davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-31
JERRY Griffin
ABLE SOLDIER
Sylvan Avenue Corporal
Expert Machine Gunner,
Pistol Shooter
Washington Hill

Residents Of Sylvan avenue are
pleased to welcome home. jeremiah
j. Griffin, Jr., Corp. Tech, with the
1O4th Calvary, stationed in Oregon.
This is his first furlough since being
indicted in the Army in November
of 1912. He is the son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. jeremiah j. Griffin of Sylvan
avenue. His father served overseas
in World War I.
He has received medals for excel
lent craftsmanship in Rifle and Pts
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-31
First Letter Arrives (:
From Interned Priest
Rev. William R. Mccarthy of Waterbury in Good
Health, Sends Assurance to Local Relatives

Relatives of Rev. William r. Mccarthy local Mary
knoll Missioner interned by the japanese at Los
BanoS nternmen camp Philippines been forwarded
copies of the first letter received from the local priest SINGS
Just before Pearl Harbor Tie letter. which is dated
August g. 1943 directed to the Fathers of the Mary
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-31

toll Sharpshooting, has a medal and
ribbon for expert machine cunning
and special citation for excellency
in handling a tank.
Seaman &c William j. Curley,
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Edward j. Cur
ley, ST., of Washington street, is
home on a week furlough, from
Duluth, Mimi. He is with the U. S.
Coast Guards. The Curley's younger
son, George, is stationed with the
Navy in the South Pacific.
The Washington Park Community
Club are featuring New Years eve
dance and entertainment at the
Community House with dancing from
9 p. m. to a. M. Refreshments will
be served in the cafeteria. Tickets
may be procured from any member
Of the club or at the door.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-31
&,e>4H b7ynvv%
QSIADllstiED SO0B
ESTABLISHED ssSS

Into This Weller Of Blood, Tears
Waste And Destruction Father Time
Leaves An Infant On Our Doorstep
1874.
We might just as we'll welcome
this Iusty New Yeor-becouse it's
due for long run Of twelve
months - be they better or worse
thon 1943 - Wherein grim war
exocted its toll from many homes.
We who hove been spared the ter
rors Of invasion, destruction, stor-
votion and pestilenee will find it
hard to visuoIize the suffering and
hordships Of the many in the midst
Of this orgy Of destruction. How
ever we con still see silver lin
ing in this twin numerals Leop
Yeor They come this way only
twice in century best Of
everything for everybody in 1914
- Happy landing for our fight
ing men.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-31

provided the inspiration TO- the
mass which is being sung here to-
morrow to honor Waterbury's men
and women of the armed forces.
The general public Is invited to at
tend.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-31

Naugatuck, Dec. 31.-First Lieut..
John J. Mariana of Is Baldwin
street, graduated from the Medical
Field Service School at Carlisle
Barrack, Pa, yesterday. He received
his DDS, degree from Temple Uni
versity. He is now qualified for duty
with troops in the field after six
weeks of intensive training.
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Axis Secret Weapon Revealed
As Mobile, Highly Armed Rufts

These RATS usually have five 40
nm. guns and one 88-mm. gun,
besides numerous machine guns
which can be augmented by rifles
and tommy guns of as many as 200
men. They are dangerous at low
attitudes, but their weakness is they
are not very maneuverable. The
pontoons are Of light metal, 80 feet
long and 55 feet wide.
Airmen believe they are valuable
for coast defenses since such posi-
tions cannot be plotted. Their arma-
ment would be especially effective
against landing parties who would
not know where to expect them.
The 88-mm. guns were observed to
fire either high explosive shells at
long range or armor piercing am
munition which will penetrate two
and half inch armor at $500 yards.
1t is termed fine weapon against
any sort of combined operations: it
can be thrown together very rapidly
and shipped quickly from place to
place, as need arises, in knockdown
form.
The Japs are alleged to be build
ing the same type from bamboo.
each pontoon being driven by small
Diesel engines with speed of about
8 knots. A sea full of barrels was
revealed after aerial bombing,
Evening star., 1943-05-25

ish heavy bombers were given 6
rest after their 2,0OO-ton attack or
Dortmund.
Berlin claimed today in
broadcast recorded by the Asso-
ciated Press that A British bomb
ers were shot down on the Dort-
mund raid The British an
nounced 38 were lost.
(The Germans also claimed
that Nazi guns brought down
seven multi engined British
bombers and damaged another
during the Raj attack yesterday
on a German convoy off the
Dutch coaSt)
About IS German planes struck al
south coast town in bold mid
afternoon raid which flattened work.
ers' houses and buried an unde.
termined number in the ruins. Il
was one of the biggest daylight forces
the Nazis had used in some time
One raider was destroyed.
Some of the raiders swung over
a neighboring town and turned theil
cannon on large buildings.
A dozen persons were knowr
killed and several others, including
children were unaccounted for. One
bomb landed on school playground
but no children were there.
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Task Force Penetrotes
Far Above GuodoIconoI

