davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-12-15
BY GEORGE WELLER,

correspondent OF The Star and Chicago
Daily News.
WITH THE AUSTRALIAN ARMY
IN NEW GUINEA, Dec. 14.-Gona
is a beach of death. The great
royal coconut palms ranged along
its gentle black slope are bitten and
chewed with fire from everything
in modern war that explodes and
kills. Some of the palms are head
less torsos, torsos nicked and frayed.
The sloping sands are as black as
night. The water is as still as a
pond; there is no surf. Japanese
corpses lie on the beaches. The
brown grass walls Of the tiny mis-
sion whose entrance path runs down
through an aisle Of smashed palms
to q 3-foot, torn-up rowboat pier
Gona's only landing facility-are in
ruins. A big Jap landing barge,
like q stranded turtle, lies under
one of the heavily armed trees over
looking the beach.
A mile of shore canted upon It's
side lies a big Jap freighter. Fugi-
tives from the beach are still there.
You can see them with binoculars.
This Is beach Of death. It is
the Japanese Dunkirk and there was
no evacuation. Bandages, pot
shaped helmets, rifles and unopened
bottles Of vitamin pills, undis-
charged grenades and bullet clips lie
in the mud. This Is one end Of the
.rearward road that began outside
Port Moresby. ,
Beside an Australian ofIlcers tent
Evening star., 1942-12-15
Churchill Says Britain Had Only
100 Tanks After Fall of France
Type Facing Invasion Also Was Vulnerable
To Nozi Shells, Commons Is Told

originally for home defense rather
than for long-range heavy offen-
sive duty overseas, he said, yet
they gave a good account of them
selves" against Field Marshall Err
win Rommel at Ell Alamein.
Earlier the Prime Minister init
mated that Great Britain is de-
veloping important new air weapons
to combat submarines.
Disclosing that he had formed a
Battle of the Atlantic Committee in
1941 under his own direction Mr..
Churchill said:
Tn October, 1912, I felt that a
new additional effort was needed on
account Of the ever more important
part which the air had begun to
play In anti-U-boat warfare and
consequential, complicated and tech
nical developments of all kinds.
Consequently, he said, he recon-
stituted the committee as an anti
U-boat Warfare Committee with
himself as chairman.
The Prime Minister disclosed that
(see CHURCHILL, Page A-16D
Evening star., 1942-12-15
u. ). Dive bombers
Pour More Explosives
|0n Japs' Munda Base
Enemy AirfieId Near
GuuduIcunoI Blasted
For Fifth Day
BY the Associated Press,


The Navy announced today
that American Air Forces in the
South Pacific had poured more
bombs on the Japanese air base
at Munda on New Georgia Is
land yesterday, the fifth day Of
such attacks.
Dive bombers figured in operations
against the Munda base for the first
time and apparently were used, be-
cause the japanese have not BEEN
able to defend their field, their near
est to the American field on GuadaI-
canal, with fighter planes.
Text Of Communique.
The text of the Navy's commu-
nique, No. 220, follows: ,as s..-
South Pacific Gall dates are east
longitude):
Il. On December IA United States
Air Forces continued to attack the
Japanese installations and aairfield
which are being constructed in the
Munda area of New Georgia Island.
"(a) Seven Army Flying For
tresses (Boeing BID attacked the
area during the morning.
"(b) Later in the day a striking
force of Douglas Dauntless dive
bombers and Grumman Wildcat
fighters attacked the same OBJ
jectives.
"(c) No enemy air opposition was
encountered during either attack" "
More Economical to Use.
In connection with the use of
dive -bombers. 1t was pointed out
that ordinarily they would be en-
ployed for high precision attack on
specific enemy targets such as am
munition or gasoline dumps and
operations posts. The assignment
of the Grumman fighters undoubt-
edly was to shoot up the Japanese
troops and workmen seeking to COM
plete the airf1eld.
Both these types Of planes op-
crate from Gaudalcanal, whereas
the Flying Fortresses which spear
headed the attack on Munda begin
| ming December 9, ordinarily use
Guadalcanal only as a refueling
base and make thenr home field
somewhere else in the Solomons
! area more remote from the battle
zone, in the New Hebrides, for in
stance.
1t is therefore more economical
to employ dive bombers where pos
sible although they carry a small
load of bombs as compared with the
Armys four-motored planes.
Evening star., 1942-12-15
BIackout Due Here
This Month; Maryland
Drills Called Off 1,~.-,.:,. ~..
-l,..-. ~
f.-.
D. c. Officials Expected
To Withhold Specific
Dute for Test

