THE COUNTY
T,HE STATE
THE UNION
VOLUMN LXX
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NUMBER *4
GILLIAM HELD
UNDER ?000 BOND
FOR ATTACK ON C. HAYWOOD
HARPER
PRELIMINARY HEAR
ING BEFORE RECORD
ER TUESDAY
1 Hat Plays Big Part in Ev
idence; One Witness Said,
He Went To Harpers
With Defendant; W. L.
Lumpkin Assisted Chas.
P. Green in Prosecution;
Yarborough & -Yarbor
ough and T. P. Gholson
Represent Defendant
Following- a lengthy and in-,
teresting hearing In Franklin Re-!
eorder's Court here on Tuesday
morning. Judge Hamilton Hob-i
good held probable cause was es
tablished by the State against I
William C. Gilliam for assault !
with a deadly weapon and at-!
tempt at robbery on C. Haywood
Harper at the latters home in Ce- 1
<iar Hock township in June of j
this year and ordered him held '
in a bond of $8,000. The State
was represented by Prosecuting
Attorney Chas. P. Green, assisted
oy Sen. W. L. Lumpkin by pri
vate prosecution and the defend- !
ant was representd by Yarbor
ough & Yarborough, and T. P.
Gholson, of Henderson.
The evidence of Harper, the'
prosecuting witness, was amusing ,
as well as showing a serious of- 1 ,
fense had been committed. llo'i
told how he was called out at !
night to get medicine for a sicli ! i
child of a tenant and while he
was getting it felt a pistol punch
ing him in his side. He turned!
to see a masked man who deman- :
ded his money. He grabbed the
gun, they tussled, the robber beaf
him over the head with some in- i
strument until he was uucon- 1
scious. He came to on the porcli
where his money was again de- I
mandcd. struck again and left
for dead. In the mean time his
aged mother came to his rescue 1
without results and -.she left the
House at the request of Harper to !
save her life. He told of leaving |
the house, being brought to the j
doctor and returning. He could
not identify anyone. Cross exam
ination by Gholson brought some
laughter but no damage to his
testimony.
W. O. Stone stated he found a
hat and sow blood on the floor
of the room and on the porch, |
identified hat and said he gave it '
fo Sheriff Moore. Ho had Sher- ,
iff called before he went In house.
Sheriff Moce told of being
called by P. E. Dean for Mr. !
Stone and that Stone who was at
the Harper home gave htm the
hat, and that he had kept the hat
himself. A picture was called for
but not admitted to evidence,
Edgar Gilliam, understood 'o
he a cousin ?f the defendant,
stated In effect on examination
that he took Gilliam to Harper's, .
then went down the road, return-,,
ed and picked him up and drove
away. He also stated that Wil
liam Gilliam took his (Edgar's)
hat when hie got out of the car to
go to the Harper home. He iden- ,
tifled the hat as his.
The cross exbminatioh of Stone.
Sheriff Moore and Edgar Gilliam '
by Gholson failed to break down j
the evidence by the State sufflc- j
lent to convince Judge Hobgood J
there was no probable cause.
At this point the State rested
its case and the defense did not
offer any evidence. The only ar
gument before the Court being]
as to the size of the bond. j
The case was sent over to j
?* Franklin Criminal Superior Court j
which convenes on February Bth,
' 1940, a?tl Gilliam was returned
to JalMn default of bond.
Dim Your Lights
8 La to Highway Patrolmen of
thla district have been instruc
ted to enforce strictly the law
requlring that motorists dim
their light* when passing other
cant, Nergeant If. H. Harris,, of
Durham, district commander, >
said this week.
Pemon* Involved in a number
of accidents recently have
claimed they were blinded by
lights of passing automobiles,
Hergonnt Harris said. He said
the HMD legislature passed a
law requiring that lights be
dimmed.
The sergeant pointed out pa
trolmen will have a hard job :
enforcing the law. The officer*
must torn and give chase after
meeting a motorist who did not
dlni his light*.
