davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1940-05-24

I The whole coast line is protected
| by series of defenSeS which, al
though old, may play a part IN
modern warfare. These are a string
of cement blockhouscs built more
than 100 years ago when the dan
ger of a Napolconic invasion was
in the air. The Lighthouses have
walls Is feet thick and, equipped
with modern weapons, should prove
formidable barrier even to modern
artillery and air bombardment.
Transport Disrupted
Possession of BoulOgne, however,
seriously dSruptS British transport
TO France and certain special de-
Tense activity. The Dover Calais
route can no longer be maintained,
it was admitted, even if the Allies
succeed in holding Calais. And 1t
was believed Dover would no longer
be tenable for the famous Dover
patrol-thc force of deStrOyers and
submarines which normally pro-
tects the channel against enemy
submarine and other naval action
AS Scotland Yard operatives
swept down on suspected fifth
column elements, thousands OF
picked "paraShooter' volunteers
patroled the entire country await
ing the possible landing of German
parachute troops to disrupt COM
munications and try to hold air
dromes and other key points.
British military experts by no
means shared increased French OPP
timiSm over land operations in the
Somme valley. Britons pictured Ger
mans occupying Boulogne. within
% miles, or big gun range, of the
English Channel coast and threat
ening to cut off the British eApcdl-
tionary force and its French and
Belgian Allies retiring from the
BruSsclS-AntWerp front.
Invasion Feared
Government authorities emphasize
cd their anxiety lest Germany at
tempt an invasion by sea- principal
ly with small fast boats covered by
coastal guns, or by parachutiStS, or
both.
1t was asserted the German thrust
to the channel had already OBJ
Structed transmission of orders and
the movement of the Allied armies
IN Belgium n d northwestern
France. If the German coastal pos
itions were consolidated in strength
1t was asserted, the Allied position
in Belgium would become desperate
One expert suggested that the
Allied force in Belgium might con-
tinue defensive fight, based on
such remaining channel ports as
1t could hold possibly Zeebruggc,
Ostend, Dunkirk and Calais
1t would then be a question, this
expert added, whether an isolated
Allied force on the coast could
hold out longer than any German
RAID on Britain lasted.
Awaiting eagerly an order by
Gen Maxine Wcygand, Allied gcn-
erallS5lno, for gigantic counter
attack, military experts said that
Allied 5ucCeSsF3 IN the ArraS- Cam
braI AmienS area so far had been
merely local actions, designed to
narrow the gap north of the Sommc
between the Allied Belgian army
and the main French army to the
north.
Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1940-05-24
Allied Artillery Pours Curtain of
Fire Into German Corridor as Biq
Battle Settles Down with Infantry

to that OF ihr allies today with
their forces divide into two lsOlat
ed groups
The entire gap between the al
lied army Of the north, withdraw
ING from Belgium, and the main
French army, the army of the
south. was now under a violent
allied bombardmcnt by allied artil-
lery and airplanes. it was asserted
Nevertheless, the military inform
ant said, the Germans persisted in
a desperate race through the Som :
me-ArraS gap i'll an attempt to
reinforce their men on the coast
1t was said that the detachments
were small and mat many Of then
units had been destroyed
The general situation in the
Bouloenc and channel port area
generally was confused because Of
numerous running fights between
German detachmentS and allied
forces. the military informant said.
The progress of German detach-
mentS toward the channel was de
Scrlbcd rather as an escape through
the allied fire than an advance in
force.
The Allies il was said. had now
reduced from 81 10 p miles tho gao
between their armies between the
Somme at the Arras area after
taking ArraS and extending their
front to the Arras- Bapaume road.
Heavy fighting continued in tic
MISUNDERSTANDING region the
Fscaut river, tho military spokesman
said, and the Allies had met with
local successes and failures alike.
The general situation had remained
UNCHANGED thrOugOnt the night
Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1940-05-24

lice search.
Trotzky said the dawn attack
was organized by the GPU (Soviet
secret police, under the direct SUI
pervSion of Stain himself"
Nothing else is possible, because
of the character of the assault"
Trotzky said He said that no blame
could be attached to Mexican poll
teal groups because he had no enc
mics among them.
One of TrotZky's guards said that
in addition to using machine guns
against Trotzky the raiders carried
thermos bottle filled with incen-
diary liquid which they tossed into
Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1940-05-24

