Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 December 1940 — Page 3

MONDAY DEC. 30, 1940

. THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

| PAGE 3

- German Troops Reported i in Albania as Greeks Smash Toward Lin

NAZI TROOP TRAIN WRECKED, 5 DEAD

Explosions Rock Railway Station in Mid-Berlin; British

Continue Their Siege 0 ‘New Sea

By JOE ALEX MORRIS United Press Foreign ‘News Editer

The arrival of one complete German division in Albania was reported today in unconfirmed dispatches from the Jugoslav frontier as the Greeks pounded toward Lin, 12 miles| us® The Greeks were reported only a half| ii mile outside the important base.

north of Pogradec.

On the coastal front pressure continued toward Valona, but it was admitted the Italians. there were fighting

harder.

The Jugoslav reports added that German motorized units had been dispatched to Elbasan, north of Lin and Libras, the next objectives of the Greeks. Previous reports .of ‘Nazi troops in Albania, however, have been repeatedly denied in Rome and Berlin. Meanwhile, Berlin had its own * peculiar accompaniment to President Roosevelt's address.

One was what was described as an “accidental” series of explosions - at the great Anhalter Station in the heart of Berlin. The explosions set a great fire that.burned for many re Residents of the area went to air raid shelters, believing that the station had been bombed. The Nazi account, however, attributed the fire to “accidental” explosion of gasoline tins.

Troop Train Wrecked

‘The other event also was described as “accidental.” It was a wreck at Brandenburg between a troop train and a freight train in which five soldiers were said to have been killed and seveil injured. The Anhalter Station and the Brandenburg rail line have been bombed repeatedly by the British Royal Air Force. Italian artillery fire from the besieged Libyan town of Bardia increased but failed. -to interrupt British efforts to close in on the base, general headquarters in Cairo said today,

Mystery in Troop Movemenis

In Italy the Royal Air Force smashed again at Naples with an attack in which seven persons were reported killed. The British planes . also dropped leaflets, presumably containing the text of Prime Minis~ ter Winston Churchill’s appeal to Italy to overthrow Mussolini and - make peace witli Britain, There was little light on the situation in Central Europe, much disturbed in recent days by -reported Jerman troop movements. A United Press correspondent visited Sibiu in . Rumanian 'Transylvania and reported that it was being transformed into an important German military base. $

Albanian Front

The Royal Air Force reported a heavy bombing attack upon Italian troops and warships at Valona. The R. A. F. communique reported that British planes dropped high explosives among Italian tran®ort and troop columns on a road near the Valona docks. The attack was pressed home despite an attempt by Italian fighter planes to drive the British bombers off their objectives. In a 15-minute dog fight one British plane was lost. In a second. attack the British bombed the road north of the docks and cut loose with machine gun fire on a cruiser and two cargo boats in the harbor.

f Bardia; Berlin Claims Victories.

Berlin Claims

The High Command in Berlin said that long-range batteries had shelled and apparently sunk a British warship attempting to approach the Continental Channel coast. The type of warship was not stated. East of Harwich, a freighter of about 10,000 tons in a convoy was

High Command reported, and a mine layer east of Southwold was hit. In an aerial attack on a large convoy 125 miles northwest of Londonderry, cne freighter was said to have received a heavy bomb hit after which, the High Command said, it was seen to list and sink. The High Command reported that a number of important military objectives on the east coast of England were bombed in addition to London and a low-level attack was carried out on an important factory at Crewe, where a direct hit was claimed. The communique said that all bombs dropped by British planes in German or occupied territory last night fell “exclusively in open country or into the sea.” Anti-aircraft batteries were said to have shot down two enemy planes,

Far East

In Shanghai, reliable sources expressed belief that Germany is about to intensify her war effort in the Pacific and is encouraging a Japanese thrust to the south, possibly involving French Indo-China and Thailand.

