davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-03-05
Today's Patriots
Can Take Il
~ RUTH MIIIETT

Talk to a young couple-the
husband a reserve officer-busy
winding up their affairs in prepa-
ration to going into Uncle Sans
army for the duration" and you
are kind Of proud of young Amer
lea.
They're taking this sudden
change in their lives without
grumbling and without misgivings.
And it's a pretty big step. too.
Let's look at the Smiths--a young
couple who have been doing very
well in their community. There's
Mr.. Smith Lieutenant Smith in
few weeks and pretty, capable
Mrs. Smith. and two little Smiths
one at the up-and-coming age OF
three. the other baby.
The Smiths own their own
home. That is. they are buying IT,.
And they are mighty proud OF
their house and furniture. for they
have earned II all. The yard is
nice, too. for the little Smiths.
But they're renting the house,
furniture and all. for enough TO
keep up the payments. And they
are getting ready to be present
for rollcall at an army camp in
an entirely different part Of the
country.
Living quarters near the camp
are crowded and the best thing the
Smiths have been able to find is
q one-room apartment. One room
for four people.
THEY AREN'T KICKING
Goodbye to the nice back yard
where the little Smiths played
Goodbye to the house and furni-
ture. Goodbye TO Mrs. Smiths
friends. Goodbye TO Mr.. Smiths
job.
The Smiths are on their way 10
camp. And they aren't kicking
Their attitude can be summed up
In one remark OF Mrs. Smiths
made in answer to the sympathe-
tic comment of a friend, There
are plenty OF others like us And
II they can get along. guess we
can"
Young America isn't waving
flags this time. But they're show
ing real, honest-to-goodness pa
triotism. IF they can get along
! guess we can
They can II they hold on &c
that phiiosophy--for the duration
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-03-05

] am sure my husband will never
make the first move towards q
reconciliation. no matter how bad
~ he might want me and the chill
dren 10 come back. because he
knows was to blame for our
separation. In this case should ]
20 to him.
! feel that my Oldest child. .
son. particularly needs his father
now that he has started TO school
] am certain that all four of US
would he tremendously happy
living under the same roof again
and having a real home once more.
so SORRY.
Dear So Sorry; sibce you say
you were 10 blame for thu
breaking up Of your home, ] 80
m reason why n would not be
perfectly al right for you N
try Ia establish " once again.
II h quite evident that your
husband has mot found someons
else since he has never asked
ycu 20 get = divorce.
Yes. I feel that you should
- everything YOU csn towards
The reestablishment Of your
home. You owe . happy, secure
home "a your children ~ we'll
- to your husband and your
self. Roth YOU and your hus-
hand are older now and there
fore you are both better equipped
b run your home the WAY u
should he run. than you once
were. for you both. NO doubt.
have gained In common sense
and tolerance.
/ do believe, however. that you
should never question your hus-
hand about the past few years.
Instead you should both let by
gomez h bygoncs-sttempt Ia
put those Year, out Of your
mind - completely NJ possible
and 70 IN from there. Look
ahead. not backwards.
Dear Miss Grey: viii you kind
~ print a standard punch recipe ?
! would appreciate 1t very much
II you would do this favor for me.
HOSTESS.
Dear Hostess: Here IL = good.
standard recipe for fruit punch
that am sure you will like.
II 10 comparatively simple to
make. II makes Ia gallons:
I cup water
: cups sugar
I cup cold toa
] quart apolinaris or other
earbonated beverage
! cups strawberry syrup
Juice Of s lemons
Juice Of oranges
tin Of pineapple cubes
l cup preserved cherries
Bcil sugar and water together
for 10 minutes. Add tea, straw
/. berry, lemon and orange juice
and pineapple. Let stand about
- minutes. Strain. Add enough
ice water Ia make Ia gallons
Of liquid. Add cherries and apol-
maria or other carbonated water.
The punch 10 now ready for serv-
ing. Put . little ice In each
glass
Dear Miss Grey: am 10 bs
married soon and ! would like e
20 with my fisnce when he buy'
my wedding ring. Ny sister. how
ever, says that should not b'
with him when he makes this pur'
chase. Which OF US is right, Mis-
Grey. /. personally. can see nj
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-03-05
All Small Boys Girls Need Large Supply OF Vital Vtaln
Thanks, Mr.. Scientist
OUT of the

