Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 39, Number 303, Decatur, Adams County, 24 December 1941 — Page 1

XXXIX. Na. 303.

JAPANESE CAPTURE WAKE ISLAND

mo Bring tie! Russia bar Talk Lponcsc Pressure Forces Lows In For East Lmrou Dec M -■ H’PI - Ltd.,ll* Japanese pressure on C. and the Philippine* Ed today to move President Cit sad pHme mlnlxter WinIctanhill quickly to bring L lam their White Houae war L continued their discussion juht and today in meetings L osly for aleep and for a j ■ MOference Home JOO cor | Ldwtl* crowded into the presl Em< office and gawked like Lm tsarist* at the visitor h London They anker! ques Lm and Mr Churchill proved Ls t» able II preM conference »* Ma boat. La the war taiko were resum h it strictly an Anglo-Amerl Iwrting ao far. But all the L tn- to lie kept advised. and ■atty, ultimately will join In B»:,n« which will make the L Hoate the actual antl-Axi* ■urn- for World War 2. L fart det eloped out of two lif roam illlng here io that our Ihriflc ocean la the limned ■tauter spot to the Allied ffit fat the problem Mr. Roose Lid Mr Churchill seek to P" 11 O ’ * !■ wor Completes i Distribution Member Collection ft Taxes Distributed > Matrtbution of the Novem- « Belon haa been completed •aaty auditor Victor Richer. Mai amounting to 5249.734.54 • atate of Indiana received ill* of the taxes. plua |2. • of common schnnl fund intI IIS' < of permanent enMt school Intereat and 15# M»t f*ea. a total of 1JJ.d73.30 Brtbwtion to local taxing unite Mtar library board. 31.541 77; •library Ixiard. |83144; De- ' ackooi board, ff28.151.R7; tiekocl board. 112.000 M. •* and citlea: Monroe. |357 - •*wa. 13.4J2.25; Berne. 35. • Decatur, 112.243.21. Washington. 17,341.•»ba.h )*.(4|.04; Union. »3.- | 81 Marya, 42,442 25; Root. Preble. 22.124 04; Mon**’**s4: Kirkland. 26.045.24; J*»- 65,410.46; Hartford. 36.- ’ French, 34,421.27; Blue L 14.072.57. • uhl !> poor funds. 226.022 22; ■ls road bonds and Intereat, U1 •'f tax. general fund. 242. • county welfare department. 2”: county bond fund. |2.nN PaGB thumb »

& Os Peace Ring Out In rthlehem On Christmas Eve

Dec 14 - (UP) - - * Peace rang out in the “f the nativity on thia ***• we while almost IM* Perrons on five continent* '*W war. be dark tonight In the ■ •iniing Sifeeui of Beihiei,.**• Where the Christ *** “Prince of Peace"—wan u ® < ”' 2OM years ago. The l* blackout was in effect will stream out from , along the darkened li»a * mW of oll ’ e by me shadowed bulk of J’y'**- to attend the solemn Tj" 11 ” in the great hall of of the nativity. in ** r * men • n ‘* women ( In a variety of , ,7, h * !, v*s in their colorful lrt»uk B, * n ,n ■nlforma of dominion. a!!! j allied

