1I ff 1 Y a 41it 4 aiIll W eather Scattered Thundershowers VOL. LIV No. 9-S ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, SATURDAY, JULY 15, 1944 PRICE FIVE CENTS Red Forces 20 Miles from East Prussia Democratic Camp Divides on Wallace Early Delegation Arrivals Agree on Strong Foreign Policy Plank for Party By The Associated Press CHICAGO, July 14-Early arrivals for the Democratic National Con- vention divided today into Henry A. Wallace and anti-Wallace camps on the topmost issue of a vice-presidential nomination although they found themselves united for a short platform with a sturdy foreign policy plank. "It won't be Wallace," said Representative Thomas D'Alesandro Jr., of Maryland, but other delegates in hotel lobby interviews declared Wal- lace still is very much in the picture. The 29th party conclave will convene Wednesday to give President Roosevelt. a fourth nomination. Most of the platform builders came on the scene during the day and, at an organization meeting, decided to start Nazis Withdraw Resistance Near Port of Livorno Poggibonsi Falls to French on Bastille Day By the Associated Press ROME, July 14.-German resis- tance to the advancing Americans on the Fifth Army front has suddenly withdrawn, front line dispatches re- ported tonight, with the doughboys making gains up to five miles along most of the line in a bid to enter the big port of Livorno (Leghorn) pos- sibly this week-end. While hard-fighting French troops celebrated Bastille Day by capturing the important communications cen- ter of Poggibonsi,.21 miles southwest of Florence, after two days of combat in the outskirts, the Americans were moving up against enemy artillery fire described as merely harassing, and against small rear guard groups of eight to ten German riflemen. Counterattack Unsuccessful An unsuccessful counterattack by eighty Germans north of Castellina was described as a comparatively big action, in sharp contrast with the yard-by-yard fighting advances of the past fortnight. In their thrust toward the Arno River the Americans still were run- ning into minefields and demolitions, but the character of German opposi- tion had weakened noticeably during the day after some hard, close combat yesterday. Allies Get Major Base Possession of Poggibonsi, situated on the main highway between Siena and Florence, gives the Allies a major base from which to drive directly on Florence as well as down the Elsa River valley toward Empoli on the Arno River. It was a fitting victory for France's national holiday, for among Gen. Alphonse Juin's troops were officers and men who could recall vividly the despair that gripped their homeland four years ago. Raids on Guam Foreshadow New Assault U. S. PACIFIC FLEET HEAD- QUARTERS, PEARL HARBOR, July 14-(AP)-For the tenth straight day, Guam was ripped by bombs and rockets of Vice Adm. Marc A. Mitscher's task force Thursday in a continuing action which suggested impending developments against that former U. S. outpost. Adm. Chester W. Nimitz announc- ed tonight in a press release the fir- ing of ammunition dumps, gun posi- tions and other installations on Guam in the July 13 attack by car- rier planes. (Yesterday Tokyo radio told of the assault but added that a battleship also had twice bombarded Guam Thursday). Thursday's raiding force also hit Rota, an enemy-held island between Guam and newly conquered Saipan. All planes returned from the Guam and Rota attacks. Demonstrating mastery of Mai- anas waters, an American destroyer moved near Guam the night of July 10 and sank a small Japanese coastal public hearings Monday. The plat- form subcommittee is headed by Rep- resentatives John McCormack, Mas- sachusetts, and Mary T. Norton, New Jersey. lannegan Awaited Word filtered through hotel lobbies that National Committee Chairman Robert E. Hannegan will arrive to- morrow, possibly with a tentative platform and the latest "lowdown" on presidential wishes for a running mate. Pro-Wallace sentiment was ex- pressed by Senator Claude Pepper of Florida, who said: "I think Wallace's name will go before the convention, and I expect to vote for him." Pennsylvania Assures FDR While word came from the big 72-vote Pennsylvania delegation at Harrisburg that it would go to the man the President desires, Gessner T. McCorvey, chairman of the Alabama state Democratic executive commit- tee, said at Mobile that "A number" of party chairmen in 14 southern states agree with his suggestion that Dixie delegates unite behind a strong southerner for the second place nom- ination. McCormack, House Democratic leader, told reporters the platform makers should "take realistic action' if we are going to prevent another war 25 years from now." .* * * FDR Expresses Desire For Wallace NEW YORK, July 14.