davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-12-21
House Unit May Probe
Pi|fering Of Supplies
From Army in Europe
Militory Committee
Is Awaiting Report Of
IS Who Visited Front
Hy the Associated Press.

ey the Associated Press
Pilfering of Army supplies in
the European theater may be
investigated by the House Mill
tary Affairs Committee.
Acting Chairman Thomason said
a decision on such an inquiry prob
ably will hinge on information
brought back by Is members of the
committee who returned yesterday
from a tour of European battle
fronts.
The returning legislators did not
discuss IN detail what they had seen
or thought about reports of large
scale thefts from American supply
lines, pending a conference today
with Gen. George c. Marshall and
Secretary of War Stlmson, although
they indicated general satisfaction
with the front-line supply situation.
Committee members who did not
make the trip to Europe, as well as
members of the Senate War Inves-
tigating Committee, evinced interest
in press dispatches reporting that
pilfering of supplies reached such
proportions at one time as to menace
military operations, but had been
curbed since.
Dispatches have related instances
OF American soldiers selling sup
plies and of gangsters hijacking
supplies for resale on the black mar
ket. One reported gasoline thefts
from pipelines and trucks in Nor
mandy.
Associated Press Correspondent
Wade Werner, in a delayed Paris
lSee SIIPPIY page A-16l
Evening star., 1944-12-21
Machinist Guilty Of Killing
Baby; Faces Life Term
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
COSHOCTON, Ohio, Dec. 21-
Warren Patterson, 31-year-old Ash
land (Ohio) machinist, was convicted
IN Common Pleas Court last night
Of flrst-degree murder in connection
with the drowning of his 18-month-
old son Larry last September ~.
The verdict. which included a rec
ommendation for mercy, carries a
penalty of life Imprisonment.
Patterson was accused of having
dropped the baby and another son,
Raymond, Z, in the Mohican River.
Larry drowned, but Raymond
crawled to safety. He and his twin
brothers, Gene and Glen, 8, whom
Patterson left at the roadside, were
found later.
Patterson showed no emotion as
the verdict was read. but as soon as
the formality was completed he
jumped to his feet, shook hands
with each member of the jury, the
prosecutor and Judge Clifford L.
Belt.
Patterson said after his arrest
that he had intended to kill all four
boys because he had no home for
them. He said he 'lost his nerve
after dropping Larry and Raymond
into fhs ef~ess>
Evening star., 1944-12-21
2 Poultry Firms Plan CIosinqs
Today for Lack of Chickens

Two leading poultry dealers here
planned to close their doors at the
end of business today for an un-
limited period as a result of in
ability to procure chickens, stem
ming from the Government freeze,
1t was learned.
Edwin Clarke Jones, owner of
Javins Poultry Co., said he was
closing his stand in Convention
Hall Market this afternoon and
that unless the supply situation i'm
proved In the next month, he would
close down permanently.
Julius B. Gay, retail and whole
sale poultry dealer at 1857 Fourth
street NE. for the last 81 years,
said he was closing up ''for as long
as the freeze lasts-maybe three OF
four months" He added that he
would remain out Of business even
after the restrictions on chickens
are lifted, ''if poultry can't be bought
legitimately."
Several other dealers reported
their stocks depleted and admitted
they may be forced to close, too.
.
Evening star., 1944-12-21
Russians on Three Sides
.Of Two SIovok Towns

