davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-21
Stores Report
Big Buying

The nations department stores,
with four shopping days left, re-
ported today that Christmas sales
were up from 10 to Is per cent
above last year in one of the heav-
lest shopping rushes on record, des-
pite shortage of quality merchan-
disc.
The huge volume Of Christmas
buying was confirmed by Dun and
Bradstreet, reporting sales up 10 to
Is per cent on holiday merchandise
The peak buying, according to Dun
and BradStreet, occurred during the
last two weeks in November.
An early scramble to get first
and the problem of mailing gifts to
relatives and friends scattered by
the war eased the merchants man
power profile" during the usual
last-minute rush. ~
Although gas will be plentiful,
their nature will be different.
Junior will find wearing apparel has
taken the place of toys under the
Christmas trees. Cardboard and
wooden toys didn't appeal to most
adults.
l. Books set new record as gifts
for both children and adults. Bibles
and religious books were frequent
gift choices for men in service.
Scientific volumes also were among
the best sellers for service mems
presents.
Other big sellers for men In uni
form were shoe shining kits, Slip
pers, money belts, mufflerS, duffle-
bags and pocket-size games.
On the home front, women were
due to receive more fur-coats and
jewelry than ever before-party be-
cause of the scarcity of other
merchandise and partly because
they advised their husbands now
would be a good time to buy and
avoid the increased taxes on such
items.
Heavy buying Of utility articles
and staples somewhat balanced the
purchases of luxurieS as gifts.
Mother is likely to receive some
household piece that the entire
family can enjoy. One of New
York's largest publishers said book
sales were up SO per cent.
The biggest Christmas sales were
in war plants areas. indianapolis.
Milwaukee and Helena. Mont, re-
ported sales twice as big as last
year with clothes and jewelry the
preferred items.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-21
|NAzIS ABANDON
EQUIPMENT IN
HASTE TO run

Moscow, December 81. -
(UP) - The Germans were
reported officially today to
be abandoning large quanti-
ties of arms and ammunition
in a precipitate retreat to-
ward Vitebsk and Polotsk,
key strongholds on the Mos
cow-Riga railway guarding
the approaches to Latvia and
Lithuania.
The pursuing First Baltic Army
plunged through 50-mile gap In the
German defenses below Newell in an
advance that already has outflanked
Vitebsk and carried to within 2O
miles north of the city.
(The London News-Chronicle said
the Russians had driven Is to 20
miles west of Vitebsk-Nevel rail-
road, which if true would place the
Soviets only 40 miles northeast OF
the old Polish border)
Seventy more towns and villages
were swept up in the latest advance,
boosting to $40 the number liberated
in the past six days, and $500 Ger
mans were killed when the rem
nants of several shattered enemy
units attempted a stand before the
Soviet steamroller.
In another sector, the Soviets
wedged the German defenses and
seized several heavily fortified
strong points, killing 300 Germans
in the fighting for only one of them.
Twelve guns, 80 machine guns and
large supply column, in addition
to a number of prisoners, were
captured.
Aim Of Drive
The aim of the Soviet drive, first
of the promised winter offensives,
appeared to be to cut the Vitehsk-
Polotsk railroad and capture Vite-
bsk, perhaps in conjunction with a
renewed assault from the east, for
an about drive toward the Baltic
The Germans were cormter-at-
lacking heavily in the Korosten area
west of Kiev and near Kirovograd
in the northern Dnieper bend III
desperate attempts to throw back
Soviet spearheads poised for thrusts
toward Poland and Rumania.
Mention of Korosten for the first
time since the Russians fell back to
the Malin area, 81 miles to the
southeast, indicated the Red Army
may have regained some of the
Ukrainian territory they yielded to
the German counter offensive OF the
past six weeks.
The Germans broke into one So
viet-held town in the Korosten area,
but were thrown back by a counter
attack that killed 600 of their OFF,
GERS and men and wrecked is of
their tanks. The Germans lost IL
additional tanks in another series
of futile attacks.
Continued ON Page ~
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-21
Record Raid
Hits Jops At
New Britain
NEA Telephoto.

