davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-12-18
Laval Custer Storm
Is Blowing Over,
Ndzis Indicate
Ex-Vice Premier Returns
To Poris With Abetz;
Berlin Awaits Report
BY LOUIS p. LOCHNER,
Press War Correspondent


BERLIN, Dec. 18.--The German
government, according to authorized
sources, is now in full confidential
possession Of the motives whichJed
to the recent political upheaval at
Vichy, but until German Ambassa~
dor Otto Abetz.'s full report reaches
Berlin no official statement of the
Nazi position can be expected.
From the general attitude of Ger
man off1cialdom, however, observers
believed the storm was blowing
over and that French German rela-
tions could be resumed where they
left OF.
Authorized sources declined to
confirm or deny reports that Pierre
Laval, dismissed as French Vice
Premier and Foreign Minister, was
getting back into grace, saying they
had no official information and knew
only what they read in the world
press.
dispatches from Vichy said
M. Laval had accompanied Abetz
back to Paris last night, and his
friends intimated he was on .
mission for the French govern
ment. From Bern came reports
M. Laval might act as special
negotiator" for French Chief of
State Petain in Paris.)
German sources declined to dis
cuss motives underlying the French
cabinet upheaval. saying this was
distinctly a matter for the French
to handle.
Evening star., 1940-12-18
Dutch 10 Be Offered
Last Chance for
Pact, Japan Hints
New Mission Is on Way
To Netherlands Indies
For Trade ToIks
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SHANGHAI, Dec. 18-Japan will
give the Netherlands Indies a "last
chance" to conclude an emonomic
agreement in forthcoming trade ne
gotiations, responsible japanese
sources here indicated today.
A delegation headed by former
Japanese Foreign Minister Ken
kichi Yoshizawa now Is en- route to
Batavia and is scheduled to open
the negotiations early in January.
This will be Japan's second attempt
to obtain a favorable economic
position in the East Indies and
authoritative japanese quarters as
serted, lit will be the last"
They declined to say what will
happen if the new discussions fail.
but informed neutral quarters in
Toxic have reported direct action
might be taken.
YoshizaWa succeeds Ichizo Ko-
bayashi, japanese Minister of Com
merce, who returned to Toxic in
November after prolonged talks
which he admitted were fruitless.
The main japanese ambition is
to obtain ironbound guarantees for
the purchase of oil from the East
Indies.
Reliable informants said Koba-
yashi had asked for the purchase
of the Indies entire production on
long term credits. The Dutch
counter -offer admittedly was un-
satisfactory, the quota offered being
considered by the japanese as too
small. 1t was understood Neither
lands authorities also fatty refused
to discuss credits.
1t was reported further that the
Batavia government was unwilling
to sell crude oil from which the
Japanese could extract high test
aviation gasoline
Besides the economic phase,
Yoshizawa is expected to broach
questions designed to give Japan
greater political influence in the
rich Dutch possessions, in line with
Tokio's program for greater
East Asia" He is known as q
skillful and tenacious negotiator.
Evening star., 1940-12-18
British Raid Damage
In South GERMANY
Slight, Nazis Say
Sheffield Still BURNING
From Earlier Attacks,
Flyers Report
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BERLIN, Dec. 18.-The German
high command reported today that
British planes dropped bombs in
Southwest Germany during the
night, but caused only slight prop
erty and incendiary damage" in two
places.
German bombers attacked Birm-
ingham and other war vital areas"
in the British Midlands, as we'll as
London on the night of December
16, the high command said, causing
fires and explosions.
Scouting planes yesterday saw
whole sections of Sheffeld still burn
ing following raids of the preceding
night, the army said.
Brest and German military objec-
tives near that northern French
port came under r. A. F. bombard-
ment last night, informed German
circles reported, adding that the
damage was negligible. Further
more they said British assertions Of
r. A. F. successes against German
bases in that region were grossly
exaggerated"
Anti-Aircraft Battery Hit.
Several British bombers ap-
preached Brest from an altitude of
about 1000 feet, shielded by low
hanging clouds, the Germans said.
Diving low, the attackers were ac-
knowledged to have gained most
favorable positions" before anti
aircraft batteries spotted them.
Two bombs hit an anti-aircraft
battery, killing and wounding seri-
ously number of soldiers, these in.
formants said.
-Four other explosives fell into an
open field, four into open water and
six others north of Brest without
damage, they said, adding that this
was taken as proof that the British
are lacking precise navigation in.
struments.
Operations Limited.
A number of German long-dis-
tance reconnaissance planes were
poised for take-off and were not
hampered by the raid, they asserted.
German air operations yesterday
were limited to armed reconnais-
sance and scattered harassing raids,
authoritative Germans reported to-
day. They said there were no air
fights and no German losses.
Three British bombers were re-
ported shot down during some r.
A. F. raids last night on Germany
and German-occupied territory.
Evening star., 1940-12-18

