davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23


Lowry field, the ships home base
on the eastern outskirts of Denver,
announced officially nearly IL hours
after the crash occurred at 8 p. m.
(MST) last night that all hands
were killed when the big B-18-A
Douglas bomber, described as one
of the army's modern" planes,
went down in heavy rainstorm.
He said that a preliminary in
vestigation revealed that the craft
was within few miles of the home
field when it went down approx
mately six miles south of Watkins,
Colo, a hamlet located 18 miles
east of Denver.
"The investigation indicated that
the bomber flew directly into
thundered during last nights elec-
trical Storm Major Jewett said.
The ship was torn to shreds when
it exploded, he said, and bits of
crew members bodies were strewn
over a wide area. The wreckage
burned.
An official statement issued by
Lowry field commanding officers
said the bomber was engaged in
might bombing mission prac-
tice flight stimulating wartime con-
ditions.
The announcement set the time
of the crash at p. m, only a short
time before the ship was due back
at its base.
"The exact cause of the crash is
not known" the official announce
ment stated.
An official inquiry was ordered
Immediately.
The officers said 1t was possible
that either lightning or hail caused
the crash.
Bushels and bushels of hail
stones we're found at the Scene,"
he said
The crash occurred at a barren,
badlands point on the prairie which
officers said was inaccessible by
automobile"
They indicated when they return
ed to Lowry field early today that
the cause of the crash probably
never would be determined due to
the almost complete destruction of
the ship.
Although the accident occurred
shortly after dusk last night, re-
ports of it did not leak through
the rigid army censorship until
we'll after dawn today. Officials
admitted there had been crash,
but withheld names and details of
the fate of the crew members until
a preliminary investigation had been
completed.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
Legion Commander
Declares Veterans
Not in Politics

The American Legion Is not sup
porting any candidate for any Of
flee in the Imperial county pri-
mray election, Interpost Council
Commander G. A. Sperry declared
Friday.
"As an organization the American
Legion is non-political and conse-
quently we are endorsing no indi-
vidual candidate" he declared.
Sperry added that Legionnaires.
as individuals, are naturally free
to campaign as they please-but
they do so as individuals, not as
representatives of the Legion.
The declaration was prompted by
rumors that Legion support had
been given one of the candidates
in the contest between George Luck
y and Charles Wieman for state
senate. Both men are members in
good standing of the Brawley Leg
ion post.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23


German quarters said.
Even while the announcement
was made, London sources revealed
that British bombers blasted back
at the German long-range cannon
emplaced between Calais and Bou-
logne and attacked % German air
bases in use for the attack on
Great Britain.
The British airmen bombed at
the heavy German guns for hours
after the German batteries had fir
ed at shipping in Dover Straits and
bombarded the Dover coastline.
There was no indication whether
the British attack was effective,
but London said it lasted several
hours despite intense anti aircraft
fire.
Friday was again day of small
scale air activity over Britain and
it was indicated that the bad fly
ing weather which has shrouded the
British Isles most of the week has
continued with little break.
Isolated German raiders dropped
some 200 incendiary bombs in rural
English sectors, in an apparent at
tempt to damage British crops and
possibly aid the drive to starve the
British out.
Reports from other sectors were
scattered. La Linea, Spain, near to
Gibraltar, reported hearing heavy
cannonading from the British fort
ress, but there was no indication as
to the cause or the result. Spain
was reported to have called up six
classes for military duty Sept. 10
and King Carol held an extraor-
binary conference of his ministers.
Delayed action bombs went off
at intervals in London suburbs.
They were dropped by the Germans
in their first night raid Thursday
night.
In a communique on the days air
operations the British air ministry
and the home security ministry
reported that the Germans had
made "indiscriminate machine gun
attacks" in various places in the
midlandS and in one eastern dis
trict.
The raids were carried out by a
small number of planes, it was re-
ported and the number of casual
ties was small, none of them being
fatal
Bombs were dropped in three To-
calities," the report said, "but only
slight damage resulted"
In early evening German planes
were reported over southeast Bri-
tain.
In Berlin the official DNB news
agency reported that a Stuka bom-
Der sank $4,000 ton merchant shin
Thursday night off the Scottish
Continued on Page g. Col. ~
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
Mysterious Fire
Takes TwoLives

