davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wrangell sentinel., 1942-05-15

The grand total of Japanese ships sunk or crippled in the battle of the Coral sea and it's aerial sequel mounted to 24
 The victory over the Japs on the northeastern flank of Australia strengthened the belief that the continent could be held as con centration base and an eventual counter-offensive against Japan. al- though the danger has not yet pas sed.
 Announcing categorically the basic outline of a clear-eut allied victory in the greatest sea fight Of the war, General Douglas MacAr- thur declared in his Australian headquarters this week that Amer ican losses in repulsing the proud Japanese invasion armada in the Coral sea had been relatively light
 In successive communiques. Mac Arthur declared:
 CD The great battle has temper arily ceased. i2) Our naval forces fought with admirable courage and tenacity. The enemy was repulsed (3) Our attacks will continue. t4t The enemy version of the battle is entirely fictional It has no sem blance to the true facts. f5) Enemy claims of damage inflicted on our naval forces are fantastic. C6l Our losses as compared with his are rel atively light. The only reason they are not published at the present time is because they would reveal to him information of value
 First definite news that the Jap anese battle fleet had been repulsed in the greatest air and sea battle in which the American fleet eyer 6ngaged came in a communique from General MacArthur's head quarters He said temporary cessa- tion of the terrific battle came on it's sixth day after allied air and naval forces had gone out to meet the grayest threat to Australias s mainland.
 This communique also contained the first intimation that the battla had been one to prevent the direct invasion of Australia. It was reveal ed that MacArthur's headquarters had known for some time that thr enemy was concentrating for an in- yasion attempt, and that when it began to move the [. s. fleet anl it's allies were sent out to intercept it. The gigantic six-day battle re- Su1tpd in fbp Allied fleet diGnareiTc cr the Japs
 The communique said the action represented a "continued effort by the Japanese to extend their aggres- sive conquests toward the south and southwest" It was pointed out that the .Japs had been building up their forces with emphasis on naval transport elements for a co-ordinat- ed attack of combined forces This attack was initiated several days ago."
 The British news agency Reuters said the Japanese lost even more ships than Washington claimed. This Reuters claim said the vast Jap invasion fleet had been smash ed and it's remnants were on the run. This claim was based on re- ports from Australia. The toll of Jap losses, Reuters said, had risen to IS ships sunk, four damaged, in- cluding the certain destruction of two aircraft carriers, one cruiser, six or seven destroyers and other vessels
The Wrangell sentinel., 1942-05-15

while it is in the harbor or to the Coast Guard office in Room 205. Federal Building is sufficient. The Coast Guard telephone number in the Federal Building is 109 on the local exchange.
 F. T. Lindenmeyer. Ensign
 Captain of the Port
 Of Wrangen May II, Is42
The Wrangell sentinel., 1942-05-15
CATHOLIC SERVICES

Services in the local church Tor Sunday, May F, FOO and 9:3O a. m. May Devotions every evening during May.
Evening star., 1942-08-07
SteepIejocks Praise Rescue
Staged by Arlington Squad
'Broken-Neek' Victim Lowered by Ropes
In Civilian Defense Demonstration

gas victim and was lowered from
second-story window with full gas
rescucitating equipment In operation
on the way down. Women men,
bers of the squad finished the first
aid work on the ground.
1t is complicated job. learning
how to handle ropes to save lives,
but Andy Weite believes ordinary
people, like the volunteers who
turned the trick last night, can
accomplish it.
"Give me any two of these men
and we'll put on this demonstration
all over again and I won't touch a
rope" he said confidently.
The 48-year-old veteran. who
quiets his nerves after a day OF
dangerous work by crocheting, gave
particular praises to the women
They learn quickly and we'll, he
said, and are serious students.
d. c. Units to Learn.
Walter Lockhart. executive direc-
tor of the District Rescue Squad
said he hoped to be able to start
similar instruction for Washington
n rescue units very shortly At
present, crews are concentrating on
first aid, without which rope han
ding would be useless. Additional
equipment will be needed also, he
said.
The story of the steeplej jacks is a
separate yarn. They are on leave
with pay from the Universal Water
proof1ng Co. of Newark, N. j., going
around teaching rescue work to
civilian defense units. Cincinnati
is their next stop.
They climb ropes like monkeys
and slide down with greater ease
than circus acrobats.
AS a matter OF fact, says Andy:
Get me permission and Eddie
here will slide down a rope from
the top of Washington Monument.
I'll go down in a basket-with Eddie
handling the ropes. I have con-
f1dence in Eddie. He's only 80.
Well sell some bonds"
He was serious.
Evening star., 1942-08-07
Charles A. Baker Rites
Will Be Held Tomorrow