DKCOKATK FOR CHRISTMAS *:
JLast year the G aid on Club re
eived such response on the part [
nf the people of Louisburg In its
I'bristmaa Decoration Contest tliut|
it is sponsoring anoilfer one thlsj
season.
The classifications of the con
test* are the .same as last year!
with one exception ? they are:
Class 1. Entrance.
Class II. Outdoor Scene.
Class III. Outdoor tree.
Class IV. Anything from the
inside as seen from the outside. I
There will be a first and secon,d
prize offered for each classifies- :
tion. The ^hntest will be judged
on the night of Dec. 22nd.
Decorate early and entor the
contest! If you plan to enter the
contest please phone any one of
the committee on Decorations.
This committee is composed of
the following
Mrs. George W. Cobb.
' , Chairman.
Miss Susie Meadows.
Miss (Catherine Rogers.
Mrs., Edward -Griffin.
Mrs. R. G. Bailey.
LOUISBIJRG BAPTIST
CHURCH
There will be only one worship
service at the Baptist Church on
Sunday and that eleven o'clock.
Dr. A. Paul Bagby will speak on
"Until Shlloh' Come."
We will enter into the spirit of
the Community White Christmas
carrying ouf white gifts to the
service at the Court House st
t:30 P. M.
, Sunday School at 9:45 A. M.
Baptist Training Union at 6:45
P. M.
-.STORK CliOSK
f ? T
Business In general will (!??
dispensed with In Ijoulsbjirg on
Christmas Day Dec, 25th. The
fact that Christmas eve will be
on Sunday, which will cause the
Stores to be closed two days
will cause the merchants gen
erally to return to business on
the smth. instead of remaining
closed on the day after Christ
mas as heretofore. >.
Eu ropean *
Summary
Montevideo ? Two British
wursliips and Nazi pocket bat
tleship, presumably the Admiral
Scheer, locked in furious battle
off Uruguay within Americun
neutrality zone; battle races
into nielli with outcome ill
doubt.
Geneva ? League of Nations j
committee proposes condemna
tion of Russia as aggressor, re- |
commends her banishment from
Geneva and proposes aid to Kin- ,
land; League assembly acts to
day.
Helsinki? Finns say Russians '
halted on virtually all fronts.
Keport "great losses" inflicted
on Iteds in counterattack.
Moscow ? Red army re|>orts I
new advances carry Its forces
to points OA to 00 miles from
frontier.
l/ondon ? ltritain hints at >
large scale land offensive J
against Gerniaps once allied air
superiority is added to sfn su
premacy.
Rome ? Soviet Ambassador
leaves abruptly after Fascist
anti-Russian demonstrations
News Observer.
PROGRAM AT THE
LOUISBURG THEATRE
The ? following is the program
At the Coulsburg Theatre begin*
nlfig Saturday Dec. 16th:
Saturday ? Double Feature ?
Tex Rltter In "Man From Texas"
attd Gantry, "The Blind Horse"
ami Edith Fellowes In "Pride of
Tlie\Blue Grass." Also Chapter
No. 9 "Dick Tracy's G-Men."
Sunday ? Alice Faye. Warner
Baxter, Charles Wlnnlnger ahd
Arthur Treacher In "Barricade."
Monday ? Frank Morgan and
Virginia Weldler In "Henry Goes
Arizona."
Tuesday ? Stuart . Erwln and
Marjorle Weaver In "The Honey
moon's Over."
Wednesday ? The Jones Family
and Joan Davis In '"Too Busy To
Work."
Thursday-Friday ? Deanna Dur
bln In "First Love" with Robert
Stack and Eugene Pallette.
Last .Times Today ? James
Stewart and Jean Arthur in Frank
Capra'a "Mr Smith Goes To
Washington."
FOR GOVERNOR
HON. J. M. BROUGHTON
"I will he a candidate for Gov
ernor of North Carolina in the
Democratic Primary next May",
states Mr. Broughton, of Raleigh.
