davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-01-17
Knudsen Choice
Seen Solving
Major Problem
New General Expected
To Have Auto Plants
Busy on Arms Soon
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt's appoint
ment Of william S. Knudsen as q
lieutenant general in the Army
was regarded here today as hav-
ing finally solved the grave prob
lem OF putting the entire auto
mobile industry to work on war
production.
As Donald M. Nelson formally took
over the chairmanship Of the new
War Production Board. with the
broadest powers to expedite the
production of war material, COM
mendation of Mr.. Knudsens sur
prise appointment rolled in from
high officials.
Secretary Of War Stimson vel.
coined his great and unique talent
as a master of production" Gen.
George c. Marshall, Army Chief of
Staff, declared "his experience will
expedite the delivery of guns and
equipment" The President him.
sslf termed Mr.. Knudsen "one Of
the great production men of the
world"
Marked Stepup Predicted.
Armed with the military authority
to get things done. Mr. Knudsen was
expected to have Americas auto
mobile factories turning out planes.
guns and tanks far quicker than
could have been achieved through
the conferences and committees
which were developing under the old
organization.
Mr.. Knudsen's production knowl-
edge in the automotive industry re-
turned him total of 1912 1866 in
1883, Treasury reports showed. OF
this amount. $150,0O0 was salary as
president Of General Motors, s205, 1872
represented bonuses. and the re-
mainder came from miscellaneous
sources.
He severed his General Motors
connection in 1910 to serve without
compensation as a member of the
National Defense Advisory Commits
sion, q forerunner to the o. P. M.
AS lieutenant general Mr.. Knud-
sen will receive basic salary Of
So 900 a year. Allowances for quar-
tiers and subsistence amount to more
than 81 900 additional
Knudsen Can Compel Compliance.
Failure of the administration to
obtain conversion of the automobile
industry to full war production un-
der the old o. P. M. was one of the
chief points of complaint in the
Senate Investigating Committees
report Thursday. Much Of the lag
has been attributed to division of
duties among various agencies and
the lack of single head.
AS director-general of o. P. NJ,
Mr.. Knudsen could urge the Army
| to place orders and urge automobile
manufacturers to meet them, but
he had no compelling authority over
either side. Under his new appoint
ment as production director for the
War Department he will have broad
powers within the Army itself and
will be the voice of the Army in
dealing with industry.
War orders already have started
piling up for automobile factories.
Undersecretary of War Patterson
announced last night that the de-
lCnn ppOOITCTION pocn AN
Evening star., 1942-01-17
Is Jap Bombers Damage
Indies Harbor Works
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BATAVIA, Netherlands Indies,
Jan. 17-Sixteen high-flying Japa-
nese bombers caused slight dam
age today at the harbor works
of Amboina, naval and air base in
the Molucca group. and killed a
civilian while machine cunning two
places nearby, the Netherlands In
dies command said.
THE attacking planes flew over
in two waves of eight, keeping at
a great altitude" communique
said.
The communique reported eight
bombers escorted by three fighters
took part in a raid on an airdrome
in the Celebes and dropped eight
bombs.
Damage was slight and there are
no killed or wounded to report" 1t
was announced.
Evening star., 1942-01-17
Stork Wins Race
During BIockout
Despite II Stops
By the Associated Press.


WAUKEGAN, ILL.,. Jan. IT,
Robert Carlson wondered today
how he lived through last
nights Lake County practice
blackout without blacking-out
some defense warden's eyes.
He and his wife. Marie. start
ed from their home at Grays-
lake, 20 miles away, for Wauke-
gan when the arrival of the
stork appeared imminent.
Seventeen times along the
way police and defense ward
ems stopped his automobile for
ignoring the lights-out order.
The Carlsons, however, won the
race to the hospital, the ex-
asperated husband in tears.
Evening star., 1942-01-17
New Use for Purkinq Meters

