davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-06
Walter WincheII
 Or BrO0dw0y 1.
WITH 4 Nop To RupYARn
ss'sde Marx RsIiasrsds Copyright ISsO DaS nIirrssl

WITH A NOD TO RUDYARD
 KIPLING CSent by Douglas Williams, Min istEy of Information, LOndon) IT you can keep yourself from going
 crackers
 At all the things that you've ad-
 viSed to do When Hitler sends his horrid air
 tackers
 With squibs and bombs to try to
 frighten you. If you can hear the hellish banshee
 warning
 Without that sinking feeling in
 your breast, It you can sleep in dugouts till the
 morning
 And never feel you ought to have
 more rest. If you can laugh at every blackout
 stumble
 Nor murmur when you cannot find
 pub,
 If you can eat your ration and not
 grumble
 About the wicked price you pay
 for grub.
 If you can keep depression down
 to zero,
 And view it all as just a bit of fun. Then, mister, you are what they call
 hero,
 What is more-you're not the only
 one.
 Heheheh: Fly Gardner relays the one about the Broadway booking agents who got into an argument on the telephone. One of them threatened to punch the others nose. Next morning, Agent B ap- peared in the office of Agent A, accompanied by four tough looking hombres.
 Did you bring your gang with you to beat me up?" sneered Agent A.
 No" was the squelcher, "I've got such terrible temper I brought them to hold me backl"
 WOOf-w00f! Bob Benchley of the feelms was visiting a Hollywood dog and cat hospital in search of a pooch. A pal of his, trying fran ticaly to locate Benchley (to de- liver a message) learned where he was and rushed there. Approaching the girl at the desk, he asked: "Is Bob Benchley of Metro here?" 'Is he an airedale," was the re- tort, "or spitz?"
 It Could Happen: Irving Netcher, the Chicago dept storekeeper, has few vices. His chief thirst-quanche however, is Schotchnsoda, and so before he went to a ball game he swallowed pair of Scotches, say ing: "That1l hold me for nine in- nings, anyway"
 The game was tied in the ninth and Netcher got very dry. It was tied again in the tenth, and his thirst choked him. In the 18th inning, he got up and left. I'd better go," he said. before I die from non-alcohonc poisoningl" Form of Criticism: Prof. Nathan, of the N. Y. Drama Critics Circle, met 8 playwright at the Algonquin hotel yesterday, chap whose manuscript NaiItan had promised to look over instead of overlook The Regal One shook his head af- ter reading three pages.
 You don't like it." sighed the writer sadly, what do you think it needs?"
 First of all" Nathan replied, I'd 5uggest perfume"
 Ouch! At a joynt in the sos last night a group of wisenheimers were grooming over the club mes flop of the year. He was rolling them in the aisles-meaning the eggs, of course. His gags were either too filthy or too old to be funny, and as gag after gag fell flat, lulling
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-06
CHANGE EXTENSIVE

The Jockey Club makes charge of $10 Off an owner desires to change teh name of thoroughbred horse.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-06

Symbols will be the theme. The subject for this evening will be "The Cross"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-06
Junior League

Junior League
 At meeting last night in the Washington Park Community House the following teams were accepted in the Junior Basketball League: The East End Community Club, Blues. Trojans, Collegians, Madisons, Shamrocks and Beacons. There is still room for one more team and anyone interested in entering team in the league must file appli- cation with Supervisor Bill Shea this week.
 Election of officers was held with the following being successful: Pres ident, John J. Kieley; vice. e-president William Keavney; treasurer, John Delaney; secretary, Frank Dooley.
 The leagues first game will be played December 26.
 Memorial Mass
 A mass for the deceased members of the Earbenders will be held to- morrow morning at 8 o'clock at St, Francis Xavier'S Church.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24
AIRPORT PROJECT
IS BEING PUSHED
Approximately 200 Work
ers Now Engaged; WPA
Aid Is Broadened

