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Weather
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VOL. LII, No. 14-S ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, FRIDAY, JULY 16, 1943
FDR Reorganizes conomic Home Fr
PRICE FIVE CENTS
ont;
Leo Crowley
To
Replace
Jones,
Wallace
Russian Army
BeginsNew
Orel Offensive
German War Machine
Stalls While Soviet
Troops Capture Towns
By The Associated Press
MOSCOW, July 15.-Two Russian
armies have begun a powerful coun-
teroffensive in the Orel sector against
a stalled German military machine,
smashing or routing 10 German di-
visions in three days, recapturing 110
towns and advancing as much as 28
miles, a special bulletin announced
tonight.
A vast wheeling movement north
and east of Orel threatened to pinch
off that German bastion which the
Nazis used as a base in their own
futile offensive begun July 5.
More than 12,000 Germans have
been killed and 2,000 captured as
"our troops north and east of Orel,
after fierce counterattacks, passed
onto the offensive," the communique
said.
Drive Toward Railroad
One Red army drove toward the
Orel-Bryansk railway at a point
northwest of Orel.The other, spring-
ing to the attack from the east, was
within 28 miles of the key city.
In this coordinated push the Soviet
forces were said to have destroyed
109 enemy tanks, 294 planes, and 47
guns, and captured 40 tanks, 210
guns, 187 mortars, 99 machineguns,
26 supply dumps, and other materiel.
This boosted the immense toll of
Nazi casualties to more than 54,000
killed or captured in 11 days of at-
trition. German materiel losses in
the same period amounted to 3,068
tanks destroyed or captured and 1,636
planes shot down.
Coincides with Sicily Success
(The Russian drive coincided with
Allied successes in Sicily, and for
the first time Russians semi-offici-
ally acknowledged that a two-front
war had arrived in Europe. M. Vik-
torov, a Moscow radio commentator,
in a broadcast recorded in London
by the Soviet monitor, declared:
"Hitler's latest gamble has been
foiled. His failure is all the more
conspicuous as his main forces are
on the Soviet-German front. Hitler
has now been forced to fight on two
fronts.")
With the Germans' own offensive
bogged down on the front from Orel
south to Belgorod, the Red Army
broke through strong German de-
fenses on a 25-mile front north of
Orel.
The communique said this Soviet
column had advanced 28 miles to
capture Klen and Yelensk, points
which lie only 18 miles north of the
Orel-Bryansk railway. Another cap-
tured town, Staritsa, is 60 miles
northwest of Orel.
The Russians sprung their drive
three days ago, exactly one week
after the Germans began their drive,
which has cost them staggering
losses.
OPA Considers
New Subsidies
Brown Predicts Gas,
Coffee Increase Soon
WASHINGTON, July 15-0)-The
Office of Price Administration (OPA)
is considering subsidies to keep down
prices of canned vegetables, Admin-
istrator Prentiss Brown said today,
adding that if this is done the pro-
posed "roll back" of coffee prices will
be dropped.
Brown also told a press confer-
ence that pivilians stand a good
chance of getting more beef and
gasoline in the near future. But
Secretary of Interior Ickes later made
clear that he is not optimistic about
the gasoline situation and the War
Food Administration announced that
meat allocations for the next 12
months "will allow continuation of
the civilian meat ration at about the
present level."
Ickes, the Petroleum Administra-
tor, said at his press conference that
A Ilies CaptureMubo;950
Japaneso Are Destroyed
Key Point Protecting Salamana Is Taken;
45 Enemy Planes Shot Down in Solomons
Economic Administrators Dismissed
New
Will
Department
Take
Over
By The Associated Press
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC, July
16, Friday-A big land victory-cap-
ture of Mubo, New Guinea, with the
destruction of 950 Japanese-and a
sensational air triumph-the shoot-
ing down in the Solomons of 45 ene-
my planes out of a formation of
nearly 80-were announced today by
Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
The seizure of Mubo, made possible
by a highly secretive operation in-
volving infiltration behind the Jap-
anese hill positions in the jungles of
Gen. Giraud
Visits Detroit
War Factories
Promises that France
Will Be on American
Side Until Victory
DETROIT, July 15. -()- Gen.
Henri Honore Giraud, commander-
in-chief of the French North African
Army, today concluded a 24-hour vis-
it to Detroit war plants where he ob-
served the production of weapons
which were used in North Africa to
rout the Axis Armies.
