davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20
Spreading Naval War Of Europe
 May Be Violating Neutral Laws
Americans Prepare Plans to Put Teeth Into Neu.
 trality Act
Acme Radolphoto.
By JOE ALEX MORRIS United Press Foreign News Editor)

(Uniteu Press Foreign News EditOr)
 The Americas preparted plans to put teeth Into their neutrality ace cord today as 6 safeguard against Europe's spreading naval war.
 The scuttling Of the German luxury liner Columbus 480 miles of Cape May, N. J.. the British cruiser Orion's pursuit of the German freighter Arauca Into Florida wa- ters and the battle that wrecked the pocket battleship Graf Spec of Uruguay emphasized the increasing dangers to neutrals In the western hemisphere and reportedly prompt- cd decisions to drive the belligerents from Americas back yard.
 At Washington 1t was understood that the United States, Brazil and Argentina had moved to impose penalties on violators of the safety zone set up around the Americas by the Pan-American conference and in addition to protesting the belligerent actions within the zone would propose to refuse aid in the future to any belligerent warshir that violates the neutral zone. Such sanctions against naval war in American waters would be com paratively easy to enforce in e passive manner and would not re- quire any offensive actions by the American nations.
 (Continued on Page 9
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20
Local Stores Are Having Biggest. Trade In Years

Waterbury's stores are enjoying their best Christmas business since 1928, Secretary Frank J. Green of the Chamber of Commerce said today. He reported that retail bus mess has been better than at any time since the bloom" days of the pre-depression period. Bushes has been extraordinary" reclared Green. Reports. coming into our office in dicate that even the mer- chants are amazed at Its volume. It's ahead of any Christmas season since 1923. Some stores, report they've hardly been able to keep up with the rush." i.ss e
 The volume of business has, forced a number of downtown stores to add more extra employees to those already hired for the holiday sea- son. Order after order for additional stock has gone out:
 Mir, Greens report of excellent business was supported by Joseph Sugcnheimer. chairman of the Mer- chants Bureau of the Chamber of Commerce. Enthusiastic reports are coming in from all sides. he said.
 Though tnbnlnfinne arc not conn plel4. it z hNiieNsd 1lAl sn4 peak nn VI TOW NNs zfzeNsd 'z*s '1tr
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20

urday, as thousand thronged the stores. Fine business was reported again Monday and yesterday. Rainy weather today kept down the crowds but many shoppers were expected down town late this afternoon and tonight. s7
 The stores will be open not only tonight until 9 o'clock, but until the same hour each evening through Saturday..
 There has been a particularly heavy demand for toys and a num- Der of items have been completely sold out. Efforts to secure additional shipments have not been generally successful, because of hundreds of orders to the manufacturers from other cities.
 Merchants report that the shop pers are seeking not only gifts, but that other articles are in great de- mand as well, among them clothing, furniture and household equipment and accessofies The increased trade has been felt in virtually every line or retail business.
 Additional heavy tFale e anDect- Cd between now and closing time saturday night As iae1snAInllle pslk~ NHaeHs gre <@sE@e " s'z
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20

the Evening News said in discussing the developments inside the neu- tral zone, including the scuttl!ng of the German liner Columbus while Q British warship and on American cruiser stood by.
 The Manchester Guardian asked how the American states could enc force their declared neutral zone and said that unless they strictly barred all warships by force they could not object to Allied warships entering the zone ina order to pro- tect Allied shipping. s Blazing Headlines
 The neutral zone question came up In newspapers that reported in blazing headlines that the Colum- bus had gone to the bottom to join the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spec in Q suicide death.
 "The neutral zone is @ flop,' said the Evening News, predicting that one of the first results of the Graf Spec action may Do to end the zone Idea.
 "There are many who will breathe A sight of relief for that. The United States Navy has been most apprehensive of trouble that the zone might cause 1t ever since 1t was first proposed and was most bitter against the politicians for having agreed to the zone when It was mooted by some of the smaller Latin American republics.
 U. $. Fleet Only One
 "They foresaw that the United States fleet was the only one suf- ficiently strong to be of the least use in enforcing the neutrality zone and, If 1t did so, 1t would have to face some of the most awk- ward questions.
 Technically, any ofiiccr who took steps would be guilty Of piracy for, under international law, he would not have the slightest right to take any action outside territorial wa ters of the United States.
 "The British navy could not let the Germans regard the neutrality zone as Q Tom Tiddlers Ground in which 1t could sink British ships with impunity but could not be touched themselves so 1t is likely the whole scheme will fall to pieces and nobody will be sorry
 The scuttling of the big liner and the pocket battleship and the flight into Port Everglades, Fla, Of the German freighter Arauca were held
 (Continued on Page q
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20
SURVIVORS ARE
 ON WAY TO N. Y.
U. s. Cruiser Tuscaloosa Has 579 of Columbus
 Crew on Board
BY JOSEPH |. MYLER

