Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 December 1942 — Page 1

Clapper

FORECAST: Continued severe cold tonight and tomorrow; lowest temperature tonight, about zero. . | . 3 : f

UTILITY HEADS CITE CRITICAL ~ OIL SHORTAGE

‘Also’ Point to Increased Demands of the City’s

War Industries.

The Citizens Gas & Coke utility today appealed to clomestic users of gas for a 10 per ent reduction in consumption. The decrease is necessary, offi-

cials said, because of a “critical ;

WEDNESDAY, DECEM

BER 2, 1942

shortage” of fuel oil used in the| gi

manufacture of gas. Also threat-

ening full production they said, is

the problem of coal “ransportation by overburdened railroads. As one of the large:t producers of war materials in th: country, Indianapolis industries have increased their consumption of gas 78 per cent since 1940. The average monthiy useage, by al. Indianapolis industries, in 1940 was 96 million cubic feet; in the firs 10 months of 1942, this increasec¢. to an average of 171 million cibic feet per month. Officials of the utilit point out that the presént emergency is due to a shortage of critical materials for the manufacture of gas and is not one of inadequate manufacturing, stofage or distribution facilities. - Through erection of the new 12,000,000 cubic feet waterless type gas holder at Northwestern ave. and Fall Creek in 1940 and fhe installation of 41 additional coke ovens at the Prospect st. plant in 1941, the utility has been able to keep pace with the increased demand for gas

|. 1Offer Some Suggestions

~ Utility officials set out these suggestions: r Householders are urged to discontinue for the duration, the practice of heating the kitchen and adjoining rooms, by turning on the ovens of. their gas ranges. Radiantfires and other types of auxiliary heaters should be used as sparingly as possible and not as a means of conserving other fuels. Cooking should be undertaken with a minimum .of water and after being. brought to a hoil the gas should be turned low. With the vessel covered, the boiling will continue with a simmer flame accomplishing the cooking in the same

st. shoveling the walk,

ICKES GETS NEW PETROLEUM JOB

Named Oil Administrator For War; Transfer to ‘MPC Unlikely. WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 (U.P). — President Roosevelt today estab-| lished an office of petroleum ad-| ministration for war and named Secretary of Interior Harold L. Ickes as its administrator, Ickes has been mentioned prom-'

inently as being in line for trans- | fer to the department of labor to direct the manpower program, but! the president’s action today in giving Ickes new and expanded authority over petroleum seemed to

amount of time and with consid-

erably less gas. |

Care in the use of lot water, it

-s pointed out, will 1asult in gas

savings. Consumers ire urged to

- heat only enough wa er for their

immediate needs. The use of the

‘stopper in the lavatory is urged

instead of the comman practice of washing the hands uncer a running hot water faucet. This applies to

_dish washing also where a dishpan

is recommended rathe; than washing under the faucet.

® ; Use Less Bath Water

While cleanliness is a necessity of health, bathing can be accom-

; plished in considerably less hot water than the average person

draws for a bath. In homes equipped with an automatic water heater, it is suggested that the thermostat on the heater be ad-

‘justed so that the water at the

faucets does not exceed 140 degrees. This can be determined by using a cooking thermometer. Care in keeping the door on the gas refrigerator closed except for

. the placing or removing of food

from the refrigerator is urged. Hot

_ dishes should cool to room temperature before being stored in the|

refrigerator. Regular defrosting of the’ chilling unit iz recommended since this increases the efficiency of refrigergtion thercby saving gas. A 10 pgW cent recluction in gas consymp by all domestic users would’ be 0f immense help in meet-

' ing this emergency, utility officials

statk, in urging every consumer to do his part by, using ‘as as sparingly as possible. .

~ TIMES - FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

Jane Jordan . 16 Kidney 14 Lucey : Men in Service 6 Millett ...... 14 Movies ...... 10 Obituaries ... 6 Pegler ....... 14 Pyle ......... 13 Radio. ... Mrs. Roosevelt 13 Side Glances. 14 Simms 14 Hold Ev’thing 13| Society ....15, 16 Homemaking. 16 | Sports In Indpls. ... 3 State Deaths.