Our of the
chemists
test-tube came
his dramatic
evening frock-
for it's made
o, a new slit
eellulose film
yarn. The yarn
is handknii to
form a fabric"
that has a
gem-like glitte,
and sparkle.
particularly
striking in the
contrast Of black
and white used
here. The
skirt has q
becoming front
fullness. high
round neckline
and short cap
sleeves. The
jacket is
double-k
with an over
stitch belt
giving an elastic
effect.
Designed by
Madeleine
Leyda.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-03-05

This hondsore poneI embroidered in wool silk IS tose-
mating needewo ond odds the beout OF home Pot
1870 tronster potfern OF picture 5 20
inches illustrations OF stitches color ohor oeros required
Send coin ood token TOR THIS pottern
The Toooro Times keedecroft osp Write plony pattern
number. your name end ooofe<s
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-03-05

II you're not using il. sell IL with
a Fast-Action Times Want Ad.
Phone Man 1881.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-03-05
WHEAT GERM CHEAP

DR. Henry Borsook. professor
Of biochemistry. California Insti-
tute Of Technology, offers a solu-
ton. The problem OF finding q
cheap rich source Of thiamin and
the rest OF the vitamin 3 complex.
can be solved" h. SAYS. by the
use Of the wheat grain which
millers call the scalp Of the siz-
ines' or 'middlings plus germ.
This cereal is proba bly, the cheap
est natural food source OF the
vitamin p complex. II can be
cooked az porridge or baked in
bread mullins, scenes. etc. For
something under two cents per
day per person. It provides an
optimum amount OF Vitamin B-1
in palatable form.
DR. Borsook gives this advice
10 women's committees on de-
Tense through nutrition. He says
that by prodding your local grocer
and by being persistent about IL
you can make him get these
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-03-05

Children 81 subnormal growth
and adults with constipation.
natulenoe. headaches. lack Of
stamina. and chronic fatigue con
stifute a defen@ hazard Nutri-
tional scientists explain that in
sufficient vitamin B-1 is largely
the cause OF these conditions.
Salad greens. green vegetables.
fresh fruit. milk and meat in lib
eral amounts are good sources Of
this important vitamin But these
sources are relatively expensive
for families on low food budgets
One Of our national problems Is
TO find a cheap and plentiful
source Of vitamin B-l (Thiamin1 q.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-20

Morio Montez is the beouti-
ful bundle of temininity shown
above. She comes to the Mu-
sic Box theoter todoy in South
of Tohiti" with Brod Crow
ford, Andy Devine and Brion
Donlevy.
gable seekers for new talent In the
show business today.
When he started the Scandals"
several years ago he conducted a
raid on vaudeville. and introduced
to the Legitimate such variety
artists as Moran and Mack, Lou
Holtz. Doc Rockwell. Bert Gordon,
Tom PATRICIA and w. c. Fields.
Later his stars included such per-
sonalities as Paul Whiteman, Helen
Morgan, Harry Richman. Rudy
Vallee and Everett Marshall.
On the Music Box screen will
be Maria Montez. Brian Donlevy.
Andy Devine and Brod Crawford
In South OF Tahiti" which prom
Uses to show off Miss Montez in
the best sarong fashion.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-20
NOW PLAYING At
LOCAL THEATERS

