davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31

Maritote, and Phil d'Andrea, were
sentenced to serve 10 years in fed
eral prison and fined $4,000 each.
Louis Kaufman, Newark, N. j.,
labor leader with no previous rec
ord, was sentenced to seven years
Imprisonment and fined $4,000.
Judge Bright followed the recon-
mendations of the prosecution in
imposing the maximum penalty on
the members of the Chicago syndi-
cate, successor to the AL Capone
mob in the rule of the Chicago
underworld. The prose tion
recommended eight years for Kauf-
man. In reducing it by one year,
Judge Bright intimated that he
might give him his freedom on
bail pending appeal while remand
ing the others to jail
All seven were convicted Dec. %
by a federal court jury after an
1l-week trial.
Frank Nitti, who was indicted
with the racketeers last March,
committed suicide in Chicago the
day the indictment was returned.
Ralph Pierce, also indicted, was ex-
onerated by a directed verdict of
acquittal during the trial.
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
Fuehrer Admits
TO Heavy
'43 Set-backs

LONDON, Dec. 81. UP)-Reichs-
'hancellor Adolf Hitler told the
German people in a new years
proclamation Friday that the year
l943 brought us the heaviest set
backs"
Hitler revived the familiar Nazi
propaganda line that world jewry'
and Great Britain were responsible
for starting the war and challenged
Britain and the United States to
invade the continent.
The invasion coasts, he assured
his people, have been fortified to
such degree that our enemies
will probably be more surprised
than we by an invasion"
The fuehrer derided Britain as
no longer being capable of playing
an individual, decisive role as a
great power and reiterated his
1ow-familiar warning that only the
"Bolshevik menace" will benefit if
Germany should be defeated.
Great Britain, who so often used
other nations as tools to achieve
her unscrupoulous aims in Europe.
has today herself become the tool
of even more unscrupulous powers, "
he added in tacit reference to the
United States and Russia.
Hitler's proclamation was broad
cast to the press of the occupied
European nations by the German
DNB news agency.
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
ParIey Studies
Gas Shortage,
Aid TO Trucker
Heaviest Portion
Of Season Ahead
Stirs Big Problem

An effort TO assure ample gaso-
line service to truckers and essen
tial agricultural users in the face
of an impending acute shortage in
the valley next month was made
Friday morning in a meeting of
gasoline station men, major dis.
tributors and agricultural leaders
in the offices of the Triple-A.
The meeting was called by Ru-
dolph Miller, secretary of the Triple
A, and Charles Small, secretary Of
the War Board, following a meeting
Wednesday of the War Board in
which they discussed the local situ-
alton and offered their services as
coordinating council to meet the
problem.
PREDICT CRISIS
According to Mr.. Miller, gas dis
tributors in the valley predict 81
crisis about the 18th of January.
The recent cut in gas stocks avail
able to retailers was made in the
face of greater demands by the
armed forces, he said. Already
over 65 per cent of the output Of
the oil companies is being allocated
to military uses, and with the pos
sibility of greater offensive in the
Pacific war theatre, new demands
will have to be met for gasoline
for the armed forces, neceSsitating
a further possible reduction in local
supplies.
In December no immediate short e
age was felt by the local area due
to the fact that rain storms cut
agricultural work to a minimum
and there was ample stock for all
uses including pleasure drivers hold
ing "A" cards.
CITES PROBLEM
THE most serious problem fac
ing truckers today" Miller said, lis
the fact that there is no present
means of reserving gas for the sole
use of truckers or agriculture, in
Spire of their classification. A driver
with an "A" card, under OPA rul-
ings, must be serviced as we'll as
those holding 1T" coupons or those
who need the fuel for essential
agricultural operations. Too, most
stations are rationing the gasoline
in such small minimum quantities
that trucker must drive to several
stations in order to fill his tanks.
While three or five gallons will be
ample for the average A, B, or c
coupon holder, truck with a So
Continued on page 6, col. g.
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
RaiImen Reject
President as
Wages Mediator
Balk on Proposal
To Make Terms
On Straight Raise
WASHINGTON. Dec. 3

