davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-24
REDS MAY PLAN
FINLAND RAID

Stockholm, March 24-(UP)--AEil-
itary quarters believed today that
the Russians are planning heavy
air offensive on southern Finland
this spring and summer, particularly
against the German supply ports q
Helsinki, Kotka, Lovisa and Fred~
rikShamn.
The Soviets have been constantly
increasing their attacks on Finnish
cities and their bombing Of Helsinll
last Saturday night was believed to
have been the heaviest Of the war.
The recent raids have been carr
ried out In bright moonlight. ana
while they are expected to continue
during the lunar season, 1t was be-
lieved the attacks would be pressed
partly for a psychological effect On
the Firms.
Observers, pointing out that the
Russians last year confined cir OPP
erations to hit-run raids and recon@
naissance, said the current attack e
a confirmation Of growing 6Oviee
air strength.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-24
New American Planes,
Carrying More Bombs
Than Fortresses, Ready
Youths Deliberately
Start Factory Fire
Early Discovery Of Old Webb Shop Attempt Prevents
Serious Blaze; State Trooper, Police Assisting
Firemen in Investigation Today

A fire deliberately started by O
group Of boys in the old Webb Shop
of Mill street last night, which au-
thorities declare would have de-
yeloped into q blaze 0f serious pro-
portions except for an early dis
covery was being investigated by
officials of the police and fire de-
partments today.
According to Fire Marshal Den
Lahey. the fire was set In the attic
Of the building between and 8
o'clock last night by a number OF
boys who carried large paper car
ton up an outside stairway, and
lighted 1t inside,
The fire was discovered by An
drew Sepe, driver for the Superior
Mattress Company, which occupies
the third floor Of the building, the
Marshal said. Sepe ran upstairs
with FIRE extinguisher which he
turned on the burning carton, and
then called the fire department.
Marshal Lahey and Deputy Fire
Chief Stephen Bloomfield conducted
q preliminary investigation, which
was continued this morning with
the assistance Of Detective Leuten-
ant Henry johnson OF the police de-
partment. State Trooper Edward
Casey Of the Bethany barracks, and
Private Jerry Griffin Of the mar
SharS STAFF.
The building is four story struc-
As,,.n ~ x,,nos1 oSad 1AViNls 1nrakad IN n
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-24
HIGHER MILK
CEILING ASKED
SOuthbury Legislator in
House Today Makes
Plea for Dairymen

Hartford, Conn.,, March 24.-(UP)
Rep. Robert G. Mitchell, r., South
bury, offered resolution in the
House today calling upon Secretary
Of Agriculture Claude r. Wickard,
the OPA and other governmental
agencies controlling foodstuffs, to
put a higher ceiling on milk to make
it possible for Connecticut dairy
farmers to meet production costs
and to continue in business"
The resolution, referred to the
agriculture committee, said "the
food situation grows more acute
daily" and declared that dairy
farmers were being forced out Of
business for lack Of labor, feed and
fertilizers.
Immediate action must be taken
to give encouragement to our re-
manning dairy farmers" II said.
The Senate Judiciary COMMITTEES
reported favorably on bill to oct
up q commission Of ten members to
study reorganization Of the states
judicial department and report Jan.
/, 1945 on q legislative program.
The same committee favored rati-
fication Of Carl A. Lundgren and
Albert 3. Gardella as Arsonia city
court judges.
The House judiciary, meanwhile,
approved of John j. Casale and Hen
ry G. Ellis as Torrington city court
judges.
The Senate motor vehicles COM
mittee reported unfavorably on q
bill setting up a 50-miles-an-hour
speed limit, and 35-miles -an-hour in
congested areas.
The House passed q bill authoriz-
ing the governor to declare bank
holidays in case Of wartime emer-
gencies such as enemy action, or
shortages of fuel, food, labor or
transportation. It also approved o
bill calling for the reinstatement of
state employees in their old jobs af-
ter completing service as bridge
guards.
fNnnkfn1Yara m Dana Az
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-24
Builders, Contractors
Meet FILA Authorities
Waterbmians Made Acquainted With Available Gov.
eminent PriOrities Under Private Housing Section;
Walsh Presides at Farley
(NEA Telephoto)