Work on Blusnenthal Field, the
county airport, is being rushed to-
ward completion with approx
mately 200 men on the job and
rapid progress is now expected,
according to a letter received yes
terday by R. B. Page, publisher O
the Star-News, from Lieut.. Col.
Arthur R. Wilson,, of the general
staff.
The letter follows:
1.-THE WPA is pushing the airport
project at Wilmington with about
200 men as fast a. possible. The
project. which is operating, repre-
sents approved WPA money in the
amount of $136, 1876. The origiha!
plan of operations contemplated
the production of crushed rock on
the job, but to speed things up, a
transfer of $42, 900 has been made
within the project from labor to
non-labor to permit purchase OF
this material instead. Work is be-
ing pressed on the two 5000 foot
runways and the WPA Airport En-
gineer is in Wilmington this week
to help things along. TIL e r e is
equipment on the JOB adequate to
keep the hand labor busy, and
rapid progress is now expected" ]
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24
Persons Are Hurt
In Auto Collision Here

Five persons, four of them Will
mington men stationed at Fort Jack
son, S. c., were injured i'm a car
truck smash about Ais o'clock yes
terdav afternoon at the junction of
Wrightsville avenue with Orange
street and Pender avenue, police re-
ported.
Those injured are:
Fred Allen, 20, of Lingo City,
laceration of right eye and contus-
ion of eye, back injuries, condition
described as "fair'' at James Wal
ker Memorial hospital.
Luther Mintz, 20, of Lingo City,
decorations Of the back and left
knee.
Woodrow Hicks, 21, of Lingo City,
decorations of scalp and Commissions
Of thumb and shoulder.
Elmo Reese, 20, of 2o15 Greasy
avenue. head injuries
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24
GILLETTE SPEAKS
CARRIER BOYS
Address Marks The Annual
Banquet Given Young
sters By R. B. Page

"Our people are getting too far
away from the idea of working-but
they will have to come back to it,"
Lieut.. Col. George Gillette, former
district army engineer here, told ap-
proximately 100 carrier boys of the
Star-News at the annual banquet
given by R. B. Page, publisher of the
newspapers, at the Cape Fear hotel
last night.
Mr.. Page acted as POSTMASTER for
the banquet, which preceded a Christ
mas party for the members of the
Carriers association.
Declaring that the salvation of this
country rests on the shoulders of the
young people of today, Col. Gillette
said History is being made today
like it never was b%efore-it will af-
feet your lives and the lives of the
nation"
1--WE are passing through a time
that can no better be described than
d IGNOlullOll, ~ So1N, ~ ~ "" oo
ing on but it is something that 1
am unable to put my finger on. We
are competing in a world of great
competition and if u democracy is
to survive you boys must appreciate
what you + to do"
Col. Gillette praised the work of
President Roosevelt, who he said is
doing something that I hope will
lead to bigger and better things in
the future"
Urging the boys to set for them
selves an objective in life, he de-
clared that the training which you
are getting is for your w good ard
also for the good of the people you
serve.
ct think you boys should be proud
of what YOU are doing-it is a great
privilege to serve humanity Col.
Gillette. said.
I'VE are prone to measure success
by dollars, but that is not it," he
said, and in pointing to n field OF
endeavor for the youth of today he
(COntinued on Page Three; Col. ~
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24
British Boost
Siege Forces
|AroundBardia
Total Of. $4,000 Italian
Prisoners Are Reported
Moved To The Rear
TOWN SHELLED AGAIN
Raj Reports Night Raids
On Fascist Bases Along
The Libyan Coast

