Newspapers / Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, … / Dec. 17, 1941, edition 1 / Page 1
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Served By Leased Wire Oi The associated press With Complete Coverage Of State and National News vnL75—NO- 47___ ESTABLISHED 1867. Heroic American Sailors Live Up To Finest Traditions At Pearl Harbor 1<^SHINTGT0N, Dec. 16.-WI JJnember Pearl Harbor? Then remember a battleship dn. his stomach torn open P, shrapnel burst, fighting W thin from the bridge until Ik. aeek. Kemeniber a rookie gob who jumped to a machine-gun be fore the first alarm sounded and blasted a torpedo-plane as it levelled against his ship. Remember the sailors from disabled ships who swam through blazing oil to get on outward-bound destroyers to make sure they’d get back into battle. Remember the lone Blue Jacket who manned a five inch anti-aircraft gun and kept it firing after 10 battery-mates bad been shot down in a straff - ing attack. -oO -av> >:■ These men and their mates saw Pearl Harbor through, saw the Navy through what Navy Secretary Knox calls its ^ "greatest hour of peril.” Knox told part of - their story in his report yesterday — no - one probably will ever be able to tell it all—and it was a story of heroism, sacrifice and cour age of which, as Knox said, “the American nation may well be proud.” The portion of the fleet in Pearl Harbor had been caught flat-footed by the treacherous Japanese attacks. Hardly had the keen-eyed watchers on the Navy Yard signal-tower sent out visual warnings of the ap proaching raiders, when high explosives and incendiaries be gan to rain down. There was fire, flame, explosion—a Dante esque scene as oil-coated har bor water ignited and billowed up. The words of the official re port only hint at the stark drama of valor and discipline as the fighting men and the fighting ships recovered to meet the surprise onslaught. There were tremendous mo ments. “With the ship (an aircraft tender) already on fire from repeated high altitude attacks, her anti - aircraft batteries (Conitnued on Page Three; Col. 4) British Sources Admit Powerful Jap Attacks Now Menace Singapore desultory air attacks listed IN PHILIPPINES Four Jap Bombers Brought Down In Raid On Olon gapo Naval Base LAND drive stopped MANILA, Dec. 16.—UP)—The Jap anese invaders, apparently having beer fougnt to a standstill in the fret phase cf the’r thrust at the launch island of Luzon, returned ,he attaci: today only by air _with a raid on the Olongapo naval base northwest of Manila ''Headquarters of Lieut. Gen. Douglas MacArtnur, the American ’ommander-in-chief, reported no new Japanese efforts either to seize new beach-heads or to strengthen their nard-won and costly positions about Bigan and Apoiii, in the northwest and north -ast of the islaru, and Legaspi in the extreme southeast. Ihe supposition in unofficial quarters was tnat the assailant was resting his aerial forces, re pairing his planes and attempting (Continued on Page TWO! Col. 1) meInaI es ‘STATE OF SIEGE' Cabinet Gives Castillo Wide Powers To Stamp Out Axis Propaganda BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 16.—(A1'— The Argentine cabinet tonight de lated a state of siege throughout the country, I Re decree, effective immediate ly. ns described as aimed at hading “tendentious propaganda” K needed “in order to fulfill in tentional promises.” Only yesterday, Acting President Hamon Castillo said Argentina in tended to stamp out Axis propa ganda as part of her recognition of the United States as a non belligerent. The decree suspends all consti tutional guarantees, giving Castillo the right to set aside habeas cor pus, freedom of the press and of assembly and the inviolability of domicile and private papers and correspondence. 1 focal Police Complete First-Aid Instruction V L. Smith, instructor of the “ed Cross First Aid course which us been conducted for the benefit eity police for the past several ^eks, announced Tuesday night rjat ^ of the officers had satisfac completed the course and *culd receive certificates for their %k. names of those passing the J*iJination will not be released the certificates arrive, he Said Ciiief of Police Charles Casteen “W he wished to thank Mr. Smith rir,“s instruction of the men in “ctl a vitally needed subject. —-V .BOMS EXPLODES . SANTIAGO, Cuba, Dec. 16.