OCR Text |
Show Thursday, December 17, 1942 Coal Shortage Hits Nazi Lands Britons Fled Base In Nazi Transport Escape in Oun Staff Car With Enemy Convoy. MATRUH, EGYPT. Two young British lieutenants revealed that they hod escaped after the fall of Tobruk by Joining a German motor convoy in an imperial command staff car and riding comfortably Into A United SUtes in Berkshire asked the superintendent of a YMCA hut to help him make a telephone call, saying: I want to speak to Waes." When the superintendent asked what part of Wales he wished to talk to the soldier replied: "It's such a little country I thought Wales would be enough. I do not know the exact district, but the young lady's name is Jones. Wales, an area of 7,468 square miles, has a population of 2,000.000. Jones is one of the most common names in Wales. LONDON. sol-di- er 'Kneeling Statues' Taunt Japanese Puppet Chief Statues of Wang renegade Chinese who heads the Japanese puppet government at Nanking, and of Madame Wang, kneeling the Chinese way of symbolizing utter scorn for them iave been placed In parks of many Free China cities and soon will be Wut In Chungking's central park. It Is the second time in China's long history and the first time in a thousand years that a traitor has been the subject of a kneeling statue." The first one was erected to record the treachery of Chin-huwho betrayed the Sung dynasty to northern Invaders. CHUNGKING. Chlng-we- i, l, Dutch Family Includes 800 in Last 50 Years CHICAGO. Fifty years ago a to six of Dutchman bade good-b- y his seven sons. They sailed tor America and settled on the shore of lake Michigan. Of 800 descendants of old Lollia Hoekstra, 350 have Just met for the fifth family reunion. There are now 203 American Jakob, the Hoekstra families. fourth son, has the largest number of descendants, 163 in S3 families. ly tificial illumination. The tenement dwellers apparently did nut resent intrusions into their privacy since they seldom pulled their shades and often men. women or children, who happened to be at windows would wave in u friendly fashion at train riders who were staring at them. . Cermaus. two-thir- i After Tobruk fell, a German armored car roared up the coast and took them prisoners. While the Germans were busy the lieutenants stule a British staff car. Several had been taken over by German FielJ Marshal Erwin Rommel for hia own use, but they didn't realize it until they passed two sentries. They expected to be shut; instead they received the Nazi salute. Then we joined a German convoy moving east," Lieutenant Briggs related. "There were so many British vehicles with it, Jerry took no notice." They weren't found out until they reached Bardia, near the Egyptian-Libya- n frontier. A sentry tried to stop them, they said, but our staff car was going almost 50 miles an hour and we nearly ran him down." The Germans gave chase, but failed to catch them. Within the British lines they were severely shelled before they succeeded in surrendering" and identifying themselves. Rebuilds Radio on Ferry Plans Despite Injury LONDON. Despite the fact that the blood was flowing freely from his injured hand, Alexander Sutton, IS years old, of Glasgow, a wireless operator on board an American bomber being ferried to Britain, his radio when it broke down and reassembled it unaided. The bomber was about halfway acrosa the North Atlantic when the It was midradio went wrong. night, and there was little light by which to make repairs. Knowing that the captain of the plane depended on getting wireless bearings, Sutton decided to dismantle the whole set. He had memorized the blueprint and he started in almost pitch darkness to carry out the difficult task. After two and a half hours, he got the set going again, but the captain was astonished to see the boy saturated in blood. He had gashed his hand ahile dismantling the set, and the fact that the bomber had been flying at over 20,000 feel had caused the blood to spurt freely from the wound. Use Dry Ice Instead of Powder in Militia Guns DENVER. CoL Clyde E. Hill, commander of the Colorado defense force, has announced that the unit will be armed with dry ice" guna to replace the Springfield rifles taken over by the army. Hill explained that the new weapon ia powered by gas from dry ice which propels a bullet with the same carvelocity as a powder-burnin- g tridge. Ray J. Monner, Denver, designed the dry ice gun which he said had been demonstrated to the war de- partment The rifle shoo la a .22 caliber bullet. Its operation is based on the fact that gas evaporating from solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) exerts about 1,170 pounds of constant pressure per square inch in the gun's magazine. A trigger opens a valve, releasing the gas pressure and discharging the bullet. One loading of dry Ice, Monner said, would fire 1,800 rounds of ammunition. Must Put Up With Noisy War Plant, Judge Says DETROIT. If you're bothered by a noisy war plant near your home, don't tell Traffic Judge George T. Murphy about it. Residents around a tool and die company complained that the plant, going day and night, had a noisy blower on the roof. "I'll not waste much time on complaints like these," said Judge Murphy as he dismissed the charges, then asked the complainants: "Would you rather hear fading bomba or the noisy