davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-10-31
Knox Awaits Full Details,
Declines to Discuss Possible
Damaging Of Attocker

The United States destroyer Reuben James was
torpedoed and sunk last night west of Iceland and
apprehension grew in Washington today as hours
passed with no word of the fate of her probable crew
of officers and ia men,
The terse Navy Department announcement at 9 :35
today contained only the detail that the 119O-ton
vessel torpedoed while conveying in the North
Atlantic, west of Iceland" 1t was the first sinking
of an American combat vessel in the present war
There no information as to whether word of the
sinking radoed from the doomed destroyer another
ship in convoy 1t was believed likely however that the
latter the convoy
might be standing by to pick up the
Further Details Awaited.
The Navy Department, which has banned publication
OF news of possible retaations by American ships
announced that further details of the sinking would be
released as received The Reuben James is COM
manded by 1t. Condr H l. Edwards
believed here that
Will not radio further details until out of the danger for fear
OF betrayng their position German raiders
whether submarines aircraft surface ships
The brief announcement of the Navy follows:
The Navy Department announced that the United
destroyer Reuben James sunk by during the night
October 3O-3l while conveying the North Atlantic
land
The commanding S Comdr l.. Edwards U S N
No further details available at this will be
leased when received"
Third Destroyer Attacked
the third American DESTROYER
to be involved in Atlantic Skrses since conveying naugu-
rated September the engaged
for submarine and fired On the night of october 1917
W u hear was oTpedoed and later ped into port under
Its own There loss Of II this
Eleven American merchant ships including those flying the
flags of other nations
In second issued after the
first the Navy said the Reuben James the old flush
deck type destoyers built at the end of the World War and
commissioned September "a 1920 She with
beam of 80 feet displaced
4inch naval rifles and battery of antiarcraft
Evening star., 1941-10-31

Acting nearly eight months after
his name was first submitted, the
Senate District Committee today ap-
proved the nomination of Gregory
Hankin, Federal Power Commission
attorney, to be member OF the
Public Utilities Commission.
The vote was four to two.
Senators Austin of Vermont and
Capper of Kansas, Republicans,
Joined with Senators Clark OF Idaho
and Bankhead, Democrats, in ap-
proving the nomination. Chairman
McCarran and Senator Holman, Re-
publican. of Oregon opposed it.
However. Senator McCarran said
later he did not plan to fight the
confirmation of Mr.. Hankin when 1t
comes up In the Senate in the next
few days.
Evening star., 1941-10-31
Russian Workers
Fight With Army
On Moscow Front
Reds in Full Flight
On Crimeon Peninsula,
Germuns Declare
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Soviet workers fought alongside
Red Army troops today in series
of battles around Tula. 100 miles
south of Moscow, as the Germans
reported the fury of their 30-day-
old drive on the Soviet capital
stepped up from two directions.
Tass. the official Russian news
agency, said tank-led Nazi forces
were driving hard on Moscow
northwest f1ank-apparently in the
Kalinin sector, 95 miles northwest
of the capitsl-but that heavy ar
tillery fire and repeated Red coun-
terattacks were checking the Ger
man advance.
To the west and southwest of
Moscow Tass reported that Soviet
troops were not only holding their
defense positions but improving
them in some salients.
On the southern CUKraine) front,
Adolf Hitler's high command as
serted that the Russians were in
full flight under the assault of Ger
man and Rumanian troops smash
ing into the Crimean Peninsula.
Apparently heading ror Russia's
big Black Sea naval base of Sevasto-
pol, 100 miles across the Crimea.
German fiame-throwers, tanks and
troops supported by strong aerial at
tacks were reported to have broken
through the Crimea's bottleneck
gateway two days ago.
Planes Aid Counterattacks.
Soviet dispatches gave no hint of
precipitate retreat. declaring that
Red Army troops and marines were
communicating fiercely, aided by
/ planes of the Russian Black Sea
fleet.
| Dispatches from Kuibyshev. auxil-
iary Soviet capital, said all Crimean
men capable of bearing arms were
being mustered to stem the Nazi
onslaught.
The Crimea is strategically i'm
/. portant both as controlling the
northern waters of the Black Sea
and as providing shortcut route
to the Caucasus oil fields across the
narrow Kerch strait.
| On the Moscow front. the Ger
mans were hammering violently at
Gen. Gregory zhukov's Red Army
defenders from the Tula sector i'll
the south and the Volokolamsk
region, IS miles northwest of the
capital.
| "Sanguinary battles are being
waged for every town and village
at the approaches to Tula," a Soviet
war bulletin said.
''All attacks by the German Fas-
cist troops on our positions were
beaten of with heavy losses to the
enemy"
Military advices reaching London,
however. said the Germans had cap
tured Volokolamsk after bitter fight
| ing in which the town changed
hands three times in three days.
Tula is a munitions and IRON
working city OF 200, 900 population in
the broad valley Of the Upa River
Hard riding Soviet cavalrymen
were now reported playing a promi-
nent role in the struggle, possibly
for the sake of mobility over mud
begged battlefields or because Of a
| depletion of tanks.
Russian front-line dispatches de-
clared that Red horsemen had wiped
out two Nazi regiments in battle
| ICao WAR Pane A-16l
Evening star., 1941-10-31
Observation-Disclosures
By Torpedo in ConvoyOH|ce
Fate Of 12O on Board Unreported
Policy Unchanged
By New Incident,
Roosevelt Says
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