United Press Stan COrrespOndent)
 New York, Dec. 20.-(UP) The United States cruiser Tuscaloosa ar- rives this afternoon with 579 of the crew of the giant German liner Columbus whose master preferred to sink his own ship than surrender here to the British navy.
 The Tuscaloosa was conveniently close yesterday afternoon when a British destroyer came boiling over the horizon 430 miles of Cape Henry, Va. and bore down on the 32,OO0-ton Columbus, third largest ship in the German merchant marine.
 Reports from the scene of the newest sea war drama were sparse, but American and British naval re- ports indicated that Captain Wil- helm Baehne, master of the Colunn- bus, promptly ordered the sea cocks opened and the ship set on fire. His men took to 22 life boats and from these boats the Tuscaloosa picked up 570 men and nine women.
 When the Tuscaloosa turned her sleek prov toward New York ct . 2. m. last night, the Columbus was ablaze from bow to poop and the 22
 ff.naflnstna nss pann fl
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20
Convicted of Attempting to Extort S5,0OO From
 Former Mayor Hayes
REASONS FOR APPEAL
 ATTACHED TO CALL.
United States Circuit Court of Appeals Will Next Try
 Out the Case

The case of Fibre Massucci, who is charged with having attempted to extort $5,000 from former Mayor Frank Hayes, has been appealed to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals at New York. It was learned today that Attorney Joseph Navin and Hugo Gustaferri, Mas succi's lawyers, have filed notice of their appeal In the United States court at New Haven.
 The grounds of appeal are based OH a claim that there was lack of discretion in handling the hearing on motion for Q new trial before Judge Carroll 0. Hincks In the United States court ct New Haven two weeks ago.
 Hits At Judge Hlncks
 The motion sets forth that on sev- erai occasions during the hearing that Judge Hincks refused to listen to Attys. Navin and dustaferri on matters that were pertinent to the case and that the attitude of the court throughout the case was an. tagonistic toward them.
 Tho appeal sets forth that the very opening remarks of Judge Hincks indicated lack of discretion,
 Another ground of appeal Is that the government failed to subpoena Samuel Pickering, Federal Bureau of Investigation handwriting ex- pert, who it Is claimed was on es. sentiai witness,
 Written Motion
 At the opening of the case Judge Hincks told the local attorneys that he believed their written motion, which he held, was insufficient. He pointed to tho fact In Paragraph 3, the attorneys indicated" they had discovered two negatives but did not claim it.
 The negatives were those of pic- lures taken. showing Suppl Roach holding the extortion note and one of an imprint of q pad on which the note was written. it was the claim of Massucci's counsel that there was . difference in the note being held and an imprint on pad on which tho extortion note was writ-
 (continued on Page 9
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20
War Bulletins


 Berlin, Dec. 20-tUP)-German alrplanes have destroyed 2S British "outpost ships" within the last three days, ths German high com. mand said today. The reference was to the small ships of trAwler tpye which German planes have been bombing in the North sea.
 The communique of the high command said:
 "Under the most difficult ceadi- tions the air force carried out reeonnaissance and attacks against naval objectives In the North seq. According to reports thus far four light British navy ships have been destroyed by bomb hits. A German reconnaissance plane attacked and shot down . large British flying boat"
 It was believed that the -four light British navy ships" were trawlers.
 (Continued on Page 9
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20
First Printed Copies
 Of Budget Are Issued
Final Form Will Present Several Changes That Were Voted By Board of Aldermen-S6, l59,O22.72
 Is Total Amount Asked

