NEWSPAPERS

Monday, August 6th, 1945

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer was an early morning paper put out before 11 am, the time when word broke on the west coast about the A-Bomb falling on Japan.  This issue's front page headline shouted "WORLD'S LARGEST FLYING BOAT CRASHES IN CHESAPEAKE BAY" while other headlines spoke of  "Luzon Jap Units Counterattack," "Underground War in Norway Bared," "Top Airman Missing on 108^th Mission," and "Woman Killed In Car Crash." 

The rest of the paper was "war as usual" including a page two article from Stuttgart that said the American Military Government (AMG) had taken a poll in Germany and found that 50% of the German people polled still liked Hitler.  Most people in Europe liked the Americans who were running things, but feared a war with Russia was inevitable. 

Also in the paper was a Bon Marche half-page ad encouraging people to join the Volunteer Port Security Force to relieve Coast Guard men for active duty. 

Barbary Coast, Melody Ranch, Hopalong Cassidy Enters, Blood On The Sun, Frenchman's Creek, Between Two Women, and Wilson  were showing in Seattle movie theaters, and John Wayne in Back To Bataan was scheduled to start Wednesday at the Paramount. 

That Monday local Chevrolet dealers ran an ad showing a hen sitting on a nest of eggs over the caption "Don't Count New CARS (either) Before They Are Hatched!"  A WARNING! In that same ad said, "New cars, for most people, are many months away.  Very likely there will be rationing and other restrictions on car purchases.  Everybody can't hope to get early delivery.  So be wise.  Continue to conserve your present car till new Chevrolets arrive in volume." 

Eleanor Roosevelt's column My Day carried a story about the Coast Guard's 150^th Anniversary that also mentioned two thousand SPARS had joined the Coast Guard, and many of those women were serving overseas at Hawaiian and Alaskan bases. 

The Seattle Rainiers walloped the San Francisco Seals in their series opener, 17-4. 

There were literally NO houses for rent, although there were many of them for sale.  Some room-and-board places ran ads saying they had NO VACANCIES. 

That same day, Monday, August 6th

An afternoon paper, the Seattle Daily Times ran an EXTRA CITY EDITION with a banner proclaiming:

ATOMIC BOMB, EQUALING 20,000 TONS TNT,

DROPPED ON JAPAN

It was followed by a slightly smaller banner in red that said:

DEADLIEST EXPLOSIVE EVER MADE IS PRODUCED AT HANFORD PROJECT

A smaller yet headline said:

"Explosive is Answer to Foe - Truman" 

That story stated, "An atomic bomb which loosed pent-up forces of the universe equivalent to more than 20,000 tons of TNT and represents one of the greatest scientific advances of history has been dropped on Japan.  President Truman told today of the terrific destructive power packed into the missile which was dropped 16 hours ago on Hiroshima, an important Japanese Army base. 

"His statement, made public by the White House at 11 o'clock this morning, said the bomb added a new and revolutionary increase in destruction on the Japanese homeland.  'This awful bomb is the answer,' President Truman's statement said, 'to Japan's failure to heed the Potsdam demand that she surrender unconditionally at once or face utter destruction.'  The product of $2,000,000,000 spent in research and production is the greatest scientific gamble in history. 

"Mr. Truman said the atomic bomb has been one of the most closely guarded secrets of the war.  The base that was hit is a major quartermaster depot and has large ordinance, machine-tool and aircraft plants.  We are now prepared to obliterate more rapidly and completely every productive enterprise the Japanese have above ground in any city.  We shall completely destroy Japan's power to make war."

Tuesday, August 7^TH

The Post Intelligencer caught up on the big story, running full pages of pictures of the Hanford Project where the bomb was produced.

Wednesday, August 8^TH

A new development in the war hit the headlines of the Times WAR EXTRA.  In red ink: RUSS ENTER JAP WAR.  Other headlines declared U.S. Planes Bag 59 Enemy Ships and ALL HIROSHIMA DESTROYED, DEAD TOO NUMEROUS TO COUNT, TOKYO ADMITS. 

The daily was filled with stories about the bomb, what other nations thought, Japan's reaction to it, and all kinds of articles about Hanford. 

The declaration of war on Japan by Russia was heralded as a means to an early end of the Japanese war. 

Further back in the paper, on the front of the second section, Spring Lamb was advertised for 39 cents a pound and only 6 points!  

