davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01
British Clear
Path For Big
Bengasi Drive
Advance Striking Forces
Are Operating West Of
Fallen Base at Derna
FOLLOW USUAL PLAN
Raj Carries Out Heavy
Bombardment on Italian
Plane Base at BARGE

CAIRO, Egypt, Jan. 31-R-Ad.
vanced British striking forces,
bombers and motorized troops, op-
Grated west of the fallen Italian
base of Derna toward 3engasi to-
day, methodically clearing the way
for the expected general assault
upon that important naval center
and capital of eastern Libya.
Official news was scarce, but II
appeared that the same program
that reduced Bardia and Tobruk,
and yesterday Derna, was at work
again - dashes of reconnaissance
and attrition by Britain's dusty
tanks and an endless offensive pa,
troll of the air by British bombers.
Air Base Bombed
The Royal Air force told of a
heavy bombardment of the Italian
air base at BARGE, 100 miles be-
You'd Derna on the r. ad to Ben
gasi, announcing that its day-loAS
activities of yesterday had been
mainly focused" on that mill
tary settlement.
The airdrome was declared to
have been repeatedly attacked,
and direct hits were claimed on
a series of hangers n other
buildings. A single Italian plane
was reported downed.
The British command itself COW
cred its activities on every front
fro mLibya to the fighting along
the frontier areas of italian So
maitland 1000 miles to the south
in ten words:
ION all fronts operations con-
tinue to develop to our advantage"
From Kenya itself it was re-
ported that Nigerian troops oper-
ating in the coastal sector had
joined the British in marrying the
Italians in Italian Somaliland, de-
stroying the village of Kiambon
and meeting not a single Fascist
soldier.
the town, said to have been a
center of Italian native troop &C
tivity, was reported burned by the
Continued on Page Two, Col. ~
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01
$4,000 DRAW PAY
CHECKS AT CAMP
Approximately $500 Com
mon Laborers and 1890
Carpenters Are on Job

HOLLY RIDGE, Jan. 31.-Ap-
proximately IA, 1000 persons drew
pay checks at Camp Davis today,
the largest payroll since construc'
ton was started.
Today a total of 1882 workers
were On the job and 1882 were ou'
either by sickness or layoffs, this
making a total of 16, IA who would
have worked if all had been on the
job. "
Of the IL, 1000 working today, q
total of 6,542 were common labor
ers, 4,317 carpenters and 1,161 op'
orators and miscellaneous workers
The miscellaneous workers in.
cluded painters, of whom not quite
100 worked today, several hun.
dred having been laid off on &C.
count of material shortage.
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01

Contracts Let
To Three Men
Lofts, Of Charlotte, and Or
rell and Underwood Are
Given 5000, 900 Job
TO CLEAR LARGE SITE
Maritime Commission Will
Soon Conclude Contracts
For Is Freighters

Contracts for some of the
preliminary work at the
North Carolina Shipbuilding
company's plant here were
let yesterday to one Charlotte
and two Wilmington con-
tractors and plans were start
ed Immediately to begin clear
ing the 70-acre site of the
yards Monday morning.
According to an Associated
Press report from Newport
News, Captain Roger Will
liams, president of the COM
pany, said the contract price
was 5000, 900.
The work to be carried out
by V. P. Lofts Construction
company, of Charlotte, Dallas
Orrell, of Wilmington, and U.
A. Underwood company, also
a local contractor, includes
dredging and the construction
of shipways, sheds and shops.
Mr.. Underwood said here
yesterday that the work on
the shipyards will be started
first thing Monday morning,
POSSIBLY with a small force,
but men will be a d
rapidly"
He said the construction of
facilities consists of several
phases: clearing, grading, pile
driving, pouring of concrete
for ways and the erection Of
five or six structures. Wash
ington officials have said the
shipyard will cost from four
to five millions of dollars.
North Carolina Firm
The North Carolina ShipbuildinS
is d recently organized
firm, formed as a subsidiary of the
Newport News Shipbuilding and
Dry Dock company.
The Maritime commission has an.
nounced it will shortly conclude
contract with the company to build
Is of the 200 cargo vessels the U. S.
agency is hoping can be built and
launched within the next "a months.
The Newport News firm has said
Continued on Page Six; Col. -
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01
State Employe Retirement Measure
Given Favorable Report By Group
d e cent contributions by en-