In making tills announcement he
goes on to say,
"In entering this campaign I
do so upon mysown Initiative and
responsibility and not as the can
didate of any group, bloc or poli
tical faction. My candidacy will
be addressed to all Democrats In
the State. If nominated and elect
ed, I will be under no obligation
except to serve the people of North
Carolina to t h^ best of my abil
ity. *
?'It will be my purpose during
the campaign next spring to dis
cuss fully the . issues that may
arise upon all public questions in
which the people are interested.
I plan to speak in every county in
the State, so that the people may
have opportunity to hear my views,
on the*e questions and pass upon
my qualifications for this hicti
office. While it is not feasible this
far in advance of the campaign
to disfuss in detail all public ques
tion that may concern tile people
of the State. 1 would be unwilling
to make an announcement for the
office of Governor withouf at least
.stating in general my views on
essential matters of government.
1 have no panaceas to offer, no
magic formulas to propose. Sotiml'
government is the best liberalism;
sane progress is the best conserv
ation. "
The following facts about Mr.
Broughtou's life and history will,
110 doubt, be interesting to many:
Full name: Joseph Melville
Broughton (given name 'Melville'
Broughton. and called 'Mel' by his
intimate friends).
Born in ltalelgh. N. Novem
ber 17, 1888. Son of the late J,
M. Brouglitou and Sally Harris
Broughton. and a nephew of the
lale Needham B. Broughton.
Attended public schools of Ral
eigli and the Ilqgh Morson Acade
my in Raleigh.
Graduated at Wake Forest Col
lege in 1910. ' ' j
Principal of Buini High School,
Franklin County, 1910 to 1912.
Reporter on staff of Wlrfston
flulem Journal during st>ring- and
summer of 1912.
Special course in law at Harv
'aid Law School, 1912-1911.
Engaged In general practice ol
law at Raleigh continuously since
1 1914. "
1 ? 1914-1916 Chairman of the
| Democratic Executive Committee
of Wake County. ,
1918 President Raleigh Cham
ber of Commerce.
1921-1924 City Attorney of
Raleigh.
1922-1929 Member Raleigh
I School Board.
Member of State Senate from
Wake County in the session of
j 1927. and agalu III the session of
[1929.
President Wake County Bar
Association) 1933.
1 President' North Carolina Bar
Association, 1936.
Keynote Speaker Democratic
|Stat<! Convention, 1936.
.' Presidential Elector at Large In
,1936 election.
Member of Board of Trustees
'or'Wake Forest College continu
ously since 1918, and member of
Board of Trustees of Olivia Raney
Public Library of Raleigh continu
ously sfnee 1920.
Superintendent Tabernacle Bap
tist Sunday School of Raleigh
| continuously aince 1918; 'and
j teacher of men's Bibl* Class In
that Church for the last 15 years.
Married In December, 1916 to
| Miss Alice II. Wlllson, of Raleigh,
daughter of the late Wm. W. Wil
?<onvGrand Secretary of the Grand
Lodge of Masons of North Caro
lina. Four children: One daugh
ter, who is a graduate of Peace
Junior College and attended
Salem College, and three sons,
who are In the public schools of
Raleigh.
COTTON KIiRCTION CARRIES
The exact flgures have nrff yet
been given out hut It Is under
stood the Cotton Control election
held here on Saturday was car
ried favorably by an extra large
majority. Quite a large rote was
cast and the results show the
growers control minded,
y
f
Christmas For
Every One In
Franklin County
The Social Agencies of Frank
lin County met in a joint meeting
Dec. 12. in Loulsburg to make
plans for carrying . Ch|istm.is
cheer, to all the uqfortuhate in
Franklin County.
The schools and P. T. A.s were
designated as the central unit of
work, since these organizations
Include all churches, societies,
clubs, etc. A committee was tp
pointed to,, contact each school
and P. T. A. to work out some
plans with them for collection and
distribution of Christmas baskets
for the unfortunate in their res
pective communities. The P. T. A.
wliicl* includes all churches,- etc.,
will work up a list of their unfor
tunate families then each church,
society, club or citizen will take
' from the list as many {amities as
i they want to provide Christmas
l'or and as the families are taken
their' names will be checked off
the list. In this way all families
can be tak?n care of and do away
with unnecessary duplication.