Claudette Colbert in SKY
lark. ESQ. 400. tbs. lo.25 also
Charlie Ruggles IN .'Parson OF Pana-
mint" II 80. 2 Lao. sac, SOS.
RoNY Jack oakie in Rise and
Shine" IL AS. 3 AS. $50. g so: also
Sidney Toler In Charlie Chan In
Rio" IL 80. 2 80. SOS. 6.35.
Nj SIC Box-George Whites Scan
dals OF Al" Ais. so. 80. 1000.
also Maria Montez in South OF
Tahiti" 1910. ais. $50, $50.
BILE MOI sE-Humphrey Bogart in
The Maltese Falcon" i2:4o. 3:4o.
e.s5. o As. also william GArgsn in
PLYING Cadets" IL 80, 2-25, $50,
$50
RIyIERA-RichArd Cromwell in Riot
squad" IL. SIS. 3 40, 9 as, e.l0. also
wild Oats" Il 80. 2.l5. 500, 7;45
and l0.35.
RETURN sHowI>Gs
BEVERLY - Bob Hope in Nothing
But the Truth" also william Tracy
in Tanks a Million"
CAPITOL - wallace Beery as The
Bad Man" also Cesar Romero in
The Romance OF the Rio Grande. :"
CANFo-George Sanders IN House
OF the 2 Gables" also Tim Mccoy
In Frontier Crusader"
COMM Msrlene Dietrich as
The Flame OF New Orleans" also
Brenda Marshall in Highways
West"
KAY STREET = Abbott and Costello
in Hold That Ghost" also Dennis
Morgan in Bad Men OF Missouri"
LAKEwOOD-Mickey Rooney in Life
Begins for Andy Hardy" also Greta
Carlo in Matt Hari"
PARK-Tom Harmon in Harmon of
Michigan" also Hopalong Cassidy
in Wide Open Town"
PROCTOR-Francho Tone in This
Woman OF Mine" also Stuart Erwin
in Cracked Nuts"
REAIART - johnny Mack Brown in
Law OF the World" also Walt Dis
neys Reluctant Dragon"
REN DeRnna Durbin In Spring
Parade" also GUY Kibbee in Scat
terPood Meets Broadway"
SHEIIs-Robert Taylor as Billy the
Kid" also Robert Cummings in
Free and Easy"
SUNSET James Stewart in Navy
Blue and Gold" also Richard Arlen
In Men of the Timberland."
TEMrLE-Betty Cradle in "A Yank
In the r. A. F." also Lloyd Nolan
in Dressed TO Kill"
LIBERTY. Puyailup-Bette Davis In
THE Little Foxes"
RIVIERA. Sumner-Rosalind Russell
in The Feminine Touch"
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-20
'Skylark' at
Rialio Today
Person of Puno-
mint" Shores Bill

clsudette Colbert seems To at
tract hit plays to herself for her
screen material and they usually
prove to be bigger hits on film
than in their original form on the
legitimate stage.
Psramounts gay. sophisticated
comedy. "Skyiark. which opens to
day At tire Rislto thestsr. marks
her fifteenth movie made from g
play.
This il Miss Cohorts second
consecutive film with Ray Milland
whom she Is credited with having
helped to the top Of stsrdom when
she insisted that he be her lead
ing man in The Gilded Lily" in
1888. Although under contract to
the same studio. they were not CO
starred again until they made last
years unforgettable farce. Arise
Ny Love"
Others in the all-star film in
clude Brian Aherne. Binnie Barnes.
Walter Abel, Mona Barrie. Ernest
Cossart, Grant Mitchell and James
Rennie.
Sharing the Rialto screen in
Charlie Ruggles in ''Parson of
Panamint" with Ellen Drew carry
ing the feminine lead.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-20
Orotoricol Contest
Winners Announced

Gehart Svare. sophomore liberal
arts student. was victorious in the
recent oratorical contest held by
speech classes at Pacific Lutheran
college during the past week.
Svare spoke on The Assassin of
Youth dealing with the evils Of
marihusna and received SIS as
first prize.
Second place WAS taken by Art
Brogeson who spoke on 'Mer-
chants Of War" He was rewared
with So. In third place was
Robert Hadlund who spoke on
Youth Today and Tomorrow.
He received 800.
Judges for the contest were DIR.
o. A. Tingelstad. Dean Philip f.
Hauge. and Harold Roning.
Buy Y. S. Bonds and Save,
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-20

