davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
MIGHTY new WAR
ship LAUNCHED

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 2O.-P)
A new light cruiser, the Okla
homa City, Joined the nation
fast-expanding navy today - first
fighting craft to bear the name
OF the Sooner State capital.
And a few minutes after her
yellow hull hit the Delaware RI
yer at the Cramp Shipbuilding
company yards with sirens scream
ing and crowd of nearly 10000
shipyard workers and guests cheer
ing, the keel Of a sister ship, the
Galveston, was laid without cere-
rnony in the same shipway.
Smiling, white-haired Mrs. An
ton H. Classen smashed a bottle
of champagne across the Oklaho-
ma City's sharp prov, the Navy
having gently vetoed her sugges-
ton that water be used for the
christening in honor of her native
cjty's new water system.
Recalling that cruisers were 'the
backbone" of the force which
prevented Japanese ships from
CONTINUED on Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
10 JAP VESSELS SUNK,
201 PLANES DESTROY ED
in TRUK ASSAULT
U. S. Suffered Only One
Ship Damaged, II
Planes Lost In Raid

U. S. PACIFIC FLEET HEAD.
QUARTERS, Pearl Harbor, Feb.
U. S. Pacific fleet
has sunk 10 Japanese ships, de-
stroyed 201 enemy planes and
wrought other heavy damage at
the Nipponese island bastion Of
Truk in partial settlement for
Pearl Harbor.
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Pa
cific fleet commander, today lift.
ed the five-day silence cloaking the
attack against Japan's own Pearl
Harbor'' and disclosed in a COM
munique that the great thrust was
carried out at cost of one ship
damaged and II planes lost.
Great as was the devastation
at the enemy's Central Pacific
fortress, Admiral Nimitz did not
consider it full payment for The
Japanese sneak attack on De.
cember 7, 1941, when 10 Ameri.
can warships and LIT planes were
knocked ou: at Pearl Harbor and
more than 5000 persons killed and
missing.
Apparently American forces
made no landing at Truk, as was
reported by the Tokyo radio. Adj
miral Nimitz made no mention
Of any such operation. Instead,
mis- communique indicated, it was
q sort of nierry-go-round attack by
hundreds of carrier planes, each
of which struck repeatedly after
Japanese aerial opposition had
been knocked out early in the
fight.
Signific antly, Nimitz reported
the initial approach of the U. S.
forces was not detected, and
there was no enemy air oppo-
sition on the second day of the at.
tack .--,-, IS
These ships were listed as sunk
at Truk:
Two light cruisers, three destroy
ers, one ammunition ship, one
seaplane tender, two oilers, two
gunboats and eight cargo ships.
Listed as hit and probably sunk
we're: One cruiser or large de-
stroyer, two oilers and four cargo
ships.
Failure to mention capital ships
Il. the communique possibly indi-
Gated the Japanese had withdrawn
their heavy naval units from Truk.
A reconnaissance flight over Truk
Feb. by two Liberators revealed
1T least two carriers were anchor.
ed in the Truk lagoon.
Our carrier-based planes shot
down 127 enemy planes and de-
stroyed IA on the ground. More
than so others were probably de-
stroyed aground.
The admiraIs simple statement
that there was mo air opposition
on the second day of the raid
lestifies to the terrific toll taken
Continued on Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
MINUTE MAN FLAG
IS WON BY DAVIS

CAMP DAVIS, Feb. 20-Civilian
employees of this antaircraft artil-
lery center have won the honor OF
displaying a Treasury Department
Minute Man. flag beneath Old
Glory on the post flag pole as
result Of their war bond purchases
during the current Fourth War
Loan Drive, Captain L. B. Wan
tuck, post war bond officer an
nounced today.
More than 80 per cent of the
civilian employees have pledged
10 purchase 10 per cent or more
pl their monthly earnings in war
ponds, he indicated.
At the same time, continuation
VI NJ The bond campaign to February
~ was expected to swell the pur-
vnase of war bonds by both civil
uah and enlisted personnel.
difficulties which have delayed
,,sSurance of war bonds to civil.
NAN workers under the payroll
ueuuctlon plan have been elimi-
naIeo 1t was announced
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
RABAUL SUFFERS
l23-T0N ASSAULT
By The Associated Press

