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"ay MONDAY, MAY 17, 1948 THE 'DAILY TIMES:GAZETTE PAGE NINE Thousands Of Acres Of Farmlands Submerged In West Ontario Regiment History CHAPTER XXIII "THROUGH THE GOTHIC LINE" By 31 Aug. it was clear that the enemy was ¢ out a general withdrawal from 13 Corps sector to the west coast. The intention of 1 Br. Div. was to maintain contact, About that time 13 Corps was placed under command of Fifth American Army had organized its attack on the Gothic line in the Adriatic .sec- tor. It was the intention of 13 Corps to pursue the enemy on the Axis: "Star" route, through Pontassieve, Dicomano, Borgo 8. Lorenzo, and _ "Arrow" route, through Florence, Borgo - S.- Iiorenzo, Marradi, Palaz- zuolo: 1 Br. Div., with 11 CAR, was pushed: up "Star" route. On the left, 2: US. Corps was to advance. The vila: studded hills, to the north: of Florence, merge into rug- ged mountains, which extend for some fifteen miles to break abrupt ly into the valley of the Sieve. The few roads, skirted on one side by sheer: cliffs and on the other by a precipitous drop to; a narrow gush- ing mountain stream, wind hazar- dously through the mountains. Majors 'W. J. E. Simmons and W. G. Herrod had worked A and S sqns, in support of 2 Br. Bde. and 66 Br. Bde., for some time north of Florence. On Sep. 5, Major D. H. McIndoe was able to move B sqn. some 5 miles north of Florence to LOImo, and by 9 Sep., the way in the hills had been cleared for 34 U, 8S. Div, of 2 US. Corps, to get a rolling start up highway 65. Two days later B sqn, with 3 Br. Bde. had reached Borgo S' Lorenzo and the river Sieve. The valley of the Sieve is very narrow. To the north, the Appen- ines tewer majestically, their lofti- ness an inspiration to the artist-- an ugly obstacle to the soldier. The much flaunted Gothic line struc- ture. The only consolation was sea- sonal; the enemy too, suffered the numerous chilly rains. Even in this he had advantage; his fortifica- tions, having been built to with- stand a long battle, were equipped with shelter. . On the morning of 22 Sep., C sqn came under heavy fire at Crespino Station, about 10 miles south of Marradi. They had fought their way with 3 Br. Bde over the treacherous mountains, through the Gothic line and weré approaching the foothills, Their task of opening the route, heavy with demolitions, and of clearing the enemy from the moun- tains on either side was indeed dif- ficult. Three days later they had reached Marradi, where they were again held up by demolitions, and a very determined enemy. Lt.-Col. Purves had moved RHQ to Ronta, but due to the utterly inadequate facilities for deployment in the mountains, was forced to, remain there for a considerable time and operate with badly stretched com- munications. ¢ Ind. Div.. on the right was hav- ing an extremely difficult time ne- gotiating the narrow mule trails. The narrowness of these trails did not permit the direct use of tanks for their support. For this reason, C sqn was often called upon to go to their assistance. From its van- tage position, so well forward, it was able to give much needed fire sup- port in the area north and west of Marradi. 3 Br. Bde, on the left, needed support ds well. Having moved through 66 Bde. at Palazzuo- la, 3 Bde. was given the task of cap- turing M. Gamperaldi and M, Grizz- ano two formidable features to the north east deminating the front. C sqn, having registered the. features, unleashed their fury. Unfortunate- ly the enemy fire on the Maradi de- molition was much too intense fo permit repairs. Thus the tanks were unable to'get forward to give direct support, with the result that the infantry were unable to reach their objective. By 30 Sep., C sqn had managed ta so engage the enemy as to enable repairs, In very short order a troop commanded by Lt. H. Macdonald had pushed north to 8. Adriano. This troop was very.much alone, with no supporting infantry and both flanks exposed. At one point the enemy attempted to blow the bridge in rear of the troop, thereby cutting it off completely. Since it with 'no supporting infantry ' and was impossible to manoeuver tanks off the- road, Lt. Macdonald led a fighting patrol from his. troop to thwart the enemy's attempt. Event- ually the enemy fire became so in- tense that Macdonald was obliged to withdraw to Popolano, where he was met by our infantry. From this base the troop supported 17 Ind. Inf. Bde, in several destroying at- tacks up the valley to 8. Martino, Leaving Capt. J. R.'Gormley in Mar- ragi, to command the two troops supporting 17 Ind. Bde. the re- mainder of C sqn moved northwest to Palazzuola, thence supported 1 Br. Div. north to Mercatale. The weather grew steadily worse; the cold rain seemed almost continuous, The only shelter Lt. J. Cameron could