Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 December 1942 — Page 1

/

i

A

| SCRIPPS ~ HOWARD §

The Indianapolis

i

Imes

&

FORECAST: Not quite so cold tonight and tomorrow forenoon, but temper atures remaining below the seasonal normal.

VOLUME 53—NUMBER 229

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1942

Indianapolis, Ind. Issued daily

Entered as Second-Class ny ee

#

Postoffice, Cept Sunday.

FINAL HOME

PRICE THREE CENTS

NAVY REVEALS 5 TRANSPORTS SUNK

SLIGHT RELIEF FROM COLD DUE

HERE TONIGHT |

‘Mercury Dips to 2 Above; i

Kerosene Heater Causes Man’s Death.

LOCAL TEMPERATURES

6 a. m. 3 10am... Sam... 4 Nam ...: 8am ,.. 3 12 (noon) ..1 Sam... 5 1pm... 1

ses

7 8 0 3

Some relief from the severe cold wave was forecast by the weather bureau today as the temperature dipped to a new low of two degrees above zero, causing at least one death here and injuries to many persons. Temperatures were expected to rise this afternoon with slightly warmer weather tonight. The city's. transit system was

loaded to capacity during the rush

hours last night and today as motorists abandoned their cars by the thousands for twa reasons—the severe weather and gasoline rationing. Transit Load Heavy

Trolleys having accommodations for 45 passengers carried as many as 80 and streetcars built to carry 80 were hauling more than 100. One N. Illinois rt. car had 133 passengers jammed on it last night. Gasoline rationing alone caused an increase of 15 per cent in passengers Tuesday and the icy streets added other thousands to the public conveyances. However, most of the trolleys and husses were running on schedule after delays 'yesterday. Walter Ferguson, 55, living in a trailer parked in N. Illinois st., his car yesterday from monoxide poisoning from a kerosene heater. His relatives have not been located. Earl Tucker, city fireman, was burned about his face while fighting a'firé"at'the J-mes Baker home, 434 Goodlett ave, yesterday.

timber. ported as serious.

Second Story Destroyed

The second story of the home was destroyed, causing damage estimated at $2000. Firemen said the flames were started apparently by a torch being used t8 thaw out water pipes. Six-year-old Rochelle Hunter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hunter, 639 Langsdale ave. suf-

fered frozen hands while on her

way to school yesterday. Jay Rothwell, 35, of 442 S. Audubon road, was burned on his right

leg while using a torch to thaw the|

radiator on his car. The burns were not serious. Robert Phillips, 34, of R. R. 18, was burned about his hands and face yesterday when some anti- . freeze solution he was putting in ( car exploded.

fon the War Fronts

(Dec. 3, 1942)

BATTLE OF ATLANTIC-—-U. S. navy communique reveals loss of five American ‘ransports, one de stroyer and four other ships in African landing operations. British lose aircrait carrier and nine smaller ships,

NORTH AFRICA—Allies engage axis int bitter battle west of Tunis, meeting stiff :esistance by Germans; British naval forces sink four axis supply ships and two destroyers en route to Tunisia; planes account for 11 more. British feel out F.ommel line.

PACIFIC—Tempo of Buna-Goha battle increasing; twenty-three Japanese planes shot down .and four enemy destroyers carrying reinforcements driven off. Japanese claim sinking of American battleship, heavy cruiser and two destroyers off Guadalcanal.

EUROPE—R. A. F. makes heavy night attack on Frankfurt.

(U. 8S. Communiques, Page Nine)

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

the rear of 1808], wai found dead in||

Hel: was struck by a blazing piece of}: His condition it not re-|

- Amusements... 24|Inside Indpls.. 17

i Ash ees cscsnne 27 Jare Jordan.. 22

BOOKS .......s 18 Men in Service 6 Clapper «..... 17 Millett ....... 18 Comics essence 31 Movies sessed 24 Crossword ... 26 | Obituaries wr 5

1 Curious World 12 | Pegler veresee 18 Editorials ese 18! Pyle esesssees 17 2!

Edson esessue 13 Radio CRLLE EN 31 . Fashions .... 22 Mrs. | Mrs. Ferguson 2 Side’ Glances, 18 - Financial .... 26 Society ... 20,