American airmen heaped new
destruction on Rabaul Friday
Gen. Douglas Macarthur announc-
ed today with 123-ton bombing
assault. Thirteen japanese planes
were shot down. We lost none.
American ground forces con-
niLed their campaign for Eniwe-
tok atoll, westernmost enemy case
in the Marshall islands. Already,
Marines have captured Engebi
island and its valuable mile-long
airfield.
On the Arakan front in Burma,
where Japanese guerilla forces
broke through British rearguard
positions to threaten Allied supply
lines. a Southeast ASH, Headquar-
tiers announcement said the enemy
is being pounded into submission
but severe fighting continues.
During the last 4S hours, the
main Japanese force on the Ara
kan front has been showing some
signs of becoming uncoordinated
in the face of continuous and de-
termined fighting and the growing
pressure of our troops" the an
nouncement said.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
NAVAL HEAD FOR
INVASION NAMED
Kirk Is Made Task Force
Commander; Charlotte
Man Also Revealed

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 ZAP -
The Navy tonight disclosed furth-
er details in the plans for the Eu-
ropean invasion with announce
ment that Rear Admiral Alan
Goodrich Kirk has been named
commander of the United States
task force operating as part of
the combined Naval force in Eng
land.
Also assigned to command of
units of the task force are Rear
Admiral John LESLIE Hall. Jr.,
and Rear Admiral John Wilkes.
Admiral Harold R. Stark is
commando: of all United States
Naval forces in the United King
dom area.
The Allied commander in chief
Naval forces for the western the
atre is Sir Bertram Ramsay.
Kirk, a veteran aof IS years in
the Navy, q of which have been
at sea or in foreign service, was
in Great Britain three months be-
fore the outbreak of the Euro
pean war. After the beginning of
the conflict he had the opportunity
to see the British fleet in action
and to view the operation of the
British shore establishments.
Born at Philadelphia in 1888,
Kirk was commissioned in the
Navy and Immediately began his
service at sea and abroad. His
tours of duty included service in
the far east aboard American gun
boats in Chinese waters and with
the Asiatic fleet. He has specialize
ed in Naval gunnery.
Last year Kirk was awarded the
Legion of Merit for the excellence
of detail and training operation"
of the Naval task force which was
on hand for the North African
landings. His home is at Black
Point, Conn.
~. DE- nm Civ Cn1 Cl
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
US. ArmOred Columns
Smash Into Nazi Flank:
Beachhead Hold Secure
Three Russian Armies
Battling Through Steyx

LONDON, Monday, Feb. 21.-(P)
Three Russian armies fighting
through billiards toward the Bal
tic gateway of Pskov yesterday
captured points within 80 miles of
Ono, Selling ia villages in gains
OF two to IL miles, and killing
more than 1900 Germans. Moscow
announced today.
The swift Russian advance, facil-
ltated by soil hardened by SUBJ
zsro temperatures, threatened to
outflank another 1c0-mile section
OF the crumbling German north
ern front between Ono and Novo-
sokolniki.
THE Germans retreating under
the blows of Soviet troops are
abandoning equipment and arms. :"
a midnight bulletin said.
Berlin broadcaSts also said the
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
STEEL FORMULA
ATTACK PRESSED
Labor Spokesman Says
Equal Sacrafices Not
Being Made

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2o.-tR-
Pressing organized labor's attack
on the Little Steep formula linn
iting wage increases, an AFL
spokesman protested today that
compared with the American
worker, everyone else is not
making equal sacrifices
In a followup of a complaint
voiced yesterday by labor mem
bers of the Presidents cost-of-liv-
ing committee that the Bureau Of
Labor Statistics Index "distorts
the basic facts of wartime living
costs, George Meany, secretary
treasurer of the AFL, declared
that the effect of living cost in
creases is "cruel and disastrous to
morale" of workers.
simultaneously, the National AS
ISOLATION of Manufacturers and the
United States Chamber of Com
merce remarked that the report
of the committees two labor men,
bers has "the inevitable effect of
seriously jeopardizing the chances
Of presenting unanimous report"
by the full committee.
The objection was voiced by Rob-
ert Gaylord, president of the as
ISOLATION, and Eric A. Johnston,
president of the Chamber, in a
letter to H. B. Horton and George
K. Bait, industry members of the
committee.
Suggesting that the labor men,
bers had used the committee as a
sounding board for publicizing
the conclusions of an interested
group" Gaylord and Johnston. ad-
Continued on Page Six; Col. A.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
WAR PRISONERS
READY FOR WORK

