davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-02-19
House Votes 100000
For Coast Jap Probe
BY the Associated Press.

by the hSSOClaIeu FIesss
Warned of Japanese fifth
column menace, the House yester-
day made 100000 of a $22i ,209, 100
supply bill available Immediately
for a Justice Department investi-
CATION in California, Washington,
Oregon, Alaska and Hawaii.
The bill carrying funds for the
State, Justice and Commerce De-
partments and the judiciary for the
year starting July /, was then passed
unanimously and sent to the Senate.
An amendment by Representative
Carter, Republican, of California,
adopted unanimously, earmarked
the $500, 900 for the Japanese inves-
tigation. Representative Carter told
the House that the West Coast was
endangered by possible sabotage by
Japanese residents and persons OF
Japanese descent.
I'VE are going to run the Japanese
out of Hawaii or they're going to
run us out" declared Representative
Rankin, Democrat, of Mississippi
He added that the West Coast and
Hawaii were "teeming with spies
and fifth columnists."
Representative Costello, Democrat
Of California said that no sincere
effort had been made to remove
Japanese from California and
warned that "if we don't move in
advance of that sabotage, Pearl
Harbor will be insignificant to what
will hapen there"
Evening star., 1942-02-19
BY WILLIAM McGAFFIN,
Associated Press War Correspondent.

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, Feb. 10.
(Delaye6 British fighters shot
down one and possibly two tor
pedo bombers when Axis war
planes attacked a British Medi-
terranean cruiser squadron again
today after their bombs led to
destruction of two British
merchantmen and damaged a
third.
I watched the show from the
bridge OF a British destroyer on
which I was proceeding from
Gibraltar to Alexandria.
+ Two torpedo bombers tried to slip
in out of the sun for an attack-but
fighters which were, protecting us
saw them before they could come in
and gave chase. Warships saw. too,
and began firing furiously, stopping
only as the fighters closed in for
the kill.
Suddenly one of the torpedo
bombers glowed red in the sky and
few seconds later dropped into
the sea.
Another British fighter was hard
on the tail of the other bomber,
pumping bullets into it. The bomber
last was seen wobbling low over the
horizon.
The men OF the destroyer I was
aboard were yelling like they were
(eee NcdAFFIN, Page A-lD
Evening star., 1942-02-19
70 House Members
Testify for Repeal
OF Pension Plan
Romspeck AIiots Time
To Authors Of Bills;
Senote Rushes Action
By J. A. OIEARY.

A procession of House members
went before their Civil Service
Committee today to join in the
plea for repeal of retirement
benefits for elected officers, as
the Senate sought to pass this
afternoon a similar repeal meas
ure approved by the Senate COM
mittee last night.
Chairman Ramspeck gave the au-
thors of 20 separate repeal bills in
the House five minutes each this
morning to argue for immediate
action.
Members OF the House committee
reminded the advocates of repeal
that Congress is paying liberal
pensions - without contribution-to
judges, the military officers and GER
tain other groups.
Most of the repeal advocates
responded by arguing that Congress
should pass more liberal old-age
pension legislation for everybody
before applying the civil service
annuity system to its own members
General Plan Suggested.
While Representative Mundt. Re-
publican, of South Dakota, was urg-
ing Congress should not grant an
nuities to itself until it works out
a general horizontal pension for the
farmer, laborer and professional
man, Representative Coffee, Demo-
crat, of Washington, asked him if he
would withdraw the newspaper right
of free circulation within the county
in which a paper originates.
Mr.. Mundt said he would not, be-
cause the newspapers are distribut-
ing tons of important information
for the Government about the war
savings stamp and bond buying cam
paign.
Representative Randolph. Demo-
crat, of West Virginia said the peo-
pie were slapped in the face with
this" without knowing about the
retirement pay we have been voting
(See PENSIONS, Page A-6J
Evening star., 1942-02-19
Survey Shows Little Surplus
Man Power in u. S. Agencies
At Least IS Per Cent of Workers Now
EMPLOYED in Jobs CIussed as Defense

Approximately rs per cent of
the Federal establishment here
or even more-must be elm
mated from consideration in
President Roosevelt's plan to
shift personnel from monde
fense to defense work, and other
wise effect savings" In man
power for the benefit of the war
program, a survey today indi-
Gated.
The Presidents plan. outlined in
the order calling for a check-up by
the departments and independent
establishments, contemplated that
any surplus" personnel created by
the lengthening of the work week
from 80 to A hours, and any other
personnel which could be diverted
from non-defense functions. be as
Evening star., 1942-02-19
japanese Increasing
Pressure on Flank Of
MacAhhur's Forces
Flame Throwers Found
Among Material Seized
By American Soldiers