Charles A. Baker. 70, who retired
nine years ago as superintendent of
printing at the Bureau OF Engrav-
ing and Printing, died Wednesday
night at his home, 803 c street SW.,
after long illness.
Funeral services will be held at
10 am. tomorrow at st. Dominic s
Church, followed by burial in Mount
Olivet Cemetery.
A native of New York, Mr. Baker
had lived in Washington so years
and was for 81 years an employe of
the Bureau of Engraving and Print
ing. He is survived by sister, Mrs.
Caroline Lawlor OF Flushing. Long
Island. and two brothers, Edward
and Stephen Baker. both OF New
Jersey. He was q member Of the
Potomac Boat Club.
Evening star., 1942-08-07
Blair School Will Give
Bench Metal Work Course

A new course in bench metal work
has been opened at Montgomery
Blair High School, Silver Spring.
Md. This course Is designed to pre-
pare workers to enter war industries
Aircraft sheet metal and bench
metal work and small parts are the
major fields.
Courses are free and open to citi-
zens over II years OF age. Glasses
meet five days per week and may
be taken either during the day or
evening, the hours being from 1880
am. to $3.50 pm, or pm. to II pm.
These classes are sponsored by the
Federal Government and are under
the direct supervision OF the Mont
gomery Board Of Education.
Registration is scheduled at Mont
gomery Blair High School shops to-
day and Monday.
Evening star., 1942-08-07
Police Guard Ordered
After Ration Boards
Find Books Stolen
Auditors Are Called to
Determine Number of
Gasoline Cards Taken

Regular and auxiliary police were
under orders of Acting Inspector of
Police Harvey G. Callahan today to
watch local ration board headquar-'
ters, following reports of thefts. OF
an undetermined number of gaso-
line rationing books during the last
"a hours. Either regular or auxiliary
police are to guard boards when no
staff members are on hand.
The door to the Office of the ra-
tion board in the jackson School,
Thirtieth and Avon place NV, was
found open last night BY police. An
investigation is being made to find
out II any books were stolen. Police
quoted the last member of the staff
to leave the Office as saying the
door was locked when he went off
duty.
Theft of ration books from the
board in the Petworth Library,
Georgia and Kansas avenues NV,
was reported earlier yesterday to
police. The burglary was discovered
by Edward Snead, the janitor, who
found that entrance to the building
was made by breaking a screen and
smashing a window of the front
door. Cases containing the gas
books had been rif1ed.
Auditors have been called in by
the board to make complete report
on the loss, so that all gasoline deal
ers can be notified of the missing
books and their numbers. 1t was
said that all of the S books were
taken, and practically all of the A, B
and c books.
Chester Alexander. 1912 c street
Sc, told police that an gasoline
book was taken from his truck while
1t was parked yesterday at Sheriff
road and Whittingham place NE.
Evening star., 1942-08-07
WaIkathon Promoter
Fined $50 Under
Child Labor Law
D. 6. Committee Action
On Curb Law Awaits
McCorrun's Return