Local builders and contractors met
with representatives Of the Federal
Housing Authority yesterday In this
city, 1t was learned today by The
Democrat. The purpose Of the ses-
sion, according to reports, was to
acquaint the local building trades
with the available government pri-
critics under the private housing
section.
Some time ago 1t was announced
that as Of January Of this year 200
more units had been assigned to the
Waterbury area.
Yesterday Daniel G. Walsh Of the
Hartford office of the FILA con-
ferred with a large number of build
ers on the availability Of priorities
and the governmental restrictions
on the same.
Originally the FILA assigned 372
units to the Waterbury area for
private home construction but as Of
January increased this total Of 572.
According to figures given out re-
Gently by Waterbury's War Housing
Unit Committee practically all Of
the 372 units had been taken
up or applications were on file Tor
the same.
This type of housing provides that
homes must be rented for period
of at least four months before a
sale may be made. 1t is further
stipulated that occupants must be
classified as Immigrant workers.
At q recent meeting Of the local
War Housing Unit Committee men,
bers voiced the opinion that efforts
should be made to encourage as
much private home construction 10
cally as was possible under the gov
eminent restrictions.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-24

CALLED ILLEGAL
Prosecution in COcOanut
Grove Fire Trial So
Charges Today

Boston, March 24.-(UP) - The
prosecution at the Cocoanut Grove
manslaughter trial sought today to
establish that all alterations made
in the basement Of the night club
between 1928 and last Nov. %
when a holocaust killed 491 per-
sons-were illegal.
This was brought out through the
testimony Of John H. Glover Of
Brighton. chief clerk Of the city
building department, who submit
ted architectural plans for altera-
ton permits for the Cocoanut
Grove.
Four permits granted between
Aug. ~, 1912 and Sept. /, 1912, for
alterations on the clubs premises
at SO and IS Broadway and II Pied
mont street, and 6 Shawmut street
were exhibited. It was testified,
however, that there were no appli-
cations for permits on record for
alterations OF the basement at 17-19
Piedmont street. 1t was In a re-
modelled basement cocktail lounge
that many Of the guests persisted
when fire and panic swept the club.
Barnett Welansky, Club owner,
his brother, James, and wine stew
ard Jacob Goldfine are the defend
ants.
over the objections Of defense
counsel, there was exhibited the
architectural plan accompanying q
vNary,it fnY. the installation of an alls
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-24
BLAZE DESTROYS
BIG LUMBER YARD

Quincy. Mass, March "a - U.P)
An investigation to determine the
origin Of a @250,00O fire at New
England's largest lumber yard will
be held today by State Fire Mar.
shall Stephen @. Clarity and Fire
Chief William J. Sands.
Nine New Haven Railroad trains.
three Boston outbound and six Bos-
ton inbound. were halted because Of
the blaze which destroyed g 600-foot
one and Q half story wooden build
ing at the L. Grossman Sons, Inc.
lumber yard last night. In the
building were priority stocks Of In.
sulating materials. tile. IRE brick,
plywood, cement mixing materials
and q considerable amount Of I'M
ished lumber.
These materials and pipe shop
In the basement Of the building
were q total loss. Millions Of feet 81
lumber stored IN the yard was
threatened by the IRE. Firemen
from Boston, Braintree. Weymouth
came to the aid Of local firefnen
after q general alarm was sounded.
A Navy shorep atrOl aided them IN
laying lines across the railroad
tracks nearby.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-24

Cairo, March 24.--(UP)-The rap
idly growing Raj transport and
ferry command, which played 8
notable part in the Egyptian and
Libyan campaigns, still Is feeding
supplies to the British eighth army
in the Tunisian offensive. its lead
er, Air Commodore w. whitney
Straight disclosed today.
Straight, Q native New Yorker,
who became O British subject when
he was q, has been potent force in
developing the system, which Is OPP
Grated by the RAJ and the Ninth
u. s. Air Force.
During one Of the expeditions. he
ruveafoE tka kyanspoEtA catwitfea
the desert fox Marshal &win
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-24
Green, MURRAY
BEFORE SENATE
Labor Unions Presidents
First Witnesses Today
at Open Hearings
BY JOHN L. CUTTER
United Press STAR Correspondent