A War Department COM
munique today reported increas-
ing enemy pressure on Gen.
Douglas MacArthur's lines on the
Bataan Peninsula, with the at
tack centering chiefly on his
right flank, which is anchored
near Pillar on Manila Bay.
Gen. Masaharu Homma was re-
grouping his already reinforced
army, the communique stated, pre-
liminary to a resumption of the
offensive"
Meanwhile, several flame throwers
were found among Japanese materiel
captured by Gen. MacArthur's forces
in a local action. Three pieces Of
artillery and ordnance and signal
supplies also were taken.
japanese batteries on the Cavite
shore continued to rake the Manila
harbor defenses with heavy she'll
fire, although accomplishing little
damage. Fort Frank, one Of the
four supporting American fortresses,
was the particular target singled out
for the heaviest fire.
The preparations behind the jap
anese lines, where fresh men and
new weapons are being brought up
ready for renewal of the assault,
indicate that Gen. Homma is taking
M rrapn q fYIre chonceS
Today's communique disclosed no
air activity.
From Gen. MacArthur's report it
was apparent that the Japanese
have not yet launched the long
expected offensive in anticipation Of
driving the defenders to take refuge
on Corregidor Island. Increased con-
centration of artillery fire on the
front lines and bay fortresses is in
tended to pave the way for this
attack.
Reinforcements landed recently at
Olongapo, north of Bataan on Subic
Bay, have now had time to join Gen.
Homma's troops in rear of his front
lines. The Japanese commander
has had six divisions with which to
operate since this former offensive
was stalled by effective American
artillery fire. These Jap forces are
now greatly augmented, the fresh
troops having been released from
the fighting around Singapore.
Evening star., 1942-02-19
1872 japanese Ships Sunk
Or Damaged, Dutch Report
BY the Associated Press.

BY the ASsoclateo FIeSs.
BATAVIA, Netherlands Indies,
Feb. ia total of 1872 Japanese
ships had been sunk or damaged
by the United Nations forces up to
February IA, according to an au-
thoritative compilation published
today by Aneta, official Dutch news
agency.
Of the total, 109 were sunk. 28
probably sunk and As damaged. The
number did not include the heavy
losses known to have been inflicted
on the enemy in the invasion Of
Southern Sumatra, started last
Saturday.
American ships and planes were
credited with "a of the known sink
ings, Is of the probables and 2S Of
the damaged ships, and Indies
forces with "a sinkings, 6 probables
and II ships damaged.
The recapitulation follows:
Battleships-One sunk. one prob
ably sunk, two damaged.
Cruisers-7 sunk, probably sunk,
II damaged.
Destroyers-13 sunk, 8 probably
sunk, 2 damaged.
Aircraft carriers-One sunk, two
probably sunk, one damaged.
,Submarines-Six sunk, one prob
ably sunk, one damaged.
Transports-52 sunk, H. probably
sunk, % damaged.
Cargo vessels and auxiliaries-23
sunk, 4 probably sunk, 8 damaged.
Tankers-Seven sunk, two dam
aged.
Numerous minor vessels Of ali
types" were not included.
Evening star., 1942-02-19
100 Japanese Bombers> Fighters
Blast Port Darwin in Two Raids;
Fighting Rages Closer to Rangoon
Invaders Striving
To Hold Positions
On Bilin River

by the Associated Press.
RANGOON, Burma, Feb. 19.-
Heavy fighting ragged today along
the Bilin River. about so miles
east of Rangoon's railway link to
the Burma road supply line, as
japanese assault units struggled
for positions on the western
bank of the stream.
In the last 48 hours some parties
of these shock forces, running
a gantlet of fire and hand-t hand
shore fighting, reached several pre-
carious positions along the shoreline
which British Imperial Forces are
defending as the next to last natu-
raj barrier to vital railway.
Only the Sittang River would re-
main for a river-line defense of the
railway If the Bilin were lost.
Outcome Not Known.
Whether the first enemy footholds
had been wiped out in the counter
assault by hard-flghting Indian
gurkhaS was not yet known.
The Japanese were using captured
Thaton, a short distance east of
the Bilin estuary on the Gulf of
Martaban, as a concentration point
for troops thrown into the battle of
the Bilin River.
The enemy used every available
small boat for his crossings. What
proportion of the boats got through
was not learned, but many of them
were shattered in midstream by
artillery fire or were raked by
mach.ne-gunners.
Ashore, the invaders were SUBJ
jected to harassing fire.
1t was entirely possible that the
Bilin could not be held against
Japan's superior reservoir of man
power. In this event, the British
imperials would have to fall back
to the west bank of the Sittang, q
more formidable barrier, but peril
ously close GO miles to the Ran
goon railway feeder to the Burma
supply road to China. The Sittang
is 80 miles west of the Bilin, which
it roughly parallels as 1t also does
the Salween, previously crossed by
the Japanese in their drive around
the Gulf of Martaban.
Evening star., 1942-02-19

