davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22
CROSS PLEA RAPED
Berlin Charges Britain Is
'l~nciting' U. S. To War;
Danger Cited
rs WATCHING
BY O U P. LOCHNER

BERLIN, Dec. 21.-R-
An official spokesman of the
German foreign office
charged today that Britain's
minister Of shipping was Gin
citing America to commit a
warlike act" against the Axis
and, in carefully chosen
words, added that the United
States reaction lis being
awaited by Germany with ex-
traordinary interest,""
The occasion for this SOL
emn and emotional statement
was a press conference
weighted with gravity; the
reason, an interview given the
American press in London
yesterday by Ronald Cross,
the British shipping minister,
who suggested assignment to
the British Of the German
and Italian ships which are
tied up in neutral United
States harbors.
The German spokesman, in
an aside, added: "The Reichs
government is therefore CEN
tering it's entire attention up
on this Omitted States) re-
action"
"Unfriendly''
Uniformed but unofficial political
sources in Rome said delivery OF
Axis ships to Britain by the United
States would be ''unfriendly'' and
''unneutral'' and expressed conf
dence, it would not happen).
Nearly coinciding with the for
eign office conference, it was an
nounced officially. that the German
government has asked the United
States state department to recall
three members of the staff of the
Continued. on Page Three; Col. ~
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22
Nazis Warn IT, S. Not
To Release Blockaded
Ships To Great Britain
AWARDED
Knudsen Says Contest Is
'Irreconcilable' And APP.
peasement Impossible
MORE SHIPS ORDERED

WASHINGTON, Dec. 81
up - The new defense high
command today set as it's goal
m a m m production "ln
every field which can contri-
butte to victory" and asked
for cooperation of "every ele-
ment in the American COM
munity."
The expression of purpose
was made by William S.
Knudsen, director of the Of
flee for production manage
ment of the Defense commits
sion, in a statement at the
close of a day which saw these
concrete steps in the rearma-
ment program:
Extension of the export
control system to Is addition
al items, including chemicals
useful in production of war
gases and aviation gasoline.
Placing of navy orders
totalling $284,218,7O for sub
marine chasers and auxiliary
vessels. Included were four
ships designed for placing
anti-submarine nets at en-
frances to strategic harbors.
Selection of a site at Tulsa,
Okla, for a plant which will
ASSEMBLE planes from parts
made in automobile factories.
Similar plants already have
been auocated to Omaha,
Neb., and Kansas City, Mo.
Award of a S6,756,399 con-
tract to the Hercules Powder
company of Wilmington, DEL,
for operation and equipment
of a powder bag loading plant
near Pulaski. Va. This plant
will operate in connection with
the S36,000,0 600 powder plant
Continued on Page Two; Col. A.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22
TENSION in VICHY
REPORTED EASING
Laval Incident Is Thought
To Be Ended; Weygand
May Visit Petain
BY OKIN

VICHY, France, Dec. 21.-R-
Despite continued silence about
what clearly were parleys with
Germany over collaboration, the
impression grew tonight that ten
sion, evident since the Laval incl-
dent, has relaxed. .
Fernand de Brinon, French am
bassador in German-occupled
Paris, was reported by informed
sources to have told the Germans
that France would not reinstate
Pierre Laval, ousted a week ago
as vice-premier and foreign MN
lister.
These sources said Brinon acted
m the orders of Chief of State
Philippe Petain.
There was considerable tele-
phone activity between Paris and
Vichy this afternoon and informed
persons expressed the opinion a
meeting between Petain and Ger
man Foreign Minister Joachim Won
Ribbbentrop was under discussion.
The presence in Vichy of Cen
eral Auguste Nogues, former SUI
commander of the French
defense forces in North Africa,
give rise to a belief that Petaln
will extend the scope OF present
interviews with leading French fig.
ures to include the empire, ano
that General Maxine Weygand'
new chief in North Africa, may
Continued on Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22
Fortified Heights Taken In
ITepeleni-Klisura Bat
tie Area
MADE PRISONER.
Raj Bombers From Greek
Fields Bomb Duce's
Major Ports
BY MAX HARRELSON