-(/P)-Presi- dent Roosevelt has written to Demo- cratic National Chairman Robert Hannegan expressing persona' pref- erence for Henry A. Wallace as the Democratic nominee for vice-presi- dent, the New York Post said it had learned today. Hannegan, now on his way to Chi- cago to make arrangements for the opening of the Democratic National Convention there next Wednesday, is expected to make the letter public in Chicago, but it is uncertain wheth- er he will do so before the convention meets, a dispatch from the Post's Washington correspondent said. Chinese Storm East Gate of Tengchung CHUNGKING, July 14-(AP)- Chinese troops are storming at the east gate of Tengchung, big Japanese base on the road to Burma, and great fires rage in the city after U. S. air attacks, the Chinese high com- mand said today. Fighters and bombers of Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault's 14th air force swarmed over Wednesday and un- loaded explosives and incendiaries in- side the walls. Yanks Take 10 Towns in New Drive Allies Advance on Lessay-St. Lo Road By the Associated Press SUPREME HEADQUARTERS, AL- LIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, July 15, Saturday-The American First Army pushed south today with gains up to three miles, took ten French towns, pinned down the coas- tal stronghold of Lessay with artil- lery fire and hurled back the stub- born enemy in the center with a blow that menaced the big lateral road linking up the German front. "The whole U.S. Army front from St. Lo to the sea is on the move," said supreme headquarters, and the night communique declared salients had been driven into enemy defenses be- fore the Lessay-St. Lo road. Some of these positions were less than two miles from the highway. Yanks Gain Along Taute The communique located the gains on both sides of the Taute River, below Auxais, from 2% to 3 miles from the highway, and front dis- patches presumably based on later information placed vanguards within two miles in fighting farther east. Stalled before St. Lo, the Ameri- cans began sweeping around to the north, and supreme headquarters said one thrust carried to the out- skirts of Le Mesnil Durand, three and a half miles northwest. Big Push Near Lessay The biggest gains came northwest of Lessay, where doughboys sped three miles south and captured St. Germain-sur-Ay, Lessay'stharbor. Germans on a spit of land jutting out two and a half miles west had escaped the trap and fled across the Ay River. Closing in from the north, where Americans in Beauvais, less than two miles away, were firing into Lessay, other troops seized Laulne, three miles northeast of the coastal anchor. Unable to advance frontally against the ruins of St. Lo, the Americans deepened the lines on the south in a drive which overran Le Barre de Semilly, two miles east, and took the, highest ground in that sector. Allies Bomb Oil Refineries Raids on Hungarian Railways Reported LONDON, Saturday, July 15-(AP) -American heavy bombers from Italy attacked four oil refineries and railyards in and near the Hungarian capital of Budapest yesterday as the worst weather since D-Day held operations from the west to no more than 1,000 sorties. The German radio reported at 1 a. i., however, that raiders were over the Hannover-Brunswick region of the Reich in a night continuation of the daylight attacks on Europe. RAF Lancasters with fighter es- cort attacked the flying bomb instal- lations in northern France yesterday afternoon without loss and a small force of Liberator heavy bombers followed Pathfinder planes to Am- iens and bombed that Somme River rail center by instrument. Approximately 50 fighter-bombers harassed rail.lines back of the Nor- mandy front, engaged about 50 Ger- man fighters, and shot down six for a loss of four. They damaged 50 freight cars and three locomotives. Niemen River Line Broken Near Grodno -Daily Photo by George Shideman AT THE END OF A DAY'S WORK-These University coeds were part of the crew that helped harvest cherries Thursday. They are, left to right (kneeling); Ruth Sworman, Carolyn West, Jennifer Logan, Mari. Rutherford, Joyce McCormick, (standing) Barbara Strong, Nora MacLaughlan, Barbara Snell, Dorothy Leonard, Shirley Weemhoff, Janet Bottomley, and Marj. Snowden. ^' CROP CORPS GROWS: .