SPOKANE, Wash, Jan. II (P.-
The city revenue department. which
collects an average of about 81 a
week from its parking meters, has
them in the wrong spots. The
Athletic Roundtable. Spokane
club. installed one in its clubrooms
and metered members for the privi-
lege of parking near slot machines.
The weeks collection of $20.50 went
to the Red Cross.
Evening star., 1942-01-17

would broadcast a report to the
Empire soon, possibly tomorrow
night.
Departure Held Up.
His departure from Plymouth was
held up about 20 minutes until a
missing large black bag-contents
secret-was found.
The Prime Minister, returning
from Washington and his talks with
President Roosevelt, stepped ashore
at Plymouth this morning.
He had reached washington on
December 70 after a secret trip from
London.
The safe return Of the Prime Min
lister was announced at his ofncial
residence. No. 10 Downing street.
Text Of Announcement.
The text OF the ofncial announce
ment follows:
The Prime Minister arrived at
lSee CHURCHILL, Page A-3o
Evening star., 1942-01-17
By the Asscc.s ted Press.

BY the Asscc.sted Press.
ANNAPOLIS, Nd, Jan. 17.-Act-
ing quickly to Offset anticipated re-
ductions in automobile tax reve-
nues, the Board Of Public Works
has voted to slice $5O6,l50 from costs
of State operations.
Fiscal experts have estimated
revenues from automobile titling
taxes alone may be chopped by as
much as $1,000,000 due to tire ra-
tioning and the ban on new car
sales.
Estimated economies voted by
the board are:
Elimination Of convention attend
ance expenses by departmental rep
resentatives. $4,000; elimination OF
printing annual reports, 1000;
Evening star., 1942-01-17
Japs so Miles From Singapore
M'Arthur Retreating> Toxic Says;
Axis Stronghold Of HaIfaya Falls
Australians Line
In Malaga Broken.
Nipponese Claim
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
An official Toxic broadcast as
serted today that Japan's inva-
sion armies had broken through
Australian defense lines in the
Batu Pahat sector, only so miles
northwest of Singapore, and it
was apparent that a crisis was
near In the fate of Britain's
$4O0,00O,000 stronghold.
Another Toxic broadcast, quoting
dispatches datelined with the
Japanese Forces on Batan PENN
sula, Luzon Island" declared that
United States Regular Army de-
tenders of the Philippines were in
general retreat toward Manila Bay,
apparently hoping to find shelter
on Corregidor Island.
The Toxic radio said Japanese
observation planes reported Ameri-
can and Filipino artillerymen were
abandoning battery positions and
that large columns were joining in
a general retreat toward Manila
Bay and the west coast Of Batan
Peninsula.
British Admit Advance.
British headquarters in Singa-
pore acknowledged that japanese
troops had gained a foothold on the
south bank of the strategic Muar
River, 80 miles north OF Johore
Strait, which separates Singapore
Island from the mainland.
Singapore dispatches said major
battle was developing in the Ma
layan jungles to the northwest.
Domei, the ofhcial Japanese news
agency, declared that Japanese
troops reached the Batu Pahat
sector at dawn today with spear
head of mechanical forces striking
down the west coast of Johore State
from Malacca Straits settlement.
In fighting near Gemas. north
east of Malacca, Domei said Japa-
nese troops had wiped out half OF
an Australian force of 1000 men.
Domei said Japanese troops COM
pletely occupied" the city OF Malac-
ca. capital of the Malacca settle
ment.
Retreat Not Confirmed.
The report that Gen. MacArthur's
troops had been forced to retreat
was not confirmed here. A War
Department communique SAID
American Filipino forces on Batan
peninsula were stubbornly resisting
a heavy Japanese attack against
Gen. MacArthur's right flank.
This attack is we'll supported by
aircraft and artillery" the COM
munique said.
The assailants greatly outnum-
ber the defenders. However, our
soldiers are stubbornly contesting
the attempted advance"
Evening star., 1942-01-17
Frances Clifford Divorced
From james n. Dunn
BY the Associated Press.

