Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 December 1940 — Page 5

Josef Stalin . . . He could tell Story No. 10,

NEW. YORK, Dec. 13 (U. P.)—A ‘news:story that has not been written — Soviet Russia’s role in world evenis—was included today for the first - time. in the annual United Press selection of the 10 big news stories of the year. , “The enigma of Russia,” is the 10th ~on the United Press list for 1940. The third term election of President Roosevelt is the No. 1 news ‘event of the year, the Battle of ‘Britain second, and the fall of France third. “This is the first time that something which has not been reported has ever received enough votes to ‘qualify among the first 10,” Earl J. Johnson, U. P. vice president and general news manager, said. “Our editors felt that if the facts ‘about Russian influence on world affairs were not shrouded by official secrecy and censorship, the Russian story might be among the most important of the year. “The big thing we do not know ‘about Russia is the extent of her “influence on Tokyo’s operations in the Far East and on Germany’s plansiin the Balkans.” Mr. Johnson said an unusual feature of the news of 1940 was that most of the big events were closely

That has not been true in other years when headlines were dominated by politics, multiple births, earthquakes, record airplane flights and other such unrelated news stories. The ‘United Press list for 1940 follows: . 1. President Roosevelt’s re-elec-tion for a third term and preliminary developments including the sensational rise of Wendell Willkie 2. Battle of Britain which is higtory’s first big-scale air war and may be one of the decisive battles of the world. ; 3. Fall of France with resulting British evacuation of Dunkirk and battle of Oran. 4, United States selective service and other measures of hemispheric defense including the destroyers-for-naval-bases deal. 5. German occupancy of Norway, Denmark, and the Low Countries. 6. Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis and Japanese thrust at Indo-China. 7. Italy's abortive attempt to invade Greece. 8. Germany's diplomatic offensive into the Balkans with abdication of Rumanian King Carol. 9. Italy's entrance into the war.

related in terms of cause or effect.

10. The enigma of Russia.

War Moves Today

By J. W. T. MASON United Press War Expert Increasing seriousness of the Italian defeat in

North Africa is

shown by today’s announcement in

Rome that the fighting has extended to Sollum, on

the Egyptian sid

e of the Libyan border.

London’s report of the capture of several thousand more Italians means that the British mech-

anized units are Mr. Mason

There are indications thav the

pressing forward toward Libya with

the apparent intention of driving the Italians back into their own territory.

immediate objective of the British

drive-is to continue to pound against the Italian right flank. This maneuver:is designed to prevent the Italians spreading southward, into the

desert, ‘keeping them as much as possible. near the Mediterranean Coast, within range of British naval

bo is: probable that these factors are largely responsible for the great ‘number of Italian prisoners. Caught ‘in-the coastal trap, the Italians can-not-reply to the fire from the British warships and seem unable to break through the British lines to the. southward. ‘Disaster Faces Duce

The eventual magnitude of the British success will depend on the extent to which the British Mediterranean fleet is able to continue the severance of communications between Libya and Italy’s home supply bases.

If Libya can be permanently cut |

Italy’s land communications, the power of Italian resistance must be weakened for the present. The British do not seem to have encountered interruption to their supply system

to any such extent.

Nevertheless, the Italians ought to show better defensive qualities as the fighting approaches the Libyan border because the hilly terrain affords them good protection. If they cannot halt the British advance under this favorable condition, it will be due to lack of generalship and neglect of advance preparation for just such conditions as now face

persecuted by his wife.

‘have been unable to slay her.

g HENTAL COLONY

James Prather’s Freedom ¢ i ‘2 Years Ago Obtained: by Wife He Killed.

James Prather, 27-year-old slayer of his wife, Rosalind, today was adjudged insane in Criminal Court

‘|and committed to the colony for

the criminally insane at the In-|. diana - State Prison.

