davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Detroit evening times., 1943-01-13
MallOn Tells
Why S.
Stalled
In Africa
BY PAUL MALLON

WASHINGTON. Jan. 12.-It
is time we faced the full
facts of what has happened TO
US in Tunisis.
Two months ago November
81 we went in there with a light
force. The size of our force
shows we expected a quick ard
easy victory. A Nazi delaying
action was all we had cause to
anticipate.
But Hitler elected to make a
fight for Africa. He withdrew
crack veteran troops and his
planes from more important
places. even Russia, in order to
make stand. He stopped Us.
While mud and long com
munication lines are given as
the official reasons for our lack
of immediate success, and were
mentioned by the President,
these can furnish only secondary
excuses.
Our generals knew in advance
the rainy season was at hard.
The plain fact is we were IN
eXpectedly stopped by superior
Nazi concentration.
THlS rainy season will con-
tinue until the last of
January or the first week of
February, if it follows the
normal weather line. The
promised big offensive suggested
by the President, cannot come
before then.
There is every reason to ex-
pect, however. that il will COM
plete the victory which Hitler
denied us at the start.
He had about 10000 troops in
Tunisia and another $4,000 in
Rommers army down in Tripoli
Detroit evening times., 1943-01-13
BY CHARLES p. ARNOT
United Pyem StuR Correspondent

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET,
PEARL HARBOR, Jan PA lying the blistering
deck OF the crippled aircraft carrier Hornet enemy planes
sheked down. tried to climb off his setcher have another
shot at the Jap One of his legs had been shattered other
broken.
A man with broken back tried to refuse surgeons
so his buddy could be treated first
-Four men ran to throw blazing bone soaring ncendiary
bomb off the deck.
Detroit evening times., 1943-01-13
engagements concerned.

Japan paid a price for those
ships which her navy should never
forget The score was:
HORNET-Sunk in the battle of
Santa Cruz. October 26 japan
paid with large aircraft carrier
damaged and probably sunk and
two cruisers and three destroycrS
da"'aged by the Hornets planes.
Detroit evening times., 1943-01-13
Bomber Sinks Submarine

LONDON. Jan. u CUP).-A
Consolidated Liberator bomber has
sunk an enemy submarine in the
Bay OF Biscay. the United States
Army air force announced TODAY.
Detroit evening times., 1943-01-13

CRUISERS ATLANTA AND
JUNEAU. DESTROYERS LAF-
FEY, CUSHING, " o " s Sc "
AND BARTON-Iapan paid with
one battleShiP three heavy and
two light crt 80 and five destroy
er> sunk <e(
DESTROYERS TON,
Detroit evening times., 1943-01-13
TELL SAME STORY

She also admitted hiding the
weapon for which authorities are
looking
1t was a tip from the Detroit
Times that brought Lucas 10 De-
troit Monday morning on the first
definite lead in the murder.
Charges were placed against
Hagen and Mrs Simpson after per-
sistent questioning and threats 10
take them 10 Lansing for lie de-
tector tests broke down their con-
fiicting versions of the crime.
Detroit evening times., 1943-01-13
BIG LAND BATTLE

1t was a daylight attack .di-
rected against shipping and har.
Dor installations at Naples. which
is the reinforcement base for Axis
armies in Tunisia. Heavy clouds
obscured the result of the bomb
ing. the communique said, although
one large fire was seen through
the overcast.
French forces, turning to the Of
fensive. have captured mountain
pass % miles south of Pont du
FANS, Tunisia, and surrounded a
German force in a death trap in
the valley below. IL was disclosed
today
Both battles were being fought
less than 35 miles inland from the
Gulf Of Hammamet. in northeast
ern Tunisia. Front reports said,
both still were in progress.
Detroit evening times., 1943-01-13
HIT FROM TWO SIDES

American Flying Fortresscs
yesterday carried the air offensive
deep into the Sahara Desert with
q raid on an Italian force st
Ghadames oasis, on the Ti1poli-
tanlan side Of the border. Direct
hits were scored on a fort ana big
columns OF flames and smoke wers
visible above the sand dunes. An
planes returned.
AXIS forces in nlnisia and Tri-
pplltania were being hammered
from two sides: by Allied planes
based in North Africa on the west.
and by planes based In Tripolitsnia
on the east.
Detroit evening times., 1943-01-13

w A LKER AND BENHAM-
Japan paid with one battleship.
three large cruisers and one de-
stroyer sunk.
CRUISER NORTHAMPTON-
Japan paid with nine ships which
/. Continued on Next Page. Col. 81
Detroit evening times., 1943-01-13
INTENDED TO MARRY

