davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27
INQUEST IS PLANNED.
Wilmingtonian Dies When
Struck by Vehicle Oper-
ated by Minor Potter

Benny F. Pearce, IS, of 10 North
Ninth street, was killed instantly
when struck by a truck and trailer
about II o'clock Saturday night
On U. S. highway II, about a mile
south of Hampstead, state highway
patrolmen reported here yester-
day.
Pearce was struck by a truck
and trailer operated by Minor Rex
Potter, 20, of Lowland, and owned
by Otis Whitfield, of New Bern,
officers said.
Inquest Called
John Garrison, of Hampstead,
acting Fender county coroner, Of
ficers said, has called an inquest
into the death for 7:30 o'clock
tonight at the Fender county court
house in Burgaw.
Potter told investigating officers
he was travelling about Is miles
an hour and proceeding in a south
wardly direction from Hampstead
to Wilmington when the accident
occurred.
Potter told officers he did not
see Pearce, who walked from the
side of the highway directly into
the path of his machine, until it
was too late.
Officers reported Potter blew
his horn and slammed on the
brakes in an effort to avoid hitting
Pearce, stopped his machine i'm
mediately after the accident, and
waited until state highway patrol
men arrived on the scene to in
vestigate.
Officers said Pearce apparently
walked from the south to the north
Continued OH Page Two; Col. ~
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27
Near Agordat;
Fighting
Derna
English Take 100 Prisoners
in Thrust Toward the
Railroad Center
ARE MOVING RAPIDLY
New British Pressure in
| Metemma Section of ETH.
opia Also Reported

CAIRO, Egypt, Jan. 90 Up -
British soldiers pushing deeper in
to Italian Eritrea are within 10
miles of the rail center of Agordat
while, far to the north, British
forces are fighting the Italians at
Derna, Libya, it was reported to-
night.
Military sources here said the
British captured 100 prisoners in
the latest thrust toward Agordat,
making 700 prisoners reported TAX
en- in the ten-day campaign which
has e the Italians fall back over
100 miles in front of the British.
Agordat itself has little strategic
Importance but, as one of the chief
cities of Italy's oldest colony, it's
fall would have considerable effect
on the natives of Eritrea and Ethio-
pia who are growing holder every
mile the British advance.
Moving Rapidly
The British were said to be NOV.
ing rapidly. Military sources de-
clared that with the Italians still
retreating there were no obstacles
to taking Agordat.
The British high command Off
cially reported its forces have cap
tured and pushed beyond Biscia,
20 miles east of Agordat. Its COM
munique briefly said a further
100 prisoners" were taken in the
East African offensive, waged I'm
der intensive support" from the
Raj.
Reports from Kenya colony said
South African forces were taking
the offensive against Italian Som
Continued on Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27
Elk KAISER NOTES
BIRTHDAY TODAY
Man Who Fled to Doom
After Abdicating y Years
Ago Will Be 81

DOORN, The Netherlands, Jan.
26. II, World war EN-.
peror of Germany, will observe
his 82nd birthday tomorrow with
out a thought of leaving this haven
to which he fled after %abdicating
more than % years ago.
"Old trees cannot be transplant
ed" the white-bearded ex-monarch
is fond of saying.
His intimates say that if any,
thing is certain in these uncertain
times it is that the former emperor
has no thought of quitting Doom.
Every nook and corner of h i S
Doom estate, of the village and
its surroundings, are familiar to
him and he is serenely content to
remain where he is.
He is hale and hearty and he
takes deep interest in the war al
though it has. affected him directly
but little.
A huge map of Europe and Afri-
ca is spread on the table in his
smoking room and during the war
of movement last May and June
he stuck little flags in the map
each day to indicate progress OF
the fighting. He resumed this &C
tivity recently with the fighting in
Greece, Albania and Africa.
He followed the Polish and west
ern campaigns closely and lost no
opportunity, when some soldier or
officer from the front happened
through Doom, to question him
closely about the actions.
Wilhelm's interest in naval af-
fairs, always a pet subject with
him, continues fully. His tabula-
ton of vessels of all nations tor
pedoed or bomb-attacked during
the present war is probably as
complete as that of any private
citizen anywhere.
From the very beginning of the
conflict in 1889 he personally en-
tered on a carefully prepared list
every man-of-war, passenger ship,
freighter, transport vessel and
even tug boats, officially reported
damaged or sunk. Every week an
adjutant prepares a resume for
him.
Routine life at Doom has been
affected only slightly by the war
The sole visible change is the pres
ence of German, instead of Dutch,
Continued on Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27
SENATE LEADERS TO CALL FOR ACTION
ON SHIPBUILDING MEASURES THIS WEEK

