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Served By Leased Wire Of The Dedicated To The Progress Ot | ASSOCIATED PRESS WILMINGTON With Complete Coverage oi , And Southeastern North State and National News Carolina j yQL 74—NO. 99_____ WILMINGTON, N. C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1940_FINAL EDITION_ESTABLISHED 1867 — m— _1_ 1 ' 1 ■ • 'a * • ill ■ 1 I ' <If I ™ BigGunsBoom On Both Sides NearFortress British Units Draw Steadily Nearer Their Objective BRITISH DETERMINED Main Body Of Italians Is Entrenched In Dug* outs, Ditches BY EDWARD KENNEDY WITH BRITISH FORCES OUT SIDE BARDIA, Libya, Dec. 24.— (#)—The battle for Bardia warmed into a great artillery duel this Christmas eve with guns booming on both sides and the British units drawing slowly nearer the ring of fortresses encircling the town. The steady flow of reinforce ments, including tanks and much artilery crossing into Libya, leaves no doubt that the British are determined to break this strong outpost of Italy’s north African possessions and possibly plan to go beyond it in a sweeping operation. “We could go in and take Bar dia,” the Australian captain in command of one unit told me on the battlefield. “But it would pro bably cost a good many lives, so it’s better to keep hammering at them. Then when we get more tanks and artillery we will get them out of their holes without much trouble.” The main body of Italians, per haps running to almost two divi sions, is entrenched in dugouts and ditches along a dried-up river bed outside the town. In addition to many field pieces and other guns in pilboxes, the Italians have two 13-inch naval guns manned by naval gunners which the British so far have been unable to silence. The British soldiers have chris tened them “long lizzie” and “Bar dia belle.” “There goes lizzie again,” a ser geant said as a huge shell burst a few hundred feet from us and sent up a cloud of sand. The British themselves are bringing uj guns of this size but their transportation over the de ert and up the steep escarpment road offer a difficult problem. For the soldiers attacking Bar dia, many veterans of Narvik and Dunkerque, there will be only the usual bully beef and hard tack for Christmas dinner. The sole yule tide supplies it has been possible to deliver are four truckloads of beer, which have just arrived. For the troops farther back in the desert, within range of normal (Coi.Jnued on Page Three; Col. 3) NAZI MARSHALL HINTS INVASION Says 'Ocean Can Protect England Only As Long As It Suits Us’ (By The Associated Press) BERLIN, Dec. 24.—Amid the big guns which point at England from the German-occupied French coast, Field Marshal General Walther Von Brauchitsch, commander-ln-chief of Adolf Hitler’s army, declared today: “The ocean can protect England only so long as it suits us.” The commander - in - chief made what German sources said was a sur prise visit to a long-range battery on the channel coast (one is Situated at (Continued on Page Three; Col. 7) " ~ ~ ~ ^ XX XXX XXX XXX XXX Purvis Issues C51II For More Weapons Quickly ShipsAndWari Materials Are Big Problem Says Production Of Arms ‘Is Keynote To Stop ping War’ makes new report Apparently Welcomes F. D. R.’s Reorganization Of Defense Set-Up WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.— UPI — Calling for more weapons quickly ai “the keynote to stopping the uar,” Britain’s chief buyer, Ar thur B. Purvis, brought a fresh re port cn British war needs from his country to Secretary of the Treas pry Morgenthau today. Ships, he said, “and maintaining the British merchant fleet so that supplies can be brought from America to Great Britain consit tuted the most urgent immediate problem. Linked with that, he declared on his return to the capital from Eng land, was the need for greatly ac celerated production of war mater ial in the coming 60 or ?0 days. ‘Keynote’ “The production of weapons,” he said, “both in the United Kingdom and North America—by which I mean both the United States and Canada—is the keynote to stopping the war. me more we produce in me i next few weeks, the greater will be the production six months from now.’ Purvis, director-general of t h e British purchasing commission, spent an hour describing to Mor genthau the conditions he found in England and its present require ments. “A1 we ask from America,” he told reporters, “is production and more production. We want an en thusiastic approach to production, and from what information I have I believe we are getting it.” He did not elaborate on this point hut apparently was welcoming President Roosevelt’s reorganiza tion of the defense set-up which put William S. Knudsen in charge of a new’ office of production man (Continued on Page Two; Col. 5) BRITISH CLAIM MANY BOMB HITS List Marks In Air Attack On Castel Benito And On Tripoli (B.v The Associated Press) LONDON, Dec. 24.