tions to mass all possible strength
to meet the expected invasion OF
Java.
Coinciding with the announce
ment Of reinforcements, Batavia
had two air raid alarms today. but
there was no attack. Some observers
said the enemy planes merely few
over the city.
There were wide expressions OF
confidence that the United States
and Australia would supply addi-
tional troops as quickly as possible
Aneta said that American ground
troops as we'll as bomber and fighter
pilots, which already have aided in
(See INDIES, Page A-6D
Evening star., 1942-02-19
AustroIions Will Draft
Enemy Aliens for Labor

MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb
10 (P.-Some young and middle
aged enemy aliens will be drafted
for labor squad work in civil COM
munities of the commonwealth un-
der a decision of the federal war
cabinet.
The cabinet voted last night to
call up those subjects of the Axis
powers who have not been interned.
Labor duties will be assigned to fit
men who are not in occupations
of national value. None of the
enemy aliens is to be used in Aus
tralian defense forces.
Evening star., 1942-02-19

signed to defense activities, in an
effort to slow-up the tremendous
expansion of the civilian force
which has been in progress here for
the last 20 months.
On the basis of compilation COW
ering establishments employing
about 148,300 persons, it was indi-
Gated today that little could be ex-
pected from this quarter. This total
is about rs per cent of the employ
ment here on November 80, the last
date for which official figures are
available from the Civil Service
Commission.
That means, therefore, that the
prospective savings" would have to
come from the remaining Is per
cent, and in this, Of course, are in
cluded administrative officers and
(Cee pFpSNNNET. pace A-6l
Evening star., 1942-02-19
2U. S. Writers in Seo-Ar Fight,
Each Unaware of the Other
McGoffin Witnesses Nozi Attack on Vessel
From Which Grover Later Is Rescued

(T0o Associated Press correspondents starting from dit
terert points too British ships had the odd experience of
being the midst of the latest big sea-air battle in the
Mediterranean each una0are OF the others presence
William McGa61n 31-year-old Nebraskan, eastward
bound from Gibraltar British destroyer suddenly found
his Uesse racing to aid attacked by Ar DdrpaneS
He British merchant ship set are and abandoned
By her but not until he reached Alexandria did he koo
that Preston Grouer H. born associated Press
respondent OF the surpiuor Their stories OF the
battle announced yesterday by the Admiralty in London,
appear beIoDJ
Evening star., 1942-02-19


The combined expeditionary
forces, known previously also to in
clude Australians, it was said au-
thoritatively, are by no means
large enough yet" but their ar
rival serves as an indication that
the. Netherlands Indies do not fight
alone"
While Dutch forces fought stub
born delaying actions in Southern
Sumatra, Southern Borneo and
Southern Celebes-the stepping
stones to the Java citadel OF the
United Nations-Aneta, official
Dutch news agency, was permitted
to disclose the arrival Of the United
Nations forces.
The battles ON the approaches to
Java are helping the United Ma
Evening star., 1942-02-19
London Doubts Defense
Line Cun Be Held

LONDON, Feb. 10 (P.-Some Hrit-
ish observers. openly pessimistic
that the weak defense line of the
Bilin River in Burma could be held,
predicted today that imperial forces
would be forced to fall back again,
this time perhaps to the Sittang
River.
While the Sittang appears to be
a more formidable barrier to the
Japanese, who have put vanguards
across the Bilin in small boats al
ready, 1t is only 20 miles from the
railroad by which Rangoon feeds
(See BURMA, Page AID
Evening star., 1942-02-19
War JobIess Benefit
Program Is Tabled
By House Committee
Any Future Action
On Measure Advocated
By President in Doubt