The comics included Mickey Finn, Joe Palooka, Harold Teen, Orphan Annie, Dick Tracy, Terry Lee, Superman, Gas Alley, The Gumps, Moon Mullins, Scorchy Smith, Buck Rogers, and Mandrake the Magician. 

You could borrow a tire from B./F. Goodrich while having your old one recapped for $6.70.

Thursday, August 8^TH

The Yakima Morning Herald, like the other papers in this set, sold for five cents.  Its headlines said "Second Atomic Bomb Hits Nippon" and "Russians Attack Japs in Manchuria"  One of the front page stories told of "Hanford Evacuee Forgotten Man" a popular theme giving sympathy to the seven hundred residents who had left Hanford by government order in April 1943, leaving a virtual ghost town behind. 

Another interesting headline and story: "Deadly After-Effects of New Bomb Denied.  Fears that deadly after-effects of the new atom bomb might linger for years were calmed today by the man in the best position to know.  The war department quoted Dr. J. R. Oppenheimer, head of this phase of atomic research, in denying published reports that blasted-out areas might continue to emit killing radio-active rays for years.  Dr. Harold Jacobson of Columbia University, one of those who participated in the atomic research, had expressed the opinion that rays from the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima might persist for 70 years.  His views were expressed in a story distributed yesterday by the International News Service." 

White Duck pants were selling at Dean Military Store for $3.74 and Macks Creamery advertised Macks Milk 2 qts for 19 cents.  Barnes Woodin had a sale on fur coats, ranging from $49.90 to $399.00, all prices subject to 20% Federal Tax. 

That same day the Times showed an odd assortment of headlines.  Stacked at the top of the front page were the following: "Truman Orders 5-Point WPB [War Production Board] Program to Speed Reconversion," then came "U.S. Flyers in China Pave Way for Soviets", followed in red with RUSSIANS ADVANCE IN MANCHURIA, then "Foe Pummeled by Atom Bomb, Fleet, Planes."  America had dropped an A-Bomb on Nagasaki, and it only got a one for three rating in the fourth headline down. 

Pictures of a deserted Hanford continued to make the news, and Russia's warfare against Japan was well covered and lauded as a show of Russian good intent toward the U.S. 

Sports fishermen had to pay $22.95 for a wool sleeping bag at Sears, but double hooks were only a dime.  The mayor of Seattle had already declared a day of celebration for V-J Day.  Men's felt hats ran between $6.50 and $10 at the Bon.  The most exciting news to housewives was that the President had asked for the lifting of controls as soon as possible. 

Friday, August 10th 

The Times ran 2 1/2 inch high red headlines under an EXTRA !!  EXTRA!! EXTRA!! Banner that proclaimed:

ALLIES CONFER ON SURRENDER OFFER

It was followed by:

Early Decision is Unlikely!

Japan had offered to surrender if Hirohito could retain his power.  Meanwhile, Russia was gaining substantial inroads into Manchuria and MacArthur continued to report sinking of enemy vessels in Asian waters. 

The people of Seattle were waiting breathlessly for word that they could begin to celebrate the end of the war, most of them, however, were staying on their jobs.  Inside the paper, articles continued to talk about Washington State's contributions to the war, that is the Atomic Bomb, the Flying Fortress, and the B-29. 

On the last page of the August 10^th edition there was an article titled, "350,000 Jews Never Found"  The AP story from Paris read, "The repatriation of displaced persons in the American, British and French occupation zones of Germany nearly is complete, with more than 2,000,000 person returned to their homes since the war ended in Europe, it was announced today.  Approximately 200,000, including Russians, Yugoslavs, Italians, Greeks and Baltics remain to be repatriated.  Fewer than 10,000 displaced Western Europeans remain in Western Germany.  Only 50,000 out of 400,000 Jews and political opponents of Nazism who were taken to Germany from France, Belgium, Norway, and The Netherlands have been found.  It was estimated 250,000 displaced Jews never would be found." 

Saturday, August 11th

"ALLIES INSIST MIKADO SUBMIT TO U.S. RULE!" shouted red headlines on the Times front page, followed by "Japanese People Eventually Must Be Given Free Choice of Government, Powers Decide" then "Commander in Empire to Be American" 

A lower page explanation of what the surrender terms meant said, "This is what the reply of the Big Four powers - to the Japanese offer to surrender - means, in effect, so far as the royal house is concerned: 1.  Because the Emperor is the key figure in Japan, the Allies will use him in ruling Japan.  2.  But this doesn't mean the Emperor can keep his job indefinitely.  He can keep it until some future time when the Japanese people can decide whether they want to have an Emperor at all.  They will be given a chance to vote on it.  The Japanese people haven't had any choice like this.  They have had an Emperor, generation after generation, and thus until now have accepted the idea of having one." 

