davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23

aICSt Ildu SGlLcu Jllt llldlll Doll dll -
drome at Den Pasar and sWarmed
over the picturesque little island
mile from Java. but at the cost of
destruction or damage to all but
one vessel in their invasion fleet
Air attacks on their land forces con-
tinued.
On the western approach, Allied
dive bombers set a 10,000-ton ship
aflame in attacking a number of
enemy vessels in the Banka strait
off Sumatra, where enemy REIN
forcementS we're being concentrated
despite stubborn Dutch land re-
sistance on some sectors.
The enemy pincers were battered
but still jabbing steadily into the
Java defense flanks and Japanese
planes ranged over the island Mon
day, striking primarily at air bases
and the Soerabaja naval base in
the usual pre-invaSion tactics. Sew
eral enemy planes were destroyed.
HOPES BOLSTERED
The furious Allied air and sea
assault on the Japanese fleet off
Bali, starting last Thursday, boil
stored the hopes of strong stand
in defense of Java. Dispatches made
clear however that it would be a
mistake to regard these successes
in which at least a score of enemy
Warships and transports were blast
ed-as meaning there was any
chance in the grave threat to the
last United Nations base in the
Dutch East Indies.
For the moment tie enemy inva-
sion troops on Bali are without sea
support, but the japanese naval
and transport fleet probably would
not have wasted time in Bali waters
after landing troops. They would
have sought to escape from Allied
aerial bombardment as rapidly as
| possible to attempt to bring in re-
Inducements.
Thus the next test in defense Of
Java will come when and II the
enemy can send new naval forces
with more men and supplies to take
advantage of the foothOldS already
| secured in Bali and Sumatra. That
may depend on information not yet
disclosed as to exactly how many
japanese vessels were sunk and
how many too badly damaged for
use pending repairs.
On other fronts:
BURMA-Japanese offensive still
pounding against British lines in
front somewhere between Bilin river
and Sittang rivers, which is only
Is miles from Rangoon- -Mandalay
railroad feeding Burma road. Brit
ish have no information on Japa-
nese claim that railroad was sever
ed at Pegu.
PHILIPPINES - Fighting die ,
Continued on Page 6, Col. II
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
Ice Pick WieIder
PunCtures 4 Tires
In E. T.. Vandalism

This guy may not be the mean
'Gt man in town, but he's right in
he same class with morons who
pinch little babies to make them
ory
That's a direct quotation from F.!
Ccntro's Mayor Bob Hatton after
repairing four punctured tires on
he automobile of Carl Wander
ford. Owl club bartender SLldaE
afternoon.
All four tires had been stuck full
Of holes by somebody with an ice
pick, the side of the machine was
scraped deeply with the same ice
pick and the trunk door had been
6aved in with a heavy club or
other blunt instrument.
The vandalism was committed
late Saturday night while Wander
ford's car was parked in the rear
of the Owl. Vandcrford took il
philosophically.
unless the bird is a dangerous
sabotcur, you quote me as saylnA
hat if he doesn't like me- I'd like
% know why. Maybe l can con
vince him that I'm not such bad
fellow"
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
British
Cabinet
Shifted
Prime Minister
Faces Commons in
Policy Debate

LONDON. Feb. 23. (UP)
- Prime Minister Winston
Churchill prepared today to
face the house of commons
in a tWo-day war debate af-
ter his second cabinet reorganiza-
ton since the fall of Singapore,
and political quarters predicted that
he was sure Of full support for
his continued prosecution of the
war.
Five men had been dropped out
Of the cabinet in Churchill's second
reorganization, in a gesture to the
increasingly vocal critics who de-
handed the elimination of weak
'ings and men tarred with the brush
If appeaScment in the days of past
governments.
Arthur Greenwood, an outstanding
labor party leader, was dropped as
minister without portfolio, Capt. H.
D. R. MargeSson, long regarded as
A power behind the government
when he was chief conservative
whip, as war minister; Lieut.. Col.
J. T. C. Moore -Brabazon as aircraft
production minister; Lord Moyne as
colonial secretary and Lord Reith
as minister for works and buildings.
OTHERS APPOINTED
Sir James Grigg was named war
secretary, Col. j. j. Llewellin air
craft production minister, Lotd
Cranborne colonial minister, and
Lord Portal works and buildings
minister.
Hugh Dalton was transferred
from the ministry OF economic war
fare to the presidency of the board
cf trade to take the place of Level
lin, and Lord WOlmer was named TO
DalOnS former post.
In removing MargeSSon, Moore
Brabazon and Greenwood, Churchill
had icttisoned the three men most
criticised in the stormy recent weeks
Continued on Page 6, col -
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23