Informed quarters said they heard reports that Germany had sought to assure Japan that sufficient pressure will be brought upon Russia in the west to protect Japan from any Soviet “stab in the back” while engaged in the south Pacific offensive. One objective of the Japanese drive into Indo-China and Thailand, it was said, would be to flank the great British naval base at Singapore. The Germans, it was reported, also are telling Tokyo that the United States will not interfere with any such move. The Moscow press commented on Rumania’s internal difficulties and printed another in a possibly significant series of dispatches concerning Japan’s troubles. The latest dispatch quoted an unnamed Japanese spokesman as characterizing Japan’s effort to whip China as hopeless and the tripartite military alliance of Berlin-Rome-Tokyo as “unreliable.”

WILLIS DUE TO LEAVE ‘FOR CAPITAL TODAY

U. S. Senator-Elect Raymond E. Willis, of Angola, was to go to Washington today to open his offices. Assisting him in preparation for the opening of Congress next month will be James W. Carr, Indianapolis, who recently was appointed by Mr. Willis as chief of his Washing-

hit by a bomb and set afire., the]

Alonso Sordo Noreiga, calle

(Details, Page 9.)

Saved From Sinking Ship

These Indianapolis brothers were aboard the oil tanker Charles Pratt, which went down off the coast of west Africa on Dec. 21." They are Everett (left) and Paul Dye. They were rescued, although details of the sinking are not known. They are Tech High School graduates, and their parents now live in El Paso, Tex. as they left Indianapolis in 1936 in a 14-foot canoe for New Orleans.

This photo shows them

GAYDA BLASTS AT PRESIDENT

Calls Him Leader ‘of an Undeclared War’ on Axis and Japan.

(Continued from Page One)

Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop was giving the address his personal

study and that Hitler may deliver Germany’s answer himself.

A British spokesman in London said Mr. Roosevelt's speech was the most logical indictment of Naziism ever uttered. He said the raid on London “city” just before the President spoke was evidence of the futility of trying to negotiate peace with Naziism.

Confident of U. S.

Britain, he said, was confident the United States would make good its promise to arm the world democracies, and Americans can be assured that Britain will fight on to victory as she had promised, he said. A high Canadian official at Ottawa said Mr. Roosevelt's speech might “quite conceivably be the turning point in the world struggle against Hitlerism.” ~ Mexico’s Government press chief, the President’s speech “a serious analysis of the actual moment, not trying to push his people into war but proclaiming once more that the democratic flag should be in the hand of every citizen of every country in America.” Argentine spokesmen at Buenos Aires said the speech was a frank and forceful summation of democracy’s case against the dictators. Greece today hailed the speech with cheers that “America would never let us down and now that she’s

ton staff,

on our side we're bound to win.”

IN INDIANAPOLIS

Here Is the Traffic Record

County City Total 1939 .....coche. 40 54 94 1940 ........c0ni00- 5) 91 143 —Dec. 28-29— “Injured...... 27 | Accidents.. .. 1 | Arrests....... SATURDAY TRAFFIC COURT Cases Convic- Fines tried tions paid 5 $31 15

56 54

Violations Speeding Reckless driving.. Failure to stop at through street.. Disobeying traffic signals Drunken driving.. All others ...... .

Totals ..oocco... 14 MEETINGS TODAY

tech Club, Board of Trade, Doon, Scions Club, Claypool Hotel, noo Irvington Sepuplicar Club, 544675 E. Werth Side Reais Canary Cottage,

Dame Club, Board of Trade, noon. "Roire 1 Labor Union, Plumbers Hall,

Padustrial Union Council, Amalgamated

m. A a napons Symphony Qechesiza, con-

t Theate oe” Mita Club, Cotumbla © Club, noon.

- MEETINGS TOMORROW Rotar Sh, Slept Hotel, noon,

Y's A, Alpha i I eats ELH, of oN ade, Jn. Spink-Arms Hotel, noon. Gr Toh. Hotel Lincoln, noon. Universal Club, Columbia Club, noon.