Advanced Allied Headquarters,
New Guinea. December 81. = CUP
- A record 414-ton American raid
that shattered Japanese defenses
On Cape Gloucester touched OIL
speculation today that General
Douglas Macarthur may be planning
an invasion of the northwestern tip
of New Britain in an attempt to
tighten the blockade of Rabaul.
Hundreds of American Liberators,
Mitchells and marauders, striking
in two formations, spread fire and
destruction through the Cape Glou-
cester area, 275 miles southwest OF
Rabaul, Sunday, in the heaviest at
tack of the war in the Southwest
Pacific.
The bomb equalling in tonnage
those dropped in some of the heavi-
est German raids ON London during
the height of the 1940-41 "blitz,
caused large fires and explosions at
the Cape Gloucester airdrome, sup
ply and bivouac areas, gun posi-
tons and nearby coastal villages.
Damage was widespread" Nc
Arthur's communique said today
The raid exceeded in weight the
356- ton assault. previously the heav-
lest In the Southwest Pacific, that
smashed the Arawe peninsula de-
lenses SO mile to the southeast less
than "a hours before Sixth Army
troops swarmed ashore last We'd
nesday. One hundred and ninety
tons of bombs were dropped on Cape
Gloucester Saturday.
Capture of Cape Gloucester. would
cut the northern barage line from
New Guinea to Raboul and leave
that key bastion dependent entirely
on Truk. Japan's Pearl Harbor,
some 800 miles to the north, for
supplies and reinforcementS. The
~ A.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-21
R.R. MenMayDecide Today
Whether Or Not To Strike

stood to be seeking settlement
which would offer only concessions
which Vinson would approve. These
included overtime pay after 40
hours instead of after 48 as the
present railway regulations provide,
vacation pay and payment for ex-
penses OH layovers between runs.
The union presidents tentatively
agreed Sunday to meet the manage
ment negotiating committee today
but no definite plans were made
pending the outcome Of the eXecu-
tive committee meetings.
Presidents Of the Is incorporating
brotherhoods, with a membership
Of 100000, also scheduled con-
terence today but did not indicate
whether they planned new steps in
their efforts to win general wage in
creases of eight cents an hour.
Their latest move ended in virtual
defeat yesterday when the House
Interstate Commerce Committee
postponed action to Jan. 10 on the
Senate-approved Truman resolution
which would validate the Union S
AContinued ON Page a
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-21

Washington, Dec. 21-(UP-A
special Congressional committee to-
day urged immediate classification
Of the Veterans Administration as
a "war agency of the first order" to
insure speedy settlement of service
mems disability cls.ms.
In an interim report on its study
of mustering-o pay and other
veterans legislation, House mill
tary affairs subcommittee said 1t
was urgent to raise the status OF the
Veterans Administration to enable
1t Ito obtain the necessary addi-
tional personnel required for the
caring of disabled veterans"
The committee said that testi-
mony thus far indicated that there
was no pressing need for an I'M
mediate general veterans program
although It was desirable to act soon
to provide @ reasonable amount OF
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-21
Bolivia To
Stick To UN
Cause
British Army Photo from NEA)

La PaZ, Bolivia, December 81. -
CUP - The new revolutionary
government of Bolivia was pledged
to full adherence to the United
Nations cause today under a mani
festo that charged the deposed re-
gime with Fascist tendencies.
The manifesto, issued by the rev.
olutionary Junta following its custer
of President Enrique Penaranda and
his government in a swift military
coup yesterday. apparently was cal
culated to allay Allied suspicious
that the revolution was pro- Axis in
nature.
1t is proclaimed the government
intention of maintaining "conStitu-
tional normally" and asserted that
the new president Major Gualberto
Villaroel, and his cabinet had Sin
cere and permanent faith in Demo-
cratic ideals and absolute solidarity
with American interests
Reports reaching Santiago from
africa, Chile, said Penaranda ard
his entire cabinet were being held
prisoner at La Paz.
(The leader Of the RevolutioniSts.
victor Paz Estenssoro, in an eX-
elusive telephone interview with
United Press staff correspondent
William Horsey at Santiago, said
the coup had purely internal sig
nificance" He was not and will
not be connected in any way with
the recent army coup in Argentina,
he said.
Dispatches from other Latin
American cities asserted that the
membership of the new Junta was
such as not to inspire confidence
in it's pro-Allied intentionS)
The Junta's manifesto charged
Penaranda, who signed the United
Nations pact for Bolivia at Wash
ington last May and who paced the
way for the country's declaration of
war against the Axis earlier this
month, with copying his principles
from the Fascist copybook".
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-21
Congress
Pledges Aid
To Europeans