Gas using Ell Centrans shivered
in heatless homes Sunday after
noon f3d night. when an inSignifi-
cant-appearing little gadget at the
processing and storage plant Of
the Coast Counties Gas company
went hayWire.
The eadgot, it was learned Mon
day morning. is a valve-uko piece
of equipment that mixes the bu-
tame vapor with just the right
amount Of air as it is pumped up
from the carborating watts into the
storage tank.
When the valve suddenly stuck
at around noon Sunday, heating
stoves and pilot lights all ever
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23

tenders.
Radio Moscow reported that
soldiers on the southwestern or
Kharkoy front were observing Red
Army day by landing new blows
against the Germans and their
Italian allies
During the course of the past
"a hours the Soviets have liber-
atcd four communities" the radio
said During the past two days
they have annihilated 2,250 Fas-
cists and captured much war ma
terial"
On another sector of the south
western front, Soviet troops were
repot7ed restingt singing folk
songs and toasting Premier josef
Stain.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
GodgettGoes Haywire. City
Goes GdsIess on Weekend

The company Monday had called
in - additional workmen from its
branch plants in the r2rth to turn
on the meters as rapidly as posi-
BILE Reason for not reSuming SER
vice earlier, it was learned. was
that the gas mains were filled with
excess air, creating a possible eX-
plosion hazard.
The mains had to be "purged'
before the proper mixture could
again be delivered into the homes.
Vital business houses and insti-
tutilnS were receiving service with
in an hour after the trouble was
first discovered.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
Woman Injured in
Traffic Accident

Mrs. w A. Narcum was in coun-
ty hospital Monday suffering with
a broken jaw and numerous LAGER
ations sustained at 6;O5 a. m. in an
Ell Centre accident which had po-
iicC puzzled
officer Roy Gillctt. who investi-
gated, did not reveal Just how the
accident occurred, but reported
that Mrs. Marcum told him she
was alone in her husbands auto
mobile. Witnesses, however. told
Gillett that a man was in the car
at the time, and fled after the
crash, he said
Police had not learned the ad-
dress of the MaycumS, but were
searching for the husband of the
injured woman.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 23-CUPp

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 23-(UPD
Defective ammunition rendered
a u. S. convoy WarShip helpless
against japanese bombcrs which at
tackled it near Java Martin Agron
aky, National BrOadcr sting en-
pany CORE pondcnt, charged in a
broadcast from Sydney Saturday
night
AgronSky said the warship had
hardly been six hours on its way
when it picked up a Tokyo broad
cast accurately describing the
makeup of the convoy AMI its
destination"
Two hours later tho c0r-
respondent said "22 Jap bombors
appeared and bombed the CONVOY.
I asked him Ia u. S. naval lieuten-
anti if they had shot up any of
those JapS.
He answered 1t was pretty hard
TO hit the Japs with the ammuri
ton on board. I asked why. He
explained that the antiaircraft am
munition was 1889 and 1881 iSsuo:
that when it had been tested
year ago it was found to be only
30 per cent effective
EFFECTIVENESS IMPOSSIBLE
The lieutenant told me it was
impossible to range with this type
Of ammunition, as the bursts were
90 un-uniform to Clablc the gun
lers to work out fire pattern.
The lieutenant added that he
would have liked to have been able
20 tie to the forearm Of the war
5hip the gentleman responsible for
the U. S. warsNip being equipped
with this type of ammunition.
He had me promise to tell tEi
5tOry to YOU people at home.
IF we hope to stop the Japs
'hc United Statc5 will haTe to do
Better than this.
The men fighting III the Far
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
Japanese Work on
Colorado Lands

DENVER, Feb. % CUP, Some
Japanese aliens started to work
on Colorado farms today as re-
ports persisted that larger mum
bers would be interned for the
duration of the war at CCC camps
in the state.
Chief of Police R. f. Peel Of
Alamosa disclosed that 10 jan
anese alters and one naturallzed
Japanese went through yesterday
enroute to La Jarva where they
said they had been promised farm
work
He said their papers, bearin
permission from Los Angeles ''
;horities to go to La Jare, were
in order and he permitted them
to pass through AlamoSa after con-
tacting the federal bureau OF m
NrStiGaliOn
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
Dollar Day Sells
Outin Fl Centro