Forum .:s.... 13 Sports ... 27, 28

Freckles ..... 30/State Deaths. 13| ‘Hold Evils 17| Stokes ssseaes | Sutton

Roosevelt 17|pt

By VICTOR PETERSON

‘The colder it gets the more gas your car requires for normal running. At 7 a. m. today, when most of the people still driving cars to work were eyeing the clock and gulping their coffee, it was 4 degrees above Zero. Four gallons of gas is supposed to run a car 60 miles. But in the weather we're having right now, 'tain’t so. If you must drive these days, you are probably consuming a lot more “liquid gold” than is necessary. Curious as to ways to conserve motor fuel we stopped at the Washington Auto Sales at 400 N. Capitol ave. for a talk with Forrest (Pete) Griffin, mechanic. “The most important way to save those four -gallons this kind of weather is to keep the valves, points and spark-plugs in good condition,” Pete said. “If they aren't kept in tip-top shape, the motor won't fire efficiently. Then you have to do an excessive amount of choking . . . and buddy, that really wastes gas. “But there are lots of bad habits that the average motorist could ‘kill’ to save gas. First of all, it doesn’t do a bit of good to kill your

Productioneer Joseph H, Kautsky, a bench worker in the tool department at the Dodge plant of the Link-Belt Co., will go to Washington next week to be honored personally by President Roosevelt for his contribution to the war effort. He is one of 10 production workers throughout the country to be chosen for the honor and one of six to receive gold medals, the highest honor conferred by the war production board for. individuals engaged in war work, ie, 63-year-old worker has been

5 in the Link-Belt Co. sugges-

Hon. sysiem. He has contributed guggestions, six of which have sived the s full award. suggestion

Keep Valves, Points, Plugs Clean, Mechanic Advises

Cold Weather Tips on Gas

“Pete” Griffin eases out the choke in demonstration.

“Keep a check on the spark plugs,” he advises,

“We've got to save gasoline,” he warns,

motor by pulling out the choke. You flood the metor, the gas thins out the oil in the crank case and you use enough fuel to drive a block.”

Pete scratched his nose with a greasy finger and added, “In starting your car, push down the accelerator three or four times, switch on the ignition and punch the starter. “Then just sit for a minute and let it warm up. It will sound like it’s hitting on four or five cylinders and it is. If-you think it is going to die, ease out the choke until the rocking stops.

“Whatever you do don’t sit and race that cold motor. The gas is wasted and you hurt your motor because the oil is so thick it can’t force its way around the bearings.

“When you start driving, push in that choke. If the car bucks, ease the choke out, get the car running smoothly. Then if it bucks again pull out the choke again. Keep that up until the car runs easy. “Getting your car in high as soon as possible is another good way to save gas. And have your car set so when it idles it just keeps running.” Every time you start your car you use up enough gas to run another three or four blocks.”

{he most enthusiastic partici- &

C. OF C. TO SEEK WIDE CHANGES IN HOME RULE

Legislative Program Will Ask Unified Planning, Single Township.

Sweeping changes in city and county government were proposed today by the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce insits legislative program to be presented at the coming legislature. The program was outlined last night by William H. Book, chamber executive vice president, in an address befcre the Marion County Building Contractors association at the Athenaeum. The streamlined plan includes the following proposals:

1. Revival of a bill which pro-|¥ vides for merging the city and|:

county plan commissions into a metropolitan planning commission.

Propose Single Township

2. Granting the city sanitary dis-|’

trict the right to add other incorporated areas to itself after mutual agreement. 3. Bringing Indianapolis within a single township instead of the present set-up of five district townships. A measure providing for a metropolitan planning commission and sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce went to the legislature two

years ago but was not enacted.

Such a commission would have the authority to develop planning for the future orderly growth of homes and businesses in Marion county. If incorporated areas are added to the city sanitary district, they could be provided with the proper sewage and waste disposal through the city’s modern systems. Mr. Book stated that his organization has been insistent that the city should not annex an area unless it proceeds forthwith to extend

all Loity, seryiges. SATIRE "Cites ‘Sorry Example’ He cited the annexation of University Heights as a “sorry example of annexation without resulting city services.” After many years inside the city, University Heights still has no. proper sanitary sewage system, he said. The realigning of township lines would provide for one administration of poor relief and one machinery for assessing all property for taxation. Mr. Book said that such a plan is a mere beginning—that the entire structure of local government needs to be completely modernized and that this would come when public opinion 1s aroused sufficiently to impress the need on elected officials. “Eventually a closer relationship between the city and county governments will be undertaken,” he said. “Perhaps an aid to this would be the establishment of a method whereby the city can sell its services to outlying areas not yet ripe for annexation. At least this rep(Continued on Page Eight)

PLAN ALARM TEST EVERY SATURDAY

Mayor Calls for Whistle, Siren Blasts at Noon.