Washington, Dec. Il - Cup -
Congress headed toward its Christ
mass recess today with humanitar-
ian pledge that the power and
resources of the United States will
be at work in the days ahead to
ease starvation and racial persecu-
ton in occupied Europe.
Leaders pledged swift action for
final passage of two resolutions
which the Senate Foreign Relations
committee approved yesterday-one
embodying principles Of the plan by
former president, Herbert Hoover,
for increasing food shipments to
Europe, and another asking Presi-
dent Roosevelt to name COM
mission to work for the salvation Of
Ellrope's remaining Jews.
Sen. Guy M. Gillette, D., Ia, and
Robert A. Taft, r., Ohio, co-spon-
sors of the Hoover plan resolution,
said an attempt would be made
today to have the senate suspended
rules by unanimous consent and
pass both resolutions before con-
gress brings a formal close to the
current session!
The food resolution calls upon the
state department to negotiate with
the British government for partial
lifting of the continental blockade
to permit United Nations food on
neutral ships to reach the people of
Belgium, Norway, Poland, tn e
Netherlands, Greece, Yugoslavia,
and Czechoslovakia.
Earlier in the war Great Britain
was opposed to such shipments on
grounds they would find their way
into Nazi hands or that they would
actually relieve Germany of the
obligation of sending food supplies,
however small, into the conquered
regions. Gillette said experiments
with shipments to the Greeks had
shown the plan could be carried out
without adding to the NaZi food
hoard.
THE State Department itself has
certified to the success of this eX-
pertinent" he said. IF it has work
ed in Greece, We think it can work
elsewhere"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-21
Franco Tries
Rally Spain

Madrid, Dec. 81 - U.P) - Gen
eralissimo Francisco Franco sought
to rally all Spain behind his gov
eminent today with the establish
ment of greater freedom of the
press, political amnesty for all pris-
oners except those convicted OF
murder, dissolution of the Falange
Party militia and modification OF
some party organizations.
The political amnesty, most gen.
erous In SPANS history, was an
nounced yesterday. The ministry OF
justice estimated 5000 prisoners
would be released before Christmas.
Jose Luis Arrese, minister's sec
rotary of the Falange. SPANS only
recognized party, announced deci-
sion to dissolve the militia at a
meeting of provincial party chiefs.
The Falange, Arrese said. has
reached maturity and consistency
land we feel that 1t does not need
against anyone. nor for its defense
a militia exclusively for its own"
The unity OF Spapiards is and
will be complete" Franco said, In
announcing the party notifications
and declaring the need to impart
clarity, firmness and serenity" to
(COnttnNed ON PAGE ~
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-21
Jops PuIlOut
OF BUN Fosi

Washington, December 81. - CUP
- Secretary OF Navy Frank Knox
said today there were indications
that the Japanese are evacuatirg
the southern part of Bougainville
Island in the Solomons.
He said the forces in the south
ern part of the island were moving
northward. He said at news con-
ference that since the enemy'S forces
are scattered 1t was obvious that
they would attempt to concentrate
to meet the expanding American
threat in the Empress Augusta Bay
area.
The area from which Knox said
the japanese appeared to be moving
is around Buin-Faisi, where the
Japanese have maintained elaborate
air establishments. However, Knox
said, American air forces have rem
dered unserviceable every enemy
flying field on Bougainville.
Land Evacuation
Knox said most of the evacua-
ton apparently was taking place
by way of land but a naval aide at
the conference said that some OF the
Japanese appeared to be quitting
by sea, using lots Of barges".
Knox, emphasizing American aer-
ial superiority in the Pacific, said
that during the week Of December
1920, Army, Navy and Marine Corps
planes in the Pacific carried out II
missions involving more than $500
light and heavy bombers with fighter
escort.
This is more than 10 missions a
day." Knox said. And enemy air
opposition was negligible. On some
missions not a single enemy plane
was found in the air"
In the Central Pacific, he said,
(COntipOed on Page A
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-21
Labelling OF Vets Bureau
As 1st Order Agency Asked

separation pay to bridge the gap
between discharge and re-employ-
ment and prompt award OF
benefits to the disabled"
The committee said there also
was need to clarity existing veterans
laws because there appeared to be
widespread" misunderstanding as
to what Congress by statute has pro-
vidcd in the way of benefits for
veterans of the present war"
Already available under veterans
laws. the report said. are adequate
disqualification and rehabilitation,
including educational training:
maximum 500 month pension for
total disability and other lesser dis
ability provisions up TO $4,000; ma
tional service life insurance; protec-
ton Of unemployment to those
holding permanent jobs when en-
tering service: burial benefits; and
death benefits to dependents.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-21
WCTU Charges
Plot to DistiIIers

