Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 40, Number 36, Decatur, Adams County, 11 February 1942 — Page 1

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XL No 36

SINGAPORE FALL ADMITTEDLY NEAR ART RELIEVED OF NAVAL COMMAND

■Jmira/ Hart Is gRe/ieued As Head I Os United Forces

■ S Admiral Asks To ■e Relieved Because ■f Health; Lull In Miilippme Battle. |K Hart ..f the x .. i.lf-Ved ot . ■ ■ United Nations ... F-.r lai*t at |K , !• iN.ic.-t l>y a '.«l.iv sltib- th.- land K;. . I'btatv- .lapaii.-o-aoaiilt. .urp . • pl.K'ein-'llt of jKti I!., ■ "I poor »j- I only four A*.- formally had 'I y.-.ir old naval had •■!! placed In ■<. .-•! Allied nav Km ;I1 \ It It \ Pa. Ifh' Mp Th.- ■ ■ ■ -.on I- li.'M ■ r ih|i>-I. must have I sudden commander in • » .« Vice Admiral (' ■li ■ -h. royal N.-h.'t .. ‘o'.-n playing u- in th.- naval warHu. ■■ Pa. ific. battling to H Japan's pounding drive K naval force* S>r;.» —• Pacific Include " I .'<-d States. Britain, and* and Australia. H- ointnuniqu. ■< •imult»teoii«|y with the Mrc-n.-nt of Hart's rellnof ho >rnmand. said the A-—• pouting reluforceB* in-n the battle lines of Ila ■ peninsula for a probable ■ resumption of their big ■s.rc sjtned , ( t u knockout of Bj I — .-■•a',..- m the PhilipBe "savage fighting" of the Mbs days along the Bataan B' 11 * battlefront and the B**’** "fta-hlng aerial bomb- ■ Ol r ‘*'' Douglas MacArthur's B h ” ■•‘‘"‘tied appreciably B 1 '^ I '. >h* < mnmunlque said B" ’srnlng was attached that ■“brother" probably is only a ■*'"* ,lli " the movements of B" l> iiifor<em*nt* Indicate B i * TISI Kl> ON PAi-rK FIVKI p Bulletins Feb. 11.—(UN)— y 0 tonight quoted B*"* M r eportg that the SingBt ff railroad station, harbor BL M **ral districts in the ■**‘ rn part of the eity were H nlmaa ■Ch-ngking, F eb . u^_ (Uß) _ **"’•* forces driving northW towards the Burma Road ** occupied coastal Marta- " *"< are using rubber ' •" crossing the Salween rM, ° Rangoon said toR *«shington, Feb. 11.—(UP) *® Crop* nation* head”ef» M.d today that inetion received here refutt’ports from Australia that "oap.tal ship Mactan had *" '’tacked on route from * cp-nes to Sidney. Red _ fi «id director Irving Wil- • cabled from Sidney that ""rey ship was not bomte»r molested in any way" ring tt« voyage. tI^ IRATURt WADING inocrat thermometer 100 •- rn. 21 ~ 00 P- m.. . 21:00 Am. J. „ L(m . w «ATHtR h afL. eh * B ’* ,n -J."*" ""d tonight with *Tn° V,,y "•”» ”• north portion.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Dr. Thurman Rice Banquet Speaker Medical Authority At Farm Banquet Dr. Thurman 11. Rice, chairman ot the department or bacteriology and public health In the school of m.-dlcine at Indiana University, who will speak at the annual far mnr s banquet negt Tuesday eve ning at Monmouth, is one of the ■■■■■■■■■l luted iUthorltles Bauthors of the M I I ? «? ■ ■. i - A • ze«/c< if the meeting. Dr Rice Is editor of the "Monthly Rulletln" of the Indiana state board of health and is nationally known for bls cuhtrlbuftona to various medical magazines. He is a former director of the laboratory of state board of health and since 1936 has lieen assistant director of the Indiana division us public health and education He la a native of Indiana, graduate of Muncie Normal school. Valparaiso University, and Indiana University. From the latter he received the A. B. degree In 1914, the A. M. degree In 1917. and the M D. degree In 1971. He has taught in various capacities in high aehoola and colleges and has been connected with the I. U. faculty since 1914. Dr Rice has don.- research in vital statistics, therapeutics, bacteriophage and catapharesls. He received the Ravdln medal when he was graduat.-d from the university’s school of medicine. He is a member of several honorary scholastic and scientific organizations, including American medical association. American public health association. Phi Beta Kappa, Indiana state medical association, Sigma XI. Alpha Omega Alpha, and Nu Sigma Nu Dr. Rice has been a frequent contributor to Hygela. Journal of Outdoor Life, and other publications. He la the author of "The Tonquest of Disease,” "The Hoosier Health Officer." "The Human Body," "Racial Hygiene." "Applied Bacteriology." "Rez Kducatlon.” “Tezlbook of Bacteriology." and co-author of "Adventuren in Health Series for Common Schools" and "Public Safety." He has given lectures before many dubs over the state and Is a popular speaker. School Will Hold Lincoln Program One feature of the annual Lincoln Day celebration of the Decatur public schools to be held tomorrow morning at the Junior-sen-ior high school will lie mining — missing for the first time tn 21 years. For exactly M years French Qunn. noted Decatur historian and authority on the life of Lincoln has delivered the annual Lincoln's Day address. This yesr he declined the Invitstlon of Principal W. Guy Brown to speak to the students, stating tliat he would not attempt to reach the quarter century mark and ;hat he preterred to stop st 20. Principal Brown stated that a program will be presented over the school's public address system, originating from the principal's office at 1:1* a- m A group of senior students la arranging the presentation.

