Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 November 1942 — Page 1
FORECAST: Not much change in temperature this afternoon and early tonight, slightly warmer tomorrow forenoon; light rain or snow likely tonight.
AE HOME
sures “nowaspl VOLUME 53—NUMBER 226
FIRE
Scores were trampled to death behind these doors. wide vestibule served as a trap for 750 club guests.
ro -
TOL
The 10-foot
MONDAY, NOVEMBE
R.30, 1942
Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ind. Issued daily except Sunday.
PRICE THREE CENTS |
oa
478. PROSECUTIONS LOOM
Here is a daylight view of the club, scene of the nation’s worst fire since the burning of the Iroquois Theater in Chicago in 1903, The |
aas
Joss of lives in that fire was 575.
~ ALLIED ARTILLERY [ALY WARNED HAMMERING TUNIS
Rail Connection to Bizerte Cut, Says Paris Radio; New U. S. Forces Landed; Axis Considers Withdrawal. By HARRISON SALISBURY
y : United Press Staff Correspondent The battle. for Tunis and Bizerte seemed definitely
.
Ni py
~ Joiited todity.
The Nazi radio at Paris said that allied artillery | is now shelling the Tunisian capital and that heavy fighting is in
progress near the naval base.
Rail connections between the two cities had already been cut and it was believed that the remaining coastal high-
, Way was under fire from allied guns as well as the
Tunis airdrome. : The * allied troops came within cannon range of Tunis by the capture of Djedeida, only 10 miles west, where they also cut the Tunisian - railroad. "Allied paratroops were , attacking the vicinity: of Mateur, 30 miles south. ‘of Bizerte, and in central Tunisia a general allied advance was reported.
U. S. Reinforcements Land
From both Egypt and Algeria, alMed ‘air power was making itself felt. Tripoli, Bizerte, Tunis, Sicily and points along the Libyan coast were attacked without the loss of a single plane, it was revealed:.in communiques from ‘Cairo and: Washington. : The axis, which was believed to have lost 230 planes up to Friday, ‘lost at least seven more over the week-end. Radio « Morocco reported that fresh formations of American troops were landing daily at Casablanca Non the Atlantic coast of Morocco and that a considerable number of American bombing planes, together with troops and war materials, arrived there Saturday (In the first authoritative estimate of the strength of allied forces in North Africa, Prime Minister Winston Churchill said in his ‘warld broadcast speecli yesterday that “several hundred thousand faen” were in the expedition.) “A. summary issued by the British admiralty underscored the difficulties of the axis in reinforcing their army in Africa. It was reported that 89 axis ships.had been torpedoed in the last six months in the Mediterranean.
. Eisenhower Holds Staff Talk
The same station said that Lieut. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, allied commander in chief, had held a two-day conference -at his general - hesdquarters : with allied leaders, and that results were “most satisfactory.” A Bern report to the London Eve- . ‘ning News said that parallel military conferences vere being held in ‘Berlin and Rome {0 determine what the axis should de in North Africa. It said’ that opinion was growing that the axis troops would be with-
{
drawn ‘Possible’ difficulties between. the Germans and the Ytalians over their stand in ‘North ‘Africa were indicated by 'a Radio Morocco report that 570 Italian troops had mutinied. It said the Italians were sent to. Italy to be placed in concentration camps,
| LOCAL TEMPERATURES Sam... 2 am vy.
RUSSIANS 60 MILES FROM LATVIAN LINE
Germans Fear Third Drive,
Face Retreat.
MOSCOW, Nov. 30 (U. P).—Russian offensives bit into the strong German defense posts today in a drive of steadily increasing power. The Red army was hitting the Nazis stiff blows from the Volga to the Don in the Stalingrad sector and a separate offensive was driving from the Velikie Luki area toward the Latvian frontier.
(German reports insisted that the Russians were starting a third big offensive in the Voronezh area, northwest of Stalingrad. The Voronezh drive presumably would be directed toward Kharkov.) The Velikie Luki drive was reported to have carried a -Soviet spearhead within 60 miles of the Latvian border after severing rail connections betwene Velikie Luki and Novosokolniki. In the Stalingrad region crisscrossing drives between the Volga and the Don had reached the point where it seemed likely that the Germans will be forced to attempt to withdraw from their forward positions at Stalingrad and take up a line on the Don’s west bank. The Russians already have crossed the river Don some 35 miles northeast of Kalach, occupying Vertachy and Peskovotka. The noon communique reported today that the Russians had captured 38 fortified dugouts and blockhouses in Stalingrad and in 10 days had taken 66,000 prisoners there alone, while the German dead mounted to 100,000.
TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES
6 ceesess 16 seessne 12 cones 11
Amusements . Ash Books Clapper
Jane Jordan.. 13 Lucey ...:... 11 Men in Service 5
6 7
Movies ‘Obituaries ... Pegler .. Pyle ....o0..a:11 Radio ....... 19 Mrs. Roosevelt H Side Glances . Society ... Pi Sports .... 16,17 || State Deaths. 7
see
eevee 120.
BY CHURCHILL
Make Peace or Bs or Be Bombed, He Says; Promises to Aid U. S. in Pacific. (War Moves, Page 14)
LONDON, Nov. 30 (U. P.).—British radios rebroadcast again and again today Prime Minister Winston 'Churehill’s solemn warning ‘to Italy to overthrow Benito Mussolini and 8 Fascist’ regime and sue for a separate peace or endure a merciless, shattering allied air attack from North Africa.
The grim speech was febloadeast in 24 languages in all, but it was sent over and over again in Italian,
ernment ordered that the parts of it calculated to appeal to war-weary Italians be broadcast at intervals all week. Berlin broadcast distorted versions of the speech last night but not until early morning did the Italian radio mention it, saying then that Italians were not impressed. Another broadcast, however, said that Italian cities henceforth would be blacked out at 5:30 p. m. daily. Routine Italian radio programs were interrupted during the night by a ghost. voice which shouted such statements as: “Mussolini is the cause of your suffering,” “War is your ruin” and “Italians, stop the war.” On Eve of Birthday While the flames still roared after a British air raid on Turin Saturday night, during which the new triple block-buster bombs, weighing
8000 pounds each, were dropped on
Italy for the first time, Churchill made his world speech.
siderable attention to Mr. Churchill's statements that the German air force is now a “wasting asset,” whose “new construction is not
keeping pace with losses. Their front line is weakening both -in numbers and on the whole in quality. The British, American and Russian air forces already together are far larger and are growing.
steadily and rapidly.” The prime minister, who cele(Continued on Page Four)
On the War Fronts
(Nov. 30, 1942)
AFRICA — Allies within artillery range .of Tunis after cutting Tunis-Bizerte railway. Tunis, Bizerte, Tripoli, Sielly and Libyan coast bombed.
RUSSIA—Soviet troops gain at half dozen points, push to within 60 miles of Latvia on Rzhev front, cross Don near Kalach.
EUROPE—Turin bombed again as Churchill gives Italy choice of overthrowing Mussolini and making peace or being ruined by merciless, scientific bombing.
PACIFIC—MacArthur' foils fifth Japanesé attempt to land reinforcaments at Buna, New Guinea. Aviators “ enemy shipping at Munda bay, New Georgia. Army flying fortresses attack Attu in Aleutians.
CHINA--U. 8. planes win big air victory at Canton, downing 23 Jap planes and sinking two freighters.
INDIAN OCEAN—French island of Reunion taken over by allies after
‘Voice in Bal.. 6 11 Al Williams
brief: fighting. . ; (WU.
German and French, and the gov-|
COMMERCIAL ' USERS
The British press today paid con-,
Demands Modest as
LJ " »
HOARDING
» »
Coffee Sales Resume PERILS HOMES
‘Housewives Buying “Sancly.” Saiiei Pound of Rationed Article, Grocers Say.
(Photo, Page Five)
ndianapolis housewives were buying normally today as nation-wide
coffee rationing got under way. A survey among a cross section
that the women were buying “sanely,” in contrast to the hoarding rush of 8 few weeks ago which helped to bring on ‘the rationing program. {yas ‘welcome pews because ’ many ‘grocers, wholesalers and
STOUT FIELD MEN | T0 HEAR BOB HOPE:
|
Comedian to to Give Preview Of Show Tonight.
