Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 December 1939 — Page 1
The Indianapolis Times
FORECAST: Fair tonight and tomorrow,
with mild temperatures,
FINAL HOME
VOLUMF 51—NUMBER 240
David Shirley, 3, 5.
CITY FIREMAN Santa Claus in
ed Boy’ s Outside
IS KILLED WHEN TRUCK UPSETS
3 Others Hurt as Pumper Hits Chuckhole on West Side Run.
A City fireman was Killed inatantly today when he was crushed beneath a fire truck which overtumed while going throug an unpaved, winding West Side Street to a small rag fire. Three other firemen were hurt. The victim of the accident on Beauty Ave. about 75 yards north of W. New York St, was Clifford Woods, 40, Negro. 1324 N. Missouri St The injured were Tonv Bovd, 32, of 545 N. Senate Ave. driver of the Co. 1 pumper from the station at 1445 W. Michigan St.; Pelnan Johnson. 2%. Lockeficld Gardens, and William Lincoln Murphy, 38, 2325 N. Arsenal Ave
Body Under Truck
to City Hospital ! they were
were taken
was believed
The: where 1 not hurt seriously Befcire taken to the hospital, the Injured men helped about 15 others release Fireman Woods bodv by righting the truck The pumper was en route south on Beauty Ave. to the fire ai Hanson Ave. and W. New York St. As it stmek a chuckhole on a curve, the driver lost control.
Crash Attracts Crowd
The four men were hurled from the truck, but Fireman Woods was the only one not thrown clear. The first to reach the scene after the accident were Lester Browning and his brother Joseph, grocers at 1145 W. New York St. who ran a half block to the scene when they heard the crash Residents along Beauty Ave. said they had made numerous complaints to the City Street Department about the holes in the street They said that no repairs have been made to it since last May when it was used by heavy traffic while the W. New York St. bridge was closed.
PERFECT WEATHER DUE FOR WEEK-END
. TEMPERATURES 10 40 11 1H
©
10 a. m. 11 a. m. 12 noon) 1pm
Perfect weather is scheduled throughout Indiana over the weekend, ihe Weather Bureau reported toda: The skies will be clear tonight gnd tomorrow, with mild temperatures. At no time during the next 24 hours is the mercury expected to approach the freezing point, Weather Bureau officials said
ORSON WELLES’ WIFE WILL SEEK DIVORCE
HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 16 (U. P.) — Orson Welles. the 24-year-old boy wonder whose men Irom Mars scared the nation witless, will be divorced. he announced today. His wife, the former Virginia Nicholson of Chicago. will go to Reno next week. She will charge “extreme cruelty.” according to Nevada cusiom and Mr. Welles will not protest. He said a financial settlement had been reached and their 18-months-old daughter, Christopher, will remain with her mother
de
SH OPP NG DAYS LEFT
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BUY CHRISTMAS SEALS
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son of Mr. an and Mrs. Walter L. Shirley,
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BAR
3864 N. New Jersey St.
Times Photo. . « tell Santa all.
But Ragg
There was a patch. The patch was attached to the seat of a pair of pants. The pants were only approximately attachea to a little boy. And the bov had his nose attached 10 the window. That was outside. Inside, where it was warm, there were tovs and a moving Santa Claus. There were voices singing and there were little dwarfs taking phone calis from good little bovs and girls for Christmas presents.
The Times today announces with regret that it is being forced to cease taking all further applications eof children in need—save those in extreme emergency. There are already more applications than can possibly be filled.
Good litlte girls and boys? That's what the sign said. What is good? What is “good” that brings electric trains and dolls and construction sets to some little boys and girls and brings patches to others? Anyway this bov pressed his nose against the window glass and watched the mechanical dolls go
‘GONE WITH THE-" TAKES ATLANTA
‘Cheers of Premiere’s Audience Louder Than Sherman Cannon.
{Another Story, Page Six)
By HENRY M'LEMORE United Press Staff Correspondent ATLANTA, Ga., Dec. 156—The South will not secede from Hollyvwood. A rebel vell, this time of satisfaction, reverberated over Atlanta after last night's world premiere of "Gone With the Wind.” Sherman's cannon never roared more loudly, nor did the hoofbeats of his cavalry cause more clatter, than did the Confederate audience of 2300 as it watched the three hour and 47 minute unreeling of the cotton, slave and carpetbag era that is gone forever, Applause that must have rolled clean out to Stone Mountain, to break against the chiseled profile of Robert E. Lee, broke out when the tidings from the first battle of Bull Run came in. Audible sobs and visible tears came with the scenes of Atlanta full of her wounded and dead when the Yankees laid siege to the town. From their fourth row seats the four Confederate veterans, all of whom fought in the actual battle of Atlanta. leaned forward in their seats, with hand-cupped ears, as if straining to recognize the face of a friend or the anguished cry of an injured comrade. The applause and sobs were interspersed with hisses. When Sherman’s legions started their march {Continued on Page Three)
HUNGARIAN ACTRESS PLUNGES TO DEATH
Falls 10 Stories From German Baron's N. Y. Suite.
