Dedicated To The Progress Of Served By Leased Wire Of The WILMINGTON 4» ASSOCIATED PBESS And Southeastern North II I I III I II ^7 IMI With Complete Coverage ol CaroliM | Stale and National News __WILMINGTON, N. C., WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1940 FINAL EDITION ESTABLISHED 1867 AXIS SEEKS NEW SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE ACCORO k ★ ★ k k k k k k k k k k k k k k -X- A. ★ - 2 ^ . '" " « « Nazis ' . Raid On British Industrial Belt Midlands Towns Suffer \Another Coventry9 Attack - M ■■■■■-' ■ ■ — BIRMINGHAM HIT At Least Three German Planes Reported Shot Down During Assault attack1n~waves London Escapes Heavy Damage As Ground Guns Put Up Big Barrage LONDON. Nov. 20. — (Wednesday) p,_german bombers, attacking n endless waves overnight, subject ,a two midlands towns to what ob servers called “another Coventry” and showered bombs on at least a lozen oilier points in Britain’s great industrial belt. (German sources said the Nazis nere dropping thousands of bombs jf au caliber on armament and sup ply centers of Birmingham,, large British manufacturing city in the midlands. The censor in London, iowever, refused to permit identifi ■ation of any attacked town.) Still In Progress The raid, launched at nightfall, Kill was in progress early today. At least three German planes were ■eported shot down during the night ■aiding. Apparently using “""uu - signpost to point their way north vest into the midlands, the first nave of about 100 Nazi planes cross id the southeast coast at dusk. Wave ipon wave soon followed in the face if a lashing anti-aircraft barrage. London itself escaped with lighter than-average bombing although the firing of her defense guns was as leavy as ever. The night inxaders not only struck it the midlands but also fanned out iver a wider area, smashing at the jig west coast port of Liverpool three limes before midnight. Raiders were reported over north west and northeast England, Eas' Anglia, southeast and northeast Scot 2nd and Wales. Early reports of destruction in the (Continued on Page Four, Col. 6) BATTLESHIP FIRE IS EXTINGUISH! damage From Flames On Half-Finished U. S. Craft ‘Negligible’ CAMDEN. N. J... Nov. 19.—Wi ^ fire below decks of the half (ompleted battleship South Dako 2-second on the 35,000-ton war ;hip since construction began tw< (ears ago — was quickly extin luished by workmen today ane he New ork Shipbuilding com ?2ny said damage was “negligi )le.” (The fire was the third on i partly-finished naval vessel in thi L'nited States this week. Flame at caused little damage brofc Jlontinued on Page Four, Col. 4) TERRIFIC ATTACK Planes From • Bases In France, Belgium, Holland [Take Part In Raid FIRES STARTED Berlin Claims English De fenses Ineffective Against Formations BERLIN, Nov. 20.—(Wednesday) —(#■)—'The English midlands city of Birmingham apparently suffer ed the same fate as Coventry in a heavy German bombing attack last night, reliable informants here said today. Thousands of bombs of all cali ber were dropped on the arma ment and supply center* of the British industrial city, it was stated. (Coventry, indusrial city near Birmingham, was largely laid waste in a terrific overnight at tack last Thursday night and Fri day morning. German sources said at the time that similar at tacks elsewhere could be ex nortpd ^ Begins Early The attack on Birmingham be gan early last night, German sour ces said, with planes winging from bases in France, Belgium and the Netherlands to strike in large units as the weather steadily im proved. The German sources expressed confidence of a highly successful action against important targets in the city. More han 20 “large” fires were visible after the first waves of bombers passed over the city, hese sources added. The English defenses were said to be ineffective and unable to disturb or break up the large Ger man formations. London and other cities of the southern counties also were at tacked in the course of the night, these sources deciared. Informed quarters acknowledged at the same time that British bombers were over Germany, but asserted that they had failed in an attempt to attack Berlin itself, having been “dispersed” and forc ed to turn back short of the city. LAWRENCE SPEAKS AT BAPTIST MEET Many Reports Are Present ed At Annual Convention In Charlotte ' CHARLOTTE, Nov. 19.—UP)—The ' approximately 1,500 clergymen and laymen attending the 110th State Baptist convention spent a bysy day with reports and other business to day and tonight heard an address by 1 Dr. J. B. Lawrence of Atlanta, Ga., : secretary of the Home Mission board. > “We must make the religion of ■ Jesus triumphant at home if we (Continued on Page Two) I British Air Attacks Cut Krupp W orks’ Production 19. — Iff) — The gcampaign has cut : the Krupp arma '.y half, wrought a u ion” of industry mas many and so ire r - titles that crops ields : 1sred in German oday nistry declared ,as . announcement er-offe, n n aerial )— The house refused to end this ses sion of congress today, voicing by a 191 to 148 vote a feeling that so long as the foreign crisis continues congress should stay on the job. By its action it upset the plans of democratic leaders, who, brought up the adjournment reso lution. The leaders thus were pre sented with an outright defeat on the first test 0f their strength since the election of two weeks ago. Their reverse was caused by the defection of 44 democrats. These, including particularly democrats from the West, combined their votes with those of a solid republi can minority to block the adjourn ment move. President Roosevelt told report ers, in response to questions, that the vdte against adjournment did not make any difference to him. He has stated that the question was one for congress to decide. Asked whether he would "find something for congress to do," he replied merely that more Army and- Navy -promotions were coming along all the time. No additional defense measures are in prospect, he added. A sigificant result of the vote was that the senate, too, was held ■in cession to face the issue of ap proving, rejecting or laying aside the highly controversial Walter-Lo gan bill. Under the constitution, (Continued on Page Six; Col. I).