WASHINGTON, May 24-tUP)-
President r ooscV announce
plans tC1ay to train $4,000 civilian
pilots during the new fiscal year
starting July |
Civilians receiving the primary
aviation training will be incorpOrat
ed into various army. navy arc
marine reserves to form the person
mel nucleus to man the ultimate
fleet of $4,000 airplancs cOntem
plated by the President
The President SAID the plan re-
presents an expansion Of the civil
aeronautics authority training pro-
aram which gave primary training
to 10000 civilians in the current
year.
The broadened program Mr..
Roosevelt said. will draw men from
three main sources:
THE schools and colleges at
which the 10000 civilians were
trained this year.
"A large group of citizens who
Lave private licenses of various
sorts but for personal reasons have
ceased to fly
3-Men of 18 to 25 who are not
enrolled in any school or college
but are willing to undertake such
training.
Mr.. Roosevelt would not estimate
the total appropriations which will
be necessary for such work. He
recalled that the CAA launched
its program to train 10000 pilots
with a $4,0O0OO0 appropriation last
year
Funds for this primary training,
the President said, will be supple
mental to the $3,0OO,O0O, 900 defense
Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1940-05-24
Trop Squeezed Tighter
On Desperate Northern
Armies Germans Declare

BERLIN, May 24-CUP)- Ger
man armies were reported officially
ITO have cut the allied fighting
ground in Flanders in half and to
be breaking it up into small pieces
in an effort to destroy" the Brit
lsh, Belgian and French armies in
the north.
A smash through the fortified
allied lines along the Schelit
tEScaut river III Belgium to the
LyS river banks. capture of Journal
and Maubeuge and mechanical adj
vances through the Arras area to
the English channel ports we're re-
ported by the high command
. The German efforts to draw
tightly the trap around perhaps a
million allied soldiers in the north
admittedly were more difficult be-
cause of SITTER resistance in severe
: fighting in Flanders.
But the iron ring was being
Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1940-05-24

PARIS. May 2i-CUP) Allied
artillery poured a curtain Of fire
into the German corridor across
northern France today, as French
troops battled along the Sommc and
west of Scheldt in an effort to
seize the initiative form the Nazi
high command.
The battle in the Schcldt region
was reported by military analysts to
have passed out of the phase of
mechanical engagements. Hugo
bodies of massed infantry both
allied and German were closing in
combat.
A powerful effort to Join the
allied forces north of the German
corridor and the main armies to the
south was in the making, despite
the German drive to the channel
northwest of the upper Sommc.
The military analyst of lie Temps
declared that the initiative is no
longer entirely in German hands"
as the result of the opening phases
OF the allied COuntCr-action.
Allied field batteries and heavy
guns on both sides of the German
corridor were rakin2 the narrow
pathway through which all German
troops and material must b. con-
Voyed to the channel The region
was described as a shell rakcd no
mans land.
From the south bank of the
Sommc today the French were re-
ported to be driving forward in an
effort to narrow the German cor
rldor and, Ii possible pinch il off.
should the corridor be broken tho
Germans would suddenly find them
serves IN a position almost Identical
Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1940-05-24
Britons More Jittery Than Since
kapoIeonic Wars as Germans Reach
Channel Port 70 Miles from Dover
LONDON, May "a. CUP)-Cerman