Fierce Battle Continues On Russia Front German Resistance Reported Stiffer In Some Sectors Ixmdon. Feh. 11.—(UP)—Fierce fighting r.wd today at Rzhev, northwest of Moscow, and Russian dispatches attested th. ferocity of the .Soviet drive extending from Karelia to the Crimea. A Russian communique said a Freeh German army corps had , lien thrown into th* lighting at Rzhev, where two separate battles were In progress. The Red army had encircled the city, except possibly In th* southwest, and was at- , tempting to occupy It. The GerI mana battled In another aedlon to break out of the Russian ring. A Biitieh military commentator t said there was every Indication that German resistance "on the whole" was stiffening , The Red army hign command . said new German reserves also had i been rushed to the Kalinin front. I where It said there was stubborn , fighting. It said the Russians an , nlhilated half a Nazi ski battalion i which aought to break through the Soviet lines. The re maining Ger- . mans fle-d to the surrounding > wooda. t It told of liberating more Inhab- > Ited places on the central Moecow i front. It said the Germans had ' been driven from 25 places In one ’ day's fighting, and abandoned large I quantities of material. In a 24- ' hour period the Russians advanced more than six miles. Today's early communique reported "offensive battle*" during 1 the night and said two more inhabited places were liberated. ' Sixty trucks, six guns, 14 machine guns. 27 motorcycles and 11.400 ' cartridges were captured. It said. At Kharkov, Russia's "Plttnburg" 1 In the Ukraine, a battle has been icOXTINL'W't ON FACIE FIVK• > 0 Boy Scout Banquet : Held Tuesday Night Annual Banquet Is Held Last Eveninq ' With the theme. "Strong for America." atirrlng their hearts, , approximately 175 men and boys of Decatur attended the annual ’ Boy Scout banquet, held Tuesday evening at the Decatur Junior senior high school. The meeting opened with the . -song "America" by the entire . group, following which the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, grouped I on the stage, led In the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ' The invocation was given by Rev. C. M. Prugh. following which W. F. Heery led community singing. Investiture ceremonies of Cuba Into the Boy Scouta was conducted by Rev. Prugh, with Lowell Smith and Dick Linn receiving the Cubs on behalf of th* Scouts. Don Tlesberg, area executive, presented certificates of the index of achievement to all three Scout troops and the Cub pack, stating his pleasure at making presenta tions to all troops for the third consecutive year. These certificates were accepted by the scoutmasters: Harold Daniels, troop M; ' Lowell Smith, ti-oop 62; Clarence Weber, troop 63; Rev. Prugh. I (CONTINUBD ON PAGE HIX) Earl Martin Aqain Trustee Candidate Earl Martin. Incumbent truetee announced today that he would again be a candidate for trustee on the Democratic ticket In the May primary Mr. Martin Is serving the last year of hia flrat term, having been elected in the fall of 193* after hla nomination In the primary that year.