WITH A FLEET TASK FORCE
IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC DE
layed) tP).-This task force secuted
almost under the noses of the Japa-
nese Shorthand and Bougainville
Island strongholds in the farthest
penetration yet made by such a
major fleet unit up the Solomon
Islands slot" from Guadalcanal.
AS the captain of my ship pointed
out to the crew, the mission was
we'll beyond the previous shelling
operations at Munda and Kolom-
bangara.
The force was commanded by a
rear admiral who was the leader of
other shelling and scouting thrusts
into the Solomons.
The definite nature and dates of
the mission are secret, but it was
carried out with such speed and
efficiency that possibly it was not
even observed by the Japanese, de-
spite its penetration beyond Munda
Santa Isabel and other islands on
which they are known to have bases.
The forces run up the slot was
made under the protection of Quad
alcanal based fighters and at night
through the more hazardous passage
between the chains of islands.
The round trip reversed the route
OF the Japanese Toxic Bougain-
vile express" naval thrusts prior to
the fall of Guadalcanal. The force
started in id-afternoon from Iron
Bottom Bay, historic scene of the
Savo Island and other naval fight
ing. Moving at high speed it COM
pleted its mission overnight and was
back down the slot by noon the
next day
I'VE went right into their back
yard this time said one crew mem
Der. Maybe they want to be chased
into the parlor."
Otherwise the naval lull in the
South Pacific is continuing, with
the japanese not coming out and
the Allied units presumably not
ready to launch an offensive
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Former Indiana Governor
Named Davis Aide in VIA

War Food Administrator Chester
c. Davis has appointed M. Clifford
Townsend, former Governor of In
diana. as his special representative
to deal directly with State Governors
and State Agriculture War Boards.
Mr.. Townsend. until recently head
OF. the Food Production Admins
tration, was to deliver an address
today in Omaha to the Association
of County Government Ofncials.
Mr.. Davis originally was scheduled
to speak to the group.
Mr.. Davis said Mr.. Townsend will
confer from time to time with State
officials in order to achieve maxi
mum cooperation in VIA pro-
grams.
Evening star., 1943-05-25
1000 Strike in Canton
Over Promotion Of Womer
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CANTON. Ohio, May 25.-An off,
cial Of the Timken Roller Bearing
Co. reported last night that 1000
workers at the firms main plant
here have joined a work stoppage
protesting the promotion of women
workers.
The spokesman said the stoppage
began on the afternoon shift when
$50 employees refused to work, con-
tending that transfer of women to
automatic grinding machines vio-
lated union seniority rights.
Fineas Reynolds, president of the
local CIO- United 'Steelworkers'
Union, said a contract with the
union specified promotions be made
on seniority, and added that 'the
men are standing on their rights" ;"
Union and company representa-
tives met in an attempt to settle
the dispute before the third shift
workers joined in. but the Timken
spokesman said the company re-
fused to denote the women as the
union asked.
The stoppage halted grinding op-
erations and affected the Arm S
polishing and finishing depart
ments, he added.
Evening star., 1943-05-25
BY THOMAS r. HENRY,

WITH STRATEGIC AIR FORCE,
NORTH AFRICA (By Wireless) -
Siebel ferries, heavily armored giant
RATS floating on pontoons ballasted
with barrels, on which coast de-
fenses can be moved rapidly to
points threatened by invasion forces,
are powerful Axis secret weapons
against second front on the Euro
pean coast.
The crafts built by the hundreds,
mostly at Antwerp, are now in the
Mediterranean and Black Seas. In
the last days of the Tunisian cam
palgn they were used to transport
supplies from Italy to Africa. Many
were destroyed by bombs Their
general design is known from air
photos and by observations of the
Strategic Air Force.
They are harder to blast from
the air than a destroyer" said one
wing commander 1t is believed the
RATS were designed Gas troop car
riers for contemplated invasion Of
Britain. but production came too
late and they have been switched
to a new use. After recent expert
ences, American bomber crews be-
heve they have developed proper
tactics to deal with them if caught
in open sea.
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Subsidy for Prices
On Milk Studied
Hearing Scheduled for
Friday by WFA

