davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
CULHANE LINKED TO STATE POST
Name Now Being MentiOn= ed in Connection With
 Public Utilities Job

Hartford sources reported today that State Senator George T. Gull hane is a leading candidate for ap- pointment as a member of the state public utilities commission. Cover nor-elect Robert A. Hurley will name two members of the three man commission next year.
 The post, which is for a six-year term, carries salary of 5000 a year. Appointment is made by the General Assembly, on nomination of the governor
 Senator Cultane, long an oppo- nent of the regular Democratic or ganization here, has been mentioned for several state positions after the Hurley administration takes office. He was defeated for renomination to the senate by Attorney Michael " Blansfield in primary this fall. He had served three consecutive terms in the upper house at Hart ford.
 He sponsored the recent dinner for Governor-elect Hurley here. The affair was boycotted by mem- bers of the city administration, ex- cept Mayor Vincent A. Scully, after the town committee had made an unsuccessful effort to dissuade MT. Hurley from attending.
 The term of Alvan Waldo Hyde of the utilities commission expires July l. The term of Edward L. Tay- Tor, who received an interim ap- pointment in 1899, expires on the rising of the General Assembly.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
CONTRACT FIGHT
 WILL GO HIGHER
New Super Defense Board to Hear Complaints About
 Ford Order

Washington, December 28-(UP) Informed quarters said today that Defense Labor Coordinator Sidney Hiilman's fight to have defense contracts denied firms charged with labor law violations would be car ried to the new super defense board headed by Production Chief William s. ,Knudsen.
 The War Department rejected Hillman's demand that it rescind a $2,O00,00O "pigmy" truck order to the Ford Motor company and annollnc- ed that it would underwrite $21,- 965, APO Ford defense expansion plant program.
 Hillman had protested the truck order on grounds that Ford has re- fused to bargain collectively under the National Labor Relations Act and that, consequently, there exist ed a possibility of labor strife that might disrupt defense production. The firm is fighting several NLRB rulings in federal court.
 A Hillman aide said after the departments announcements: we lodged a vigorous protest We have been overruled."
 Informed sources, while indicat- ing that there was little possibility of Hillman blocking the Ford con- tract, said he would seek to have a clear and steadfast policy estab- lished by the office of production management for future contracts.
 Hillman has battled the Ford or der since it was awarded Nov. 27 No contract had been signed but the award was considered operative He did not press a protest of an earlier $122, 1923 .020 aircraft engine award to Ford Nov. 6 after the army said 1t could not be placed else- where without interfering with de- fense production. ...
 He has demanded a showdown from the defense commission for which he is labor coordinator as
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
DAMAGE SLIGHT
 IN EARTHQUAKE

Ossippee, N. H., Dec. 28-UP)- A survey indicated today that dam age was negligible in an earth tremor which shook this district, focal point of two earthquakes that were felt throughout the northeast within week.
 The Rev. James J. Devlin, s. J., of the Weston (Mass.) College seis- mograph station described yester- days tremor as the fifth and sharp est aftershock of the two 'quakeS. The tremor, which occurred at 2:55 p. m, was recorded for four and a half minutes.
 Father Devlin said the aftershocks were healthy sign that the earth s crust was adjusting itself.
 Alfred H. Preble, Wakefield, Mass. high school science teacher, said the water in Lake Ossippee had fallen a foot since Tuesdays quake.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
INAUGURATION DATE CHANGE
 TO BE SOUGHT New Charter Provision Making Mayor Take Of=
 flee in Oct. Opposed INCLUDED IN CULHANE CHARTER AMENDMENTS Would Affect City's Finan= cial Status; Year Runs From Jan. 1 to Dec. 3l

The provision in the city charter calling for the mayor to take office on the third Tuesday in October will be one of those whose repeal will be sought by local legislators at the 1941 General Assem- bly,, 1t was learned today. The section was one of the many charter amendments spon- sored by Senator George T. Culhane at the 1889 SeS- sion, but the local administration believes that it would leave the way open for many grave difficulties.
 Unless changed by the legisla- ture, the provision will be enforced next fall and the mayor elected early in October will take office the game month instead of the fol- lowing Januaeys as would be the case had the charter not been changed.
 Worry Over Finances
 Particular worry is expressed over what might happen to the city's financial status if the section is al- lowed to stand. The city's budget operates on 8 Jan. 1-Dec. 31 basis, but mayor taking office two and a half months before the new bud- get is effective might find himself
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
GERMAN VESSELS
 IN JAP HARBORS
Reports Claim They Are Being Armed for Pacific
 Raiding Trips