A fcry CWstaas Bwy Oia® DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Believe It? It's Still Tiny's Story And now with IM4I rapidly I drawing to a close. up cornea Lao | "Tiny” Huffman of Preble with what promises to lie the prlae I "believe it or not" atory of the I year. Leo a**erts that recently while driving near ’hl* home an object •truck the car windshield. shattered the glass and dropped on the •eat beside him. The ''object" waa a 'puMitm. Then, he claim*. to hla amaae j ment. he found an owl lying beside ' the car. The owl waa atnnned. the possum dead Thia la the way he reconstructed the Incident. The owl had lieen carrying the possum, which he had killed and staried to feud upon. While flying through the air he al ruck the auto, throwing the dead animal through the glaaa believe it or not. ■ 0 ' Will Study County Drainage Condition Land-Use Committee Plans Year's Study Drainage condiliona of public farm drain* la to be the subject of study by the land-use planning committee <>f Adam* county for 124! Work la to begin In Monroe town ehip with a meeting in the Monroe Election achool. three mile* aoilth of Monroe on the tile mill road at 7 p. m January 4. The lo<al committee plana to have at least one farmer present from each section | of the township A. M Nichter. state leader of land uoe planning, and Dave Harker. drainage specialist of Purdue, suggested the plan of farm drain studies to the county planning committee recently and the local committee decided to undertake the work. The plan suggested vlsiona first; mapping of all closed and open located drains and compromiae drains A study will then be made of their alxe and condition as to whether good. fair or poor It Is planned also to compile a study of the coat of maintenance of these draina; a study involving <aah outlay and labor outlay by the farm-. ers. In torses where the drains are . not seemingly adequate a cost ' s'udy will be made of crop damages When the study la completed, the township reports will b<- bi ought together In a county report, embracing all the Items mentioned. Ixnd-use planning work waa glared in Adams county three years ago. and the Brwt job undertaken waa a mapping of agricultur al lands according to use. Thia map was relined last year, and — ((x)NTIWUBD ON PAOB PU> , ■ II O Drivers Uninjured As Autos Collide 1 An auto driven by John Habegger, of southwest of Monroe, waa badly damaged about 10 o’clock Tuesday night in a collision with one driven by Mrs. Wilbur Stanley. of northeast of Monroe. The accident occurred In front of the Ervin Stucky home in Monroe. Neither driver was injured.

armies now fighting in the middle east. There are Americans here, too They are members of the United State* military mission to the middle east, here to watch the flow of lend-lPase supplies to the fighting allied armies. Missing this year, as on last Chrlstipastide. are the visiting Italian clergy, but thousands of ftallan war prisoners en4 ** nu^*‘* l Palestine will have special Christmas Kve services conducted by the chaplains attached to the .« lied armies. And there are ***>“*?•«>» who have come, like many of the Omsk ortbodos laity, to observe the western Christmas since their own takes place about two weeks ■Hio official ceremony begins In the afternoon when Msgr. Mi S

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Plan Concerted Drive For Sale Os Defense Bond Every Home In County To Be Canvassed For Purchase Os Bonds Plane for a concerted cam|*algn for safes of United States defense savings bonds and stamps were launched Tuesday night at a meting of the Adams county defense savings staff. Earl Caston, county < hairman. conducted the meeting, stressing the imperative need for the increased sale of bonds to aid In pay Ing the tremendous outlay being made, particularly since the entry of this nation Into the all-out war against the Axis powers. Every home. Itoth city and rural, wilt be canvassed by workers appointed by the various city and rural chairmen, with every man. woman and child given an opportunity to pay his share toward* contributing to the avowed purpose of the Allies to crush Hitler and his ilk. It Is planned to start the everyhouse canvass In Adams county about January 10. which has been set as the date for the campaign in Indiana. Three salient Seasons for purchasing the bonds were pointed out hy Mr Caston These are: 1 Patriotism 2 Prevent inflation. 3 Hecurlty of investment. The federal government Is urging psrebaae o< these Ixmds as a splendid means of systematic saving*. To this end. the payroll allotment plan has been started In many industries ail over the country. Employe* have certain amount* deducted from their pay checks and when sufficient funds have accumulated. bonds are pun-based. Retail and wholesale stores are cooperating by having the defense CONTfWIJKD ON PAOB THRBBI o - — Children Give Food For Good Fellows Pay Admission to Show With Articles Os Food Appls. oange*. grapefruit, potatoes. home-canned and factory canned vegetable* and fruits of all descript ion* — th* "admission* to yesterday’s annual Good fellows isirty at the Adams theater—were going Into ssket* for the Christmas Eve distribution tonight. A crowd estimated by Roy Kalver, manager of the theater, at *»*»*» kiddies, jammed its way Into the theater ywiterday. stopping at the box office snd lobby to "pay" with their various type* of foodstuffs. Roy grouts and sorority committec member* were mationed there to Immediately put the food In cartons and arrange to truck it to a store room, from where It will be sent tonight to the needy families. lawt year. It was recalled, enough fomlstuffs. with the exception of meat, were secured at the movie to fill all of the basket* distributed <m Christmas Eve. The committee in charge at th* theater included: Mr*. Fred Smith, chairman; Mrs Leo Saylor*. Mr. Frank Braun. Mrs. Gerald Strickler, Mrs. Vaughn Hilyard. Mrs. Carl Gerlier, and Mrs. Roy Kaiver. The Scouts who assisted were: junior Schmitt. Bob Myers. Joe Daniels. Jim Kortenber, all of Ro ■(CONTDVUWON PAOB TMRBBI TffMPERATURff READING DEMOCRAT THERMOMETER 10:00 a.- — Noon * I." p. « 3:00 p. m. ------- WEATHER Cloudy, occasional liffht drlxile or snow flurries in north; colder this afternoon; cloudy In north tonight; snow flurries. • fair 4o partly cloudy In. south.

