davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-12-27
U.S.. Soldiers Excel Germans,
Colonel Declares After Tour

line, the combat trooper, is really the
top hero of them all"
Great" battles, which to the SOL
dier surpasses such achievements as
the landing at TaraWa or Salerno
are going on hour after hour on the
front lines, Col Stovall said.
Describing what he termed one of
the great" battles, Col. Stovall said
it was fought for a German-held
hill in the Gangi Heights sector of
Sicily.
The space was so small and the
area of maneuver so limited that
only two or three squads Of men
could be used" he said. Time after
time those few squads went up and
over a small crest that had to be
crossed in reaching the hill. Time
after time the Germans beat them
back.
The leader of the small assaulting
force called for artillery fire. Those
men advanced, separated by only Is
yards from this concentrated fire
They had to do it to do the Job. OF
course, our own artillery fire caused
casualties, but those we're nothing to
what the casualties would have been
IN this final assault without artillery
fire. Finally, late in the day, the
Germans were driven from the hill
and our objective was reached"
Evening star., 1943-12-27
Russia
Continued From First Page.)

'COllllnucQ from FlfSU PaRe.)
OF Zhitomir, as wei as Brusilov and
kornin, 81 and 80 miles east and
southeast of Zhitomir. respectively.
A German broadcast said more
than 10000 Soviet troops were be-
ing used in the drive for Zhitomir
which the Russians captured last
November l3 and lost November 20
to powerful Nazi attack. The city
is vital rail junction on the Lenin-
grad-Odessa line.
The Russians apparently also were
menacing Korosten. go miles above
Zhitomir and so miles from the old
Polish frontier, which also was cap
tured in November, only to be lost
again.
In White Russia the fall of Wit
ebsk, which would endanger the en-
tire German line on that front, ap-
peared to be imminent. Gen. Ivan
c. Bagramian'S forces, which Friday
captured the heavily fortified lake
town of Gorodok, 20 miles north of
Vitebsk, and the next day cut the
highway leading westward to Po-
lotsk, swept up so more localities
yesterday, bringing the besieged city
within artillery range from three
sides.
Soviet guns already were laying
down a destructive fire on the rail-
way connecting Vitebsk and Polotsk
the only major supply or escape
route left to the Germans except
for the line leading south from
Vitebsk to Orsha and Mogilev.
The Russians did not mention the
Dnieper bend sector in their COM
munique, but the Germans said the
Red Army had renewed attacks on
the Nazi bridgehead near Nikopol
on the lower Dnieper River, which
were declared to have been repulsec
with loss of II Soviet tanks The
Germans also reported fighting be-
tween Vitebsk and Zhitomir in thu
Zhlobin area and southwest of Mogi.
lev, where they claimed the Rus
slams had lost some ground.
Evening star., 1943-12-27
William Montgomery
Feted on Jubilee Of
Acacia Mutual Life