Manila, Dec. 28.-(UP)-USually reliable informants reported today that at least F German vessels were being armed in Japanese and Jap- anese-controlled Chinese harbors for raiding activities in the Pacific and that several were already pro- visioning and refueling German raiders in Australian and Indian waters.
 The reports were not confirmed. Informants asserted, however, that United States naval authorities here were cognizant of them as reports and were watching developments closely.
 Informants suggested that Ger man supply ships might be meeting raiders at agreed rendezvous in Jap anese-mandated islands.
 They cited as one example of Ger man activity that the Norwegian tanker Olav Jakob, manned by a German prize crew, entered Kobe Harbor, Japan, refueled and de- parted despite protests by the Nor wegian minister to the Japanese foreign office.
 They said that two German ves- sels, Ragensburg, 8,O68 tons, and Kimberland, left Japan late in Oc- tober and had not returned. They said that the Elsa, Burgenland, Scharnhorst, Aneanliese and Essber- ger, at Kobe, and the Dairen-Saar- land and Elbe and Odenwald, at Yokohama, were kept constantly fueled and provisioned. They said that three German vessels were now at Tsingtao, on the Chinese coast, and that three others in Chinese ports were being armed.
 Though discussing the reports with reserve pending possible com ment from Tokyo and Berlin, au- thoritative American defense off, cials here said that if the reports were true the German vessels named might be armed by mid-January.
 These informantS said that for- eign intelligence reports indicated that numerous Germans had been arriving in Japan for months.
 Informants here were especially interested in the reports because of Japan's new alliance with Germany and Italy and its own program for expansion toward the southern seas.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
LONDON RECEIVES
 SEVERE ATTACKS
Four=I1Our Raid Last Night Most Furnishing Since
 December 8

London, Dec. 28 = (U.P) A heavy fleet of German planes bomb- ed London for four hours last night in the most punishing attack since December 8.
 Flying singly and dropping first flares, then incendiary bombs and finally explosive bombs, the planes did much damage, especially to homes and caused many casualties.
 The raid began early and ended suddenly and unexpectedly long be- fore midnight While it lasted the rain of bombs seemed continuous and anti-aircraft guns roared as they had not for weeks.
 It was apparent that the Ger mans sought to do a maximum of damage in a minimum of time. There was considerable speculation whether new tactics or bad weather on the continent which compelled German planes to return to landing fields early, explained the sudden end of the raid.
 The planes came across the south- east coast in waves, and broke for nation to fly singly over the capital above an incessant barrage.
 It was reported that British night fighter patrols were active.
 For two hours during the raid buildings rocked with the roar of guns and tn eblast of bombs and fires caused a brilliant red glow in the black sky.
 Fires were extinguished promptly the air ministry said, some even during the raid by firemen who ig- nored the danger of new bombs.
 The Air and Home Security min- istfies said a number of persons were killed and others wounded and that many homes were destroyed Bombs were dropped also on the
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28

CnarleS E. Hart, eXecuClVe vice. president, pointing out that Presi- dent Roosevelt and the Defense Commission say that time is essen- tial''. MT. Hart urged that all workers continue their excellent CO., operation with the management. Efficient and prompt work, he stated, may prove to be great contribution to the preservation of this country and our liberties"
 Seven-Day Basis
 Workers in some Chase depart ments said they have been notified that production after the first of the year will go on a seven-day basis, with three eight-hour shifts working each day. Similar reports are heard from departments in other plants.
 Virtually all local factories were working today to make up for the Christmas holidays. Many employees will work tomorrow and next Sat- urday and Sunday, either on pro- duction or in taking inventory. Few production shut-downs for inven- tory are planned, though part of the Waterbury Buckle Co. will not work next week while inventory is being taken.
 Close New Years
 The American Brass Go. will shut down for the New Years Day holi- day Wednesday, as will the Chase Brass & Copper Co.,, but the Scoyill Mfg. Co. and most other plants will operate as usual.
 Major local plants are flooded with national defense orders, which have poured in steadily since June.
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
CITY SURPLUS TO
 TOUCH $35O,OOO
Budget Director Disclaims Possibility of Figure Get
 ting to $4OO,OOO