Evanston, ILL.,, Dec. 21.-(UP)-
The Women's Christian Temperance
Union charged today that whiskey
distillers themselves inspired" a
congressional investigation of the
liquor industry IN ""ast plot" to
obtain government permission for
renewed production of liquor.
These so-called Investigations are
part of the distillers' campaign to
prove that liquor shortages are re-
sponsible for hijacking, bootlegging
price gouging and other evils inher-
ent in the liquor traffic" the WCTU
charged.
by getting the stamp of congress
sional authenticity on the facts
they have planted, the distillers hope
to force the war production board
to remove the ban on whiskey pro-
duction."
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-21
Bishop Wants
Peace Now

Springfield, Mass, Dec. 21-(UP)
The Rt. Rev. William A. Lawrence
Episcopal bishop Of the Western
Massachusetts, says the peace now
movement aims to prevent wholesale
loss of life through negotiated
peace.
Bishop Lawrence. who admitted
he had joined the organization, said
that the group would give Congress
some definite ideas about ending
the war soon. instead of awaiting
unconditional surrender"
He emphasized that unconditional
surrender would necessitate the sac
rifice Of many lives.
While there are not many active
members of the drive in this sec
tion," he said there is no doubt
that there are many who sympathize
with Tie cause"
The peace now" movement Is
chair-manned by George W. Hart
mann, formerly psychology profes
sor at Columbia and now visiting
lecturer at Harvard. Hartmann said
the group f:.vors "socialistic peace
which would solve the problems OF
poverty, disease, ignorance and stu
pi ity."
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-21
Continued on Page A.
Allies Study
WorGuiIty

Washington. Dec. 81 - (U.P9 -
The Soviet Unions summary trial
and execution Of four war criminals
was seen in some quarters today as
q challenge for other United Ma
tions to begin without delay the
trial OF NaI leaders, such as Ru-
dolf Hess, who already are IN GUS
tody.
The Russian press has on several
occasions demanded immediate pro-
ceedings against Hess, former No. 2
NaM taken prisoner after his abor-
tive peace flight to the British Isles.
And while the United States and
Great Britain have repeatedly an
nounced their intentions of bring
ing all war criminals to justice, no
specific plan has yet been issued.
Thus, 1t was said, Russia's trial
and execution of three NaA war
criminals and a Russian traitor at
Kharkov, may we'll have been the
Soviet Unions way of inviting the
Anglo American Allies to begin war
guilt trials now to serve Us a clear
cut warning to Adolf Hitler and his
NaA party supporters.
Chief deterrent against imme-
diate action against Hess and other
NaN prisoners has been the danger
of mass Nazi reprisal against Allied
prisoners. And despite Russian crit
icism of British failure to prosecute
Hess, 1t is no secret that several
high ranking German officers cap
tured by the Red Army have not
been brought to trial but have been
treated rs war prisoners. Hess,
however, Is political rather than
military leader and thus from the
Russian view may be subject to i'm
mediate punishment.
Beside serving notice to the world
that Russia's declarations concern
ing war criminals were not mere
phrases. the trails were regarded as
moves to discourage German troops
and Nazi political officials from
further atrocities against civilians,
in occupied areas either in Russia
or elsewhere.
An Allied commission IN London
now Is studying the entire war
guilt problem and may issue a
statement of principles and prac-
tees In the near future.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-21
u. S. TROOPS CAPTURE MOUNT SPINUCCIO
BRITISH RAID
Reich; LOSE
! AZ BOMbERS
UNITED Press Staff Correspondent