RALEIGH, Feb. 20. -R-More
than half of the 2,1O0 prisoners of
war interned in North Carolina
military camps will begin work
for private employers within the
next few weeks, DR.. J. S. Dorton,
director of the War Manpower
Commission in North Carolina said
today.
DR.. Norton said recent Army
order released the prisoners for
certain types of private employ
ment. leaving approximately half
the total number to remain in
camp for camp chores. The North
Carolina VINO must approve a
certificate of need of war prison.
err labor before prisoners can be
secured.
Applications for the prisoner la
Dor and information relating to
the type of work the prisoners are
allowed to perform may be Sc
Continued on Page Six; Col. s.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
Scion Suggests Raising Draft Age
To Slow Induction OF Pre- War Dads

~ WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 Up =
TIhalrman May O-Ky) of the
mouse Military Committee sug-
sested today that the existing top
VI 80 years on the draft be rails.
Cd "a few more years. ~
At the same time he told report.
efs that his committee would
AeVet' approve legislation to low.
ea the minimum draft age from
IL to II.
May advocated raising of the
np limit as a means of slowing
t eo"n the drafting of pre- war
lie said he had noticed move
aleht IN some newspapers and
ailohg some members of Con-
saess IN behalf of legislation to
permit the armed services to draft
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
COMEDIANS WIFE
EXPECTING CHILD

HOLLYWOOD, Feb 2o.-R-
Oona O'Neill, 18-year-old bride of
Charlie Chaplin, said today she is
expecting a child next August.
No comment beyond that an
nouncement was forthcoming from
Miss O'Neill, daughter of Play
wright Eugene O'Neill, or from
Chaplin, who is booked for deu-
BILE bill in the courts this week.
The film comedian-producer and
Miss O'Neill were married in San
ia Barbara, Calf, last June 10.
Chaplin, 81 and four times wed,
has two sons, Sydney and Charles,
Jr., both by his second wife, Lita
Grey Chaplin.
Tomorrow the screens famous
pantomimist is to appear in U. S.
Judge ]. F. T. O'Connor's court in
Los Angeles for arraignment on
charges of violating the Mann Act
and conspiring with six other per-
Continued on Page Six; Col. ~
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
FDR Clinches
Reports On
Veto Tax Bill
81 DAY PASSES
sident May Permit Mea-
I sure To Become Law
Without Signature

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2o.-LR-
President Roosevelt has all but
clinched reports that he will veto
the tax bill, by letting pass without
action the last day on which he
could have signed it for prompt
use of its new levies.
His final chance to approve the
measure in time to make some
$85, 900, 900 per month in excise lev
les applicable to March business
vanished with the coming of to-
day. The proposed taxes would ap
ply On transactions in the first
month beginning ten days or more
after they become law.
The President could, of course,
merely permit the measure to be-
come law without his signature
perhaps with a statement Of dis
approval as was done with one
revenue measure earlier in his
administration. But Mr.. Roose.
velt's news conference comment
Friday that he will send the ST.
315, 100000 bill back to Congress
Monday or Tuesday very nearly
closed that door. There would be
no occasion, as such affairs usual
ly are handled, for sending back
a bill that was to become law
1uifho11f hic ropne m If
The indications of a tax veto
point up a divergence between the
President and large group in
Congress which has grown so wide
that it prompted Senator Vanden-
berg (R-Mich) to accuse Mr.
Roosevelt of running for re-elec.
ton on an anti-Congress plat.
FORM
Vandenberg pointed out that the
President already has vetoed the
anti-subsidy bill and called the
House-supported plan for service
mems voting a fraud"
II do not know whether the
President will finally veto the tax
bill or not" Vandenberg said. IF
he does, it will be for political rea-
sons"
Senator Taft (R-O) joined in
Vandenberg's characterization of
any tax veto as political, and said
it would be foolish as well. The
administration has asked for $10,-
500, 0O0,OO almost five times as
much as the bill is expected to
furnish. Rep. Knutson (R-Minn) in
a radio speech called presidential
criticism of the tax bill Gill found
ed and unwarranted. He said that
'it took no courage" for the Pres
ident to send his heavy-tax propos-
Continued on Page Six; Col. g.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
GREAT ASSAULTS
ON TOKYO SEEN
Doolittle Predicts More
Blows On Japanese
Capital City