Other articles spoke of Russia's advances, and reduction of the U.S. Army and pending cease fires and the upcoming availability of nylon for stockings, enough for millions of pairs of hose each year. 

A report on the Nagasaki bombing was relegated to the back page, in an article only about 10 inches long.

Monday, August 13th

The Daily Times ran headlines that said "JAPS ERR IN STORY ON DELAY OF ALLIED NOTE, SAY SWISS" followed by a red headline proclaiming "U.S. Holds Up Printing of New Rations Books," likely one of the most welcome headlines ever.  The story said the Office of Price Administration had halted printing of 187,000,000 new ration books for food, shoes and gasoline.  The stop order covered War Rations Book 5 for meats, fats, dairy products, canned foods and sugar and a new "A" gasoline book.  Both had been scheduled for distribution in December.  The order halted work on the books pending outcome of peace negotiations.  If Japan quit, the stop order would become permanent. 

And yet, in spite of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki being leveled by atomic bombs, under a headline that said "FOE IS SILENT ON NOTE, SAYS WHITE HOUSE"  Associated Press Staff Writer John M. Hightower wrote, "American bombers hammered at Tokyo's front door today while the Japanese dallied over a decision whether to surrender now on Allied terms or continue a suicidal war.  The White House announced that no reply had been received as of 10:45 o'clock to Saturday's four-power dictate that Japan could keep her Emperor, who would take his orders from the victors' supreme commander."  That article further stated "It is safe to say the war is going on." 

Another interesting front page article appeared under the banner, "Friendship with U.S. Stalin's Greatest Wish -- Eisenhower"  General Dwight D. Eisenhower told a press conference Generalissimo Stalin had said things during their social meeting in Moscow which convinced him Soviet Russia's paramount desire was to be friends with the United States and her people. 

Also on the front page was an edition of a little column that appeared daily called "Gracie Allen Says":  "Well, I see they may put the capital of the United Nations in California, next to Stanford University.  George says it's too bad the United Nation's capital isn't in South Bend, Indiana.  If you're looking for cooperation among nationalities, he says, did you ever look at the line-up of a Notre Dame football team?  Goodness, Gracie continued, I hope the collegiate atmosphere doesn't affect the diplomats.  It will be funny to see them in top hats and striped trousers riding around in a jalopy with "Hi babe!"  painted on the fenders.  And I hear the United Nations are trying to avoid 'economic hazards.'  If that's the case, I'd advise them to look out for those Stanford co-eds." 

At Safeway T-bone steak was going for 48 cents a pound.

Tuesday, August 14th

The Times shouted "JAP REPLY RELAYED TO WASHINGTON BY SWISS" followed by a red line stating "RUSS GAIN 93 MILES IN MONGOLIA" while a smaller head line said "800 B-29s RAID JAPS' HOME ISLES."  The text of the surrender reply had been telephoned to the White House.  It said, "The Swiss government tonight announced that the Japanese reply to the Allied surrender ultimatum has been delivered to Leland Harrison, United States minister.  Informed quarters said that the Japanese note accepted the Allied surrender conditions." 

Elsewhere on the front page a Congressman was quoted as saying he believed Japan was stalling in order to hide her gold, jewels, and secret documents.  The fighting went on in the Pacific while two thousand one hundred troops were pictured on the front page returning from the Pacific after three and a half years of service, many with the famed 41^st Sunset Division. 

Boeing ran a red ad across the bottom of the front page asking for men to help build B-29s: Riveters' Assistants, Beginning Assemblers, Service Attendants.  It also said, "Physically qualified Women also wanted." 

An AP wirephoto on page three showed a huge, yelling throng jamming Times Square in New York, a daily occurrence as the nation awaited news of the final surrender of Japan. 

A disturbing headline appeared on the editorial page: "World Will Find a Defense Against Atomic Bombings."  The article spoke of the United States not meaning to reveal the secret of the atomic bomb until "means have been found to control the bomb so as to protect ourselves and the rest of the world from the danger of total destruction." 