In expectation Of the rollback In
food prices June l, the War Food
Administration has called a public
hearing of Federal milk marketing
administrators to work out subsidy
plan for maintaining the producer
price of milk.
The hearing will be held Friday in
the Agriculture Department.
VIA officials explained that milk
prices usually are based on butter
quotations. and that if the Ofiice of
Price Administrations rollback is
put into operation for butter, milk
prices will be affected.
Farmers would then be faced with
lower prices for their milk, unless
the Government moved in to assure
them a supporting price.
Market administrators from %
areas through the country will con-
slider an amendment to existing
marketing agreements whereby they
could use the average market price
quotations plus subsidy payments.
This would take care of any contin-
gencies arising in the future, VIA
said.
The announcement said the pro-
posed amendment would have no
influence on retail milk prices.
Evening star., 1943-05-25

Yager said. and bombed the sisters
compound only three days after the
flyers left.
Gen. Doolittle's group was met at
Nanchang by Father bunker, who,
with the aid of Chinese, had brought
1t. Watson and his crew 40 miles
across mountains to Dr. HON.
berger, who was working in the hos
pital for the Irish fathers.
Father Yager said that only about
two weeks after the last Americans
left Ying-tan japanese forces ap-
peared from the west. Bishop
Quinn, eight American priests and
five sisters retreated into the hills
with about 300 villagers, but Father
Humbert Verdini, an Italian Vincen-
tian priest. received promise of
protection from the Chinese magis-
trate and remained at work in Yu-
kiang.
26 Mission Towns Occupied.
Chinese forces were quickly cut
down, Father Yager said, and the
Japanese occupied 26 mission towns.
After the japanese withdrawal.
Father Yager said, Bishop Quinn
found nothing but destruction and
desolation. The whole countryside
reeked of death in every form"
Father Verdini was never found.
Searchers found his sun helmet and
muddy jacket near a pond in the
rear of a compound lined with
human bones.
Father Poizat. a French priest, was
found beaten and stabbed and later
died. A Chinese priest, Father
KWei, had been beheaded. Churches
and homes of the mission were, de-
stroyed. Mission property destroyed
was valued at more than $1,000. 900
in the one area, and homes and pos
sessions of the Chinese in towns and
villages of the area were destroyed,
Father Yager said.
During the occupation the Jap
anese questioned the Chinese closely
for information of the American
flyers and the priests who befriended
them, and Father bunker and the
injured flyer were particularly
sought. DR.. Homberger had received
rough treatment although he carried
a German passport.
Evening star., 1943-05-25