blower on a war plant?" WAAC to Use 'Mam' In Lieu of Army 'Sir DES MOINES. -- It'D probably be Yes, mam," "No. mam," in the women's army. Obviously, the "sir" which every buck private and Junior officer addresses a superior officer la hardly suitable. Officials at the WAAC training school said "mam" probably will be the substitute. Razing the city's elevated railroad only Die Third avenue line remains in operation has rubbed many New Yorkers, also numerous for of visitors, opportunities glimpses into the homes of the poor. The trains wound in und out among the tenements and car windows were about on a level with fourth floor windows of old walk ups. So it was pussible to look right into humble fiats and observe what was taking place. Th: t held true csjie-cialat night since llie Interiors of many tenements are so dark they are revealed only by the aid of ar- When the procession got too alow for them they blew the horn and tha German trucks pulled over. There were so many captured British vehicles in the convoy the Germans didn't notice that British lieutenants were driving one. The lieutenants R. P. Beuan-Gree- n of Londun and H. F. Briggs of Hull said that before the fall of Tobruk all of their artillery except one gun was knocked out by the ar U. S. Soldier Phones A Miss Jones in Wales ' Egypt d lf Lishis of New York Page 3 Latest German Air Secrets Arc Bared To Tap Wealth Of the Amazon by L. L. STEVENSON British Picture Situation as Worse Than Own Need To Cut Consumption. LONDON. With the Nazi ualng up avunr ounea of their coal to keep the winds of their war production factoriea turning, houaehuldera in Germany and in German-occupieEuropean countriea will have to go very ahort on coal for heating and cooking purpoiea thia winter, according to oflldala of tha miniatry of economic warfare here. In a grim aurvey of the lieat comfort" aituation confronting the European continent thia winter, a ministry apokesman presented a stark forecast intended to show that German householders will not have, at the most, more than of their pre-wcoal needs, while the rest of Europe will vary downward from one-haits coal requirements to none at alL Stern Curb la Grrmany. Great Britain is admittedly faced with stern coal restrictions this winter, but, according to a British official spokesman, thia country wiU be far better off than most lands in German-dominate- d Europe. Confronted with the demand for keeping war factory furnaces going fuU blast and with the problem of finding enough men outside the armed services to dig coal British authorities find themselves In the position of reducing domestic household consumption by 20 to 25 per cent Officials of the ministry of Economic warfare say that many of those Germans who used 12 hundredweights of coal before the war will find themselves limited to three hundredweights this coming winter. The lucky ones may get something more than three hundredweights, but those who will suffer most will be residents of outlying German districts, who will be up against the old problem of distribution, it is said. Ne Coal for Poland. In Poland, according to the ministry spokesman, household consumers will not get any coal at all. In France, tha coal situation ia also bad, and, whereas a French household of five people was allowed about five hundredweights of coal last winter, thia winter it will get only half that amount In Belgium, the people will be more fortunate on account of the amallness of their country, with, consequently, a better distribution of facilities. Belgians will have ten hundredweighta of coal a person a month, if they're lucky." But in Belgium, as in other countries they occupy, the Germans are draining off all the coal they can get for their factories. Norwegians will be virtually coalless, but they will rely on wood tor their stoves. In Denmark the people will rely on peat for their household purposes, as they did last year, when they consumed 4,000,000 tons. In the Netherlands the coal ration was four hundredweights a household a month last year, and the expectation is that that will be greatly reduced this winter. So far as it ia known here, there was no formal fuel rationing in the Balkans last winter. Coal consumption, which formerly existed only in urban areas, was only on a small scale. EUREKA REPORTER Scenes extending in panorama from far uptown down to South Ferry, were more or less homey. Often I have observed the man of the house, at the end of a day of toil, sitting comfortably with his shoeless feet on a chair or a window sill, his pipe and contentedly perusing the evening paper while his wife priparid supper. Women household engaged in never-endintasks, from scrubbing floors to dusting, were too common sights to be noticed. Washing and ironing also seemed to go on f irever in the tenedown those ments, particularly town. Then, too. before such occupation in homes became uulluwed, there were the ma!:ers of artificial flowers, whole families turning Out roses and other simulations and receiving for their toil, perhaps a few cents for every hundred pieces pru-- i duccd. g i Another thing that caught my eye was the brave attempt to bring some cheer to dingy and dirty surroundings. Many a housewife kept her tiny flat as immaculate as though she were living on Park avenue instead of Blrckcr street Geraniums