Appreciates Detroit Production
Just before he took off from the
airport at the sprawling Willow Run
Bomber Plant for an undisclosed des-
tination, the General said, through
an Army interpreter, that he was
"able to appreciate the importance of
American production during my
short stay in Detroit."
"The French Army has great con-
fidence in the American people and
knows that it will receive the wea-
pons it needs. America may have full
confidence in France, which will be
at the American side until final vic-
tory," he declared.
This morning the General visited
the' Chrysler Tank Arsenal, and fol-
lowing a luncheon at Willow Run, he
watched the assembly of B-24 Liber-
ator Bombers.
Speaks to Chrysler Workers
The tall, erect French leader, in
a brief talk to Chrysler employes,
said, "I'd like to ask you to try to
put out a few more of these for my
French soldiers to fight with. I have
seen in Tunisia the best tanks the
Germans can put out, the M-6 Tiger,
and I can tell you that although
yours are not so heavy they certainly
are superior in every way. I want to
tell you the French troops in North
Africa know how to use them most
effectively against the common ene-
my, and I thank you again for all
you are doing to make our common
victory possible."
At the Willow Run luncheon he
picked up a glass of water and toast-
ed Army and Ford officials with, "I
drink to the great American inde-
pendence and the day of liberation of
all peoples."
northeast New Guinea, opened the
way for an advance upon the enemy
air base of Salamaua less than 12
miles to the north.
The air victory, scored over Ren-
dova Island not far from the scene
of the land fighting for possession of
the enemy air base on Munda, was
described as one of the greatest ever
fought in that area.
Only Three Fighters Lost
Only three of our fighters were lost
as they piled into a formation of 27
medium bombers and between 50 and
60 zeros. The enemy losses brought to
more than 300 the number of planes
we have shot down since the present
offensive opened June 30.
There was victory news from Mun-
da itself, with our jungle fighters re-
ported stealthily advancing on that
key base in the central Solomons
Once the Japanese tried a counterat-
tack. It was thrown back.
Mubo Bastion Captured
"The Mubo bastion has been cap-
tured," the communique reported.
"United States forces after landing
and consolidating a beachhead at
Nassau Bay on June 30 moved inland
up the valley of the Bitoi River, ef-
fecting a junction with Australia
units in Buigap Creek at dusk on July
10.
"This move effected in complete
secrecy operated to cut the enemy's
line of communication between Mubo
and Salamaua and isolate his garri-
sons on Observation and Green hills."
The capture of Mubo elimated a
strong point only 12 miles from Sala-
maua. Since the fall of the Papuan
Peninsula of Southwest New Guinea,
Allied jungle fighters had been infil-
trating from the south until they held
ridge tops overlooking Mubo in the
spring.
Radio Predicts
Fake Invasion
Dutch Broadcast Warns,
Of Nazi Army Trick
LONDON, July 15.- (M)-The free
Netherlands Station Radio Orange
warned the Dutch people tonight
that the Germans were planning to
stage a fake invasion of the Nether-
lands coast in order to trick patriots
Roosevelt Reprimands Vice-President,
Commerce Secretary for Public Spat
By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, July 15.- President Rbosevelt, in a sweeping home
front reorganization, tonight ordered Vice-President Wallace and Commerce
Secretary Jones relieved of all responsibility for foreign economic warfare
and created a new office under Leo T. Crowley to take over this work.
The President severely reprimanded the Vice-President, head of the
Board of Economic Warfare, and Jones, as supervisor of the Reconstruction
" Finance Corporation, for publicly
airing their disputes.
American Army He abolished the BEW and
transferred its functions, along
with all RFC subsidiaries engaged
in foreign economic matters, to
' A W ..........Z.
HENRY A. WALLACE JESSE JONES
Reprimanded by the President Approving of FDR's appoint-
for bickering with Jesse Jones, ment, Secretary of Commerce
Vice-President Wallace said . . . Jones said . .
"In wartime no one should ques- "I concur most heartily in the
tion the overall wisdom of the President's determination to have
Commander-in-Chief." harmony and cooperation between
... his removal as chairman of the government officials and agencies
BEW was unprecedented. in the war effort."
HELLO COL. McCORMICK:
Wilkie To Be Candidatee
By The Associated Press
NEW YORK, July 14.- Wendell
Willkie chooses to run in 1944.
The 1940 Republican presidential
nominee in an interview made that
plain today in challenging Col. Rob-
ert R. McCormick, publisher of The
Chicago Tribune, to a hammer-and-
tongs campaign for the Illinois pref-
erential primary vote.