Robert Toylor and Brion
DonIevy ore OF the Shell theo-
ter in Billy, the Kid" This
epic of the old west will END
Saturday night. Free and
eosy." storing Robert Cum
minos shores the bill at the
Poetic ovenue house.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-20
Monilo Publisher
Called to Colors

MANILA. p. Mai Carlos p.
Romulo of the Philippine army re-
serve was called to active duty
Friday and assigned to the
press relations section of United
states army headquarters. Romu-
10, well-known Rotarisn. is pub
Usher of the Manila Herald and
companion Spanish newspapers.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-20

y - : VIM
This outfit was to make stmos-
phere shots for the new Dorothy
Lamour picture. and IL assembled
a lot Of people and dancers for 9
festival sequence. Back in Holly
wood. though, every foot OF the
film was thrown away because the
All navels OF the women dane
ers were visible. In the movies,
adult human beings don't have
those things
Another troupe, also commits
stoned to make background scenes
for a current picture. was obliged
to hire a blonde woman to double
in long shots for the star OF the
movie. To their alarm. they dis
covered that blondes were very
scarce indeed. This wasn't In
HswaiiD And finally they had to
engage the most notorious Jezebel
in that region Of the tropics. The
censors and public will never
know, however: at a considerable
distance the strumpet looks sc-
ceptably like the idealized glamour
girl.
WHALE OF A STORY
Assistant Director Robert Webb
got to EARNING about some loca-
ton trips ne had made In the
Pacific, beginning with the one
away. back to The Sea Beast"
That was done off the coast OF
Alaska. zone day rented a half
whale and hired a boat to tow IL
~ miles out to where we were
shooting" he recalled. we were
going to make the closeups show
ings John Barrymore harpooning
the critter.
But when we got TO the spot
there was no tugboat and no
whale. The director was just ask
ing sareastically. Well, Mr.. Webb.
what do we do now when
heard a feeble toot. Less than 400
yards away was a Japanese fish
ing boat towing fine. fresh 90
foot whale. I'm sure 1t was the
only time in my life that I was
glad to see q Jap. I hired the
whale for an hour for $50. and we
got some swell shots"
PAGO-PAGO PAY
He had an adventure In Pago-
Page, too. with $500 angry ma
tives. II had hired $500 of them
for a single big scene" Webb said.
"An they were supposed to do was
rush down TO the shore, scramble
into war canoes and furiously
paddle away.
But just as we were ready to
shoot. the head man announced a
sit-down strike. More dough. l
couldn't pay more because the
United States navy had told MS to
stick to a certain scale that native
employers paid them during the
rest OF the year.
We'll, we argued. but there just
wasn't any budging them. Finally
I pretended TO tell the two camera
crews to pack up, but actually l
tipped them to get all ready to
shoot. Then ] told the chief that
we had decided to skip this scene,
which we really didn't need. And
l made him really mad. ] said,
You tell your blankety men to get
in their blankety-blank boats and
get the blank off this beach as
quick as they CAM"
HE was so mad we were scared
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-20

There In much catchy music,
some nappy lines and = romance
between George Murphy and Linda
Danell which takes care Of the
love interest Enthusiastically. Muir
phys dance routine while srrsyins
himself In formal dreas In ~ fine
. demonstration ~ we have seen
- the screen for some time.
rhh picture win 20 over
kg with tire college crowd hut
way prove . bit too slap
happy for thcee VITO are
worrying about iscoms taxes
aad the Hike.
The companion film In another
~ the Charlie Chan creations /.
and one Of the best. II In titled.
''charlie Chan In Rio" and gives
Sidney roler many able performers
a. his assistants.
Mary Beth Hughes. cobina
Wright. jr., Ted North. Victor
Jory, Hsrold Huber. Sen Yuns.
Richard Derr. Kay 1lnaker and
Jacqueline Dalya present this mys-
terry story In most convincing
manner.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-20