longs, squarely upon the shoulders
of industry to whom the defense
program has been virtually turned
over, unfair efforts are being made
to blame labor" Mr.. Murray said.
"Labor's cooperation in the pro-
motion of the Nations defense pro-
gram has been established by its
record in the major basic and de-
fense industries of the country.
Never before in the history of the
United States has industrial peace
been created to such a degree as it
has been in those industries over
which c. I. o. assumes jurisdiction
and in which its affiliated unions
have collective bargaining agree
ments with employers.
"The foolhardy attempts of GER
tain critics of c. I. o. to place the
blame for the lag in defense pro-
duction with the Walsh-Healy Act,
the Labor Relations Act, the Wages
and Hours Act, ETC., fail to take into
account the dismal failure of in
dustry to produce national defense
in 1917-18, when none OF these So
called restrictions existed"
To continued suggestions that q
chairman should be named for the
National Defense Commission, and
vested with greater authority than
now seems to exist, the President
yesterday emphasized, instead, that
the War and Navy Departments
have contract authority, and indi-
Gated that no revision is Immediately
contemplated for the administra-
ton of the defense program.
In his discussion Of the plan for
leasing war materiel to Britain, Mr..
Roosevelt indicated during question:
ing about means of delivery that
further transfers Of American ship
ping to foreign registry are In pros
pect. There is no thought, he as
serted, that ships under American
flag or with American crews would
be sent into the war zone, but he
implied plainly that other flags or
crews might be used.
Speculation on Repayment.
While Mr.. Roosevelt referred only
to repayment in kind" in explain
ing how this Government eventually
would be compensated for the costs
of the proposed program, there was
immediate speculation that this
should not be taken SO literally as
to mean gun for gun, ship for
ship. There might, instead, be a
payment of rubber, tin or some other
raw material of which Britain has
quantities and Of which we have
In Congress, the Associated Press
Evening star., 1940-12-18
Laval on official Mission
To Paris, Friends Soy

VICHY, France, Dec. 18 (P.-The
position of former Vice Premier
Pierre Laval. who went to Paris last
night after a visit here by Otto
Abetz, Adolf Hitler's ambassador to
Paris, remained unclear today, but
his friends declared he was on a
mission for the French government.
These sources intimated that M.
Laval would resume the negotiations
for French-German collaboration
which his removal from Chief OF
State Philippe Petain's cabinet last
week interrupted temporarily.
M. Laval was expected to remain
in Paris five or six days during
which time, sources here said, Abetz
probably would report to Hitler on
his talks with Marshal Petain and
M. Laval yesterday
Clarification Expected.
Clarification of M. Laval's role by
Hitler and Marshal Petain was ex-
pected, although no new meeting OF
these two leaders was anticipated.
The opinion was expressed in some
quarters that the French cabinet
would be reorganized soon and that
Marshall Petain would issue q mes
sage explaining any changes.
The French censor this morning,
for the first time, permitted an
nouncement that NJ Laval had made
the trip last night after conferences
yesterday with Marshal Petain and
Adolf Hitlers Ambassador to France,
Otto Abetz.
French circles expressed the be-
lief that from that round of con-
ferences negotiations to increase
French German collaboration would
be resumed shortly. with M. Laval
playing an active role again.
M. Lavals exact status remained
an enigma, but French sources said
the incident" created by his sudden
dismissal from the government last
week apparently was closed with
the Germans departure for Paris
last night
1t was believed here the Official
journal would publish shortly an
announcement defining NJ Laval's
position in the government.
A bulletin on the health of Pierre
Etienne Flandin, who took NJ.
LavaIs post of foreign minister, said
he was considerably improved and
was expected to be able to return
to work in few days. He had been
confined to his home by grippe.
BERN, Switzerland. Dec. 18 P.-
Frances elderly chief of state,
Marshal Henri Philippe Petain, was
reported today to have assured Adolf
Hitler that the ousting of Pierre
Laval as his vice premier and For
eign Minister had not affected the
French governments policy of COL
laboration with Germany.
According to diplomatic circles,
Marshal Petain conveyed this assur-
ance to the Fuehrer through Ger
man Ambassador Otto Abetz, who
left for Paris last night after a day
of mysterious conferences with both
Marshal Petain and M. Laval in
Vichy.
Authoritative sources said M.
Laval. freed from surveillance, had
left Vichy with Abetz, and there
were reports he might act as 'spe-
cial negotiator" for Marshal Petain
in Paris.
AS such, these reports said, the
swarthy little Laval would be an
swerable only to the marshal him.
self and not to his own lanky sue
cessor in the Foreign Ministry
Pierre-Etienne Flandin, who took q
backseat role during the talks yes
terday in Vichy.
Evening star., 1940-12-18
Hint British
Establishing Strong
Iceland Anchorage
CurtoiIment Of Ship
Movements Indicates
Mine Field Sown
BY FRED H. MORHART, Jr.