VENICE, CAL, Aug. % CUP)-
Arson squad detectives today were
investigating dwelling fire which
apparently took the life of Milbury
Ryder, Sc. and seriously burned
Mrs Margaret Conley Collins, so,
a visitor from Chicago.
The blaze destroyed the upper
story of a frame house last night.
Ryder escaped but ran back for
his trousers and was found just in
side the door. An autopsy was ord
cred because firemen reported
finding blood spots on the floor.
Mrs. Collins was burned while
trying to stamp out the fire, be-
lieved to have started from Gig
arctic
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
CENSORED
Let There BE Light

Every man has his own favOrite
flashlight and Elmer Heald was no
exception. Last week, while pre-
pairing for vacation trip in a
trailer, he informed his wife:
i've got to go down town for
something. Then we will be ready
to start"
He returned in about half an
hour and displayed his trusty old
flashlight which he had had equip
ped with new batteries and other
gadgets.
"Now we can start" he informed
her
oh, no we can't" she said
firmly. "If you think I'm going to
start on this trip with only that
old wreck of a flashlight to depend
on, you are mistaken. I'm going
right down town and get new
one of my own. That old thing
never burns when it's needed"
He was cut to the quick at this
slight but consented to wait until
she shopped for new one.
But I'll take my old one along
anyway. Those new things some
times don't work" he muttered,
pocketing the old wreck.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
Hitler Concerned
With Big Problem
Of Career, Belief
War Expert Says Nazis
Must Conquer Soon or
Lose Everything
BY j. w. T. MASON
United Press War Expert

In warfare when a long
proclaimed major offensive
suddenly halts with no objec-
tive reached, but with claims of
great gains and few casualties,
something fundamental must be
wrong. A week ago today Hitler's
air attack to annihnlate Britain
reached its climax with the emo
tionally heralded bombardment of
London suburbs. The climax, how
ever, has since become anti-climax
because the Germans have not fol-
lowed through.
The newness of aerial warfare and
the necessity for studying temp
orary results and unexpected obsta-
cles do not explain adequately
the present lull. Interruption of a
week in following up an alleged de-
feat of the enemy comes near to
confession that no defeat has been
inflicted. If enemy casualties and
damage have been three to four
times those of the offensive, why
the necessity of studying the results
before going ahead?
The fact that Germany has been
compelled to postpone further air
blitzkrieg offensives if not actually
abandoning them for the season
must be regarded as a defeat for
Hitler, not only in the air but
also at home. An aggressive war
machine which has proclaimed con-
quest as its motive must continue
its offensives or risk disillusioning
its own civilian support
This fact does not hold in the
same way for a nation defensively
fighting to reserve itself. Here is
Hitler's repsent dilemma. The ne
cessity for conqueror to continue
conquering or risk downfall is axi-
omatic throughout all military his
tory.
A conqueror always is on the de-
fensive along the home front. Hav-
Continued on Page 6. Col. q
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23

After Trotskys funeral yesterday
evening, during which she stood
with her elbow resting on the cof-
fin. her veiled head buried in her
right hand, Mrs. Trotsky was taken
away by friends. Her whereabouts
today was kept secret. One of the
Trotsky secretaries said: Its quite
possible that the Stalinists are in
terested in numbering her. too"
Most of Trotskys followers blam-
ed the Russian secret police, OGPU,
unreservedly for the assassination,
but one member of the secretarial
staff said Nazi agents might also
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
Liquor Sales to
Be Halted TuesdaY

All liquor establishments in I'M
yerial county, as elsewhere in the
state, must be closed all the time
the polls are open on election day
Tuesday.
This announcement was made
Friday by Viggo Hansen, head of
the liquor control division of the
state board of equalization in I'M
perial county. Violation of this or
der, he said, is misdemeanor,
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
Wi|Ikie Draws Up
Plan for Invasion
Of Solid South
Five Southern States
Listed as Probable
Voters for Candidate
BULLETIN

NEW YORK, Aug. %. (UP)-
Wendell L. Willkie charged today
that the spirit and letter of the
Hatch act had been violated by
an increase of 10000 persons in
WPA rolls during July and called
upon Attorney General Robert
H. jackson to make an investiga-
ton. Willkie quoted WPA figures
for June through October of each
year since 1888 and said it was
"a very interesting and striking
coincidence" that relief rolls in
creased in election years and de-
clined in non n-electiOn years.
NEW YORK, Aug. %.
(UP)-Republic.an Presiden-
tial Nominee Wendell l..
Willkie and his three key
Democratic allies made plans
today for a vigorous campaign in
the Democratic "solid south after
receiving reports that Willkie has a
good chance of carrying Texas,
Florida, Virginia, North Carolina
and Tennessee.
Willkie announced his readiness
to travel extensively and campaign
throughout the nation-be-
Continued on Page 6, col. 81
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
Killer of Woman
Dies at Quentin