AS Judge Fay Bentley fined Ray
Alvis, promoter of a walkathorn at
Riverside Stadium, $50 in Juvenile
Court today for violation of the
District child labor law, District
Committee action on a bill intro
duced In the Senate yesterday to
curb valuations awaited the re-
turn of Chairman McCarran from
the West.
Mr.. Alvis pleaded mole con-
tendere" to two charges.
After Mr.. Alvis had announced
the charges would not be contested
Judge Bentley suspended sentence
on a charge that Mr.. Alvis en-
ployed a minor for more than three
hours daily. The judge explained
she felt the case was more or less
a technical violation.
Felt Violation Was ".Serions.'
In fining Avis $50 on second
count, which charged he employed
minor later than II pm, Judge
Bentley told newspapermen she
felt this violation was quite seri-
ous."
The decision today eliminated an
investigation by labor inspectors
who charged that Ruth Smith,, II,
Of the 5000 block of M street NV,
had appeared in the walkathon in
violation of child labor laws.
The bill introduced in the Senate
yesterday by Senator Nye, Repub-
hcan, Of North Dakota is under
stood to follow the general features
Of law in that State.
Provides Heavy Penalties.
1t makes it unlawful to advertise,
operate, attend or participate in any
physical endurance contest or ex-
hibition, such as walkathon, mara
thon or skatathon, that continues
for more than four hours in any
"a hours.
The penalty for violation OF this
restriction would be imprisonment
for not less than six months nor
more than II months, or a fine Of
not more than $1,000 or both.
Senator Nye also is out of the city
and the bill was introduced for him
by Minority Leader McNary of Ore
gon.
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee considered the
subject last week, but finally ad-
vised the Commissioners it was for
them to decide whether new legis-
lation should be recommended. In
PRODUCTION of the Nye bill will put
the question formally before the
Commissioners, since all local meas
ures are referred to them for re-
mort
Evening star., 1942-08-07

It lacked the background of fury
of bomb-battered city, but it was
real enough to take ones breath
away.
It was the simulated rescue last
night of a man with broken neck
swung to the ground from the top
of ur-story cupolo ON the Chevy
Chase Dairy building at Pennsyl-
vania avenue and Twenty-sixth
street NV.
An Arlington County rescue squad
did the job, backed up by two small,
wiry steeplejacks from New York
who have been here three weeks
teaching the Virginians how to
handle ropes so helpless people
won't have to burn to death in a
building set aflame by enemy attack.
The steeplejacks, little men with
strong arms and calloused hands,
were Andrew Weite and Eddie j.
Tisdell. They stayed in the back
ground supervising the tying OF
knots and the placing of ropes that
lowered George Groves, a member
Of the Arlington ~sqnad. who posed
as the VICTIM" those four floors.
Serious Students.
This is serious business" Andy
said. "One knot slips and life is
lost. But these people take it Sc
riously."
He was right, for the Arlington
group did q good lob.
At TAO pm. Rescue Squad Capt.
M. r. Bruin blew his whistle. The
crews, nine women and II men in
khaki uniforms, took their places.
Then Mr.. Groves obligingly col
lapsed with a broken neck"
The crews worked smoothly. Eight
Of them lifted the victim while a
board was slid beneath him. Sand
bags were placed on either side of
his head to keep it from moving
from side to side. Then strong ropes
were wound around him systematic
ally. Even an identification card
was tied on.
He was carried to the roof and the
victim" placed on a parapet, inches
away from 1OOr-StOry crop, care
fully the ropes were attached. A
crowd of about 200 watched breath
lessly as Mr.. Groves was swung over
the side
On the roof, Rescue Squad 1t.
c. F. O'Connor and Sergt Edwin F..
Herr were handling the ropes. They
merely stotod on the top end of
the line and 1t. O'Connor. perspir-
ing, held it tightly while letting it
pay out inch by inch. In a few
minutes Mr.. Groves was safe on
the ground in the hands of the
blue-clad ladies of a Washington
unit of the American Women Volun-
teer Service.
Later. in a similar demonstration,
another Arlington squad member,
j. r. Buscher, pretended to be a
Evening star., 1942-08-07
John Strauss Resigns
As U. S. Commissioner

John P. Strauss of the law firm
of Thomas, Strauss, Backus e. May
has resigned as United States COM
missioner here, 1t was announced
today.
Two other members of the law
firm have been called to military
service and the pressure of private
business forced his resignation, Mr..
Strauss said.
Mr.. Strauss has been commissions
er since May. 1910, and served as
deputy clerk of the United States,
Court for the Eastern District Of
Virginia from 1929 to 1885.
Joseph NJ. Pancoast recently was
appointed commissioner to replaces
John w. Monroe, jr., who resigned.
No announcement has been made as
to whether a second commissioner
will be appointed to replace Mr.:
Strauss.
Evening star., 1942-08-07
Commissioners
AIIot Defense
Fund Of Million
Loan Made Available
As President Signs
BIuckout Bill