BY tire Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 17.-Movie
Actress Frances Clifford obtained
divorce yesterday from Actor
James H. Dunn, formerly Of the
films.
She testified he used liquor to
excess, was moody and unsociable
and stayed away from home days at
time. The couple married Christ.
mas Day, 1887. and separated Au-
gust %. 1910. Miss Gifford's com.
plant stated.
Evening star., 1942-01-17
Muor River Crossed
By Jops, British Admit

SINGAPORE, Jan. IT (P).@Japa-
nese soldiers pounding into Johore
State toward major battle 1or
Singapore have gained foothold
on the south bank Of the Muar
River, 80 miles from Singapore Is
land. and have pushed forward ele-
ments to the junction city of Gemas,
the British acknowledged today.
Far to the north, other japanese
Invasion columns were reported
striking into British Burma-de-
Tended by mixed forces of American
aviators, Chinese and British I'M
perial troops-in an attempt to cut
off China's back-door route of war
supplies.
The communique did not say
where the Muar crossing was made
but it added that the British bombers
dealt out devastation on troop-laden
launches and barges near the mouth
of the stream, which empties into
Malaccs. Strait about 100 miles
northwe . of the city of Singapore.
Gn London a military COM
mentator said the Muar River
crossing meant the japanese had
pushed a spearhead closer to
Singapore than at any time since
the invasion was launched He
emphasized this did not mean
the Japanese were in control Of
the entire southern bank and in
dicated that the British were
putting up stubborn resiStance)
More than 10 Japanese planes
raided the Singapore area in two
attacks and the Far East Command
said preliminary reports showed
civilian casualties amounted to
about $50. One Japanese plane was
reported shot down, two more prob
ably doWned and two damaged.
The communique also announced
that British artillery was pounding
Japanese forward elements in
Gemas, ITO miles from Singapore in
Northern Johore.
Little Activity In East.
1t said contact was slight on the
eastern part of the front, confined
mainly to patrolling.
1t was in the section above Gemas.
In the State of Negri Sembilan, that
the British reported yesterday fresh
Australian troops had blasted COL
umn of japanese in their first action
since the invasion began last month.
Besides hitting at the Japanese
swarming into the Muar River Sec
ton, r. A. F. bombers were reported
to have carried out more attacks
against Japanese transport in the
Gemas-Tampin area and destroyed
. large number of vehicles and
damaged others.
The major battle for Singapore ap-
parently was developing as the main
body of Japanese soldiers neared the
Pownall line thrown up by the Aus
tralian, British and Imperial de-
tenders of Singapore.
Japs Thrust Into Burma. d.
Far to the north Of the Singapore
battlefront the japanese made their
expected stab into Burma, attempt
ing to drive across the narrow strip
(See SINGAPORE, Page A-3)
Evening star., 1942-01-17
Delivery Of
Night Final
| Edition

The Night Final Edition OF
The Star, with two addi-
tional pages of last-minute
news, is delivered through
out Washington and nearby
suburbs, together with The
Sunday Star, at Csc per
month.
This edition gives the
latest developments Of the
day in international, Ma
tional and Local news, with
complete Financial Reports.
Special delivery is made
between 6 pm. and tbs pm.
daily.
Evening star., 1942-01-17
Afraid Alarm

The ONCE Of Civilian Defense
for the Metropolitan Area has.
asked The Star to publish for
the information of the public
these AFRAID signals for the
entire region, including nearby
Virginia and Maryland:
Alarm-Five short blasts at
half-second intervals, sounded
three consecutive times. . total
Of IS blasts.
All clear-Three long blasts
Of one and one-half seconds
each. 81
Evening star., 1942-01-17
Isolated Park Rangers
To Register by Rodio
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHEYENNE, Wyo.. Jan. IT,
Rangers and keepers in snow bound
and isolated areas Of Yellowstone
National Park will be allowed to
register for the draft next month by
shortwave radio or telephone.
Asserting that the men would be
forced to ski from go to 100 miles to
park headquarters to sign up Feb
ruary 16, Acting Park Supt. j. w
Emmett obtained approval of the
plan from Col. r. L. Esmay, Wyom-
ing selective service director.
Evening star., 1942-01-17
Army Air Cadet KiIIed
In Illinois PIune Crash
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
EAST ST. LOUIS. Ill, Jan. IL
Aviation Cadet Robert H. Hornbeck,
"a, of Huron, S. OAK, was killed yes
terday in a crash Of his plane while
on a routine training flight 4 miles
east of Dupo, Ill.
Evening star., 1942-01-17
Surrender Opens
Coast Supply Line
For Libyun Drive