1

2 1 0 0 5

13 $4

%

university of Michigan Club, Board of | wi

A a of Columbus, K. of C. ClubDa noon e Club, Canary Cottage,

theran Servi Be Paper Cre it Group, Wm. H. Block

Co Motor Truck Association, Antlers Hotel, no

~ MARRIAGE LICENSES (These lists are from official cecords tn the County Court House. The Times therefore, is not responsible for errors i» names and addresses.)

A. Wilkins: 20, of 2136 N. Tepe Maxi ne Robinson, 20, of 1122

26, of 1659 Carroll-

Watkins, 28. Oot 1319 N. New

“tani? ny CW Riggs. liam Tobin Jr., 19, Tipton, Ind.; Nori . Laufer, 19, of 1922 Koehne m stian J. Emhardt, 57. 1623 8. East; Julia Mutjer. 43, of 718 E. Morris 2 James O. Neese, 20, of 200% N. Miley: mone °K. Spaulding, 19, of 5006 W. Ray on

23, of 601 WoodEv sire ke 19, of 1430 8S.

33, of oly, Kentucky; ko 18 of 34s Holl

Leo McClure, of 1011 S. Capitol; Roxie A. Spears, 2h. of 2753 Kindall. Donald H. Davidson, 21, of 1907 Lambert; Mary L. Dooms, 18, of 1343 ‘Rich-

nd. a Edwin I. Burns, 23, of Ft. Custer, Mich.; Eva Burien, 23, of 217 Pine Wilbur E. Lee, 17, of 8 4 Sherman Dive; Katherine F. Hamilton, 19, of 4946 E. 18th. James O. Lamor, 19, of 3004 S. Meridian: Marie Riegel, 17, of Mars Hill. R. Tilley, 22 of 1439 N. Broadway; oe E. Turner. 21, of 2352 N. Pennsylvania. Thomas J. Dalton, 25, of 1041 S. Senate; Rosemary Dolan, 22, of 1361 Union Jerald E. Anderson, 21, of 03% E. Michigan, 16; Roberta M. ‘Younger, 20, of 1225 Euclid. John Hittle, 18, of 1207 Prospect; Thelma Hunter, 18, of 819 Fletcher. william A. Ralston, 20, of R. R. 5, Box 20; Wanda J. Clark, 16, of R. R. 5, Box

e E. Brown, 21, of 4212 Carrollton; Ba Loy J. Hyman, 18, "of 3041 N. Delaware.

BIRTHS

Twin Boys Alma Smock, at 841 Meikel, Girls

Claude, Martha Ragsdale, | 2 TL Julius, Anna Bryan, at Carl, Marjorie Weber, at Me ethoarst. Charles, Mae Munson, Methodist Robert, Chloris Fohl, at Methodist. Lamoynne, Ruth Jackson, at Methodist. Harry, Rosemary pu at Methodist. Robert, Lucia Matzke, at Methodist. odie Betty Jo Hendricks, at Meth18

Robert,

Johnnie a

To rs ‘'W. A., Frances Rr at St. Vin-

eel, Jae Calvert, at 449 Si Peter, Howard, Ethel Maxey, at 1444 appes William, Eunice Danz, at Sian had-

Boys Fred, Helen Arnold, at Methodist. i e Dooley, at Methodist. Joseph, VMartha Garvin, at Metp fiodists a

paul, Dorothy Ernst, at Colem Raymond, Dorothy Beatley, -at St. Fran-

“Witbur, Esther Walker, at City,

Reed, a cerVilliam, Madeil if at St. Vin-

’s. hi) Louise Skelton, at St. Vincent's. western.

Capito. tol. Aus, Dorothy Hubbard, at 2128 Belle-

fonta ‘Ruth Wolf, at 126 Herman. ole ‘Lola Knarzer, at 124 N. Bradley. Howard, Ida Wilson, at 630 Biake.