In his confession Hagen said he
and Simpsons wife. Helen, had
been fond Of each other eight
months and planned to marry in
the spring.
Sheriff Ferris Lucas theorized
that jealousy was the motive for
the Staying because Mrs. Simpson
recently had announced plans 10
bring her two children to Detroit
and live with her war-working
husband.
Mrs. Simpsons confessed part
in the crime was in assisting
Hagen in removing evidence by
washing blood from the windows
and doors and tearing away blood
stained upholstery.
Detroit evening times., 1943-01-13
Farm Hand
P|edds Guilt
In Murder
Victims Wife Also
Admits Helping Hide
Clues From Police

Fred r Hagen, as, confessed
hammer slayer of Fred D. Simp-
son, 81, a S100-a-week Detroit war
worker, today pleaded guilty OF
first degree murder in ST. Clair
circuit court, and the victims 30
year-old wife pleaded guilty of ac-
cessory after the fact.
Both had pleaded guilty earlier
in justice court. They were held
without bond for sentencing.
Simpson his skull crushed by
two blows from Hagen'S machin-
lists hammer. was found in a snow
drift Sunday afternoon close to his
farm near Emmett which Hagen
managed on a share basis.
Detroit evening times., 1943-01-13

LONDON, Jan. u (UPl.-
American Consolidated bomhers
based in the Middle East raided
Naples yesterday, started a large
fire and shot down one enemy
fighter plane, il was announced
officially today.
The planes were manned by
American crews.
The bombers we're attacked by
a force of Messerschmitts..
United States communique said.
Two American planes were shot
down.
Detroit evening times., 1943-01-13
Yanks Start
Huge Fires in
Italian City
French Forces Take
Murzuk in Drive NORTH;
800 Mi. From Tripoli


LONDON. Jan. IL (UP).-
Fighting French forces moving
northward into Tripolitania from
equatorial Africa have captured
Murzuk, the capital of Fezzan,
and Sebha. less than 100 miles
north OF Murzuk, a wirelessed
communique from Brig. Gen.
Jacques Leclerc announced today.
The capture of Sebha placed Le-
clerc's main forces 800 miles south
of Tripoli. and constituted threat
to Field Marshal Rommel's rem
nants falling back on Tripoli.
Evening star., 1943-12-17

degrift said. Losses we're heavy
There are no foXholes offshore. All
evidence on hand leads to the con-
viction that the attack on TaraWa
| was well planned and skillfully exc
cuted"
In a lengthy explanation of often
slve operations, Gen. Vandegrift said
the initial advantage ordinarily lies
with the attacker because the de-
fender must hold the beaches lightly
and marshal his main strength at
central point where it can be de-
ployed speedily to meet the landing.
In the case of Tarawa. however.
he said. the defender could readily
diagnose the point of attack and,
due to the small distances involved,
could concentrate practically al.
the fire of his artillery against the
ATTACK without being forced to the
time-consuming effort of displacln2
his artillery forward"
Gen. Vandegrift said it was pos-
slble for the japanese to pour con-
centrated fire on the marines at the
moment when they were most vul-
nerable in approaching the TaraNa
beach.
Evening star., 1943-12-17
Mrs. Roosevelt Questions Price
OF $1,000 for Maori Picture

disappearing Maori woman-as a
very witty. amusing and delight
full person. She had most inter-
esting profile. finely cut: long, black
hair and was a flne-looking
woman"
Mrs. Roosevelt first had said she
believed rubbing noses was sani-
tary-perhaps even more so than
the American custom of kissing on
the mouth. Her father. she added,
had taught it to her years ago, call
ing it a Chinese kiss" On ques-
tioning. however, she said
During flu epidemic, l wouldn't t
recommend anything that brought
you as close as that to any one else" ="
Mrs. Roosevelt said she planned
to tour some District slum areas
this afternoon before she returned
to the White House to hear about
her husbands trip during his late
afternoon press conference. She said
he looked very we'll" when he ar
rived this morning, but had had no
time to describe his experiences to
her.
Mrs. Roosevelt said she did not
know where the family will spend
Christmas. Neither the President
nor Mrs. Roosevelt will be at the
annual community Christmas tree
celebration on the White House lawn
Christmas eve. Next Friday, how
ever, she plans to make her annual
holiday visits to the Salvation Army
party, and the alley Christmas cele-
bration and brief appearance at an
evening party given for servicemen
by the War Hospitality Committee.
Evening star., 1943-12-17
5y the Associated Press.


ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Al
gierS, Dec. 17.-French troops
entering the war on the Euro
pean mainland for the first time
since 1910, have scored out
standing successes against the
Germans in mountain fighting in
Central Italy, it was announced
today.
The French have been in forward
positions alongside British and
American soldiers for some time. but
their presence was not disclosed
until today's communique from
Allied headquarters.
They are the same troops who
fought alongside the Allies in
Tunisia, but since then have been
completely re-equipped with Ameri-
can uniforms, guns and materials.
Soon after moving up to the bat
tlefront, the French participated in
a series of local attacks. capturing
several important German hilltop
positions and taking number of
who expressed surprise
at finding the French in action.
The French forces had been
trained in North Africa under the
direction of Gen. Henri Giraud, and
their use of American arms came
under arrangements made at the
Casablanca conference last January.
Their presence created sensation
among the italian people. and the
quick successes Of the French SOL
dierS contrasted sharply with the
abortive efforts recently of the first
Italian militia to be sent into the
Allied lines.
Evening star., 1943-12-17

Mrs. Roosevelt today questioned
whether a picture of her rubbing
noses with a Maori woman was
worth the $4,000 reported paid for
the widely circulated photograph.
Informed at her press conference
of report that the magazine which
copyrighted the picture had paid
81 900 for it, Mrs. Roosevelt raised
her eyebrows and asked:
rs that a $4,000 picture?"
She branded reports of the price
as "nonsense''-first, because she
said she didn't believe anybody
would" pay that much for it. Then
she pointed out that Army photog-
raphers, who would have been un-
able to sell the picture, had done
most of the photographing of her
trip.
She said she didn't know who
actually had made the picture, al
though she knew it had been taken.
The cameraman might have been
an accredited war photographer or
member of the local press there,
she said
The Presidents wife said she had
not expected the greeting at all.
AS she explained it. she was ap-
preached by the Maori guide at the
entrance to part in Rotorua. New
Zealand.
May I greet you as we greet all
distinguished visitors?" Mrs. Roose-
velt quoted the guide as saying.
Then I discovered that the way
to greet visitors is to rub noses"
Mrs. Roosevelt continued.
She described the guide-an Eng
Evening star., 1943-12-17
u. S.-Equiipped French Troops
Defeat Nozis in Central It0Iy
important Hill Positions and Prisoners
Captured; Allied Bombers Bost Poduo

Announcement of the participa-
ton of the French conceded with an
aerial assault for the second success
Sive day on German communications
and supply lines in the Alpine region
of Northern Italy. where heavy
bombers wrecked rail facilities at
Padua and Dogma.
Ground fighting by both the 5th
and 8th Armies was confined largely
to consolidating previous gains and
to bitter local battles for strategic
advantages.
1t, Gen. Mark w. Clark's Allied
troops on the western end of the
battlefront assaulted the German
baStion of San Pietro, which guards
the road to Rome, ard the attacking
infantry ran into series of con-
crete pillboXes and other strong
points resulting in fierce hand-to-
hand fighting.
Other heavy Skirmishes were re-
ported west of Fillignano, where two
more hills were taken. Farther south
serious German counterattack
was beaten off in the mountains.
Headquarters said the 5th Army
also took "a number of hills" farther
inland.
The Germans intensified their
efforts to hold off the relentless 9th
Army on the Adriatic end of the
line, throwing more and more tanks
and flamethroWerS into the strug-
gle, but New Zealanders and Cana
dams beat off every Nazi attempt to
break their hold on the Orsoena-
Ortona highway which had been cut
in three places the previous day.
The latest operation by the new
Evening star., 1943-12-17
Spectacular Defeat
OF German Offensive
Reported by Tito
Nozis Driven Back
In Several Sectors,
Special Bulletin Says
Ey the Associated Press.