First printed copies of the official city budget were available today, with the remainder due from the printer Saturday morning, The bud- get in It's final form includes 6 mum. Der of changes In various Items vot- ed by the board of aldermen before finally adopting 1t at special meeting last Thursday night.
 Appropriations of $6, 69,022,72 arc called for in the budget, with the tax rate set at 32.5 mills, The grand list Is fixed at $i6e 100000.
 Tho budget as recommended by the board of finance listed appro- priations of $6,i5e,s72.72, with the same 32b mill tax rate. The total appropriations were increased by only Si60, but new items were pro. vided by reducing other appropria- tions, notably those for payment on the floating debt, and interest on the temporary and floating debt. These reductions allowed the estab- lishment of . $ie,500 item as the city's share of the cost of the erec- ton of Q gymnasium at Anderson school as WPA project and the (Continued on Page c)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20
BRITISH CRUISER
 FACING CHARGES
Nazi Captain of Pursued German Freighter Says
 Law Was Violated
By H. !. ARoNsTAM

United Press Staff Correspondent
 Fort Lauderdale, Fla, Dec. 20.-- UP)--Federal maritime authorities tried to determine today whether a British cruiser had entered Ameri- can territorial waters to fire shot at a German freighter.
 The master of the freighter, Cap- tain Frederick Stengler. who outran the warslnip to reach the sanctuary of this port, said 1t had. He also charged that a war plane from the cruiser had flown over his ship while he was anchored just outside the harbor waiting for a pilot.
 There seemed no doubt that the cruiser-identtfied as the Orion had fired one shot at Stengler's ship. the 4.354 ton Arauca. The witnesses ashore heard the conclusion, saw the
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20

But orders from Berlin-reportedM ly from Adolf Hitler himself-decid- cd his course and on Sunday eve- ming he took the battleship out and touched of the blast that exploded her in flames.
 He saw all of the wounded men from the Graf Spee-which he had commanded since 1888 - safely ashore: he saw the dead buried and the remainder taken aboard rescue vessels and transported to Buenos Aires.
 He stood at attention as the GraS Spec burst into flames and he came ashore at the Argentine naval port with . grim smile on his lean face and a firm handshake for those who greeted him at the pier. Then he and his men were interned.
 There were some hostile coni- ments. There were newspapers in Paris and London which wondered why Langsdorf had not gone down with his ship.
 But the commander of the Graf Spec gave no indication that he knew of such comment and quietly retired last night to his room at the immigrants hotel, which is a group Of large buildings directly back of the main customs house.
 (Continued on Page 4
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20

Washington, Dec. 20-(UP)--Gov. ernment expenses and receipts for the current fiscal year through Dec 18th, compared with year ago: This Year Expenses Last Year $4,467,S24, ,726.04 s4,199,476,771.9e
 Receipts s2,5s2, ,919,2 ,2so.15 s2,7i6,s39, ,0ss.27
 Cross Deficit s1.s74sO5. .4s5.ss s1,is2.ss7.ss2.71 s1.s5s.Osi,7s5.ss sl.4so. .ss7ssal7r
 Cash Balance $2.562, ,046, ,461.1S O,S75.0gi.7e
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20
THE WORLD WAR 25 YEARS AGO,
 DEC. 20, 1914
By United Press)

First Battle of Champagne be- gun; French attacked en front 2e miIes east os Rheims.
 Russian army checked German advance Into Poland an m&mKA river @ miles Ekam WeEsaN.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20
Langsdorff Obeyed Orders Of Hitler To Scuttle Ship Would Have Preferred To Fight It Out
British Press Scoffs At Naval Safety Zones
Doubt Ability of American Nations to Enforce Such Law-Brtish Papers Bazed With Headlines
 Today on Columbus Sinking
BY WALLACE CARROLL United Press Staff Correspondent

London December 20. - (UP) - The British press today cast doubt on the ability of the American ratons to enforce safety around the Western Hemisphere and the Evening News said that the PanAmercan neu- traty precautions "a flop" "It is likely the whole scheme will fall pieces and that nobody will be sorrY
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20
Christmas Carols
 Through the Ages
JOY. TO THE woRLDi

JOY. TO THE WORLDi "Joy to the world! the Lord
 is come;
 Let earth receive her King"
 Words to this spirited carol were paraphrased by Isaac Watts from the 9eth Psalm in i7i0. The original psalm-tune was later re- placed by an adaptation of parts of Handel's "Messiah." Watts, frail and in Ill health from over work, composed many of his nu- merous hymns while writhlng in pain on a sickbed.
 { 2 Shobbihg Days 1 TilI Christmas
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20
The Weather

