davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01
Ground Fighting On
Italian Front Said
To Be AT Standshll

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS,
Naples, March 81. -(P)-Ground
fighting in Italy slackened almost
to zero today following the AL
lied failure to take Casino, but
constant pressure is being main
tanned on German positions and the
campaign to take Rome and CEN
trail Italy has by no means been
abandoned.
The Germans occupied two posi-
tons on Monastery Hill abandoned
by the Indian and New Zealand
troops earlier this week and made
small attacks inside the shatter-
ed city without success. Artillery
rumbled in the snow covered
mountains to the north:
Two small enemy raids on the
Anzio beachhead were repealed
and Allied artillery shelled Ger.
man positions near Carroceto
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01
RED CROSS QUOTA
WILL Be REACHED
Chairman LeGrand Conf
dent New Hanover Will
Hit Goal OF $4,000

Prospects for New Hanover
county reaching, or even over.
subscribing, its $4,000 Red Cross
War Fund goal today was en-
phasized last night by ]. @. Lee
Grand, general chairman of the
campaign, who stated that cam
paign workers are highly pleased
with the "splendid response made
thus far"
However, we know that there
are number of firms and indi-
viduals who wish to have part
in supporting the Red Cross pro-
gram, but who have not been So
licited." LeGrand said.
These firms and individuals who
have not made their contributions
are earnestly requested to send
Continued on Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01
MARTIALLAWN NOT
NEEDED IN HAWAII

HONOLULU, T. H., March 81
- RHFederal Judge Delbert E.
Metzger unequivocally ruled today
that martial law is no longer
necessary in Hawaii.
He issued writ of habeas cor.
pus freeing Lloyd C. Duncan from
the city and county Jail where he
had been held under ruling Of
the provost court.
Judge Metzger made this decis-
ion despite an affidavit and de-
clarations filed in his court by
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and
1t. Gen. Robert C. Richardson, Jr.,
that martial law still is necessary
in the territory because the islands
are in Imminent danger Of in
vasion" by japanese forces.
Judge Metzger said he had ruled
last October that Territorial Cover
nor Ingram Stajnback's proclama-
ton of Oct 3. 1912, had restored
the privilege of the writ of habea1
corpus in Hawaii.
Il cannot corrective how a state
Of martial law can exist without
suspension of the writ of habeas
corpus the judge ruled. Nothing
has been presented to the court
in this proceeding to convince the
court it erred in my previous
ruling.''
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01
LIQUOR RATION
TO BE BOOSTED

RALEIGH, March 31-tRLChair-
man Carl Williamson of the state
ABC board said tonight that the
April ration of liquor in the Is wet
counties would be increased to al
low as much as two quarts per
person.
Williamson said that under pre-
sent plans coupons II and 10 will
be valid any time during the
month for one quart, or two pints,
or one fifth, or two tenths only of
domestic whiskey, scotch. domes-
tic gin or domestic brandy.
Coupons 10 and 20 will be valid
any time during the month for the
same amour of rum, imported
brandy of cordials.
In March the fourth sales per-
mits had value of half-pint per
coupon.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01

IeIS DIT d Injecting VI Tile mousse IIll1-
itary subcommittee on deferments.
Keesling outlined this possible
procedure:
Local draft boards comb their
lists of ATS, those deferred for
physical defects, and find out now
many can hold down war produc-
ton jobs. List them publicly, with
a star beside the names of those
who "do their patriotic duty" by
taking a job in an essential plant.
The governments inter-agency
committee could get a plant-by-
plant survey of just how many
Of these 4-F"s are needed in speci-
fic jobs in their home towns.
Integrated with this, Rep. Spark
man DALAI said, could be the
committees proposal to establish
an Army labor corps as a "pen-
atty" for those who refuse to take
preferred war jobs.
Keesling said there are many
of these men unfit for military
service who are anxious to do
their job" but they don't know
where to do it.
The 4-F"s constitute the '1ast
resort of manpower in the cur
rent stringent situation, he declar-
ed. He estimated that there are
about 6,000,00 men of draft age in
the nation, unfit for military SER
vice.
Selective Service meanwhile in
dictated that it was working on
some new orders to the local boards
but was not ready to disclose the
details.
Keesling made public the draft
figures as of March /, showing
that 9,502,000 men have been in
Quoted or enlisted, 215,00O of them
being fathers. Two thirds of the
1871, 900 now in la, subject to
immediate call, are fathers, he
said.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01
VOTING MEASURE
HAS BECOME LAW
FIR Fails To Sign Or Veto
Bill Asks For Better
Legislation