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26-R
Leaders will launch the SEN
ate on "ship week" tomorrow
by calling for speedy action on
bills authorizing more than
i, 1850, OOO, 900 for vessels Of all
types, their armament, and
personnel to man them.
These measures, already ap-
proved by the house, are sched-
uled for senate action before
the week ends:
1. Authorization of $909, O0O,-
900 for 400 small navy fighting
ships, yards to build them, and
armor plate and ordnance for
them.
2. Authorization of $500, 00O,-
900 to equip So of the navy''s
fighting ships with stronger
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27
british REGIME
CHANGES SOUGHT
Faction Applies
New Pressure to Churchill
For Drastic Revision

LONDON, Jan. 26.-CP-An i'm
|p0rtant faction in British politics has
|put fresh pressure on Prime Minister
Churchill for drastic revision of the
government, setting up an all-power-
|ful fiVe-man war cabinet including
David Lloyd George, Britain's World
|War premier.
One member of this faction within
1.-THE conservative party said it was
to get Churchill to form such
IA cabinet of Lloyd George; Anthony
Eden, foreign secretary; Lord Beav-
.erbrook, minister for aircraft pro-
%duction; and Ernest Bevin, minister
Of labor and national service.
The present wal cabinet is COM
posed of eight members, five of them
heads of departments.
An informant speaking for pro-
ponents Of the scaled down cabinet
said all five ministers should be
without portfolio, freed of depart
mental responsibility and political
Worry, and concerned only with win
ming the war.
This faction contends that
churchill is handicapped by having
Nc one in his cabinet who can talk
with him and advise him as an equal,
ana says the ministers now are all
departments heads under him.
Churchill has refused steadfastly
" make such a change. He declared
u 'fe house Of commons Wednesday
mat he considered the present plan
VeIlef than the five-man proposal.
lie said he had experience "at
uOSe quarters with the small cabi-
net IN the last war and although
some might say it was the system
mat carried US to victory, it is not as
S'Vu IN practice as in theory"
another member Of the faction pro.
pvSing the change said Churchill
w" empnasized the Importance of
Continued on Page E;pbt. co1 2,
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27
defenses gaainst bombing

defenses gaainst bombing
planes.
3. Appropriation of $315, 000.-
900 for emergency construction
of 200 cargo ships.
4. An increase of 651 in mid
shipmen at the naval academy
at Annapolis, Md, to provide
additional officers for the
''twO-0cean" navy.
Senate leaders hope to dupli-
cate, the house record of pass
ing all four measures in a
week.
Chairman Walsh D-Mass.)
of the naval affairs committee
asked top-ranking admirals to
come up Monday and explain
the navy measures.
The $500, 000, COO would be
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27

spent to provide light armor
covering for exposed positions
on battleships, aircraft carriers
and cruisers, and to supply
them with modern anti-aircraft
guns. Naval officers said ex-
perience with dive-bombers and
other aircraft in the present
war had demonstrated need of
the additional protection.
The $909, 600, 900 authorization
would include $500, 600, 900 for
hulls and machinery for 400
submarine chasers, torpedo
boats, mine sweepers, and
similar craft.
Naval experts said this addi-
ton to the "Mosquito Fleet"
also was a development of the
present modern war at sea
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27
BRITISH VESSELS
SUNK BY GERMANS
Two Sent to Bottom as Re.
suit Of Widely Separated
Attacks by Bombers

BERLIN, Jan. 26-R-Two Brit
ish merchantmen, each of about
1000 tons, we're claimed today as
victims of Nazi air attack in wide
ly separated raids on British ship
ping.
In one attack, a German re-
connaissance plane a said to
have passed over Harwich, on the
English East coast, just as a con-
voy was leaving the harbor.
Four medium bombs were
claimed to have scored direct hits
On n steamer, the last causing
a larger fire, and the vessel was
listed as apparently destroyed.
In another foray, about 300 miles
West of Ireland, the high COM
mand said a long distance bomber
Continued on Page Eight: Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27
Many Official
Records Lost:
Base Is Cut Off from Out
side by Wire and Radio
For About 5 Hours
ORIGIN UNDETERMINED
Section Destroyed Includes
Auditorium and Office of
The Paymaster

