davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15
BANDITS ESCAPE
WITH $1,000 LOOT
Pair Solve Providence
Waldorf Restaurant
Safe Combination

Providence, r. l., Feb. 15.--(UP)-
Two masked and pistol-toting rob-
bers imprisoned two employees in a
cellare storage cage OF a Waldorf
restaurant early today, successfully
solved the combination OF safe
and escaped with $1,000 In bills
Of small denomination.
Only meagre description was
obtained of the pair who discarded
their masks In the rear Of the build
ing and apparently fled on foot.
The robbery occurred half hour
after the restaurant closed when
Arthur Ploude. ~. descinded 10 the
cellar and was confronted by
masked man. At pistol point,
Ploude was forced into the wire
storage cage and ordered 10 call his
assistant. Raymond Bachelor, ~,
Bachelor proceeded 10 the CELLAR
and gFappled with the masked man
but was felled BY q blow from the
gun butt Of tha second rohheF who
appeared from the shadows. hachel-
IeF vas dragged into the cage with
Pl0ude and the door was locked,
The robbers assembled 70 the res.
tamrant, manipulated the safe dial
until they found the combination
and fed with the eaah altar warn-
ms the restaurant workers % be
alilef.
ThelF victims plight WnH dlseoy.
erred nearly an hour later when 4
lrneklnan entered llle cellar 10 MAKE
delivery
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15
FUEL SHORTAGE
IS WORST EVER
Oil Relief Promises From
State Authorities Moth.
ing But Promises

The coolest wave In the recent
history Of waterbury coupled with
the worst shortage Of fuel oil this
city has ever known Is driving many
families from what were warm
dwellings. However, there Is little
prospect that enough oil can arrive
immediately to relieve the situation
The temperature began to drop
steadily last night and at 2 q. m. II
began to plunge from degrees be-
low to IS, always keeping within
those. figures.
state authorities continued Il
promise fuel oil to relieve the situa-
tion, but local officials said they
are tired Of receiving promises Of
more oil but shipments Of less. Fuel
Administrator Wesley A. Sturges re-
ported that a supply Of oil was ex-
pected yesterday. lie attributed this
to poor weather conditions, which
held up rail and barge shipments.
waterbury will see very little relief
as far as oil arriving here is con-
cerned, said o local authority who
wished to have his name withheld
from print. "The situation Is bad
and It's about time the people Of
waterbury realized that there won 7
be letup until spring" he said
"A shipment Of 5000 gallons Is ex-
pected from Derby, $500 from
Continued on Page Al
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15
Is CASES OF
FROSTBITE HERE

Authorities at st. Mary's hos
pitaI at noon today reported
twenty-five cases Of frost-bite---
all Of them nIpped ears-and all
Of them discharged after treat
ment. Believed TO have estab-
llshed a record for any cOmpara-
tive period, the twenty-five Vic
Tins OF the Intense cold wave now
gripping the city were all admit
ted between eight o'clock this
( morning and noon No severe
cases Of exposure were reported.
Waterbury hospital reported no
admittances Of any kind due to
the cold.
Mayor Thomas ]. Spellacy order
ed three large school building'
equipped with cots, cooking facili'
ties and other equipment to house
families In need Of shelter ant
warmth. :,
At Waterbury, churches were HEX
open to admit any families lef'
without heating fuel.
MeanCllne, GOVeruOr 6dAuWAA
mobilized q fleet Of 80 trucks to g
to Albany, N. Y, to pick up ESQ.,
900 gallons Of kerosene and return
It to the Hartford area, which hae
Just about exhausted Its supplies
Governor Baldwin said the stat'
would pay the cost Of the trucks
which will be escorted by stat'
police.
Public officials appealed to fam
ilies which had some extra fuel sup
plies to turn them over to families
without fuel. Emergency telephone
centers were set up to handle do
nations and appeals.
One Death
Boston, Feb. l5-Three deaths ailt
scores Of cases Of frostbite were re-
ported today as New England ex'
perienced its most frigid weather
in nine years and the second wors
cold wave in the history of the
weather bureau.
CONTINUED on Page ~
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15
CANDHI SUFFERING
NAUSEA, WEAKNESS
Sixth Day OF Fast Under
way Goat Sharing Pris-
on With Him
BY DARRELL S. BERRIAN