4 per cent contributions by en-
ployes.
A campaign being waged against
alcoholic beverages gained ne W
impetus in the general assembly
when the Forsyth house delega-
ton sent forward a bill to pro-
hibit the sale of wine cad beer in
Forsyth county between midnight
and 6 o'clock in the morning.
A measure to prohibit sale OF
fortified wines in the "a counties
legally dry has already been IN
troduced. A bill to provide a state
referendum on liquor is expected
to hit the legislative hopper next
week, and Representative Williams
of Pasquotank has said he Will
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01
FIGHT IN MOUNTAINS
Smashing Of Fascist Tank
Counter-Attack in AL
bania Also Reported

ATHENS, Feb. 1-(Saturday)-
R-The taking of Italian positions
of great Importance" in noun
tains nearly 5000 feet high and
the smashing of an Italian tank
counter-attack at another point on
the rugged Albanian front were
announced early today by the
Greek high command.
Earlier, the Greek military
spokesman had said that the latest
Italian commensurate, in the
coastal sector, met a fate worse
than any, of the series recently
attempted. Large Italian forces
were used, he asserted.
Losses Heavy
The attacking troops were re-
pulsed with such heavy losses that
they retreated in confusion and
have not had time to reorganlze
their positions, the spokesman said.
"These Fascist troops were pur-
sued by us and we succeeded in
occupying a mountain 1900 meters
high, beyond the positions from
which the Italians launched this
counter-attack," he related.
At another point the Greeks &C.
cupied a height of some 1000 of
1000 meters" the spokesman
states.
Two hundred italian prisoners,
including seven officers, were de-
clared to have been taken in the
last of the series of frustrated
Italian assaults.
Greek forces we're reported ad-
vancing rapidly north of Klisura
and dispatches from the Albanian
front said an Italian attempt to
wrest the offensive was regarded
now as a failure.
AS a result of what were called
important gains, the Greeks were
Continued on Page Two, Col. u
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01
By JOHN E.

RALEIGH, Jan. 31.-R-Pruned
by amendment to eliminate large
pensions for higher-salaried exec
utives, the state employee retire
ment bill today won {. favorable
report from the joint education
committee and moved a step
nearer to enactment into law.
However, the bill to retire teach
r and other state Z -ployes at
the age of so must still meet the
scrutiny of the joint appropriations
committee before it takes it's place
on the legislative calendar. i The
budget commission recommended
and appropriation of 81, 679, 076 each
year as the states fund to match
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01

sponsor a proposal to use part OF
the liquor store profits for a pro-
gram of education against the evils
Of strong drink.
Also sent forward by the Forsyth
delegation was a measure which
was described by its sponsors as
aimed at checking the numbers
racket in the state.
The bill which bears the endorse
ment of Solicitor j. Erie McMi-
chael Of the 18th district, would
amend the search warrant statute
SO as to allow officers to search
"any and all personal property
CONTINUED on Page Two, Col. y
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01
CHURCHILL TOURS
PORTSMOUTH BASE
Hopkins Accompanies Brit
ish Leader on Three Hour
Inspection Tour