LONDON, May "a. CUP)-Cerman
troops today won the French chan
mel port of bou.ogne, Tightening
the steel ring around the Allied
army of the north and planting the
Naz battleflag within cannon shot
of the chalk cliffs of Dover.
British military sources revealed
that superior forces of German
troops drove smaller British de
tachmentS from Boulogne during the
night and now control a base only
% miles from the British coast.
The situation has become more
grave, it was said.
Calais, the nearest French chan
mel port to Dover, is only 18 miles
from BOulognc and doubt has been
expressed that it can be held by
the Allies if the Germans retain
control of Boulognc.
German heavy guns can now
boNbard Dover and other ports
along the channel and the poSSibll-
ty of a German invasion pointed
at EnglandS famous CinqueportS
on the southeast coast was discuss
cd here in terms of imminent like
lhOOd
Greatest Peril
Not since Napoleon has the per-
il of invasion from over the water
been brought SO close to England.
The air ministry reported that the
royal air force was battling cour-
E3eouSly to hold back the powerful
thrlStS of German mechanical
arms.
Applying its earlier announce
ments, the air ministry said that
a British fighter patrol shot down
% German planes and Shot down
or damaged beyond repair another
26 planes in operations over north
ern France during the night.
Under conditions prevailing, there
c2sl be little doubt that most of
these damaged aircraft were lost
tlt ministry said.
A patrol of II Spitflrc planes was
said by the ministry to have shot
down eight German MesScrSchmidt
xa planes and probably to have
shot down three other I/cSSer-
schmldtS and three bombcrs. One
Spitfire crashed and two others
arc missing.
German mechanical forces. it was
said here have now started attempts
to slice into the Allied army of the
north-poSSibly million fighting
men in northern France and small
corner of Belgium.
Home Defense Speeded
On the home front, preparations
for defense had gone on a "a hour
basis. Drastic steps were being tax
en- against possible sources of fifth
column activity. Some "a persons,
including six women, Sir Oswald
MoSley, conservative member of
parliament, q former member of
parliament and member of the
piniStry of health were under ar
rest.
There were demands for appoint |
mout ot special dlrccto, Of home
defense
Capture nj BouloGiC turned I'M
mediate British attention to the |
dcfCnSeS of tho southeast coast. |
Dover itself is strongly garriSoned.
From the summit of its famed chalk |
cliffs artillery commands all APP
DrolcleS bV sea
Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1940-05-24
London Jitterbuu
Dances to Death

LONDON May 24-CUPl Lon
don's jittcrbues recorded their first
casualty today. a 10 year old Girl
who danced her way to death.
Coroner Dr. Whitehousc returned
a verdict of accidental" in tho
death of Virginia Guidotti Wild died
after a fall suffered While litter
Dugging.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-03
ITALY TICHTENS
 NAVAL POLICY

tContlnued from Page D
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-03
CITIZENS GOOD
 C0VT'S LETTER

Continued from Page D
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-03
Germany Proves To Be The Complete Victor
Continued From Page l)

wegian bases would be of prime val- ue. Today these bases were report cd by Berlin to be undergoing rapid development and improvement.
 Most fears centered on the Me- diterranean and Balkans where the British and French fleets have been strengthened and British shipping cleared out in preparation for oper- ations which would necessary If Hitler's Scandinavian victory en- couraged Italy to enter the war at Germany's side.
 French circles were inclined not to place too much credance in as- surances said to have been given by Premier Benito Mussolini that he contemplated no present change in Italy's status.
 However, they felt that continued Spanish neutrality was assured.
 Italian Fleet Alert
 But the Italian fleet was said to have been ordered on the alert as a result of allied naval concentra- ton Tn the Eastern Mediterranean and Italy was reported to have ad- vised Jugoslavia that she disap- proved of recent Jugoslav defense measures taken in anticipation of possible Italian attack. However, 1t was denied that British ships had been ordered to leave Genoa irn- mediately.
 Berlin jubilantly asserted today that only mopp!ng up operations re- mained to be completed in Norway, The high command asserted that two more allied submarines were
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-03
EDITOR LICKS GOV.
 IN BATTLE ROYAL