CAIRO, Egypt, Dec. 23.-RE
The British army of the Nile, with
some $4,000 Italian prisoners re-
ported already moved to the rear,
poured reinforcements into siege
lines around beleaguered Bardia
today preparatory to an assault
on it's 10000 defenders.
While the troops we're massing
outside the Libyan port, British
artillery and naval guns pumped
shells into positions occupied in the
town itself by remnants of the
Italian 10th army declared trap.
ped there.
Ranging far ahead of these
operations, the Raj reported new
night raids on italian bases along
the arching Libyan Mediterranean
coast as far as Bengasi, 300 all
miles to the west.
Air Bases Raided
Near Bengasi, the air bases al
Berka and Benina were reported
ratded Saturday night and return
ing pilots told of starting tremend'
us fires and explosions. Often
bombed Tobruk, 80 miles west OIL
the Egyptian border, also came in
for another pounding.
"Our preparations are progress.
sing satisfactorily" the British
command said.
It announced that IS, $40 prison
ers, inclding 1,7O4 officers, had
been moved to the rear since the
British offensive started in t c
Sidi Barrani area of the Egyptian
coast and that several thosanc
more still were awaiting transfer.
Swift British mechanical units
which headed the drive to Bardia
were reported to have struck west
ward once more; just how far was
not disclosed.
Heavily Fortified
British military circles in Lon.
don said Bardia probably was
heavily fortified Sin depth on the
Continued on Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24

The Star-News Empty Stocking
fund last night stood at $1,413.67
but, with only one day remaining
until the visit by Santa Claus and
with 5000 unfortunate children to
be cared for, many more contrl-
buttons must be received today II
all of the requests are to be met.
Last year the fund amounted to
nearly ST. 900 and more than 4,ooo
children were given a bit of Christ
mas happiness and cheer.
This year there r not quite as
many children asking that they be
remembered by their patron saint,
but the fund is still far from ade-
quate to meet the pleas that have
been made.
Receipts from the football game
at Legion stadium Sunday netted
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24
CONTINUED on Page Three; Col. 81
More Donations Needed
By Empty Stocking Fund

$127.5O and the receipts from the
basketball games staged at tn e
Y. M. C. A. last week were $4.05.
These were added to the total con-
tributions yesterday.
Today is the day on which so
much is dependent. Today is your
chance to help some poor child
realize the joy and happiness that
goes with the Christmas season.
Your contribution today will ease
the heartbreak and brief of some
child in the city and county to-
morrow morning.
It is tomorrow when the thou
sands of little children will tumble
from their beds to look for the
gifts which Santa brought them.
Continued On Page Six; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24
BOARDS TAKE ACTION
Ways And Means OF FL
nancing Work Will Be Dis
cussed At Meet Monday

A proposal that a recreationa
center be erected here for the
workers and soldiers at the Will
mington Anti-Aircraft firing center
at Holly Ridge was approved by
the city and county commissioners
in Joint session yesterday after
noon.
The city and county boards
adopted a resolution approving
plans for the construction OF an
adequate building. at Fourth and
Princess streets to be used as a
recreational center for troops.
To. Discuss Finances
The two bodies also agreed te
give further consideration to pre-
liminary project plans and decided
to discuss ways and means OF IL
nancing the work at another JONI
session at 3 o'clock Monday after
noon, December 80.
Action on the matter came after
R. B. Page, chairman OF the ex'
ecutive committee of the Whining
ton Defense copstil, had explained
in detail the various phases of the
proposal.
MIR. Page presented the plans
specifications, and estimates on
the building, as prepared by a
special committee composed OF W.
R. Dosher, chairman; O. G. Foard'
and H. R. Cavenaugh.
On motion of James E. l.. Wade
commissioner of public works, the
two boards passed a resolution ap'
nroving of the proposal to erect an
adequate structure at Fourth ane
Princess streets to be used as a
troops recreational center and urg-
mo that wavs and means be found
to finance the project.
CONTINUED on Page Two; Col. D.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24
Roosevelt Will Discuss
mergencySundayN Night