—British bomb ers scored hits on an airdrome and 011 the harbor jetty, seaplane hangars and power stations at Cas tel Benito and Tripoli, in western Libya, during an air attack last R!?ht, the air ministry news service announced tonight. This heavy thrust at Italian power n Africa was delivered simulta neous with air attacks on the in 'asion ports of Boulogne, Dunker ine and Ostend, it was reported of ficially. Industrial Targets The air ministry also said the “tittsh hit at industrial targets in Continued on Page Four, Col, 3) ' Leahy Starts a ,-^t '• " ■ . ■• -C^1 ,V — Admiral William n. Leahy, new U. S. ambassador to France, holds his grandson, Robert Leahy, as the envoy and Mrs. Leahy board the Southland for the trip from Washington tn Norfolk, Va. From there they are traveling to his Vicliy post via Lisbon by warship. 3,000 Children Aided By Empty Stocking Fund PACKAGES DISTRIBUTE Contributions To Make Un fortunates Happy Mount To $1482 Total More than 3,000 children In Wil mington and vicinity will have their hearts gladdened this morning when they awaken to find their stockings filled with toys, candy, and fruits— furnished through the Star-News Empty Stocking Fund. The fund this year, through the generosity of the public, was able to take care of these unfortunate chil dren who otherwise would not have had a visit from Santa Claus.. Without the aid of this fund, which yesterday climbed to $1,482.10, these children would have known none of the joys and happiness of Christ mas. All day yesterday the Cape Fear Artillery armory at 814 Market street was a scene of activity as the needy residents of the city and ter ritory poured in for their baskets and boxes of Christmas candies and toys. The packages were distributed aft er having been prepared for the un derprivileged children of the com munity by the North Carolina So rosis, which annually handles this huge undertaking. Sponsors of the fund last night expressed appreciation to the hun dreds of individuals who contributed to the fund and scores of organiza tions, firms, and institutions who assisted with donations, and to all who helped to make the fund a successful one again this year. Previously acknowledged —$1413.67 A Friend —- 10-00 Residents of Charles Nesbitt' Court - 4.45 A Friend - 2.55 A Friend ,_ 1-50 A Friend_ 1-00 Betty Lucy & Katy _ 3.00 Ernest Beale_ 1.00 A Friend —- 1.00 A Friend__ 5.00 D. H. _ 25.00 R. & J. - 5:00 Ethyl-Dow Chemical Company- 8.93 $1482.10 Christmas Sees Strange Pattern In Other Nations By The Associated Press This is the second Christmas of ,'ar for the millions in Europe. h makes a strange pattern, and “ot a cheerful one. But still it is Christmas, and today it is in the earts of everyone. , ‘here is no truce; indeed, the ’uU f,-try of a new assault may hays, or even hours away. But .ae bells of Bethlehem ring brave :5’; though the bells of England ‘‘e mute, for it is these bells h:ch will give the alarm of in Vasion. Here are a few glimpses of Eu °Pe on Christmas eve: London: The curtain of the blackout fell mercifully to hide the scars of bombs. The 1940 Bob Cratchett picked his way warily to home or shelter, arms loaded with bundles, many of them un wrapped, because paper is scarce. The railway stations were crowd ed with mothers and fathers on their way to their children in the safer countryside. The people in Piccadilly hurried past an apple vendor, selling his wares for a shilling—20 cents—a pound. The signs said: “Christmas is 1940 years old and Hitler only 51; he can’t spoil our Christmas!” And (Continued on Page Two; CoL 3) Hitler 7n West’ On Christmas Day BERLIN, Dec. 24.— (AP) — Adolf Hitler is observing Christ mas with the war workers and soldiers "in the west,” DNB, German official news agency, reported tonight. DNB gave no details and earlier questions as to where Hitler had gone were met with the re plies saying "that’s military information.” CITY IS READY FOR QUIET DAY Gay Christmas Is Antici pated In City As Santa Visits Town Wilmingtonians today will ob serve Christmas by closing shop, attending religious services, ex changing presents, and distribut ing gifts to the kiddies. Merchants, banks, and govern mental offices planned to take holi days of varying lengths, and special services were scheduled at a number of churches throughout the day. Families Gather Youngsters looked forward to the opening of their stockings at the Yule tree and their parents pre pared for the annual dinner and family gathering, with loved ones expected in from;far and near. For the most part. Wilmington ians were ready to discard the cares of the world for a day and celebrate Christmas in the festive spirit. Stores in the city last night re ported the usual last minute rush (Continued on Page Three; Col. 3) WEATHER forecast North Carolina: Mostly cloudy with showers Wednesday an<? ^ probably Thursday morning, slowly rising tem perature. WASHINGTON. Dec. 24. — UP) — Weather bureau records ot temperature and rainfall for the 24 hours ending 8 p. m., in the principal