find for his troop was a ceme- tery. The local priest gathered his flock and descended on Cameron in protest. With simple smiles they withdrew; Cameron too was a Catholic. Squadron headquarters had to evict rats from the slaugh- ter house. The saving grace was that PHQ had moved forward to Marradi. The lines of communica- tions were again convenient. At Mercatale Lt. W. B. Stewart's troop was having a particularly tough time, They had by-passed the blown bridge by a ford which had been churned into a mire and was now impassible. Enemy fire on the bridge sit was so intense as to prevent any work. Immeriately north of Mercatale was the M. Ceco feature, dcminating the entire val- ley. Our only approach to M. Ceco was by frontal assault up a sheer cliff. Time and time again the tanks peyndey the feature, and the infan- Ty gained a foothold, only to be beaten off. Finally, on 8 Oct. 1 D. W.R. in spite of the stubborn oprn- sition and fierce counter-atta:\-, took the objective, The almost continuous rain and cold, coupled with the very restrict- ed action, imposed by the limita- tions of the valley and the demoli- tions, created a very uncomfortable situation. 'The narrow mountain road, supplying two divisions for 60 miles, could withstand only a min- imum of traffic with the result that C sqn could not be relieved. Enemy shelling increased and grew ever more devastating. On 13 Oct. two tanks were knocked out, and on that same night Cpl. C. Lew Jones M.M. was killed while endeavouring to re- plenish the troops supplies. On the 14 Oct., Sqn HQ, with another troop, moved up to Mercatale, With the aid of bulldozers they were able to cross the ford. Another tank was knocked out;--and so it was, com- pelled as they were to sit in a pro- tective smoke screen, under the nose of the enemy for that long month; daily as the smoke thinned, they belched out at scme enemy position. The weight and persistance of al- lied attacks toward Bologna caused the enemy to carry out considerable redisposition of his forces. These, however, were not sufficient to halt our advance, so the concentration of German divisions in the central sector of the Appenine line continu- ed--even at the expense of the Adri- atic front where unfavourable ground and continual rain had en- abled the enemy to stabilize his de- fence and econcenisé his troops holding" the line, When 5 Army breached the Gothic line, and Kes- serling = tardily appreciated this threat, two divisions were moved from the east to hold the roads leading to Imola and Sastel S.,Pie- tro, while one division was moved from the 'west to block our way North of Firenbuola. By the end of Ovtober 'enemy resistance showed no signs of slackening, and every al- lied advance provoked an immediate counter-attack, supported by Arty fire ag heavy and concentrated as had ever been encountered in the Italian theatre. With the advantage of precipitous terrain, ideal for de- fence, good lateral communications behind his front line, and excellent gun areas astride the valley roads which led down to the Bologna-Ri- mini highway, the enemy was able to stabilize 'his line and fought des- perately to hold it at all costs. For the partial success he was achiev- ing, he was paying a heavy price. (Continued Next Week) Twelve Killed In Plane Crash Johannesburg, South Africa, May 17-(AP) -- 'Twelve persons were killed when Mercury Airways plane struck a®1,000-foot mountain in Vreds, Orange Free State, Sat- urday. / Seven of the dead were passengers and five crew members. Five of the dead were women, including three air hostesses, two of them travel- ling as passengers. \ AUSTRALIA'S CORAL REEF The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef, guards the east coast of Australia for more than 1,200 miles. Long Distance Records Broken Fairy Raleigh Zana--171114--Jérsey cow owned by Featherstone Brothers, Trafalgar, Halton County, Ontario. A was recently held at Mil- ton, Ontario, in honor of Fairy Raleigh Zana and her Long Distance Milk and Butterfat record. Her owners, Bill and Jack Featherstone, were each presented with suitably engraved silver trays. Zana's record of 146,810 lbs. milk, 7,980 Ibs. fat, is the Long Distance Milk and Butterfat record for the Jersey Breed in Canada. In terms of butter, Zana produced 9,290 Ibs. of which, at present prices, would retail for nearly $8,000.00; 58,724 quarts of milk at 20c per quart would retail for $11,744.80. Made into ice cream, her product would produce over 17,500 gallons of ice cream or over 1,500,000 cones of ice cream. 