ATHENS, Dec. 21.-R-Greek
forces pushing deeper into Albania
have captured new fortified
heights in the Tepeleni-Klisura sec
tors and have taken 300 prisoners
and a quantity of war material,
a government spokesman report.
ed tonight.
He declared the Greeks also
were continuing their advance in
other sectors, especially in tn e
coastal region toward Chimara.
Beyond Pogradetz
Important Italian positions also
were taken in the north beyond
Pogradetz, the spokesman said.
conditions are just the same as
in past days, he commented.
1.-The initiative belongs to us and
all efforts by the Italians to count.
er-attack have been crushed.
''Fascist positions on the noun
tain heights naturally r strong
and fortified also by concrete but
these machine gun nests have been
abandoned under the bayonets OF
charging Greeks"
British-Greek forces in close col
laboration wer reported to have
struck sharply against Italy by
land, sea and air.
British fliers participated in two
of these, directly in their W at
tacks at Italy's home and Albanian
bases and in support of Greek
troops in the front lines. T h e y
earned thereby the praise of their
commander for doing what he call
ed one of the best aviation jobs
of the war under about the worst
conditions.
By air-RAF bombers based in
Greece were said to have bombed
oil, tanks and railways overnight
at the Italian port of Brindisi,
across the Adriatic sea from AL
bania, dropping all their bombs in
the target area and setting off
large fires" and several explo-
sions."
Also, the Raj reported attacks
yesterday on Berati, at a vital
road junction on the Albanian
Continued on Page Five; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22
British Plea
Wins Little
:: Support

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-(R
Congressional reaction to the
idea that Axis ships in American
ports be turned over to Great
Britain indicated today that any
formal proposal Of that nature
would encounter determined Op-
position.
Ronald H. Cross, British min.
lister of shipping, advanced the
suggestion yesterday in London,
asserting that he saw no hope of
Immediate replenishments to the
British merchant marine except
by action of this nature or addi-
ton of United States ships to the
British service.
United States officials are
known to be studying the posi-
bility of acquiring some Of the
40 foreign flag vessels tied up
in American ports, although no
definite announcement has been
made. Among such vessels +
two GermaJ and ~ Italian.
Many Criticized 1t
At the capitol, many immediatel
criticized Cross proposal which wa
denounced in Berlin as "incitin
America to commit a warlike. act"
Senator Capper (R-Kans), sal
Legislation would be necessary b.
fore any such step could be taker
and I do not believe congress woul
enact it."
Sena.or Adams (D-Colo) said, Wv
haven't any right to take foreig,
ships in time of peace for our ow,
or anybody else's use. I don't thinl
Continued ON Page Two: Col, ~
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22
Encircled Italian Forces
Prepare To Make Stand
To Hold Bardia
MAJOR BATTLE SEEN
Tvo Divisions Reported
Beseiged By British At :
Vital Coastal Fort
BY ERIC BIGIO

CAIRO, Egypt, Dec: 21::AtR-The
pr;tisb moved more reinforce
menrs today to Bardi, besieged
+;6van port where the Italians are
msking their first real stand
.asinst Britain's 13-day-old North
African campaign.
The town now has been cut off
fr two days with the :st part OF
tro Italian divisions inside a d
British guns turned on it from land
and sea. Field forces, are reported
o~fficiallv to be striking beyond that
smoking stronghold toward the
important Fascist base. Of .Tobruk,
clearing areas to the west and
northwest.
Not Yet Answered -.
Whether Bardia's beleaguered
Italians intend to fight to the finish
Or surrender is a quest to which
there was no answer so far from
British military sources.
The Fascists, it was pointed out,
NAV have Instructions to hold on
as long as possible to give Marshal
Rodolfo GRAHAM time to reorgan-
ie his scattered forces further
west-at Tobruk, for instance,
which has strong defenses.
Bardia also is strongly defended
and British headquarters indicated
toda. it would take considerable
more artillery Smelling and aerial
Continued on Page Three; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22
WINTER BEGINS:
WEATHER IS Mild
Shortest Day OF Year Is
Officially Recorded;
Allow Seen

So you didn't have time yester-
day to complete your Christmas
shopping?
The day did pass rather quickly,
didn't it?
Small wonder.
It was the shortest day of the
year.
And, incidentally, in case the
temperature, being eight degrees
above the normal mean, fooled
you, it was also the first day of
winter.
The winter solstice began at 5:55
p. m.
But to be absolutely frank, this
business about yesterday being the
Continued on Page Five; Col. ~
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22
BY The Associated Press