Decatur. Indiana, Wednesday. December 24, 1941.

Yule Spirit at White Houae r x A \v > V r £ ' I ... --—3” " Christmas decorations are up as usual at the main entrance to the White House In Washington, altjnmgh the holiday sea-on this year won’t be a* cherry as in the past The war has changed much and members of the president's family are scattered throughout the U. S The president's three son/ are all serving In the armed fortes and are on duty. ,

——————— Reier Pleads Guilty To Vehicle Taking Ohio City Mon Bound jDver to Von Wert Jury Daniel Reier, 27. of Ohio City. 0.. I member of a car theft ring, which wan broken up here by Siinr'ff Ed Miller and Deputy l-eo Olilig ear-| Iler In the week, entered a plea of guilty when arraigned in justice of peace court at Van Wert. Ohio. | to hIH part in the ring'* nc»|vllle*. Refer wax bound orer to the Van , Wert county grand Jury and hix !«,«.(! Mt a! He is being held In Jail there until able to furnish bond. The grand Jury meets January 5. Harold Butler, ot Rockford. Ohio, another member of the ring, is being held in Jail here awaiting sentence for hi* participation In th-* series of theft*. He entered a guilty plea when arraigned before Judge ‘ J. Fred Fruchta. Two other youth*. 17 and it, bare been bound orer to Juvenile court by Judge' Fruchte. The lads are charged with car theft* In Fort Wayne. Decatur and Olenmo.i. O . In addition to various theft* of auto accessories and article* In parked vehicle*. * Robert Lynch, of Celina. Ohio has also been arrested In that city and Implicated iu the aerie* of theftx, Sheriff Millar stated today Lynch participated In a number ot robberles committed by the ring, the ■herlff slated. ■■■o 11 — State Tire Priority Head Is Appointed County Tire Boards Also To Be Named Indianapolis. Dec. 24 — (UP) Clarence Jackson, director of the Indiana civil defense council, today announced the appointment of J. D. Strickland. Indianapolis, a* director of the Indiana tire priori-| tie* division. Jackson said Strickland will supervise the rationing of tires in the slate under a program which will be put into effect soon after the first of ueit yerf. Jackson also announced that county tire boards will be set up throughout Indiana and that member* of the board will be rworn in as federal officer* for the dur(COKTINIIKTt OS t’AOB BIX)

Public Is Invited To Visit Hospitol The public i* invited to tin open bouse observance at the Adams county memorial hospital. beginning Christmas afternoon ind continuing over to New Year'* <tay. Visiting hours are from 2 to I In the afternoon and from 7 to * in the evening. Visitors will also have the opportunity to •«* the new laboratory and the tied room, which were furnished by -the I’xi lola XI sorority. himhub Bockman Is Named Justice Os Peace Walter J. Bockman Appointed By Board Walter J Bockman. local insurance and real estate agent, *0 named Tuesday by the Adams county commissioner* ax Justice pf peace of Washington township The appointment was made by the commissioner* to fill the vacancy created recently by the resignation of A, C. Butcher, local attorney. The resignation of Mr. Butcher, filed several day* ago with the commissioner*, wax accepted yesterday by the laiard during its regular meeting at the court house. Mr. Bockman'* appointment followed. The new Justice of peace will lake office January I. 1P42. when Mr. Butcher's resignation becomes effective. W. O. Little I* also Washington township Justice of peace. Under state law. the township Is permitted two of these Jurists. ’"I THE CALL TO THE COLOPS IS A CALL FOR DOLLARS' Dig deep. Strike hard. Our boy* need the planes, ship*, and guns which your money will help to buy. Go to your bank, post office, or savings and loan association. Tell them you want to buy Defense Bonds regularly, starting now.