NORFOLK. Va, Jan. rs. Up -
Fire today did an estimated s275, O0(
damage to the Norfolk naval operat
ing base administration and com
m%unications offices and DESTROYED q
quantity of official documents and
records at this center for 10, 900 serv.
ice men.
A board of investigation was
formed Immediately for an inquiry
The estimate of the damage was
made by Captain H. G. Mcclure
commandant of the naval training
station.
The base was cut off from the
outside by wire and radio for five
hours. Origin of the blaze, which
started in the radio room, was not
at first determined.
Near Cruiser
The building was about a half
mile from piers Where were tied up
the cruiser Quincy, a number of
destroyers, supply ships and tugs.
New hangers for the naval air sta
ton were being built nearby but
no other buildings were threatened.
The section burned included the
auditorium and paymaster's office.
Money in a vault in the basement
was believed undamaged.
Several holes were burned in the
roof and water did some damage in
the west wing of the building which
Continued on Page Two; Col. g.
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27

and that the 400 vessels should
be completed within a year.
Another $3l5, 600, 600 of this
big bill would go for expanding
ship building facilities, both
governmental and private,
while $194, coo, 900 would be ear
marked for production of ar
morplate, ordnance and NUM-
tions.
The senate appropriation
committee will hold hearings
on the request for $315, 600, 900
for cargo ships, asked by the
Maritime commission.
The naval academy increase
already has been approved by
the naval affairs committee,
and senate may act on it to-
morrow.
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27
REPORTS OF RIOTS
in ITALY DENIED
Rome Says Stories of Dis.
orders in Milan, Turin
Without Foundation

ROME, Jan. 26.-R-Authorita
tive Italians today tagged foreign
reports of disorders in Milan, Turin
and smaller northern Italy cities as
"a. ridiculous invention without the
slightest basis"
(CBS Correspondent Winston Bur-
dett cabled from Belgrade, Yugo-
slavia, reports attributed to diplo-
matte sources that German soldiers
killed three italian generals in
street fighting in Milan and that
hundreds of persons were wounded
in the disorders Saturday. .
On the African front, the high
command acknowledged in a special
war bulletin that British soldiers
were steadily hammering the Ital-
ians west of Tobruk, latest Libyan
city to fall to the British.
(The brief bulletin gave no indica-
ton how far the British have gone
toward Derna, 95 miles west of To-
bruk, but British reports said ad-
vanced motorized units had reached
Derna.)
Italian planes successfully at
tackled the British and Greeks IN
Africa, Albania and Greece itself,
the high command reported in its
regular communique. 1t said ten
Montinued ON Page Two: Col. y
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27
Benny F. Pearce Killed
ByTruck On F1ighway1 II
II Negro Soldiers Are
Burned in Explosion

OSWEGO, N. Y, Jan. &C.
R-Fourteen negro soldiers of
Harlem's 369th anti-aircraft
regiment we're burned or in
jured tonight when FIRE swept
the supply wing Of the admin
istration building at Fort On
tario.
Exploding ammunition en-
dangered soldiers fighting the
fire while an east wind kept the
flames away from the new
$500, 900 65-building cantonment
completed at the Fort last
week.
Col. Chauncey Hooper, COM
mander of the 369th, said that
the fire followed a boiler TX
plosion in the wing at $3.50
o'clock tongiht.
The blaze was brought under
control two hours later.
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27
"afy Machine Guns, Auto
matte Rifles and Other
Arms Abandoned

,aANs, Jan. &c. Up Greek
,o. aps smashed in hand-to-hand
st.a| a violent Italian counter.
n..~ launched at dawn today by
S! s5nasfsrried troops of premier
AIbsnia new generalissimo in
Of bis to Strengthen the morale
hight. ~ II was reported to-
H. Dispatches from the front said
caiy wrecks ass We're pushing method.
EIjs,, onward into Albania north If
SIM. Fresh Troops
assaut Of the troops used in the
laupebsaao ne of the strongest vet
Var bsssn BY the Italians since the
~hsvs ss t'1 almost three months ago
fsd acr ,us' arrived from Italy, fer.
plane. Tie Adriatic sea by
ION 'S was learned, dispatches said,
The. belnnmNefs who told Greeks
eeu TO a battalion which
~~@''i'Hsa on PAGE Two; Col. S,
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27
Peace Settles
Over Rumania
AS Rebels Pay
High-Ranking Iron Guard
Leaders Reported to Have
Committed Suicide
SIMA FACING TRIAL
Political Circles Think An
tonescu Will Be Able to
Maintain Order