—UP)— tl( D exploded tonight in front So ° °res Catholic school, causing re e damage. No casualties were I Imperial And Indian Troops Stop Thrusts Into Northern Malaya, But Hong Kong Reported Heavily Bombarded LACK OF NAVAL SUPERIORITY CITED LONDON, Dec. 16.—(/P)—A powerful Japanese drive in Northern Malaya and Britain’s lack of naval superiority have created a serious threat to Singapore, an informed source said tonighl, and commentators simultaneously warn ed the public to be prepared for the fall of besieged Hong CONTRACTS LET ON SCHOOL WORK Wilmington Firm Success ful For Construction Of Three Additions Bids for construction of three additions to present schools in the county system were opened Tues day by the New Hanover board of education in the first step of a $865 000 program to meet the needs of a defense-swollen enrollment. U. A. Underwood co.. Wilming ton general contractor, was the successful bidder for the construc tion of additions to the Winter Park, Ca* olina-- Beach and Willis ton Primary schools. The combin ed bid was $72,240. Bids also were awarded by the board for plumbing and heating fixtures for the ree units. On motion of Emsley A. Laney. members of the board adopted a resolution directing Supt. H. M. Roland and Leslie N. Boney, archi tect to tabulate the bids and for ward them to the Detense Public Works commission of the Federal Works agency with s recommen dation that the contracts be award ed to the low bidders. Dr. John T. Hoggard, chairman of the board, said that the remain ing contracts will be awarded by the end of January, if possible. Three of the plumbing and heat ing contracts went to W. W. Way and Son of Wilmington, and three to the Ideal Plumbing co. The Way bids ■> ere: Winter Park heating, $1,900; Winter Park plumbing $1,599; Williston Pri mary plumbing. $3,624. Ideal’s bids were; Carolina Beach heating, $1,496; Williston Primary heating, $3,312; Carolina Beach plumbing, $815. Cost of the school expansion pro gram is being bom jointly by the Federal government and the (Continued on Pore Two; Col. 3) Self-Styled Austrian *Baron* Arrested For Wearing U. S. Uniform LOS ANGELES Dec. 16.—Uh—A self-styled Austrian baron, 27-year old Ernest Frohlich de Meyer, was charged in s federal complaint to day with wearing a United States Army uniform. Arrested by police who said they confiscated short-wave radio equip ment and a stack of letters, de Meyer was questioned by FBI agents. De Meyer, denying questionable activity, said the letters taken from him were from friends in the naval foices and that he was engaged in the auto fender and painting business. -V ITALIAN GENERAL KILLED NEW YORK, Dec. 16.—<*>—The Rome radio, heard here by NBC, reported tonight that Gen. Hugo de Torelli, commander of the Fas cist Torino division in southern Russia,' had been killed. Last Day To Register For Stocking Fund Aid_ Today—December the 17th—is the deadline for Parents who may need assistance from the Star-News tmPty Stocking Fund to make application ! ( t You parents , who require this aid, please don’t et today pass without stopping at the Star-News office receiving the cards to be validated by a school teacher, Sunday school director or minister. These cards MUST be returned to the Star-News at once. The parent will be given half the card; the other half will be attached to the individual child s 4Continued on Pnge Two;-Col. 4) Kong. British and Indian troops fought to stop a Japanese mechanized penetration into the lower part of Kedah state in northwestern Mal aya, where the Japanese gained 40 or • 50 miles. On the eastern side of the peninsula, the Japan ese apparently were being held south of Khoto Baru. Although Singapore still is some 400 miles from the nearest Japan SINGAPORE, Dec. 16.—(/Pi Fate of Northwestern Malaya and its principal city. Fenang, admittedly hung in the balance tonight as the British fought against what official headquar ters described as “Japanese at tempts to press home attacks with fanatical determination.” ese spearhead, an informed source said: “British lack of naval superior ity has changed the entire situa tion in North Malaya. The British land defense was planned on the basis bf naval superiority, but both the British and United States fleets have suffered hard blows. “Now, the naval situation has allowed the Japanese to develop (Continued on Page Two; Col. 3) AFL GIVESTEACE PROPOSA ro CIO Executive Board Declares Inter-Labor Disputes Hurt War Effort WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.