delegates were being denied free eae-
cess to the daily press, when the
press was critical Of the conference.
L. M. Smith, who has been con-
Quoting an informal investigation
Of the conference, said here yester-
day he had definite information"
that the parley was working on q
proposal to establish an international
body with sovereign powers" over
individual nations.
In q statement to reporters Mr..
Smith said such q proposal is to be
submitted to the conference execu-
tive committee. The international
body would have powers over food
prices. production md distribution;
he added.
Evening star., 1943-05-25
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ST. LOUIS, Mo, May 25.-Tor-
ture, murder and other forms of
savagery were inflicted by the Jap
anese on Chinese civilians in the
area of Northeastern Kiangsi
Province In which American flyers
landed after bombing Toxic April
l8, 1942, an American missionary
priest who was working there at the
time said today.
The account of the ruthless
methods Of the Japanese expedition
which invaded the area searching
for Maj. Gen. James H. Doolittle
and his men was given by Father
George Yager of the China Mission
of. the Vincentian Order. He, two
other priests and five American Sis
ters of Charity reached the Western
Hemisphere after five months jour-
ney. They brought out with them
photographs of the widespread de-
struction.
Describing Japanese raids on 26
towns in their search for the Amer
ican flyers. Father Yager said muir
der and destruction we're the gen.
eral rule throughout the occupied
section"
Yukiang was burned, its hospital
with it, he said.
. Bestiality Beyond Imagination.
Although the Japanese had their
choice Of two objectives, the air
field and 200 miles of railroad, the
general conduct of the raid was
punitive" he declared. The be-
stiality of the action cannot be i'm
agined by civilized people.
Poor country people who STAYED
on, hoping to be allowed to con-
tinue working their fields, had been
savagely tortured and put to death.
From some of them who escaped we
heard stories too brutal and savage
to relate.
Just one charge was not heard
cannibalism." -.
Bishop Charles Quinn of Los
Angeles and his 18 American. S Eu-
ropean and 33 Chinese Vincentian
priests and S American Sisters of
Charity were scattered over the area
Gen. Doolittle and his crew landed
near Shang-Yoo.
The second crew jumped near
1hwang, where Fathers Wendelin.
bunker and Lee Moore were sta
toned. They remained for several
days with Father bunker at his mis-
sion until 1t. Harold F.. Watson, who
was injured, had recovered sufa-
ciently to travel.
Sheltered by Priests and Nuns.
Another crew bailed out near
Poyang, where the Dutch father and
Sisters of Charity fed 1t. (now cap
tainD Edgar D. McElroy and his crew.
1t. McElroy and his companions
were entertained at Ying-tan by
Father william Glynn of Chicago
until they could get a train to the
north.
At Ying-tan they learned one
crew had been captured at Nam
chang, a fate they themselves es-
capped by 50 miles,.
Japanese 'obserxetion planes had
been making daily patrols, Father
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Allied Planes Head
Across Channel 10
Resume Offensive
Roid on France Indicted,
Big Bombers Idle After
Assault on Dortmund
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, May 25.-A strong
force Of Allied warplanes headed
across the Channel this morning
to resume by daylight the Allied
offensive which reached its peak
Sunday night in a record break
ing RAF assault on Dortmund.
The course followed by the day.
light raiders indicated they would
hit the French coast somewhere be-
tween Dieppe and Boulogne.
During the night RAF fighters
were over northern France on small
scale intruder patrols, but the Brit
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Australia to Represent
Polish Reqime in Soviet
BY the Associated Press,

BY The Associated Press.
CANBERRA, Australia, May 25.-
Prime Minister John Curtin an
nounced today that the Australian
Legation in Moscow had agreed to
represent Polish interests in Rus
sia, which recently severed diplo-
matte relations with the Polish gov
ernment-in-exile in London.
The arrangement was effected
with the full knowledge and ap-
proval Of President Roosevelt and
Prime Minister Churchill, Mr.. Cur
tin said.I,
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Ground Lu|| Unbroken
Air War Continues
On Soviet Front
Sporotic Artillery Fire
And Scouting Reported
Along Some Sectors
BY the Associated Press.

DS liie hSSOtihpSu EIeSs.
MOSCOW, May 25.-Although
sporadic artillery fire and scout
ing was reported along some sec
tors of the Russian front today,
the significant lull which has
prevailed generally remained un-
broken and the air war contin-
ued to be the battle of the
moment.
Both the German and Soviet
ground and air forces were hacking
away at transport and communica-
ton facilities, but it was obvious
that the opposing armies were get
ting large quantities OF supplies
through to strategic sectors in prep
aration for the summer campaign.
The Red Army held stubbornly
to newly won lines west of the
Donets River near Lisichansk and
northeast of Novorossisk in the
Kuban, but there have been no
major changes along the long front
in number of days.
Renewed reconnaissance indicated
that the commanders on both sides
had ordered constant scouting
against the possibility of surprise
major assault, but the chance of
catching either of guard was con-
sidered remote In view of the short
nights and long spring days.
(sharp artillery action oc-
CURED during the night along
| the south-central front from
| Sevsk, northwest OF Kharkov,
down the Donets River to the
lower front northeast of Novo-
rossisk, said the midday commu-
nique as broadcast from Moscow
and recorded by the Soviet moni-
tor in London.)
Air battles south Of Rostov and
on the far Arctic front were
described in the midnight COM
munique. Thirteen Nazi bombers
were downed on the Rostov front
against a loss of three Russian
planes, while artillery fire downed
10 and drove off 28 craft in a raid
on the Rybachi Peninsula area in
the far north near Petsamo. it said.
German reconnaissance units near
Rostov were repulsed and numerous
German blockhouses. pillboxes and
gun positions along the front were
smashed by artillery fire, the mid
night communique said
Russian guerrillas continued raids
deep behind German lines. front
line dispatches said. wrecking a
German train with % cars In the
Crimea.
The Tuesday German communique
as broadcast from Berlin and record
ed by the Associated Press said
strong German shocktroop forays
were carried out successfully on
several sectors of the Russian front.
German planes heavily raided
railway stations and industries be-
hind the lines, it said. and it was
claimed that 10 out OF II Russian
planes attempting to raid a German
air base were shot down.
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Congress in Brief
BY the Associated Press