Navy Says Loss “Probable” Japanese Launch Full Scale Attack On Island Os Luzon

Hiller Sends German Hordes Through France Rumors Spreading Os Petain Resignation, Darlan To Succeed Imndon. Dec 24—(UP» Responsible Informants conflrmwl today that German troop* were moving through France toward Spain as reports swept Europe that marshal Henri Philippe Petain, chief of state of Vichy France, had decldi-d to quit in favor of hl* Vice premier, admiral Jean Francois Darlan These informant* said they had reliable information that strong German air force reinforcements has been sent to Daly. Greece and 4’rete and that German submarines had appeared in the central MedlI lerranean. Belief that Adolf Hitler Intended to strike soon in the Mediterranean hardened toward conviction here, and military expert* suggested that the Germans might he planning a terrific attack on Malta. Britain's mld-Medlterranean naval base-fortress, with the aid of the 1 parachute troop* who conquered Crete. The report that Petain already had resigned was promptly denied by the French legation at Berne. Switierland. and Vichy announced ' i that Petain would make a Christmas radio gpnech at k p m Vichy time li p. m. CHTi. Radio Vichy 1 ' aaid that Petain had attended a 1 movie of the life of French war I prisoners in Germany, last night. Nevertheless there were strong I Indication* that a critical period In Vichy-German relation* had arrived and that Petain had reached his limit of ''collaliorailon'’ with the Germans. It deVrlopid Imlay that Otto Abets, German env y to Paris was lit Berlin. Rome announced that : Italy was to send Gino Pull to I Paris as Italian special envoy. Circumstantial report* had come from the continent that Petain had * stoutly refused to extend Vichy 1 cooperation with Germany /Responsible sources here, discussing the Indications that Hitler Intended to start a desperate I “"77-nNVINFfRn nN FAOR ntx> o G. E. Employes OH Early This Evening The General Electric company * plant operated on two *>x-hour shift* today, so that em'iloyes could enjoy Christmas eve at home or with friends. The second shift went to work at 1 o'clock and will lie on 4ne job until 7 o'clock. The regular shift will Im resumed Friday. E W. I<ankenau. work* manager, announced. Allied Heads Pause For Christmas Eve • Roosevelt-Churchill To Speak To World Washington. Dec. 24 — <VP> — President Roosevelt and prime minister Winston Churchill will take time out from the war long enough today to wish peace on earth, good will to men. Conference* leading to unity of action against Hitlerism, communiques of new assault* In the far east, rumor* of a new Hitler thrust, will halt for a while today while the leader* of the two mightle»t nation* lead the community Christmas tree wrvlce* on the White Hous* ground*. The public will be permitted to enter the lower portion of the 4CONTINUBD ON PAOB

Post Oilice Sets All Time Record Heavy Mail Volume Is Handled At Office An all-time record was set at the Decatur i*«<t office this week In ' handling of Christmas mail, the peak being reai hed Monday when 30.044 piece* were posted and dispatched from the office, la-o Kirsch, poatmaster. announced For a slx-day period from De i cemlier 15 to 22, Inclusive. *s.<H*> one-and one half cent postage stamps were sold at the baal of 4<e. This also Is considered a record In postage sales. Postmaster Kirsch said the rueh had let up this morning and that all mail In the office today would bi- delivered. There will not be any rural or city d- livery of mall I on Christmas day. The postmaster complimented the po*tal employes and mail carrier*, stating that one crew worked un--1 til 11’50 p m Monday night to sort and dispatch the thousands of 1 piece* received during the day. A relay system to speed the city delivery of mall was established . with four young men erHrtg »» assistant carriers ami delivering . mall to the regular carriers on the i route The auxiliary helper* were [ Joe Rash. Rohm laiur- nt. John Terveer and Dan Holthoiisc. ! Postmaster Kirsch stated that 1 the public responded splendidly to ' the apjieal to sort the hsal and outgoing mail and that the attention given by individuals greatly aided the piwtal force. He expressI sd his appreciation to the public for Its hearty cooperation Special delivery mall will lie de- ’ llvered in the city on Christmas day. the postmaster said II Cordell Hull Pleads 'Superhuman Elforf Christmas Message Given To Nation Washington. Dec 24 tl'l't Hocrotary of slate Cordell Hull. In a Christmas message to the United Mtates, said today that every person should Ih> Inspired to 'superhuman effort" to protect priceless spiritual forces that are a' slake in the world's struggle Hull, asked If he had a Chilstma* message for tile people of America, restuind'-d: "Today, while we fight for our liberty, our free institutions, and our very lives, we also fljht to maintain the principality of peace, which was established on tkU earth 1H centuries ago “The preservation of these spiritual forces alone should ittsplr* every person to superhuman effort against the present world movement of Istrbarism and savagery."