— UP) — The American Federation of La bor offered today to make peace with the CIO, asserting in a dec laration on war-labor policy that there was no place in the present emergency for rival labor dis putes. The declaration was adopted at i meeting of AFL officers. It said: “We regret sincerely and are leeply concerned with the destruc tive rivalry and organization that las beset the American labor field for the past few years. We hold all such rivalries and juris dictional conflicts have no place in an emergency such as faces America and the world today. We, therefore, renew our offer for unity in the labor movement and tor the common defense of our nation against mortal danger. We hope our call to this end may not be in vain.” The declaration also went on record in favor of a no-strike pol icy for the duration of the war, and recommended establishment of a war labor board to mediate disputes similar to that of the last World war. The AFL officers also called up on the National Labor Relations board to “desist from the formu lation or enforcement of any pol icy, procedure or decision that may create dissension or intensify ex isting differences and conflicts in the household of organized labor.” -V— Fliers Receive Honors For Downing Japanese HONOLULU, Dec. 16 —Wl—The War department said today the Dis tinguished Service Cross had been awarded to Second Lieut. George S. Welch, ot Wilnrngton, Del., and to Lieut. Kenneth M Taylor, of Hominy, Okla., for outstanding he roism during the Japanese attack on Oahu island. Welch shot down lour Japanese planes and Tayloi downed two. -V JAPS REPORTED LANDED BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 16.—W— Argentine press dispatches from Berlin said today the Japanese had landed tanks and other rein forcements on the eastern shore of the Malay peniiviula. 1 HI, WORLD! This is the first portrait of five week-old Mary Heller Halliday, posed with her famous mother, Mary Martin. Mrs. Halliday is best known for her “My Heart Be longs to Daddy” song. — Central Press Photo. II. S. TAKES OVER LINER NORMANDIE $60,000,000 French Lux ury Ship Will Be Under Maritime Commission WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.— UP) — The United States government to day took over the big French lux ury-liner Normandie. The State department announced that the U. S. Maritime commis sion would take the liner over un der existing law and that fair and adequate compensation would be made to the owners. The action was described in the announcement as similar to that taken by the United States in the cases of the Swedish vessel Kungs holm, and other vessels of other friendly powers. Disclosure was made that nego tiations nad been under way with the French government for pur chase of the Normandie and that the French expressed willingness to sell, but conditions for payment attached to the proposal were ren dered impracticable by the entry of the United States into war. The announcement made no mention of the use to which the Normandie would be put. Nc mention was made of the status of other French vessels now in American ports. The $60,000,000 Normandie is one of the largest and finest ships afloat. The 83,423-ton liner has been at a Hudson river pier since the beginning of the war. The crews on all French ships in United States ports were re (Conitnued on Page Three; Col. 4) -v Arrest Of Armed Service Deserters Clarified By Provost Marshal Of U. S. Payment to civil authorities for the arrest of deserters and escaped military prisoners was clarified Tuesday by Provost Marshal, Washington, to the commanding general, Camp Davis. Army regulations prescribe that a reward of §15 be paid to a “civil officer or other author ized person” arresting deserters and escaped prisoners and turn ing them over to guards sent after them. Twenty-five dollars is paid if a deserter or prisoner is delivered to a military post by the person making the ar rest. This action was designed to eliminate any wrong impression which may exist and to insure against unnecessary claims against the government. -V 64 MORE EXECUTED NEW YORK, Dec. 16 — UP)—1The BBC reported in a broadast heard by NBC tonight that the Nazis in Belgrade. Yugoslavia, ,, had exe cuted 64 more persons today and imprisoned 150. 1 WILMINGTON’S FIRSTBLA CKOUT REGARDED ‘VERY SUCCESSFUL ’; FDR NAMES HA WAII PROBERS 4 Garrison On Wake Holds Out Marines Repulse Two More Aid Raids On Mid Pacific Outpost FIRST-HAND QUIZ WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.