LONDON, Dec. 21.-An unde-
termined number of ,Londoners
who had been holding parties to
celebrate the coming of Christmas
were killed tonight in a tenement
house smashed by a German
bomb.
In the street outside lay bits of
tinsel and a star from atop a
Christmas tree. Amidst the rubble
of furniture, bricks children's toys
and Christmas decorations lay
bodies in their respectable Sun
day best"
Men and women who a little
while before had been singing ca
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22
London, Liverpool Hard
Kit In Maxi Air Raids

rolls and exchanging Christmas
buildings and candy stood dumbly
about the ruins.
'It came like a hammer blow"
one man said. my wife and l
were out in the kitchen mixing
some food. Inside they were sing
ing God Rest Ye, Merrie Gentle
men and laughing and shouting,
Suddenly we heard that awful
whoosh of a falling bomb. Thank
God my kids are with their grand
mother in the country.
There's what was left OF the
(Continued on Page Five; Col. ~
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22
YULE TRADE MAY
SET new RECORD
Defense Spending Pouring
Huge Sums Into Retail
Trade Channels
By The Associated Press

Big Christmas shopping crowds
rolled up substantial trade gains
in a wartime spending splurge at
busy industrial centers, a nationt
wide survey showed.
Many merchants reported e
best Christmas trade since 1929 as
workers from defense-s+'~nulated
industries poured their extra pay
into retail char els. Some said the
buying broke all records.
Increased factory employment
and overtime wages in the drive
to speed defense output augmented
Continued on PAGE Two: Col. AZ
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22
ITALIANS CLAIM
FLEET IN'ACTI0N
Duce's Editor Explains
Roman Defeat In Africa
By British Arms
By The Associated Press


ROME, Dee. 21.-Italy's high
command declared today that its
fleet had gone into action against
Greece.
Our naval units bombarded
enemy positions along the 1onian
southwest Creek coast effective
", hitting pre-established targets"
a communique stated.
presumably this action t o k
place at about the same time that
NE British claim that their own
leet steamed up the Ionian sea
and penetrated the Adriatic, Shell
ing the Albanian port of Valona.
Noltlnued on Page Three; Col. ID
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22
Raj DOWNS IA
ITALIAN PLANES
Loses Only IA Of Own In
Drive On Duce's Forces
In North Africa

LONDON, Dec. 21.-R-The
British, using Adolf Hitler's own
Blitzkrieg tactics, knocked out at
least" 144 Italian planes in the
first twelve days of their North
African offensive while losing only
.(Continued OH Page Three; Col. ~
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22

~, by U. $. Weather Bureau)
ma genealogical data for the "A hours
"ulng 1;30 p. m. Yesterday
Inn Temperature
Il 'oO a. m. 81; 7:30 a. m. SO; 1:3O p, m.
x maximum So; minimum 4S; mean
10 normal As.
Humidity
% ~ a. N. 50; 80 a. m. 90; 1:30 p. IN.
- $50 p. m. 6lA
~. Precipitation
M iaotal for "A hours ending 7:3O p m.
nna inches. Total since first OF the
u0Ath 093 inches.
m. Tides For Today
cn m rom Tide Tables published by U. s.
NS' ana Geodetic Surveys)
WILL. High Low
''HHln9ton 3:33a 10:56a
sn 3:55p II Pop
N&SalGlse lila; sunset sop; moonrise
~'ONporo Inlet --. 1:23a 7:37a
ly9,. 1872 S:05p
s moonset 1 :32p.
feet. e al Haye''o'ii
continued on Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22
INSTANTANEOUS

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21-R
The defense commission add
ed two experienced restaurant
men to its staff today to advise
on problems of feeding the ex-
panding army and navy.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22

FORECAST

FORECAST
North Carolina: Generally fair and
Dio Sunday and Monday.
south Carolina: Fair and milo Sun
U'E Monday increasing cloudiness.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22
WORLD BULLETINS
who entered the United States

who entered the United States
illegally, pledged tonight a
''square deaI' for every alien
s'who confesses his fault" He
emphasized that he was mot
making any promise" that pen
alties for illegal entry would
be withheld.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22
MARSHALL

MARSHALL
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21-@
General George C. Marshall,
chief of staff, reminded officers
and men of the expanding army
in a holiday greeting today
that the nations re-armament
program would have little
value'' without ''highly train
ed, disciplined military teams"
to use the new weapons.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22
BATTLESHIP

BATTLESHIP
NEW YORK, Dec. 21-LR-
The American b%attleship Ar
kansas, involved in a collision
with a Collier two days go, left
harbor for an undisclosed desti-
nation today.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22
ALIENS

ALIENS
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21-R
Attorney = General Jackson,
urging registration by aliens
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21-@
Justice department officials
said tonight the immigration
service was checking a report
on Page Three; Col. 3
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-22

