davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21
N. Y. OPERATORS
VOTE TO STRIKE
Union Awaits Action OF
WLB On S. Weekly
Raise

NEW YORK. Dec. 20-tR-Offici-
ais of Local l01, Federation Of Long
Lines Telephone Workers (indepen-
denD announced tonight a majority
Of the 200 long distance operators
in New York had voted to strike
if the War Labor Bard fails to APP
prove S. weekly wage increse.
In compliance with the Smith
Connally Act, officials said, the
strike would not 60 into effect be-
fore 30 days.
Operators favoring the strike
handle only interstate calls. They
do not include local or intrastate
operators, who would not be affect
ed.
Mrs. Norma Naughton. chairman
of Local 101, said that of 3,172
union members who voted, 1873 per
cent favored the strike. The union
claims membership of 3,700.
There are approximately 5000 long
distance operators in the New
York City area, all employees of the
American Telephone and Telegraph
Co.
The operators, according to the
union, now receive from $40 to $34
a week. A WLB panel has recon-
mended that the S. week wage
increase be granted.
The union also has asked that
the 12-year employment period for
maximum wages be reduced to
nine years. A spokesman for the
telephone company said yesterday
it had agreed to the reduction
1.-The demands were referred to
the WLB soon after they were
made Qast January),'' Miss
Naughton said, and we have
CONTINUED on Page Five; Col. a
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21
British Planning AN-Out Assault
On ELIAS Unless Firing Ends Today

Attica, and tnat only reserve troops
would surrender, their arms.
There also was an announcement
that 'there will follow certain poll.
teal Developments which will in.
sure the liberties and rights of the
Greek people"
Informed quarters believe this
may be taken as a Leftist move
to prepare the public for ELIAS
acceptance Of British terms. In this
connection, it was understood that
mediators had been notified by
Leftist leaders to stand by and
be ready to take their answer to
Scobie.
The British commander leaflet
warning followed capture of Raj
headquarters northeast of Athens
by ELIAS fighters who overran the
station after gun and dynamite
assault. A British radio broadcast
reported that "a relief column ar
rived too late to save the head
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21
Eden Pleads
For Regular
Allied Talks
Secretary States Churchill
Case In Greek
Debate

LONDON, Dec. 20.-(P)-
Assuring the House of Com
mons that Britain's bayonets
would not impose a king on
the Greeks, Foreign Secre-
tary Anthony Eden tonight
eased political controversy
over Britain's armed inter-
vention after reports of diff
ferences among the three big
Allied powers had received
partial confirmation from
P r m e Minister Churchill
himself.
Eden, apparently giving up hope
for an immediate meeting Of the
Big Three but bent on finding a
method of eliminating future mis-.
understandings, pleaded for re.
establishment Of quarterly meet.
ings between the foreign sec~e.
tarles OF the great powers as we
used to have to deal with some oil
these Matters
His plea was entered only a few
hours after Churchill, in grim ref.
erence to this dangerous and mo.
mentous phase of the wa--," main.
tanned that Britain, Russia and the
United States were in entire
agreement about the general aims
which bind our alliance but ad.
mitted that whether there is com.
plete agreement on every aspect
CT these matters is another ques-
ton altogether
Churchill quickly side-stepped ar
gument over whether the accord
among the Allies could be applied
to spheres of influence"
One member pointedly asked him
whether he did not agree that
there is danger in Implements.
ton of proposals of the Dumbarton
Oaks conference if certain powers
assign themselves spheres of influ-
ence and other powers are not
brought into cooperation during the
war"
Il think that is a topic that OBJ.
viously should not attempt to deal
with now" replied Churchill.
1t was against this background Of
underlying concern for smoothly
harmonious inter-Allied relations
that Eden went to bat for his chief
and, with detailed, stand-pat de-
tense of the Churchill government S
steps in Greece, at least tempo
rarily stilled the demand of some
Left-Wing Labor members for a
vote of censure.
The House rose long after dusk
Continued on Page Three; Col. u
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21
u. S. SPENDING
4 SETS new MARK
Experts Estimate 81 Bill.
lions Used By Consum-
ers In IA