Reporters have been asking Will-
kie for some time about his future
plans and he has parried questions
with them without a definite com-
mitment.
But he let go when the following
question was put to him:
"Have you seen reports that Col-
onel McCormick may run in the Illi-
nois primary for the Republican
presidential nomination?"
Willkie answer in his own hand-
writing:
Yanks Bomb
Kiska Again
into exposing themselves.V WASHINGTON, July 15.- (P)- I
nthexpsinthemnseves , The fourth naval bombardment of
"The intention seems to be," said Japanese positions on Kiska Island
the broadcast as reported by the inan eight-day period was reported
Netherlands News Agency Aneta, by 'the Navy today. The attack
"that the Germans will undertake aroused speculation that prelimin-
fake landings on the Netherlands ary preparations for American con-
coast. Apart from that they would uest of the enemys last position in
drop German parachutists dressed the Aleutian Islands might be un-
in Britain uniforms. derway.
"The grand idea is that Dutchmen A Navy communique said that a
would go into the streets thinking light surface unit, probably either a
that the day of liberation had come, destroyer or light cruiser, bombarded
The Germans believe they would Gertrude Cove on Kiska Island early
probably take their arms with them. Wednesday morning. Enemy guns
Therefore, together with the faked made no attempt to fight off the
landings and dropping of parachute warships, presumably because the
troops, raids and searches in the Japanese did not want to disclose
streets will take place." the positions of their shore batteries.
"I certainly hope it is true. Fora
then I could really make the issue
clear-the greatest issue of the day
-American relations to the rest of
the world and liberal internal do-
mestic policies."
Issue Is Internationalism
That is the only direct quotation
he would permit, but he said he was
anxious to have Colonel McCormick
take the stump because he said dif-
ferences between them were so strik-
ing that the people would have
clear-cut issues on which to vo
Will Stump Illinois
Willie said that if McCormick be-
came a primary candidate he would
stump Illinois thoroughly and, if
necessary, would walk from town to
town to spread his doctrine.
At a meeting in Chicago July 1,
sponsored by the Republican Nation-;
alist Revival Committee- recently
organized with the announced aim
to help maintain the Republican
party as the "Nationalist Party" in
American politics-a resolution Was
adopted urging Colonel McCormick
to become a candidate in the Illinois
preferential primary. In its declara-
tion of principles, the committee ex-
pressed opposition to Willkie.
McCormick Is Nationalist
The resolution as adopted said
Colonel McCormick "personifies the
American national is t viewpoint"
while Willkie and his followers "are
internationalists."
Col. McCormick was in Canada
when Willkie made his statement
and there was no immediate indica-
tion as to if and when he would
reply.
The publisher has made no com-
ment on the Republican Nationalist
Revival Committee's request that he
become a candidate in the Illinois
presidential preference primary next
April.
'tag Day Drive
Nets $1,010.88
University Fresh Air
Camp To Remain Open
The University Fresh Air Camp will
be able to continue operation until
August 21 as a result of the $1,018.88
contributed yeiterday by servicemen,
faculty, students and townspeople to
the annual Tag Day Drive.
Exceeding last year's summer total
by more than $87, yesterday's amount
will enable more than 100 city "kids"
to enjoy a real vacation at the Camp
located near Pinckney on Patterson
Miles in Sicily
British, Yanks Ready '
For Important Battle
On the Catania Plain
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
NORTH AFRICA, July 15. -(P)--1
American troops plunged seven miles
deeper into Sicily's mountains in a
race tonight with British coastal9
armies striking toward the Catania;
plain where Allied parachutists and;
glider troops dropped behind the en-
emy's lines for what is expected to
be a major battle.
The Americans under Lieut.-Gen.
George S. Patton, Jr., captured an-
other airdrome and also took some
important heights in a thrust which
reached the Vizzini arear25 miles
inland from Augusta, the British
base for the drive on Catania to the
north.
Another Italian general, command-
ing the 54th Napoli Division, surren-
dered with his staff south of Vizzini.
Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery's
British-Canadian Eighth Army was
fighting along the coast after repuls-
ing a stiff Axis counterattack which
temporarily broke British lines early
yesterday to reach Augusta.
By noon yesterday the British had
ejected the Germans and went on to
take Brucoli, four miles above Au-
gusta. sTheir next objective was Len-
tini, on the edge of the plain 13
miles below Catania port, which is
half-way along the road to the im-
portant prize of Messina opposite the
toe of Italy.