CONTINUED OH Page Three; Col.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-23
DEMARET WINS
GOLF CLASSIC

SAN FRANCIsCO--Jimmy De-
maret Of Houston. Tex. today led
the nations touring professionals
south toward Bing crosby's Del
Mar tournament. two of the first
three major winter golf titles
packed neatly away.
Demaret yesterday downed Will
lie Coggin Of San Bruno. 2 and /.
to win the San Francisco match
play open. Only a week before the
Houston SHOEMAKER annexed the
Oakland open championship.
II Was \ case Of giant killing
Kiant-kiIier when Demaret
beat Goggin. who had kicked
lawson Little. Byron Nelson,
Clayton Heafner and Craig
Wood out Of the tournament.
Demaret got top money Of 81 900
plus 800 his second-low qualifying
score. Goggin earned $500 ss
runner-up.
The winter golf trail turned
south toward Bing crosby's Del
Mar tournament Jan. 1919. Then
IL heads east for Phoenix Feb. "a
and on 10 Texas. Louisiana. Florida.
North Carolina and finally to the
Masters Augusta National April
Al.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-23
Honor Guest
Night of27th

Bob johnson. the hard-hitting
outfielder Of the Philadelphia
Athletics. who last week signed
a two-year pact to continue his
smuggling for Connie Mack. will
be a guest Of honor Mt the or
ganization meeting OF the Tacoma
Hot Stove league at the Ameri-
can Legion hall. So. 4th and c
SITS. next Saturday night.
Not only will johnson APP
pear In person, hut he takes
= brief but prominent part
In the 1910 American league
motion picture, Touching All
Bases" which viii have its
Northwest premiere nj the
meeting.
johnson, who was third In the
American league batting race last
season with q mark OF .33s and
who has driven In more than 100
runs during each of the last five
big league campaigns. gives q
demonstration OF batting In slow
motion.
Johnson, a resident OF Tacoma.
Is wintering here. spending most
of his time fishing for steelhead
and playing golf. He looks for
one OF his best years In 1910. He
is in wonderful condition. weigh
ing only four pounds above his
playing poundage at this time.
Bob plans 10 leave Tacoma
on Feb. 20 for the Athletics
training camp In California
and the meeting next satur-
day night will give many Ts-
coma fans their last oppor-
tunity 20 chin with him until
next winter.
Tacoma fans who wish 10 at
tend the organization meeting of
the Hot Stove league. which will
be featured by q buffet dinner
and a refreshment period as well
as entertainment. can obtain
tickets by writing to the Hot
Stove league committee. box s<6.
Tacoma. Tickets are free.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-23
CALIFORNIA SKI
SQUAD WINNER

SUN VALLEY-Led by an 49,
year-old skiing marvel. Bobbie
Blatt Of Palo Alto, the Californians
won the LETTERS Cup tournament
from teams representing five other
western states here yesterday.
Blatt paced individual scorers in
the various events. followed by
such stars as ALI Engen. national
jumping champion; Gordon Wren.
of Colorado, who won the jump
yesterday. and a number of other
highly regarded performers. Blatt,
jumping for the third time in his
life, placed 18th in a field of ~.
Idaho was second In the meet,
followed by olorado, Utah,
Nevada and Montana.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-23
Cougars Open
At Idaho Jan. Il
WASHINGTON STATE COZ

WASHINGTON STATE COL
LEGE - HARDENING basketball
players of Washington state will
resume their battle for the North
ern division championship against
the University Of Idaho Saturday.
Jan. n. a. Moscow.
During the break In the confer
encs schedule the Cougars lined
up against the University Of Mon
tana on the Pullman floor sstur-
day and viii meet Montana sEain
Monday night. The Cougars de-
fsated the vandals. s7-zs. In their
first meeting.
Coach JACK Frs<i's iAaky
lads have won three and isst
two In the division essnpsiKn
thus far. Two-Tane serbs
were divided with bath WASH
lnEtes and Oregon state.
The defeat BY Washington was
b. = single pom, IN an overtime
session Wednesday Night Oregon
State d0Snsd tho Cougars BY the
margin ~ two points made on
free thsowA
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-23
Oregon Water
Team clanlp