(Continued rom Page D
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-03

Germans might move along that dirt road to Stoeren.
 Royal Family Safe
 Stockholm, May 3-(UP)-A Nor wegian spokesman said last night that King Haakon, other members of the royal family and. members of the government had successfully embarked for an unknown destina- ton" after having been in the vic- inity of Mode, near the abandoned allied base of Andalsnes, during German bombings. It was believed that the royal family and the gov- ernment were somewhere in the north of Norway.
 The legation spokesman specific ally denied that King Haakon had gone to England.
 ''It can be officially stated that the king, his family and the gov- ernment are still in Norway and have no intention of leaving" the spokesman said.
 The Norwegian spokesman said: T can confirm the king and the government escaped from the re- zion of Andalsnes and went else- where in Norway where they are safe. They did not go abroad"
 Authorized sources added that the king and government were doubt less now somewhere in North Nor way.
 Germans Advancing
 Norwegian military sources said today that German troops have oc- cupied Stoeren, just south of Trond- helm, and are rapidly advancing on one of the few remaining centers of Norwegian resistance in central Norway.
 The Germans are advancing on Roeros both from the south and the north. Norwegian lines are crun- bling and many Norwegian soldiers and volunteers are fleeing for the hills by ski.
 Stoeren, at the head of the Donl- oass-Stoeren railroad, was occupied by @ German force from Trondheim
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-03

paigns. Because of the insistence of his friends he has in the past re- trained from making a personal matter out of the deliberate and continued attacks upon himself and his family by the editor of the Daily News.
 "The people of Mississippi well recall how, after the campaign of 1881, the governor sued the Jackson Daily News for libel and forced the Daily News to apologize and say in substance that the statements made by it in that campaign, which re- fiected upon the integrity and char acter of Gov. Johnson were made in heated political campaign, were engendered by partisan political feeling, were improper and discour- teous, and should not have been made.
 ''T'he governor felt that his suc- cessful libel suit and the statement made as to the falseness of the crit icism would put an end to the unjust persecution, to which he and his family had been subjected, but dur ing his last race for governor the Jackson Daily News, through its edi- tor, MT. Sullens, continued to vilify and embarrass the governor. Since his inauguration in January 1t has been almost daily occurrence for the Daily News to carry highly de- logatory, unjust and unfair criti- cism of him and his program for the people of Mississippi. As has been his custom, Governor Johnson walked down the Walthall Hotel and entered the lobby. He was talking with a friend on the west side of the lobby when MT. Sullens came in. They looked at each other and the governor walked over approximately 15 feet to him and caned him. MT. Sullens was carried to his room and Governor Johnson walked out of the hotel and proceeded to the gover- nor's mansion"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-03


  said, to get near enough to cane him. MT. Sullens was carried to his room and Governor Johnson walked out of the hotel and proceeded to the governors mansion," their statement said.
 Editor Calls It C0wardly
 Major Sullens permitted @ physi- clan to bandage his head and re- turned to the scene of combat. He said Johnson had engaged in "a cowardly attempt to assassinate me-"
 Major sullens and Governor John son have been bitter personal enemies for 20 years growing out of that fact that sullens, in his editorial function, has always opposed John son politically. Johnson ran three times for governor before he was finally elected. Always against the staunch opposition of the Jackson Daily News. He served two terms in Congress, was defeated when he sought @ third.
 Major suliens is well known in southern journalism as 6 fighting editor of the old southern school im- mortalized by Mark Twain who de- scribed, in his Journalistic Wild Oats," editors calmly composing their leaders while enemies were throwing bricks through the win- dows, dropping bombs down the chimney, shooting at them from va rious vantage points, occasionally glancing Up to plug an enemy who had by some means gained the edi- torial sanctum, with horse pistol al- ways kept conveniently near the ink pot.
 Governors Friends Speak
 The statement of Brody and Bush follows:
 For the past 10 years the Daily News, edited by Mir. Fred Sullens, has harassed, persecuted and er1- barrassed the governor and his fam fly. It started back in 1881 during the governors first race for gov- ernor. This humiliation has not diminished since that time. He has been followed with abuse and vitu- peration through one campaign into private life and into subsequent cana
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-03

