davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1944-07-16
100000 Germans
Driven Back
At Three Points
American Troops Storm Into Lessay
And Tighten Ring Around St. 10;
Enemy's Bas+ions Face Destruction

SUPREME HEADQUARTERS, AEF, July Is. tUP)-
American troops stormed Saturday into the outskirts of
Lessay anchor of 40me German defense line in
Normandy closed against its central hinge at Perers and
gained nearly half mile in drive against ST. Lo at
it's eastern end.
The frontal assaults the three key bastons of the
German Notifications facing the Americans posed direct
threat all of them and official reports indicated they
Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1944-07-16
Berlin
Attack
Germans Gel
Warning in
Own Language

LONDON, july ID. IU1)
The German high command
reported Saturday that a
powerful Red Army on the
southern front has joined the
Russian March on Berlin" with a
smashing new offensive on the APP
proaches to the fortress of LWow,
and a naZi commentator warned his
countrymen that the days of the
great storm have arrived"
The reported new assault, which
German broadcasts acknowledged
had achieved a small number of
local penetrations,' would put the
Russians on the offensive along an
almost continuous front of some 900
miles from the gulf of Finland to
the foothills of the carpathians with
the avowed objective of smashing
through to Germany.
MOSCOW, July Is. CUP) = Red
armies, pushing to within artillery
range OF the disputed 1889 borcer
OF East Prussia, Stormed the an
cient Polish fortress of Grodno
from three sides Saturday after
capturing it's airdrome in a fast
breaking drive toward the German
homeland
CRerorts reaching Macrid by way
OF Vichy said Adolf Hitlers SUI
preme war council had decided to
evacuate Lithuania, Latvia and Es-
tonia. London broadcasts recorded
by FEC monitors reported that the
Germans had begun to dismount in
stallations i'm the Fort of Konigs-
berg amid growing panic in East
Prussia. Civilians are crowding East
Continued OH Page 6, Column 2,
Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1944-07-16
WEATHER

Maximum Friday 81 minimum Saturday Ga; s am.
Saturday 81, humidity So; noon Saturday 95, hu-
midity 81; pm. Friday 95, humidity H.
Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1944-07-16

L. A. HAY-U. S. No 1 s31 $3.50; u. s. No. 2 ieafy
l. " $3O.5O- 81 so; No. 5000 s3I0 co.; Sept far
s2.S6%.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-19
By 2ND IT. MILBURN
 U. s. Marine Corps C-s

SOMEWHERE IN THE PACIFIC (Delayed)-The big Marine trans port plane speared its way through dark clouds, wind and rain, flying an unchartered course over enemy territory to deliver flame throwers to the hard-pressed Marines on Palau.
 Seven hours ago it rose from a secret Pacific base into the trop1c night and began the long flight ican plane had traversed before. over a water route that no Amer Ordinarily, in such weather, the flight would have been cancelled, but the Marines on Palau desperate ly needed the flame throwers.
 They had been flown from the States upon urgent request. This was the last lap-a job for SCAT, the South Pacific Combat Air Transport unit operated by Marine airmen.
 The pilot, Maj. Theodore w. Sanford, Jr., Kansas City, Mo, looked at his watch. It was little before 2 o'clock in the morning and the plane was due in at ' that evening. Sgt. Charles M. Wilson, New York city, sweated over his instruments in the tiny navigators compartment.
 Rain beat around the plane and leaved in on the flame throwerS. There was nothing but noise-the battering of the wind, the grind ing of the engines, and the creak- ing of the plane itself, an ancient DC-3 with more tha n225, 900 miles of flying on its log.
 The co-pilot, 1st It. George W. Ross, Newburgh, N. r., and the student navigator, Sgt. Raymond D. Boyer, Seattle, Wash, peered through the clouds looking for land.
 "Things aren't so good" Sgt. Le- land P. Blackell, Tonkwa, Okla, commented. "The navigator thinks we're south of Palau; the Major thinks we're north.'
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-19