Amusements . 10 Ash 18 Books ....... 14 e000 13 Comics

Curious World 19 Editorials .... 14 Edson ....... 14 Mrs. Ferguson 15 Financial .... 8 Forum ...... 14 Freckles

Inside Indpls. 13| Voice in ‘Bal. 10' received its first taste

18,19

indicate that such a move is not imminent. : Matters involving. petroleum have been divided among several divisions of the government. - It was judged from Secretary Early’s brief announcement that this would continue to ‘be the case, at least to a degree, La Ickes is now petroleum .coordinator.- But an: executive order signed shortly before noon by Mr. Roosevelt - delegated to Ickes additional authority and responsibility for “the planning and control of | petroleum activities.” |

60-MILE GALE HITS

LL mines

RHODE ISLAND COAST

Scores Evacuated as Tide

Sets 4-Year Record.

PROVIDENCE, R. I, Dec. (U. P.) —Scores of families were ‘evac- | uated by police and firemen at War-wick,-R. I., early today when a 60i mile gale caused the highest tite | since the disastrous hurricane of 1938. : Narragansett bay and Providence river communities all the way from Newport to this city reported near flood conditions.

TWO DUTCH FLIERS KILLED JACKSON, Miss., Dec. 2 (U. P.) — Lieut. Pieter Van Erkel and Cadet Schieveem, both of the royal Netherlands flying school here, were killed when their airplane crashed yesterday afternoon on a routine

“

flight near Vicksburg.

Herod L. Scotten was out in front of his home at 4916 E, Washington

Merc

Transit Line

in 24 hours. The severe cold will continue nounged. ; +At least two casualties resulted from the storm. One woman was found on the street with her feet frozen and unable to walk an another elderly woman slipped on the ice and received a broken arm. Traffic in all parts of the city was slowed to a snail's pace by icy streets. Trolleys and busses were doubly .handicapped by extra heavy

LOCAL TEMPERATURES

12 midnight 23 1 a. pen 23 ‘a.m .., 22 . «Bl see 30 Mt | . 10

7a m. ... 8am, ... 9am... 10a m, .,, 11 a.m. ... 12 (moon) .. 1p. m..

passenger loads which already had increased 15 per cent yesterday when gasoline rationing went into effect were running 15 minutes to half an hour late on some lines.

Motors Fail to Start

Trolleys were lined up four and five deep on some streets as they struggled to pick up large crowds of passengers shivering on street corners. ' ; Hundreds of motorists couldn’t get their . cars started and rushed for the trolleys and busses about 7 a. m. and by 8 a. m, the city’s “entire transportation was loaded. beyond (Continued on Page Four)

ERNIE PYLE IN ALGIERS

The first dispatch by Ernie’ Pyle from the North “African theater of war appears today on page 13. Our roving reporter arrived in Algiers from England several days ago. In his first article wirelessed from there he gives a vivid description of the new way of life into which American soldiers were suddenly thrust when they set foot on the Dark Continent.

Other dispatches will follow.

ury Dips to:3 Above;

The weatherman predicted zero as the-lowest temperature tonight after a snowstorm of blizzard proportions swept into Indianapolis today, sending the mercury to three degrees ahove zero, a drop of 37 degrees

“N.Y. TRAITOR GIVEN

As Ol’ Man Winter Clamped Down on the City

With the cold showing in their faces, hands deep in pockets and |

shoulders hunched, Ralph, Shirley

found it 3 cold walk to school 14 this morning,

# » 2

s Are Burdened

tomorrow the weather bureau an- ¢

45 YEARS IN PRISON

Man Who Aided Saboteurs Escapes Death Penalty.

NEW YORK, Dec. 2 (U. P.).— Federal Judge Henry, W. Goddard today proposed a 45-year prison

sentence. and a $10,000 fine upon Anthony Cramer, who was convicted of treason in aiding two of the executed -Nazi saboteurs. The court, turning . down the government’s request for imposition of the death penalty, said it was convinced that CrameY, first person: to be convicted of treason in aiding the saboteurs in New York, had no guilty knowledge of the projected activities of the saboteurs. Cramer was convicted of aiding Edward John Kerling and Werner Thiel, two of the saboteurs landed on Long Island last June. Both were among the six saboteurs executed in Washington.