Since the school and P. T. A.
i serves only as a clearing house,
they have to depend on the*
churches and missionary societies
to do the main collection and dis
tribution of these gifts. Hy the
churches working with the P. T.
1 A. they learn who all the other
t churches arid Sunday schools are
j helping and this helps to do away
with the problem of all. the
churches helping one fam+iy and
other families going without. So
it is urged that all churches. Sun
day schools, societies, clubs, etc.
i plan a good program of giving to
| the needy of Franklin County.
We hope that every citizen, or
ganization and Institution will
wor(t together and try to see that
every one has a happy Christmas.
It is the privilege and duty r.f
each person who can to help some
one else.
MRS. D, T. FUM.ICli, Sec y
of Sooiii 1 Agencios.
NOTE: The above plan of car
rying out Christmas giving has
been followed for two years ill
Franklin County and we hope this
will explain to people who thought
along the line as did the (editor
ial writer in Ihe TIMES several
weeks ago. that there. Is a func
tioning agency which tries to
spread Christinas Cheer.
J. C, Wheless Dead
Mr. J. C. Wheleas, aged 77. one
of Justice communities oldest and
most highly respected citlzeus died
at his home at 9 o'clock Sunday
.evening, following a short Illness.
He is survived l>y four daughters.
Mrs. P. R. Tiunn. Mrs. G. II. Har
iris, of Justice, Mrs. G. B. Tayloe,
of Guam. Mrs. C. R. Dobson, of
'Washington, D. C. ; and one son.
Mr. E. J. Wheless. of Justice; sev
enteen grandchildren; three bro
thers, J. W and A. M. Wh'eless,
of Cedar Rock, and W. B. Whe
less, of Spring Hope; and two sis
ters, Mrs. J. H, Jones, of Scotland
Neck, and Mrs. II. ('. Woodllef,
of Franklin County.
The deceused was a most valu
able citizen to his Community
I County and State. He had served
them as school committeeman,
land as Deacon of Duke Memorial
Baptist Church, and was one of
the founders of this consecrated
iJace of worship. He was -always
Interested In any movement In the
intej-est of his people and gave
libei'ally of his time and means,
i He will be greatly missed in his
; community where he was loved
most and his virtues best known.
Funeral services were held at
Duke Memorial Church Monday
afternoon at 3 o'clock, conducted
i by Rev. E. Y. Averitt and inter
ment was made In the Church
! cemetery nearby. Large numbers
I of relatives and friends attended
1 both services and the floral trl
'hute was especially pretty
| The pallbearers were B. D.
Stone, Zack Perry, Wilson Dean,
J. O. Wilson, M. J. Hayes and E.
iV. Stone.
The bereaved family has the
.deepest sympathy of hosts of
frleQds.
REV. H. I. GLASS AT
METHODIST CHURCH
I ? ? ?
The new Presiding Elder of the
Raleigh District will be at the
Methodist Church Sunday morn
ing for his first sermon in the
Loulsburg church. The public is
cordially Invited to be present at
this eventful occasion.
Quarterly conference will be
held Immediately after tbe.preacli
ing hour.
All other services of the day
will be held at the accustomed
time.
COM.KOE Wn,Tj CLOSE
TOR THE HOLIDAYS
' Acoordlng to announcement the
Loulsburg College will eloae on
Satprday to observe the Ohrtatnma
holidays, tt will reopen to resume
Its work on ?-the morning of Jan
uary Sfd.
. r ??'
\0WN C0MM1S
SIONERS MEET
The Hoard of Town Commis
sioners mot in regular session 011
j Dec. 8th, 1939. at 7:30 P. M. All
members of the Board were pres
i ent except W. G. Lancaster.
The ip4nutes of previous meet
ings were read and approved.