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday. February 11, 1942

He First Detected Jap Planes *• v ■ Private Joseph L. Lockard at his station From this radio station on th* Island of Oahu Hawaii Private .1 > epli L Lockard, of Williamsport Pa, pictured, detected the presence ot Japanese planes almost an hour In-fore they attaibed Pearl Harbor th.it fateful Dei-ember Sunday Lockard had stayed at hl- listening post to practice with the listening device Some authorities say that If his warning had been heeded, pei haps the result might have been different Representative Forest A. Harness of Indiana has asked congress that appropriate recognition h* awarded Private lan kard

■ — 46 Youths To Take Army Examinations Take Physical Test Thursday Morninq Fortysix young men from Ad am* county will leave the city tomorrow morning for the Fort Wayne armory to take final physic- ■ al examinations* for selective s*-r- 1 vice. The bus’will leave at 7:90 a. m—approximately one half hour before the other contingent of young men leave* for aervlce The name* of the men, preceded by their order number*: V. Robert Wayne Johnson. V.j Benjamin Franklin Hower; M. Amhroae August .Meyer*, 3*l, Ernest Willis Striker; 9’B, Russell William Ramsey; 82049. Mart Roy Knlttle; 2075. Edward Joseph Metzgei; 2086, Richard Eugene Lewis. 2095. Roy .Melvin Sheets; 2115. Claire James Sprunger; 2126. Earl Leroy Henry Schults; 8-2127. Delbert Milton Hoffman: 2138. Anthony Edward Teeple; 213". Delbert Garfield Yosa: 2140. Cyril Robert Becker. 2170. Robert Paul Ryanson; 2192. William Andrew Briggs; 219*. Roy Jacob Cook; 21*9, Leonard Levear Hendrick*: 2307, George Charles Hunter; 8-2192. Arthur Eugene .Merriman; 22<»9. HXiMTiNiticn nv osnr. rtv«» ■ - o Two Leave Thursday For Army Service Two Commissioned Officers To Leave Two more men will leave Decatur tomorrow preparatory to entering army service as <'omm!»sioned officers, bringing the total ot professional and business men who have been called from tin city through reserve officer c'tiMlflcations to nine. D. Burdette Custer, local attar-1 ney, leaves tomorrow for Eds -wood Arsenal. Edgewood Md.. where he i will become a first lleuten<*nt In ! the U. 8. infantry. Dan Schafer, of the Schafer company, will, leave tomorrow for a Florida vacation before becoming a second lieutenant In the Infantry at Fort Benning. Os., on February 24. Mr. Custer is a gradual-* of the University of Michigan, where h« received his ROTC training, while Mr. Schafer was graduated from (CONTINUED ON PAOB Fl VS> * r

Here's Warning To The Superstitious, Friday The 13th The *uper*tltlou« today began 1 laying plan* to avoid th*- pitfall* i of misfortunes that await them Frii day Friday the Thirteenth. For the first time this year the 1 13th day of the month fall* on FriI day of this week, hut It will hapi pen twice more before th*- year I* I over. It happen* right away next ■ month, in March, and then again in November *<* the In-llov-rt will have a bad year trying to dodge the spell of Dame Misfortune--o Change Studied In Civilian Defense James Landis New Defense Director Washlngion.Felt.il tl'Pi Director James M. l-andl* *al*l today he was studying plan* for a com-, plete reorganisation of th- office of civilian defense. He indicated that one of th*- major question* under consideration is whether the division of physical fitness in which the dancer May rls Chaney, friend of Mrs. Franklin I). Roosevelt, I* employed .-nay be ! transferred to some other agency. Landis also revealed tha' Mr*. Roosevelt Is conducting a thorough- * going reorganisation of th-- "ivllian J participation division, wnicn she I heads. He added that whether she will remain with OCD after that I* cocpletad was a matter whi.b only Mrs. Roosevelt could de* Id - a* pre- ■ sent. | Questioned sharply at a press conference .he put aside queries as to whether ho would take any acHott on Mrs. Roossvelt’s 'enure in event she did not leave th* organisation. l-andi* succeeded o the directorship of OCD yesterday after resignation of Mayor LaGuardia. Landis strongly defended ‘he appointment of motion plctute actor Melvin Douglas, asserting 'hat he I (CONTINI'HI> OV PAGE THItKKt .— . - - O — Michigan Escapee Is Taken Into Custody Elsie McCall, 22. who escaped from the Lapeer state hon e and . training school at Mich., I last July, was taken Into custody last night by Sheriff Ed Miller. McCall wa» located on a farm near , Berne, where he had been working. . His companion In the escape. He*sol Scott, is reported still at large.

