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IHn ilmtngtat Umaring &tar [W] Jit ---:_WILMINGTON, N. C., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1941 FINAL EDITION ESTABLISHED 18677 NEW COMMANDERS OF HAWAIIAN DEFENSE A sweeping shakeup of the Pacific High Command following Secretary Knox’s report on the Pearl Harbor disaster resulted in changing commands of the Navy, Army and Air Force. Lieut. Gen. Delos C. Emmons (left) was given command of the Hawaiian Department, relieving Lieut. Gen. Walter C. Short. Rear Adm. Chester V. Nimitz (center) became head of the Pacific Fleet, replacing Adm. Husband E. Kim niel. Brig. Gen. C. L. Tinker (right) was given command of the Army air forces at Hawaii, replacing Maj. Gen. Frederick L. Martin.—Central Press Photos. Reds Smash Nazi-Firm Line; Axis Routed In Libya Zone POLICEMAN SHOT BY ABC OFFICER Henderson Sergeant Killed Ev Friend In Cafe Argu ment Over Politics HENDERSON, Dec 19.—(M—Po lice Sergeant W. it Reid was shot and fatally wounded here tonight while eating a bird supper at a cafe Police Chief .T. H. Langston said the shooting was done by ABC Jnforcement Officer J. C. Champ ion, who was taken away to an out-of-town jail. Langston said Reid and Champ ion were seated .n tne cafe and that a poiicical argument brought heated words and the shooting fol lowed. Reid, shot near the heart, died at a hospital a short time after the shooting, which occurred about 1:30. Reid, pol'ce Sergeant here for the »ast four years, if. survived by his widow, six ehbaren. his moth er. and several brothers and sis ters. Champion, a former police chief here and a former deputy sheriff, has been an ABC enforcement ot her here for the last five years. I SERVICE MEN TO AID DEFENSE Former Soldiers Listen To Judge Burney’s Plea For Preparedness With God on our side, we can not lose this war,” Judge John • Burney told 250 ex-service men ? Wilmington and New Hanover -oimty at a meeting in the court house Firday night. ,Jl!e veterans had gathered to ,iUeir services in the defense Wilmington and America and, olowing Judge Burney's speech. ei flocked to the table where e- signed cards offering to serve s sir raid wardens, rescue men ■ other agencies of the defense council work. Post Commander R o b e r 1 cange, who introduced Judge i.ney, urged the veterans to offer Hr services for defense work in onington, saying that although v. •' Scouts were brave, they 0. e t0° young to work on the and,,streets during an air raid that the ex-service men should ^ this work. and 6 !luve keen through it all iw"e know what it is like,” the “cnmander said. ' Uclge Burney took to task those Worl/eIU?e to enter into defense saying,” I sincerely believe —on Paste Two; Col. 4) - * Russians Claim Tremendous German Losses; Tank Units Hard After Fleeing Troops LONDON, Saturday, Dec. 20.—(/P)—'The Russians have opened a major offensive along the entire Finnish front, taking advantage of weakened opposition caused by the German army’s withdrawal of three-fifths of the troops it originally deployed there, British reports said today. Dense waves 01 ttussian cav-' airy and ski-troops were reported thrown into the assault with the support of guns and tanks especi ally designed for rigorous war fare on this frozen front. A Stockholm dispatch to the News-Chronicle said Finnish lines buckling under the impact of the initial thrusts had been with drawn to the north bank of the Svir river at some points between Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega. Other dispatches said the Ger mans left the Finns ill-prepared to meet the slashing Red army of fensive and that the Nazis re maining there ' are feeling the anger v'hich has >einforced Finn ish contempt as rhe Finns realize to what extent the German high (Continued on Page Two; Col. 3) LABORCONFEREES UNABLE TO AGREE ‘No-Strike’ Discussion Re cesses Until Monday In Capital WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.