1 Customs Seize Pearls Pearls, Opium And Soap Pearls, opium and toilet soap which Australian customs officers seized in raids on ships are shown here. Some are strings of Japanese cultured pearls which were seized, ONTARIO NOMINATIONS By The Canadian Press The number of nominations in the Ontario election June 7 rose during the week-end to 270. Ninety legis- lature seats are at stake. The Progressive Conservative party has only one more nominat- ing convention scheduled--that in Carlton Riding May 20, The Lib- erals still have York East and To- ronto St. Andrew to fill but no dates for them have been set. The C.C.F. nominated six candi- dates during the week-end. Dates have yet to be set for C.C.F. nomi- nating conventions in Addington, Brant, Dufferin - Simcoe, - Essex South, ,, Glengarry, Huron, Kent East, Kent West, Prince Edward- Lennox, Rainy River, Renfrew North .and Wellington North, In some of these ridings the party may decide against running candi- dates, . Week-end nominations were: Bryce--Audrey J. Mercer, C.C.F. Grenville-Dundas -- William J. Cook, CCF. Hastings East--E. Sleevert, C.C.F. Leeds--William J. Miller, C.CF. Oxford--W. G. Goodwin, C.C.F. Peel_Herb Sovereign, C.C.F. To date: Prog. Con. 89; Lib, 88; C.CF. 75; Union of Electors 12; Lib.-Lab. 2; Lab.-Prog. 2; Ind. Lib. 1; Ind. C.CF. 1, Total 270. Anglican Bishops To Visit England For Conference By NORMAN CRIBBINS Capadian Press Staff Writer London, May 17--(CP)--Anglican Bishops from various parts of the world will attend the Lambeth con- ference at' Lambeth Palace, head- quarters of the Archbishop of Can- terbury, July 1-Aug. 8. Twenty-three Bishops are coming from Canada, 73 from the United States, 15 from South Africa, 22 from Australia, Six from New Zea- land, 10 from India, Burma and Ceylon, nine -from the West Indies and 11 from China. Three Japanese Bishops--Yash- iro, Yanagihara and Makita--have been invited by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Geoffrey Fisher, with the sanction of the British government. "The Archbishop has agreed to act as sponsor for our Japanese guests while they are away from Japan," an official at Lambeth Pa- lace said. "All we know of them is that in spite of the war, they still function as dignitaries of the Anglican Caurch in Japan. But as yet we de not know the extent to which the Anglican faith is recognized in Ja- pan today." A distant visitor to the confer- ence will be the Rt. Rev. Francis Septimus Hollis, for 10 years Bishop of Labuan and Sarawak--an equa- torial diocese extending over hun- dreds of miles of jungle. Bishop Hollis, interned by the Ja- panese for nearly four years, re- cently informed the Archbishop of Canterbury he would resign his post after the conference due to a dis- ease of the eyes. Medical advisers frave warned him that if he return- ed to a tropical climate he might lose his sight altogether. Subject for discussion at the con- ference--first since 1930--include: International order and human rights, the relation bet- -:-1 baptism and confirmation, the decline in marriage standards and Anglican relations with other churches. FIND WOMAN"S BODY Montreal, May 17--(CP) -- [he decomposed body of a 21-yearsold woman, identified as Alma Louella Smith, missing from her Montreal home since last February, was found Sunday on the verandah of a summer home on Heron Island, in the St. Lawrence River opposite suburban Ville LaSalle. EARLY EDUCATION The first Danish popular high school (the equivalent of our pub- lic high schools) was inaugurated in 1844. * ; : Honeymooners In Bermuda The James Cromwells of Weehawken this picture made during their honeymoon in Bermuda. Cromwell, former , N.J.,, seem well satisfied with life in husband of Doris Duke, and time U.S, ried recently to Maxine MacFetridge, MacFetridge of Birmingham, Alabama. LS. to daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Hope Charged With Arson D'ASSISE MENARD Shown in police custody, will face court at St. Jerome, Que. today. Police say Menard set fire to 18 summer homes in the Val Morin district, He was carrying 675 matches when arrested. Junior Chambers Re-Elects Savage Ottawa, May 17--(CP)--Hugh Savage of Montreal was re-elected President of the regional group of Junior Chambers of Commerce at the three-day annual parley which concluded here Saturday. Attending were some 300 delegates frcem Peterborough, Kingston, Car- leton Place, Brockville and Mont- real. Secretary-Treasyrer D.Y. Novin- ger of Montreal also was given an- other year's mandate. Appointment of a Vcie-President was handed ov- er to the Peterborough Chamber. Peterborough delegates, conduct- ing a tourist "clinic" Saturday, ur. ged that Junior Chambers of Com- Jews In Canada Hold Ceremoniés Supporting Israel By The Canadian Press Mass demonstrations across Can- anada marked Canadian Jews' ex- ultation during the week-end over the creation of the Jewish State of Israel. Canada's big cities saw thousands of Jews throng public meeting pla- ces for joyful services of thanksgiv- ing and