Evening star. [volume], February 04, 1944, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Weather Forecast
Cloudy; low near 28 tonight. Tomorrow
cloudy, rain in afternoon.
Temperatures today—Highest, 46, at
1:30 p.m.; lowest, 32, at 4:55 a.m. Yes
terday—Highest, 48, at 3:15 p.m.; low
est, 34, at 2:10 a.m.
Lote New York Markets, Page A-13.
f ■
■ fiff
Guide for Readers
Page.
Amusements _.B-14
Comics.B-14-15
Editorials .A-6
Edlt’l Artucles A-7
Finance .A-13
Lost and Found A-3
Page.
Obituary ..A-i
Radio .B-15
Society.B-3
Sports .A-10-11
Where to Oo...B-ll
Woman’s Page..A-i
An Associated Pres* Newspaper
92d YEAR. No. 36,437.
_WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1944—THIRTY PAGES. ***
and Suburba THREE CENTS. nSlg*™
Nazis Open Big Drive Near Rome,
Claim Nettuno Forces Encircled;
Attacks Repulsed, Allies Declare
Kommel Keported
Back in Italy
To Lead Germans
(Map on Page A-12.)
By the Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
ITALY, Feb. 4.—Marshal Erwin
Rommel, the Germans’ master
defense tactician, was reported
back in Italy directing Nazi
■strategy today, and Allied head
quarters disclosed that the Ger
mans have launched their ex
pected big offensive against the
Anzio-Netturno beachhead below
Rome, supporting their assaults
with terrific firepower and tank
charges.
The Germans, reinforced along
the perimeter of the bridgehead,
struck four times against the Brit
ish and Americans, who are reported
to have poured more than six divi
sions ashore.
Attacks Repulsed, Allies Say.
In each case. Allied headquar
ters said, the Nazis were repulsed
with heavy losses, and the Allies
improved their positions slightly.
(A German high command com
munique broadcast by the Berlin
radio and heard in London today
said Allied forces have been en
circled in the Nettuno bridge
head. “On the enemy landing
beachhead of Nettuno major
enemy forces were encircled by
counterattacks," the communique
said. “Relief attacks were re
pulsed.”
<On other sectors of the Italian
front, the communique said,
fluctuating battles were in prog
ress with both sides showing
“extreme doggedness,”)
Meanwhile, to the south, on the
Cassino front American troops of the
5th Army were fighting fiercely in
the outskirts of the German strong
hold. Fighting with tanks against
Nazis who had to be cleaned out of
rubble-cushioned dugouts and cellars
in methodical and bloody fashion.
The German Air Force, almost ab
sent from Italian skies for several
davs, returned to support the
thrusts against the Allies below
Rome.
Three Successive Thrusts.
The enemy opened his offensive
with three successive attacks north
of Padiglione, 8 miles northwest
of Anzio. They also lunged out at
the Americans in the area west of
Cisterna, where the Americans had
driven to the outskirts of that Ap
pian Way town 14 miles northeast
of Anzio.
(Padgilione Is about 6 miles
below Campoleone. farthest ad
vance of the British who had ap
proached to within 16 miles of
Rome. Allied headquarters an
nouncements that the German
attacks had been repulsed indi
cated. however, that the British
had not been thrown back that
distance. The German attack
may have been aimed at the
British flank.)
In repulsing the attack the Allies
captured 140 prisoners.
The offensive aimed at driving the
British and Americans back into the
sea from their beachhead and the
strong house-to-house resistance of
fered at Cassino appeared to be the
twin parts of a German strategy to
fight off the Allied threat aimed at
trapping a large part of the German
10th Army.
Fierce Fghting at Cassino.
Some of the fiercest fighting ever
seen in the Mediterranean theater
was taking place at Cassino, where
the Germans held grimly in the face
of the fury of the American attacks
and the storm of artillery shells.
American patrols once penetrated
toward the center of the town, but
were forced to fall back to the out
skirts when they encountered anti
tank guns and strong posts.
The Germans also put in two un
(See ITALY, Page A-127) '
Two Navy Bombers
Hit Paramushiro
Believed Feeling Out /
Defenses in New Area
Flying out from the Aleutian Is
lands, two Navy bombers pounded
Japanese installations on Paramu
shiro in the North Pacific Kuriles,
the Navy announced today.
The raid on the vicinity of the
enemy's largest base in the North
Pacific the night of February 2-3
was the tenth since last July 10. Re
sults were not observed, possibly due
to the heavy weather which ordi
narily shrouds that region.