MOSCOW. Dec. 81 [P).-The Red
Army today pushed back the Ger
mans on a mile front in South
ern Slovakia and battled Nazi gar
risons on the outskirts of the strong
holds of Kassa and Rimaszombat.
Soviet columns last night were on
three sides of Kassa and Rimaszom-
bat, both heavily defended Slo-
vakian towns which control high
ways and railways connecting with
direct routes to Bratislava, Vienna
and Prague to the west
Miles Gained.
In advances up to 5 miles, COM
munique said, the Russians cap
tured 13 towns in the Rimaszombat
area in a drive aimed at the key
citadel of Losonc, II miles westward
Chief of them was Tornala, 13 miles
east of Rimaszombat and a strong
point or formidable enemy defenses
on the east bank of the Slana River
Latest reports had Soviet forces
preparing a climactic attack on the
Torysa River Notifications 2 miles
outside Kassa.
Front reports said the great bat
tie raging further to the west, north
OF the Danube bend, was going fa-
vorably for Red Army troops strug-
Cling for other routes westward to-
ward Bratislava and Vienna.
Cold Weather Begins.
The Southeastern Slovakia drive
appeared almost certain of throwing
the Nazis out of Kassa and Rimas-
combat within the next few days.
Capitulation Of the towns would
loose the Nazi hold from a huge
segment of Eastern Slovakia, if not
all of it.
An Izvestia report from the Slo-
vakian battlefront said hard winter
weather had set in. Ski men-both
German and Russian-were taking
A. more active mart in tho foIf;,r
Evening star., 1944-12-21

outstanding securities and other
conditions"
The two commissions, having joint
jurisdiction over the sale of the
bonds, authorized the orders last
night, shortly before expiration of
the time in which the underwriting
contract required the company to
obtain approval
The orders followed a hearing be-
fore the SEC in Philadelphia Mon
DAY and Tuesday and an investiga-
ton by the PUG.
The single bid for the new 4 per
cent first and refunding bonds was
made by syndicate of % invest
ment firms, most of them local con-
Germs. The syndicate was headed
by Alexander Brown & Sons of Bal
timore. The Capital Transit Co.
Evening star., 1944-12-21
Sales of Capital Transit Bonds
At97H Bonnedb by Government
SEC and PUG Prohibit Transaction;
Competitive Conditions Are Questioned

The Securities and Exchange
Commission and the District
Public Utilities Commission, in
separate orders, refused today to
approve acceptance of the single
bid of 971a per cent of par value
for bonds of $12, 500, 900 offered
by the Capital Transit Co.
SEC said it was mot satisfied that
competitive conditions were main-
tanned or that the price to the COM
pany and the underwriters spread
are proper
The PUG expressed the opinion
shat the record in this proceeding
does not warrant the approval by
this commission OF the acceptance
Of the offer. particularly in view OF
the necessity of the payment OF
premiums and duplicate interest on
Evening star., 1944-12-21
Attack Called Effort
To Halt U. S. Advance
Onto Cologne Plain
BY NELSON M. SHEPARD.