o. My husband has been drafted into the Army. have small child and cannot work; please tell me how I can meet my expenses? B. B. L. Boston.
 A. Your husband should file ap- plication for Family Allowance when he reports to the Reception Centre for active duty. Tht amount paid for wife and one child is $80.0O 8 month, $22.00 of which is contribut- ed by the soldier. He may request that initial payment of Family AL lowance be made to you and check would be issued within ten days after he enters service.
 o. What is meant by the term Home" as used by the Veterans Ad. ministration for loans to soldiers under the G. I. Bill? K. M. Brigh- ton.
 A. Home, and residential prop erty means any dwelling consisting of not more than four family units, or any combination dwelling and business property, the primary use of which is occupation by the vet eran as his home.
 o. My husband has full $l0,O0O Government insurance with his son as beneficiary and me aS contingent. Can he change it to anyone else? B. c. Medford.
 A. The soldier may designate any person in the following bracket as his beneficiary: Wife, child, grand child, parent, brother or sister.
 o. If a man is in the Army and overseas and his wife joins the serv- ice, can she get her $500 Family Allowance from his just the same. A. B. New Bedford.
 A. Yes, she can. A wife does not have to be dependent upon the sol- dier to receive payment of Family Allowance and the fact that she joins the soldier . receive payment of Family Allowance and the fact that she joins a branch of the arIn- ed services does not cause payment to be discontinued.
 o. Does the Veterans Administra- tion determine the eligibility of a veteran to attend specific school? E. A. Cambridge.
 A. No. The Veterans Administra- tion determines the eligibility of the veterans for assistance under the G.. I. Bill, but the educational institu- tion concerned determines whether or not he is enthusiastically qualified as a pupil.
 o. How long can veteran go to school under provision of the G. I, Bill?
 A. Every veteran who is eligible at all is eligible for at laest one year. In addition to the basic year vet eran is eligible for period of study equal to his 4eriod of service be- tween Sept. C. 1940, and the termin- ation of World War II. The entire period of education and training will not exceed four years.
 e If the mother and wife of a soldier are both getting Family Al Ilowance, and the wife has . child,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-19
Oddities m The NelUs

(By United Press)
 Boston, Dec. 19.--(UP)-A burglar entered Mrs. Joseph Sarabia's ROx- bury apartment, smashed a piggy bank belonging to her S-mOntas old son, and escaped with $2, mostly pennies.
 Brockton, Mass. Dec. 19.-(UP)-. Summoned to round up ten COWS, five bulls, two horses and more than a dozen goats, wandering on a street. Policeman Frank J. Doyle and Leo E. Cleary abandoned their cruising car and borrowed horses from a nearby riding stable for the job.
 Boston, Dec. 19-(UP)-The car0l- ing commuters, composed of home ward-bOund train passengers who ordinarily racet through BOston's North Station, held their first con- cert of the Christmas season with more than 2,500 suburbanies stop ping for 15 minutes to sing the traditional songs.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-19
The Army Kno1us AM he Ansvers--Any Questions?

will the mothers check be discon- tinued? D. P, Burlington.
 A. No. The fact that the wife of the soldier has child will in no way interfere with payment to the sol- dier's mother. The soldier contri- butes $22.00 for his wife and $500 for his mother, and the Government adds an allowance for each of them. When the child is born, application should be filed for Family Allowance on its behalf and an allowance of $50 will be paid to the mother. No additional amount is taken from the soldier.
 @. Must a veteran have disabil- ity due to service in order to qualify for Vocational rehabilitation? E. G., Boston.
 A. Yes, the veteran must be vo- cationally handicapped by a pen- sionable, service-connected disabil- ity.
 o. What is meant by Reason able Normal Value" as used by the Veterans Administration in connec- tion with loans to veterans under the G. I. Bill. J. B., Newton.
 A. Reasonable Normal Value" ," for the purpose and intent of the Act, is that which can be justified as fair and reasonable price to be paid for a property for the purpose for which it is being acquired, as- stunning a reasonable business risk, but without undue speculation or other hazard as to the future of such value.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-19
PROPOSED LIQUOR
 MEASURE BLOCKED
Ordinance Would Have Re- stricted Opening of New
 Package Stores