The District will go through
at least one more blackout be-
tween now and the New Year, it
was learned today. In Maryland,
however, there will be no drills
between now and January 2.
Although the control center pro-
gram, which called for the training
of civilian defense forces every
Wednesday night, have been post
poned until after the holidays, the
all-out training exercises, complete
with blackout, will be held, it was
announced.
The specific date of the blackout
probably will be a surprise, as was
arranged in the last drill, but civil
ian defense officials are expected to
announce a covering period during
which the blackout may be held.
Exercises Not Cancelled.
The single December test will call
into play all civilian defense forces
as the climax to lesser training ex-
ercises which have occupied the va
rious services for a number of
months.
The OCD emphasized that calling
off the weekly December exercises
meant a postponement rather than
(See BLACKOUT, Page A-16.)
Evening star., 1942-12-15
Dealer Predicts Serious 7 trouble
As Heating Oil Crisis Mounts
Complicated System Initiated Too Late,
Says Official Who Hears of Hardship

Prediction that serious trouble
may grow out of the oil rationing
system unless something is done
to relieve the present tie-up in
coupon and fuel distribution was
made today by an oil company
official who has been taking his
share of the complaints coming
in from consumers.
Il can feel the pulse of the peo-
pie, and it can stand only a little
more" he warned.
Although this fear concerning the
rationing system was expressed by q
single individual, a check revealed
that the outlook is general among
dealers. In every instance there was
confusion, created both by calls
Evening star., 1942-12-15
By the Associated Press.

LONDON, Dec. 15.-Prime
Minister Churchill told the
House Of Commons today that
the British Army had only 100
tanks on June II, 1910, to face
the threat of German invasion
after the fall of France.
Even these tanks, the Prime Min
lister said, were of a type found in
the battle of France to be too
weak to stand up against German
anti-tank guns.
"The invasion of this country was
expected If not in the autumn of
1910, at any rate in the spring of
1941 or even 1912" he said.
In less than year, Mr.. Churchill
noted, an entirely new tank had
been conceived and put into guam
tity production. The Army had 400
by the autumn of 1941 and now
has between 1000 and 1000, he
said.
These tanks have been surpassed
by later models and were designed
Evening star., 1942-12-15
kuse|ief Says Destruction
At Tou|on Nearly 1907
BY the Associated Fress.

0y tne AssOClateQ r Eetu.
LONDON, Dec. 15.-Vice Admiral
Emile Muselier, former commander
Of the Fighting French naval forces,
said today that careful study of
photographs of Toulon Harbor in
dicated the destruction of the French
home fleet was virtually 100 per
cent complete.
"One may say with certainty that
the French fleet of Toulon no longer
exists Admiral Suselier said, dis
agreeing with the statement of Sec
retary of the Navy Knox that 20
ships apparently we're left intact.
Admiral Muselier said the Toulon
roads were comparatively shallow
and it was possible scme of the ships
appeared intact in photographs whil.
actually lying on the bottom. He
agreed that the Germans might at
tempt to salvage such craft, but
pointed out that the Allied Air
Forces could easily watch for such
development.
Evening star., 1942-12-15
u. S. Borrowed
Gold Coins for
| African DEALINGS
By the Associated Press,

