davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-12-28
Woman Attorney Marries
Foe in Bitter Court Fight
px tre Associated Press.

Ey u ASSONidLCd ASSS'
LOS ANGELES. Dec. 28.-A ro-
nance that started after vehement
verbal exchanges while they were
opposing counsel in Federal Court
trial has resulted in the marriage
of Delphine Meyer, 24-year-old
deputy district attorney, and Harold
R. Shire, assistant United States
attorney.
The brides father, Fred S. Meyer,
Hollywood motion picture executive,
announced receipt of telegram
from his daughter. advising him the
marriage ceremony had taken place
IN Yuma yesterday.
Reputed to be the youngest deputy
prosecutor in California, Mrs. Shire
was graduated from the University
of Southern California Law School
with high honors two years ago, was
admitted to the bar that same year
and last July, after year of private
law practice, joined the district at
torney's Office. She was engaged to
another man at the time, but in time
changed her previous view toward
Mr.. Shire and eventually decided to
marry him.
The brides life has been filled
with unusual experiences. She was
a motion picture actress at 20, an
aviatrix at 18, tennis champion at
II, high school graduate at Is, q
song writer at IL, was Milwaukee's
youngest high school student at IL
and was a professional ballet dancer
at 5.
Evening star., 1940-12-28
Petain Reported
Sending Naval
Force 10 Africa
Officers and Ships
Declared Ordered
To Possessions
By the Associated Press.

bF tuS hSSCCIdlcu rIcSS
LISBON, Portugal, Dec. 2S.-
Travellers arriving from unoccupied
France today reported that they
had been reliably informed that
Chief of State Petain had author
lied number of French naval Of
ficers to spend vacations" in North
Africa and that several French war;
ships already had sailed from Tou-
Ion to North Africa.
The travellers connected these
moves with Marshal Petain's "un-
abated decision to rule France him.
self, free from foreign impositions"-
to use their words.
"Petain would rather become a
prisoner himself than give in to de-
mands he considers against the in
terest Of France, such as allowing
foreign troops to pass through un-
occupied territory" they declared.
The French cabinet met today
according to Vichy dispatch, and
1t was expected the ministers would
hear a report by Navy Minister
Admiral Jean Darlan on his Christ
mas trip to occupied France where,
advices reaching Switzerland said
he delivered a personal letter from
Marshal Petain to Adolf Hitler.
In this letter Marshal Petain was
understood to have outlined the
basis on which he would agree to
collaboration with Germany.
Evening star., 1940-12-28

the east or whether they would strike
straight for the river.
So there was nothing for the
squadron leader and us to do but
wait.
(which one of your fellows was
it?" we asked.
Don't know for certain" said
Squadron Leader Hickey. Anyhow
he is wounded. I could see the blood
spouting from his legs. But he's
alive all right. few within 80 feet
of him. He signaled me. He knew
I was sticking by"
The squadron leader had q
chiseled face, fair hair, and the ac-
tions Of man accustomed to COM
mand. He was tense in the way q
man is tense who has just come
out of battle and still has an ex-
tremely important job to do. He
must have circled for Is minutes
over the spot where his pilot fell.
Then he had dashed back to the
nearest emergency airheld, . boggy
Evening star., 1940-12-28

help the Greek soldiers below or
the mountainside locate the italian
parachutist and capture him. That
sounded all right at the time.
All this happened just at noon
Two hours later we were still in the
valley when an ambulance rolled up
the road and an officer in Royal Air
Force uniform stepped out. 1--WE
got to get to my pilot, the one who
was shot down by the Eyeties over
the mountain-as soon as possible
he said to the Greek major.
MY God, was that plane British?"
I exclaimed.
The major explained that q Greek
doctor and Greek soldiers had been
on the way to rescue the English
aviator for more than an hour now.
We tried to figure out how we
could climb up and meet them. but
you couldn't tell what ravine they
would come down, whether they
would 60 hrst to the village over to
Evening star., 1940-12-28
Fighting Do