fUntted Press SCaxk OVEECsPOAaNa0AA"
Poona, India, Feb. Is. (UP)-
scrawny. bespectacled Mohandas K
Gandhi was suffering slight nausea
and weakness today as he began
the sixth day of his fast, wnicn
already has developed into q war
of nerves between the Indian Ma
tionalists and the British govern
ment.
His back propped up by pillows
and his thin legs comfortably
crossed, Gandhi was reading news
papers and debating letters from
his bed, in his ''prison"-the Aga
Khan's palace. -
Appeals from Hindu and other
milan leaders fdr Gandhis imme-
diate release continued to pour IN
on Lord Linlithgow, the viceroy.
Most observers believed that the
government will continue IN force
ali measures for the suppression OF
the All-India Congress partys anti
British "auit India" campaign.
with Gandhi is his wife, who has
been IN for some time: his devoted
English follower Madeline 6lade,
who 8 his secretary. All Join oaid-
III In his early morning prayers
which include selections from the
Koran and Christian hymns as wei
as well IS Hindu religious writings
Also sharing his prison Is 0and-
his goat, which normally provides
him with milk, During his present
fast, ne Is partaklng only Of water
mixed with fruit juices.
while the United Press eoFrna-
pendent was outside the Ara khans
palaces today an Indian arrived on
4 bicycle with sheayes Of green al-
faifa f0F the goat.
THE governors ~ Madras and
esnirnl provinces Were IN Rev pelhl
sunday, presumably Tor eoilieFs
anees with The vleoroY regarding
reneFcnsalons % uanahls fast. Ne
noFia from outlying districts n
fiealea fhai the only reactions have
hRen nfnSer meeting and . ieA
nenfiefN minor denons'faiipfe'
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15
SHIP
.. JOINS ALLIES
RiCheIien Arrives in New
York With Others to
Trump Killers Ace
BY MARTIN KANE

UNITED Press star Correspondent
New York, Feb. 15-(UP)-The
French battleship Richelieu, proud
est Of Frances warships, has
crossed the Atlantic and arrived In
New York with other French war
ships to join the Allied feet In a
grand sea campaign to trump Adolf
Hitler's submarine ace, 1t was dis
closed today.
The Richelieu has been In New
York bay since sometime last Thurs
day night in plain view Of thousands
Of ferry boat passengers. News Of
its arrival was withheld at the re-
guest Of the Navy.
From the shore the big battleShip
appeared to be In fighting trim. It's
name was painted on the stern in
large letters, readable from the
decks Of the Staten Island ferry
boats that piled back and forth o
few hundred yards away.
The disclosure was made by Vice
Admiral Raymond Fenard Of a
French naval mission representing
Genu. Henri Honore Giraud on
naval affairs.
The 35,0O0-ton Richelieu, which
was completed in April, 1910, must
undergo repairs before 1t can turn
CONTINUED on Page ~
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15
BITTER FIGHTING
NEAR FAID PASS
Axis Troops Trying to
Widen Corridor for ROM
mel's Retreating KOrps
BY WILLIAM b. DICKINSON
UNITED Press Staff Correspondent

BY WILLIAM b. DICKINSON
United Press staff Correspondent
London, Feb. 15-(UP)-American
forces were engaged In bitter fight
ing today In the Faid Pass area Of
central Tlnisia where Axis troops,
strongly supported by tanks and
dive-bombers, are trying to widen
the corridor through which Marshal
Erwin Rommel can retreat from the
British Eighth Army in the south.
German and italian columns at
tackled the Americans from two d.
rections in the Faid Pass sector,
which lies some go miles west Of a
line between the coastal cities OF
Sfax and Sousse. One Axis mobile
column was reported to have adj
vanced IS miles in movement
threatening the American position
at Sbeitla.
Another column drove toward Sidi
Bou lid and forced an American
unit to Withdraw westward to avoid
enlightenment.
The Axis attacks seemed to be a
desperate action to protect the left
flank of the remnants of the Ger
man Afrika Korps which had been
chased out of Libya and were fall
ing back from the slow but steady
advance of Gen. Sir Bernard l..
Montgomery's Eighth Army.
The main body of the Eighth
Army had driven along the Tunisian
coast farther toward Ben Gardane,
10 miles inside Tunisia from the
Libyan border.
The American troops had TO fall
back in the Faid Pass area to keep
from being outflanked on the bar
rem terrain. highly suitable for tank
warfare. The Axis attacks also
were menacing the Allied position
at Gafsa. 10 miles west Of the Gulf
of Gabes.
American bombers and fighter
planes kept up furious raids on
Axis troops and vehicle concen-
CONTINUED on Page ~
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15
MILAN, SPEz|A
BOMBED BY Raj
Cologne Also Hit in Double
Attack Which Cost Brit.
+ ish III Planes
BY SIDNEY ]. WILLIAMS
UNITED Press Staff Correspondent