4"he monthly reports of the
Ttj&n Clerk, Tax Collector and
' CJilef of Police were read and ap
proved.
A request was received from
the I.ouisburg Chamber of Com
merce to decorate a community
Christmas tree that is to be plac
ed on the Court Honse Square.
This request was approved.
The Board let the contract for
completing the plumbing In the
Armory Building, for the sum of
$175.00.
The Board approved the pur
chase jjf 3,000 two-cent window
| envelopes.
/ Supt. Harkins was instructed
to install a street light o'n the
South end of Kenmore Avenue.
After approving a number of
accounts for payment, the meet
ing was adjourned.
Murphy To Seek
Eure's Job
Walter ''.Pete" Murphy, of Sal
isbury, 67-year-old veteran of 14
legislative sessions formally an
1 uounced Friday that he would
seek Democratic nomination for
, secretary of state in t,he 1940 pri
maries.
Thad Kure. the incumbent, litis |
, let it be known he would seek re- j
election, but has set no date for
a formal annouucement.
Murphy said he had many let
ters urging him to run for the of
fice.
U. N. Graduate
Active in fraternal circles. Mur
phy has also been president and
secretary of University of North
Carolina, alumni, lie received his
law degree at Carolina ill 1 8 !? 4 .
and has liccn a member of the
board of trustees of the sichool
| since 1903. *
Known all over the state as
"Fete " Murphy was born in Salis
bury in October 1872. He served
his Jirst term In the General As
sembly in 1897, was speaker of
the House during a special ses
> sion in 1914 and ill the regular
nssenfbly of 1917.
Between terms in the House, lie
n-rved as reading clerk of the
Senate in 1899. He was a mem
ber of the 19:t9 Legislature.
NO FIRE, BUT SMOKE
Quite a bit of excitemenet was
in evidence about 9 o'clock Sun
day night when the lire- alarm
! was turned in from the Hank
' building on the corner of Main
and Nash Streets. Upon investi
gation by the Fire Department It
was found that the building war,
full of smoke caused, no doubt,
from the Janitor building a heavy
i fire in the furnace without open
ing the damper, causing the lire
)o become smothered.
The condition was first discov
ered by Mr. Chas.. P. Green when
I lie went to his office. Mr. R. W.
Smlthwlck, owner of the building,
was soon on the scene and re
' ports no particular damage.
CH IUSTMAS PAGKANT
The Young People <)f the Epis
copal Church wish to extend to
everyone a cordial Invitation to
their Christmas pageant. "The
j Holy Nativity," on Friday even
ing, December 22nd, at 8 o'clock.
Several s6los will be rendered
, in connection^ with this pageant
i which deplcts'the birth of Our
| Lord.
This invitation is extended tn
the entire public.
AN UNINVITED VISITOR
Some unknown person visited
the Chamber of Commerce offices
over the City Barber Shop Tues
day night and took with them
some personal belongings of the
Secretary, Mrs. J. E. Malone. The
officers have not reported an ar
rest yet, but a close check-up li
being made.
MILLS SCHOOL CIjOSKS FOK
holidays
It is reported that Hills School
will close on Tuesday afternoon
of next week to observe the
Christmas holidays. It wi|l re
open after the holidays on Tues
day, January 2, 1940.
;
TOBACCO MARKET
The Louiaburg tobacco market
will close for the holidays at the
completion of the sales today. The
sales the past week have been
very satisfactory.
Poultry flbeka In Onslow Coun
ty are lboktng goo*, and all of
the demonstration flocks ara re
turning their owner* a profit, re
ports Jack Kelly, assistant farm
agont.
COMMUNITY
CHRISTMAS
SERVICE
To Be Held on Court House
Square Sunday Afternoon
At 4:30 ? Public Invited |
Plans tor the Community
Christmas Service to be held Sun
day, Dec. 17th at 4:3ft o'clock on
the Courthouse Square are com
plete. This service is under the
auspices of all our churches and i
the Christmas Carols will lie lend
by all the choirs in Louisburg,
under the direction of Mr. I. I).