CAIRO, Egypt, Jan. 17.-Hal-
faya Pass, Axis stronghold on the
Egyptian-Libyan desert frontier,
fell to Imperial siege troops this
morning with the unconditional
surrender of more than $500 OF
its hard-pressed garrison.
Thus the British smashed Ger
manhattan attempt to parallel
the British holdout stand at Tobruk
and thus, too, the British won
access to the main coastal route OF
supply to their advance assault
forces which have pursued the main
body of the Axis forces 300 miles
farther west.
Forced Long Detour.
Axis control of the steep-sided
pass. which the British dubbed
'Hellfire," had forced the British
to move their reinforcements and
supplies over a tortuous desert de-
tour almost 100 miles to the south
I'm London, British military
commentator estimated that the
surrender of the Halfaya gar
rison brought the total OF AXIS
prisoners taken In the campaign
to at least $1,000. with still more
uncounted coming in from for
ward areas OF fighting.
This Is the end Of any hope
the Axis command had left OF
getting back into Cirenaica," the
commentator added
The British by-passed Halfaya
last November Is when they drove
into Libya for a second test OF
strength with the Axis desert forces.
The Axis garrison. which had forti-
ned the pass with artillery. trenches
and dugouts cut into the rock, with
stood a battering for almost two
months.
Doomed by Fail Of Salum.
The fall of the stronghold, an
nounced by the British Middle East
General Headquarters. was the third
time 1t had switched hands in the
back-and- forth surge OF North
African fighting.
The British seized the pass De-
cember Is, 1910. In their first drive
into Libya. The Germans won 1t
back April IA. 194l. in their swift
counter offensive.
For weeks before its final capitu-
la ton the Halfaya garrison had been
blasted repeatedly from the air and
attacked again and again by siege
forces pressing in steadily from all
sides.
The final crack-up Of the defense
originally estimated to number al
most 1oOO0-began last Tuesday
when Imperial troops swept into
nearby Salum, thereby cutting the
defenders OF the pass of from water
or sea-borne supplies or reinforce
ment. The pass extends from near
Salum through the coastal escarp-
ment to the plateau land back from
the sea.
Last Threat to Rear Ended.
Even before that there had been
indications that supplies were dwind-
ling fast in the caves and dugouts
Of the besieged garrison.
From the front came one story
that an italian doctor under white
flag took a wounded British airman
out through the siese line for medi-
cal treatment by .lhe British and
was given in return medical supplies
which he said the garrison had ex-
hausted.
Military observers expressed Ella
ton at the elimination of the last
threat to the British rear and de-
clared that now additional Imperial
forces would be released to move on
west and reinforce the drive toward
Tripolitania.
The British communique said that
in this area severe sandstorms and
heavy rain interfered with all opera
tions around El Agheila yesterday.
Supply Difficulties
Admitted by Italians
DONRE Jo~ ~ ,Dn.;.1 n.~a
Evening star., 1942-01-17
Supply Difficulties
Admitted by Italians