WASHINGTON, March 31.-R-
President Roosevelt, advising Con.
gress he was letting the service
vote bill become law without his
signature, asked today for amend
ing legislation to ease restrictions
on use of a Federal ballot.
In a 1,2OO-word message, he told
the legislators he thought the
fright of service men and women
to use a Federal ballot, if they
failed to receive state ballots, was
largely nullified'' by conditions
attached in the service vote law.
mo State or Federal red tape, :"
he added, should take from our
young folk in the service their
right to vote"
Congressional reaction to the
Presidents request varied, but the
tone of his message brought gen.
orally favorable comment. It was
sharply restrained by comparison
with the message he sent to the
Capitol when the bill was pending
and which called proposals for
State ballots FRAUD on those
in the services.
Senators Green D.-R.I) and
Lucas O.-Ill) announced they
would introduce legislation in line
with the Presidents proposal.
Friday midnight was the dead
line for Mr.. Roosevelt to veto the
bill, sign it or let it become law
without his signature.
The bill restricts use of Fed
eral ballot, allowing votes for
president, vice president and mem
bers of congress, to service men
and women overseas and only in
event:
l. Application is made for a state
ballot by Sept. and one is not
received by Oct. l.
2. The governor Of the state
where the Federal ballot is to be
cast certifies It is authorized by
state law.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01
Cadet Found
Guilty Of End
DegreeKilling|
LONERGAN CONVICT
Jury's Verdict q
Term Of 20 Ye
Life lmprisoll... ]

NEW YORK, March 81. - R)
Wayne Lonergan was convicted Of
murder in the second degree to.
night in the Staying of his heiress
wife, Patricia, last Oct. "a.
The verdict carried with it a
prison term of from 20 years to
life.
An all-male jury returned its
finding at 1923 pm, Eastern War
Time, after being out since 12:45
pm. today.
Judge James Garrett Wallace
fixed April II for sentencing.
The cold, stolid poise with which
Lonergan had conducted himself
since the beginning of the tria
remained with him as the decision
of the jury was read.
The only visible traces of emo
ton were that he stood with hi.
head slightly bowed, bit his lip.
and blinked as the verdict wa.
read.
The case was given to the Gener
al Sessions Court jury by Judg.
James Garrett Wallace at 1874!
p. m. (EWT). Three hours ant
eight minutes later, the jury re
turned to the courtroom for a re
reading of the judges instruction:
relating to duress and delay il
arraigning the young RCAF air
craftman.
This procedure required only nint
minutes. For the first time Loner
gan appeared to lose his com
posture. The strain of waiting TO.
the verdict seemed to loosen hi
tightly controlled emotions and hi
eyes were moist as the jury re
tired again.
In his charge to the jury Judge
Wallace said it could return any
one of five verdicts-conviction O.
first degree murder, second deg
rec murder, first degree man
slaughter, second degree man
slaughter or acquittal.
The prosecution, the judge said
had produced no evidence tina
Lonergan planned to kill his heir
ess wife before he went to he
apartment last Oct. "a, the day or
which she was found beaten ane
choked to death.
The jurors were told by Wallace
that they should accept the con
fession of the crime on which the
state based its case only if con
WINGED beyond reasonable douS
that it had been made voluntarily
and not as result of duress, al
though there had been no evidence
that Lonergan was threatened OF
beaten during his questioning.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01
MANN ACT TRIAL
IS NEARING END
Last Testimony Is Given
In Chaplin Case; Joan
Makes New Claim