SAN QUENTIN PRISON, CAL.
Aug. % UP - Rodney Greig, %
year-old Oakland clerk, paid with
his life in San Quentin's lethal gas
chamber today for the impulse
which led him to plunge a knife
into the body of Leona Vlught, l9-
year-old beauty college instructor.
Last minute appeals to Governor
Culbert Olson for clemency failed
and Greig, who had a record Of
juvenile delinquency, entered the
gas chamber at 10 AM. to meet a
choking death.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
Imperial County weathers SRA Storm,
Maintains Identity as Single Unit

Salinas Thursday contained as high
as seven counties.
The reorganization plan State Di-
rector Sydney G. Rubinow said
Friday, created an executive council
composed of the chifs of nine newly
created bureaus. Under the new
plan the bureaus and the II di-
rectors of the operating areas will
be responsible to Rubinow and will
have jurisdiction in routine business
only.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
Absentee Ballots
Total 1241 Here

Absentee ballot totals stood at
1,241 when the application period
closed Thursday night.
OF that number 440 already were
voted in the office of County Clerk
w. J. McClelland. He mailed out
801 ballots at the request of va
cationing valley residents.
Absentee voters may vote their
ballots up to and including election
day if they are outside Imperial
county, he said.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
2500 Licenses
Cancelled Here

A total of $500 Good Until Re-
voked" drivers licenses already
have been cancelled at highway
patrol headquarters in Ell Centre,
Captain Frank Oswalt said FRIDAY
Good Until Revoked licenses
issued in 1927 and 1928 were out
lawed by the California department
of motor vehicles and those having
them instructed to exchange them
for the regulation type of drivers
licenses.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
Youthful Murderer
To Be Sentenced

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Cal. Aug. %
CUP)-Jack Harris, IA. ward of the
Los Angeles juvenile court. ap-
pears for sentencing today on a
guilty plea to a charge that he
murdered Gayle Jones. eight-year-
old MORO Bay girl, near the Des-
canSo Ranch school.
Young Harris pleaded guilty to
the charge yesterday.
The girls body was found in a
canyon near the school, where both
she and Harris were inmates. A
coroner's autopsy showed she had
been ravished. After questioning by
authorities, the youth confessed
that he killed her.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23

Imperial county still maintained
her identity as a separate SRA unit
Friday in spite of wholesale con-
solidation of county units through
out California.
Director Ned Holmes of Imperial
county is one of the heads of the
II operating areas of the state in
structed to have jurisdiction in
the routine business of the SRA.
Some of the II operating areas
set up at a conference of members
of the state relief commission in
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23

have been connected with IL. be-
cause, he said, the OGPU and the
Gestapo (Nazi secret police have
been cooperating closely In many
matters Oh mutual interest" In
Mexico.
The federal district attorney gen.
erals office formally entered the
investigation tocay presumably 10
handle any indictments. The con-
fessed assassin. Frank Jackson. was
recovering in a hospital from wounds
inflicted by one OF Trotsky's guards,
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
u AMBLINe
~ EpoRTER
"$Pe!!&-'S%!S!"-

"$9t!!&-'S%!S!"-
Slick Ackley, who divised the
quickest and easiest way to mark
parked cars so he can tell when
, parking limits are violated, pre-
pared to do his stuff again.
Other officers may walk labor
iously around town putting a chalk
mark on one wheel of each parked
car but not Slick. He puts piece
of chalk on long stick and rides
around on his motorcycle, mark
irg car after car as he goes.
Goodbye noW," he said as he
left FL Centre police headquarters
waving his long stick
He returned in an hour, mopping
his brow.
That's DONE" he said
Then he noticed there was no
chalk in the end of his stick
CENSORED
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23

for vote this year. asked the
supreme court for writ of mandate
to compel Peek and the registrars
to accept the disqualified sigma
lures.
The court, for second time, re-
fused, holding that sections of the
election code providing for throw
ing out names not submitted in
time to meet election headlines
were entirely legal and proper.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
He Got It