cotton-growing areas and elsewhere: station High Low Prec. Asheville, cld —1—- 53 33 0.00 Atlanta, rn- 51 43 0.08 Atlantic City, clr- 48 32 0.00 Birmingham, rn- 57 49 0.04 Boston, p c- 45 -1 0.00 Chicago, p c- 54 30 0.00 Cincinnati, clr- 61 24 0.00 Cleveland, clr- 60 26 0.00 Detroit. P C -_—-51 oU U.UU Fort Worth, cld- 68 39 0.00 Galveston, clr- 69 48 0.00 Jacksonville, p c- 70 60 1.14 Kansas City, clr- 64 42 • 0.00 Los Angeles, clr- 62 55 2.46 Louisville, p C- 62 -6 0.00 Memphis, rn- 61 42 001 Miami, p c --—- 82 66 0.00 Mobile, cld _ 56 55 0.00 New York, clr- 42 29 0.00 Norfolk, clr- 53 37 0.00 Pittsburgh, clr-61 31 0.00 Richmond, clr- 57 23 0.00 St. Louis, cld- 62 31 0.00 San Francisco, cld- 63 47 1.17 Savannah, rn - 60 50 0.62 Tampa, p c- 78 59 0.00 Washington, cld- 52 57 0.00 Wilmington, cld —64 41 0.00 All Is Quiet In England At Christmas No Sounds Of Warfare Dis turb London As Day Arrives MAY BE TRUCE But Quietude tyay Be Due [To Bad Flying Weather Over Channel (By The Associated Press) LONDON, Dec. 25.—(Wednesday) — Christmas came peacefully to bomb-scarred Britain today. No bursting bombs, crackling gun fire—not even the ominous drone of hostile planes which have disturbed the United Kingdom for months on end bothered- Britons in their sub dued Christmas observances and cele brations. Quiet The quiet of blacked-out London was duplicated in the kingdom’s countryside and towns, industrial WASHINGTON, Dec. 24. — (AP) — Authoritative German sources here reported tonight that the luftwaffe proposed to refrain from bombing England from tonight until Dec. 27 as a sort of Christmas truce provid ed the royal air force carried out no attack upon Germany or German-held territory. centers and seaports. Not since yes terday’s daylight hours were any re ports made of aerial conflict. Whether it was an unofficial Christmas truce was not known early today. Prime Minister Winston Churchill weeks ago rejected flatly the idea of a Christmas truce but informed sources talked of a report that Adolf Hitler bad told a newspaper corres pondent that “we do not fly at Christ mas if the British do not fly.” There naturally was no indication as to whether the Royal Air Force too had remained on the ground for Christmas but there seemed to be a tacit feeling in informed circles that Berlin and other RAF objectives were having the peaceful beginning of Christmas. Too, there was a possibility that the weather might have caused the dearth of aerial activity. A low ceiling of dense clouds hung over Dover Strait—raiders’ pathway (Continued on Page Twelve, Col. 4) HILTON YULE TREE PROGRAM OPENED Large Crowd Attends As Santa Promises Gifts For Children Programs at the Community Christmas tree at Hilton Park began last night with the flashing on of the lights, a prayer service, Santa Claus in attendance, and the first of a series of concerts. A large crowd attended the opening exercises, which got under way with a prayer by the Rev. J. F. Herbert, pastor of the Grace Methodist church, and welcom ing remarks by James E. L. (Continued on Page Twelve, Col. Z) ITALIANS BLAST CHURCHILL TALK | Royal Family Makes Show Of Loyalty To Fascist Regime In War By The Associated Press ROME, Dec. 24.—Winston Churchill’s appeal to the Italian people over Premier Mussolini’s head was met with blasts of de fiance and denunciation by fascist spokesmen today, the royal family itself made a show of loyalty to the fascist regime and its course in the war. Virginio Gayda, one of fascism’s most authoritative editors, de clared that the appointment of Anthony Eden to head the British foreign office was a “worthy crown in this foggy end of a year of extreme Churchill politics.” ‘Typical Arrogance’ He called Eden a “typical rep resentative of British arrogance;” an embodiment of “insolent hosti lity,” and said his elevation could “only hasten the victory of the Axis powers in Europe and Afri .ca and of Japan in Asia.” Dr. Giovanni Ansaldo, editor of the Leghorn Telegrafo, went on the air with a violent retort to Churchill. Earlier, the government itself had answered that “the war will continue on all fronts until victory” and King Vittorio Eman uele had declared in a Christmas message to the nation’s armed forces that “no obstacle and no difficulty may halt the glorious rise of Italy.” (Continued on Page Two; Col. 3) Anne Lindbergh Asks Food To Aid Europe NEW YORK, Dec. 24.