PLANES CLOCKED AT | 725 MILES AN HOUR

FARMINGDALE, N. Y., Dec. 2 (U. P.).—Two army pilots attained a speed of 725 miles an hour—12 miles a minute—in making dives in Republic P-47 Thunderbolts at an East coast air base on Nov. 15, it was learned today. The Republic Aviation Corp. announced the pilots were Lieut. Harold Comstock, 22, of Fresno, Cal. and Lieut. Roger Dyer, 22, Lowell, O.

51 MORE JAPS KILLED

~ WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 (U. P.).— American troops, continuing to mop up small isolated bands of Japanese on Guadalcanal, killed 51 more enemy soldiers and captured |three artillery pieces and six machine guns, the navy announced to-

and Billy Schmaliz (left to right)

JURY PROBING BOSTON BLAZE

Death Figure Corrected to 490 With 174 Still

In’ Hospitals.

BOSTON, Dec. 2 (U.. P)—A Suffolk county grand jury convened today to hear testimony and possibly hand down manslaughter or criminal negligence indictments resulting from the Cocoanut Grove night club holocaust itd which at least 490 persons lost their lives. As a state-wide investigation of the disaster continued, the Boston public safety committee announced the corrected death figures after a ‘thorough check, The committee said that 174 of those injured Saturday night were still hospitalized. ' Other new developments: 1.°A survey indicating that Boston’s -night club “blackout” was ‘costing owners. about $125,000 per night,” and that some 5000 entertainers, waiters and other employees were out of work. 2. An announcement by the lcensing. board that all first-class hotels in the city would be inspected and that any cocktail rooms or lounges: found - unsafe would be closed. - wo May Probe Ownerships 3. A hint that the grand jury investigation might be broadened to determine- the actual ownership of all Boston night spots. 4. Revival of the theory that a short-circuit may. have started the fire. Attorney General Robert T. Bushnell received information that wiring in the Cocoanut Grove’s main dining ‘room between the actual and false ceilings was done by a young shipyard worker in his spare time.

MERRY (

éd.

day.

Buf Chictmas

Fifty-four children were clothed - today by the boxing fans who again last January supported The Times-Legion Golden Gloves tournament. They were the first of the hundreds of youngsters to be cared for by the 13th annual Indianapolis Times Clothe-A-Child campaign which opened yesterday. ‘The Golden Gloves contribution of $767.25 to Clothe-A-Child \ was timely because Indianapolis of real

Golden Gloves Fans Clof

winter weather. The children it clothed now are able to face the blustery, cold days to comes: Indianapolis social service agencies have estimated that there are about 2000 children who are poorly clad despite the increased employment this winter, They. are ones whose father is dead or crippled or ill. They are ones who have found the increased cost of living a critical hardship on their families. : It is easy to take part in

ne 54 to Open 13th Drive!:

Clothe-A-Child. There are three simple ways you can help: 1. If ‘youd wish to shop with a child personally, just call RI ley 5551, ask for “Clothe-A-Child” and make an appointment to meet a child at the office, 47 Kentucky ave. Then you can take the youngster directly to the store. You'll find the average cost to be from $12 to $15. + 2. If you wish, The Times will shop for you. Just mail a check or money order to “Clothe-A-

Child,” The Indianapolis Times. Experienced shoppers will buy the clothing. 3. Or you can join with others in your office, club, church, fraternity, sorority or lodge. Select a treasurer and shopping committee and let “Clothe-A-Child” know how many children your group wishes to clothe. “Your help may enable a youngster to stay in school this winter. The phone is RIley 5551. The address is 47 Kentucky av

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ind. Issued daily except Sunday.

8 8

issn i on sta st lt sm set

Appeal For 10% Cut In Use Of Gas In Homes He

rn y

ADMITS FALL IN MORALE; HITLER MOVES HALF OF

AIR FORCES T0 SOUT

Allies Drive to Within Artillery Range of Axis Bases.