prayer. Speakers in Toron- ton, Montreal, Ottawa and else- where urged Canada recognized the new state. Some 20,000 persons took rart in celebrations at Toronto's. Maple Leaf Gardens, Every seat in the big arena was filled and spectators spilled out onto. the ice surface to surround a tiny platform. An over- flow crowd of several thousand stood outside. More than 15000 Jews jammed the Forum at Montreal and over- flowed "into the streets.. Speakers, who included Zionist workers, re- presentatives of Jews in Israel and the Jewish Army Hagana, express- ed determination to defend the new state. Delegates attending a four-day conference of Zionist and Hadassah organizationg: participated: in Win- nipeg's mass rally. In Ottawa a meeting of about 300 Jews urged Canadian recognition of the new state; permission to ship arms to Israel and support of the United Nations. Recognition wag also asked by Sir | Ellswortla Flavelle, chairman of the World Committee for Palestine and of the Canadian Palestine Commit- tee, in a statement at Toronto. Chief Rabbi Charles B. Ginsberg conducted a Vancouver ceremony of prayer and thanksgiving attended by about 2,000 persons. A Sunday night rally to "salute the new State of Israel" was held at Halifax. At a service in a London, Ont. Synagogue, Rabbi David Kir Hen- baum said Judea will have to be built with "blood and fire." The congregation decided to ask the Canadian government to permit young Jewish-Canadians to go to Israel to fight. ting up tourist information centres on 'highways in each of the dis- tricts. Another "clinic" on immigration brought the resolution that the Ju- nior Chambers forward to the fed. eral immigration authorities an expression of appreciation of exist- Ontario Spotl GEOLOGIST DIES Cannington, May 17--(CP)--War- ren Homer Emms, 61-year-old min- ing geologist, died Sunday. night. He was formerly managing engineer of Silanco Mining and Refining Company at Cobalt and spent 20 years with Mining Corporation of Canada and 10 years with Anglo- Huronian, Ltd. DOE IS DROWNED Niagara Falls, Ont, May 17-- (CP)--~A doe was drowned in the Queenston hydro forebay Sunday while hydro employees and a game warden tried to rescue her. She was the third deer to be drowned there in a week, Dogs which chased the deer are believed responsible, JAP TREE BLOOMS Fort Erie, May 17 -- (CP) -- A Japanese crabapple 'tree in full bloom is attractnig much atten- tion here. The crimson-blossomed tree is a rarity in this district, al- though a similar, white-flowering '| type is well-known. SEPARATE SCHOOL Toronto, May 17 -- (CP) -- The School of Architecture has been made a separate divisien of the University of Toronto, it was announced today by Presi- dent, Sidney Smith, Since its formation 58 years ago, the school has been a department of the faculty of engineering. FIRE SOLVES PROBLEM St. Thomas, May: 17 -- (CP)-- Demolition of an old mill building posed quite a problem here until Saturday night. Then it burned down. The building was being used for waste-paper storage until. it could be removed for additional housing construction. TO BEAUTIFY ISLAND Sault Ste. Marie, Ont, May 17 -- (CP) -- Efforts are being made by thé parks board to beautify White Fish Island with a view to making it a na- tional park. In its present com- dition the island, situated be- tween the ship canal and the St. Mary's River rapids, is con- sidered an "eyesore." MEMORIAL CEREMONY Toronto, May 17--(CP)--Ameri- cans and Canadians Sunday met once again in the site of old Fort York but in more peaceful vein this time, The occasion was the {commemoration of the 1813 battle of York in which U. S. troops cap- tured and later sacked the village which became Toronto. No Prosecutions -Evidence Is Eaten Ottawa, May 17 -- (CP) -- The celebrated case fo the smuggled margarine will result in no prose- cutions, a revenue department of- ficial said Saturday. Reason: The evidence has been consumed. The four pounds of margarine they brought across the border from the United States as a lark has been eaten by Senator Norman Paterson (L--Ontario) amd three other members of the Oftawa Board of Trade. So, the official said, there would be no evidence for prosecution un. der the tariff item which bans the butter substitute. Must Wear Stockings When Purchasing Shoes Charleston, S.C, May 17--(AP) --Things- are getting tough in Charleston for the sockless. You've got to wear stockings or sock when you buy a pair of shoes in a store. The Health department has is. sued an order making it unlawful for a customer to try on new shoes. when barefooted. There's too much danger of athletes foot and other fungus diseases, the health & de- partment says. Violators face a fine up to $100 or imprisonment up to 35 days. the 1948 crops. being reserved for milking