—W)— President Roosevelt did not get the thrill tonight that he had asked his war labor conference to give him, for the industry and worker representatives broke off their dis cussions temporarily without wonting out a formula insuring no strikes during the war. And, as it has been in numerous recent labor disputes, the union shop issue was said to be the chief stumbling-block to reaching an agreement. The negotiations will be resumed Monday, how ever, and William H. Davis, con ference moderator, expressed hope that they would be success ful. Mr. Roosevelt had told the con ferees woen they opened their dis cussions three days ago that they must reach a'l agreement, and added that it would be a “'thrill ing thing” if a unanimous agree ment could be worked out by Fri day night. Davis informed the President of the conference’s fail ure to agree by the deadline, and told reporters the President asked that negotiations continue. Davis gave official credence to (Continued on Fagre Two; Col. 8) 100 PER CENT! MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Dec. 19. IJ>)—Nicaragua, already at war with Germany, Japan and Italy, de clared war today against Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria. Remember Pearl Harbor, Knox Urges Naval Grads Annapolis, Md., Dec. 19.— m— add °iV name—Pearl Harbor—was »rv° f ° United States’ “Ros , Memory” today by Secre • °f the Navy Knox. “Peaking before the 574 graduat R midshipmen at the U. S. Naval nam en‘y' ,Knox said, “There are mPneS ."’hich are fragrant in our Am 1°lles whenever we think of ti"hr1Can courage and American 6.,! mS spirit. Valley Forge and cau \v00d, Bunker Hill and t---— Mobile Bay, Gettysburg and Cha teau Thierry. “Today we have a new pearl to add to the Rosary of Memory: Pearl Harbor.” The secretary told the second class to be graduated this year under the Academy’s new accel erated course: “You are going out into active service at a time when all that you (Continued on rage Two; Col. 3) RAID WARDENS DISCUSS FIRES Maffitt Announces Meeting Monday Night For Women Of City More than 200 block captains an: district supervisors of 'Wilmington’* new defense setup met in the court house Friday night to discuss means of perfecting their organization anc to study methods of fighting fires. A British officer, who has jus1 arrived in the United States from England, spoke briefly on blackouts in England, stating that from about 5:30 in the afternoon no lights were allowed except on necessary auto mobiles. M’Kean Maffitt, chief air raid warden for Wilmington, announced following the meeting that a special meeting of ladies of the city would be held at the Superior courtroom Monday night to discuss what the> could do in case of an air raid, oi to help combat fires. -V—; Fifth Columnists Signal Bomb Objective By H/lirroi MANILA, Saturday, Dec. 20. iff) — Like the sideshow magi cian, the Japanese fifth colum nists are trying to do it with mirrors. Army men returning from central Luzon said a sentry at a command headquarters spied a bright object in a tree. Investigation disclosed that the carefully camouflaged post was encircled with tree-top mirrors which made it a bulls eye for bombers. -V GOEBBBLS UNI VIIt BERLIN, Saturday, Dec. 20. — (Official Broadcast Recorded Bj ((PI) — Propaganda Minister Goeb bels will broadcast to the Germar people at 8 o’clock tonight (1 p. m. EST.b WEATHER NORTH CAROLINA and SOUTH CAROLINA — Partly cloudy and continued mild Saturday, probably a few degrees cooler in the moun tains. (Meteorological data for the 24 hours ending 7:30 p. m. yesterday): (By U. S. Weather Bureau) Temperature: 1:30 a. m. 49; 7:30 a. m. 46; 1:30 p. m 67; 7:30 p. m. 56: maximum 67; min imum 46; mean 56; normal 48. Humidity: 1:30 a. m. 87: 7:30 a. m. 81; 1:30 p. in 49; 7:30 p. m. 78. Precipitation: Total for the 24 hours ending 7:3( p m.. 0.00 inches: total since the first of the month, 1.88 inches. Tides For Today: (From Tide Tables published by U. S Coast and Geodetic Survey): High Dow Wilmington -11:20a 6:00a 11:36p. 6:33p Masonboro Inlet _ 9:09a. 2:41a 9:24p. 3:24p Sunfise 7:13a; sunset 5:0Gp; inoonrisc 9:04a ; moonset 7:55p. Cape Fear river stage at Fayette ville at 8 a. m., Dec. ID. 9.69 feet. (Continued on Page Two; Col. 4) y CONGRESS PASSES 18 TO 64 DRAFT ACT; 20 TO 44 SUBJECT TO ACTIVE SERVICE; HONG KONG FEARED LOST TO JAPANESE 7 Last-Stand Garrison Reported In Bitter Clash With Invaders British Officials Silent Bn Probable Fate Of Ancient Crown Colony; • Communications Broken NO HOPE FOR REINFORCEMENTS BERLIN, Dec. 19.