LOS ANGELES, March 31-R
The last word of testimony was
given today which may convict OF
free Charlie Chaplin of Mann Act
charges, soon after Joan Berry
told the jury that in June, 1913,
the comedian informed her, 'rl
spend fortune blackening your
name"
She said this occurred when she
asked him what they were to dc
about her daughter, Carol Ann,
Now 6 months old but then unborn
Chaplin previously had denied
making such a statement.
The silver-haired Chaplin, accus
ed Of transporting Joan to anc
from New York City in the fall
of 1912 for immoral purposes, com
pleted five fidgety hours in two
days on the witness stand after
being asked by U. S. Atty. Charles
H. Carr:
GAS nearly as you can remem
Der, what was the last date you
had sexual intercourse with Joar
Berry,"
Sexual intercourse isn't that i'm
portant in my life," Chaplin re
torted vigorously.
The film funnyman related under
Cars questioning that he might
have been having intimate re.
lations with the slender, pale
screen aspirant in January, 1912,
and that maybe" he did the sue
ceeding May.
He said she had spent nights
"sporadically' at his home. He de-
clared she had told him she was
in love with him but that he had
never expressed any love for her.
One weekend, he said, she ac-
companid him on a yacht trip
to Catalina Island, resort 20
miles off the southern California
coast.
Chaplin, gray-clad, played with
emphatic gestures and firm Brit.
ish accents the most vital role Of
his career before an eager audi
ence of perhaps 400, mostly middle
aged or elderly, that damned
against the back wall and crowd
ed into the aisles. 4.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01
FOUR HEAVY STRIKES
Bombers From Solomons
And Marshalls Inaugu-
rate Blows At Base
BY LEONARD MILLIMAN
Associated Press War Editor

Land-baSed American bombers,
converging on Truk from two direc-
tons, are continuing an unprece.
dent series Of raids on Japan's
Central Pacific fortress.
Four-engined bombers from the
Solomon and the Marshall islands
have carried out four heavy strikes
on Truk within two days, protect.
ing the rear of the Navy's power.
full carrier forces attacking the
Palau islands, Japan's guardian OF
the Philippines.
Central Pacific bombers hit five
Truk islands in their second mid
week raid. Solomons planes, max.
ing a 2,0O0-mile round trip flight,
set fuel storage dumps afire on
Truk's Dublon islands. Sinultane-
ously Southwest Pacific planes
raided Woleai and Eauripik is
lands, midway between Truk and
Palau, General Douglas Macarthur
announced today, Friday.
Dismounted units of the First
Cavalry Division took over Pityilu
island Thursday as they continued
mopplng up the Admiralty islands,
probable base for the Woleai and
Eauripik attackers. Directly to the
south Australian and American
troops converged from two direc-
tons on Bogadjim, outpost of re-
naming Nipponese defenses on
northeast New Guinea.
Japanese columns penetrat ting
deeper into India reached one AL
lied supply line, forced British to
withdraw from Tiddim in south
west Burma, and drove toward the
railroad supplying 1t. Gen. Joseph
W. stilwelTs troops in North
Burma.
The five major islands of Truk
- Dublon, Param, Uman, Fefan
and Moen-were bombed Thursday
night (Truk time) by Army Libe-
rators from the Central Pacific.
The strike followed on the heels
of raids from both the Central and
Southwest Pacific, pinning enemy
planes down at Truk so they
couldn't attack United States war;
ships and carrier borne planes
raiding Palau.
Continued on Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01
FORTRESS TOWN FALLS
Main Axis Escape Route
Into Rumania Is Cut By
Running Russians

LONDON, Saturday, April 1.-R
troops hurting thousands
OF exhausted Germans back into
the Odessa bottleneck on the Black
Sea yesterday captured the ancient
fortress of Ochakov, 38 miles east
of the big port. and to the west
cut the main Axis escape route
into Rumania by serving Sipotyany
on the Odessa .Kishinev-Iasi rail-
way, Moscow announced today.
Soviet marines attacking across
the Bug and Dnieper river estu-
aries from Kindurinskaya Rosa on
peninsula two miles south of Och
akov aided in the capture of the
fortress which Russia's 18th Gen.
tury military hero, Marshal Alex
ander Survorov, seized from the
Turks.
This blow by sea occurred while
other Red army forces broke into
the city from :he northeast and
raced through more than 100 other
villages with such speed that the
Russians might reach Odessa's
lake-fringed defenses over the
weekend.
Whole trainloads of German
equipment were seized intact from
an enemy fleeing ''in panic" to-
ward Odessa, said a broadcast-bul-
letin recorded by the Soviet mont
tor.
It is estimated that 100000 Ger
mans, many of them wounded and
exhausted by their long retreat,
were being herded into the Odessa
area for possible entrapment as
other Russian forces attacking
southwark in p1e-war Rumania
overran their major escape chan
mel and struck to within 80 miles
of Kishinev, Bessarabian capital.
Far to the northwest the Rus
SLAMS were reported within II miles
Of the Hungarian and north Ru-
manian frontiers in the Ca1pathian
mountains, and attacking at STAN
islau in the southeastern corner of
cid Poland, but the Moscow daily
bulletin did not give any fresh de-
tails of that push.
The Russians also were poised
on an 85-mile section of the east
bank of the Prut River for a smash
into eastern Rumania, but there
was no official Soviet indication
that the Red army yet had crossed
The river although Berlin again
told of Russian attack Sin the
Continued on Page Two; Col. g.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01
.S0VIETS 0UTFOX
JAP GOVERNMENT