The Navy reported that no enemy
planes were encountered and both
American planes returned safely.
The attack was aimed at the
southeastern coast of Paramushiro,
which is just south of the Russian
Kamchatka Peninsula and the
northernmost of the chain of Islands
in which the Japanese homeland is
located.
The fact that the attacking force
consisted only of two planes indi
cated the Navy may have been
merely feeling out the enemy in
stallations on this part of the
island. This is the first time the
southeast coast has been under
bombardment. Once before, on Jan
uary 21, a group of planes attacked
the southern coast and all of the
other bombings have been on the
established naval and air base on
the northern coast of Paramushiro.
The nearest Aleutian base to
Paramushiro is on Attu, which is
725 statute miles away.
REPORTED ENCIRCLED—Soldiers of the Allied 5th Army are
shown after they had begun digging in along the Nettuno
water front following a successful landing. At the time the pic
ture was taken they were awaiting further orders. The German
high command said today the Germans had encircled Allied
forces i* the Nettuno beachhead. —A. P. Wirephoto
I-----;
Reds Report Killing
10,0 Nazis Trapped
In Dnieper Bend
Main Soviet Forces
Press Westward From
Ukraine to Baltic
(Map on Page A-5.)
By the Associated Press.
MOSCOW, Feb. 4.—Systematic
extermination by the Red armies
of 10 encircled German divisions
in the upper Dnieper bend was
well under way today, the army
newspaper Red Star said, while
the main Soviet forces continued
to forge westward • from the
Ukraine to the Baltic.
The midnight communique indi
cated nearly 10,000 of the trapped
Germans already were killed.
The situation west of Cherkasy,
where nine infantry and one tank
divisions have been trapped by a
great five-day offensive, presented
“the same picture as Stalingrad,”
Maj. Pavel Orender said in a Red
Star dispatch.
Thousands of German units have
become "groups of wanderers" with
in the ring which the troops of
Gens. Nikolai Vatutin and Ivan S.
Konev are tightening around them,
Maj. Orende^ asserted.
The Germans werfe said to be in
an exhausted condition, although
dispatches said nothing of their sur
rendering in any large numbers.
Generally the Nazis were trying to
congregate on the banks of swollen
streams and in swamps.
Reds Surge Forward
Along 1,200-Mile Front
LONDON, Feb. 4 (/P>.—Russia’s
mighty military machine surged for
ward with new vigor along a flaming
1,200-mile front today, with new
power drives in the Ukraine and
(Continued on Page A-4, Column~2)
Spain Repeats Intent
To Stand by Policy of
'Strict Neutrality'
Cabinet's Way Prepared
By Editorials Assailing
British High Pressure
By the Associated press.
MADRID, Feb. 4.—The Span
ish cabinet, its way prepared by
a host of editorials accusing the
British of trying to high-pres
isure Spain into abandoning her
| neutrality, reaffirmed this coun
try’s position of “strict neutral
ity” last night 'after a special
meeting, at which it reviewed
the international situation.
The cabinet, meeting at the urgent
call of Generalissimo Francisco
Franco, also announced it had
studied means of making this neu
trality respected and that it planned
to make all foreigners in Spain as
well as Spanish nationalists con
form.
"The government Is prepared to
submit to no pressure under any
circumstances whatever against its
right to maintain firmly such a posi
tion of neutrality,” the communique
said. “Every country is obliged to
respect this attitude as an act of in
disputable sovereignty.”
(The Spanish reaffirmation of
neutrality provoked speculation
in London as to whether Franco
had made a deal with Germany
to obtain oil which the Allies now
are withholding. The United
States took the lead in this eco
nomic move.
(Recent British press attacks
on Franco were given strength
yesterday by Parliamentary Sec
retary Dingle M. Foot's disclosure
of German penetration in Span
ish industry. The Laborite Week
ly Tribune hinted that British
leaders have further steps in
(See"SPAIN, Page"A-4.) ~
Jap Defenders
On Kwajalein
Weakening
Amazingly Light
American Toll
is Reported
By the Associated Press.
UNITED STATES PACIFIC
FLEET HEADQUARTERS, Pearl
Harbor, Feb. 4.—Fighting men,
tanks and guns, pouring ashore
to annihilate the dwindling
forces of Japanese defenders, ap
peared today to be on the verge
of conquering all Kwajalein,
largest atoll in the Marshalls, as
Japanese resistance began to
crumble on that core of the
enemy defense system.