Secretary of War Stimson de-
clared today that the Germans,
in their offensive on the western
front, have accepted the hazard
involved in such an effort, which,
if it fails. will definitely shorten
the war"
Describing the German drive
since Saturday as IAN all-out effort
to halt our advance into the Co.
logne plain and the Saar Basin, he
told a press conference he had the
utmost confidence in the wisdom,
energy and aggressive fighting atti-
tude of Gen. Eisenhower and his
leaders"
Mr.. Stimson said Allied counter
measures naturally are under way,
but because of the fluid state of
the fighting, caution necessitated
as little discussion as possible OF
Evening star., 1944-12-21
SteHinius May Visit
London as Prelude 10
Big Three Meeting
Meeting With Russion
Diplomats as Well as
ToIks With Eden Possible
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The possibility arose today that
Secretary of State Stettinius
might 60 to London as a prelimi-
nary to a "big three" meeting.
British Foreign Minister Anthony
Eden called for a re-establishment
Of quarterly meetings OF foreign
secretaries Of the great powers Id
the Hoslsk 6f Commons yesterday
The British have clearly shown
for some time their ardent wish to
have high Allied conference on
their home ground, and 1t seems
out of the question that Marshal
Stain would be willing to travel
that far to meet President Roose-
velt and Prime Minister Churchill
in England.
Differences in Policy.
The f1are-ups in Greece and
Italy barred differences in Anglo
American policy toward liberated
Europe which both sides have ex-
pressed their interest in talking out.
Mr.. Churchill told Commons that
the Allies agreed on general aims
but that whether there Is COM
plete agreement on every aspect of
these matters is another question
altogether"
Whether Mr. Stettinius will travel
to London before the Big Three
meet depends on President Roose-
velt, well-informed sources say, and
no decision has been made.
Reorganization of the State De-
partment with the new Undersecre-
tary and Assistant Secretaries is
expected to take much of the de-
tailed tasks off Mr.. Stettinius
shoulders so that he caA get away
more easily.
May Confer With Russians.
In addition to the purely Anglo
American problems, it is considered
possible that Mr.. Stettinius may
meet with Russian diplomats in
London to lay the groundwork for
Allied agreement on the question
OF voting procedure in the world
peace agency.
This problem has been left open
and authoritative quarters are con-
vinced that United Nations con-
ference, which Washington is anx-
ious to hold as soon as possible, could
not be called until it is settled.
British anxiety to hold a confer
ence on their own island was con-
sidered primarily a matter of pres
tlge. There have been several de-
mands from Parliament that the
next meeting be held in the United
Kingdom, which Mr.. Churchill
echoed in his last speech.
Evening star., 1944-12-21
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press. 20
Super Fortresses in substantial
force today attacked industrial
targets in Mukden, Manchuria.
Up to 60 B-29s of Maj. Gen. Curtis
E. Lemay's Goth Bomber Command
participated in the daylight strike
against the japanese dominated
puppet state.
The War Department announce
ment said a communique would be
issued on the mission when results
of operational reports are received
from the theater.
In the Goth Bomber Command S
last attack against Mukden on De-
cember 7 the giant planes netted
their biggest bag of enemy aircraft.
Sixty three japanese planes were
shot down or damaged when the
Super Forts bombed an aircraft
plant and other military objectives
at Mukden
Bombers Lost.
This encountered from weak to
strong" air opposition and resulted
in ''unobserved to excellent bombing
results" it was announced at the
time. Three B-29s were lost.
Manchuria-Japan's arsenal OF
Greater East Asia"-has many i'm
portant steel works, shipyards and
other war industries. Producing such
vital raw materials as steel and coal,
Manchuria has sizable Stockpiles OF
petroleum, rubber, tin and other re-
Gently looted wealth for the Jap
anese armies.
Today's smash conceded with the
Chungking radios assertion that a
great American aerial offensive is
to be launched against Japan. This
forecast came two days after the
record 1,000-ton bomb smash at jap
anese installations at Hankow,
China, and the second major Super
Fort raid against Nagoya, japanese
industrial center.
The Tokyo radio heard by the Blue
Network in San Francisco said SIS
American soldiers interned at Muk-
den were killed or wounded during
the December raid.
Raid on Japan Reported.
Three of four Mariana based
Super Fortresses flew over Honshu
last night and early this morning,
japanese time, radio Tokyo an
nounced today, but added that "ab-
solutely no damage" was sustained.
Evening star., 1944-12-21
Duration Jobs
Frozen by Edict
OF President
Thousands of U. S.
Workers Lose Chance
Of Permanent Status
BY ]. A. FOX.