ROME, Jan. II (Oficial Broad
cast (P.-The italian high COM
mand declared today that the Axis
garrison isolated in the Salum Hal
faya region on the Libyan-Egyptian
frontier was facing growing supply
difficulties, but said it still was
offering fierce resistance to besieging
British forces.
The daily communiQue said the
British fleet was ,bombarding the
garrison from the sea with heavy
guns and that the r. A. F. was bat
tering it from the air.
In the Agedabia region, more than
300 miles to the west, where the
main Axis forces now are concen-
trated, the high command reported
there had been intensified patrol
activity.
German and Italian planes were
said to have repeatedly attacked
British supply lines and bases in
Africa yesterday and to have re-
;1ewed the assault on Malta.
Evening star., 1942-01-17
Churchill Returns to ENGLAND
After Flight Across Atlantic
Prime Minister Is Cheered by Crowds;
Broadcast to Empire Expected Soon


Minister Churchill stepped prosac
this afternoon, home from history making
visit United States and Canada after having flown 3287
the Atlantic from Bermuda to Plymouth in l8 hours
Evening star., 1942-01-17

(See PRODUCTION, Page A.4)
Evening star., 1942-01-17

Late news and sports are covered On
Pages Tx and 2-X Of this edition Of
The Star. experimenting the news Of
the regular home delivered edition.
Evening star., 1942-01-17

See CHURCHILL, Page
Henderson daily dispatch., 1942-01-13
Steamer Sunk
100 Miles Off
Nova Scotia

An East Coast Canadian Port,
Jan. l3.-l.AP)-A large steam
ship has been torpedoed II
sunk by a submarine 1850 miles
off the Nova Scotia coast within
the last SO hours and survivors
reaching here estimated today
that "a lives had been lost.
Ei.htN-ninc were saved.
The sinking vas nearer the
North American coast than any
hitherto reported.
OF those rescued, 66 were
Chinese and % white
Four White creWmcn and about
80 Chinese crcWmcn and pas
niger were lost. Most of those
lost were victims of near zero
weather while they were ailoat
on RATS and small boats.
Although Japanese submar-
ines have operated within sight
cf the United states west coast
and submarines have been re-
ported within sight of New
founuland, this is the closest sink
ing that has occurred in the
battle of the Atlantic.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1942-01-13
Fire Destroys
Fayetteville
Plywood Plant

Fayetteville, Jan. l&-(AP)-A
spectacular tire with flames IeApmG
high INTO the air and p~uncturated D\
explosions burned the plant OF thv
Rankin and Brown PlyWood Mig.
Co., TO the ground here today win
an estimated loss of $4,000
Fayetteville was BACKED out al
most three hours when a wall OF the
building tell across the main power
lines OF the cry and cut off all cleo
trlcity.
No one was reported injured.
The fire was discovered at b:o a.
m. The fire department, returning
from another blaze, arrived on the
scene quickly to be greeted with a
thunderous explosion from the lront
part of the building Flames quickly
tnNeiopeu the whole plant
Henderson daily dispatch., 1942-01-13
Nazii Army
OF 100000
Encircled
Hitler Reported to
Have Moved Head
quarters from Smoi-
ensk; British in Africa
Capture SaIum, Axis
Holdou Base.

London, Jan. Ia f3Pp -
Waves of crack Russian troup>,
paced by tanks and motorized
infantry yanguardS. were report
ed storming Orei today as the
Red army pressed against the
Saeging nazi lines on three main
Soviet fronts.
Russian sources said Orel 200
miles south of Moscow and one
Of the KEY outpo>tS Of the Soviet
(apitalS defenSrS. already was
~bN-paSSed and thanked.
The Soviet command va said
to have called on 4 new shock
army backed up by SKI troops
and cavalry to take 0rel and
thus secure a base for the still
broader offensive aimed Al roll
Ing back the German lines to
ward RrSansk. about 80 miles
northwest.
Strong Soviet attacks were said
to have been launched i'll the
north Just below linen. apparent
~ aimed al trapping larger Ger
man forces outside Leninsrad.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1942-01-13

lNIISTO .N-TTVT-0'TI '"7T--"7" -
were ta to"''- H'' 81 400 49,
zone.
British dispatches u'cia.t0 IINI.i-
callN 1tla} am important dIH''A'i''
ment could 10" .Npecl'0 az amy mo
mcnt "Whlcl mas cNanGP me NaIdN
an SITUATION Gell~'Q'- "La% I'LL DIN
aInS favor.
This seemed In nd'ca'e fh"' pow
ertul allied counter BLOWS 'NaN soon
be struck.
y small part of the GARRISON a.
rarakan escaped. It Wa 4nn"yAGso
small Dutch garrison "loa9ht HsaNe-
Henderson daily dispatch., 1942-01-13