Frederick and Nelson was selling mahogany headboards, each with legs, for $19.95 to $20.55.  Penny's was selling Towncraft Ties of the finest rayon materials for $1.49 and men's Custom wing tip shoes for $6.90. 

In Congress it was suggested that Japan's surrender be received on the Battleship Missouri in honor of President Truman's home state. 

A woman who had boy and girl twins named them Vic (for Victoria) and Jay - that is VJ - in honor of the pending surrender. 

Two women arrived in Settle after a one thousand mile horseback ride.  They had been refused extra gas stamps for a trip from Santa Cruz, California to Seattle to visit one of the lady's new granddaughter, so they saddled up and rode north.

Wednesday, August 15th

While the Times was reporting Kamikazes hitting a Yank Base in the Okinawa area, and the Russians still fighting the Japs, the top headlines said "Navy Announces Point Plan for Discharges" and "NO MORE RATIONING OF GAS."   A front page center picture showed cars lined up at a gas station, although meat and butter were to remain on the list until stocks of those blue-point foods grew. 

Page fifteen of that edition ran a small picture of a "Jap Balloon-Bomb,"  a picture linked to a front page article noting Washington had been hit with more balloon-bombs than any other state in the Union.  Twenty had been found in the state, the bulk of them in the Yakima Valley area, although no military damage had been done by any of them.  Two bombs were found seven miles north of Spokane by two woodsmen on February 12, 1945.  Neither exploded. 

The rest of page fifteen was filled with pictures of the celebration of V-J Day.  On the front page, the really big news of the day had received a small headline and an article titled SEATTLE EXHAUSTED BY VICTORY BEDLAM, FINDS JOY IN PEACE .  The article said, "Seattle, limp and exhausted from an all-night victory celebration, awoke slowly today, its half a million hearts singing with the tingling joy of peace.  The city, with an official two-day holiday period starting, unashamedly slept in.  The announcement yesterday afternoon of the surrender of the last of the nation's enemies touched off a demonstration to dwarf anything the metropolis of Puget Sound ever had seen.  People poured into the streets, becoming instantaneously a screaming, whooping, laughing, cheering mass of footloose humanity.  It was New York City's Times Square in miniature, and there was no holding it nor any trying.  The Mayor declared a two-day holiday as did the Governor, giving the holidays legal stature."  

A quiet article on page one noted "M'Arthur Is Grateful For Assignment," then went on to say the General had telegraphed the President his gratitude for appointment as supreme commander to conduct the Japanese surrender negotiations. 

Also noted on page one was that Tokyo newspapers had banner-lined the end of the war, reporting no disorders in the city after the surrender announcement. 

Advertisers in the Times rushed to celebrate in display ads their joy over the end of the war. 

MacDougall Southwick Company said, "Finis is written to the blackest chapter in the world's history."  

Hardy's Jewelers said, "The Dawn of Peace… May it be won as surely as courageously as the mighty Victory of war." 

Puget Sound Power & Light Co. said, "This is the day our Armed Services have heroically fought for… may we honor and in some slight measure seek to discharge our debt to those who will not return." 

Rhodes said, "Peace - at a great sacrifice.  Let us be sure they have not given their lives in vain - let us all work together now for a better world." 

Frederick and Nelson took a full page ad to say, "A new birth of freedom for all the world.  This is the day for which Freedom-loving men long have fought and prayed, have sacrificed, suffered and died.  On this VICTORY DAY, when freedom is born again for all the world, let us resolve to work for the preservation of Peace on earth Good Will toward men.  Thankfully, let us lift our hearts in the solemn vow, 'We will be worthy…we will keep Faith.' " 

Best's Apparel  simply said, "Thank God the war is over.  Please God the time of peace and wisdom begins." 

I. Magnin & Co. said, "So that the honored dead shall not have died in vain… let us offer a prayer of thanks for the Victory that means that the American way of life shall go on." 

And finally, on the back page of the front section, a full page ad run by The Bon Marche shouted one word: "HALLELUJAH!"

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, AUGUST 16^th, 17th, and 18^th, 1945

The Times continued to run articles on the surrender date and the Japanese stalling tactics as they attempted to control the signing of the instruments of  surrender. 

President Truman announced the Japanese would get no chance for revenge as General Douglas MacArthur moved into his role as the Allies appointed Chief of the Occupation Command over the Japanese.

The last in the series of newspapers announced capitulation conferences would open the next Monday. 

The war was finally over.