Latest figures indicate that Water bury's surplus for 1940 will be $350,000 or slightly more, Budget Director Thorvald E. Olsen said to- day. Expressing the belief that talk of a possible $400,000 surplus sets the figure too high. MT. Olsen said that on the other hand recent de- velopments make it certain that the amount will be more that the $316,- 900 listed as an asset in the 1941 budget and more than the $337 ,0O0 he estimated unofficially several weeks ago.
 The principal reason for raising the surplus estimate is the receipt of back tax payment of $35, ,000 from a local factory this week. Also, MT. Olsen said, some sources of rev. enue probably will yield more than had been estimated and deficits in other items apparently will not be as great as appeared annosS certain only Q short time ago.
 The surplus, largest in the city's history, will be used to finance part of the municipal expenses for next year. It has been made possible by savings in departmental expendi- lures, by revenues greater than ex- pected in some items, and by a rec breaking tax collection record. Over 96 per cent of the current taxes are listed as paid, and the percentage will probably go up a trifle in the few dys remaining in 1940.
 Except for the surplus, the 1941 tax rate would have to be more than two mills higher than the 3l-mill rate which has been established. In other words there would have been no tax rate reduction, and perhaps an increase would have been nec- essary but for the surplus that has been piled up during the year. This vear,s rate was 32.5 mills
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
Germans, Italians Warn US. About English Aid
Attempts to Send Supplies Via Ireland Would Violate Neutrality Gayda Claims Ships Might Be
 Sunk By Nazi Raiders Is Warning
BY RICHARD c. HOTTELET United Press Staff COrresp0ndent)

Berlin, Dec. 28-(UP)-Authorized quarters backed up and endorsed German newspaper warnings to the United States today against at tempting to send supplies to Great Britain via Ireland in American ships.
 An inspired press editorial cam- paign had warned that if United States ships sailed in or out of con- voy to Ireland they were liable to be sunk.
 q think the way the German press handled the Irish problem was excellent and it clearly discussed the situation in correct proportions" a spokesman for authorized quarters said. However, I have nothing to add thereto"
 An earlier Nazi spokesman had refused to comment on the German newspaper editorials, intimating that they would make public statements only if any such American plan were mentioned by official or semi official sources at Washington.
 Reappearing after a two-day holi- day, morning newspapers said that American ships which took supplies to Britain via Ireland would have to go through the war zone and a German counter blockade.
 Joseph Goebbels, propaganda min ister, in 1-2 column editorial on the first page of the Voelkischer Boebachter, Nazi party official news paper organ, argued that Britain's position was hopeless and that Prime Minister Winston Churchill was thinking only of American aid
 Repeating the favorite Nazi news paper assertion that while MT Churchill talks the Fuehrer acts, Goebbels wrote that "one of these days" a reckoning would come and Britain would face hard reality"
 He criticized "the plutocratic clique" which he said was conduct
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
ERROL FLYNN'S
 YACHT. MISSING
Noted Screen Star Not AbOard-BOat Was En=
 Route to Hawaii

San Francisco, Dec. 28-CUP)- Fear was felt today for the safety of movie actor Errol Hymns yacht with seven men aboard in the stormy d-Pacific. A new storm was gath ering 500 miles off the coast.
 Hymns yacht, the 76-foot Sirroco left Los Angeles harbor Dec. 18 for Hawaii and has not been heard from since, although it is equipped with a radio telephone. Flynn is in New York, and had planned to fly to Honolulu next week and join the group aboard the yacht in making motion picture short.
 The Pacific has been swept by gales and typhoons for weeks and boats much larger than the Sirroco have limped into port behind sched- ule, damaged by heavy seas. Two sailors on the transport Etolin were killed in ont typhoon.
 Aboard the yacht were Al Wetzel, Warner Brothers cameraman; Capt. William Kiel; George Fenaja, movie property man, and four sailors.
 Capt. L. l.. Bennett of the coast guard at Los Angeles said the Sir TOGO was not missing" since it was not due in Honolulu until Monday, but he was worried by the silence of her radio.
 Storm warnings were down today for the first time within week, but it was feared that the new storm would sweep inland today with high winds and rain. During the last l9 days gales have struck as far west as Hawaii, as far east as Casper Wyo., where high winds yesterday shattered windows and blew over g brick facade.
 Rivers were siowiy rising, but gov- ernment observers believed that the Sacramento, California's greatest flood threat. would be held in iti channels.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
MANY EXPLOSIONS
 FOLLOWING RAIDS