—(Audi Agency To AP)—A Doniei dispatch from Tokyo said tonight that the Japanese'flag was flying over Hong Kong harbor and that Japanese forces were breaking the last British resistance on (he is|ai\d, Final .occupation,is .only a matter of a short time, it was stated. LONDON, Dec. 19.—(/P)—A last-stand garrison of Brit ish, Canadian and native troops was believed tonight to be fighting on at separate strongpoints on Hong Kong island against an overpowering fdrc'e' of Japanese invaders. There had been no word from* the defenders of the century-old Crown colony since early morn ing, and officials refused to con firm or deny Japanese reports that it substantially was in J apanese hands. The British embassy at Chung king, China, which has been re ceiving regular reports from Hong Kong, said communications had ceased today. Contact between Hong Kong and the Chinese head quarters in Kwangtung also was broken. The garrison fought without hope BERLIN, Dec. 19. — (Official Radio Recorded by <**>)—Japa nese troops have occupied the city of Victoria, the chief settle ment ot Hong Kong, a German broadcast declared tonight. Since Japan’s two proposals for sur render of the colony have been rejected, the broadcast said, she will make no other offers. It quoted the Japanese commander on the Hong Kong front as as serting: “The place will be taken.” -1 of reinforcement or retreat. Its force had been split and dispersed in several areas to cover separate landings of Japanese assault troops, and the battle, apparently, was going on over a considerable terrain. “Heavy fighting is going on and (Continued on Page Two; Col. 1) -V Bladenboro Man, 63, Killed By Car While Asleep On Highway W. M. McKee, 63, of Bladenboro. was killed instantly Friday night about three miles east of Bladen boro when a car driven by Thomas Vance Finger of Valdese ran over him. Patrolman W. E. Ebert, of Eliza bethtown, who investigated the acci dent said Finger stated that McKee was lying in the road when he hit him. Witnesses who saw him before the accident occurred said he was in an a< vanned state of intoxication. A coroner’s inquest was begun Friday' night, but was not to be concluded until Saturday morning. Finger was not being held by' police. Ebert said. U. S. NAVAL BASE ON CAVITE BOMBED IN SHARP ATTACK 24 Jap Planes Participate In Raid; No Reports Of Damage Made MANILA, Dec. 19.—W)—Twenty four Japanese planes made a brief, sharp attack on the big U. S. naval base of Cavite on Manila bay this afternoon, while Ameri can fighter - planes remained on the ground. A second wave of nine raiders also flew across the bay less than two hours later, but a communique said there were no bombings re ported after that lfight. There was no announcement of damage or casualties at Cavite. A big column of smoke was seen rising from the Cavite area after the high-flying attack, but all fires were extinguished by sun down. Manila had only a brief alarm beginning at 1:30 p.m. (11:30 p.m. EST) Thursday. “Military objectives” near Tar lac, 60 miles northwest of Ma nila, also were officially reported attacked Thursday afternoon by a small force of Japanese raiders. The Commonwealth government said the Philippine defense forces held complete dominion over all provinces except for three widely spa-ated beachheads on Luzon is land held by the Japanese landing forces. WE’RE MARCHING AGAIN VALLEY FORGE, Pa., Dec. OP)—George Washington’s Conti nental army marched into Val ley Forge 164 years ago today. -V REDS SINK DESTROYER LONDON, Dec. 19.— UP)—1The Ger man radio tonight reported that the 1,900-ton Rumanian destroyer King Ferdinand had been torpe doed by Russian naval forces. Only Five Days Remain To Make A Child Happy More generous Wilmingtonians Friday joined hands with the hundreds of others who have aided the Empty Stocking Fund and, as a result, the fund was nearly a hundred dollars nearer the goal last night. With only five more days left in which to make sure that unfortunate children, are insured against disappointment Christmas day, our citizens seem de IMPORTANT NOTICE! Parents of children who have applied for aid from the Empty Stocking Fund are warned that TODAY is the last day to return to the Star-News office the identi fication cards certified by school teachers, Sunday school directors or ministers. It