DEATHS

Elmer F. Wolfgang, 79, at City, arteriosclerosis: Holt, 56, at 1927 W. bth, chronic myqbarditt Allen coronary occlusion win McDonald, 54, at City, docarditis.

Dale Curtis Boyce, 1, at Riley, lobar paeumon

en-

"Wood. B ot fo, w. at.

t perature tonight, about 34.

"| Precipitation 24 hrs. endin

William, Laura Webster, at 1643 North- B

E. Croan. 66, at 3044 W. Michigan, | Omah

Sompen pom,

nia. Maxine Howard, 3, at Long, sardias de 1

Delpha Jane Darnaby, 56, at 5878 Central, chronic , Tygses rditis n_ Algi at 1i40 BE. Market, ALOT IISOIEFORES.

Renee Barnes, 57, at Methodist, cinoma. at ines Carson, 81, at Long, lobar pneuSarah E. Mosier, 57, at 142 N. Noble, chronic nephritis. hwin, 21 months, at Methodist, influenza.

Emory Layton, 60, at Central Indiana, general paralys Margaret Snel. ‘77. at 560 N. Hamilton, coronary thrombosis. Jennie: Eliott, 71, at Methodist, cerebral hemorrhage. John Sherman Macy, 80,. at 353 N. New Jersey, coronary thrombosis. Robert Fowler, 39, at City, diabeees mellitus.

OFFICIAL WEATHER

U. 8S. Weather Bureau

INDIANATOIIS FORECAST — Mostly cloudy tonight and tomorrow, followed by rain tomorrow night and Weginesday; slightly warmer tomorrow; lowest tem-

car-

7:07 | Sunset..... 4:29

TEMPERATURE =—Dec. 30, 19390— Meceoo.s 21 1p. Movoonn BAROMETER TODAY 6:30 a, m....29.96

Sunrise

6 a. 29

7 a, m.... Total precipitation since Deficiency since Jan. 1

MIDWEST WEATHER Indiana—=Olonay tonight and tomorrow, followed by rain Wednesday and in west and south portions tomorrow night; Sights ly warmer in south portion tomorrow. Illinois——Cloudy tomght Io jollowed by “rain tomorrow night an nesday, and in west and south portions tomorrow; slightly warmer in south portion tomorrow.

Lower Michigan—Cloudy with light local snows tonight and tomorrow, followed b light rain or snow Wednesday; not muc change in temperature. Ohio—Cloudy with snow flurries in extreme east portion tonight; tomorrow broken clouds; not much change in tempersue, sniheky=Cloudy tonight and tomorrow, font by rain in west portion tomorrow ternoon or night; colder in extreme east portion tonight.

WEATHER IN OTHER CITIES, 6:30 A. M Station Amarillo, Tex. Bismarck, N. 0

Robert, Estelle Woodard, at 224 8.|Shicago

Dodge Ci Jacksonvil e, Little Rock,

Portland,. Ore. San Antonio, Tex.. San _ Francisco.

Candidaies for Awards Named

' CANDIDATES for the Distin-* guished Service Award, highest honor of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, were being considered at a committee meeting today in the Canary Cottage. The recipient is to be announced at a meeting of the Jr. C. of C. next month. The award has been Dbresented annually by the Jr. C. of C. to the man under 36 it judges has rendered the most distinguished civic service to the city during the preceding year. Previous winners are: Dr. C. G. Culbertson, 1936; Henry Davis, 1937; James PF. Glore, 1939, and Harry DT odes, ton Ice, 1940. -

FOR RIGHT, SAY 5 HERE OF CHAT

‘We Ought to Be Over There Now,” Adds One; ‘On to Berlin,” Sailor Urges.

