davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
MAYOR SCULLY TO
 ATTEND BANQUET
Makes Announcement Toe day That He Will Be One
 of Guests

Mayor Vincent A. Scully an- nounced today that he will attend Senator George T. Culhane's victory dinner for Governor -elect and Mrs. Robert A. Hurley at The Elton De- cember IT, lin an official capacity" The dinner has been a source of bitter controversy and Democratic Town Chairman Maurice F. Tang ney last week urged the incoming governor not to attend because of its sponsorship by Senator Culhane.
 i've been informed that Govern or-elect Hurley will attend the din- ner and consequently I plan to be present. in an official capacity" said Mayor Scully.
 Tt has always been my intention to attend the dinner If MT. Hurley said he were coming to Waterbury" the mayor went on, since 1t has been my practice to attend any affair given in honor of q promi- nent dignitary coming to our city. I don't believe that this dinner should be any exception and 1 shall be delighted to give the city's ofii- clal welcome to . man so distin- guished as Governor Hurley
 The mayors "tatement was taken lo indicate that he stands with Mir. Tangney in believing that Mfr Hur- ley Should not AttenG the dinner but that he feels 1t his duty. as head of the city government, to
 
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
CHAUFFEUR HAS
 CONFESSED CRIME
Admits He Assaulted Wife of Employer Federal
 Men Get Into Case

Greenwich, Conn, Dec. 12.-(UP) Joseph Spell, 31, Negro chauf- feur, was held on a chareg of rape today after he allegedly confessed assaulting his employer, Mrs. John K. Strubing, Jr., three times and then throwing her into an isolated reservoir at Armonk, N. Y.
 Mrs. Strubing, 32. member of prominent Philadelphia family. was at White Plains, N. Y, hospital, where her condition was said to be not serious. Her husband, New York advertising executive, flew back last night from Cincinnati where he had gone on a business trip.
 Assistant Prosecutor Archibald H. Tunick announced Spell con- fessed late last night after 15 hours questioning. Meantime, federal agents continued their investiga- tion of the case, especially possible Kidnapping angles.
 Denied It for Hours
 For hours Spell maintained he spent the night at several White Plains, N. Y, taverns, Tunick said. It was only after federal men and Greenwich detectives had left the questioning-room that Spell ad- mitted the crime, TIlnick added.
 Detective-Sergeant Martin H. Nee, after visit to Mrs. Strubing at the hospital, reported she said the negro assaulted her three times in her home ill fashionable neighborhood, forced her to write a ransom note demanding 5000, then took her in an automobile. and drove around for a while before throwing her over a wall into the reservoir.
 First Attack
 Mrs. Strubing said the chauf- feur-butler first confronted her while she was taking shower near her bedroom. He called to me and I asked him what he was doing in my bedroom" Nee quoted Mrs. Stru- bling, T told him to wait for me downstairs"
 "I offered him money" Mrs. Strubing told the detective. But before l could get lt he drew out Q large pocket knife, threw me on my bed and attacked me"
 Later, she said, the Negro bound her in the kitchen. Again she sought to dibSuade him by offering Jewels, the womnn's story went on, but the man refused them. "He took me lContinued on Page O
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
4O,4O7 HAVE STEADY JOBS INNATE RbURY Chamber of Commerce Issues Its Report for
 Month of November 1,OI3 MORE WORKING
 THAN IN OCTOBER Gain of 4,l32 Over Month of November in Last
 Years Record

