World Mourns F.D.R.'s Death Daily Kansan 42nd YEAR LAWRENCE, KANSAS, FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 1945 NUMBER 131 LEADER FOR 12 YEARS Courtesy of the Journal World) THE NEW PRESIDENT Franklin D. Roosevelt Harry S. Truman Americans 40 Miles From Reich Capital International News Service Despite a security blackout, the following reports were received: The triumphal march of allied armies everywhere in the world continues today as the tottering Reich was dealt staggering blows, but allied successes were tragically beclouded with the death of President Rosevelt. Troops of the United States Ninth army which crossed the Elbe at Magdeburg may now be at points less than 40 miles from Berlin. Unconfirmed Paris broadcasts insisted that Allied paratroopers have been dropped in advance of the fast-rolling tanks, possibly only 15 or 20 miles from the German capital. Units of the United States First army already may have penetrated into the outskirts of Leipzig, key communication center and railway hub of central Germany. The hard-riding Third army, under command of Lt. Gen. George S. Patton, Jr., is well on its way to Dresden, logical point for a junction with Soviet troops advancing from the east. Moscow reported intensification of Soviet drives against Berlin from the Odor river bridgehead. A joint Allied-Russian push into Berlin was a distinct possibility to be reckoned with in the next few days. (continued to page two) Friday, 13th, Comes As Anti-Climax Today Friday the 13th holds little significance today for students and faculty, who feel with the entire nation and world, that the traditionally unlucky day came one day early. Troops on the western front, informed last night of the death of their commander-in-chief, are surging toward Berlin and may be in the city before the end of the day Friday the 13th may be a lucky day after all! Kansan Publishes Early Extra Edition The University Daily Kansan, by publishing one of the earliest extra editions in the country, yesterday speeded to the campus the news of the death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. First word came to the Journalism building at 4:55 p.m. An hour later, at 5:58 p.m., the extra edition was rolling off the press. Within a half hour, the circulation carriers had delivered-1,500 copies tgroup houses and to several campus distribution stations. The regular press run had just been completed, but the print shop employees had not yet left when the news flash came. Within five minutes the crew was at work, making over the type forms for the extra. Smooth co-operative between the printers, the student staff members, and other students who volunteered made the speedy extra possible. K. U. Whistle To Blow When Nazis Surrender When the news of the capitulation of Germany is received, the whistle will blow announcing the event to the students and faculty of K. U., it was decided at a special meeting of the All-Student Council at 12:30 today. If the proclamation comes in the morning, students are to assemble in Hoeh auditorium at the 11:30 hour for an official recognition program. If the news comes in the afternoon, the program will be at 7:30 the same evening. If the declaration of V-E day is at night, the all-school assembly will be at 11:30 the following morning. This asserably program will be K. U.'s official observance of V-E day, Audience Solemn At President's Death Hears Hymn of Praise In memory of the President, a solemn audience stood in a moment of silent prayer last night before hearing the appropriately reverent "Hymn of Praise" given by members of the School of Fine Arts at their annual Festival concert. Dean D. M. Swarthout lead the University A Cappella choir and Symphony orchestra in Mendelssohn's sacred cantata, which opened with the impressive chorus, "All That Hath Life and Breath, Sing to the Lord." Meribah Moore, soprano, Irene Peabody, mezzo-soprano, and Joseph Wilkins, tenor, sang solo and duet roles. The chorus closed the 30-minute number with "Ye Nations, Offer to the Lord." "The Legend of Miana," done in three parts, was sung by the Women's Glee club and directed by Irene Peabody. Norma Jean Lutz, soprano, gave an outstanding solo performance, and Frances Sartori gave the flute obbligato. Anne Krehbiel was accompanist for the number. Campus Flags at Half Mast In Mourning for President Fletcher's "Song of Victory" was sung by the choir and accompanied by the orchestra and Prof. L. E. Anderson at the organ. The concert came to a close with the words "God save our Motherland! Land of the Free!" Dean Swarthout announced that (continued to page three) Flags on the campus today are flying at half staff in the mourning of the death of President Roosevelt. By an order of President Harry S. Truman, flags on all federal buildings will be flown at half-staff for the next 30 days. Cuban and Porto Rican flags will fly at half-mast for three days, and Argentina has decided upon eight days of mourning. Special Train Takes Body To White House Aboard President Roosevelt's Funeral Train, Warm Springs, Ga.