Members of the aldermanic board last night unanimously rejected a proposal for establishing an ordi- nance prohibiting the opening of 8 new liquor package store within 1000 feet of an existing business selling liquor. The ordinance had been proposed by group Of liquor outlet dealers whose contention was that the present numbers of this type establishment could not face an in- crease without detriment to the community's welfare.
 The measure had appeared pre- viously before the board at a pulp lie hearing at which time numer- ous groups strongly opposed adop- tion of such a proposal. The lat ter groups represented veterans Of this war, liquor dealers, real-eState interests and others.
 Denial of a request for change of zone from residential to buSi- ness was made by the board last night relative to that property be- tween Earl street, and Roseland ave- nue and on Cooke street, and made by Martin Greenblatt.
 Park department authorities op- posed the change stating that the section across from Fulton Park in- cluded within the aforementioned property has always been restricted as residential and should remain so.
 Permission to hold dance Sum day, New Years Eve, was granted the Franco American Social club by the board of aldermen last night.
 Sale of the three-story block at 139-143 North Elm street, for $S,665 to Isadore Hutensky was ordered by the board of aldermen last night. This was the highest bid received by the land committee which recently advertised for sale this property, which had been tak- en over for non-payment of taes.
 The board authorized the mayor to execute deed of the property to the purchaser.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-19

are two of the most commonly used materials for poisoning baits. The rat is a very suspicious animal and the batter has to. resort to trickory to capture him. Prebaiting (placing imprisoned food in locations easily accessible to the rats for few nights before using poisoned baits) is an effective way of allaying their suspicious.
 The simple snap, woodenbase trap will give most consistent results in eliminating rats by this method. It is important to use plenty of traps; some say that three traps per sliss pected rat is not too many. Placa the traps along the normal rat runways and choose the bait for them from the foods mentioned above for poisoned baits.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-19
Rats Blamed For Huge
 Property Loss In us.
Public Enemy No. I'' Causes Estimated Annual Dam-
 ages in Excess of S2OO, 1000, 900; Determination On

New Haven, Conn, Dec. 19- Public Enemy No. 1" Is what the experts who figure out the damage caused each year by animal pests call the rat. In hard dollars, the rat is said to cause an annual pro- perty loss of $200, 100000 in the United States. Ard this gangster of the animal kingdom gets in most his work at this time of year when cold weather drives him indoors, where he damages buildings and de- Stroys valuable foodstuffS and other materials.
 According to biologists at the Connecticut Agricultural Experi- ment Station, ''ratpSoofing" build- ings is the only permanent way of eliminating rodents, although pois- oning and trapping are of great help as supplementary measures or in ridding the premises of an al- ready established infestation.
 Barrier Of Defense
 Probably the best means of ex- cluding rats from buildings is the use of concrete in construction this is one material that the rat cant knaw through. Foundations and floors of concrete are an effec- tive bar against rat entry. Founda- tion walls should extend at least two feet below the surface of the ground.
 Other practices that will help make 8 building rat-proof are fil- ling hollow walls to a height of 10 inches above the sill with cement or bricks, eliminating waste spaces, making doors and windows fit tightly, and screening or perma- nently stopping all openings.
 By eliminating the necessities for the rats existence, the building owner can go a long way toward getting rid of the rodents. Rats cannot live without food, water and shelter. Food should be stored in ratproof rooms or containers and it is important to see that all garbage is burned or kept in tightly covered containers.
 The same is true for water. Wa ter tanks should be tightly covered All sewer pipes and drains should be closed or fitted with fine mesh wire to keep out rats. And in the house, a leaky faucet or sink that doesn't drain well should be re- paired promptly.
 Piles of trash in cellerS, atticS sheds or the dooryard furnish an ideal home for rats. If such ma terials as old papers or wood must be kept, it's a good idea to move them frequently so that the rats do not have time to establish 8 permanent hiding place. Lumber piles of grain and other such ma terials should be piled on supports at least a foot above the floor.
 Sources Of InfestatiOn
 Dumps near houses are great source of rat infestation and should be kept cleaned up. Fumigation is often used in eliminating rats from dumps. Calcium cyanide is prob- ably the best material for this purpose, pumped into the rats bur- rows. It is best used by rat con- trol expert, as it is dangerous ma- terial.
 Rats prefer meat, fish or cereal as food (cheese is all right for mice but rats turn up their noses at it. the experts say) so if baits are used, these are apt to work best Red squill and barium carbonate
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-19
U s Foreign Policy Dark
Bx R. H. SHACKFORD