Government employees who
lack permanent status virtually
lost all chance of obtaining such
classification today when Presi-
dent Roosevelt issued an execu-
tive order which has the effect
of freezing" them as temporary
workers.
The order applies to nonperma-
nent personnel appointed prior to
March 16, 1912, through competitive
examination, and Civil Service Com
mission officials would not hazard a
guess as to how many might be af-
fected, Conceding that it might run
into the thousands, they said, how
ever, that the number might be
small because turnover has been
heavy. The task involved in check
ing back over old civil service rec
ords was one of the reasons for the
order, it was said.
Permanent appointments were
| abandoned in March, 1912, and per-
sons entering the Government since
that time have come in on a war
service basis. They are not affected
by today's order, since it had not
been intended that they should
have permanent employment.
Can Compete Again.
Where the non-permanent en-
ployes occupy jobs that will be con-
tinued after the war. they will have
an opportunity to compete for them
in new examinations. In all exam
nations in the future, veterans will
get preference. This fact was point
ed out in a statement by the Presi-
dent in signing the order
The President recalled that one
OF the primary purposes of the war
service employment regulations is
sued in March, 1912, was to insure
that positions which were not al
ready filled on a permanent basis
would not be so filed until veterans
could have an equal opportunity
with others to compete for them.
| The persons affected by todays
order were those On registers await
ing their regular turn for appoint
ment when the need dor manpoWer
developed 10 the point where ap-
poin5fnents were made without any
regard for relative standing. When
| 1t became necessary to do this, the
Civil Service Commission issued
regulations providing that persons
eligible for permanent appointment
up to March Is, 1912. should be
rated permanent. These regulations
remained in force until today.
President Explains Action.
In his statement, the President
said lit is obvious that in many in
stances determination cannot now
be made as to- whether the ratings
| of temporary employees might or
might not have been reached for
probational (permanenD appoint
ment prior to March, 1912"
He added that because of this and
| the added facts that it was desired
to give as many positions to veterans
as possible, the new order was issued.
| At the Civil Service Commission,
| it was said thousands of records
would have to be checked and it was
a physical impossibility to go back
to them. One Civil Service official
said War and Navy Department
personnel would be principally af-
fected.
In each instance, it was added, it
would have been necessary for the
commission to go back over old
registers and see if each individual
was eligible for a probation appoint
ment before the middle of March,
1912.
Evening star., 1944-12-21
Reds Begin Offensive
In nSouthwest HUNGARY
Berlin Radio Reports
Nuzi Forces in SIovukiu
Reported Pushed Back
On 125-MiIe Front
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, Dec. 21.-The Berlin
radio reported today "the Rus
slams have launched their long
expected offensive between Bala-
ton Lake and the Danube" in
Hungary.
The broadcast declared 10 Rus
sian rife divisions were thrown in
the attack and that the Germans
had launched a strong counter
attack with tanks and artillery
which forced the Russians to re-
group"
Such drive apparently would be
aimed at completing encirclement
of Budapest by thrusting up west
of the city.
Berlin acknowledged some local
penetrations, but said they had
been sealed off.
Evening star., 1944-12-21
Auto Runs Into Group,
Killing Three Women
By the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press.
DETROIT, Dec. 21.-Three young
women, including two sisters, were
killed and 13 other persons injured
today when a motorist plowed into
q group of homeward- hound war
workers standing in an unprotected
safety zone in suburban Hamtramck.
Police identified the driver as
Walter s. Frankowski, 30-year -old
war plant foreman.
Frankowsh was alone in the auto
mobile. Assistant Prosecutor John
J. Rusinack said a warrant charging
involuntary n1anslaughter would be
asked.
The dead were identified as Miss
Catherine Carey, 81: Miss Anna
Carey, Is, and Miss Thelma Craw-
ford. %.
Al but one Of the injured were
women.
Evening star., 1944-12-21
Allied Air Activity
Over Western Front
Halted by Weather
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Dec. 21-Midday
passed today without a single
German radio warning of air
raids. and it was apparent the
weather still was hamstringing
Allied aerial operations in the
period of the Nazi counter
offensive.
The British I'd Tactical Air
Force, operating chiefly from
Lower Holland, was completely
idle due to fog. Gen. Eisen-
hower's communique summed
up with one sentence: The
weather reduced air activity
yesterday to a minimum.
Evening star., 1944-12-21
Great Postwar Influence
Of U. 5. Seen by George
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ATLANTA, Dec. 21.-More and
more, says Senator George, Demo-
crat, of Georgia, the United States
will be called upon to participate in
the solution of world problems and
to lead the way of international
life in the future"
The great influence of the United
States in the field of moral, po-
Htical and cultural leadership is
bound to expand unless we our
selves fritter away our opportunity, -
he said, in accepting an honorary
doctor OF laws degree from Emory
University here yesterday.
Evening star., 1944-12-21
Stimson Says Nozi Offensive
May Determine Length of War
StimsonOmitsWeekIy
Casualty Figures
At News Conference
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Secretary of War Stimson
omitted his usual weekly re-
port on Army casualties at his
news conference today.
He said he supposed that the
casualty figures had not yet
been received from the fronts.
1t had been expected that
this weeks tally probably would
include some reports on casual
ties in the opening Of the WIN
ter offensive against Germany
in November.
Evening star., 1944-12-21
Germans Three-Fourths Of Wav
Across Luxembourg in Big Push
liege-Bostogne
Highway Cut
At One Point
BULLETIN.