were noted on window sills of tenements so old it seemed that at any moment, they would crumble into their original dust. Window gardens with bright bl:ms were also to be seen everywhere among the tenements. One summer (on Greenwich street, as I remember it) there was a window box garden in which the tenement dweller was raising head lettuce, onions and tomatoes one tomato plant with two tomatoes which were just turning red the last time I saw them. Children on fire escapes were seen often also. They were little children, too young to be trusted down in the street. So on hot summer days, their playground was the iron platform of a fire escape. On Columbus avenue were three little girls with whom I became acquainted in a manner of peeking because after they had caught me watching several times, they would smile at me aa the train passed. Their playthings consisted only of some rag dolls, which looked as though they had been homemade, and a very dilapidated baby carriage. Nevertheless, they seemed to be contented and happy. Sometimes, there was action in the scene. One night, as the train alowed for a station. I saw a husband slap his wife and she in turn knocked him ilat with an iron poker. What happened later, 1 cannut say. Then, too, I often glimpsed a woman, who apparently weighed more than 200. skipping rope mornFortunately, the ing and etenii.g. building was comparatively new. Among the tern merits, especially down in Greenwich village, were artists so engrossed in their work that passing tiains did not draw their eyes away from their canvases. Young men and women pounding earnestly on typewriters were also seen frequently. The tenement scenes, as revealed by the eleviitiils had a particular appeal for me since, before coming here, I had read so much of tenement life in New York. Thcv fitted right into my mental picture. So did Wall street for that mutter. But Wall street remains and the elevateds are gone. True, I could go over to Third avenue and possibly see similar sights. But I prefer the memories. Something is always giving me red cars. While crossing Broadway at Forty-sixtstreet, to iave my hat from being whisked away by a little breeze, I touched the brim. So what? Well, one of the prettiest girls I've ever encountered in Times square, thinking I was trying to make advnnrcs, gave me the iciest look I've ever received. But, despite the chill, I hurried on my way with burning face. h UtU Syndicat- e- WNU Features. He Starts One-Ma- n Key Salvage Campaign - Jeweler SYRACUSE. N Y. John D. Wilson suggests that old keys be turned in for salvage He personally conducted a key salvage dilve, collecting 10.000 old keys. "If everyone in the country collected his old keys that amount of valuable metal obtained would be considerable," ha said. Every Nazi Plane Don ned Over Ilrilain Examined. LONDON. Many enemy aviation secreti have been discovered by the RAF during the minute examination that ia applied to every German plane shut down over Uritnin. This examinnt'iin is curried out by the laboratory stall of the department nf research and lh- - Trilish development ministry of aircraft production. It alms at acquiring data of aerodynamic features, engines, armaments, bomb installation, electrical oxygen radio equipment and instruments. Every plane device is studied. For instance, samples are taken of the very high grade steel found inside the cockpit of enemy planes. The composition of this component is determined by chemical analysis. Each sample is subjected to hardness tests to find its approximale tensile strength, microscopical examination is then made nf microsections prepared for these samples. The Dornier 217 E 1 is the latest type of bomber on the German secret list to fall into British hands. mono'it is an plane, powered with two B.M.W. 801 double-roradial engines. The technical data obtained about this engine is of sccinl value, for it is also fitted to the latest type of Gorman fighter, the Focke-Wul- f hi-l- fy f high-win- g uir-conl- 190. Several devices have been discovered in the wrecked Dornier during examination, and front its construction and equipment it is li arned that it is used as a bomber, a and a dive-bombe- r. Tension Rises in Europe Despite Many Executions Gen. Wladyslaw Sikor-sk- i, premier of the Polish government in London, announced the formation of a Polii h arn. i red motor corps for a future offensive on the continent," as tiic spirit of rebellion appeared to be on the rise in Europe despite executions and reprisals. From Norway, Holland, France anil Greece came reports of punishment for sabotage and anti-Naactivities, while via the Moscow radio the French were advised to "prepare for armed struggle" because "the real fight is at hand." The greatest tension was cxiri-enccin Holland, where a midnight deadline had been set for the apprehension of saboteurs who last week wrecked a Nazi military train near Rotterdam, The execution of an unannounced number of l.UK) hostages was threatened by the Nazis unless the saboteurs surrendered or llictr identities were disclosed to the authorities. Dutch government officials here openly expressed fears that a greater number of victims than originally faced execution might be killed be cause of an attempt to blow up radio station. LONDON. d Czecho-Slovaki- a, d Nazi-operat- This