Cloudy, Rain Tonight; Thur. Cloudy, Colder Full weather Report on Page 3
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20

tcontfnued on Page 9
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20
TREASURY BALANCE

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-20

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Smyrna times., 1939-03-30
EARLY SE1AD SEASON
COMMENCES

Seventy-five fine shad, caught in
the lower Delaware, were in the
fish market at Spruce street, Phil
adelphia, ON Saturday. They were
quickly disposed of to dealers for
so cents each. 1t is said to have
been several years since so many
shad have been caught at one time
so early in the season. In former
years a stray shad has been occa-
sionally caught in Delaware Bay
much earlier than this, but the
regular run" did not begin until
much later. The opinion seems to
be general that the run" of shad
will begin earlier this year than
usual, as there are but little snow
and ice in the upper Delaware to
melt and come down. Fresh Shad
are in the Northern markets as
early as January, Florida begin
ming to send hers first by fast
freight; followed by the Savannah
production; then the North Caro-
lima and Virginia season opens and
continues until the Delaware bay
and river fish are in season. The
market is now supplied with North
Carolina shad. If the present mild
weather continues the receipts will
increase, and North Carolina shad
are expected to hold the market
until the middle of April, no mat
ter how early the Delaware season
opens. It is said that North Car
olina shad caught in the Afternoon
are offered for sale in the Philadel,
phia market the next morning.
Smyrna times., 1939-03-30
VOTING DEVICE
BILL IN SENATE
Measure Would Require Levy
Court, Election Department
To Supply Devices
OTHER MEASURES

Use of voting machines in Della
ware would be legalized under the
provisions of a bill introduced Fri
day afternoon by Senator William
Jennings Poore, should it become
a law. 1t was presented as a sub
stitute for a skeleton bill intro
duced during the rush before the
deadline on admission of new bust
ness. The Senate ordered 200
copies of the measure printed. The
proposed act specifies that in cleo
ton districts where there are less
than $50 registered voters there
would be one machine. In districts
with 800 voters or less there would
be two machines and in districts
with 1,200 voters there would be
three machines. The Levy Court
in each county and the Depart
ment of Elections in Wilmington
would have to provide the voting
machines and have charge of
them.
The Senate passed by unanim-
Gus vote the House bill to require
license fee of S25 day for itin-
Grant or transient photographers.
1t also gave its unanimous approx
al to the House bill providing reg
ulations for sale and possession of
habit forming drugs which are not
Lxr Irt,r
laws. Senator George r. Clark S
bill to authorize salary increases
for state policemen was passed by
vote of Is to one. Senator Der
rickson was the only member to
oppose the measure. Senator
Moore replied not voting on the
roll call. Under this measure state
policemen would be allowed an in
crease of S5 a month for each two
years of service up to 20 years. 1t
also would make it necessary to
pay them on the first and fifteenth
of each month. The present sal
ary rate of state policemen is:
Captains, $500; lieutenants, $3.50;
sergeans, $170; corporals, $160;
privates, $3.50.
Senator Burton S. Heals bill to
make the blue hen chicken the of
Ificial bird of Delaware received the
unanimous approval of the Senate
After it had been passed, Senator
G. Leslie Gooden had stricken
from the calendar his bill to make
the great blue heron the official
bird.
| Senator B. F. Simmons submit
ted report on recent poll OF
Kent County farmers which show
ed more than 260 of them are ir
favor of retaining the present
Game and Fish Commission.
Smyrna times., 1939-03-30
man, sharpshooter, and expert,

man, sharpshooter, and expert,
identical with those worn by Reg
ular Army soldiers, are awarded to
c. M. I. c. students who attain
proficiency. Firing for these
awards follows preliminary work
on the drill field and shooting on
the small bore range.
Young men between II and "a
years are eligible for the camps.
Candidates must bes of good moral
character and sound physique. All
expenses are paid by the Govern
ment, including transportation to
camp and return, wholesome food,
uniforms, athletic equipment, loun-
dry service, and medical attention.
The camps run for thirty days.
Local youths without prior train
ing will be assigned as basic stu
dents at the camp opening July 6
at Ft. Dix, N. ]. Among residents
of Smyrna Clayton who have ap-
piled for enrolment are: Jimmie
Turner, VIM. Pomichalek, Charles
Stewart.
Smyrna times., 1939-03-30
DEATH OF