The golden jubilee OF a true Ho-
ratio Alger romance Of American
business was celebrated yesterday
when about 1000 financial, business.
and civic leaders turned out at a
Mayfiower Hotel reception in honor
of William Montgomery, president
OF Acacia Mutual Life Insurance Co.
Standing at the head of re-
ceptiOn line with Mrs. Montgomery
and a group of leading officials of
the company, the man from County
Tyrone, Ireland, received congratu-
lations from distinguished citizenry
of Washington for his feat in build
ing the establishment which now
has more than half billion dollars
OF life insurance in force for policy
holders all over the world.
Yesterday was his birthday ami
verSary, too, the 74th, as he harked
back so years to his oath, when he
was head OF one-man establish
ment at 419 Eleventh street NV,
over hat store, opposite The Eve
ming Star. From that small frater-
nal beneficiary group of about 600
members who paid $l10 each on
the death of a fellow member and
had assets of less than $4,000, Mr.
Montgomery, as head of the organi-
zation, led it to a company in a
81 900 900 building at 81 Louisiana
avenue, overlooking Capital Plaza
with life insurance in force of more
than $5l0,000,0O0 and assets of more
than s120,OOOOOO.
In the receiving line with him and
Mrs. Montgomery were members of
the Golden Anniversary Committee
OF the company and other officers.
including Paul B. Cromelin, Brig
Gen. Frank T. Hines, S. E. Mooers.
field vice president of the company:
Howard w. Kacy, first vice presi-
dent Of the company; J. Claude
KEEPER and James E. Collifower.
A huge birthday cake for Mr.
Montgomery was inscribed with
words the first letters of which
spelled VIM. Montgomery" They
were: Worthy, modest, meritorious
obliging. noble, talented, generous
outstanding, magnanimous. endear-
ing, reliable and yours always"
Assisting in the reception were
Mrs. Cromelin, assisted by Mrs
KEEPER, Mrs. j. Harry Cunningham
Mrs. Colliflower, Mrs. Mooers. Mrs
L. P. Steuart, Mrs. Kacy, Mrs. Hines
and Mrs Roger + Whjtaford
Evening star., 1943-12-27
New Britain LANDINGS
Escape Jap Aerial
Attack for 7 Hours
By the Associated Press.

NEW YORK, Dec. 27.-CBS Cor
respondent William j. Dunn, who
witnessed the new American land
ings yesterday at Cape Gloucester
on New Britain, radioed today that
the assault was one of the most
perfectly co-ordinated land, air and
naval operations of the Pacific war.
So perfect was the coordination
and timing, Mr.. Dunn said, that
the possibility of serious resist
ance was reduced to a minimum,
and, in fact, was practically non
existent until the Japanese launched
their first aerial counterblow nearly
seven hours after the first marine
had scrambled through the surf to
storm the beach"
Mr. Dunn said he accompanied
the first marines from their point
of embarkation to a point a few
hundred yards off the western
shore where they dropped into their
landing barges.
Cruisers Begin Bombardment.
Il stood on the bridge of a troop
laden destroyer" Mr.. Dunn related.
AT exactly the last watch given
cruisers several yards to the rear
began bombardment of the beach.
To the rear of these were other
cruisers scheduled to join the bonn
bardment. A few minutes later the
destroyers also to the right and to
the rear opened fire. On the beach,
head great bursts of flame and
smoke could be seen.
Immediately coming in across the
water, formation of huge Lib
orators appeared, passed over the
target and laid down a load of %
tons of bombs, which fell exactly
over the target area. Another
formation of Liberators came in
from different directions and the
white smoke along the waterfront
rolled in for miles.
BY this time the small docks were
hidden by smoke screen. Any error
OF the bomberS would have resulted
IN disaster. But there was no error
The planes flew at almost treetop
height. Mitchells came in succeeding
waves. Then overhead, large forma-
tions of Lightning and Thunderbolt
planes appeared, lending their pro-
lection to the entire scene below.
AT exactly 7:42 am. the last of
the attack planes came over and the
first Marines went ashore, heading
cautiously for the protection of the
jungle.
Supplies Close Behind.
Even before the small barges
turned away the larger craft, with
guns, food and supplies were right
at their heels.
1T was 240 in the afternoon be-
fore Jap planes finally appeared in
their desperate attempt to sneak up
through the corridor. In this attack
and in the second one which fol-
lowed about o'clock the Jap bomb
Evening star., 1943-12-27
Bolivian Regime Renews
Pan-American Pledges
Ry the Associated Press.

