Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 December 1941 — Page 1

FORECAST: Partly cloudy tonight with lowest temperature about 25; cloudy and colder tomorrow.

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VOLUME 53—NUMBER 234

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1941

. Entered as Setond-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ind.

PRICE THREE CLNTS

U. S. STRIKES IN PACIFIC

EAST COAST PUT ON ALERT |

DIGES

Today's News

In Five Minutes

A UNITED AMERICA waged war on the Japanese in the Pacific this afternoon while keeping a watchful eve to the Atlantic side, half expecting Germany to declare war on us within a short time.

Attack Rumors

A wave of “invasion hysteria” swept coast cities today. There were wild rumors of enemy planes off New York, off Boston, off San Francisco. off Panama and other points, The War Department branded them “nonsense,” but said it was on the alert.

The Pacific Fighting

THESE ‘WERE the of today's engagements: 1. The Japanese were hit-and-run air raids on the Philippines, but the damage was not great. 2. There was land fighting in the Malayas and at Hongkong. The British said they had repulsed a Jap attack at Hongkong. 8. There were hints (so far, only that) long-range American bombers had raided Tokyo, Kobe and Formosa. 4 Despite reports that Japan had already captured Guam and Wake, the U. S. refused to confirm it.

highlights

The Berlin Rumors

ADDING TO the rumors that Berlin was on the verge of declaring war on the U, S, came the story that bits of charred paper were floating from the chimney of the German embassy in Washington. The burning of diplomatic papers is usually the prelude to a definite break.

Mr. Roosevelt's Speech

THE PRESIDENT will deliver an address to the nation tonight at 9 p. m, our time. He probably will give the latest down of the Pacific situation, in addition to a plea for full national unity (something he already has).

In Europe and Africa

IN LIBYA, the British were on |

the offensive and the latest reports were that the Germens were retreating rapidly. The Russians claimed additional advances in the Moscow area. The Germans, you know, an-

nounced officially yesterday that |

they had given up hope of capturing any additional Soviet territory for the remainder of this year because of the severe Russian winter,

Making It Short

THE WEST COAST was getting over its first case of the war jit-

ters. They blacked out impromptu | last night on reports of enemy |

planes overhead.

STATE DRAFT officials. were | standing by, awaiting orders from |

washington for big increases in draftees. THE LOCAL office of the FBI conducted raids here last night, arrested nine men considered “dangerous to peace and security.” CLOTHE-A-CHILD reached the 577 figure. The famous Mile-of-Dimes opens on Washington St. tomorrow morning at 10. MARION PORTER, the Martin County farmer, is still sitting in jail here, still refusing to sell his land to the Government for the Burns City depot. THE STOCK MARKET was having the jitters, too. Prices were skating around erratically early t afternoon, waiting for the to make up their minds. Wort trouble: Dame Rumor.

pos

‘night of blackout and radio silence along the West Coast,

staging

»

ARMY DOUBTS PRESENCE OF ENEMY PLANES

BULLETIN

NEW YORK, Dec. 9 (U. P.).—A second air raid alert was announced today over the city-owned radio station WNYC at 1:05 p. m. (Indianapolis Time).

Hysterical reports of “‘enemy aircraft” action along America’s seacoasts today brought a statement from White House military chiefs that the Army has not confirmed “the presence of hostile aircraft off the Eastern Coast.” Newspaper offices and radio stations were swamped with inquiries as reports of unidentified planes approaching New York, Boston and other Atlantic coast cities spread. There were other rumors that Japanese planes had been sighted over Panama and off Alaska. This followed a

‘centering around the reported appearance of “unidentified planes” near San Francisco. But Army Takes No Chances Lieut.’ Gen. Delos Emmons, chief of the Army Air Force Combat Command, announced through the White House this afternoon that “I have been unable to confirm with detectors or otherwise

the presence of hostile wc ENEMY PL ANES |

craft’ off the Eastern Coast. We're taking no chances and]

remain on the alert.” OFF WEST COAST

The Eastern tension continued to mount, however. Il Brooklyn Military Orders Blackouts; Reconnaissance Trip,

schools were ordered evacuated by police. Radio reports said pedesArmy Believes.

trians were being ordered off the streets. | All Army and Navy air stations in the area were ordered on the lalert. About 280 planes took off from Mitchel Field, Army station

"a

the Panama Canal

Jap Planes Reported Seen

» Canal which could: be aff all-important target for ‘the’ The National Broadcasting Co. sald foday that a Panama radio broadcast reported that enemy were sighted over the Panama coast this morning but that no bombs were dropped.

at Panama

3

Japanese. aircraft

WAR BULLETINS

ROME RADIO HINTS FLEET CLASH NEAR NEW YORK, Dec. 9 (U. P.).—Radio Rome today broadcast a report, without any official substantiation, that the bulk of the Japanese naval forces, including aircraft carriers, were steaming toward Hawaii to engage

official run-

near New York, for reconnaissance

duty. Fire-fight apparatus and ambulance details went to emergency posts at the field and rifles, steel helmets and gas masks were issued ‘to the T7500 troops stationed there.