NEW YORK. Dec. Lola Laszlo, 21. pretty Hungarian movie actress and dancer, plunged to her death early today from the 10th floor apartment of Baron Frederick von Oppenheim. wealthy German banker. Miss Laszlo, daughter of Aladar Laszlo, composer and Hollywood screen writer, jumped, police said, from a window of Von Oppenheim’s apartment in the Gladstone Hotel and landed on the hotel marquee. Hundred of merrymakers and taxi drivers in the 52d Street night club district heard her screams as she fell and saw her strike the marquee. She was wearing a black evening gown. Police said thev motive for her act. aa : Lasso came here last March. of a movie career. She had Retr | ot recently in a nightclub here.
16 (U. P). —
could learm no
Window
through their paces and heard the music and had a full measure of Christmas. The {fullest he would get, and practically unlimited, because for nine more days this gigantic glass-inclosed toy would be in operation. For nine more days. until Christmas actually came, he could paste his nose against the glass and watch his dolls to his heart's content—unless he got too cold. That was a problem. . His shoes were out. He had no underwear. His jacket was threadbare. His cap left his ears to the wind. Once in a while he would run into the lobby of a building nearby and get warm. Then back for another show. That's what Christmas means to him. It could mean that through The Indianapolis Times Clothe-A-Child campaign, now in progress, this lad would be clothed. No toys, of course, but good sound trousers and a warm Jacket and water-proof shoes. You could be this boy's Santa Claus, or a Santa Claus to one of hundreds like him. You can participate in this citywide plan to help children who need (Continued on Pare Three)
NEW YEAR PLEA DENIED BY ABC
Liquor, Beer Dealers Face Loss of Permit if They Defy Order, State Says.
By NOBLE REED
Indiana liquor and beer dealers who defy the New Year's Day closIng order on the advice of county prosecutors or local police will lose their licenses. the Alcoholic Beverage Commission warned today. The warning was issued following receipt of a letter from James O. Ballou, Allen County Prosecutor, who explained that he had advised police that there will be no prosecutions for selling liquor on New Year's Day in Fi. Wayne. He explained that he announced his policy prior to the Beverage Commission ruling last Wednesday that liquor. sales on New Year's Day will be illegal. “I independently arrived at the conclusion that alcoholic beverages might legally be dispensed from 6 a. m. Jan. 1 until the regular closing hour,” Mr. Ballou stated. The Commission issued its closing order for New Years Day upon the advice of Attorney General Omer S. Jackson, whose formal opinion held that the “ambiguous language” in the 1939 liquor law amendments meant prohibition of sales on Jan. 1.
The opinion stated. however, that the wording of the clause on closing days was “very confusing.” The Allen County Prosecutor said his interpretation of the law had been arrived a‘ after “mature deliberation with no eye to partisan politics.” “I would appreciate it ii vour Board would permit my ruling to (Continued on Page Three)
DERBYSHIRE DECIDES AGAINST WPA APPEAL
Gurnev G. Derbyshire will not appeal his conviction of defrauding the Government through use of WPA labor to build two roads on his subdivision north of Southport. his attorney, Flovd J. Mattice, said today, Derbyshire instead will report to U. S. Marshal Julius Wichser early Monday morning 'so*an early start can be made for the Federal Prison. He was sentenced té4 a vear and a day and fined $1000. Mr. Mattice said Carl FP. Kortepeter, also convicted, would file no-
tice of appeal Monday when Judge Robert O. Baltzell returns from the
annual Seventh Circuit judges con- | ference at Chicago. Kortepeter
was sentenced to 18 months and!
fined $1000.