Fl Centro's Dollar Day last Sat
urday was "bang-up,' and one bic
merchant said Monday we're
ready for another next Saturday,
but of course there isn't going to
be another Dollar Day next Sat
urday.
All stores and shops in the city
agreed that it was the best Dollar
Day by far the town has seen in
a long, long time, proving
l. Most folk are better off than
they used to be.
That everybody still enjoys
bargain, even when they are
maxine enough money to pay hiGh-
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23

town gave off p-f-f-t air escap-
ing through a nail hole in al in
ner tube, and that was all. After
that, if you hadn't finished cock
inc your hot cakes and eggs, you
either didn't eat, or you went to
the refrigerator for a cold hot
deg. Fsr there were no more gas
fires until Monday.
Gas company employees were
called out for emergency service,
working all night Sunday turning
eff meters as a preCaution against
possible explosions when the
trouble was found and rcctitied
late Sunday afternoon.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
DUTCH DESTROY BALI INVASION FLEET
Russia Marks Holiday with Gigantic
Assault on Kronstadt, Leninerad

MOSCOW Feb 23. CUP,-Heavy
guns on Russian battleships and
Krorstadt fortress in the Gulf of
Finland roared into action today
while Soviet cavalry launched a
new land drive toward beleaguer-
ed Leningrad on the Red Army's
Gath anniversary.
The all-out assault to drive
German besiegers from their al
ready weakened lines around the
czarist capital was marked by
simultaneous artillery and cavalry
attacks.
The big guns in the Gulf of
Finland were trained on German
lines while General GuSiev's cav
airy detachmentS battled to break
through and join Lenirgrads de-
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
PIRATES Due
HERE TUESDAY

The first major league baseball
players ever to train in Imperial
Valley will arrive Tuesday
El Centre Monday was making
ready for arrival of a fast train
bearing members of the Pittsburgh
Pirates team who will share faci,i-
ties at Ell Centro stadium for
ninc-day training period with the
San Diego Padres.
Monday afternoon the pitchers
and catchers of the team. along
with buShel of young rockies and
coaches, were speeding westward
They will arrive at 3:05 a m. Tues
day.
Manager frankie Frisch and
three pitchers joined the squad at
Chicago, and four other players
checked in as the train reached
Kansas City Sunday, swelling the
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23

er prices for merchandise.
One store manager said he COM
plctely sold out of the items he had
advertised in the Post-Press. and
had to substitute mere expensive
merchandise for the same prices
he had advertised" because we
didn't want to have people coming
in to buy and ,going out empty
handed and disap ppointed."
The pulling power of the big
selling event was illustrated in the
sales of heavy merchandise in
another store that had not been
featured in the firms Dollar Day
advertising.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
Bod Ammunition Cri ippIes
U.S.. Wurship Under Attack

convoy of RAF pilots. ready to fight,
arrived at Singapore at the height
of the battle IN tnat area-Cnly
to be told they were not expected
and would have to 60 TO Java for
instructions.
In another ship" Aercnsky said,
were the Grated planes that the
pilots were to fly My and other
warships took the convoy south
ward through the Banda straits off
Sumatra and into Singapore, in the
face of continued Jap bombing at
taCkS.
Three days later, in Java, met
one of the pilots From him l
learned that due to some stupid
fatal blundcr, the ships destina-
ton had been mistaken"
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23

Eastern countries for thtT de1enSe
and ultimately for the defense OF
the United States deserve better
of their country thar they are
getting"
HEROISM RECOUNTED
Agronsky told how during the
bombing a 2O-year-old machinists
mate went into a flaming gun tur-
ret stacked with six inch shells.
The shells were red-hot and could
have exploded at any moment.
The young machinist's mate"
Agronsky said. played water on
the rcd-hot shell case until the
fire was put out. Being an Ameri-
can. I was proud of this story
of courage
Agronsky also related that a
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
Huge War Supply
Measure Approved

WASHINGTON, Feb. 90 tUP)-
The senate appropriations commit
tee approved today a $32, ,726,737,-
900 war supply bill after adding
more than $500,0O0OO0 for lend
lease purposes and Army uniforms.
The bill, largest appropriation in
the nations history and approach
ing total United States World War
expenditures including loans to
allies, carries funds for construc-
ton of l,476 additional cargo YES
sells to ferry defense material to
the fighting fronts and for pro-
viding essential equipment needed
by an Army of 100000 men.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23

total to %.
Ca hand to greet the National
league club will be Cedric burst,
manager Of the San Diego Padres.
regular Coast league club that
spring trains in E. Centro 1t was
at the invitation of burst and
Major Charles Mel Lott, president
of the Padres, that the Pirates
decided to send their batterymen
to the valley for the preliminary
training
The Pcrris Hill field in San
Bclnard!no where the Bucs usually
train has been taken over by the
army and officials of the club are
not as vet sure that the eoveln-
ment will have moved its soldiers
from there by time the main
Pirate squ2j is scheduled to arrive
on March 5.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23