A Times. reporter went out today and asked the first five people he saw what they thought of President Roosevelt’s speech last night. One said the United States should go over and fight now, and another declared that “when we declare we're going in it, Germany will quit.” All agreed Mr. Roosevelt was right in his speech. Their opinions: BARNEY V. HARSIN, 2832 N. Illinois St., chauffeur at Fire House 13; “I think he put us on the right track, He made it clear that we're not going to war on any foreign land. He made it clear, too, that sending munitions across was our only way to stay out of the war,” « Believes Nazis Eye U. S. MISS BESSIE TURNER, 1833 W. Washington St., a waitress: “I think he was right. I think we ought to be over there now. No, he didn’t imply that we would go over. The country is in the greatest peril now since the Revolutionary War and I think the Nazis aim to come over here.” JOHN PETTIT, 1644 Arrow St., newspaper vendor at the northwest corner of Illinois and Washington Sts.: “The more we can help EngJand without sending men over there, the better off we'll be.” JACK RICHARDS, 2704 E. New York St., looking for a job, in-a defense industry if he can get it: “I thought it was all right. He made a pretty nice speech.” “We Ought to Go to Berlin”

THEODORE CUNNINGHAM, Findlay, O., radioman third class, Naval Reserves, Second Battalion, out of Toledo, en route to San Diego, Cal; for a year’s active service— “Personally, I think we'll get all ready and when we declare we're going in it, Germany will quif. We ought to send everything but men across now. When we do get ready to go, we oughtn’t to stop at the

w border. We ought to go right on to

Berlin.”

CONGRESS SPLIT ALONG LINES OF EARLIER DEBATE

| Ludlow Declines Comment;

Minton, VanNuys Join In - Praise.

By UNITED PRESS Congressional reaction to President Roosevelt's fireside chat was divided among lines previously in-

dicated by debate over aid to Great Britain, Those advocating that the United States sound out belligerents on

Roosevelt that they, too, were opposed to an “appeasement peace.” Sypporters of the Administration’s policy of all aid short of war to Great Britain praised the address. Hoosiers’ reaction:

REP. LOUIS LUDLOW (D. Ind), who has announced that he will reintroduce his war referendum in the next Congress, declined to comment.

SENATOR FREDERICK VANNUYS (D. Ind.), member of Foreign Relations Committee: “It was a very forceful presentation of the international situation and our domestic problems.”

SENATOR SHERMAN MINTON (D. Ind.), member of Military Affairs Committee: “It hit the nail right on the head and pleased me very much.”

, FEDERAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATOR PAUL V. M'NUTT: “The speach met a great national need at this time. It presented to the nation the very facts which our people need to know. The President presented a clear, definite statement of our American foreign policy.” REP. RAYMOND E. SPRINGER (R. Ind.): “There was nothing new in the speech. It was just what he has been doing and saying since the war started. I still favor the cash and curry plan and never will support sending aid to England in our ships, which would be torpedoed and lead us into the war.” REP. JOHN W. BOEHNE JR. (D. Ind.) : “A masterful speech. It showed the world that we are will-

and protect what we believe in and stand for whenever and wherever our interests are threatened by attack.” REP. FOREST A. HARNESS R. Ind), member of Military Affairs Committee: “I did not hear the speech, but from my reading of it I find nothing in it to criticize. I was particularly glad to see that the President said we are not going to enter this war. I have always favored sending all our aid to England short of that.”

SENATOR ARTHUR H. VANDENBERG (R., MICH.): “I agree with his denunciation of an appeasement peace. A demand for a statement of war objectives from the belligerents would make it undeniably clear whether no other peace is possible. If so, there is clear need for all possible aid to England under the policy to which we are already committeed. But the grave question of judgment always remains as to the extent to which we should use our defense facilities to build our own preparedness against a crisis in both oceans toward which we race. The grave questions remains whether we shall stop short of war. I agree in any event in the demand for maximum defense production with a realism which thus far has been sadly lacking.”