And. from the testimony of Dr. Rogers Smith, psychiatrist who ex--amined Prather, it was learned that

| his. wife was responsible for his

being outside an institution for the mentally ill for the last two years. In 1938, Dr, Smith said, Mrs. Myrtle Prather, his mother, asked Dr. ‘Smith - to examine the youth, explaining that he acted in an odd manner, Recommended Hospital

At thats time,’ Dr. Smith said, he recommended that Prather be placed in an institution, Prather was suffering from dementia praecox and imagined he was being / In the face of this diagnosis, Dr. Smith said, Prather’s wife at that time signed a release and promised to. watch: over him. Had she not done so, Prather probably would

Representing Prather in Court was Aftorney ‘Earl C. Townsend. Mr, Townsend and Prather played as teammates on the Tech High School basketball team which went to the finals in the state tourna“|ments * Killed Wite Oct. 25 .

Mr, Townsend said that even at that time, Prather’s mother was worried about his unpredictable actions. Mrs. Rosalind Prather was shot and killed in a restaurant in the 1500 block N.. Illinois St. Oct. 25. Prather went there, according to his statement, to try to effect a reconciliation. After the shooting, he fled but later surrendered to police.

DISMISSES CHARGE IN TAVERN CASE

Municipal Court Judge John L. McNelis yesterday dismissed on motion of the prosecution, a charge of violating the Indiana Alcoholic Beverages Act against Emmanuel (Mike) Lorraine, part owner of the P. & M. Bar, at 843 E. Washington St. The court continued until Dec. 28 the cases of a waitress.and a bartender acused of selling beer to a 15-year-old girl. Another case is pending against Mr. Lorraine and the two employees in Criminal Court, where they are charged with assault and battery. This charge is based on an alleged altercation at the tavern. The State Alcoholic Beverage Commission yesterday completed a hearing ordered to show cause why [3 the tavern’s license:should not be revoked. The case was taken under advisement by the commission.

War Not to End Midnight Mass

VATICAN CITY, Dec. 13 (U. P.).—Pope. Pius today gave his permission to Catholics in belligerent countries to hold Christmas Eve midnight mass on the afternoon of Dec. 24, according to an announcement in the official Vatican organ, Osservatore Romano. Early-mass will ‘be held also in Poland where. there is no blackolit. Usually well-informed .Vatican quarters understood that a curfew had been imposed in Poland, ‘and that. the Pontiff had found it necessary to include Poland on the list of nations permitted to participate in the traditional Christmas Eve masses.

off. from Ifaly, following the present British victory, a disaster of the first magnitude will overiake Signor Mussolini’s ambitions in Africa. Isolation of Libya is the principal objective of British strategy, in asiation with the expulsion of the Italian . forces from Egypt. This purpose is responsible. for circulation of reports that I1 Duce eventually. may be compelled to risk a maJor. naval engagement in the Medi- , although his fleet is less powerful than the British. If .the Italians refuse an .engageat at-sea and if tife British can continue to keep Libya bottled up, the ;surrender of the Libyan Army would become within the realm of propabilities, provided the war continued far into next year. Reserve Supply Unknown : To. what extent Libya has reserves of supplies is not known, but prob“8bly not for more than six months if:the present scale of fighting continues, especially since the British capture ‘of ‘material is said to be

as principal port for receiving ‘home supplies is Benghazi, on the western coast of the Cyrenaica district of Libya. Benghazi is nearly 500 miles across the Mediterranean from Italy and only 300 miles from the new British naval base in Crete. The operations of the British fleet, therefore, require a shorter radius of-action than the Italian for keeping’ Benghazi under the hazard of attack. This fact Bias now now oecuRie gravely important. f lians and it is difficult to see there can be much optimism at Rome regarding the Italian chances for regd the offensive in North

Report Sand Storms Today, ‘Rome reports sand storms

at Bengha which seriously inter-|-

fere with: the movement of supplies _to:the Egyptian front. Benghazi is 800. miles west of the present area ‘of combat and even under the most advantageous conditions, it would be gificult to move material quickly. to the ‘battle front because the roads are inferior. wih Sand storms interrupting

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