Yanks split Japs on Mindanao
Opposition light in drive on Davao
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Atrocity news given to Germans
OWI begins course of reeducation
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War crimes board to probe atrocities
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Big Three warns Germans on torture of prisoners
Allies accept Nazi decision to leave captives in camps where they now are held
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Truman believed deciding where to go after Okinawa
Issue apparently is whether to invade Japan first or encircle enemy by drive in China
By Marshal McNeil, Scripps-Howard staff writer
WASHINGTON (SHS) – President Truman, as Commander-in-Chief, may now be in process of deciding what military steps shall be take in the Pacific after Okinawa is ours, some congressmen close to the armed forces believe.
The new President will have an important hand in the strategy decision because it involves not merely military matters in the Pacific but also problems that touch on the home front deeply.
The issue is apparently whether there shall be a headlong assault on the Jap home islands, or an encircling movement aimed at Japan through China.
Invasion of Japan costly
About two weeks ago, these same congressional sources said that our military experts had not then decided upon which way to move after Okinawa is captured.
A frontal assault on the Jap home islands might cost dearly, but it would end the Pacific war more quickly. An encircling movement toward the China coast probably would be less costly but mean a longer war. This was said to be the view of military experts two weeks ago, despite the fact that months ago Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz indicated that the China coast was one of our important goals.
Involves home front
Today, according to the congressional sources, President Truman is probably facing the decision as to which course should be taken. This would involve the question not only of home front production of military goods, but of home front morale in the face of heavy casualties, or less heavy casualties and a prolonged conflict.
In connection with Mr. Truman’s problem, it was the new President himself, who, in his first address to Congress last week, pointed out how important a role President Roosevelt played in our European planning.
Cites commanders
Mr. Truman said:
The grand strategy of a United Nations’ war has been determined – due in no small measure to the vision of our departed Commander-in-Chief. We are now carrying out our part of that strategy under the able direction of Adm. Leahy, Gen. Marshall, Adm. King, Gen. Arnold, Gen. Eisenhower, Adm. Nimitz and Gen. MacArthur… This direction must and will remain unchanged and unhampered.
Some feeling is developing among some of our military experts, these same congressional sources say, that after victory in Europe, Japan may fold up more quickly than has heretofore been expected.
They point out:
When victory day comes in Europe, the whole world will be arrayed against Japan, and this will finally be so impressed upon the Japs that they cannot help but be more ready for unconditional surrender.
Death-defying attack wins Medal of Honor
WASHINGTON (UP) – Lt. Col. Keith L. Ware, former Glendale, California, city accountant, has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for a death-defying charge against six German machine-gun positions and 200 elite SS riflemen, the War Department disclosed today.
The award was made at Nuremberg, Germany.
With machine-gun on hip, Yank rakes banzaiing Japs
Doughboy fires until barrel burns his hand as troops turn back attack on Okinawa
By Edward Thomas, United Press staff writer
WITH THE 96TH DIVISION, Okinawa (UP) – One Doughboy yanked a heavy machine-gun from its tripod and, with a belt of .50 caliber shells behind him, shot from the hip at the advancing Japs until the barrel burned his hand.
The Japs were trying another Banzai charge.
Thirty minutes later it was over, and 150 of the 250 enemy soldiers who had charged the 382nd Infantry Regiment were dead. The others 100 fled in confusion.
The Yanks were pretty busy during those 30 minutes.
Toss grenades chain style
They buried one of their comrades quickly on the ridge because they thought they were going to have to retreat, and didn’t want to leave his body behind.
They tossed grenades chain style from one man to another from the bottom to the top of the ridge, where the last soldier pulled the safety pin and hurled them at the oncoming Japs.
Scout mortars fired until the Japs had advanced so far that they seemed like they were firing straight up in the air, and had to cease for fear of hitting their own troops.
Fire 569 shells
A Marine battalion of 75s sent 569 projectiles crashing into advancing Japs in less than 10 minutes.
Men ducked back across open fields under enemy fire stole precious ammunition from other units and staggered back up the ridge loaded down “like pack mules.”
The company didn’t move an inch, and when it was over they recovered the body of the Doughboy they had buried, and he was brought back for decent burial with the others who died.
Marine trades ear for life of Jap lieutenant
ABOARD A USCG ATTACK TRANSPORT AT OKINAWA (UP) – Coast Guard correspondent John Walker McCain Jr. told today a story of a Marine who traded his left ear for the life of a Jap lieutenant.
The Jap leaped into the Leatherneck’s foxhole one dark night on Okinawa and sank his teeth into the Marine’s ear. The Marine plunged his knife into the intruder’s belly. The Marine won the ensuing death struggle but in his dying throes the Jap tore off his ear.
Aboard a hospital ship, the Marine displayed two souvenirs of his experience, a Jap sword and a silver cigarette case. The latter bore the name and emblem of a British bombardier. The Japanese had probably taken it from a British flier in a previous Pacific engagement.
Monahan: Light and gayety mark incoming films for Pittsburgh theaters
By Kaspar Monahan
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Moler: Sex appeal not enough!
Movie dancers have to improve
By Murray Moler
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Funeral parlor keeps body of woman embalmed in 1905
Remains kept because relatives refused to pay for burial, undertaker says
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Compromise may settle Poland’s case
Foreign ministers leave for ‘Frisco
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Warsaw Poles await coalition
Willing to follow Big Three recommendation
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Simms: Polish dispute won’t wreck conference
But views differ on degree of success
By William Philip Simms, Scripps-Howard foreign editor
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