plunge. Then we saw her shoot
downward, twisting, twisting, twist
ing. Its a Fascist! Get your
camera" I yelled to Steve. Now
saw the white flowing break of a
parachute and then another air
plane-circling around and around
them as the plane and parachutist
plunged down toward the spot
where the snow line ended and the
green hills began.
The plane fell faster and cloud
of black smoke rose from the knoll
where 1t crashed across the river.
But the fighter kept circling around
the swinging figure below the white
envelope, and long after the en-
velope was settled to earth. We
were puzzled about the flyers be-
havior. If he were q Fascist why
did he risk being plugged by Greek
batteries here or there? Later.
some Of the neighborhood battery
boys told us that the circling pilot
was British and he. stayed BY to
Evening star., 1940-12-28

things which kept your heart in
your throat all the way up. In the
magnificent sunlight they shone like
silver darts, but they always burst
behind the Fascists, or they broke
beneath them, or sometimes above,
and we began to wonder If ever our
Greek battery would get one of
those devilish, slim, white birds and
send it careening downwards.
Then it happened-or so we
thought!
Far across the Drina and high
above the snowy, 6,000-foot shoul-
ders Of the Nemeroka range, we
saw another group Of planes push
out Of a mass of clouds. A sudden
flame winked from one Of them
like a lighthouse beacon. It was
a hit. hit from somewhere-we
couldn't tell where. Yes, she was
punchdrunk and wobbling, yes, she
was falling.
We saw sheets Of fire girdle the
airplane as she lapsed into . dizzy
Evening star., 1940-12-28
Hold Bardia or Die,
MussoIini Orders
Ports Defenders
Second AIcuzur' Is
Forecast by Captured
Itoliun Soldiers
BY the Associated Press.

CAIRO, Egypt. Dec. 28.-Captured
soldiers reported today that Pre-
mier Mussolini himself had ordered
Fascist forces in the beleaguered
Libyan port of Bardia to "be ready
to die rather than give up" and
predicted the defenders would turn
the siege into a second Alcazar."
They referred to the 10-week
defense during the Spanish civil
war OF Spain's West Point" at
Toledo by Generalissimo Francisco
Frances forces, which ultimately
were rescued. But the Italians at
Bardia apparently hold little hope
OF history repeating itself in another
rescue.
Following Mussolini's order, Gen.
Francesca Berti, Bardia commander
noted for his ability to exhort his
men to brave deeds, called on the
defenders to rally and redeem the
Italian Army's prestige by blocking
the British advance into Libya.
Tobruk Defenses Strengthened.
The prisoners said Marshal Ro-
dolfo Graziani, the Italian COM
mander in North Africa, hurriedly
was strengthening defenses at
Tobruk, 80 miles to the west, in
preparation for an expected British
attack there.
The British regard the fall of
Bardia, stubbornly held by Sac
rif1ce garrison" of 10000 italian
troops, as inevitable.
Even If the Italians should slice
through the British ring of steel
which surround Bardia, they would
have to run the gantlet of a fierce
naval bombardment on their sole
line of retreat along the coast, Brit
ish sources said, or try the desperate
,xpedient of escaping into the track
less desert, where they would be at
the mercy of the Royal Air Force.
Order Checks Flight.
Had it not been for Mussolini's
order, one captured officer was
quoted as saying, Bardia would have
been abandoned soon after the fall
of Salum, IL days ago.
The strategy, however, appears
to be for the Bardia garrison to
(see BORD1A, Page ABB
Evening star., 1940-12-28
B, the Associated Press.

ROME, Dec. 28.-Virginio Gayda,
the highly placed Italian editor, to-
day warned American intervention
lists" that If they sent supply con-
voys to Britain by way of neutral
Ireland they would start "a spread
Of the conflict from Europe and the
North Atlantic to the Western Hem
isphere, the Southern Atlantic and
the Pacific"
In his II Giornale dTtalia, Gayda
wrote that Japan. under her three
power pact with Italy and Germany
lis watchful and would not allow
without immediate reaction, extern
sion of the European and Asiatic
conflict"
Japan, Italy and Germany are
pledged to come to each others aid
if any one of them is attacked" by
a power not now party to the wars
in the Western or Eastern worlds
This pact is considered generally to
Evening star., 1940-12-28
900 DC. Guards
To Go 10 Texas
About Jan. Is
26Oth c. A. Gets Its
Orders for Active
Service Jan. 6