The city’s air raid alarm system will be tested every Saturday noon until further notice, Mayor Sullivan announced today. Whistles and sirens all over the city will be sounded exactly at 12 o'clock noon next Saturday for one minute and repeated each Saturday thereafter. All clear signals will be sounded five minutes after the alarm. “These tests are to familiarize residents with the alarm signals and to make sure they can be heard by

everyone,” Mayor Sullivan said.

Link-Belt Worker Will Be Honored by President

_ the honor.

~ He leaves for Washington for the

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kautsky . . Mrs. Kautsky is proud. ,

was one for higher speed in grinding Lug An active part In the/Huglen, TREY iloo Rave ne $|and machine operations. i ‘Mrs, Kautsky

t won the honor (N. Sheridan ave., and two of their|tion department at Marion Her- |g.

Sr Sh is proud of her

‘Little Guy’ Is Little Girl

Bond Drive Opens On Her Birthday

NEW YORK, Dec. 3 (U. P.).— The “little guy” on war bond posters is a girl and her birthday is Dec. T—the day the new bond drive begins. The U. S. treasury department admitted today it had made a mistake and that the almost bald baby with a quizzigal look in her eyes is 2-year-old Linda Petersen of New York, Her picture, taken when she was 10 months old, will appear on 16,000 posters in motion picture theater lobbies Dec. T over lines - reading “give us little guys a | chance,” and “make sure he grows up a free man.” . Linda’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Petersen, took the situation gracefully. © They said the treasury wasn’t the first fooled by Linda’s babyhood appearance. She since has grown curly blond locks which definitely mark her as a young lady.

KANSAS HOUSEWIFE SINGS FOR LILY PONS

Achieves Overnight Fame As Opera Star.

NEW YORK, Dec. 3 (U. P.).—Because Lily Pons had a cold, an unknown Kansas housewife was cat-

apulted to stardom at the Metropolitan opera house last night.

Ten days ago, Marie Wilkins of Lawrence, Kas, had never sung “Lakme,” never appeared in opera in this country, and was just another promising girl badgering the Metropolitan opera for a chance. Today, she is the girl who took over Lily Pons’ role on 24 hours notice, and sang it so well that a full house applauded and the critics approved. “But boy,” she said, “if only Iget a chance to sing it again without a day and a night of rehearsals immediately before.” Her chance came about through a series of cdincidences. Last year she competed on the Metropolitan auditions of the air without winning. Three weeks ago she came back to New York to try her luck in the auditions again. Pelletier, music master at the Met, suggested she. learn the soprano role in “Lakme.” day of this week, he called her and (Continued on Page Four)

~ “I don't see why they are doing so much for what seems like so little,” he said when informed of “But if it serves as an inspiration to others, it will mean a lot to me.” Fellow employees, company officials and labor leaders have praised his achievements, and he will be honored. at the plant's Pearl Harbor day observance Monday before

Americans arial; only Pr Kautsky and Lam pind of

On Mon-|

MANPOWER J0B GOING BEGGING

Ickes Refusal May Mean McNutt Will Stay On,

Despite Criticism.

. By DANIEL M. KIDNEY Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3—It appeared today that Paul V. McNutt may remain in his post as man“commissioner because the president has found it is a job nobody else wants to tackle. “The White House plan to shift the former Indiana governor to the cabinet as secretary of interior, and make of Interior Secretary Ickes secretary of labor and give him the manpower assignment, fell through when Ickes balked at the job. He took the new oil administrator assignment instead. : Now speculation is rife here as to who may be given the manpower asignment, since Mr. McNutt’s handling of it has brought almost constant criticism. A. F. of L. President William Green and C. I. O. President Philip Murray, who had approved the Ickes shift, conferred with the president again today and predicted an announcement on the new manpower program “very quickly.” They were, understood to have recommended Daniel Tobin of Indianapolis, president of the A. F. of L. Teamsters’ union, for the position. He was with them this morning. A third Hoosier, Wayne Coy, now assistant director of the budget, is also being rumored as a possible choice for the job. Mr. Coy today said he did not think he would be appointed and expressed the view that Mr. McNutt would stay on.

TYNDALL FILLS TWO

MORE KEY POSITIONS

Mayor-elect Robert H. Tyndall today turned his attention to hoard appointments, after filling two more key positions in his coming administration late yesterday. He announced that Edward G. Hereth, a former president of the Indianapolis Merchants’ association, would be city purchasing agent and that Harry Calkins, former local newspaperman, would serve as his secretary. The mayor-elect, who takes office on Jan. 1, is still studying the qualifications of the applicants for chief of police and probably will not announce that appointment until shortly before he takes office. It is reported that Lieut. Noel Jones and Clifford Beeker, bailiff in the court of Police Judge John Niblack, are the leading contenders for the chief’s post, at present, at least. In commenting on the Hereth appointment, Gen. Tyndall said (Continued on Page Eight)

“SHOPPING DAYS Pe =

TO BUY A

— DOLL FoR SUE =

OFF N.