In some administration quarters,
the speech was regarded as a sort
of "preview" for the Presidents
forthcoming "s~tate-of-the-n a t / o n"
to the new congress.
Those who viewed it in that light
speculated that Mr.. Roosevelt might
have in mind giving the country the
background of some OF the Issues to
be advanced in his message to con-
gress.
/. Among other things, this message
is expected to discuss the matter of
further aid to Britain and PERHAPS
present formally the ~'1ease-leno"
plan of assistance which MI. Roose-
welt outlined at a press conference
last week. This proposal would have
CONTINUED on Page Six; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24
firing BASE WORK
TO Be SPEEDED UP
Construction Will Be Put
On 24-Hour Basis When
Power Is Available

Construction work at the Whining
ton Anti-Aircraft Firing Center at
Holly Ridge will go on a 24-hour
basis as soon as power is made avail
able there, the office of the con-
struction quartermaster here an
nounced yesterday.
The statement followed an an
nouncement from Washington, D.. c.,
that contracts for the construction
of the $40, 900, 900 Army camp have
been awarded.
company have announced that they
hope to have the power lines installed
to Holly Ridge by tonight and in
view of this it appeared last night
that construction work on a large
scale will be started in a few days.
Flood lights will be erected at the
camp site to allow laborers to un-
load building material at night so
that it will be ready for the work
men when they report in the morn
ing. After the material is unloaded
it will be distributed to the various
work centers. This work will also
be done at night.
A large number of workers re-
ported at Holly Ridge yesterday.
Many of them were registered by the
North Carolina State Employment
office there.
The scheduled cost of the firing
center proper is $8,612,495.
The construction contract for the
firing center went to J. J. McDevitt
company, Charlotte; W. B. Higgins,
Continued on Page Three: Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24
TAX LISTERS AND
ASSESSORS NAMED
Appointments For l941
Are Made By Chairman
OF County Board

The appointment of tax listers
and assessors to serve in their
respective townships for the re-
valuation year of 1941 in New Han
Ter county was announced yes
erday by Addison Hewlett, chair
man Of the county commissioners
The appointments included: tax
listers by townships, Cape Fear,
Mrs. George W. wilkins; Federal
Point. S. T. Reyes; Harnett No. 1,
Mrs, Janet E. High; Harnett, No.
:, George T. Shepard; Masonboro,
Mrs. Leila NJ. Horne; and Will
nington, W. F. Carpenter, w. N.
@Harriss, and E. H. Davis.
Tax assessors by townships,
Cape Fear, C. M. Ward; Federal
Point, c. M. Murrin; Harnett, No.
to be announced later; Harnett
No. 2, L. A. Covil; Masonboro, P.
T. Montford; Wilmington, j. E..
VoI and B. F. King.
Chairman Hewlett, who was ap.
pointed as county tax supervisor
'f 1871 by the county commits
s%oners, said all appointments OF
lax listers and assessors for the
leValuation of property in the
county during the coming year
we're made in accordance with the
law.
Hewlett said the officers of the
wilmington Real Estate board had
vlered their services and coopera-
uoa IN determining a basis of val
ua'on in certain areas and any
'aief assistance needed. The real
1f board leaders, he said, had in
ASled upon the appointment OF
soMpetent men who were familiar
WIN real estate values.
on motion of Harry Gardner,
ge county commissioners yester'
Ndy adopted a resolution request
cs that members of the North
saFollna delegation in Congress
support the application of the City
VI wilmington for a loan through
continued on Page Two: Col. Al
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24
N. {. LEVY IS HELD
UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Tax On ut-Of-State Re.
tailers Is Held Invalid
By U. S. Tribunal

WASHINGTON, Dec. % B -
A North Carolina tax against out
of-state retailers displaying goods
or samples there to obtain orders
was held unconstitutional by the
supreme court today on the ground
that it disseminated against inter-
state commerce.
1.-The freedom of commerce
which allows the merchants
of each state a regional or national
market for their goods is not to
be fettered by legislation, the &C.
tual effect of which is to discrimi-
nate in favor of interstate bust
Continued on Page Two; Col. A.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24

"ASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-(R-
ieslaent Roosevelt will broadcast
,ne American people next Sunday
m'HV a report on his administration
Hallonal affairs and conduct of
%elen relations.
1Ae chief executive will speak
m0a $50 to 10 p. m. (EST) over all
W. n'of networks. Stephen T Early
"le House press secretary, an
uNclns arrangements for the ad.
W. ass said today that Mr.. Roose-
would report to the country re-
lung the present emergency"
b., was expected that much Of the
Ssiuent's address, his first since
november election, would be de-
wv to the national defense pro-
h D and to the administrations aid
"Nfitain policy.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24
NAMES SUkPk lSE lALk
Message Broadcast Repeat
eddy To Italy In Eng
lish And Italian
CALLS HIM CRIMINAL
Greater British Drive On
Retreating Fascists Is
Believed Near

LONDON, Dec. 23-LR-In. a bold
and surprise effort to speak direct
ly to the Italian people over any
barriers intended to forestall re-
ception, Prime Minister Churchill
appealed tonight for the overthrow
at home of Premier Mussolini.
His message was broadcast re-
~peatedly to Italy in English and
Italian in the hope that Italians
somehow might hear and heed
him. Listening to enemy broad
casts is forbidden in Italy.
Destroying African Empire
Churchill gravely told his I'm.
counted audience that British arm
les "are tearing and will tear your
African empire to shreds and tat
ters."
And he told any Italians listen
ing that presently we shall be
forced to come to much closer
grips" In this connection it was
recalled the British fleet last week
end penetrated the Adriatic.
Churchill called Mussolini a
criminal who, after 18 years of
power, had left Italians only the
hard choice" of standing up to
the might of the British empire
or calling in "Attila over the
Bremen Pass with his hordes of
ravenous soldiery and his gangs Of
Gestapo policemen to occupy, hold
down, and protect the italian peo-
pie for whom he and his Nazi
followers cherish the most bitter
and outspoken contempt that is on
record between races"
In AvaIanche's Path
An aroused English-speaking
world is ION the move" Church.
i'll solemnly declared, and asked:
"Why have you placed your
selves, you who rel Dur friends
and might have been our brothers,
in the path of this avalanche now
Continued on Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24
Metaxas Saws
Further Gains
Are Expected
Action On Northern Front
Extended Because Oh
Improved Weather
PLANES ARE DOWNED
|RAF Conducts Successful
Raids On Oil Wells In
Central Albania

ATHENS, Dec. 23.-R-The
Greek army, headed northward
along the Albanian coast toward
the port of Yalona, was reported
tonight to have captured the fas-
cist supply base of Chimara and
to be pressing home its advantage
against retreating Italians.
Premier General John Metaxas
announced victory in the week-long
battle for Chimara, less than 80
miles south of Valona, at a cabi'
net meeting. He added that further
operations were developing stats,
factorily and new decisive results
could be expected soon.
Action Extended
From the Tepeleni-Klisura Sec
tor came reports of continued
gains against Italian positions
pounded heavily by Greek artil-
lery. In the north, action was said
to be charging because of i'm
proved weather conditions.
The British Raj command
claimed at least eight Italian
planes we're shot down in an air
fight Saturday over Argirocastro,
Albania, against a loss of two Brit
ish ships. 1t told too of bombing
attacks yesterday on oil wells at
Kucova, central Albania, in which
''all bombs fell in the target area"
Greeks attributed their success
Continued on Page Two; Col. s.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24
BRITAIN
is DESTROYING
DUCE'SAERICA
Rome Radio Station
Calls Churchill Cad
In Referring To Talk