MOSCOW, March 31.-tR-The
Soviet Union in what may be its
biggest diplomatic victory of the
war has forced Japan to surrender
coal and oil concessions on SAX
hahn island, north of Japan, which
still had 26 years to run, it was
announced today.
In an agreement signed in Mos
COW yesterday, the Russians won
an immediate return of the rights
to these resources, granted to ia
pan in 1925 for a 45-year term.
The Russians on their part have
agreed to furnish Japan $4,000 tons
of oil a year for five years be-
ginning after the war. The upper
half of Sakhalin island, which lies
off Siberia, is Soviet territory, the
southern half japanese.
The new protocol is considered
by diplomatic circles in Moscow
to be a great contribution to the
war which the United States and
Britain are waging against Japan
The japanese rely on northern SAX
halin for oil and coal vital to their
Pacific war, and with this shut
down Tokyo is regareedas SUI
down Tokyo is regarded as suf-
fering astaggering blow.
Announcement Of the agreement
followed prolongation of the Japa-
nese-Russian fisheries pact for five
years covering rights off Kamchat-
ka peninsula, northeast of Sakha-
lin.
It was disclosed today that in
this pact the Russians induced the
japanese to cease exploiting GER
tain fishing grounds off Kamchat-
ka-the nearest points in the Pa
cific to Alaska-and thereby turned
trick which also should meet
with a welcome in the United
Continued on Page Four; Col. 4
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01
SOCIAL AGENCIES
WILL HAVE MEETS

The Rev. Walter B. Freed, chair.
man Of the Council of Social Agen-
cies Of the Community Chest, an
nounced the schedule of council
meetings to be held during April,
following a meeting Of the execu-
tive committee yesterday. He also
traced the growth Of the Council
from its organization by the Com
munity Chest last May.
Thirty-six agencies and civic or.
carnations are now included in the
Council, represented by 90 dele
gates. More than half of these del
egates, 40, are lay members, the
nv. Freed said. The 43 profes.
slonal members consist of health
and welfare workers from the pub
lie and private agencies Of the
community.
The recreation division of the
Council, of which D. M. Darder
is chairman, will meet April II
at 4 pm. in the City Hall. The
Program will include a report from
the summer camp committee, ano
motion picture of the new Bri
sade Club camp, shown by w. A
o1eWart, club director.
The meeting of the welfare dl
Vision will be held at the Sorosis
club April 10 at II am. Plans fol
returning servicemen will be dis
eussed by the agency representa-
yves. Mrs. ] c. Layton is chair
man of the division.
The health division will hold al
organization meeting April Is at
PM in the conference room OF thu
board of Health on North Fourth
street, and elect a division chair
man.
The Rev. R. Irving Boone,
member OF the city Inter-Racia
committee, has been elected
member of the executive commit
.ee OF the Council of Social 'Agen
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01
NAMES REVEALED
IN AZALEA CASE

Two women charged with the
theft of azalea bushes from Green
field Park Wednesday night are
listed by police as Mrs. Bruce
Ludlu1n, 10 Summit Walk, and
Mrs. M. A. Northrup, 9 Pine
crest Parkway, Lake Forest.
Warrants were, served on the
two women at the city police de-
partment yesterday at $50 pm.
by Detective Sgt. H. Hayes, after
an investigation by Detective Sgt.
L. B. Ruark. They were recogpiz'
ed in the sum of 500 to appear in
Recorders court today at 10 am.
by T. B. Hughes, Justice of the
Peace and police desk sergeant.
1--WE intend to prosecute, City
Manager A. c. Nichols said yes
terday morning of the case. "There
has been too much of this trouole
already, and we are not going to
allow violators to get by without
difficulty
Considerable public indignation
has been aroused by the incident,
and other similar incidents that
have resulted in depicting of the
shrubs set out by the park depart
ment throughout the city for pur'
poses of Identification. 1t has beer
observed that citizens may pur'
chase the small azalea plants
which grow in profusion in this sec
ton for prices as low as fifty
cents. ~
The warrants charge the defen
Continued on Page Two; Col. 2,
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01
Company Will.
Drill For Oil.
In This Area.
TO BEGIN WORK SOON
State Authorizes Firm To
Seek Petroleum In PEN
der And Dupin