Loss Os British Stronghold Grave Blow To Allies; Japs Continue Gains In Far East

Dutch Fighting Hard Against Japan Advance Japanese Landinq Forces Drivinq On To Take East Indies Bctuvia. Feb. II <IP» Japam si- landing forces drove forward against atublxcrn Ihitdi defender* at Uiree points on th* southwest arm of t'eiebe* island today In an attempt to gain new footholds for an apparent ihnut toward Java. 5"" mib-s to the southwest. A Netherlands Indie* communique reported that Dutch fighter plane* Intercepted and broke- up an airplane fleet which attempted to raid the Noerabaja naval base In eastern Java The additional Japanese land Ing*, disclosed In the communique distributed by the Anviu News I agency, were effect.-cl at Macassar, capital of Celebes llalalignipa. at ' the entrance to the Gulf of Bone. •nd DJenicponto "As already was reported previously. the Japanese have I carrying out landings on (he south west arm of Celebes In the- vicinity of .Macassar,” the communique said. "Further reports state- that I landings were effected at Macassar ' amt Balangnlpa and DJemeponto." It added that one- enemy com pany advancing <>n M iros, north east of Macassar, was attacked and "losses were Inflicted on the Japanese" The Dutc h said four of their men Were wounded slightly by machine gun fire from .1 Japanese plane. The oittniimlwred Dutch defend er* on Celebes were- reported carrying out .1 -c-or< hed vat th policy "The previous destruction which has been ordered has lieell thoroughly executed.” the- communique said "Fighting continues." Further enemy reconnaissance was reported over northern Sumatra and over part of western Java. 1 Th* Japanese plane* attempting to raid Soerabaja were driven off without bombing the hase, the communique said It was admitted that an addition to the Japanese landing* near Macassar, on the southwest side of Celebes. Japanese troop movements had been reported at Bal angnipa. across the- southwest arm from Macassar, and in the neigh- ' ICONTIVCEti _ nN PAOr iFvbi* — — o- —.... Patriotic Firms To Fly Special Flag Flaq Desiqned For Bond Purchasers A blue flag, with a Minute Man in white, surrounded by white star*, will fly from the flagpole- of every firm In Decatur which ha* 90 percent or more employe* enrolled In the pay roll savings program and every flrm that gain* this record will be- given a certificate bearing a facsimile of Secretary Morgenthau's signature, countersigned by the state administrator. Wray E. Fleming, and the executive chairman, Eugene C. Pulliam. Earl Caston, executive chairman of the Adams county defense savings staff, said today. A certificate will be issued on the recommendation of the state administrator, upon receipt of evidence that 90 percent or more employes in a plant are participating TcONTINL'Kb ON FAGff FIVB)

City To Take Bids For Improvements Will Receive Bids Thursday Afternoon Bids tor th* three fce<|-• units I of metal clad switchgear a* a part of the Improvement and addiUon to th* municipal light and power plant | will lie received Thursday afterI noon at 2 o'clock at the •'> hall by th* board of public work and aaf-dy of the c ity The coat of the awitc hgeai ha* 1 been estimated at 113.500 bv Her*el Nash. u*«istant city ligh' -up*i-, Intendent. Tins is th* first of a .e* of: bids to be received on equipment 1 to In- installed at the plant in or-1 der to furnish light and p >wer to i th* new General Electr-- plant. I now under construction. Total cost of the entire tmp-ove- 1 m*nt and remodeling at the plant lias been estimated at neatly 000. Blds arc- to be received bv the board of public work* and safety on February 20 for cable to rhe new factory, revamping of both rs and stokers. It has been estimate I that the cable cost will amount to about IJOJH'O and that of the- Im.'.c r Improvement at about >46.000 Ofli*r I ’ revamping I* expected to • neo-- . sary in the plant 111 order 'hat the , additional output may he efficiently handled Th* blds will be receive-.I and 1 • the work of tabulation Parted Thursday Awarding of the .• eitract will follow In probably a f< w day Former Decatur Gir! Dies Suddenly Today Mrs. G. E. Stump Dies Early This Morninq Mrs G. E Stump. 2* f mt-rly Mis* Gladys Thompson of thi - city, died suddenly this morn tn- at I o'clock at her home in Latrolie. Pennsylvania, according -i word , received here-. Mrs Stump was born an I reared , in this city. She was the daughter of Rev Harry W Tbomp tn of , this city She was graduated from Dec atur > > high school m 1931 The decased had resided in Pennsyivala for the paid seven .eat*. 1 following her marriage to Mr. Stump, who is affiliated wi’h an insurance- company in that ci y Word of her death was received In a telegram by her fath r this morning. It I* not thought that she had been ill Survivor* include the husband, the father and step-moth-er. Rev. and Mrs. Thompson of Decatur. Funeral arrangements hive not been completed. February 19 Set For Rationinq Os Retreaded Tires 1 Washington. Feb. 11—(UPi-Na- • tion-wlde rationing of retreaded ' and recapped tire* will begin Feb--1 ruary 19, price adnilnistra'or Leon ' Henderson disclosed today ■ He added that It Is quite probable ' there will be no crude rubber avail- ' ahie for retreading except for the ' small number of vehicles already ' eligible to obtain new tpes and ' tubes. 1 A certain amount of camelback rubber compound used for retread1 Ing will be made availah’e each ' month to permit retreading or re- ' capping of truck tires. Henderson ' said. None will be available this ’ month for pas*enger car tries and perhaps none for March, h.t si id.