The Treasury owns $22 ,743, $780,
11203 worth OF gold, but nary a IS
gold piece.
So the United States had to bor-
row from Canada the gold coins
which were supplied to the Amer
lean troops in Africa for dealing
with the natives, Secretary OF the
Treasury Morgenthau disclosed yes
terday.
All our gold coins were melted
down when the President called in
gold currency and only those held
by collectors or illegal hoarders are
now outstanding.
Evening star., 1942-12-15

from consumers and by the whole
sale mixup which suddenly has de-
scended on their delivery systems.
Lester Scott, director of the oil
heating division of the Merchants
and Manufacturers Association, re-
ported that a survey made by him
showed that delivery systems were
operating at only 40 per cent of
efficiency. Finding it impossible to
budget truck routes because of the
small deliveries which must be made
under the rationing program, he
added, they are facing "a critical
situation that may develop over
night.
THE dealer setup is completely
demoralized," he said. Many Of
Evening star., 1942-12-15
Mons|ouehter Charged
In Steam Bath Case
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
KANSAS CITY, Kans., Dec. 15.-
A manslaughter charge was filed
yesterday against Rudolph Jones,
30, attendant at the steam bath in
which Arthur l.. Bergold, Sc, died
Sunday.
Samuel M. Terbovich, county at
torney who filed the charge, said
the attendant was negligent.
DR.. w. r. Palmer, county cor
oner, said Mr.. Bergold's body vir-
tually was covered by burns. Mr..
Jones earlier told officers Mr.. Ber-
gold was in the steam cabinet about
Is minutes and did not complain
OF the heat. He said Mr.. Bergold
took four steps after the inclosure
was opened, then collapsed.
Evening star., 1942-12-15
New York Newspaper Strike
Continues Despite WLB Plea

Wall Street Journal and the journal
Of Commercial morning papers
and representing q total circulation
Of more than $500 ,000-on the city's
newsstands.
First editions of the Post, the Sun
World Telegram, the Journal-Ameri-
can, the Brooklyn Citizen and the
Long Island Daily Star-Journal, all
afternoon papers, with total circu-
lation Of about l,500,000 did not
reach general sale.
Three Papers Not Affected.
The Morning Telegraph, sports
publication In the morning field, and
PM and the Brooklyn Eagle, In the
afternoon held, non-members Of the
tSee NEWSPAPER STRIKE, A-6.)
Evening star., 1942-12-15
Cincinnati Cos Shops
Are Swept by Fire
BY the Associated Press,

CINCINNATI, Dec. l5.-Shops and
laboratories of the Cincinnati Gas &
Electric Co. were swept by fire last
night, destroying much irreplacable
gas and power equipment.
Included in stores lost were at least
5000 gas meters, the city's entire
reserve supply.
Arthur Cherry, gas division mana
ger, said losses would run high.
Evening star., 1942-12-15
By the Associated Press.

NEW YORK, Dec. 15.-An-
nouncement of Gen. MacArthur's
capture of Buna, Jap stronghold
on New Guinea, was good news
to read about today-but mil
lions OF New Workers were de-
prived of it as a delivererS' strike
against most Of the city's news
papers went into its second day.
Without replying to a War Labor
Board request to call on the walkout
pending further negotiation, the
Newspaper and Mail Deliverer1
Union, an unafRliated group, kept
the Times, the Herald Tribune, the
Daily News and the Daily Mirror, the
Evening star., 1942-12-15
GUIDE FOR READERS