RALEIGH, March 31-tR- The
state entered into tentative
agreement today with a recently.
oreanized North Carolina company
for rights TO drill for oil, gas and
other minerals in the great Holly
Shelter and Angola Pocosions in
pender and Duplins counties.
The State School Board and the
Department of Conservation and
development, owner and Jesse re.
spectively Of the property, author.
lied the Coastal Plains Company
to begin work at once under a
lease to be worked out and signed
al later date
Tentatively, the lease would be
for one year with the usual pro.
visions for an extension if the drill.
ing is not commenced in that time
The lessor would get IL per cent
Of the returns from the develop.
nent
The company, organized in Janu-
airy to make geophysical and geo.
logical surveys in eastern North
Carolina to determine if the soil
contained oil or other minerals,
also will drill IN the river beds oil
parts of Newport River and Calico
Creek in Carteret county and in
White Oak River in Onslow county.
Representatives of the company
the Department O. Conservation
and development and the state
school board met with Attorney
General Harry Mcmillan to work
out details Of the lease. F. E. Wal.
lace of Kinston acted as spokes.
man for the company.
Under the proposed lease, the
company woulo be responsible fol-
all installations necessary in the
operation of the drills. No state
funds would be involved.
Wallace and his company was
prepared to make test drillngs fol
gas oil, sulphur and other
minerals anywhere in the eastern
coastal counties. In the event Of
discovery Of minerals, the com.
pany would cooperate with the U.
S Bureau of Mines in mining and
drilling, If the U. S. Bureau Of
Mines could not be interested,
Wallace said, other agencies would
be contacted.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01

based in large part on results OF
survey conducted by state Of
ficials.
The survey, while finding no
warrant under the states policy
for the establishment of traffic con-
troll devices, clearly indicates that
high rates of speed are almost the
rule and not the exception along
the often busy thoroughfare as it
passes Camp Davis.
According to surve y-speed
checks were made for two hour
periods each on the stretches be-
tween Fourth and Twentieth
Streets and between Twenty-Sixth
and Thirty-Eighth Streets - pzac-
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01
Raj Suffers Worst Loss
In Assault On Germany

LONDON, March 81 Up The
Raj suffered a record loss of "a
planes last night as its heavy
bombezs fought grimly, through
the greatest Nazi fighter force ever
seen by British pilots and a de-
termined ground defense which in
cluded new type of scare crow
rocket" to rip Nuremberg and 9TH
Ell Reich targets.
While the cost was the greatest
ever sustained by the Allies for a
single operation. March remained
month of victory for British and
American air power. 1t was reli-
ably estimated that the Raj made
$500 bomber sorties Individual
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01
Congress Will Recess
Today Until April II
For Easter Holiday

WASHINGTON, March 81 Up
EoAgfess will recess Saturday until
t t Il for an Easter holiday but
s"o members Of the House served
h ,1'ice today they would strive to
''vck such action in the future.
io as the House approved an adj
I ~. resolution previously O..
by the Senate, Reps. Hoff-
N Man 'R.- Mich.) and Rankin D.
sh) protested that Congress
''0uld stay in session,
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01

CAMP DAVIS, March 31.-(Spe-
ciaD-Camp authorities shortly
will make request on the State
government in Raleigh for the es-
tablishment of control devices and
equipment so as to control traffic
on that part of U. S. Highway II
which skirts Camp Davis, the pub
lie relations office announced to-
day, adding that the move would
be undertaken so that the highway
will become a safe passage for
civilians and soldiers.
Colonel Adam E. Potts, camp
commander, indicated the immi-
nence of such a move in an inter-
view this week. His decision is
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-01

tically every one of 286 vehicles
mechanically clicked were high
above the indicated speed limits
obtaining near camp.
Further, practically every vehi-
Gle clicked even exceeded the fed
eral wartime speed limit of IS
miles per hour. More than SO per
cent of the vehicles clicked, the
survey revealed, were travelling
better than the IS mile limit ;over
81 per cent were proceeding fast
err than 40 miles per hour; IL per
cent were lettering As miles per
hour; seven per cent were going
faster than so miles per hour, and