davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-17
Nazi Agent, Otto Abetz, Breaks Quickly Into French "Embroglio"
Hitler Is Very Much in Doubt That France, With Laval Banished From
 Cabinet, Will Follow German Plans
By JOE ALEX MORRIS United Press Foreign News EditOr)

Adolf Hitler, acting through his agent, Otto Abetz, today moved forcefully into the dramatic - but still obscure = French situation.
 His first achievement the release from com fnement of Pierre Laval, busted French vicepremeF and leading exponent of Franco-German 'collabora. tion," possibly even to the extent of French dec- laration of war on Great Britain.
 Lavaps release was accompanied by revealing Nazi statement in Berlin which expressed "extraord- nary interest," in LavaEs dismissal and determines ton to examine the motives" behind the weekend drama in which he succeeded foreign minister by Pierre Etienne Flandin.
 Doubt of Vichy Government
 Nazs said that the events raised the question whether or not France will continue the European policy The european policy" German euphemism employed to describe Hitlers concept of Nazidominated European order Laval had bent his efforts toward securing for France major position in that order and the German statement seemed to hint at doubts that the vchy govern nen minus Laval would continue this policy The events in France appeared to be moving swiftly toward new drama. Abetz Htlers high commissioner for France who holds the rank of ambassador arrived at Vchy late yester day Paris in swift motor car guarded by German soldiers armed with Sub-machine guns
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-17
METERS TO WAIT
 FOR OPERATION
Will Not Be in Action Until After Holidays Is Offl=
 cial Word


 Operation of parking meters in the downtown section will probably not be started untilafter Christmas. Police Superintendent William J. Roach said today. The meters were originally to have been placed in service yesterday, but delays were met and it is now planned to begin installing the actual meters on the standards tomorrow. This work will probably not be completed until Monday or Tuesday the Superin- tendent said, and enforcement of the meter regulation will not begin until Thursday, the 18th or later.
 Merchants express themselves as highly pleased with the parking meter plan, Superintendent Roach said. Many of them have seen the meters in operation in New Haven and have been impressed by them, he said, and they believe that their installation here will aid their bus mess by making more parking space available during the day. There have been very few complaints, Superintendent Roach says.
 Samples In Operation
 Two sample meters are now tl
 (Continued on Page A
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-17
Greeks, Italians In Struggle To Climax
Heavy Snow, Ice Are Holding Up Greek Advance; Italy Says Fighting Is Continuing On All Sectors.
 Fiercely as Ever
BY BEN AMES United Pres sStaff Correspondent


 Athens, Greece, December IT. = (UP) = Greek troops have captured Mount Skivovik, four miles north east of Chimara on the Adriatic coast, and have repulsed seven Ital- ian counter-attacks there, gov ernment spokesman said today.
 The peak dominates the coastal area. It is F miles northwest of Argyrokastron, 16 miles southwest of Tepelini, at the headwaters of the Sukitsa River, which tumbles through rugged gorges to the coast 10 miles north of the Port of Va Iona. The capture was said to be more important than any in the area since that of Argyrokastron, former Italian base.
 Reports of the capture. of Tepe- lini and Chimara, circulated yes terday at the Jugoslav border town of Struga, still were not confirmed in AthenS)
 Fighting centered in mountains now on virtually every front. In the Skivovik sector, the Greeks were said to have encountered such heavy snow and ice that they advanced by means of improvised Alpinstocks and ropes. In the Tepelini sector it was so cold that machine -gunnerS were handicapped by numbed fling CTS. Farther north, wolves came down from the peaks in search of food and approached the Greek Bivouac fires. The Greeks shot many of them.
 Still Use BayOnets
 Wherever possible, Greek infan- trymen continued to advance with bayonets. Tn one sector, it was said, an Italian colonel was killed by sniper and his regiment tried to flee, but many were captured when an icy river blocked their way and others were trapped and cap tured in snow-filled rayines.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-17
BRITISH BOMBS
 HIT MANNHEIM
Seven Hours of Smashing Last Night; Peace Feel=
 CTS Rumored Again