Fishermen, for some reason best
known to themselves, always pine
to catch marlin.
Paul jenkins would rather snag
one of those things than eat what
ever it is he prefers in the way
of food. That would mean he would
become member of that finny
organization, The Marlin club.
He caught one. His excitement
mounted and mounted as he con-
templated the big thing. He tele-
phoned his wife to hurry down to
gaze with wonder upon his prize.
He patted it and admired it. He
repeatedly lifted it to test its
weight.
When weighed it tipped the
scales at 1875 pounds. just Is pounds
under the weight demanded for
Z membership in the mystic shrine,
The Marlin Club.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23

Peek and registrars of various
counties who disqualified about o.
600 names on initiative petitions
circulated to place the pension pro-
gram before the California voters
for third time.
With the 1000 signatures elimin-
ated, the measure lacked sufficient
signers to qualify for this years
ballot. 1t already has been qualified
1or a vote in 1912.
The pension supporters, arguing
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
San Berdu Forest
Fire Controlled

SAN BERNARDINO CAL. Aug
% (UP)- Forest rangers believed
today a shifting wind during the
night had halted a fast spreading
fire in San Bernariino National
Forest which had threatened the
Wrightwood and Big Pines areas.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
Friends Fearful
Mrs. Trotsky Next

MEXICO CITY, Aug. 23 (UP)-Followers of the as
sassnated Leon Trotsky kept close watch today over
his wife, Naaa claiming that since she had been his
fdante for 38 years and most of his secrets she
may we'll be next the OGPUs list
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
Nine Men Blown
To Bits as Big
Bomber ExpIodes
Practice Flight Stimulating Wartime
Night Raidins Ends TrasicaNy forU.S.
Craft: Storm May Have Caused Crash

DENVER, Aug. 23 (UP)-Two officers and en-
listed killed and "bown to bits here las
night when twin moored army bombing plane crashed
and exploded during rainstorm. it announced of
fically today. Maj. A. L. Jewet post adutant of tn
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
Roosevelt Urges
Immediate Okdv
For DrQft Bill

WASHINGTON Aug. 23 (UP)-President Roosevelt
today urged immediate enactment of the pending conscrp
ton bill He said absolutely essential to build
adequate national defense team.
The presidents position made clear at press
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
Ham-Essers Lose
In Court Fight

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug %. (UP)-The state supreme
today rejected petitions of the Ham and Eggs pen
sion organization to have the pension plan qualified for
the 1910 general election ballot.
The court refused to overrue Secretary of State Paul
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23
Big Gun Action
Called Beginning
Of Final Drive
Battle Of Britain at Climax. Declares
Germans; English Airmen Bomb Coastal
Cannon. Attack Big Air Bases
BY UNITED PRESS

Germany announced Friday that the last phase of the
battle of Britain has begun.
Use of ongrange artillery to shell the British coast is
beginning to ring down the curtain on the final scene Of
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-23

Butter: Los Angeles 30c; but
terfat, Imperial Valley I. o. b. ranch,
grade A. 39c; manufacturing milk
33c; route gathered cream zoe.
L. A. Hay: u. s. No. $3.50
U. S. No. 2 leafy $ll.50-$12; US No.
2 $9.50-10; Mpls. September flax,
S1.52h.
Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1940-05-24

