davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-12-27
literacy Test Urged
For District Voters
# They Get Ballot
Wender Makes Proposal
As Hearings Continue
On McCorron Measure
BY DON S. WARREN.

inclusion OF Nteracy test as
a requisite for voting for city
officials, if Washington is given
an elected municipal govern
ment, was proposed today by
Harry S, Wender, president of
the Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations, as hearings were re-
sumed on the McCarran home
rule" measure.
A dozen witnesses were scheduled
ito testify before members of the
Senate District Committee today in
what was expected to be the last
session of the hearings. At the out
set only half dozen were present
but the hearings were to be con-
tinued all day if necessary to COM
plete the record.
Mr.. Wender said he believed q
literacy test would be advantageous
and he voiced belief there would be
no serious opposition to its adoption
Many States make use of such tests
he said, suggesting that literacy
standards could be established by
the Board of Education.
Endorsed Test Earlier.
Mr.. Wender explained the fed
GRAFTON, in its recent actions on the
McCarran bill, did not mention the
literacy test, but that it had voted
in favor of such requirement when
acting earlier On the Walter dele
gate bill.
While tracing earlier studies of
the District government. Mr.. Werder
charged that when Griffenhagen
and Associates, Chicago consultants,
were assigned to recommend a re-
Organization of the District several
years ago they we're told not to come
in with recommendations for an
elected council and city manager.
Senator Burton, Republican, of
Ohio, who was conducting the hear
ing in the beginning. for Chairman
McCarran, asked vino had given
such suggestions.
The witness replied the sugges-
(See HOME RULE, Page AID
Evening star., 1943-12-27
Reds Advance
ION Zhitomir
And Vitebsk
BY the Associated Press.

DS lne ASSOCldLeQ PTeSS.
LONDON, Dec. 27.-Two power
full Russian winter offensives
smashed ahead today, menacing
Zhitomir in the Kiev bulge and
hammering on the approaches to
Vitebsk, far to the north.
The 1st Ukrainian Army, in a
strong comeback in the Kiev sector,
pushed the Germans back Is miles
on 50-mile front, killing $4,000 of
them, Russian communique an
nounced, while the lst Baltic Army
surged to within miles of Vitebsk
and severed virtually every escape
route from the city.
More than 10000 Germans fell be-
fore the twin offensives in three days
and hundreds of villages and ham,
let's were captured.
"a British broadcast heard by
CHS quoted the Germans as ad-
mitting loss of ground southeast
of Zhitomir and describing the
battle as raging in near-zero
temperatures. in blizzards alter
mating with icy rainD
The Moscon communique said
that Gen. Nikolai F. Vatutin's forces
had routed approximately 10000
German troops in the Kiev bulge
and had seized Radomysl, SIS miles
west of Kiev and % miles northeast
Evening star., 1943-12-27
By the Associated Press.

Premier Hideki TOTO told the
upper house of the japanese Diet
today that the Allied Counter
offensive has become real and
serious and fierce fighting is
raging at various fronts" the
Toxic radio said in a broadcast
recorded by United States Gov
ernment monitors.
In another broadcast, the Toxic
radio told the Japanese people that
recent Allied operations in the South
Pacific had brought the war to "the
decisive stage in which the rise or
fall of our nation will be decided"
The Premier, in his capacity of
Minister of War, reviewed recent
military developments and, while
ascribing great power to the Allied
drive, insisted that the japanese
Evening star., 1943-12-27

having violated liquor regulations.
The ABC Board also has been con-
Quoting Investigations of its own,
Mr.. Lodge said, but had not found
any definite evidence Of "tie-in'
sales. He said his inadequate staff
might be the occasion of his board S
failure to find evidence, where the
FTC had been able to discover it.
He said he had been asking for addi-
tlonaly investigators for some time
Il think you will find there will
be more than just these two cases,
Mr. Lodge said of the FTC investi-
cation. He has not been informed,
however, of any future action, and
had not been informed in advance
of either the Kronheim or the In
ternational Distributing Corp. ac-
ton
Although he did not say definitely
that revocation proceedings woulo
be held by the board on the two
companies cited, Mr.. Lodge said he
had asked FTC for the facts with
possibility in mind of holding the
hearings. He said the cases woulc
have to be reviewed by all the mem
tSee LIQUOR, Page A-2l
Evening star., 1943-12-27
5ih Army Captures
Important Heights on
Road 10 Casino
American Troops Also
Wedge In Closer to
Village Of San Vittore
Ey the Associated Press


ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Al
gierS, Dec. 27.-American troops
of the 5th Army, attacking in
driving rains, captured two i'm
portant high points in the Mount
Samucro Pass along the Stoutly
defended road to Casino and
Wedged in closer to the village
of San Vittore, Allied headquar-
ters announced today.
British 9th Army forces brought
up tanks to support their bloody
house to- house struggle for possess
sion Of Ortona, the Adriatic hitching
post for the present German line
in Italy, and succeeded in occupying
two more blocks in the northwest
corner of that battered port Of
5000 population which the Ger
mans are trying to turn into little
Stalingrsd. :s
Nazi forces attempted to infiltrate
into the southwest corner of the
port as the slow methodical struggle
continued but they were discovered
and beaten of. And the Allied
communique said the conquest was
proceeding street by street.
The tight for Ortona was in It's
eighth Gay yesterday, with the Ger
mans stubbornly dug in cellars ano
sewers.
Nazis Fire Tollo.
Indian troops completed their
seizure of Villa Grande. a village s
miles inland from Ortona and a mile
north of the Ortona -Orsogna road
The Indians took Is German soldiers
and three Nazi officers prisoner end
beat off two German columns which
counterattaeked with tanks.
Billowing columns of smoke aris-
ing from Tollo disclosed that the
Germans apparently were scorchine
that village miles southwest OF
Ortona before withdrawing.
All along the 9th Army front
troops heard the continuous roar OF
artillery and mortar fire.
British destroyers, operating of
the Yugoslav coast to keep commu-
nlcations open with Partisan forces
there, shelled the coastal town o1
Drvenik, just northwest of Split
Thursday night and sank a small,
boat.
Meanwhile, American Marauders
getting of the ground in strong
force despite adverse weather, blast
ed the railway yards along the line
connecting Florence with the west
coast railway without meeting fight.
ers on antiaircraft fire.
Railway Tracks Blasted.
They hit Prato and Pistoia, 10 and
Is miles northwest of Florence or
the north branch of the two-wa,
line to Pisca and Leghorn and tore
up the tracks in the yards of Empoli
about 10 miles southwest of Flor.
ence. on the south branch.
These raids were aimed at furthe,
Gripping the Germans communica.
ton system which in recent davs
has been hit by attacks on the
Brenner Pass line into Italy and
the Riviera line from Southern
France
Bombers also attacked the yards
at Pisa and Portonuova on Satur-
day, while Spitfires wrecked two
locomotives near Pedaso on the east
coast and bombed a merchant YES
sci near San Benedetto.
1t. Gen. Sir Bernard C. Freyburg
who fought in Crete and has com
manded New Zealand forces over
seas. is in command of the I'd New
Evening star., 1943-12-27
Hirohito and Tojo Warn People
War Situation Is Most Serious

Army and Navy were "repulsing the
enemys counterattacks wherever
confronted"
Situation "Most Serious"
Emperor Hirohito formally opened
the 84th session of the Diet yester-
day. declaring that the war situa-
ton is most serious" and that Japan
must bring to bear total effort to
defeat "the inordinate ambitions of
the enemy"
The broadcast said that Toto and
Navy Minister Shigetaro Shimada
addressed the House of Representa-
tives later today, after which both
houses of the Diet went into recess
until January 20.
In an English language broadcast
recorded by the Associated Press.
TOTO was quoted as saying that the
japanese Army and Navy were
(See JAPANESE, Page A-2D
Evening star., 1943-12-27
Chinese Mop Up Japanese
In Push 10 Huta River
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHUNGKING, Dec. 27.-China's S
victorious troops have pushed on
from recaptured Kunean to reach
the banks of the Hutu River, which
joins Lake Tungting with the
Yangtze River, and "mopping up
operations against the enemy rem
nants' continue, the high command
announced tonight.
The communique added that op-
erations began yesterday against the
japanese forces on the east bank
of the river.
Kungan was taken in an impor-
tant Christmas Day battle and Cen
eralissimo Chang Kai-shek's Cen
tral China forces have regained over
four-flfths of the area overrun by
the japanese before their Novem-
Der sweep into the rice bowl dis
trlct was turned to defeat.
Evening star., 1943-12-27
President Confers
With Byrnes'on
Strike Solution
White House Awaits
Response to Appeal
To Stoy on Job
By the Associated Press.