Washington, Dec. 19 = UP.) - The long awaited statement on Uni ted States attitude toward Poland failed today to completely clarify American foreign policy.
 The Polish statement, issued yes- terday by the State Department, was so cautiously worded-treaded Britain and Russia, and the feelings so lightly between the demands Of of the Poles-that it drew diverse mands in Congress for a compre- hensive summary of foreign policy by President Roosevelt.
 It was generally acknowledged, however, that the statement prom ised U. s. approval of the partition of Poland as demanded by Russia and approved by Britain, if Polish government could be formed to sign such an agreement. Former Polish Premier StaniSlaw Mikolajczyk, leader of the Peasant Party, has favored such an agreement with Russia for several months.
 Tn the senate the reaction ranged from Snator Burton K. Wheeler's remark thta it was "a lot Of pious platitudes which doesn't mean any, thing" to the demand by Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg, R., Mich, that "only the President can give us the reassurances that now seem to be called for"
 The British, who want the Poles to agree to Russia's territorial de- mands in Eastern Poland in return for German land in the est thought the American statement was in substantial agreement with their policy. On the other hand. the Poles, who for many months have resisted pressure to give up their eastern regions, interpreted 1t as entirely in keeping" ith their view.
 Observers who have followed closely the development of the Pol ish- Russian dispute accepted the state ment as a gentle U. s. hint to the Poles to form government that would agree to the Russian bound ary demand. In return, the United States promised its full moral sup port for a strong, free and inde- pendent" Poland whose people would have the "untrammeled right .. to order their internal existence as they see it."
 The State Departments state ment failed to produce any clear definition of American policy toward liberated areas although 1t did re- iterate these previously expressed sentiments:
 1. The United States is opposed to outside interference in the in- ternal affairs of other nations. 2. The United States prefers to let boundary questions await the end of the war, but does not rule out the possibility and agreement" 3. The United States intends to adhere to its traditional policy of declining to guarantee any specific frontiers.
 4. The United States seeks estab- Mshment of world security organ ization in which it. with other mem bers, would assume responsibility for ] tue preservation of general security.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-19

Finally, after almost two hours of searching, the crew spotted land. The only problem then was to make sure it was Pelelin, and not one of the Palau islands still held gy the JapS.
 Major Sanford sent and received the proper signals and set the plane down neatly on the Peleliu strip, just as another rain storm began. Four thousand pounds of flame throwers were at their destination, after being flown some 10000 miles in five days.
 Grateful Marine infantrymen hurriedly unloaded the cargo and sped toward the front lines.
 As the plane stood by to take on wounded and other passengers for the rturn trip, the crew watched the flame throwers go into action just 800 or 800 yards away.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-19

Seven o'clock came and no Palau then 7:30 then 8. We were covering a wide area searching for land but all we saw fas clouds and water. For miles at a time we ran into rain storms and couldn't see anything at all.
 The radio operator S-,Sgt. Law renee A. Gregory, Crosse Point, Mich, tried frantically to make con- tact with our field at Leleliu. But no luck. We did not know it at the time but the plane had passed its des- tination and was flying around be- tween Palau and Philippines.
 At about 8:30 Sergeant Boyer announced there was only two hours of gas left. "If we don't see land pretty soon, were going to toss the flame throwers overheard" he said, It'll give another hour in the air"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-19