WASHINGTON, Dec 90 R -
American consumers are ringing
up a new spending record this
year.
The Commerce Department es-
timated today that 81 billion dol
lars will have been spent for goods
and services in 1914. That's six
per cent bigger than last year.
It's more than, half again as big
as 1889 spending, which totalled
SOL, 700, 900. 900.
There's a war on. But the De-
partment said enough civilian
goods were produced in 1914 to
satisfy most of consumers wants.
There was some inconven-
ences but no hardships.''
Rising prices account for some
of the increased spending, but not
all. The actual quantity of goods
and services bought this year has
been somewhat larger than in 1913.
Civilians spent two billion dollars
more for food than they did last
year, even though prices averag-
ed slightly less than in 1913, &C
cording to the Commerce Depart
ment report.
The consumers laid down nine
per cent more money for clothes
than in 1943. but since there was
a seven per cent rise in prices,
the quantity was little changed.
AS for durable goods, like furni-
ture and autos, the quantity sold
was ten per cent less than last
year. But consumers spent about
the same for the goods, because
of price rises Furniture, especial
ly, got more expensive, said the
Dep rtment, but even with higher
prices less money was spent for
furniture.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21

LONDON, Dec. 90 Up The
German radio claimed tonight that
several Allied divisions had been
rushed from the Aachen and Saa1
fronts to check Marhsal Won Rund.
stedt's ounter-offensive and boast.
ed that according to incomplete
data. three to four American di.
visions either have been destroyed
or badly mauled."
The German daily war commun.
ique claimed that 10000 prisoners
had been taken in the Nazi counter
offensive.
American tactical reserves thrown
in on the night swing of 1t. Gen
Courtney H. Hodges U. S. First
Army have been engaged and beat.
en- Fin very heavy battles" during
the past two days, Berlin claimed.
While giving the names of nc
towns, the Germans said their Ar.
denneS drive was "ahead of sche.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21

ATHENS, D=c 2O.-P)-Lt. Gen.
r. M. Scobie, British commander
in Greece announced tonight that
as Of 9 am. tomorrow, any ELIAS
batteries still firing in Athens and
Piraeus will be attacked with I'll
the arms at my disposal" and
warned civilians to put 500 yards
between themselves and Leftist
gun positions.
In leaflets captioned urgent
warning" and dropped from Raj
planes, the British commander an
nounced that he intends to use ma
chine guns, rocket weapons, bombs,
land artillery, mortars and naval
bombardnent on an about scale in
an effort to silence insurgent guns
which have been active for 10 days.
Earlier, there had been signs
of an impending political develop
ment when rne,1 using megaphones
in some ELAS-held areas announc-
ed that regular Leftist forces soon
would withdraw from Athens and
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21
STETTINIUS PLANS
TO INCREASE SPEED
IN STATE OFFICES

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20. - (P) -
Secretary of State Stettinius made
public today his plan for Tightening
administration ard speeding up his
departments work.
At the same time, he disclosed
that he is going to make more
changes and ask Congress for in
creased appropriations so he car
enlarge the department.
The organ,zatlon was made pub
lie just after Under Secretary 10
seph C. Grew and four new as.
sistant secretaries took the oath
Of office in an unusual and informa.
mass ceremony.
The word StettlEius and his new
aides kept 'epeating when they
spoke of the changes was team.
Work-reflected in the reorganiza.
ton chart With eliminated divid'
ed responsibility and places all
the work under what Stettinius
called his eight generals in the
field.
Two new aides were appointed
today, Charles E. Bohlen, now the
Departments top Russian expert
who accompanied President Roose-
welt to Teheran and Cordell Hull
to Moscow, will have the new job
of liaison officer with the White
House.
Stettinius also brought Wilder
Foote over from the Foreign Eco
Monies Administration as an as
sistant. While he has no direct
charted connection with press re-
lations, Foote is expected to play
an important part in Stettinius'
public relations.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21
.Yanks Admit
0ffensivels
Real Thing
Enemy Drive Making Prog
ress With More
Expected

SUPREME HEADQUAR.
TIERS ALLIED EXPEDI-
TIONARY FORCE, Paris,
Dec. 20.-(P)-The gigantic
German counteroffensive is
"the big thing" and is in
creasing steadily in fury, SUI
preme Headquarters said late
tonight in lifting the blackout
of news relating to the saw
age fighting on the U. S.
First Army front.
Fourteen to fifteen German di-
visions - of which five or six are
Panzer (armored) divisions are
swarming into the breach Of the
First Army's lines in Belgium and
Luxembourg, it was disclosed.
Today fresh infantry waves were
fighting behind the armored units
which first. smas ed through the
American positions last Sunday
and headquarters said the Ger
man advances had made consld-
cradle progress with more to be
expected.
Plans are being made to stem
the onslaught, it was stated, but
the feeling at this headquarters
was that the situation would not be
restored this week - or even next
week.
Apallingly bad weather today
kept Allied air forces on the
ground, thus eliminating support
which the American troops sorely
needed. No heavy bombers could
leave their British bases and not
single fighter-bomber got M
to the air during the day to help
the hard-pressed Doughboys.
Some of the Panzer units spear
heading the German drive are
first class fighters, veterans OF
units which faced the Allies at
Caen, it was disclosed. They have
been reorganized and refitted for
this great do-or-die German coun-
teroffensive and now are fresh and
physically fit.
The German infantry divisions
mostly are made up Of volks gre
nadiers, Hitler's home guard.
Continued on Page Three; Col. -
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21