washington, March "a - (U.P0-
President Philip Murray Of the Con-
gress Of Industrial Organizations
called for prompt enactment Of the
Tolan-P Pepper Kilgore War MOBILIZE
alton bill today as the most effec-
tive method Of bringing all the ma
TONS material and human re-
sources into the war effort.
Murray told the senate's Truman
committee that the CIO Is ''linalter.
ably opposed" to the Austin ads.
worth National service bill, now be-
ing considered by the Senate Mill
tary Affairs Committee.
He was the first witness as the
committee began q three-day in.
curry into labor's part In the war
effort. President William Green Of
the American Federation Of Labor
Murray declared that lack Of @
coordinated program for the most
effective utilization OF all the ma
TONS resources has been the chief
hindrance to the war effort to date.
The CIO, he said, has been urging
O coordinated overall program
since long before Pearl Harbor.
I'VE have reached the stage where
we must recognize that our nation
must be organized as o unified pro-
duction and military unit" he said.
National mobilization demands a
nationwide planning and utilization
Of all the material and human re.
sources Of the nation.
ut is automatic that such nation
al mobilization requires central
lied civilian coordinated policy Of all
the resources and economic policies
Of the nation. It is therefore our
considered Judgment that to meet
our obligations and the needs Of the
United Nations, this congress should
swiftly enact into law the Tolan-
Pepper Kilgore bill"
That bill would provide for estab-
lishment Of board Of war mobiliZ-
alton to coordinate and supervise
production, manpower and related
problems in connection with the
war effort. The Austin Wordsworth
bill, to which Murray objected Wig
orously, would empower the govern
ment to move workers to Jobs where
they could contribute most to the
war effort.
Murray said the nation still Is far
short Of total mobilization, and that
there Is confusing overlapping Of
administrative agencies.
1.-THE War Production Board Is
supposed to have control over pro-
duction Of essential civilian goods
Continued on Page ~
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-24
Fierce Fighting Against
American Positions in
Tunisia Continues
RING CLOSING IN ON
ROMMEL FAMED KORPS
Churchill Warns More Bit.
ter Battles Face Brit
ish, Uncle Sam
BY VIRGIL PINKLEY
UNITED Press staff Correspondent


Allied Headquarters, North
Africa, March "a. - CUP -
German counter-attacks at
the Mareth Line and against
American positions in south
central TuniSia have been
repulsed in fierce fighting,
an Allied headquarters COM
munique said today. lin
London, Preme Minister
winston Churchill told commons
that the German attacks had all
but wiped out the bridgehead that
the British Eight Army had made
In the Mareth Line. '"The latest
information from the Maretll front"
he said in response to O question,
shows that the Germans by colln-
ter-attacks have regained the greater
part of the bridgehead which had
been stormed and that their main
line Of defense in that quarter has
been largely restored.
''It Is my duty to let the house
and the country know that this
great battle now proceeding In Tu-
nisia has by no means reached Its
climax and that very much hard
fighting still lies before the Brit
ish and United States forces"
Apparent Discrepancy
Uondon circles were puzzled
over the apparent discrepancy be-
tween Churchill'S statement and
reports today from North Africa,
which did not concede any import
ant German successes. London
newspapers led their North African
dispatches with Churchill's state
ment, followed 1t with the COM
n1unique and then appended o par
agraph saying they did not know
whether ChurchilTs statement or
the communique represented the
latest news.)
The American column which cap
tured MaknasSy in the early stages
Of the fighting pushed on six miles
southeast Of the town, taking many
italian prisoners. The Americans
now are only % miles from the i'm
portant GabeS- Mareth coastal road.
CONTINUED on Page y
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-24
Raj Transport Feeds
Supplies To British