cattle. Only two carloads of hay are avail- able to meet this aspect of the emergency; milk cattle will graze beside local cemeteries to use all available pastureland. Already barges and rafts have evacuated more than 200 head of cattle from ever-narrowing ridges along the Carrot River, to higher land, and they must be again moved nearer town if the Saskatchewan River continues to rise. River Still Rising Farmers, hoping hourly for some sign that the flood has passed its peak, heard that a three-foot rise in the Saskatchewan River was re- ported during the week-end at Ed- monton, and there was no sign of decrease at Prince Albert, or at flooded Cumberland Lake, 40 air miles up river. This was interpreted as the ad- vent of the summer floods, which could be expected to reach the al- ready-inundated farms within three weeks--before they could drain off their present water burden Radio stations throughout Mani- toba have been asked to broadcast word of the evacuation so farmers time to prepare to leave their homes when the boats come. ing telegraphed for assistance to move the livestock to pastureland. The department of- mines and re- sources is to be asked to appoint R. F. Chalmers, departmental super- visor, to co-ordinate rescue and emergency measures for The Pas farmers. Haystacks Afloat After families have been moved from the inundated farms, barges will attempt 'to salvage haystacks still on high land. Elsewhere hay- stacks are floating from pastures into the rivers. Former - United States army "weasels" wll tour the farming areas today to compile detailed reports on food, clothing, shelter and other as- sistance needed as the families are being evacuated. In the central Manitoba region, reports from Curtis Siding, eight Crops Washed Out By Spring Floods Over Large Area Winnipeg, May 17--(CP)--Buildings in the north western Manitoba centre of The Pas were being prepared today to receive 135 families from all district farms, forced to leave their homes by spring floods which have washed out A fleet of canoes and barges is under orders to leave early to begin removing the families. Farmers, Indians, trap. pers and game guardians will assist in the evacuation. Pasture ridges near The Pas are ® throughout the flood zone wuld have | The provncial government is be-- miles east of Portage La Prairfe, indicated an easing of the flood situation. At Curtis Siding, 300 workers were reported meeting with: success in efforts to strengthen an earth dike containing waters of the swollen Assiniboine River. About 4,000 acres of farmland have been flooded in that area alone. It was considered doubtful any seeding would be done there; elsewhere on the mid-Manifoba plains thousands of acres were sub- merged. $ . Conditions were better elsewhere in Western Canada, with Alberta and Saskatchewan drying out and the situation in British Columbia's Cariboo district, where the Bona- parte River has inundated crop and pasturelands extensively, reported improved. ; North Oshawa Pavilion Sold Owners of Russwinn Pavilion, Orchard View Boulevard in North Oshawa, announced Saturday night that the property had been sold to John Ukrop, proprietor of the Modern Shoe Repair, 83 Simcoe Street North. Mr. and Mrs. Russell Tennier made the official announcement, during the round and square danc- ing party held regularly every Sat- urday since they opened the pavile ion nearly three years ago. The Tenniers built up the business as they had built the pavilion itself and their plans for A the future, though not revealed, will probably lead to other successes. "HEALING" WATER HARMFUL East London, South Africa--(CP) --As natives come to drink the "holy waters" of the "healing" spring at Transkeian, a new ceme- tery grows nearby. The "holy" spring is contaminated and causes dysentery. Despite warnings, na- tives flock to drink its "healing" waters. te ---------- fp ------ ture follow: Products Tomato juice Peas Wax beans ... Peaches Pears Rolled Oats BULLETIN NO. 7 FARMERS! This Is Your Cut! Figures from the Ontario Dept. of Agricul- Canned tomatoes .. Pastry flour .... FARMERS! Who 1s Trimming Who! VOTE 0 0 F Eliminate Profiteering ELECT THOMAS ELECT WILLIAMS Farmer receives 3%c 1%c 2%c 3%c 5lc 4%c 2.66¢ 1.6¢c Consumer pays vee. 25-270 ws diay 39:7. 108. JUNE 7th JUNE 8th that is nething short of perfect ; smoothness . . . in taste. merce assume responsibility of set- ing immigration policy. N Y A133V¥YS OI IW Z SWEET CAPORAL CIGARETTES Yes, these famous cigarettes are a sight to delight the eyes of ony connoisseur! And they're better than ever today . . : because every Sweet Cap you smoke is mow checked, right from plantation te you, by the exclusive process known as "Perfection . . .'Check +/"'--checked to ensure you a cigarette : & in freshness ; ; ; in an ANAE