London, Feb. 15.-(UP)-Royal Air
Force bombers dealt a double attack
against the Axis last night with
block-buster raid on Cologne and
an assault on two important italian
war centers Milan and the great
naval base at Spezia.
A tremendous weight of three
tonners and incendiaries crashed on
Cologne. 1t was the 18th raid of
the war against that German city,
which last year underwent a 1000?
plane attack by the Raj.
Eleven British planes are missing
from the operations over Germany
and Italy, an air ministry COM
munique said.
A British air ministry communique
said that bombs were dropped on
Spezia, a naval base which nestles
in q natural harbor south of the
Milan section. The attack on Milan
was the 14th since the start Of the
war. The italian communique,
broadcast by Radio Rome, said 16
persons were killed and 22' injured
at Milan. The Italians conceded
that great damage was done, and
said two British bomberS had been
shot down.
Large fires sprang up among air
plane plants and munitions works
after the bombs 1eil at Milan, 1t was
said.
The attacks climaxed weekend
of intensive bombing of Europe by
Allied planes based both in North
Africa and Britain American bomb
ers in North Africa bombed Naples,
Continued on Page A.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15

cOmmuntque.
Swinging for a knockout blow,
Gen. Nikolai r. Vatutin's armored
and infantry forces were reported
closing In swiftly on Kharkov, in
dustrial capital of the Ukraine and
the most important German base
east of the Dnieper.
The capture of Rostov on the Don
and Voroshilovgrad in the Donets
basin, the Red army's biggest twin
victory of the war, had knocked
two Of the main props out from
under the tottering German de-
lenses, and third smashing VIC
tory at Kharkov appeared in the
making.
The Nazi command threw strong
armored and motorized forces, In
GLIDING elite IS units, into desper-
ate counter blows before Kharkov.
But In the light OF the reported mass
evacuation Of the city, their efforts
shaped up as probable rear guard
fighting to cover the retreat.
90 Tanks Smashed
As the Russians frightened their
grip on the three quarters encircled
stronghold, the heaviest battle was
reported only seven miles southeast
of the city proper in the area OF
Rogan. In three days of fighting on
that front, Soviet forces smashed
90 German tanks.
Field dispatches reported signifi-
cant gains by the Soviet spearhead
drilling III against Kharkov from
the region Of zolochev, IS miles
northwest OF the city.
Remnants of the Rostov garrison
were reported fleeing westward
along the sea Of Azov coast In
race against Soviet forces striking
southwark from the Donets basin
and threatening to cut the German
line Of retreat.
The Russian high command an
nounced in Its midday communi-
que that Red armies, had occupied
a number Of localities southwest OF
Voroshilovagrad, where they were
driving southwark toward the sea
Of Azov, to trap the remains Of
Hitlers' Rostov garrison. Nearly a
battalion Of German infantry-nor-
mally 1000 men-was wiped out IN
fierce fighting.
Unofficial reports from Stock
holm said the Russians had broken
into Stalino, great industrial town
northwest of Rostov and only IS
miles north of the Sea of AZov, and
were battling the Germans in the
StreetS.)
The sole German line on the
Donets basin northeast of Rostov
appeared to be crumbling follow
ing the capture of Rostov, Russia's
fourth largest city and gateway to
the Caucasus; Krasny-Sulin, 49
miles to the north, and Voroshilov-
(Continued on Page ~
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15
DISPATCH CLAIMS
HITLER ALL DONE
London Paper Believes
Won Mannstein Assumes
Supreme Command

London, Feb. IS -(UP)-- The
Evening Standard reported In a
Berne dispatch today that Adolf
Hitler was relinquishing supreme
command of the German armies
and turning the post over to Field
Marshal Fritz Won Mannsteir.
There was no confirmation Of the
report here, but observers said, I'VE
would not be surprised II this hap
pens or that 1t had already hap
pened."
The mounting German disaster In
Russia apparently had caused dis
sension Of some sort in the Maxi
high command. Military observers
believed Hitler might be forced 10
give up the direction Of strategy
on the eastern front. They said
indications were that the German
general staff had decided on q new
defense line based on Riga, kieV
and Odessa. That line would be
roughly $50 miles west Of KhaFkOv,
An exchange telegraph dispatch
from Zurich said Hitler was con"
tempiating formation Of q defense
council" which would involve many
changes IN the high command, In.
GLIDING the resignation Of several
well known generals,
The Evening Standards beFne
report said Hitler had called con-
ference Of ell army commanders foF
s'erlsleal consultations, and added
that the generals had agreed %
take over direction OF the eastern
front on condition that Hitler would
assume responsibility for . general
retreat. HltleF also would have Y
agree 10 4 drastic shortening Of the
lines n Russia. n was said.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15
Eight Frostbitten
In SIS, 900 Fire