The House Ways and Means
Committee voted today to table
the administrations $500, 600, 900
program of unemployment bene-
fits to workers temporarily
thrown out of jobs while factories
are converted to wartime pro-
duction.
Chairman Doughton said the COM
mittee action seems to mean that
If there is going to be any kind Of
a bill somebody will have to start
all over again"
Mr.. Doughton declined to dis
close how the members voted but
it was reported authoritatively that
the vote was 16 to 8.
The Ways and Means Commit
tee will not initiate any move in this
matter" Mr.. Doughton said. IF
the administration, on the other
hand should ask the committee for
any action on the matter, Of course
it would be undertaken"
Action Doubted.
Mr.. Doughton said that he doubt
ed the administration would make
any further effort to amend the So
cial Security Act, since the Ways
and Means Committee, having jur.
isdiction of that kind Of legislation,
already had declared itself so
strongly on the matter.
IF anything else is attempted, 1t
will probably go to some other COM
mittee," he said. This would be
true If the administration decided
to ask lump sum appropriation
for grants to any hard-pressed
State. The Appropriations Com
mittee would handle that.
The responsibility for taking care
of these people now lies on the
Governors and the States" said Mr.
Doughton. IF later they find they
cannot handle the job it will be up
to them to call on the Federal Gov
ernment."
Provisions Of Bill.
The bill would have provided for
Federal unemployment benefits to
supplement State payments up to
100 per cent of normal State bene-
fits for a period of Is weeks. State
Governors have contended that ad-
ministrative provisions of the pro-
posal would constitute an invasion
of States rights, and would lead to
liberalization" of State unemploy-
ment compensation programs.
President Roosevelt strongly ad-
vocated the unemployment compen-
sation plan and insisted on its adop-
tion even after congressional lead
ers told him there was little chance
of its adoption.
Evening star., 1942-02-19
Summary Of Todoy's Star

$50 more aliens seized on West
Coast. Page B-8
Washington and Vicinity.
Navy lists 16 from D. c. among Jap
prisoners. Page Al
Woolard named Fire Department
deputy chief. Page A-10
Proposed use of Mall for auto park
ing draws Ickes' ire. Page Ais
Three dairies join milk increase op-
position. Page B-1
Public schools and teachers to aid in
sugar registration. Page B-1
Emergency fund asked for D. c. rec
reation program. Page B-1
De Hart and Murphy ordered to pay.
D. c. income taxes. Page B-1
Completion as school assured
Kramer by w. P.B. Page b.
Miscellany
Births and Deaths. Page b.
Marriage Licenses. Page B-2
After Dark. Page Bile
Natures Children. Page B-14
Evening star., 1942-02-19
z Islands Seized South
Of Singapore, Jops Soy

BY the Associated Press.
TOXIC From japanese Broad
casts, Feb. ia Domei dispatch
from an ''undisclosed base" reported
today that, after completing the
occupation of Singapore, japanese
troops yesterday effected bloodless
capture of Batam and Samboe
Islands to the south, in the Dutch
owned RHO archipelago.
Evening star., 1942-02-19
Wealthy Jap Sent to Prison

SACRAMENTO, Calf, Feb. 10
R.-Henry S. Murimoto, wealthy
alien Japanese, was sentenced to
San Quentin Prison yesterday for
an indeterminate period and fined
$500 after pleading guilty to possess
ing firearms.
Evening star., 1942-02-19
Foreign.

Tofei9n.
U. S. bombers drive U-boats from
Aruba coast. Page AS
British Army to use air-borne troops;
units are ready. Page AS
Chinese will drive into Thailand
soon, Chungking says. Page A-1o
British railways to take over Cooks,
famous travel agency. Page Ala
Boost in Brazilian rubber output
seen long, tedious job. Page B-S
National.
Stimson warns of possibility of sub
attacks on coast. Page Az
Bills to raise soldiers pay pushed In
Congress. Page A
Steel case test confronts war labor
board. Page Al
Retread tire rationing becomes ef-
fective. Page A
Ickes plans for gas rationins. which
may b necessary. Page A.
Evening star., 1942-02-19
Ex-Deon at N. Y. u. Dies

NEW YORK, Feb. 10 tP.-Dr
Thomas M. Ballet, 80, dean of New
York University's School of Educa-
ton from 1904 to 1919, died yestsr-
day.
Evening star., 1942-02-19
lava Welcomes Allied Forces,
'ByNo Means LorgeEnoughYet'
Dutch Fighting Stubborn Delaying Actions
In Sumotro, Borneo and CeIebes Areas


BATAVIA Netherlands Indies Feb 19Expeditionary forces
of the United Nations including relatively small number Of
ground troops and bomber and fighter pilots
from the United Satehave arrived defend
island stronghold against the inevitable assault
todou
Evening star., 1942-02-19

(See PRISONERS, Page A-30
Evening star., 1942-02-19
Readers Prefer The Star

The Stars afternoon and evening
circulation is more than double that
Of any other Washington newspaper.
Its total circulation In Washington
far exceeds that of any of its contem-
poraries in the morning or on Sunday.
Evening star., 1942-02-19