Bob Hope, Hollywood comedian and radio star, will present a preview of his tomorrow night's radio show for the United States army air forces troop carrier command at Stout field tonight. The regular broadcast performance will be given at Camp Atterbury. Appearing with Hope in a twohour dress rehearsal at the field wili be Jerry Colonna, Frances Langford, Vera Vague and Skinney Ennis and his band. Last ‘night, Hope and Miss Langford appeared at the Illinois st. branch of the Service Men's centers, Inc., where the comedian ad-libbed and Miss Langford sang on a -30minute impromptu program. The comedian spends his spare time entertaining the nation’s service nien.’
GET COUPONS TODAY]
Applicants for gasoline for commercial vehicles in Rationing Board 49-1 may secure coupons today in the northwest room of the world war memorial. Coupons for trucks, busses and taxicabs consisting of T 1 books, T 2 books and bulk coupons will be issued, H. J. Rafferspenger, member of Central Rationing. Board 49-1, said.
: NAZIS STRAFE TRAIN LONDON, Nov. 30 (U.P.)—A few German planes flew over the south coast of England today and ma-chine-gunned several targets, including a train whose engineer was killed. There were no other casualties and only slight damage.
"FROM SUEZ TO SINGAPORE" —
One of the best-sellers of
‘on Solomons attack
the day. . . . That's Cecil Brown's noted book . .., . Which contains the whole dramatic story of the sinking of the Repulse and the Prince of Wales. . . . The Times has obtained EX- - CLUSIVE rights: to this -book and it will start in this newspaper on the first anniversary of our eniry info "the war ; , .
DECEMBER TH '
Satisfied With Only One
of the city’s grocers brought reports
{the . government had feared that [everyone might tarn Up at groceries this morning with their ration cou-
pons to “élean off” the shelves by {night. That would put us back
{coffee shortages, for some stores! | have not yet received their full supplies. Coffee was frozen a week ago in order that grocers might lay in supplies. But wartime problems of production and distribution have made it impossible to have enough coffee everywhere at the same time to fill all demands immediately.
No Calls at One Store
Rationing officials pointed out if . housewives spread their stamps out, buying several times, rather than all at once, supplies will have time to reach the grocers’ shelves. Today's survey indicated that the women were reacting “beyond expectations.” Several grocers indicated that women with families were buying only a pound at a time rather than rushing in and demanding the ration for the entire family. ; Others, with supplies on hand, evidently were giving their neighbors, who have been without coffee, a chance to buy. One large North side market had had no- calls for coffee at all by around 11 o’clock this morning; another on the East side had only three requests.
Reduced Shipping a Cause Rationing is a war-time measure
that have resulted from a shortage of ships and aggravated by unusual consumer buying in the last few months, Stamp No. 27 in the sugar ration book is good for the purchase of| one pound of coffee through Sunday, Jan. 3, if the age at the time | of registration for a book was 15 years or over. : It does no good to try to use stamps from - books issued to children under the 15-year limit since stamps will have to be accounted for. Stamps are detached ARE ey lg grocer or his authorized ' delivery
a
STALIN'S MESSAGE , 1ST TO CHURCHILL
LONDON, Nov. 30 (U. P.).—Prime
Think Twice OP OPA Warns|
Motorists, Citing Lessons
In Boston Fire. By EARL RICHERT
Tragedy “lurks in thousands of]
Indiana homes as a result of widespread hoarding of gasoline, state OPA officials said today as they
prepered for the beginning of state
wide’ rationing at midnight. “People should think twice,” iwarned OPA Administrator James]
| five-gallon can of gasoline in the basement or garage. “The Boston fire should serve as a notice to everyone as to just what can happen from the smallest of accidents.”
Hoarding Causes Fire
The sfate administrator said that one major fire already had occurred, at New Castle, from the hoarding of gasoline. As far as the hoarding itself is
concerned. there is nothing OPA officials can or will do about it. The state office of price administration is charged only with administering and enforcing the gasoline rationing setup. How much
gas a motorist has stored when ra-/
tioning begins is no concern of OPA officials. But, beginning at midnight, all gas must go into the tank of the car for which the rationing book has been issued,
Even Fruit Jars Used
That hoarding of gasoline is widespread is testified to by filling station operators throughout the state. The operators say that théy have been filling everything from quart fruit jars to 100 and 200-gallon drums for the past two months. Gasoline tax collection figures in the state auditor's office bear out
i the operators’ reports.