will get a proposal Of marriage
young westmore said last night.
Westmore 10 leaving for
New York today 10 spend the
Christmas holidays with Miss
Lane.
II viii Ssh Rosemary to
marry me-. he said. And !
win take nothing hut yea for
N answer"
Nina Lane In playing in a New
York stage production. She Ia the
sister Of Lola and Priscilla Lane.
Westmore 10 q makeup artist and
formerly was married TO actress
Martha Rsys.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-20
$IO,ON Babv!

Ne,oH and Yeianda, film and
dance team, were In Holly
wood today 10 spend the
Christnas holidays with their
infant son Nicky.
'Nicky certainly has grown
In the two months we've been
away" said Veloz. He's
learned 10 walk, and his nurse
tells IN he's even taken his
first dance steps"
Nicky h known ~ the
100000 baby. That's what
II supposedly cost the couple
In film and stage contracts
they gave up.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-20
> HARRISON IN HOLLYWOOD
By PAUL HARRISON
Tacoma Times Correspondent
HOLLYWOOD

H0LLYWOOD-We talking about the war, nat
urs and the vastness Of the Pacific and wondering what
Of movies that 20thFox location company had got
Hawaii where had been just before Japans attack
film idye background shots for another sarong opera
player then told how Paramount company a SINH
lar mission had been btzed-no by the Japs but by
Hays office.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-20

Your postmaster can tell you
how to invest In u. q. Defense
Bonds.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-20
Working For Uncle!

NWOOD - Orson Wellee
has completed q film narration for
the Office Of Emergency Manage
ment's production Tanks" which
depicts In . 10-minute short sub
ject the building and operation Of
tanks.
The film. TO be shown eventu-
ally in $4,000 American thesters, Is
the first Of \ series designed by
the Emergency Management to ia
miliarize the public with various
aspects Of national defense.
Katherine Hepburn did a nara
ton In the East for women In
Defense. and Spencer Tracy will
do a commentary on The Shield"
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-20
Scandals al the
Music Box Today
Pretty Girl Show
A Stote Fe0ture

The arrival Of the latest Scan
dals cavslcade" on the Music Box
theater stage today brings to mind
the fact that Producer George
White IL one Of the most indefati-
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-20

for q minute Then ne hollered
something. and the natives yelled
and the whole caboodle got into
the canoes and went away from
there. The cameras kept turning,
and we got Just what we wanted.
To keep faith with the navy. ]
arranged 10 have the proper
amount Of pay turned over to
EN-"
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-20

HOLLYWOOD - When Buddy
Westmcre. member Of the famous
film makeup family. reaches New
York soon, ROSEMARY Lane. men,
Der Of this trio Of actress sisters,
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-20
Wanna Plan.

Arthur Murray. the dance teach
or. predicted today that, AZ a re-
suit Of the war. the square dance
will come back"
when people are upset and
worried" he said, they like to get
into huddles. The square dance
enables them to get into such
huddles and have = good time"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-08-27
UNITED STATETO j
 ACT ON JAPAN
CC0ntinusd from Page 1,