town, and permit armOred units to
smash on toward the channel ports
Of Calais and Dunkirk This thrust.
if successful, would not only flank
the allies fighting at Boulogne but
would reduce by about half the area
of the trap drawn around the al
lied armies, Nazis said.
4-DeStruction of 40 allied air
planes, IS allied tanks rcpulScd in
an attempt to break out of the
trap, six loaded transports in the
English channel and damage to a
warship, probably a cruiser. and
three destroyers by aerial lombard
ment.
All of the these developments. as
reported by the high command conf
munique, we're described by Nazis
as part of the campaign to wipe out
the allied armies of the north af-
ter German mechanical units had
cut them up into small pieces or
squeezed their main force into a
tight circle which would provide
an easy mark for aerial lombard
mcnt.
The high command communicate
did not definitely claim the cap
ture OF the channel port of Boulogne
winch the British admitted was in
German hands, but said that DOW
erful German armored forces were
thrusting forward between ArraS
and the sea and were nearing tho
channel ports of Boulogne and Ca
lais yesterday.
One large enemy WarShip, prob
ably cruiser, and three destrovers
were hit by bombs from German
airplanes despite heavy anti-air-
crate fire, the communique said.
Six transports, all of them lead
ed, were sunk, it added.
The communique said belatedlv
that on May 81 and % the allied
forces had made desperate attempts
to break through the German trap
in Flanders in southernly direc-
ton.
The Germans threw their anti
aircraft guns into the fighting in
an emergency. aimed them at the
allied tank attacks and DESTROYED
56 enemy tanks, the communicate
said.
The communicate said that enemy
ar losses Yesterday totalled 40 air
planes including 25 shot down in
air battles, and eight brought down
by anti-aircraft guns.
Sixteen German planes we're re-
ported missing.
Allied bombing planes last NIGHT
again flew over western and south
western Germany and repeatedly
and aimlessly bombed non-militarv
detectives the communique said
AT the north Norwegian port of
Narvik, it added, the German air
force successfully attacked massed
targets on the ground. includinq
transport columns of troops and
ships which were being unloadcd
one enemy pursuit ship was shot
down, and one cruiser and one
transport were damaged by bomb
hits it added.
Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1940-05-24
20 Gunner Mdchinegun
Trotzky Home in Mexico.
kidndp Guard. Escape

the Trotzky home Two small fires
were started next to Trot2ky'S bed
room but his wife, Natalia, quickly
smOthercd the flames with a blan-
kct.
The raiders apparently rcSortcd
TO a ruSe to enter the Trotzky home,
which is surrounded by high bar
ricade and guarded by five of
Trotzky's personal bodyguards in
side and by special patrol of MeXi-
can police outside.
A guard said that the raiders
first overpowered and bound five
policemen outside the villa and then
entered the grounds. Some, it was
reported, were dressed in police uni
forms. They tricked Harte. the
missing guard, and carried him
away.
1t was estimated that at least 2OC
shots were fired from four machine
guns in the first attempt on Trotz-
ky's life since he came to Mexico
in exile.
Machine gun clips were scattered
all over the place" a guard said
The raiders also were armed witt
pistols We found some empty au,
tomato shells in the yard"
Four sleeping bodyguards wer,
described as having been arouse,
when the shooting began,
Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1940-05-24

MEXICO CITY, May "a CUP)--
A band of 20 unidentified gunner
in a swift four a. m. raid poured
machine gun fire into Leon TrotZ-
ky'S bedroom today in an unSuc-
ccsSful attempt to asSaSinate him.
Trotzky and his wife, who were
s1hurt, rolled from their bed and
Law on the floor while gunfire rat
tied at their suburban Coyoacan
villa for nearly Is minutes.
One guard. Sheldon Harte. 25 of
Now York City, was kidnapped by
the raiders, all of whom were des-
cribed as speaking Spanish. Harte
was the object of widespread po-
Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1940-05-24

squeezed ever more tightly and ali
allied counter blows have been re-
pulsed
The German claims included:
IA break through the Scheldt
river front theld largely by the
British in Belgium to the western
bank of the Lys river, which joins
the Scheldt at Client Street fight
ing was reported in Client and the
German advance was described as
again threatening to take the al
lied forces in the rear.
2-Capture of the Belgian town
of Journal, only u miles from the
big French textile city of Lille, and
occupation of Maubeuge. on the
French frontier, where allied forts
now behind the main lines we're
taken.
"a German thrust through the
Arras sector to capture Loretto
Heights, northwest of the French
Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1940-05-24
King George Says
| Germans Seekinu
World Domination

LONDON, May "a. rUP)-King
George VI told the peoples of the
British empire today that Germany
seeks nothing less than complete
and final destruction of the en-
pire as prelude to her conquest
of the world
The king spoke over a radio net
work which carried his voice thru
out the world. The address marked
the annual celebration of Empire
Day, the birthday of the late Queen
Victoria under whose long reign the
British flag was firmly planted in
lands from the tropics to the Arc
tic.
Speaking at as grave an hour as
Britain and her empire had ever
faced with tho flash of German
gurfIrc on tho French coast Wis
lble from the chalk cliffs OF Dover
and az assault on Britain itself
expected n any moment, the king
said.
Germany is seeking the over
throw. complete and final, of this
empire and everything for which
it stands and after that the con-
quest of the world.