Senate:
In recess until Thursday.
Senate and House conferees con-
tinue efforts to agree on pay-as-you-
60 tax bill.
Senate Agriculture Subcommittee
investigates roll-back Of price SUBJ
sides. =
House:
Votes on bill tc outlaw poll taxes.
Small Business Committee quizzes
OPA on b6smess practices.
Evening star., 1943-05-25

Allied Heavy Bombers
Deal Major Blow 10
jap Base al RabauI
Huge. Fires Set Off
Among Parked. Planes
Concentrated There

BY the Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
AUSTRALIA, May 25.- Heavy
weights of the Allied aerial force
teamed up yesterday in a major
blow at the strong japanese base
at Rabaul, New Britain.
Towering fires were kindled among
parked aircraft by the 16 tons or
more of explosives and incendiaries
dropped by successive flights Of Fly
ing Foruresses and Liberators. Re-
turning pilots said the glare Of the
flames still could be seen 80 min
utes later when they were 100 miles
away.
Rabaul, located on Blanche Bay
at the northern tip Of New Britain
has been described as the most pow
erful japanese stronghold, next to
the key naval base at Truk, in that
sector of the Southwest Pacific.
Concentration of Planes.
Reconnaissance planes had spotted
what was described by spokesman
at Gen. Douglas Macarthur head
quarters as large concentration of
enemy medium bombers and fight
ers at Rabaul
Flying Fortresses struck first,
shortly after midnight. They re-
manned over the target area As
minutes. Twenty minutes after the
Bits had departed, the Liberators
reached the target area and bombed
it for half hour.
Three airdromes-Vunakan La
kunal and Rapopo-and the Sui
phur Creek seaplane base all were
hit. The communique mentioned no
Allied losses in the Rabaul raid.
Gasmata, the other principal Jap
anese base on New Britain, was
bombed for the 18th day in a row
Mitchells dropped bombs in the dis
persal areas, but results were not
reported.
Timor Airdrome Attacked.
Far to the west another forma-
tion OF Mitchells attacked Penfoei
alrdrome at Koepang, Timor. Fires
started in the dispersal areas were
visible 80 miles away.
Boston medium bombers made
dawn attack on Lac, New Guinea
causing large explosions and fires.
A gunner on one of the planes was
killed and another crew member
was injured by an aircraft
Shell which exploded in the ship.
Two Liberators bombed Finsch-
hafen and two nearby villages in
daylight attack and a single Cata-
lima followed up with a night raid
on the same detectives.
Evening star., 1943-05-25
Japanese Wreck Chinese Area
Which Sheltered DooIittIe's Men
Priest Returns With Story of Torture
And Murder of Those Who Aided FLYERS

Editors Note: Father George
Yager of the China Mission OF
the Vincentian Order Uas in the
Chinese territory in ,Uhich some
OF Maj. Gen. James II. Doolittles
Toxic raiders landed. He Uit-
messed the devastation left by
the japanese in their search for
the American flyers and persons
Uho sheltered them. Father
Ydger has returned to the United
States, and his account is the
first to come from inside the
area
Milford chronicle., 1943-02-19
GREENWOOD

Mr.. and Mrs. Lawrence Graham
entertained the members of Glass
No. of Grace Methodist Church
at their home on Tuesday evening
of last week.
On Wednesday evening. Mr.. and
Mrs. Edgar Morris entertained the
members of the Sunshine Glass of
Greenwood Methodist Church at
their home near town.
On Friday evening, February 19,
the members of the Sunshine Glass
are entertaining the members of
Glass No. at the Firemen's Build
ing.
Mrs. w. Paul Lord entertained
the members of her bridge club
Monday night The guests were
Miss Marie Slobaski, Mrs. Walter
Lyons. Mrs. Charles Prettyman,-
Mrs. Norbert Porter, Mrs. Morris
Meredith, Miss Jean Houseman and
Miss Florence Long.
Mrs. J. l.. Jones and small son.
Barry Wendell, returned from Mil
ford Memorial Hospital to the par
sonage last Friday afternoon. They
are doing splendidly.
MedfOrd Smith who has been very