In October — one month before gasoline rationing was scheduled to go into effect—enough gasoline was sold to net the state .$2,499.976 in taxes, an increase of $99,000 over September tax collections. As gasoline tax revenues customarily decline each month following the vacation season, this reversal of the trend can be due only to hoarding, according to State Auditor Richard T. James.
See November Increase
No figures are yet available on November gasoline sales, but they undoubtedly also will show a huge increase in gasoline sales, Mr. James said. Below are the gasoline tax collection figures from the state auditor’s office which show the decline
(Continued on Page Four)
S | bureau is inspecting local theaters, jg | clubs and department stores with
Stanley F. Tomaszewaki, the
bus bey whose match reportedly
| started the fire, is questioned by an official,
TIPSY GUESTS
JOKE
BOSTON, Nov,
BLAMED
Bus Boy’s Match Starts Blaze as He Replaces Unscrewed Light Bulb; College Students Perish,
20 (U. P.).—Sweeping Pe ab
. connection. with the Cocoanut Grove night club fire,
| peared possible today as the ' disaster mounted to 478.
|
death toll in Saturday ni
One hundred and seventy-five were on the injured list ‘where we started with the same| ckiand, “before they stick o| today and many of these may die. | | District Attorney William J. Foley and State Fire | Marshal Shephen J. Garrity conferred at the Suffolk county
tion of the matter.” “Of course there will be
BRAVERY OF CHORUS GIRL SAVES LIVES
|
Many Victims Rus Rush Outside And Fall Dead.
BOSTON, Név. 30. (U., P.).—~The mad panic of a thousand night club revelers, trapped in the flaming Cocoanuf Grove cafe, their screams and cries, the sight of - horribly burned bodies piled deep before clogged cloors, and men and women
converted into flaming torehes, were described today by survivors of Saturday night's tragedy. Heroic tales—how the captain of the eight-girl chorus kept her wits and led all of them to safety—also were told by the few able to tell a coherent story. One of the survivors, William Ladd, who was sitting near the orchestra, said the blaze developed so quickly it caught the guests unawares. A girl had just run from the rear of the club, Ladd said, and spoke to the manager, when “there was a flash of flame in the rear.” “Then black smoke came rolling into the main dining room and on to the dance floor,” he said. “Men and women began to scream. Instantly thete was panic. They jumped up on their chairs, tipped tables and it seemed every(Continued on Page Four)
Harry H. Fulmer, city fire chief, and Bernard Lynch, chief of the fire prevention bureau, today warned local residents of possible fire hazards resulting from Christmas decorations. Chief Lynch Said the Boston nightclub holocaust could have happened anywhere and that his
testing’ fire and “panic
He urged all persons to use ornamental decorations with’ suspicion,
avoid lighted candles, “dispose of
court house for what Foley termed a “complete investiga
prosecutions if the evidence I
now have is substantiated by Mr. Garrity,” Foley said.
“The prosecution will be just as far reaching- as necessary to get to the bottom of this whole case. Mr. Garrity has made his own investi- | gation and I expect to confine my future activities entirely to his report and good judgment, I am going to give this terrible Hagel, my entire attention.” It was believed both Mr. and Mr. Garrity might be present’ later today at a hearing called by Fire Commissioner William A. Reilly: , of Boston to hear the stories of va rious witnesses of the disaster jne cluding that of Stanley F. big zewski, 16-year-old bus boy. said that he innocently started fire. : Charges to Wait we Foley declined to name anyone
| against whom charges would be
lodged. He said that must. until after his conference with rity and perhaps State Police John F. Siokes, acting state safety. commissioner. The Boston public safety c tee ‘announced: that their cial tabulation had accounted 478 dedd. Assistant Director O. T Gilmore of the Boston council § social agencies said that of number, 335 were identified te tively and 122 still were uniden Although scores died in the club as bodies piled up in the ways, City Building James H. Mooney said his ment considered the exits “ quate.” “There were sufficient exits (Continued on Page Four)
tr
/
Chiefs Warn of Fire Hazard i From Holiday Decoratic
lights and break festooned dec: tions to halt spreading of fires. “People don’t realize,” he “the possible consequences of decoration construction.” : No smoking signs should be sp ted in clear view in dance hi
city will issue its 10th: annual. bulletin tomorrow to church f ! ! schools snd. clube asking for. operation in fire preventiofi. Be alert. Lyich says, and; all department first. :