(Today’s War Moves, Page Three)

By HARRISON SALISBURY United Press Staff Correspondent

Allied troops today were reported to have splintered the axis positions in Tunisia, despite an official” British

statement that Adpelf Hitler|.

had moved more than half his total air strength to the Mediterranean and western

Europe. There were even reports from the Algiers radio that after an all-out air battle the Germans were being forced to withdraw air units from

some Tunisian bases because fhe allied ground forces had approached so close as to bring most Qf the remaining airfields under artillery fire. iy The strong axis air squadrons kept up the battle, however, from fields on the Italian islands of Pantelleria and Sicily, less than 100 miles from Bizerte, which had made it possible at the beginning of the

Tunisian battle for the axis to

concentrate air strength more quickly than the allies,

Fight Delaying Action Dispatches from correspondents

with the advancing British 1st army,

indicated that the axis may have abandoned plans for an extended defense of Tunisia and were concentrating on fighting the hardest kind of delaying actioh to permit building up defenses in axis-oc-cupied nations on the underside of Europe. These reports said that the Germans were utilizing Sfax and Gabes as ports of entry for tanks and additional land troops in an attempt to make a stand in southeast Tunisia once Tunis and Bizerte were overrun. These forces were said to be taking up strong positions in low mountain ranges from which it may be difficult to dislodge them.

Split Into 3 Groups

Sfax and Gabes, however, were cut off from communication . with Tunis, which was also isolated from Bizerte and almost encircled by allied troops. The axis forces in Tunisia also were cut off from land communication with Marshal Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps in Libya. The British 8th army, facing Rommel’s forces at El Agheila on the Gulf of Sirte, opened an artillery duel in what promised to be a prelude to a renewed drive by Gen. Sir Bernard Montgomery for Tunisia, 475 miles away.

RUSS REGAIN HILLS NEAR STALINGRAD

Tighten Pincers on City; Township Captured.

MOSCOW, Dec. 2 (U, P.).—Russian troops have storraed and captured two important heights in the Stalingrad area and driven Nazi lines back two and one-half to five miles, front dispatches reported today. Red army shock troops who cap» tured one height, known as the southern hill, south of the Volga capital, destroyed three German infantry battalions and two artillery units. The advance there tightened the Russian pincers enveloping the city. Red Star, army organ, said the southern hill commanded the entire sector immediately south of Stalingrad and permitted the Nazis to shell Volga river Sphng So long as the Germans held this height, (Continued on Page Four)

TRAIN CANADA ’CHUTISTS

FT. BENNING, Ga. Dec. 2 (U. P.). —Canada’s first parachute group, described as “former members of Canada’s crack shock troops,” has established headquarters here and will train and qualify as jumpers, according to American methods, it was announced today, : :

On the War Fronts

(Dec. 2, 1942)

ITALY—Mussolini describes devastating effect on Ifalian cities of British air raids, tells people to leave cities.

AFRICA—Allied forces in Tunisia split axis troops into three groups and isolate all ¢f them from Libya. Admiral Darlan forms imperial council in North Africa.

RUSSIA—S8oviets continue steady advance. in Stalingrad area, capturing two important hills; township on Rzhev-Vyazma railroad occupied,

SOUTH PACIFIC—American expeditionary forces land in New Zealand. Australians force Japanese into sea in drive along beaches in Buna-Gona area. Solomons fighting limited to patrols and planes. Japanese naval aviation chief, Vice Admiral Hikichi Katagiri, dismissed.

(U.. S. Communiques, Page 3)

NEW ZEALAND HAILS BIG AEF

‘Powerful Force, Magnificently Equipped’ Arrives

In Dominion.

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Dec. 2 (U. P.).—A powerful and magnificently equipped American expeditionary force ‘has arrived in New Zealand, it was revealed today. Crowds gathered in the harbor area to cheer when the dark gray warships of the United States convoy escorted the sea-stained, deepladen transports into port, their decks crowded with troops and their holds heavy with supplies and equipment, For hours next day the troop ships disgorged their men, and for days afterward materials poured ashore from their holds. The expedition was organized and embarked with the utmost secrecy and its men did not know until they left the American coast what country they were bound for. They arrived here in the highest spirits. Cigarets, oranges and American coins showered down on New Zealand soldiers as the ships reached dock, and the New Zealanders threw back coins of their own,

