles said it may be lifted Sept. 1 if the restrictions on such driving are observed the balance of this month. The announcements were issued hurriedly by OPA because of infor- mation "leaks" in the midwest. Prev- iously it had been planned to make the disclosures over the week-end. The cut in the midwest and south- west, Bowles said, was made "to re- duce gasoline consumption" in those areas. Affected by the reduction are the states lying between the 17 Atlantic coast states and the Rocky Moun- tains. The petroleum for war made no, curtailment in gasoline in the Rocky Mountain and Pacific coast states, where coupon values remained un- changed. Secretary Ickes, the petroleum ad- ministrator, said that under the new allocations of gasoline assigned to the midwest and southwest, "No course was possible but to cut the A, B and C coupons as we have done." Under OPA's new order the maxi- mum allotment of gasoline for in- Japs Will Beg for Mercy, General Says CHUNGKING, Aug. 14, Saturday- (P)-No longer can "cowardly Japa- nese airmen" fly at will over China, and "soon Japanese everywhere will beg for mercy which they have never shown our airmen," declared Maj.- Gen. Claire L. Chennault today in a message to the Chinese Air Force on the occupation of that group's anni- versary. The commander of the 14th U.S. Air Force in China recalled that six years ago today the Chinese air force "severely defeated an attacking force of Jap raiders over Nanking and Hanchow," and said the force "has certainly inspired fear" in the Japa- nese pilots and people. Lt. Henry Ford II Is Released from Navy DETROIT, Aug. 13. -(A)- Lt. (j.g.) Henry Ford II, eldest son of course-of-work driving (except for "C" books) in the middle west and southwest will be reduced from 720 miles a month to 480 miles a month. "This," the OPA announcement said, "will reduce substantially the occu- pational driving of persons-such as salesmen-who use their cars in con- nection with their work. However, it does not affect the home-to-work mileage of drivers who may continue to get up to 720 miles a month to drive to work, if they need it." Convocations To Grant Degrees 550 To Be Honored; Choral Groups To Sing The choral groups, the newly formed Navy-Marine Chorus and the First Methodist Choir will furnish special music when 550 summer ses- sion graduates receive their advanced degrees at the Honor Convocation program to be held at 8 p.m. tomor- row in Hill Auditorium. Lt. (j.g.) Murray A. Johnson, chap- lain at the Dearborn Naval Base, will give the invocation, and Dean E. Blythe Stason of the law school will address the degree candidates on "Technology and Education." The 80 voice Navy-Marine Chorus will sing the Navy hymn, "Eter- nal Father, Strong to Save," by John Dykes and William Whiting., Composed of 71 sailors and 8 Ma- rines, the chorus has been rehearsing for three weeks under the direction of Prof. Hardin Van Duersen, Caleb Warner, '44E, and Ed Neithercut, '44. The First Methodist Choir of 40 voices, also directed by Prof. Van Duerson, will sing a special musical composition called an antiphone. In this type of music, often used for liturgical services, Chaplain Johnston will read a portion of the Scripture and the Choir in the balcony will sing the antiphone. Called "O Thou Eter- nal One," the selection was composed by Eric DeLamarter, guest professor of music at the University and form- er associate conductor of the Chi- cago Symphony Orchestra. Prof. Palmer Christian will provide a back- ground for the reading on the organ. A second selection by the Choir will be "The Choral Blessing" by Peter Lutkin, former Dean of the School of, Music at Northwestern University. Most of the summer session gradu- ates are high school teachers who will receive master's degrees tomor- row. Kelly, Vandenberg Meet Summer Prom Features Musac By Shep Fields Informal, All-Campus Dance To Be Given at Waterman Gym Today Forgetting their coming bluebooks for an evening of relaxation, stu- dents and servicemen will dance to the music of Shep Fields and his or- chestra from 8:30 p.m. to midnight today in Waterman Gym. "This is the first big all-campus dance to actually be held on campus for many years," Chuck Dotterrer, '44, general chairman stated. In keeping with wartime restrictions, the dance will be informal. One of the top-ranking bands of the nation, Shep Fields and his or- chestra has recently played for the Navy and has been featured on en- gagements from coast to coast. Solo- ist with the "New Music" band will be the popular Meredith Blake. The Summer Prom, the only big dance to be held this summer, was scheduled for today to allow stu- dents enrolled in the summer ses- sion to attend. Rupert Straub, ticket chairman, announced that a limited number of tickets are still available at the Union. Members of the central committee and their guests include Igeneral chairman Chuck Dotterrer who will escort Nancy Bustard of Cleveland; floor committee, Roy Boucher will bring Jean Abrogast, and John Clippert will be seen with Martha Schmitt. Other committee chairmen are publicity, Erwin Larsen who will es- cort Doris Palmer of Detroit: music, Carol McCormick will be accompan- ied by Russ Fisher, and Cecil Sink will take Betty Morton of Dearborn; patrons, Libby Swisher will be es- corted by Ralph Amstutz; and tick- ets, Rupert Straub will be seen with Jane Shute. The patrons for the dance were announced yesterday by Libby Swish- Turn to Page 3, Col. 7 McNutt Asks for New Security Plan WASHINGTON, Aug. 13. - (P) _ Federal Security Administrator Paul V. McNutt called for a broadening of the social insurance program to- day in a statement recalling that tomorrow would mark the eighth anniversary of the Social Security Act. "On the basis of eight years' ex- perience," he said, "we should now prepare for postwar readjustments as well as for the permanent economic security of all the American people." Four Generals To Attend Class JAG Graduation. 