The United States destroyer
Reuben James was sunk while
carrying out an assigned duty,
President Roosevelt told his
press conference this morning,
ana he indicated further that
circumstances of the incident
mean there will be no change in
American policy or conduct.
Asked specifically if there is a
possibility of breaking off diplomatic
relations with Germany, Mr.. Roose-
welt replied that nothing had been
said about it.
The President opened his confer
ence by saying he had no news on
the sinking beyond that announced
by the Navy Department. During
subsequent discussion of possible de-
velopmentS growing out of the at
tack, Mr.. Roosevelt spoke guardedly
and in more restrained fashion than
has marked his previous .utteranceS
on other ocean raids.
Refers to Knox Statement.
Pressed for information on the
possible sinking of any German sub
marines. the President first an
swered that he wouldn't tell if he
knew of any and then went on to
repeat the policy explanation given
earlier this week by Secretary of the
Navy Knox.
In this connection he recalled that
there had been no announcements
Of individual German ships lost dur
ing the first World War and that
this policy had kept such informa-
ton secret from Berlin for varying
periods OF time.
AS an example. he related how a
French blimp had spotted German
submarine in the Bay of Biscay
and that Allied attackers had fol-
lowed up with depth charges until
Evening star., 1941-10-31
Senate Committee Approves
Hunkin for Utilities Post

If confirmed by the Senate. Mr..
Hankin will fill a long existing
vacancy on the commission. With
only one member-Engineer Com
missioner Charles w. Kutz-the
commission has been unable to
function owing to a lack Of a
quorum.
Mr.. Hankin, a native of Russia,
was first nominated by President
Roosevelt last March 8 to I'LL out
the term of Richmond B. Keech,
who was named corporation counsel.
The appointment lapsed, as the
Senate failed to act before the ex-
piration of Mr.. Keech's original
term. on June 30, and afterward
the President renamed Mr.. Hankin.
In hearings conducted by the Sen
fsee HANKTN. Page A-16)
Evening star., 1941-10-31
Daniels Resigns Post
As Envoy 10 Mexico
Due 10 Wife's Illness
President Praises Work,
Saying 1t ExempIified
Good-Neiehbor Policy

Resignation of Josephus Daniels
as Ambassador to Mexico because OF
his wife's ill health was announced
by President Roosevelt today
The President asked Mr.. Daniels
to remain on the job, however. long
enough for a short trip TO Mexico
City in order to take farewell of his
friends there and present Mr.. Roose-
velt's very warm personal regards
to President Avila Camacho."
Describing Mr.. Daniels as ex-
employing perhaps more than any
one else "the true spirit OF the good
neighbor in the foreign field" Mr..
Roosevelt said in letter to Mr.
Daniels that it came as real shock
to him that the country would have
to do without his services as Am
bassador to Mexico
Secretary of State Hull said at a
press conference that he was disap-
pointed TO lose the benefit OF Mr..
Daniels wisdom. wise counsel and
efficient service in the Mexican post
Reports Good Relations.
In his letter Of resignation. Mr..
Daniels said he was happy to report
that now "the relations between
Mexico and the United States are on
the most sincerely friendly basis in
their history and that both are firm
ly united to prevent any infiltration
of alienisms or forces on this hemi-
sphere from any quarter"
Mr. Daniels, 70, Raleigh IN. c.
newspaper publisher and Secretary
OF the Navy during the last World
War, when President Roosevelt was
Assistant Secretary of the Navy, was
named Ambassador to Mexico on
March IT, 1888.
In announcing the resignation at
a press conference, Mr.. Roosevelt
said that United States relations
with Mexico now are on a basis of
understanding and friendship that
represents great improvement over
conditions when Mr.. Daniels went to
Mexico. He gave Mr.. Daniels much
credit for this improvement, declar-
ing that he had done more to en-
courage and live up to the good
neighbor policy than any one else
the President knew Of
Mr. Daniels, who has been in this
country on leave for several weeks,
wrote the President that he sim
cerely regretted that he was i'm
PEELED by family reasons to tender
his resignation.
Couldn't Garry On.
'The physicians of my wife advise
that her health will not justify her
continuance in the responsible
though agreeable duties which de-
volve upon the wife of the Ambas-
sador to Mexico" Mr.. Daniels wrote.
And no one knows better than you
that cannot carry on without her"
Mr.. Daniels recalled that he went
to Mexico in 1888 animated by q
single purpose-to incarnate your
policy of the good neighbor." He
added that his constant aim "has
been to truly interpret the friend
ship of our country to our nearest
southern neighbors," and that he
had found cordial reciprocation Of
the sentiment of friendship"
Remarking that while he had
hoped Mrs. Daniels health would
improve sufficiently to justify Mr..
and Mrs. Daniels staying In Mexico,
Mr.. Roosevelt said however. what
must be, must be-
Evening star., 1941-10-31
British Destroyer, 2 Other Escorts
Sunk in Convoy by Subs, Nozis Say