CONTINUE GAMING CASE Joe Mitchell, proprietor of Mitchellyn, 408 Indiana Ave. was granted a continuance until Monday wien
arraigned in Municipal Court to-' day on a charge of keeping a gami
‘ing house,
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1939
Annual Downtown Christmas Rush Is On
ONE OF THE BIGGEST shopping crowds in Indianapolis’ history pushed and shoved through downtown stores today. Spring-like weather prevailed as the Christmas buying season moved into its peak period. There was no chance of walking down Washington St. Persons simply drifted along with the crowds. Stores were packed. Honking autos flowed by on the streets in a never-ending stream. There was not a single parking place tc be seen on the streets. Auto parking lots were jammed. In front of the store windows displaying animated toys the pedestrian traffic was “bottlenecked,” standing solid from curb to store, Heavy details of police were busy at all intersections, guarding against possible accidents. Inside the stores, it was a bat-
CITY WILL TRY
UNIT PURCHASE PLAN JAN. 15
Bids on Gasoline to Supply Four Departments Will Be Asked.
A joint purchasing plan for City departments, proposed as a means of obiaining lower prices on commodities, will be given a trial next month, City officials decided today. Leo F. Welch, Works Board vice president and member of the committee studying the plan, said gasoline bids for the Health, Safety, Park and Works Board will be advertised simultaneously about Jan. 13. Bidders will be asked to submit one set of bids on the individual requirements of each department, and another bid covering the joint requirements of all four departments. Studied By Committee The committee then will accept the lowest bids. If the plan is Successful in the Jurca of gasoline, large quan-
tities of which are used by the City, it then will be tried in coal purchases. Mr. Welch said. The joint purchasing plan was suggested recently by Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan, who appointed the following committee to study it: Mr. Welch and Louis C. Brandt, Works Board; Dr. George W. Kohlstaedt, of the Health department; Albert F. Walsman, City Hospital business director; Leroy J. Keach, Safety Board president: Albert H. Gisler, Park Board member; and A. C. Sallee, Parks superintendent. Purchasing Agent Albert H. Losche co-operated with the committee.
Survey Reveals Variance
The bulk buying plan, if successful, will replace the present haphazard system of buying, which results in some departments paying
less for identical commodities than
other departments. A recent survey bv The Indianapolis Times revealed, for example, that the Park Board, buying gasoline on the open market, has been paying substantially higher prices for gasoline in the last two years
than the Works Board, which buys! under contract based on low | ding.
bid-
Comparison of prices paid by the various departments for coal is difficult because each buys a slightly
different type. However, it may be|
possible for two or more of the de-
partments to switch to the same type of coal, permitting bulk buying ! of this commodity.
The Park Board received bids on gasoline in October, but. although! the bids were lower than the price the Board has been paying, they were rejected in order to join in the unified buying plan.
| Mr.
| Agnes M. Wyant,
| Sheriffs held Mrs.
.
Tired clerks look foot-
tle to reach counters. were beginning to weary. The Christmas buying season was on in the largest possible way. An expectant mother and a smiling “to-be” father (fairly “bowled nver” a clerk at one store by purchasing an electric train. “We are so sure that it is going to be a boy,” said the expectant father. “And we decided to buy nim a Christmas present, even though he isn’t here yet.”
Clerks and customers alike in a 10-cent store were amazed at a new type of “aisle-running” developed by a swarthy, heavy set woman. She edged up to a counier at the front of the store. From there she went down three counters. shoving all customers aside and maintaining her position next to the articles on display. She
Santa Is Held In Baby Killing
PATERSON, N. J. Dec. 16 (U. P.).—Samuel Dunning, 34-year-old silk mill worker who has been collecting “kiddie funds” as Santa Claus in his spare time, was arraigned with his bride, Elsie, | today on a charge of murder as a result of a fatal beating administered to her 5-month-old baby boy, Robert. The couple pleaded not guilty and were held for the Grand Jury. | The baby died in Paterson General Hospital last night from a skull fracture. a fractured jaw. broken right arm and a severe neck injury. Police charge that neither of the parents wanted the child because it interfered with their going out together.
cA
SMITH DENIES BIAS FOR CG. 1. 0
NLRB Member Terms House Committee Counsel's Charge ‘Nonsense.’
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (U. P). —Edwin S. Smith, National Labor Relations Board member, today termed ‘nonsense’ a suggestion by Edmund M. Tolan, Counsel of the House committee investigating the Board. that he had been “personally prejudiced and biased” in favor of the C. I. O. Mr. Toland read into the record a memorandum from NLRB Research Director David J. Saposs to Smith, advising him not to take sides in the C. I. O.-A. F. of L. controversy. After Mr. Smith had been excused, James P. Miller, former | Regional Director at Cleveland, | told the Committee that a special
board investigator once said he (Continued on Page Three)
WOUNDS HUSBAND. THEN SURRENDERS
42. of 3124 Oliver treated at Long
James Wyant, Ave. today was
{ Hospital for a bullet wound in his
chest inflicted by his wife, Mrs. 35, as the climax to a domestic quarrel, police said. Mr. Wyant’s condition was reported as not serious. Mrs. Wyant had a neighbor woman call the Sheriil's office to report
| the shooting.