quarters, but managed to save a
big proportion of the men"
The people Of Greece awaited
announcement of a reply from King
George II in London to learn whe.
Their he will accept recommends
ton that the nations leadership be
turned over to the regency OF
Archbishop Damaskinos.
"A telegram frem the cabinet OF
Premier George Papandreou and
similar message from the elderly
Greek statesman, Themistokles
Sophoulis, have been forwarded to
London, and capital circles feel
there is the probability of an early
acceptance of the suggestion by
the King.
Government observers are re-
ported to believe that if the mon
arch agrees to the Recommended
ton, Gen. Nicholas Plastiras prob
ably will become commander-in-
chief Of Greek forces.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21
owl Official
CensuresBan
On War News
Army Charged With Big
Mistake In Suppress
ing Stories

SUPREME HEADQUAR-
TIERS ALLIED EXPEDI-
TIONARY FORCE, PARIS,
Dec. 20.-P)-As protests
poured in from almost all the
Allied world over the sup
preston of news of German
gains on the Western Front,
Supreme Headquarters to-
might pulled the curtain aside
partly and promised a bigger
view of the situation tomor-
row.
The positions of the German and
Allied armies will in the future e
made public once daily, it was an.
nounced-after sufficient time lac
to make sure the enemy will reap
no benefit from the information.
This time lag is expected to be
between "a and 48 hours, Tomor.
rows promised disclosures. there
fore. will be of positions as they
stood yesterday or today.
The Supreme Headquarters an.
sWer to critics of the news black.
cut has been that it was imposed
on the basis Of opinions of gen
erals directing the fight and that
the situation was so fluid that in.
formation Of the whereabouts OF
German troops, even if it were
days late, might help the enemy
George H. Lyon, Owl represen.
tative at Supreme Headquarters,
said tonight that he had been try.
ing for 48 hours to get the Army
to let the people know what was
happening on the battlefield. but
without much success.
In my opinion, the Army is
making a bigger mistake than it
did in the Patton case (the incident
Of 1t. Gen. George S. Patton S
slapping a soldier in Sicily)," Lyon
said.
1T is following a head-in-the-
sand policy. 1t could tell a great
Continued on Page Three; Col. u
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21
Yanks And Germans
Battle For Sector
Around Tossignan

ROME, Dee. 20.-(P)- American
forces south If Bologna are engag.
ed in bitter fighting with German
troops in the Tossignan area, while
Polish and Indian troops have viz
tually wiped out all enemy resis-
lance south of Senio river on the
eastern end of the Italian battle
front, the Allied command report
ed today.
American patrols which slipped
into Tossignan reported that heavy
barbados mad been erected in all
of the streets Of the town, and that
strong Nazi patrols guarded all
roads in the vicinity.
Operations Of the Polish and Ind
ian troops Of the Eighth Army
ended two weeks of stubborn fight
ing by the Nazis to hold their
positions in the Senio area.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21
YANK BOMBERS
STRIKE MARCUS
AND TWO JIMA

y. S. PACIFIC FLEET HEAD
gVARTERS. PEARL HARBOR,
Dec. 2O.-.R-American bo.nbers
suck Monday at Two Jima and
Marcus Islands, chief bases for
japanese attac ks on the Super
MtFesS airfield on Saipan, Adm.
tnester W, Nimitz announced to-
Day. .
Inc lO0-ton bomb attack on Two
una by the Marianas-based Lib
ta'ofS, escorted by Lightning
.sa,ers, was the 18th consecutive
Va1y strike against the small is
+nd On the Big road to Tokyo,
md the 18th blow of the month.
Inc Ll3htnings shot down one en-
city plane and strafed ground tar
lets.
Loerators Of the Strategic Air
'o.ce mad nit Two Jima, only $50
aIles south Of Tokyo, on the pre-
y0us day, starting fires among
Installations and on the airstrip.
-, The attack on Marcus Island,
~ miles northeast of Saipan, was
We tlrSt since December IL. Prin-
osdl target was the airstrip.
Lac Llberators Weathered mod
.d.e antiaircraft fire, and all re-
:. ~!aed safely, the commmique
Fighters and bombers Of the
s ~ Marine Aircraft Wing and
seet Air Wing Two attacked
a.sIoeIap atoll Monday, in one
VI NE heaviest in many months Of
.s1(fallzlng raids against by
"a saSSed enemy positions in the
Aarshalls. -
Marine Corsairs bombed anc
~ dled storage areas on Babel
.ud9 island in the Palaus also or
ionday.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21
ENEMY SURROUNDS
SOME u. S. UNITS
IN BELGIAN AREA