SEATTLE - Swimmers Of the
University Of Oregon held = Pa
cific Coast conference victory over
the University Of Washington to-
day by $3.50 tally.
The webfeet broke . pool record
and dual meet mark in winning
six Of nine events from the de-
tending champions here Saturday.
Jerry Mcdonald. Oregon
sprinter. led individual scor-
Ing with firsts In the 50 and
loo-yard sprints and = spot on
the record cracking relay
team.
Sherman Wetmore. conference
backstroke record holder, won the
150-yard event In l:40.4. breaking
his own pool record of l:42.i set
last year.
oregon's %0o-yard free style re-
lay squad clinched the meet with a
close 3:47.2. under the former meet
record Of SASS set last year BY
Washington.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-23
Harlem Stars
Here Thursday

Rsputsdly better than last year
wben they entertained and amazed
a large crowd here with their has
kelheil w-izarcy. the Harle
Gl0beiroiteEs viii meet a team ~
City Basketball league Ali-stars al
Lincoln hiTh gym Thursday night
al . O'Clock.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-23
WILL MAKE 70 PASSES
WITHOUT TANNING SHOT

MORE often than celtios play crown
4i than the blackboard They'll whip the hall around
in succession Of Is 20 dizzy and entirely unorthcdcx
passes. dsdaining To shoot though . hair dnsea
sucker shots are set up during the sequence
the ceucs don't around the floor breaking this
and that to fent rivals out Of position That takes
up too much energy They've been playing together
long and perfectly that they break only scoring
pass and then the play clicks with regularity
There's lost motion false move vita Hickey.
Banks and Co
They know by instinct and tms-worn pattern Just
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-23
Glove Rivals
Impress Fans

Jock McOmber Of Tacoma and
Johnny Nelson Of Syracuse, N. Y.
who meet in the 10-round main
event on Thursdays Finnish Re
lief Fund boxing card at Green.
witch coliseum, put on quite q
show for ring fans Sunday at the
coliseum gymnasium.
McOmber had the gloves on
four rounds with Chester
Parks, clever young Negro
light-heavyweight from Los
Angeles, and two with Bud
Zeller, an experienced ZOO
FOUNDER. He looked great.
Nelson had the ringworms buzz
ing with excitement over his box
ing skill against Earl Tiny
Cooper. Tacoma amateur light
heavy, and Johnny Monroe. col
ored welter from New Orleans,
and the fans couldn't overlook the
signs of punching prowess which
bobbed up on occasions.
Davy Ward, the flashy
young Tacoma weller who
seems to resemble Freddie
Steele more each day. breezed
through . nIne-round work.
out, including four rounds Of
boxing.
Davy Is also on Thursdays card.
being paired with Charley kid
Terry of Marshfield, Ore, in the
six-round semi-final.
Matchmaker viii Maylon signed
. new preliminary for the card
today, booking Tommy Danforth,
up-and-coming young middle
weight from Cottage Grove. Ore.
and Ernie Washburn of Edmonds
rs opponents in the four-round
feature preliminary.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-23
Brubaker Gets
Steele Trout

Lannie Brubaker landed two nice
steelhead trout Sunday in the Wy
noochie river. Grays Harbor. They
weighed around eight pounds each
and were displayed at Washington
Hardware. Fred Bruny. Croft no.
tel, landed an eight-pounder near
the Puyallup river bridge He re-
ports several taken at tn, bulk
head. where the Stuck joins the
Puyallup.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-23
ny JERRY BRoNDFIEI.D
NEA service sports Writer

(uEvEIAND. O.-Ganes at their faces and you win
middle age
Watch them perform and you wonder the New
York Celtics haven't found mysterious elixir Of
athletic youth which enables them 80 almost sd
infinitum.
Davey Banks, Nat Hickey. Pat Herihy Rusty ssun-
ders. Paul Birch and couple Of younger hands whom
they've taken along for relief duty have embarked
their annual winter tour Of the south and fans pg
towns and tank towns alike viii again wonder the
celtics do H.
The answer isn't anything material like shot in the
arm sw1g out Of the fountain Of youth Tho cetcs
merely Of the greatest machines assembled
in any athletic line.
Those apparently sgeless and reless veterans have
learned the secret of getting greater results OF
the minimum physical effort.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-23
Cooke Winner
OF Tennis Match

~. rETkasnt 10. VA n
wood Cooke u Portland. OEs
sl<th ranking y. .. player mo
uon the FLORIDA state UTE LAT
week. skisisd the Fiosila sest
coast championship 70 his string
Nltfh . 80. Ell. 81 victory over vi
Aiieo q bsrsklsy. Calf sunday
Teamed with Henry Frusoff ~
Seattle, Cocks also won the
doubles championship. sssttng
Bslrtz Boulssrs. Tampa. pa. ard
Frank Freeing. Chicago. Ga. "a