-"' 'itS Fio1pNid StN ItSS
LONDON, Dec. ia spectac-
ular defeat has been inflicted on
the latest German 'annihila-
ton" offensive against Yugoslav
guerrlllas, a special war bulletin
from the headquarters of Mar
shal Josip Broz (Titoy said to-
day.
The broadcast victory communi-
que said that Nazi and satellite
forces everywhere had suffered de-
feats, and that the enemy had been
thrown into retreat in numerous
sectors.
Nazi forces which achieved one
breakthrough into liberated terri
tory and then embarked on a cam
paign of burning and looting are
eXpending men and tanks reckleSsly
in an effort to break the rising tide
Of Titos fiercely fighting guerrilla
forces, the bulletin continued.
Titos announcement of the sue
cesses of his forces came shortly
after the regular daily communioue
gave first details Of the Nazi set
back
Cairo reports had indicated pre-
viously that Tito's forces, aided by
Allied aerial blows. are engaging or
are pinning down as many German
divisions as are being battled by
Allied armies in the Italian CAM
paign Oh the other side of the Adri-
attic.
These specific successes were listed
in Titos war bulletin:
Complete defeat of enemy forces
with heavy losses in Regatta: a
large Nazi column partly destroyed
and thrown into retreat in Croatia: ::
an enemy defeat which will consid-
erably influence his further opera
tions" in Western Bosnia. and heavy
German losses in a battle still rag
ing in the Livno-Duvne sector; two
German columns defeated and sup
plies captured near Zljebovi and Ro-
gatica in Eastern Bosnia: German
evacuation CT Kladanj in Central
Bosnia, and the destruction of Nazi
supply and communications lines in
many sectors of Yugoslavia.
Evening star., 1943-12-17
Death Toll Increased
To 79 in Rail Wreck;
Track Still Blocked
Bodies of Al Servicemen
And 20 Civilians Are
Recovered by Workers
SON OF WASHINGTON school
teacher among victims of train
wreck. Page AZ

By the Associated Press.
.LUMBERTON. N. c.. Dec. IL
The toll of dead in teh South
casts worst railroad disaster
mounted to 79 today, including
At Servicemen. as more bodies
were located in four telescoped
passenger cars that still blocked
the Atlantic Coast Lines dou-
BILE track main line from New
York to Florida.
The Red Cross at Atlanta said
bodies of Al servicemen and 20
civilians had been recovered and
that 7 more bodies were known to
be in one OF the cars and 5 in an
other
The four steel cars, stacked one
on top of the other, were so janmed
together that they were little big
ger than one car is normally. The
wrecking trains we're able to move
the pyramided coaches only 6 feet
all night.
The double pile-up of the two
streamliners produced a death list
just short of that in the WRECK of
the Congressional Limited in Phila-
Evening star., 1943-12-17
Reds Drive Germans
From Positions AIonq
Teterev West Of Kiev
Votutin's Forces Score
Gains for Second Day
After Fierce Fighting
~ the Associated Press

MOSCOW. Dec. 17.-Gen. Niko-
lal Vatutin's lSt Ukraine Army
appeared to have firmly estab-
llshed the upper hand west of
kiev today after more than five
weeks Of desperate fighting
against heavy German infantry
and tank attacks.
Russian counterattacks diSlodgeG
the enemy from several settlements
in the Teterev River sector So miles
west of the Ukraine capital for the
second successive day yesterday. the
Russian communique said. enabling
VatutlnS columns to resume their
drive northwest of Radomysl.
Nazi Marshal Fritz Won Mann
STEMS hold on that important
stronghold, lying between the Koro-
sten-Kiev and Zhitomir- -Kiev main
highways, is now seriously threat
ened by the Russian gains. dis
patches from the front indicated.
konev Attacks Below Cherkasy,
Meanwhile, Gen. Ivan S. Konev S
I'd Ukraine Army. 200 miles to the
south. pressed its attack below
Cherkasy toward the rail junction
of Smela and repulsed fierce Ger
man counterattacks launched from
the partly encircled industrial city
of Kirovograd, IS miles southwest
Iof Kremenchug.
In these twin drives on Smela
ana klrovOgrad. in which Red Army
alrmen participated by blasting the
Smela railway station and blowing
up an enemy train and other trans
port, Soviet troops killed 900 Ger
mans, captured number of villages
and picked up considerable stores of
abandoned war material, the Rus
sian war bulletin said.
cine German radio, admit
ting strong Russian counter
drives west of Kiev, announced
at the same time that at least
three Soviet offensives were now
under way in White Russia. one
south Of Newell. a second west of
krlchev in the Mogilev area and
the third southwest of Zhlobin.
Berlin said heavy fighting was
taking place on all three fronts,
but that the Russians have failed
to achieve material gains)
MOSCOW paid major attention tc
tSee RUSSIA pace A-2l
Evening star., 1943-12-17
Joe Louis TOGO
Overseas for
Boxing Tour
y the Associated Press.