London, Dec. 17.-(UP) = Long range British bombing planes bombed Mannheim, Germany, inn portant commercial and trading center on the Rhine, for seven hours last night, leaving their target a mass of flames, the air ministry said today.
 Bright moonlight made the Mann helm targets clearly visible. One of the principal factories in Mannheim, which also is a great railroad center, was straddled by bursting bombs.
 Mannheim, in the industrial Ruhr Valley, has been bombed 29 times since the war began.
 In the suburb of Lugwigshaven an aniline dye factory, one of the larg- est in Germany, was fired and the blaze still was visible half hour after the raiders left for home.
 The ministry said that bombs also were dropped in railway yards in Mannheim and along the banks of the Rhine"
 "A particularly violent explosion was observed at Neckarstadt, an other suburb of Mannheim" the ministry said. By 3:30 a. m. the whole targe: area was a mass oi flames. At Speyer, a town south oi Mannheim, aircraft factory buildings were hit and targets at Heilbronr on the Neckar were set af1re."
 Other British planes again at tackled the German submarine base at Bordeaux, France, the ministry said, and daylight raids were made yesterday on German airdromes an6 six merchant vessels of the French coast.
 IfHoaatt,,1ari o,, Iaoe Al
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-17
PERSONS
 DIED IN BLAST
Two Buildings in Cincin= nati Wrecked; Scores
 Trapped in Ruins

Cincinnati, O., Dec. 17-(UP)-An explosion wrecked two downtown shop and apartment buildings in which score of persons were sleep ing today.
 At least eight persons were killed and rescue workers dug into the ruins for additional bodies of per- sons trapped who still might be alive.
 Police at first believed the explo- sion had been caused by escaping gas, but later were told by one of the tenants that somebody had been fooling with acid" in the base ment of one of hte buildings. Dam- age was estimated as well above $4O,0oO.
 The explosion at 3:25 a. m, smashed windows and rocked build ings for blocks on all sides and raised a pail of smoke and dust.
 The first bodies recovered were identified as those of Dora Smith, g, and Joseph P. Koebbe, B, pro- |prietor of an appliance shop in one of the market center buildings. Later the besfies Of .aTe tinideIiti. fled boy, about 9, and an unidenti- Tried girl, about 8, were recovered.
 Brought Out Alive
 Rescuers brought several occu- pants of the building out alive. The first nine extricated from the ruins were rushed to a hospital where their injuries, strangely enough, were said to be minor
 The first person removed from the debris was two-year-old Patsy Roy, who had been struck on the head by a brick. She was weeping but appeared to have suffered only a few cuts and bruises.
 Police said an "act of God" pro- tected one family of five from fal- ling joistS and all of them, taken to a hospital, appeared uninjured except for shock.
 Persons at the scene where fire men, policemen and volunteers dug frantically for the trapped nsen and women described the wrecked build ings ''as just like London after a bomb hit house."
 Patrolmen Tom Kaufman and Louis Koehnke were on beats with in two blocks of the building when they heard ''woof" and "muSh' (rOntinJ1ed on Pace Al
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-17
PRESIDENT IS UNDECIDEDON BRITISH HELP Whether Loans or Gifts to Britain Is Problem
 to Be Solved CONGRESS- MUST ACT
 ON FINANCIAL AID If Any Money Does GO, Abroad It Must Come
 From U. s. Govt.
BY LYLE c. WILSON United Press Staff Correspondent)


 United Press Staff Correspondent
 Washington, December IT. - (UP) -- A formal British request for American finan- cial assistance today con- fronted President Roosevelt with a problem suddenly and acutely complicated by the question whether th e r e should be loans or outright gifts.
 A movement for outright gifts is developing some momentum ccinci- dent with hints of darmatic action to step LID national re-armament. : Delegation of far reaching powers among persons responsible for na- tional defense is being discussed by administration advisors along with increasing evidence of interest in a new and unlimited national emer- gency proclamation.
 Statements by MT. Ro0sevet's slib- ordinates indicate that no move vii lbe made on British credits with out congressional authorization. But the British press service in New York indicated last night that Bri- tain's formal application for fi- nancial assistance would not nec- essarily take the form of loan" Attributing its explanation to Brit ish official circles" it said the ques- tion of aid was one of dollar ex- change = not independent but flowing directly from Britain's need for American airplanes, ships. muni-
 (Continued on Page 4.)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-17
Norman Armour, Argentina Ambassador May Succeed Joseph P. Kennedy In London

and hides is Britain. Britain is con- serving all its resources for arma- ment purchases in this country. Thus, a three e-cornered trade and financial arrangement could go far toward solving Britain's war mate rials purchase program and Argen- tina's need for market.
 Diplomatic quarters said Great Britain would like to see President Roosevelt appoint an ambassador quickly. London was said to feel that the times are too critical for the post to remain vacant. London also was said to feel the same way about its amhassadorial post here, and for that reason an appointment Of a successor to Lord Lothian is expect- sI-~e
 ,-,,-... Neve could not egnflkua
 ALondon that Dayid
 Aad been tents '4slk
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-17
CONTINENTS
 BY GOV. BALDWIN