WASHINGTON, Dec. 81.
(UP)-The Is incorporating
railroad brotherhoods Fri
day turned down President Roose-
velt's proposal that he be allowed
to arbitrate their overtime wage
demands jointly with proposed
straight wage increase of four to
10 cents an hour on a sliding scale.
Union leaders last week request
ed that Mr.. Roosevelt arbitrate
the overtime pay issue but made
clear that they consider the straight
time question settled by the sliding
scale award.
REPLY TO ULTIMATUM
In a letter replying to an "ulti-
matum' from the president that
they act on his arbitration proposal
Friday, they said that to arbitrate
the overtime issue together with
the straight time question would
be gross injustice and do violence
to prevailing wage determination
policies" They made no move to-
ward reinstating their strike call.
The railway chiefs suggested that
they were entitled to decision on
their wage demands independent of
any other considerations
In responding to President Roose-
velt's letter, which was dated De-
cember 80, the union chiefs said
I'VE do not agree to the arbitration
of our request for overtime after
40 hours per week on the basis you
propose"
I'VE regard your suggestions as
introducing new criteria in wage
rate determinations under the act
OF Oct. 2, 1872" the stabilization
act, said the letter sent over the
Continued on page 6, col. 81
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
CaIexico Youths
To Enter Pleas

Next Tuesday in superior court
Tadeo Alvarez and Herman Rosas,
both 18 years of age, will enter
their pleas to burglary and grand
theft counts filed against them in
Calexico.
Alvarez is charged with two
counts of burglary and two counts
of grand theft and Rosas with six
counts of burglary and two counts
of grand theft. They are held in
the county jail in lieu of $2,5O0 bail
each.
Calexico police assert that wave
of burglaries and car thefts ended
with the arrest of Rosas and Al
varez, l5-year-old boy, and 23-
year-old man, Isobel Jimenez, 80.
The boy was turned over to juvenile
authorities and Jiminez paid a $125
fine in Calexico police court after
he pleaded guilty to petty theft
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
Officers Trail
Sneak Thief

Peace officers throughout south
EN- California searched Friday for
Raymond H. Bartges, civilian ac-
cused of stealing $3.50 and a S75
watch from Ebert N. Bertozzi
while Bertozzi, soldier. was
asleep in room they shared in an
imperial hotel Thursday night.
When Bertozzi awoke Friday
Bartges was gone and the money
and watch were missing, Bertozzi
told Imperial police. The soldier
was en- route to his camp in the
Los Angeles area from Washington,
D. G. He said he gave Bartges 4
ride in his car.
Bartges was described as being 10
or 20 years of age, five feet and
10 inches in height. He weighed be-
tween ITO and 180 pounds. He has
dark brown hair. Bertozzi said he
had a speech impediment and car
ried AT draft card. He wore u
dark brown sweater. blue denim
waist trousers. and new brown
shoes.
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31

of the captured Cape Gloucester air
fields.
The twin airdromes fell into
American hands Thursday morning,
after five days of bitter jungle
fighting in which several thousand
Japanese were routed and driven
into the hills, leaving at least 750
of their dead behind. Marine losses
were described officially as "un-
believably light"
OCCUPY AIRFIELDS
With all organized resistance
ended in the invasion area, Ameri-
can air power prepared to move
into the captured airfields, only
275 miles from Rabaul, mounting a
powerful threat to enemy shipping
and bases throughout the Bismarck
sea.
At the eastern end of the Ameri-
can pincers closing in on Rabaul,
marine paratroopers, operating as
infantrymen, extended the U. S.
beachhead on Bougainville island
by another 600 yards with the seiz-
Continued on page 6, col. A.
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
Flying Forts Rake
Big French Ports
BIG Bombers Hit
Nazi Invasion
Barrier Points

LONDON, Dec. 81. (UP)-
American Flying Fortresses
spearheaded a mighty Allied
aerial assault on Germany's
invasion defenses in France
Friday, and Axis radio re-
ports indicated the giant
|USAAF raiders had loosed
their bomb loads on the Paris
area. 81
American Marauders and
British medium, light and
fighter bombers escorted by
Allied fighter planes were re-
ported authoritatively to
have attacked new but iden-
titled targets in northern
France.
Swarming to the attack at
daybreak, hundreds of Allied
bombers and fighters shut
tied across the narrow Dover
Straits for hours in shattering
assault on the French channel
coast that observers interpreted as
the opening gun in an offensive
to blast path into western Europe
for the Angle American invasion
armies.
START ANEvy
Hours later, big formation of
American heavy bombers, support
ed by u s. and RAF fighters,
thundered out over the continent to
batter target officially identified
only as in France.
The Paris radio, however, report
ed that Allied planes raided OBJ
jectives in the Paris area shortly
before noon.
The Fortresses last attacked
Paris on Sept. 3, and since then
had concentrated the main weight
, of their daylight offensive on enc
my industrial and shipping targets
| in northwestern and western Ger
many.
Allied militar- spokesman MAIN
tanned tight silence about the OBJ
| jective of the terrific cross-c channel
bombing assault, which brought out
one of the most impressive displays
Of Allied aerial might ever paraded
over the occupied continent.
There was every indication, how
ever, that the long expected bonn
bardment to soften up Germany's
Atlantic wall in preparation for
the opening of second front had
begun.
Five hundred British and Ameri-
can medium and fighter-bomber
set the. pace for the intensified
assault yesterday, Raj raiders fol-
lowed through last night, and big
formations of mediums picked up
the attack soon after dawn today.
Reports from the English SOUTH
east coast told of heavy cross
channel traffic under a clear sky
during the i;rst three hours of day.
light. The raiders flew at all alti-
tudes, some fighters barely clearing
Continued on page 6, col. 81
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
ALLIES BLAST GERMANY'S WEST WALL
Women Will Boss
Ship Launching