Berlin, Dec. 2e.--(UP)-Tremend@ ous explosions and fires, in London, particularly in its center and eastern edge, were caused by German raid- CTS last night, the high command said in communique today. The attackers dropped explosive and in= cendiary bombs of all calibers the communique said.
 Informed quarters said a German submarine returning to its base had reported sinking 24,340 tons of en- er1y shipping.
 The official news agency Saz& British torpedo planes Friday aztex- noon attacked German patrol boAfS in the North Sea. Two planes HSa shot down. In a later attack, i4 was claimed. British flying boak was shot down.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
DEATH BY FALL
 IS ACCIDENT

Boston. Dec. 28-(UP)-A medical examiner today ruled accidental death in the case of Raymond B. Allen, 4S. of Newton, American Tel epliAne & Telegraph Go. tester who fell from a sixth-fioor window of the company's building in downtown Boston.
 An employe said he had been talking with Allen a few moments before the latter vanished through the open window yesterday.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
WOMAN BECOMES
 SINISTER AT 25

Boston. Dec. 28-(UP)-A woman becomes a spinster ct 25. was the opinion of State Sen.- Elect Charles w. Olson of Ashland.
 Olson, who filed a bill yesterday with the senate clerk Co provide that Hs,lsastsFa hs ezenxps from real estate taxes on property valued tip to s2.O00. was asked what age he thought should be established as marking spinsterhood.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
NAMED DIRECTOR

New London, Conn. Dec. 2S -(U. P) = Frank M. Travis. Torrington, well-known utilities executive, has been named a director of the Con- necticut Power Company, 1t was dis- closed today. Travis is president and director Of the Torrington Light Company. airector e Ene New Mr. tain Light Company. and Torring- ton Water Company. and chair man of the board of the Bridgeport Gas Light Company.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
WAR IN EUROPE A YEAR AGO,
 DEC. 28, 1889

By United Press
 Finnish troops reported ad- vancing deeper into Russian ter- ritOry. Two companies of Red troops wiped out" i'm hand-to- hand fighting.
 Russia placed Gen. Gregory M. Stern In charge of Finnish inva- sion. Stern, youngest military chief in the Red army, was q hcrs 0f tke 1888 Russo Japanese bas- der hssallltles.
 Britain announced early ra- iionlng el meat and sugar.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
SPECIAL ELECTION
 CALLED BY GOV.

Hartford. Conn, December 28. - CUP) - A special election to fill the office of probate judge in the Mansfield district was set today by Governor Baldwin for February Il.
 The office will be vacant on Jan- uary 8 because of the resignation of Judge-Elect Howard c. Rev. holds, who was convicted on charge of embezzlement from the State Welfare Department, where he was employed.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
LIN ASSA|LED
 BY GREEKS IN
 ITALIAN DRIVE Third Base to Which Itali= ans Have Been Hurled
 Back Since Invasion GREEKS DRIVE AHEAD
 ALONG ALL FRONTS Drive Slackens Since First Furious Assault, But Greeks Report Success
BY BEN AMES Limited Press Staff COrreSnOndentl