Moon. To make this a real
White Christmas Service wi'h
gifts of every kind for our needv
the cooperation and presence of
every person, children as iwell as
grown ones, will be needed and
it is hoped that the spirit of this
service will linger on through all'
our Christmas festivities. '
There arc twenty-live opportu
nities in our Louisburg district, !
some of which have already been!
taken. If you wish to have one|
of these opportunities call the
Chamber of. Commerce office t;r
go by and select a family that you
are particulary interested in. The
gifts from our service will all be
kept In one central place and will
go to supplement boxes and take
care of those who will not have
Christmas without our help.
Representatives from every ur
banization in town will take part
in the distribution of these gifts.
Take part in this Community |
Christmas and keep in mind the!
time and place for our Sunday |
Service and come With your gift,'
whether big or small.
Recorder's Court
Franklin Recorders Court held
a most unusual interesting session 1
on Tuesday. The hearing of Wll
|li?m Gilliam for assault on
H. Harper and attempted rob
bery drew quite a large crowd,
lie was held for higher Court un
der an $8000 bond Other cases I
loll the docket were disposed of is
' follows:
l.lt Alston, unlawful possession
of whiskey, paid In full.
I', 1. Horton. operating motor
vehicle without drivers license.
Judgment suspended upon pay
ment of $fi fine and costs.
I). L. Arnold, reckless driving,
u4?t guilty.
Freddie I'rivett. reckless driv
ing. not guilty.
Vance Snow, operating automo
bile intoxicated, nolle pros with
leave.
William Mathews, operating au-'
toinoblle intoxicated, nolle pros 1
with leave.
William K. Hunter, 'abandon-,
uient .and non support, guilty,,
prayer for judgment continued,
upon payment of costs and $60
and $12 per month thereafter. ' I
Dave Sturdivant. Maurice Stur-j
dlvant larceny apd receiving, jury
trial requested, continued.
Jim Aysctie, larceny and receiv- ,
;ine, jury trial requested, continu
ed.
Julian Smith, larceny and re
ceiving, Jury trial requested, con- I
I tinued.
Leslie Pearce. larceny and re
ceiving. Jury trial requested, con
tinued.
William Gilliam, assault with 1
deadly weapon with intent to kill
and attempted robbery, probable
cnjuse found, sent to Superior
Court, bond fixed at $8000.
The following cases were con
tinued:
Thomas D. Griffin, operating
automobile Intoxicated.
Mnrman McK,night, unlawful
possession of whiskey.
Jerry Cooke, assault with dead- |
1 ly weapon.
Henry Dubston. forceble tres
pass.
Olile Roberts, trespass.
Stewart Davis, bastardy.
I < HR1HTMAS SUGGESTION J
CONTEST
The Loulsburg Garden Club is
sponsoring a display of Chrjst
mas table arrangement, swa'ts.
'wreaths, package, doorway, deco
rated cookies, cake, and cundles
It] White's Furniture Store, Tues
day afternoon, December 19th,
J from 3 o'clock to 10.
Everyone, (whether a member
of the Garden Club or not). Is in
vited to enter as many Ideas as
possible.
Blue and Red ribbon will be
awarded by the Judges, who will
I render their decision at 1 o'clock
[ the same afternoon.
The public Is Invited to visit
I the display. There will not be
any admission fee, but a sliver
i donation will be received at the
door.
All arc urged to participate.
Don't fall to come and exchange
yonr Christmas Idea* with your
friends.
If you Will enter some feature
of the contest please notify either
Miss Susie Meadows or lfrs. Ed
Ward Griffin at yoor earliest con
venience.
RENEW YOtTt ftl'DSCRIFTIOS .
I
WAR IN EUROPE
t
Geneva, Wednesday, Dec, 13.- ?
The League of Nations, prepared
today to condemn Russia as an
aggressor and to organize aid for
invaded Finland after receiving a
curt Soviet refusal to ''consider
mediation of the Russo-FinnUli
conflict.