FaWcett heads as commissioner.
A form of cloakroom criticism of
Gavin had been going on since
about a month prior to his heart
illness, which forced him to take
sick leave last October, and par
TALLY was forced into the open
at last Wednesday nights council
meeting.
After questioning by several mem
berS of the council as to his phYSi-
cal fitness, Gavin was asked by
FaWcctt if he intended to make
any changes in the water depart
ment system of billing, and Mayor
Bob HattOn wanted to know Wha.
Gavin planned to do about dclin-
qucnt general taxes.
Previously, on February 10, FaW-
cett had authorized the publication
of figures which FaWcett said show
ed the number of water delinquent
clos had been reduced from 400 to
81, an improvement, it was said,
that was made possible by extend
ing the deadlinc one day, after
which service was ordered diScon-
tinucd.
FIGURES DISRUPTED
Gavin Monday took exception to
FaWcett's figures, and also Criti-
cised action removing from his jur-
iSdiction the authority to determine
when water meters should be cut
off.
He issued this formal statement
ON October 18, 194l, the delin-
qucnt water accounts as of that
date were approximately 400, in
Guiding all inactive water accounts,
where water users had moved and
left a balance due.
ON checking the water accounts
as of February 20, 1912, l find 1853
accounts not paid 166 of these are
inactive accounts, caused in most
instances by having no deposit,
Continued on Page g. col y
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23

other forms of public entertain
ment. The restrictions we're written
in as a result of the widespread crit
icism which developed after ap-
pointment of rhythmic Dancer May
ris CLANCY and Screen Actor Melvyn
Douglas to OCD posts.
The Presidents approval of the
appropriation conceded with growth
of sentiment in the senate for plac
ing of all civilian defense work un-
der the war department. Sen. Mil
lard Tydings, D., Md, introduced
a bill for this purpose.
His bill is a result of appeals
from many offices of civilian de-
fenSe workers in the field" he said
who think the way to get results
is under army supervision. His plan,
he sad, would require only mini
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23

mum assignment of army personnel
to civilian defense duty, leaving most
operations in civilian hands.
Similar action was urged by three
other senators-Sens. Bennett c..
Clark, D., Mo, Harry S. Truman,
D., Mo, and Edwin C. Johnson, d,
Colo. They said that defense of any
kind is an army function and Sug-
gested that experienced men
could better stand up in a bombing
raid.
Sen. Ebert D. Thomas, D., Utah
second ranking Democrat on the
senate military affairs committee,
disagreed, on the grounds the army
should not be "burdencd with an
extra work "
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
Gavin Denounces
False Figures
City Clerk Replies 70 Criticism with
Declaration Water Deiinquencies Have
Not Shown Decline Claimed by Trustee

Ell Centro's City Clerk Neal Gavin Monday defended
his administration against nnuendos and nsnuaons Of
members of the city council and charged that Councilman
H. w. FaWCctt had given out incorrect figures the
number Of deln4uGnceS n lho Ml&r donArtment which
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
OCDCets Money!
Uses ReStri cted

WASHINGTON, Feb. %. (UP) - President Roosevelt,
today signed S163OOOOOO deficiency appropriation bill
providing $100000000 for the cmbattled Office of Civilian
Defense.
The measure bars use the OCD funds for dancing
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
Churchill Drops ; More
'Appeasement HoIdovers
d AMBLINe
IL EpORTER

History Repeats Itself
The first man who greeted Ben
Thompson when he entered West
Point Military academy was a
chap named Ellery. And what a
hazing that was!
Considerable water went under
various bridges and Thompson went
to Harvard and became an attor-
ney He almost forgot about the
chap named Ellery but he did re-
member the hazing.
Then along came the war.
Thompson now was Lieut. Thomp-
son and was sent to Camp Seeley,
The first man he saw when he ar
rived at the desert camp was the
chap named Ellery, now a major
P. S.--The hazing was not re-
pcated.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
Japanese e Seize
AirfieId Despite
Bic Naval Loss
American Aerial Attacks S park Fierce
Onslaught. Leaving All But One Enemy
Ship Dama9ed in Java Battle Area
BY UNITED PRESS

Allied armed forces, spanked by slashing American
aerial attacks smashed Japanese invasion fleet and ham
mered heavily Monday enemy threatening Java
from east and west On the eastern approach the Japa
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
TEMPERATURE