Surgeon's Family Goes All Out for War BOSTON. Dr. Edward J. O'Brien surgeon and football official, knows t whst It mesns to go for Uie war. Heres his family record: Son Richard P., 22, a naval aviation cadet; son Robert F., 23, former Dartmouth football star, lieutenant and gunnery expert at sea with the marines; son Paul R., 25, Junior grade lieutenant aboard a cruiser In the Pacific; son Edward J., 26, an ensign at the Great Lakes naval station. Daughter Mary, 16, is knitting. Dr. O'Brien himself held a commission as lieutennnt commander In the navy medical corps and was only recently retired. sll-ou- U. S. Soldiers to Study Languages on Records - American leaving for service where foreign languages are spoken will be taught with phonograph records. The war department said that recpamphlets rt ord, w ilh a glossary and inslructions In pronunciation, would be used to give tlie troops spruking knowledge of essential and useful phrases. WASHINGTON. sol-dic- ra refi-rene- Sweden Get New Salvage Bell for Submarine Crews salvage bell for submarine crews, built in this country and based upon the bell of American design successfully tested in rescue work by the United States navy, is now in possession of the Swedish navy, it was recently revealed. The bell, it is said, is the only one of its kind In Europe. STOCKHOLM A Gets Drugs Unused in San Francisco Fire SAN - Medicine Francisen while FRANCISCO. rushed to San the great fire of 1906 was consuming the city is going to serve in another emergency 38 years later. Eighty six thousand quinine pills, intended tn stem a malaria outbreak after the disaster, have been token from storage and donated to the army. ! Invasion Barges to Be Used In Developing Riches Of Venezuela. CARACAS, VENEZUELA. By L. L. STEVENSON e Those cabbies, who now drive passengers from Grand Central to a mid town department store, remind me of the days when I was a very cubby reporter in Kenton, Ohio. We had two cab lines, each of which represented one of the town's two leading hotels. Comie-litio- n was keen to say the least The actual soliciting was done by the hotel porters. To keep them from swarming all over arrivals, they were forced to toe a line painted on the station platform. There were no restrictions on shouting, however, so the calls, "Hotel Weaver" and "St. Nicholas arose loudly as soon as a train began to slop. The hack drivers, though they had their minds on business, took no part in the shouting. They merely maintained a dignified silence. Nor did they help with tlie baggage. But on the way up town, tlie drivers drove by their respective livery stables so the owners could count the load. old-tim- 12 regulars had their favorite hotels and automatically stepped up to the right porter. That, however, did not prevent solicitation. Such encroachment was resented bitterly and if recollection serves, there were a number of battles as a re suit. Nevertheless, it persisted. The porter received no commission for the trade he brought to the hotel which employed him. His reward was merely the Joy of accomplishment. Or maybe satisfaction in putting over something on a rival was pay enough. Be all that as it may, whenever a train cams in, there was the same old strife. And when a porter -- one was Red MacDonald but I can't remember the name of the other landed some new trade, the look lie gave his competitor was something to be remembered. Also the look on the face of the defeated solicitor. The hack fare, even from the was only 25 cents per passenger to any point in town. The night rates were the same so (hat when town boys and girls dressed up to go to a formal party, they called hacks to come to the door and deliver them at their destination. Unrighteous citizens, taken by hard liquor late at night and therefore unable to trust their legs, merely called a hack and were not only delivered at their homes but often were helped inside for a two-bi- t piece. There were no tips. It Is my belief that had anyone offered Johnny Ellis a tip It would have been refused with great scorn. Diesel-powere- d Hig- region with glowing aecounts of untapped natural wealth, sufficient to take care of the majority of the rubber, mineral and hardwood needs of the entire Western hemisphere. What South reported on the riches of this area is no secret In the past however, these riches were useless because of a lack at transportation. The vastness of the area involved Is such that construction of a railway or highway would requir the expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars, an amount so hug that to date no Investor has been willing to undertake the risk. But South claims to have solved the problem. After a detailed atudy of the Orinoco river and Its tributaries, he asserts that all of Venezuela, Colombia and northern Brazil are linked by the arms of a mighty system of rivers. Ha believes he can establish an express-boschedule that will function as efficiently, and at an Inexpensive figure, as any network of overland routes. Build Hardy Vessel. Tha main Idea, South saya, baa been discussed before but has been turned down because of the reported unnavigability of the rivers. South says that his own tests and research proved that hundreds of the waters ways run to a depth of four feet, and with the siccial shallow-draf- t barges designed by