The impetus of National Defense orders sent employ ment in Waterbury sky rocketing still higher in No vember than in previous record breaking months and the number of persons work ing climbed to a new all-time mark, the monthly survey of the Chamber of Commerce disclosed today. There were 40, ,407 persons steadily em- ployed last month, again of 1913 over October, which held the prior all-time record, and a gain of 4,132 over November of last year.
 Factory employment again led the way. The employment total in eight of the largest plants was 22, ,269, an increase of 623 over October and an increase of 2,657 over November, 1889.
 Some business indices registered declines. but these were attributable to the 30-day month and the fact that banks and some business houses were closed for two Thanksgiving holidays last month. But all in- dices were far higher than they were a year ago.
 Business To Boom
 The Christmas season is expected to spur local business still further, especially in the retail field. Scores of parttime workers have already been hired and more will be added during the remaining shopping days before Christmas.
 The press of government orders promises to keep local industry geared to record production levels for months to come. Local plants play an important role in the de- fense program, manufacturing g wide variety of articles, for army and navy use, chief among them being brass shells, castings and other ammunition componentS.
 The employment rise has brought reductions in city welfare and WPA rolls. The welfare list is now believed close to a rock bottom minimum, with most of those still receiving city aid being too old or not physi- cally fit for employment.
 Business Survey
 The Chamber of Commerce bus mess survey for November follows:
 Bank Clearings
 The bank clearings for the month of November amounted to $7.762,- 10000, showing a decrease of $55,- 10000 as compared with the month
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
FOUR NAZI SHIPS
 ACCOUNTED FOR
Freighters That Tried to Run British Blockade
 Did Not Succeed

Washington, Dec. 12.-(UP)-Four German freighters which tried to run the British blockade from Tam pico, Mexico. were all accounted for today. Two have been scuttled; one is in the possession of a Dutch destroyer of the coast of Cuba; the other is still at Tampico with en- zine trouble.
 The Navy Department announced last night that the 5000 ton Rhein had been captured by the Dutch destroyer Van Kinsbergen some where of the coast of Cuba. The Rhein's crew failed in an attempt to scuttle the ship before abandon ing 1t. the Navy said. No iliforma- ton was available concerning the crews fate.
 The Navy spokesman refused to civuige tbe source ~ his ipforma- ton.
 It was the fifth violation within
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
Stores Staying Open To Accommodate Public
Friday Saturday Nights Until OClOck-Starting Wednesday Next Week, Late Night Hours Will
 Be Rule in Stores

Stores affiliated with the Mer- chants Bureau of the Chamber ot Commerce will be open until O. clock tonight for the convenience of Christmas shoppers. The stores will be open until the same hour Saturday night.
 Beginning next Wednesday, the stores will stay open late nightly through Christmas Eve. It was er- roneously reported in another news paper that the late-hour schedule would begin next Monday.
 Retail trade promises to be the greatest for the Christmas season that the city has had in many years. Merchants report that stocks have already been so rapidly depleted that many additional orders for goods have had to be sent to manu- lecturers.
 Bigger Variety of Goods
 Variety of goods appears to be broader this year than ever before. The downtown stores offer breath taking displays of goods of every kind, not only gifts but household articles that are always appreci- ated.
 Extra police will be on duty in the shopping district tonight to isandle motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic. They will also be on duty
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
Morgenthau Against Any Loan For Britain
Secretary of Treasury Will Oppose Loans to Any Country to Which Financial Assistance Is
 Barred By Johnson Act
BY RONALD G. VAN TINE United Press Staff COrreSnOndantl


 Washington, Dec. 12.-(UP)-Sec- retary of the Treasury Henry Nor genthau, Jr., said today he would never be party" to loan to Great Britain or any other country to which financial assistance is barred by the Johnson act.
 Morgenthau told a press confer ence that the spirit of the John- son act, which bans private loans to debt-defaulting nations, is very clear, irrespective of any interpreta- tion that any lawyer might give" T consider that the spirit of the law is very plain" he said. Several years ago I told that to Senator Johnson"
 Furthermore, nobody has asked me for loan," he added, referring to his current discussions with Sir Frederick Phillips, undersecretary of the British Treasury and chief of financial mission now in this country.
 Unless Congress Directs.
 Irrespective of any interpretation that any lawyer might give, in view of the spirit of the law, I certainly would not be party to loan to Great Britain or any other coun- try if it comes under the Johnson act, without being directed by Con- gresS," Morgenthau added.
 He refused to say whether there was any possibility that he might ask Congress to modify the John son act. He likewise declined con- ment on sections of the neutrality
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
BIRMINGHAM IS
 SMASHED AGAIN
Nazi BOmbers Hammered at Town for Hours Last
 Night, Today
BY WALLACE CARROLL United Press Staff CorrOSp0ndent)