BUCHAREST, Rumania. Jan. 26
-R-Peace once again settled
over Rumania today and leaders
of the Instruction began to pay
some with their lives-the price o:
a rebellion that failed.
Some ~high-ranking Iron Guarc
leaders were said to have com
mitted suicide.
They were followers of van
quished Vice Premier Horia Sima
to whom the dictate had come
from victorious Premier General
Ion Antonescu:
"Punish Yourself"
"You rebels! If you are true
Iron Guardists punish yourself with
true legionary punishment or 9TH
you may be sure that I
shall apply mass punishment my
Sima was reported facing. court
martial after being arrested in a
sleeping car in flight.
There was no definite estimate
If what a week of rebellion had
cost in dead and wounded in this
capital or Rumania's provinces.
Political circles expressed belief
hat Antonescu would succeed now
keeping order and in preventing
errorist groups of the Iron Guard
rom ever reorgaizing again.
The Rumanian army, it was
pointed out, has seized all archives
# the movement and, therefore, is
n possession of it's lists of men,
oers, records of their activities and
,ther information necessary for a
complete cleanup.
Wins Older Leaders
Also, it was recalled, while for
ner King Carol turned the entire
Guard against him with his 1889
Continued OH Page Eight; Col. s.
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27
Two Men, Woman Burn
To Death In Truck Crash
Tanker and Tractor Truck
Collide Head-on Three
Miles East of Monroe

MONROE, Jan. 26.-CP-A gaso.
line tank truck and a tractor truck
collided head-on three miles east OF
here on highway Nc. "a this after.
noon and the wreckage made a fu-
neral pyre for both drivers and a
girl passenger in the tractor truck.
The dead were j. E. Clement Of
Charlotte, driver Of the tank truck;
William Foster Griffin, 20, Of
Marshville, driver of the tractor
truck, and Miss Sarah Haney. Of
Marshville. Both the trucks were
burned to a charred mass when the
gasoline tank exploded.
The tanker, Highway Patrolman
P. E. Green said, was owned by the
Petroleum Carriers corporation of
Jacksonville, Fla, and the tractor
truck by R. P. Stegall of Marshville.
The accident occurred about 3 p. m.
A passerby saw the wreck and
telephoned Monroe for a fire truck.
When firemen arrived both trucks
IContiuuad nm paue Tvuoa CD. n 4
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27
War

BY EDWARD E. M

The plea of Lord Halifax fol
quick help from the United States
to keep open Britain's vital supply
lines reinforces a suspicion that
the prospective spring war crisis
may be as grave at sea as the
peril from a Nazi grand slam ln-
vasion.
The new ambassador said IN
general terms that "Hitler is max
ing a desperate effort to intensity
the sea blockade with submarines
and bombers and added that I'D
is vital" Almost simultaneously
came the acknowledgment of Rom
aid Cross, the shipping minister,
that 1--WE are in serious danger"
Alarming Situation
This and other hammering of
British leaders or shipping losses
has had the effect, intended or
otherwise, of supporting reports on
this side of the Atlantic that the
situation is even more alarming
Continued on Page Eight; Col. A.
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27
|LULL in LONDON
RAIDS CONTINUES
Many Believe Hitler May
Be Preparing to Make
Grand Slam Attack

LONDON, Jan. 26.-tR-Free
from German raiders for six
nights, London went into the sew
enth tonight with the feeling COM
monty expressed that Hitler is
up to no good" possibly a grand
slam attack.
There was virtually no aerial
activity W. Britain during day
light. A single Nazi plane dropped
a bomb on the Northeast coast
without causing damage or casual
ties. The crew of the trawler Gal
vani shot down a Junkers-88 when
the plane attacked it in the North
Sea off the Norfolk coast.
The admiralty communique, re-
lating this latter occurrence, said
Continued on Page Two; Col. ~
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27
Italian Commentaries
Against Greeks Repulsed
WEATHER
FORECAST

FORECAST
North Carolina: Occasional rain Mon
day, slightly colder in the mountains,
clearing and colder Monday night;
Tuesda~ increasing cloudiness, some
what colder on the coast.
(By o. S. Weather Bureau)
meteorological data for the "a hours
ending 1880 p. m. yesterday
Temperature
1:30 a. m. Al; 7:30 a. m. 80; 1:30 p. m.
40; 7:30 p. M. so; maximum 81; mini
mum 80; mean ~; normal 46.
Humidity
1:3O a. m. 80; 1870 a. m. SO; 80 p. m.
63; 7:3O p. m. 81.
Precipitation
Total for "a hours ending 1880 p. m.
600 inches. Total since first Of the
month 1.37 inches.
Tides For Today
(From Tide Tables published by U. S.
Coast and Geodetic Survey.)
High Low
Wilmington ---- Gaia. 4:25a
10 :O1p 4:54p
Masonboro Inlet --- 7:44a Liza
-. 7.:54p 1:51p
Sunrise 7:13a sunset 5 :37p; moonrise
Z :03a moonset 6:0Sp.
Cape Fear river stage at Fayette-
vile, Ills feet.
Continued on Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27
WENDELL WILLKIE
REACHES ENGLAND
Saws He Will Dc All He Can
To Give Great Britain
All Possible Aid