Rommel, and set up q secret air
base 200 miles behind the German
lines south Of Benghaz.
From the secret base, Raj fight
ers harassed the Axis columns from
the rear leaving the troops flabber-
gasted. While the Germans were
frantically looking for the base. the
transports moved in and transferred
the installations to another loca-
ton.
During the race across the African
desert. Straight said, the transports
moved more than $50 tons Of freight
In less than 100 Douglas, Hudson,
Iockheed and ancient Bombay
planes and also . captured Junkers
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-24
Practicability Of Hlgb
Level Bombing By Day.
light Proven
BRITISH TO CONTINUE
OFFENSIVE BY NIGHT
Eaker Claims Loss OF Less
Than 90 FOrtresses 10
$50 Enemy Aircraft

London, March "a.
CUP - New, bigger and
faster American bombers
which will carry three Or
four times the bomb weight
of the present Flying For
treSses soon will be thrown
into a "round the clock
bombardment of Europe.
Major Ira c. Eaker said to-
day. Eaker, commander Of
the United States Army Air
Force In Britain, made the disclos~
ure in announcing that the Flyin9
Fortresses and Liberators had
proved the practicability Of high
level precision bombing by daylight.
Eaker's force now is ready to
build up to q striking power on q
par with that Of the Royal Air
Force, he said, and to begin the
sustained offensive In which the
Americans will strike at Europe ~
day and the British by night.
Eaker disclosed no further apec14
fications Of the new AnericaN
bonfbers which will outreach end
outcarry the Flying FortresseE,
which have a bomb capacity Of three
or four tons at an extreme range
of about 1000 miles.
Experiments Ended
The experimental period IN whIci
the heavy American bombers Prov
ed their ability to fiy alone and
ward of enemy fighters has ended
Eaker said.
He revealed that fortresses and
Liberators destroyed So German
fighters, probably 20 more, and dame
aged 23 In the record raid on Vege-
sack last week, and followed Ilu
Monday in the Wilhelmshaven at
tack with 20 destroyed, nine prob
ably destroyed and nine damaged.
There has been lots OF discuss
sion as to whether our claims are
creditable," Eaker said. IT am quite
certain our claims are high. In fact,
I have no doubt they are.
"There is no way to check them
exactly, but any enemy plane ct
lacking our formations Is fired on
by several ships. all of which claim
him. The important thing to re-
member Is that claims don't make
the slightest difference. The enemy
knows how many of his craft We
knocked down, and 1t doesn't make
any difference what we say"
Already, he said, the Germans
are struggling for an answer to the
Flying Fortresses, and the types ooe
aircraft they are sending against
them us one indication of how bads
ly they have been forced to stretch
Continued on Page a
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-24
WATERBURY PLAN
SUBMITTED TO VINO
No Disclosure of Stabiliza-
ton Date for Brass City
Area Made

waterbury's sterilization plan
will be submitted to the War Man
power Commission regional head
quarters In Boston today, 1t was re-
vealed by Mrs. Mary M. Dewey,
deputy director for the area, who
supervised the local labor-manage-
ment committees formulation Of the
plan. No disclosure Of the STABILIZE
alton date for the Waterbury area
was made, but 1t Is believed 1t will
not come until after the 48-hour
minimum work week program is in
satisfactory working shape.
Considerable speculation has been
aroused over the job categories to
be included In the sterilization Or
der, but the job-shifting noted when
the sterilization plans were first
announced in Washington has sub
sided. Under the new program.
workers will have to obtain "certi-
ficates of availability" before going
from one job to another. Such Ger
tificates will be issued only for
strictly limited reasons, all based on
greater utilization Of manpower for
war production.
Urging immediate submission Of
48-hour work week plans, Mrs.
Dewey said today, For the duration
Of the war no plant, factory or
other place of employment shall be
deemed to be making the most ef-
fective utilization of its n1anpower
II the minimum work week is less
than AZ hours" Unless an employer
reports to the VINO before March
81 or in the excluded" category, 1t
win be assumed, she said. that 1t Is
operating under the 48-hour law.
Reminding that employers who do
not comply to the law will be un-
able to obtain new workers, Mrs.
Dewey said compliance must be com
pleted. If a factory operates under
the 40 hour schedule but its ONCE
workers continue on q schedule in
fewer hours, recruitment Of
workers will cease for the factory
as well as the once, she explained.
All difficulties in applying the g.
hour work week order must be re.
ported to the VINO ONCE by the
March 81 deadiue, the director
stated.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-24
BRITISH, GERMANS
TRADE AIR BLOWS
One Plane Sweeps Over
Port of Bremen at Roof
Top Level