Cutting short the Christmas week
end spent at his home at Hyde Park,
N. Y, President Roosevelt returned
to the White House today to try to
iron out labor disputes threatening
paralysis of two key war industries
steel and rail transportation.
From railway unions he awaited
a reply to his offer to arbitrate a
wage dispute with the carriers and
stop controversy which may result
in Nation wide strike Thursday
White House officials said Mr.. Roose-
velt expected to see union leaders
some time today.
Response to Appeal Awaited.
From steel workers and three COM
panies already affected by a work
stoppage which seems likely to infect
the entire industry, he waited hope
fully for word that they would COM
ply with his request for "uninter-
rupted production" They also differ
over wages.
| The President made no engage
ments today SO his full attention
| could be given to the strike situation
War Mobilization Director Byrnes
arrived at the White House early to
discuss the steel and rail troubles
with the President.
Failure of the Government to
achieve settlements in the steel
and rail cases would result in its
taking over and operating the bulk
of two of the Nations biggest and
most complex industries.
Negotiations in the rail contro-
versy were halted for Christmas.
The carriers and the non-operat-
ing employe groups planned to re-
sumo their conferences, possibly at
the Office of War Mobilization
Director Byrnes.
Final Ruling Expected Soon.
The two operating brotherhoods-
engineers and the trainmen-who
accepted the Presidents offer to
arbltrate their dispute and withdrew
their strike call expect final ruling
by Mr.. Roosevelt in day or two,
regardless of the outcome of the
negotiations between the carriers
and the l8 other employe groups, 3
operating and Is incorporating
unions
With the withdrawal of the en-
gineers and the trainmen, the three
remaining operating bodies - fire
men, conductors and switchmen-
and the IS incorporating unions
Including clerks and others have
/ (See STRIKES paoe 40
Evening star., 1943-12-27
Elderly Unidentified
Man Dies on Street

The body of an elderly white man,
who collapsed early today at Four
teenth and V streets NV, and was
pronounced dead on arrival at GAL
linger Hospital, was unidentified at
the District Morgue this afternoon.
Police said the man, who had a
gray mustache, appeared to be about
IS years of age. He was carrying .
basket of miscellaneous tools.
The fire rescue squad Ambulance
removed him to the hospital.
Evening star., 1943-12-27
Nazis Claim Repu|se
Of Commando Attack
BY the Associated Press.


LONDON, Dec. q. - British
French commando troops raided
German defenses on the English
Channel on Christmas eve, the Ger
man high command declared yes
terday, but were spotted as they
tried to approach our wire entangle-
ment" and were wiped out"
There was no confirmation from
Allied headquarters of any raid cy
these specially trained troops.
The attack presumably was made
on the same day the greatest aerial
force in history hammered the
northern coast of France, and the
day that President Roosevelt dis
closed Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower
had been chosen to lead the coming
invasion of Europe from the west.
Evening star., 1943-12-27
Former Argentine Officials
To Meet in Pistol Duel
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BUENOS AIRES, Dec. GA pis-
tol duel may take place between Gen
Armando Verdaguer and Julio Mo-
reno, former judge of the Buenos
Aires Provincial Supreme Court, un-
less police step in, it was learned last
night.
Verdaguer, who resigned recently
as federal administrator of the prov
ince, challenged Moreno to the duel
after the latter wrote him a vitri-
ollc letter protesting the loss of his
job as result of the generals reor-
eanization of the provincial judi
ciary.
The secretariat Of President Gen.
Pedro Ramirez said it had been in
formed that the Buenes Aires Prov
ince police would seek to prevent
the encounter. Under the dueling
code, seconds of the two parties are
also obliged to attempt a reconcile
alton.
Evening star., 1943-12-27
JutIond Fortificotions
Detailed to British
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Dec. PA Reuters
dispatch from Stockholm today
quoted the Danish press service as
reporting that the British high COM
mand was believed to have received
detailed plans of German fortifca-
tions at Jutland.
The report declared a Danish
officer who recently escaped to Eng
land by plane turned over the plans
for the invasion defenses. The Ger
mans were said to have arrested the
ofacier's fiancee and accused her
and two of his friends of helping to
obtain the plans.
Evening star., 1943-12-27
SO De GouIlists Honor
DorIon's Assassin
By the Associated Press.

by the Associated Press.
ALG1ERS. Dec. 27.-Some so per-
sons, most holding government posts
under Gen. Charles de Gaulle. at
tended a ceremony yesterday in
memory of Eugene BONNER de la
Chapelle, who was xecuted for the
assassination of Admiral Jean
Darlan on Christmas eve a year ago.
A wreath was laid on the tomb of
the youth executed two days after
Darlan's death, and a minute of
silence was observed. Those at
tending S.e ceremony, sponsored by
members of the underground resist
ance movement in France, included
the interior commissioner of the
French National Committee, a men,
Der of the Algiers military tribunal,
and the youths father, stepmother
and sister.
Evening star., 1943-12-27
General Prepares to
Leuve for Britain
For Invasion Post