Ashland, Mass, Feb. Is -
(UP)-Elght flremen suffered
frostbite and six persons fled
In 2O-bel0w- zero weather today
when q general-alarm fire de-
mOlished the century-Old Odd
Fellows building md damaged
q lodging house with loss esti-
mated at between $4,000 and
$4,000.
The blaze apparently started
In the rear Of a store on the
first floor Of the three STORY
wooden block but wind driven
sparks SpFead over o wide area
and fired the house owned by
Mrs. Anna n. Billings, 400 yards
away.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15
ARMY PRIVATE HELD
ON LARCENY CHARGE

Boston, Feb. iS.-(UP)-Poliee
today investigated the case OF an
Indianapolis. Ind. army private who
was seized on suspicion Of larceny
and who had been AWoL from
Fort DeYens for two months,
Police said the soldier admitted
stealing money and jewelry from
al least four women with whom ne
had struck acqnaintances al Fallraod
stations and with whom he bad res.
lstered At hotels under the name ol
Mr, and MFs. silk. The soldiers
nmsww was withheld,
Police said that the loot admit.
Ted by TIE soldier Included eTa from
4 manlcurist and $3.50 worth q
laualry from another woman
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15

The state defense council went on
q 24-hour basis, prepared to rush
remaining fuel supplies to any criti-
cal area at moments notice, A
pool Of fuel supplies has been Gre
ated to take care Of sections which
run out,
At Hartford, John A. North,
chairman of the Red Cross disaster
committee, asked persons who wish
ed to share their homes with FAM
lilies who have exhausted their fuel
supplies to get In touch With Red
Cross headquarters.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15
Sub-Zero Weather
Hits State; Trucks
In Albany For Fuel
Schools and Churches Utilized as Evacuation Cen
tiers; One Death Recorded in New England; Scores
ofFrostbite Cases Reported; 46 Below in NH.

Hartford Conn., Feb. 15-(UP) coolest weather
of the year reared into Connecticut today and the fuel
shortage forced officials in many cities and towns to utilize
schoohuses and churches evacuation centers to Keep
families warm The weather bureau reported Hartford tenn
peratlres at a. M were nearly is below zero, and still
FAILING The prospect was for continued subzero cold
Schools at Bloomfield and Newlngton were closed.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15
Big Allied Push Nears
Against 10000 Nazis
Including Famed Flyers
Fall Of KharkOv
At Hand; Nazis
Evacuating City
BY HEURY SHAPIRO
United Press staff CORRESPONDENT

Moscow 5-UP)-The battle for KharkOv neared climax
tank battle raging at the cy outskirts and
threatened by FIVE advancing
Red Army columns
Some competent military expected
KharkOv 10 be special
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15
BY EDWARD w. BEATTIE
UNITED Press Staff Correspondent

BY EDWARD w. BEATTIE
UNITED Press staff Correspondence
Allied North African Head
quarters, Feb. 15.-(UP)--
Commanders, intelligence Of
ficerS, Sergeants and privatea
= American, British and.
French-know the Germans
and Italians are beaten in
North Africa, but that it Is
going to be hard to convince
them of the fact.
Once the Allied machine starts
rolling, the Germans, with what
help they can get from the Italians
and few conscripts from siege
states, will never be able to stop It.
The Germans and Italians are IN
North Africa to gain time for Adolf
Hitler, while he tries to plug the
cracks appearing in his continental,
system. w
Barring successes that nobody ON
the Allied side of the front can vis-!
ualize, the Axis cannot hope for beta
ter than a bitter, defensive battle.
endin, either In desperate effort
to evacuate portion of the best
German troops, or, more probably,
last-ditch stand at various strong
points along the coast. IA
There are q total Of 10000 Axis
fighting men In Africa, including
the air force. Well over half are
Germans, and they are strong
enough to make the remainder Of
the campaign a bloody business.
perhaps as costly as Argonne Forest
was to Americans in the World
War. g
Axis Morale Weak
Axis morale in Africa has not al
ways been Of the best. There have
been many assertions of men IS
years old, with three years CAM
paigning behind them. They told
their captors that they were glad
to be finished with the Russian mud
and Tlnisian mountains.
But there can be no doubt Of the
value Of three years experience in
placing machine guns and mortars
and beating of infantry charges.
The Germans hold all the best
defensive positions from the noun
tainS in the north throughout tho
length Of the Grand Dorsal," and
excepting the pass at Pichon, VIII ish
is relatively linimportant. compare
to Faid Pass, which the Allies failed
to hold.
It seems likely that Field Mar
shall Erwin RomInel viii not make .
serious attempt to hol dthe MaTeth
line in lower Tunisia with his AfE1ka
KorpS, but will shove northward 70
the Gabes bottlenack, where he
lines are less extended and he can
cooperate more fEctivly with COL.
On. Jurgen Won Arnims forces.
All the Germans are excellently
equipped. Their use Of fireaTm cot
all sizes is superb, and particularly
80 Is their use Of field arttlleyr,
heavy machine guns and m0TtaEs.
Except for the British Eighth
Army. judged the finest allied fisht-
fFlankfsaa,aA ma Dn0a A
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15