| “All Clear” Is Broadcast

At 12:34 p. m, the Brooklyn police broadcast: “Enemy aircraft are expected over New York in 10 minlutes.” The New York police tele{type warned patrol cars and officers: “Emergency. may occur. at any moment.” But at 12:47, New | York police were instructed to re{sume their normal posts and an “all clear” signal was broadcast. Most of the precautionary activity centered in Boston, where civilian defense units were ordered on duty, 12500 air raid wardens summoned to 24-hour duty and police ordered to advise factory officials to | prepare for an air raid. ! Eastern radio stations, in the New York and Boston areas, were ordered

(Eontinued on Page Nine)

LOCAL TEMPERATURES

“w “wn . 28 Io 37

10 a. m. Al acm ... 12 (noon) .. 1pm

Mile-of-Dimes, Due Tomorrow

There's a lot of bad news today—war and casualties for America. But here's something that will lift the spirits of hundreds of Indianapolis children whe are shivering this winter for lack of clothes. At 10 a. m. tomorrow, The Indianapolis Times annual Mile-of-Dimes will open on the sidewalk on the south side of Washington St. in front of the L. S. Ayres & Co. and S. S. Kresge & Co. stores. The Mile-of-Dimes is the sidewalk Santa Claus for The Times Clothe-A-Child fund. You can help clothe needy children simply by dropping your dimes on “the mile." We haven't forgotten about the home front. We don't think you will.

28 29 32 35

“sh

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 8 (U. P) —-A night of blackouts and air raid alarms ordered by military author|ities . brought the war close to the West Coast today. Army authorities asserted enemy ‘aircraft was operating off California’s shores, and before dawn two {blackouts had been ordered for the |San Francisco Bay region while the | Pacific Northwest and San Diego re{mained in darkness night-long. | Considerable confusion surrounded {the alert signals which many per|sons assumed to be practice alarms {and which even the police twice mistakenly announced were test warnlings. = | The first was ordered when planes were detected about 100 miles off San Francisco. Brig. Gen. William Ryan, commanding the Fourth In- | terceptor Command, was convinced | they were enemy craft. | He said the Navy was attempting to “locate and give battle” to the invaders, The second warning presumably was caused by U. S. Navy patro (Continued on Page Nine)

PLANES PATROLLING CHARLESTOWN AREA

Troop Guard Also Likely at Powder Plant.

CHARLESTOWN, Ind, Dec. 9 (U, P.)—Army airplanes have been patrolling the area of the $153,000, 000 Charlestown powder plant since yesterday morning and the present staff of guards probably will be augmented by U. S. Army troops within a few days, a spokesman for the giant project said today. It is not likely that protection about the powder and bag plant will include a blackout, sccording to the spokesman. “We could not continue operations 24 hours a day as lights are necessary after dark for powder manufacturing processes and winSows Sere not provided for shades,” e said.

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

Clapper ...... 13| Movies ..... eevee MINuSie .... Crossword ... 23] Obituari Editorials .... 14|Pegler 9| Radio .

8 we 18

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the United States fleet.

DEMANDS U. S. SEIZE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 art (D. Tenn.), asserting

(Broadcasts from Rome have been unreliable in the past.)

MARTINIQUE

(U. P.).—Senator Tom Siewthat aircraft based on the

French island of Martinique could attack on the eastern U. S. seaboard, told the Senate today that the U. S. should immediately seize Martinique and French Guiana. Stewart said that the surprise Japanese attack on Honolulu could be duplicated on Eastern cities.

CREATE POTOMAC RIVER NAVAL COMMAND WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (U. P.).—The Navy today announced the creation of a Potomac River naval command, apparently designed to co-ordinate defense of the national Capital from attacks by sea as well as to protect

Mr.

naval establishments in the area.

| WHITE HOUSE READY FOR BLACKOUT

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (U. P.).—Preparations have been made to black out the White House when and if a general blackout is ordered for the nation’s capital by “proper authorities” of the District of Columbia, the

White House disclosed today. (Continued on Page Nine)

'I Could Kill Them,’ Mother

Of Hoosier

Times Special SIMS, Ind. Dec. 9.—Mrs. Sarah

Allen, the widowed mother of Indiana’s first known. casualty in the

Pacific conflict, wiped tears from her eyes today and told friends grimly “I could kill those Japs with my bare hands.” Mrs. Allen, whose husband died a little more than a year ago, received a telegram from the War , Department last night no her that her son, t Gerald, 21, had been “killed in about three miles from

Casualty Cries

“to see the world” about 16 months ago. He was born at Sims. An elder brother, Charles, in the infantry, Trinidad. Another elder brother, Leroy, works in an elevator here and supports his mother and two sisters, Carol, 16, and Norma, 8.