* 90 Army Men Volunteer To Pick- Cherries Today. i A volunteer group of 90 Army men from the units stationed on campus will leave at 1 p.m. today from the East Quad to harvest cherries as a result of an Army headquarters order permitting them to offer their ser- vices. At the same time a group of eight University coeds and two men were in the fields yesterday and harvested 30 crates-480 quarts-of cherries. Agents Get Army Aid The county agent's office, desper- ate to recruit a substantial labor corps, discussed the current acute labior shortage with Army Headquar- ters and secured "wholehearted co- operation" from Col. Edward H. Young and Maj. Edward Gallagher, Kenneth Russel, supervising the work, said yesterday. Unofficial reports from the various Army units reported "immediate en- thusiasm" and 'the men will leave in trucks supplied by the University and the orchard,. Added labor forces were recruited and placed in the fields from Willow Run Village-sons and daughters of Petitioning Begins For Engine Council Freshman or scholastically eligible sophomores in the College of Engin- eering may petition for a class posi- tion on the engineering council, Frank Arams, vice president, an- nounced yesterday. Civilians as well as Navy person- nel are eligible. Petitions must be in the office of the dean of engineering by Wednesday, July 26. Petitions must include the signa- tures of 15 classmates, the candi- date's qualifications for the office, class, address and phone number, Arams said, bomber plant workers ranging from eight to 12 years old. Half of Crop Picked Herman Franzblau, proprietor of the orchard, four miles east of Ann Arbor, where the present activity is centered, reported half his crop in yesterday and was elated at hearing the news of the Army aid. The cherry picking program came to the fore on campus Wednesday when the county agent sent out an appeal to enlist the services of Uni- versity students as part of a state- wide campaign to lick the farm labor shortage. Russell outlined a dismal harvest for most local farmers this summer and fall if a continuous supply of volunteer labor is not available throughout the summer. "Fruit farmers growing apples and peaches will be needing workers from now on," he said. 'Damnask Cheek' o Have Final Performance The final performance of "The Da- mask Cheek" will be presented by the Michigan Repertory Players of the Department of Speech at 8:30 p. m., today in the Lydia Mendel- ssohn Theatre. Written by John VanDruten, and Lloyd Morris, the drama is laid in 1909. Mrs. Claribel Baird, guest direct- or with the repertory players, por- trays the leading role of Rhoda. Other members of the cast include Blanche Holpar as the domineering Mrs. Randell, Patricia Meikle as the errant actress and Donald Hargis as the cousin about whom the play re- volves. Windt Was Director Prof. Valentine Windt, head of dramatics in the speech department, directed the production. The next play to be presented by the players will be "The Learned Ladies", one of Moliere's most noted plays and will run from Wednesday to Saturday in the Lydia Mendel- ssohn Theatre. This amusing play gives the play- wright bne of his best opportunities to ridicule the foibles and shams of French life in his time. Trio of Characters in Lead One of the main characters is Chysale, an honest bourgeois, who has to endure a pretentious wife, a stupidly romantic sister and his pe- dantic child. He becomes involved in many of their plots and struggles Admiral Hart r To Be Speakert At Graduation 114 Medical Studentst To Receive Diplomas Admiral Thomas C. Hart, USN Ret., will address medical school# graduates July 29 when 85 of the graduating class of 114 will enter thet armed forces. Capt. Richard E. Cassidy, com- mandant of the naval unit here, will{ administer the oath to 27 graduates,9 who will enter the Medical Corps of the U.S. Naval Reserve as lieutenants, junior grade. Ten will be ordered to active duty at once as Navy internees, while 17 will go into civilian interne-; ship. Army To Commission 58 Under the Army's training pro- gram, its 58 medical graduates can expect to receive commission in the reserve corps as first lieutenants and will be sworn in by Col. Edward H. Young, commandant of Army forces on campus. A native of Michigan, Adm. Hart was born at Davison and attended the U.S. Naval Academy. He saw service in the Spanish-American War and in World War I he commanded the U.S. submarine force in British waters and around the Azores, re- ceiving the DSM for his work. Hart Directed Pacific Forces After Pearl Harbor Adm. Hart was given supreme command of the Unit- ed Nations naval forces in the Pacific. Later he was advanced to the full rank of admiral and was decorated by the Dutch government for his Pacific service. Following his retirement he was appointed to the Navy General Board and later was assigned by Secretary Knox to take testimony in the Pearl Harbor case. Auto Industry Is, Not Inspired [By%- WPB Order WASHINGTON," July 14.