LONDON, Jan. 26.-R-Wendell
L. Willkie, showing the same exuber,
ance as when he campaigned for the
presidency last fall, arrived in Eng
land today Ito do all I can to unite
the United States and to give Eng
land all, the aid that is possible in
its struggle for free men all over the
world"
His spirits were so buoyant on the
flight from Lisbon, Portugal, that he
couldn't keep his seat. He paced up
and down in the plane and even
helped the navigators chart their
course.
Finally, he was so eager to see
England that he incautiously stood
CONTINUED on Page Two: Col. ~
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27
MELTON, LOCAL
MARINE, KILLED
One of Three Men Fatally
Injured In Auto Crash
At San Diego

SAN DIEGO, Cal, Jan. 26-tR
Three Marines we're killed in an
automobile collision today and
three of their companions were
rescued from their blazing auto
mobile by spectators who used a
canvass shield to protect them
selves from the flames.
The dead were identified as:
Woodrow Wilson Melton, 20, pri-
vate first class, Wilmington, N. c,
CONTINUED on PAGE Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-27

-eOlllnued on Page Eight; Col. -
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-18

could have kept a small income and his
life. but he preferred to die. Today he is gen
orally regarded as hero by all parties. There
is a tradition that the spectre of the mar
tyred Abbot appears from time to time and
points accusing finger at the Duke.
John Russell. the Bedford ancestor who
later received the monasteries, got his first
start in very romantic manner. Three
Spanish ships were driven TO seek shelter
in great storm at Weymouth an out-of the
way port of the west of England.
II then transpred that they were part Of
a convoy escorting Philip Archduke of Aus
tria, who had Just married Joanna daughter
of Ferdinand and Isabella, King and Queen of
CASTLE and Aragon, to Spain. and becoming
detached from the other ships they had been
compelled by the elements TO take shelter in
Weymouth. On board the largest of them were
the Duke and his bride. An soon as this infor-
nation became known Sir Thomas Trenchard
governor of Weymouth, was sent for. and on
his arrival at the harbor the Duke and his
suite were at once conducted to Sir Thomas's
house.
So far so good. but now a difficulty arose
Sir Thomas couldn't speak word of Spanish
neither could any Of his establishment. What
was he to do?
Why not send for your young cousin, John
Russel?" someone suggested.
John Russell lived close to Sir Thomas He
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-18

Still onward and upward. Next came the
royal gift of the still greater Woburn Abbey,
as already described. With the gifts of mon
astic property came Covent Garden which in
time developed into market that enabled the
Bedfords to collect a tax on all the high-cass
fruit flowers and vegetables sold in London.
The amount went rising year after year
and was practically a tax on the food of
London.
The late Duke excited some attention in
1913 when he prudently sold his rights in the
Covent Garden property to H. Malaby Deeley,
enterprising business speculator for
$12,OOOOO0.
When the Duke was in possession of Covent
Garden the London County Council tried to
compel him to render an accounting of his
receipts from the market and proposed to
start an opposition market so that the poor
of London could buy their fruit and vegetables
at a cheaper price. The Duke not only re-
fused to give any accounting, but even sue
ceeded in getting injunction against the
County Council restraining them from build
ing an opposition market within seven miles
of Covent Garden.
In the early morning nearly every street
converging on the market was blocked with
wagons, barrows and trucks bringing produce
from the country. Every one of these vehicles
had to pay toll to the Duke for standing
in the streets while waiting to be unloaded
and the consignees also had to pay an addi-
tional tax on every pound of the produce
But even before the World War the Duke
realized that a dangerous feeling arising
against all these juicy privileges and he sold
them out to a practical business man.
One of the many tragedies of this lustri-
Gus family the beheading of Lord Will
liam Russell, son of the Duke of his day in
the reign of King Charles H. He was an
unusually high-minded statesman in an age
remarkable for desperately dirty politics He
was accused of being concerned in the Rye
House plot supposed to have been planned to
kill Charles and his brother the Duke of York
The plot partial invention and Russelrs
connection with it complete invention.
In spite of his great family and the efforts
of his devoted and beautiful wife, Lady Rachel
he was condemned after a mockery of a trial
and beheaded
And now we are going to witness a new
phase in the history Of this famous old English
family.