Buy Defense Savinas Bonds And Stamps

Price Two Cents

Vastly Outnumbered Troops Battlinq To Last Ditch; Heavy Losses Inflicted London. Feb 11 — (UPt — British defenders of Sinqaqure were reported still figntmg against overwhelming odd-, tonight as darkness—split by the flashes o* high explosives — closed down on the bes-iged city. <By United Press) Ringnpor* fought to the last i <llt< h today to postpone as long as ' humanly |*>s*ibly the gravest blow I suffered by th* United Nation* in I the Far Eastern war. Th* lose of th* oii<* great naval base after 123 year* of Itiitish rule j admittedly was imminent, but even I as hug* Japan**- fori es smashed ; across the island the BrRMi ImI periais laitui lu d a < ounter-atta> k j that threw th* eti*my back foi a i few more hours and Inflicted heavy casualties. A Japans* imperial headquarter:* communique Issued late Wednesday evening in Tokyo said merely that Japan'* fori'** had entered th* Singapore city area and that light Ing still was In progress British defense forces apparent ly without any air support — were subjei f to m*ri Iles* and continual bombardm* nt by high level and dive bomber plain-:, but they I fought for every foot of ground a* they fell bin k on th* city. On th* Inu-is of official dispati lies from Singapore, a lamdon mili- * tary commentator said that "ti <om* ways" th- situation was bet ter for th* defense forces thi* morning bill later dispatches made it clear ihat th* enemy’s vastly u pi rior number- had all but decided the oul< -nu- of tin- i onflii I and long |«>*t|ioni'd. that loss of th* island i inild not be Th* Japanese < lainied that ab mt 3n.oiiii British troops were trapped on th- Island and other Axis broad caste said that flier* still wen- 24 American citizen* in Nlnga|»ore although a number had eVai naled by *vn On other Far Easierll fronts th* Japanese offensive nmtlniieil slow bnt -teady gain* In Burma, th* British acknowledged that enemy forces h-.iil crtiseed the Salween rive rami it whs reported that they had tak- u th* town of Martaban, about Jt'.u m,l** by railroad from Kangooti otti< lal soiin <■* in laindon -aid however that they l.ad no confit imition that large enemy units bud been aid* to br*ak through th* Salween barrier. Severe lighting was reported In progress north of Martaban, a key defensive |K)int on the Gulf of Martaban. In the Dutch East Indies, the Netberlaivl* air forces Intercepted and broke up an enemy attack on th* big naval ba*, at Soerahaja tCONTINUKti ON PAGte Flv®> County Offices To Close On Thursday Lincoln's birthday will be observed in Decatur and < >-n nunity tomorrow with only a par* .1 mspension of liusiiit'** marking th» occasion. All public offices in th* count? court house will be ch> d -or lite day. a survey revealed tod y. Offices In th* city hull w II remain open, however. The First State hunk Will < lost, its door* for the day Th* past office and other busin* • li tai' ■■ will remain open The Decatur public llbr'iry will close for the day. It was anm-nnci d hy Mrs laimollle Fogle, librarian. Programs observing the day .rill be held in a majority of th • : hools in the city and county.