As the momentous invasion moved
through its fifth day, preliminary
reports told of amazingly light
American losses during the achieve
ment of a strong entering wedge
into mid-Pacific positions Japan has
held for 25 years.
Rear Admiral Richmond K.
Turner, commander of the amphibi
ous operations—-as he was last No
vember during the bloody invest
ment of the Gilberts—said losses
were far under what had been
expected.
1,250 Japs Wiped Out.
United States 7th Division rein
forcements and mechanized equip
ment in great force moved against
tottering Japanese resistance at the
south end of the atoll where 1,250
of an estimated garrison of 2.000
had been w'iped out by Wednesday
! night.
j American casualties were placed
j at 27 dead, 8 missing and 190
wounded.
The north end of the atoll, with
the airdrome at Roi and the adja
cent repair and dispersal base of
Namur, was entirely in the hands
of 4th Division Marines. Roi was
quickly overrun Tuesday and the
slaughter of bitter-end defenders
of Namur was announced yesterday.
Preliminary estimates of American
losses at Roi and Namur were less
than 100 killed and 400 wounded.
• On this basis, it seemed un
likely that the full report would
show marine losses anything
Jap Radio Describes
Marshalls Invasion
As 'a Big Gamble'
By the Associated Pres«.
NEW YORK. Feb. 4 —Break
ing a 24-hour silence with re
gard to developments in the
Marshall Islands, the Tokio
radio today characterized the
American invasion as "a big
gamble,” but failed to give any
details on the progress of the
operations.
“The Americans have to risk
it in order not to nullify the
costly adventure in the Gil
berts,” said the broadcast, which
was recorded by United States
Government monitors.
comparable with the casualties
of approximately 3,000 suffered
in capturing the air base of
Tarawa in the Gilberts, costliest
battle in marine history.)
Bulk of Islands Now Held.
The bulk of Kwajalein’s more
than 32 islets now are in American
hands.
The only remaining enemy oppo
sition of consequence appeared to
be on Kwajalein Island, at the
northern end of the atoll. There,
where an airfield and a deep anchor
age are the prizes. Army troops
which landed Tuesday pushed the
Japanese against the northeastern
part of the island.
"We have landed (more) troops
and mechanized equipment in force
and are proceeding with the an
nihilation of the enemy,” Admiral
Chester W. Nimitz’s communique
(See PACIFIC, Page A-12.)
U. S. Warships Sink 3 Nazi Blockade-Runners
Sneaking Through Atlantic With Jap Goods
By the Associat*d Press.
Three German blockade run
ners laden with war materials
from Japanese-held Pacific ports
have been sunk by an American
cruiser and two destroyers in the
South Atlantic, the Navy an
nounced today.
The Navy said the holds of the
enemy ships were filled to capacity
with thousands of tons of rubber,
tins, fats and strategic ores. Some
of those materials, particularly hun
dreds of tone of baled rubber, were
salvaged and many prisoners were
tyken.
Seeking to sneak through the
American blockade, the three ships—
the Burgenland, Rio Grande and
Weserland—were sighted and sunk
within a 48-hour period “early in
January,” the Navy said.
The blockade runners were chased
down by the cruiser Omaha, which
already had one blockade runner to
its credit; the destroyer Jouett,
which bagged a German submarine
in the Atlantic several months ago,
and the destroyer Somers.
In each case the German crews
attempted to scuttle their ships, but
the vessels actually werrf sunk by
shellfire from the cruiser and de
stroyers.
First surface contact was made by
the Somers, which ran down the
6,528-ton Weserland in the darkness
of early morning, identifying the
vessel as an enemy. The Somers,
skippered by Comdr. William C.
Hughes, Oklahoma City, immedi
ately opened fire with her main
battery of 5-inch guns.
The initial salvo battered directly
into the German ship and the crew
hastened to abandon it, but before
they leaped over the side or into
their life rafts they made plans to
scuttle the ship.
Violent internal explosions blasted
the Weserland, but she remained
afloat. Shells from the Somers’
guns completed the job .of sending
the blockade runner to the bottom.
Many of her crew were picked up
When daylight came.
The cruiser Omaha, commanded
by Capt. Charles D. Leffler, Miami,
Fla., and the destroyer Jouett, skip
pered by Comdr. John C. Parham,
jr„ Tuscaloosa, Ala., accounted for
the second of the three enemy craft.
A lookout in the Omaha’s foretop
and the pilot of her scouting plane
sighted the 6.062-ton Rio Grande
almost simultaneously.