BY tne Associated Press.
Sergt. Joe Louis Barrow. world
heavyweight boxing champion. will
end his exhibition tour of Army
posts in this country January 90.
then go overseas to visit camps in
the various war theaterS.
That was announced today bv the
War Department. Sergt. Louis and
his group are scheduled for 81 ap-
pearances between now and Janu-
ary 20 at camps in Mississippi, Ala
bama, Georgia, Florida and North
and South Carolina.
Travelling with Sergt. Louis are
Sergt. James Edgar Corpl. Walker
Smith tSugar Ray Robinson). Pvt.
George Wilson Jackie Wilson,
Corpl. Bob Smith and Corpl. Rob-
ert j. Payne, trainer.
To date the group. travelling un-
der direction of the Army Special
Services Division, has visited more
than 70 Army installations. The
department said that by the end
of the tour more than 100000 SOL
diers will have witnessed the ex-
hibitions, with an average attend
ance OF 1000 at each appearance.
Evening star., 1943-12-17
Churchill Continues
To Improve After
Pneumonia Attack
Acting Leader May Be
Named During Illness
Of Prime Minister
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, Dec. 17.-General
improvement in Prime Minister
Churchill's condition has been
maintained, a bulletin from his
bedside somewhere in the Middle
East announced this afternoon.
There has been no spread in the
pneumonia, and improvement in the
Prime Minister'S general condition
has been maintained" said the bull
letin issued at No. 10 Downing street.
It was signed by Lord Moran, Brig
Evan Bedford and 1t. R. j. V. Pull
vertaft
Mr.. Churchill. suffering from his
second attack of pneumonia in 10
months, undoubtedly will require a
long period for recuperation, and
consequently it is expected Britain S
war cabinet may name an acting
leader to serve in his absence.
The Prime Minister'S illness was
announced yesterday morning, TAX
ing the nation completely by surprise
and arousing quick anxiety.
The London press was virtually
unanimous in suggesting that on his
return he delegate to assistants a
great portion of the tasks that have
kept him busy far into the night.
Long Convalescence Expected.
There seemed general agreement
that a long convalescence was in
prospect for the stricken leader de-
spite the incredible energy still ap-
parent in his 10th year Che OBJ
served his Goth birthday during
the Teheran conference and the
driving force that raised the British
Empire from the dark days of 1910
to the dawn of day of victory.
Prayers went up throughout the
nation for his quick recovery. King
George VI arranged for a mes
ISenger to bring him hourly news.
The Daily Sketch devoted its en-
tire front page to Churchill pho
tograph, with the caption, The
Man to Whom So Many Owe So
Much; few lines telling of his
illness and a quotation from Psalms
lxxxvi 1916:
But Thou. Q God. arc a God
full OF compassion and gracious
give Thy strength unto Thy
servant"
Although the illness may force
the Prime Minister to give up &C
500 CuIJDCuII
Evening star., 1943-12-17
There's No Royal Road to Toxic
Gen. Vondegrift Says of T Torowo
Ry the Associated Press.

Ey the Associated Press.
There are no foxholes off shore"
and there is no royal road to
Toxic, 1t. Gen. A. A. Vanderbilt.
newly appointed commandant of the
Marine Corps, said today in answer
ing congressional inquiry as to the
heavy marine casualties in the cap
ture of Tarawa.
No one regrets the losses in such
an attack more than does the Ma
rine Corps itself" he said in letter
to Chairman Walsh of the Senate
Naval Affairs Committee, who had
made the inquiry.
No one realizes more than does
the Marine Corps that there is no
royal road to Toxic. We must steel
our people to the same realization. "
Gen. Vandegrift explained that a
coral island. such as TaraWa, pre-
sents unusual natural defensive
strength. Marine combat corre-
spondents have reported that some
barges became stuck on a reef.
The attackers were forced to dis
embark from landing craft some
distance offshore and wade in
against the hostile fire." Gen. Van
Evening star., 1943-12-17
Dealer Tells Senators
He Gets Own Stock
From DistiIIery
BY J. A. OLEARY.

Samuel Fig. Georgia avenue
liquor dealer who advertised 5000
bottles of whisky for sale this
week, told a Senate committee
today he began eight years ago
to have his own supply of whisky
made by a Kentucky distiller,
and that half of the stock he put
on sale was from this private
supply.
The other half consisted of ma
tionally advertised brands set aside
out of his monthly quotas earlier
this year. he told the Senate Ju-
Evening star., 1943-12-17
| Stone Kicked Up
By Truck Kills
D. C.. Motorist

A rock thrown up from the high
way by the wheels of a trailer truck
proved fatal today to Clarence
Hastings Ticer, jr., 81, of 2507 Thir-
teenth street NV.
The victim of the unusual accident
died in George Washington Univer-
sity Hospital as result of a de-
pressed fracture of the forehead.
Police said the accident occurred
MonGay evening when Mr.. Ticer
was driving his car past the gate OF
Fort Belvoir on U. S. Highway No. /.
AS trailer truck passed. the wheels
kicked up rock which went through
the windshield of Mr. TIGERS car
and struck him on the head.
The driver of the trailer truck, not
knowing Of the accident, continued
on his way. Mr.. Ticer was taken to
the hospital.