PORTSMOUTH, Eng, Jan. 81.
-R-Prime Minister Winston
Churchill jubilantly toure' this big
gest British naval base for three
hours today, accompanied by Har-
ry Hopkins, President Roosevelt's
special emissary, and led dock
yard workers in a %vociferous
three cheers for the President
of the United States"
To the workers, he introduced
Hopkins as 1.-THE envoy and friend
of President Roosevelt, that great
statesman and friend of freedom
and democracy" and added:
Zone cannot help feeling enor-
mously encouraged by the spirit
of the ever-growing movement Of
aid to Britain which we e laying
hold of the mighty masses of the
United States"
Standing in front of a ship, the
Prime Minister then called for the
three cheers for Mr.. Roosevelt.
The workers responded with a roar
of hip, hip, hoorays."
Continued on Page Six; Col. s.
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01
High Point Power Plans
Face New Legal Barrier

RALEIGH, Jan. 31.-R-High
Points proposed Sc, 900, 900 hydro,
electric power project on the Yad.
kin river, which has been in and
out of the courts almost continu-
ally since it was conceived in 1886,
must be authorized by a certi-
icate Of convenience and neces-
sity from the state utilities COM
mission, the supreme court held
today.
The ruling was contained in a
decision which remanded to the
Guilford county superior court a
judgment voiding an injunction
which the supreme court had pre-
viously upheld.
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01
r. Says u. S. Is Ready
To Take Over Any Plant
Spanish Paper Urges
Better u. S. Relations

MADRID, Jan. 31.-@ - The
newspaper Alcazar Unexpectedly
spoke out tonight in favor of
better SPANISH United States re-
lations and said ian American
President without false notions
of racial superiority" and "a
powerful, respected, united
SPAIN were good bases for a
campaign to effect increased un-
derstanding.
The article, signed by one
Federico de Madrid, was in sharp
contrast to recent editorials at
lacking the U. S. for alleged de-
signs OH South America.
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01

A., The Ease came to the court in
this manner:
High Point, by resolution, had
attempted to place itself under the
1885 revenue bond act (Which did
not require the utilities commits
sion certificate )and remove itself
from the jurisdiction of the 1888
bond act (Which did require such a
certificate). This resulted in the
superior court order voiding the
Injunction. An appeal was noted
by the plaintiffs-certain High
Point taxpayers and the Duke pow
er company.
CONTINUED on Page Two, Col. ~
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01
Important Italian Posts
Are Captured By Greeks
Germany's Big Guns
Smelling Kent Coast

DEAL, England, Jan. 31.-R
German guns along the coast of
France have been lobbing shells
ten Or eleven miles inland from
the Kent coast in the last three
days, but the random shots have
been falling mostly in open
country.
"The shells fall internationally"
said one observer. Nobody is
paying any attention to them"
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01
Like WATCHES
RMAN SMELLING
Witnesses Anti-Air-
Guns in Action
Nazi Raider

FIX, England, Jan. 31.-CR)-
pc through the mud of Brit.
outlines in this 'hell's cor.
Wendell L. Willkie witnessed
sllght cross-channel Smelling
watched anti-aircraft guns in
against a Nazi air raider and
ied: Il wouldn't like to be the
attacking these invasion de-
noes and clothes were crusted
ud after his tour. and Willkie
cary but full of enthusiasm
lmued on Page Two, Col. y
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01
War
Interpretive
BY XXI l..

If Herr Hitler is actually plan
ming a vast victory attack on Eng
land in the spring, Italy probably
must forego any hope of tapping
German oil reserves to meet her
own desperate needs in Africa and
Albania.
The Nazis would need all the
gasoline and fuel oil they could
accumulate to launch a spring Of
fensive on a grand scale. Yet it
becomes clearer day by day that
oil shortages in Italy have created
the critical situation in which her
Continued on Page Six; Col. -
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01
publicans
Credit
To Britain
Members Of House
lon Affairs Commit
State Opposition
IS ADVANCED
Committee Gives 1t
Of Way on House
Next Week
l.. TURNER