Ry the Associated Press.
The new Bolivian government has
pledged to comply with all commit
ments and obligations of the Pan
American conferences on hemi-
sphere security and continental de-
fense, the embassy here said last
night.
The government, the embassy said
it was advised. has sent a cable to
that effect to the Committee of Po-
litical Security at Montevideo, a
group set up by the American
nations.
Such action, the embassy asserted
Is aimed at assuring there will be
no change in the previous hemi-
sphere policy of the government of
President Penaranda, ousted by the
new regime in military coup.
The eovernment-in a. bid for
United Nations recognition-previ-
ously had agreed to observe Bolivia's
obligations as an ally.
Evening star., 1943-12-27
Dr.. Thomas Pears Dies:
Presbyterian Historian

Ey the ASSOclateO PreSS.
WAYNE, Pa, Dec. 27.-The Rev
DR.. Thomas Clinton Pears, jr., So
secretary of the Presbyterian His
torical Society and manager of the
department of history of the Cen
eral Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States of
America, died at his home yesterday.
Born in Pittsburgh, he was gradu-
ated from Princeton University and
from Western Theological Seminary,
Pittsburgh He was ordained in
1910, serving as chaplain in the
4th Division, A. E. F., in France
and Germany during 1918 and 1919.
He wrote and edited numerous books
of American and church history, and
in 1912 delivered the L. P. Stone
lectures at Princeton Theological
Seminary.
His widow. the former Emma Dam
forth; son. Thomas Clinton Pears
3D.; daughter. Jane, and brother
John Palmer Pears of Pittsburgh,
survive.
Evening star., 1943-12-27
Gen. Rupertus, Marine Leader
In New Britain, Is D. G.. Native

During the World War, he COM
manded a Marine detachment
aboard the battleship Florida. He
was stationed in Washington during
several tours of duty, the last time
as commander of the Marine Bar
racks, from 1898 to 1910.
Before being assigned to the Pa
ciflc war theater last year. he COM
manded the Marine Corps base at
San Diego, Calf.
Gen. Rupertus was awarded the
Navy Cross by Admiral Chester w.
Nimitz as result of his leadership
in the Solomons. He also holds the
Victory Medal, Marine Corps Expe-
dictionary Medal, Haitian Distin-
guished Service Medal and the Hal
tian Campaign Medal.
His home is at 1882 Van Ness
street NV.
Evening star., 1943-12-27
Dr.. McCoIIester Dies:
Friend of Henry Ford

Ey the Associated Press
STAMFORD. Conn, Dec. 27-The
Rev. DR.. Lee Sullivan McCollester
"a, of Claremont, N. H., dean
emeritus of Crane Theological
School, Tufts College at Medford,
Mass, died yesterday at Stamford
Hospital.
DR.. McCollester, leader in the Uni
versalist ministry and close friend of
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Ford, was
stricken here at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Hugh Gallaher of
Darien, where he had gone to spend
Christmas.
He became dean Of Crane Theo-
logical School in 1912, the year he
left the pastorate of the Church of
Our Father in Detroit. where Mr.
and Mrs. Ford were members Of the
congregation.
Evening star., 1943-12-27

Maj. Gen. William H. Rupertus
commander Of the Marine forces
which swept ashore at two points
at Cape Gloucester on the western
tip of New Britain yesterday, is a
native of Washington.
He distinguished himself earlier
in the war when his Marine detach-
ment took the Solomons Islands of
Tulagi and Gavuto after three days
Of bitter fighting
Gen. Rupertus began his military
training here as member of the
National Guard from 1907 to 1910
He attended the Revenue Cutter
now the Coast Guard School from
1910 to 1918. He became a second
lieutenant in the Marine Corps on
his twenty-fourth birthday-Novem-
Der IA, 1913
Evening star., 1943-12-27
BoYington Downs a zeros
To Boost His Score 10 "a
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
ADVANCE SOUTH PACIFIC AIR
BASE, Dec. % Delayed Mai.
Gregory Boyington bagged four Jap
anese Zeros over Rabaul today to
bring his score of enemy planes shot
down to "a, two under the record of
Maj. Joe Foss.
The four Zeros were part of 26,
and possibly 20, japanese planes de-
stroyed in raid on the japanese
base in New Britain by the Marine
"Blacksheep" Squadron.
Maj. Boyington, who grew up in
Idaho, is former Pacific Northwest
collegiate wrestling champion.
He bagged his first plane at 10 900
feet, the second at 5000, the third
at 5000 and the fourth below 500
feet
Evening star., 1943-12-27
ICC and ACL Officials
Open Rail Wreck Probe