SENATOR MORRIS SHEPPARD (D. Tex.) of the Senate Military Affairs Committee: “I have just wired the President my hearty congratulations and have informed him that Congress and the nation are backing him to the limit.” : SENATOR ARTHUR CAPPER (R. Kas.): “The President's speech left me feeling that we are nearer— pretty close to war.” SENATOR D. WORTH CLARK (D. Ida.), Isolationist: “President Roosevelt's speech was a tricky talk calculated to lead. the American people to war.” ' SENATOR, JOHN BANKHEAD (D, Ala.): “If was a very frank and courageous statement of his attitude.”

COUNTY'S 2D DRAFT CALL MAY BE 410

Local draft boards will receive orders Thursday on the number of men they are to supply in the second state draft call for 3152 men, Maj. Lytle J. Freehafer, Selective Service staff officer, announced today. The second draft contingent will be inducted into the Army between Jan. 14 and Feb. 3 at Ft. Harrison, and at an induction station to be set up at Louisville, Ky. It is expected that the 15 Marion County local draft boards will be ordered to supply about 410 men. Only 53 men were sent from Ma-

rion County in the first call.

‘B readbasket’ Technique

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such as that on I

Here's a closeup of how a “Molotov” bomb works during a raid’ last night. :

ing to stand up and be counted

conquest: of the

must conquer by invasion. None of these ways to a dictated Axis peace can be regarded by the German High Command as a future probability if America becomes the “arsenal of democracy.” - Whatever plans for survival Herr Hitler is now considering, the time element is working -against him, from the standpoint of military reality.

Endurance Becomes Test

The necessity for a quick success wags recognized by the Nazi military leaders while they were planning the present war, and so they evolved the “blitzkrieg,” as their surest strategy. The lightning war, however, directed against Great Britain, has faded into rumbling thunder. Endurance has become the test, while the British mqve toward an eventual offensive. At the present time, Germany's confidence of victory seems based primarily on making the “total blockade” successful. The sinkings of British and Allied merchantmen has reached figures beyond the immediate possibilities of replacement. If that situation were to continue indefinitely, and if the Axis could hold out long enough, it is true that Britain would be defeated and totalitarian dictatorship would control Europe's future. But, the British have an enormous reserve of shipping which gives time for catching up.

U. S. Aid to Increase

In addition to Britain’s own great tonnage, at least 6,000,000 tons of Allied shipping has been added to Britain’s shipping resources. All of it is not available for ocean use, but probably enough can be so utilized to make good losses for a year when added to replacements from British yards. Before the end of another year, aid from American yards plus new purchases in the United States,

other areas which would have made headlines on any other night— bombs crashed into shelters at several points and many persons were killed. But the assault on the “City” overshadowed all else. Severe as it was many Londoners believed it might have been even worse had not the Germans suddenly broken off their attack after three hours, probably because rain and fog swept over the Continent and forced raiding planes to turn back te their bases. >

Women Jon in Battle Policemen, firemen, air raid wardens, soldiers, civilian volunteers, worked, seared by licking flames and blinded and choked by smoke, to put out fires started by thousands of incendiary bombs which hundreds

of German planes dropped for hours. Nurses played hoses over the roofs of hospitals. Women and children fought the flames which ate into their homes. Over the city spread a shroud of heavy smoke, through which great tongues of flames roared up.

Scores of buildings became smoking ruins. But the city stands.. The damage is great but not irremediable.

The air raid sirens shrieked a little after dark.

Almost at once there was a heavy rain of “bread basket” incendiary bombs—containers which open as they drop and loose up to 50 or 100 small incendiary bombs each.

Anti-aircraft guns began to fire. In a few minutes the raid had reached intensive pitch. The German planes criss-crossed the sky. Thousands upon thousands, the fire bombs came down. Now the anti-aircraft guns, which had been firing sporadically, were firing all the time. For the first time since Septembet, when the mass destruction raids really started, the United Press staff was compelled to go to its. underground shelter,

Busses Need No Lights

But long after great sheets of fire were thrusting their way from building to building.and even street to street, busses continued to run —for once, despite the blackout, with all the light they needed, and

even pedestrians stayed on the sidewalks. Throughout the raid,

minent danger, in the city itself, watching the spectacle. They heard the German planes going across the sky and the darting British night fighter patrols: hunting them. They heard the burst of a machine gun occasionally as one of the British planes contacted a raider and the intensified roar of the German plane’s motor as it maneuvered away.