Racing in, the Omaha and Jouett
were drawing near the Rio Grande
when she burst into smoke and
flames. Demolition charges, the
Navy said, had been placed and
fired by the ship's crew. Again the
American warships turned their 6
lnch and 5-inch guns on the vessel
and she soon sank. *-;
The Omaha-Jouett team joiped
again in sinking the 7,320-ton Bur
genland. As they sped in tot at
tack, internal explosion of demoli
tion charges rocked that enemy ship
and again destruction was com
pleted by shellfire.
It was recalled that the Omaha
captured the (german motor • ship
(See BLOCKADE RUNNERS, A-3.)
Lodge Resigns Seat in Senate;
Assigned Overseas by Army
Saltonstall Mentioned
As Successor for Term
Expiring in 1949
By the Associated Press.
Henry Cabot Lodge, jr., Repub
lican, resigned today as Senator
from Massachusetts in order to
j return to active service as an
| Army officer.
In a letter addressed to the Sen
jate’s presiding officer and read by a
| cleric the 41-year-old Senator, who
; holds a Reserve commission as a
major, said he felt that in view of
: impending "large-scale ground fight
i ing” and his age, he could best serve
, his country as "a combat soldier
! overseas.’’
i Accordingly, he wrote: “I hereby
' resign from the United States Sen
ate.”
Given Overseas Assignment.
The War Department said Senator
Lodge had been restored to his tem
porary rank of major in the Reserves
and given an overseas assignment.
There was no elaboration.
Senator Lodge himself did not ap
pear in the Senate and his secretary,
Maxwell Rabb, said he had already
donned a uniform and would make
his resignation effective immedi
ately. He will not sit again as Sena
tor. Mr. Rabb said.
Appointment of a successor rests
in the hands of Gov. Leverett Sal
tonstall, Republican. Gov. Salton
stall himself has been mentioned
as a likely appointee to the vacancy.
HENRY CABOT LODGE, Jr.,
As he appeared on maneuvers
with the 1st Army at Platts
burg, N. Y., in 1939. _
The Boston Post said today it had
learned authoritatively that Gov.
Saltonstall will resign his post and
that Lt. Gov. Horace T. Cahill will
succeed him.
The Post article added that Mr.
<See LODGE,- PageA-12J
Steering Committee
Names McCarran to
Head Judiciary Unit
Appointment of Successor
On District Board
Likely Tomorrow
The Democratic Steering Com
mittee-today named Senator Mc
Carran of Nevada to succeed the late
Senator Van Nuys of Indiana as1
chairman of the important Judiciary
Committee. The Steering Commit
tee probably will meet tomorrow to
decide on Senator McCarran’s suc
cessor as head of the District Com
mittee.
Leaders polled the Steering Com
mittee today to settle the judiciary
post because of the rush of business
awaiting in that committee.
Earlier, Senator Reynolds, Demo
crat, of North Carolina, took the
floor in the Senate to praise the
service rendered to Washington by
Senator McCarran.
Pointing out that Senator McCar
ren succeeded him as chairman of
the District Committee, Senator
Reynolds declared the Nevadan “ac
quitted himself with such satisfac
tion to the people of the District”
that when they learned he was in
line for another assignment "many
of them protested and wanted him
to continue as District chairman.”
Senator Reynolds said he could
understand that desire in view of
the diligence with which Senator
McCarren served on the District
^Committee.
Senator Reynolds added that “it
is no reflection on any member of
this body who may aspire to the
post” to call attention to the words
of praise that have been spoken
locally for Senator McCarran's serv
ice. The North Carolinian placed
in the record editorials from several
local newspapers on Senator Mc
Carran’s service.
Senator Bilbo, Democrat, of Mis
sissippi has said he would accept
the District chairmanship if it is
offered him by the Steering Com
mittee,
Japanese Claim Hits
On Allied Cruiser
By the Associated Press.
The Tokio radio said today that
Japanese air units scored several
direct hits on an Allied cruiser yes
terday off Mono Island in the Sol
omons group, heavily damaging the
vessel.
The enemy report was not con
firmed by Allied sources.
Record Day’s Sales
lo
District Bond Drive
Individual Purchases Soar
As Firms Pass Quota;
71.6% of Goal Reached
The District’s War Bond total
for the Fourth War Loan cam
paign today shot up to $68,000,
000, or 71.6 per cent of the over
all quota, after a record day’s
sales of $2,800,000 worth of bonds
to individuals was recorded yes
terday.