PORTLAND, Ore, Dec. 81. (UP)
The sign will read women
only" when the tanker Nehalem
goes down the ways at the Kaiser
Swan island shipyard Wednes-
day.
The only men present will be
in the background way back =
as spectators.
The all-woman launching is
scheduled as a tribute to 5000
women employees at the yard.
Sponsor will be Mrs. Leo RObirds
of Portland, a burner, and speak
ers will be women, including Mrs.
E. B. Oberg, wife of the mayor OF
Nehalem.
Only within the hull of the YES
sci will there be any men, and
then only because maritime COM
mission regulations require their
services.
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
Outlines
Session Plans

SACRAMENTO, Dec. 81. CUP)-
Gov. Earl Warren Friday denied
request from Rep. Richard j.
WEIGH, r., San Francisco, that he
include authorization for construc-
ton of a proposed San Francisco
peninsula freeway at a special ses-
sion of the legislature he plans to
call after the first of the year.
Warren said there was no action
that could be taken b. the legisla-
ture that could remedy the situ-
alton" and that the freeway would
not be included in the call for the
session.
The governor said, however, that
I'VE are including the extension in
our postwar plans as one of the
most important projects in the
state"
Welch in a telegram to Warren
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
Season Extended
In Valley for
Shooting Ducks

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 81. CUP)
George p Miller, executive Secre-
tary of the state fish and game
commission, announced Friday that
because of crop depredations in the
Imperial county irrigation district,
a special duck season will be per-
mitted in that region from Jan.
| to Feb. 10.
A stamp will be required of per-
sons over 16 years, except resident
owners, tenants, or share choppers
having an interest in crops. Killing
will not be allowed from blinds or
other devices or decoys, traps or
nets.
The season was approved BY AL
bert M. Day, assistant director of
the u. S. fish and wildlife service.
The ducks may be used by the
person killing them for food in
California, or may be given to hos
pitals and other charitable institu-
tions, but not wasted. Carcasses may
be possessed until March TO-
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
British, Yanks
Step up Drive
On Italy Lines

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS Al
glars, Dec. 81. CAPITALIZED troops
have carried out raid in force
across the Garigliano river in a
thrust toward the key junction of
Minturno, it was announced Friday
and American bombers smashed
anew at German communications
in the most sustained aerial assault
of the italian campaign.
The raid across the Garigliano,
in the long dormant Tyrrhenian
coastal sector, apparently was car
ried out after the Germans launch
ed a heavy attack against the
British positions at Pontefiume on
the river estuary two days ago.
MEAGER REPORTS
Skinny official reports were sup
plemented by German broadcasts
claiming that an Allied landing op-
Grafton aimed at Mintrrno on We'd
nesday was repulSed.
(The official description of
Garigliano action as a raid" sug-
gested that the Allies, presumably
British units on the coastal wing
Of the fifth army front. had struck
suddenly and perhaps withdrawn
according to plan.)
The Allied air campaign against
German transport facilities behind
the lines reached near record pro-
portions. Flying Fortresses attacked
Rimini, Ravenna, and Padua. Mar
auder medium bombers raided the
Florence and Leghorn areas, and
Mitchells were credited with caus-
ing great destruction" in the Jugo-
slav harbor of cara.
The eighth army push up the
Adriatic gained another mile to
bring the Canadians within some
10 miles of Pescara, Adriatic port
Continued on page 6, col. a.
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
Freaks Featured
Weather in '43

WASHINGTON, Dec. 81. CUP) =
This has been one of the coldest,
hottest, driest, wettest, and freak
lest years the country ever lived
through, the weather bureau re-
ported Friday.
February was the drieSt Febru-
airy of recorded weather history.
April in the northeast was the
coldest in 80 years. May produced
the worst flood in 100 years from
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
Marine Air Bose
Gets S4,883, 900