Those in the streets saw the exhaust pipes of fire engines get red hot. The firemen could play their hoses on fire at some points, in any of the four directions.

Firemen Climb Roofs It was all over in three hours,

continued for hours afterward. Firemen climbed over roofs, leaned out of windows, to fight incendiary bombs as they dropped. The “bread basket” bombs at times came so fast that they ded almost like machine’ gun bullets as they dropped. An incendiary bomb fell in the bucket one fireman was Jaking toward another bomb to put ou

Under the streets, thousands of people waited silently in subway shelters. These were so crowded that many persons had to stand. Others sat oh stairways.

A ‘policeman n dropped ‘dead at his flames all about him,’when a

By J. W. United Press War Expert ‘The present military situation in Europe would seem to substantiate President Roosevelt's statement that the Axis powers are not going to win the war. The first essential for an Axis victory is the direct

R War Moves Today

. MASON

British Isles, which recedes farther

into the improbabilities with the passing months as American aid to Britain increases. As ‘long as the British continue their vigilance unrelaxed, while the volume of American assistance grows larger, the problem of a decisive new German offensive becomes increasingly: difficult. To win the war Germany must dominate the Atlantic shipping lanes or must gain air control over Great Britain or

should be more than sufficient to counteract the threat of the “total blockade.” In addition, if the British campaign in North Africa erds successfully within a 1gasonable time, more merchantmen and more warships for protecting convoys can be diverted from the Mediterranean. The British, too, are now trying*to devise new tactics for meeting the submarines, which cannot be discounted, in calculating the eventual collapse of the sea menace. All the probabilities point to final failure of Germany to win the war through

starving Great Britain by sinkings

of supply ships. Nor is there any larger hope that the Germans can master the air and so bomb Britain into capitulation. Last summer’s intensive raids by the German air force showed that wars are not won in the air, as was true in Spain and is now true in China. British Defenses Stronger Night raiding works indiscriminate damage, mostly to private property, since that occupies by far the largest area of industrial centers. Only daylight attack, when targets are visible, can give Germany hope of demolishing the British air force; but, hitherto, it is the Germans who have suffered most in daytime offensives over Eritain. An invasion of Britain, the final possibility for a German victory, was undoubtedly planned for last summer. but was canceled. Since then, British defen&ive preparations have been very greatly increased, making a successful invasion more improbable now than then. Only a gambler with fate would risk sending an Army today across the Channel, with the odds so high against success. With invasion as difficult as air and sea confrol, there is justification for believing that present conditions indicate Germany

some knots of people stood, in im-|

that is the bombing. The {ight}

will not win the war.

Old London Landmarks Burn In Worst Inferno Since 1666

(Continued from Page One)

bomb struck outside a big hotel and dislodged masonry. An explosive bomb killed 80 horses in a brewery stable. Four hundred persons sheltering in the basement of a church were unhurt when an explosive bomb struck overhead.

Heroes Everywhere

When one church was hit, and its roof burst into flames, all those in the vicinity, men and boys, including many messenger boys on night duty, ran into the building, feeling in the dark through the smoke for church furnishings they could save. A lectern, an altar cloth, a reading table on which a Bible had lain yesterday noon, gold plate, communion vessels were brought out. There was a ripping sound. Those in the building ran to the street just before the roof crashed in.