ROCKY MOUNT, N. c., Dec. 81
Three Interstate Commerce Com
mission representatives and officials
of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
today opened an investigation of the
ACL wreck near Lumberton De-
cember 16 in which 72 persons lost
their lives.
The hearing was closed to the
public and to- the press. ACL off,
clals said the report of the investi-
CATION would come from the ICC
headquarters in Washington.
The inquiry is expected to last
several days,
Evening star., 1943-12-27

ers succeeded in sinking one small
auxiliary craft and damaging two
with near misses.
For this they paid price of
SO dive bombers and 25 fighters
We lost seven planes, but saved quite
a few of the personnel. Others of
our planes were damaged.
1T is the feeling here (an Allied
base on New Guinea that this land
ing in force confirms our hold on
Western New Britain and composes
another lap on our long supply lines.
The position of the japanese in
the Southwest Pacific is not en-
YiouS."
Evening star., 1943-12-27
LOST RATION COUPONS.

GAS RATION BOOKS a. and C" issued
70 M Bernard Cramer. 5000 Poplar ave,
T9koma Park. Md
GASOLINE RATION BOOKS "a" and "C'',
Issued to Anna A. Lents, 1911 st. NV
N brown siHgator wallet, on Conn. ave
Sai capt. Anne A. Lentz, RE. 74OO. Ext.
Lp61' bet m, and 4:30 pm, and NO.
43ls eve. Reward.
RATION BOOKS, No. 3 and and 2 No. d.
issued to Joseph w Becker John
Becksr and Mary c. Becker. 26 K st. NV,
RATION BOOKS No. 3. issued to VIM +.
RATION BOOK a n issued is ns' n .hh;s " 20 ,
nelS, $500 14th st. NV. Please return. 81.
haIioN BOOKS and 4, issued to Mar
$500 Glen Cove ParkMaY> Nd 90
Evening star., 1943-12-27
Jops Reported Ready
To Seize Shonohoi> Nozis
By the Associated Press.

CHUNGKING, Dec. 27.-The edi-
tor OF the Shanghai Evening Post
Mercury Yesterday quoted recent
arrival" from Shanghai as saying
that japanese authorities there al
ready have prepared internment
camps into which Germans are to
be put wher Adolf Hitler is defeated.
Nazis in Shanghai were said to
be selling much of their property.
When Italy capitulated the Japa-
nese interned all Italians, but later
released those who swore allegiance
to Benito Mussolini.
Evening star., 1943-12-27
Chest Board to Meet

APPROPRIATIONS to Community
Chest agencies will be announced
tomorrow at the quarterly meeting
OF the Board of Trustees at pm
at the Chamber of Commerce audi
torium. 1915 H street NV. Frank
R. Jelleff, president of the Chest
will preside.
Evening star., 1943-12-27
FOUND.

IRISH SETTER; beautiful. red, female,
and Upshur st. GE. 1880.
KEY CASE, many keys; found Sunday on
Iuckerman st. Identify at sos Tucker
man st. NV.
PUPPY, 1art collie. wearing red sweater:
at l4th and New York ave, Monday morn
ine co. 6343. Apt 40S
PURSE, Christmas eve, at ,th st. and
Pa. ave, Box 424-L. Star.
Evening star., 1943-12-27
Three Firms Must Pay
Tax on Raises, WLB Holds
By the Associated Press


PHILADELPHIA. Dec. 27.-The
third regional War Labor Beard
ruled yesterday that more than
$4,000 paid by three Philadelphia
firms in assertedly unauthorized
wage increases may not be deducted
as business expenses in their l943
income tax returns.
The action has the effect of a fine
since the firms must pay taxes on
the disallowed wage payments as
though they were net operating
profits
Joseph Bell, chief enforcement at
torney, said the penalties, first OF
their kind to be imposed in the re.
gion, were levied because of the
failure of the employers to report
and secure RWLB approval of wage
increases given after the tpresiden.
tiaD stabilization order became eff.
fective. ."
The firms are McCutcheon Bros
and Quality. Inc, printing inks
s3,927 disallowed; I. Richman, baker
1887 disallowed, and Samuel Kap-
Ian, baker, s2,426 disallowed.
The sooner you get that War saw
in0S Of IN honIr
Evening star., 1943-12-27