LONDON, Monday Feb. 21-(R-
Mai. Gen. James H. Doolitte, who
led the American raid on Tokyo in
1912, today pe-dicted greater Al
lied assaults on the japanese capt.
tai sin the shortest possible time. -
but indicated agreement in the Al
lied high command that Hitler
must be finished first"
At the same time he disclosed
the Eighth U. S. Air Force, which
he is assigned to command in the
western European invasion, flew
over $4,000 sorties and dropped 15,'
600 tons of bombs on enemy tar
gets in the past 80 days.
I'VE are going back to Tokyo
and We shall go in full array and
with mighty Allies" said the man
who led formation of American
Mitchells from the carrier Hornet
or the historic flight of April 10,
1912 to bomb Tokyo, Yokohama,
Osaka, Kobe and Nagoya.
British civil and military lead
ers have told me how fully they
share our determination to carry
the war to the very heart of ia
pan in the shortest possible time"
he declared in a speech prepared
for broadcast to the United States
marking the addition of new car
rier to the United States Navy.
The old Hornett was sunk by
American guns when she was dam
aged beyond salvage in the battle
of Santa Cruz islands in October,
1912. The new carrier is christen-
Continued on Page Six; Col. p
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
MARSHALL ISLES
POUNDED BY U. S.
Four Atons, And Island In
Carolines Are Blasted
By Navy

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-LP-
Army bombing planes struck at
Kusaie in the Carolines island on
Friday while Army and Navy
planes teamed up for an attack Ion
four atolls in the Marshall is
lands, the Navy reported tonight.
Army Liberators from the Sew
enth Air Force bombed docks and
shipping at Kusaie, japanese
stronghold in the eastern Carolines
and sank one small ship.
Army Warhawks and Navy Ven
tur and Liberator bombing planes
pounded ground installations, an
air field and a radio station in
the Marshall island raids, the Ma
Wy said in, an announcement re-
leased in Washington and Pearl
Harhor simultaneously.
The atolls hit in the Marshalls
were not identified, in line with
the Navy policy of keeping the
Japanese high command in the
dark on operations in the Mar
shalls.
None of our planes were lost in
the attacks. The text of the Ma
vy's announcement:
Aircraft of the Seventh Army
Airforce and Navy search planes
of Fleet Arriving Two continue
bombing attacks on enemy posi-
tons in the Marshall and Caroline
islands during Feb. 10 West Long
itude Date.
Army Liberators bombed docks
and shipping at Kusaie, sinking a
small ship.
Army Warhawks and Navy
Ventura and Liberator search
planes attacked four Marshall at
oils, scoring hits on ground in
staliatlons, an airfield and a ra-
dio station.
None of our planes was lost"
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
Nazi Plants, Deep In Europe,
Blasted By 1000 Allied Planes

LONDON, Monday, Feb. Pip
"A gigantic Allied force of 1000
planes, in the greatest single aerial
assault of the war, attacked Hit
ler's fighter plane plants deep in
Germany yesterday, Gripping Nazi
opposition to the coming invasion.
German fighter plane factories
at Leipzig, Gotha, Bernburg, Os-
chersleben, Brunswick and Halber-
stadt were hit, along with other
undisclosed targets in Germany in
mission officially described as
"the largest, most important and
most hazardous operation ever IN
dertaken."
In Washington, Gen. H. H. Arm
old, commanding general OF the
Army Air Forces, estimated last
night that the rain of fire and
steel dropped by the U. S. Fortress
ses and Liberators knocked out Is
Continued on Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21

used for limited service and who
could replace men already in for
co1lbat duty he declared. 1.-The
Selective Service law permits the
induction of men up to As, but the
President has by order fixed the
top at 49, There is no reason why
he cannot raise it few more
years" ~......
Gen. George c. Marshall has
said the Army does not want men
over SO because experience has
demonstrated shat generally they
can not measure up to the hard
ships Of military life.
II think it is bette. to take a
42-yea--old bacnelor than a 81
year-old father" May comment
ed.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21

17-year-olds, with the understand
ing they would not be sent into
combat until they were at least
10.
The Army hasn't asked for
it," he said, land 1 doubt if they
will. When they asked us to low
er the draft age to Is, and We did
it, they assured us that would
care for the situation"
Seventeen year-old boys, May
commended, ARE not old enough
to be drafted, and if l had my way
about it, the Army would be pro-
hibited from sending the 18-year-
olds into combat until they had at
least a year OF training in this
country"
There are a lot Of men be-
tween SO and As who could be
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
FamedU.S. Cargo Vessel
Is Back InHerHOme Port

these warehouses of the seas
which are lifelines of our fighting
forces overseas, the announcement
said.
Under command of Captain Al
fred L. Jones of Mobile, Ala, the
S. S. Iredeu sailed in convoy for
the Mediterranean some weeks
ago with a vital war cargo. A
shadow of things to come fell soon
after Gibraltar was cleared. u
boats attacked the convoy. A ship
filled with high explosives, which
was sailing just ahead Of the Lib
erty ship, was blown out Of the
Continued on Page Six; Col. y
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
Inns Jarvis, Famed
British Destroyer,
Now Reported Lost