Hartford, Conn, Dec. 1T--(UPl- Two members of the state advisory council for the Unemployment Com pensation act held reappointments today from Gov. Baldwin.
 Named for three years commence ing Dec. 23 were John J. Egan, Bridgeport, secretary of the Con- necticut Federation of Labor, and R. E. Pritchard, New Britain, vice president of the Stanley works.
 Also reappoirted. for five years starting Jan. 1. was pr. H. c. Seavcr Smith. New Haven, as a member of the connecticut Homeopathic medi- cal examining board
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-17
BY HOBART c. MoNTEE

United Press Staff COrrespondent)
 Washington, Dec. 17.-(UP)-Nor- man Armour, ambassador to Argen- tina, is being considered by Presi- dent Roosevelt as a successor to Jos eph P. Kennedy, ambassador to Great Britain, a reliable source told the United Press today.
 The informant said MT. Roosevelt was already believed to have sub- mitted Armour's name to the Brit ish foreign office, and that an@ noincement of his appointment might be made simultaneously with the announcement of q successor to the late Lord Lothian, British ann hassador to the United States. Ken- nedy has resigned but retains the title until his successor is selected. Armour Of the wealthy Chicago packing fanaily. is 3 veteran career
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-17
WAR IN EUROPE, A YEAR AGO,
 DEC. 17, 1889.
By United Press

By United Press
 Pocket battleship Graf Spec scuttled in MontevideO harbor on orders of Adolf Hitler
 Finland reported further vic- tories in series of battles with Russians.
 Three ships lost in sea warfare: British steamer Alnble, m0torship Serenity. and Norwegian steamer 6kFinaheim.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-17

He visited briefly with Flandins who is ill with the grippe, and arr ranged to see Marshal Henri Philippe Petain today. Today Petain, dressed in full military uni- form, received the German eniis- sary who advised him that he de- sired to confer personally with Laval, detained at his chateau. After the interview it was announced that after Abetz,s intervention, Laval had been released!
 The next move was uncertain. However, it did not appear possi- ble that Petain would allow Laval to return to the government even should such action be demanded by the NaziS. It has been indicated that Laval is most anxious to go to Paris. Should he do so the pos- sibility would arise that he might set up a separate French" regime in the occupied zone, bulwarked by the German occupying force.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-17
HOW FRANCE STANDS

vicny, France. Dec. 17.-(Up)- Confinement of Pierre Laval, busted vice premier of unoccupied France ended today as result of the sem sational visit of Adolf Hitler'S rep- resentative to Marshal Henri Philippe Petain.
 Otto Abetz, who has the rank of ambassador of the reich and is sta- tioned at Paris, conferred with the French chief of state and demanded that he be permitted to see Laval
 Later, it was stated, the govern- ment ended Laval's confinement on request in behalf of Abetz.
 (In Berlin, Nazis indicated seri- ous concern over developments at Vichy and said the important ques- ton was whether defeated France would continue to collaborate with the German thew order" sn Europe. Elsewhere there was intense specll- lation as to possibility that Laval might go to Paris, with German
 Continued on Page A
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-17
TREASURY BALANCE

Washington, Dec. 17-(UP) Gov~ ernment expenses and receipts for the current fiscal year through Dec. 14th, compared with 8 year ago: Tkis Year Expenses Last Year SHAY, zoo. .s26. .16 $4,24O, ,0S1. .071.42 $2.5os. .s52.so1.54 s2,422,ss4.s22.ss
 Gross Deficit
 s1,943,S4S,524.62 $1,S17, ,09e, ,48S.6O
 Net Deficit $1,s24,665,S74.e2 $1,so6s69s. .59 s1.s7s.s5O.s5F'sT sa.s1s,57s.oss7o
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-17

(Continued on Page A
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-17
The Wsather

Clear, Cold Tonight; Wed. Fair, Colder
 Fun weather Report Page 3
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-17

(Continued on Page A.
Evening star., 1940-01-30

Never depend on the other fellow !;
he may be depending on you.
Evening star., 1940-01-30
1896 Olympic Games
Depicted in Great
Fashion in Film
Record Breaking Feots,
Even Underwater, Are
Among ThriIIers