BY the Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Al
gierS, Dec. 27.-Gen. Dwight D.
Eisenhower, chosen to command
the main Allied invasion of Eu-
rope from the west or north,
fatty predicted today that I'VE
will win the European war in
1914"
Cool, but dynamic, with careful
choice of words, the TeXas-born
general made the unqualified pre-
diction as he faced American and
British correspondents at a farewell
press conference before leaving for
Britain to take up his new COM
mand.
Previously he had held a series
of conferences with Allied generals
in Italy.
The new invasion commander said
he was resisting an impulse to
qualify his prediction of victory in
1914 and modestly added that only
time would tell whether he was the
right man for the job ahead of him
Indicates Early Departure.
He indicated he would leave soon
to take over his new duties and
said his task would be to create an
Allied supreme staff to run the big
invasion.
My own and personal job i'm
mediately, of course, will be to do
what we have done here. That is to
weld the directing team together in
such a way that no real friction ever
develops; that people trust each
other. work in unison and 60 into
this thing with full weight. I be-
lieve we have developed here that
sense of partnership which has come
as near as humanity possible to
elimination of the friction that has
been typical of Allied actions in the
past" he said.
He added:
The only thing needed for us to
win the European war in 1914 is for
every man and woman, all the way
from the front line to the remotest
hamlet of our two countries, to do
his or her full duty"
Points to Advances.
In answers to questions whether
he had been satisfied with the
progress of the war against Ger
many during the last year and if
the year had been up to expecta-
tions, the general said the best way
to answer that was for people in
their own minds to compare the po-
sition of the Allies in October, 1912,
with the position today.
The general then reviewed the
changes. pointing out that last year,
with the Germans almost at the
gates of Cairo, Malta hung by a
thread, and submarine warfare was
at its height.
Speaking of the campaign in Italy
the general pointed out that the sur
render of the Italians had enabled
the Allies to seize the heel of Italy,
including the naval bases of Taranto
and Bari, with a small expenditure,
and dispose of the italian fleet for a
big gain in Allied naval fortunes.
Expected Nothing More.
He said he had expected nothing
more and had prepared for nothing
more, although he may have hoped
that the surrender would give greater
military advantages.
Asked whether French forces
would be used to attack Europe,
Gen. Eisenhower said the French
were being rearmed to fight the
Germans and certainly would be in
cluded IN any such plans.
Commenting on his recent trip to
the Italian front, the commander in
chief said he had been constantly
amazed by the ability of American
and English troops to acclimate
themselves to appalling conditions
Evening star., 1943-12-27
$4,000 Are0ut
In Steel Strike;
Murray Silent
Scores of Plants
In Seven States
Fail to Reopen
BY the Associated Press.


PITTSBURGH, Dec. 27.-The
number of idle steel workers
passed the $4,000 mark this aft
.ernoon as headquarters of the
CIO United Steel Workers and
the War Labor Board main
tanned silence about President
Roosevelt's urgent plea for a
speedy settlement of a contract
controversy which led to the
walkout.
scores OF War-buSy plants in
pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia.
Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and New
York failed to reopen after the
Christmas holiday, during which
contracts between the union and
2l4 companies employing about $780,
900 men lapsed.
Philip Murray, president of the
IClO and the Steel Workers Union.
remained in seclusion. Associates
SAID there was nothing at this
time to add to his warning last
Thursday that grave situation"
would be created by failure of the
war Labor Board to approve the
unions request that any new wage
agreement be made retroactive.
Labor Awaits WLB Action.
1t was understood from good
sources that union officials felt they
had asked no more than the Presi-
dent outlined yesterday in his tele-
grams to the War Labor Board, Mr..
Murray and the steel companies.
but that they felt the board should
first go on record officially before an
appeal could be made by Mr.. MUIR
ray to the men now idle.
A check with several other large
producers, including the United
States Steel Corp, whose contract
also Will run out between now and
the middle of January, brought re-
ports of normal operations, with
little more than usual postholiday
layoffs.
Pickets were seen at plants in
Pittsburgh, Detroit and Columbus.
Some plckets at an idle Columbus
plant carried signs reading mo con-
tract-no work"-the slogan of coal
miners in their 1943 work stoppages.
A wage increase of II cents an
hour is demanded by the United
Steel Workers of America. The
| present basic hiring rate in the
steel industry is 78 cents hourly.
Granting of the increase would
crack the War Labor Boards Little
Steel formula. yardstick for wages
since its formulation January l.
1912.
i The plants hit hardest were those
of Republic Steel Corp. and
/ Youngstown Sheet and Tube which
had 10000 out at Youngstown. Ohio.
Republic and Timken Roller Bear
ing Co. plants at Canton and Mas
sillon, Ohio, also reported 10000
idle, while the Wheeling Steel
Corp, with plants employing 10000
in West Virginia and Ohio, re-
ported a shutdown.
At Cleveland, 1000 were out at the
Republic and Corrigan-McKinney
works and at Midland, Pa, $500 quit
at the Crucible Steel Co. plant and
6,700 at Youngstown Sheet e. Tubes
Indiana Harbor IndD works.
Crucible Contract Still in Effect.
A Crucible official reported his
companys contract still had several
days to go-the lone instance of
company with contract reported
closing Union local officials. how
ever, contended they had no con-
tract.
1t was the first serious strike in
Evening star., 1943-12-27
Warm Weather MeIts
Ice on Streets; 400
Injured Over Holiday
26 Killed in Traffic
Accidents on Roads
In Maryland, Virginia
BULLETIN,