— (TP)—To determine why Unit ed States armed forces were not on the alert when Jap anese planes first attacked Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt tonight appointed a five-man board, headed by Associate Justice Owen J. Roberts of tTie Supreme court. He announced his action soon after a Navy disclosure that ene my warships had struck at the Hawaiian area again by shelling Johnston and Maui islands during the last 24 hours. The valiant little Marine garrison at Wake island, said the Navy, drove off two more enemy air attacks and continued to hold cut. In addition to Roberts, Mr. (Continued on Page Two; C'ol. 6) SON BAGGED FOUR JAP PLANES Mrs. Julia Welch Schwartz and her husband, George Lewis Schwartz, of Wilmington, Del., proudly examine a photo of their son, Second Lieut. George S. Welch, who was commended in a War department communique for having downed four Jap planes when the Nipponese at tacked Hawaii.—Central Press Photo. FDR Voted Vast War Powers; Civil Censorship Approved .. ... CONGRESS SPEEDS DRAFT REVISIONS President Fully Endorses 19 To 44 Limit For Military Duty WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.— W — President Roosevelt told Congress today that he fully endorsed the War department request that men aged 19 through 44 be made sub ject to compulsory military serv ice, but the House proceeded with plans to consider draft legisla tion retaining the present 21-year minimum age for active service. The Senate Military committee, however, approved without a dis senting vote the 19-year age mini mum and consideration of the bill probably will start in the Senate tomorrow. The House also will con sider tomorrow the bill- of its mili tary committee. In other details, the Senate and House measures were alike and no opposition was apparent to their other provisions. They would raise the maximum age for compulsory military service from 35 to 44 years, inclusive, and require all men from 18 through. 64 to register with the government Officials estimated that the measure, together with the exist ing Draft Act, would bring about 40.000. 000 persons under govern ment registration. Senator Chandler 1D-Ky 1 of the ?/iilitary committee said that an 8.000. 000-man army was envisioned eventually. Congress Approves Measure Giving Presi dent Full Control Over Federal Functions WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.—(IP)—Vast new powers for President Roosevelt to prosecute the war were voted un animously by Congress today and the chief executive an nounced he promptly would set up a censorship to prevent all information of value from reaching the enemy. I---J $177,000 In Wilmington Improvement Bonds Sold To Chicago Banking Firm City Clerk J. R. Benson re vealed Tuesday that $177,000 in city of Wilmington water and street improvement bonds were sold In Raleigh Tuesday morning by the Local Government com mission. The bonds were sold to the Harris Trust and Savings Bank of Chicago on an interest basis of 2.327 per cent. They will ma ture from 1945 to 1961, and are part of an issue which was voted several years, ago. They included a $17,000 water works extension and a $160,000 street improvements issue. 1 -V Broker Found Guilty Of Attempted Murder WHITE PLAINS, N. Y., Dec. 16. —GP)—Isaac Brown, 41-year-old New York insurance broker was con victed tonight of attempting to kill a 17-year-olr1 high school girl, who accused him of trying to stab her to death under the pre text of performing an abortion. 90,000 Nazis In Wild Flight Before Red Sweep; British Gain W idely In Libya - jl MOSCOW, Wednesday, Dec. 17. —{/Pi—Red army troops have routed six German divisions of90, 000 men and recaptured strategic Kalinin, 90 miles northwest of here, Russia ‘ announced officially today. This most sensational single vic tory so far in the great Soviet counter-offensive now in progress over the snow-drifted plains cf Russia followed by 24 hours the Russian army’s recapture of Klin, Y 50 miles to the northwest, and the massacre of 13,000 Nazis. “The fleeting enemy is being pursued and annihilated by our troops,” the communique added. At Kalinin, the Russians, in a special announcement, said they GESTAPO OFFICE BOMBED NEW YORK, Dec. 16.—W—Six persons, presumably Germans, were killed today when a bomb exploded in the Gestapo headquar ters of a Paris suburb. 