Sprinters. broad jumpers, SWIM
mers, divers. assorted other athletes
and just plain fans are expected to
converge on the Belasco Theater
Friday when the film "Olympia'
launches an extended stand.
Depicting the 1896 Olympics, the
film was previewed yesterday and
met enthusiastic approval of sports
writer's. Consuming nearly two
hours, "Olympia' catches the top
thrills of the game.
A parade of such athletes as
Jesse Owens. Jack Lovelock, Glenn
Cunningham, Ralph Metcalfe, Dor
othy Poynton Hill, Helen Stephens,
Katherine Rawls Thompson and
Frank Wykoff. among those who
equaled or eclpsed 16 Of % track
and field records, swan and dived
to coveted laurels, is mirrored in
striking style.
Underwater shots of swimmers
and divers, a rd-by-yard journey
with famed runners and humorous
and interesting crowd views fea-
ture the film.
A portion of the proceeds will be
donated to Finnish Relief Fund.
Evening star., 1940-01-30
WorpIones Aggrovote
Tension at Tientsin

TIENTSIN, Jan. 80 (Pl.-JapaneSe
military planes roaring low over the
blockaded British and French con-
CessionS Yesterday aggravated ten
sion of the foreign zone surrounded
by electrically charged barrlcades
and japanese sentries.
Resuming their activities after an
interval of several months. the jap
anese aircraft sWooped only few
hundred feet above the zone where
the newly tightened japanese block
ade brought a serious shortage OF
food supplies.
Military authorities declined to
comment on the sudden aerial
activity.
Barbed-Wire Enclosures around the
British and French concessions were
charged with electric current Sum
day and food import ban imposed
after Japanese British friction arose
over seizure of 81 German seamen
from a japanese liner 35 miles off
Yokohama.
Chinese-language newspapers con-
trolled by the japanese Amy mean
while launched attacks on the
United States abrogation of her
friendship and trade treaty with
Japan. The pact expired Janu-
airy 26.
Evening star., 1940-01-30
Trained Reserves

According to a F"cnoh m'tary
expert, Germany has on l, - 900
trained reserves, cor? 1 with
Erances s.0QQ. 600.
Evening star., 1940-01-30
Lewisohn May Apply
For Marriage License