'
 London, Dec. 12-(UP)-Two brief air raid alarms, the first by daylight in 8 week, put Londoners on the alert during the forenoon today af- ter a night in which big forces of German planes had bombed Bir- mingham, in the heart of the in- dustrial Midlands, for hours in re- sumption of their utter-destruction tactics.
 The first London alarm passed without incident. During the second only distant gun fire was heard.
 In their raid on Birmingham, German planes hour after hour rained incendiary and explosive bombs and flaming oil containers on the city and the surrounding areas.
 It was the second blitZkrieg raid for the great Midlands city. The first was on November 19, five days after the bombing of Coventry had inaugurated the new method of war fare.
 Got Bad Smashing
 A big force of heavy bombing planes attacked Birmingham and the surrounding area for hours last night and again, on a smaller scale, in the early hours of this morning.
 Damage was severe in Birming- ham city and other places in the area. Churches, schools, homes and business buildings were blasted.
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
$lO,OOO OFFER
 CUT TO $2,5OO

Boston, December i2. - (UP) - Harold Pike, 22, of East Dedham who year ago could have obtained $l0,000 for loss of eyesight in a sub- way car mishap today collected only $2.50O.
 At the time of the original trial in 1889, a superior court jury award ed him $i8.500 against the Boston Elevated Railway, but Judge Harold P. Williams ordered him to return Se.500 within 10 days or the verdict would be set aside. Pike wanted the Sl0.5O0.
 Superior Judge Nelson P. Brown. before whom the case vas retired. yesterday awarded only e2600 to Pike who alleged that he lost hls eyesIght when knocked down by the open door Of a car while standing on the platform Of Forest Hills sta- ton April %. i037.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12

Military sources commenting on the Egyptian developments said that from 28,O00 to 34,O00 men were be- lieved to have been encircled and captured by the British in the Sidt Barrani aera and that British naval units in the Mediterranean were shelling the Italians as they fell back toward Libya, where they must pass through nerrow bottleneck on the frontier near sollum if rein~ forcements are not able to halt the retreat.
 Churchill, speaking just before the House of Commons went into secret session to discuss the Axis attacks on British shipping, said that there were various additional captures of Italina troops and material in addition to original en- circlements of the Sidi Barran1 triangle.
 Constitute Victory
 While it is too soon to measure the scale of these operations 1t is clear they constitute a victory which, in this African theater of war, is of the first order" he said.
 The British air force and navy is smelling the road over which the Italians are retreating, he added, while mechanized forces keep up the pursuit on land.
 Churchill recalled that anxiety regarding the defense of Egypt was acute three or four months ago but said "these anxieties have now been removed and the British guarantees that Egypt would be defended a. gainst all corners has been in every way made good"
 Admiralty COmmunique
 The admiralty in its communiqus said:
 ''The Royal Navy continues to play its part in disorganizing the Italian retreat in North Africa Both heavy and light units of the Medis terranean felet continually are hare ralAag ".;-c,isn @ramnjcstjana Our ships have heavily bombarded the focal points of the Italian re. treat at sollum, near the Egypt>
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
JOHNNY M'CLONE
 STABBED IN PRISON
Notorious Mail RObber Is Second Victim to Fall
 at AlCatraz

San Francisco, Dec. 12-(UP)A Johnny McGlone, notorious mail robber, was stabbed in the neck and arm by a convict known only as Vigoroux, 1t was revealed at Alca- traz prison today where both are confined. It was the second outbreak ct AlcatraX within a wek. The first was the fatal stabbing Of Oklahoma bank robber Rufus Mccain by Henri Young.
 Mcdlone. one-time member of the Rettlch gang that engineered . si2o,000 mali truck robbery at Fall River, Mass. in i036, was not seri- ously injured, sccording tc Warden James A. Johnston. vigoroux was placed in solitary confinement where Younw now is awaiting possible trial for murder.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12