She signed a confession to the shooting and gave the cupties the 22-caliber gun she said she had used, the Sheriff's office reported. The couple's son. Harold, had taken his father away from the house after the shooting. she said, and deputies could not locate the victim was taken to the hospital. Deputy Wyant at the Marion County Jail. |
{monthly gain.
Entered as Second-Class at Postoifice, Indianapo
dian’t a word or buy an
article.
» y » PATTY ANN, 5, and Ronald McAtee, 6. both of 1449 W. 34th St., boht are fairly sure that Santa will bring them what they want after a trip to toy department. Patty Ann and Ronald showed their mother, Mrs. Alta McAtee, the little stove, sweeper, and washing machine and erector set that they want respectively. “That's all they want, and am I glad?” said the mother. ” ” on The standard remark on streets: “I haven't mailed Christmas presents yet, you?”
say
the my have
” n » Pipes, smoking containers and cigarette lighters for Christmas were high on the wives’ buying lists, according to clerks in gift shops.
And, as usual. men are picking
FACTORY JOBS
PACE ADVANCE IN CITY TRADE
Gas. Power, Phone Figures Up in November; Retail Business Off.
Business in Indianapolis gained | in November over the same month last vear, according to figures released today by the Indianapolis
Chamber of Commerce.
Factory employment set the pace | as it showed the fourth successive All branches of business except retail trade were above October of this year. Retail trade was slightly - under the October gure. Electric and gas consumption reached new highs. Electric power | was 18 per cent above October and | 153 per cent greater than Novem- | ber, 1938. Gas consumption was up 3.5 per cent over October and 2 per cent over last November. The number of telephones in use was 92.286. a new all-time high and more than 7 per cent over a year
ago. | Job Rolls Higher |
Manufacturing concerns were emploving 1.4 per cent more workers than October although the payrolls were slightly smaller. Plants pro-! ducing durable goods were up 2.9 per cent in employment and 1.6 per cent in payrolls. Factory employment increased 18.7 per cent with payrolls shooting up, 25.2 per cent over a year ago. Dur- |
Ma ter Ind,
lis.
PRICE THREE CENTS
out all sorts of perfumes for. their ladies—most of which will be exchanged for some other type after Christmas, the clerks say. ” ® » Along with other gifts, people this year are buying more books, Miss June Wier, 3835 Kenwood Ave. clerk in one of the downtown stores. said. »n = »
OFFICER FORREST ALLISON, at the corner of Washington and Meridian Sts., cast a gloomy note. “This crowd isn't big yet,” he said. “It's nothing like it was last Saturday. Just wait till it gets rolling late in the day.” » » »
A small, leashed terrier was an unwilling shopper in one of the downtown stores. Clad in a doggy sweater, the terrier shifted uneasily from one dainty foot to
Claim Indians Speared Fish
PERU, Ind.. Dec. 16 (U, P).— Four Miami Indians, one in full tribal regalia, were held today in the Miami County jail on a charge of spearing fish. All contended | that early treaties gave them the | right to hunt and fish without regard for law. Held were William Godfrey, 43, a claimant of the title of chief, who donned full regalia on permission of authorities, and Frank Marks, 34; Elmer Bruell, 38, and Elzie Bruell, 43. All are from near Peru. They were arrested by game wardens at the junction of the Wabash and Mississinewa Rivers. Wardens confiscated 47 fish, two boats and a trailer. They contended the Indians were citizens and subject to State game and fish laws.
WARFURY RISES, NINE SHIPS SUNK
| prisoners,
another, pressing close to a show window glass to get away from the feet of pedestrians. A four-year-old tugging at his mother’s hand, shrieked: “Lookit the dog with pants on.” » » »
Overheard in a toy shop: “Mamma, let's start at the little things and go up.” on ”
The holiday liquor business is beginning to boom. Many stores are featuring “Christmas baskets” which includes several bottles of the different types of beverages. » » »
Panhandlers report that the Christmas spirit is still pretty poor so far as they are concerned. They say it's hard to finance a cup of coffee. “They're all too busy worrying about themselves to worry about us poor fellows,” said one elderly man.