northwest of Cadiz, Spain, and that
another was damaged by bomb hits.
(These presumably were the same
ships from which survivors reached
Huelva, Spain, yesterday
In communique Wednesday the
Germans said IA ships of 47.000
tons and a British destroyer had
been sent to the bottom of the At
lantic in six-day pursuit of a con-
vov t"a~oling toward England from
Gibraltar.
Evening star., 1941-10-31
Destroyer First
u. S. Ship Sunk
In World War
II The Assnciated preSz

By the Associated Press.
A destroyer, the Jacob Jones, was
the first United States war vessel
torpedoed and sunk by a German
U-boat in the World War.
The 1,265-ton Jacob Jones, exactly
the same type vessel as the Reuben
James, was sunk off the English
coast by the submarine U-53. with
a loss of 64 lives-two officers and
81 men, December 6, 1917.
The Jacob Jones. however, was
not the first American warShip hit
in the World War. On october Is,
1917, the destroyer Cassin was tor
pedoes, but not sunk off the Irish
coast. The vessel was salvaged but
lost one man killed and had nine
injured.
On November 5. 1917, the con-
verted yacht Alcedo was torpedoed
and sunk with loss of 81 lives.
Evening star., 1941-10-31
Social Security Message
Will 60 10 Congress

President Roosevelt said today
there will be a message to Congress
on social security legislation, but
that he is not decided at this time
on specific recommendations.
Questioned particularly about pos
sible Federalization of the unem-
ployment compensation system, the
President said the basis for changes
in this regard probably will be de-
sire to extend greater assistance to
the poor States. Per capita incoms
In individual States and taxable re.
sources may be used as a measure
for determining the Federal aid
formula, he explained.
Rigid uniformity in extending
Federal assistance would merely ac-
centuate the difference between total
compensation payable in the richer
States and that In the poorer STATE,
he said.
Evening star., 1941-10-31
No Wonder James
Was Torpedoed,
Germans Soy
By the Associated Press.

by the hsSOClaIed FTcSS.
BERLIN. Oct. 31.-If the
United States destroyer Reuben
James was participating in a
convoy 1t was no wonder that
she was torpedoed," an author
lied source said tonight.
"A convoy is an English af-
fair and whoever participates
in it becomes part Of an Eng
ish formation" it was declared.
Il am certainly glad it was
not our U-boat that was sunk,
but rather the American de-
stroyer that was torpedoed,"
the spokesman added. "Ameri-
can destroyers have no business
entering the war zone"
Evening star., 1941-10-31