1 dealt a heavy blow to the Ninth German army under Col.-General Strauss, putting to flight the 86th, 310th, 129th, 161st, 162nd, and 251st infantry divisions. In addition, the Russians were said to have occupied several points cn the central front before Moscow, and Volovo a town south east of Tulan the other end of the Moscow arc. Reports from both sides of the t (Continued on Page Three; Col. 5) 1 At the same time, Postmaster General Walker disclosed that cen sorship of foreign mail, both out going and incoming, already was under way. He added that no de tails of its operations would be made public for the present. The President told a press con ference that he had selected By ron Price, executive editor of the Associated Press, as director of censorship and that Price, on leave of absence from the news organization, would take over his duties here as soon as Congress completes action. Both Senate and House passed separate bills almost simultane ously. They authorize the Presi dent not only to establish censor ship. but to redistribute govern ment functions, revise defense con tracts and exercise complete con trol over alien financial transac tions and an estimated $7,000,000, (Continued on Pa«;e Three; Col. 2) -v WEATHER FORECAST North Carolina: Partly cloudy, con siderable cloudiness on the coast Wednesday; Thursday partly cloudy, rising temperature. South Carolina: Partly cloudy, ex cept considerable cloudiness on the coast, rising temperature Wednesday and Thursday. (By U. S. Weather Bureau) (Meteorological data for tse 24 hours ending 7:30 p. m. yesterday). ^Temperature 1:30 a. m. 33; 7:30 a. in. 32: 1:30 p. m. 47; 7:30 p. in. 47; maximum 49; minimum 31; mean 40^ normal 49. Humidity 1:30 a. m. 98; 7:30 a. m. 98; 1:30 p. m. 70; 7:30 p. m. 78. Precipitation Total for the 24 hours ending 7:30 p. m. 0.00 inches. Total since the first of the month 1.88 inches. Tides For Today (From Tide Tables published by V. S. Coast and eGodetic Survey). High Low Wilmington _»—1- 8:48a 3:24a 9:04p 4:01p Masonboro Inlet _ 0:33a 12:07a 6:4Gp 12:51 p Sunrise 7:12a; sunset 5:0op; moonrise 6:01a; moonset 4:47p. Cape Fear river stage at Fayette ville at 8 a. m., 9.75 feet. (Continued on Paare Thre«:VCol. S' Few Signs Stay On In Drills Interceptor Command Head Congratulates City On Cooperative Spirit ‘MUCH LEARNED’ ' For the space of a half-hour Tuesday night, the city of Wilmington was dark as citi zens went all-out in their ef forts to demonstrate that they could hide the sprawling city from the eyes of enemy aircraft pilots, even in prac tice. It was far from being a perfect blackout. But, as Capt. Charles W. Stark of the Third Interceptor com mand summed it up, after hearing reports from the pilot of the plane WINDOWS BROKEN A late-liour police check reveal ed four broken windows in down town business establishments. Police could not say whether the damage was done by overzeaious citizens seeking to extinguish lights or for purposes of robbery. Nothing iiad been reported stolen at 1 a. m. Wednesday. The stores were Willard’s Cleaners, Louise Beauty shop, Swenson Canily co- and a second-floor window of tile Diamond Feed Store. hat buzzed back and forth over the city during the darkness: “Wilmington has reason to be jroud of itself. All in all, it was ^ery good, considering that it was he first attempt.” Fifteen minutes before nine D’clock, the hour set for the prac tice blackout, some of the larger signs oVer the city blinked out. A few minutes before 9, the ragged chorus of whistles began (Continued on Page Two; Col, 4) CHAMBERGROUP SEEKS DRYDOCK Industrial Unit Also Maps Drive To Locate Plane Repair Base Heie At a meeting of the Industrial committee of the Greater Wilming ton Chamber of Commerce Tues day it was decided that an effort would be made to1 obtain a large drydock for Wilmington and also a repair base for all types of Army and Navy planes. The committee reported that it had been working on the program adopted at the last meeting which is: 1— To render assistance to plants already established in Wilmington and the local trai^e area. 2— To seek new industries for the Wilmi. gton area. 3— To rentier assistance to local industr: :s in connection (Continued on Page Two; Col. 7) woppm Mystepr f3U/ -TP'VA-frj- for ter T"f T«"! Buy Christmas Seals
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Dec. 17, 1941, edition 1
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