Mrs. Frances Waters, so,
29l6 Key boulevard, Arlington,
Va, died today in the Emer-
gency Hospital from injuries
suffered this morning in an
automobile collision on the
Memorial Bridge. The car in
which she was a passenger
skidded on the ice and collided
head-on with another auto
mobile at 8 o'clock. Her death
was the first District fatality
of the sleetstorm and the 9th
traffic fatality in Washington
for the year.
Warmer weather today melted
away the last icy spots on the
streets and ended a nightmare
of freak weather that descended
on the District and the Atlantic
Seaboard over the Christmas
holiday week end.
The ice that coated the Districts
streets sent more than 400 persons te
hospitals for treatment after falls
and traffic accidents. Several were
more seriously injured. But ne
deaths due to the ice were reported
Twenty-six persons were killed ir
traffic accidents on the glazed roads
OF Maryland and Virginia since
Christmas eve according to a tally
made by the Associated Press. Ex-
cept for an accident near Leesbure
Friday that took two lives, none oil
the deaths reported was in the
Washington metropolitan area.
Phenomenon Explained.
The phenomenon of weather that
in a minute or two covered all hard
surfaced roads with a thin coating
OF ice that made automobile and bus
travel dangerous, if not impossible
Evening star., 1943-12-27

(See STEEL, Page A-4)
Evening star., 1943-12-27

(See RUSSIA, Page A-3.)
Evening star., 1943-12-27

(See WEATHER, Page A-l30
Evening star., 1943-12-27

(See PACIFIC, Page ABB
Evening star., 1943-12-27

(See ITALY, Page A-2.D
Evening star., 1943-12-27

(See STRIKES, Page A-4.)
Evening star., 1943-12-27

(See EISENHOWER, Page A-2)
Evening star., 1943-12-27

(See JAPANESE, Page A-2D
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-10-23
0ne-Ddy Strike
At Dodge Ends
As 2,3OO Return

Production Of army trucks at
the Chrysler Corps Dodge plant
on Mound road was resumed
today after a one-day wildcat
strike by the plants $500 en-,
ployes in protest against transfer
of employees to other jobs
Strikers voted 10 return 10
work at a meeting last night
pending outcome Of a conference
today of federal officials and
representatives OF the company
and Local No. 140, UAW-CIO.
Company spokesman said the
strike started at l1:15 a. m.
yesterday when 400 employees on
the heavy assembly line struck
because one of their men was
disciplined for refusing to accept
transfer from a light, woman's
type job 10 a heavier mans work"
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-10-23
Times stan Correspondent

LANSING, Oct. y - Having
completed her first venture into
downtown Lansing successfully
2-year-old Mary Kelly youngest
daughter of Gov. Kelly, looked for
new worlds TO conquer today.
Mary wandered away from the
Kelly residence yesterday after
noon in search Of the "choo-choo'
that was 10 bring her Aunt Mar
garet Moore from Detroit.
Dressed in her finest, she grew
impatient waiting for her mother
TO get ready and set out for the
depot alone.
Several blocks away. she
crossed Washington avenue twice
against red lights and in heavy
downtown traffic before she was
spotted by d storekeeper who
called police.