TWO OTHER Indiana casualties, both from Elkhart, were: Pvt. Robert L. Schott, 24, and Corp. Robert P. Buss Jr. Both were killed in the Oahu raid Sunday. Pvt. Schott, was a private first class in the Army Air Corps. He was born at Lafayette and enlisted July 4, 1040. After preliminary training at Chanute Field, Ill, he was transferred to Wheeler Field, Hawaii. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Schott, Elkhart, and a brother, William, stationed with the Army Air Corps in Panama. Corp. Buss, was born at Wausau, Wis., moving to Elkhart in 1020. He

is stationed at

FOR REPORTS T0 NATION TONIGHT

Speaks on ‘Nazi Pattern’ of New War; U. S. Awaits Berlin Declaration.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (U. P.) — President Roosevelt's address to the nation tonight will be devoted | largely to a discussion of “the Nazi | pattern” of the present war involv|ing the United States, the White | House said today. He will speak (for a full hour, beginning at 9 {o'clock (Indianapolis Time), Mr. Early’'s comment followed the White House accusation yesterday that Germany had done everything possible to push Japan into the war against this country. Congressional leaders have signified instant willingness to acknowledge war with Germany and Italy as well if those two Axis partners join Japan. Reports from Germany that the Nazi position would be clarified perhaps within the next 24 hours led Administration officials to prepare for any contingency.

Summon Knox and Stark

The House Naval Affairs Committee, meantime, summoned Secretary of Navy Frank Knox and Chief of Naval Operations Harold R. Stark to explain in secret session tomorrow why Japan was able to carry out the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor Sunday. The decision to call the two followed scattered congressional criticism of the conduct of the opening phase of the war and unanswered questions as to how units of the Japanese fleet and Japanese (Continued on Page Nine)

ON GUARD? HULL TELLS U.S. CITIZENS

i | |

“Do Not Fear Outcome of War,” He Says.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (U. P.).— Secretary of State Cordell Hull today coupled a warning that the United States should be on guard against further attacks with a message that Americans need have no fear of the outcome of the war with Japan, Mr. Hull's warning that the nation should be on guard came in answer to a press conference question as to the possible nature of Germany's

probable move in support of Japan. |

TOKYO BOMBED, REPORTS HINT: POUND MANILA

Claim Heavy Toll of Jap Planes in Attacks On Philippines; Germany Reported Ready to Join Tokyo in War.

By JOE ALEX MORRIS United Press Foreign Editor

American armed forces struck back at the Japanese in the Pacific today inflicting “considerable” losses on Japanese raiding planes in the Philippines and unconfirmed reports. circulated that Tokyo, Kobe and Formosa have been attacked

by U. S. bombers. The spreading Pacific hostilities raised squarely the question of quick Axis aid for Japan by her tripartite part ners, Germany and Italy, Russian participation in the Anglo-American war against Japan was still undetermined. Events:

PHILIPPINES: American defense forces inflict “cone siderable” losses on Japanese attacking planes; 25,000 Jap anese nationals rounded up for detention; no official cone firmation of reported Japanese land operations near Manila,

AXIS POWERS: Japanese spokesman at Tokyo says “of course” Japan experts Berlin and Rome to declare war on United States; Berlin prepares to announce stand toe morrow, possibly at Reichstag session; German embassy burns papers at Washington—usual prelude to severance of diplomatic relations or war.

TOKYO: German reports claim Japanese land in Phil« ippines without losses; both air and naval bombardments of Midway Island, 1300 miles west of Hawaii reported; un reliable Rome radio circulates rumors Japanese battle fleet is steaming toward Hawaii to engage U. S. feet.

OTHER JAPANESE CLAIMS: - Offensive started against Burma Road; 200 “enemy” ships seized in Pacific including 10,509-ton liner President Harrison; Japanese troops enter Bangkok; Midway Island attacked, 1300 miles west of Hawaii; claim destruction of 300 American planes at Hawaii and Philippines.

HONGKONG: British garrison, largely Canadian manned, beats off Japanese attacks with artillery fire; Jape anese air attacks cause little damage.

RUSSIA: Japanese spokesman claims relations with Soviet unchanged; Rome radio says same thing; Kuibyshev reports no Russian official statement but indicates there may be developments.

HAWAII: Apparently quiet. No reports of renewed | Japanese activity. No new word on operations of the U. 8. battle fleet. :

~~ GUAM: U. S. Army communique admits sinking of 840-ton minesweeper Penguin and a handful of casugities in Japanese attack on Guam; no confirmation that Japanese now hold Guam.

MELBOURNE: Australia and New Zealand formalize war against Japan; Japanese bomb Nauru and Ocean islands, southeast of Guam and Wake. Official confirmation of raids on Japanese industrial and naval centers was lacking, but the German radio said that Tokyo had ordered air raid precautions in the areas north and southwest of the capital. ,

Continue Philippine Attacks : A Tokyo broadcast said that there had been no enemy planes over Japan up to 7:20 p. m. (Central Standard Time), Monday, but a Columbia Broadcasting System correspon= dent at Manila reldyed rumors that the Japanese capital and Kcbe, which is the center of an important naval yard, had been bombed. \ : ] Japanese airplanes bombed the Manila area by moons light and returned to the islands this morning after a series. of attacks that caused considerable damage at Clark field, near Manila, and smashed at scattered objectives throughs gut the Philippines including Davao, Iba, Baguio, and Tague= arao. : There were persistent reports of Japanese landings on (Continued on Page Nine) : ”

War News on Inside Pages

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