machine-gun nest after another,
sometimes taking three days to clear
up single post and living mean
while on half flooded islands amid
morass of hip-deep, fever-infested
mud.
You feel q vicious sting on your
neck and Jump, pinching something
soft In your fingers. It is red and
has fallen from mutilated palm be-
side you. Here comes a mopping-up
party, all with tommy guns, advanc-
ing over the wet ground pocked with
fox holes.
Don't miss any hole merely be-
cause 1t contains a body" says the
sergeant major. use your muzzle
to look underneath. Round pot
holes are Jap: rectangulars are
ours"
Although the Americans are near
by, the country In which they are
fighting Is Is different as though
1t were on another continent. The
Americans are In deep shadows and
flooded jungle with little low paths
made by crawling men. It Is dark
and compass is needed for direc-
tions. Here at Coma, it is relatively
opened up country, cleared by the
missions boys VINO are now scattered
In the hills, with intervening waving
green meadows Of Kunai grass six
feet high and rapier-sharp.
Your correspondent, entering
Coma with the Australian troops,
was the only American observer to
witness the fall of this salient to
the Macarthur force nearest to the
main Jap bases at Lac and Salamua.
Arising this morning after q night
In . thunderstorm on the ground,
during which the firing continued,
the writer, going to the beach, found
. small group Of Australians stand
ing Ia an open patch Of Kunai near
Continued On Page A-16, Column u
Evening star., 1942-12-15
Six Killed in Britain
By German Raider
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, Dec. 15.-At least six
persons were killed and others were
injured today when a German
raider dropped a stick Of high ex-
posive bombs on a street in a small
east coast town.
All patients had to be moved from
a heavily-hit hospital. Several per-
sons were trapped in the wreckage
of another building.
Eyewitnesses said the raider flew
along the street, his machine gun
firing, and dropped the bombs.
Evening star., 1942-12-15
Nazis Seize Offensive
Briefly Southwest Of
Besieged Sta|ingrad
Dive Bombers, Tanks
And Infantry Attack
Out Of Rolling Fog
By EDDY GILMORE,

MOSCOW, Dec. 15.-With dive
bombers, tanks and infantry at
tacks sprung out of a rolling fog,
the Germans have seized the Of
fensive momentarily southwest
Of Stalingrad, but the Russians
declared today that the attacks,
which cost the Nazis 1900 men,
were checked after initial gains.
On the snow-piled battle fronts
northwest of Moscow the Red
Army's attack rolled on, overrunning
a German trench line west OF
Rzhev and capturing hill near
Velekie Luki despite the pressure Of
German counterattacks.
Descriptions of the scene of the
fierce fight southwest of Stalingrad
indicated that it might be near
Kotelnikovski, on the Caucasus rail
line 80 miles southwest of the long
beseiged Volga stronghold.
military observers in London
said the German onslaught prob
ably was aimed at freeing Ger
man forces from their endangered
salient east of the DOM
(These sources noted that the
counterbloW had been three weeks
in the making, and said the Rus
sian offensive on the central front
had pinned down the Nazis there
and forced them to bring up
troops from deep in the rear for
their relief attackD
Nazis Use Dive Bombers.
The Russians reported hand-to-
hand bayonet and grenade fighting
in the fog which shrouded the battle
front, and declared the Nazis were
checked despite the support they got
from dive bombers.
The midnight communique sale
the attack cost the Germans 1,00(
men, and the noon war bulletin sale
900 more were killed in four waves
of attack.
They were described as probably
GiiC oblOIlSCoV COullGCl dCCdSAS Wy 0lle
Germans since the Russians began
their winter offensive.
German tanks and infantry
charged out of rolling fog envelop-
ing the front and dive bombers In
groups of six and eight planes Joined
in attacking Russian positions, but
the Russians said they repulsed the
thrusts.
West of Rhzev the Germans
rushed in new reserves and launched
a wave of attacks, but the Russians
said they sent their foe reeline
back, six times, killing about 400.
Some dispatches said there had
been as many as eight German
counterattacks in an attempt to re-
gain lost trench lines.
Despite the continuing bitterness
of the struggle in and around Stain
grad, workmen protected by the guns
Of the Red Army have repaired al
most miles of railway trackage In
the Stalingrad district and trains
have been able to move over them
for the first time, a dispatch tc
(See RTTSSTA PAGE A.160
Evening star., 1942-12-15
Coma Was Jap Dunkirk With No Evacuation,
Says First Writer to Visit Beach of Death