Brass City Nuggets The timber TOT ree tne sgo tion o the manager scene in Bethlehem centuries aso awaits worlmen on the Central Green The scene Iaal to the faithful and others with or without 1altn TOT cen turies past will bring real Christmas of the heart of city that is really and truly an arsea1 % democracy Thousands and thousands Of local men anu women are engaged in making deadly war tet teS and munitions and time and again thoughts ta' ess ses workers The little tableaux memorazing the birth ol the Prince of Peace will be refreshing % e ane
 dren will he taken by their parents to view the little
 Babe guarded by His parents worshpped by the Three Wise Men, and tn -hepherds from the hlllSlaes Ine me M Inc work of Attorney John Greco of this city, Who designed last years which attracted so much aten lion and won so much favorable comment as to houce the Park Department to plan its reconStruc'on 'ii0 season.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-19
Gas Shortage [In Aroument
By FREDERICK 0. OTHlfAN

by FkSEOEkSACN Cs OAhpUAN
 United Press Stan Correspondent
 Washington, Dec. 19.-(UP)-The senate was going full blast. Tom Connally was humping the table. Happy Chandler was getting red in the face. The chamber buzzed; al- most as though it were full of bees.
 Guides ushered in sightseers and shushed them out again. The ex- perts in the press gallery slumped at their blue baize tables, digesting buffalo steak lunch provided by Sen. Burton K. Wheeler of Mon- tara.
 Sen. Robert R. Reynolds of North Carolina pulled up an extra mahog- any chair to rest his foot; Sen. Hat tie CaTaway noisily unfolded @ newspaper and began to read.
 The argument concerned Presi- dent RooSevelt'S five would-be aS- sistant secretaries of state and some- how it covered such things as the gasoline shortage, Archibald Mac leisf1's ability as poet (Sen. Wheeler said he'd read better verse by other versifiers), and soldiers in mud up to their hips.
 Sen. Langer of North Dakota gnawed at one end of cigar, with the cellophane still around 1t; then he gnawed at the other.
 Two hours went by and three, with senators shouting at each other and delivering elaborate compli- ments which sounded suspiciously like insults. It looked like another one of those afternoons. Then Sen. Hiram Johnson got to his feet.
 The white-haired Californian had made only one speech in more than one year; now, apparently, he was going to make another. The re- porters forgot the buffalo meat, leaned over the rail and cupped their ears. The galleries hushed.
 Sen. Johnson spoke in a voice so low that only the men directly in front of him could hear. I could catch only few words at first =. My sympathieS go out to the Greeks" "as the oldest senator now among you" .'I am going to read a poem I recited as a boy"
 He recited it. I have no idea what he said, but as he talked the Democrats drew close. Then, one by one, the Republicans, came across the aisle, until finally, every sena- tor in the chamber, except one, had gathered around him.
 o,,I zR Wyoming, was the single man in a sea of red leather chairs on the Republican side. Johnson's voice became a little louder, or perhaps it was the chamber that became quieter.
 T wish I had the strength to talk to you about what's happening in Greece" Sen. Johnson said. T wish I could tell you about the men and women shot down, shot down like dogs, with weapons provided by us.
 | Let us hold out hope to all small nations that they can live their leaves in peace" the 78-year- old Johnson continued. A page boy in knee pants brought him glass of water. He ignored it.
 tLet us not demand of them that they must surrender to superior force" the oldest senator said. Let us say that there shall be no more blood shed and no more people killed in those countries"
 Senator Johnson sat down. The Republicans marched back to their own seats, the table humping be- gan. the occupants of the press gall lery resumed their discussion of buf- falo steak, another contingent of tourists clumped in for look, and which he didn't unwrap before he Sen. Langer took out fresh cigar, poked it in his mouth.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-19
Good Evening.

It's going to be dark very soon, / The sun just slipped down and there's the new moon Looking through the tall stark trees There it was thin as you please And as the final light of day
 Gave no more promise of sunset display The moon became brighter and brighter Important as you please, real first nlgnter Not tipped, will hold water from the !ooK' Read that once in astronomy DOOR, December nights get dark so soon rr,y It's nice to see the silvery new moon. EM H1
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-19

One of the Iittle-knOwn services of United sea
 mems Service one of the agencies of the National War Fund supported through your local Community war war Fund campaign has been to provide all merchant shPs rathunting nets but now comes ruling that hence forth no cats are to be allowed on tankers. Keason electricity generated the cats fur presents danger Ol igniting the gasoline.