WHERE REDS GAIN-Circles
and arrows marx the focal
spots of RusSia'S powerful
twin winter offensives which
today menace Zhitomir and
Vitebsk. Major gains were
reported on both fronts.
"A. P. Wirephoto.
Evening star., 1943-12-27

Housewives - Save your bacon
drippings and grease the skids to
launch the Axis on the sea of
oblivion.
Evening star., 1943-12-27


N
of
"A. p Wnephoto
Evening star., 1943-12-27
Large Force Involved.

The new operation began Christ
mas night when large force put to
sea. A protecting fleet of destroyers,
cruisers and amphibious craft slid
into position. The naval forces were
commanded by Vice Admiral Thomas
G. Kincaid, Southwest Pacific naval
commander.
In the weekend air attacks the
enemy suffered another blow Friday
when Allied planes spotted con-
centration of barges in the harbor
at Cape Hoskins. supply and re-
fueling base on the north coast of
New Britain. Fourteen of these
craft, OH which Japan apparently is
relying heavily for it's supply and
troop movements, were destroyed or
damaged.
Another supply center for the
/ enemy-the BoniS-Buka area at the
north end of Bougainville Island
underwent pasting Friday when a
task force of cruisers and destroyers
| lay unchallenged offshore and
poured $500 rounds of steel and ex-
plosives into vital installations
After the ships left spotter plane
reported number of large explo-
sions, indicating a fuel or ammuni-
ton dump has been lost to the
enemy.
! MarShalls Raided.
In the mid-Paciflc, Japanese de-
Tenders of the Marshall Islands
couldn't stop Navy and Army flyers
from raiding KWajalein. Mill and
Wotje AtollS and the New Taroa
airdrome on Maloelap Atoll Friday
and Saturday. One small enemy
transport was probobly sunk. The
Marshalls have been raided for II
consecutive days.
| On the ground, Australian jungle
fighters drove the Japanese out of
Wandokai, small supply base 20
miles northwest of Allied-held
Finschhafen on the Huon Peninsula
of New Guinea.
A Toxic broadcast recorded today
by the Associated Press said Japan
ese anti-aircraft batteries had beat
en- off two Allied air attacks on the
island of Kuezyerin in the central
part of the MarShalls-the first on
December % and the second on
December "a,
Evening star., 1943-12-27
Pacific
Continued From First Page)

tCOlulnueQ from FIRST PdRe)
and Silimati Point, directly ahead of
Target Hill and east of Cape Glou-
cester. Both points have been
singled out in the continuing aerial
strikes which softened up the area
for the landings.
A subsidiary beachhead was estab-
lished across the tip of the island
and south of Dampier Strait.
The invasion was in much stronger
force than at Arawe. The latest as
sault, in fact, was said to be COM
parable to the Bougainville opera
ton in the Northern Solomons.
Americans who landed st Bougain-
vile November now have a beach,
head of more than eight miles long,
and the japanese have shown signs
of evacuating the southern half OF
the island.
Evening star., 1943-07-11
President Reossures Vatican,
Sees Beginning of End for Axis