~

found them “light.”

other naval vessels damaged.

one destroyer.

light.” Canadian, Polish, Dutch and

man said these were the only losses reported to Washington so far. The British lost another destroyer off Tunisia

yesterday. A U. 8. navy spokesman said that casualties on the sunken transports were ‘very small” He said he understood troops had been debarked from all five ships before they were sunk. The communique stated that next of kin were being notified as rapidly as information on casualties was received. The fact that the ships apparently were close to shore had presumably kept personnel losses down. All the American ships sunk were lost as a result of .torpedoing by enemy Submarines, which were present in the area in large numbers. The sunken transports, all former liners in the American flag service, were the Tasker H. Bliss, Hugh L. Scott, the Edward Rutledge, the Joseph Hewes and the Leedstown. The first three were sunk off Casablanca The Hewes went down off

» » »

By HARRISON SALISBURY United Press Staff Correspondent Allied forces in North Africa today were locked in heavy battle with powerfully-reinforced Nazi contingents in what appeared to be the fiercest engagement of the drive into Tunisia. Aiding the allied troops in their land combat, the royal navy reported the destruction of an axis Tunisia-bound convoy included four laden supply ships and two destroyers. The convoy was. sent to the bottom by a squadron of cruisers and destroyers which suffered the loss of one destroyer when attacked later by axis planes.

“ " »

MOSCOW, Dec. 3 (U. P.).—Russian forces have captured Verchneone of the Germans’

5 OTHER SHIPS WERE DAMAGED

AFRICA

British Lose Plane Carrier, Nine Smaller Vessels From Armada of 850 Ships; One Duteh Destroyer Sunk.

(Today's War Moves, Page 11) By UNITED PRESS

The United States and British navies today counted up their losses in the landing of troops in North Africa and

The United States lost five transports sunk and five

Great Britain lost an aircraft carrier, two destroyers and seven smaller ships sunk. The Netherlands navy lost

A, V. Alexander, British first lord of the admiralty, said that the losses of 16 ships was less than had been expected when the expedition was planned and that, in view of the magnitude of the operation, the losses ‘are considered

The allied armada reportedly consisted of at least 850 vessels—350 warships and 500 transports, cargo ships, tank‘ers and auxiliaries. The number of U. S| ships participating ‘has never been announced. Many Nationalities Help Most of the escorting ships were British, but American,

Norwegian warships assisted

the royal navy. British, American, Belgian, Dutch, Norwegian and Polish merchant vessels were.in the convoy, Alexander told parliament today. There was nothing to indicate whether today’s announcement showed the full extent of American naval losses in the gigantic operation.

However, a naval spokes-

Rabat and the Leedstown was sunk off Algiers.

The damaged ships included ifn,

other transports, a destroyer and a

tanker The navy did mot them or say how their damages. The tonnage of the lost ships aggregated 52,946. The sinkings raised the total of U. S. naval losses in the Atlantic and Pacific in this war to 74 ships.

British losses were the small air- .

craft carrier Avenger, the antiaircraft escort ship Tynwald, the destroyers Martin and Broke, the corvette Gardenia, two cutters, the sloop Ibis, the depot ship Hecla, and a minesweeper, he said. The Dutch lost the destroyer Isaac Sweers. Mr. Alexander announced at the same time that British naval forces in the Mediterranean have. destroyed 14‘ axis supply ships and four protecting destroyers and damaged another seven, including” a cruiser since the allied landing in North Africa. He said that axis (Continued on Page Four)

5 x =»

Tunisia Nazis Reinforced; | British Smash Supply Ships

This blow boosted axis losses in the Mediterranean since the opening of the offensive to 14 supply

N

they sustained

N WN

ships and four destroyers sunk plus -

another sever ships, large cruiser, In addition London revealed that at least 30 attacks on axis submarines had been carried out damage or destruction of the target.

At the eastern end of the allied

Mediterranean pincers British American planes rained

devastating blows against Maria) Erwin Rommel’s supply line, ing or smashing at least 11 ships

and possibly more in a sweeping series of air attacks. Reports on the land fighting iy (Continued on Page Four)

Russians Retake German's Key Base on Don ee

most important bases on the east |v, bank of the Don river, in a sudden en |

including a

with.

is