—(INS)—Franklin Delano Roosevelt began his final homeward journey today. The body of America's great wartime president, stilled by death, was placed aboard the presidential special train shortly before 10 a.m., at this little wayside Georgia station. A few moments later, the sad journey back to the White House for funeral services, and on to the Roosevelt ancestral home overlooking the Hudson River at Hyde Park, N. Y., had begun. The funeral train, with the president's grief-stricken widow and the sorrowing members of the little secretarial staff who accompanied "The Boss" on his journeys, will arrive in a mourning capitol at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Funeral services will be held Saturday in the east room of the White House. Mr. Roosevelt's body will not lie in state for public view. In Warm Springs, Ga., a crowd of several hundred friends and neighbors of the Georgia countryside were gathered at the railroad siding where the late president's body was placed aboard the presidential special train. Quickly assuming the fallen mantle of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Mr. Truman summoned the army, navy, and air corps high commands to the white house for a war conference which lasted 50 minutes. Secretary Stettinius conferred with him also. Mrs. Roosevelt walked slowly to the train on the arm of Secretary Stephen Early, and Vice-Admiral McIntyre, the President's personal physician. A double lane of 2,000 paratroopers from Fort Benning surged shoulder-to-shoulder, rifles at salute. Washington — (INS) — President Harry S. Truman, overseas veteran of the first world war, today assumed active command of the nation's armed forces, with a pledge to carry on the global conflict to a successful conclusion on all fronts. President Truman proclaimed Saturday, April 14, as "a day of mourning and prayer throughout the United States" in honor of Mr. Roosevelt. Uses Roosevelt's Bible Using a worn Bible from the late President's own office, Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone sore Vice-President Harry S. Truman in as Chief Truman Assumes Duties As 32nd President of U.S. (continued to page three) protecting the line of procession. Two thousand infantrymen led by the band of the 99th army ground forces formed a military escort for the president's flag-draped casket. Washington in Sorrow The death of Mr. Roosevelt, 31st president of the United States, at 3:35 p.m. yesterday, cast a pall of deep sorrow over Washington. From Capitol hill to Embassy row, scores of diplomats, congressmen, labor leaders, politicians, and "common men," paid their respects to the departed chief executive, who died on the threshold of the greatest Allied military victories in Europe and the Pacific. Among messages of condolence pouring into Washington were those from Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Marshall Josef Stalin. Churchill said Mr. Roosevelt's death was the "loss of the British nation and of the cause of freedom in every land," and, to himself personally, a "dear and cherished friendship which was forged in the fire of war." In England, the British house of commons adjourned today immediately after assembling, in respect to the late president. Condolance Messages Sent Condolence Messages Sent The President's death came as a complete shock to the entire world As the tragic announcement began (continued to page f6ur) Big Three Holds 15 Conferences Since Atlantic Meeting in 1941 The Big Three activities, consisting of 15 meeting since August, 1941, will have a new man in the driver's seat at the San Francisco conference less than two weeks away. Franklin D. Roosevelt has traveled to all but two of these meetings, making ocean voyages four times in the last four years to represent the policies of the United States. First Meeting Roosevelt's and Churchill's first meeting took place in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, August, 1941, and resulted in the formation of the Atlantic Charter. Four months later, December, 1941, Churchill paid a visit to Washington to confer with the president. Roosevelt and Churchill again met in Washington in June. 1942. In December, Churchill visited the president in Washington. They met again in Washington June, 1942. Churchill and Stalin conferred in Moscow, August, 1942. The great meeting at Casablanca was held in January, 1943. And again in May, Roosevelt and Churchill met in Washington. Quebec was the meeting place in August, 1843, for Roosevelt and Churchill. In November of that year, Roosevelt, Churchill and Chiang Kai-shek met at Cairo. The first meeting which included President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, and Marshal Stalin took place at Teheran in November and December, 1943. Cairo Meeting Return On his return to the United States, Roosevelt conferred with Churchill in Cairo. Almost a year later, September, 1944, Roosevelt and Churchill met in Quebec. The next month Churchill and Stalin met in Moscow. Roosewelt and Churchill met at Malta during the early part of February preceding the Yalta conference a little more than a month ago. 1