The British are in the process OF
establishing a strong naval anchor
age at Iceland as another move to
counteract German raids on con-
voys in the North Atlantic, it was
indicated today in an Admiralty re-
port just received.
A mile wide danger area" pre-
sumed to be a mine field, has been
established athwart the upper
reaches of Hvalfjordr, Is miles from
the Icelandic capital of Reyjavik
Behind this danger area for a dis
tance of 10 miles to the end of the
ford is deep water up to shore.
The protected area is more than a
mile wide, with an average depth of
so feet. The area is large enough
to harbor large portion of the
British fleet if needed.
The British landed an expedition
ary force on the island at the time
the Germans invaded Denmark.
Since then the British have assumed
protection of the island.
600 Miles From Raid Paths.
With a naval base established in
Iceland, the British would have a
two-Way thrust at Nazi sea raiders
who have been operating in the
North Atlantic 900 miles northwest
of Scotland. The Iceland site is 800
miles on the other side of the scene
of these convoy raids. 1t is the
nearest good anchorage area to the
danger zone.
Further indications that the
British are working on a base are
a series of regulations of ship move
ments issued by the Icelandic gov
ernment.
No ships or boats will be permit
ted to operate along the coast dur
ing the period one hour after sunset
to one hour before sunrise. How
ever, small fishing boats will be
exempted partly from the orders.
The regulations also state that no
vessel may approach closer than
200 yards to the coast except when
entering a designated harbor.
Curfew Area Established.
AS all added precaution no YES
sci of any kind, including fishing
Evening star., 1940-12-18
British Aid
Continued From First Page)

about details of the plan revealed,
explaining that these would be
worked out between the two gov
ernments.
Emphasizing several times his de-
sire to remove the dollar element
from the whole problem Of American
aid to Britain, the President said
eventual payment for the service
thus contemplated would be "by
gentlemen'S agreement" and by "re-
payment in kind" when the war Is
over.
London Feels Air Is Cleared.
Immediate reaction from London,
as reported by the Associated Press,
was that the suggestion outlined by
the President puts the whole ques-
ton on a realistic basis" that the
air will be cleared by removal Of
the monetary factor, and concur
renee in the theory that the best
interests of the United States will
be served by providing Britain with
means of Fastening the end Of
the war"
Mr.. Roosevelt told his conference
that legislation authorizing the pro-
gram would be necessary and that
he probably will submit it to leaders
Of the new Congress shortly after
the session convenes on January 8
Appropriations would be needed, he
added, to put the plan into opera
ton.
Need for Legislation Seen.
Administration leaders predicted
the legislation would be sought early
in the 1941 session of Congress tc
implement the Presidents plan.
Senator Minton, Democrat, Of In.
diana. acting majority leader, tolc
reporters that additional appropria.
tions would be necessary at once
He said it was possible, too, tina,
some legislation authorizing the
President to carry out his plan might
be necessary.
Leaders explained that additiona,
funds for the projected program
would be channeled to regular Gov
ernment departments. After the ap-
preparations were made, they said
the money would be provided from
the Treasury's general funds. Addi.
tional borrowing would be necessary
to raise the money, they added. ano
the securities issued thus would In
crease the public debt.
Already estimates have been cir
Evening star., 1940-12-18
R. A. F. Again Bombs
Plants at Mannheim

LONDON, Dec. 18 P).-The Roy
al Air Force, for the second success
sive night, attacked industrial tar
gets at Mannheim. Germany, on the
Rhine, and bombed German-h held
Channel ports and airdromes, the
Air Ministry announced today.
The attacks were carried out de-
spite bad weather.
Evening star., 1940-12-18
London Editor Is 'Sufe'::
Was on Torpedoed Ship
81 the Associated Press.