80 Enlisted Men Will Receive Commissions As Second Lieutenants Four generals will attend the grad- uation ceremonies of the 1st Officer Candidate Class at the Judge Advo- cate General's School Aug. 27 and 28, Col. Edward H. Young, School com- mandant announced yesterday. Approximately 80 enlisted men will receive commissions as second lieu- tenants in the Judge Advocate Gen- eral's Department of the' United States Army at the graduation exer- cises. Major General Myron C. Cramer. The Judge Advocate General of the Army and Brigadier General Thomas H. Green, The Assistant Judge Advo- cate General, who have been present at the last few graduations, will again participate. In addition, Major General Blanton Winship, member of the Inter-American Defense Board, and Brigadier General Lawr- ence H. Hendrick, Air Jude Advocate, will be visiting the school for the first time. General Winship, former Govern- or-General of Porto Rico, and form- erly The Judge Advocate General, will be the principal speaker at the exercises. A veteran officer with ser- vice in the infantry and field artil- lery,, General Winship is the holder of the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal and the Silver Star. The Board of which he is at present a member is in charge of coordinating the defense measures of Canada and the United States. General Hedrick recently returned from the European theatre of opera- Turn to Page 3, Col. 6 State Withholds U War Funds Defense Board Wants More Information LANSING, Aug. 13.- (P)- The Defense-Finance Committee of the State Administrative Board today demanded more information before releasing $800,000 requested by the University of Michigan and $234,000 requested by Michigan State College from their earmarked shares of the State War Fund. State Treasurer D. Hale Brake. chairman, said the committee ap- proved the college's request for $275,- 590 to finance war research projects and its accelerated summer study program, but was doubtful 'of the propriety of drawing on the war fund to meet the rest of its request and that of the University. - - ----- - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ ~ ~ Soviets Expect General Retreat by Germans To Dnieper River Line By EDWARD D. BALL Associated Press Correspondent LONDON, Aug. 14, Saturday.- While Soviet forces stormed to with- in a mile of tottering Kharkov and closed in on the middle key base of Bryansk, other Russian troops smashed through a 31-mile section of the central front yesterday to open an important new offensive against Smolensk with gains up to 13 miles. Capture of these three German strongpoints on a 500-mile front would crack the entire Axis defense in Russia and probably force a gen- eral retreat to the Dnieper River line. The new offensive-the third ma- jor Russian drive opened this sum- mer-was a two-armed push from north and south of Spas Demensk, 85 miles southeast of Smolensk on an important rail line. In three days' fighting the unchecked Soviet legions shattered the German lines in two great gaps of 22 and nine miles each and swarmed through to capture Spas Demensk and Pavlino another town, only 73 miles from Smolensk. More than 100 towns and villag'es were captured in the breakthrough, and in the toppling of Spas Demensic alone more than 2,000 Germans were killed. Other Russian troops are 60 miles from Smolensk on the north in the Velikie Lukie area. They reached that point last winter. Soviet artillery massed before the strong German defenses softened Nazi resistance, said the Moscow midnight communique recorded by the Soviet monitor. The Russian air force also supplied an airblanket for the charging troops, knocking down 42 German planes. Quantities of war material were seized by the advancing infantrymen. In the south, Kharkov was a doomed city as plunging Russian columns wiped out last-ditch Ger- man defenders and captured Bol- shaya-Danilovka, a mile to the northeast and the first suburb out of the great Ukraine industrial center on the Kharkov River. Yanks Destroy Jap Air base A t Sala mana ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC. Aug. 14, Saturday. --(IP)- Japan's men- aced air base at Salamaua, New Guinea, has been laid in ruins and its key portion built out on an isthmus "has virtually ceased to ex- ist" as the result of a 177-ton bom- bardmnent by heavy and medium Allied planes, Gen. Douglas MacAr- thur announced today. The shattering air blow was the latest in a series which have dealt more than 1,000 tons of explosive and incendiary bombs on that north- eastern New Guinea base of the enemy. Announcement of the destructive aerial thrustnwascoupled with an- other of 'a new advance of a mile at the other end of the 750-mile battle arc in the Pacific against the last foothold of the Japanese on New Georgia Island at Bairoko Har- bor. This advance occurred near Zieta village which is roughly four miles from Bairoko harbor and about half way between the harbor's encircled enemy garrison and the Munda air Wse which the Americans captured on Aug. $. Resuming a Solomons aerial of- fensive after a brief lull caused by bad weather, fighter-escorted heavy bombers destroyed or severely dam-