held at the executive residence in
many month. Mr.. Roosevelt and
his guests, French and American
military, naval and civilian officials,
sat down to dinner about 8:15 pm,
and the affair went routinely until
about 9 O'Clock. Then Mr. Roosevelt
received word that landings actually
had been made on Sicily.
Leaders Attend Dinner.
The President was sitting with
Gen. Giraud on his right hand and
Gen. George c. Marshall, Army
Chief of Staff, on his left. Across
the table were Secretary of State
Hull, Admiral William D. Leahy,
the Presidents personal chief of
staff, and Admiral Ernest j. King,
commander-in-chief of the Fleet.
Possibly no item of news could
have been more exciting to these
men and no subject more heavily
on their minds at that time than
the Sicilian operation.
But with his sense of the dra-
matte, Mr. Roosevelt kept his in
formation to himself until the con-
cluding stage of the dinner about
10 pm. At that time he rose to
propose a toast, and thrilled his
assembled guests with these words:
Il have just had word of the first
attack against the soft underbelly
of Europe"
At that point the President moved
into a very brief description of the
invasion of Cicily after pledging
those present to keep secret the re-
port of the invasion until midnight.
The pledge was necessary because
Evening star., 1943-07-11

President Roosevelt yesterday
termed the Allied invasion of Sicily
as just about the beginning of
the end of the war on the Axis
powers, but cautioned that I'VE
haven't won the war yet"
"One of the happy things" he
added, lis that with the help of
Gen. Giraud, we have a military
situation that goes long way"
Mr.. Roosevelt's views on Allied
progress were given out yesterday in
two ways. First, the White House
made public excerpts OF the I'M
promptu talk which the President
made Friday night at White
House dinner honoring Gen. Henri
Honore Giraud.
Message to Pope Plus.
A little later, the White House is
sued the text of a message to Pope
Plus XII, in which the President as
sured the leader of the Roman Cath
olic church that throughout the
period of operations the neutral
status of Vatican City as we'll as of
the papal domains throughout Italy
will be respected"
The message had opened with a
reference to the landings in Sicily
and a statement by the President
that "our soldiers have come to rid
Italy of Fascism and all its unhappy
symbols, to drive out the Nazi op-
pressors who are investing her soil"
The Chief Executive advised the
Pope that in the fighting to come
churches and religious institutions
would be spared the distinctions of
war to the extent that it is within
our power"
The recital of events at Friday
nights dinner proved it to be one of
the most dramatic State functions
Evening star., 1943-07-11

simultaneous release times had been
fixed for Washington, London and
North Africa.
"The operations have begun" the
President said, I'VE won't get definite
news until later, but the news will
be coming in from now on"
Example Of Careful Planning.
Mr.. Roosevelt hailed the operation
as an outstanding example of care
fully accomplished planning and of
cooperation between American and
British forces. Similar cooperation,
he said, has been achieved with the
French forces in North Africa.
The operation against Europe's
soft underbelly" has a great many
objectives. Mr.. Roosevelt declared.
though "of course the major objec-
tive is the elimination of Ger
many"
Last autumn (when North Africa
was invaded" he went on, "the
Prime Minister of England called it
the end of the beginning I think
you can almost say that this action
Evening star., 1943-07-11

the help of Gen. Giraud we have q
unified military situation that goes
long way"
The President then began speak
ing almost directly to Gen. Giraud
assuring him that France is one
Of the directions" in which Allied
forces will strike to destroy Hit
ler's hold on Europe. Not only will
the people in Southern France be
liberated, he said, but also "the peo-
pie in Northern France-Paris."
Cooperation Praised.
1t was this statement which led
to speculation that the President en-
visions thrusts into Europe from
both the Mediterranean and the
British Isles.
The Chief Executive praised the
cooperation which the French mil
itary and naval forces In North AZ
RIGA had given the American forces
there. and he said he thought the
"older regime" Of France is break
ing down."
When the Chief Executive had
completed his assurance Of all help
and assistance in arming the French
forces of liberation and in freeing
France and its people from German
enslavement, Gen. Giraud spoke
briefly in reply. He thanked Mr..
Roosevelt for support for France
and declared that through Ameri-
can aid French soldiers would have
their share in freeing their country.
Gen. Giraud then closed the ex-
change by lifting his glass and pro-
posing to his fellow guests the health
of the President and the glory of
the United States which he describ-
ed as the great nation through
which peace and friendship would
be restored to the earth.