George Weller, correspondent
OF The Star and Chicago Daily
NeDs, tDho ,Drote the tollo,Ding
dispatch, tpus the only American
ne,Dsn1an to enter the japanese
beuchhead at Coma iDith the
Australian forces.
Evening star., 1942-12-15

stands Jap officers curved sword
in its leather field case, sharper
than an officers razor.
The bodies Of the Jap soldiers who
made their final stand here, In vari-
Gus stages OF decomposition, make
breathing Objectionable.
The black sea is impassively calm,
while the tough, black and even
clouds lie quiet on the promontory
toward Lac and Salamaua.
The strip of black sand is pocked
with machinegun and mortar holes.
Lifting slowly on the tide, the body
of mustached Japanese infantry
man drifts idly.
Between the rended, wispy palms
hanging in shreds winds a burial
party led by the English chaplain of
unit from the remotest quarter Of
Australia. The freckled chaplain,
his straw-colored hair exposed
every one else is wearing a helmet
with camouflage nets lingering q
sodden buch Of letters.
Coma was the westernmost salient
Of the three-pronged drive to the
sea. Sanananda, where both Ameri-
cans and Australians are fighting, Is
the central salient, and Buna, with
its pair Of priced airdromes, Is the
American.
Aussies Search Trenches.
For several minutes the only sound
Is the SQuelching of passing boots,
sucking up mud as q helmeted Aus
tralian goes by, q tommy-gun in the
crook Of his arm, peering into slit
trenches for snipers, who are known
to be still about.
Then suddenly, down the beach
toward Sanananda and Buna, there
are several ugly bursts Of machine
gun flre. followed by . mortar's deep
hollow boom. Somewhere back there
the Americans and Australians on
thrusting their way through one
Evening star., 1942-12-15
Naples Bombed Again,
Itolions Report

By the Associated Press.
ROME CFrom italian Broadcasts)
Dec. 15.-Naples was bombed again
last night. the italian communique
announced today.
The communique said only that
the raiders dropped some dozens
of bombs" and that there had been
no reports Of civilian casualties as
yet.
There has been no Allied report
% far Of new air blows against
Naples.
Evening star., 1942-12-15
Italian Clashes Reported
BY the Associated Press

LONDON, Dec. 15.-Ihe Moscow
radio today broadcast what was
called an ofdcial announcement that
clashes between German and Italian
soldiers In italy were becoming IN.
creaSngly frequent.
Evening star., 1942-12-15

(See OIL, Page A-5.)
Evening star., 1942-12-15

(See RUSSIA, Page A-l6D
Evening star., 1942-12-15

Late news and sports are covered a
Pages TX and Ak Of this edition Of
The Star. supplementing the news of
tho regular home delivered edition.
Evening star., 1942-12-15

(See BLACKOUT, Page A-16.)
Evening star., 1942-12-15

(see AFRICA, Page A-l60
The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1942-08-21
25 YEARS AGO

The following additional men from
WyandOtte passed their physical eX-
animation. waived exemption and were
indicted into the Army: Walter e..
johnson. Edward j. SchOedel, James
McElrOy. George Hockey. Walter hi
yiatSki, Alex LukasZewSki, John From
cZak, James Mulias, William J. Amt
field, Gust Angelo, Frank kOshka,
Tony Kremas, Jake ID. Cripe, Roman
TrusOlOski, John E. Beattie, John
EickendOrf, Charles PerrigO, Stephen
ScheveS, Alex SmeddOn, James Bully,
Stanislaw Sittkoski. Leo Baranski,
Stanley SabOciernski, Steve SiOumSkO.
Walter Stan. Earl G.. hester, Cezary
Kurzawski. Paul GOZarsky. Also the
following from Ford, now part of
WyandOtte: Frauses SeStine, Waclaw
POwlOski Peter Braley, John Krzyan-
Swswi. John NJ. ShOebOtham, BOland
Bigda. Theodore Labadie, Anthony
GOscinski. The examination board was
dispOsing of - cases day.
After inviting bids for the cleaning
up and leveling of the city park pro
perry on the river front, the City Com
mission decided that il could save mon
ely by going ahead with the work it.
self. The binds ranged from $4,000 To
$7,21297.
Poor relief totaling $61 Is was paid
ont by the city during the month Of
July, 1917.
AgitatOrs connected with the l.W.W.
were endeavoring to fOment trouble AT
the plants Of the Detroit Shipbuilding
Company in Wyandotte and Detroit.
Hawley o. Burke. former clerk of
Ford village. was severely injured in
an accident at Fort Sheridan when "a
machine gun exploded and was given
an honorable discharge.
The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1942-08-21
Youngster, Aged Ia, Is
Professional Magi ian