WAR PUZZLES SHIVERING RED HELD BY FINNS
Reveals Scant Rations and Says Soldiers Suffer From Frozen Feet.
By WEBB MILLER United Press Staff Correspondent WITH THE FINNISH ARMY, KARELIAN ISTHMUS, Dec. 16.—I talked today with seven Russian sole survivors of a party of 60 which attempted to cross the | Taipele River in a boat.
The boat was smashed by Finnish artillery. The survivors, thrown
als ie icy water, managed to swim
Their feet were frozen. TL an interpreter they told me that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of their comrades suffered from frozen feet. All seven had
| several days’ growth of beard.
» British Suspect Nazi Fliers | Have Sown Additional Parachute Mines, |
4 | BULLETIN MONTEVIDEO, Dec. 16 (U. P.). —High German and Italian diplomatic and naval officials conferred here today on what was persistently rumored as a plan for the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee to attempt to dash to sea while German reinforcements engaged British forces laying in wait for her.
LONDON, Dec. 16 (U. P.).—The
| the weather, [we freeze.”
twhat the war is about. ‘is a member of
One named Dimitri, whose face was covered with frozen blood, grinned when I asked him if his clothing was warm enough. (I am not permitted to use his last name.) “Well,” he saidh “that depends on When it is freezing,
Puzzled Over War
He answered questions readily “1 was working in a factory at Leningrad before I was called. to the army.” he said. “I do not know None of us the Communist Party. “1 was month salary.
roubles a told me I
getting 145 They
able goods industries were up 34.1 Allied-German war at sea and in|would get half that much in the per cent in employment and 42.2|the air gained in fury today with|Army, but I got only 10. For food per cent in payrolls as cecmpaved to fighting planes spreading destruc-| We get porridge of barley once
the same period. Non-manufacturing en:ployment, including wholesale and retail trade, | was 2.9 per cent ahead of last November and payrolls were up 59
per cent,
There were 288 fewer building permits issued in November than in| October, vember, 1938. The total for last month was 1089—valued at just less than a million dollars. Bank clearings gained over October, 1939, and November, Inbound and outbound carloadings| were ahead of a year ago but under | October.
Building Permits Up, Too
With a 50 per cent decrease in| WPA employment and wages as
both |
the number of persons and cost of relief were well above November, 1938. The weekly payroll in Indianapolis for manufacturing concerns (was $844033 and ‘or non-manu-| facturing concerns $259,862. These
until he were down slightly from October,
1939, but manufacturing payrolls were up 25 per cent over Novem(Continued on Page Three)
There’ll Be No Christmas Tree Now
John Lee Wilhelm was
7—the age at which
Christmas anticipations run highest.
John Lee's 60 pounds were filled
with hope—hope
that would have been realized. Because hidden in places at his home where he was most unlikely to look were an electric train, a wagon and other toys.
Then tragedy stepped in.
John Lee, is dead. Six little school chums, including one whe barely missed John Lee's fate, will carry him to a Floral Park grave Monday. And all plans for the Christmas celebration at the home of his grief-stricken parents, Mr. and Mrs.
cancelled. The parents and John brother, Bobby, are in tears. It happened yesterday Place and W. Ohio St. left grade 2 at School 50.
| Joseph A. Wilhelm, 305 N. Tremont Ave. have been
Lee's 9-vear-old
afternoon at Belle Vieu a half hour after he had
John Lee and a playmate, 7-year-old Billy Wal-
ters, 202 N. Mount St. Side of Belle Vieu Place.
were playing on the West Several girl classmates
standing on the opposite side called to them.
John Lee made the dash across the street.
hesitated—to answer the call of
Billy several boys a
short distance from him. Billy heard screeching
brakes. in the street.
Stewart Wright, 320 E. North St,
He turned and looked. John Lee lay dead
driver of a
U. S. Department of Agriculture truck, said that just as he passed the intersection he heard a thud against the side of his truck. He looked into the rear view mirrow and saw the crushed body. The boy had fallen beneath a rear wheel. Mrs. Wilhelm, who had been getting the home
for Christmas, which she knew
ready bought things
had visited toylands and
John Lee and
Bobby would want. couldn't stop the tears long
enough to talk. Mr. Wilhelm's eves were red.
“We weren't going over te Chillicothe. O.. “My mother and (Continued I Page Three)
year for Christmas.” he said.
this
full of life.”
\ | Allied fleet or
= | of the European war.