The 260th Coast Artillery, District
National Guard, received official
orders this morning that it would
be indicted into Federal service on
January 6, according TO Col. Walter
w. Burns, commanding officer of
the local unit. Col. Burns said that
the regiment would leave for Fort
Bliss. Tex, within 10 days after
the 9Th, probably about January 13
This order affects only the some
900 officers and enlisted men of the
260th, slice the other local Guard
units-the 121st Engineers, the 104th
Quartermaster Corps and Special
Troops of the 29th Division have
not yet received official induction Or
ders.
While members of the 260th have
known since December %, when
President Roosevelt signed the in
duction order. that they would en-
ter the Federal service on or about
the 9Th, receipt of the official order
from the War Department is the
final word they have been waiting
for before making definite arrange
ments for leaving their homes and
businesses.
All of the mobile and heavy equip
ment of the 260th, an anti-aircraft
unit, will be transported cross coun-
try in motor convoy conducted by
the regiments 1st Battalion. The
convoy trip of more than 2,400 miles
will require nearly a month. Col.
Burns said. Other units will 60 by
train.
The other District Guard organi-
cations have been assigned a tenta-
tive induction date Of February 3.
These units, roughly, consist OF about
900 men. The strength Of each unit
has varied greatly, due to resigna-
tions of married men with depend
ents and to requirements and enlist
ments.
Physical examinations for MEM
bers of the 260th have begun on q
small scale and the first large con-
tingent of men has been ordered to
report for final checkups Monday.
Col. Burns stressed that the examl-
nations the men will receive here are
final"
Evening star., 1940-12-28
Two Americans Lost
In Sinking Of Tanker
Off Coast Of Africa
40 Others in Crew Saved
From Punomo-Listed
STANDARD Oil Ship
pictures on Page A-3.)
By the Associated Press

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Dec 28-The unex-
planned sinking of the Standard Oil
tanker Charles Pratt of the West
African coast was reported today by
its captain. who cabled that of the
crew of AZ American seamen only
two were lost
First word of the sinking last
Saturday was received here yesterday
by the Standard Oil Co. of New
Jersey from its London Offices and
placed the number of known sur
vivors at 20.
Early today, however. Capt. Eric
R. Blomquist of the 8,982-ton Pana-
manian-registered tanker said in a
cable transmitted through London !:
ship lost 21st. AL crew rescued
except Arthur Duffy, wiper, and
Patrick Dougherty, ordinary seaman.
Please notify relatives"
Duffy lived in Bayonne, N. j., and
Dougherty in Philadelphia.
Believed Near Freetown.
Whether the ship was sunk by a
war weapon or by accident was still
mystery today, as Standard Oil
officials received no further informa-
ton other than the two terse mes
sages.
The first of these termed the
tanker casualty" which led one
company spokesman to assume it
had been torpedoed or shelled.
"She would have made a nice
target" he said.
The captains message, as received
through London, did not give the
point of origin, but Standard officials
placed the scene of the sinking as
near Freetown, a British West
African port, where the vessel was
due the day it sank.
The Charles Pratt was owned by
the Panama Transport Co., Stand
ard Oil subsidiary, and was one OF
II New Jersey Standard Oil vessels
transferred to Panamanian registry
before President Roosevelt pro-
claimed combat zones in the war.
Left Aruba December 5.
The vessel left Aruba, Neither
lands island near Venezuela, De-
;ember S, with 100000 gallons of oil
consigned to the British Mexican
Petroleum Co. at Freetown.
1t was the eighth sinking of q
vessel flying the flag of Panama
since the war began. Several OF
them were Standard Oil ships, but
none carried an American crew.
The presence of American seamen
aboard the Charles Pratt, foreign
vessel, was explained in shipping
circles by the fact that President
Roosevelt's proclamation banning
United States nationals and ships
from belligerent waters did not des-
ignate the waters around Africa
except the Mediterranean, as bel
ngerent.
Built in 1916 at Newport News
the Charles Pratt was named for a
Standard Oil official. She was SOC
feet long and had a beam of 68 feet
Evening star., 1940-12-28
Two Farmers Sentenced
For Failing 10 Register
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SIOUX FALLS, S. OAK, Dec. %.
Two Meade County farmer
brothers, Albert and Henry Ven-
huizen, were sentenced yesterday by
Federal Judge A. Lee Wyman to a
year and day each for failure to
register under the Selective Service
Act.
Albert Venhuizen, 26, told the
court he and Henry, 30, refused to
register for military service because
Of religious scruples, declaring they
were conscientious objectors.' -
Judge Wyman said the time to
make objection to military service
because of religious beliefs was when
the objector was drawn for service.
Evening star., 1940-12-28
West Vireinion Named
To Mine Union Post
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Oficials of the United Mine Work
ers of America announced yesterday
appointment of William Thompson
of Beckley, w. Va, as secretary
treasurer of the unions district
No. II.
The position has been held by Van
A. Bittner, president Of the district,
who acted in dual capacity.
U. M. w. A. officials said Mr.. Bitt-
ner would continue to serve as dis
trict president, but that his other
duties in connection with the Con-
gress of Industrial Organizations
made appointment of fiscal officer
for the district necessary.
Mr.. Thompson, who has been en-
gagged in field work in the district,
will move to Charleston, w. Va, to
take his new position.
Evening star., 1940-12-28
Italians Threaten War Spread
If u. 5. Sends Ships to Fire
Goydo Foresees Conflict Of Continents
If Supply Conveys Go to England