is absolutely necessary these cards be returned to this office TODAY if your children are to receive their gifts from Santa Claus. termined to see to it that the fund is sufficient to reach all on our lists. Won’t it be a grand feeling as you watch your chil dren open their presents Christmas morn to know that there isn’t a child in the city who isn’t doing the same thing? The Star-News Empty Stocking Fund was created just for the purpose of making that feeling universal (Continued on Page Two; Col. 4) r---n County Defense Unit Moves Into C. Of C. Chairman R. B. Page of the County Defense Council an nounced Friday night that tem porary offices will open Monday morning on the mezzanine of the Chamber of Commerce bldg, at Market and Front sts. All per sons desiring to register for de fense work are asked to call at the new address. Permanent quarters will be obtained later. The present move, Mr. Page said, is occasioned by the Army’s tak ing over all available space in the post office, former headquar ters. WAR DEAD Herbert Franklin Melton, form erly of Masonboro Sound, Friday was reported killed in the Dec. 7 attack on Hawaii. He was sta tioned aboard a U. S. battleship at Pearl Harbor. He is shown above with his wife, a native of Long Beach, Calif. He is New Hanover county’s first known war casualty. MAS( BORO BOY DIES IN ACTION Message To Parents Says Herbert Melton Killed In Hawaii Attack According to a message received from his wife, Mrs. Violet Melton, of Long Beach, Calif., Herbert Frank lin Melton, 25 year-old former Masonboro Sound resident, died at his post aboard a U. S. vessel in the attack on Pearl Harbor. He ip believed to be the first New Hanover man killed in action since the outbreak of hostilities with Japan, Dec. 7. The message was received Thurs day by Melton’s mother, M r s. George Melton, of Masonboro sound. Melton was 25 on December 7, the day of the Pearl Harbor atlack. He enlisted in the Navy on May 19, 1936. after graduating from New Hanover High school, and held the rating of boatswain’s mate at the time of his death. Melton has a younger brother, L. A., who is now training in a Naval Air school. Surviving are his wife and young son of Long Beach, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Melton; two brothers. G. W. Melton, Jr., and L. A. Melton; and five sisters. Mrs. D. T. Southerland, Mrs. Earl Brock, Kathleen Melton, Bessie Mel ton and Betty Lou Melton. -V U. S., Mexican Airmen Patrol Pacific Coast MEXICO CITY, Dec. 19.—MB— Mexican Army aviators, cooper ating with United States airmen, already have begun to patro) the Pacific coast, it was announced today. Government sources said the pa trols were created to safeguard Mexican waters from exploration by Japanese “fishermen”. 1 Imme Mxrt&r | \wHATAB(faj:A PIPE FOR PAr Buu Christmas Seals — i • • • 4 Million-Man Army Seen; Registration Will Begin Shortly 2,215,000 Expected To Be Made Availably For Armed Duty In Next Few Months Under Compromise Measure EXEMPTIONS LEFT TO LOCAL BOARDS WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.—(#*)—Congress cleared the way today for a 4,000,000-man army by approving and send ing to President Roosevelt legislation requiring the registra tion of all men from 18 to 64 years old, inclusive, and mak ing those from 20 to 44 inclusive, subject to military service. Officials at Selective Service* * * « headquarters said the registration probably would not begin before “several weeks.’’ Although the new draft bill makes possible an army of at least 4,000,000, there is no way of telling whether that many men will ever be called to the colors. Secretary of War Stimson has said increases in the army would be ordered “in the light of the strategic stiuation as it devel ops.” Both Houses agreed speedily on compromise amendments to the Selective Service act which War department officials said would make a total of 2,215,000 man available in the next few months, (Continued on Page Two; Col. 2) TIDE WATERGIVES CHRISTMAS PARTY Empty Stocking Fund Gets $26.50 From Affair For Employes Employes in the general office of the Tide Water Power co. were given a Christmas party by the management in the assembly room of the Tide Water building Fri day evening. The party was held for the bene fit of the