(Unlted Press Staff COrreSpOndent)
 Athens, Greece, December 28. = Greek troops today aSod11ed Lin, pivot point of the Albanian north front and the third main base to which the Italians have been hurled back in that sector since they in- vaded Greece two months ago this morning. A gov ernment spokesman denied reports that Lin had been captured.
 (At Belgrade, Jugoslavia, the newspaper Politika reported from Bitolj, on the Albanian border, that Greeks were within mile and a quarter of Lin at p. m. yesterday and that the Greek advance guard was rushing the first houses in the city's outskirts.)
 See Searchlights
 A United Press correspondent with the Greek army in the north reported that the searchlights from the Lin fortress could be seen from the Greek lines, casting their beams through clouds over Lake Ohrid. The correspondent said that before Lin could be taken, however, it would be necessary to occupy a ser ies of villages on the lake road north of Undinishta, which were dominated by Italian artillery in mountain peaks above the lake.
 Lin is 12 miles north of Pogradec, where the Italians made their north base when they were routed from Koritzan their original base for the Greek campaign, 20 miles below Pogradec. At Lin, the road from Koritza branches west to Elbasan, 30 miles away. The Italians had fortified Lin, at a strategic spot on the lake shore, as a bastion against Jugoslavia to the north, and now were defending it against the Greeks from the south.
 AS the second month of the war ended, government spokesman said the Greeks were driving ahead
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
LAWRENCE, MASS,
 JUDGE IS>DEAD

Andover, Mass, Dec. 28--(UP)-- Judge Frederic N. Chandler, 70, of the Lawrence District court died of pneumonia at his home here today after being i'll @ week.
 Judge Chandler, who was presi- dent of the Lawrence Cooperative bank, was appointed a special jus- tice of the Lawrence District court in 1907 and named judge in 1927.
 Born Ge kAwEence, he wAAduate0 from Dartmouth college in 1893. He was admitted to tine bar in i8D6 and graduated from Boston University law school Q year later.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
No Large Force of Nazis Entering Italy, In-
 fOrmants Say OTHER RECENT CLAIMS OF ADVANCES UNTRUE Hitler Is Putting Pressure On Vichy Government
 for French Fleet
BY WALLACE CARROLL

bX WALLACE CAkRULk United Press Staff Correspondent
 London, December 28. ~ (UP) = Diplomatic quarters attributed to a new outbreak of the war of nerves a crop of Alarmist rumorS which swept across Europe today. They said the rumors were of the sort the Nazis had long been suspected of spreading to confuse and demoralize their opponents.
 The rumors included those that Hitler was again getting ready to invade Britain, that large forces of Germans were entering Italy, Hungary and Rumania, that Hitler was preparing to over-run unoccu- pied France and that he was about to strike across Spain to Gibraltar.
 No Foundation
 Usually reliable diplomatic and military informantS here had been unable to find any foundation for any of these rumors. They said they suspected that the ruinorS were spread with the idea of making Great Britain expend its energy in widely separated directions while Hitler completed preparations for a spring campaign.
 These informants said that only one thing was certain: that Ger many would continue its airplane and submarine campaign against British shipping and its airplane bombardment of British cities, with the aim of depriving this country of essential supplies and demoraliz- ing the civil population.
 Some informantS were increasinR- ly inclined to believe that a, war, Of attrition had become Germany's main hope of defeating Britain and that Germany would not attempt any spectacular stroke which might bring just as spectacular a reverse.
 No Chances Taken
 Royal Air Force men have report ed apparent new preparations for an invasion attempt and extraOr- dinary precautions have been taken. This is part of Britain's determina- tion to take not the slightest chance. But neutral military experts, in- cluding some American officers who have visited Britain in recent months, are convinced that an att tempt to invade Britain would end in reverse. Hence they doubt that the German general staff is Serious~ ly considering one.
 These sources felt that Germany
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The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
FORMER CHIEF OF
 STAFF IS DEAD

Portland, Me, December 28. - (UP) - Grig. Peter Murray, 73, veteran of three United States wars, former member of the gen. eral staff corps and former chief of staff of the Second Corps Area. died at a hospital yesterday after a three-month illness.
 Gen. Murray retired in 1924 after serving in he Spanish American War. the Philippine insurrection and the World War. He was na- tive of Fresno Cal.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
COMFORTABLE NIGHT"

Boston, Dec. % - (U.P) - My ron c. Taylor. President Roosevelt's special envoy to the Vatican, spent a quite comfortable night" New England Aaptist I1ospftal atgacnes reported today. His condition was described as about the same" He entered the hospital asweek ago but hls allinent has not been disclosed.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
NAMED TO STAFF

New Haven. Conn. Dec. 28 -- (u, P.) = Mrs. Ellen Sherwood. New Haven, was appointed full-time member as .hs Republican 6skAE Central Committees headquarters staff today. She succeeded Mrs Alice Squire, New Britain, who held the post for nearly two decades.