London. March 24-(UP)-British
and German planes traded blows
across the English channel today
with the lifting Of fog that had
cloaked the Strtaits for nearly q
week.
The daylight raids followed at
tacks by British fighters and fight
er-bombers on eight trains and
other railway targets in northwest
Germany and occupied France last
night.
British planes crossed and re-
crossed the southeast coast for
nearly two hours this morning, fly
ing at great height to take advan-
tage Of heavy cloud cover. Later
bomb explosions and gunfire were
heard from the direction Of the
French coast between Boulogne and
Dieppe.
German raiders killed about Q
dozen persons and injured others in
q bombing and strafing raid on q
England town. The
planes approached the town from
out Of the sun.
At least two German planes were
shot down.
The fighter command took over
the aerial offensive last night.
one plane swept over the north.
west German port Of Bremen at low
level, at one time dropping TO roof
top level to escape intense anti-air-
craft fire. When he landed, the pi-
lot found q length Of wire had cut
Into the leadng edge Of his star.
board wing. One plane was lost.
The weather was too had, however.
for Britain's four-engined bombers
10 venture over the continent,
though some bombers laid mines in
enemy waters. Neither were there
any German raids on Britain during
The hours q darkness.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-24

predicted an average consumer
might choose each week about two
pounds Of meat, tllree-fourthS OF
q pound Of butter and cooking fats,
and two ounces Of cheese, but
thrifty housewives, In buying their
weekly meat supplies, viii be wise
to consider the rib-sticking qualities
Of what they purchase above It's
palate tickling properties, because
such items as steak, center cut pork
chops, loin lamb chops and bacon,
even II your butcher has them, will
use UP points at the rate Of eight
O pound. The honelier items, such
as runnp roast and hamburger, will
cost only five. And pigs ears viii
set you back only one point a pound.
OPA officials said point values
were set as far as possible on O
basis of supply and known consumer
preferences. Adjustments, 1t was
indicated, probably will be made
each month as supply and demand
change. Every civilian, Of what
ever age, will have q weekly allot-
ment Of 16 points, made up Of red
stamps in war ration book No. p
the same book whose blue stamps
already are being used in the ration
ing Of canned and processed foods.
The 16 points must cover all meat,
(C0nkinued on Page ~
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-24
JAPANESE SAILOR
CHOKED BY YOUTH
So. Carolina Coast Guards
nlan Wins GnadalCanal
Water Fight

Hoston, March 24-(UP)-Wound-
C and thrown overheard when his
transport sank, a 2S-year-old Coast
Guardsnlan choked and drowned q
Japanese sailor after q terrific strug-
gle Ia Guadalcanal waters. the First
Naval District disclosed today.
Machinist Mate George T. Rhodes
Of Awendaw, s. c., told how despite
three shrapnel wounds he swan to
aid 9 struggling figure he nistook
for q shipmate. in the dark.
A sudden burst of flame from MS
burning ship identified the swimmer
as q Japanese seconds before the
figure grabbed his throat and at
tempted to tear on his lfeJacket.
II was weak from loss OF BLOOD
and couldn't do much at frst,"
Rhodes said. I'VE fought In the
water and under It for ! don't know
how long and I could hear him
muttering In Japanese. /.
Rhodes said he finally loOseneo
the japanese sailors leechlike grip
and swung at him with his INST.
at was kind Of hard swinging IN
the water with my lifejacket on but
managed 10 give lin o good wal.
lop on the chin and he gurgled ana
went down." That's the last I saw
Of him." Rhodes added.
After he saw the japanese sink,
Rhodes said, he didn't feel so well
but realized that he had TO swim out
Of the way Of cruising sharks TO .
liferaft. -.
AS soon as he reached the life
raft some hours later, searchlignts
from japanese warships concentrat-
ed or Il, and Rhodes and three
companions had to dive overheard
to escape q rain OF machine gun,
shell and mortar are.
Il was only after an INVASION
boat picked them up Ct dawn tnat
-. sa,,.,..a -. Eann,n a.