Higgins to carry army tanks, he could bring supplies to the most Isolated vllp lages of the interior and take out quantities of rubber, ore, chicle, me hogany, and castor oil Higgins Industries have designed. In addition to their famous barges, invasion boats that withstand the roughest sort of treat- menL Last year. In tests In New Orleans, these craft sped through the waters of Lake Pontchartraln at 40 miles an hour and hurled themselves up on the rough shores without Injury to the hulL South's Idea is to put a fleet of these on the rivers to carry passen- ger traffic and mail. A letter posted o at Ciudad Bolivar, s town an to addressed Interior port, near the Colombian border, must be taken most of the way by canoe and requires up to two months for delivery. South is certain ha could establish a weekly passenger-mai- l service into the most remote areas. at at the Er'?, shallow-draf- t. gins boats and one fast river craft as the first step in his plan. Gave Glowing Accounts. He came out of the Alto Orinoco Mast of those who came to our town were traveling salesmen. The Haekmcn didn't do much business Big Four station since the St. Nicholas, which burned a little while ago. was right alongside the tracks and the Weaver only two short blocks distant, thus a chance for traveling salesmen we called them drummers to work a little on Townsfolk the expense account usually were met by members of their families or friends with horses and buggies. So the pickings were slim. Business was better at the Ohio Central station, down by the Scioto, but the Erie was the best stand nf all, that station being a full mile from the square, so no drummers did any walking. All that being true, the Erie was the scene of fiercest competition with a lot of hard looks and not infrequently, name calling. A far- sighted plan that would aid In the development of the vast mineral riches of the Amazon and Orinoco basins has been outlined by Dudley P. South, representative of the Higgins Marine Industries, makers in New Orleans of the famous Indestructible" lznding craft used by the United Nations armed forces. South has been carrying out "on the scene" studies of tha Amazon and Orinoco basins and soon will be in Washington to make a report to the War Production board. South originally came to Latin America to find a post-wa- r market for the Higgins boats. He traveled thousands of miles by plane, boat, canoe and afoot until he was ready to make a preliminary report of hia findings. He plans to ask Washington for permission for the delivery of 55-to- n ' high-power- middle-Orinoc- Committee Wins Gratitude of Army One-Wom- an HOUSTON, TEXAS. Army morale officers In south Texas are applauding the efforts of Florlne Dacommittee" vis, 18, a to provide entertainment tor tha camps. Miss Davis, who graduated from high school this year, began an independent campaign to round up musicians, dancers and other entertainers for army camp shows. From Houston supper clubs and radio stations she recruited the free services of orchestras and masters of ceremonies. To these sha added volunteer amateur performer!. one-wom- As a Daily re- n porter, 1 bad the privilege of riding free to and from trains. So did Charley Kelley of the Daily Democrat. The rivalry extended even to dead heads, so one day we rode in a Powell hack and tlie next day In a Southard. The porter rode up on the box with the driver, hence was always sure of a scat When cash customers Oiled both harks, Charley and I had to seek other transportation. The baggage wagon was our refuge. The baggage wagon didn't leave until all the trunks had been loaded so often there was delay. But we had only one edition which went to press when all the news was in type, so we didn't worry. The hackmen with their horses and ancient vehicles at the Grand Central terminal in these days of rationed gasoline and no rubber, are whose memories go all back to days when there were no taxis. Among them Is Frank McCann who 40 years ago used to hack t that same stand who In all, has been a hackmsn for half s century. rs Bell Syndicate -- WNU Faatutca, Cigarette Racket Is Causing Some Rumpus and tobacco sent by friends and relatives of Ameriesn, Canadian and other dominion troops serving In Great Britain are causing a minor rumpus here. The trouble arises from the fact that cigarettes sent as gifts are duty free. The recipients are selling them to British troops at profit LONDON.-Cigarett- es Peasants in Ireland Are Facing; Starvation DUDLIN Peasants In the south and west of Eire, particularly In Donegal and Clare, art on the verge of starvation. Donegal county council has for- warded an urgent appeal to the government describing the gravity of the food situation. In a press conference, Mark chairman of the council, told reporters that shortages of flour, bread, and other grains Is forcing nearly the entire population to Uve on potatoes. n, French Birth Rate Falls; Mortality la on Rise VICHY, FRANCE. Tha French birthrate continued to fall In 1940 despite a government re population drive, and there was a sharp rise In Infant mortality. Latest figures show that In continental France, excluding Alsace, there were 44,002 fewer births In 1940 than In 1038. Mortality statistics for 1040 listed deaths of 48,780 children under a year old, 101,780 more than In 1038. ' |