A total of $4,883, 900 will be spent
for new construction and improve
ments at the El Centro marine air
station, the eleventh naval district
announced Friday. Work will start
Immediately.
This sum is part of a $25 $4,000
authorized by the navy department
for general expansion of ground
and aircraft and engine overhaul
facilities at five southern Califor-
Y''a-ss'erine and naval air stations.
tlay at the FL Centro
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
President Takes
To Bed With Flu

WASHINGTON. Dec. 81 CUP) -
The White House announced Friday
that President Roosevelt's head cold
had developed into a case of grippe
and that because of his condition,
Rear Admiral Ross T. McIntire, had
ordered him to stay in bed.
The President has been suffering
from head cold for two days, but
this morning McIntire found he had
a half degree of fever The Presi-
dent was ordered to remain in bed
Friday and probably will stay there
Saturday.
His regular Friday morning press
conference and afternoon cabinet
meeting were cancelled
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
onrushins Russ
Armies Sight
Polish Borders
Mobile Forces Bypass Zhi+omor
In Sweeping Westward Drive;
Nazis Abandon Arms in Retreat

LONDON. Dec. 3T-lUPI-A Moscow communique tonight
announced the capture Of Zhtomr most vital rail junction Of
the northwest Ukraine in sweeping gains against demora
lied German forces.
More than $50 towns and villages and sup
Elemental Moscow dispatches said The German defenses had
broken in all sectors
The recapture Of Zhtom the most impressive victory
Of Va+uns weekong offensive. +oppne did the biggest
German defense bastion The way the old Polish frontier
and the Balkans
MOSCOW Dec. 81. (UP)-Russan mobile units whc
bypassed the beleaguered Ukranan rail hub of Zhitom
to the north reported advancing swiftly Friday tC
ward Novograd Volynski, only 20 miles from the prewa
frontier of Poland
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
Light Rain Falls
In Valley Areas

A passing shower dropped 0i OF
an inch of rain in Imperial Valley
around midnight Thursday, gauges
at the Imperial Irrigation district
headquarters showed Friday.
This precipitation brought the
December rainfall 10 2.46 inches.
the greatest December since 1927
when the total was 2.92.
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
RdcketeerS Draw
Maximum Penalty

NEW YORK, Dec. 81 (UP) -
Federal Judge John Bright imposed
maximum prison sentences on six
Chicago gangsters convicted of eX-
torting millions from the motion
picture industry.
John Roselli, an army private and
former husband of movie actress
June Lang; Paul de Lucia, Louis
Compagna, Charles Gioe, Frank
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31

Oklahoma to Michigan. Washing
ton, D. c., had the driest and hot
test summer of record.
Texas had an 4-mile-an-hour
hurricane, accompanied by Is inch
es Of rain in "a hours. AT Spear
fish, S. D., one day in January, the
temperature climed from four de-
grees below zero to As above in two
minues, and later the same morn
ing fell from Sd above to four be-
low in 27 minutes.
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
MISSING MAN is
SOUGHT IN VALLEY

Mrs. E. A. Lamphere Friday ask
ed Sheriff Robert w. Ware to help
her locate Frank w. Small, who
may be Using the name of Frank
w. Clayton. His brother, william
Small, she said, at one time lived
on East Sixth street in FL Centre.
She said she had not heard from
Frank Small for four years and is
anxious to get trace of him.
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31

said that the military Importance
of the road should be included
in matters to be considered by the
legislature
He added that mo time should
be lost in starting construction"
and that the project had the en-
dorsement of highest military and
naval authorities"
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31

station are provisions for more
than a score of projects, including
runways, aircraft parking space,
bachelor officers quarters, barracks
and messing, hangers, storehouses,
special new buildings and additions
to old ones, roads, walks, and
services.
Other bases where money will be
spent are the marine corps air
stations at Ell Toro, Mojave, and
Santa Barbara; the marine air de-
pot at Miramiar; and the naval air
station at San Diego.
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
BEATS LETTER HOME

DENVER, Dec. 81. (UP)-It can
happen, and furthermore it did hap
pen to Staff Sergeant Benjamin F..
Spring. The sergeant, whose plane
was Slot down over Germany,
wrote a letter from Nazi prison
camp to his wife in Denver. Then,
last october, he came home through
an exchange of prisoners, and Fri
day the letter which he wrote from
Germany finally arrived. Spring,
himself, took it out of the mailboX.
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
E.C. Council Lets
Contract TO
Clean Water Line
Project Includes
l2,4OO Feet
Of Mains in City