81 the Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, Dec. 18. James
Bone, London editor Of the Man
chester Guardian, who was passen-
ger on the British liner Western
Prince torpedoed Saturday, was re-
ported safe and well" by the
Guardian in q cablegram today.
The cablegram, received by MIR.
Bones friends here, gave no other
details. Mr.. Bone was returning
home after visiting the United States
and Canada.
Evening star., 1940-12-18

boats, may 60 south of a line
extending due east from Hjalteyri
Lighthouse. Ships that do pass this
line. the edict said, must at once
put in at Akureyri or Hjalteyri.
However, ships may leave the fjord
at any time, provided they stay more
than 200 yards offshore.
Evening star., 1940-12-18
10000 to Be Interned in India.

BOMBAY, India, Dec. 18 R1.-In-
ternment camps were reported today
to have been prepared in India for
at least 10000 Italian prisoners cap
tured in Egypt.
Evening star., 1940-12-18
British Have Eased
Pressure in Libya,
Italians Report Z
English Cruiser Reported
Hit by 2 Torpedoes Seen
To Sink, Command Says
b the Associated Press.

~ SIuNs SVttIIlOuO SOyS
b the Associated Press.
ROME, Dec. 18-British troops In
Libya, weakened by losses, have
eased their pressure on Marshal
Rodolfo Grazianis army under
steady bombardment by Italian
artillery and planes, the Italian high
command said today.
1t also said the British cruiser re-
ported hit by two torpedoes, from
italian planes was seen afterward
to sink.
Yesterdays communique said the
cruiser, a 6000-ton vessel, was she'll
ing the Libyan base of Bardia when
attacked.
The high command reported that
Col Aramu, who twice few the At
lantic with the late Gen. Italo Balbo,
was missing in one of the Italian
bombing planes listed definitely as
lost in North African fighting two
days ago.
Planes Bomb Warships.
italian planes were said to have
bombed British warships off Bardia
again yesterday. A communique
said the British lost two planes and
the Italians one in air fights which
resulted.
The British were said to have
bombed the islands of Rhodes and
Stampalia on the italian Dode-
canese Islands in the Eastern Medi-
terranean.
The high command reported that
italian flyers bombed oil supplies
and harbor works at Port Sudan and
other points in East Africa.
Sharp fighting between Italian
and Greek troops was reported to
be continuing in the southern sector
of Albania. The communique said
Greek troop concentrations were
sprayed with machine-gun fire by
Italian flyers.
- Ruinous Punishment Given.
The authoritative Fascist editor,
Virginio Gayda, asserted today that
the final victory in the African desert
war, to come in weeks or months"
would depend not on who occupied
the most territory, but which side in
flicted the heaviest losses on the
other.
He asserted that the italians were
administering "ruinous' punishment
to the British and were still on their
feet, resisting every inch and far
from beaten.
Nine trainloads OF British wounded
were hauled into Cairo after the
third day of the offensive, Gayda
declared. He said Italian forces
were destroying dozens of tanks and
armored cars.
Try to Wear Down British.
rtaly's armored detachments were
reported to be trying doggedly to
wear down British armored columns
attacking in Libya on the 10th day
of their desert drive.
The newspaper II Popolo di Roma
SdIu lllc oIIIlSil OUJCSliNc wac W
KNOCK Italy out of the war" and
added that Marshal Grazianis ap-
parent intention was to turn the
battle into a fight to wear out Gen.
Sir Archibald Wavell's army of the
Nile.
That process, italians said already
has been begun by Fascist planes
and artillery, whose bombs and
shells were said to have Uttered the
dessert battlefield with wrecks of
burning tanks and batteries of ar
mored cars.
The newspaper said white Italian
troops from the mainland with mo-
torized equipment were fighting the
second phase of the battle of North
Africa after native Libyan foot SOL
diers were overcome by Wavell's
army on wheels and driven from
Sfdi Barrani.
Evening star., 1940-12-18
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Evening star., 1940-12-18

Increased prices Of hard liquor
failed to decrease drinking in Fin
land in the last year.
Evening star., 1940-12-18
Egypt
Continued From First Page.)