Maximum Sunday, 65, minimum
Monday 81; p. m. Sunday 81,
humidity Al, a. m. MOnday44,
humidity IL; noon Monday 63, hu-
midity 81. =
LOS ANGELES HAY
u. S. No. l $23. 1924; U. S. No. 2
leafy 1. v. S22-23; U. S. No. 2 $19-
20, MpI, Sept. Flax S2.32h.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
He Proved It

He Proved It
During a conversation about
women, Elmer Waters, the bach
elor, declared that he never had
fooled a woman in his life.
Neither have l. said M, C.
Pinnell glComily
You did, too" snapped Elmer,
you married one"
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
Preparedness

Preparedness
The wind was a terrific handicap
at Camp Seeley Sunday morning
when the Rev Dr. George w.
Thomas of the Presbyterian church
preached in the tent where SER
vices were held.
With the tent cracking and snap
Continued on Page 6, Col II
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23
An Insult, Suh-

An Insult, Suh-
Many and many a time has Bob
Rayburn played golf in the last
10 years. In fact, he is quite golf
fan
He was out Sunday. 1t must
have been the wind or something
but Bob whitfield three on the tee
(You know, missed em)
The caddy shook his head and
clucked sympathetically
You know. after you've been
playing a while you get so you
can hit en-
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-23

Farmed Out
County Clerk Wallace McClcl
land, who has more defense jobs
than any man in Imperial county
was weak when Gov. Olson asked
the board of supervisors to give
him still another job to do. Mac
threw up his hands helplessly
I've gone about as far as I
can he told the board, "if you
want TO give me to the government
go ahead My resistance is gone"
He got the job.
The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1942-11-27
Army Wants Typists
To Pay For Training

Women who are high
school graduates now have
the opportunity to receive
training in typing and office
practice--and get paid for
it. 1t is the new training
program recently Inaugural
ted by the Army air forces
material center, persons
selected will be trained un-
til competent and then as
signed to various branches
of the material center.
A salary of $1O5 a month
will be paid during the
training period. In view Of
the critical housing and
transportation conditions in
Dayton, local applicants
work are wanted particular
who are not engaged in war
ly. Applicants are request
ed to call at the United
State Civil Service commits
sion office in the Garfield
building, Fourth and jeff
erson streets. The office is
open daily from 8 am to Al:
80 pm. and $50 I'm. to
$50 pm. Mon. evening.
The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1942-11-27

entertained the bond buyerst
with his best steps and an ~.
exhaustible fund Of new r.
and song hits. ,ags
All this was timed
classic selections r. between
the welI-known 6 -ndered by
A Capolla CT state Colla@se
Glayds ByS Dir, directed by
Cadet O j Johnson and the
Ahn< Iarlet, trained by F.
Do, j Williams, both Of the
artment of Music.
Chairman Davis read re-
ports aggregating more than
one million dollars for free
dom, bought by black and
white, in stamps and bonds.
When the National Anthem
followed Nobel Sissle's dra-
matte rendering of "The I'm
known Soldier" and the last
, word Of the benediction pro-
nounced by Father Cochran
Of the Epicopal Church had
died away, all knew that the
cause of American ilbertv was
safe. for the people, all the
, people, were IS one voice and
one power behind the army
. the navy and the air battal-
! ions.
The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1942-11-27

PkESlD.,NT
(con.H

ued from Page
~ .rican life. 5. Let us
h ..intain the belief that
so-called Colonial peoples
of the world also have a
stake in this war, whether
they are in India, Africa,
Burma, China, the Islands
Of the Sea, or any other
country. and that our cry
shall be all peoples up and
down. Dean Pickens Of
the Treasury Department
denounced as wholly fool
ish the notion that the Ne
gro had any common bond
with h Japanese and de-
clared that America belong
ed to all Of us. He urged
all Americans to back this
j War with bonds, not be-
cause they loved was, but
because they wanted to pro
ltect this most enduring Of
democracies. Appearing
with DR.. Wesley on the
same program were the
well-known columnist DOro
thy Thompson; Dorothy
Mavnor, the celebrated so
prana, whose singing Of Sch
ubert's Ave Maria and
the spiritual Ride On Jesus
conquering King drew
prolonged and enthusiastic
applause; Brigadier Gener-
al Spencer G. Dickerson, re
tired; Brigadier General
William j. Warfield, retir-
ed; First Lieut.. Grant Rey-
nolds: DeanPickens Of the
Treasury Department.; Ma
yorFranksJ. Lauche Of Gle
'yeland; Messr Percy Brown
NC. Clarke, and Harold Il
Bredlow andseveral other
important persons.