An additional s1000,000 for civil
ian defense services in the District
made available under the new
Blackout Act signed today by tn,
President, will provide many addi'
tional supplies, services and pay fol
needed employees.
Included in the list, under 3
budget released by the Commission.
ers after the bill became law, are 81,
large emergency reservoirs to be
built at strategic locations to as.
sure water for fire-fghting pur.
poses should normal supplies be in
terrupted For this purpose the
Commissioners have allocated $64,
$50.
Another large item is for the en-
ployment of SO persons, at a cost
of $93 $50, for stating the District {
decentralized communications con-
troll system. In addition, some
money will be spent for expanding
the warming signal system.
A sum of more than $22 900 is
earmarked for paying hired aides
in the air raid warden service and
additional funds will be used for
equipment for this service. For the
pay of so defense guards an item
of $4,000 is reserved.
The Commissioners budget eX-
ceeds the appropriation by $49.666
and District budget officials said it
would be necessary to make adjust
ments downward in that amount.
The budget as now adopted in
cludes the following:
For disqualification for wardens,
auxiliary police and firemen and
other civilian defense workers who
may be hurt during air raids, $780,
900.
For the pay of guards for the
water supply system, and for GER
tain supplies, $317,18O.
For public works, $97 PIT, includ-
ing $89,677 for sewer and water di-
visions. including materials and sup
plies, acquisition of reserve piping
and chemicals for publication of
drinking water.
For the Police Department, $119,-
OBS, including purchase of equip
ment for auxiliary police and pay
Of defense guards.
S7S,960 for Fire Force.
For the Fire Department, $7s, 1850,
the largest item being funds for
the development Of the six emer-
gency reservoirs or large cisterns."
For the ONCE of the Director of
Civilian Defense. Col Lemuel Bolles,
$40, ,420, most of which is for the
pay Of persons employed at the Dis
trict OCD heaquarters.
One Of the chief provisions Of the
law gives the Commissioners author
ity to vest in volunteer wardens.
fire watchers and other civilian de-
Tense workers full power as omcers
OF the District to perform their
duties. .s 49,.
The authority to borrow additional
funds raises to 81 ,0OO, 900 the amount
Congress has permitted for this pur-
pose. .......--.
Evening star., 1942-08-07

Brig. Gen. Watson. of merit-excep-
tionally meritorious service in a
duty of great responsibility-former
Chief Afraid Warden Clement
Murphy was awarded the certificate
ol merit. y "A N 80, sss
Firso announcement OF the award
was made at meeting OF deputy
wardenS earlier in the week.
Official Publication.
Citation in the Official publication
Of the ONCE of Civilian Defense will
be accorded Brig. Gen. Frank B.
Watson, Col Guy S. Norvell and
Miss Mary Mason.
Citations are granted those who,
while participating in the civilian
defense program, make contribu-
ton involving the highest degree of
judgment, zeal or ingenuity"
Gen. Watson received his citation
"for his outstanding service to the
civilian defense program in that he
served for many months as inspector
in the AFRAID warden service. His
contribution by way of identification
of defects of organization and con-
structive suggestion aided materially
in the improvement of the AFRAID
warden service"
Cited for Women's Program.
Miss Mason. well-known for her
radio program, served in the office
of the chief AFRAID warden from
November. 194l, to January, 1912,
Evening star., 1942-08-07
Dr.. Meade Ferguson Dies;
State bacterio|ogist
Hx the Associated Press.