The Ell Centro city council, in n
special meeting Friday morning,
approved a contract with the Tate
Pipe Innings, Inc, for refining and
cleaning 12,4OO feet of water mains
and lines in the city at an estimated
cost of nearly $4,000.
The contract calls for "elining
and cleaning of 10000 feet of four
inch pipe and 1900 feet of six-inch
pipe. The cost prices as set out
by the Tate Company asks SIPS
per feet for the four-inch pipe
and Sl.40 per foot for the six-inc.l
pipe.
The company will do the excavat-
ing, cleaning, moving of pipes, and
back-filling necessary to complete
the work which will be similar to
the 10000 foot project completed
the past year. The project last
summer cost $1,000 but the city
did the excavating and back-fill-
ing.
VOID PREVIOUS CONTRACT
A former contract with E. T..
Haas who had Darcy Jones as
engineer -in-charge here on the
project, was rescinded and a new
contract entered into with the Tate
Pipe Innings, Inc, represented at
the special meeting by Bruce Hark-
ness, field engineer. Mr.. Harkness
announced that A. P. Whitehill
also present, would be the engineer
in charge of the project. The Tate
company has its main offices at
Andover, Mass.
The project has been considered
one of emergency and in view of
the satisfactory results from the
previous project, the city council
decided that the remaining 12,400
feet should be repaired at once.
In considering the contract coun-
cilmen studied the financial condi-
ton of the city which disclosed that
SPAS, ,703.5O is estimated to be on
hand as of Friday nights closing
business. This included the 100000
in government bonds held by the
city, The net income of the city
during the next six months was
estimated to be $185,000 and the
net expected expenditures will be
$l80,000, according to Herb Faw-
cett, street commissioner, who pre-
sented the figures.
The emergency repairs and pos
sible temporarily permanent relo-
cation of the sewer pump was one
of the factors entering into the
discussion as to available finances
to complete the pipe reclining pro-
gram. Councilman He'll ventured
that the cost of the outfall sewer
repairs would be in the neighbour
hood of $25,000
OFFERS RELIEF
AS the city cannot obtain new
pipe, the refining and cleaning
OF the present lines not only i'm
proves the water pressure in present
lines but relieves the present sys-
tenn for some time.
Figured in the cost of the pipe
refining program is the re-paving
OF the excavated area, cost of new
wales and installation of same,
which totals an estimated $4,000,
making the total cost of the project
in the neighborhood of $4,000.
Included in the new contract was
an agreement also to allow the
company cost plui 10 per cent for
removal of obstruction in pipes or
removal and relaying of any defec-
tice section of pipe. The city will
furnish a contact man on the job
and will resurface tle area where
excavating is done. The city is also
to furnish $1,000 bond for the
materials man
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31

Soviet field dispatches said Gen.
Nikolai F. Vatutins first Ukraine
army had broken the German de-
fense front in all sectors and was
sweeping triumphantly westward on
an arc of nearly 200 miles.
Fierce fighting was reported at
the gates of semi-enveloped zhito-
mir, where the Germans fought des-
perately to delay the greatest sim
gle Red army advance of the war
Field reports specifically men,
tioning Novograd Volynski as in the
path of the Russian vanguard stam-
.peding northwestward beyond zhit-
omir said advanced elements were
within 40 miles" of the old Polish
border
TOWN CAN'T HOLD
(The British radio, reporting the
thanking of Zhitomir. said that IF
the town has not fallen yet, it can
not hold out much longer" A Stock
holm dispatch to London said the
Germans were abandoning Zhito-
micD
"a German communique acknowl-
edged heavy fighting "of undimin-
ished ferocity" in the areas of Zhit-
omir and the White Russian bastion
of Vitebsk, and claimed that 240
Soviet tanks were destroyed in the
last two days.
Vatutins right wing now was
advancing west of the Zhitomir-
Korosten- -Ovruch railroad on an
unbroken front while foremost
spearheads drove through the re-
Ureating German units.
One spearhead has scored a deep
penetration beyond Chervonoarm-
eisk, % miles northwest of Zhitomir,
and had paralyzed the highway and
railroad between Zhitomir and Nov
ograd Volynski.
The left wing of Vatutins army
was swinging southwark, its west
ernmost tip taking Kazatin, out
thanking Berdichev and placing ad-
Continued on page 6, col. a.
Imperial Valley press., 1943-12-31
THE WEATHER

Forecast for Imperial Valley:
Partly cloudy Friday night. Little
change in temperature Friday
but slightly warmer Saturday.
Night temperatures above SO de-
grees Friday and Saturday nights.