CCOntinued from Page D cused the situation created by the Tokyo approximations.
 Could Say Nothing
 ouFaausly talked with Hull for 95 minutes. Leaving, he told re- porteEs he could say nothing about the conference. He added that his statement should not be interpreted as indicating they had talked, or failed to talk, about any specific subject.
 Japan objected specifically to shipments which have been dis patched across the Pacific to the Russian port of Vladivobtok. It was believed this country would contend that 1t sees no legal basis for the Japanese objections since Japan and Russia have friendship pact. 2
 If the Japanese reSorted to force to stop shipments via Vladivostok, difncult problems would be raised for this country. The route to Vladivostok lies directly between Principal Japanese islands.
 Even should this country consider the issue worth engaging in full- scale hostilities- which generally was dOubted-the Japanese would hold m exceedingly strong position for cutting on shipments to Vladi- voStok.
 New Supply Route
 The British Russian move into Iran has opened up the possibility of new supply route to Russia via the south Pacific, around India and up the Persian Gulf. Also there Is the possibility of send supplies via the north Atlantic to Russian Arctic ports such as Murmansk and Archangel. A neutrality proclama- tion now bars American ships from the Arctic ports, but that can could be lifted.
 Whether by way of Vladivostok or other routes, 1t was deemed certain here that this country will con- ttnue shipments to Russia in an in- creasing volume. Decisions as to the best routes to be used may depend in part on the forthcoming consul tations for which American and British missions will be sent to Mos- COW.
 The Japanese protest presumably was made in Tokyo to U. s. Ambas- Sador Joseph c. Grew, as state de- partment officials said they did not know of any such representations having been made here. However, Japanese Ambassador KichiSaburo Nomura talked last Saturday with Secretary of State Cordell Hull, and it was possible that their conversa- tion might have covered that point.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-08-27

& typical of suicide wound. The siFounds on the children whose Hhroats are cut are obviously ho1ni- %idal wounds. There were also sev- anral superficial wounds near the sAeart of the woman. Apparently Inc pricked herself several times"
 Neighbors Heard Screams = Neighbors had heard screams from the Mercy apartment at $50
 m. They found William, Jr., Vandering, naked, through the apartment. His condition was such Ae couldn't be questioned. The 4ather was in bed. Mrs. Mercy was 5ead in another bed, and the dead 4hildren were on the floor nearby. @The bodies of the children were
 mclothed. Mrs. Mercy wore only Q &ousecoat.
 $ A small kitchen knife with a 4harp blade was on the kitchen liable. It was blood-stained, appar- antly the slayer's tool.
 @ Policeman Alvin Dunne, the first
 D arrive, found Mercy standing at VI window looking out into the Street.
 z sHelp me stop the blood on 4unior." he said when the police &nen entered.
 2 .sWho did it?" asked Dunne.
 My wife did it." Mercy replied.
 r was lying down. I was hit on 4he head. I don't know what 1t NRas."
 An axe handle was found in the living room; 8 blood-stained axe- 1ead was nearby.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-08-27

in on Leningrad, Russia's second city, from the south and west.
 Reds Fight FuriOusly
 Moscow, August 27 = (UP)-Red army forces, waging furious battle along the entire front, were reported today to be fighting of German and Finnish drives on Leningrad and Russian planes were said to be throwing back the onslaughts of great Nad air armadas on the for- mer capital.
 The Soviet afternoon com muniQue used no place-names and reported only that Russian troops fought heavily during the night all along the front.
 Odessa, great Black Sea port en- circled by German and Rumanian forces, was described by Alexander Kolibanov, Communist party secre- tary there, as huge armed camp. He reported by telephone that all the factories were being operated now by women, who were working at top speed to maintain produc- tion.
 Russian fighter planes and ant- aircraft batteries were said to have shot down 1,010 German planes during attempts by the Luftwaffe to carry out mass raids on Lenin- grad in the last two days.
 German Gen. Killed
 New York, August 27-(UP) = Columbia Broadcasting System to- day heard the British Broadcasting company quote the Moscow radio that Col. Gen. Karl Rudolf Gerd Won Rundstedt, commander in chief of German armies, in the Ukraine, had been killed.
 BEG said that, according to the Moscow radio, Rundstedt's death had been confirmed by a German officer who was captured by the Russians. There were no other de- tails.
 Tallini May Be Afire
 Helsinki, Finland, August 27 - (UP)-The gigantic reflection of fire on the other side of the Fin nish Gulf was believed to indicate today that Tallinn, besieged capital of Estonia, was afire.
 It was believed either that the Russian forces might be burning the town, preparatory to evacuation by sea, or that German planes had started the fire.