CAR CRASH KILLS YOUTH

DECATUR, Dec. 2 (U. P.).—Funeral services will be held Thursday for Earl W. Cottrell, 19, of near Decatur, who was fatally injured in an | automobile accident on U. S. 33 yes-

1 <

11,800 Genoa Builds | ings Damaged, As~ iy

serts Mussolini,

a 4

By JO: ALEX MORRIS | United Press Foreign Editor ] . ~ LONDON, Dec. 2.—Benite Mussolini admitted today that Italy has suffered heavy dame age in British air attacks and called on Italians: to take ta the countryside and “empty the cities” to escape increase ing = bombardment. vo He addressed the Fascist chambes of .fasces and corporations, but his speech was broadcast throughou§ Italy, Germany and satellite states, It appearéd possible that Muse solini made a major effort te appear in public as an answer te increasing reports that he is serie ously ill and had been confined te bed for two weeks.

Says Nazis Promised Guns

Mussolini’s speech was studded with frank ddmissions of the blows which Italy already has 8 3 and he admitted that graver lay ahead. He-sought to reassure his ‘countrymen with the statemetil

Hie

that Germany has promised to send i in anti-aircraft guns to fight off the allied planes, { However, in the next breath he gave virtual confirmation of reportd . abroad concerning the declining state of Italian morale, ik “There are some who are ready to believe anything and repeat the wildest rumors,” he sald. “We mus§ demand from the Italian people | what already they have spontanes. ously given—-discipline, comprehen sion and a spirit of sacrifice.” :

Admits War Weariness

In apparent recognition of the reported spread of peace sentimend and war weariness within Italy, he admitted that “discipline cannot be immune against germ-bearers in § = nation of 46,000,000 people.” 3 He revealed that Genoa was th@ = most heavily damaged of all Italian cities with 11,883 buildings dée stroyed or damaged. 2d (The German radio reported tha$ 16 trains a day were taking refugees from Genoa and that other bombed towns also were being evacuated.) . , Mussolini gave a war-long total | of 392,878 military casualties—40,219 killed, 86,238 wounded, 232,708 prise = oners and 33,713 missing. )

. Gives ‘Exact Figures’

Then he gave the figures of the damage done so far. “the exach figures compared with exaggeras i’ tions.” He gave the war-long dame ® age figures as: go Civilians killed, 1881; wounded 3332, of whom 838 were killed and 904 wounded since Nov. 23. : MILAN—EBuildings destroyed, 30f

terday.

Starts Dec.

Dec. 7 Is the first anniversary of Pearl Harbor. It is an historic

, date. And for readers of The Indianapolis Times it will have an additional interest, for on that date will begin the publication of Cecil Brown's nationally best-selling book, “Suez to Singapore.” Of all the brilliant correspondents who have covered the war, Cecil Brown stands out as one of the most spectacularly famous. Two events have contributed greatly to this. One was the action of the authorities in Singapore in barring him from broadcasting because of the candor of his comments upon the preparations for defending Malaya. A second was Brown’s memorable eye-witness report over the air of the sinking of the Repulse, of which he was a survivor, and the Prince of Wales, by Japanese planes. Since both incidents, the world has heen eager to hear more about them. $ restricted, and

Cecil Brown's Best-Seller

pore: Monday, Des.

(Continued on Page Four)

7 in The Times

terminated, the correspondent’ ability to tell the facts underlying. the disaster to Britain's “Gibraltar of the East.” And the relatively few minutes Brown had on the ras dio to describe the loss of the twa crack British war vessels obviously made it necessary to leave much untold. : Subsequently he did amplify comment, in magazine articles follow-up broadcasts from Australiag But even these were by nature frags mentary supplements. The full story could not be known un Brown could put it down, compl ly and consecutively, in a book. When that book, “Suez to S pore” appeared, readers began b ing it at the rate of 5000 copies day. Within a month it was crowding the topmost and established national favorites

non-fiction for first place on

best-seller list. Now, as ‘dem for the book continues to race ward at the same pace, the In apolis Times has obtained r publish it as a daily serial.” Watch for the first insts