NEW YORK, Dec. 23-R-
The Rome radio, in a broad
cast heard tonight by NBC,
called Prime Minister Wins
ton Churchill a "cad," in refer
ring indirectly to his radio
appeal today to the Italian
people.
"Whatever Daventry Brit
its radio station) may say about
Mr.. Churchill personifying
Britain's old tradition of aris-
tocracy - Daventry has just
sent out this priceless message
of insults into the winter air
everybody who knows Mr..
Churchill knows him to be a
cad" the Rome announcer
said.
"This was the almost unani-
nous opinion of his school con-
temporaries at Harrow, his
1ellOW cadetS at SandhurSt, his
fellow officers and his fellow
journalists during the South
African war.
"The same reputation follow
ed him into the house of COM
mons and worked against his
becoming prime minister. No
body wants to be ruled by a cad
until the feeble leadership of the
present war called for the SUBJ
stitutiOn Of someone who at
least possessed a dynamic per-
sonality-and there was no one
else who possessed this quail
ity."
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24
ITALY REINF0RCES
FORCES IN AFRICA
Newspaper Says Troops
And Supplies Conveyed
Across Mediterranean

ROME, Dec. 23.-R-Italian
troops and supplies, the newspaper
La Tribuna said today, are being
conveyed across the Mediterranean
to reinforce fascist legions against
the British desert offensive.
Italy's navy, a correspondent
wrote, is guaranteeing passage"
of men and materials Ito ports Of
the fourth shore" The fourth
shore" is a common Italian express
sion for Libya.
British naval sources maintain
that their blockade cut off ship
ping between Italy and her Afri-
can empire.)
Premier Mussolini's high com.
Continued on Page Two; Col, A.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24
War

BY KIRKE l.. p

BY KIRKE L. SIMPSON
On-rushing Greek troops in Al
bania gave striking point to Prime
Minister Churchill's radio appeal
to the Italian army and people to
cast off the Mussolini yoke before
it is too late.
They surged on to capture Chi
mara, coastal bastion of the reel
ing fascist right flank. With Va
Iona, communications hub of the
whole Italian line in Southern Al
bania, as their objective they were
reported pressing forward in an en-
circling movement that could bring
the greatest disaster of the war
to Italian arms. AS Churchill
spoke, they were less than a score
of miles from a victory that could
Continued on Page Six; Col. p
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24
WEATHER

FORECAST
North Carolina: Partly CLOUDY tues
dav and Wednesday followed by show,
ers in the mountains WEDNESDAY no'
much change in temperature
nv O.. s.. Weather Bureau)
meteorological data for the "A hours
ending 1880 p. m. yesterday
Temperature
40 a. m. 40; 1880 a. m. a; l:3O p
m h6: 7:3O D. m. 40; maximum %; mini
mum 43; mean so: normal 4o.
Humidity
I 90 a. IL. 81; 7:30 a. m. II; l.30 p. IN
40; 1880 p. m. 81
Precipitation
Total for "a hours ending 7:3o p
inches total since first of the
month O.93 inches
Tides for Today
From Tide Tables, published by u
s. Coast and Geodetic Survey
Masonboro Inlet ------- 3:o3a 9:4oa
3:45p 10 :06p
Sunrise 7:15a; sunset 5:09p; moon
rise 2:31a; moonset loop
River stage at Fayetteville, N. I.
at 8 q, M, Dec. 10, lis feet
Continued on Page Six; Col. A.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-24
CANALS DEFENSES
RATED INADEQUATE
Two Republican Members
OF House Air Views After
Visit To The Zone

WASHINGTON, Dec. % up -
Two republican house members
lust returned from a visit to Pan
mi asserted today that canal
zone defenses were i ~1equate.
But while criticizing the existing
safeguards, Representative Har-
ness (R-Ind) said without elabora-
ion that negotiations were under
way with the Panamanian govern
ment for defense stations actually
outside the Zone.'
Harness, a military affairs COM
mitteeman, and Representative
Bradley (R-Mich) discussed canal
rontinued on Page Six: Col. g.