scheduled address before the Amerl- can Farm Bureau Federation Con- vention in Baltimore, he was re- ported slightly ill"
 The address, in which he predict ed British victory over Germany in 1922, was read by Neville Butler, embassy counsellor and his ranking aide.
 He was an indefatigable worker for the British cause and took a leading role in British purchases of American planes and munitions, often clearing the way for the offi- cial British missions which at tended to the details of the buying.
 Long Hours of Work.
 Lothian, even in the last few days, continued to work long hours in the room at the Embassy where he had confined himself and direct ed as far as practicable the work of his colleagues.
 Since he had taken over the am- bassadoriaI task-on the eve of the outbreak of war-he had set new precedents for his post. Unlike his predecessor, Sir Ronald Lindsay, whom he succeeded on August 30, 1899, Lothian met frequently with the press and made many public addresses.
 Shortly after hearing news of Lord Lothian'S death, Secretary of State Cordell Hull, George T. Sum- merlin, chief of protocol at the State Department, and Ray Ather- ton, chief of the division of Euro pean affairs, and Political Adviser James Clement Dunn made ar engagements to call at the Embassy to pay their respects.
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
TWISTED ROW ON
 BIRTH CONTROL
WOmen's Club Voted MOn= day in FavOr-PrOtests
 Force Special Meeting
Special to The Democrat)

Winsted, Dec. 12.-So many pro- tests have been made by members against the action of the Winsted Women's club Monday night in adopting resolution favoring legis- lation sponsored by the Connecticut Committee to Make Birth Control legal that it has been decided to call special meeting to rescind the vote. It will be proposed that the new vote be taken by written bal lot. with all members being given an opportunity to express their choice.
 A number of resignations from the club were offered after the &C., tion taken at the meeting became known and the executive committee was summoned to a special meet ing last night. At the session, over which Mrs. Lester w. Schaefer pre- sided, 1t was decided to recommend that the birth control vote be re- scinded and a new ballot be taken.
 Many Members Absent
 Only half, or less, of the organi- zation's 327 members were present when the vote was taken Monday Some members protested that they did not know what the question was before the meeting; others said they should have notices that the sub- ject would be brought up; still more declared that noise outside the meeting hall prevented them from hearing what was being discussed
 Many more reSignations have been threatened unless the club rec verses it's stand on the birth con- trol question, a large group claln- ing that the question is not one for the club t0 take up properly.
 Proponents of the resolution en- Iorsins birth control plan lo presi
 
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
Italians Are Fighting Fiercely In Desperate Effort To Prevent Rout
Huge Reserve Forces of Arms, Men Being Thrown
 Into Conflict
BY REYNOLDS PACKARD United Press Staff Correspondent

Rome, December F. - CUP) - Italy is throwing huge reserves of troops and arms from Libya into the fighting in the Egyptian desert. it was reported today as the high command announced that fighting of the fiercest sort was going on west of Sidi Barrani.
 Tanks, artillery, picked desert units, have been thrown into the battle on the Italian side, accord ing to dispatches from BenghaZi, in an attempt to re-eStabliSh commrlni- cations between bug Bug and Sidi Barrani which the British had cut in their drive. Italian airplanes were reported to have cooperated with artillery in aiding Italian counter-attackS against the Brit ish advanced units.
 Regular, Italian Blackshirts Fascist militlamen and native Libyan troops are among endorsements sent to the front, it was reported, to chal- lenge the British in the Bub Bug region.
 Special Desert Squads
 Special desert squads among the endorsements are motorized con- tingents, using armored cars mount ed on four balloon tired wheels and equipped with rapid fire machine guns for their crews of two men each.
 (The high command admission that fighting was going on west of Sidi Barrani, and the BenghaZi re- ports that endorsements would at- tempt to restore communications, seemed to impliy that Sidi had fal- len, as the British announced We'd nesdayD
 The Italians have inflicted heavy losses on the British in the Sidi Barrani area, the high command said, and it admitted at the same time that Italian losses also were considerable.
 On the Greek front, the com munique asserted, the Italians de-
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
Military Sources Assert Almost
 34, 1000 Men Have Been Captured
Pursuit of Retreating Italian Forces Continues; Looks Like Big Victory,
 Early JuhilatiOn Is Held Up
By FREERIDCK KUH United Press Staff COrresp0ndent)