be directed against the United
States.
Gayda said he did not see exactly
what interest American interven-
tionists have in creating an open
conflict between continents"
Sending of ships to Ireland with
supplies for Britain, he said, would
be IAN open violation of neutrality
and therefore signify initiative of
the United States in Intervention in
the war"
The direct responsibility" for axis
reaction" would fall on the WASH
ington government, Gayda wrote.
The newspaper II Popolo di Roma
declared that any United States
ships which attempted to enter Fires
Ureland's) ports with supplies for
Britain would be exposed to the
same attacks as British merchant
ships now are undergoing.
The newspaper said President
(See GAVDA PAGE A-2o
Evening star., 1940-12-28
Storm Continues
Over Extent Of j. ).
Aid for Britain
Roosevelt Broadcast on
Emergency Expected to
Be History-Mokins
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

Bitter and deep-rooted differences
of opinion over the course OF Amer
ican foreign policy were stirring the
Nation today, preliminary to a radio
declaration tomorrow night by Pres
ident Roosevelt that now seems des-
tined to be history making in its
Importance
Originally scheduled as a report
on "the present emergency" the ad
dress already has been promised by
White House sources as "clear and
specific" pronouncement on plans for
further aid to Great Britain. This
intention was strengthened Thurs
day by an appeal from nearly 200
professional people that Mr.. Roose-
welt speak clearly and boldly" OF
our need to prevent the fall of the
British Empire
With the President planning to
devote most of today and tomorrow
to further preparation of the ad-
dress, the White House disclosed
that an unprecedented number OF
suggestions and ideas for inclusion
has been received from all over
the country. Practically all, it was
said, favor a fortnight declaration
in support of greater aid to Britain
and an intensification of our own
defense program.
Few Expressions of Disfavor.
Only from a few individuals, it
was said, have there been received
any expression of disfavor for the
administrations present policy of
assisting the democracies. AS yet
no word has been received from the
No Foreign Wars Committee. re-
portedly planning a telegram of pro-
test against becoming too deeply in
volved in efforts to defeat the axis
powers.
AS his only appointments of the
day, the President planned confer
ences with Defense Commissioner
William S. Knudsen, head of the
Office for Production Management,
and with William Phillips. Ambas-
sador to Italy. Mr.. Phillips is leav-
ing in a few days to return to his
post in Rome
Yesterday the President told his
press conference he had completed
two drafts of the speech, but thai
there may be seven or eight before
he succeeds in boiling down to 8
half hour declaration all he has tc
say. A long cabinet session anc
separate conferences with Attorney
General Jackson and Secretary Of
State Hull were believed to pertain
largely to the framing of this policy
address.
Verbal Storm Continues.
Meanwhile, the verbal storm pre-
cipitated by what Mr.. Roosevelt
already has said, by what he may
say, and by what others have beer
saying was unabated.
From Capitol Hill, Senator
Wheeler, Democrat, Of Montana, g
frequent critic of administration
foreign policy, announced today
that he would make a Monday night
radio address on foreign policy, most
particularly on the recently revealed
plan of the President to lease wal
material to Britain.
While expressing confidence that
the administration will not attempt
to circumvent the Neutrality Act
particularly the cash-and-carry pro-
visions, without asking the sanction
-,
(see ROOSEVELT, Page A-3)
Evening star., 1940-12-28
BY LELAND STOWE,
Chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondel

WITH BRITISH AND GREEK
FORCES ON THE SOUTHERN
ALBANIAN FRONT, Dec. Is De-
layeO That morning Steve CD
mund Stevens of the Christian Sci
ence Monitor) and I left Argiro-
castro before daybreak on motor
cycle sidecar. We had high hopes
of getting through to Tepeleni, but
once more the artillery barrage
blocked us. After the all-day scream
of the shells which we had around
here before, no wonder we joked
about its being a long, long way
to Tepeleni.
But that was how we stuck in
the valley again with the Italian
planes coming over in threes and
fives every 20 minutes or half-h
We had no choice but to stay there
in that hot spot watching the anti
air shells splash up, out and up
ward at them, beautiful, cleaning
Evening star., 1940-12-28
Youth, Third Victim
Of Family Tragedy, Dies
BY the Associated Press.


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, Dec. 2S-
Robert Schuster, 19-year-old rail-
road employe, died last night-vic-
tim of a holiday tragedy that left
only the mother surviving in fam
lily of four
Sheriff Ralph Elser reported the
youth and his 17-year-old sister
Virginia had been hacked with
fatchet by their father, Frank
Schuster, Al. the parent then fatal
ly shot himself at their modest home
at nearby Lake Milton, the sheriff
said.
The mother, Mrs. Gertrude Schus-
ter, found the bodies of her daughter
and husband on returning Thursday
night from a Christmas visit in
Pennsylvania. The son was critically
cut about the head and chest.
Evening star., 1940-12-28
Control Is Wrested
From Italians in
Tepe|eni, Greeks Say
Decisive Stoee Reached
In Bottle; Capture of
200 Is Reported
b, the Associated Press.


ATHENS, Dec. 28.-Greeks be-
sieging Tepeleni on the middle AL
bania battlefront were reported to-
day to have wrested domination of
the town from the Italians with
bayonet charges and shellfire.
"Crumbling" Italian resistance
had brought the battle to the de
cisive stage" Greek dispatches said
Italian artillery was said to be
withdrawing from elevated positions
back of the town while "the action
Of our own artillery is crushing the
enemy"
Lines Stormed with Boyonets.
Their forts were literally de-
stroyed by the continuous pounding
OF our guns" one dispatch said.
Our infantrymen stormed enemy
lines with bayonets.
THE morale of the Italians is
low as result of the artillery fire
They could not face the bayonets
and retreated.
Many prisoners were captured
and mortars, machine-guns. rifles
and other material. horses and mules
have fallen into our hands"
Local" Successes Claimed.
Earlier the Greeks had announced
local successes and the capture OF
200 prisoners and considerable wa,
equipment. .
A high command communique
listed many automatic weapons ano
mortars" among the equipment re-
ported captured.
The Ministry of Home Security
announced Italian warplanes hao
bombed town in the Epirus sector
OF Northwestern Greece yesterday
but said there were mo casualties
or damage"
Evening star., 1940-12-28

one on which landing was a major
gamble. Within an Incredibly brief
time he had located both an ambu-
lance and an interpreter and re-
turned exactly opposite the spot
where his squadron member had
been shot down.
We had to wait and keep waiting
and that was harder on Hickey
than on any one else. We've got to
get that man back to the hospital,
he said with set teeth. But we had
to wait for 31z hours before, at
last, q little procession emerged
from the tumbling dark near the
hills and slowly marched towards
the other bank of the river. Then
came another interminable delay
which we couldn't figure out.
The squadron leader wanted to
wade the river but somebody found
him q horse. Half an hour later
another horseman dashed back for
. stretcher. It seemed that the res
(see STOWE. Page A-43
Evening star., 1940-12-28
Italian Planes Attack
Greek Base at Prevezo

ROME, Dec. % (P).-Italian war
planes attacked the naval base at
Preveza, on the west coast of Greece
the Italian high command asserted
today, scoring direct hits on steam
ers in the bay.
Other bombing and fighter forma-
tions attacked troops preparations
and highway functions" in Albania
communique reported. while OF,
the ground enemy attacks have
been repulsed by our decisive re-
action"
Some prisoners and automatic
arms we're reported to have been
captured.