PARIS tP. An important
success was reported today
from the strengthened north
wall along the German salient.
Americans who already had
won back Monschau, inside
Germany, drove 9 miles south
ward and captured Rocherath
and several nearby villages in
an attack which cut the neck
of the German salient down
to 46 miles. 1t had been SIS
miles.
BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, Dec. 21-The German
counteroffensive has driven 81
miles into Belgium 10 miles west
of Stavelot and 10 miles west o1
Malmedy, cutting the Liege-
Bastogne-Arlon highway at a
point about IA miles south OF
Liege fortress, supreme Allied
headquarters disclosed today.
Field Marshal Karl Won Rund-
stedt's massive winter rush across
Allied lines of communication had
developed into two deep wedges as
massive formations of from five to
six armored divisions and eight
to nine infantry divisions poured
into wide breach under the con-
cealment of fog and cloud.
The second deep wedge had pene-
trated three-fourths of the way
across Luxembourg. This drive far
ther south appeared directed toward
Sedan, scene of the 1910 break
through.
IA Miles From Frontier.
This drive carried IA miles from
the frontier town of Vianden to just
east of Wiltz, 10 miles east OF
Bastogne and 48 miles northeast oi
Sedan. Wiltz is % miles north OF
the city of Luxembourg. A parallel
German column was in the vicinity
of Clervaux. 7 miles northeast OF
Witt.
These were the positions at noon
Tuesday.
Supreme headquarters still did
Evening star., 1944-12-21
Charles Boettcher, Once
Kidnapping Victim, Weds
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
DENVER, Dec. 21.-Charles Boett-
cher II, Denver financier kidnapped
for $60,000 ransom almost II years
ago, and Mrs. Pinckney Foster,
Denver, were married yesterday.
The ceremony was performed in
Mr.. Boettcner's home in which he
was seized February IL. 1888. He
was released several weeks later
when his father, Claude K. Boett-
cher, Denver capitalist, paid the
$4,000.
Evening star., 1944-12-21
Late Bulletin
New Output Problems

The Allied setback in Eu-
rope "will hit us between the
eyes" with new war produc-
ton problems, WPB Chairman
Samuel w. Anderson said to-
day. He added that the pow
erful German counteroffen-
sive makes it impossible to
predict an end Of the civilian
production freeze.
Evening star., 1944-12-21

German activities since it would
inevitably throw light on our own
assessment of their current plans
and capabilities.
This, in turn, would throw light
on our countermeaSures," he said.
(See STIMsON, Page A-7J
Evening star., 1944-12-21
Industrial Targets
In Mukden Blasted
Again in Big Raid
Tokyo Radio Reports
3 or a Super Forts
Over Honshu Island
BULLETIN.

Super Fortresses hit a Jap
anese aircraft plant in Muk-
den, Manchuria, today with
good results" although two
of the big B-29s were lost, a
Goth Air Force communique
reported this afternoon.
Evening star., 1944-12-21

TDo additional men from
the District area hdpe been re-
ported killed in this Udr. See
"On the Honor Roll" Page Az.
Evening star., 1944-12-21