BY The Associated Press
KuS>ia,S armies were unoffi-
cidllN reported today to have re
captured the key rail cit, of
Orel, zoo miles SoutI, of Mos
cow, where a force of zoo coo
Germans was believed virtually
encircled by the southern claw OF
a giant Soviet pincerS aimed at
the SmolcnSk.
The British Exchange TeIc-
graph agency quoted Berlin
sources as saying Adolf Hitler
already had moved his field
headquarters from Smolcn>k.
2JD miles west of Moscow. to a
city in southern Russia.
4 London broadcast said the Brit.
.~h Broadca~tmg Co. "undcrstand
anottjcialiyN that Soviet troops ha,
.etakrn Orel while other Red arm1
forces driving northwest from ka7u.
81. ll0 miles southwest of Moscow
We're reported more than haitWa,
IN their 90-@Ile REX to wanna o}
the NoScoW-Smo.tu~k road.
In the north, Uitler'> high
ddlnitted ina the pat
tered German armies had been
thrown back to the Naldai hills,
the upper starting point of last
Octobcr'S German drive against
Moscow.
The naz5 high command also re
ported quichculnl action on TIA
front where Red armies OF,
Continued on Page TWO
Henderson daily dispatch., 1942-01-13
Hits
President Calls Con-
ference of II O u S e
Leaders to Oppose
Senate Price Measure.

Washington, Jan. l3.-tAP)-
President Roosevelt was report
ed today to have told a group of
House members that farm
amendments III the Senate price
control bill would lead to a spiral
of increased prices for both labor
and the farmer.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1942-01-13

Continued e. 2ag1 As,ct
Henderson daily dispatch., 1942-01-13

Continued on Page TWol
Henderson daily dispatch., 1942-01-13

Continued on Page TWo(
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-18
Se|fridge Filler
Gets Decoration

Lieut. Col. Emmett Donnel
Jr., formerly Of Sclfridge Field
and p close friend of Gordon Stan.
ley Mickey Cochrane. today was
awarded the Distinguished Flying
Cross for extraordinary herolSr
in the Philippines, tho United
Press reported ODonnell was
lust promoted from the rank OF
major.
II was O'Donncu who few
Cochrane 10 Wyoming for a res
cure in 1887 after he was struck
by a pitched ball
The award was announced by
Lieut.. Gen. George II Brett dep
uty supreme commander OF the
Allied Southwest Pacific forces
and also a former member of the
Sclfridge Field forces
Brett also announced two other
men had received similar awards
They arc Capt Harry 3. Galusha
and First Lieut. julius r. sum
mcrS Jr. Of Tennessee.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-18
HeddAir Output,
Keller Is Asked
Times star Correspondent

WASHINGTON, March Is
X. T. Keller, president of the
Chrysler Corporation, has been
asked TO become head Of the War
Production Boards airplane pro-
duction branch, IT was reported
here today.
The request came 10 Keller from
Donald NJ. Nelson, WIPE head
after Keller produced an alrplane
production program that would
increase the number of bombers
and fighters being turned out.
Keller's plan recommended a
reduction in plane types and a
further breakdown of production
processes into sub-aSSemblieS.
According TO reports here, Keller
told Nelson he would prefer IL
serve only in an advisory capacity
for reasons of health.
The appointment Of Keller would
not disrupt the WIPE airplane
branch organization. The head OF
the division. Merrill {. MelgS.
would serve under Keller.