Star-News Empty Stock ing Fund and for the members of the accounting staff managers of the sales department and members of the commercial department. Miss Gertude Bel' was in charge of the party and introduced N. E. Drexler. general manager, who spoke briefly. A program of Christ mas Carols, dances and readings was given. A collection for the Empty Stock ing Fund was made with the re sult that $26.dO was donated. Those on the program included Vera Atkinson, who gave a reci tation, Martha Williamson and Jane Croom, who danced -V - Response To Soldiers Kit Campaign Lauded Response to the Soldiers’ Kits drive. sponsored by the various USO clubs has been good, it was reported Friday, but many more donations are needed. All of the boys who remain in camp over the holidays will receive the kits, which will con tain useful articles. ' Mrs. Kraft at Belk-Williams has made up more than 50 of the kits and Kress store also has contributed many. All persons are asked to have' them ready before noon Tues day, Dec. 23. -V BAHAMAS AND U. S. NASSAU, Bahamas, Dec. 19.—\S\ The Bahamas Red Cross, headed by the Duchess of Windsor, air mailed $1,000 to the American Red Cross today for relief work in the Philippines. GALLANT MARINES AT WAKE REPULSE 2 MORE ATTACKS American Forces Reported In Full Command On All Major Fronts WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.— I® — Wake island’s indomitable little garrison of United States Marines still clung tenaciously to their scarred and battered atoll tonight after beating off two more Japa nese onslaughts This good news, witr. word of an intensified enemy air attack upon the Philippines summarized the day’s operations in American held territory, as revealed in the communiques of the Army and Navy. It was supplemented, however, by an announcement in Manila that defending forces were in complete command of the situation there, except for three small areas on which the Japs estab lished landing parties very early (Continued on Page Two; Col. 5) USO ASKS ROOMS DURING HOLIDAYS Many Relatives 01 Soldiers Unable To Be Home For Christmas Expected Wilmingtonians Friday night were requested by the USO clubs of the ci+y to extend the hospital* ity of their homes to the relatives of soldiers at Camp Davis and other military centers in this area during the Christmas holidays. The announcement that leaves at Camp Davis for the Christmas holidays are limited to three days means that many soldiers will not be able to travel to their homes elsewhere and are expecting their parents and relatives to visit them here. No estimate was made by USO officials of the number expected to be in town for the holidays. The housing plan, which the USO clubs are sponsoring, was drawn -V Jap Bombs Set Swedish Ship Afire At Hong Kong NEW YORK, Dec. 19.— UP)—'The new 6,079-ton Swedish motorship freighter Ningpo was hit by bombs from Japanese planes and is aflame in Hong Kong harbor, the Americar Swedish news exchange said today. The agency said the vessel had gone into Hong Kong for repairs after suffering damage from strik ing a mine near Singapore. 1 Poisson Stresses Need For Red Cross Campaign At a meeting Friday morning with a group of the workers in the American Red Cross chest cam paign, Louis J. Poisson, general director of the drive, urged that everybody who will have a part make it clear to all persons asked for subscriptions that this is not a continuation of the annual Red Cross roll call, but an independent crusade to raise of a minimum of $50,000,000 with which the start the organization’s work of relief and mercy, now that war has come to the United States. “It is particularly important that 1 1 ■ — — ■ Wilmington and New Hanover county not only reach its goal, fixed at $15,000, but exceed it,” said Mr. Poisson, “because this area might be one of the first to require Red Cross aid, if the war reaches the Atlantic sea board.” “There is no good purpose to be served by denying this possibility. We must not hide our heads, as ostriches are said to do, at the possibility of attack, or deny that the Nazis, always on the offensive, (Continued on Face Two; CoL JU T' K '
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Dec. 20, 1941, edition 1
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