Continued on Page A-3, Column l
Evening star., 1944-12-21

(See BONDS, Page A-3)
Evening star., 1944-12-21

(See SUPPLY, Page A-l6.)
Evening star., 1944-12-21
Guide for Readers

An Associated Press Newspope
Evening star., 1944-11-18
BY Don Flowers

pont Park, meet at Seventeenth and
Pennsylvania avenue Sc. car and
bus terminal, II am tomorrow.
TRIPS.
American Youth Hostels, Potomac
Area, bike trips to: Great Falls, Va,
leave Rosslyn Circle, 10 am. tomor-
row. Along towpath, leave Twenty
first and K streets NV, 1:30 pm.
tomorrow.
FOR SERvICEMEN. ...
Stage Door Canteen, Belasco The
ater, tonight: Shirley Lyon. singer,
and Marine Band.
Dance, sponsored by Alpha Lamba
Phi Sorority, Canellis Studio, 62s r
street NV, 8 O'Clock tonight.
Variety show, USO Club, Eighth
and Pennsylvania avenue NV, Q
o'clock tonight.
OFFICERS.
Dances, Officers Service Club at
Mayf1ower Hotel, and Junior OfIicers
of Washington, 735 Seventeenth
street NV, 8 o'clock tonight.
Dance, sponsored by Jemmes Club
OF Washington, at Willard Hotel, 8
o'clock tonight.
Service men and women may OBJ
tain information on other activities
by calling the United Nations Cen
ter, National 5000, or any Of the
follouipo TIC0 v,,,v&h~rc. E~>,xs.,.
0428, National 3431, National 0014
or Republic 1877. Colored service
personnel may call USO, Decatur
1854, or War Hospitality, Decatur
7768.
Evening star., 1944-11-18
X}$,:;;: }$;:iTS' !; 5:
DANCES.

DANCES.
United Nations Girls, National
Press Club auditorium, 9 o'clock
tonight. Service personnel invited.
Illinois State Society, Shoreham
Hotel, 9 O'Clock tonight.
Mississippi State Society, Hotel
Statler. 9 O'Clock tonight.
Adjutant Generals Department,
War Department, Willard Hotel, 9
O'Clock tonight.
Polka dance, Group 848, Polish
National Alliance, Stansbury Hall,
g O'Clock tonight.
Jewish Community Center, 8
O'Clock tonight.
Interior Department Recreation
Association, building cafeteria, $50
O'Clock tonight. Miss Personality"
to be selected.
EXHIBITS.
Art students exhibition, Corcoran
Art Gallery, 8 am. to 4::30 pm.
today, and to pm. tomorrow.
Block prints by William S. Rice.
Oakland, Calf, division of graphic
lar.s, Smithsonian Institution, ON
Mall, 9 am. to 4:30 pm. through
tomorrow.
Seventh Metropolitan State Art
Contest Exhibit, Natural History
Building, National Museum, Tenth
street and Constitution avenue NV,
10 am. to 4:30 pm. daily through
November 26.
Bernice Cross paintings, Phillips
Memorial Gallery, am. to s pm.
Tuesdays through Saturdays; 8 to
Z pm. Sunday and II am. to 10 pm.
Monday, through November 26.
Photographs by Eugene Kibbe of
Elsah, ILL.,, section of photography,
Arts and Industries Building, on
Mall, 8 am. to 4:30 pm. daily
through November.
Art by Washington children,
through December 3, and "Art in the
Counties South Of Us" through De-
lcenber Is, Public Library, Eighth
and K streets NV, . am. to 3 pm.
daily except Sunday, 2 to s pm.
e-
Wanderbirds liking Club and
American Youth Hostels, Potomac
Area, Langley to Washington, meet
between E and r streets on Eleventh
NV, for Failfax line bus to Langley,
9:45 am. tomorrow.
Capital Hiking Club, annual cider
festival hike from Alta Vista to
Rockville, meet end Of Friendslnip
Heights streetcar line. 9:45 am. to-
morrow.
National Capital Parks, through
Rock Greek Park, leave Sixteenth
and Geranium streets NV. 10 Am.
tomorrow. Camera stroll Ii Alex
|andria, leave Cameron and Pitt
streets Ia Alexandra. 2 pm. tomor-
row. Nature walk Ia Franklin Park,
meet at Ihirteenth and K streets
NV, ! pm. totnorrpw.
Center Hiking OlIlls 70 Tort Du-