I ■ —i' n» lr ' 11 " “* BULLETINS Washington. Dec. 24 — (UP) — Anglo-American military and technical conferees today prepared a "strategic plan" of Joint war action for the approval of President Roosevelt and British prime minister Winston Cchurchlll. British experts brought here by Churchill are meeting with American officials in various conferences. Their findings and resommendatinn* will be submitted eventually to the prime minister and Mr. Roosevelt and the full conference of U. S. British war leaders. Moscow. Dec. 24—(UP)—The Red army continues an uninterrupted advance on the Leningrad, Moscow and southwestern fronts today, overcoming fierce rear guard resistance and breaking up an orderly German retreat dispatches reported today. Washington. Dec. 24— (UP)-The Justice department announced today that it had taken 2.P44 'dangerous" enemy aliens into custody since outbreak of the war. The number includes 1 473 Japanese, 228 Italians, and 1.243 German nationals. Los Dec. 24—(UP)—The 2.410 ton Canadian freighter Rosebank arrived safely at a California port today after being reported overdue and "possibly lost** by enemy action.

Price Two Cents

Gen. McArthur Takes Personal Command Os United States Fight Against Jap Invaders Washington. Dei-. 24 tl’Pt I The navy annnunceil t inlay that radio communication with Wake Island has teen cut and that the capture of the island by the Japanese I* ■■probable.’’ Concerning Wake Island, navy coinninnlqiie No. 17 said: "Central Pacific Radio communication with Wake has been severed and the capture of the Island Is probable. Two enemy destroyer* were lost In the final landing operation. “Palmyra island was -helled hy an enemy submarine. Ikimage was negligible Johnston Island also was shelled with no damage to material.” Wake Island appeared to have been taken by the Japanese on the ISth day of the Pat-iflc war. The Japanese had made 14 air and naval attack* on the Island, succeeding in putting a landing party ashore In the last assault. Apparently the marines Went down fighting They sank two enemy destroyers during the final landing attempts of the Japanese Earlier they had sunk a Japanese light cruiser and a destroyer. Land Many Troop* By United Pre** General Douglas MacArthur took the field today in personal command of American Philippine forces against a grand Japanese assault upon the Island of Luxon. The American commander-in-chlef moved forward with advance echelons of hl* general headquarter* to counter a full scale Jap attack aimed from half a dozen direction* against the capital of Manila. The Philippines battle held the center of attention Elsewhere on the world war fronts, the British garrison at Hong Kong stubbornly fought against heavy Japanese mid*, a lilg battle was developing In Malaya, and Europe throbbed with a Nazi Inspired rumor campaign over Adolf Hitler's winter moves. The Japanese launched two main attacks against Luzon, the most lin|H>rtant being an assault backed by an expeditionary force of tto.tmo Ito |mt iKHt melt along Llllgayen gulf. 135 miles north of Manila Nome 75 miles southeast of Manila, the Japanese put ashore a force estimated al possibly 46.04*0 men A third Japanese attempt 125 mlh-s south of Manila was said hy (CDNTINI’BD <IN I’AGK MIX) o Good Fellows Club Previous total 2324.12 Mrs Tumbleeon - Ed Jaberg . ... Marjorie Linn ..— ... Ino . J W Rhafer . Ino A Friend • 25 W. A. Klepper family 3.W A Friend ■. 1-95 Schafer Hardware (hi. ... 16. tn» Nelle Wlnne* . 1.00 Total |4IS