- ({P)-i Members of the Automobile Industry Advisory Committee displayed a lack of enthusiasm today at news from the War Production Board that they are free after next week to design new passenger car models against the day of Germany's collapse. Without a dissenting voice, the top automobile executives reported that their designers and engineers are still so tied up with a continuing and Pinsk Reported Among 315 Towns Captured In General Baltic Push By the Associated Press LONDON, Saturday, July 15-The Red Army, pushing westward along a line less than 20 miles from East Prussia, reported today it had broken the Nazis' Nieman River line south- east of Grodno and was closing with- in seven miles of that big strong point in part of a general advance from the Latvian border region to old Poland. Among more than 315 towns an- nounced as captured yesterday against slowly stiffening opposition was Pinsk, 100 miles east of Brest- Litovsk, nearly completing liquidation of the Pripyat Marshes resistance. Grodno's Capture Near Before Grodno, which dispatches this morning indicated was doomed to fall shortly, the Russians announc- ed capture of Verstelishki, seven miles east, and Zhidomlya, eight miles southeast, but were silent on German statements that Soviet pa- trols already had twice been driven from Grodno itself. The troops approaching Grodno reached the Niemen River on a wide front, a Soviet communique supple- ment said, and in a fierce engage- ment crossed to the west bank of that historic stream which Napoleon crossed in the summer of 1812 to launch his ill-starred invasion of Russia. Zholsi Falls to Reds Northwest of newly-taken Wilno, the Russians reported capture of Zholsi, 30 miles from Wilno and only 20 miles southeast of the big Lithu- anian city of Kaunas. They were moving up in a great bulge all through that area. Other outstanding captures of the day as announced in the regular mid- night communique and two orders of the day from Marshal Stalin in- cluded Wolwowysk and Skidel, on the approaches to Bialystok and Grodno in old Poland, and the railway station of Opochka, 24 miles east of the Latvian border. In a second order of the day, Stalin announced the capture of Wolkoysk, 50 miles east of Bialystok and 80 miles northeast of Brest-Lit- ovsk, as the Russians drew steadily nearer to the Bug River line on See RUSSIANS, Page 4 Yank Forces Resist Attacks In New Guinea ADVANCED ALLIED HEADQUAR- TERS, New Guinea, July 15, Satur- day- ()- American forces are fiercely resisting Japanese attacks near Aitape in British New Guinea, headquarters announced today, Trapped Japanese forces were at- tempting to fight through Allied encirclement. Allies Take Sawar Airdrome Farther west, Allied forces cap- tured the Sawar airdrome, three 'miles west of the Maffin Bay air- drome, July 12 without resistance. Japanese resistance in the Maffin Bay area has collapsed. The initial Japanese drive in the Aitape area carried them across the Driniumo River, 21 miles east of Aitape, but stubborn American resis- tance forced the enemy to reorganize. A total of 268 Japanese have been buried in the Aitape area, since the current push began with skirmishes Monday. Naval and air forces pound- ed the Japanese rear areas, Fighting Lines Fluid The fighting lines are fluid in the Driniumo River valley, with Yanks and Nipponese on both sides of the river. (This announcement indicated the first well-organized Japanese assault, which began Wednesday at dawn Shad forced the withdrawal of Allied outpost positions.) Fotitch Sees Civil jWar in Yugoslavia WASHINGTON, July 14.- (M- SHORTAGE EXPECTED IN FALL: Summer Students Find Housingff Adequate There has been no difficulty in housing women at the University this summer with a surplus of rooms available in contrast to the serious shortage during the two past seme- sters, Miss Alice Lloyd, Dean of Women, said yesterday. However, many more women have applied for rooms for the fall term than had applied at this same time last year, Miss Lloyd stated, and an acute housing shortage is anticipat- ed in the fall. It has been necessary to send applicants "very discourag- Registration of men for both the summer session and term has fal- len to less than 1,400. Enrollment of women for the summer term and the summer session is about the same as that last summer with more than 1,000 for the term and 1,249 for the session. Dean Bur- sley also predicted a great influx of women students for the fall term. A main reason for this increased enrollment of women is that many families have more money during ed skills in connection with the prose- cution of the war, Dean Lloyd sug- gested, and this is an incentive for women to take college training. A main contrast between the housing situation this summer and last is that "almost all the women have wanted rooms this year where they could get food", Dean Lloyd said. She explained that the stu- dents find it expensive and unsat- isfactory to eat out now although in previous years this has not been the case.