Altogether, $4,900,000 was added
to the District's totals in a report
from the Fifth Federal Reserve
Bank of Richmond, Va. This in
cluded $2,100,000 sold to corpora
tions—enough to send sales for the
"big customers" well over the top.
Total for the corporations is now
$43,800,000 or 104 per cent of the
quota.
The amount of individual pur
chases recorded yesterday is $900,000
above the next highest figure for
one-dav sales in this category. It is
still $100,000 short, however, of the
daily average which campaign offi
cials yesterday said must be met to
(See WAR BONDS, Page A-12.)
Laborer Admits
Stealing Ton of
U. S. Waste Paper
A plea of guilty to a charge of
stealing a ton of Government waste
paper was entered by one of two
colored men arraigned today before
United States Commissioner Need
ham C. Turnage, following their ar
rest yesterday by Justice Depart-1
ment agents.
George Williams, 57, of 230 P
street N.W., a laborer employed by
the War Production Board at the
Social Security Building, admitted
selling 2,000 pounds of paper, part
of a load he was ordered to deliver
to the Penn Paper Co., 1516 Ecking
ton place Nil., yesterday. He was
held in $1,000 bail for action of the
grand jury.
The other man, Allan Rowe, 25,
of 1637 Fourth street N.W., driver of
a truck hired to haul the paper to
the company’s plant, pleaded not
guilty to the charge of larceny of
Government property and was held
in $500 bail.
FBI agents said the mien sold the
paper to a local junk dealer for $25.
President Signs Bill
For $100 to $300
Mustering-Out Pay
Bill Called Important
First Step in Program
For Demobilization
President Roosevelt announced
today he has signed the muster
ing-out pay bill for war veterans,
but described the measure as no
more than an “important first
step'’ in the demobilization proc
ess. The act provides a gradu
ated payment from $100 to $300.
depending on the length of serv
ice.
The President recalled in a state
ment that this legislation was only
a part of a program he previously
has ur®ed on Congress which would
provide, among other things, un
employment compensation to sup
plement the mustering-out pay if
needed and funds for education.
Represents Compromise.
A compromise between Senate and
House legislation, the mustering-out
pay law limits the maximum sum of
•300 to servicemen and women who
have served overseas or in Alaska.
Payments of $200 are provided for
those serving 60 days or more in the
United States and $100 for those
serving less than 60 days in this
country.
All receiving no more than $200 a
month base pay are eligible to the
mustering-out benefits.
This allows payments to captains
of less than 17 years’ service and ex
cludes majors and higher officers
from the benefits.
Those eligible to the $300 will re
ceive $100 at the time of final
discharge and $100 a month for the
succeeding two months. The $200
payment will be madb in two equal
monthly installments. Those en
titled to $100 will get the full
amount on final discharge.
Those already discharged have
two years within which to make ap
plications. The war and Navy De
partments are allowed one month to
make such payments after approval
of applications.
Those Denied Benefits.
Specifically denied benefits are
those eligible to retirement pay,
those discharged to take civilian
jobs, those dishonorably discharged
and the following:
1. Any member of the armed force
whose total period of service has
been as a student detailed for train
ing under the Army specialized
training program, the Army Air
Forces college training program and
other similar Navy. Marine Corps or
Coast Guard programs.
2. Any member of the armed
forces for any active service per
formed prior to the date of his dis
charge for the purpose of entering
the naval military or Coast Guard
academies or whose sole service has
been as a cadet at one of these
academies.
Cost Put at $3,000,000,000.
Senator Johnson. Democrat, of
Colorado, estimated the cost of the
program at $3,000,000,000. He said
total discharges have been running
between 70,000 and 75,000 monthly.
There have been estimates that
$250,000,000 will be needed for imme
diate cases.
Mr. Roosevelt, in his statement
today, referred to the mustering-out
pay bill as "a step in the compre
hensive program that I recom
mended on July 28, 1943, and again
on October 27, 1943, and November
23. 1943, for the special protection of
the members of the armed forces."
“It will ease," he continued, “the
(See MUSTERING OUT, Page A-12)
Wechsler Nominated
For New Justice Post
Herbert Wechsler, a special assist
ant to the Attorney General since
1940, today was nominated by Presi
dent Roosevelt to be Assistant At
torney General, succeeding Hugh B.
Qox. Mr. Wechsler took leave in
1940 from a law professorship at
Columbia University. He was named
to argue cases in the Supreme Court.