PITTSBURGH Da iels,
IA, youngest professional mag clan
in this area, is the envy of al the
neighborhood kids.
For Gilbert can pull rabbit out
of hats, read minds. and do most
everything the older mystics lave
done.
A protege of his magic-mt Aded
scoutmaster, Kenneth Dietz, G: bert
inherited the honor of being the
youngest magic-maker when his
teacher was indicted into the my.
The youth had been acting Z 3 as
sistant to Dietz, performing as
drummer, chalk-talk artist, and
proving an apt pupil in rope |irl-
ing, mind-reading and dram Atics.
He also designed most Of thu ap-
paratus used in the act, maxi g it
in his manual training cla:s at
Swissvale high school.
When he was drafted, Diet left
most of his magic equipment in care
of his protege. The boy, duriI 3 his
FIVE years in the magic "busi ess''
has acted as assistant at oves 100
performances Dietz has given.
He is the youngest memb Of
Mystic So, Pittsburgh MUS :ians
club, and has already attended, com
vention of the International Br, her
hood of Magicians at Cincinns i.
The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1942-08-21
z Couples Vanish
In Deep Mystery
Seven Years Investigation
Proves Futile. :

CHICAGO.-After seven years of
futile search and investigations the
sudden disappearance of two mid
die aged Illinois couples somesaere
IN the barren stretches of western
New Mexico appears destined for
the files of unsolved mysteries. Some
time after May %, 1895, the fop va
cation autoists, George M. LIZ jus,
30 years old, of East St. Louis. H.,
a coal dealer; Mrs. Lorius;' Albert
Heberer, SO years old, of DUO aoin,
ILL.,, proprietor of a barber slop;
and Mrs. Heberer, simply vanished.
Under Illinois law a person ma be
declared legally dead after an alb
sence of seven years.
If they were murdered, no one
has been able to establish exactly
when, or where, or why, or by
whom.
The case is a mess of useless
clues, of crank revelations, or BIZ
zarre explanations, of scores of sus-
poets arrested and released.
The two couples were touring in
the Lorius automobile. They pla ned
sightseeing tour into Mexico On
the morning of May % they drove
from Vaughan, N. NJ, toward Albu-
querque The last word received
from them was, a postcard dated
May %, from Albuquerque. But the
travellers never reached there, Who
mailed the card is not known.
Evidence but Poor Clues.
On May % the Lorius cai was
found abandoned in Dallas, Texas.
Early in June, 1885, the charred re-
mains of luggage and card bear
ing the name of Mrs. Heberer were
found in canyon near albuquerque
Then came the discovery that 20
travellers checks, totaling $40 9and
issued to Lorius, had been caShed
on his forged signature alopg. the
FL Paso-Dallas highways.
The skeleton of Womansswas
found in the Rio Grande river gear
Belen Bridge, N NJ; in 1899. Texas
officials expressed belief the four
were murdered south of A1bu-
querque and thrown into the Rio
Grande.
In vain Gov. Clyde Tingle, led
1000 searchers through the ugh
country. Lakes were dragged, bod
les exhumed and deathbed late
ments investigated.
The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1942-08-21
Growing Silk Here

Now that Japan Is Outside the
pale" production of silk in the West
ern hemisphere would be desirable.
The trouble is, according to the de-
partment Of agriculture, that we are
not yet prepared to grow silk with
cut a vast amount of additional re-
search.
Chief barriers to silk production
in this hemisphere are the large
amount of hand labor required in
caring for silkworms and the ex-
pense of the Keeling process by
which silk cocoons are unwound and
blended to form thread.
But substitutes now are available
for most purposes.