* * *
Germans Claim
Gains in Sicily
LONDON, July 15. -()- Fresh
German reserves were declared by
the Berlin radio tonight to have
counter-attacked the Allies invading
Sicily in the region south of Catania,
and both the Italian and Nazi com-
muniques said violent British and
American drives had been checked.
"Fighting in southern Sicily is con-
tinuing with undiminished violence,"
the communique said. "At several
points, enemy attacks, launched with
the support of tanks, were repulsed."
Hour after the communique, the
Berlin military, commentator, Capt.
Lugwiy Sertorius, told of the coun-
terattack south of Catania, which
the Eighth Army is approaching.
"In Sicily, enemy pressure is being
contained by Axis troops who re-
pulsed stubborn enemy attacks
launched with the support of sub-
stantial armor," the Italian bulletin
said.
Alarms Suggest
North Italy Attack
LONDON, July 16, Friday-- (P)
Air raid alarms sounded in Basel and
Western Switzerland early today in-
dicating thatAllied planes again
might be attacking Italy from the
north.
Axis radios at Calais and Paris
also switched off suddenly twice,
late last night and early this morn-
ing, a sign that Allied planes were
over Europe.
Tn Britain anti-aircraft guns on-
the new "Office of Economi war-
fare,", headed by Crowley.
The latter has accepted. He is
now Alien Property Custodian.
FDR Letter Publicized.
The White House also made public
a presidential letter to the heads of
all government departments and
agencies flatly telling them that if
they disobey his preious instruc-
tions to bring inter-departmental
disputes to him before airing them
in the press, he will expect them to
send in their resignations immedi-
ately.
Wallace recently brought the,
feud with Jones into the open by
charging the latter with obstruct-
ing the war effort by actin; too
slowly in providing BEW with
funds to purchase strategic mater-
ials from abroad. Jones replied
hotly that the charges were mali-
cious and untrue.
Mr. Roosevelt, in identical letters
to his 1940 running mate and to
Jones, said he had come to the con-
clusion that the "unfortunate and
acrimonious public debate" between
them made it necessary in the public
interest to transfer their administra-
tion of foreign economic matters to
other hands. -
No Time for Quarrel
"In the midst of waging a war so
critical to our national security and
to the future of all civlization," the
President wrote, "there is not suf-
ficient time to investigate and de-
termine where the truth lies on your
conflicting versions as to transac-
tions which too place over a year and
a half ago."
The Chief Executive said his
action tonight is not intended to
decide who 'was right, buit the im-
portant thing "is to clear the decks
and to get on with the war at
once."
"To do this," he added, "requires a
fresh start with new men, unencum-
bered by interagency dissension and
bitterness." '
He said he was convinced that the
present controversy indicated that
future cooperative action between
BEW and the RFC subsidiaries is
impossible and that "Without full
cooperation between you the pro-
gram of economic warfare cannot be
carried out."
Organizations Transferred
Besides transferring the entire
BEW setup with its approximate
4,000 employes to the new Office of
Economic Warfare, the President's
order also gave Crowley's new organ-
ization the following RFC subsidiar-
ies: - the United States Commercial
Corporation, the Rubber Develop-
ment Corporation, the Petroleum)
Reserve Corporation, Export-Import
Bank, and all other RFC and Com-
merce Department agencies engaged
in financing foreign purchases and
imports.
Wallace's removal as chairman
of the BEW was unprecedented.
Never before in the memory of
veteran government authorities
has a Vice-President served in
such an important capacity out-
side his Senate duties and hence
an occasion to terminate such ex-
tra activity on the part of the se-
ond administrative officer of the
land has never arisen hitherto.
'M' Club Begins Sale
i A 'PDtc" tn 1w dimnn
DEBATE CHAMPIONS' COACH:
Dr. Secord To Leave University
Dr. Arthur Secord of the Speech
Department and Extension Service
said yesterday that he will go to the
University of Missouri, Columbia,
Mo., this fall to become assistant pro-
fessor of speech and director of the
speech clinic there.
During the seven years that Dr.
Secord has been here he has been di-
rector of men's debate and his de-
bators won two undisputed Big Ten
championships. For six years he has
managed the Michigan High School
Dr. Secord received his A.B. de-
gree from Western Michigan College,
I Kalamazoo; his master's degree from
the University in 1932 and his doc-
tor's degree from Michigan in 1941.
Since completing his work on his
master's degree in dramatics all his
training has been done in the field of
speech correction and speech science.
A year ago, Dr. Secord was elected
to the nominating committee of the
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