Mr. Wechsler was graduated from
Columbia in 1931 and served the
following year as law clerk to Jus
tice Stone. He also was assistant
State attorney general from 1938 to
1940. He is a member of the Su
preme Court Advisory Committee
on Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Federal Ballot
Ban Defeated in
Senate, 46*42
Coalition Substitute
Barred Use Unless
States Failed to Act
BULLETIN.
Administration forces rallied
in the Senate today to defeat,
46 to 42, the coalition substi
tute to prohibit sending of
Federal ballots to any service
men at home or abroad, unless
their States fail to make a
suitable ballot available by
June 1. This leaves in the
Senate bill the Danaher com
promise giving all members
of the 'brmed forces overseas
a Federal ballot, with State
ballots going to soldiers in
this country, unless they can
not get a State ballot.
(Roll Call on Page A-12.)
By J. A. O’LEARY.
The administration’s last
chance to save even a part of its
Federal ballot plan for service
men rested with the Senate to
day, following a smashing vic
tory for State control of voting
laws in the House last night.
Accepting President Roosevelt’s
challenge to "stand up and be
counted.’’ the House first defeated
the Federal ballot by a recorded
vote of 224 to 168.
State Control Approved.
It then went on to pass, 328 to
69. the Eastland-Rankin bill, de
signed to encourage the States to
make regular absentee ballots avail
able to the armed forces, and re
quiring the military authorities to
give such ballots mail priority.
'At his news conference today.
President Roosevelt declined to
be drawn into a discussion of the
House action in rejecting the bill
i sponsored by the administration.
He said simply that the problem
was more of a responsibility of
Congress than his own.)
Both chambers are now on record
! for leaving election machinery in
l the hands of the States, the Senate
having passed the Eastland-Rankin
bill before Christmas. It comes
back to the Senate today, however,
because of minor House changes.
Danaher Compromise Adopted.
Even before the House voted, ad
ministration leaders in the Senate
began to give ground late yesterday,
when they hastily joined in adoption
of the Danaher compromise, 72 to
19. in the hope it would halt the
more drastic substitute drafted by a
; coalition of States’ rights Demo
crats and Republicans.
The Danaher proposal would give
the short Federal ballot to all serv
ice men and women overseas, but
only to those in this country who
make affidavit they have not re
. ceived a State ballot.
Having won this concession, the
states-rights coalition immediately
prepared to seek a final showdown
today on the substitute that would
prohibit the sending of a Federal
ballot to any one in uniform, either
abroad or at home, unless his State
fails by June 1 to make provision for
a light-weight State ballot.
This substitute also carries all of
the "teeth” in the Eastland and
i Overton, amendments to make State
laws supreme in the counting of
either Federal or State ballots.
Taft Predicts Passage.
The vote on this remnant of the
Federal ballot plan is expected to
be close. Senator Taft, Republican,
of Ohio, one of the authors of the
substitute, predicted it would carry
by a slight margin.
Administration leaders still hoped
I to beat it, and thereby bring about
another House vote on the Danaher
compromise, which is now tem
porarily in the Senate bill. The
decisive action of the House last
night, however, is likely to stiffen
Senate opposition to any general
use of the Federal ballot.
In his sharply-worded message
last week, Mr. Roosevelt called
the States rights bill a "fraud” on
servicemen. Some of his friends at
the Capitol have been predicting he
j would veto it. If, however, the Sen
ate should save a limited degree of
Federal control, to protect those
servicemen whose States fail to
make a suitable ballot available, it
may prove more difficult for the
President to reject the bill.
It is doubtful if the record now
made in both houses could be re
versed following a veto. 'Oiat would
leave on the oooks only the 1943
law. which also puts soldier voting
in the hands of the States.
Sending of Applications Demanded.
Following the House vote last
night, Republicans began to de
tmand that the Army and Navy
send out immediately the 11,000,000
post card applications for absentee
(See SERVICE VOTETPage A-12.)*
rz——--—.
President Undergoes
Operotion to Remove
Growth on Heod
President Roosevelt told his
news conference today that he
has just undergone an opera
tion.
A growth, which he described
as a wen, was removed from the
back of his head by surgeons at
the Naval Hospital a couple of
days ago, he explained. The
treatment required a local an
aesthetic.
The President said he had had
the growth for about 20 years.
Asked if he was permitted to
smoke in violation of a hospital
rule while the operation was in
progress he said no. but that he
yelled for a cigarette as soon as
it was over.
The Steering Engine on a Liberty Ship Costs $8,000—That
Adds Up to a Lot of War Bonds