LONDON, Feb. 20.-tR,-The ADJ
miralty tonight announced the loss
of the destroyer Janus, one OF the
veteran British warships OF the
Mediterranean war. The commune
que gave no details.
The Janus. along with the Jer-
Wis, Mohawk and Nubian, all de.
stroyers, figured in a raid on an
Axis convoy bound for Tripoi in
May, 1871 in which five enemy
merchantmen and three Italian
warships were wiped out. The Mo.
hawk was lost in that action.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
Continued on Page Six; Col. ~

Unconquered by submarine at
tack, bomb hits and flames which
ragged for SO hours in her hold
alongside $500 tons of high octane
gasoline, the Liberty ship S. S.
James Iredell, built in the yard
of the North Carolina Shipbuilding
company, is back in a home port
preparing for another 60 at the
Axis, according to a report on her
part in the war received Sunday
from the War Shipping Admins
tratioA.
Her escape from destruction is
regarded as additional proof of the
sturdy design and construction OF
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
AERIAL FIGHTS RAGE
Americans Drive 2 Miles
Toward Carroceto With
Renewed Energy

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS
Naples. Feb. 20. -(P)N American
armored columns smashed into
The German flank today, and have
driven two miles toward Carroceto
il a fierce counterattack sprung
sfter invasion beachhead forces
had blunted an about, reckless
onslaught by nine Nazi divisions.
Allied and Axis aircraft swarm
ed above the beachhead, attack
inc opposing lines and opposing
soladrons in maneuvers that were
a1proaching record proportions un.
ri worsening weather limited their
operations.
Allied aircraft aloft ranged from
Tlying Fortresses to Cubs. Ger.
man strength was equally evid-
ont. with packs of 30 to 40 or more
enemy planes cutting into the
crowded sky lanes. 49,.
The tide of battle has turned,
and the beachhead was never
more secure than today he
date repeatedly set by the Ger
mans for its extinction-Associated
Press Correspondent Daniel De
Luce said in a front dispatch writ
ten at 1890 pm. today.
The mauled Germans relaxed
he initiative, he declared, and
the U. S. armored thrusts,. biting
INTO the eastern flank of the Nazi
salient, gained las much as three
kIloneters 1.-TWO niles in the di-
rection of Carroceto." These blows
by tanks and infantry began at
$50 am. Saturday, and contlnu-
ed today.
Thus the ground lost below Car
roceto to the intense German
charges was being recovered, and
De Luce said the Germans may
have lost SO heavily that anoth-
eI attack can not be mounted on a
similar scale"
More than 500 prisoners have
been taken in the last "a hours.
he added, and German attacks to-
Gay were described as patrol &C.
tons, and German artillery began
fading in power yesterday.
Allied headquarters asserted the
Germans, with their dead strewn
Tricky across the meadows, still
we're suffering heavy casualties
as fighting continued. Both sides
we're throwing an infantry, tanks,
numbering artillery, and aviation,
and Allied warships were booming
in support off the coast.
The German army there is equi-
valent to nine divisions with six
Of thenl-anywhere from $4,000 to
$4,000 men-battling in the main
attack along the Albano Anzio
road it was estimated.
The about Nazi offensive launch
cd Wednesday morning gained
less than 5000 yards" on mar
row front along this road, head
quarters announced, and some OF
this has been recovered. Allied
Continued m Page Two: Col. AZ
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21
Montreal Transit
Strike Continue.

MONTREAL, Feb. 20. - B -
montreal tramways official said
tonight that their employees were
taking all cars back TO the barns
after a brief interval of work fol-
lowing 30-hour strike.
The tramway officials said they
understood" the trouble was the
same as that which brought about
the strike of 1000 street car and
Gus operators Friday night and
Saturday refusal of Canadian
Congress of Labor men to work
OIL the same trans as American
Federation of Labor men.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-21

Russians had flung
troops into a rene -
ward Minsk in White
b the south, and also de- ne
Red Army of the Ukrains was
attacking with mounting fury to-
ward the bastion of Krivoi Rog.
Last big ore city still held by the
Germans in. the Dnieper Bend.
Ono, 60 miles east of Pskov, is
junction on the Leningrad :
Vltebsk and Staraya Russa-Pskov
lines. The units of one Soviet army
seized Bolshoi Zvad and Maly
Zvad, 80 miles north of Ono; an
other took Donets, the same dis
lance to the northeast, and a
third captured Shilova Cora, 30
miles to the east, said broad
Continued on Pare Two. Col. 81