London, Dec. 12-(UP)-Prime Minister Win- ston Churchill told the House of Commons today that most of three Italian divisions, including numerous Blackshirt units, may have been destroyed or caps tred by the British offensive in western Egypt where pursuit of Italians in the direction of Libya continues "with the greatest vgor."
 Coastal Region Captured
 "The whole coastal region with the exception of one or two points still holding out is in the hands of British Imperial troops Churchill said in discussing the recaptre of Sid Barrani on the Mediterranean coast Egypt It would not be surprising at least the best part of three Italian divisions including numerous Black Shirt formations either destroyed or captured"
 Pursuit Still Continues
 "The pursuit westward continues with the greatest vigor Churchill said adding that 1000 prisoners already had arrived at Marsa Matruh Cairo dispatches officially estimated the total number of prisoners at more than 10000.
 The Prime Minister said that results of the desert fighting which ended for the time being least any threat to Egypt the Suez Canal from Lbya, constituted vic tory of the first order in the African theater of
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
LAST WORD OF
 LORD LOTHIAN
Speech of Appeal to U. s. Was Read for Him in
 Baltimore
BY RONALD G. VAN TINE

4&OANTAA]D Os VEAAN AAANA United Press Stan Correspondent)
 Washington, Dec. 12-UP)-Act- ing Senate Republican leader War ren R. Austin said today that the neutrality act should be revised to permit United States ships and cit- izens to return to the sea and the extension of financial aid to Great Britain.
 His statement came soon after Lord Lothian, British ambassador. had appealed indirectly for increased American aid, particularly as regards ships. The ambassador appeal was contained in a speech read for him in Baltimore last night.
 Permission for this country's vessels to sail the seas, regardless of British and German blockades, are not violations of neutrality and never have been," he said. "As time goes on, the folly of tying our hands
 (HopfipI,ad nY1 poon Al
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
British Minister Died At Embassy Early In, Morning
Up to Last Minute for His Appeal to United States for Aid

Washington, December 12. = (UP) = The Marquess of Lothian British Ambassador to the United States who had helped negotiate American short of war; aid for his homeland died here today after brief illness He 58 Death came at a. m and was attributed to uremc infection He had been indsposed for almost week and became seriously ill Sunday night. News of his illness suppressed. although YesterdaY. at the time of his
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
TREASURY BALANCE

Washington, Dec. 12-(UP)-Gov~ ernment expenses and receipts for the current fiscal year through Dec 10th, compared with a year ago: This Year Expenses Last Yea4 $4,311, ,024.65 $4,136,245,959.31
 Receipts s2.3s2, ,4O1, 702.46 s2,s2s, ,se6.1es.se
 Gross Deficit s1.s1s.4s4.s22ls sl.so7. .2ss. .7ss.se
 Net Deficit s1, 900. .sO7, ,s22.is s1,7s6, ,ss5, ,2ss.ss sl.ss4.sss.lss.1s s2.s1s. .4s7.ss1.Bs
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
The WeGther

Occasional Rain, Warm
 Tonight, Friday !, Full Wsathsr Report Page 3
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12

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Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-10-03
Thick Haze Fails To
Stop Nazi Warplanes
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of bombs in a southeastern district
Firing by directional finders, the
anti-aircraft 2unnerS threw up a
heavy barra2e. The plane was heard
droning off in the distance.
Three girls were killed in south
eastern section Of the city by q bomb
that Blasted 4 laundry. -Four others
were injured seriously.
In midlandS town q single bomb
er shoWered high explosives and in
cendarieS. \ factory and an elemen-
tary school were hit and it was fear
ed one or two persons were killed.
One Of the naZi bOmberS fell vic
tim to British defenSeS at Hearting-
fordbury. near Hartford. When the
plane came down two farm hands
rushed out and made prisoners of
four German airmen in it.
Nazi air invaders looSed bombs in
20 district of London last night and
early today.
Anti-aircraft firing frequently was
heavy in the city'S outskirts as Ger
man Warplanes returned for their
26th nightly assault.
Meanwhile. the government an
nounced the plan to send British
children abroad to escape falling
bombs had been abandoned until
further notice" because Of the sink
ing of the steamship City Of
BenareS.
That ship. bound for Canada, was
sunk 600 miles west Of Ireland the
night of September II. Seventy-seven
children were lost. The British said a
German torpedo caused the sinking.