tions along the frontier near the
recaptured port of Salum and the
storming of four Libyan border
posts, Musaid, Sidi Omar, Shefferzen
and Fort Capuzzo.
Bolstered by reserve forces the
British pushed straight for Bardia,
little more than 10 miles from
Libya.
LONDON, Dec. 1S UP.-Military
circles reported today that British
troops were continuing to exert
"strong pressure"in the direction Of
the port of Bardia in their drive
westward into Libya from Egypt.
Discussing the British position,
these sources said "if we did Isolate
the Italian base at Bardia, "it would
round off quite nicely the operations
started at Sidi Barrani."
The Nome nugget., 1940-03-29
COL. C. WASH TAKES CHARGE HUGE AIRBASE

TACOMA. March 27-Col. Car lye Wash, one of the Air Corps top flight organizers, arrived and took command of McChord Field the $18,OOO,0O0 project here near ing completion.
 He said approximately 72 plan es including A of the newest long range bi-motored bombers, will be there by June l along with 203 officers and 1858 enlist ed men, and by the first of the year we hope to have at least 90 planes here and there is no req son why this should not become one of the biggest military air bases in the world"
The Nome nugget., 1940-03-29
"TRIPE" IS ON THE ICE AT NENANA
The "tripe" is up.

The "tripe" is up.
 The "tripe" is an ingenious tripod butchers twine alarm clock gadget which times the ex- act minute the ice goes out on the Tanana at Nenana = an item which has Alaskans everywhere guessing.
 Fairbanks to Nenana telephone communications brought report from George Hupprich, manager of the 1940 Ice Classic, that the timing device has been installed.
 The congealed crust, however, is still 42 inches thick at Nenana, according to Hupprich.
 Al Turner, Fairbanks weather bureau attache assigned to the ice stabbing detail on the Cinema, re ported bridge-side depth is 405 inches, the thickest ice of the season to date, despite the 35-de- gree temperature brought by the long-lingering sun.
The Nome nugget., 1940-03-29
Increase In Popular Interest
 Tuberculosis SanatOria Alaska

Indications of a rapid increase in popular interest in the acquisi ton of tuberculosis sanatorium for the Territory were recently reported by the Alaska Tubercul- osis Association.
 Since last November, said Harry Watson, President of the organization, we have received more letters commenting on the ack of such facilities than were received in three years prior to that time. There is no doubt that such facilities are badly needed and we hope that the near future will bring a tuberculosis sanat- orium to Alaska"
 At the present time there is a bill pending in congress, which if enacted, will provide for the construction of 50 hospitals in various sections of the country where the need is greatest. They are to be constructed entirely with Federal funds and upon com pletiOn are to be turned over to responsible local agencies for op- eration but the title to them will remain with the Federal govern ment."
 According to figures released by the Territorial Department of Health" he continued, the tuber- culosiS death rate per 10000 pop ulation in Alaska during 1888 was over seven times the aver age of the country as a whole. 356.3 compared with 489.'
 "The amount of money being
The Nome nugget., 1940-03-29
spent annually by the Territory

spent annually by the Territory for the. care of tuberculosis suffer CTS in sanatoria in the States would go far toward the mainten ance of such an institution here and the necessary expenditures are increasing every year. Dur ing the eleven month period from April l, 1889 to February 9, 1940, these outside expendi- lures for the treatment of tuber culosis were 28.5fo greater than they were during the whole two year period previous to that time According to the figures of the Territorial Department of Public Welfare, during the 35 month period, April 1, 1887 to February 29, 1940, 24.7fo of the total hos pitaizalion costs have been de- voted to the treatment of tuber- culosis.
 No amount of effort can bring about the eradication of tuber- cuOsis unless adequate facilities for the isolation and treatment of active cases of the disease are available and it is toward se- curing such hospitals that the As sociation is pointing its work. In the meantime we are continuing to contribute to the support of the Tuberculin Testing and Early Case Finding Clinics and our work of bringing a wider know ledge of the facts concerning tu- berculosis to the people of the Territory
The Nome nugget., 1940-03-29
GIANT BRITISH SHIP
 HEADING FOR AUSTRALIA

CRISTOBAL, March 27 - The 35,000 ton British luxury liner Mauretania anchored in Cristobal Bay, presumably in preparation to threading the Panama Canal.
 The grey painted, blacked out ship arrived without fanfare and officials are silent in regard to her destination though it is be- lieved she will head for Austral la as troopship.