Late news and sports are covered on
Pages LEX and 2-X Of this edition Of
The Star, suppiementing the news Of
the regular home delivered edition.
Evening star., 1942-02-19

(See GROVER, paeo A.14.)
The Nome nugget., 1942-06-22
Rents and Prices

Freezing of rents in Alaska as of last March, accord ing to the announcement by Price Administrator Leon Henderson recalls that only recently retailers whole saerS and manufacturers of all essential products In the States ordered to freeze their selling prices at March levels by the Office of Price Administration
 The freezing of prices is under the Emergency Price Control Act of 1942 and is designed n connection with rationing, to families in the low and middle in come brackets of equal opportunity for those greater Incomes to buy available goods.
 Under the order, wholesalers and manufacturers in the States must hold prices to highs of March and week later retail stores were required to do the same thing
 Price Administrator Henderson stresses that the price controls are strictly time measure to be abandoned as soon possible after peace comes The
 battle lines drawn for the fight against nation he says and tells retailers wholesalers and manufac- turerS that they in the forefront of the fight.
 MT. Henderson points out that of the regulation hastily drafted order but that Office of Price Ad- mniStration has been working on prices and rentals since early in January
 Mir. Henderson warns people not to harbor petty suspicious and to make unfounded complaints against merchants real owners If efforts made to dodge the regulations steps will be taken to enforce com piance although threat is made in the announce ment which appeals to the people to accept the regula tlons war measures just they accepted the Seec- tive Service Act. Fairbanks NeWsMner.
The Nome nugget., 1942-06-22
No Effective RevoIts Likely

Returning correspondents after being confined in Germany and Italy, are releasing interesting stories about conditions in these two countries The fact that these experienced observers are unmuzzled and can now write they please should not obscure the fact that they have had relatively meager opportunities to survey conditions in the countries where they have been kept under guard since the war began.
 Reynolds Packard, well known correspondent after three years in Italy with five weary months of intern ment reported in dispatches that the people of Italy are firmly under Adolf Hitler's thumb and fear the bogey of Russian communism but concludes that
 most of them ready to rally to the United Nations on the day American and British troops land on Italian soil"
 This is very interesting but it should not lead anyone to believe that all we have do to capture Italy is to land few troops Obviously if the situation described actually exists, the British would have landed troops in Italy many months ago.
 It IS rather difficult to foreSee effective uprisngs on the part of the peoples of Europe Even if one grants the doubtful assertion that they for us" the ob- staces to successful revolt under modern military con- ditions seem to be well nigh insuperable
 The peoples of the Axis nations and the conQuered countries Tn Europe may rise Up in time against their present masters but there is no reason to expect this to happen until the military strength of Germany has been broken by force of So long as the German Army retains it's fighting strength and maintains it's coherent organization the prospect of successful revolt seems to be slim Fairbanks News-Miner
The Nome nugget., 1942-06-22
It's War

We can't buy new automobiles We shall have to use the old aopes year after year instead of turning them in every spring for models
 We can't buy tires. We shall have to walk tC stores and bridge parties or else use buses.
 Gasoline is rationed - or will be - 10 dealers. We must either spread our share through the month or lay up the car the latter part of each month
 Stores and aundres are various agencies are saving tires and gasoline Our demands for instantaneous SCI vice coldly rejected We have to plan and take advantage of regular pck-ups and deliveries.
 Refrgerators and stoves and radios and washing ma- chimes are not being manufactured any longer Dealers running out of patterns in linoleum We can't get aluminium percolators or other cooking dishes Sugar is short. TXpeWrters aren't on sale. We can't have cuffs on our trousers.
 It's terrbIe-or is It2-Ketchikan Chronicle
The Nome nugget., 1942-06-22
CurtaiI Aches And Pains

The war has done funny things to the economic life of the nation Therefore, it is not surprise to learn that the medical profession urges the public to cural aches and pains for the duration of the emergency
 With more than 10000 physicians already in Army uniforms and another six thousand required in 1942 there will not be sufficient physicians to take of increasing civilian practice.
 Of course as most everybody knows there is little or nothing the matter with many "sck people, The doctors as expressed at the recent meeting of Med ical Society in Fort Wayne Ind think that the needs of the public can be met if individuals will pay closer attention to matters of health by adopting good diet and getting plenty of rest.
 Naturally all excesses whether of over-eating over working, over-drinkng over-exercising are to be avoided-Fairbanks NeWs-Mner.