BY the Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, Jan. 30-Ludwig
LeWisohn, author of nu .erous
novels, is expected to apply for a
marriage license shortly after his
arrival tomorrow in Baltimore.
He announced he would marry
Miss Edna Manley, Rochester, N. Y
The ceremony will be performed by
the Rev. DR.. Edward l.. Israel, rabbi
of Har Sinai Congregation, Friday
morning. Marylands marriage laws
require a 48-hour delay between is
suance of license and performance
Of the ceremony.
Mr.. Lewisohn, So, and married
twice before, is the author of Mid
Channel" upstream, The Island
Within and several others. Miss
Manley is 81.
Evening star., 1940-01-30
No Military Highways
Planned or Needed,
Says House Member
Cartwright, Head Of
Roads Group, Warns Of
Defense Argument
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, Jan. 30-Chairman
Wilburn Cartwright of the House
Committee on Roads, said yester-
day the United States plans nc
great new military highways be-
cause they are not needed.
Discussing legislation before the
American Roadbuilders' Association,
he said:
Officials of the War Department
have repeatedly informed State and
Federal road officials that the high
ways which must BE constructed for
commerce and national develop
ment will, in general, be identical
with those required for military
purposes. '*'
Il am afraid. that if any of us
try to everyday the national de-
fenSe angle in an effort to pro-
mote some of our pet road projects
we will meet with disappointment y
Mr.. Cartwright said the road au-
thorization bill, introduced with
Senator Carl Hayden, also of Ari-
zona. contained a right-of- pro-
posal under which such land can
be Immediately acquired for the
use of the State, but the cost can
be spread over a period of as much
as 40 years"
He emphasized that the bill pro-
vides that no property can be ac-
quired by the Federal Government
unless a State or municipal body
contracts to buy it and that no Fed
eral loans can be made for roads
without the consent of the high
way department of the State af-
fected.
Another speaker, Murray D. Van
Wagner, Michigan highway COM
missioner and president of the as
sociation, urged that the diversion
of motorists taxes from highway
funds be halted. He said an esti-
mate showed the Federal Govern
ment now diverts approximately
$3.50 900 900 of our highway funds"
Evening star., 1940-01-30
Embargo Club Urged
Against Japan 10
Aid u. ). in China
Pittmon Says President
Needs Discretionary
Powers Of Action
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Chairman Pittman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee said
today that President Roosevelt needs
the big club of potential embargoes
against Japan if the United States
is to obtain better treatment for its
citizens in China.
Failure of Congress to approve
legislation giving the President dis
cretionary authority to impose en-
bargoes, Senator Pittman told re-
porters, would confirm the opinion
of the japanese that Congress is
afraid to grant such power.
"It would encourage the Japanese
government to continue, and prob
ably increase, its discrimination
against our citizens in China"
Senator Pittman is author OF a
proposal which would give the Chief
Executive discretionary power to i'm
pose embargoes against shipment of
American raw materials to Japan.
Urges Sufficient Authority
He said that the President al
ready has authority to increase
tariffs against japanese imports.
But he added:
IF We are going to continue to
make protests to Japan through
the President, then he should be
granted sufficient authority to make
such protests effective"
Other Senators, meanwhile. ex-
pressed GOODNESS toward the embargo
idea.
Senator Wagner, Democrat, of
New YO'k. member of the COM
mlttee, declared it would be "a bit
too impetuous' for the committee to
take immediate action on the en-
balgo plan and suggested delay
of month or so while this Govern
ment studies japanese activities.
A commercial treaty with Japan
abrogated by the United States, ex-
pired last Friday and cleared the
way for the imposition of embargoes
If Congress wishes.
Nye Takes Stand.
Senator Nye, Republican, of North
Dakota, who was chosen to fill the
vacancy on the Foreign Relations
Committee caused by the death of
Senator Borah, Republican, OF
Idaho. asserted ne was "unalterably
opposed to placing an embargo
against Japan or any one else
un.ess all belligerents are equally
affected
Il certainly don't want my coun-
try nosing into every controversy
and deciding who is right and who
is wrong Senator Nye continued
That would be a direct, aggressive
step toward war"
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, of
Montana, said he would be very
heSitant' to approve embargoes
against Japan because "it could only
stir up i'll feeling against the United
States"
Evening star., 1940-01-30
Full War With Reich
Cannot Be Distant,
DaIadier Warns
French Premier Appeals
For Equality Of Labor
And Sacrifices
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PARIS. Jan. 30.-Characterizing
Adolf Hitler as a destroyer and
Germans as slaves, Premier Da-
ladier warned the French nation in
radio broadcast last night that
total war with Germany cannot
be long in breaking"
His address, on the eve of the
seventh anniversary of Hitler's rise
to power in Germany, was "one of
the most terrible indictments Of
any man ever uttered" said the
continental edition of the London
Daily Mail.
M. Daladier said, Germany Is
seeking to establish domination
of the world which is absolutely
different from all that history has
known SO far.
Hitler Destroys" Nations.
Hitler the conquerOr does not
deal with nations he has reduced 10
submission-he destroys them"
The Premier declared, THE work.
er and peasant of Germany are
slaves of their Nazi masters. Both
worker and peasant of Bohemia and
Poland have become in turn the
slaves of these slaves.
How can the world do other
wise than shudder before this initial
realization of insane dreams?"
M. Daladier followed this with an
appeal lin candid and even brutal"
tones. to the French behind the
lines for equality of sacrifices and
equality of labor" to assure the tri-
umph of Britain and France.
TT is essential" he said, that
those of the interior succeed in
making themselves respected by
those at the front through work,
remuneration and discipline"
Urges More Arms Production.
1t would be criminal" he said,
to underestimate Germany's for
midable military strength, and he
urged increased arms production.
I'VE will win, but we must carry
off also a victory far exceeding an
armed victory"
Disseminators of German or Rus
! sian propaganda will be dealt with
mercilessly, M. Daladier promised.
The Communist party was dis
slowed in France. he said, because
the men of Moscow placed them
selves at the orders of Berlin
The regular communique from
/ the western front, which last night
reported some aviation and artillery
activity, said today:
Nothing to report"
/ Renewed snowfall along the west
ern front again clamped wintry
hand on military activities
/ French artillery, hoWevr, was ac-
! tive in the Vosges Mountains and
along the Rhine, military sources
said, shelling German labor bat
talions which apparently were
strengthening the Siegfried Line
Notifications.