WITH THE U. S. NINTH ARMY
IN GERMANY, Dec. 20.-tR,-Ths
major enemy penetration OF Allied
lines on the Western Front was
made in the Eiffel forest and the
Belgian border also was crossed
at Consdorf near Echtarnacht.
Some of the American First
Army elements we're surrounded.
Newsmen now are permitted BY
censorship to report also that enc
nv armored attacks within three
miles of St. With in Belgium CON-
pleted a pincers movement which
succeeded in cutting off their
Yank troops, while the enemy also
reached Maaspelt to the south.
Along the entire First Army
front affected by the penetratlons.
the situation was both confused
and serious.
While there was only small 10
Called ground activity on the
center of the American Ninth Ar
my front, German power con-
tinued building up miles behind
the enmey's penetrations into Bel
GUM. The largest enemy gains
were said to be 10 to 20 miles west
of the border IN the vicinity OF
Stavelot.
The very tact that a spot-neWs
time-lag policy has been imposed
on field censors by higher authori-
ties testifies sufficiently to the So
robustness of the situation but since
some facts have been permitted to
60 through there is indication OF
improvement.
Presumably stories summarize
ing the First Army front situation
are being written at rear head.
quarters. Unfortunately, the news
men there are unable to check tn.
themselves and must az.
cept what is told them without be-
ing positive they are getting ac.
curate information.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21
Leyte Battle
Held Drawing
IoConclusiion
1,n,nese Continue Evasive
Tactics On Mindoro
Isle
GENERAL MARThUR'S
rrAnOJ7ARTFRS PHILIP

GENERAL M'ARThUR'S
HEADQUARTERS, PHILIP
PINES, Thursday, Dec. 21:-
Ip-The battle of Leyte Is
land is rapidly drawing te
Al end" Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur said today, announc-
rc the complete destruction
# the once-powerful Japan
sp Yanlashita Line on the
rorthwest shoulder of the
island.
The scattered enemy defenders
hH ground supply route was lost
Tlen Yanks Surging north up the
yDg!e corridor road from Crmoc
rerran Libongao where a road
forks off to the Nipponese supply
fort Of Paloinpon.
The enemy's cohesion is now
completely broken the commu-
nque said, and he is no longer
capable Of an integrated defense. :"
Small remnants of the japanese
trees lave been broken into iso-
l2ted groups and are able to re-
isl only temporarily and at iso-
lated points.
Scattered Japanese forces are
fleeing toward Palompon on Leyte's
mr.aWeSt coast, the only port re-
naming in enemy hands.
Destruction of the Yanashita
Line in the Ormoc corridor was
accomplished when the 77th divi-
sion, New York S own, advanced
fur miles north from Valencia,
japanese headquarters whose
Ee.zqre was announced Wednes-
0sy and took a road junction at
Continued on Page Sevh; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21

the citadel OF LoSonc.
The Moscow communique last
night and a supplemental elabora-
ton this morning said nothing OF
the encircling thrust against Kas.
81 where latest unofficial reports
from Moscow h a d Soviet forces
preparing for a climactic attack
on the Torysa (Tarca) river for
tifications two miles outside that
commune atoms center.
Moscow announced, however,
that about battalian $500 Ger
mans were killed in tn e days
fighting on the front As to go miles
southwest Of Kassa and that the
Russians were closely threatening
the railway junction town Of Rim.
aszombat from the south and east.
Chief of the days captures was
the town of Tornala, 10 miles east
of Rimaszombat and stronghold
of enemy defenses on the east
bank of the Slana river. While the
Continued on Page Seven; Col. y
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21
U. S. FLIERS POUND
HONGKONG HARBOR,
BLOCK BURMA ROAD