UNITED Press Staff Correspondent
London, December 81. =
Mighty Births h bombing
fleets, subjecting Germany
to what may have been its
heaviest one-night lombard
ment of the war, hit Frank
furt and Mannheim Lud-
wigshafen last night to eli
max a 36-hour air offensive
that spread ruin 1900 miles
across Axis Europe.
More than 2,240 (shorD tons OF
bombs were cascaded on Frankfurt
alone in the nights main effort, the
air ministry announced, while an
other huge force simultaneously
blasted Mannheim Ludwigshafen
and twin engined Mosquitoes pound
ed western Germany.
Upwards of 1000 bombers were
believed to have participated in the
RATS far-flung operations and air
experts theorized the nights total
bomb tonnage may have exceeded
the $500 tons dropped on Berlin
ard LudWigshafen November 10 IN
the largest previous one-night oper-
alton.
The German DNB denounced the
British night raids and an Amer1-
can daylight attack on Bremen yes
terday as "terror attacks" and said
"heavy devastation" and casualties
were caused particularly in residen-
tial districts of Bremen and the old
city section Of Frankfurt.
Other Allied bombers and fighters
carried the around-the clock air
offensive into it's third day with
shuttle sweeps and raids in day
light today ON northern France sew
eral sauadrons of medium bombers
were observed crossing the English
southeast coast.
The British four engined night
raiders struck at southwest Ger
many in what was described off,
cially as very great" strength only
a few hours after American heavy
bombcrs again clamped an aerial
pincers on Axis Europe with an as
sault from Britain on Bremen and
twin attacks from the Mediterra-
mean on the Bulgarian capital OF
Sofia and the Greek airfield at
Eleusis.
The main Raj force last night
concentrated a mighty blockbuster
assault on the chemical center Of
Frankfort while force only slight
ly smaller hit Misunderstanding
shaven, second largest inland port
in Europe and perhaps second only
to Frankfurt in its production OF
chemicals.
IHaH..Ais..aa a.. fanna AZ
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-21
Early A. M. Fire Routs
N. Main Street F antilles

Fire of undetermined origin this
morning routed IA families and
caused an estimated $500 damage
to the apartment block at 1876 North
Main st.
Two firemen were injured In
fighting the blaze. Edward Thibo-
deau. ~ Sarsfield street, suffered
a dislocated shoulder when he fell
through a trap door to the cellar.
He was admitted to st. Mary's hos
pital for treatment. Timothy
Lynch, SO Albion street, was taken
to st. Mary's hospital for removal
Of a large splinter of wood which
lodged just before his ear.
Frank Mccain, local OPA rent
investigator and his wife were
among the tenants forced to flee
the blaze, as were Albert Martin,
local newspaperman, and his wife.
Smoke damage to Mr.. McCann's
apartment was reported extensive.
The radio equipment in the Fire
Chiefs car was credited by Marshal
Dennis Lahey and Chief Thomas F..
Cavanaugh with having averted
more serious damage, as the Chief
and numerous pieces OF equipment
were at Miller and Peck's store on
Brook st. in answer to an automa-
tic alarm set off by escaping steam
when the fire was reported to head
quarters at ITO a. M.
Chief Cavanaugh was notified by
radio. and he and Eng. and 10,
truck 2 and the booster pump i'm
mediately transferred to North Main
st.
Firemen and police then led the
buildings occupants, many of them
In their nightclotheS, through dense
clouds of smoke to the outside.
Marshal Lahey said the fire
started in the vicinity of an oil
burner in the north west part of the
cellar Smoke penetrated the build
ing through tbs air shaft and was
observed by Mrs. George Conrad,
the janitor'S wife, who telephoned
the alarm.
Chief Cavanaugh rang box
alarm at 7:A and engines, 2, 3, 6,
and 7, trucks land and the emery
ency truck responded.
The fire travelled upwards from
the cellar along soil pipe to the
second floor section where it was
checked. Most of the fire damage
estimated at $1,000 was done to the
aWterbury Paint Store, operated by
Salvatore Impresa of Lakewood Rd.
Smoke damage to the rest of the
building was estimated at $4,000.
Smoke Observed
Mrs. Conrad told firemen that the
oil burner had not been in opera
ton during the night. She said she
turned the thermostat on at about
7:O5, and about five minutes later
she and other occupants observed
smoke coming through the air shaft.
The burner was equipped with safety
devices.