—<iP>—Anne Morrow Lindbergh said tonight in a Christmas eve broadcast to the nation that "it is to our practical advantage to support those organi zations seeking a way to distribute more food to starving Europe.” "To act in the spirit of Christian mercy,” Mrs. Lindbergh said, “is a good business.” The wife of Col. Charles A. Lind bergh was presented by the Na tional Broadcasting company on its red network as a sustaining fea ture and she spoke on behalf of the Friend’s Service committee, a Quak er organization. She commended especially, the work of the Friend’s Service com mittee and added that “we are not asking England to break the block ide. We are asking if she will make some exceptions to the blockade as she did in the last war, as she is ioing now in regard to medical sup plies, as she herself suggests in do ing in regard to Spain.” Mrs. Lindbergh asserted that we ilso “want to be sure that our ac tion does not prolong the horrors of the conflict raging in Europe, or weaken the defense of those prin ciples in which we believe.” "Everyone who thinks about the (Continued on Page Twelve, Col. 4) Bethlehem Blackout BETHLEHEM, Palestine, Dec. 25.—(Wednesday) — UP) — This little Judean city was shrouded in its first blackout in history while the ageless drama of Christ’s birth was re-enacted early today at the Church of the Nativity in bomb-proofed gloom instead of the traditional blaze of Christmas light. Even the bonfires in .sliep. herds’ fields about the city were nut out early—lest they guide Italian air raiders to the little city. And thus the line of pilgrims moved slowly and carefully into the town by starlight—for the observance just as the three wisemen came centuries ago by light of the star of Bethlehem to worship the Christ child. AH other holy places in this shrine of Christendom were blacked out too and fiUed with the gloom of wartime. But no feeling of futility was apparent among the hundreds of pilgrims at the Church of the Nativity. Instead, peace was their mes sage, peace on earth and good will to all men. war Interpretive BY KIRIfE L. SIMPSON Nazi moves to heighten the Christmas invasion scare in Eng land must remain subject to skep ticism until the moment that Hit ler actually launches an attack across the channel. The risks are too great, the chances are too great, the chances of success too slim to believe that he will order a final all-out as sault—unless he is driven to it by desperation. Field Marshal General Walther von Brauchitsch, using a German channel gun emplacement to lend, color to his Christmas pep talk to his forces, pictured the German army as impatiently waiting for the invasion order. He said, “The ocean can protect England only so long as it suits us.” That, however, should be taker with a large grain of salt The English channel, narrow as it is, and the North Sea have protected England jealously for more than six months. It is a far better pre pared England now—afloat, ashore and in the air—that awaits any invasion attempt. Winter weather is her specialty. (Continued on Page Twelve, Col. 3) j ROOSEVELT WARNS . ON 'DEFEATISM’ Prays For ‘P e a c e f u 1 Chance’ For Humanity To Strive For Better World WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.—(A1)— President Roosevelt sent forth a “Happy Christmas” greeting to the nation tonight in an address warn ing against cynicism iand defeat ism and praying for a “peaceful chance” for humanity to strive for world betterment. Lighting a 30-foot cedar Christ mas tree at dusk near the White House, he observed sadly that ex cept for little children, Christmas, 1940, could not be “merry.” “But for most of us it can be a happy Christmas,” he continued, “if by happiness we mean that we have done with doubts, that we have set our hearts against fear, that we still believe in the golden rule of all mankind,, that we in tend to live more purely in the spirit of Christ, and that by our works, as well as our words, we will strive forward in faith and in hope and in love.” The thought of conditions in other lands where the Christmas spirit burns less brightly obviously hung heavily on the President’s heart. This was apparent in his address to the throng of some 8,000 and to those who listened to the nationwide broadcast, and in some extemporaneous remarks preced ing his speech. In these Mr. Roosevelt proposed (Continued on Page Two; Col. 2) Greeks Hail Capture Of Chimara As Big Victory By DANIEL DE LUCE SOMEWHERE ON THE SOUTH ERN ALBANIAN FRONT, Dec. 24.—W)—The capture of Chimara, a drab little Albanian coastal set tlement of 1,500 souls, was hailed today as a major victory by the Greek forces engaged in the drive against the Italians in southern Albania. In the face of heavy counter at tacks by the fascist air force, which rained bombs on Greek sup ply lines throughout the past week end, the advancing Greek infan try cleared the Italians from im 9 t 4 portant strategical sections on the coastal flank. The Greeks now dominate the coast to a point two-thirds of the way from the Greek-Albanian bor der to Valona. Chimara is the name of both the town and the mountain region which rises from the shores of the Adriatic. (Dispatches to Athens today said the Greeks were advancing beyond Chimara while the Italians tried to form defenses at Logara Pass, halfway between Chimara and Valona. The fascist retreat (Continued on Page Twelve, CqL 4) w
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Dec. 25, 1940, edition 1
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