Inc Navy withheld names OF the
other officers and the crew until
definite news is received as to the
possible rescue. In such wartime
emergencies. the custom is for ships
to radio only the most urgent bull
letins.
Live-Saving Equipment.
The Navy Department said the
sunk destroyer carried life-saving
equipment more than sufficient for
her complement Of men. She had
two 26-foot motor whale boats, with
normal capacities of "a persons, and
at least six wood RATS designed to
float Is people. There were enough
life preservers on board. it was said.
to have cared for Is per cent more
than the ships complement.
Usual naval procedure in a battle
Is to jettison everything that might
be Spllntered by gunfire. including
wooden RATS and whaleboats. How
ever. it was pointed out at the Navy
Department today that the Reuben
James probably was hit suddenly
and was given no time to prepare
for battle.
In the absence of definite word, it
seemed probable the Reuben James
was sent down by a submarine. al
though it was possible she might
have been torpedoed by an airplane
or a surface raider
A hint that the vessel was the
victim of a submarine came TODAY
from an authorized Berlin source.
the Associated Press reported. A
German spokesman said that if the
United States destroyer was par
ticipating in a convoy 1T was no
wonder she was torpedoed =" + I am
certainly glad it wasn't our U-boat
which was sunk
TorpedoeS have been launched at
three American war vessels since
President Roosevelt ordered the Navy
last month to shoot on sight" any
Axis war craft encountered
Two torpedoes missed one ship and
one made a solid hit on the Kearny.
The Kearny, however, was a
much larger, newer and sturdier
vessel thar the Reuben James. Her
hull was protected by the latest
srmor and she contained water
tight compartments to isolate flooded
areas. 1t was this sort of construc-
tion the Navy Department an
nounced orly two days ago, which
enabled the Kearny to make port
after suffering damage sufficient to
have sunk an older destroyer,
AS to what damage, if any, was
visited on the craft which sank the
Reuben James, Secretary Knox an
nounced at a press conference on
Wednesday the Navy Department
probably will not tell the public
whether or not its vessels have at
Evening star., 1941-10-31

BERLIN, Oct. 81 (P.-U-boats
have sunk six British freighters to-
falling $1,000 tons, British destroyer
and two other escorts from several
conveys during the past few days q
German announcement said today.
In addition, it said, British tor
pedo boat was heavily damaged by
torpedoes.
The high command also said that
long-range aircraft so"E merchant
ship of 1900 to1S il no Atlantic
Evening star., 1941-10-31
Germans Hang IS Greeks
For SIoying z Soldiers

By tie Associated Press.
BERLIN, Oct. 3l.-Thirteen Greeks
have been executed by hanging at
Salonika following the Staying OF
two German soldiers, authorized
Germans said today. They said they
had not yet received any details
about the case,
Evening star., 1941-10-31

History OF Air Associates ID
Dor difficulties and teri OF Pres,-
dent RooseUelts order to seize
plant on page A
Evening star., 1941-10-31

(See COMMENT, Page A-2)
Evening star., 1941-10-31

(See WAR. Page A-16)
Evening star., 1941-10-31

Late news and sports are covered on
Pages TX and 2-X of this edition OF
The Star. supplementing the news of
the regular home delivered edition
Evening star., 1941-10-31

Csee BENDIx, Page A-4J
The weekly echo. (Meridian, Miss.) 1931-1942, 1941-11-15
b. Ruth Taylor

AS celebrate the hundred and fortyninh ami
versay of Columbus epoch making voyage the Americas
need must stop and consider what First
of course it marks the beginnings Of the country hold
dear But is not that which is of greatest significance
Nearly five hundred years before Columbus the Norsemen
had been here and other explorers would have comefor
the taking of Constantnope by the Turks had shut off the
overland route to the East and forced into
courses and ways of thought
The voyage of Columbus teaches the value of applied
curiosity. Along the wharfs of Genoa among the black
bearded seafarng men, Columbus had heard strange tales
of land beyond the oceano ships that blown their
courses had sighted great capes and verdant islands He
heard the half whispered theory that the earth not
flat the scholars in their sheltered lives had decreed
that it round. From these tales and Whispers he
voved his idea-ha the lands really the Indies
And he had to find out
The path was long and hard, and seemingly hopeless
all the way from the inconspicuous life of traders
in Genoa to the post of Lord High Admiral of Spain He
eered at Knocked scorned Every path that he
followed ended in stone wall of failure but each time he
started all again. determined to find out At last the
way opened And when it was he ready for the
opportunity mentally to carry it through.
That the lesson in Columbus voyage. The power to
find out; the willingness see, plus the ability to keep
is the real secret of The greatest advantage in
education is that it teaches how to find out how to
study and how to learn.
There may not be new continents discover there
opportunities equally great before those who have
eager minds There are heights to which the with
an ideal may not climb; ignorance he not
to find the unknown treasure he seeks Each is
potential Columbus and whether he voyages into unknown
depends upon how great is his determination to find
out
The weekly echo. (Meridian, Miss.) 1931-1942, 1941-11-15
Description to Quitman Board