os, and flames from houses struck by artillery shells could be seen plainly from Roeros. German planes cooperated.
 It looked for a time as if the Norwegians and Swedes were hold ing their positions firmly. A Nor- wegian soldier sent back here wounded told me that one Finnish volunteer, approached by a small group of attacking Germans, with held his fire and when the first German reached him pulled out his Finnish "Pukka," Q hunting knife, cut off the Germans head. The other Germans fled, the Norwegian said.
 Germans Too Strong
 But the Germans proved too strong. The returning ambulance drivers said today that the dy- namiting of the Glomma river bridge had failed and that the Ger man motorized forces were still able to cross 1t. The Germans already were starting to march on Roeros, the drivers said, and should reach 1t this morning.
 The road leading north from Roe- ros toward Stoeren railroad junc- ton, which the Norwdegians ap- parently still held, is narrow, prob ably too narrow for any motorized equipment and easily defended. From Os, however, there is a sec ondary road, leading over the Fo- rellhagna mountains through Budal to Rognes, about 10 miles east of Stoeren, and 1t was believed the
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-03


 
 at peace for at least ten days. h. formed sources said 1t was most un- likely that Mussolini had mentioned any time limit, since that might be construed as an ultimatum.
 But is was indicated he was leav- ing no stone unturned to put the full weight of this country behind efforts to keep the war within its present bounds.
 When pressed for details of diplo- matic activities, MT. Roosevelt said that for the present he must stand on the statement that this country simply is doing everything 1t can to prevent the spread of war.
 That statement said the president, must answer questions bearing on his conference yesterday with the Italian ambassador and the previous days conference in Rome between Premier Mussolini and the Ameri- can ambassador, William Phillips. MT. Roosevelt sidestepped inquir- les as to whether this country has informed Italy that if the war spreads into the Mediterranean, the United States will redefine combat areas and prohibit all American shipping from entering that sea.
 Acting secretary of state Sumner Welles, who participated in yester- days conference with the Italian ambassador, Don Ascantio Colonna, also refused to discuss details Of the meeting.
 French Statement
 Paris, May 3.-(UP)-The Allied attack on Narvik is developing "very favorably" and the balance sheet of Norwegian gains and losses leaves Germany in the red, French war offlce spokesman asserted today.
 Against the Allied withdrawal in central Norway, he listed these fav- orable factors:
 Norway no longer can be used by Germany as 6 neutral channel for supplies.
 Nazls Lose Third of Fleet
 Germany has lost one third of her fleet and many troop casualties will prove a drain on her food stores The military situation on the western front was quiet, the French ccmmunique reporting some artil- lery fire in the earlly part of the night"
 The feeling here was as regards Italy that while she may have de- termined to maintain non-belliger- ency for the time being theer is no assurance as to how long this status will continue. Spain, however, was felt to have detrmined definitely on continuance of her neutral status.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-03
Allies Attack Has Met
 Complete Collapse
tcontinued Prom Page D

wade Holland, Belgium or both. Or 1t may be that their savage hordes will be hurled against their inno- cent aeighbors in the southeast of Europe. They might well do more than one of these things in prepa- ration for an attack on the western front or even a lightning swoop on this country"
 With Eager Interest
 It was in connection with this statement, and Chamberlain's an- nouncement of an Allied fleet con- centration 1 !. the eastern Mediter- ranean, that political quarters stud jed with eager interest today the possible meaning of a paragraph in last nights authorized British Broadcasting Company broadcast in the Rumanian language.
 It urgently appealed to Rumania not to delay any necessary request for Allied aid and added:
 "fn Palestine, Syria and Egypt great armies of England and France are inassing. Hitler understands nothing but force and the Allies have enough force in the near east to smash utterly any Balkan ad- venture Hitler may undertake"
 A tendency to reserve judgment on the government until next week was due partly to a widely held hope that Chamberlain yesterday had told al' his bad news and might be looking forward confidently to some favorable development. He had done that before. Some even saw in his statement that Allied troops evacuated from Andalsnes were go- ing elsewhere" might possibly foreshadow an Allied offensive on German held Trondheim from the north.
 It was forecast that any reorgan- ization of the cabinet might be precipitated from within the min- istry itself. Winston Churchill, sen- for defense minister, might resign for instance. There had been not the slightest suggestion that he would, but 1t was reported that the admiralty, of which he Is head, had been eager for a frontal attack on Trondhelm from the sea but that the war cabinet rejected the pro- poSal as over-costly.