The Russian reply to a League
"ultimatum" demanding that Rus
sia withdraw from Finland and
enter peaceful negotiations for
settlement of the dispute was sign
ed by Premier and Foreign Com
missar V. M. Molotov and was re
ceived Just before midnight, tUo
"deadline" fixed by the League.
The League, impotent to real*^
punish Russia, today will hear
formal denunciation of the Soviet
as au aggressor and a demand
that she be expelled from Leagua
member ship.
Possible Procedure
This will be the League's pro-'
liable procedure:
1. The commlttec of IS -jiamed
to act on the Finnish war wjll re
port to the assembly at 10 a. m.,
Russia's refusal to discuss media
tion, and present the assembly- ?
with its reports 'on the dtepute.
2. Assembly members tlrtrn will
discuss the Russian invaalon and
suggest possible League action.
3. The assembly will refer tho
matter back to the Committee of
13, which in turn will entrust to
a new drafting committee the task
of drafting recommendations. This
committee probably will pro
pose recommendations denouncing
Russia as an aggressor and urging
all possible aid for Finland.
The full assembly will debatu
the committee recommendation*
and approve or reject them by
majority vote.
5. If the recommendation*
specify elf pulsion for Russia and
are passed by a simple majority
of the assembly, then by League
procedure they will go to the
League's Council, or executive
committee. Unanimous vote of the
council is necessary fnj explusion.
Sentiment remained almost un- v
anlinoiiK in favijr of Finland and
for condemnation of Russia, but
? lie delegates are widely divided
oil the best method by which this
sentiment may be expressed of
ficially.
lit ssn ? I KTIiV RKFISKS
TO HK(il\ PKAC K TALK
Moscow, Wednesday. Dec. 13. ?
Russia early today curtly rejected
the "Invitation" of the League of
Nations to cease hostilities in Fin
land and begin peace talks under
League auspices, s
Premier and Foreign Commis
sar V. M. Molotov addressed a
formal reply to the League's tele
graphed proposal to the president
of the League's special commltteo
set up to deal with the Finnish
war. - ?
lie said the Soviet government
declined to accept tlie League's of
fer to discuss the Finnish ques
tion. and referred the committee
to his letter of last week to Joseph
A. C. A venoW Secretary-General of
the League.
Helsinki, Dec. 12. ? Finnish,
troops and airplanes smashed a
large-scute Russian offensive to
day, a Finnish communique re
ported, wiping out "three erfeniv >
battalions" and leaving "hundreds
of the fallen enemy lying before
our positions."
The Russians weie repulsed
with "tremendous losses" In hard
fighting on a 200-mile front from
the Karelian Isthmus to Tolva
Jarvi, about 76 miles north ot
Lake Ladoga, the Finns said.
At the same time, a report
from the Finnish port of Manty
luoto said the 2. 217-ton German
freighter Roleheim had been sunk
In the Gulf of Bothlna by a sub
marine. Several of 29 survivors In
sisted that the submarine was
Russian, although there wag no
positive identification.
The captain, second officer and
radio operator w eta ktMed by shell
fire. Survivors said the submarine
tossed 15 shells into the vessel.
The Finnish military communi
que indicated that today's fighting
was some of the most severe since
the war started. v
.Paris. Dec. 12. ? Great Britain
and France disclosed today a fin
ancial alliance to last until six
months after they make a peace
with Germany,
This money partnership, hailed
by a French finance ministry
spokesman as "the strongest ac
cord In history between two gov
ernments," was announced in
Farls and London at the moment
people of the Allied nation* were
hearing that British troops had
won their first direct engagement
on the Western Front.
Military dispatches said the
British threw back three waves oC
German troops Sunday In an at
tack south of Buschdorf, in th?
Moselle valley region. The Ger
man losses were reported to have
been severe. None was reported
by the British.
The financial accord was signed
on December 4 when 8lr John
Simon, Chancellor of the British
Exchequer, was In Pariftf and wax
announced today by Sir John *ad
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