l.. TURNER
6NGTON, Jan. 3l.|'R-
knublicans members of the
|oreign affairs committee
announced their opposition
|lease-lend bills grant OF
|tial power today but said
build Willingly support a
Forward bill which Woulo
81, 900, 900, 900 worth
tican credit.
would eliminate the STEP
l. the President absolute
|ver every concern in this
manufacturing war mate
said.
would not permit him to
of the war in Eng
position which is fraushi
Eat danger to the Amerl-
Bile. If we assume the d.
bf the war, we underwrite
less of the war. The ulti.
suit must be the American
will pay the full costs OF
and that means we will
Bated to put our material
is and our men into the
Call for Credits
ting credits which England
ill fully meet the situation
/ and it will lessen materi-
lkellhood OF our gong
war. Our naval and mill
perts agree that our nation
b danger of attack; that
r vast resources and geo.
position, our situation is
parable to that of nations
mental Europe.
power requested is t o c
, give any man at a time
lie country is at peace. AS
inued on Page Six; Col. ~
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01
WEATHER.

FORECAST
Carolina: Fair Saturday. SIM
sIoerahie cloudiness and slightly
kBy e. S. Weather Bureau,
27i on data for the "A hours
''o =, III. Yesterday
| Temperatures
H. %; $50 a. m. 40: 100 n. m
,, m. A.: maximum 81: mini.
mean 81; normal AZ.
Humidity
m. 81; 7:30 a. m 70. I 90
i p. m. 46. LOU p Ill
Precipitation
- hours ending 7::3O n. m
since first of the month 60
h. = Tides for Today
t ceo tables published by u. s.
High Low
u :5Sa sra
poro Inlet ~. mp e:36p
lO:oSa 4:47a
Use : .ooo. 11:16p 5:13p
n'0nset 1O:4sp. -p' moonrlse
81 at 8 a. M, 11:45 feet.
'''ue' on Page Six; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01

D TT Tides for Today
md Ice Geo da6les published by U. S.
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01

Precipitation
, esi 81 II hours ending 7:3O D. m.
~ since first of the month 162
Evening star., 1941-07-20
Italian Captain, Il Sailors
Get u. ). Prison Terms
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
HOUSTON, Tex, July 19-Sen-
tenCes ranging from two years in a
reformatory to four in the Federal
penitentiary were pronounced today
by Federal Judge James V. Alfred
on the captain and crew of the
Italian freighter Mongolia, seized
in March after the vessel had been
damaged III port.
Convicted by a jury IN Federal
Court Thursday on four counts OF
an indictment charging tampering
with a vessel in violation of Federal
law, Capt. Ernesto Ranise and q
officers and creWmen appeared for
sentence.
Capt. Ranise was sentenced TO
serve four years imprisonment or
each OF four counts. sentences 10
run concurrently.
Chief Engineer Giuseppe Tassara
and First Engineer Luigi FerleneS
were given concurrent sentences OF
three years and six months on each
of the counts. Two deck boys were
ordered sent to Federal reform
school for two years, and 13 other
members OF the crew were sentenced
TO three years in Federal prison on
each court counts, terms to be con-
current.
Evening star., 1941-07-20