THOMAS j. ENOS, ODESSA
Thomas j. Enos of Odessa, but
well known in Smyrna, having
learned his trade and married his
wife here, daughter of the late
Capt. Humphreys, died at his
home on Tuesday 18th inst, in the
72nd year of his age. He was
born and his boyhood was spent in
Thoroughfare Neck, but he learn
ed the trade of cabinet maker in
Smyrna, under Alexander FAIRIES.
His parents name were Abraham
and Sarah Enos, both of whom he
lost, by death at an early age. In
the year of 1910 he went to Odes-
sa, and started the business of
cabinet making. Two sons, Joseph
H., who is the junior member of
the firm, and DR.. T. A. Enos, of
Townsend, survive him, having
lost his wife few years since.
The funeral took place on Friday
amid large gathering of friends.
Rev. r. c. Jones conducted the
services. Nearly every place of
business in Odessa was closed out
Of respect for the deceased.
Smyrna times., 1939-03-30

street, rainy or icy conditions the
dangers at crosswalks and places
where it is possible for a pedes
trian to appear suddenly in tba
path. Finally, if there is anv-
thing in the argument of priority
let it be remembered that man wae
not created for the automobile bpt
the automobile for man.
The pedestrian owes duty also
He must exercise reasonable cara
for his own safety. He must mako
reasonable use of his senses ~
sight and hearing, give heed to
ordinary indication of danger and
not walk blindly into it. There
are temptations which assaiI manv
pedestrians. One is to cross he
tween blocks. Another is to cross
one way streets at the wrong time
and place. There are other in
stances where pedestrians 60 de-
liberately into the highway and
dodge cars to try to save time
When a man does this he courts
death.
Smyrna times., 1939-03-30
STATE SAFETY
COUNCIL NEWS
Rights of Pedestrians and the
Duty of Motor Vehicle
Operators
MOTORISTS RIGHTS TOO

What are the pedestrians rights
in a highway or street? What are
the duties of vehicle operators to-
ward him? What duty does he
owe to them? According to the
Delaware Safety Council, it is an
established principle of law that
pedestrians and automobile drivers
have, aside from statute or ordin-
ance otherwise changing the rule,
equal rights in the use Of the pub
lie highways, including streets.
But each must conduct himself
with Difference to the rights of the
other and must exercise reasonable
care to avoid injuring the other
and to insure his own safety. The
operator of an automobile is re-
quired to keep a careful lookout
for pedestrians. In such places as
they may appear at any time, the
duty to watch for them is con-
slant. He is bound to see persons
in the street ahead of him when
his view is unobstructed and to
have his machine under control. It
is conceded that a motor vehicle is
dangerous instrumentality and
that it's operation must be attend
ed with a great deal of caution, es-
pecially with reference to pedes-
trians.
The operator is required to rec
ognize conditions which intensity
risks, such as the circumstance of
many pedestrians being in the
Smyrna times., 1939-03-30

The Philadelphia Recordd of
yesterday had the following: 'E.
Thielens, of this city, who is inter-
ested with the New Jersey Central
Railroad in the Baltimore and Del
aware Bay railroad across the Del
aware Peninsula, is considering
plans for running an excursion
steamer from Bambay Hook, on
Delaware Bay, to Cape May Point.
A boat now runs from Baltimore
to Colchester Beach, there con-
Meeting with the Baltimore and
Delaware Bay Railroad. BY the
establishment of these connections
the trip can be made from Ralti-
more to Cape May within five
hours, and the long journey from
Philadelphia will be avoided"
Smyrna times., 1939-03-30
C. NJ. L. TRAINING CAMPS
1t. John w. McFaddin Urges
Young Men to Apply for Camps

Local young men were urged to
apply at once for enrolment in the
Citizens Military Training Camps
by 1t. John w. MacFaddin of Do
yer, chairman of the county COM
mittee in charge of c. M. T. G.
registration, in an announcement
stressing the fact that the quota
assigned this county reserves camp
vacancies until April 1. Opportun-
ity to learn to shoot a regulation
Army rifle or AS automatic pistol
while attending the G. M. t. G. is
proving one of the most attractive
prospects that appeal to candi-
dates for the camps, the county
chairman said. Regular Army in
structors in charge Of the marks
manship are especially expert in
teaching the young men how to
handle firearms with safety, both
to themselves and to others.
Medals for ratings of marks