:
RICHMOND, Aug 7.-Dr. Meade
Ferguson, bacteriologist of the State
Department of Agriculture, a for
mer professor at Virginia Polytech-
mic Institute and twice master OF
the State Grange, died here yester-
day after long illness.
DR.. Ferguson, native of Apo
mattox County. was a former edi-
tor of the Southern Planter, a farm
paper published in Richmond, and
was noted for his research on
Bangs disease and incubation ol
legumes.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Ell
dona o. Ferguson; two daughters
Mrs. Franklin A. Trice of Rich
mond and Mrs. Madison A. Bailey
of York, Pa, and three grandchil-
dren. His first wife was the late
Mrs. Margaret Robinson Ferguson
Funeral services will be held al
4:30 pm. today at st. Thomas
Church with burial in Forest Lawn
Cemetery.
Evening star., 1942-08-07
Payments Thaw
500 Of Frozen
Retail Accounts
D. c. Stores Report
On Credit Curing
Reopening Charges

From so to IS per cent of the re-
tail charge accounts in Washington
stores which we're frozen" after
July 10 because of the new credit
regulations of the Government since
have been "defrosted" and are open,
to fresh purchases, 1t was estimated
today by John K. Althaus, secretary
treasurer of the Associated Retail
Credit Men of Washington.
Mr.. Althaus based this estimate.
on reports from credit managers Of
leading stores.
Effort to Comply Seen.
July 10 was the first deadline after
the revised credit regulations Of the
Federal Reserve Board went into
effect. This meant that purchases
bought on ordinary retail credit ac-
counts during or prior to May had
to be paid for by that date or
further credit to these customers
shut off until the accounts were
made liquid under one of the alter
native plans prescribed by the Gov
ernment.'
Merchants say the high percent
age of frozen accounts since thawed
out and placed back into trade
channels indicate that Washington
customers have caught on to the
new regulations quickly and are
making an earnest effort to comply.
Reports indicate that the percent
age of reclaimed credit privileges
in nearby cities is somewhat lower.
In New York the percentage was
estimated at 40 to so per cent.
Another Deadline Monday.
Another deadline will be reached
next Monday. when articles bought
on credit in June must be paid for.
The same policy will apply to every
succeeding month. The 10th day
of the second month after the pur-
chases we're made is always the
final date on which they must be
paid for. More recent purchases
are not in arrears until comparable
dates are reached.
The regulations provide that froz-
en- accounts may be opened by pay
ing up the amount due or by trans
ferring the balance to an INSTALL
ment account to be paid up in SUBJ
stantiany equal payments within 8
months. The merchant, however,
must consent to the installment
transfer and may require more
stringent terms since the FRB lays
down minimum, not maximum re-
quirements. The regulations do not
interfere with installment contracts
already in force, nor do they pre-
vent new ones, If certain require
ments are met.
Evening star., 1942-08-07
3,959- Supplemental Gas
Applications Are Pendinq

Out of 30,874 applications for sup
Elemental gasoline rationing cards
received through Wednesday of this
week, $3.50 are still to be acted on
L. P. Steuart, chairman of the Dis
trict War Price and Rationing Board
announced today. ~
Applicants are being notified by
mail OF acceptance or rejected as
rapidly as the boards can handle
the applications, Mr. Steuart said.
On receipt OF notification of ac-
ceptance, applicants are asked to
call at their local board with their
resistrs ton cards to pick up their
coupon books.
Evening star., 1942-08-07
Pre-heoring Conference
On Cos Rates Deferred

Postponement of the date for a
pre-hearing conference on rates Of
the Washington Gas Light Co., from
August IL to August IA at 10 am,
was announced yesterday by the
Public Utilities Commission. The
hearing itself is to be held at the
District Building August lS to con-
slider what rate changes may be
made under the company's sliding
aeale plan.
Evening star., 1942-08-07

standing service in the civilian de-
fense program for which he served
many months as inspector in the
AFRAID warden service.
The Committee on Citations and
Awards for the Metropolitan Area
Civilian Defense, which made the
recommendation, was appointed by
o-ordinator Young who named
Maj. Gen. Peter C. Harris as chair
man ana Robert L. Jarnagin as Sec
retary. The remaining members of
the committee are Frederick E. AL
temus. Joshua Evans, jr.; william w.
Everett, Col. Julius I. Peyser and
Mrs. Grace Hays Riley.