John Lee Wilhelm . , . “he was a chunky fellow,
»
but 55 more than in No-|
tion and death from the North Sea | | to the South Atlantic. | Many lives were believed lost. During the last 48 hours while | British warships lay outside Mont- | evideo, Uruguay, waiting for the] shell-battered German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee, nine merchantships—as many as the Admiral Graf Spee had sunk in several months of rowing the seas —were sunk in British waters.
The ships sunk, all apparently |
[the British naval trawler James] Ludford, the Norwegian steamers]
| Ragna, H C. Flood and Foina, the | | Swedish steamer Ursus, the Belgian |
steamer Rosa, the British tankers | | Atheltemplar and Inverlane and the| | Greek freighter Germaine.
| Most of the sinkings occurred off | | the Northeast Coast of England, |
| causing speculation that German] 'mine-laying seaplanes may have | Sropped parachute mines similar to| those laid in the Thames Estuary (recently. If this is true, the mines | must hav- be.n laid before the | '|Royal Air Force began nightly, “security patrols” to the German) naval and seaplane base of Helgoland Bight in the North Sea. Seven of the sunk ships—all except the Rosa and James Ludford— were sunk in the last 24 hours with | the loss of numerous lives. Thirty survivors of the Norwegian | ships were landed and seven wer e taken to hospital. Six members of the Ragna's crew and four mem- | {bers of the H. C. Floods crew were/ | (Continued on Page Three) |
ALLIES READY FOR SPEE SUICIDE RUN
‘Deadline Nears tears tor Ship's | Stay in Montevideo.
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay. Dec. 16 (U. P.).—Nine hundred officers and | men aboard the German pocket! battleship Admiral Graf Spee faced today the alternatives of a suicide |dash to sea into the guns of an, the internment of their proud ship for the duration
(Indian- | to au-
| Sunday night, 5 p. m. |apolis Time) according
line. | It was reported that the British | | eruiser squadrons which had kept | | the death watch on the Grat Spee, | steaming back and forth just outside Uruguayan territorial waters, now had become an Allied fleet. In London it was admitted that Germany may be able to get sup- | port to the Gral Spee before it is (Continued on age Thre)
‘at bay
| Books | Broun : {Catton ....... ine. 5 reports—is the o-
daily and one kilogram and 800 grams (about 60 ounces) of bread | for each five men. “We were supposed to get 35 (grams (about 1.23 ounces) of meat {a day but never got it. We were (given four sacks of tobacco (he ex-
hibited a small pouch) to last three months.”
Bare Toes Stick Out
From a man who talked to prisoners captured at the western end of the Karelian Isthmus, 1 re-
1938 a5 a result of mine explosions, were | ceived additional confirmation of
the indifferent quality of Russian troops used on this sector. Several prisoners were from 35 to 40 years old. Their bare toes were sticking out of their torn shoes. A few had wrapped sacks | around their shoes {to protect their | feet from temperatures as low as 10 degree: above zero. From all along the front came similar stories which caused the Finnish general staff to ask: Where are the first-class Soviet troops? One theory was that Josef Stalin expected Finnish resistance to collapse quickly, hastened by internal dissension, and another was that the Russian choice troops had ‘been sent fo Poland to impress the | Germans. Finnish Army officers believed that in any event, Stalin would not let his best troops he chewed up in a war with Finland.
Finns Consolidating
Victories on Two Fronts
HELSINKI, Dec. 16 (U. P).— Finnish troops today consolidated their victories won on two fronts after four days of savage fighting. At Suomusalmi, 20 miles from the Russian border in‘ the central part of the country, the Finns had |eut off the Russian advance toward the Gulf of Bothnia, aimed at cutting Finland in two at its narrow “waist,” and had trapped 5000 Russians who had advanced beyond that point. | Three hundred miles farther South, a Russian torce still was held on the east side of the (Continued on Page Three)
TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES
«wees 8iJane Jordan... ++eesese 8 Johnson 8 | Movies 6 12 Mrs. Ferguson. 8 iMusic ........ 9 14 Obituaries ....11 B{Pyle ......... 'Y 7 . 8
Churches Clapper. ...... | Comics Crossword Curious world 14 Questions ..... Editorials STRadio ....... Fashions . 9 | Mrs. Roosevelt 7 Financial ..... 9 Scherrer . .... 7 Flynn . 0 Serial Story . 14 Forum 8/Society ... . 4.5 Grin, Bear It 14 Sports ... 10, 11 Inside Indpls.. 8 State Deaths..ll