FOL owing is description DIS
to how you may reach the place |
of meeting on December 2 where
the H. B. A. Board will meet:
Coming from Meridian, come
to the Coca Cola plant in Quit
man; turn to the left and when
you get to the High School turn
to your right. The church is two
and a half miles from there.
Coming from Waynesboro,
and below Waynesboro, come to
the Coca Cola Plant and turn
the right and when you get to
the High school, turn to the
right. The church is two and a
half miles from town. The name
of the Church is Shiloh Baptist
Church, Quitman, Miss. Rev. G.
! W. Dubose is pastor. We are
! hOping 70 see you all at the
Board. legsMj
Sam Jasper, President,
Fl =. A. Lodge No. 410.
The weekly echo. (Meridian, Miss.) 1931-1942, 1941-11-15
Notice To Presidents
And H B A Members

To the Presidents of the H. B. A. As
ISOLATION of Mississippi: You are hereby
requested to collect S135 per member
for the December Boards 1t is necessary
that we strive to make 100 percent col
Fiction.
Taxes and Insurance. are to be paid
We are forced 10 have our steam boiler
repaired and have old f1ues replaced
with new ones. We are therefore urging
each president to make 100 per cent
collection.
During these times when money is
plentiful and jobs are plentiful, there is
no reason for not making a round re-
port in the Boards.
E. F. Young, General President.
The weekly echo. (Meridian, Miss.) 1931-1942, 1941-11-15
Magee, Mississippi,

This comes to inform you
concerning the place where the
December Board of Lodge No.
1853 will be held.
The December Board will be
held at Zionell C. M. E. Church,
with the Reverend S. L. Expose,
Pastor. The distance, 7 miles
south of Magee. Go Highway
40 on paved road for 5 miles,
then take the gravel road on the
right hand for 2 miles to the
the church.
The distance Az miles north
west of Mt. Olive: Go Highway
40 212 miles on paved road. Take
the second left hand on gravel
road 2 miles; stay on grave
road. The church and cemetery
are on one side of the road with
the school on the other side.
Mrs. Alethia Smith, President
Evening star., 1941-08-15
Capt. Lee Returning
From Sd Atlantic Hon
When Killed in Crash
Frederick (Md.) Aviotor
Had Been Commissioned
By British Agency

Capt. Philip F. Lee, jr.. 36, oi
Frederick, Md, who was killed in the
plane crash in England which took
the lives of % persons, including
Arthur Purvis. chairman of the
British Supply Council In North
America. was returning from his
third fight to England in the ferry
command service.
Capt. Lee had been a flyer for IL
years and had a transport pilots
license. He had been connected with
various commercial flying firms. but
when he went to Canada last Sep
tember to join the ferry command he
was with the United States Fidelity
e. Guarantee Co. of Baltimore, OF
which his father is vice president
Mr.. Lee said his son had been
commissioned a captain in the Brit
ish Overseas Airways Corp, Brit
ish Government agency operating
the ferry command between Canada
and England. Capt. Lee had made
three flights to England before the
final trip.
Surviving besides his parents and
widow are a daughter Helen, 6, who
is with her mother in Montreal; two
brothers, Tyson Lee of Frederick, a
member of the Maryland House OF
Delegates, and Augustus w. Lee OF
Pittsburgh, and sister, Miss Geor-
CINE Iselin Lee, who lives with her
parents at Sugarloaf Farm, near
Urbana,
Evening star., 1941-08-15
Eight British Bombers
Shot Down, Nozis Soy

BERLIN. Aug. Is LP).--Eight Brit
ish bombers were shot down in an
attempt to attack Berlin during the
night. an official announcement said
today.
Slight anti-airCraft activity was
noted in the center of the city dur
ing the raid-the fourth on the capi-
tai this week
The official acknowledgment of the
raid did not mention any damage
done by the raiders, which it said,
were beaten off by anti-aircraft de-
fenses.
The text of the communioue:
"An attempt by British planes to
attack the Reich's capital in the
course of last night was frustrated
with considerable loss to the foe by
strong defenses. which forced all
enemy bombers to turn back. Night
pursuiters and anti-aircraft artil-
lerv shot down eight bombers."
The regular high command COM
nlunique, issued later, said 10 Brit
ish bombers in all were shot down
when they dropped incendiaries and
explosives at various places" in
Northwestern and Northern Ger
many. Nine r. A. F. fighting planes
we're reported downed yesterday
along the Channel coast.
Three merchantmen totaling 10000
tons we're reported sunk off England
and Scotland and five others dam
aged. the regular communicate said
In the night the Germans raided
port facilities Of the English east
coast, 1t was said.
The Germans also said two de-
stroyers were attacked off Sidi Bar
rani. Egypt, and a direct hit was
scored aft on one vessel.