ahoFs lmlenaiVe GeuFsas. kheFlhalla,
TVnlns nna Machines, peat Su8lef
CuilsBe " CemmeSte
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15
The Weather

Sub-Zero Temperature
FUN weather Report Page .
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15
ROmneI Expected to Shove
Forward to Gabes, For.
getting Mareth Line
NAZTS WELL EQUIPPED
ALLIES INEXPERIENCED
United Press Writer De-
scribes How Troops Are
Living and Fighting

(War Correspondent Edward w,
Beattie has just returned to AL
lied North African Headquarters
from q Today tour Of the Tu-
nissan front. Now, against HIS
background Of reporting the Ital-
ian invasion Of Ethiopia, and the
German invasiOns Of CzechosIO-
vakla, Poland and France, he
evaluates the position Of the AL
lies and the enemy In Africa, as
the zero hour for the Allied big
push nears.)
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15

CONTINUED on Page q
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15

sun sets at Gas ?. m.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-15

CONTINUED on Page ~
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1943-09-30

calf was won by Frank Eppes of
Leesburg, Va.
On Saturday of last week young
Eppes visited the herds Of the var
ious contributors and after long
and careful elaboration selected a
fine steer calf from Col. r. D. La
Garde's herd at Highlandstone
Farm. This calf will be shown next
year at All exhibitions.
The men who contributed to-
wards the steer We're Wilbur
Baughman, owner of Garfield
Farm; John A. Sterrett, owner of
Hel-Jack Farm; Col. r. d. LaGarde
owner of Highlandstone Farm;
Page Hufty, owner Page Hufty
Farm; w. G. Hanson, owner of Mt.
Prospect Farm; John H. Small,
owner of Rolling Ridge Farm; E.
B. Roberts, owner of Eugene B.
Roberts Farm; Leland Clarke,
manager of Tyrconnel Farms and
r. Williams, owner of Roger Will
liams Farm.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1943-09-30
Photo courtesy Washington Post

'cent-say "barsket" for basket
otherwise, according to Mr.. Ma
son, they are very like the other
negroes that follow the canning
season along the coast from Flor
ida-same problems of getting
them out of the lookup and of
hustling others off to be sewed up
on Saturday nights. They are
good workers. The farm on the
bay gets moisture from it so the
Masons had almost normal crops
there. They had already sowed
wheat and it was up enough to
show green.
Here we are almost at the end
of the column, and we wanted to
tell you more about Snow Hill
where the large trees meet over
the streets and form shady aisles
of the many gorgeous homes
the ivy covered Episcopal Church
the Methodist Church where
John Townsend, a former Sun
shine resident, was pastor for
some years-and of our trip home
through Salisbury, Cambridge,
Easton apd Wye Mills to Mata-
peake, much prettier and inter
esting route than we took on our
way to Ocean City.
Dogs we met on the Sho' was
to have had another paragraph--we
must mention Rusty" a lovely
Irish setter who lives at the Lark
ford Hotel-she would get so in
terested in chasing the sand pipers
and an occasional gull that often
wave caught her--then there was
huge st. Bernard that2came from
Mansfeld's in Ashton--and a clown
dog of the poodle type named
"Bootsey" who did many tricks.
"Bootsey's" owners, Mr.. and Mrs.
Wilmer Purnell of Berlin, are the
parents of Mrs. William Fowler
of Silver Spring.
AS perfect ending to a nice
vacation we came home on the
ferry over the Chesapeake by
moonlight.