contrasting assortment of men-its
own personnel, the U-boat survivors,
the freighter survivors.
HunStOn slept in the officers mess,
as did the other rescued officers of
both the freighter and the U-boats,
each group on its own side of the
room.
/ Said the youthful wireless oper-
| atOr-one of the $50 or more war
time wireless graduates produced by
/ the ST. John Vocational School-"A
couple of the U-boat officers ap-
peared to be no older than l am. l
had to admire their expensive-loo
ing leather uniforms nothing
'erSatz' about them.
Not Surprised at Treatment.
When their meals were served, I
took particular note to observe
whether they were surprised at the
good quality of the food they re-
| ceived. But no. they seemed to take
/ it for granted that the British
would treat them well.
/ Some of them could speak little
English, and they apparently all
knew-or soon learned-how to say
thank you very much in English,
for the British naval men gave them
supplies of cigarettes. and jig-saw
/ puzzles and cards to while away
/ their time. They even showed them
how darts are played, and the Ger
mans were very appreciative. AS a
] uhnlp tho nfFCnrc O orNH
/ Subdued lot"
/ Comdr. KretSchmer and another
4 officer who was learning to COM
mand had quarters in the wardroom
of the destroyer, and Hunston saw
little of the Wolf" However,
Damery recalled that the Nazi
U-boat ace did not lose any of his
bOastfulnesS, even as a prisoner of
war. A Sharp-faced man of about
40, he spoke English well, seemed
much interested in the destroyer,
and commented that if he had not
run out of torpedoes he would have
got more of the convoy.
Thought They'd Be Liquidatcd.
Some of the U-boat creWmen, said
Damery, did not appear to realize,
as the officers did, that they could
expect good treatment from the
British. The rank and file of the
prisoners thought they were going
to be liquidated" and were sur
| prised to learn they would be in
termed. One remarked, That's ex-
cellent. But very stupid of you.
Germany is going to own Britain
in a few weeks
The sinking of the three U-boats
and the capture of Kretschmer was
a triumph of triumphs to the sailors
of the destroyer and they under
standably felt proud of having COM
pleted a good job when the warship
reached port and the prisoners were
dlSembarked. One OF the NaziS
wounded in the brief sea battle, was
carried ashore by two British tars.
The pride of the destroyer crew
was in no way leSSened when Prime
Minister Churchill announced to the
world the destruction of three Ger
man submarines in a single day
with the comment: mot since Oc-
tober 13, 1899, have I been cheered
by such delectable tidings of triple
event"
Both Damery and Hunston plan
to return to the sea soon.
Evening star., 1941-07-20
Labor Shortage Reduces
Crops in Pennsylvania
BY the Associated Press.

HARRISBURG, Pa. July 19.-De-
fense industries have taken so many
men from Pennsylvania farms that
it has been necessary to sharply re-
duce crops, State Secretary of Agri-
culture John H. Light said today.
Mr.. Light announced the findings
of a survey made by the Advisory
Agricultural Defense Council which
showed:
The labor shortage is reducing the
production of crops.
Farm wages have increased from
to l6 per cent.
Such crops as tomatoes and veg
etables may rot because labor is not
available to harvest them.
The skilled man is leaving the
farm for industrial work, induced by
higher wages.
Sixty-three per cent of the farms
reported they had difficulty keeping
sufficient labor to carry on their
operations. Three -fourths of the
farmers reporting said men left their
jobs for higher wages in industry,
IA per cent went into military SER
vice and per cent quit because the
working day was too long, Mr.. Light
said.
Evening star., 1941-07-20
Horse Theft Conviction,
20 Years Old, Cancelled
By the Associated Press.

CHICAGO, July 19.-The slate
was wiped clean today for Joseph
A. Zettel, 81, who became a respected
Chicago property-oWner and build
ing construction foreman in the 19
years he was a fugitive from the
North Dakota State penitentary.
Attorney Earl V. Gates said he
received a ruling today from Dis
trict Judge John c. Love of Minot.
N. D., erasing from the official
records the tWo-year sentence he inn
posed on Mr.. zettel 20 years ago for
the theft of two horses.
Mr.. Zettel, now construction fore
man at the Government powder
works at Wilmington, Ill, walked
away from the prison honor farm
, MAY 81. 1922.
Governor Dwight H. Green Of
Illinois denied last May request of
North Dakota authorities for Mr..
ZettelS eXtraditiOn.
Mr.. Zettel. who was arrested after
submitting to fingerprinting 10 OBJ
tain his job at the Government
| powder plant. contended he took the
horses by mistake, believing them TO
/ be his own.
Evening star., 1941-07-20
Northwest's Heat Wave
Nears End; Fires Rage
Rx the Associoled Press.