One bomb put out all the lights in a big hotel. Table ware was swept to the floor of the dining room. The diners sat in silence. It seemed hardly’ a moment before waiters came in with candles, and dinner was resumed. A naval officer said 15 incendiary bombs dropped just in front of him. He hailed a.passing taxicab. It drove into a bomb crater and was smashed. “I walked on home,” he said. “Just as I reached the door a high explo-

sive burst about 10 yards away. Quite a lively night, wasn't it?” [-

At one point 30 fires were | counted

‘within a stretch of 200 yards.

One church which was fired was built two years before the great fire of 1666, which it survived. But now the raid is over, Great as was the damage, London is still here, great and pulsing with life, unbeaten and ready to fight it out to

CONTRACTS IN DEFENSE PLAN

18,000,000 Hours of Labor Needed.

* WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (U. P.).— The National Defense Commission, reporting on its activities during its first six months of existence, said today it had approved contracts

totaling more than $10,000,000,000 and calling for about 18,000 ,000 manhours of labor. The report, prepared: in pamphlet form, contained no recommendation§, or comment on the state of the rearmament program but permitted the statistics to speak for themselves. This is what they showed regarding current defense production in this country: Approximately 2400 airplane ens gines - monthly; about 700 planes monthly; over monthly; more Mei 110,000 Garand semi-automatic rifles monthly, and one fighting ship for the Navy every 12 days.

Commission Dissatisfied

Commission officials, in previous utterances, have expressed dissatisfaction with armanent output. William S. Knudsen, defense production output was 30 schedule. Naval officials, commenting on the Commission’s ship figures, stressed that they involved vessels ordered

per cent behind

launchings next year will be farther apart than in the last six months. The commission’s report said that Army and Navy orders accounted for approximately $9,000,000,000 of the approved contracts. The commission must approve all defense contracts of $500,000 or more before they can be awarded.

1,000,000 Back to Work

The report said that 1,000,000 unemployed men and women have gone back to work in the past two months and that several million more will be needed by next November. Major contract categories listed in the report include: Ships—$3,300,000,000; factory expansion and housing—$1, 500,000; planes and parts-— $1,500,000,000; ammunition — $600,000,000; guns — ~|$500,000,000, and trucks and tanks— $400,000,000.

ish and other foreign orders placed to date, call for: 50,000 airplanes, 130,000 engines, 17,000 heavy guns, 25,000 light guns, 13,000 trench mortars, 33,000,000 loaded shells, 9200 tanks, 300,000 machine guns and ammunition, 400,000 automatic rifles and ammunition, 1,300,000 regular rifles and ammunition, ‘380 Navy ships, 200 mercantile ships, 210 camps and cantonments and 40 Government factories.

TOWNSEND DELAYS

Governor Townsend today postponed his trip to Washington to discuss state defense problems “for a short time.” The Governor said he had to obtain more information on Charlestown before telling the National Defense Council his plans for mak« ing Charlestown a national defense area. If Charlestown is designated as a defense area, WPA funds can be used in municipal projects without the usual 25 per cent sponsor contribution. The Governor will confer during his Washington visit with Chester Davis, head of the agricultural division of the National Defense Council. It is reported Mr. Davis may offer Mr. Townsend a position after the Governor retires from office Jan. 13.

‘JANITOR DIES AT WORK

T. J. Reed, 3601 E. North St. a janitor at Technical High School, died while at work today. He was

67 years old.

the death.

Strauss Says:

—Drop i in,

IF you are going to be among those present—who will do. some dining or dinning or dar year 194] breaks in on F. and if you need obi or “other in formal attire or accessories to r you fesl better—or more coi please . « . we are p for emergency service in Sitings . and deliveries! 3

ve &

Tails, Dinner Suits, Vest 1 Formal Accessories—in a ro themselves—First floor,

A harried and he 2gsamplish, a

TOP 10 BILLION

6-Month Report Reveals

chief, recently said that airplane *

before the big re-armanent drive was . ‘|started. They said that while construction work is ahead of schedule,

These contracts, plus such Brit-

WASHINGTON TRIP

light tanks

3