CHUNGKING. Dec. 20 - R =
The stepped-up air offensive over
China's scattered battlefronts ov-
ershadowed ground activities to-
night as Maj. Gen. Albert c. We
demeyer's headquarters announc-
ed successful raids on japanese
shipping at Honkong and blocking
of the Burma Road by landslides
started by U. S. bombs.
Speedy Psi fighter planes OF
Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault $
14th Air Force have swept over
Hongkong's waterfront and sunk
one large enemy tanker and prob
ably a japanese destroyer and
two large freighters. They also
destroyed two enemy fighters in
the air and three on the ground at
nearby Kaitak alrdrome.
In western China, P-38 fighter
po1nbers attacked sections of the
Burma Road near the town of
Wanting on the China-Burma Dor
der yesterday causing landslides
which made the road impossible.
A Psi pilot swept over the i'm
portant japanese base at HankoW
on reconnaissance mission yes
terday and found the city still
burning from the fierce Monday
daylight attack by goth Bomber
Command superfortresses and
planes Of the 18th Air Force and
the Chinese-American Composite
Wing.
In the ground fighting in south
central China, Chinese forces drlv-
ing southeastWard along the
KWangs i-KWei:how railroad con-
tinued to attack japanese positions
outside Hocaih and made slight
gains against determined enemy
resistance, the Chinese High Com
mand said. U.s.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21
100000 German, Troops Swarming Into Breacl
Or FIRST Arm,<zn Belgium And Luxembourg
|Yamashita Line Is DESTROYED By Tank Infantr,
EnemyClain1s Capture
OF 10, 600 Americans

dule and going strong in its fourth
day. They claimed that German
losses were LESS than antcipat-
ed" The broadcasts said that the
drain of reinforcements from the
Aachen and Saar sectors had fore
ed the Americans to halt attacks
on those fronts.
The Berlin broadcasts admitted,
however, that American resistance
was stiffening.
The German communique said
that in addition to 10000 prisoners
taken, a total of 200 tanks had
been knocked out and 124 Allied
warplanes destroyed in combat by
the German air force.
The communicate withheld h e
names of any places overrun by
the Nazis but DNB, the official Ger
man news agency, reported dis
lodging of American troops from
the town of Kesternich on the Mon
schau-Vosenack road.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21
Reds Out7ank Mazi Line
In Drive TowQrd Losnoc

advances up to five miles in southern Czechosovaka
terday captured 3 towns and cracked and ounked the
Germans strong Slana river line in drive aimed toward
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21
-
FORECAST

rs,r and mild today with highest
..,r,nerature about 81 degrees, Gentle A.
psnderste variable winds becoming south
westerly.
Yesterdays temperatures:
High, SLOW, as.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21

Continued on Page sevh; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-21

Continued on Page Three; Col. ~
Evening star., 1944-05-18
Canadian Labor Chief,
Here 10 See Hershey,
Tells Of Problems

Humphrey Mitchell, Minister OF
Labor in the Mackenzie King cabi-
net, in Washington to confer with
Maj. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey today
declared in an interview granted al
the Canadian Embassy late yester-
day:
There is no major labor dispute
in Canada. Only one plant has been
seized by the government under
wartime powers since the war began
There Is no black market there.
There is no dissatisfaction with
the tax policy, which takes, in his
own case, approximately half his
$14 900 yearly salary.
Tells Of Postwar Stand.
Mr.. Mitchell favors Kicking OUT
all wartime economic measures "A
hours after the close of hostilities,
asserting that any denial Of per-
sonal rights should be invoked only
in war.
Entertaining the press, Mr..
Mitchell answered all questions re-
lating to manpower and other prob
lens over which his department is
the final word.
1--WE compare notes from time to
time" he said. Don't forget that
we have migrant labor problems
and we have perfect understand
ing"
Mr.. Mitchell constantly spoke Of
himself as an American. Finally a
reporter asked, "Mr. Minister, you
don't mean that you are actually a
citizen of this country?"
Mr.. Mitchell laughed and replied
he believed he would have been
born in Boston had 1t not been for
change in train schedules.
The minister, who was in Ger
many attending labor conference
when Hitler seized power, declared
labor had become part of the Ger
man government. It was no longer
a free movement"
Other observations by Mr.. Mitchell
were:
The war is going to last q long
time. There will be no unemploy-
ment for four to i've years after the
close Of the war. Highways, hous-
ing, public works, which have had
to suspend themselves because of
the war, and the demands of the
public and their ability to pay will
absorb the problems Of relocation.
The big problem win have to be
one of controlling the boom, follow
ing the war;" he said. "The long
haired men and the short haired
women made the last peace. I have
a feeling that the fellows fighting
this war will dictate the terms Of
peace"
Evening star., 1944-05-18

Your dog will eat Friskies eagerly,
if you follow these rules. If now
and then he does not cat Friskies
readily, remove his dish and try later.
Remember your dog must be trained
to sound eating habits.