BY the Associated Press.
SEATTLE, July 19.-The low
pressure area which brought record
heat TO the Pacific Northwest the
past week moved inland tonight
leaving miles of -blaCkened
wheat and rangelands and scared
and smoking forests behind it.
Lower temperatures and increased
CloudineSs with probable recurrent
thlmdcrStormS in the mountains
were forecast for the North Coast
States and British Columbia. where
hundreds of forest fires blaZed
Fires i'll Washington alone were
estimated at more than 900, most
of them under control.
Reinforcements aggregating 20(
men were rushed today to the $500
acre Snoqualmie National Forest
fire, in the Rapid River section
northeast of Seattle. 1t was re-
ported standing STILL but 20 new
lightning-Set blazes were discovered
in that section.
Only picked men, experienced
woodmen, were chosen for the ar
duous 20-mile hike necessary to
reach these spreading blazes.
Evening star., 1941-07-20

about 20 tanks were destroyed. The
remnants retreated toward their ad
vance motor troops, which were now
approaching our town.
Germans Bombed Refugees.
"Time was won which permitted
dren to leave our town. They left
by two highways. Being wounded
joined them.
Then happened what I can never
forget and what must not be for
gotten by humanity. German bomb
ers cold -bloodedly shot down help
less refugees. I saw mothers carry
ing children with shattered heads.
l saw dead women in the dust of the
road with babies writhing beside
them.
Il now know for certain this was
no chance attack. II was a care
fully conceived method of war.
That's how the Germans fight. They
want 10 conquer a country by
paralyzing it with terror and drown
ing it in blood But they won't sue
ceed. Everything of value was car
ried away from our town. What
remained was burned b. us.
Believes Nazis Will Be Defeated.
The last two days the Germans
shelled the town. Before my eyes,
two girl teachers were blown to
pieces in the teachers room. 1 re-
manned unhurt but for an old wound.
which seemed really old by that
time. The Germans. entering our
town July II, found nothing but
flaming ruins. Everybody had left"
Despite his narrowing experience,
the old teacher firmly believes the
Germans will be defeated. You
see" he said, the Germans have
put everything they have in this
thrust. A war prisoner told me that
all Germany's resources are here at
the front. Only weak reserves and
almost unframed soldiers remain.
Hitler's S. S. men become more
scarce every day. The German
losses are so heavy, their front line
so stretched out that a crash of
the German offensive is inevitable y
Evening star., 1941-07-20
| 2O-Pound Vicuno
Surprise Baby
| At Plant Estate
BY the Associated Press.

WATERFORD, Conn, July 1e.-
A pair of Vicunas, part Of the Wild
animal collection at the estate OF
the late Phillip M. Plant, became
parents today. much TO the surpriss
Of Herschel Herster, estate superln-
tendent.
Mr.. Herster, an authority on fancy
poultry and on the breeding OF
animals, was surprised, first, be-
cause he never had heard of
Vicuna being born in the United
States, and, second. because he did
not know until a few hours before
the event that the new arrival was
expected.
The Vicunas, wild inhabitants of
the Andes but related to the dome5-
ticated Llama and Alpaca. were OBJ
tained from Peru by Mr.. Plant
two years ago.
The baby Vicuna, its weight esti-
mated at about 20 pounds. was
frisking around an hour and half
after birth and Mr.. Herster said,
apparently doing well.
Evening star., 1941-07-20

plying such war-vital metals as tin
and tungsten.
They have reported Nazi inf1u-
ences among newspapers, Nazi agi-
tation in labor circles and in the
National Congress in opposition to
the administration efforts to settle
an old Standard Oil concessions
dispute in order to clear the way for
United States loans.
Attempts to upset the Penaranda
government because of its stand for
cooperation with the United States
weeks ago led troops to patrol the
streets of La Paz nightly.
The La Paz radio, heard in
Buenos Aires, reported the govern
ment department of La Paz, seat of
the Bolivian Congress, issued de-
cree closing all business places half
an hour after midnight and pro-
hiblting residents from appearing on
the streets in groups larger than
threes.
The radio said the measures were
Intended to help enforce the ma ton
vice state Of siege proclaimed by
the President.